The Mac gets dissed

I saw a computer ad on TV yesterday where this guy was searching for the perfect computer. He says he has up to $1500 to spend. He looks at some Netbook computers and dismisses them as toys. He picks up an Apple laptop and says they look cool but he needs a computer with some real computing capabilities. Then he walks out with a Windows computer and says something to the effect, "he has all the computer he needs". And leaves a happy customer.

I was shocked how they blatantly diss the Mac in the Ad. Implying it looks good but is lacking in ability. What a crock.

Saw Netbooks in person

I saw a few Netbooks in person at Best Buy the other day. They look like toy computers. They are about half the size of a regular computer, just scaled down. The prices were only about $250 but I didn't get the feeling like their was a lot of value in them. It seems that every so often there is an attempt to make these mini computers but they don't sell well. It is more a novelty.

After you bring it home, you end up becoming aware of all the limitations you have with the mini computer. I think the only reason they are selling now is the low price. It is about the price of a periferal like a printer or external hard drive used to cost. I can't see it replacing the needs of a regular computer. It is probably more of an extra computer for the road. It gives you the ability to check the internet while away from home and is small enough to pack easily.

I remember back in about the year 2000, this guy I worked with bought a mini computer made by Sony. Everything was scaled down with mini keys and a mini screen. It was a novelty but back then they cost about $800. So it was an expensive novelty. I think they sold only a dozen of these.

Apple Netbook, is it a possibility?

Have you heard about the latest craze in laptop computers? Its the Netbook. It all started with a small company that wanted to make a simple computer which could access the internet with minimal capabilities and sell for $100 so that people all over the world would be able to afford it. Well it cost a little more than $100, more like $250-$300 but it sold like hotcakes and not just to third world customers.
This caught the eye of the big computer manufacturers and now almost all of them have a version. It has a low power Intel chip called the Atom, no hard drive only a flash drive (about 8GB) and can connect to the internet. The market has grown to the point that about 12% of all laptops are now these Netbooks. The computer is very small with a 7in diagonal screen and a miniature keyboard.

A lot of people like them because it is an inexpensive way to connect to the internet, and with a lot of applications now running off the internet gives you an inexpensive computer. The first ones were Linux based to keep costs down, but MS has released an XP version.

Apple has yet to get into this market, but it could be said that the iPhone and iTouch are almost a Netbook only smaller. Maybe Apple will release a larger iTouch to compete in this new market. The problem is that the margins are low for this type of device. Kind of like the entry level car market.

MacFan is now a Touch owner!

It was a complete surprise when I received a new iPod Touch with 32 Gb of memory. I honestly was not expecting it, and let me say I am truly in mobile computing heaven! Stitch, it's absolutely awesome. It kicks butt as an iPod, I can check and manage email easily and on the go, most web sites I like have mobile versions, and it goes on and on. I feel absolutely blessed to have this wonderful device.

And with the coming if iPhone OS 3.0, it will get even better. Stitch, life is beautiful!

Uproar over new Shuffle

So, what do you think of the new Shuffle? There is an uproar over the relocated controls to the earbud cord.

I don't understand why people are so upset. Apple routinely make design changes to appeal to their customers. For the vast majority of us who use shuffles (that includes myself and the wife), the notion of using a simple three button controller makes sense. It's always oriented in the same way if it's on the cord, and I don't see it as difficult to use! One click for play and pause, two clicks to advance. It's simple! And I think we are unnecessarily looking down on the general population to think they can't easily learn how to use the voice over feature.

I do understand the complaint about having to use the earbuds. But Apple and 3rd party manufacturers have already said that there are solutions coming out.

I just don't get it. You buy the shuffle so that it will be as out of the way and simple as possible - not to hook into your stereo! What's your take?

Woz on DWT stars?!

Is it true that Steve Wozniak is really going to be on Dancing with the Stars TV show?

Apple Announcements

What do you think of Apple's announcements today? New versions of everything, just about. I think this was just an update, and it was not meant to reveal anything earth shattering. The new Mac mini is great, but it's still the same machine without any new ground breaking features.

I have the feeling something amazing is in the works. I just think Apple will wait until they get it right. What's your take on the announcements?

Jobs on medical leave

Have you heard that Steve Jobs is now on medical leave until June 2009? Hopefully Steve will be able to nurse himself back to good health and put an end to the rumors that he is dying. Its getting to be like when the Beatles were popular and everyone thought there was a hidden message that Paul was dead. Like the Abbey Road album cover where Paul is the only one leading with his right leg. This must mean something! Ahhhh.

The Storm is no iPhone

Check out the link:

Storm, Shmorm

Apparently the Storm hasn't taken the world by Storm! I don't know - I think it has some redeeming features, but it's hard to compare it to the silky smooth operation of the iPhone. Apple has quite a head start, and I think they will continue on the innovation train. By the way, Macworld reviewers were fairly positive toward the Storm - should I dump my subscription?

Zune lost millions!

Check out the link:

Zune Loses

I guess the Zune lost a few bucks recently! I even heard that Ballmer hinted they might phase out the Zune. I gotta tell you, I wouldn't be shedding any tears for the Zune's demise. Brought in as an utterly inferior product, marginally improved, and forever playing catchup with the entire iPod line (including the Touch), I can't say I'll miss it!

