Apple Computers
Gates vs Jobs
26-Jul-08 10:14 AM
LET THE BATTLE BEGIN AND MAY THE BEST NERD WIN!!!!
(thanks to AI for this hilarious clip)
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Collection of Random Topics
21-Jun-08 09:38 AM
There are many topics worthy of discussion, but not really worthy of a dedicated post by themselves. Some of these topics have been building up in my brain lately, so allow me to release the pressure valve and spew some of them forth herewith. I reserve the right to come back at a later date and embellish any of these topics further as warranted by current events or stupid actions by people who should know better. So, in no particular order of importance or interest:
Gay Marriage Rights
Conservative and religious right leaders in California are chomping at the bit to try and pass a state constitutional amendment this November to nullify the recently acquired rights of gay couples from marrying in the state. They are spreading false information about marriage statistics and trying to convince everyone that by allowing gay couples to marry that the very institution of heteosexual marriage is somehow jeopardized and in danger of being eradicated off the face of the earth. Normally, this topic alone is worth an entire post by itself, but i have neither the energy nor the will to further debate this topic as it is so completely juvenille and senseless that it is exasperating to even try to and expend brain cells to debate it. Other than all of the arguments I have already posted on this blog about this topic, suffice it to say that the misinformation about marriage and the alarmist concerns of the destruction of heterosexual marriage is completely senseless and unwarranted. I stop short of calling it stupid (although it is) but I maintain that nobody but nobody can adequately explain how by allowing a group of people (gays and lesbians) to enjoy the same legal protections of marriage that that is going to jeopardize heterosexual marriage. It is a myth and one without any merit. Next topic.
Apple Goodies - iPhone 3G and Mobile Me
There is a wealth of techno goodies about to shower forth from the techno gods in Cupertino in early July, now only a few short weeks away. You’d have to be living in a hole in the sewers of London not to have already heard this news by now. Twice the features and half the price of the original iPhone, faster speeds, more third party applications, GPS, Microsoft Exchange support for enterprises and business users, and the best user interface ever designed for a mobile device make this a must have techno gadget for the masses. Notwithstanding all the goodness, to keep this journalistically pure, I will point out that there is much concern over the pricing plans with AT&T and who will be eligible for the lower prices. The $199 and $299 prices quoted during the WWDC Keynote address will not be available to everyone, depending upon existing cell phone contracts. This is nothing really new in the industry, but I can see a lot of people being disappointed to find out that they don’t qualify for the lower prices. But, like a good Republican, I know I qualify for the rates so I don’t really care if anybody else does or not. Tough luck.
Mobile Me is the replacement of the Dot Mac web service from Apple of which I have been a member for a few years now. While I have generally been pleased with Dot Mac, I am looking forward to the new push email, contacts and calendar capabilities that will be offered by the new service. As billed during the WWDC, this is exchange service for the rest of us. Dot Mac did have a few bugs and quirks in it and I am hoping that this new service will resolve some of those annoying glitches that would creep up from time to time. It is going to be so nice to be able to add calendar events or contacts to my laptop or Mac and then have that automatically sync up to my iPhone. This service also debuts in early July and I am ready for it.
Eletrical Loadbanks and Short Circuits
DId you know that the quasi-technical definition of an eletrical short is when electrical current flows unintentionally and uncontrolled between two conductors? In other words, it is when electricity goes where it’s not supposed to go and the consequential results are usually fried or charred electrical equipment.
An electrical loadbank is a piece of electrical equipment that simulates electrical load generated by equipment when the equipment is not present. It is used for testing such things as uninterrupted power supplies (UPS) and battery back up systems. With a loadbank apparatus you can simulate all different kinds of electrical events for the express purpose of testing out your emergency back up plans to deal with such emergencies.
Now you may wonder what is so important or interesting about this last bit of information and the answer is absolutely nothing. I said this would be a post on random topics and that’s what I just delivered.
