CES 2012 Kicks off Next Week: Gorilla Glass, Vizio, Windows Phone, Ultrabooks

[faroZ06]

The case of "It hasnt happened to me, so theres no way it could have happened to anyone else on the planet" sure is strong on this forum.

The back of my iPhone 4 scratched so severely that I had to have it replaced because any photos were just a haze of scratches, just from being in my pocket with nothing else, its why I have a huge chunky case on my 4S.

The iPod touch is very strong, actually. It's lighter and doesn't have the glass all around it. Still, a thin iPhone case is good enough.

A lot of people at my school broke their iPhone 4s (not 4s, plural of 4) on the retreat because they were very stupid and put them without cases in camping bags that got smashed and stuff.

 

[mccldwll]

From that point of view, Psystar proved that a "real" company cannot sell non-Apple computers with MacOS X installed. Psystar was ordered to pay about $2500 per computer sold for DMCA violations (which of course they are not going to pay because they are bankrupt), which makes any attempt pointless for a real company.
.

Right. What I'm talking about is the mystery about who was really funding the Psystar legal action. It made no sense that Psystar itself was behind it because had it succeeded, the pizza boys had no market advantage and some company, like Vizio, would have jumped in immediately and started selling clones (mainstreamers like Dell and HP not likely because established windows OS). Vizio is perfect candidate because has no baggage in the computer industry and could have hit the road running with a half price mac clone. And as far as being bankrupt and unable to pay, all the more reason to have had the real party in interest hiding behind the shell Psystar.

 

[faroZ06]

look nobody is saying the iphone 4 isn't a well contructed device. The glass shatters quite easy though its a known fact. Just google "cracked iphone 4 glass" there's a gazillion results. Most people use a case to protect it.

The fact its got glass on the back means its just another place its going to shatter when dropped. I think because the edges of the glass are showing also makes it shatter easier.

How do you explain the drop test video if the glass in the iphone 4 is as good?

The glass doesn't have to be good for it to sell well. People care about the OS and the experience. Even if the Droids were durable (they aren't), people would still take the good OS on the hardware made by the OS maker over the bad OS on hardware from a random company.

If you break the glass on the back, it doesn't really matter. In fact, it still looks better with a smashed glass back than a smartphone with a plastic back. Smashing the screen is actually hard to do unless you drop it down concrete stairs or onto a sidewalk while running, and it would take a freak accident to smash the screen with a case on. Even if you smash the screen, you can still use it.

 

[Stella]

Has Vizio developed their own operating system? Has Vizio licensed the Mac OS? If neither of these apply, their amazing new computer, designed to compete against Apple is just another PC Windows machine in a different style container.

Sadly so many stupid consumers think "hey... this sorta looks like an Apple product! I'll buy that!"

Why do you degrade consumers who don't have the same views as you?

Maybe windows is more appropriate for their needs? Prefer Windows over OSX?

 

[Sandman1969]

That's not a speaker, it's the actual computer.

Looking at some pictures, that does not seem to be the computer. The pictures here http://www.engadget.com/photos/vizio-laptops-all-in-ones/#4720915
show the USB and other connectivity in the base of the monitor.

where are you seeing that the box is the computer?

I think they look much better than the other All-In-Ones out there. It will be interesting to see how they are priced, as well as what components are actually in there. I know a lot of other All-In-Ones do not compete spec wise of the IMacs.

 

[faroZ06]

Why do you degrade consumers who don't have the same views as you?

Maybe windows is more appropriate for their needs? Prefer Windows over OSX?

The problem is that their "all-in-ones" are running an OS (that sucks) made by Microsoft, but the hardware is made by other companies. It's against the all-in-one spirit, and I'll bet the drivers will be an issue.

So I doubt people will want Windows all-in-ones, before or after they get one.

 

[sneaky butcher]

The glass doesn't have to be good for it to sell well. .

i know im not the one mentioning sales and trying to equate it to the glass.

 

[faroZ06]

i know im not the one mentioning sales and trying to equate it to the glass.

I never said you were. There are other people here who think that the glass is strong, and the way to know is that it sells so well.

But you can't really use a test video to see how strong it is, and you should always use a case anyway.

 

[ebinellis]

Electronics & Impact

IMO electronics with a microprocessor have always been a fragile class of household items. By wrapping the iPhone in glass it sends the message "this device is powerful, take care of it." (To me at least)

Too often in todays society the consumer outcry is to abuse-proof the device, rather than teach personal accountability.

Is this the message we wish to send to our children? "Mistreat your possessions, blame the manufacturer for the lack of care you extend towards your stuff."

