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anobody |
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Friday, January 11, 2008 at 4:00 PM Holy shit - it's that time again. [out of breath] 3G iPhone 2.0, thin hard-drive less subnotebook, more cool touch / gesture interface stuff [panting] January 15'th keynote [head explodes] I can already feel the shame coming from you Plurry :D —anobody |
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ZT Spice |
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Friday, January 11, 2008 at 4:21 PM [mixes anobody's head pieces with some feces fermenting to make jenkem] If this works like planarian worms, I'll know some physics when I'm done. —ZT Spice |
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pookie |
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Friday, January 11, 2008 at 4:40 PM He'll have to get in line behind Kathy Griffin. —pookie |
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plurry |
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Friday, January 11, 2008 at 5:16 PM i heard about that on adam's show last week. i'm happy for kathy, she's an awesome person. —plurry |
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anobody |
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Friday, January 11, 2008 at 6:48 PM Meh to CES (most of the announcements there are either mundane or they're things I've already seen at Engadget). Anobody totally wants to blow Steve Wozniak. Screw Woz - I'd go for Jobs (if nothing else, I'm guessing the smell is a little more palatable).
—anobody |
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plurry |
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Friday, January 11, 2008 at 6:52 PM
Edited Friday, January 11, 2008 at 6:52 PM (YOU) BLOW JOBS! see what i did there? —plurry |
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bguirk |
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Saturday, January 12, 2008 at 11:57 AM thin hard-drive less subnotebook, Ha ha--I have one already. My OLPC XO laptop showed up just before Christmas. Everyone walks up to me and is like "what's that" whenever I pull it out. That's the only annoying part. The screen is awesome BTW. —bguirk |
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anobody |
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Saturday, January 12, 2008 at 12:02 PM Yes - except that it's not made by Apple (and the industrial design shows it), it doesn't run OS X, and it doesn't have a Fingerworks derived multitouch trackpad. —anobody |
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bguirk |
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Saturday, January 12, 2008 at 12:36 PM
Edited Saturday, January 12, 2008 at 12:41 PM It doesn't run OS X, but its look & feel would be familiar to you and it ads some nice touches. I'm really loving it. It's my "take to class" laptop now because it's the size of a speak n' spell. It'll probably get me to start playing around with Python. (and the industrial design shows it), Apple lost me when they ditched the clam-shell design. the XO has the best form factor of any notebook out there at the moment. I can turn it in to an e-book. Apple's notebooks look sleek, but so do everyone else's now. i haven't seen the new ones yet so I'll reserve judgment. —bguirk |
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anobody |
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Saturday, January 12, 2008 at 12:53 PM so do everyone else's now That is sooooo not true. There are a few PC notebook makers who do a half-way decent job, but based on looks alone, for my taste, there isn't anything I've seen in the PC world that can compete (and that's not factoring in build and engineering quality where I think Apple wins hands down). the XO has the best form factor of any notebook out there at the moment For your taste - certainly not for mine. It's my "take to class" laptop now because it's the size of a speak n' spell If I was still taking classes, I'd seriously consider a tablet (even though the only tablet option for Apple is a third party aftermarket mod). They're not great for much, but they're ideal for taking and storing notes (and Microsoft has a very nice TabletPC feature that lets you do text searches through handwritten notes). It'll probably get me to start playing around with Python Definitely worth learning (though I keep going back and forth on the whitespace... maybe it's just because I came from C-family languages but curly braces don't seem like too tall of an order to me and they're a lot less ambiguous and easier to work with than Python's whitespace - especially if you're using the wrong editor). i haven't seen the new ones yet so I'll reserve judgment My guess is that you won't appreciate them, but my understanding is that they're going to be über cool (ridiculously thin, solid and light; novelty long battery life; and possibly some really cool touchpad technology). —anobody |
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miyagi-sama |
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Saturday, January 12, 2008 at 1:59 PM I would have bought an Apple laptop if they weren't outrageously priced. They're works of art, super thin, light, etc. But they're the ultimate example of form over function. An $1100 computer with far less performance than my $650 one? NO thanks. —miyagi-sama |
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anobody |
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Saturday, January 12, 2008 at 2:09 PM if they weren't outrageously priced This is largely a misconception. Yes - you can buy a $650 laptop, rather than an $1100 MacBook, but by the time you add things in to match everything spec-for-spec, the price difference becomes negligible (and is more than made up for by Apple's industrial design). If you're looking for a cut-rate laptop that's as cheap as you can get, then Apple is clearly not for you (in fact, you should probably look at something like BG's OLPC XO)... but if you want something that's more mid to high ranged, you're really not going to save much by getting something other than an Apple.