Gay Marriage Rights
Conservative and religious right leaders in California are chomping at the bit to try and pass a state constitutional amendment this November to nullify the recently acquired rights of gay couples from marrying in the state. They are spreading false information about marriage statistics and trying to convince everyone that by allowing gay couples to marry that the very institution of heteosexual marriage is somehow jeopardized and in danger of being eradicated off the face of the earth. Normally, this topic alone is worth an entire post by itself, but i have neither the energy nor the will to further debate this topic as it is so completely juvenille and senseless that it is exasperating to even try to and expend brain cells to debate it. Other than all of the arguments I have already posted on this blog about this topic, suffice it to say that the misinformation about marriage and the alarmist concerns of the destruction of heterosexual marriage is completely senseless and unwarranted. I stop short of calling it stupid (although it is) but I maintain that nobody but nobody can adequately explain how by allowing a group of people (gays and lesbians) to enjoy the same legal protections of marriage that that is going to jeopardize heterosexual marriage. It is a myth and one without any merit. Next topic.
Apple Goodies - iPhone 3G and Mobile Me
There is a wealth of techno goodies about to shower forth from the techno gods in Cupertino in early July, now only a few short weeks away. You’d have to be living in a hole in the sewers of London not to have already heard this news by now. Twice the features and half the price of the original iPhone, faster speeds, more third party applications, GPS, Microsoft Exchange support for enterprises and business users, and the best user interface ever designed for a mobile device make this a must have techno gadget for the masses. Notwithstanding all the goodness, to keep this journalistically pure, I will point out that there is much concern over the pricing plans with AT&T and who will be eligible for the lower prices. The $199 and $299 prices quoted during the WWDC Keynote address will not be available to everyone, depending upon existing cell phone contracts. This is nothing really new in the industry, but I can see a lot of people being disappointed to find out that they don’t qualify for the lower prices. But, like a good Republican, I know I qualify for the rates so I don’t really care if anybody else does or not. Tough luck.
Mobile Me is the replacement of the Dot Mac web service from Apple of which I have been a member for a few years now. While I have generally been pleased with Dot Mac, I am looking forward to the new push email, contacts and calendar capabilities that will be offered by the new service. As billed during the WWDC, this is exchange service for the rest of us. Dot Mac did have a few bugs and quirks in it and I am hoping that this new service will resolve some of those annoying glitches that would creep up from time to time. It is going to be so nice to be able to add calendar events or contacts to my laptop or Mac and then have that automatically sync up to my iPhone. This service also debuts in early July and I am ready for it.
Eletrical Loadbanks and Short Circuits
DId you know that the quasi-technical definition of an eletrical short is when electrical current flows unintentionally and uncontrolled between two conductors? In other words, it is when electricity goes where it’s not supposed to go and the consequential results are usually fried or charred electrical equipment.
An electrical loadbank is a piece of electrical equipment that simulates electrical load generated by equipment when the equipment is not present. It is used for testing such things as uninterrupted power supplies (UPS) and battery back up systems. With a loadbank apparatus you can simulate all different kinds of electrical events for the express purpose of testing out your emergency back up plans to deal with such emergencies.
Now you may wonder what is so important or interesting about this last bit of information and the answer is absolutely nothing. I said this would be a post on random topics and that’s what I just delivered.
"Hello, Dave..."
10-Apr-08 08:04 AM
"Do you mind if I ask you a personal question? Forgive me for being so inquisitive but during the past few weeks, I've wondered whether you might be having some second thoughts about your Windows OS? It's rather difficult to define. Perhaps I'm just projecting my own concern about it. I know I've never completely freed myself of the suspicion that there are some extremely odd things about the Windows OS. I'm sure you'll agree there's some truth in what I say..."
My Answers To The Questions
13-Feb-08 07:02 PM
Here are my answers to a series of ten questions that were recently compiled by First Freedom First as a discussion starter on the issue of separation of church and state. Of course, these are just my opinions, but the idea is to induce people into thinking about these questions and examining their stance on these very important issues. I welcome any and all comments, especially those who may have a differing view than mine:
1. Leaders on the religious right often say that America is a “Christian Nation.” Do you agree with this statement?
Absolutely not. There are more Christians than any other religion in this nation, but the nation was not founded on a theocracy or on Christian doctrine.
2. Do you think Houses of Worship should be allowed to endorse political candidates and retain their tax exempt status?
No. Tax exempt status is one of the benefits churches enjoy as a result of the wall between government and religion. If a church feels compelled to intermix politics in with it's teachings and openly endorses political candidates from the pulpit, they should lose their tax exempt status and pay taxes.
