Since Apple stores only sells one line of products, wouldn't it be more fair to compare them to my smaller local computer stores (most of which are way more pleasant than any Apple store I've ever been into)? Comparing the experience at an Apple Store to the experience at a Best Buy is like comparing the shopping experience at my small local supermarket to that of a Walmart. That doesn't seem fair.
I've met a lot of people with an iPad and none of them are historically Apple users.
Yes, but a lot of them first heard about the iPad from someone who was a Apple fan, or got caught in the hype that surrounds any new Apple release (largely driven by Apple fans). I bet very few of them just happened to stumble into a Best Buy, never having heard of Apple, and gravitated immediately to the iPad--with no one pitching it to them.
Linux has a lot of problems that has kept it (and likely will continue to keep it) a niche product. It has little support from hardware manufacturers, it's fractured (with dozens of different distros), it has relatively little support from third-party software developers (much less than Apple's), and it often requires a lot of technical know-how to install.
I never said Apple products were garbage. And it would take more than just building a superior product to trump Apple. Apple spent decades building up a dedicated user base (sometimes fanatically so). That takes a lot of time to build.
That should probably tell you something right there. Apple stores are hip. They're like that really exclusive dance club that everyone seems to want to get into. Once you're inside, it's crowded and hot, the DJ sucks, the drinks are overpriced--yet people will line up around the block just to beg the bouncer to get in.
Apple's secret weapon is their network of dedicated Apple stores worldwide
No, their secret weapon is their network of dedicated Apple *users* worldwide. Many (not all, but many) Apple fans have an almost cult-like dedication to Apple products, and are also pretty effective proselytizers for the cause. Motorola, HP, etc. don't have that kind of advantage, no matter how good their product.
The average U.S. Congressional campaign today runs several million dollars. In the early 90's, it was less than $500,000. That means that Congressmen today spend almost all their time, election year or not, soliciting campaign contributions and courting donors. They're whores, plain and simple--all of them, Democrat and Republican. If you've got a lot of money, they're yours to buy. If you don't have money--they couldn't care less what you have to say. And a recent Supreme Court ruling (that essentially opened the doors for corporations to give as much money as they want) is just going to make it even worse.
So yes, in America today it does come down to who has the bribe money. Buy the best lawyers and the judge will give you anything. Don't like the judge? Then you can buy him or the politician who appoints him. Don't like the law? Buy some Congressmen to change it for you.
My.MP3.com tried out a similar argument years ago, and it cost them a $53 million lawsuit (which bankrupted them). And in many ways this is even worse. MP3.com at least required you to prove you actually owned a disc before you could stream it. Amazon will let you upload ANYTHING (pirated, ripped, bought--makes no difference) and stream it.
Now Amazon certainly has a better cadre of lawyers at its disposal than mp3.com did. And it has a lot more muscle with the industry (since it's once of the leading music retailers). But, even with that, this is still a stunningly ballsy move on their part. Hell, Sony sues people for even looking funny at their IP.
And, yes, I hope Amazon wins out on this. If nothing else, it would set a nice precedent for Google and Apple to open up their upcoming music cloud services in a similar fashion.
If you would place a solar thermal power plant covering whole Nevada you could produce 100 times the energy the planet needs right now.
Yeah, and how much would it cost to build and maintain it? How much would the transmission lines cost to transmit all that power? How much would the land cost to put it on (even desert land costs real money, after all)? How many workers are you going to need to import to build it, and from where? How many politicians would you need to buy off? How are you going to deal with all those NIMBY people on such an ambitious project (and there would be a LOT of them)? What government (or governments) has the surplus to fund it? How many rare metals and minerals would you need to build that many solar panels, and where are you going to get them? How are you going to divide the power up, and get all the countries involved to cooperate and agree to this? How much is the military force going to cost that you would need to protect it from saboteurs, terrorists, etc.? How much of it is going to need to be replaced or repaired annually? Who is going to administer it?
It's real easy to prattle off that tired old "If you would place a solar thermal power plant covering [X state or region] you could produce all the energy for the whole world" cliche that solar proponents are so fond of. But it becomes a lot harder when you start thinking about how impractical it is to ACTUALLY implement it.
It's practically an advertisement for the safety of nuclear power
You're assuming that people are rational and informed. Want to know how rational and informed people *really* are? Right now the entire Pacific Ocean fishing market is taking a huge hit because people all over the world are afraid the fish are all contaminated with radiation. That's how ignorant people are.
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Since Apple stores only sells one line of products, wouldn't it be more fair to compare them to my smaller local computer stores (most of which are way more pleasant than any Apple store I've ever been into)? Comparing the experience at an Apple Store to the experience at a Best Buy is like comparing the shopping experience at my small local supermarket to that of a Walmart. That doesn't seem fair.
I've met a lot of people with an iPad and none of them are historically Apple users.
Yes, but a lot of them first heard about the iPad from someone who was a Apple fan, or got caught in the hype that surrounds any new Apple release (largely driven by Apple fans). I bet very few of them just happened to stumble into a Best Buy, never having heard of Apple, and gravitated immediately to the iPad--with no one pitching it to them.
