The only question is did you pay for your couple of hundred Gigs of non-DRM music? If so, nobody cares. If not then you are basically a thief.
I stopped buying music for about 10 years because I was tired of getting screwed over. I'd buy a CD for $20 and get the one song I liked - and 9 others that were garbage. I ended up not even listening to the CDs because it was too much of a pain in the butt to put the CD on for that one song. When the iPod came out, I found I could use all those old CDs, by grabbing just those songs I downloaded. So I started buying music again. I figured if there were 3 songs on a CD that I liked I'd buy the CD. Then when the iTunes Music Store came out, I started buying even more songs (all those old one hit wonders I wanted). However I didn't like the DRM limit, so I still bought the CD if I figured there'd be 3 song on there I liked - so I was effectively paying $2-$4 a song for DRM free music vs. 99 for DRM free. When Apple came out with the DRM free music with EMI, I was ecstatic because now I would only be paying 1.39 for DRM free music. The DRM free music price has been dropped to 0.99 since that is the deal the music labels struck with Amazon. *great!*
Do I buy any of the music though Amazon? Nope. Not because I have any problem with Amazon, but my beef is with the record labels. They are trying to break iTunes by offering DRM-less music to them and not to iTunes. This is being done because they figure that if they can get 2-3 additional major players that they'll be able to re-instate stupid pricing schemes. When they want variable pricing it isn't because they want to offer us a wonderful deal on older catalogue music. It is because they want to screw us over on new music. So what do I do?
I play by the rules. If I listen to it I buy it. If I don't, I keep my money in my pocket. I am tired of reading about people stealing then claiming that they are taking the high ground. Truly taking the high ground requires sacrifice on your own part. So at the moment I am only buying from those who offer DRM free music on iTunes. I will not give one red penny (or 99 red pennies in this case) to the record companies. Apple with iTunes has been the biggest positive force for music in the past decade and I'll be danged (clean version) if I'm going to support those who would turn the clock back.
Believe it or not I am somewhat sympathetic to the record companies. It does take a lot of dough to find, develop and market talent. These companies have many expenses, and are having their product stolen. I'm not saying they are blameless, but they are not the evil soulless creatures those on slashdot make them out to be either. Like it or not they do serve a valuable purpose. I really don't think you'd like what would happen to the music industry without them.
Now I don't know if you've legally accumulated your music collection or not. If you have, great! I'm glad that you support the arts in such a meaningful way. If not - remember two wrongs do not make a right. If you are not willing to pay for the product provided, does not mean you have the right to benefit from it. Just imagine if everyone in the world acted in this way... I like the drawings you've prepared for this building, but I believe the fee you are charging is too high, so I'm just going to use the one's I've photocopied. *bam* no more engineers or architects. I like this software, but your licensing requirement are too strict so we are just going to make unlimited copies for ourselves. *bam* no more software developers. Your book was really good, but everyone just read the scan from the original manuscript. *bam* no writers. Just remember that it may be you who is getting screwed over one day. Treat others like you would like to be treated.
While they do a great deal of what most people would classify as innovation (AltiVec on the G4 was theirs), the "real" innovation is in the user interface. Most people do not consider user interface as an invention, but I would guarantee that it is as difficult to develop as any nuts and bolts "hard" invention.
They are more than a repackaging of ideas with high marketing... The click wheel was an innovation. It is THE innovation of the iPod. That and the tight integration with iTunes. By saying they only refine is to say that they are merely copycats. It is like saying the first plane with a jet engine is merely a copy of previous planes. While it does share some aspects (wings, fuselage, etc...) there is real innovation. The iPhone wasn't the first "smart" phone on the market. Yet, it is more than a slightly refined Blackberry, or Windows Mobile machine. Apple redefines product categories by doing it different than everyone else. They take the next step before anyone else sees what the next step really is. They focus on the interaction with the product. It is real innovation, but most geeks don't see it that way. They look at spec sheets and say that it is no different and they could have done it that way too. But someone had to figure out how to do it "that way" in the first place. Once something is done and understood it becomes obvious. However, somebody had to do it that way the first time. That is innovation.
The "innovation" is making products simple to use for the average person.
The Apple II was the first standardized computer in a hobbyist environment. The Mac introduced visual computing. The iMac introduced style (whether you liked the style or not) and removal of clutter to the computer. The iPod/iTunes was the first non-geek mp3 player. iMovie/iDVD introduced a simple way to edit and burn your home movies onto DVDs. The iPhone is the first refined phone/portable computer.
