If only you knew the POWER of the Dark Side: a reverse switcher's tale

[Applespider]

I guess it depends on what you're looking for- and I suspect your 'needs' are more developed than most mainstream consumers (they'll be there a year or so from now) so perhaps Apple is doing the 'get it ready for mainstream rather than geeks' - a la iPod since that's where the money is and where the 'ease of use' is needed more.

To me, a phone is to make calls and store contact/calendar info. It's great if it can take a few pictures and put some music on to use as better alarms etc. I've got very little interest in playing games, listening to music or installing applications on it. My k750 does that job admirably - does the basics and synchs well while letting me do other things if I really want to.

I tend to use my TV for watching TV or DVDs - mainly because I tend to be online at the same time - and with any laptop, trying to watch picture-in-picture while doing other things, just doesn't work that well in my experience - unless your laptop is so large that it doesn't really deserve the name

I use my computer for more than just watching TV/DVDs and surfing the internet and my Powerbook fits those needs admirably. I don't like maintenance particularly so to me, going back to Windows (and I was there not so long back) isn't a particularly enticing proposition. But, since I do try to keep an open mind, if something comes up that I really want to do that I can't on my Mac, then I'd consider having a PC again - my concern here is that outside the US, we won't get TV/film downloads for Macs since they have even less market share so as more people want to be able to watch on their computers, Apples will go down a notch as the 'non-compatible' choice.

 

[lmalave]

I tend to use my TV for watching TV or DVDs - mainly because I tend to be online at the same time - and with any laptop, trying to watch picture-in-picture while doing other things, just doesn't work that well in my experience - unless your laptop is so large that it doesn't really deserve the name

He he - got that one covered. I also have an Epson PowerLite S3 projector, and the HP can do monitor spanning. so when I need to be online at the same time, I just hook up the projector and display the Media Center window on that screen, while I can happily surf away. So you're right I'm not the average consumer, I'm a computer geek. But one that primarily wants to be entertained at home with my computer since I spend all day working with computers.

 

[lmalave]

That HP notebook of yours might be a decent value, because it's definitely cheaper than the MBP, but it's also definitely not in the same league.

It's more than a pound heavier.
It's more than a third thicker.
It has a lower resolution screen.
It's not nearly as aesthetically pleasing.
It doesn't have SMS to protect the hard drive.
It doesn't have a backlit keyboard.
It doesn't have a built-in webcam.
It has inferior graphics acceleration.
It has worse battery life.
It has slower RAM.
It lacks DVI-out.

There might be more, but that's a pretty good list. On the features end, the only thing it really has going for it is the optical drive.

As far as Windows being better than OSX, I wouldn't even know where to begin, and you didn't bring up any specific points to address.

Is the Windows world cheaper? Almost always. Is it better? No way.

Ok granted, the dv5000 doesn't match the MBP in performance and portability. But as a multimedia machine intended for the bedroom or dorm room, it's quite nice. In terms of being aesthetically pleasing, I already had the AluBook before and I guess I'm just bored with Apple's design, which hasn't been refreshed in 5 years. I quite like HP laptop's silver case with the HP logo on it when it's closed, and when it's open I like the black interior with the Altec Lansing speakers pointing straight at you. And I must say those speakers are amazing. I haven't tested the speakers on the MBP, but they blow away those of the AluBook or any other laptop I've used.

And in terms of Windows being better than OSX - I never said that. The Windows "Media Center" is actually just regular desktop software, so a fairer comparison would be to Front Row. And for watching TV at least, Media Center is superior since Front Row doesn't even have integrated TV functionality.

 

[Chaszmyr]

I already had the AluBook before and I guess I'm just bored with Apple's design, which hasn't been refreshed in 5 years.

Just to clarify, it hasn't been nearly that long. The first aluminum powerbooks were announced 2.5 years ago (Mid-September 2003), and the 15'' was a while after that. Still, I'd say it's about time for an update, but only if they can come up with something better, of course.

 

[lmalave]

Just to clarify, it hasn't been nearly that long. The first aluminum powerbooks were announced 2.5 years ago (Mid-September 2003), and the 15'' was a while after that. Still, I'd say it's about time for an update, but only if they can come up with something better, of course.

Right, but the Titanium PBs preceded those...

 

[Chaszmyr]

Right, but the Titanium PBs preceded those...

So? The design of the TiBook was hugely different from the design of the AluBooks. Pretty much the only things they had in common were they were metal and looked like laptops.

 

[jadekitty24]

I dunno, just me, I think the boastful manner in which you're presenting this is in a way that's designed to get people upset. It stinks of trolldom...

More like reaks.

