The preferences for pretty much everything on OS X can be changed via the command line.
I'm sorry it didn't work out for you - if it's any consolation I don't think Lion was really their finest hour. Snow Leopard was better in my opinion.
FWIW I use Linux and OS X side by side, but I've been a Mac user for well over a decade so I am used to it. I find "where is everything?!" bafflement when I sit down in front of a modern Windows install, since I used to use 98/w2k etc.
You can change pretty much anything you like - just fire up Terminal and go to town the unix way (or get a GUI app that will do the unix stuff for you).
It would be nice if Apple published a list of variables and settings etc, but they are all in there and editable.
Apple actually started doing this by default since many people did it anyway, I think around the time they introduced the pop-out Stacks feature with fan/grid. The downloads folder starts there be default on new installs for sure.
Except that if there's cosmetic damage to the outside of a refurb item from Apple you should send it back for replacement - they change the external cases for new ones.
You sir, need to read that comic more than the OP does. I can't find an error in his post, other than perhaps the style issue with "80's", although using an apostrophe there is accepted.
All of his other uses are correct, if a little informal in places.
The computer has a massive advantage that it knows exactly where you are. If it uses that advantage to let the NPCs it controls have pixel-perfect shots at you while you're concealed in places it cannot possibly "see" from its many pairs of NPC eyes then it's lame.
Especially if NPC 1 can see you, but NPC 2 cannot, but magically is able to aim perfectly at you because his buddy can see you...
Even worse when it's meant to be pitch black. For some reason non-night-vision-equipped NPCs seem to be able to shoot as if it's the middle of the day!
And you have to! With that matte finish paint job (a £1750 extra) you can't let it get dirty, or take it in a car wash, or let any bird crap get on there for more than a few minutes or you'll ruin it completely!
BMW are *forcing* you towards clean transportation!
Well, in which case, you'll like the iPad 2 - which included a *considerably* faster GPU and CPU combo (especially the GPU) over the first iPad.
There are some pretty good looking 3D games on the iPad, including FPS titles.
The iPad 2 is a very powerful device in the mobile space. Just because a lot of people play Angry Birds on it doesn't mean it can't also run high power apps and games.
They run a *slight* profit on the content (as reported in their quarterly financial statements), but it might as well be break even. They make the vast, vast majority of their profit on hardware.
They also showed the crew pushing it into the garage by hand implying that the batteries were totally flat, when the car's systems never recorded the battery dropping below 20% with a voice over saying "we wanted to do more shots, but... look what happened".
The script was pre written (literally) - they knew how they were going to shoot the piece, and they told some massive porkies at the end for no good reason, since it was a pretty decent review up to that point.
Kia has just released an 88mpg Rio here in the UK (a 1.1 litre common rail diesel). In US figures that's 73.3 US MPG. Has AC and power windows/locking etc.
Comes with a 7 year warranty too, but it is $18.5k in USD (although take off 20% for VAT).
I'm sorry, but you can't have it both ways. If Apple is "in the wrong" here, then so is the GPLv3.
If you want to claim Apple's actions and licence for OS X are wrong and unenforceable, and that Psystar was totally in the right (legally) to ignore the OS X licence then the GPL cannot stand, and a hypothetical company would just be free to ignore it.
Apple doesn't care about home hackintosh users - the install media is just about the least protected piece of software you'll see (not encrypted, no serial numbers, no online activation, with a single text file that has to be removed before burning the image to a DVD or onto a USB stick for installation - the text file says simply "please don't steal OS X"). If you want to make a hackintosh, they're not putting in any effort to stop you. This is totally analogous with doing whatever you like with the GPLv3 and not distributing it.
However, if you then decide to sell hackintoshes with OS X installed, *then* Apple has a problem, since the licence forbids it (it forbids you making a home one too, to be totally strict, but they're not going after individual private users). This is the "getting attention" or "distribution" issue - it's at this point that Apple cares that you're breaking the terms of its licence - a licence that they are within their rights to set up however they want since it's their code.
So your argument that the guy was "dubious" was that you wanted a Mac but it was "too expensive" and you thought he was *wrong* for avoiding finance?
