Rumor's coming out now is iPhone 5 wont be out till after September 24th, but before Christmas.

 

thats weird. idk know about that

 

just checked they already scheduled there spot in the WWDC which means a release somewhere in june just like all the years before

 

I have a MacBook, iPod video, iPad and iPhone 3gs.

 

Coming from one who works in tech support for Wellpoint for a number of years and now for a very successful insurance company, both companies IT strategy was centered around Windows based PCs. The only ones that used Macs were the art and advertising depts and then only for the graphic part of their jobs, everything else was Windows based.

We also did not even support them at all. We had a separate contract with a local Mac support business. It really depends on the overall IT strategy they have in place.

 

Trifecta here:
MINI + Apple Nano 6th gen (on my wrist as we speak) + full Campagnolo equipped road bike

I also own a couple of vintage Macintoshs: SE and a IIcx. I would have a current Mac or 2, but just haven't come up with a good point to switch. Could be soon, however. Working on the wife: bought her a Shuffle as a tease...

From the discussion here, I think we're forgetting the inertia of Windows products. Remember the old saying "No one ever got fired for specifying IBM."? The meaning is that there was little or no risk. It's an easy decision. Often when something is just a little different, you will need ear plugs to keep your sanity over the roar of complaints. Apple products are different in some significant and some very positive ways. But the basic problem is that difference. To assume that Microsoft dominance is based on superiority and Apple's lack of prowess is a bit like revisionist history.

But a little personal history:
My first contact with computers was in engineering college. We punched cards to use on IBM 360 and 370 systems. Although my education and the bulk of my career has been in mechanical engineering, I did various kinds of programming for 6 or 7 years (Fortran, Basic, database languages and discrete event simulation languages). I've used PCs, Macintoshes, Unix workstations, IBM mainframes and IBM and DEC minicomputers (Gawd, that's an old term). The computer work also includes 5 different 2-D CAD packages and 2 3-D CAD packages. Anyway, I say all this to mean that I've been around for a long time and have used lots of different things.

So, what I see is this:
Apple has a business model that requires SIGNIFICANT innovation and product development. That's what drives them; the Cool Factor. They would be loath to do something that wasn't Cool. Microsoft, for better or for worse, doesn't have that. How many times has Microsoft been 2nd to market?

• DOS came after CP/M
• the Newton was the first PDA
• the PalmPC came after the Palm Pilot
• Windows came after the MacOS (although both were preceded by the system developed at the PARC)
• Microsoft couldn't create a significant tablet market until the iPad came along
• the ZUNE came after the iPod
• Windows was PlugnPlay well after the Macintosh

I'm sure there are others, but this is enough to indicate a pattern. The thing is, Apple innovates. They create markets; they expand existing markets. I think it is really unfair to compare them to PC-oriented products as somewhere you have to account for funding that innovation and development. Basically, Apple is not interested in having a commodity type business.

I think a big portion of the reason that Apple "locks" (the term of others, not me) their products is how else can you insure that the user experience with be exactly as you have designed it? This is an important concept to Apple, but I think Microsoft gives up some of that when they allow HP, Dell, etc. to put little tweaks into the operating system. By the way, my last nightmare was attempting to get a LogiTech web cam running on my Dell system. It took 3 calls to support and they kicked it up to their 2nd highest level of experts before it got solved. PlugnSortaPlay...

And this:
iPod Touch vs Zune? The Touch is essentially an iPhone without the phone. Since when did any Zune function as a PDA? Sounds like Apples and Oranges...

One other thing:
AutoCAD is back on the Macintosh platform. And it isn't a neutered version either. As has been suggested, Macintoshes are useless for professional work, beyond artsey endeavors. Evidently AutoDesk doesn't think so...

 

yeah, I lol'd.

 

Hadnt it been for the ipod.. apple would have fallen off the face of the earth completely.

 

but then steve jobs came to play

 

Doubt they would have disappeared completely, though they would definitely have been relagated to the niche market of graphic and audio professionals .

 

http://www.youtube.com/embed/a6bP-47_E0I this is proof that mini is going after apple consumers this looks like a apple/mini commercial

 

AutoDesk disagrees because there is a segment of the population dealing in those types of programs that refuses to work with a PC out of habit (even though the majority of the "power" is there too). Thats just supply and demand working itself out. This isn't a topic worth cracking open again though, as its already been established that there are segments of the corporate world that will use Macs for a few reasons, and also very large segments that would laugh in your face at the notion of putting one on their cherished "corporate network".

