Re: [CGUYS] Apple's iPad: Death knell for traditional Ma cintos h computers?
News meaning *another* rumor. On Wed, Jun 30, 2010 at 12:38 PM, tjpa wrote: > Now that the news is out about Verizon we can hopefully see a price war. > > > On Jun 30, 2010, at 2:31 PM, mike wrote: > >> While my friends iPhone was killer, he cringed a little when I told him I >> get more >> minutes, more texts and more data for 40 dollars less a month. >> > > > *** > ** THIS LIST HAS MOVED TO YAHOO** > ** PLEASE JOIN THE DISCUSSION THERE ** > ** Info at http://www.cguys.org/ ** > *** > *** ** THIS LIST HAS MOVED TO YAHOO** ** PLEASE JOIN THE DISCUSSION THERE ** ** Info at http://www.cguys.org/ ** ***
Re: [CGUYS] Apple's iPad: Death knell for traditional Ma cintos h computers?
Now that the news is out about Verizon we can hopefully see a price war. On Jun 30, 2010, at 2:31 PM, mike wrote: While my friends iPhone was killer, he cringed a little when I told him I get more minutes, more texts and more data for 40 dollars less a month. *** ** THIS LIST HAS MOVED TO YAHOO** ** PLEASE JOIN THE DISCUSSION THERE ** ** Info at http://www.cguys.org/ ** ***
Re: [CGUYS] Apple's iPad: Death knell for traditional Ma cintos h computers?
Location services are getting huge, even in small use spaces. Using our phones when I was at the mall to pick up that iPhone 4, we used different location services offered by our phones to test how accurate they could be, instead of calling and asking 'hey where are you? I'm in front of the Cinnabon salivating..' just look for the little blue dot. There you are. Google is offering services so when you arrive in a city it tells you which friends are close, what they may be doing via facebook or foursquare, their recent tweets etc etc. Google Android is going in a different direction than iPhone, it's about taking all these different lanes of information and collating them into one usable line of information to the user. Rumor is they are about to take on the 500 million user strong Facebook with their own product (no it's not orkut). A user base that grows at 150,000 per day, that is the recent news about activations per day of google handsets, is a big audience. For those counting...3 million ipads in 3 months, 1 million per month, google is selling over 4 million per month and growing. While my friends iPhone was killer, he cringed a little when I told him I get more minutes, more texts and more data for 40 dollars less a month. On Wed, Jun 30, 2010 at 10:08 AM, tjpa wrote: > You are putting a negative spin on it. Geolocation is hot and has many > applications. Telling someone that they will never be lost or bewildered in > an unfamiliar neighborhood is a fantastic selling point. It is a very > positive benefit. I have read several stories about people using their smart > phones to get quick medical help. The same app that finds you pizza can also > find you a physician. > > > On Jun 30, 2010, at 11:39 AM, Constance Warner wrote: > >> But much of the marketing for smartphones concerns just such convenience >> issues as picking a restaurant (or a store, or some other way of consuming); >> so this isn't my idea. In nearly all the commercials I've seen, >> convenience and consumption are the main selling points of smartphones and >> portable smart devices. >> > > > * > ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** > ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** > * > * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Apple's iPad: Death knell for traditional Ma cintos h computers?
On Wed, Jun 30, 2010 at 1:42 PM, tjpa wrote: > I guess some folks would just rather wallow in misery. > > You may go ahead an buy the sad-sack phone. The one with no ringer because > nobody ever calls you and no keyboard because you have nobody to write to. My cell phone ringer rarely sounds because the phone is almost always turned off. I get a bit of grief about this, but only from my daughter who thinks that cell phones should be part of the human anatomy. My cell phone is for me to use and take control over, not others. If I write to folks, I'll do e-mail from my computer or take up pen and paper. I can send text messages, completely free, by way of my computer if I desire to do that. I do make calls from my cell phone because I have the most limited of phone services on my landline, with no long distance, only local calls in my immediate area, and emergency services calls or toll-free numbers. Other calls I make from the cell phone, which is a pay-as-you-go. This scheme saves me a bunch of money that I can use to buy beer as opposed to giving it away to wealthy corporations. I call it being practical, you call it wallowing in misery. We disagree on the outcome of my decision. However, since I am the only one of us who really knows how I feel, let me assure you that I am not in any misery over this. Also, If i really need someone to write to, there is always yourself, and I know that I will typically receive a, shall I say, vibrant reply. Steve * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Apple's iPad: Death knell for traditional Ma cintos h computers?
