Steve Jobs at Apple Town Hall Meeting, Google, Adobe, Next iPhone, 2010 Macs and More

[Dr.Pants]

Did I read this right in your post?

thereby become locked to Mac

Dude how dare you accuse Apple of using such evil Microsoft tactics.

"Locking in" was a tactic perfected by Microsoft. Otherwise people wouldn't be using such inferior products.

Sure. MS Office dominates in terms of usability, IMO. I've had some success with alternatives, but MS Office really is a very usable suit of programs. True, I've moved away from Excel to Mathematica, but that's beside the point.

You can get MS Office for Mac, or run the Windows version in a VM. You cannot run the OSX version under Windows in a VM as OSX is not officially supported by several VM hosts.

Furthermore, I cannot run Final Cut without a Mac. Hence, I am locked into the Mac platform.

Unless I become one of the dirty, dirty Häkkentoshers. Which the only reason I wouldn't is because there's the possibility of me getting sued. Doesn't mean other people shouldn't make them (or me "experimenting" with certain versions of OSX Server and Thuban).

dba7dba, if your remark was meant to be sarcastic, I apologize if I made a contextual error.

 

[LagunaSol]

The outrage over Apple's hardware prices comes from the fact that they feature *the same* components as regular PCs, the same CPU, the same GPU, the same hard drives -- not merely similar, but the same.

Oh. $600 Dells have unibody aluminum enclosures? Glass screens? Multitouch trackpads? Illuminated keyboards?

I was unaware...

 

[B. Hunter]

There are a *LOT* of people that like Microsoft's products. Windows is my preferred OS. Office my preferred suit (except 2007 is worse than 2003 IMO, and not clear cut better than OpenOffice anymore...though 2003 still is :-/ ).

While I used to drool over Apple's products, they're just too limited for me to really get excited about anymore. And I really dislike the direction they took their hardware, and how controlling they are with software.

Really? To each their own I guess.
Do you dislike the direction of companies that try to emulate Apple with their hardware?

 

[Anuba]

Oh. $600 Dells have unibody aluminum enclosures? Glass screens? Multitouch trackpads? Illuminated keyboards?

Ah yes, aluminum, the precious metal found in Coke cans.

That stuff doesn't even BEGIN to cover the difference in pricing, and in terms of manufacturing, Apple has streamlined and minimized everything to the point where it's probably cheaper to manufacture Macs than many Dell models. The MPBs all have the same keyboard, same trackpad, and come in three sizes. Dell has tons of different models with different keyboard sets, trackpads and so forth. There's not one part of the exterior of a 17" M6400 that can be reused for the 15" M4400. And they all have 10 times more options than any Mac.

And of course you had to compare with an entry-level $600 Dell instead of a comparable model... they have illuminated keyboards and glossy screens on plenty of models, and naturally they will have multitouch trackpads when all the models designed specifically for Win7 come out, they didn't have a system with multitouch support until now.

 

[0092762]

I predict we'll soon see MDP v1.2 (with audio support) across the entire line of Apple products (where appropriate). This will support 2560x1600 resolution and eliminate the Dual-Link DVI garbage (found on the current 30" LED Cinema Display). I also predict that all Apple screens will see improved resolution; I'm particularly eager to see 1440x900 resolution on the 13.3" MBP and I'd like to see the 24" LED Cinema Display get 2560x1600 resolution as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DisplayPort
http://www.displayport.org/consumer/?q=content/faq

The current MDP already supports audio, it's just not implemented in the current lineup because of nvidia doesn't support it. With the new arrandale, even the on-die Intel GPU supports audio, not to mention the likely DX11-class GPU that is bound to be added there.

 

[rajulkabir]

I also code JavaScript (never really tried the SVG stuff to be honest) but sometimes a project comes along that just begs for Flash and Actionscript 3 turns out to be a great OOP language. I barely look to the Flash IDE when working on a Flash project. It's just TextMate working on AS and XML files. Flash only serves as the compiler.

I mean, just look at this:
http://www.redbullflightlab.com/
http://www.gettheglass.com/

Do you think that this is possible using HTML as of today? Especially the Red Bull one with realtime Bitmap manipulation and 3D rendering. Can you show me an example of interactivity like this anywhere on the web?

The Red Bull one looks harder than the milk one, and that type of graphics work is beyond my expertise. The milk one I can pretty much see how to do, at least the few segments I played.

It's still the early days, and there hasn't been a huge amount of incentive to look beyond Flash so far. Once that starts to change, I think you'll see a lot of surprising things coming from alternative web interactivity platforms.

