I'm not sure about stupid, but ignorant might be true. Fortunately the latter can be remedied, and you should start with the slippery slope fallacy.
In addition, I can think of plenty of decent reasons not to want a Mac, but constructing fanciful scenarios regarding Apple's behavior in bizarro world is the worst I've ever read.
You didn't respond to the main thrust of my argument, which is that Apple, even if they could succeed in making great games (which I'm not convinced they can, but for hypothetical purpose I'll say sure), doesn't want to cut out the incentive for ISVs to write Mac Games. If Apple gets into game making, they'll take up so much of the Apple game market money that others will be squeezed out.
To quote myself, and the point you ignored:
The chief problem I think Apple faces is getting more developers working on their platform, and if Apple itself keeps sucking up more of the same dollars, then developers aren't going to write for the platform.
You'd switch not for the games, but for the superior OS, apps, developing environment, hardware design, political statement, etc. Or for whatever reason.
I use a Powerbook because I like the OS and almost everything works properly. The laptop form factor is nicer than any other. I don't have to phone MS when if I reinstall the OS or MS Office.
Given that, games are just the icing on the cake. Someone may use a Mac for a variety of reasons, and want to be able to play the occasional game too. If you're pleased with Windows, use it. But those who aren't want games too.
Apple's not eager to get in the game market because Apple is already gobbling up more and more of the Mac ecosphere, which means they're leaving less room for third party developers -- and third parties in general. (For example, their retail stores are cutting out the independent Mac shops that once kept the company alive.) The OS feature list often assimilates good third-party ideas, while pro stuff like FCP and Logic are now produced by Apple. As a result, the platform gets fewer of the independent, mid-sized companies that might otherwise write revolutionary software.
Likewise, if they get in the game market, the ISVs who currently port and make games might just say "fuck it" and throw in the towel. MS can get away with having an independent game unit because of the vast market for Windows games, but I don't think Apple has that luxury.
Finally, the fact is that developing great games takes a huge amount of time and money, and without the potential to sell copies to 90% of the market, I think game development would just be a money pit for Apple.
The chief problem I think Apple faces is getting more developers working on their platform, and if Apple itself keeps sucking up more of the same dollars, then developers aren't going to write for the platform.
Men carry backpacks, briefcases or messenger bags. A purse or something similar seeks a niche that I, and I suspect most men, don't need filled. If the gear is small -- wallet, keys and a cell phone -- it goes in the pocket. For anything larger, like a laptop, I'd rather have one of the bags mentioned. I think they're more practical than a purse.
I think the parent post and this post, both of which are not even remotely productive and may be counterproductive, invalidate the premise of bullet point three.
Well, judging by the widespread use of Exchange and Notes, I'd say plenty of people want (1), (2) and (4). I'm not one of those people/organizations, but apparently they make up a decent-sized market.
This can work to your advantage, however: if you are actually above average, but playing with below average people who think they are above average, you walk away with their money.
That being said, I give too much away in my face to be any good at poker, so I don't play.
However I dont see a mass migration to the power platform due to the entrenchment of the desktop market.
I don't see a mass-migration to the power platform because Windows doesn't run on it. End of story. Then again, I don't think IBM's Power goal is to take over the desktop world.
IBM's real strength comes from their SOI and other chip-making technology, which they've cross-licensed with AMD -- but not Intel. The parent poster may want to read Hannibal's CPU articles at Ars Technica. They go into some of the history behind the architectures and chips.
I agree: although most individual applications won't beenfit much, at any given time I might have four applications going, plus all the miscellaneous OS stuff in the background. Plus, during processor-intensive tasks, like audio or video encoding, one core could perform that task while the other core keeps the rest of the system from slowing down.
I've already experienced the difference to some degree. I use a 1.5 Ghz PowerBook on a day-to-day basis, but a friend has a DP 800 Mhz Quicksilver, which was released a few years ago. Despite my much faster processor and greater ram (1GB vs. 512MB), his machine often feels much faster. (The article obviously refers to x86 CPUs, but I understand that IBM is heading in the same dual-core direction.) If it were practical for me to have a desktop, I'd go for a DP machine. A dual-core machine might be less expensive than DP, or have the potential for DP, quad-core.
