Firewire 800?
Everything is moving to USB..but if you REALLY need it..$50.00 card Illuminated Keyboard?
If you REALLY REALLY need this Dell has an comparable price latop with an Illuminated keyboard..not much of a demand for this. Add $0 Motion Sensor?
Useless addition for 99% of users.. Add $0 iSight?
Similar cams/software are about $20.00 nowdays Movie Editing Software?
Im sure there will be a flame that it sucks..but WinXP does provide this. Plus why bundle it when there are so many choices out there. add $0 Music Editing Software?
Same as above but add $25.00 to be fair. X11 compatibility w/o dual-boot?
Once again 99% of users have no need. Add $0 Mac OS X?
I know this could start a flame of its own, but to many OS X is definitely not superior to WinXP. add $100 to upgrade the OS to professional to be fair.
Toss all those on there, and then come talk to me about price.
I suppose to be fair...I will add the above mentioned $195...still way cheaper for a VERY comparable laptop. Not looking to continue the long standing flame war over this...but just wanted to show you that it actually does hold some truth...so I came to talk price.
Thanks for the comments Anonymous...I do believe that I have the facts to back me. From his comments regarding the radio field, which is a HUGE industry..he obviously has no knowledge or facts, which is why he resorted to insult. I have also learned that you get "flame bait" and modded down if you have a negative opinion about apple on here...not just from this thread..but others in the past. Time to post anonymous when it comes to the rotten fruit!;)
I guess I will have to start posting anonymously when it has to do with Apple...as the Apple supporting moderators are pathetic and instanty tag you as flame bait because you have an opinion or state facts negative about Apple. Pretty sad.
"Apple has been notorious about giving little or no access to the OS to develop software."
Hate to break it to you, but a majority of OS X is open source.
Hate to break it to you, but only the part that is open source, is what they stole from open source community...and if you knew anything about programming, you would know that it takes more than just source from the UNIX portion to write software.
"This has been a major reason for most companies not porting software to the Mac platform."
So, what you are saying is that developers are/will not port software to OSX because Apple does not provide enough source... I guess that is why all the developers flock to Microsoft - Microsoft loves to provide Windows source.
Absolutely! I have never had a problem getting info I need to code for MS. Pretty cut and dry.
Ha. You are a moron. Name me one significant application that is not avalible on OS X...
Typical response from an immature upset apple user...but I will give you an good example in the real world. I work in the radio field, and the only decent application that runs on Mac is Protools. Everything else we use is PC only...our production software, radio automation software, news delivery software, satellite control software....need I go on..moron?
Just because a piece of software is supposedly "open source", does not mean that the OS it was built upon is open. Your logic would point to Apple OS X being open source.....So yes, you are mistaken.
Ironically, they also say that they can't compete with Apple, because Apple has better access to the underlying operating system.
When I read that I just got so incredibly mad I started blurting out expletives! No lie! I can't believe the hypocrisy they are showing. Well can't talk now I'm still busy cursing...
How is that hypocrisy? Apple has been notorious about giving little or no access to the OS to develop software. Why do you think Apple is now an insignificantly tiny percentage of the computer world? This has been a major reason for most companies not porting software to the Mac platform. Thats fact not opinion.
Not only are you a Troll yourself..but an anonymous coward troll! Lets take a look at your answers:
Apple wonâ(TM)t sell their operating system for none Apple hardware, hell they don't even allow companies to make Macs the way any manufacturer can make and sell IBM compatible hardware.
Uh, they did it for a while in the 90's and it almost killed the company, so they stopped it.
You are correct here..but I feel it was more because of the fact that Mac as a platform, was already on the downslide underneath Microsoft.
They sue every company that makes a PC the same color or size as a Mac
Uh, it's called "trade dress," and they were certainly right to do it for some of those blatant iMac ripoffs. Same with the Aqua skins for Windows-- because there are plenty of people in this country who'd be dumb enough to think that a Windows machine with that skin was actually running OS X, and would develop a negative opinion of OS X as a result. If you don't think people in this country are sufficiently dumb for that to happen, I've got two words for you: WWE. NASCAR.
