BLU-RAY On the Next Generation Mac Laptops: 2 "Pro" by 1 "Con"

[Hmac]

well it is effectively the monopoly in the sense that they bind there OSX (i like) to their hardware (i mostly dislike) only.
i do not see the problem to pay for OSX even more than for MS - but running on an arbitrary PC.
if they were more open-mided they would easily make more money on OSX than on their (often deficient) hardw.
perhaps there is even some conspiracy affair with Microsoft.

BTW, customer's demand for the OSX on non-apple comnputers would be another nice poll.

You're in a tough spot. Your choices are to buy hardware you like running an OS you don't like, or buy on OS you like that runs on hardware you don't like. Boy...that sucks.

Anyway, effectively a monopoly isn't the same thing as legally a monopoly. You don't have to use OSX if you don't like the terms of the contract they require you agree to (EULA) before using their copyrighted software. Apple's been down that OS licensing road to the brink of disaster and I'll bet you they aren't going down it again anytime soon. They're a hardware company (when it comes to computers). They'd lose a bundle. Anyway, even though it violates the EULA, you could still build a Hackintosh if you wanted. Probably unlikely that Steve will send anybody after you. Unless you try to make a business out of it, like Pystar.

Bottom line, Apple has no legal obligation to meet your hardware or software expectations. If enough people don't buy their stuff however, well, that's the way to get them to change their mind. So, your best option is to vote with your wallet and buy something else. Send Steve a message - buy an HP with Blu-ray.

 

[slyreptile]

but you effectively supported the "no BR at all" camp

In the poll, yes. In real life, no. I'm already running a blu-ray drive in my Mac Pro for ripping. Would be nice to have actual OS support though.

 

[quantm]

Effectively a monopoly isn't the same thing as legally a monopoly.

oh, sure. but any effective monopoly can be made a legal one by some political effort.
as i said, i do suppose that in this particular case, apple (& others who love to bind one product to another) can be forced to unbind their products by the lagislators. this is the theory. but sometimes - even in this unfair reality it happens in practice. that was partly done recently to undind the ties of the software giant to some hardware manufacturers... from the legal poit the situation with apple is just symmetric.

as i noticed before, the main poit in this legal regulations is to avoid spawning bureaucracy. and i believe there is a solution...

 

[quantm]

Bottom line, Apple has no legal obligation to meet your hardware or software expectations. If enough people don't buy their stuff however, well, that's the way to get them to change their mind. So, your best option is to vote with your wallet and buy something else. Send Steve a message - buy an HP with Blu-ray.

i do not perceive it as a postulate. me - the customer, is free to influence the manufacturer - even with the dedicated legal means, the manufacturer is free to protect itself against it by means of the leagal means either. who will win in each particular case - unknown in advance.

 

[Hmac]

oh, sure. but any effective monopoly can be made a legal one by some political effrot.
as i said, i do suppose that in this particular case, apple (& others who love to bind one product to another) can be forced to unbind their products by the lagislators. this is the theory. but sometimes - even in this unfair reality it happens in practice. that was partly done recently to undind the ties of the software giant to some hardware manufacturers... from the legal poit the situation with apple is just symmetric.

as i noticed before, the main poit in this legal regulations is to avoid spawning bureaucracy. and i believe there is a solution...

Right. Some legislator is going to sponsor viable legislation in congress that will force a particular business model on a company that has 8% of the computer market. Uh...no, I don't think so, and no, that wasn't done before to any company. As to the reality...given the current state of Blu Ray it IS fair. You just don't happen to like it.

The solution, as I said, is for you to send Apple a message with your wallet. Buy an HP. It's your only option if you want to be assured of having BluRay on your next computer.

 

[quantm]

Right.
The solution, as I said, is for you to send Apple a message with your wallet. Buy an HP. It's your only option if you want to be assured of having BluRay on your next computer.

i hate hp (vs. "dislike" apple). have you seen these Envy crap with the curve seams on the monitor and stupid texture on surface? for me, the only plus of this fright is the eSATA port.

PS i like Dell (Latitude)

 

[quantm]

Right. Some legislator is going to sponsor viable legislation in congress that will force a particular business model on a company that has 8% of the computer market. Uh...no, I don't think so, and no, that wasn't done before to any company. As to the reality...given the current state of Blu Ray it IS fair. You just don't happen to like it.
.

8% of the market (and 100% of the OSX market ) - i do not see the "smallness" issue here.
these villains from most of the governments are busy with much more crappy things.
and of course, in principle, it makes sense to "regulate" them before to take care of apple...

 

[Hmac]

8% of the market (and 100% of the OSX market ) - i do not see the "smallness" issue here.
these villains from most of the governments are busy with much more crappy things.
and of course, in principle, it makes sense to "regulate" them before to take care of apple...

LOL. That's like saying that General Motors has a monopoly because they have 100% of the Chevrolet market.