Online payments are a bigger problem. I won't use Paypal for a variety of reasons (use any search engine for "Paypal" and view results 2 - 8, as well as a nasty problem with them), and I'm unwilling to use my credit card at any but very large and trusted sites. To my mind, there is no good online payment system right now, so buying software becomes a pain in the neck. It's often easier to a) find an OSS version of what I want to do (for simple apps), b) write my own or c) buy a similar app from a store.
If none of those are practical, the lure of pirated serials always calls. Until it's easier for users to pay, I don't think piracy is going away.
The public (myself included) wants good yarns more than great literary works.
I think the public -- over the long term, anyway -- wants good yarns that are literary works. I don't think there needs to be a distinction between them, although I suspect many writers on both sides of the Dante/Beowulf divide want to say that one is superior as a way of justifying their own style or importance. The best books seek and achieve both.
To my mind, that is the distinction of a great writer: to be both literary and cognizant of the importance of a powerful story. Stephenson does this in books like _Cyrptonomicon_, which explain his well-deserved fame.
With regards to exploits, some unis have heterogeneous computing environments, which may make them more secure than a business standardized on Windows. At mine,, for example, most of the sciences use OS X or Linux, and I haven't seen any Windows machines in the CS/Math department. The humanities are a mix of machines ranging from Win 95 to OS 8 to XP to OS X.
Students mostly use XP, but a sizable percentage use Macs.
The diverse environment means Windows malware infects a smaller percentage of the total computers.
Major US Company with virtual monopoly on product decides not to screw over customers. At least not this time. At least apparently not yet, in this particular circumstance. Details to follow.
The iPod is also married to the iTunes Music Store. It's an easy, legal way to get songs on your player. Both built from the ground up to work together with ease. Throw in 1-Click purchasing, and you've got yourself a nice little system.
I think the one-click idea is important. To rip CDs in iTunes, one inserts the CD and hits "import". The songs are ripped and encoded in a friendly format and instantly available in iTunes, which is the best song management system I have seen with the possible exception of Music Match Jukebox.
I think the iPod's real secret is a combination of things, as the parent post indicates. Those who believe the iPod can be solely surpassed through superior hardware design are missing why the iPod remains king.
Keep in mind that this is written by someone without an iPod -- but by someone who writes on a 1.5 Ghz PowerBook, and who knows many iPod owners. I don't have one because I consider them too expensive for my limited needs; but I admire Apple for its success.
I find it hard to get excited: a company and a group of companies for which I have no respect for tear at one another. The consumer probably loses either way, and must face higher pricers or lower selection. The record labels, who are hardly bastions of corporate goodness, cry foul, and I can only laugh because they are the villain in much anti-tech legislation these days. Wal-Mart, the king of worker exploitation, simply says that resistance is futile.
I'm going back to CD Baby, where I can wait for this blow over.
Slashdot Mirror
I'm not sure about stupid, but ignorant might be true. Fortunately the latter can be remedied, and you should start with the slippery slope fallacy.
In addition, I can think of plenty of decent reasons not to want a Mac, but constructing fanciful scenarios regarding Apple's behavior in bizarro world is the worst I've ever read.
To quote myself, and the point you ignored:
The chief problem I think Apple faces is getting more developers working on their platform, and if Apple itself keeps sucking up more of the same dollars, then developers aren't going to write for the platform.
I use a Powerbook because I like the OS and almost everything works properly. The laptop form factor is nicer than any other. I don't have to phone MS when if I reinstall the OS or MS Office.
Given that, games are just the icing on the cake. Someone may use a Mac for a variety of reasons, and want to be able to play the occasional game too. If you're pleased with Windows, use it. But those who aren't want games too.
Likewise, if they get in the game market, the ISVs who currently port and make games might just say "fuck it" and throw in the towel. MS can get away with having an independent game unit because of the vast market for Windows games, but I don't think Apple has that luxury.