3. Do you think public schools should sponsor school prayer or, as a parent, should this choice be left to me?
Public schools have no business dealing in the realm of religion. Since their funding comes from taxes and the government, the public school should remain neutral on the subject of religion out of respect for all faiths. Prayer may be practiced at any time by any student, but should never be sponsored as a school program where students are coerced into participating.
4. Would you support a law that mandates teaching creationism in my child’s public school science classes?
No. The only thing that should be taught in science class is science. Creationism and intelligent design are concepts that do not adhere to the scientific method and are untestable - they therefore should not be presented as science.
5. Do you think my pharmacist should be allowed to deny me doctor-prescribed medications based on his or her religious beliefs?
No. The pharmacist has a duty to dispense doctor authorized medications to patients - it has no bearing on his personal opinions, beliefs or convictions. If a pharmacist is not able to morally comply with the requirements of the job he should seek some other form of employment.
6. Will you respect the rights of those in our diverse communities of faith who deem same-gender marriage to be consistent with their religious creed?
Absolutely. I happen to believe that sexual orientation is not a choice anymore than your genetics or your nationality are a choice. To allow people the right and dignity to be who they are without discrimination is the right of all humans.
7. Should “faith-based” charities that receive public funds be allowed to discriminate against employees or applicants based on religious beliefs?
This is why public funds given to faith based charities is a bad idea. Tax money should never be used by a business or entity that discriminates against anyone as the tax money is a collective representation of everyone from the community. Churches are free to discriminate along these lines as their money is all freely donated by people of like convictions. Faith based charities may do what they like unless they take government money, then they may not discriminate for any reason.
8. Do you think one's right to disbelieve in God is protected by the same laws that protect someone else's right to believe?
Absolutely. The first amendment protects all people of all faiths, or people of no faith. No one is compelled to believe anything against their will.
9. Do you think everyone’s religious freedom needs to be protected by what Thomas Jefferson called “a wall of separation” between church and state?
Yes. Without the separation between church and state the two entities become entangled and poison each other. Religion takes on the mantle of state power and can coerce people into matters of faith - and the state can take on the pious nature and deception of divine right and lose sight of secular law by pretending to enforce God's law on narrow and subjective interpretations of doctrine.
10. What should guide our policies on public health and medical research: science or religion?
Public health and medical research should be based purely on science and fact. Ehtical and moral questions can be left up to the individual based on their own unique beliefs and code of moral conduct.
If anyone thinks I'm fit for public office and would like to see "TD3k robot-extraordinaire" run in future elections, please leave your comments or e-mail for instructions on sending cash donations to my presidential campaign. Or, better yet, please make sure you vote for your candidate of choice in the primaries and in the general election this November. Vote your conscience and make a difference.
1. Leaders on the religious right often say that America is a “Christian Nation.” Do you agree with this statement?
Absolutely not. There are more Christians than any other religion in this nation, but the nation was not founded on a theocracy or on Christian doctrine.
2. Do you think Houses of Worship should be allowed to endorse political candidates and retain their tax exempt status?
No. Tax exempt status is one of the benefits churches enjoy as a result of the wall between government and religion. If a church feels compelled to intermix politics in with it's teachings and openly endorses political candidates from the pulpit, they should lose their tax exempt status and pay taxes.
3. Do you think public schools should sponsor school prayer or, as a parent, should this choice be left to me?
Public schools have no business dealing in the realm of religion. Since their funding comes from taxes and the government, the public school should remain neutral on the subject of religion out of respect for all faiths. Prayer may be practiced at any time by any student, but should never be sponsored as a school program where students are coerced into participating.
4. Would you support a law that mandates teaching creationism in my child’s public school science classes?
No. The only thing that should be taught in science class is science. Creationism and intelligent design are concepts that do not adhere to the scientific method and are untestable - they therefore should not be presented as science.
5. Do you think my pharmacist should be allowed to deny me doctor-prescribed medications based on his or her religious beliefs?
No. The pharmacist has a duty to dispense doctor authorized medications to patients - it has no bearing on his personal opinions, beliefs or convictions. If a pharmacist is not able to morally comply with the requirements of the job he should seek some other form of employment.