—anobody |
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bguirk |
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Saturday, January 12, 2008 at 2:51 PM
Edited Saturday, January 12, 2008 at 2:58 PM This is largely a misconception. Yes - you can buy a $650 laptop, rather than an $1100 MacBook, but by the time you add things in to match everything spec-for-spec, the price difference becomes negligible (and is more than made up for by Apple's industrial design). I'm in complete agreement with you here. What we got to in an earlier thread the premium for Apple's design has dropped to around $100 or around 10%--5 years ago it was probably around 25%. If you love it it's definitely worth it and Apple's OS needs less RAM and depending on PC manufacturer ships with a better graphics card (it's also one of the only notebooks you can buy in the store w/ a separate graphics card). It's sad because just as Apple deals with a bunch of the old critiques they find themselves on the wrong side of a bunch of others. —bguirk |
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anobody |
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Saturday, January 12, 2008 at 3:09 PM
Edited Saturday, January 12, 2008 at 3:09 PM Very true. What does the Apple have that mine doesn't? It's hard to say exactly without knowing what you got or when, but generally speaking, other companies skimp a little bit on everything to keep their costs down. The CPU tends to be an iteration older and less powerful. Ditto bus and RAM speeds, hard drive capacity (and often speed), graphics chip / RAM / speed and connection. To be fair, most of those things won't matter that much if you're not doing compute-intensive stuff (or gaming). It's usually a pain in the ass, but you can try to go through spec-by-spec and match the notebook you bought with a current MacBook and see the differences. If you love it it's definitely worth it and Apple's OS needs less RAM That actually touches on one area where Apple anally rapes people without lube - memory. I got a MacBook Pro over the summer. I do a lot of memory intensive simulations and analysis so I wanted 4 gigs (which, it turns out, still isn't enough and I end up swapping out to the hard drive far too often). Anyway, it was cheaper to buy the MacBook Pro with 2 gigs, throw those out (or, in my case, give them to my sister), and then get 4 gigs from a third party than to upgrade from 2 gigs to 4 through Apple... in fact, not just a little cheaper, but by a factor of around 3-4x, if memory serves. —anobody |
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miyagi-sama |
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Saturday, January 12, 2008 at 6:32 PM Apple:
Gateway: Intel® Core™2 Duo mobile processor with 800MHz frontside bus, 4MB shared L2 cache and 2.0GHz processor speed A little slower, still Core2 Duo 1GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 2GB DDR2 DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive Dual Layer DVD+/-RW with Labelflash (Gateways version of lightscribe) 80GB 5400rpm hard drive 160GB 5400rpm hard drive Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 graphics processor same card 2 USB 2.0 ports 4 USB 2.0 ports Built-in webcam Built-in webcam. Not sure what the Apple's resolution is The only hardware it has that mine doesn't is a firewire port, I'd rather have the 2 extra USB ports.
—miyagi-sama |
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anobody |
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Saturday, January 12, 2008 at 9:25 PM Lets examine this, shall we? A little slower, still Core2 Duo What exactly does "A little slower" mean? Well... I'm guessing you're talking about the M-150x (which, incidentally, starts at $699 after "saving" $200 off of the list of $899 by sending in a manufacturer's rebate coupon). In that case, what you actually have is a "Intel Dual Core Processor" (not a Core2 Duo) running at 1.46GHz, with a 1MB of L2 cache and 533MHz front side bus (that's not a little slower, it's a whole hell of a lot slower). 80GB 5400rpm hard drive 160GB 5400rpm hard drive Double the hard drive capacity? Then you missed 802.11b/g Wireless vs 802.11a/b/g/n for the Apple Also 10/100 mbps ethernet (vs 10/100/100 for the Apple) and one last little thing - 15 pin VGA output (vs miniDVI) —anobody |
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miyagi-sama |
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Saturday, January 12, 2008 at 9:42 PM I don't have an M-150x, and it has a T5250, which is still not as good as the Apple's processor but it's irrelevant - even running graphics heavy games I'm using a fraction of the processor. Double the hard drive capacity? Yes. 802.11b/g Wireless
and one last little thing - 15 pin VGA output (vs miniDVI)
You're right. Both would be nice but I don't miss them at all. But, if you really want to get into specifics then I don't believe the Apple has:
5 in 1 card reader
Type 54 Expresscard —miyagi-sama |
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anfernee |
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Sunday, January 13, 2008 at 2:59 PM i heard about that on adam's show last week. i'm happy for kathy, she's an awesome person. That was not an entertaining segment, Kathy blowing hard about the Woz and her old mother... —anfernee |
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bguirk |
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Monday, January 14, 2008 at 8:06 PM bump. are you counting the hours ano? http://daringfireball.net/2008/01/macworld_expo_predictions
I'll just say here and now that Apple should take that piece of shit Apple TV and pretend it never ever happened for about a million reasons, but especially this one.