It isn't that Apple was the first there in most cases. It is that they were the first ones to do it right. While it may not be important to many on this board - they make technology useable by (and normally enjoyable for) the vast majority of people.
What is the point in having the greatest car if it is too much of a pain to drive? Yeah it does 0-60 in 1.0 seconds, but you have to get out to manually crank it to start the car, it needs servicing every 5000 miles, the clutch often slips and it gets 1 mpg. Would you buy it even if it cost the same or even a smidge less than an equivalent model that is just an average vehicle? Probably not. Sure some would just love to tinker with it all the time, and make it work, but eventually they would just want something that they could get into and drive away in - no hassle, no fuss.
So? Write your own version of Linux for the iPhone and create your own full functionality. Just because you feel that you're entitled to something, does not mean that you are.
All the limitations in the SDK come down to 2-3 things.
1) Contractual agreements with ATT.
2) Desire to prevent viruses on the Phone (can you imagine the press around that one?)
3) Keep the operation of the phone smooth, without hiccups. (They don't want some dumb background app making the phone stutter and work poorly - ruins public image)
Maybe in a few generations when there is a more powerful processor and more ram they'll be able to open it up more. 'till then tough it out.
The difference being that a PS3 is sold at a loss to Sony and they soak you for games. The iPhone sells for it's actual selling cost and AT&T can offer a less expensive plan because they did not pay for part of your phone up front.
There is cost then there is *real cost*.
True,
But the purchase of a CD is effectively you licencing the music from the Music label and not outright ownership of said music. Apple probably had to concede this distinction to the music labels for iTunes. Now while I personally think it is a bunch of malarky, this distinction now exists in the iTunes software and is applied across the board.
Personally, I wouldn't want a real recording of music as my ringer, since (for me at least) the cheesy sounding ring tones are more identifiable over background noise. But to each their own.
Unfortunately I believe that this was a limit set by the music labels. If you read the iTunes agreement I believe that ring tones is specifically omitted from allowable uses.
The last time I started up iTunes on my wife's mac (I don't use it much myself), it gave me a little informative message suggesting that I make a habit of backing up all my music regularly. Uh, and what would I back it up onto? CDs? In that case, why not just buy a CD? Sure, a lot of people prefer to buy pop music a song at a time, but personally I buy mostly jazz and classical, and I'm not interested at all in buying single tracks.
Hmmm... how about an external HD? You can not only back up all your songs, but also the pictures from your digital camera, your spreadsheets, the recipe for your mom's apple pie, and even that strange internet video clip of some guy launching himself into space using Mentos and diet Coke.
Besides if your HD ever did crash, do you really want to go through the 3 week process of reloading all 200 CDs back onto your HD? I sure as heck don't!
Anyway, back on topic... the advent of the iPod and iTunes has changed my music purchasing habits. Because of this I have bought some songs online ~100. Additiionally, I have bought more CDs in the each of the past 3 years than I had in the previous 10 combined. I stopped buying CDs because I was tired of paying $20 for that one song I liked only to find the rest was garbage. Since I believe very strongly in not pirating music, I stopped buying music, period. Now, if I find 3+ songs on a single CD I like I'll go and buy the CD, else I'll buy the one or 2 worth buying on iTunes. I suspect most people are like me in this respect.
The DRM bit doesn't really bother me either. I know it is there. I also know I could burn those songs to CD and re-rip them. Alternatively I could use iMovie to remove the DRM if I chose to. No great biggie.
Even if playback of the songs remains possible for a long time, market dominance of DRM formats is likely to change many times in the future, meaning that you'd be at some times struggling to find devices to play your old tunes or tunes that work on your old device.
So you mean like people not being able to play old wax cylinders, or records, or 8-tracks, or Tapes... you get the idea. I hate to tell you this, but sometimes things become obsolete and there is no guarantee in life. The songs you buy today are far more (almost completely) resistant to the effects of time due to the digital nature of the items. There is virtually limitless ability to upgrade and maintain any library of music these days. Before you had to worry about scratches, dust, direct sunlight, or you name it. In reality I've never seen such a bunch of whiners!
Let's say that I've come up with a fantastic Hydrogen engine. There are many other good hydrogen engines on the market (some developed before, some after), but mine is a little more elegant and easier to fit into a typical automobile shape. Now I sell a few of them, but not too many. Now lets say I come up with a revolutionary hydrogen wafer that is easy enough for the average consumer to insert into the tank and would let the average sedan travel 1600km (1000 miles for those in the US) on a single tank.