Ok, if you guys are seeing some form of invisitext that the rest of us commoners can't then please share, for I see nothing troll-like in the OP. Or is it you just can't stand when people aren't just like you? I detected no snottiness or snideness from the OP but plenty from the above 2 posts. Could we just chill and let people be themselves and make there own choices? I don't mean to sound so harsh, but this "if you're a pc user you're a troll" crap is getting quite juvenile.

 

[Abstract]

yeah, there's nothing wrong with PCs. PC users and Mac users should just learn to get along and not make snide comments about how bad the opposing computers are. They're just computers for heaven's sake! Nothing to fight over.

STOP USING COMMON SENSE!!!1!!1!!!!

 

[Abstract]

Just to clarify, it hasn't been nearly that long. The first aluminum powerbooks were announced 2.5 years ago (Mid-September 2003).....

That's not true.

My 12" PB was purchased on October 8th, 2003 (I remember my baby's 1st day *sniff* ), and it was a 12" rev B, not a rev A. The 15" may have been rev A on Sept 2003, but the 12" and 17" became rev B during that same announcement of the rev A 15" PB.

 

[sushi]

....Oh, but one thing hasn't changed: Dells still suck!

Okay, so you really haven't completely gone over to the Dark Side!

 

[lmalave]

I don't like the subscription model for a couple reasons: First, I don't buy a lot of music, so I wouldn't be getting my money's worth. Second, I have an irrational dislike of DRM. Apple's DRM is less onerous than many (probably most) music download services IMHO(I've only bought a handful of tracks plus one album off the iTMS BTW, so I'm not exactly a big online music shopper). The idea that the music goes away when you stop paying doesn't sit well with me.

Dude, $15 is what I spent on a burger and beer last night for dinner. I'm certainly willing to pay that a month for unlimited music downloads. It's one of those things that once you have you wonder how you ever lived without it.

In terms of DRM, I don't see how Apple's is less onerous, and anyway you can't compare it because Apple doesn't even offer subscription DRM. The main feature of which is, as you say, the music has to "go away" if you cancel the subscription. But this is not really as bad as it sounds. Keep in mind, the music "went away" from your hard drive, but the same songs will be available for streaming from whatever other music subscription you switch to (assuming the reason for cancelling was to switch providers). And when you play a song, you can just click to have it download in 10 seconds or so, *while* it's playing. So for the time being, it will take a while to get the songs back on your hard drive to sync with your portable, but that's the only real switching cost. Plus it will be a moot point in the relatively near future when most phones are equipped with broadband internet access. Then you can just stream your subscribed songs right to your phone. Actually, you can already do this with a service like Orb (orb.com), which lets you stream music and video directly from your home PC so you can view it on your phone...

 

[sushi]

Dude, $15 is what I spent on a burger and beer last night for dinner. I'm certainly willing to pay that a month for unlimited music downloads. It's one of those things that once you have you wonder how you ever lived without it.

I'm not.

$15 a month is $180 per year.

With $180, I can DL almost 182 songs from iTunes that I can play forever as long as I want. Also, I can convert them to MP3, and not even bother with DRM if I don't want to.

With $180, I can selectively purchase quite a few CDs -- at least 20.

With $180, I can purchase the 1GB Shuffle or 1GB iPod nano and have funds left over for DL'ing some songs.

Edit: I forgot to add, I can easily live without a subscription service.

 

[kretzy]

Glad to hear you're happy with your setup.

Personally, I don't think I could ever go back to Windows. Every time I have to use it on someone else's computer or at uni I feel so frustrated by it - it just feels so clunky and unnatural.

But as they say, different strokes for different folks! (I don't think I'm ever quite sure what that phrase is really implying. )

 

[Applespider]

Dude, $15 is what I spent on a burger and beer last night for dinner. I'm certainly willing to pay that a month for unlimited music downloads. It's one of those things that once you have you wonder how you ever lived without it.

How long have you used it for? I can see that having a subscription of 'all you can eat' music would be great for a few months when I want to explore music, try out lots of different things etc. But I'm not sure how many months I could pig out.

If I look back at my iTMS purchases, I go through spates of downloading things when things interest me (either as new releases) or when I'm in the mood for something new. On the months, where I've got nothing new, then I think I might start resenting the $15 that I'm still having to shell out for the tracks that I like and want to keep.

 

[lmalave]

I'm not.

$15 a month is $180 per year.

With $180, I can DL almost 182 songs from iTunes that I can play forever as long as I want. Also, I can convert them to MP3, and not even bother with DRM if I don't want to.

With $180, I can selectively purchase quite a few CDs -- at least 20.

With $180, I can purchase the 1GB Shuffle or 1GB iPod nano and have funds left over for DL'ing some songs.

