Out of curiosity, why did you convert? What reasons are "dwindling" away?
The mac offered a powerful operating system with excellent hardware and a good GUI on top. Removing feature sets and limiting choices begins to lower the value to the point of linux. Because of the limitations in feature sets the weaknesses of linux (The GUI and device compatibility) are quickly beginning to be less important than this weakness in Mac. It would be a very difficult choice for me now if my current system breaks and I have to decide what to do. The new machines simply do not have the features that I want in a computer and Apple apparently has no plans to change that. In fact, they seem to be making it clear they will be reducing my choices in the future - making it even more risky to choose them now.
I don't think anything competes with iPhone in terms of overall EXPERIENCE.
I'd agree with that in general.
Sure, there are many great products out there, but how many integrate with one's computer (well, certainly one's Mac) as well as the iPhone? How many are as downright simple and easy to learn and use? I use my iPhone all day long. It's an awesome communication device. It does exactly what I want and doesn't bother me with a bunch of "features" I care nothing for in the first place. The App Store is fantastic. I love the simple and effortless process of buying and updating apps. Again, nothing compares.
The apple store is limited by the over-controlling "mother-ship" as you call it. Other products will not have this problem and therefore have the potential to quickly out-do the iPhone.
Yes, copy and paste would be nice. Sure. But is it a deal breaker?
Yes, if you intend to use it for more than a chatbox.
Not by a mile, in my book. I don't want to use my iPhone as a full-fledged laptop replacement (although it's certainly possible). In my mind, the iPhone is all about communication, be it text, voice, email, etc. I have no interest in editing Word files on that tiny screen, for example, but composing a quick email? Absolutely! And for such tasks, I think the iPhone excels.
For it's price it is a crime that you cannot use it as a laptop replacement. It should be possible to hook a full-size keyboard and monitor up to it. There is NO reason why this should not be available except for the direction that Apple is going. That is my comlaint.
As an aside, you may want to check out the excellent 1Password application. It's a better Keychain and features an iPhone client that can autofill your login and password info on the phone. It syncs with the desktop 1Password program too. Very nice!
I've owned it for a year. It does not work with half the sites I use because it doesn't integrate with safari. Another inexcusable problem with the iPhone. It also does not work with anything other than a website. It won't help me with a ssh password for example in one of those "amazing" app store apps rendering it nearly useless.
Faster chips, better video hardware, (apparent) hardware acceleration for H.264 video, a very nice, new, elegant form factor. Etc.
Not one of these is a new feature.
Ok, so they dropped FireWire from the MacBook. Get over it. FireWire is dead, sorry to say. If you absolutely NEED FireWire, get a MacBook Pro. Last time I checked, every computer in the MacBook line, save the Air, still offered an optical drive and wired network connection. Of course they dropped these features from the Air. That's the whole point of the computer!
The point is that they are removing features and not adding any. They are making their computers less flexible.
The multitouch trackpad is also very nice. Spend some time with it. Gestures are a welcome UI improvement. Don't simply dismiss it as "bling" because you don't get it.
Who said I didn't get it? I get it. But it doesn't add anything to the computer that I couldn't do before, it just makes it more pleasant or "fun".
The screen...well, that's a matter of preference. I personally like the glossy screen. Others don't. I get that. Unfortunately, when you buy Apple, sometimes you simply must accept the choices made by the mothership - and move on.
LOL Yeah, that describes the situation exactly. Ignore the fact that other computer makers are adding cutting edge features every day. eSata, BluRay, etc, etc, etc. Just accept the motherships directives. My point exactly. I do not like this trend of not adding new features, and simplifying the options to the point of reducing the usefulness of the computer. It isn't that bad yet, but I don't like the trend - it makes it harder to commit to Apple for the future.
As for BlueRay, well, there are third party drives available. Apple doesn't want to support it (yet) for some reason. Jobs repeatedly points to BlueRay licensing issues as the problem. Sony is notorious for being an impossible, controlling nightmare. You think Apple is bad? Ha. They have NOTHING on Sony. Personally, I don't give a crap about BlueRay. I refuse to buy a player and I couldn't care less if Apple adds it or not. I'm perfectly satisfied with the picture quality of regular DVDs on my HD TV. BlueRay looks awesome, sure. But I'll never invest in any proprietary technology from Sony.
Embrace the lack of options. Truly the "Apple" way these days.
Furthermore, I think Apple is right about the future of media distribution. Physical media is a pain. It's cumbersome, easily lost or damaged, and contributes more garbage to our landfills, never mind all the manufacturing-related carbon emissions. I'd much rather rent or buy my media online. The AppleTV box is a great little "hobby" as Jobs calls it. I have no doubt that it will mature into a very full-featured device that easily takes the place of a DVD player. Is it there yet? No. But I don't care. I'm not a media freak. I enjoy a good movie every now and then, but I'm not wasting my cash on buying DVDs that I might watch once or twice when I can just click the "Rent HD" button on my AppleTV and start watching.
Of course, having a choice is always a bad thing. Who needs the hassle?
In my mind, BlueRay is too little, too late. In 3 years, when we're consuming all of our media via the web, no one will care. People thought Jobs was crazy when he axed floppy drives. They thought he was crazy when he included the first erasable optical drive as standard equipment (long before most computers even had CD-ROM capability). And they think he's crazy now. But none of that changes the fact that he's right.
Again, choices are bad. Become one with the mothership.