I'm not sure you understand how finance works. Put it this way, if you bought that Mac on finance, and let's say it cost a nice round £1000, how much do you think you will end up paying overall?
Hint: more than £1000.
As far as RAM config goes, it's always more expensive to get it done by Apple - that's nothing new, but it's not really the point of the argument - the point was that you *can* change configurations if you want (either at the time of purchase, or afterwards). I was addressing the original troll's assertion that Macs were not configurable and then giving the example of the Macbook Air as representative of all the models on offer as far as config options go.
If you want to put 8GB of RAM into a Mac Mini then knock yourself out - it takes about 5 minutes and costs about £50 or something on Crucial (I think 4GB sticks are about £20 each?). It's not like Apple made it difficult to do - you don't even need a screwdriver if I remember correctly, the bottom panel just twists off.
On this article, yes just one. But it's been a frequent staple of Apple articles to mention that the stock is "massively overvalued" and that "market cap means nothing". You only have to go back and look through - they pop up all the time, from about the time that Apple's market cap exceeded Microsoft's.
Who said anything about Steve? I personally think he's a bit of a douche, but I hardly think that's relevant to why the iPad has been a successful product, and especially why the slashdot crowd and wider "technical elite" seem to be in disbelief that a supposed "inferior" product technically can be so widely adopted.
It's actually a good product, whichever side of the "love Apple/hate Apple/indifferent to Apple" fence you stand on. Marketing only gets you so far.
I don't own one personally either - it does not fit my needs at the moment (as in, I have a computer that fills the niche it would take and I can live without the living room convenience for the moment).
That's Apple Newspeak for possessing an opinion contrary to Apple dogma.
Then you go on to say, after O point out that Macs are configurable and specifically address the fact that the Macbook Air is an ultra portable with extremely limited upgrade and config (like other ultra portables from other manufacturers), you then say:
>
"Severe technical compromises" is just baseless trolling
No. That's just a clued in perspective on the new Mini or the MBA.
You're simply trolling. The MBA and the Mini are not representative of the bulk of Apple's machines - they have "normal" laptops that are just as configurable as PC laptops, they have desktop machines that are similarly as configurable as PC desktops (and with multiple expansion options), as well as an all-in-one that is reasonably configurable for what is essentially a static laptop with a desktop screen.
Instead you seem to think your argument will stand as a "clued in perspective" if you use the MBA and the Mini as "proof" that the Mac line as a whole has "severe technical compromises". It's just laughably disingenuous.
More RAM? Bigger HD? Are you serious? Apart from the MBA, which is a very specialised ultra-light both of those things are configurable on Macs.
Keyboard is a matter of personal preference, but I can't say I've had any issues with it (I use the Bluetooth keyboard, but it's the same physical mechanism as the one used on the laptops). Some people are going to want things like a delete key (not just backspace), but you can remap your keys as you like, and some people are not going to like the action but it's a long way from a "bad" keyboard. Do you have a cite for "most of the market wants a better keyboard" - even a series of separate articles about how bad the Apple laptop keyboard is will do.
As far as GPUs go, the 15" and 17" MBP are pretty well specced for laptops I think. If you want much more grunt, buy an alienware concrete slab "luggable" laptop. It's well known why the 13" only has a HD3000, and it's not Apple's choice (unless they want to keep using Core 2 Duo CPUs, but then you'd complain about them being "using old technology")
"Severe technical compromises" is just baseless trolling, especially given the high consumer ratings that Apple products receive - there just isn't the groundswell of opinion that they're as bad as you are making them out to be.
Slashdot Mirror
The preferences for pretty much everything on OS X can be changed via the command line.
I'm sorry it didn't work out for you - if it's any consolation I don't think Lion was really their finest hour. Snow Leopard was better in my opinion.
FWIW I use Linux and OS X side by side, but I've been a Mac user for well over a decade so I am used to it. I find "where is everything?!" bafflement when I sit down in front of a modern Windows install, since I used to use 98/w2k etc.
You can change pretty much anything you like - just fire up Terminal and go to town the unix way (or get a GUI app that will do the unix stuff for you).
It would be nice if Apple published a list of variables and settings etc, but they are all in there and editable.