Finally, the fact is that developing great games takes a huge amount of time and money, and without the potential to sell copies to 90% of the market, I think game development would just be a money pit for Apple.
The chief problem I think Apple faces is getting more developers working on their platform, and if Apple itself keeps sucking up more of the same dollars, then developers aren't going to write for the platform.
America: Fuck Yeah.
Men carry backpacks, briefcases or messenger bags. A purse or something similar seeks a niche that I, and I suspect most men, don't need filled. If the gear is small -- wallet, keys and a cell phone -- it goes in the pocket. For anything larger, like a laptop, I'd rather have one of the bags mentioned. I think they're more practical than a purse.
Funny, a friend bought a Dell box and also didn't get a manual.
I think the parent post and this post, both of which are not even remotely productive and may be counterproductive, invalidate the premise of bullet point three.
Well, judging by the widespread use of Exchange and Notes, I'd say plenty of people want (1), (2) and (4). I'm not one of those people/organizations, but apparently they make up a decent-sized market.
That being said, I give too much away in my face to be any good at poker, so I don't play.
I don't see a mass-migration to the power platform because Windows doesn't run on it. End of story. Then again, I don't think IBM's Power goal is to take over the desktop world.
IBM's real strength comes from their SOI and other chip-making technology, which they've cross-licensed with AMD -- but not Intel. The parent poster may want to read Hannibal's CPU articles at Ars Technica. They go into some of the history behind the architectures and chips.
I've already experienced the difference to some degree. I use a 1.5 Ghz PowerBook on a day-to-day basis, but a friend has a DP 800 Mhz Quicksilver, which was released a few years ago. Despite my much faster processor and greater ram (1GB vs. 512MB), his machine often feels much faster. (The article obviously refers to x86 CPUs, but I understand that IBM is heading in the same dual-core direction.) If it were practical for me to have a desktop, I'd go for a DP machine. A dual-core machine might be less expensive than DP, or have the potential for DP, quad-core.
WPI, which is down the road, also uses Java so far as I know.
If none of those are practical, the lure of pirated serials always calls. Until it's easier for users to pay, I don't think piracy is going away.
8.) Do you still use BeOS?
Neal: No. I use OS X.
12.) Will digital publishing replace traditional publishing?
Neal: Maybe. But publishers will still have their role and writers will still get paid.
I think the public -- over the long term, anyway -- wants good yarns that are literary works. I don't think there needs to be a distinction between them, although I suspect many writers on both sides of the Dante/Beowulf divide want to say that one is superior as a way of justifying their own style or importance. The best books seek and achieve both.
To my mind, that is the distinction of a great writer: to be both literary and cognizant of the importance of a powerful story. Stephenson does this in books like _Cyrptonomicon_, which explain his well-deserved fame.
Students mostly use XP, but a sizable percentage use Macs.
The diverse environment means Windows malware infects a smaller percentage of the total computers.
There, fixed that for you.
I think the one-click idea is important. To rip CDs in iTunes, one inserts the CD and hits "import". The songs are ripped and encoded in a friendly format and instantly available in iTunes, which is the best song management system I have seen with the possible exception of Music Match Jukebox.
I think the iPod's real secret is a combination of things, as the parent post indicates. Those who believe the iPod can be solely surpassed through superior hardware design are missing why the iPod remains king.
Keep in mind that this is written by someone without an iPod -- but by someone who writes on a 1.5 Ghz PowerBook, and who knows many iPod owners. I don't have one because I consider them too expensive for my limited needs; but I admire Apple for its success.
Well, I've heard most programmers mate with themselves very frequently.
-1. The should port to x86 now and then I'd buy a copy of OS X in a second. If they don't they're doomed to dwindling market share blah blah blah...
I'm going back to CD Baby, where I can wait for this blow over.
Yes, I can make fun of my own OS choice, even with stereotypes that aren't true.
The story rocks, too.
In the future it would be nice if you had a a disclaimer that you're trying to make money.