It'll start with Facebook games and the like, and gradually move up the food chain.

 

[B. Hunter]

Ah yes, aluminum, the precious metal found in Coke cans.

That stuff doesn't even BEGIN to cover the difference in pricing, and in terms of manufacturing, Apple has streamlined and minimized everything to the point where it's probably cheaper to manufacture Macs than many Dell models. The MPBs all have the same keyboard, same trackpad, and come in three sizes. Dell has tons of different models with different keyboard sets, trackpads and so forth. There's not one part of the exterior of a 17" M6400 that can be reused for the 15" M4400. And they all have 10 times more options than any Mac.

And of course you had to compare with an entry-level $600 Dell instead of a comparable model... they have illuminated keyboards and glossy screens on plenty of models, and naturally they will have multitouch trackpads when all the models designed specifically for Win7 come out, they didn't have a system with multitouch support until now.

Yawn.
Why do Mac bashers find it necessary to spend time on a Mac related site?

 

[rajulkabir]

If you want to use iTunes with anything other than iPods, it's a no-go, and if someone tries to circumvent that (Palm Pre), Apple locks them out.

I sync my iTunes library to my Nokia phone. Took about 5 minutes of scripting to make it work, and I'm sure if I looked I'd find someone out there who provides a more polished approach.

 

[0092762]

I sync my iTunes library to my Nokia phone. Took about 5 minutes of scripting to make it work, and I'm sure if I looked I'd find someone out there who provides a more polished approach.

I have no problem serving my itunes library folder with ps3mediaserver either, of course it wouldn't work with any DRM, but I don't have any of those.

 

[LagunaSol]

Dell has tons of different models with different keyboard sets, trackpads and so forth. There's not one part of the exterior of a 17" M6400 that can be reused for the 15" M4400. And they all have 10 times more options than any Mac.

Great, so buy a Dell. What's stopping you? Why b*tch and moan about Apple pricing if Dell better suits your needs? Seems there's an obvious solution here, but you'd rather just rant.

 

[cumanzor]

Great, so buy a Dell. What's stopping you? Why b*tch and moan about Apple pricing if Dell better suits your needs? Seems there's an obvious solution here, but you'd rather just rant.

meh, as much as I usually disagree with you.... (yawn)... I kind agree with you on this one.

 

[0092762]

I'd buy an all-aluminum and Carbon Fiber Vaio Z series in a heartbeat...if only it ran OS X, because hardware specs and physically, it whoops the Macbook Pro line...

 

[DMann]

Time and time again, but some people think that software should be priced according
to the cost of stamping the DVD - not to cover the R&D costs of
actually creating and enhancing it.

Duplicitous double standards, in spades:

The Windows system didn't come with an "Apple tax", so the user probably paid $500 (or more) less for hardware.

He never ceases to amaze....

 

[lilo777]

Oh. $600 Dells have unibody aluminum enclosures? Glass screens? Multitouch trackpads? Illuminated keyboards?

I was unaware...

I see you are very fascinated with this "unibody" thing. That's just Apple's way of fooling people. It's just different. Not better. Not more expensive.

Glass screens? Here is a web site which teaches Mac users how to repair them: http://blog.missionrepair.com/2009/02/04/the-cracked-macbook-pro-unibody-glass-screen-dilemma/ And if you google it (sorry, I know you hate Google now) you'll find hundreds of site like this. Oh, and if you really want Dell with glass screen, just buy Dell Adamo.

Multitouch trackpads? You think you can get it only on "upscale" Mac? It's on every second PC netbook. If you want Dell, you can get it on Dell the same Adamo or on Mini 10 netbook (for $300 - total - not an upgrade - for Mac aficionados)

Illuminated keyboard? Why do you need one? But if you need one, in PC world, you can get it on Dell Adamo, Dell Studio 17, Dell Latitude E6500, Dell XPS M1730, Sony VAIO VPCF111FX, ASUS U50VG and hundreds other laptops.

It looks like Mac fans really believe into all this Apple hype and are unaware what is going on in the World.

Here is my challenge. Find me Apple laptop with:

USB3
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5830
quad-core i7 processor
BluRay DVD
Web cam with IR LED illumination
Magnesium Alloy body (not your soft aluminum)
Instant On access to web browsing and email without having to
fully boot
HDMI
eSATA
replaceable battery

Well, find me Apple laptop that has at least something from this list. These features are available on HP Envy 15 (but also on other PC laptops).

So either put up or shut up.