I myself treated my phones poorly for YEARS, until I purchased my first iPhone, and finally started to care for my trusty companion. I have a bamboo case, and my iPhone 4 was immaculate at the time that I replaced it with the 4S.

I look forward to another year of a flawless phone.

Chalk it up to ownership I suppose.

EE

 

[faroZ06]

[/url]
The Wall Street Journal reports that television manufacturer Vizio Inc is planning to enter the PC market this year to compete against Apple on both price and looks.The company plans on unveiling 24- and 27-inch desktop models, a 15" laptop and 14 and 15-inch ultralight models at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Engadget has a full gallery of their upcoming product line. The company claims that their products will be priced 'substantially less" than corresponding Apple products.

I don't get why people want thin all-in-ones. I never look at the back or the sides of my computer. I'm kinda mad how Apple made their iMacs thinner in 2006 at the expense of making it really really hard to open. The iMac G5 was easier than a Dell tower to open.

And it's a desktop, seriously.

 

[imageWIS]

One major drawback / flaw of having the computer on the base is that the computer is not arm-mountable... unlike an iMac which is VESA ready.

 

[faroZ06]

IMO electronics with a microprocessor have always been a fragile class of household items. By wrapping the iPhone in glass it sends the message "this device is powerful, take care of it." (To me at least)

Too often in todays society the consumer outcry is to abuse-proof the device, rather than teach personal accountability.

Is this the message we wish to send to our children? "Mistreat your possessions, blame the manufacturer for the lack of care you extend towards your stuff."

I myself treated my phones poorly for YEARS, until I purchased my first iPhone, and finally started to care for my trusty companion. I have a bamboo case, and my iPhone 4 was immaculate at the time that I replaced it with the 4S.

I look forward to another year of a flawless phone.

Chalk it up to ownership I suppose.

EE

Exactly. Everyone should use a case on their iPhone. I feel like Apple intended it for it to be this way so you can customize it. The naked iPhone is to be cased.

And I've taken at least a little bit of care for all of my computer-related devices. None of them are broken.

----------

One major drawback / flaw of having the computer on the base is that the computer is not arm-mountable... unlike an iMac which is VESA ready.

Also, it's not exactly an all-in-one. You have a tower with the screen standing on top of it. It's like getting the Mac Mini and the Apple LCD Display and just stacking them. I guess you save some cables if the screen gets power and input directly from the computer and not an external wire, like the iMac G4.

 

[imageWIS]

I don't get why people want thin all-in-ones. I never look at the back or the sides of my computer. I'm kinda mad how Apple made their iMacs thinner in 2006 at the expense of making it really really hard to open. The iMac G5 was easier than a Dell tower to open.

And it's a desktop, seriously.

I used to have a Dell tower: they were never easy to open.

 

[faroZ06]

I used to have a Dell tower: they were never easy to open.

My cousin has one that's pretty easy to open. The only reason it's harder than the iMac G5 is that you have to remove some latch that is really annoying to get off, but it just opens up once you do that.

And it's remarkable how the iMac G5, an all-in-one, is easier to open than a tower, which is aimed at expandability.

 

[Justinf79]

Not sure why Vizio wants to enter the desktop PC business, as it's a failing market nowadays...

 

[sneaky butcher]

Exactly. Everyone should use a case on their iPhone. I feel like Apple intended it for it to be this way so you can customize it. The naked iPhone is to be cased.
.

If apple intended for you to put a case on your phone why did they put glass on the back

i think its a real shame to cover such a nice looking phone

 

[imageWIS]

Also, it's not exactly an all-in-one. You have a tower with the screen standing on top of it. It's like getting the Mac Mini and the Apple LCD Display and just stacking them.

I disagree: since the base is permanently connected to the monitor and the monitor is not removable and not mountable via VESA or another system, it's effectively an all-in-one.

 

[mccldwll]

I concur. We have Vizios at the gym and, man, they are atrocious.

Two of five have this weird dark patch in the middle of the screen. I've noticed this on other Vizios as well. A lot of Vizio fans play the it's great for the price thing, but I'm willing to shell out an extra hundy to buy from a legit manufacturer.

Maybe that explains my fascination with Apple.

Not only that, reliability and customer service are the pits (buyers told couldn't repair $1800 high end Vizio):

http://gadgetbox.msnbc.msn.com/_new...izio-tells-owners-their-sets-are-unrepairable

 

[imageWIS]

My cousin has one that's pretty easy to open. The only reason it's harder than the iMac G5 is that you have to remove some latch that is really annoying to get off, but it just opens up once you do that.

And it's remarkable how the iMac G5, an all-in-one, is easier to open than a tower, which is aimed at expandability.