That is pretty much the mantra of advertising until it comes to Politics and there we get nothing but the ugly. Stewart At 12:01 PM 6/30/2010, you wrote: Well put. Conspicuous and consumptive consumerism is most definitely a key component of almost all advertising for cell phones, smart ones or otherwise, along with constant unbridled joy. Part of the advertising imagery is that having such devices will apparently help to make one rich as well as popular, providing the funding necessary to be able to routinely eat out, go to the theater, take in the show, just generally always having fun with a happy smile upon your face. Never will you see an ad where a cell phone is delivering any bad news. All cell phone calls generate happiness and abundant joy. Not at all as in real life. No bill collectors there or anyone pleading, "Help me. I've fallen and I can't get up." But, hey, it's marketing at its best...or worst. Countless folks actually buy into it, living out huge portions of their daily lives on personal cell phones, spending hours a day gaping at or talking into a box in their hand, and that thing appears to be the most important aspect of their existence. These are also the folks that the cell phone industry depend upon the most, the junkies. Steve * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Apple's iPad: Death knell for traditional Ma cintos h computers?
On Jun 30, 2010, at 1:01 PM, phartz...@gmail.com wrote: But, hey, it's marketing at its best...or worst. I guess some folks would just rather wallow in misery. You may go ahead an buy the sad-sack phone. The one with no ringer because nobody ever calls you and no keyboard because you have nobody to write to. Cue the violins... * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Apple's iPad: Death knell for traditional Ma cintos h computers?
You are putting a negative spin on it. Geolocation is hot and has many applications. Telling someone that they will never be lost or bewildered in an unfamiliar neighborhood is a fantastic selling point. It is a very positive benefit. I have read several stories about people using their smart phones to get quick medical help. The same app that finds you pizza can also find you a physician. On Jun 30, 2010, at 11:39 AM, Constance Warner wrote: But much of the marketing for smartphones concerns just such convenience issues as picking a restaurant (or a store, or some other way of consuming); so this isn't my idea. In nearly all the commercials I've seen, convenience and consumption are the main selling points of smartphones and portable smart devices. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Apple's iPad: Death knell for traditional Ma cintos h computers?
On Wed, Jun 30, 2010 at 11:39 AM, Constance Warner wrote: > But much of the marketing for smartphones concerns just such convenience > issues as picking a restaurant (or a store, or some other way of consuming); > so this isn't my idea. In nearly all the commercials I've seen, > convenience and consumption are the main selling points of smartphones and > portable smart devices. There's an app, we are told, for all sorts of > ephemeral stuff; but I haven't yet heard of an app to target the company > that's most likely to get you a job, or the app to tell you which hospital > has the best outcomes and lowest infection rates, when you have to undergo > some kind of medical procedure. Maybe really useful apps like these exist, > but they aren't in the commercials. Well put. Conspicuous and consumptive consumerism is most definitely a key component of almost all advertising for cell phones, smart ones or otherwise, along with constant unbridled joy. Part of the advertising imagery is that having such devices will apparently help to make one rich as well as popular, providing the funding necessary to be able to routinely eat out, go to the theater, take in the show, just generally always having fun with a happy smile upon your face. Never will you see an ad where a cell phone is delivering any bad news. All cell phone calls generate happiness and abundant joy. Not at all as in real life. No bill collectors there or anyone pleading, "Help me. I've fallen and I can't get up." But, hey, it's marketing at its best...or worst. Countless folks actually buy into it, living out huge portions of their daily lives on personal cell phones, spending hours a day gaping at or talking into a box in their hand, and that thing appears to be the most important aspect of their existence. These are also the folks that the cell phone industry depend upon the most, the junkies. Steve * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Apple's iPad: Death knell for traditional Ma cintos h computers?
