I believe it is almost a consensus that AppleCare does not even come close to the speed and quality of enterprise service offered by DELL and HP where you get next day service on site. Consumer level service is a different story.
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***Sony Vaio Z*** Stone-cold killer! It's going to be Apple Vs Sony for Arrandale imo
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I believe it is almost a consensus that AppleCare does not even come close to the speed and quality of enterprise service offered by DELL and HP where you get next day service on site. Consumer level service is a different story.
You clearly know different people than I do. Most of the shops with a lot of Dell and HP PCs that I know about rely on their in house techs because they know better than to rely on manufacturer support. One software outfit run by a close friend of mine has top of the line instant Microsoft coverage for Windows and his company's other MS software. My friend tells me that, despite the arm and a leg he is paying for premium MS support, it is still inadequate. By the way, he agrees with me that Apple's support for its products is the best in the industry but says that his company is too deeply invested in the Windows environment to try to make wholesale changes now.
I think we are talking about different things. I meant hardware issues. With broken desktop/laptop from DELL/HP you are guaranteed to get the thing fixed/replace next day. As far as software is concerned, I am not sure it is fare to compare MS and Apple. MS provides a lot of enterprise level software (SQL Server, Active Directory etc.) which are not available from Apple. This type of software is much more complex and difficult to troubleshoot than, say, Final Cut Pro (or a basic OS to that matter).
Latest news item from Engadget shows the creator of Vaio Z stripping it down showing the components including the quad-SSDs which are RAID 0! Look at those 1GB file copy speeds - 600% faster than the HD! Insane really
Also info on updated cooling methods and closer to unibody, the "one-piece milled aluminum" and "hybrid carbon" chassis whatever that exactly means.
Quite cool from a technical point of view and further evidence that there should be no technical barrier to Apple packing more into their MBP/MBA updates (I really hope the latter happens).
Links to Engadget and the Chinese Engadget in-depth piece (with the frankly quite hilarious translation):
http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/05/sony-vaio-z-with-quad-ssd-stripped-down-and-explained-by-its-pro/
http://translate.google.com/transla...ined-by-project-leader/&sl=zh-CN&tl=en&swap=1
Also info on updated cooling methods and closer to unibody, the "one-piece milled aluminum" and "hybrid carbon" chassis whatever that exactly means.
Quite cool from a technical point of view and further evidence that there should be no technical barrier to Apple packing more into their MBP/MBA updates (I really hope the latter happens).
Links to Engadget and the Chinese Engadget in-depth piece (with the frankly quite hilarious translation):
http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/05/sony-vaio-z-with-quad-ssd-stripped-down-and-explained-by-its-pro/
http://translate.google.com/transla...ined-by-project-leader/&sl=zh-CN&tl=en&swap=1
I also spotted and liked this article, although it quoted some speeds which seemed peculiar.
To copy 1GB of data, it said the SSD took 4 minutes, and the HDD 24 minutes.
Isn't that VERY slow, even the SSD?
Anyway, it is a superb piece of hardware.
My only fear is that if Apple produced something even remotely comparable the Apple-tax would skyrocket the price to stratospheric levels...
I'm pretty sure it's seconds, not minutes, though they do peculiarly use a confusing notation
True, though my impression is that both companies are guilty of levying a 'tax' on their notebook ranges, though I have no figures on their margins to back that up. And remember, this top-spec Vaio isn't cheap either - the top-specced Signature Vaio Z range starts at $4.5k USD according to sonystyle.
I have to say though, personally speaking I'd give a lobe of my liver if Apple were to introduce an MBA with something at least approaching that spec or a 13" MBP with that spec (but much lighter than current MBPs).
here's a great read about Sony ...
http://gizmodo.com/5477633/how-sony-lost-its-way
and part of the many reason we'll never buy another Sony product!
http://gizmodo.com/5477633/how-sony-lost-its-way
and part of the many reason we'll never buy another Sony product!
Agree with lilo, they are super fast and there is actually a physical person that comes out. Pretty impressive but i don't think I'll get a Dell or HP anytime soon.
Okay, this kind of thing just really mystifies me. No offense, but what kind of crack are you smoking and can I have some???