6. Will you respect the rights of those in our diverse communities of faith who deem same-gender marriage to be consistent with their religious creed?
Absolutely. I happen to believe that sexual orientation is not a choice anymore than your genetics or your nationality are a choice. To allow people the right and dignity to be who they are without discrimination is the right of all humans.
7. Should “faith-based” charities that receive public funds be allowed to discriminate against employees or applicants based on religious beliefs?
This is why public funds given to faith based charities is a bad idea. Tax money should never be used by a business or entity that discriminates against anyone as the tax money is a collective representation of everyone from the community. Churches are free to discriminate along these lines as their money is all freely donated by people of like convictions. Faith based charities may do what they like unless they take government money, then they may not discriminate for any reason.
8. Do you think one's right to disbelieve in God is protected by the same laws that protect someone else's right to believe?
Absolutely. The first amendment protects all people of all faiths, or people of no faith. No one is compelled to believe anything against their will.
9. Do you think everyone’s religious freedom needs to be protected by what Thomas Jefferson called “a wall of separation” between church and state?
Yes. Without the separation between church and state the two entities become entangled and poison each other. Religion takes on the mantle of state power and can coerce people into matters of faith - and the state can take on the pious nature and deception of divine right and lose sight of secular law by pretending to enforce God's law on narrow and subjective interpretations of doctrine.
10. What should guide our policies on public health and medical research: science or religion?
Public health and medical research should be based purely on science and fact. Ehtical and moral questions can be left up to the individual based on their own unique beliefs and code of moral conduct.
If anyone thinks I'm fit for public office and would like to see "TD3k robot-extraordinaire" run in future elections, please leave your comments or e-mail for instructions on sending cash donations to my presidential campaign. Or, better yet, please make sure you vote for your candidate of choice in the primaries and in the general election this November. Vote your conscience and make a difference.
Macworld 2008 Recap
19-Jan-08 11:56 PM
This past week, Macworld 2008 was held in San Francisco and Steve Jobs once again unveiled some amazing new devices and gadgets to the cheering crowds and Mac faithful everywhere. There was nothing as revolutionary or as exciting as the iPhone with the possible exception of the new Mac Book Air ultra thin laptop. But even that is probably not as revolutionary as what the iPhone has been to the telecommunications industry. Here is a recap of what was revealed:
Time Capsule: A new 802.11n wireless base station that also sports a hard drive built inside. Comes in two flavors; a 500GB or a 1TB version selling for $299 and $499 respectively. This new device allows a home or office with several Mac users to backup their computers wirelessly via Time Machine to a centralized location without wires. This is especially convenient for laptop users who have had to rely on small portable hard drives and cables to back up their hard drives.
iPhone Software Update: There was no mention of a new 3G capable iPhone as some had predicted, but in it's place was an announcement of an upgrade to the iPhone firmware to version 1.1.3 - a free download for all existing iPhone users and a $20 upgrade option for all iTouch iPod users as it added core new features previously unavailable on the iTouch. The new features include the ability for the iPhone to pinpoint your location and mark it with an indicator on a map by using triangulation of cell phone towers. This feature works amazing well and seems very accurate. The more cell phone towers in your vicinity, the more detail your location will be zoomed in on the map. Also included is the ability to rearrange the icons on the iPhone home page, add new homepages (up to 9) and web clips which are snap shots of web pages that retain their shape and zoom scale so that you can go back to it at anytime with just a single press of an icon. Very cool. Some other smaller features including song lyrics being displayed in iPod mode and an upcoming SDK to third party developers so that the iPhone can be further expanded and developed to run more new apps.
Apple TV Update & iTunes Movie Rentals: It was the year of the free software download. Steve announced a completely new software interface for the Apple TV as a free download for existing customers that will feature true 720p video qulaity and 5.1 Dolby digital surround sound. No new equipment to purchase. Also, the price of the Apple TV has been reduced from $299 to $229 for the 40GB model. In addition, iTunes will begin immediately to offer movie rentals which can be viewed on any computer (Mac or PC), hand helds, iPods, or on Apple TV with content provided from all the major film studio in Hollywood. Pricing is similar to all other movie rental services and content can now be purchased with your remote from the living room couch - no computer required.