Your way off the mark here and actually stepped right around what he said...he wasnt talking about Aqua GUI...he was talking about the physical case. Apple has sued MANY companies over case color and design, and has lost most of them...which is why you are now seeing colored and different shaped cases. Apple seemed to think that any computer that was not beige and square, was infringing on thier design. It was a rediculous notion, which is being proved by what you are seeing in the PC market.
And most atrocious is their taking of open source software in the form of using Darwin for the under lying Mac OS along with other system tools and don't give back to the open source community by releasing the Aqua interface to the open source world. Seems like if you're going to take, you should also give back.
Uh, Aqua is one of the major things that makes a Mac a Mac. Apple was in a five year long lawsuit over the look and feel of their OS, and now you think they're just gonna give it to the Linux herd? Puhleeze! Furthermore, if you want examples of Apple "giving back," look at Safari.
I have to agree with him here as well, not only are they taking from open source and not giving back to open source, but they are even using the UNIX name illegally which is an owned trademark name now (litigation is going on right now over it).
just imagine what they could do if they released Mac OS to the x86 world?
Uh, they'd go out of business in about six months to a year, because you cheap fucks wouldn't buy Apple hardware if you could avoid it. Get this fact through your thick fucking skull, moron: Apple is a HARDWARE company. Their software is what sells their hardware. Their hardware sales are what fund their software R&D. You remove half of that equation and Apple ceases to exist.
This part is so rediculous!! The Mac users who are still somehow convinced that the Mac platform can do things the PC can't, will still buy the software and hardware regardless of whether PC people start using the Mac OS on a PC. This would actually help Apple, because it may possibly expand the Mac OS to people who dont want a Mac computer for MANY reasons like compatability with 95% of the world. And to use your own words...YOU are actually the moron..as Apple is NOT just a hardware company! If they were you wouldnt see things like your precious Aqua and Safari that you have ranted and raved about earlier in the post. Get a clue buddy!
These things have all been discussed on here ad infinitum, I guess you've been jerking off to pr0n in a cave on the dark side of the moon for the last year or so.
BTW, please tell us if you think Apple hardware is sti
Talk about some horrible comparisons! Following your logic, you would make it sound like Microsoft is killing IE and somehow moving Safari to the PC platform! Totally rediculous statements.
As far as IE 5.2 ported to OS X, I can't comment on that, as I dont see a reason nowdays to use a Mac over PC anymore..Mac is almost a dead bird.
If you want to talk about video formats...There are other players/formats like DivX blows away Quicktime hands down, so thats a moot point and has nothing to do with MS not developing on a closed platform that makes little business sense.
How can IE be eclipsed by Mozilla and Safari when IE has like 95% share..Mozilla is like 3% and all the others combined like Safari are less than 1%. That is the funniest part of the whole message...and 100% without fact or basis.
I dont blame Microsoft one bit for the decision not to develop a browser for the company that has traditionally released the least amount of info about thier OS/ROMS/etc. I dont see any business sense any more because Mac is becoming such a small niche of the computer world.
I imagine I will get modded down by one of the Mac moderators because they think its opinion flame-bait rather than justified facts(which it is)..but just needed to clear up the silliness that was going on in that earlier post.
This would put humans WAY before the creation of Adam and Eve date-wise according to the Bible! More evidence against validity of the Bible in my opinion.
No its not wrong. It came time for the regulation to change...being either stopped or continued in the same or different fashion. If you were employed under a contract....it would be RE-newed....like RE-REGULATED, because it would be coming time to change like the regulation. A marriage doesnt fit unless you wanted to look at it as re-marriage if marriage had a finite time that it is reconsidered. This is very elementary stuff.
