"You may not be in that target market, but at least now you know who they are. For many (most?) of us, the extra computing power of traditional laptops goes grossly underutilized, so why buy more than you need and get a less mobile computer in return?"
I guess I'm thinking from the standpoint of why buy another computer, spending more money on less...when I can get a great 'compromise' (I personally have never had problems toting a 14"-15" laptop around) with spending good money on one machine that will do all I need in any situation. That way, I don't have to worry about which one I grab as I go out...or having to sync them, etc.
Don't get me wrong, I have lots of computers, but, usually one laptop, a couple servers...mythtv clients...etc. I just don't see the need for two 'laptops'....
"My power bill went down noticeably when I turned off 2 old computers that were running 24/7 for tasks like you describe. Those old 350 watt power supplies are expensive to run 24/7 compared to a netbook-type device."
I can see that. I personally just really never look at the bill. During the summers, down here...the AC pretty much masks any other usage. And my AC is pretty much on from the first to March through the middle of Nov with very few breaks. I'm now in a place with levelized billing...so, I'd likely not see much a change if I turned off many computers. Right now..I just keep on about 4 of the 24/7....but, when I get time to fix them, I'll have a couple more BIG boxes running which will suck up the power...an old Compaq proliant (7000?), and a sunfire 280R. Those will likely make a bump on the power cost. But, really...electricity like gasoline is a necessary 'evil', and I just pay and really don't look at the cost.
"We should all be doing sniff tests. They need to institute emissions standards for motorcycles, too. They emit more pollution than cars do now, mile for mile. And some cars (notably Golf and Jetta TDI) get fuel mileage comparable to motorcycles (and in most cases, better.)"
Oh..please don't say that...they might be listening to ya.
:)
I'm glad, though, that the state I live is is more free with things like this, I'm about to swap out the air intake and exhaust system on my car for more performance. Basically I'm replacing everything before and after the turbo. I think most all of the stuff is CA approved (CARB?), but, some may not.
And I like aftermarket pipes on my bike...I like a bit of a loud sound (not too obnoxious) and low rumble when I ride my cruiser about town. Half the fun of a bike or performance car is the performance 'sound' you get out of them when you hit the gas.
"I wonder who is the target for large over-powered laptops. I mean, they don't have enough power to do real work, they're big and bulky too."
Hmm...I consider them to be powerful enough to do real work. I'm looking to get one of the new macbook pros, the 15" model.It is powerful enough to run windows in VM (I really only need windows for a few things like Quickbooks), and any other real computer applications I need...some coding, scripting, etc.
I guess another thing I don't see about the small netbooks, and possibly it is my age...the screens are TOO damned small to do much reading. Ok, I've slipped recently into the 'reading glasses' crowd now, but, geez...even before that, I couldn't see how people could squint at a small screen for so long, unless they ran the resolutions so low that you basically had 3 characters at a time on the screen.
"With a glass touchscreen on an underpowered system, I'm part of their target audience. I want a system like that in my kitchen to use while cooking: displaying the recipes I'm following, streaming video, streaming audio, but with a screen that I don't worry about ruining with splatters or smudges."
Hmm...but, that's what I used older computers for. I pretty much have at least one computer in almost every room at this point, once I get a mythtv client box by each tv, which I put in every room...then I'll have coverage.
I love a computer in the kitchen too...but, I guess I forget everyone doesn't just have multiple computers from over the years, and reuses them.
I figure the spares or older boxes are good enough to do email and surfing....and my latest and greatest...is for real computing. I'd just never seen a reason to get a new, lower end box when an older lower powered one is free for that type of usage, around the house that is.
"There are counterexamples. For instance, when smog is high, it's best to try to use your lungs as little as possible (I'm not kidding.) Exercise will do more harm than good. Don't go jogging in Los Angeles when the wind is blowing strongly onshore, you'll be sucking enough Chinese pollution to undo any good work you've done. The same thing was happening from Los Angeleno pollution, except worse; kids were getting lesions on their lungs and coughing up blood due to breathing LA's toxic debt. However, the CARB took all kinds of drastic air pollution-reduction measures which the citizenry largely hated, and actually saved the say (until China started to industrialize en masse.)"
Interesting example for sure, but, I'd have to put forth, that this type of thing is VERY limited...not many cities have this type of air pollution problems.
Hell, where I live, we don't even do sniff tests on cars for emissions....and we don't have air problems.
In L.A. (not to be confused with the state of LA), this isn't a new problem, I'd have guessed with all that spending they've been doing...do they not have a lot of indoor activity centers for the kids to do physical play/exercise to protect the lungs?
It isn't so much a matter of where they get outta the house to go to, but, just getting out and being active somewhere...
Maybe it is more...if you grow up listening to nothing but crap (low audio quality or low quality music ON low quality audio), then that is all you know, and generally will pick it over something that quality-wise is superior.
