I hate to sound rude, but Apple has a Web site where you can easily read the specs.
That's a nice thought. Unfortunately, Apple doesn't exactly ADVERTISE the shortcomings of their computers.
For example, it's awful hard to tell from a casual read that the iBook can't drive an external monitor at anything better than 1024x768. Ditto for the iMac - a reader might note that it has a GeForce2MX video card (a card which does 1600x1200 in PC land) and assume they could drive an external monitor at high resolution. But that assumption would be wrong.
For a superb example of such a company, take a look at Fry's Electronics [frys.com]. In particular, check the technical details on the ISP they run. Would you ever expect to get that kind of service from a large, publicly held ISP? I don't think so!
This has to be the funniest thing I've ever read. You're using FRY'S ELECTRONICS as an example of a company with the interests of the consumer in mind? I literally fell out of my chair laughing.
The eMac seems more attractive than other Macs from a price standpoint. Does anyone know whether it has crippled video (i.e., 1024x768 only, and no dual display) like the other 'consumer' Macs?
The video cards are capable of dual display and 1600x1200, it would be a shame if Apple turned those features off.
(And please don't tell me about 'cannibalizing sales' - I don't have to buy a $1700 Dell to have the ability to use a high resolution monitor).
Err, the ReplayTV service does not have a monthly fee. Guide data is provided without charge over the life of the unit.
Really? Because I'm interested in the 4500 model, but it seems to require a $250 "activation fee" on top of the $500 price of the unit. That seems like charging for the guide data to me!
That the iMac isn't the right computer for YOU? Well, DUH.
The iMac isn't the right computer for MOST people. Why? Because most people these days use 1280x1024, if not higher. The iMac is deliberately designed so you can't do this.
Let's say you go buy a giant 21" CRT. You think "great, I'll just plug it into my iMac, and I'll have 1600x1200.". Wrong. Even on a giant monitor, the iMac's video out is limited to 1024x768.
This is a major issue, and I'm surprised it doesn't come up more often. Even several non-techies I know have cringed when I pointed this out. Folks have become accustomed to high resolution!
I think the point is you shouldn't need to go to a website and read documentation to install plugins. Do IE users have to do that?
Take the java plugin, for example. Even if you follow the onscreen installation instructions, it still won't work until you copy some obscure.dll to the mozilla plug in directory. There is NO WAY the user would know this without a trip to google. That's just dumb.
I disagree there. I don't care how many times MS says IE is 'free', I guarantee you part of what people are shelling out for windows every few years goes into IE.
Except that no one 'pays' for Windows. It comes 'free' with their computer, and when it's upgrade time, they copy a disk from a friend. So at no point does it cost the consumer money.
Does anyone have a working java plugin using Mozilla on Windows? I've installed the latest JRE from Sun and done the trick where you copy the.dll into the plugins folder, but it still doesn't work. Ideas?
Ummm.... Try downloading the Netscape version (at least not the IE version) of the plugin. Run that, and point out the Mozilla directory for the install.
That's the problem - on Windows, anyway... when you follow the install process, get the JRE, etc. etc. if you follow the instructions TO THE LETTER it doesn't work.
Now, maybe there's nothing 'wrong' with Mozilla - maybe it's the documentation, maybe it's a Sun problem, I don't know. Fact is, it just doesn't work right.
The same thing everyone else does - speed. Based on the performance of the past iBook models, this one isn't going make OS X responsive either.
Re:Sigh... No 32MB video memory option...
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Apple Updates iBook
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The iBook is great of email, internet, and basic office type functions, if you want good graphics, and gaming possibilities, the iBook is not the one.
Just want to point out that you need not buy a top of the line Wintel to get good graphics and gaming possibilities. Even the bottom end ones run everything quite nicely these days.
I know everyone says the Megahertz gap is a myth, but the fact is, it's very real - Apple's low end machine is slow running OS X, while a low end Wintel is fast running Windows 2000.
That doesn't make the iBook a bad computer (it certainly has some strengths) but potential buyers should be aware that OS X on a iBook 600 feels like Windows 2000 on a PII 266.
If that's okay with you, fine. Whatever floats your boat. But you should know prior to buying.
As a former user of this machine, let me tell you that this computer (even after the speed-bump) is woefully underpowered if you intend to run OS X.
It's a shame, because it really is a nice piece of hardware - great battery life, compact size and lightweight. But it's SLOW. For OS X, you really need a fast (and apparently Altivec enhanced) CPU, and the iBook just isn't it.
Last year, while driving through the city of West Covina (outside Los Angeles, CA) I had to wait in a long line of stopped cars. Cones prevented you from turning off the road, turning around, or backing up.
After about a 15 minute delay, I finally got to the front of the line where 3 parked polices cars stopped traffic until you were allowed to pass. I had to show my drivers license and vehicle registration to the officer.
Now, this must have been something serious, right? Manhunt for a convicted criminal, etc? No. They were simply stopping EVERY car on the street, without cause.
Now I know that I am required by law to surrender my drivers license to a police officer who asks for it - but this was certainly not just cause. When I pointed that out to the officer, he made it quite clear that I was going nowhere unless I presented the required documents.
So my point is that 'THEY' do set up road blocks to people just driving down the street. I was royally PO'd, and even more surprised that it didn't even make the nightly news.
People who work for telemarketers work on commission. When you stall, "parrot," or anything else, you're not wasting the company's time, but the person's time -- and, consequently, their paychecks. The longer you keep them on the line, the less opportunity they have to close a sale with someone else.
Oh, boo fucking hoo. Any dirtbag that would take a job like that deserve what they get. (just like the campus parking patrol people - you couldn't pay me enough!).
Put very simply, if there weren't any people willing to work for the dirtbags, they wouldn't be able to call you - period.