—bguirk |
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anobody |
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Monday, January 14, 2008 at 8:48 PM bump. are you counting the hours ano? You know I am (it's gonna be hard to get to sleep tonight :-) Apple should take that piece of shit Apple TV Can't argue with the Neuros, but my biggest complaint against the Apple TV is that it's only 720p (though I kinda suspect that they'll upgrade to 1080p tomorrow when they announce their iTunes movie rental service). —anobody |
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bguirk |
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Monday, January 14, 2008 at 8:50 PM i think i'll be in class for the keynote. It'll be fun to see who's hitting the refresh button. —bguirk |
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anfernee |
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Monday, January 14, 2008 at 8:51 PM meh, almost everything is in 720p, barely anything is actually broadcast in 1080p as of today, y'know? btw, scott, you're on A&E right now on Intervention, I didn't know you were addicted to meth? —anfernee |
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anobody |
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Monday, January 14, 2008 at 8:52 PM
Edited Monday, January 14, 2008 at 8:54 PM i think i'll be in class for the keynote. It'll be fun to see who's hitting the refresh button. Now most of the sites use some Web 2.0 scripting to update periodically (it saves you from having to hit refresh and it keeps their servers from getting quite so hammered). meh, almost everything is in 720p, barely anything is actually broadcast in 1080p as of today, y'know? Just because most things aren't doesn't mean they shouldn't be. Anyway, I hate the idea of spending a couple of hundred bucks on a box that is hardware limited to something that I know is going to be upgraded in the near future (UHDTV excepted). btw, scott, you're on A&E right now on Intervention, I didn't know you were addicted to meth? I had to get on TV somehow... that just seemed the most expedient way. —anobody |
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anfernee |
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Monday, January 14, 2008 at 8:58 PM I have a Sony Bravia that's capable of full 1080p with a Comcast HD box, but fucking barely anything is even in HD! It's super frustrating, cause after you experience HD it's super hard to go back to regular TV, so I get stuck watching grainy quality shows, when at LEAST all the primetime shows, movies, and sports should be broadcast in HD. Watching Lost in Blu Ray in 1080p makes the show 1000x better, I swear. It should be the standard! —anfernee |
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adams_babymomma |
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Monday, January 14, 2008 at 9:01 PM
Edited Monday, January 14, 2008 at 9:01 PM ano-when do you predict that all cell phones will only come in itouch or just have a touch screen my tech and comm prof. saidthat by next year 80% of drivers will have a navigation in thier car. —adams_babymomma |
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anobody |
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Monday, January 14, 2008 at 9:12 PM after you experience HD it's super hard to go back to regular TV Very true (though I'd think your frustration would make you appreciate why I want 1080p). ano-when do you predict that all cell phones will only come in itouch or just have a touch screen I think it'll be awhile (although I'm sure touch screens will slowly become ubiquitous on everything with a display). my tech and comm prof. saidthat by next year 80% of drivers will have a navigation in thier car. That's just nucking futz. Not even 80% of new cars will have a navigation system (and I don't imagine that enough people are going to be buying Magellans or TomToms to make up the difference). —anobody |
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bguirk |
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Monday, January 14, 2008 at 10:09 PM I suspect his expertise is more on the comm and less on the tech. I'm in a tech program and no one has said jack about that. Think about how many people in Europe are reluctant to give up stick shifts--why would Americans want to give up control? —bguirk |
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anobody |
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Monday, January 14, 2008 at 10:34 PM Not quite the same thing, but I do think that eventually all cars will have autopilot. Some of the high-end cars already have cruise control that follows the car in front of you, and the DARPA urban challenge showed that you can already do a decent job of building systems to navigate and drive a car around a city. Fast forward a few years and you start getting cars that can valet park themselves and pick you up at the curb when you're ready to leave. A few more years after that and you've got cars that can take you home from the bar or drive your grandmother around town (saving her and everyone else from her driving while still giving her some freedom). Once that stuff gets a foothold and people start getting used to it, it's only a matter of time before it becomes a standard feature in common use. —anobody |
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bguirk |