Edit: I forgot to add, I can easily live without a subscription service.

Right, but having access to unlimited downloads *changes* the way you think about downloading music, just as the iPod changed the way people listened to their music. You would find yourself downloading a *lot* more music, because it's not $1 a pop. So it's behavior changing, just like people who get Tivo find themselves watching more TV and people who get Netflix find themselves watching more movies per month. Except I think listening to music is healthier than the above 2 examples in that it's less of a time drain: you can listen to music while you're working or doing other things...

 

[sushi]

Right, but having access to unlimited downloads *changes* the way you think about downloading music, just as the iPod changed the way people listened to their music. You would find yourself downloading a *lot* more music, because it's not $1 a pop. So it's behavior changing, just like people who get Tivo find themselves watching more TV and people who get Netflix find themselves watching more movies per month.

I hear what you are saying. But in my case I doubt it.

I listen to the radio occasionally to hear new tunes. It's free. Once in a while I hear something I like so I purchase it.

In my case, I have an extensive CD collection (around 600CDs). When I listen to music, I like to listen to specific songs from those CDs.

Occasionally, as I mentioned before, I will hear something that interests me and I will DL it via iTMS or buy the CD and import the song.

Which reminds me, I am heading out on the road tomorrow. Looking forward to listening to Xanadu by Rush (Good song to crank up a bit) and a few other favorites while crusing down the road.

 

[lmalave]

How long have you used it for? I can see that having a subscription of 'all you can eat' music would be great for a few months when I want to explore music, try out lots of different things etc. But I'm not sure how many months I could pig out.

If I look back at my iTMS purchases, I go through spates of downloading things when things interest me (either as new releases) or when I'm in the mood for something new. On the months, where I've got nothing new, then I think I might start resenting the $15 that I'm still having to shell out for the tracks that I like and want to keep.

Hmm...I dunno. There's always new music coming out, after all. And being able to listen to all the latest albums, in their entirety, will never get old. Want the new Yeah Yeah Yeahs album? There it is. Or maybe the new T.I. album is more your flavor? Download away.

Plus as I said, the Internet Radio / Music store integration is really a fantastic way to keep discovering new music. It's a *killer* combination which iTunes can't achieve in its current integration because:

1) radio is coming from 3rd parties rather than being streamed from the iTunes' store own catalog, and

2) even if iTunes built functionality where it would match up the artist and track name so you could download a song if it's available in iTunes, it's just so much less compelling without a subscription model. You're probably not going to spend $1 for a track you've only heard once. With a subscription model, though, you just download it so you can listen to it multiple times and see if it's really worth keeping in your library.

 

[lmalave]

Rhapsody for the Mac

...and FYI, people, Rhapsody is available for the Mac so I'd highly recommend it to anyone. It's not iPod compatible, of course, so I would recommend it to anyone who's taking the same path that I am, and replacing the iPod with a SmartPhone or some other device. (not necessarily Windows Mobile - it will also work with Palm devices with PocketTunes installed).

 

[sushi]

It's not iPod compatible, of course

No thanks.

Not being able to use the best MP3 player out there would suck.

 

[2nyRiggz]

No offense, but why are you telling us this? It's amazing that you could make such a 180 degree reversal in no time, although I hope you're happy with your new system. What prompted the switch?

I dunno, just me, I think the boastful manner in which you're presenting this is in a way that's designed to get people upset. It stinks of trolldom...

Exactly....it's good that you found what you want out of a computer but why tell us...be happy and enjoy your stuff...it has nothing to do with nothing.


Bless

 

[greatdevourer]

Seems like you could spend your time doing more productive things...run defrag maybe?

By the way, if this happened 2 years ago, why did you come back after such a long time to tell us that Apple sucks?

And then you later say 4-5 years?

No wonder you moved back to Windows - you can't be thinking straight!

 

[peterparker]

Your title stinks

"If only you knew"

I think you would have been better off without the provacative/insulting lead to your title. Can't speak for everybody, but "I do know" the other side. Over 10 years of "the Dark Side", and continuing everyday at work. Save us the trouble and post it somewhere else...

 

[Chappers]

I'm curious about the subscription model - why do you prefer that?

 

[Abulia]

I'm curious about the subscription model - why do you prefer that?

He's covered that at length. You should re-read his posts.

 

[lmalave]

"If only you knew"

I think you would have been better off without the provacative/insulting lead to your title. Can't speak for everybody, but "I do know" the other side. Over 10 years of "the Dark Side", and continuing everyday at work. Save us the trouble and post it somewhere else...

I was trying to be funny by making a Star Wars reference. Oh well.