Kinda like food...if you grow up eating spam or fast food all your life, a fine meal at a high end restaurant might now be what you think is any good.
Obviously I am not in the market for one of these netbooks, but, I'm just wondering, WHO is the large target audience for these small screened, underpowered computers?
Is it for people that ONLY do a little websurfing and email? Even with that...why not pony up just a few more $$ and get a real laptop?
This is a question in general about the netbooks, not just the Apple one.
"What's the point of promiscuity if it doesn't make babies? It might be entertaining for its participants, well, one of them anyway, but it doesn't actually accomplish anything useful. It's just self indulgence."
Are you seriously asking this question?
Of course it is self indulgence....most people do NOT wanna have a kid as a result of sex, they do it because it is fun and feels GREAT. Most human behavior is self indulgent and we do things because it is pleasurable.
And why would it not be "entertaining" for both of its participants? If it isn't fun for both...you're not doing it right.
I think even a little common sense would show that kids need to be outside playing, and getting exercise that comes naturally from that!!
When I grew up...during the summers off school...I was up and out about 9-10am...playing with my friends in the neighborhood. Skateboarding around, swimming in the neighborhood pool, sometimes 'stealing' wood from local house construction, to build forts in the woods nearby, or skateboard ramps at the end of our street, riding bikes around, etc.
We always had something to do....all my friends (I'm still in touch with most of the main ones I grew up with) were pretty much all raised by all of our parents, in that the group was always at one person's house or another.
This was before cell phones...when I was really young (in the 10-12 range) I made sure and called home to check in with my Mom from wherever I was at. When both my parents were working..I'd call and check in during the day periodically at their workplace. Thing is....we were out and playing and doing something whenever possible.
Granted, we only had 3-4 channels, but, while growing up, cable made it into our neighborhood, yet we still didn't spend 24/7 watching the damned thing, not during the days when there were things to do.
Hell, when was the last time you saw a group of kids in someones's front yard playing "kill the man with the ball"?
"We don't have to raise taxes, all we have to do is eliminate tax cuts for the rich. The easiest way to do this is to simply institute a flat tax; manipulation of inflation is enough to prevent hoarding of cash. It's not the only way, though; Just simplify the tax code, as Bush promised to do (didn't the tax code get about four times longer under his watch?)"
While I do support a flat tax or something like the FairTax....I'm not so much in thinking soaking the rich is the mindset we should have...especially nowdays, with the definition of 'rich' getting lower and lower.
The top like what 10% or the money makers in the US already pay abou 90% of the taxes....how much more do you soak them before it becomes a negative incentive to try to succeed?
I was looking at my paycheck...and I'm FAR from rich (I'm back on W2 hourly for now)...with fed, state and employment taxes...'m at a freaking 33% tax rate?!?! Add on local sales taxes and what have you...and that really soaks up my paycheck.
Frankly, I'd be happy with any system that let me pay a flat 17% or so tax rate.
"Actually most property taxes goes to pay for schools to educate children. Nobody believes in socialism until it is possible to get someone else to pay for your own bills."
Precisely, if things were fair...people that HAD kids, would be taxed more to pay for the extra drain on public resources they bring about. But, we do the opposite, and give them tax breaks....essentially making those people who have less or no kids, subsidize the results of them fucking without protection.
"It might not be fair to the teacher to have to pay high taxes on the land, but it's not fair to society to let him keep it for no/low cost when it might be put to better, more productive use for society by someone else.
If he can't afford it, let him sell it to someone who can. If there's no incentive for people to make productive use of capital, the economy stagnates."
So..you're saying you are against the idea that people own things like land/property. That they ONLY 'rent' it from the government (tax==rent)
Boy, now that is a big change from how things in this country started....
I mean...the reason hard goods aren't taxed by sellers online..is due to the myriad of state tax laws, making it impossible pretty much for any company to figure how to collect what and how much for who.
That leaves it up the individual to volunteer to pay the tax...and we know how well THAT has worked so far, eh?
I mean, the whole fiasco of a spending bill was ram-rodded through congress, no one really read it....etc.
YOu have to guess nothing in it was well thought out...and it is a shame, especially with items concerning a very important topic, our private health records.
"personally I'm amazed the powers that be haven't already clamped down on the notion of free-roaming flat-rate uncensored Internet use already. Can't control what the masses read and hear that way."
Well, it kinda snuck up on them. The govt. never saw this coming really.....if they had, I'm sure things would have been planned out to be MUCH more restrictive at the onset.
"I'm not convinced that the "MAD" concept would work with Islamic fundamentalist nations such as Iran. It seems to me that they would happily sacrifice their own people if it meant defeating "the Great Satan" and infidels."
In that case...I want to die knowing if they throw a nuke at us...they'll soon be ashes and dust themselves shortly thereafter...
