Completely without merit? How many electric companies do you have to choose from in your area? Oh right.. one.
Google doesn't even have fifty percent of search marketshare. Yahoo is still the king of that hill, and regardless of how small the margin is, the simple fact is that you do, in fact, have a choice. Certainly more of a choice than most people have when selecting operating systems, for example.
When I search, I use Google. I just click Safari into "privacy" mode so it generates a new cookie and erases that cookie when I'm done. It isn't perfect, but it's a compromise I can live with.
First off, this is the Register.. take it with a grain of salt.
Second, does anyone actually believe that - if this was true - you'd be forced to use it to use Google software? Google might track every statistic imaginable, but no one is forced to use anything they provide.
Granted, but iTunes doesn't operate without cost. The bandwidth bill alone for delivering a billion songs would be nothing short of extraordinary. Add that to the cost of running a server farm capable of storing and hosting however many millions of songs are available, and that money doesn't add so significantly to the bottom line.
Apple doesn't make much on iTunes. Apple makes money on iPods, and to date I don't think it's been conclusively proven that iTunes sells iPods.
Where Apple does profit is in having control over what is becoming a very large, very important sector of the entertainment business.Current earnings on $0.99 tracks don't mean much, because Apple makes less than a dime. Holding power over one of the most powerful and lucrative markets in Western (and global) society is priceless.
It depends on how you look at it. Microsoft has certainly won countless battles to this point, but one oft-overlooked point these days is that Microsoft is hemorrhaging marketshare basically everywhere. Regardless of how fast it happens (although it is accelerating right now), people are moving away from Windows to Mac OS X and Linux. The interest in OpenOffice exists because people are starting to grow tired of Microsoft Office. Firefox won more than 10% of the internet browser marketshare, and almost all of that came right out of IE's stranglehold. AOL and Yahoo have completely and totally beaten down Windows Messenger. Apple's iTunes - while likely to take a mild hit from URGE - isn't going to lose its majority share any time soon. And let's not forget Google.. does anyone really believe that MSN Search stands any kind of a chance?
This isn't to say that Microsoft is going to lose its majority status where it is in the majority (most places) any time soon, but it's worth noting regardless.
So, has Microsoft conquered? I don't think so. A people are only conquered when there is no hope for their victory, and we are still in the very early stages of what will eventually result in Microsoft being given a more fitting role in the computing community. A role where there are viable options, and true competition. I can't wait.
I seriously hate to say it, but in today's business climate knowing PowerPoint is one of the basics. Maybe not for 6-8th graders, but at some point many, many people need to use PowerPoint.
Isn't it at least possible that we're seeing these kinds of things because of propagation? Whether the overall PC industry is up or down this year (or quarter/month/week), the overall number of installed devices is still growing, usually at an exponential pace. If a handful of Dells catch fire, and a handful of Apple batteries swell, couldn't at least part of it be attributed to the fact that there are so many devices in the field?
I've never heard of a hard disk doing this (although this was far overblown), but it would crazy be to think it A: hasn't happened, or B: isn't more likely to happen given the number of installs.
As I just posted in another comment, the average iPod owner purchases 21 songs from iTunes. Compare that to the thousands the iPod actually holds, and it's obvious that iTunes isn't selling iPods. iPods are selling iTunes.
"The iPod makes money. The iTunes Music Store doesn't."
Apple won't die (in the music industry) as long as the iPod does well, and it's plainly obvious that iTunes has virtually nothing to do with the success of the iPod.
I don't like DRM any more than the next guy, but I'm not about to claim it's the sole reason Apple isn't six feet under.
You're far more likely to be taken seriously when you don't write off an entire operating system as "for people unwilling or unable to understand the guts of a microcomputer." Mac OS X is a powerful, stable platform, and you'll find that quite a few people who know and understand the guts of a computer (myself included) are using it to do far more than just surf for porn.
It may not be the server operating system you're looking for, but it is far more than a "20 year old desktop-for-nubes."
Here's an idea:
The next time Dvorak says something stupid, we just ignore it. It doesn't get Slashdotted - at all. Then we'll all know we beat him once.
Then we do it again, and again...until one day, when Dvorak says something stupid, no one will know who he is.
Dvorak is past his prime. I know it. You know it. He did great things, a really long time ago. Onto the next!
When it comes to Apple, all anyone wants to talk about these days is hype. Hype with iPods. Hype with Intels running on Macs. Steve Effing Jobs.
Does it ever occur to you that people buy Apple because the products work? Sure,/.-ers will point to a few bad Apples (ha!) that slipped by QC, but by and large they work, and work better. That's why Apple is doing well.
If hype sold product we'd all be running into each other on Segways. Get real.
Umm.. no. Check out a lot of major tech conference, especially in OS and Rails circles. You would be surprised how many geeks use Macs. You'd be even more surprised to hear why. Hint: It's got nothing to do with malware.
You talk about a lack of respect and then say the rules are too strict? I'll agree with you that the law has neutered a lot of common-sensical activity, but I don't think showing lenience for this blatant display of disrespect is the way to address it.
Has it ever occurred to you that you that the rules back then were too lax? You'd expect - and deserve - more than this kid got for actually physically harming a teacher these days.
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Can you even imagine the field day the press would have with that one?
"Be careful about that next Dell purchase.. your computer might be recording everything you do! News at 11."
A little less FUD, please.
Completely without merit? How many electric companies do you have to choose from in your area? Oh right.. one.
Google doesn't even have fifty percent of search marketshare. Yahoo is still the king of that hill, and regardless of how small the margin is, the simple fact is that you do, in fact, have a choice. Certainly more of a choice than most people have when selecting operating systems, for example.