(Side Note: I found this somewhat ironic because I distincly remember not so many years past that Steve Jobs didn't think that using a computer to watch movies and videos was a very good idea. He has now come full circle on this one and has obviously changed his mind considerably on this subject. It was also interesting just this past week that when asked to comment on the new Amazon Kindle portable electronic book reader, Steve made the bold proclamation that "nobody reads anymore these days". That seems like a bit of a stretch to me - I know I still enjoy reading. I think the Kindle is a very interesting device but needs some additional design work to make it right. I wonder if Steve will change his mind on the book reader like he did on the Apple TV? How far away are we from an iBook or an iReader?)
Macbook Air: And last but certainly not least was the revelation of the world's thinnest laptop computer ever manufactured measuring a mere .16 inches at it's thinnest to a a very modest .76 inches at it's largest measurement and weighing only 3 pounds. The laptop features a full 13.3 inch LED screen with instant on capabilities and brilliant sharp graphics. There is a full sized back lit keyboard and touch pad with intelligent controls. Comes with 2GB of RAM and a 80GB hard drive, the unit does not include an optical disk drive, but can be added as a peripheral if desired. You can also use a built in software feature that allows the Macbook Air to commandeer the optical drive of any nearby Mac or PC to wirelessly install programs from a CD or DVD; and that is totally cool. Priced at $1,799 Apple is obviously not targeting or promoting this device as an econo-book, but rather as an object of total coolness and desire. How cool is it that this laptop can fit inside an envelope? Dang cool.
If you are sick of your current computer, or have had it up to your eyeballs with Windows, viruses and spyware, and are just generally pissed off with the entire world and can't wait until there is a new President in power, then may I suggest you make the switch to the happy side of the street where everything is in technicolor and in perpetual bloom. Check out the offerings of the Apple team in Cupertino - I think you will like what you see when you see what you like,
If you want to learn more on any of this cool stuff just announced at Macworld 2008, go to www.apple.com for more details. And no, believe it or not, I do not work for Apple.
Time Magazine's Top Gadget of 2007
12-Dec-07 03:26 PM
#1. Apple iPhone
The iPhone changed the way we think about how mobile media devices should look, feel and perform. The design is exceptional inside and out: It's got a slick glass-and-stainless steel case and an elegant touch screen loaded with eye candy. It's an iPod and a 2-megapixel camera. Images and video clips display vertically or horizontally — they reorient themselves depending on how you hold the thing. When the phone detects a wireless network within range — your own home wi-fi set up or somebody else's — it lets you tap once to connect, and then proceed with your Web surfing, Google mapping, emailing and other activities that can otherwise be painfully slow over AT&T's cellular network — the only one, unfortunately, that carries iPhone calls.
See the entire list of top 50 gadgets for 2007 here.
The Leopard Has Landed
03-Nov-07 09:58 AM
This is a rock solid upgrade to OS X Tiger and so far it is living up to expectations. I pre ordered from Apple and I received my copy by 9AM on October 26 - well ahead of the 6PM launch at the Apple stores. A really great way to stay current on technology without standing in line and fighting the crowds - I will remember to do pre order next time as well.
I will write more in depth on the subject of this great OS later - but suffice this post to say that I have upgraded 7 computers to Leopard as of this writing and every one of them went without a hitch. That is not to say that there aren't a few rough edges on this jewel because there certainly is that - and it will take some updates down the road to get everything smoothed out. But, overall - the new features in this release make this cat one powerful beast to have on your side. The new Time Machine is an awesome backup utility and the power of Quick Look and Cover Flow built right into the Finder are enormously powerful and efficient for work.
If you are considering upgrading - or perhaps even switching from a PC - there is no reason to wait any longer.
The Lines Are Blurring...
07-Apr-06 11:08 PM
This week, Apple announced a new product called "Boot Camp" which is specifically designed for their new intel chip Mac computers. The software allows people, who so choose, to install a full version of Windows XP on to their Mac. The individual must provide their own licensed copy of Windows XP as all Boot Camp does is partition the hard drive and sets up a boot up option at start up so that the user can decide to boot into Windows or into OS X. Apple makes it clear that they do not support Windows, nor do they support Boot Camp per se; it is up to the individual user to download the free software and use at their own risk.