Apple actually started doing this by default since many people did it anyway, I think around the time they introduced the pop-out Stacks feature with fan/grid. The downloads folder starts there be default on new installs for sure.
You can make it one click if you script it.
Perhaps two clicks and a couple of keystrokes if you want to vary which process gets niced.
Funny that the "we don't have an option for that" OS X has a bash shell right there for your command line methods.
Fast, flexible and easy. ;)
Except that if there's cosmetic damage to the outside of a refurb item from Apple you should send it back for replacement - they change the external cases for new ones.
Teach me how to be cool like you!
You sir, need to read that comic more than the OP does. I can't find an error in his post, other than perhaps the style issue with "80's", although using an apostrophe there is accepted.
All of his other uses are correct, if a little informal in places.
I agree 100%.
The computer has a massive advantage that it knows exactly where you are. If it uses that advantage to let the NPCs it controls have pixel-perfect shots at you while you're concealed in places it cannot possibly "see" from its many pairs of NPC eyes then it's lame.
Especially if NPC 1 can see you, but NPC 2 cannot, but magically is able to aim perfectly at you because his buddy can see you...
Even worse when it's meant to be pitch black. For some reason non-night-vision-equipped NPCs seem to be able to shoot as if it's the middle of the day!
And you have to! With that matte finish paint job (a £1750 extra) you can't let it get dirty, or take it in a car wash, or let any bird crap get on there for more than a few minutes or you'll ruin it completely!
BMW are *forcing* you towards clean transportation!
Well, in which case, you'll like the iPad 2 - which included a *considerably* faster GPU and CPU combo (especially the GPU) over the first iPad.
There are some pretty good looking 3D games on the iPad, including FPS titles.
The iPad 2 is a very powerful device in the mobile space. Just because a lot of people play Angry Birds on it doesn't mean it can't also run high power apps and games.
They run a *slight* profit on the content (as reported in their quarterly financial statements), but it might as well be break even. They make the vast, vast majority of their profit on hardware.
They also showed the crew pushing it into the garage by hand implying that the batteries were totally flat, when the car's systems never recorded the battery dropping below 20% with a voice over saying "we wanted to do more shots, but... look what happened".
The script was pre written (literally) - they knew how they were going to shoot the piece, and they told some massive porkies at the end for no good reason, since it was a pretty decent review up to that point.
Kia has just released an 88mpg Rio here in the UK (a 1.1 litre common rail diesel). In US figures that's 73.3 US MPG. Has AC and power windows/locking etc.
Comes with a 7 year warranty too, but it is $18.5k in USD (although take off 20% for VAT).
Then the range goes down. The amount drawn by the heater/AC system is much less than that drawn by the traction motor though.
You can also get solar panels in some EVs that supplement the AC system to minimise the impact on the main battery.
I'm sorry, but you can't have it both ways. If Apple is "in the wrong" here, then so is the GPLv3.
If you want to claim Apple's actions and licence for OS X are wrong and unenforceable, and that Psystar was totally in the right (legally) to ignore the OS X licence then the GPL cannot stand, and a hypothetical company would just be free to ignore it.
Apple doesn't care about home hackintosh users - the install media is just about the least protected piece of software you'll see (not encrypted, no serial numbers, no online activation, with a single text file that has to be removed before burning the image to a DVD or onto a USB stick for installation - the text file says simply "please don't steal OS X"). If you want to make a hackintosh, they're not putting in any effort to stop you. This is totally analogous with doing whatever you like with the GPLv3 and not distributing it.
However, if you then decide to sell hackintoshes with OS X installed, *then* Apple has a problem, since the licence forbids it (it forbids you making a home one too, to be totally strict, but they're not going after individual private users). This is the "getting attention" or "distribution" issue - it's at this point that Apple cares that you're breaking the terms of its licence - a licence that they are within their rights to set up however they want since it's their code.
So your argument that the guy was "dubious" was that you wanted a Mac but it was "too expensive" and you thought he was *wrong* for avoiding finance?
I'm not sure you understand how finance works. Put it this way, if you bought that Mac on finance, and let's say it cost a nice round £1000, how much do you think you will end up paying overall?
Hint: more than £1000.