Now I price the wafer near cost, because my real aim is to sell motors. The combination of the two is enough to really accelerate the sales of my hydrogen automotive power plant. Suddenly the other guys making hydrogen engines are unable to compete with me. I've got the best engine and I'm the first one with a really good hydrogen fuel supply. I make a good profit, but I'm by no means gouging people to buy my stuff.
I solved the secret to a hydrogen powered vehicule. Everybody now wants a "GeoGeer" powered car. Why should the government tell me I have to share my trade secrets with the competition. Nothing is stopping them from going and developing their own method to do the same thing. It is called capitalism. Those who work hard and come up with the ideas get rewarded - heck sometimes it isn't even the best one that wins. That's life get used to it.
The big problem in Europe is that they are socialist and want to destroy the advantage that anyone over here has. You think if it was Nokia who was the first to market with the iPod/iTunes combination that the Scandanavian judicial system would be trying to break it open? I think not. It is really a case of sour grapes. If you can't compete, just drag them down.
I'm positive that Apple has made room for another desktop in its lineup. Why? Look at all of the pro machines. They are all dual processor. Previously Apple had a crippled PM to bridge the distance between the iMac and the high end. Apple has opened a gap here for a minitower, pizza box, who knows what shape computer. This will be the real desktop growth machine. Kinda Prosumer.
You have the:
Mac Mini - Basic computer. Could be used as a lowend desktop or small server in a small business. iMac - Minimalist desktop, classic Apple all-in-one design. Can play some games, but not a real heavy hitter. MacBook - Portable Mac mini. Basic laptop, no good at graphic intensive games, but pretty decent machine. MacBook Pro - Portable desktop machine. As good as a laptop gets. Mac Pro - Uncomprimising speed demon.
Notice what is the common element in all those names? Mac.
I predict that Apple will introduce the first ever Apple Mac as soon as it gets enough Conroe (Core 2 Duo Extreme) processors from Intel to provide a reasonable level of availablilty.
This'll use a SINGLE dual core processor unlike the dual processor in the Pro. Upgradeable graphics card and maybe one free PCI slot, 2 drive bays instead of 4, 1 optical instead of 2 and 4 RAM slots instead of 4. Top end will be a single 3 GHz (BTO) machine. This should be slower than the base dual 2 GHz Mac Pro at highly threaded apps. This'll be the "gamer"/prosumer machine that people have been asking years for. It doesn't really threaten the workstation class of the Pros, but offers more expandability/monitor size and customizaiton than the iMac.
It'll be aggressively priced to make a dent in the market place. It'll be cheaper than an EQUIVALENT Dell. Bet on that! Look how much effort Apple is putting into its machines to prove that point at the WWDC.
These'll be "available" in Sept., but only really be widely available by the Oct.-Dec. Christmas shopping season (HoHoHo). This'll do for Apple's desktop market share what the MacBook did for the laptop.
Considering that Apple's Market Cap is greater than that of Dell's I think you may have that backwards. So Dell sells 4x as much equipment as Apple. Dell' market share is falling, profits are falling, margins are falling, and can provide no added value to its products due to a lack of research.
Apple on the other hand has increasing marketshare, increasing margins, increasing market share, R&D that provides tangible benefits to buying Apple products, and has the attention of the industry and the press. When was the last time anybody wrote about a product Dell introduced? I think that was its iPod killer... I haven't heard Jack all about its new Precision workstation. Dell has lost a lot of its tarnish as its stock has been pummeled. It has commoditized itself into a corner. All it had available was able to make boxes for less than the other guy. There comes a point where that won't take you any further. Dell is there now with no way out. Apple on the other hand has the iPod, its iLife suite, MacOS X, iWork, Final Cut, iconic designs (whether you like them or not) and Steeve's RDF.;-)
Apple has that "je ne sais quoi" about it. And as much as people say it is hype for koolaid drinking Macbois, they are wrong. People become attached to their Macs in ways they don't with their PCs.
I've had 2 people at work and 3 friends switch over the past year. Most of them were kinda anti Mac and the others ambivalent. One changed because of his experience with the iPod and the others because they were tired of Windows and were willing to try something else in the hopes of finding something that just worked and didn't require them to fight with their computer all the time. None of them ever want to go back now. They are all doing far more with their computers now than they did before because of how easy it is. They never worry about trying something new, and hope that it doesn't hose their computer. And you know what? All of them are University educated, most of them engineers/computer programmers. They are not computer illiterate nor barely functional. Now they are trying to convince their family members to switch. That is what Apple's advantage is, and it seems that it is only growing.
