Well to be fair the data plan is $30/month. So $360/year to have full email, chat, and web in your pocket.
It's worth it to me because when I travel I can often leave the laptop at home. It's also super useful while in unfamiliar places. The GPS driving directions work well enough to get you around. The Google maps work well at finding things when you need gas, food, etc...
Also, having a small portable device always on hand could end up netting you more time with your wife and kids. No longer do you have to go to the computer to check email. It's something you can do during any downtime moment and then get back to whatever it is you were doing. Just something to think about.
The problem is that you're comparing EU to the US. Yes, the EU has a lot of super cheap options for true smart phones. They also have a lot more plan to fit a particular persons usage.
You're also comparing a plan that works for you because of your usage. You don't use 600 SMS messages in 3 mos. I can hit 500 (mostly incoming from friends, calendar reminders, etc...) in 1/2 month and I consider my usage low.
You speak of this inclusive network minutes. I believe AT&T has something similar, but I'm not sure. Anyways, it doesn't sound like you actually use your phone very much, so that lower cost plan works for you. Again, find a plan that gives 1000+ texts/month, 1200+ nationwide (I guess that would be EU wide for you) minutes/month, and unlimited (yes there are always limits) data/month and then come back to me.
In the states t-mobile seems to be the cheapest option, but their service blows unless you live in a particular city and never travel.
And AT&T has FAN codes that work just fine with the iPhone voice plans.
Should we compare the iPhone plan my friend has (he has a super cheap grandfathered voice plan and only had to add the $30 data so his bill is ~$50/month) to all other plans?
The only valid comparison is the advertised price of the plans. The $99 Sprint everything gives is a bit cheaper b/c it included unlimited voice. But, AT&T has rollover minutes so not everyone needs unlimited voice b/c you end up storing minutes on months you don't talk a lot.
At the end of the day using a smart phone is generally expensive no matter what. Plans with 500-1000 texts, 1200 nationwide minutes, and unlimited data are going to end up ~$100/month regardless of your carrier.
Sprint everything plan is $99/month according to their TV advertisements. That comes out to roughly $1200/year.
A typical iPhone plan is about the same although you don't get unlimited voice since I don't believe AT&T offers it.
When people say the iPhone will cost them $2400 they are talking over the life of a 2 year contract. Simple math shows that the Palm Pre ends up about the same.
I'm not sure why you are marked insightful. Very few if any portable players play all possible formats. The iPod format is known and easy to rip to. You don't have to buy anything from ITMS. Handbrake just happens to be the best DVD ripping software for OSX so it makes sense to use it.
I'm still confused where the whole thing has come crashing down. Have you ever used iTunes or an ipod? Next thing you're going to say is that ITMS only sells DRMed music, something it hasn't done in awhile.
If you do anything besides buy from iTunes, it all comes crashing down.
Why do people keep repeating this lie? I have an iPod and have only bought a couple songs through ITMS. Most of my music comes off CDs or from Amazon and my iPod + iTunes has worked just fine. I have also ripped many DVDs to put on the iPod and it has worked just fine, although I do use handbrake for the ripping. What part of has come crashing down?
Apples walled garden approach has it's problems (app rejections is a huge one), but saying that you must buy your music and videos through ITMS is not one of them.
I do work on a personal laptop, but all work is in a VM. I wonder if he could get his boss to agree that they are paying the money for a VM and not for the hardware itself. If/when his employment ends he can give the company the option to either have him give them to VM or delete it. The nice thing about VMs is that you have a very clear demarcation between work and personal.
I have your same issue with TV. I cannot just have it on in the background. Either I'm watching it, or it's off.
Back to the music though, I listen to all types while working. Normally I only listen while coding and not while deeply thinking. By the time I start typing any code I have the problem mostly figured out and music keeps me focused. Interesting aside is that coworkers can tell what music is playing based on how hard I'm tapping the keys on the keyboard. Classical and jazz and the key presses are light to normal. If some heavy metal comes on my key presses get noticeably harder lol... I have tried to figure out if I end up typing to the rhythm of whatever song is on, but it's one of those things that once you think about measuring it, it doesn't happen.