Are you an idiot or just not reading the article?!?! THEY ARE KEEPING THE REGULATIONS THAT ARE IN PLACE FOR RADIO!!!! Therefore they are RE-regulating radio. If they were de-regulating then the big companies could buy more radio stations per market...BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE!! OMG people read before opening your mouth!
Are you even reading the article?!?!? The regulations for radio are staying in place...they are re-regulating the same level. Why do you think Clear Channel is unhappy about the vote? Go back and read it again.
Actually its called arbitron sampling where listeners are called all over the US. ONCE AGAIN I say do some research..and get your facts straight before speaking.
The fact that radio was already regulated and was voted to be again regulated..is...TAADAA re-regulated. (This is 3rd grade stuff here) If you did some research about radio you would know it is, contrary to your belief, regulated in how many stations can be owned in a market and ratings basis and such. So...nope sorry..but its not de-regulated.
The reason you sometimes see this supposed "lack of diversity" that you speak of...is because of lack of demand. Why dont people understand that if there is demand there will be supply!??! Its such a simple concept to grasp! When a station goes away or changes it was because of crappy ratings due to lack of demand!!! Do some research.
Do you not understand what "re-regulate" means? What the industry was looking for was...lets say it together kids...DE-REGULATION....and what happened as the opposite...ready kids? RE-REGULATION...not that hard to understand.
Oh come on now...that wasn't just an innocent question he was asking...it was dripping with sarcasm.
"I can't help but wonder what this stinks of."
and
"look like the "good guy", while secretly getting in position to reap the rewards, or do they fear a bigger competitor taking the market away?"
You dont sound naive enough to believe that it was a honest straightforward question....
You definitely need to do some research if you think Clear Channel is a monopoly. Why do so many people like you decide to take a stand and speak out without looking at the facts. The mail fact of proof that Clear Channel is NOT a monopoly is what this whole article is about RADIO WAS RE-REGULATED!!!! Do you understand what that means? If not, let me know and I will educate you.
Whats really going on here....is everyone wants every radio or TV station to be tailored for THEM. That of course is impossible. What most people don't realize is that what you hear on the radio or see on TV is there for a reason...because its what people have shown they want! It's all about supply and demand. The people who whine about the big companies taking over media and ruining media are the ones who think it should be indie labels all day and no commercials...but forget that radio and TV stations cost an amazing amount of money to run. Like my earlier post...want thier cake and eat it too.
I don't think you understand that Clear Channel doesn't some how magically come and and steal away stations. The VAST majority of stations that Clear Channel buys are stations that are near or completely in the toilet. Im not saying all of the stations...but definitely most. Do some research and get an understanding of todays media and financial world before posting something so weak.
If some of you would read a little closer, this change affects the radio portion of media little or none at all. It cracks me up how people want good radio and want more programming and syndicated shows but dont wanna be bothered with the fact that there actually is a cost associated. Do you actually think that non-top 10 markets would have any syndication or decent programming if they were still owned by billybob over on the east side of town? The bashing of successful companies is getting quite old. If companies like Clear Channel and CBS DIDNT do a good job, they wouldnt be as big as they are.
* USB - Your statement regarding USB "taking off" because of Apple is just plain incorrect and I guess its just a matter of your opinion that Apple somehow innovated something that a group of other companies actually innovated. Stick to your words of INNOVATION.
* FireWire - If you really base real technology off a tech emmy..hehe then I shall end that one right there. LOL
* Floppy - Your little "handwriting on the wall" comment is a weak rebuttal...I guess you basically agreed with me on that one. Losing the floppy was not an INNOVATION.
* Hardware - Alot of companies have copied some cute little case designs and such...but dont even try to tell me Apple doesnt copy...there wouldnt be an Apple and a GUI if they didnt copy (a little company called XEROX is a perfect example of that - once again do homework buddy). And as for easier to configure 802.11...why do Apple people think these things are so hard on a PC...they self discover and configure..and god forbid there is a click or two, just like the Apple.