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Monday, January 14, 2008 at 10:40 PM 80% will have GPS? That's not even close to happening. I wish 80% of rental cars would have it. I pretty much know where I'm going. If I lived in NYC or LA maybe, but in the towns I live in? You would have to try really hard to get lost. —bguirk |
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anobody |
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Monday, January 14, 2008 at 10:51 PM Look who just showed up :-) I'd say the same thing about Phoenix since it's on a nice grid, but even considering that and that I've got a damn good sense of direction, in the week or so I've had GPS in my car, I've really enjoyed it. If you're going to somebody's house for the first time and the streets aren't labeled well, it'll let you know where Chicago street is (which is especially useful when Chicago street becomes Milky Way Ave by the time it connects to the major road you're coming from and there's no way to tell that you should have turned down Milky Way when you were looking for Chicago). It's also very nice when you're in a strange town with your dog and you want to find a P-A-R-K (or any other point of interest). And if you get a nice one with real time traffic data, it can dynamically re-route you around the bit of freeway that's slowed to a stand-still because of a crash. —anobody |
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bguirk |
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Monday, January 14, 2008 at 10:56 PM
Edited Monday, January 14, 2008 at 11:00 PM And if you get a nice one with real time traffic data, it can dynamically re-route you around the bit of freeway that's slowed to a stand-still because of a crash. i'd go for that. I take it for granted that i haven't been in a traffic jam since I moved here. edit--I take it back. I ride the bus nearly everywhere during rush hours. —bguirk |
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bguirk |
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Tuesday, January 15, 2008 at 1:40 PM I hate to say it Ano, but meh. The new notebook is sweet, but I'm not in the market until it gets below 2k. The rest of it? Apple TV is still a redundant piece of crap (why not get a used mac mini?), the i-phone update was mostly google's doing. meh. —bguirk |
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anobody |
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Tuesday, January 15, 2008 at 4:27 PM
Edited Tuesday, January 15, 2008 at 4:38 PM hate to say it Ano, but meh. Gee... somehow I'm not exactly surprised :) Think we've safely established that you're not exactly in the target demo, though. MacBook Air actually is available for under 2k (though if you want the solid state drive, you do need to fork over another k for 14GB less). Even so, I'd almost buy one today (though I was really hoping for something with a tactile touch pad / keyboard... guess I'll have to wait a few more years for that). The rentals seem pretty cool to me, though I do have to admit that Vudu does it better (especially considering that the updated Apple TV hardware is still only 720p and you have to pay five bucks a pop just to get that). If it was 1080p, I would have bought one to go with my new giant flat screen, but now I'm just going to wait (if I ever get one at all). I'm a little nervous about Time Capsule (it's very cool, and the price is actually very good, but I bought an Airport Extreme base station and an external hard drive before Leopard came out and which ended up not being officially supported; I'm going to be slightly pissed if they don't do a software update that lets me use the stuff I've got... I think they will, but I still worry a little bit) The iPhone update was underwhelming.... I guess the 3G iPhone 2.0 won't come for another 6 months or so, which is a shame, but I guess not that big of a deal. Positioning in Google Maps is a pretty big deal though (as is the soon to be released third party iPhone SDK which Jobs just barely mentioned). —anobody |
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bguirk |
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Tuesday, January 15, 2008 at 8:41 PM
Gee... somehow I'm not exactly surprised :) Think we've safely established that you're not exactly in the target demo, though. how dare you. I own 3 ipods and would have gotten a macbook had HP not had a $200 off coupon for a computer with some slightly better specs. Up until last week I had a leopard dual boot running on my HP (I just joined the campus Ubuntu group so that's my new backup). I have zero problem with Apple computing--I just don't think the UI is as all that as it used to be. The i-phone and treating their customers like crap got my dander up (especially bricking the people who installed 3rd party stuff). Apple TV is a compromised piece of crap anchored to the itunes store. How can you put a 40 GB HD next to a TV and not offer DVR functionality? Why should I pay for The Office from itunes when I should be able to just save it on my A-TV? As apple starts to move more towards consumer electronics they need to start thinking of the policy part of their design as much as the engineering--so far they have come down on the wrong side of a bunch of policy decisions. They're a huge player and I just wish Jobs would stop compromising and throw his weight around more. —bguirk |
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anobody |