Not really. Apple designed it to be easy to open and work on in their service centers, and since an extra say 5 minutes of labor to open a computer over the cost of all the computers they service over the course of the a year adds up to quite a bit of money (operations management 101), it makes sense to come up with a design that is the easiest / fastest to open and close.

 

[Roller]

If apple intended for you to put a case on your phone why did they put glass on the back

i think its a real shame to cover such a nice looking phone

Until it falls onto concrete or another hard surface and isn't so nice-looking any more. I've had three iPhones and all of them have fallen more than once, no matter how much care I took. Fortunately, I had flip-style cases on them and they survived unscathed. However, I have no problem with anyone who wants to keep their iPhone uncovered - that's the freedom of choice.

 

[Moonjumper]

I'm another one hoping that Gorilla Glass 2 includes some good anti-reflective technology. I don't care if it is moth eye or invisible glass (is invisible glass a form of moth eye?). Reflectiveness is the biggest problem on Apple displays from the iMac to the iPhone. Even if Apple do not use Gorilla Glass, I hope they wouldn't fall behind in this area.

I don't think the glass is weaker on the iPhone than others, just that it is so exposed and therefore easier to damage. I wish the frame projected forwards around the glass as it does on the iPad. That would also make it more comfortable to hold.

 

[Winni]

I don't know if this is just me but the Vizio PC looks awfully familiar. It's on the tip of my tongue too...hmm...

Yes. The display looks like a Dell monitor that we have at work and the computer itself appears to come straight out of a Bang & Olufsen lab. Only the keyboard has similarities to Apple's keyboards, which is quite bad - nothing sucks more than Apple keyboards and mice.

 

[rstansby]

For corning's sake I really hope that gorilla glass is not being used on the current iPhones. That would be really bad advertising considering how fragile the screen is on the iPhone 4

 

[linux2mac]

The problem is that their "all-in-ones" are running an OS (that sucks) made by Microsoft, but the hardware is made by other companies. It's against the all-in-one spirit, and I'll bet the drivers will be an issue.

So I doubt people will want Windows all-in-ones, before or after they get one.

LOL!

It's funny that you mention driver issues. Recently my friend's mother in law suddenly had the DVD drive on her Windows 7 machine stop working. Turns out it was a corrupt driver (of course the "Mac guy" fixed it and that was the first time I touched Windows 7). I keep hearing from all the Windows fans here how amazing and different Windows 7 is (some even claim the best Windows ever - though my favorite was Windows 2000 professional) and I should give it a chance ( I left Windows at XP and switched to Linux then OSX in October 2009 with a C2D 27" iMac). So it seems like the "same old song and dance" with Windows driver issues. No thanks!!

In almost three years of using a Mac, I have not had one driver issue. In fact I forgot what a driver issue was. That's why I like the Mac, there is no wasted down time fixing trivial ***t that should work properly in the first place. Wait - there's no down time fixing anything. The bonus for me is that it's a *NIX system.

BTW - She paid $900 for the Windows 7 box from a independent build to order shop that came with a clunky, huge **s tower and a junk 20" LCD display. She could have bought a refurbished 21.5" iMac for $929 and had a far superior machine.

http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC508LL/A

Good luck Vizio (you will need lots of it)!

 

[Eidorian]

I didn't realise that CES caused so much ire at MacRumors. I've been looking forward to both CES and MWC this side of the year.

I am interested in new hardware regardless of the corporate logo on it.

The Cinema Display is expensive because it is 2560 x 1440 pixels. These displays just _are_ expensive, no matter who makes or sells them. A 1920 x 1080 display is much cheaper, and I am sure there is a market for a display that is more expensive than the cheapest but nicely designed.

1080p TN panels are a time a dozen. Just over $200 gets you an eIPS 1080p from Dell, Asus, or LG. 1920 x 1200 is the real step up given the increasing rarity.

2560 x 1440 is becoming somewhat more common from LG/Samsung but you are still looking at $900 on up. Samsung has their own PLS shop so that gives them a pricing edge too. Though if you try very, very hard you can get a Dell U2711 on sale for $800 or less. You get a 3 year warranty too.

30" computer displays have not budged at all in years.

About the "luring away from low end Mac": A Mac is more than just the design of computer case, a lot more. Of course the case design is of some importance and of some value. I think their customers will come from design conscious PC customers. I mean it's not a Mac, but a PC that at least looks nice on the table is better than a PC that doesn't look nice.

SilverStone (TJ-11) and CoolerMaster (Cosmos II) still think its worthwhile to sell cases that put the Mac Pro to shame. I like the old cheese grater too. Except for the lack of dust filters...

+10 hard drive bays would just go unused in this hard drive climate.