*Finance - Just like money reserves, a company having "no fat" does not make it viable. They can hire whatever talented people, spend what they want (since they still have money NOW) but that doesnt mean its making good business sense. And dont make me laugh about the antitrust, Bill Gates got a "get out of jail free" card. Are you honestly gonna tell me you think Apple can gain any ground from what happened with that? Oh dont make me laugh. Apple has been "dying" for 30 years. Actually your figure of 30 is quite exaggerated, but it definitely has been dying for the last 10 years, just a slow death. Believe me if Microsoft didnt need them around to help out with antitrust (which if you think Microsoft TRUELY lost..then you dont see how corrupt government really is), then the doors would have been closed years ago. Todays business climate is night and day from 10 or 15 years ago. Apple will not be able to hold on with its little cult in todays business world. So yes it has been dying for many years...like cancer, but its just about to close its eyes and go to tech heaven.
* Price - No it is fact. First you can get a PC that is more powerful than an "old-style" iMac for way less than your $799 value quoted. Next, there are plenty of laptops that are just as powerful as a $999 iBook for same or less price...quite a few new ones on the market right now. Take a look on ebay...old Macs arent holding value like they did 5 years ago. And I work with a very large organization of thousands of PCs and hundreds of Macs....and the Macs have just as many software and hardware problems, native and 3rd party...so Im not buying the part about viruses (which Mac has too, just not as abundant)...and problems.
*Ending Comments - Not shoddy tactics, facts. And it was not a condescending tone, you do need to do some homework. NASDAQ....exactly what optimistic analysis are you talking about, and from what major wallstreet Guru are you speaking of?? And look at the stock trends and volumes.. I betrayed nothing, rebutted your opinions with fact, im sorry you were not happy about that. I did do better, which is why I rebutted. "You have no idea who you're talking to..." this part made me laugh out loud...as if that should scare me or as if you are Steve "rotten fruit" Jobs. I neither fear nor care who you are in real life, but I did enjoy rebutting your rather weak inaccuracies and opinions with facts..thanks MacDaffy!;)
Slashdot Mirror
Firewire 800?
Everything is moving to USB..but if you REALLY need it..$50.00 card
Illuminated Keyboard?
If you REALLY REALLY need this Dell has an comparable price latop with an Illuminated keyboard..not much of a demand for this. Add $0
Motion Sensor?
Useless addition for 99% of users.. Add $0
iSight?
Similar cams/software are about $20.00 nowdays
Movie Editing Software?
Im sure there will be a flame that it sucks..but WinXP does provide this. Plus why bundle it when there are so many choices out there. add $0
Music Editing Software?
Same as above but add $25.00 to be fair.
X11 compatibility w/o dual-boot?
Once again 99% of users have no need. Add $0
Mac OS X?
I know this could start a flame of its own, but to many OS X is definitely not superior to WinXP. add $100 to upgrade the OS to professional to be fair.
Toss all those on there, and then come talk to me about price.
I suppose to be fair...I will add the above mentioned $195...still way cheaper for a VERY comparable laptop. Not looking to continue the long standing flame war over this...but just wanted to show you that it actually does hold some truth...so I came to talk price.
Thanks for the comments Anonymous...I do believe that I have the facts to back me. From his comments regarding the radio field, which is a HUGE industry..he obviously has no knowledge or facts, which is why he resorted to insult. I have also learned that you get "flame bait" and modded down if you have a negative opinion about apple on here...not just from this thread..but others in the past. Time to post anonymous when it comes to the rotten fruit! ;)
I guess I will have to start posting anonymously when it has to do with Apple...as the Apple supporting moderators are pathetic and instanty tag you as flame bait because you have an opinion or state facts negative about Apple. Pretty sad.
Hate to break it to you, but a majority of OS X is open source.
Hate to break it to you, but only the part that is open source, is what they stole from open source community...and if you knew anything about programming, you would know that it takes more than just source from the UNIX portion to write software.