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Tuesday, January 15, 2008 at 10:00 PM how dare you. I own 3 ipods and would have gotten a macbook had HP not had a $200 off coupon for a computer with some slightly better specs. Up until last week I had a leopard dual boot running on my HP (I just joined the campus Ubuntu group so that's my new backup). I think you actually just proved my point. Their demographic either wants to or (at least) is willing to pay a little extra to get Apple hardware and they're not selling their OS to people who run a cracked version of it on third party hardware. I just don't think the UI is as all that as it used to be Other than the worthless "reflecting Dock" and little glowing orbs that look remarkably similar to reflections on it, I think they still do a great job with UIs. The i-phone and treating their customers like crap got my dander up (especially bricking the people who installed 3rd party stuff). As an iPhone owner who unlocked their phone, I'd say that (a) they were warning people not to update because it might brick their phone (though it generally didn't) because they can't reasonably be expected to make their update interoperate with unauthorized third party modifications and (b) if you're the sort of jackass who voids your warranty by screwing with your phone's software, you should be fully aware that something might break and take responsibility for your actions if it does. If you aren't aware of the risk or you don't accept it, then you have no business modifying your stuff. Somehow magically my unlocked iPhone is in perfect working order (not a coincidence). Apple TV is a compromised piece of crap anchored to the itunes store Other than the 720p, that's not true at all. You can use an Apple TV quite well without purchasing anything from the iTunes store (apparently watching free video podcasts and garbage from YouTube is the major use of it by far). Why should I pay for The Office from itunes when I should be able to just save it on my A-TV? I agree (which is why I don't buy The Office). OTOH - you're paying for it *without commercials*. When you TiVo it, you might be skipping the commercials, but by doing so, you're screwing with NBC's revenue model that pays for programming like The Office. The one thing that really sucks about that is that the per-viewer ad revenue for a show like The Office is *way* less than two bucks (it's not even close to that for the most expensive ad time on TV). They're a huge player and I just wish Jobs would stop compromising and throw his weight around more I think you underestimate how much he already does throw his weight around. If he didn't compromise as little as he does, he'd never get the major studios and labels to agree to put their content on iTMS (and even as it is, he's got NBC and others jumping ship). I think you also underestimate how many people make enough money that 2 bucks an episode or 5 bucks for a new release 720p video rental doesn't seem unreasonable. It may seem crazy to you and I, but to plenty of people it's perfectly reasonable and well worth it for the convenience. They are the demo he's going after (and they're the ones who are happily going to fork over 3k for a first generation MacBook Air with a solid state drive). —anobody |
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bguirk |
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Tuesday, January 15, 2008 at 10:18 PM I think they still do a great job with UIs. I don't think they do a bad job with UI's--it's just not as head and shoulders above the other one as it used to be. I think it's time for an overhaul. FWIW I really like Linux Sugar--especially how it represents networks and how moving your mouse to certain borders on the screen causes different behaviors. I think you also underestimate how many people make enough money that 2 bucks an episode or 5 bucks for a new release 720p video rental doesn't seem unreasonable. Even though my cheapness is legendary, up until 2007 we were making plenty of money and in that demo. I have a ton of apple friends who hate A-TV and have just stuck a Mac Mini next to their TV and along with a torrent subscription service they have ended their cable bill. which brings me to... I think you underestimate how much he already does throw his weight around. If he didn't compromise as little as he does, he'd never get the major studios and labels to agree to put their content on iTMS (and even as it is, he's got NBC and others jumping ship). I'm impressed at what he gets done, but overall I think he gives up far too much product control just to support this model where Apple is some sort of content conduit through i-tunes. Their products already look the best and are engineered the best--even the most fervent apple dorks have issues with itunes. Be content neutral or don't enter into big agreements with the BMG's/NBC's of the world and just make the best product. I can't come up with anything better than the Macbook Air. I say this as an Apple stockholder--Stick to making the best hardware and leave the content up to everyone else. —bguirk |
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anobody |