As for the iPod Touch being a PDA? /shrug They should have called it something else then. As for me, short of playing music and using a browser on it, I could care less what else it does. Then again, I've never once used a PDA and liked it. I have no use for one, never have. I also keep reading that its anything but an iPhone without the phone. Apparently it is sorely lacking in a few areas, none of which I remember off the top of my head -- because I loathe mobile devices, lol (one of them was the .7 MP camera for instance).

 

well mobile devices are taking over.. most of the books stores around me are closing down cause of the ebooks now

 

Thats a great video!

 

Its not things like that which bother me. You're definitely too young to remember, but there was a time when everyone wasn't instantly available and expected to be so via a mobile phone. If I were driving around and wanted to make a phone call, I pulled over and used a pay phone -- or I waited until I got home. Nowadays every a-hole drives around with a phone attached to their head (which is not only annoying, but unsafe). If I called someone and they weren't home, I called back later. Everyone wasn't sitting around being rude to others clicking away sending text messages during dinner or while visiting with others (SO annoying). If I wanted to see a friend I drove to his/her house and knocked on the door. If they weren't home, I left.

But I digress, I guess I finally have gotten "old"... because IMHO the world was better off before. It was friendlier for sure... no "internet tough guys" existed who disrespected strangers constantly. /Rant off ... but I know many of you over 30 know what I'm talking about.

 

Speak of the devil, the UPS guy just dropped off the new 32gb iPod Touch. This marks the first ever Apple product I've purchased -- err acquired, since I'm writing this thing off against the business, lol.

My first impression is its REALLY shiny! I'm glad I got the silicone gel case as I don't see how you could ever keep this thing from looking like hell with the chrome back on it. I'll post some impressions later maybe, coming from a hardcore Apple-avoider.

 

Yes please do share you thoughts

 

yeah I saw this on facebook the other day, I did hear some sound effects from imovie during the video which is really weird.

 

Well, for starters... granted I haven't played with this thing THAT much, I will actually.... post 1 positive comment.

Aside from the fact that I had to HACK THE REGISTRY to get iTunes installed on a relatively new install of Windows 7 64-bit Ultimate ()...

I like one thing so far. My music collection is about 100gb, so too big to fit onto most devices in its entirety... so I setup iTunes/iPod to sync selectively, and the interface to do that in iTunes is VERY NICE compared to the Zune software. It is far easier to manage what I want on the device, and what I do not. Now, whether the device actually can play said music to my satisfaction, I'm not sure. I'll post back again when I've had a chance to do more with this thing.

And heres one complaint: The music on iTunes is a rip-off. It is anywhere from 10-30% more expensive than Amazon MP3.

 

yes I know its like pulling teeth for you to give a good comment on a apple product, but I think you will find its not as bad as you thought.

 

Here is a piece of info that might help someone:

My 4th gen iPod Touch DOES WORK with my 2011 HK sound system with the bluetooth/ipod cable option.

 

What would you expect? That the new guy is going to start up with higher prices than the competition? Let's see if they stay at those prices...

 

I've been buying from Amazon MP3 for around 3 years since it opened in January of 08... and the prices have always been the same. They are hardly "new" anymore. But maybe you're right (if so, they are taking their sweet time in raising prices), but personally, I think iTunes is simply charging the "apple premium".

 

No, doesn't jive with the talk here about only "artists and musicians". CAD programs are used by engineers and designers, not by artists and musicians. I've been using CAD programs since the early 80's. I've never run across an engineer or designer that refused to work on a PC or even mentioned it in jest. I have no idea where you are getting your information from. AutoDesk, like any other business, would not invest the money to port the software if they didn't see a substantial market. Simple as that.

Yes, and these are the same folks that didn't want PCs cluttering up their networks. The workforce drove that, much like iPads and iPhones have done in recent times. Sorry, IT is often the barnacle on +++ of progress.

The fact that you don't like PDAs is your issue. Since you had not used a Touch before, that's like applying your prejudice sight unseen to a different product. Could be hard to make a fair assessment. Still think the Zune is the equivalent of the Touch?

 

Ok man, whatever. I've said my piece on the first 2 items. Theres nothing to add to the discussion. I speak from what I've seen for nearly 20 years in the IT field. My opinion is my own, and so is yours.

As to your last question? Yeah, for me, the Touch looks like a Zune equivalent based on features *I* care about. Clearly you're an Apple fan, lol. So far I'd label it as "neat". If buying solely for personal reasons would I buy another Apple product? Unlikely.