OS X - Unix background/architecture. X11 included (you have to install it sure.) Pretty decent range of GNU/FOSS software in base OS, and a piece of cake with Fink or Macports to add whatever you desire. Or download source and compile.
Win7 - No X11, SSH, RDC works very nicely, have to add in Cygwin for FOSS/GNU software. No compiler. Still built on Windows monolithic architecture...and while improved greatly over Vista, still requires more resources to run less functions than any Unix variant.
OS X - No activation.
Windows 7 - Activation...Oh, replace a component, let's reactivate, do it again, call Microsoft to reactivate...oh wait, you activated too many times, call this other number, hold, maybe activate. Shoot self in head.
OS X - Automatic backup built in. Cloning a breeze (and automated) with CCC (free) or SuperDuper ($29). Can boot off clone...via FW, USB, or replace drive.
Win 7 - Has a backup utility. Haven't tried it, but reviews do point to it being better than the old ntbackup. Doubt highly it matches TM in features or ease of use. Cloning - Free and Paid products available. Have to fiddle with Disk ID, PITA to boot off other devices last time I tried it. Don't know of any simple way to clone automatically (maybe finally added to Ghost, it needed it for damn sure!).
OS X / Win 7 - both have eye candy. Aero is pretty nice looking. New task bar is more useful. Having finally adapted to Mac, not real keen to figure out all the goodies in Win 7, but interfaces are closer.
OSX - Even tough outdated, free MarcoPolo software prolly the damn neatest thing I've ever seen in terms of contextual computing. A level of automation that I haven't seen anything close to approaching in Windows. Not to mention at/cron.
Windows 7 - Scheduled tasks...anything else?
OS X - Variety of launchers, QSB, LB, QS, etc. Spotlight. Quicklook.
Windows 7 - Heh, usually indexing such hit on resources I turn it off. Possibly old habit from earlier versions. Reviews indicate that it is more more useful these days.
OS X - Not counting GNU/FOSS - large variety of freeware/shareware. For the most part, I've found OS X shareware more reasonably priced and more useful Free/Shareware things out there.
Windows 7 - Large ecosystem.
OS X - Application and IPFW firewalls
Win 7 - MS Firewall.
Sorry, I prolly just hijacked the hell out of this thread, but mostly I'm curious as to how people are comparing Windows to OS X.
Interesting post, though I didn't understand a lot of the technical software terms/acronyms, informative nevertheless (to highlight some of the things I wasn't aware of).Okay, this kind of thing just really mystifies me. No offense, but what kind of crack are you smoking and can I have some???
OS X - Unix background/architecture. X11 included (you have to install it sure.) Pretty decent range of GNU/FOSS software in base OS, and a piece of cake with Fink or Macports to add whatever you desire. Or download source and compile.
Win7 - No X11, SSH, RDC works very nicely, have to add in Cygwin for FOSS/GNU software. No compiler. Still built on Windows monolithic architecture...and while improved greatly over Vista, still requires more resources to run less functions than any Unix variant.
OS X - No activation.
Windows 7 - Activation...Oh, replace a component, let's reactivate, do it again, call Microsoft to reactivate...oh wait, you activated too many times, call this other number, hold, maybe activate. Shoot self in head.
OS X - Automatic backup built in. Cloning a breeze (and automated) with CCC (free) or SuperDuper ($29). Can boot off clone...via FW, USB, or replace drive.
Win 7 - Has a backup utility. Haven't tried it, but reviews do point to it being better than the old ntbackup. Doubt highly it matches TM in features or ease of use. Cloning - Free and Paid products available. Have to fiddle with Disk ID, PITA to boot off other devices last time I tried it. Don't know of any simple way to clone automatically (maybe finally added to Ghost, it needed it for damn sure!).
OS X / Win 7 - both have eye candy. Aero is pretty nice looking. New task bar is more useful. Having finally adapted to Mac, not real keen to figure out all the goodies in Win 7, but interfaces are closer.
OSX - Even tough outdated, free MarcoPolo software prolly the damn neatest thing I've ever seen in terms of contextual computing. A level of automation that I haven't seen anything close to approaching in Windows. Not to mention at/cron.