Apple was upto 11% of the laptop market in the last quarter. Look at Amazon's top selling laptops, 3 of the top 4 are always MacBooks. The city I live in is continually sold out of them. When Apple introduces a Conroe based mini-tower just you wait to see the desktop number take off to suit.
The big thing keeping people from switching was the fear of not being able to run required PC apps. When Apple announced they were going to Intel everybody said it would kill them off in no time flat. Now Apple is gaining market share hand over fist. Growth of market share will now come in the household, where Apple has centrally positioned itself. The office marketplace is stagnant. How much faster do you need for that spreadsheet or database? None in most cases. Where I work we don't have any PC's on the net. Why? We're a small firm with one guy who does the IT in his spare time. We don't have the resources to deal with spyware and viruses. Only our Macs go on the net, and we have never had a single problem. With the new intel Macs and a solution like Parallels we will switch all our machines over to Macs as the PCs die off (or AutoCAD requirements become too high for our existing machines).
Anyway, back to your original point. Apple cannot simply be bought out by its competitors and will likely go back to 10-15% market share it once enjoyed. They've gotten MS to agree to release Office for the next 5 years, and are lining up more great feature for their hardware (Mac & iPod) and software. Not only is it VERY logical to expect Apple to grow significantly from here, it would be a mistake to look to the computer industry of 5 years ago and base your assumptions on that. The playing field has changed and is continuing to change. And Apple is the smaller nimble company adapting the quickest. The "much larger" companies have to fight inertia and aren't as quick to respond.
You know that is nice. Now how about you configure similar Dual Dual Core Woodcrest machines. I will bet Dell has nothing to compare.
Give it less than a month, and I will bet Apple has a midtower Conroe based machine call the Mac. It is obvious considering the large hole Apple has intentionally left in its product line. This is Apple's release season, and we have not seen the end of it, just the beginning!
Actually it seems there is good future for gaming on the Mac. Parallels is working on 3d acceleration as we speak. Sure it won't be as good as native, but others seem to be working on that too.
http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2006/08/20060808153 337.shtml
If you look at Apple's product line there is now a huge gap between the iMac and the MacPro. I will bet you good $$$ that as soon as Apple has enough Conroe processors delivered to them from Intel that they will be releasing the Apple Mac. A prosumer minitower. This is gonna be Apple's growth machine on the desktop as the MacBook is for the laptop.
I will be good money that Apple will introduce a Conroe based machine within the next month. Why? It is pretty obvious. This is the first set of pro machines featuring only dual processors. This leaves a nice gap between the iMac and the MacPro. This previously had a bit of a crippled PowerMac filling this spot. I don't know what it'll look like, but I bet it is a mini version of the Mac Pro. The base BTO Mac pro with 4 2GHz cores should be faster that 2 3 GHz cores for professional apps.
I'll bet you good money that I can even name the product.
We have: Mac Mini - minimalist machine very entry level makes a fantastic file server or lowend workstation for a small buisiness. iMac - Traditional all-in-one Apple solution. Small footprint, can play games, but not a gamer machine. Really nice for a home office. MacBook - A pretty slick basic notebook, that is very functional at all things, but games. MacBook Pro - Portble desktop machine. Mac Pro - Uncomprimising speed. Best of everything.
So what do these all have in common? They are all variations on.... Mac.
Apple will introduce a Conroe based mini tower called the Mac. It will fill in the product line. More expandable than an iMac, with the ability to hook up any monitor, change video cards, and maybe an extra PCI slot or 2. Kind of a Prosumer machine between the iMac and the Mac Pro. This will be the machine all the gamers want. Fast without the cost of the Xeons. Upgradeable, but not to the extent of the Pros. This will be Apple's growth machine.
So everybody wants every machine gadget and doo-dah released all at once.
Not gonna happen. Xeons were released a month ago and Apple is now releasing machines using that chip. Apple is not going to steal the thunder of the Mac Pro with another machine released at the same time. Today was about PROS.
I will bet that there will be an Apple Mac released in the next little while. Why? Look at the pro machines all dual processor. Previous generations were 1 dual with 2 single. This means there is a single (Conroe) processor machine on the way. Breath in, breath out.
Apple is not going to announce that machine until it has enough chips in the factory. Otherwise all it will do is cannabalize existing sales for no good reason. Same with Merom MacBook Pros. There is no Meroms coming out the door from Intel's fab plants. When they do Apple will upgrade the machines.