Microsoft to lay off 5000

Stitch, check out the link:

Layoff MS

Man, I never thought I would see this! I still remember when we had layoffs at AlliedSignal, how I wished I was at one of the technology companies that was hiring. It shows how bad the economy is right now. A layoff of 5000 is pretty substantial, and the sooner these people are absorbed at other companies, the better. It's just so surprising to see something like this. Fortunately, although Apple may lay off some people at some point, the balance sheet is pretty healthy!

Macworld Final Comments

Although there was some grumbling about this Macworld being sub par, I kind of feel this was an average Macworld. I believe that several times new versions of iWork and iLife have been introduced at Macworld, and this one was no different. I was actually rather impressed at their continuing innovation regarding those two software packages. For example, while Garageband didn't get much that is crazy cool ( music lessons are very welcome, but it's not like you can't get software that does the same thing elsewhere), please consider the iPhoto face recognition feature. Now I haven't personally used it, but it sounds pretty darn impressive, and it has received kudos from several reviewers. In fact, I don't know how Apple continues to come up with new ideas for these software packages. And iMovie really has some nice added features that I argue are not the same thing everyone else has.

I admit the new powerbook was more or less the updating of the 17 inch version to what the Macbook has, albeit a lot more powerful.

I suspect the groundbreakers will take place only in the "invitation only" events from now on. Were you disappointed?

Macworld Hype

Is it my imagination, or is there less hype than in the past regarding the Expo? I just think everyone knows the Expo is on its last legs. Nevertheless, I'm hoping for some very cool stuff from Apple. I hereby renew my demand for the Mac Mini to become something great! What do you hope for, Stitch?

Jobs finds cause of weightloss

Jobs has come out with a statement that his doctors have found out why he has been losing weight. Some sort of protein deficiency where his body cannot process proteins properly. He says that he has started therapy for it and should be better by summer if all goes well. This news even gave the Apple stock a boost.

Apple's absence from Macworld

What do you think of Apple not participating in Macworld anymore? It's so hard for me to thing of Macworld continuing when Apple doesn't participate. My first thought was what a lot of others were saying - Macworld is dead. Honestly Apple doesn't need Macworld anymore in my opinion. With the developers conference and all the special events, why do they have to present something at Macworld anymore? And I also think that having to do something every January doesn't always mesh with the product cycles, so it actually makes sense to me.

But I'm a Mac-head! It's hard for me to see the demise of the Macworld Expo! What's your take?

New Mac Mini?

Rumor has it that Apple will refresh its much ballyhooed Mac Mini at Macworld:

Mac Mini Refresh

Will this be a major announcement? Will it be a game changer? I think Apple does have an opportunity to hit the Mac Mini out of the park! What do you think would make it a huge winner?

Amazon MP3 Download service a distant second!

It surprised me that the Amazon download service has not picked up a big head of steam:

Amazon Download

When I shop at Amazon, it is incredibly convenient to download the MP3 tracks they offer, and if you have an Amazon account I think it is laughably simple! It seems like a really good service, so I'm happy that iTunes is still top dog. Apple does have a nice position in that if you use their iTunes software for organizing music, it is just a click away from shopping the iTunes music store.

You are probably right, Stitch, in that the DRM just isn't a huge factor. I mean, Amazon is currently selling these tracks DRM free, so maybe it just isn't the must have feature (no DRM) for digital music buyers. Most of us really don't care - I know I don't. As long as I can play them on my iPod and burn discs I want, I really don't care. How about you guys?

Coolest Microsoft Application

I will be the first to admit that for the most part virtually everything from Microsoft as far as software goes has been pretty much a pain to use. Usually bloated with rarely used features and odd interfaces, making it a chore to use. But I believe this latest application called PhotoSynth is groundbreaking. It comes from a part of MS called Live Labs. Which I guess is a technology research area. This program allows you to take a set of still photographs which have some overlap in some way. And the program interprets there spacial relationships. Then allowing the user to view the photos by moving from one to another as if moving through 3D space. As if you were walking around the scene from the photographers viewpoint. It does all this automatically without any special photography equipment. It also allows you link pictures that are taken at different zoom levels. Check out the video in the link.

Link to article

One other interesting point is that this will be MS's first iPhone application. The comment was that the iPhone has sophisticated graphics which allow for porting this application to the iPhone. Other mobile phones do not have this capability.

Windows Market Share below 90%

For the first time in a long time, Windows market share has dipped below 90%:

Marketshare

So it appears the Microsoft stranglehold is loosening a little. Apple is growing. The trends point in the right direction. Will it keep going that way?

iPhone pinch feature missing in knockoff

Have you noticed that the iPhone pinch feature for zooming has not been found on the iPhone knockoffs? My guess is that Apple made sure that they had a lockdown on the patents for this feature so others could not simply copy it. It seems equivalent to the iPod scroll wheel which the iPod knockoffs tried to make dummy scroll wheels but were not allowed by the patents to duplicate it identically. This gave the iPod an unique advantage in marketing since the concept was such a hit with consumers. I believe that the pinch feature is the iPhone equivalent which keeps the iPhone on the cutting edge.
I can see the reviews of the iPhone knockoffs saying, "it has a touch screen, but I miss the pinch zoom feature of the iPhone".