 

[pondie84]

Here is my challenge. Find me Apple laptop with:

USB3
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5830
quad-core i7 processor
BluRay DVD
Web cam with IR LED illumination
Magnesium Alloy body (not your soft aluminum)
Instant On access to web browsing and email without having to
fully boot
HDMI
eSATA
replaceable battery

Well, find me Apple laptop that has at least something from this list. These features are available on HP Envy 15 (but also on other PC laptops).

So either put up or shut up.

I don't want/need any of these things. If I did I would just happily buy another laptop and not dwell on what other laptops don't have.

 

[lilo777]

I don't want/need any of these things. If I did I would just happily buy another laptop and not dwell on what other laptops don't have.

So, you do not want good CPU, good graphic card, good I/O. Nothing? I guess Apple logo will do

 

[cmaier]

actually, unibody adds a great deal of structural rigidity which helps prevent the inevitible hinge-misalignment that I've ended up with on every HP and Sony laptop I've ever owned. In the other thread you proclaimed that hps goofy keyboard lamp is useful for ergonomics, but here you say no one needs a backlighted keyboard?

I see you are very fascinated with this "unibody" thing. That's just Apple's way of fooling people. It's just different. Not better. Not more expensive.

Glass screens? Here is a web site which teaches Mac users how to repair them: http://blog.missionrepair.com/2009/02/04/the-cracked-macbook-pro-unibody-glass-screen-dilemma/ And if you google it (sorry, I know you hate Google now) you'll find hundreds of site like this. Oh, and if you really want Dell with glass screen, just buy Dell Adamo.

Multitouch trackpads? You think you can get it only on "upscale" Mac? It's on every second PC netbook. If you want Dell, you can get it on Dell the same Adamo or on Mini 10 netbook (for $300 - total - not an upgrade - for Mac aficionados)

Illuminated keyboard? Why do you need one? But if you need one, in PC world, you can get it on Dell Adamo, Dell Studio 17, Dell Latitude E6500, Dell XPS M1730, Sony VAIO VPCF111FX, ASUS U50VG and hundreds other laptops.

It looks like Mac fans really believe into all this Apple hype and are unaware what is going on in the World.

Here is my challenge. Find me Apple laptop with:

USB3
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5830
quad-core i7 processor
BluRay DVD
Web cam with IR LED illumination
Magnesium Alloy body (not your soft aluminum)
Instant On access to web browsing and email without having to
fully boot
HDMI
eSATA
replaceable battery

Well, find me Apple laptop that has at least something from this list. These features are available on HP Envy 15 (but also on other PC laptops).

So either put up or shut up.

 

[melchior]

So, you do not want good CPU, good graphic card, good I/O. Nothing? I guess Apple logo will do

to be fair, this is how most consumers feel and just can't knowingly spend that much on old technology. don't forget that people are tied to their OS, whether it be windows, linux or OS X.

that being said, the HP is quite nice and of course i want all those things, but the best thing about the HP is no optical drive!

if apple releases their macbook pro line without optical drives, THAT will make headlines.

 

[lilo777]

actually, unibody adds a great deal of structural rigidity which helps prevent the inevitible hinge-misalignment that I've ended up with on every HP and Sony laptop I've ever owned. In the other thread you proclaimed that hps goofy keyboard lamp is useful for ergonomics, but here you say no one needs a backlighted keyboard?

Unibody is needed for small aluminum cases because aluminum is a very soft material. However alloy cases do not need it. I only used business laptops from DEC, HP and IBM. None of them had any issues with cases. Obviously cheaper laptops is a different story (but this includes Apple too)

I do think that for the most part people do not need illumination. I never use one. But those who insist (like LagunaSol) apparently prefer to work in dark rooms. They may benefit from colors. Also, even in the light room colors might help. For example, you can recognize different colors with peripheral vision. But that's not really important. What is important is that to insist that all bulbs/LEDs should be the same color is just ridiculous.

 

[ungraphic]

if apple releases their macbook pro line without optical drives, THAT will make headlines.

they did, it was a macbook air and headlines werent made.

 

[Modeller]

Very Sad.