Likewise Apple is not going to overshadow its operating system and MacPros with iPod, iPhones, iToothbrushes or anything else. Apple knows MARKETING! They have built up a bit of a mystique over time and now uses it to get the maximum bang from each product it releases. I would estimate that it'll be less than a month before you see Conroe based machines. Just over a month for Merom based products and new iPods. Closer to November for the real Video iPod/movie service and next year for the phone. (all of these are approximates of course). Yes Apple has hype, but it also delivers on it.
Watch and learn.
GG
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The only question is did you pay for your couple of hundred Gigs of non-DRM music? If so, nobody cares. If not then you are basically a thief.
I stopped buying music for about 10 years because I was tired of getting screwed over. I'd buy a CD for $20 and get the one song I liked - and 9 others that were garbage. I ended up not even listening to the CDs because it was too much of a pain in the butt to put the CD on for that one song. When the iPod came out, I found I could use all those old CDs, by grabbing just those songs I downloaded. So I started buying music again. I figured if there were 3 songs on a CD that I liked I'd buy the CD. Then when the iTunes Music Store came out, I started buying even more songs (all those old one hit wonders I wanted). However I didn't like the DRM limit, so I still bought the CD if I figured there'd be 3 song on there I liked - so I was effectively paying $2-$4 a song for DRM free music vs. 99 for DRM free. When Apple came out with the DRM free music with EMI, I was ecstatic because now I would only be paying 1.39 for DRM free music. The DRM free music price has been dropped to 0.99 since that is the deal the music labels struck with Amazon. *great!*
Do I buy any of the music though Amazon? Nope. Not because I have any problem with Amazon, but my beef is with the record labels. They are trying to break iTunes by offering DRM-less music to them and not to iTunes. This is being done because they figure that if they can get 2-3 additional major players that they'll be able to re-instate stupid pricing schemes. When they want variable pricing it isn't because they want to offer us a wonderful deal on older catalogue music. It is because they want to screw us over on new music. So what do I do?
I play by the rules. If I listen to it I buy it. If I don't, I keep my money in my pocket. I am tired of reading about people stealing then claiming that they are taking the high ground. Truly taking the high ground requires sacrifice on your own part. So at the moment I am only buying from those who offer DRM free music on iTunes. I will not give one red penny (or 99 red pennies in this case) to the record companies. Apple with iTunes has been the biggest positive force for music in the past decade and I'll be danged (clean version) if I'm going to support those who would turn the clock back.
Believe it or not I am somewhat sympathetic to the record companies. It does take a lot of dough to find, develop and market talent. These companies have many expenses, and are having their product stolen. I'm not saying they are blameless, but they are not the evil soulless creatures those on slashdot make them out to be either. Like it or not they do serve a valuable purpose. I really don't think you'd like what would happen to the music industry without them.
Now I don't know if you've legally accumulated your music collection or not. If you have, great! I'm glad that you support the arts in such a meaningful way. If not - remember two wrongs do not make a right. If you are not willing to pay for the product provided, does not mean you have the right to benefit from it. Just imagine if everyone in the world acted in this way... I like the drawings you've prepared for this building, but I believe the fee you are charging is too high, so I'm just going to use the one's I've photocopied. *bam* no more engineers or architects. I like this software, but your licensing requirement are too strict so we are just going to make unlimited copies for ourselves. *bam* no more software developers. Your book was really good, but everyone just read the scan from the original manuscript. *bam* no writers. Just remember that it may be you who is getting screwed over one day. Treat others like you would like to be treated.
Sorry about the rant...
While they do a great deal of what most people would classify as innovation (AltiVec on the G4 was theirs), the "real" innovation is in the user interface. Most people do not consider user interface as an invention, but I would guarantee that it is as difficult to develop as any nuts and bolts "hard" invention. They are more than a repackaging of ideas with high marketing... The click wheel was an innovation. It is THE innovation of the iPod. That and the tight integration with iTunes. By saying they only refine is to say that they are merely copycats. It is like saying the first plane with a jet engine is merely a copy of previous planes. While it does share some aspects (wings, fuselage, etc...) there is real innovation. The iPhone wasn't the first "smart" phone on the market. Yet, it is more than a slightly refined Blackberry, or Windows Mobile machine. Apple redefines product categories by doing it different than everyone else. They take the next step before anyone else sees what the next step really is. They focus on the interaction with the product. It is real innovation, but most geeks don't see it that way. They look at spec sheets and say that it is no different and they could have done it that way too. But someone had to figure out how to do it "that way" in the first place. Once something is done and understood it becomes obvious. However, somebody had to do it that way the first time. That is innovation.