But much of the marketing for smartphones concerns just such convenience issues as picking a restaurant (or a store, or some other way of consuming); so this isn't my idea. In nearly all the commercials I've seen, convenience and consumption are the main selling points of smartphones and portable smart devices. There's an app, we are told, for all sorts of ephemeral stuff; but I haven't yet heard of an app to target the company that's most likely to get you a job, or the app to tell you which hospital has the best outcomes and lowest infection rates, when you have to undergo some kind of medical procedure. Maybe really useful apps like these exist, but they aren't in the commercials. And as far as meals in Georgetown restaurants: my point was that some of us can afford neither the phone nor the restaurants. I agree, I would give up the meals to get the phone, but right now that isn't an option. --Constance On Jun 30, 2010, at 11:07 AM, tjpa wrote: You are mixing up your own finances with the objective value of a new technology. I would gladly trade a few meals at an Georgetown Italian restaurant to pay for my iPad. And I use it for much more serious purposes than picking a restaurant. On Jun 30, 2010, at 2:38 AM, Constance Warner wrote: Sure, it would be convenient to walk through Georgetown, looking on your iPhone for the nearest Italian restaurant (or Japanese, or Ethiopian, or whatever), and you'd look really cool doing it. But lots of us just can't afford iPhones--or Georgetown restaurants, either. ** *** ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http:// www.cguys.org/ ** ** *** * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Apple's iPad: Death knell for traditional Ma cintos h computers?
You are mixing up your own finances with the objective value of a new technology. I would gladly trade a few meals at an Georgetown Italian restaurant to pay for my iPad. And I use it for much more serious purposes than picking a restaurant. On Jun 30, 2010, at 2:38 AM, Constance Warner wrote: Sure, it would be convenient to walk through Georgetown, looking on your iPhone for the nearest Italian restaurant (or Japanese, or Ethiopian, or whatever), and you'd look really cool doing it. But lots of us just can't afford iPhones--or Georgetown restaurants, either. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Apple's iPad: Death knell for traditional Ma cintos h computers?
Maybe it is a cost-plus contract? On Jun 30, 2010, at 9:50 AM, Chris Dunford wrote: Having to flip back & forth while coding is distracting & terribly inefficient. In the long run, this company would probably save money with bigger/multiple screens. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Apple's iPad: Death knell for traditional Ma cintos h computers?
I keep getting faster with the iPad's virtual keyboard. I have noticed that it is far better than the one on the iPhone. Whenever I run an iPhone app on my iPad (even at the 2x setting) I see that the iPhone's keyboard is too small and has an awkward arrangement of keys. The iPad's keyboard even changes to meet my needs. For example when I am in a field that requires a URL it adds a key for ".com" and that key has a pop up for ".org" and ".gov." I have typed fairly long emails with the iPad, it was fine. I have used to make online purchases, it was fine. I have used it to outline a speech using a free outliner app, it was fine. And the screen is not itty bitty. It is just right for the job. iPhone screen is itty bitty, not iPad. On Jun 30, 2010, at 2:38 AM, Constance Warner wrote: At the present day, I just don't see itty-bitty machines with itty- bitty screens taking the place of laptops or desktops for serious work, either in the home or the office. Want to type a letter or a report on your iPad? How about several letters, a report, an RFP, an order for office supplies, an outline for a speech, etc., that you might work on in one day in an office job? * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Apple's iPad: Death knell for traditional Ma cintos h computers?