Windows 7 - Scheduled tasks...anything else?
OS X - Variety of launchers, QSB, LB, QS, etc. Spotlight. Quicklook.
Windows 7 - Heh, usually indexing such hit on resources I turn it off. Possibly old habit from earlier versions. Reviews indicate that it is more more useful these days.
OS X - Not counting GNU/FOSS - large variety of freeware/shareware. For the most part, I've found OS X shareware more reasonably priced and more useful Free/Shareware things out there.
Windows 7 - Large ecosystem.
OS X - Application and IPFW firewalls
Win 7 - MS Firewall.
Sorry, I prolly just hijacked the hell out of this thread, but mostly I'm curious as to how people are comparing Windows to OS X.
I guess I was just coming more from a general user perspective, and you answered it partly yourself ("interfaces are closer"). As I said later in the thread, I still prefer OSX to Win7, but there certainly isn't the chasm there was between it and Vista. And as I see it, it isn't controversial that both have advantages over the other. Flash runs better on Windows. Gaming is better on Windows. From what I have read Office runs better on it. Software compatibility is still broader on Windows. Maybe that's nothing to the people who populate these boards but they're not insignificant things to many others.
Fair enough. As an IT guy and the computer guy for family and friends, I probably run into backup and recovery situations more than the average person, so those features are pretty durned important to me.
Gaming, yeah, more games on Windows. Then again, boot camp is an option...mind you, the Mac's aren't the latest in hardware.
Office, runs just fine in a VM. Actually, I mostly use Neo Office for most things and fire up the Win 7 VM and MS Office only when I must use Visio or Project. Parallels seems to be the current leader in VM performance and seems to handle Aero just fine.
Okay, this kind of thing just really mystifies me. No offense, but what kind of crack are you smoking and can I have some???
OS X - Unix background/architecture. X11 included (you have to install it sure.) Pretty decent range of GNU/FOSS software in base OS, and a piece of cake with Fink or Macports to add whatever you desire. Or download source and compile.
Win7 - No X11, SSH, RDC works very nicely, have to add in Cygwin for FOSS/GNU software. No compiler. Still built on Windows monolithic architecture...and while improved greatly over Vista, still requires more resources to run less functions than any Unix variant.
OS X - No activation.
Windows 7 - Activation...Oh, replace a component, let's reactivate, do it again, call Microsoft to reactivate...oh wait, you activated too many times, call this other number, hold, maybe activate. Shoot self in head.
OS X - Automatic backup built in. Cloning a breeze (and automated) with CCC (free) or SuperDuper ($29). Can boot off clone...via FW, USB, or replace drive.
Win 7 - Has a backup utility. Haven't tried it, but reviews do point to it being better than the old ntbackup. Doubt highly it matches TM in features or ease of use. Cloning - Free and Paid products available. Have to fiddle with Disk ID, PITA to boot off other devices last time I tried it. Don't know of any simple way to clone automatically (maybe finally added to Ghost, it needed it for damn sure!).
OS X / Win 7 - both have eye candy. Aero is pretty nice looking. New task bar is more useful. Having finally adapted to Mac, not real keen to figure out all the goodies in Win 7, but interfaces are closer.
OSX - Even tough outdated, free MarcoPolo software prolly the damn neatest thing I've ever seen in terms of contextual computing. A level of automation that I haven't seen anything close to approaching in Windows. Not to mention at/cron.
Windows 7 - Scheduled tasks...anything else?
OS X - Variety of launchers, QSB, LB, QS, etc. Spotlight. Quicklook.
Windows 7 - Heh, usually indexing such hit on resources I turn it off. Possibly old habit from earlier versions. Reviews indicate that it is more more useful these days.
OS X - Not counting GNU/FOSS - large variety of freeware/shareware. For the most part, I've found OS X shareware more reasonably priced and more useful Free/Shareware things out there.
Windows 7 - Large ecosystem.
OS X - Application and IPFW firewalls
Win 7 - MS Firewall.
Sorry, I prolly just hijacked the hell out of this thread, but mostly I'm curious as to how people are comparing Windows to OS X.
+1, Tell like it is brutha!!! Excellent Post.