"Just don't come telling me that Israel spying on the USA while the USA spies on Israel somehow justifies anti-Semitism or the constant stream of anti-Israel conspiracy theories that, when traced to their source, always seem to come from Muslim or Arab countries."
Perhaps I'm just not as sensitive to it...but, since I'm not in or around any muslim communities or countries...I really hear VERY little of any anti-Semitical commentary at all.
And isn't most everyone from the middle east technically a 'semite'....Arab and Jew?
"I wasn't aware you were at war with the general citizens of either of those countries to the degree that no other military devices at your disposal were capable of dealing with them, should the need arise."
No..we are not, and to keep it that way....we should have nukes pointed at them to deter them from sending one at us first strike. The MAD situation you know.
...well, still, I don't think this is quite as bad as the new plan in congress...to allow judges to interfere with legal, agreed upon contracts. This law to allow judges to step in, and arbitrarily tell a bank/mortgage company they MUST re-adjust the loan for less interest, and/or lower principal of what a home is now worth...sets a precedent that is MUCH further reaching than just 'saving' a home owner.
And by the way...when did people get so squeamish about being 'under water' or upside down in a loan? Anyone who has purchased a new car, has done this the second they drove the car off the lot. You don't sweat it, 'cause a car is something you keep awhile to use. What is different about a house/home?
Still...either way...I'm getting very jumpy about judges messing with legal agreements.
Some of it may be a bit deserved too. From what I've ascertained from reading, and people 'in the know' about such things. After the Chinese (#1), it is pretty much Israel at #2 or #3 as far as who spies on the US the most. Hey, all countries do it, some just have more specific targets, and it appears US is about the highest on China and Israel. At least...it seems that way since so much of their spying activity is aimed squarely at us.
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I guess I'm thinking from the standpoint of why buy another computer, spending more money on less...when I can get a great 'compromise' (I personally have never had problems toting a 14"-15" laptop around) with spending good money on one machine that will do all I need in any situation. That way, I don't have to worry about which one I grab as I go out...or having to sync them, etc.
Don't get me wrong, I have lots of computers, but, usually one laptop, a couple servers...mythtv clients...etc. I just don't see the need for two 'laptops'....
Why are so many Europeans space constrained?
I can see that. I personally just really never look at the bill. During the summers, down here...the AC pretty much masks any other usage. And my AC is pretty much on from the first to March through the middle of Nov with very few breaks. I'm now in a place with levelized billing...so, I'd likely not see much a change if I turned off many computers. Right now..I just keep on about 4 of the 24/7....but, when I get time to fix them, I'll have a couple more BIG boxes running which will suck up the power...an old Compaq proliant (7000?), and a sunfire 280R. Those will likely make a bump on the power cost. But, really...electricity like gasoline is a necessary 'evil', and I just pay and really don't look at the cost.
Oh..please don't say that...they might be listening to ya.
I'm glad, though, that the state I live is is more free with things like this, I'm about to swap out the air intake and exhaust system on my car for more performance. Basically I'm replacing everything before and after the turbo. I think most all of the stuff is CA approved (CARB?), but, some may not.
And I like aftermarket pipes on my bike...I like a bit of a loud sound (not too obnoxious) and low rumble when I ride my cruiser about town. Half the fun of a bike or performance car is the performance 'sound' you get out of them when you hit the gas.
Hmm...I consider them to be powerful enough to do real work. I'm looking to get one of the new macbook pros, the 15" model.It is powerful enough to run windows in VM (I really only need windows for a few things like Quickbooks), and any other real computer applications I need...some coding, scripting, etc.
I guess another thing I don't see about the small netbooks, and possibly it is my age...the screens are TOO damned small to do much reading. Ok, I've slipped recently into the 'reading glasses' crowd now, but, geez...even before that, I couldn't see how people could squint at a small screen for so long, unless they ran the resolutions so low that you basically had 3 characters at a time on the screen.
Hmm...but, that's what I used older computers for. I pretty much have at least one computer in almost every room at this point, once I get a mythtv client box by each tv, which I put in every room...then I'll have coverage.
I love a computer in the kitchen too...but, I guess I forget everyone doesn't just have multiple computers from over the years, and reuses them.
I figure the spares or older boxes are good enough to do email and surfing....and my latest and greatest...is for real computing. I'd just never seen a reason to get a new, lower end box when an older lower powered one is free for that type of usage, around the house that is.
Interesting example for sure, but, I'd have to put forth, that this type of thing is VERY limited...not many cities have this type of air pollution problems.
Hell, where I live, we don't even do sniff tests on cars for emissions....and we don't have air problems.
In L.A. (not to be confused with the state of LA), this isn't a new problem, I'd have guessed with all that spending they've been doing...do they not have a lot of indoor activity centers for the kids to do physical play/exercise to protect the lungs?