The "innovation" is making products simple to use for the average person.
The Apple II was the first standardized computer in a hobbyist environment.
The Mac introduced visual computing.
The iMac introduced style (whether you liked the style or not) and removal of clutter to the computer.
The iPod/iTunes was the first non-geek mp3 player.
iMovie/iDVD introduced a simple way to edit and burn your home movies onto DVDs.
The iPhone is the first refined phone/portable computer.
It isn't that Apple was the first there in most cases. It is that they were the first ones to do it right. While it may not be important to many on this board - they make technology useable by (and normally enjoyable for) the vast majority of people.
What is the point in having the greatest car if it is too much of a pain to drive? Yeah it does 0-60 in 1.0 seconds, but you have to get out to manually crank it to start the car, it needs servicing every 5000 miles, the clutch often slips and it gets 1 mpg. Would you buy it even if it cost the same or even a smidge less than an equivalent model that is just an average vehicle? Probably not. Sure some would just love to tinker with it all the time, and make it work, but eventually they would just want something that they could get into and drive away in - no hassle, no fuss.
So? Write your own version of Linux for the iPhone and create your own full functionality. Just because you feel that you're entitled to something, does not mean that you are. All the limitations in the SDK come down to 2-3 things. 1) Contractual agreements with ATT. 2) Desire to prevent viruses on the Phone (can you imagine the press around that one?) 3) Keep the operation of the phone smooth, without hiccups. (They don't want some dumb background app making the phone stutter and work poorly - ruins public image) Maybe in a few generations when there is a more powerful processor and more ram they'll be able to open it up more. 'till then tough it out.
The difference being that a PS3 is sold at a loss to Sony and they soak you for games. The iPhone sells for it's actual selling cost and AT&T can offer a less expensive plan because they did not pay for part of your phone up front. There is cost then there is *real cost*.
True, But the purchase of a CD is effectively you licencing the music from the Music label and not outright ownership of said music. Apple probably had to concede this distinction to the music labels for iTunes. Now while I personally think it is a bunch of malarky, this distinction now exists in the iTunes software and is applied across the board. Personally, I wouldn't want a real recording of music as my ringer, since (for me at least) the cheesy sounding ring tones are more identifiable over background noise. But to each their own.
Unfortunately I believe that this was a limit set by the music labels. If you read the iTunes agreement I believe that ring tones is specifically omitted from allowable uses.
Besides if your HD ever did crash, do you really want to go through the 3 week process of reloading all 200 CDs back onto your HD? I sure as heck don't!
Anyway, back on topic... the advent of the iPod and iTunes has changed my music purchasing habits. Because of this I have bought some songs online ~100. Additiionally, I have bought more CDs in the each of the past 3 years than I had in the previous 10 combined. I stopped buying CDs because I was tired of paying $20 for that one song I liked only to find the rest was garbage. Since I believe very strongly in not pirating music, I stopped buying music, period. Now, if I find 3+ songs on a single CD I like I'll go and buy the CD, else I'll buy the one or 2 worth buying on iTunes. I suspect most people are like me in this respect.
The DRM bit doesn't really bother me either. I know it is there. I also know I could burn those songs to CD and re-rip them. Alternatively I could use iMovie to remove the DRM if I chose to. No great biggie.
Let's say that I've come up with a fantastic Hydrogen engine. There are many other good hydrogen engines on the market (some developed before, some after), but mine is a little more elegant and easier to fit into a typical automobile shape. Now I sell a few of them, but not too many. Now lets say I come up with a revolutionary hydrogen wafer that is easy enough for the average consumer to insert into the tank and would let the average sedan travel 1600km (1000 miles for those in the US) on a single tank.
Now I price the wafer near cost, because my real aim is to sell motors. The combination of the two is enough to really accelerate the sales of my hydrogen automotive power plant. Suddenly the other guys making hydrogen engines are unable to compete with me. I've got the best engine and I'm the first one with a really good hydrogen fuel supply. I make a good profit, but I'm by no means gouging people to buy my stuff.
I solved the secret to a hydrogen powered vehicule. Everybody now wants a "GeoGeer" powered car. Why should the government tell me I have to share my trade secrets with the competition. Nothing is stopping them from going and developing their own method to do the same thing. It is called capitalism. Those who work hard and come up with the ideas get rewarded - heck sometimes it isn't even the best one that wins. That's life get used to it.