I've been thinking about this for awhile and I'll have to admit, in the end it's probably a smart move on the part of Apple. But, for those of us who have used both operating systems extensively, and who have purchased Macs and are already in the OS X family, the only added value I can see to this move is for those people who have to use Windows applications, or who are still weaning themselves away from Windows. The big advantages are that one no longer has to depend on emulation software such as Virtual PC to do their Window's chores. Since Windows XP will reside as a true OS on the hard drive, it should perform just as good as on any other PC. For those who have to work in a Windows environment, or those who are still using Quicken for Windows (because the Mac version of Quicken still sucks), then this will be an added bonus. Windows will never look so good as running an on elegant Mac computer, and probably will never run any better either.
The drawbacks are of course the obvious virus and other security issues that plague Windows, and will invade any computer (including a Mac). Extra diligence will need to be exercised by those who use Boot Camp in order to protect their hardware from possible attacks and destruction rendered possible through Windows viruses and malware. I will be very anxious to see how performance stacks up on games played in Windows on a Mac - should make for some interesting comparisons, especially on the G5's and top of the line Macs.
Where once the two operating systems were divided by chips and software, the two are now going to live side by side on the same machine. Apple has provided this product to fulfill the requests of many customers who have pined for the ability to run Windows on their Macs. The best advantage I can see is the consolidation it offers. But, the real beauty of this offering is that now people (and there are still many who have doubts) can compare the two operating systems side by side, in the same environment, and they can see just how the two systems stack up. This is a welcome comparison for Apple, and an embarrasement for Microsoft. As the lines blur between the two computing entities, my guess is that the Mac owner will still spend the majority of their time in the elegance and sophistication of OS X, and will only venture over into the clunky and dangerous world of Windows when they are forced to. I wonder if they will update the software to work with Vista, if and when it is ever released to the public. LOL. Here is another interesting article on this subject you can find at this link. Now, go ahead - and switch to the best computing system available on the planet with the comfort of knowing that you can still get grimy, greasy, and dirt under your nails in WIndows if you just absolutely have to.
I've been thinking about this for awhile and I'll have to admit, in the end it's probably a smart move on the part of Apple. But, for those of us who have used both operating systems extensively, and who have purchased Macs and are already in the OS X family, the only added value I can see to this move is for those people who have to use Windows applications, or who are still weaning themselves away from Windows. The big advantages are that one no longer has to depend on emulation software such as Virtual PC to do their Window's chores. Since Windows XP will reside as a true OS on the hard drive, it should perform just as good as on any other PC. For those who have to work in a Windows environment, or those who are still using Quicken for Windows (because the Mac version of Quicken still sucks), then this will be an added bonus. Windows will never look so good as running an on elegant Mac computer, and probably will never run any better either.
The drawbacks are of course the obvious virus and other security issues that plague Windows, and will invade any computer (including a Mac). Extra diligence will need to be exercised by those who use Boot Camp in order to protect their hardware from possible attacks and destruction rendered possible through Windows viruses and malware. I will be very anxious to see how performance stacks up on games played in Windows on a Mac - should make for some interesting comparisons, especially on the G5's and top of the line Macs.
Where once the two operating systems were divided by chips and software, the two are now going to live side by side on the same machine. Apple has provided this product to fulfill the requests of many customers who have pined for the ability to run Windows on their Macs. The best advantage I can see is the consolidation it offers. But, the real beauty of this offering is that now people (and there are still many who have doubts) can compare the two operating systems side by side, in the same environment, and they can see just how the two systems stack up. This is a welcome comparison for Apple, and an embarrasement for Microsoft. As the lines blur between the two computing entities, my guess is that the Mac owner will still spend the majority of their time in the elegance and sophistication of OS X, and will only venture over into the clunky and dangerous world of Windows when they are forced to. I wonder if they will update the software to work with Vista, if and when it is ever released to the public. LOL. Here is another interesting article on this subject you can find at this link. Now, go ahead - and switch to the best computing system available on the planet with the comfort of knowing that you can still get grimy, greasy, and dirt under your nails in WIndows if you just absolutely have to.