In fact, I cannot understand folks that listen to music and work
I think you're confusing listening with having music on as background noise. I have music on while I work all the time, but it doesn't mean I can ever tell you what song is playing or what the last song was. When I listen to music I focus on the music itself.
Maybe, but the problem is that the door is already open. I have all my calendars and contacts syncing now through Google (to the iPhone and the computer). There are some shortcomings like contact groups don't get transferred, but overall it works well enough now. I was hopeful that more and better integration would come, but this seems not to be the case.
lots of people got alienated over the years and even enthusiast now say something like that they've stopped worrying about Linux and love Windows.
I mostly agree, but they are not going to Windows. What I see most now are people moving to OSX for the desktop while keeping linux in the server room. That seems to be the sweet spot at the moment, although I hear that Windows 7 might actually work.
Where is my contradiction? The version number reported by the OS does not matter. The fact they they happened to use version X to build and market a trademark out of was just happenstance. The could have called it Mac OS Rainbows and it would be the same OS as before (and the underlying version still would not matter).
Intel originally moved to Pentium because they could not get a trademark for the x86 numbers scheme. They also realized that putting a name with some memorable quality would differentiate them from the competition. Because of that, the Pentium (that really only meant 586) hung around for many years. Core doesn't even have anything to do with the underlying processor version.
Either way, if you're going to argue that these are major changes, which I can see and understand your point despite my above criticism, why not increment the version number to 11.0?
You're kidding right? Does the number that Apple (or any other software company for that matter) puts as the version mean anything at all? Anyways, the reason that Apple will not change from OS X anytime soon is that they have invested a lot of money in the brand name "Mac OS X." They don't want to lose that investment. Think back to when Intel released the first Pentium (i586). Later they had a Pentium 2 (i686), then a Pentium 3 and a Pentium 4. It was simply a brand thing that Intel had built and didn't want to throw away simply because they released a new and improved product.
Religions purpose in the past and now was/is to control the populace. We have less need for religion now since most of society has TV and religiously watches it for hours on end.
In addition to what jmac said it should also be pointed out that the US is the most obese country in the world. Obesity can lead to all sorts of expensive long term diseases (like diabetes). When you start out with a less healthy population you're bound to come up with different statistics.
In general it's hard to compare one country to another because of the number of variables involved. Even countries with socialized medicine differ greatly in their statistics.
That's some expensive car insurance you're buying. The other problem is that you're only looking at the cost of replacing your car. What about the other car if you're at fault? Medical injuries?
I don't see email taking over very soon since a lot of phones sold still don't support it. You also have to sign up for an email address and give that out on top of your phone number.
SMS does short messaging better than anything else out there and that is why email hasn't overtaken it. Email is also not a very immediate medium. Part is admittedly perception, but part is also how email works. Things like IM and SMS are more like live conversations. If anything, functioning IM programs on mobile devices will overtake SMS before email will.
As far as VOIP goes I think the GP poster was alluding to the way things are headed. If you get used to dialing through Google Voice it will eventually be trivial for Google Voice to determine if it should use VOIP or the cell network and chose whatever is cheaper.
My contact list is already 3-way synced with my iphone, google contacts, and address book. It works surprisingly well.
SMS revenue for AT&T is huge. All the cell phone companies screw you in their own way, AT&Ts is through SMS. Any other way to cut out AT&T to reliably send and receive SMS messages is something they would stop immediately.
They key to wild dreams is to wake up a couple hours before you have to get up and then go back to sleep. Those are always my most vivid and memorable dreams. I've had entire conversations with people and felt they were real until I fully wake up.
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Well to be fair the data plan is $30/month. So $360/year to have full email, chat, and web in your pocket.