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Tuesday, January 15, 2008 at 10:39 PM it's just not as head and shoulders above the other one as it used to be Meh. I've used both Vista and Leopard and I believe that I can objectively say that OS X still is way ahead of Windows. Just take Exposé vs Flip 3D for example. Flip 3D looks kinda cool and all, but it wastes a huge amount of screen real estate, it shrinks things down and overlaps them no matter how many or few windows you have open, and it generally misses the point. I could go on for a half hour just about that and that example is completely typical of the differences. really like Linux Sugar Really? Seems great as a cheap and easy stand-in for OLPC, but it kinda looks like crap to me. especially how it represents networks and how moving your mouse to certain borders on the screen causes different behaviors Fitt's Law (menu bar in OS X, hot corners, hiding/showing the start bar in Windows / the Dock in Mac OS X). Even though my cheapness is legendary, up until 2007 we were making plenty of money and in that demo Making money and willingness to spend money are two different things. I suspect that you could make millions a year and still not be in the demo. That's not a bad thing or a judgment against you - you're probably better off for it, but it definitely means that your perspective isn't the same as the person who is going to go after their stuff. even the most fervent apple dorks have issues with itunes I'm not even sure what that means. I like Apple, but I'm not a huge fan of their pricing model for music videos, TV shows or movies. That still hasn't stopped them from outselling every other online store for videos, TV shows and movies though, so obviously there are plenty of people out there who are willing to overlook whatever issues they may have with iTunes. Stick to making the best hardware and leave the content up to everyone else Apple has never been just a hardware company - they make the experience. I don't think there's any way to make an iPod that "Just Works" without also making iTunes, and by extension, the iTMS. Once you've done that, you can either go the TiVo route and beg to be sued into oblivion by copyright holders, or you can try to work out some sort of mutually beneficial arrangement with them... which brings you back to where they are. As far as being content neutral, anyone who cares to can make their stuff available for free or for sale through iTMS or YouTube. —anobody |
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hash-is-gay |
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Wednesday, January 16, 2008 at 1:12 AM I'd take a fat shit on the iphone. But I do want an iBod. —hash-is-gay |
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bguirk |
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Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 12:04 AM So David Pogue of the New York times threw a little water on the Macbook Air today. His write up is a nice discussion of the trade offs. I'd link, but I use the Times Reader that doesn't offer up links and I'm sure the interested can find it. Apparently it's the slowest macbook they make at the moment, has poor wire connectivity, and he came about as close to calling the flash drive vaporware as you can come without actually doing it. He spends too much time on the lack of a opti-drive which is something I think is a bonus. I think the thing is amazing, but unless you work in the valley you should wait until 2.0. Still can't wait to head to the Apple Store and check it out. —bguirk |
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anobody |
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Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 8:17 AM
Edited Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 8:18 AM I'm guessing you mean this (apologies if the link doesn't work; registration required). Most of those 'problems" are design considerations. It is the slowest MacBook Apple makes... but it's actually a lot faster than any comparable product. Not having an ethernet port saves space and mass for the port and the required electronics, encourages people to set up wireless (if they haven't already), and is generally consistent with my experience which has been not to use the ethernet port on my MacBook Pro at all in the last several years. The lack of an optical drive is neither here nor there. Like the ethernet port, it's just heralding things to come. People bitched when Apple got rid of 3.5 inch floppy drives too, and now most computers don't have 'em. I've used the DVD player in my current MacBook Pro about 4 times - once to play a movie that was scratched and wouldn't work in my main DVD player, and the rest to install software. Movies are moving to downloads (legal or illegal), and software is slowly starting to do the same. If, for some reason, you really need an optical drive, there's a tiny external one available for about a hundred bucks - which is chicken feed if you're buying a subnotebook that starts at $18k ($16 if you're a student). If push comes to shove, you can also use the optical drive on a networked Mac or PC. unless you work in the valley you should wait until 2.0. I don't think you understand the psychology of early adopters :-) The only reason I haven't already pre-ordered one is that I've got about a hundred-thirty gigs of stuff on my hard drive as it is and the idea of having to sift through all of that and be stuck with a tiny subset seems like a pain in the ass to me. ... which brings me to the solid state drive. His "vaporware" is just an early generation of something that's going to grow explosively over the next 5-to-10 years. The people who fork over an extra k for that are funding the future where capacities double faster than Moore's law, and prices plummet. Within a decade, mechanical hard drives are going to start to disappear (except in niche applications). When you consider that just a few years ago, you'd pay several k for a solid state drive that fit in a five-and-a-quarter inch slot and only held a gig or