It isn't so much a matter of where they get outta the house to go to, but, just getting out and being active somewhere...
But in the US...I thought you pretty much were 'born' with all rights, excepted by those curtailed or modified by law.
If that's true...so far, there is no law against profit, so it must be a right everyone has, no?
Kinda like food...if you grow up eating spam or fast food all your life, a fine meal at a high end restaurant might now be what you think is any good.
Is it for people that ONLY do a little websurfing and email? Even with that...why not pony up just a few more $$ and get a real laptop?
This is a question in general about the netbooks, not just the Apple one.
Are you seriously asking this question?
Of course it is self indulgence....most people do NOT wanna have a kid as a result of sex, they do it because it is fun and feels GREAT. Most human behavior is self indulgent and we do things because it is pleasurable.
And why would it not be "entertaining" for both of its participants? If it isn't fun for both...you're not doing it right.
I think even a little common sense would show that kids need to be outside playing, and getting exercise that comes naturally from that!!
When I grew up...during the summers off school...I was up and out about 9-10am...playing with my friends in the neighborhood. Skateboarding around, swimming in the neighborhood pool, sometimes 'stealing' wood from local house construction, to build forts in the woods nearby, or skateboard ramps at the end of our street, riding bikes around, etc.
We always had something to do....all my friends (I'm still in touch with most of the main ones I grew up with) were pretty much all raised by all of our parents, in that the group was always at one person's house or another.
This was before cell phones...when I was really young (in the 10-12 range) I made sure and called home to check in with my Mom from wherever I was at. When both my parents were working..I'd call and check in during the day periodically at their workplace. Thing is....we were out and playing and doing something whenever possible.
Granted, we only had 3-4 channels, but, while growing up, cable made it into our neighborhood, yet we still didn't spend 24/7 watching the damned thing, not during the days when there were things to do.
Hell, when was the last time you saw a group of kids in someones's front yard playing "kill the man with the ball"?
*sigh*
While I do support a flat tax or something like the FairTax....I'm not so much in thinking soaking the rich is the mindset we should have...especially nowdays, with the definition of 'rich' getting lower and lower.
The top like what 10% or the money makers in the US already pay abou 90% of the taxes....how much more do you soak them before it becomes a negative incentive to try to succeed?
I was looking at my paycheck...and I'm FAR from rich (I'm back on W2 hourly for now)...with fed, state and employment taxes...'m at a freaking 33% tax rate?!?! Add on local sales taxes and what have you...and that really soaks up my paycheck.
Frankly, I'd be happy with any system that let me pay a flat 17% or so tax rate.
I'd rather cut spending FIRST....I think we could shed a LOT of cruft, before we actually need to raise taxes any more.
Precisely, if things were fair...people that HAD kids, would be taxed more to pay for the extra drain on public resources they bring about. But, we do the opposite, and give them tax breaks....essentially making those people who have less or no kids, subsidize the results of them fucking without protection.
So..you're saying you are against the idea that people own things like land/property. That they ONLY 'rent' it from the government (tax==rent)
Boy, now that is a big change from how things in this country started....
I mean...the reason hard goods aren't taxed by sellers online..is due to the myriad of state tax laws, making it impossible pretty much for any company to figure how to collect what and how much for who.
That leaves it up the individual to volunteer to pay the tax...and we know how well THAT has worked so far, eh?
I mean, the whole fiasco of a spending bill was ram-rodded through congress, no one really read it....etc.
YOu have to guess nothing in it was well thought out...and it is a shame, especially with items concerning a very important topic, our private health records.
12. Profit???
Well, it kinda snuck up on them. The govt. never saw this coming really.....if they had, I'm sure things would have been planned out to be MUCH more restrictive at the onset.
In that case...I want to die knowing if they throw a nuke at us...they'll soon be ashes and dust themselves shortly thereafter...
Perhaps I'm just not as sensitive to it...but, since I'm not in or around any muslim communities or countries...I really hear VERY little of any anti-Semitical commentary at all.
And isn't most everyone from the middle east technically a 'semite'....Arab and Jew?
No..we are not, and to keep it that way....we should have nukes pointed at them to deter them from sending one at us first strike. The MAD situation you know.
And by the way...when did people get so squeamish about being 'under water' or upside down in a loan? Anyone who has purchased a new car, has done this the second they drove the car off the lot. You don't sweat it, 'cause a car is something you keep awhile to use. What is different about a house/home?
Still...either way...I'm getting very jumpy about judges messing with legal agreements.
Some of it may be a bit deserved too. From what I've ascertained from reading, and people 'in the know' about such things. After the Chinese (#1), it is pretty much Israel at #2 or #3 as far as who spies on the US the most. Hey, all countries do it, some just have more specific targets, and it appears US is about the highest on China and Israel. At least...it seems that way since so much of their spying activity is aimed squarely at us.