"This has been a major reason for most companies not porting software to the Mac platform."
So, what you are saying is that developers are/will not port software to OSX because Apple does not provide enough source... I guess that is why all the developers flock to Microsoft - Microsoft loves to provide Windows source.
Absolutely! I have never had a problem getting info I need to code for MS. Pretty cut and dry.
Ha. You are a moron. Name me one significant application that is not avalible on OS X...
Typical response from an immature upset apple user...but I will give you an good example in the real world. I work in the radio field, and the only decent application that runs on Mac is Protools. Everything else we use is PC only...our production software, radio automation software, news delivery software, satellite control software....need I go on..moron?
Just because a piece of software is supposedly "open source", does not mean that the OS it was built upon is open. Your logic would point to Apple OS X being open source.....So yes, you are mistaken.
When I read that I just got so incredibly mad I started blurting out expletives! No lie! I can't believe the hypocrisy they are showing. Well can't talk now I'm still busy cursing...
How is that hypocrisy? Apple has been notorious about giving little or no access to the OS to develop software. Why do you think Apple is now an insignificantly tiny percentage of the computer world? This has been a major reason for most companies not porting software to the Mac platform. Thats fact not opinion.
Apple wonâ(TM)t sell their operating system for none Apple hardware, hell they don't even allow companies to make Macs the way any manufacturer can make and sell IBM compatible hardware.
Uh, they did it for a while in the 90's and it almost killed the company, so they stopped it.
You are correct here..but I feel it was more because of the fact that Mac as a platform, was already on the downslide underneath Microsoft.
They sue every company that makes a PC the same color or size as a Mac
Uh, it's called "trade dress," and they were certainly right to do it for some of those blatant iMac ripoffs. Same with the Aqua skins for Windows-- because there are plenty of people in this country who'd be dumb enough to think that a Windows machine with that skin was actually running OS X, and would develop a negative opinion of OS X as a result. If you don't think people in this country are sufficiently dumb for that to happen, I've got two words for you: WWE. NASCAR.
Your way off the mark here and actually stepped right around what he said...he wasnt talking about Aqua GUI...he was talking about the physical case. Apple has sued MANY companies over case color and design, and has lost most of them...which is why you are now seeing colored and different shaped cases. Apple seemed to think that any computer that was not beige and square, was infringing on thier design. It was a rediculous notion, which is being proved by what you are seeing in the PC market.
And most atrocious is their taking of open source software in the form of using Darwin for the under lying Mac OS along with other system tools and don't give back to the open source community by releasing the Aqua interface to the open source world. Seems like if you're going to take, you should also give back.
Uh, Aqua is one of the major things that makes a Mac a Mac. Apple was in a five year long lawsuit over the look and feel of their OS, and now you think they're just gonna give it to the Linux herd? Puhleeze! Furthermore, if you want examples of Apple "giving back," look at Safari.
I have to agree with him here as well, not only are they taking from open source and not giving back to open source, but they are even using the UNIX name illegally which is an owned trademark name now (litigation is going on right now over it).
just imagine what they could do if they released Mac OS to the x86 world?
Uh, they'd go out of business in about six months to a year, because you cheap fucks wouldn't buy Apple hardware if you could avoid it. Get this fact through your thick fucking skull, moron: Apple is a HARDWARE company. Their software is what sells their hardware. Their hardware sales are what fund their software R&D. You remove half of that equation and Apple ceases to exist.
This part is so rediculous!! The Mac users who are still somehow convinced that the Mac platform can do things the PC can't, will still buy the software and hardware regardless of whether PC people start using the Mac OS on a PC. This would actually help Apple, because it may possibly expand the Mac OS to people who dont want a Mac computer for MANY reasons like compatability with 95% of the world. And to use your own words...YOU are actually the moron..as Apple is NOT just a hardware company! If they were you wouldnt see things like your precious Aqua and Safari that you have ranted and raved about earlier in the post. Get a clue buddy!
