Timothy R. Butler posted the following comment:

––1. I think its an interesting concept. It probably does most of what many people need and is more appropriate than many OSes for the netbook form. Question to ponder: how well will it integrate with ecosystems in which one owns a full sized computer too? Will Google beef up its Mac and Windows sync software to help people launch into the Cloud?

2. Impressed, but unsurprised.

3. Interesting, but I'm not totally sure of making my entire computing experience dependent on Cloud services. HTML 5's offline storage, Google Gears, etc. may help make it more practical, though.

4. MS, yes. Netbooks are taking over the budget PC market, and this is a real threat to MS's control of that market, which is already somewhat weaker thanks to Linux netbooks such as the original Eee PC.

Apple? No. I think premium laptops (Mac or even Windows) will not be threatened by a new netbook OS. I'm pretty certain most people who buy a $999 MacBook aren't going to be satisfied with a system that can't do sophisticate music management, movie watching, movie and photo editing, etc., etc.

Maybe some day, but I think we need a lot more bandwidth before those sorts of things are practically offloaded for most people.

on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:31:35 -0800

Ed Hurst posted the following comment:

––1. Frankly, I'm trying to get out of the OS game altogether. I don't mind playing friendly amateur tech support, but my interests have moved on to other things.

2. Neutral. Didn't see much; don't intend to try it.

3. As with Tim, I believe this is the future for low–end commodity computing. Netbooks will capture a new market, as more serious users are already moving back away from netbooks.

4. MS should be a little worried. They want that market, but can't/won't do what it takes to operate there. Apple will lose a little, but not from their core market. That is, as long as Apple realizes they can't appeal to the common user unless they change the very nature of what they are. The wider world will never go Apple otherwise.

Gauging from what I see "on–the–ground" with non–techies I know, whatever MS has done wrong in the past is not enough to break their hold on the mass market. Yet. I'm using Vista right now, and it's not as bad as many pundits suggest. Current users know that. (I think UAC was a great idea, but the market didn't want the protection; another issue entirely.)

But expansion in the up–scale is not the future, because the economy will limit the number of people there. It's wide open nearer the bottom. Unless MS takes it seriously, they will lose that area. They either need to re–jigger Win2K for lighter hardware, or pay the price to write something light and good. If people think Vista was bad, WinCE was a disaster. They need to figure out how to get the improvements they've made recently into something which runs on junk.

on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:49:46 -0800

Timothy R. Butler posted the following comment:

––Oh, and the genius bar ain't your normal tech support. Normal tech support folks don't have broad authority to authorize non–standard repairs. Geniuses can do things like feel sorry for a customer who just had a system die a month after the warranty ended and authorize a repair without any fuss (or not, it is up to the genius, which in turn means it is probably up to the customer's attitude).

I've dealt with HP, Sony, Dell and Apple tech support. The Geniuses and AppleCare reps are on a different level both in authority and quality than the average bear from the other companies. Dell has sadly gone down hill since the days when I use to love their support.

on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:38:59 -0800

Timothy R. Butler posted the following comment:

––Right. There is no visible hole, but it is there, within the realm of the slot itself. You can find it (I think) in the manual and certainly on the Apple Support site. C'mon, this is Apple. You don't think they will actually have a visible eject "hole" that will mess up the look, do you?

As to who can have a knee jerk reaction, no of course not. But you didn't say before that the guy had a bunch of other reasons. It is pretty silly to switch platforms because one didn't bother to read the documentation on how to eject a stuck CD, however.

No, you don't have kiss up to get good service. Perhaps you could be rude and they'd still treat you well. But, I'm guessing the Genius is going to go the extra mile if you don't come in with a chip on your shoulder. I don't really have a problem with that. If someone wants to be a jerk, let them pay the money for the repair –– it isn't like one is entitled to a free out of warranty repair.

On the other hand, I try to treat folks appropriately, and in return, Apple has twice fixed an out of warranty computer for me. And, unlike other OEMs, they've never tried to upsell me with more junk while doing it.

Oh, btw, Apple sells plenty of Mac minis for well under $1,000.

on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:01:25 -0800

Mark posted the following comment:

––

You don't think they will actually have a visible eject "hole" that will mess up the look, do you?

No because once again it's form over function. On 99% of all x96 machines everyone knows the paperclip trick. Yeah and everyone walks around with the manual with them because they expect apple to be the only OEM not to do what the rest of the industry does.

I went and asked the guy to make sure: two external pwr supplies, 1 cd tray, and a mouse pad with an intermittent issue. He also lost the ability to run three programs which are not available for OSX. At the time of purchase he thought apple's options would work, but they didn't.

You missed my point about the margins. Apple margins are way higher then MS OEMs so they can afford to make exceptions. IBM explained it to me. It's a pure numbers game. They know they can be flexible with their supposed time limited warranty knowing they have a buffer built in. Its one of the benefits of controlling all the supply channels and being a premium brand. Meaning you paid for that when you wrote the check.

Regarding you get what you pay for, I don't buy it. When I spent more on my VW jetta I found that changing the oil to be easier then typical cheap US cars. They placed everything within easy access. At one point in time when power steering was new, Mercedes made sure to build extra large diameters steering wheels into the cars. That way if the pwr steering failed, the larger dia would ease the burden. Ie. larger dia makes it easier to turn. In the pc world I spent a bit more on my case for my linux machine so I would have extra room to work/upgrade. In all cases spending more made the users life better and easier.

The apple cd logic falls into the porsche world where one of their cars required the engine to be lowered just to change the oil. Name me one high end maker of anything that has bad a reputation and remained in business. You can't compare.

I guess it's what you value. You are among the 8–10%. If it makes you feel any better I'm among the 1–2% but I appear to have a bit more money left in my pocket compared to the typical apple owner. ;–)

on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:55:45 -0800

Mark posted the following comment:

––

Most people, I think, would be too scared to try the paperclip. But, I guess I just found it obvious. I knew the drive surely had an emergency release, so I looked it up.

Apple's marketing strongly points out that they are sooooo easy to use and maintain when compared to windows machine. By that very definition there should be no need for the user to think, research, look up or ask a friend. (heck this is the same FUD MS spreads about Linux) The solution should be obvious to the most casual observers and the very fact that you needed to consult with any manual proves that point. Do I also need to point out that it also doesn't have a button which even none pc owners understand? People having been using the "eject" button for quite some time. Cassette tapes decks, cd players, dvd players, all have some form of manual / mechanical button.

As to your benefits I see it the opposite way and I will use the Mercedes/Apple once again to prove my point. With both products you spend extra so when things go wrong you get all those "perks". W/ the car you get picked up and dropped off at work for *cough free. you have nice waiting rooms with wifi/ and tvs. With apple you get fancy stores and support beyond your supposed warranty. Sorry but you paid for that up front when you initially wrote the check. When things DO work perfectly you in fact lose money/benefits since all that is figured into the price.

Come on, you must understand that you are paying for the "out of warranty" support or that *cough free pick up and delivery? Do you really think any company would just "be nice" and foot the bill for you? If you do I've got some really nice water front land in Florida I'd like to sell you.

See this is where I like people to be honest. I know some people who own Mercedes and BMW et al and they all say the same thing. I spend extra so I never have to worry. For them it's insurance and a security blanket and that's fine. At least they are honest.

But with SOME apple fanboys they think/believe that apple is just being nice and think that bazillion dollars in their account got there magically or something as compared to x86 OEMs. That's why when you use the words Premium I respect you as a apple user because you know you are spending more but it's something you value. For PCs and such I see it the other way.

on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:16:50 -0800