I agree that the gushing is... weird. But the Apple packaging is nice, and people do notice it when they purchase Apple products. It's all part of their branding, which is very well managed. Other companies with crappy or hard-to-open packaging risk their branding just a tiny bit.
The Apple packaging is nice enough to warrant a spot in the basement. People seem to appreciate it when they get my hand-me-downs and it comes with all of the original packaging/disks/etc.
Well, it was meant to be satire... my zero mod tells me I was completely unsuccessful. I thought the bit about the tin foil hats would show that I was being sarcastic, but alas...
What if this guy wasn't an artist? What if worked for a competitor who was trying to get a headcount at a certain store? Would that change the story? I love art as much as the next man, and sure, it's an interesting idea, but the but the guy has earned what he's received.
I believe that intent is an important facet of the law, and has plenty of precedent - thus the definitions of murder vs. manslaughter.
1) The Apple Store is not a "public facility" it is private property.
Maybe by your definition, but by law it is open to the public and thus public.
2) he wasn't using his own equipment, he was installing software on Apple's machines.
Which is allowed. They have a very generous policy for use of their display machines, choosing to wipe them every night rather than try to enforce some kind of demo mode. I think he abused this policy, but it was not a crime.
3) Apple doesn't "forbid" you from using your own cameras and recording equipment in their stores to "record what they witness in plain sight", it just frowns on you effectively installing hidden cameras to capture people's images without them knowing.
Frowning is one thing - calling the Secret Service is another!
I trust you - I never took the bus in Chicago but the L was certainly not frightening. In Philly the buses are... interesting places. Same with the inter-city buses (Grayhound, Peter Pan, etc.) along the NE Corridor.
The bus? I know I'm stereotyping here, but except to and from NYC the bus in the US seems principally filled with the working poor and recently released prisoners.
I think the rich will gladly take the 15-20% hit to transit time in exchange for a nice nap or time with the iPad. Most commute time speeds are limited by traffic anyway, and even if they weren't we are only talking 5 minutes on a 30 minute commute.
Regarding your points: 1) If that turns out to be a market differentiation that people are willing to pay for, then Google could easily add an expansion slot. That is, it is not a competitive advantage (or it wouldn't be in the next product cycle). 2) Google and Amazon can also make cheaper and better units. Since they are willing to accept little or no profit on the units, they can still undercut the competition. 3) I'm not sure what you mean. If Apple makes a 7" tablet, it would almost certainly be priced such that they retain their 40% margins. Apple does not care about market share if it costs them too much margin. I'd assume a $280-300 price. Most companies would probably be willing to take somewhat less profit, so they could undercut Apple. All theoretical, of course, because Apple isn't in this market at all.
Frankly, Moore's law says that in six months this hardware doesn't need subsidizing. At that point Google's hardware partners will entry (Amazon isn't one) and Google will step back.
Why wouldn't they come out with a better unit at the same price point?
The only difference is my laptop is not ultra-thin, which is unimportant to me.
You nailed it... much cheaper to make a heavy/large notebook. The HP/Dell/Lenovo models with same size, weight, and battery specs as the Apples are +/- 10% in cost, depending what part of the product cycles you are in. And Apple hardly ever has sales - though Amazon can often save you $100 bucks.
You are right I suppose - if they could get it to do more than just simple letter signs (which are slower than typing). And if they could get it to translate sign to English. And if you could still use your hands while wearing the gloves.
But I gotta tellya, when stuff like this is happening, the uses for something that depends on exaggerated hand motions seems to diminish:)
I just want to know the use case. What if it were perfect and could precisely translate sign language into spoken or printed English - what advantage would it hold over a keyboard or smartphone or even a pen and paper? Plus, many (most?) deaf people can speak.
Slashdot Mirror
I agree that the gushing is... weird. But the Apple packaging is nice, and people do notice it when they purchase Apple products. It's all part of their branding, which is very well managed. Other companies with crappy or hard-to-open packaging risk their branding just a tiny bit.
The Apple packaging is nice enough to warrant a spot in the basement. People seem to appreciate it when they get my hand-me-downs and it comes with all of the original packaging/disks/etc.
I don't think Regan was talking about the future.
I'm still bitter after trying to eat my Apple.
And my Commodore was a terrible military strategist.