These things have all been discussed on here ad infinitum, I guess you've been jerking off to pr0n in a cave on the dark side of the moon for the last year or so. BTW, please tell us if you think Apple hardware is sti
As far as IE 5.2 ported to OS X, I can't comment on that, as I dont see a reason nowdays to use a Mac over PC anymore..Mac is almost a dead bird.
If you want to talk about video formats...There are other players/formats like DivX blows away Quicktime hands down, so thats a moot point and has nothing to do with MS not developing on a closed platform that makes little business sense.
How can IE be eclipsed by Mozilla and Safari when IE has like 95% share..Mozilla is like 3% and all the others combined like Safari are less than 1%. That is the funniest part of the whole message...and 100% without fact or basis.
I dont blame Microsoft one bit for the decision not to develop a browser for the company that has traditionally released the least amount of info about thier OS/ROMS/etc. I dont see any business sense any more because Mac is becoming such a small niche of the computer world.
I imagine I will get modded down by one of the Mac moderators because they think its opinion flame-bait rather than justified facts(which it is)..but just needed to clear up the silliness that was going on in that earlier post.
This would put humans WAY before the creation of Adam and Eve date-wise according to the Bible! More evidence against validity of the Bible in my opinion.
Actually I disagree...this would put humans WAY before the Bible accounts for the creation of Adam and Eve date wise.
No its not wrong. It came time for the regulation to change...being either stopped or continued in the same or different fashion. If you were employed under a contract....it would be RE-newed....like RE-REGULATED, because it would be coming time to change like the regulation. A marriage doesnt fit unless you wanted to look at it as re-marriage if marriage had a finite time that it is reconsidered. This is very elementary stuff.
Are you an idiot or just not reading the article?!?! THEY ARE KEEPING THE REGULATIONS THAT ARE IN PLACE FOR RADIO!!!! Therefore they are RE-regulating radio. If they were de-regulating then the big companies could buy more radio stations per market...BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE!! OMG people read before opening your mouth!
Are you even reading the article?!?!? The regulations for radio are staying in place...they are re-regulating the same level. Why do you think Clear Channel is unhappy about the vote? Go back and read it again.
Actually its called arbitron sampling where listeners are called all over the US. ONCE AGAIN I say do some research..and get your facts straight before speaking.
The fact that radio was already regulated and was voted to be again regulated ..is...TAADAA re-regulated. (This is 3rd grade stuff here) If you did some research about radio you would know it is, contrary to your belief, regulated in how many stations can be owned in a market and ratings basis and such. So...nope sorry..but its not de-regulated.
The reason you sometimes see this supposed "lack of diversity" that you speak of ...is because of lack of demand. Why dont people understand that if there is demand there will be supply!??! Its such a simple concept to grasp! When a station goes away or changes it was because of crappy ratings due to lack of demand!!! Do some research.
Do you not understand what "re-regulate" means? What the industry was looking for was...lets say it together kids...DE-REGULATION....and what happened as the opposite...ready kids? RE-REGULATION...not that hard to understand.
Oh come on now...that wasn't just an innocent question he was asking...it was dripping with sarcasm. "I can't help but wonder what this stinks of." and "look like the "good guy", while secretly getting in position to reap the rewards, or do they fear a bigger competitor taking the market away?" You dont sound naive enough to believe that it was a honest straightforward question....
For those of you who speak before reading or doing any research (especially clear channel bashers)....do a little reading! Radio was RE-REGULATED!
You definitely need to do some research if you think Clear Channel is a monopoly. Why do so many people like you decide to take a stand and speak out without looking at the facts. The mail fact of proof that Clear Channel is NOT a monopoly is what this whole article is about RADIO WAS RE-REGULATED!!!! Do you understand what that means? If not, let me know and I will educate you.