The big problem in Europe is that they are socialist and want to destroy the advantage that anyone over here has. You think if it was Nokia who was the first to market with the iPod/iTunes combination that the Scandanavian judicial system would be trying to break it open? I think not. It is really a case of sour grapes. If you can't compete, just drag them down.
None YET! Wait until Tuesday! ;-)
So could someone explain to me why this is news?
--
Because they are gaining market share since the transition.
Just a little more PATIENCE!
I'm positive that Apple has made room for another desktop in its lineup. Why? Look at all of the pro machines. They are all dual processor. Previously Apple had a crippled PM to bridge the distance between the iMac and the high end. Apple has opened a gap here for a minitower, pizza box, who knows what shape computer. This will be the real desktop growth machine. Kinda Prosumer.
You have the:
Mac Mini - Basic computer. Could be used as a lowend desktop or small server in a small business.
iMac - Minimalist desktop, classic Apple all-in-one design. Can play some games, but not a real heavy hitter.
MacBook - Portable Mac mini. Basic laptop, no good at graphic intensive games, but pretty decent machine.
MacBook Pro - Portable desktop machine. As good as a laptop gets.
Mac Pro - Uncomprimising speed demon.
Notice what is the common element in all those names? Mac.
I predict that Apple will introduce the first ever Apple Mac as soon as it gets enough Conroe (Core 2 Duo Extreme) processors from Intel to provide a reasonable level of availablilty.
This'll use a SINGLE dual core processor unlike the dual processor in the Pro. Upgradeable graphics card and maybe one free PCI slot, 2 drive bays instead of 4, 1 optical instead of 2 and 4 RAM slots instead of 4. Top end will be a single 3 GHz (BTO) machine. This should be slower than the base dual 2 GHz Mac Pro at highly threaded apps. This'll be the "gamer"/prosumer machine that people have been asking years for. It doesn't really threaten the workstation class of the Pros, but offers more expandability/monitor size and customizaiton than the iMac.
It'll be aggressively priced to make a dent in the market place. It'll be cheaper than an EQUIVALENT Dell. Bet on that! Look how much effort Apple is putting into its machines to prove that point at the WWDC.
These'll be "available" in Sept., but only really be widely available by the Oct.-Dec. Christmas shopping season (HoHoHo). This'll do for Apple's desktop market share what the MacBook did for the laptop.
Considering that Apple's Market Cap is greater than that of Dell's I think you may have that backwards. So Dell sells 4x as much equipment as Apple. Dell' market share is falling, profits are falling, margins are falling, and can provide no added value to its products due to a lack of research.
;-)
Apple on the other hand has increasing marketshare, increasing margins, increasing market share, R&D that provides tangible benefits to buying Apple products, and has the attention of the industry and the press. When was the last time anybody wrote about a product Dell introduced? I think that was its iPod killer... I haven't heard Jack all about its new Precision workstation. Dell has lost a lot of its tarnish as its stock has been pummeled. It has commoditized itself into a corner. All it had available was able to make boxes for less than the other guy. There comes a point where that won't take you any further. Dell is there now with no way out. Apple on the other hand has the iPod, its iLife suite, MacOS X, iWork, Final Cut, iconic designs (whether you like them or not) and Steeve's RDF.
Apple has that "je ne sais quoi" about it. And as much as people say it is hype for koolaid drinking Macbois, they are wrong. People become attached to their Macs in ways they don't with their PCs.
I've had 2 people at work and 3 friends switch over the past year. Most of them were kinda anti Mac and the others ambivalent. One changed because of his experience with the iPod and the others because they were tired of Windows and were willing to try something else in the hopes of finding something that just worked and didn't require them to fight with their computer all the time. None of them ever want to go back now. They are all doing far more with their computers now than they did before because of how easy it is. They never worry about trying something new, and hope that it doesn't hose their computer. And you know what? All of them are University educated, most of them engineers/computer programmers. They are not computer illiterate nor barely functional. Now they are trying to convince their family members to switch. That is what Apple's advantage is, and it seems that it is only growing.
Apple was upto 11% of the laptop market in the last quarter. Look at Amazon's top selling laptops, 3 of the top 4 are always MacBooks. The city I live in is continually sold out of them. When Apple introduces a Conroe based mini-tower just you wait to see the desktop number take off to suit.