I don't think it is that easy to make that judgement. Just 10 years ago the 17" CRT monitor was considered a luxury. In those days all coders and programmers sufficed on 15 monitors that had flicker problems and such. The 15" laptop (really 15.4) is actually a little larger than the monitors we used in those days. Really I started off on a 14" monochrome display. Just how large a monitor do we need? Just how many monitors do we need? Does the corporation need to pay for a multiple monitor setup where one would suffice, just because the employee wants the latest and greatest? There has to be a balancing act here that looks at the job and needs of the job, besides what the employee wishes for. I just got a 22" flat panel for my office to replace my 17" CRT. I was happy to get it, as it cost just a shade more than the 19" CRT I bought a few years ago that was a refurb. Stewart At 09:13 AM 6/30/2010, you wrote: Well, a fifteen-inch laptop is still a far cry from an iPad--let alone an orignal Mac (or an Osborn). I'm sorry your brother and his co-workers have to use a 15-inch laptop to code on all day; but here, we're getting into the issue of workers versus corporations, rather than consumer choice (of iPads and smartphones versus computers). And iPhones may be cool, but they're still much too expensive for a lot of people. The mere fact that an iPhone does a lot of stuff does not give me (or anybody else) the money to buy one, or the wherewithal to pay the telephone bill. This is serious money, folks; and for something that can't do a lot of everyday functions, like writing a book report or typing a letter. It's really about how many people can afford a luxury item, like a smartphone or an iPad. For a lot of us, the money just isn't there; and if it were, we would probably spend it on a more useful device, like a computer of some kind. Or even on food and rent. --Constance Rev. Stewart A. Marshall mailto:popoz...@earthlink.net Prince of Peace www.princeofpeaceozark.org Ozark, AL SL 82 * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Apple's iPad: Death knell for traditional Ma cintos h computers?
On Wed, Jun 30, 2010 at 10:14 AM, tjpa wrote: > I think you are missing one aspect: Windows PCs will be disappearing at a > more rapid rate than Macs. The majority of Windows PCs are used for > low-level tasks that are better served by something in the iPad category. Agreed. > Also noteworthy is that M$ was again caught flat footed. They do not have an > operating system for this new category of computer. Apple is in the lead > with Google not far behind. In third place we may have HP -- if they are > smart -- and HP's recent purchase of Palm suggests that they are. It also > looks like RIM won't be making the transition. I see that Cisco is about ready to put out their, what is it, "Cius" tablet for business use? Steve * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Apple's iPad: Death knell for traditional Ma cintos h computers?
On Wed, Jun 30, 2010 at 10:13 AM, Constance Warner wrote: > Well, a fifteen-inch laptop is still a far cry from an iPad--let alone an > orignal Mac (or an Osborn). I'm sorry your brother and his co-workers have > to use a 15-inch laptop to code on all day; but here, we're getting into the > issue of workers versus corporations, rather than consumer choice (of iPads > and smartphones versus computers). > > And iPhones may be cool, but they're still much too expensive for a lot of > people. The mere fact that an iPhone does a lot of stuff does not give me > (or anybody else) the money to buy one, or the wherewithal to pay the > telephone bill. This is serious money, folks; and for something that can't > do a lot of everyday functions, like writing a book report or typing a > letter. It's really about how many people can afford a luxury item, like a > smartphone or an iPad. For a lot of us, the money just isn't there; and if > it were, we would probably spend it on a more useful device, like a computer > of some kind. Or even on food and rent. Very salient points, Constance. Steve * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Apple's iPad: Death knell for traditional Ma cintos h computers?
On Wed, Jun 30, 2010 at 9:37 AM, mike wrote: > I hear some developers on various podcasts who have outfitted their cubicles > with dual or even triple 21 to 27" screens, this seems the ideal set up for > this kind of all day long pounding at the keyboard for intense work...15 > inch laptop for writing code? Torture. Torture? Yes indeed. The modern day sweatshop, right here in the USA. The reason for requiring such small computers is efficient use of available workspace along with lower equipment expense. Dell would probably like to sell bigger laptops, but the company is not going to buy them. The larger the computer, that being the tool of the trade, the larger the workspace, or cubicle, needs to be. That would mean fewer workers per square foot of office space which would equal higher cost. The bean counters and efficiency experts rule. This is always spun as resulting in greater "worker productivity." What if the worker wants to gripe about things? They probably won't because there is always somebody else, perhaps even in India, who would be eager to take their job if they don't like it. A few months ago, Wired Magazine did a piece on these modern day digital sweatshops with smallish inexpensive computers and 60 plus hour-a-week jobs and how prevalent these are becoming. Steve * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Apple's iPad: Death knell for traditional Ma cintos h computers?
