I was actually wondering if it would be beneficial to purchase Windows XP Pro if you were getting the refund... Would it more than offset the increased cost?
Something tells it it would be unlikely that you would get back extra that way, but I can dream.:)
This is frikkin' awesome!I only got 1406MB, though, not the full 2GB. Not that I'm complaining about my free e-mail account. All that, and it's a real story.:)
That's why I said I hope that cost drops with quantity. The computer, if mass produced, really cannot cost 99€ (less reasonable profit). I know that technology is more expensive when knew, but I would like to see something like this around 25-30€ At lower price points, it becomes possible to integrate the controllers into more devices while retaining affordability.
I don't expect it anytime soon... just hoping for it eventually.
99€?! Okay, so it's not that expensive. 55Mhz processor, 2MB flash, 8MB RAM, serial port, 10/100 Ethernet... but I can go buy a cheap desktop for that. I hope it gets substantially cheaper with volume. If not, they're making a killer profit.
Note the article doesn't tout it as world's smallest, but it is smaller than the gumstix
I did not mean to imply that Apple were first or foremost in clustering. I didn't think it required to mention clustering on Slashdot, where Beowulf is a running joke.
I was attempting more for "See, even Apple is working on clustering."
I didn't "see it coming", but it's not unexpected. When was the last time you heard "Windows" and "cluster" in a sentence without some vulgarity attached? Meanwhile, Apple's been in the news with its clusters and is catering to the distributed computing with software like Xgrid and Xsan, not forgetting support for distributed compile in Xcode.
Microsoft is behind on this, and they're now playing catch-up. I suspect we'll see a few cluster-related items from them in the next year.
And then you lose the convenience (and experience, which is a very real component of Apple product purchases) of having a single box holding that has everything you need.
Imagine buying a new HP/Gateway/whatever at the store. You get the computer box, and then they say, "Now, do you need the US power kit or the International power kit? Do you need the stereo speaker cable, or the 5.1 surround-sound cable, or do you have your own? Do you want the black cartridge, the color cartridge, the black and color, or the color and photo cartridges..."
Maybe that's an exaggeration, but it's the same concept. Why make the process more complex and more expensive, when you can do the opposite without seriously impacting anyone?
Besides, you can still buy a new iPod and FireWire cable for less than you could a week ago.
Real world advantage is the difference in interface sharing methods. USB uses time-division (IIRC), FireWire is packet-based. Thus, if you're iPod and your external drive are on the same port, they each get a slice of time, even if nothing is being transferred to the drive. Each device can use as bandwidth [almost] freely in FireWire.
It's been a long time since I read up on this, so correct me if I'm wrong.
Because it is cheaper to produce one million iPods with one million USB cables and be able to package all of the iPods alike. If you are putting different cables into each box, there is an additional component to consider, the additional worker overhead ("does this one get USB or FireWire?"), the additional tracking overhead (two part numbers, more if you can get both cables)...
Licensing?! Not only did Apple invent FireWire, they [finally] offered the name to the IEEE 1394 spec for free. There is no license fee.
It does require additional components, and I can't speak to the cost or battery consumption thereof. I doubt it adds more than $10 to the manufactured cost... probably less.
Certainly not. FireWire is still integral; it is the standard for communication with a DV camcorder; it is important to the function of iMovie. The iLife suite is a big draw. I know people buying Macs just because of iLife.
Arguments of which standard is better aside, USB 2.0 is more widely available. As the article states, "It's more cost efficient to ship with one cable rather than two, and USB is more broadly supported on both platforms." It's not Apple backing away, it's Apple making a business decision. If they later remove FireWire support from the device, then you can get upset.
Using USB in the Shuffle was key because the, as mentioned, USB 2.0 is more broadly supported, and the connector is built it. Using FireWire on the Shuffle would have prevented it from reaching its target audience.
Apple is trying to save money and drop prices at the same time. Sure it sucks for us FireWire users. I have several FireWire peripherals and will probably spend the extra $20 getting the FireWire cable when I get my next iPod (hopefully soon). But it's a luxury, because I have USB 2.0 anyway.
My sarcasm meter works perfectly from the time I get up to the first time a co-worker does something stupid. This usually prevents me from getting any decent jokes after 9am.
All new Macs also offer USB 2.0. Sad as it is, why offer a FireWire cable when everyone can use the USB 2.0 cable?
And, no, they don't "...only support the lowest common denominator..." Indeed, they offer a FireWire cable, but, just as they don't offer the other "premium" components (dock, remote, A/V cable) standard, the FireWire cable is not included.
Re:One thing the editor left off..
on
Apple Updates iPod
·
· Score: 5, Informative
Sorry to reply to you three times, but...
They also eliminated the Dock as a standard accessory, even on the 60GB iPod Photo. That's a bit disappointing, as it's a $40 add-on that you used to get "free". Ah, well.
I believe it's probably similar to those standard, snap-on plastic bits that have pins where standard drives have holes.
And there's a good chance that they are proprietary, but, why do you care? It's not like the screws aren't $4 for 50 or cheaper, and at least I don't move my major components in and out of my PC often.
Slashdot Mirror
I was actually wondering if it would be beneficial to purchase Windows XP Pro if you were getting the refund... Would it more than offset the increased cost? Something tells it it would be unlikely that you would get back extra that way, but I can dream. :)
This is frikkin' awesome!I only got 1406MB, though, not the full 2GB. Not that I'm complaining about my free e-mail account. All that, and it's a real story. :)
There's about to be one about gmail...
