Actually, the procedure is more complicated for PCs.
Your Mac dies, you move the hard drive to another machine, boot, and you are back to work.
Your PC dies, you move the hard drive to another machine, boot, and watch how it crashes on boot because it doesn't have drivers for the new hardware and doesn't expect to need them.
The same OS X installation can boot and iBook, a Powerbook, an iMac, a G5, G4......you get my point. Single install...universal boot.
PC/Linux users---ever booted your machine off of the hard drive from another machine without removing it? You put your Mac into Firewire disk mode and mount it like a normal hard drive on the other machine. And if you count SCSI, it has pretty much been that way for the past 10 years.
What is still unclear is if this agreement will produce an iPod that plays protected WMA files.
My bet is on unprotected-WMA compatibility only. This allows Apple to block out the other online music stores, adding fuel to their iPod-iTMS success.
Check for iPods that are "Open Box." They are usually returned by someone who upgrades or downgrades size. They can't be sold as new, so must be marked down.
Just bought a 20GB this past weekend - $339. Added in the 4-year Best Buy warranty for $40 to cover the battery and basically anything else that goes bad within 4 years.
Also persuaded a fellow customer to take the iPod over the Nomad, even though it still cost him more and had a smaller hard disk. I don't think that Apple needs to drop prices to increase demand.
Check for iPods that are "Open Box." They are usually returned by someone who upgrades or downgrades size. They can't be sold as new, so must be marked down.
Just bought a 20GB this past weekend - $339. Added in the 4-year Best Buy warranty for $40 to cover the battery and basically anything else that goes bad within 4 years.
Also persuaded a fellow customer to take the iPod over the Nomad, even though it still cost him more and had a smaller hard disk. I don't think that Apple needs to drop prices to increase demand.
In my opinion, the XBox with XBox Media Player is the ultimate universal media player.
Key abilities:
1) Play virtual every type of media file
2) Play media off of any networked computer running Samba/MS Networking
3) Play media locally off of CDs and DVDs or the local hard disk.
4) Play streaming media from the internet
5) Has a real remote control
Nice pluses:
1) Great game system
2) No blaring fans that a PC would have
3) Hurts Micro$oft*
The cost: Less than $300 including Xbox, mod chip, and a 120GB hard drive.
There is some manual work required setting it up, but you will find nothing else that offers close to this feature set for that price and with that footprint.
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I am currently on assignment in Manila, Philippines. I use iChat to videoconference with my family in the US.
Less delay than an anolog phone call, excellent video quality, and zero cost.
Have to say this---if you think videoconferencing/VOIP still of too poor quality, you aren't using a Mac.
Actually, the procedure is more complicated for PCs.
Your Mac dies, you move the hard drive to another machine, boot, and you are back to work.
Your PC dies, you move the hard drive to another machine, boot, and watch how it crashes on boot because it doesn't have drivers for the new hardware and doesn't expect to need them.
The same OS X installation can boot and iBook, a Powerbook, an iMac, a G5, G4......you get my point. Single install...universal boot.
PC/Linux users---ever booted your machine off of the hard drive from another machine without removing it? You put your Mac into Firewire disk mode and mount it like a normal hard drive on the other machine. And if you count SCSI, it has pretty much been that way for the past 10 years.
What is still unclear is if this agreement will produce an iPod that plays protected WMA files.
My bet is on unprotected-WMA compatibility only. This allows Apple to block out the other online music stores, adding fuel to their iPod-iTMS success.
Check for iPods that are "Open Box." They are usually returned by someone who upgrades or downgrades size. They can't be sold as new, so must be marked down.
Just bought a 20GB this past weekend - $339. Added in the 4-year Best Buy warranty for $40 to cover the battery and basically anything else that goes bad within 4 years.
Also persuaded a fellow customer to take the iPod over the Nomad, even though it still cost him more and had a smaller hard disk. I don't think that Apple needs to drop prices to increase demand.
Check for iPods that are "Open Box." They are usually returned by someone who upgrades or downgrades size. They can't be sold as new, so must be marked down. Just bought a 20GB this past weekend - $339. Added in the 4-year Best Buy warranty for $40 to cover the battery and basically anything else that goes bad within 4 years. Also persuaded a fellow customer to take the iPod over the Nomad, even though it still cost him more and had a smaller hard disk. I don't think that Apple needs to drop prices to increase demand.
In my opinion, the XBox with XBox Media Player is the ultimate universal media player.
Key abilities:
1) Play virtual every type of media file
2) Play media off of any networked computer running Samba/MS Networking
3) Play media locally off of CDs and DVDs or the local hard disk.
4) Play streaming media from the internet
5) Has a real remote control
Nice pluses:
1) Great game system
2) No blaring fans that a PC would have
3) Hurts Micro$oft*
The cost: Less than $300 including Xbox, mod chip, and a 120GB hard drive.
There is some manual work required setting it up, but you will find nothing else that offers close to this feature set for that price and with that footprint.
If you have, let me know.
Check it out
*The xBoxes are sold at a loss and are supposed to make it up on license revenue from games sales. If you don't buy/play games, MS has a net loss.