I think you are missing one aspect: Windows PCs will be disappearing at a more rapid rate than Macs. The majority of Windows PCs are used for low-level tasks that are better served by something in the iPad category. Also noteworthy is that M$ was again caught flat footed. They do not have an operating system for this new category of computer. Apple is in the lead with Google not far behind. In third place we may have HP -- if they are smart -- and HP's recent purchase of Palm suggests that they are. It also looks like RIM won't be making the transition. On Jun 30, 2010, at 12:38 AM, phartz...@gmail.com wrote: I agree that a lot of computer work needs a full blown machine. However, it could well be that Macs will eventually be mostly relegated to professional level work environments and that such things as the iMac and the larger MacBook portables will slowly disappear from home and casual usage settings. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Apple's iPad: Death knell for traditional Ma cintos h computers?
Well, a fifteen-inch laptop is still a far cry from an iPad--let alone an orignal Mac (or an Osborn). I'm sorry your brother and his co-workers have to use a 15-inch laptop to code on all day; but here, we're getting into the issue of workers versus corporations, rather than consumer choice (of iPads and smartphones versus computers). And iPhones may be cool, but they're still much too expensive for a lot of people. The mere fact that an iPhone does a lot of stuff does not give me (or anybody else) the money to buy one, or the wherewithal to pay the telephone bill. This is serious money, folks; and for something that can't do a lot of everyday functions, like writing a book report or typing a letter. It's really about how many people can afford a luxury item, like a smartphone or an iPad. For a lot of us, the money just isn't there; and if it were, we would probably spend it on a more useful device, like a computer of some kind. Or even on food and rent. --Constance On Jun 30, 2010, at 9:09 AM, phartz...@gmail.com wrote: On Wed, Jun 30, 2010 at 2:38 AM, Constance Warner wrote: At the present day, I just don't see itty-bitty machines with itty- bitty screens taking the place of laptops or desktops for serious work, either in the home or the office. My brother works for a large, worldwide IT firm that does a lot of work for governments. He codes all day long, working on databases. No one who does this work in their little cubicles is allowed anything other than a laptop fitted with nothing bigger than a 15 inch screen. No external keyboard either. This is worker punishment, and my brother feels the exhaustion by the end of every work day. Sure, kids like smartphones, and those iPads are just so cute; but they're just not convenient to work on. And consider this: a lot of us don't have unlimited funds any more--in fact some of us are rather short on funds, thanks to the Great Recession. This means we have to choose carefully which computer-type devices we buy and maintain. It is not just kids who are gravitating to ever tinier devices that they use to do their computing. I kniow of a number of adults, over 45 who have almost abandoned their traditional computers in favor of using an iPhone or something similar for just about everything. What does that tell me? The tells me that they were never doing anything "serious" with their desktop or laptop computer to begin with. Their traditional computer was overwhelming and confusing and confounding them to begin with. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard people say that they no interest whatsoever about how computers work and they also do not care. All they want to do is be able to do a little click here or a little click there to get something done. Steve ** *** ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http:// www.cguys.org/ ** ** *** * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Apple's iPad: Death knell for traditional Ma cintos h computers?
> 15 inch laptop for writing code? Torture. It's not just torture, it's inefficient, expensive torture. Developers are *constantly* referring to documentation, code samples, bits of other projects, and a million other things. Having to flip back & forth while coding is distracting & terribly inefficient. In the long run, this company would probably save money with bigger/multiple screens. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Apple's iPad: Death knell for traditional Ma cintos h computers?