No, you won't get any legislative help on the Blu Ray issue. No one is going to pass a law that makes Apple put Blu Ray players in their computers. Especially as long as there are portable Blu Ray players you can plug in.

Dude! You're gonna have to get a Dell!

 

[quantm]

LOL. That's like saying that General Motors has a monopoly because they have 100% of the Chevrolet market.

No, you won't get any legislative help on the Blu Ray issue. No one is going to pass a law that makes Apple put Blu Ray players in their computers. Especially as long as there are portable Blu Ray players you can plug in.

Dude! You're gonna have to get a Dell!

1. man, 100% of OSX market is a joke - look at the "" in brackets . but 8% - i suppose it's in this particular case sufficient. because even 1% of the binding is in my opinion bad.

2. to force to support Blu-Rays on Mac Laptops - it is premature (though could make sense for the desktops).
to force to unbind OSX and Macs - that was the claim .

 

[Hmac]

1. man, 100% of OSX market is a joke - look at the "" in brackets . but 8% - i suppose it's in this particular case sufficient. because even 1% of bunding is in my opinion bad.

2. to force to support Blu-Rays on Mac Laptops - it is premature (though could make sense for the desktops).
to force to unbind OSX and Macs - that was the claim .

Yeah, you know that's not going to happen anytime soon either...

 

[quantm]

Dude! You're gonna have to get a Dell!

i do have one - XPS with BR at home. but for the work i need Unix. Linux - bad for me - cannot use MS- Word/Photoshop+X-Windows on one system. also, to support both Lin+Win is mess. Ubuntu 9.10 disappointed - heats the laptop like hell (>50*C).
most probably, i will have to cede to mac book pro - no other choice... bad

 

[quantm]

Yeah, you know that's not going to happen anytime soon either...

that is clear. but often it is productive to model alternative scenarios. for example i do not believe federal gov will be forever. and then it is good to have some scenarios...

 

[wikoogle]

I would be fine with them removing the optical drive if they use all of that space to squeeze in an extra hard drive, a kickass graphics card, more ports (hdmi etc), a better processor AND a bigger battery. As long as they update the OSX software to atleast decode blu ray video so that I could get an external blu ray drive

What I don't want to see is them leaving in the optical drive, but continueing to use dvd tech in it when everyone else has already started to move on to blu ray.

It's hard to tell the difference between 720p and 1080p on a smaller than 40" HDTV so it would be even harder on a small laptop display.

That statement right there is proof that you don't know what the hell you're talking about.

It's not the size of the tv that matters. It's how far you're sitting from the tv relative to it's size.

For a 40 inch tv, you have to sit eight feet away from it before you can not tell the difference between 1080p and 720p. Sit any closer and yes, you will note a difference. The closer you sit, the more significant the resolution downgrade from 1080p to 720p appears, even if the screen size shrinks.

At the distance most people sit from a laptop, ie. less than a foot, you can absolutely see a significant difference between 1080p and 720p on a 13 inch screen. If you have a computer with a screen capable of 1080p resolutions, just google 1080p vs. 720p images. Assuming your computer does have a 1080p capable screen, you will absolutely notice the difference.

But all that is irrelevent. DVDs play at 480p, NOT 720p. And you would have to be an absolute idiot to not realize that the jump from 480p to 720p is huge even on a 6 inch screen.

So even if you have to settle for blu rays playing at 720p. It would still be a HUGE upgrade in quality over a dvd of the same movie.

 

[gfiz]

seriously, all 58+ people who voted "no" need a head examination. What does the choice offering matter? You should welcome as many choices as possible, even if they don't interest you. It will only factor down prices of the lower costing choices over time, at the very least. Not to mention, your tastes, needs, wants can change over time... when PC user rip Apples users, it's for mentalities like the "no" voters in this poll...Steve says it's not Mac worthy, so damn the technology.

p.s. i have zero desire for blu-ray in my mbp...but i don't object to having the choice.

 

[Hmac]

seriously, all 58+ people who voted "no" need a head examination.

Seriously, what does it matter? It's a non-binding poll. Apple's not watching. It's not worth getting worked up over.

 

[quantm]

But all that is irrelevent. DVDs play at 480p, NOT 720p. And you would have to be an absolute idiot to not realize that the jump from 480p to 720p is huge even on a 6 inch screen.

So even if you have to settle for blu rays playing at 720p. It would still be a HUGE upgrade in quality over a dvd of the same movie.

the diffrerences 480p vs. 720p vs. 1080p are just noticeable physiologically

 

[quantm]

seriously, all 58+ people who voted "no" need a head examination. What does the choice offering matter? You should welcome as many choices as possible, even if they don't interest you.

i would say that the result is not too bad. if such a poll had some legal power, that the pro-BR-choice camp would win. there are many countries for which similar polls would show the inverse.

furthermore many in these countries seriously deny their right for referendums (those, imho, indeed decerve a head examination). even further, the referendum deniers wants to force others to deny their rights for referendums.