two, and now they're to something that fits in a one-point-eight inch slot, holds sixty-four gigs, and costs less than a thousand bucks, it doesn't take much foresight to see where things are headed. Then there's the sealed battery, which I don't think you mentioned but he brought up. Up to my current notebook, I've always spent an extra hundred or two to get a spare battery.... which would then set on my desk slowly dying from disuse until I finally got rid of the notebook. At best, maybe once I'd go on a flight and want the spare... although now the FAA kinda frowns on that and planes increasingly have power jacks for people to plug into. The same is true of the batteries in my last three-to-four cell phones (which is why I didn't exactly sweat the iPhone not having a user replaceable battery). Battery life does slowly decline with use, and if you kept the computer for more than a few years, you might want to replace it. Fortunately, Apple offers a service to do that which is actually cheaper than just getting a spare for the current MacBook Pros. Not only that but I'd say that for well over ninty-five percent of the Air's market, the thing will only be used for a couple of years at most anyway (and then, hopefully, sent in to be recycled, or sold / given to someone who will appreciate it). Needless to say, I finally learned my lesson, and didn't get a spare for my current MacBook Pro (a decision that I haven't regretted yet, and I don't expect that I ever will). I'm sure there are a very small minority of people who just have to have a spare or two, and can't plug the computer in to a jack on the wall, or on a plane or in their car or wherever they happen to be... well... clearly the MacBook Air isn't for them. Somehow I don't think Jobs is exactly going to lose sleep over that. All of that considered, I strongly suspect that Pogue is just trying to find a negative spin to draw readers (though, having read the article, he didn't really seem that negative to me). What I really look forward to is something that takes all of his complaints to an extreme - something with no ports at all and that's hermetically sealed. Wireless power and network, you can take it swimming with you in the ocean and then pop it out to check your email (if you want). Probably not too much of a market for that, but (for a phone, especially), I'd love the ability to just walk into the ocean on a whim and not have to worry about getting the damned thing wet. I'd take a fat shit on the iphone What a coincidence - I use mine as a suppository. —anobody |
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bguirk |
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Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 9:30 AM I don't think you understand the psychology of early adopters :-) The only reason I haven't already pre-ordered one is that I've got about a hundred-thirty gigs of stuff on my hard drive as it is and the idea of having to sift through all of that and be stuck with a tiny subset seems like a pain in the ass to me. ... which brings me to the solid state drive. His "vaporware" is just an early generation of something that's going to grow explosively over the next 5-to-10 years. Oh trust me--I have the soul of an early adopter. I've just learned over the years to temper it. I donated double sided DVD/Laserdisc player to the youth hostel in my neighborhood before I moved. I have a drawer Handspring Visors from when they first came out and I thought they'd save my wife and I. I dropped a load for the folding keyboard. I wasn't referring to vaporware in that it'll never work (my XO uses flash in place of a trad. HD) --just that it seemed like he was hinting that it's not ready for order right now or at least it's closer to beta that the regular HD versaion. The news that they hadn't benched it and couldn't point to performance gains supported this. I thought the $130 battery swap thing was a bit misleading too--he needed to price it out along with traditional batter replacement. Apple will probably offer a special 3 year warranty with a battery replacement included--it's not a bad deal. Read another article on the Air this morning (Slate? Salon? Can't remember) bemoaning the fact that it doesn't have constant internet access ala the iPhone. Wah. It would be nice to have, but I probably need to be less connected and the price the companies that offer you that service at rarely justifies the extra-connected time unless you can expense account it. —bguirk |
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anobody |
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Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 3:58 PM just that it seemed like he was hinting that it's not ready for order right now or at least it's closer to beta that the regular HD versaion Nothing beta about it - it's just *way* too expensive to be competitive at this point. Access times for flash have never been exceedingly fast, so it shouldn't be surprising that it's not incredibly fast (though you would expect it to help with the battery life a bit). bemoaning the fact that it doesn't have constant internet access ala the iPhone. Wah Yeah - there was a rumor that it'd have WiMax (I'm sure that or something like it will come but it probably killed the form factor and power consumption, and the coverage just isn't there yet). I'm sure that eventually ubiquitous wireless broadband will be as cheap as wired broadband is (I can hardly wait). —anobody |
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