I hear some developers on various podcasts who have outfitted their cubicles with dual or even triple 21 to 27" screens, this seems the ideal set up for this kind of all day long pounding at the keyboard for intense work...15 inch laptop for writing code? Torture. On Wed, Jun 30, 2010 at 6:09 AM, phartz...@gmail.com wrote: > On Wed, Jun 30, 2010 at 2:38 AM, Constance Warner > wrote: > > > At the present day, I just don't see itty-bitty machines with itty-bitty > > screens taking the place of laptops or desktops for serious work, either > in > > the home or the office. > > My brother works for a large, worldwide IT firm that does a lot of > work for governments. He codes all day long, working on databases. > No one who does this work in their little cubicles is allowed anything > other than a laptop fitted with nothing bigger than a 15 inch screen. > No external keyboard either. This is worker punishment, and my > brother feels the exhaustion by the end of every work day. > > > > Sure, kids like smartphones, and those iPads are just so cute; but > they're > > just not convenient to work on. And consider this: a lot of us don't > have > > unlimited funds any more--in fact some of us are rather short on funds, > > thanks to the Great Recession. This means we have to choose carefully > which > > computer-type devices we buy and maintain. > > It is not just kids who are gravitating to ever tinier devices that > they use to do their computing. I kniow of a number of adults, over > 45 who have almost abandoned their traditional computers in favor of > using an iPhone or something similar for just about everything. What > does that tell me? The tells me that they were never doing anything > "serious" with their desktop or laptop computer to begin with. Their > traditional computer was overwhelming and confusing and confounding > them to begin with. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard > people say that they no interest whatsoever about how computers work > and they also do not care. All they want to do is be able to do a > little click here or a little click there to get something done. > > Steve > > > * > ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** > ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** > * > * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Apple's iPad: Death knell for traditional Ma cintos h computers?
On Wed, Jun 30, 2010 at 2:38 AM, Constance Warner wrote: > At the present day, I just don't see itty-bitty machines with itty-bitty > screens taking the place of laptops or desktops for serious work, either in > the home or the office. My brother works for a large, worldwide IT firm that does a lot of work for governments. He codes all day long, working on databases. No one who does this work in their little cubicles is allowed anything other than a laptop fitted with nothing bigger than a 15 inch screen. No external keyboard either. This is worker punishment, and my brother feels the exhaustion by the end of every work day. > Sure, kids like smartphones, and those iPads are just so cute; but they're > just not convenient to work on. And consider this: a lot of us don't have > unlimited funds any more--in fact some of us are rather short on funds, > thanks to the Great Recession. This means we have to choose carefully which > computer-type devices we buy and maintain. It is not just kids who are gravitating to ever tinier devices that they use to do their computing. I kniow of a number of adults, over 45 who have almost abandoned their traditional computers in favor of using an iPhone or something similar for just about everything. What does that tell me? The tells me that they were never doing anything "serious" with their desktop or laptop computer to begin with. Their traditional computer was overwhelming and confusing and confounding them to begin with. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard people say that they no interest whatsoever about how computers work and they also do not care. All they want to do is be able to do a little click here or a little click there to get something done. Steve * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Apple's iPad: Death knell for traditional Ma cintos h computers?