Linux has a lot of problems that has kept it (and likely will continue to keep it) a niche product. It has little support from hardware manufacturers, it's fractured (with dozens of different distros), it has relatively little support from third-party software developers (much less than Apple's), and it often requires a lot of technical know-how to install.
I never said Apple products were garbage. And it would take more than just building a superior product to trump Apple. Apple spent decades building up a dedicated user base (sometimes fanatically so). That takes a lot of time to build.
What is this "full-service station" and "Attendant" you speak of?
Obviously, this one was too big for Noah to get on the boat.
The stores are crowded
That should probably tell you something right there. Apple stores are hip. They're like that really exclusive dance club that everyone seems to want to get into. Once you're inside, it's crowded and hot, the DJ sucks, the drinks are overpriced--yet people will line up around the block just to beg the bouncer to get in.
Apple's secret weapon is their network of dedicated Apple stores worldwide
No, their secret weapon is their network of dedicated Apple *users* worldwide. Many (not all, but many) Apple fans have an almost cult-like dedication to Apple products, and are also pretty effective proselytizers for the cause. Motorola, HP, etc. don't have that kind of advantage, no matter how good their product.
Ever hear of those stories where the children of the highly succesful tend to be screw ups?
Nonsense! Some of them are winners, like Charlie Sheen.
ruthless, egotistical, and manipulative in his dealings with others -- possibly even sociopathic.
You just described the CEO of every Fortune 500 company.
Now, now, there's no need to insult douches like that.
You need to be a higher level to learn that spell.
With regards to the console side of things, it's not so much that everyone is suddenly pro-MS. It's that everyone is anti-Sony.
That's exactly the logic that mp3.com used (only with the whole CD instead of just one mp3). You see where that got them.
Yeah? Try playing your CD in your bar or place of business sometime, and see how fast the BMI ass-rapes you. Read up on the subject if you like.
They actually lost the case. They settled during the damages phase.
The average U.S. Congressional campaign today runs several million dollars. In the early 90's, it was less than $500,000. That means that Congressmen today spend almost all their time, election year or not, soliciting campaign contributions and courting donors. They're whores, plain and simple--all of them, Democrat and Republican. If you've got a lot of money, they're yours to buy. If you don't have money--they couldn't care less what you have to say. And a recent Supreme Court ruling (that essentially opened the doors for corporations to give as much money as they want) is just going to make it even worse.
So yes, in America today it does come down to who has the bribe money. Buy the best lawyers and the judge will give you anything. Don't like the judge? Then you can buy him or the politician who appoints him. Don't like the law? Buy some Congressmen to change it for you.
Amazon may well have a very well-thought-out plan here (I never claimed otherwise). I guess we'll see.
Something tells me that Sony and friends won't see it that way.
My.MP3.com tried out a similar argument years ago, and it cost them a $53 million lawsuit (which bankrupted them). And in many ways this is even worse. MP3.com at least required you to prove you actually owned a disc before you could stream it. Amazon will let you upload ANYTHING (pirated, ripped, bought--makes no difference) and stream it.
Now Amazon certainly has a better cadre of lawyers at its disposal than mp3.com did. And it has a lot more muscle with the industry (since it's once of the leading music retailers). But, even with that, this is still a stunningly ballsy move on their part. Hell, Sony sues people for even looking funny at their IP.
And, yes, I hope Amazon wins out on this. If nothing else, it would set a nice precedent for Google and Apple to open up their upcoming music cloud services in a similar fashion.
If you would place a solar thermal power plant covering whole Nevada you could produce 100 times the energy the planet needs right now.
Yeah, and how much would it cost to build and maintain it? How much would the transmission lines cost to transmit all that power? How much would the land cost to put it on (even desert land costs real money, after all)? How many workers are you going to need to import to build it, and from where? How many politicians would you need to buy off? How are you going to deal with all those NIMBY people on such an ambitious project (and there would be a LOT of them)? What government (or governments) has the surplus to fund it? How many rare metals and minerals would you need to build that many solar panels, and where are you going to get them? How are you going to divide the power up, and get all the countries involved to cooperate and agree to this? How much is the military force going to cost that you would need to protect it from saboteurs, terrorists, etc.? How much of it is going to need to be replaced or repaired annually? Who is going to administer it?
It's real easy to prattle off that tired old "If you would place a solar thermal power plant covering [X state or region] you could produce all the energy for the whole world" cliche that solar proponents are so fond of. But it becomes a lot harder when you start thinking about how impractical it is to ACTUALLY implement it.
What is yours?
Nuclear. And mine is time-tested and proven.
It's practically an advertisement for the safety of nuclear power
You're assuming that people are rational and informed. Want to know how rational and informed people *really* are? Right now the entire Pacific Ocean fishing market is taking a huge hit because people all over the world are afraid the fish are all contaminated with radiation. That's how ignorant people are.
Only in many, many other crimes.
bring Alan Turing in for questioning.
Fine, but you bring the bolt-cutter and shovels this time. And I get first dibs on any jewelry.
And, once again, why does every mystery end up with me digging up a mathematician?