The big thing keeping people from switching was the fear of not being able to run required PC apps. When Apple announced they were going to Intel everybody said it would kill them off in no time flat. Now Apple is gaining market share hand over fist. Growth of market share will now come in the household, where Apple has centrally positioned itself. The office marketplace is stagnant. How much faster do you need for that spreadsheet or database? None in most cases. Where I work we don't have any PC's on the net. Why? We're a small firm with one guy who does the IT in his spare time. We don't have the resources to deal with spyware and viruses. Only our Macs go on the net, and we have never had a single problem. With the new intel Macs and a solution like Parallels we will switch all our machines over to Macs as the PCs die off (or AutoCAD requirements become too high for our existing machines).
Anyway, back to your original point. Apple cannot simply be bought out by its competitors and will likely go back to 10-15% market share it once enjoyed. They've gotten MS to agree to release Office for the next 5 years, and are lining up more great feature for their hardware (Mac & iPod) and software. Not only is it VERY logical to expect Apple to grow significantly from here, it would be a mistake to look to the computer industry of 5 years ago and base your assumptions on that. The playing field has changed and is continuing to change. And Apple is the smaller nimble company adapting the quickest. The "much larger" companies have to fight inertia and aren't as quick to respond.
You know that is nice. Now how about you configure similar Dual Dual Core Woodcrest machines. I will bet Dell has nothing to compare.
Give it less than a month, and I will bet Apple has a midtower Conroe based machine call the Mac. It is obvious considering the large hole Apple has intentionally left in its product line. This is Apple's release season, and we have not seen the end of it, just the beginning!
Actually it seems there is good future for gaming on the Mac. Parallels is working on 3d acceleration as we speak. Sure it won't be as good as native, but others seem to be working on that too. http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2006/08/20060808153 337.shtml
If you look at Apple's product line there is now a huge gap between the iMac and the MacPro. I will bet you good $$$ that as soon as Apple has enough Conroe processors delivered to them from Intel that they will be releasing the Apple Mac. A prosumer minitower. This is gonna be Apple's growth machine on the desktop as the MacBook is for the laptop.
As Intel is not actually SHIPPING Core 2 Duo chips, I don't think Apple is going to announce that product. Probably in Sept. GG
I will be good money that Apple will introduce a Conroe based machine within the next month. Why? It is pretty obvious. This is the first set of pro machines featuring only dual processors. This leaves a nice gap between the iMac and the MacPro. This previously had a bit of a crippled PowerMac filling this spot. I don't know what it'll look like, but I bet it is a mini version of the Mac Pro. The base BTO Mac pro with 4 2GHz cores should be faster that 2 3 GHz cores for professional apps.
I'll bet you good money that I can even name the product.
We have:
Mac Mini - minimalist machine very entry level makes a fantastic file server or lowend workstation for a small buisiness.
iMac - Traditional all-in-one Apple solution. Small footprint, can play games, but not a gamer machine. Really nice for a home office.
MacBook - A pretty slick basic notebook, that is very functional at all things, but games.
MacBook Pro - Portble desktop machine.
Mac Pro - Uncomprimising speed. Best of everything.
So what do these all have in common? They are all variations on.... Mac.
Apple will introduce a Conroe based mini tower called the Mac. It will fill in the product line. More expandable than an iMac, with the ability to hook up any monitor, change video cards, and maybe an extra PCI slot or 2. Kind of a Prosumer machine between the iMac and the Mac Pro. This will be the machine all the gamers want. Fast without the cost of the Xeons. Upgradeable, but not to the extent of the Pros. This will be Apple's growth machine.
Introducing the Apple Mac.
GG
So everybody wants every machine gadget and doo-dah released all at once. Not gonna happen. Xeons were released a month ago and Apple is now releasing machines using that chip. Apple is not going to steal the thunder of the Mac Pro with another machine released at the same time. Today was about PROS. I will bet that there will be an Apple Mac released in the next little while. Why? Look at the pro machines all dual processor. Previous generations were 1 dual with 2 single. This means there is a single (Conroe) processor machine on the way. Breath in, breath out. Apple is not going to announce that machine until it has enough chips in the factory. Otherwise all it will do is cannabalize existing sales for no good reason. Same with Merom MacBook Pros. There is no Meroms coming out the door from Intel's fab plants. When they do Apple will upgrade the machines. Likewise Apple is not going to overshadow its operating system and MacPros with iPod, iPhones, iToothbrushes or anything else. Apple knows MARKETING! They have built up a bit of a mystique over time and now uses it to get the maximum bang from each product it releases. I would estimate that it'll be less than a month before you see Conroe based machines. Just over a month for Merom based products and new iPods. Closer to November for the real Video iPod/movie service and next year for the phone. (all of these are approximates of course). Yes Apple has hype, but it also delivers on it. Watch and learn. GG