Whats really going on here....is everyone wants every radio or TV station to be tailored for THEM. That of course is impossible. What most people don't realize is that what you hear on the radio or see on TV is there for a reason...because its what people have shown they want! It's all about supply and demand. The people who whine about the big companies taking over media and ruining media are the ones who think it should be indie labels all day and no commercials...but forget that radio and TV stations cost an amazing amount of money to run. Like my earlier post...want thier cake and eat it too.
I don't think you understand that Clear Channel doesn't some how magically come and and steal away stations. The VAST majority of stations that Clear Channel buys are stations that are near or completely in the toilet. Im not saying all of the stations...but definitely most. Do some research and get an understanding of todays media and financial world before posting something so weak.
If some of you would read a little closer, this change affects the radio portion of media little or none at all. It cracks me up how people want good radio and want more programming and syndicated shows but dont wanna be bothered with the fact that there actually is a cost associated. Do you actually think that non-top 10 markets would have any syndication or decent programming if they were still owned by billybob over on the east side of town? The bashing of successful companies is getting quite old. If companies like Clear Channel and CBS DIDNT do a good job, they wouldnt be as big as they are.
You need to do a little research....Its running perfectly on my PALM Tungsten..which is not a Sony!!
* FireWire - If you really base real technology off a tech emmy..hehe then I shall end that one right there. LOL
* Floppy - Your little "handwriting on the wall" comment is a weak rebuttal...I guess you basically agreed with me on that one. Losing the floppy was not an INNOVATION.
* Hardware - Alot of companies have copied some cute little case designs and such...but dont even try to tell me Apple doesnt copy...there wouldnt be an Apple and a GUI if they didnt copy (a little company called XEROX is a perfect example of that - once again do homework buddy). And as for easier to configure 802.11...why do Apple people think these things are so hard on a PC...they self discover and configure..and god forbid there is a click or two, just like the Apple.
*Finance - Just like money reserves, a company having "no fat" does not make it viable. They can hire whatever talented people, spend what they want (since they still have money NOW) but that doesnt mean its making good business sense. And dont make me laugh about the antitrust, Bill Gates got a "get out of jail free" card. Are you honestly gonna tell me you think Apple can gain any ground from what happened with that? Oh dont make me laugh. Apple has been "dying" for 30 years. Actually your figure of 30 is quite exaggerated, but it definitely has been dying for the last 10 years, just a slow death. Believe me if Microsoft didnt need them around to help out with antitrust (which if you think Microsoft TRUELY lost..then you dont see how corrupt government really is), then the doors would have been closed years ago. Todays business climate is night and day from 10 or 15 years ago. Apple will not be able to hold on with its little cult in todays business world. So yes it has been dying for many years...like cancer, but its just about to close its eyes and go to tech heaven.
* Price - No it is fact. First you can get a PC that is more powerful than an "old-style" iMac for way less than your $799 value quoted. Next, there are plenty of laptops that are just as powerful as a $999 iBook for same or less price...quite a few new ones on the market right now. Take a look on ebay...old Macs arent holding value like they did 5 years ago. And I work with a very large organization of thousands of PCs and hundreds of Macs....and the Macs have just as many software and hardware problems, native and 3rd party...so Im not buying the part about viruses (which Mac has too, just not as abundant)...and problems.
*Ending Comments - Not shoddy tactics, facts. And it was not a condescending tone, you do need to do some homework. NASDAQ....exactly what optimistic analysis are you talking about, and from what major wallstreet Guru are you speaking of?? And look at the stock trends and volumes.. I betrayed nothing, rebutted your opinions with fact, im sorry you were not happy about that. I did do better, which is why I rebutted. "You have no idea who you're talking to..." this part made me laugh out loud...as if that should scare me or as if you are Steve "rotten fruit" Jobs. I neither fear nor care who you are in real life, but I did enjoy rebutting your rather weak inaccuracies and opinions with facts..thanks MacDaffy! ;)