It's worth it to me because when I travel I can often leave the laptop at home. It's also super useful while in unfamiliar places. The GPS driving directions work well enough to get you around. The Google maps work well at finding things when you need gas, food, etc...
Also, having a small portable device always on hand could end up netting you more time with your wife and kids. No longer do you have to go to the computer to check email. It's something you can do during any downtime moment and then get back to whatever it is you were doing. Just something to think about.
The problem is that you're comparing EU to the US. Yes, the EU has a lot of super cheap options for true smart phones. They also have a lot more plan to fit a particular persons usage.
You're also comparing a plan that works for you because of your usage. You don't use 600 SMS messages in 3 mos. I can hit 500 (mostly incoming from friends, calendar reminders, etc...) in 1/2 month and I consider my usage low.
You speak of this inclusive network minutes. I believe AT&T has something similar, but I'm not sure. Anyways, it doesn't sound like you actually use your phone very much, so that lower cost plan works for you. Again, find a plan that gives 1000+ texts/month, 1200+ nationwide (I guess that would be EU wide for you) minutes/month, and unlimited (yes there are always limits) data/month and then come back to me.
In the states t-mobile seems to be the cheapest option, but their service blows unless you live in a particular city and never travel.
And AT&T has FAN codes that work just fine with the iPhone voice plans.
Should we compare the iPhone plan my friend has (he has a super cheap grandfathered voice plan and only had to add the $30 data so his bill is ~$50/month) to all other plans?
The only valid comparison is the advertised price of the plans. The $99 Sprint everything gives is a bit cheaper b/c it included unlimited voice. But, AT&T has rollover minutes so not everyone needs unlimited voice b/c you end up storing minutes on months you don't talk a lot.
At the end of the day using a smart phone is generally expensive no matter what. Plans with 500-1000 texts, 1200 nationwide minutes, and unlimited data are going to end up ~$100/month regardless of your carrier.
That's why I said 'I don't believe.' Thanks for pointing out that they do have an unlimited voice plan though.
With AT&T and rollover minutes, it seems like an unlimited plan is overkill unless you do A LOT of talking during weekday hours.
Sprint everything plan is $99/month according to their TV advertisements. That comes out to roughly $1200/year.
A typical iPhone plan is about the same although you don't get unlimited voice since I don't believe AT&T offers it.
When people say the iPhone will cost them $2400 they are talking over the life of a 2 year contract. Simple math shows that the Palm Pre ends up about the same.
I'm not sure why you are marked insightful. Very few if any portable players play all possible formats. The iPod format is known and easy to rip to. You don't have to buy anything from ITMS. Handbrake just happens to be the best DVD ripping software for OSX so it makes sense to use it.
I'm still confused where the whole thing has come crashing down. Have you ever used iTunes or an ipod? Next thing you're going to say is that ITMS only sells DRMed music, something it hasn't done in awhile.
Why do people keep repeating this lie? I have an iPod and have only bought a couple songs through ITMS. Most of my music comes off CDs or from Amazon and my iPod + iTunes has worked just fine. I have also ripped many DVDs to put on the iPod and it has worked just fine, although I do use handbrake for the ripping. What part of has come crashing down?
Apples walled garden approach has it's problems (app rejections is a huge one), but saying that you must buy your music and videos through ITMS is not one of them.
I do work on a personal laptop, but all work is in a VM. I wonder if he could get his boss to agree that they are paying the money for a VM and not for the hardware itself. If/when his employment ends he can give the company the option to either have him give them to VM or delete it. The nice thing about VMs is that you have a very clear demarcation between work and personal.
I have your same issue with TV. I cannot just have it on in the background. Either I'm watching it, or it's off.
Back to the music though, I listen to all types while working. Normally I only listen while coding and not while deeply thinking. By the time I start typing any code I have the problem mostly figured out and music keeps me focused. Interesting aside is that coworkers can tell what music is playing based on how hard I'm tapping the keys on the keyboard. Classical and jazz and the key presses are light to normal. If some heavy metal comes on my key presses get noticeably harder lol... I have tried to figure out if I end up typing to the rhythm of whatever song is on, but it's one of those things that once you think about measuring it, it doesn't happen.