+1, Tell like it is brutha!!! Excellent Post.
Thanks...funny enough I forgot to get on my soapbox about the Registry. Since I've gone completely to Mac and use VM's for Windows, it's easy enough to drop a backup copy of my disk file back for restores, so I've largely not had to deal with the Registry messes that Windows can get into.
Though, I'm pretty perplexed why Apple decided to make plist files binary instead of text files. It was kinda nice to be able to edit a plist in vi when I wanted to. And, less potential for corruption.
Oh, and UAC is much more annoying than Apple's authorization requests. I've actually considered giving up my bad habit of running with an Admin account and getting the better security of a non-admin user account for regular use. It seems to be pretty non-intrusive on the mini I use for a media player.
Oh, and Plex on a mini, frickin' awesome!
Gaming is even better on my Xbox360!
I use my computer to do work. I use my console to play
Gaming is even better on my Xbox360!
I use my computer to do work. I use my console to play
they may be ok for racing games etc, but for FPS they are just too hard!
dell and hp suck for support, hardware repairs take 1-2 weeks, there slow, onsite support sucks.
hardware breaks and there technicians take forever to repair because the incompetent.
i had a server go down and the guy showed up from dell with the wrong parts.....never again.
Trash support
Thanks, that was very interesting. I have long had a love/hate relationship with Sony. I bought one of the early Betamax machines in the '70s. Despite the premium price I paid, it was a dog, which wasn't reliable from its first day to its last. On the other hand I bought one of Sony's early Trinitron TVs. It was wonderful and I kept it for years. More recently, I bought both a Bravia XBR TV and a PS3. Although both were expensive, both have been reliable, high quality products. In the years between the Betamax and the PS3, though, I bought a bunch of other Sony stuff, which was uniformly disappointing.
I agree that Sony has lost its way. They are huge but timid and stubbornly cling to the notion that than can succeed by making everything proprietary and selling features separately that other manufacturers include in their base products. They still get a lot of things right but also make big mistakes.
I bought Office X for my old PB G4 7 years ago. It ran natively there, of course, but when I replaced the G4 with my current MBP a couple of years ago I knew that I would have to run the Office X suite under the Rosetta emulation program. I was delighted to learn that, subjectively at least, the Office programs ran just as well under Rosetta emulation as they ran natively on the old G4. In fact, I am still using the Office X versions of both Word and Excel on my MBP. I would say that I am getting my money's worth out of Office X.
Well this is now available to order, you can configure it anywhere between $1900 USD and $5k - link
The specs literally make me want to cry
Can anyone tell the difference between a fully-specced standard Z and the Signature Collection? (link) The Signature still seems more expensive.
To be honest though, I'm finding myself becoming increasingly set on OSX rather than Win7. Ultimately, what I want from the Vaio Z is for Sony to have made Apple think twice about even considering the possibility of an anemic MBA/MBP upgrade.
The specs literally make me want to cry
Can anyone tell the difference between a fully-specced standard Z and the Signature Collection? (link) The Signature still seems more expensive.
To be honest though, I'm finding myself becoming increasingly set on OSX rather than Win7. Ultimately, what I want from the Vaio Z is for Sony to have made Apple think twice about even considering the possibility of an anemic MBA/MBP upgrade.
I agree.
When I'm tempted towards the better specs of competitors and I actually consider, I become more and more attached to OS X's values and features rather than any alternative.
Hopefully Sony and other better value offers will deliver Apple the competitive kick it needs.
I don't mind the Apple-tax for their hardware, but when I'm paying it for antiquated hardware I cry inside.
The Signature Collection has a glossy coating on the lid of the machine, Verizon 3G, and a 1920x1080 display. Sadly, you can't configure a normal machine for that display or I'd be all over the Vaio Z.
I really don't want to spend $2500 on a 512GB SSD RAID, 8GB of RAM, Verizon 3G, Windows 7 Ultimate, and a Blu-Ray burner, among other random things they threw into that $4500 monstrosity.
I just want a Core i7 + 1920x1080 display... sadly, I can't get that.
Yeah, right. They are still up to being a monopoly and recently too. They are giving training to Bestbuy employees to try to get customers away from Linux.