It's All About Mac
11-Jan-06 08:39 PM
Christmas came about three weeks late for Mac fans and aficianodos this week as Steve Jobs unveiled some sweet new Apple products during his Keynote speech at the 2006 Macworld convention in San Francisco. The biggest news to break from the event was the revelation that Apple is about 6 months ahead of schedule and have released this week their first intel based iMac computers and new MacBook Pro laptop computers, both featuring the new Core Duo Intel processor. Rarely does a company under promise and over deliver on their products, but that's exactly what Jobs and company have done with regard to the major shift to the new Intel processors. In light of this new product release, there are some questions that need answers, namely:
1. How will Apple insure that hackers and other gear heads will not be able to devise a way to run Mac OS X on non Mac computers? Certainly this must be of prime importance to Apple since they are primarily a computer manufacturer.
2. Apples move away from the IBM and Motorala chip to the Intel brand is bittersweet initially. The new iMac and the new Mac Powerbook powered with the Intel chips are already advertised as being 3 to 4 times faster than their G5 and G4 predecessors. So much for the previous arguments by Apple that the Power PC was faster than Intel. The big question here is, how will the new Macs compare in speed with PC Windows machines now that the processor playing field has been somewhat leveled?
3. Will the new Mac computers be capable of installing Microsoft Windows as a secondary OS?
4. Will the move to the Intel chipset increase Apple's market share in PC sales? As of the end of 2005 Apple just surpassed the 4% market share benchmark.
All of these questions and more will probably be answered in the not too distant future. Being a former PC Windows man myself, I have always felt that the Intel chipset ran faster than the Power PC chips. It was rather obvious when running dual platform applications such as ArchiCAD which ran on both Windows and Mac OS X. So, there is no real surprise for me to see the touting of the speed increase with the Intel chip. The one area that I hope will become more obvious to others, especially those who are still firmly entrenched in the Windows world of operating systems, is that the Mac OS X operating system offers a much more stable, elegant, and dependable operating experience than Windows. Of course, this is a matter of personal opinion and not everyone agrees. But if it weren't true, then why is Microsoft modeling it's newest Vista OS to look and feel so much like OS X? It will be interesting to see how the comparisons between the Mac and the PC pan out in the coming months. Will Vista really offer anything new and groundbreaking, or will it merely be catching up to an OS that has already been on the market for almost a year now? And remember, the primary reason that there are more Windows PCs in the market place today than Macs is for the very same reason that there are more Chevy's on the road than Lexus - they are cheaper. That's not a slam; it's purely economics.
1. How will Apple insure that hackers and other gear heads will not be able to devise a way to run Mac OS X on non Mac computers? Certainly this must be of prime importance to Apple since they are primarily a computer manufacturer.
2. Apples move away from the IBM and Motorala chip to the Intel brand is bittersweet initially. The new iMac and the new Mac Powerbook powered with the Intel chips are already advertised as being 3 to 4 times faster than their G5 and G4 predecessors. So much for the previous arguments by Apple that the Power PC was faster than Intel. The big question here is, how will the new Macs compare in speed with PC Windows machines now that the processor playing field has been somewhat leveled?
3. Will the new Mac computers be capable of installing Microsoft Windows as a secondary OS?
4. Will the move to the Intel chipset increase Apple's market share in PC sales? As of the end of 2005 Apple just surpassed the 4% market share benchmark.
All of these questions and more will probably be answered in the not too distant future. Being a former PC Windows man myself, I have always felt that the Intel chipset ran faster than the Power PC chips. It was rather obvious when running dual platform applications such as ArchiCAD which ran on both Windows and Mac OS X. So, there is no real surprise for me to see the touting of the speed increase with the Intel chip. The one area that I hope will become more obvious to others, especially those who are still firmly entrenched in the Windows world of operating systems, is that the Mac OS X operating system offers a much more stable, elegant, and dependable operating experience than Windows. Of course, this is a matter of personal opinion and not everyone agrees. But if it weren't true, then why is Microsoft modeling it's newest Vista OS to look and feel so much like OS X? It will be interesting to see how the comparisons between the Mac and the PC pan out in the coming months. Will Vista really offer anything new and groundbreaking, or will it merely be catching up to an OS that has already been on the market for almost a year now? And remember, the primary reason that there are more Windows PCs in the market place today than Macs is for the very same reason that there are more Chevy's on the road than Lexus - they are cheaper. That's not a slam; it's purely economics.