Graphic design can't be the problem either: X11 imposes no constraints on the toolkits, GUIs, or desktops you build on top of it, and X11 toolkits have emulated Windows, OS/2, and MacOS/OSX so closely that it is really hard to tell the difference.
LOL. If no one could tell the difference between X11 and MacOS, do you think people would still be buying Macs at double the price? Hint: there's a reason folks still buy Macs.
I believe that telemarketing is not allowed to cellular phones, at least in California. Perhaps they know by the prefix? I never get sales cales on my cel phone...
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Does 10.1.15 do anything to alleviate the speed problems that OS X has suffered from?
That's a nice thought. Unfortunately, Apple doesn't exactly ADVERTISE the shortcomings of their computers.
For example, it's awful hard to tell from a casual read that the iBook can't drive an external monitor at anything better than 1024x768. Ditto for the iMac - a reader might note that it has a GeForce2MX video card (a card which does 1600x1200 in PC land) and assume they could drive an external monitor at high resolution. But that assumption would be wrong.
Which, again, at $1700 with no monitor, is overpriced.
Interesting... IMO this is actually a "better" computer than the iMac, at a lower cost too. Does it have PCI/AGP slots?
This has to be the funniest thing I've ever read. You're using FRY'S ELECTRONICS as an example of a company with the interests of the consumer in mind? I literally fell out of my chair laughing.
The video cards are capable of dual display and 1600x1200, it would be a shame if Apple turned those features off.
(And please don't tell me about 'cannibalizing sales' - I don't have to buy a $1700 Dell to have the ability to use a high resolution monitor).
Looks that way... even worse, the $250 is tied to the unit, not the owner, so if you ever replace your ReplayTV you'd have to pay $250 again. Ouch.
I'm interested in a ReplayTV. Can anyone comment on how well/if they integrate with DirecTV service?
Really? Because I'm interested in the 4500 model, but it seems to require a $250 "activation fee" on top of the $500 price of the unit. That seems like charging for the guide data to me!
The iMac isn't the right computer for MOST people. Why? Because most people these days use 1280x1024, if not higher. The iMac is deliberately designed so you can't do this.
Let's say you go buy a giant 21" CRT. You think "great, I'll just plug it into my iMac, and I'll have 1600x1200.". Wrong. Even on a giant monitor, the iMac's video out is limited to 1024x768.
This is a major issue, and I'm surprised it doesn't come up more often. Even several non-techies I know have cringed when I pointed this out. Folks have become accustomed to high resolution!
Take the java plugin, for example. Even if you follow the onscreen installation instructions, it still won't work until you copy some obscure .dll to the mozilla plug in directory. There is NO WAY the user would know this without a trip to google. That's just dumb.
Except that no one 'pays' for Windows. It comes 'free' with their computer, and when it's upgrade time, they copy a disk from a friend. So at no point does it cost the consumer money.
No way, we use a pricey color laser printer and it's more like $0.30 a page, even after you account for all the toner and other consumables.
Does anyone have a working java plugin using Mozilla on Windows? I've installed the latest JRE from Sun and done the trick where you copy the .dll into the plugins folder, but it still doesn't work. Ideas?
That's the problem - on Windows, anyway... when you follow the install process, get the JRE, etc. etc. if you follow the instructions TO THE LETTER it doesn't work.
Now, maybe there's nothing 'wrong' with Mozilla - maybe it's the documentation, maybe it's a Sun problem, I don't know. Fact is, it just doesn't work right.
The same thing everyone else does - speed. Based on the performance of the past iBook models, this one isn't going make OS X responsive either.
Just want to point out that you need not buy a top of the line Wintel to get good graphics and gaming possibilities. Even the bottom end ones run everything quite nicely these days.
I know everyone says the Megahertz gap is a myth, but the fact is, it's very real - Apple's low end machine is slow running OS X, while a low end Wintel is fast running Windows 2000.
That doesn't make the iBook a bad computer (it certainly has some strengths) but potential buyers should be aware that OS X on a iBook 600 feels like Windows 2000 on a PII 266.
If that's okay with you, fine. Whatever floats your boat. But you should know prior to buying.
It's a shame, because it really is a nice piece of hardware - great battery life, compact size and lightweight. But it's SLOW. For OS X, you really need a fast (and apparently Altivec enhanced) CPU, and the iBook just isn't it.
After about a 15 minute delay, I finally got to the front of the line where 3 parked polices cars stopped traffic until you were allowed to pass. I had to show my drivers license and vehicle registration to the officer.
Now, this must have been something serious, right? Manhunt for a convicted criminal, etc? No. They were simply stopping EVERY car on the street, without cause.
Now I know that I am required by law to surrender my drivers license to a police officer who asks for it - but this was certainly not just cause. When I pointed that out to the officer, he made it quite clear that I was going nowhere unless I presented the required documents.
So my point is that 'THEY' do set up road blocks to people just driving down the street. I was royally PO'd, and even more surprised that it didn't even make the nightly news.
Oh, boo fucking hoo. Any dirtbag that would take a job like that deserve what they get. (just like the campus parking patrol people - you couldn't pay me enough!).
Put very simply, if there weren't any people willing to work for the dirtbags, they wouldn't be able to call you - period.
Hmm.... not on the iBook I had - it was more like 30% just sitting there.
Make sure to try before you buy - I agree OS X is great but it is still quite slow on the portables.
LOL. If no one could tell the difference between X11 and MacOS, do you think people would still be buying Macs at double the price? Hint: there's a reason folks still buy Macs.
I believe that telemarketing is not allowed to cellular phones, at least in California. Perhaps they know by the prefix? I never get sales cales on my cel phone...
Really? Do people really get that many calls? Wouldn't you just unplug the phone at some point?