I think you're confusing listening with having music on as background noise. I have music on while I work all the time, but it doesn't mean I can ever tell you what song is playing or what the last song was. When I listen to music I focus on the music itself.
It was sorta there originally until Apple pulled it.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/06/10/snow_leopard_no_zfs/
Maybe, but the problem is that the door is already open. I have all my calendars and contacts syncing now through Google (to the iPhone and the computer). There are some shortcomings like contact groups don't get transferred, but overall it works well enough now. I was hopeful that more and better integration would come, but this seems not to be the case.
I mostly agree, but they are not going to Windows. What I see most now are people moving to OSX for the desktop while keeping linux in the server room. That seems to be the sweet spot at the moment, although I hear that Windows 7 might actually work.
Where is my contradiction? The version number reported by the OS does not matter. The fact they they happened to use version X to build and market a trademark out of was just happenstance. The could have called it Mac OS Rainbows and it would be the same OS as before (and the underlying version still would not matter).
Intel originally moved to Pentium because they could not get a trademark for the x86 numbers scheme. They also realized that putting a name with some memorable quality would differentiate them from the competition. Because of that, the Pentium (that really only meant 586) hung around for many years. Core doesn't even have anything to do with the underlying processor version.
How is it Apple's fault that 3rd party developers don't want to do the work to support the older OSes?
You're kidding right? Does the number that Apple (or any other software company for that matter) puts as the version mean anything at all? Anyways, the reason that Apple will not change from OS X anytime soon is that they have invested a lot of money in the brand name "Mac OS X." They don't want to lose that investment. Think back to when Intel released the first Pentium (i586). Later they had a Pentium 2 (i686), then a Pentium 3 and a Pentium 4. It was simply a brand thing that Intel had built and didn't want to throw away simply because they released a new and improved product.
If you include getting rid of income taxes, you've described the Fair Tax.
Religions purpose in the past and now was/is to control the populace. We have less need for religion now since most of society has TV and religiously watches it for hours on end.
In addition to what jmac said it should also be pointed out that the US is the most obese country in the world. Obesity can lead to all sorts of expensive long term diseases (like diabetes). When you start out with a less healthy population you're bound to come up with different statistics.
In general it's hard to compare one country to another because of the number of variables involved. Even countries with socialized medicine differ greatly in their statistics.
That's some expensive car insurance you're buying. The other problem is that you're only looking at the cost of replacing your car. What about the other car if you're at fault? Medical injuries?
I don't see email taking over very soon since a lot of phones sold still don't support it. You also have to sign up for an email address and give that out on top of your phone number.
SMS does short messaging better than anything else out there and that is why email hasn't overtaken it. Email is also not a very immediate medium. Part is admittedly perception, but part is also how email works. Things like IM and SMS are more like live conversations. If anything, functioning IM programs on mobile devices will overtake SMS before email will.
As far as VOIP goes I think the GP poster was alluding to the way things are headed. If you get used to dialing through Google Voice it will eventually be trivial for Google Voice to determine if it should use VOIP or the cell network and chose whatever is cheaper.
My contact list is already 3-way synced with my iphone, google contacts, and address book. It works surprisingly well.
SMS revenue for AT&T is huge. All the cell phone companies screw you in their own way, AT&Ts is through SMS. Any other way to cut out AT&T to reliably send and receive SMS messages is something they would stop immediately.
I buy car insurance and have never used it either, except I don't consider it getting nothing in return.
Depending on the cost of the warranty it may or may not be worth it from a pure financial stand point.
They key to wild dreams is to wake up a couple hours before you have to get up and then go back to sleep. Those are always my most vivid and memorable dreams. I've had entire conversations with people and felt they were real until I fully wake up.
I prefer to just drink a few extra vodka tonics to prevent malaria when I'm in locations that are known to have it in the mosquito population :)