The excessive negative or destructive comments on many forum threads is sad. Disenchanted ranting by barely literate, self absorbed people who think Apple should have built product to precisely meet their personal needs, and to hell with everyone else.
Do these people contact Ford or Mercedes Benz, complaining how screwed up their new vehicles are? Usually, these individuals are dysfunctional, attention seeking spoiled brats, who contribute little of worth to society, and excel only in bitter under-achievement.
This endless, grinding, boring negativity and well off-topic ravings are tedious, defeating the purpose of creating & maintaining forums. References to "Macboys" or "Fanboys" are sneering, and offensive, and say far more about the pathetic users of these terms, than they do to denigrate satisfied Mac owners.
Apple make product. Mostly excellent, dependable product, which assists creative, competent people to be productive. If you dislike a product, then pass it by. It is your money, your choice. Move on.
I simply consider what is offered, buy it if I like it, then get the best I can from it, for as long as I can. I used to criticise Windows and P.C.'s, but gradually realised that countless millions of users were doing that far better than I possibly could.
I have a sense of humour though, here is a iJoke.
"What is the difference between Government Bonds and a PC user?".
"The Government Bonds will eventually mature".
Critical comment is essential in the development of a balanced, informed view. But, like sex, flying an aircraft, and life itself, it's success depends entirely on how well it is performed.

"Badges?... Badges?.... We don't need no stinking badges!"

 

[melchior]

they did, it was a macbook air and headlines werent made.

headlines were made, but not for the lack of optical. this is because the air is not part of the main line of notebooks. it would be akin to the removal of the floppy in the imac.

basically a **** you to physical traditional media distribution. it's going to happen, it's a question of when. i personally welcome it with open arms.

 

[HSJR]

Next level??

I have little question;

What is the next level for mac osx; Which level are we now? What will we get in the next level?? What did they mean by next level? I believe mac is missing a lot such as blue ray, usb 3 (which is recently introduced) and varity of GPU ( I am wondering why don't we get mac version gpu as soon as released similar to windows) I start to think about how do I install non mac gpu in my mac pro because the current gpu cards, which offer by apple are outdated in my opinion compared with new gpu released from ati and nvidia. It does not even shown in gpu benchmarking when they compare top gpu cards from nvidia and ati and the lowest card they used was ati 4890 X2.

I am really want to know.... what do they mean by NEXT LEVEL??

 

[xbjllb]

Wow Apple really seems to be nervous.

Not only that they can't make Flash or BluRay work on their products also the pace of their competitors seems really to annoy them.

Being the only major smartphone company that lost market share in the holiday quarter also hurt them a lot I guess.

That's what happens when you go from focusing on producing high priced boutique workstation computers to run of the mill easily copied iCrap. Every company that has gone down that route has upped revenue in the short run, but completely destroyed itself in the long run as cheaper competition obliterated them and their boutique status was eroded to the point it no longer mattered.

The perfect example; in the 70's, there were ten great organ manufacturers, and when the 80's came along with cheap competition from Casio and other Japanese keyboard manufacturers, the companies that tried to compete with them by lowering the quality of their line were utterly obliterated by the competition within a single decade. NONE of them survive today.

The ONLY organ manufacturers that survive today are the ones making product lines that START at $20,000 and go up from there to well over $100,000. And there are about half the number of top manufacturers, around five.

And NONE of them make cheap iToys for kiddies. That is why they survived, and every other company that went down the short run route of choosing quantity of sales over quality died. And quality is producing CUTTING EDGE workstations that feature CUTTING EDGE technologies like Blu-ray. And anything else people who can afford Adobe's $2500 Master Suite need, like Flash. And people who aren't getting it are taking their BIG BUCKS ELSEWHERE. Just like organ buyers in the 80's went with the companies with the most expensive cutting edge products.

Are there cheap keyboards being made today? Of course, and selling like iCrap. But the big organ makers that tried to make them to compete with Casio are DEAD.

I know recent hop ons to Apple via iCrap will never understand this, but the old guys around, they get it.

Apple really needs to split into two companies. One that makes the iCrap, that can boom and quickly go bust as stronger cheaper competition kills it, and the other the original Apple computer workstation company that will survive by giving people what they need and want AND THEN SOME and continuing to charge a premium for it.

NOT tell them what they need and don't need and try to ram it down their throats like a tinhorn megalomaniac dictator pumped up by VERY temporary sales of disposable iCrap.

Someone who would have given them workable authorable Blu-ray BEFORE it became a standard, to MAKE it the standard QUICKER.

But that only can come from someone with the vision to see what people need now, and not try to live in 2030 when everyone has iChips implanted in their brains running the iBrain OS with all applications from the cloud and downloading low-res movies that Apple WOULD call HD.

I say WOULD, because Apple the iCrap iToy manufacturer won't last beyond 2014 at the current rate of arrogance.

 

[Journojulz]

Excellent rant.
Nostalgia isn't what it used to be, is it?