That's why I said I hope that cost drops with quantity. The computer, if mass produced, really cannot cost 99€ (less reasonable profit). I know that technology is more expensive when knew, but I would like to see something like this around 25-30€ At lower price points, it becomes possible to integrate the controllers into more devices while retaining affordability. I don't expect it anytime soon... just hoping for it eventually.
somewhat similar?
99€?! Okay, so it's not that expensive. 55Mhz processor, 2MB flash, 8MB RAM, serial port, 10/100 Ethernet... but I can go buy a cheap desktop for that. I hope it gets substantially cheaper with volume. If not, they're making a killer profit.
Note the article doesn't tout it as world's smallest, but it is smaller than the gumstix
You clearly haven't seen the new attachments from Belkin...
Recovery tools? On an external hardrive of some sort? What will they think of next?!
Ah, but the jetpacks (and their operators) just don't fair as well in the head-on and offset impact tests.
I did not mean to imply that Apple were first or foremost in clustering. I didn't think it required to mention clustering on Slashdot, where Beowulf is a running joke.
I was attempting more for "See, even Apple is working on clustering."
I didn't "see it coming", but it's not unexpected. When was the last time you heard "Windows" and "cluster" in a sentence without some vulgarity attached? Meanwhile, Apple's been in the news with its clusters and is catering to the distributed computing with software like Xgrid and Xsan, not forgetting support for distributed compile in Xcode.
Microsoft is behind on this, and they're now playing catch-up. I suspect we'll see a few cluster-related items from them in the next year.
My old iPod is the original iPod. It sports an actual FireWire port, where the new ones have the dock connector.
And then you lose the convenience (and experience, which is a very real component of Apple product purchases) of having a single box holding that has everything you need.
Imagine buying a new HP/Gateway/whatever at the store. You get the computer box, and then they say, "Now, do you need the US power kit or the International power kit? Do you need the stereo speaker cable, or the 5.1 surround-sound cable, or do you have your own? Do you want the black cartridge, the color cartridge, the black and color, or the color and photo cartridges..."
Maybe that's an exaggeration, but it's the same concept. Why make the process more complex and more expensive, when you can do the opposite without seriously impacting anyone?
Besides, you can still buy a new iPod and FireWire cable for less than you could a week ago.
Real world advantage is the difference in interface sharing methods. USB uses time-division (IIRC), FireWire is packet-based. Thus, if you're iPod and your external drive are on the same port, they each get a slice of time, even if nothing is being transferred to the drive. Each device can use as bandwidth [almost] freely in FireWire.
It's been a long time since I read up on this, so correct me if I'm wrong.
Because it is cheaper to produce one million iPods with one million USB cables and be able to package all of the iPods alike. If you are putting different cables into each box, there is an additional component to consider, the additional worker overhead ("does this one get USB or FireWire?"), the additional tracking overhead (two part numbers, more if you can get both cables)...
Licensing?! Not only did Apple invent FireWire, they [finally] offered the name to the IEEE 1394 spec for free. There is no license fee.
It does require additional components, and I can't speak to the cost or battery consumption thereof. I doubt it adds more than $10 to the manufactured cost... probably less.
Backing away?
Certainly not. FireWire is still integral; it is the standard for communication with a DV camcorder; it is important to the function of iMovie. The iLife suite is a big draw. I know people buying Macs just because of iLife.
Arguments of which standard is better aside, USB 2.0 is more widely available. As the article states, "It's more cost efficient to ship with one cable rather than two, and USB is more broadly supported on both platforms." It's not Apple backing away, it's Apple making a business decision. If they later remove FireWire support from the device, then you can get upset.
Using USB in the Shuffle was key because the, as mentioned, USB 2.0 is more broadly supported, and the connector is built it. Using FireWire on the Shuffle would have prevented it from reaching its target audience.
Apple is trying to save money and drop prices at the same time. Sure it sucks for us FireWire users. I have several FireWire peripherals and will probably spend the extra $20 getting the FireWire cable when I get my next iPod (hopefully soon). But it's a luxury, because I have USB 2.0 anyway.
Sorry,
My sarcasm meter works perfectly from the time I get up to the first time a co-worker does something stupid. This usually prevents me from getting any decent jokes after 9am.
All new Macs also offer USB 2.0. Sad as it is, why offer a FireWire cable when everyone can use the USB 2.0 cable?
And, no, they don't "...only support the lowest common denominator..." Indeed, they offer a FireWire cable, but, just as they don't offer the other "premium" components (dock, remote, A/V cable) standard, the FireWire cable is not included.
Sorry to reply to you three times, but...
They also eliminated the Dock as a standard accessory, even on the 60GB iPod Photo. That's a bit disappointing, as it's a $40 add-on that you used to get "free". Ah, well.
Also missing is the "Gold" mini... Not that anyone apparently cared. :)
Notice, though, that you can step up through [almost] the entire line by $50 increases...
512MB Shuffle: $99
1GB Shuffle: $149
4GB mini: $199
6GB mini: $249
20GB iPod: $299
30GB Photo: $349
** MISSING **
60GB Photo: $449
But, the Mac mini doesn't come with a mouse![!!] So, your USB mouse has infinitely more buttons than the Mac mini's mouse. :)
I believe it's probably similar to those standard, snap-on plastic bits that have pins where standard drives have holes.
And there's a good chance that they are proprietary, but, why do you care? It's not like the screws aren't $4 for 50 or cheaper, and at least I don't move my major components in and out of my PC often.
Mini tower, indeed. It's a *bit* shorter than my last mini tower, but barely qualifies as SFF, IMHO.
And, what the hell is with the Mac Mini comparison?