As far as RAM config goes, it's always more expensive to get it done by Apple - that's nothing new, but it's not really the point of the argument - the point was that you *can* change configurations if you want (either at the time of purchase, or afterwards). I was addressing the original troll's assertion that Macs were not configurable and then giving the example of the Macbook Air as representative of all the models on offer as far as config options go.
If you want to put 8GB of RAM into a Mac Mini then knock yourself out - it takes about 5 minutes and costs about £50 or something on Crucial (I think 4GB sticks are about £20 each?). It's not like Apple made it difficult to do - you don't even need a screwdriver if I remember correctly, the bottom panel just twists off.
And we come full circle.
You can put OS X on non-Apple hardware... just don't "distribute" it in exchange for money.... (or for free).
No. GPL puts zero restrictions on what you DO with the software.
So I can make a Tivo with it then? With a locked bootloader? Using GPLv3 software?
Then I assume you also disagree with the GPLv3?
If Apple had lost this case then what chance does any other software licence have?
Just because you disagree with their terms doesn't mean you can just ignore them, or say a court is wrong for "siding" with them.
Cool, so I can take GPLv3 licensed software and make a Tivo box!
I mean, I don't have to actually follow the licence, right? That seems to be what you're saying.
I'll make my Tivo box and then sell it and I'll save money on the OS because I can get Linux for free.
Oh what's that? You want the source? Why should I give that to you? I mean, it says I have to in the licence, but I can ignore that, right?
On this article, yes just one. But it's been a frequent staple of Apple articles to mention that the stock is "massively overvalued" and that "market cap means nothing". You only have to go back and look through - they pop up all the time, from about the time that Apple's market cap exceeded Microsoft's.
Who said anything about Steve? I personally think he's a bit of a douche, but I hardly think that's relevant to why the iPad has been a successful product, and especially why the slashdot crowd and wider "technical elite" seem to be in disbelief that a supposed "inferior" product technically can be so widely adopted.
It's actually a good product, whichever side of the "love Apple/hate Apple/indifferent to Apple" fence you stand on. Marketing only gets you so far.
I don't own one personally either - it does not fit my needs at the moment (as in, I have a computer that fills the niche it would take and I can live without the living room convenience for the moment).
See, this is the problem:
That's Apple Newspeak for possessing an opinion contrary to Apple dogma.
Then you go on to say, after O point out that Macs are configurable and specifically address the fact that the Macbook Air is an ultra portable with extremely limited upgrade and config (like other ultra portables from other manufacturers), you then say:
>
"Severe technical compromises" is just baseless trolling
No. That's just a clued in perspective on the new Mini or the MBA.
You're simply trolling. The MBA and the Mini are not representative of the bulk of Apple's machines - they have "normal" laptops that are just as configurable as PC laptops, they have desktop machines that are similarly as configurable as PC desktops (and with multiple expansion options), as well as an all-in-one that is reasonably configurable for what is essentially a static laptop with a desktop screen.
Instead you seem to think your argument will stand as a "clued in perspective" if you use the MBA and the Mini as "proof" that the Mac line as a whole has "severe technical compromises". It's just laughably disingenuous.
You're just trolling now, but thanks for playing.
More RAM? Bigger HD? Are you serious? Apart from the MBA, which is a very specialised ultra-light both of those things are configurable on Macs.
Keyboard is a matter of personal preference, but I can't say I've had any issues with it (I use the Bluetooth keyboard, but it's the same physical mechanism as the one used on the laptops). Some people are going to want things like a delete key (not just backspace), but you can remap your keys as you like, and some people are not going to like the action but it's a long way from a "bad" keyboard. Do you have a cite for "most of the market wants a better keyboard" - even a series of separate articles about how bad the Apple laptop keyboard is will do.
As far as GPUs go, the 15" and 17" MBP are pretty well specced for laptops I think. If you want much more grunt, buy an alienware concrete slab "luggable" laptop. It's well known why the 13" only has a HD3000, and it's not Apple's choice (unless they want to keep using Core 2 Duo CPUs, but then you'd complain about them being "using old technology")
"Severe technical compromises" is just baseless trolling, especially given the high consumer ratings that Apple products receive - there just isn't the groundswell of opinion that they're as bad as you are making them out to be.