When I search, I use Google. I just click Safari into "privacy" mode so it generates a new cookie and erases that cookie when I'm done. It isn't perfect, but it's a compromise I can live with.
First off, this is the Register.. take it with a grain of salt.
Second, does anyone actually believe that - if this was true - you'd be forced to use it to use Google software? Google might track every statistic imaginable, but no one is forced to use anything they provide.
Granted, but iTunes doesn't operate without cost. The bandwidth bill alone for delivering a billion songs would be nothing short of extraordinary. Add that to the cost of running a server farm capable of storing and hosting however many millions of songs are available, and that money doesn't add so significantly to the bottom line.
Apple doesn't make much on iTunes. Apple makes money on iPods, and to date I don't think it's been conclusively proven that iTunes sells iPods.
Where Apple does profit is in having control over what is becoming a very large, very important sector of the entertainment business.Current earnings on $0.99 tracks don't mean much, because Apple makes less than a dime. Holding power over one of the most powerful and lucrative markets in Western (and global) society is priceless.
It depends on how you look at it. Microsoft has certainly won countless battles to this point, but one oft-overlooked point these days is that Microsoft is hemorrhaging marketshare basically everywhere. Regardless of how fast it happens (although it is accelerating right now), people are moving away from Windows to Mac OS X and Linux. The interest in OpenOffice exists because people are starting to grow tired of Microsoft Office. Firefox won more than 10% of the internet browser marketshare, and almost all of that came right out of IE's stranglehold. AOL and Yahoo have completely and totally beaten down Windows Messenger. Apple's iTunes - while likely to take a mild hit from URGE - isn't going to lose its majority share any time soon. And let's not forget Google.. does anyone really believe that MSN Search stands any kind of a chance?
This isn't to say that Microsoft is going to lose its majority status where it is in the majority (most places) any time soon, but it's worth noting regardless.
So, has Microsoft conquered? I don't think so. A people are only conquered when there is no hope for their victory, and we are still in the very early stages of what will eventually result in Microsoft being given a more fitting role in the computing community. A role where there are viable options, and true competition. I can't wait.
I seriously hate to say it, but in today's business climate knowing PowerPoint is one of the basics. Maybe not for 6-8th graders, but at some point many, many people need to use PowerPoint.
Well-put.
Isn't it at least possible that we're seeing these kinds of things because of propagation? Whether the overall PC industry is up or down this year (or quarter/month/week), the overall number of installed devices is still growing, usually at an exponential pace. If a handful of Dells catch fire, and a handful of Apple batteries swell, couldn't at least part of it be attributed to the fact that there are so many devices in the field?
I've never heard of a hard disk doing this (although this was far overblown), but it would crazy be to think it A: hasn't happened, or B: isn't more likely to happen given the number of installs.
Let's take the FUD down a notch, please.
As I just posted in another comment, the average iPod owner purchases 21 songs from iTunes. Compare that to the thousands the iPod actually holds, and it's obvious that iTunes isn't selling iPods. iPods are selling iTunes.
"The iPod makes money. The iTunes Music Store doesn't." Apple won't die (in the music industry) as long as the iPod does well, and it's plainly obvious that iTunes has virtually nothing to do with the success of the iPod. I don't like DRM any more than the next guy, but I'm not about to claim it's the sole reason Apple isn't six feet under.
Whoops.. it's above, now. ;)
It originally said iTunes v6 Cracked. See the author's acknowledgement below.
Complain to the executives that mandate DRM on all purchased media. Why do so many people act as though Apple invented DRM?
iTunes wasn't cracked. Fairplay DRM was cracked.
You're far more likely to be taken seriously when you don't write off an entire operating system as "for people unwilling or unable to understand the guts of a microcomputer." Mac OS X is a powerful, stable platform, and you'll find that quite a few people who know and understand the guts of a computer (myself included) are using it to do far more than just surf for porn. It may not be the server operating system you're looking for, but it is far more than a "20 year old desktop-for-nubes."
You make the unfortunate, but common, assumption that all slashdotters are after girls' numbers in the first place.
Here's an idea: The next time Dvorak says something stupid, we just ignore it. It doesn't get Slashdotted - at all. Then we'll all know we beat him once. Then we do it again, and again...until one day, when Dvorak says something stupid, no one will know who he is. Dvorak is past his prime. I know it. You know it. He did great things, a really long time ago. Onto the next!
Sprint didn't "roll out" anything. They announced their intent to spend money to do so.
When it comes to Apple, all anyone wants to talk about these days is hype. Hype with iPods. Hype with Intels running on Macs. Steve Effing Jobs.
/.-ers will point to a few bad Apples (ha!) that slipped by QC, but by and large they work, and work better. That's why Apple is doing well.
Does it ever occur to you that people buy Apple because the products work? Sure,
If hype sold product we'd all be running into each other on Segways. Get real.
Umm.. no. Check out a lot of major tech conference, especially in OS and Rails circles. You would be surprised how many geeks use Macs. You'd be even more surprised to hear why. Hint: It's got nothing to do with malware.
When the profit margin on the products you're selling is constant and eBay constantly raises the fees, then no, you can't.
You talk about a lack of respect and then say the rules are too strict? I'll agree with you that the law has neutered a lot of common-sensical activity, but I don't think showing lenience for this blatant display of disrespect is the way to address it.
Has it ever occurred to you that you that the rules back then were too lax? You'd expect - and deserve - more than this kid got for actually physically harming a teacher these days.