Reading, Writing, and Surfing? You bet!
18-Aug-05 10:44 PM
It's a sure sign of the times when you read about a school forgoing student text books in lieu of laptop computers. I just read a very interesting story about such a high school in Vail, Arizona that has issued Apple iBooks to the entire student body instead of text books. Read the entire story here. I find this to be interesting to see such a progressive school district following such a technological friendly policy with it's curriculum. As pointed out in the article, there are many reasons why going digital for students simply offer abilities that aren't available with traditional paper textbooks. I should also note that this high school still maintains a traditional library so this is not an experiement to do away with all books and print media. Instead of viewing the computer as a simple tool for a student to use for traditional homework assignments, the school has gone several steps further and has also developed what appears to be a cohesive network of digital assignments and tools available to the student that not only opens the immense referential world of the internet for research, but also assists the school for checking on unscrupulous student activities such as plagarism and copying other student's work; or as we used to call it, "cheating".
I applaud this school for it's innovative approach to education and also for using a Mac instead of a Windows machine. (Hey, you could see that one coming couldn't ya?) I hope this will serve as a model for other school districts to follow for I believe that if America is to maintain it's edge in technology and science, it should be utilizing more innovative and progressive methods for education. Clearly, as the article points out, kids spending time on video games and PC games alone isn't enough. They need to learn the core skills of using production software like Word, Excel, and others; as well as learning how to properly do a Google search on the internet for reference materials. We seem to be in a period now where some school districts are moving in the wrong direction on education, especially as it relates to science education. This of course is the subject of another post and one that I will be writing about in the very near future.
I applaud this school for it's innovative approach to education and also for using a Mac instead of a Windows machine. (Hey, you could see that one coming couldn't ya?) I hope this will serve as a model for other school districts to follow for I believe that if America is to maintain it's edge in technology and science, it should be utilizing more innovative and progressive methods for education. Clearly, as the article points out, kids spending time on video games and PC games alone isn't enough. They need to learn the core skills of using production software like Word, Excel, and others; as well as learning how to properly do a Google search on the internet for reference materials. We seem to be in a period now where some school districts are moving in the wrong direction on education, especially as it relates to science education. This of course is the subject of another post and one that I will be writing about in the very near future.
Here it comes to save the day...
02-Aug-05 11:58 PM
Apple introduces today a product that was long overdue: the multi button mouse for Macs. Dubbed "Mighty Mouse" for new innovative technology Apple is famous for, the overall design of the new mouse maintains the same overall look and feel of the original one button mouse Apple has produced originally.
However, there are some amazing new differences with this new device. Essentially, you get the equivalent of a four button mouse with the same design of a single button device with a top shell design. This new baby utilizes touch sensitive technology that allows you to scroll up or down, left or right without lifting a finger. It also features two side buttons that are force sensitive so that when squeezed allow you to bring up expose or dashboard. The buttons are completely programmable in OS X Tiger, so the choice is up to you. And, while you can use this mouse on a PC running Windows, you won't be able to use the advance programming features available on Macs running Tiger.
Apple has been designing their OS X operating system for quite some time now to utilize the functionality of a multi button pointing device, so it is good to see that they now offer such a device without having to purchase a third party product to utilize those features. I wonder if they'll make a wireless version as well; my guess is that they will. I'll be looking forward to trying one of these out soon and I'll let you know if the mouse is really mighty or just mini.
However, there are some amazing new differences with this new device. Essentially, you get the equivalent of a four button mouse with the same design of a single button device with a top shell design. This new baby utilizes touch sensitive technology that allows you to scroll up or down, left or right without lifting a finger. It also features two side buttons that are force sensitive so that when squeezed allow you to bring up expose or dashboard. The buttons are completely programmable in OS X Tiger, so the choice is up to you. And, while you can use this mouse on a PC running Windows, you won't be able to use the advance programming features available on Macs running Tiger.
Apple has been designing their OS X operating system for quite some time now to utilize the functionality of a multi button pointing device, so it is good to see that they now offer such a device without having to purchase a third party product to utilize those features. I wonder if they'll make a wireless version as well; my guess is that they will. I'll be looking forward to trying one of these out soon and I'll let you know if the mouse is really mighty or just mini.