Drug trafficking is an interesting area... can't the cops confiscate any vehicle used in drug trafficking? Can they take my "rental" car?
Well, it was meant to be satire... my zero mod tells me I was completely unsuccessful. I thought the bit about the tin foil hats would show that I was being sarcastic, but alas...
Even though this seems like a good thing, there is a corporation involved so I'm sure there is evil involved.
Gentlemen of Slashdot, affix your tinfoil hats and let's start dissecting this!
So you don't disagree that intent matters then?
What if this guy wasn't an artist? What if worked for a competitor who was trying to get a headcount at a certain store? Would that change the story? I love art as much as the next man, and sure, it's an interesting idea, but the but the guy has earned what he's received.
I believe that intent is an important facet of the law, and has plenty of precedent - thus the definitions of murder vs. manslaughter.
1) The Apple Store is not a "public facility" it is private property.
Maybe by your definition, but by law it is open to the public and thus public.
2) he wasn't using his own equipment, he was installing software on Apple's machines.
Which is allowed. They have a very generous policy for use of their display machines, choosing to wipe them every night rather than try to enforce some kind of demo mode. I think he abused this policy, but it was not a crime.
3) Apple doesn't "forbid" you from using your own cameras and recording equipment in their stores to "record what they witness in plain sight", it just frowns on you effectively installing hidden cameras to capture people's images without them knowing.
Frowning is one thing - calling the Secret Service is another!
Yeah, this guy was so shaken up by his horrible treatment that he went to the Apple Store the next day to replace his Mac!
Sheesh.
It looks like a lot of water, but it's mostly on the surface so it is misleading. Here's a neat graphic.
I trust you - I never took the bus in Chicago but the L was certainly not frightening. In Philly the buses are... interesting places. Same with the inter-city buses (Grayhound, Peter Pan, etc.) along the NE Corridor.
Yeah, Boston has some affluent bus riders, too.
The bus? I know I'm stereotyping here, but except to and from NYC the bus in the US seems principally filled with the working poor and recently released prisoners.
Self-reported.
I think the rich will gladly take the 15-20% hit to transit time in exchange for a nice nap or time with the iPad. Most commute time speeds are limited by traffic anyway, and even if they weren't we are only talking 5 minutes on a 30 minute commute.
Regarding your points:
1) If that turns out to be a market differentiation that people are willing to pay for, then Google could easily add an expansion slot. That is, it is not a competitive advantage (or it wouldn't be in the next product cycle).
2) Google and Amazon can also make cheaper and better units. Since they are willing to accept little or no profit on the units, they can still undercut the competition.
3) I'm not sure what you mean. If Apple makes a 7" tablet, it would almost certainly be priced such that they retain their 40% margins. Apple does not care about market share if it costs them too much margin. I'd assume a $280-300 price. Most companies would probably be willing to take somewhat less profit, so they could undercut Apple. All theoretical, of course, because Apple isn't in this market at all.
Yeah, I'd much rather be married to someone with a worthwhile pastime, like trolling Slashdot as an AC.
My parents are getting older and they need the bigger screen just to see it.
And they want to surf from the couch, which precludes a desktop.
Frankly, Moore's law says that in six months this hardware doesn't need subsidizing. At that point Google's hardware partners will entry (Amazon isn't one) and Google will step back.
Why wouldn't they come out with a better unit at the same price point?
The only difference is my laptop is not ultra-thin, which is unimportant to me.
You nailed it... much cheaper to make a heavy/large notebook. The HP/Dell/Lenovo models with same size, weight, and battery specs as the Apples are +/- 10% in cost, depending what part of the product cycles you are in. And Apple hardly ever has sales - though Amazon can often save you $100 bucks.
Of course this doesn't bode well for competitor tablets. How many Google/Amazon business models are there that can afford to subsidize the tablets?
You are right I suppose - if they could get it to do more than just simple letter signs (which are slower than typing). And if they could get it to translate sign to English. And if you could still use your hands while wearing the gloves.
But I gotta tellya, when stuff like this is happening, the uses for something that depends on exaggerated hand motions seems to diminish :)
I just want to know the use case. What if it were perfect and could precisely translate sign language into spoken or printed English - what advantage would it hold over a keyboard or smartphone or even a pen and paper? Plus, many (most?) deaf people can speak.