Remember the itty-bitty screens on the early home computers? The small screens were a pain; fortunately, thanks to advances in computer technology, the screens got larger pretty fast. In my first temp job in the Washington area, I worked on one of the original Macs. It was better than a Commodore or my own Kaypro, largely because of the O.S. and the user interface, but the tiny screen made it decidedly awkward to use. At the present day, I just don't see itty-bitty machines with itty- bitty screens taking the place of laptops or desktops for serious work, either in the home or the office. Want to type a letter or a report on your iPad? How about several letters, a report, an RFP, an order for office supplies, an outline for a speech, etc., that you might work on in one day in an office job? How about your kid's physics homework, a book report, a history paper, a paper for English class? There aren't many jobs where you don't have to use computers in one way or another, and I just don't see the average middle school or high school student getting by without a real computer, either. The small screens and awkward keyboards on the smaller devices mean that they can't compete with regular computers for lots of important everyday functions. Sure, kids like smartphones, and those iPads are just so cute; but they're just not convenient to work on. And consider this: a lot of us don't have unlimited funds any more--in fact some of us are rather short on funds, thanks to the Great Recession. This means we have to choose carefully which computer-type devices we buy and maintain. Most of us HAVE to have a computer of some kind, unless we actually WANT to wait in line at the public library when we need to use one. But we DON'T have to have an iPad or a smart phone. They're nice, of course, but not yet required; there's nothing they can do that we MUST do, that isn't already covered by something else. Sure, it would be convenient to walk through Georgetown, looking on your iPhone for the nearest Italian restaurant (or Japanese, or Ethiopian, or whatever), and you'd look really cool doing it. But lots of us just can't afford iPhones--or Georgetown restaurants, either. --Constance Warner On Jun 30, 2010, at 12:38 AM, phartz...@gmail.com wrote: On Tue, Jun 29, 2010 at 11:04 PM, Chris Dunford wrote: The Mac as we know it-a full featured personal computer-is slowly going away, to be replaced by ever more mobile and increasingly capable devices. This might very well happen for a lot of casual uses, so I don't disagree with the notion that iPad could cannibalize some portion of Mac sales. But these various little things aren't going to replace real computers for doing real work any time soon. It's not so much the capabilities as the physical interface. I am NOT going to spend all day every day squinting at a tiny screen and typing on a tiny fake keyboard. I can't see many office workers wanting to work that way, either. I agree that a lot of computer work needs a full blown machine. However, it could well be that Macs will eventually be mostly relegated to professional level work environments and that such things as the iMac and the larger MacBook portables will slowly disappear from home and casual usage settings. Mac Pro machines, the quad and eight core computers could continue, but Apple's "consumer" computers may well be discontinued or become morphed into iOS based devices with portability in mind. Simple computers running mostly simple applications for users who just want to keep it simple. Apple could become primarily the purveyor of computing devices for the masses who mostly just want to do Facebook, e-mail, Twitter, some browsing, looking at photos and videos and making a lot of phone calls. As to tiny or small screens, that appears to me to be no barrier at all to the younger computer users of today. These folks appear to relish watching movies or viewing photos on 2 inch screens or browsing the internet with cell phones or typing on keyboards that have keys the size of a Tic-Tac. Steve ** *** ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http:// www.cguys.org/ ** ** *** * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Apple's iPad: Death knell for traditional Ma cintos h computers?
On Tue, Jun 29, 2010 at 11:04 PM, Chris Dunford wrote: >> The Mac as we know it-a full featured personal computer-is slowly >> going away, to be replaced by ever more mobile and increasingly >> capable devices. > > This might very well happen for a lot of casual uses, so I don't disagree > with the notion that iPad could cannibalize some portion of Mac sales. But > these various little things aren't going to replace > real computers for doing real work any time soon. It's not so much the > capabilities as the physical interface. I am NOT going to spend all day every > day squinting at a tiny screen and typing on a tiny > fake keyboard. I can't see many office workers wanting to work that way, > either. I agree that a lot of computer work needs a full blown machine. However, it could well be that Macs will eventually be mostly relegated to professional level work environments and that such things as the iMac and the larger MacBook portables will slowly disappear from home and casual usage settings. Mac Pro machines, the quad and eight core computers could continue, but Apple's "consumer" computers may well be discontinued or become morphed into iOS based devices with portability in mind. Simple computers running mostly simple applications for users who just want to keep it simple. Apple could become primarily the purveyor of computing devices for the masses who mostly just want to do Facebook, e-mail, Twitter, some browsing, looking at photos and videos and making a lot of phone calls. As to tiny or small screens, that appears to me to be no barrier at all to the younger computer users of today. These folks appear to relish watching movies or viewing photos on 2 inch screens or browsing the internet with cell phones or typing on keyboards that have keys the size of a Tic-Tac. Steve * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Apple's iPad: Death knell for traditional Ma cintos h computers?
> How do I know this? Experience. The trend is unmistakable. Computer > usage by the masses is going mobile. > > The Mac as we know it-a full featured personal computer-is slowly > going away, to be replaced by ever more mobile and increasingly > capable devices. This might very well happen for a lot of casual uses, so I don't disagree with the notion that iPad could cannibalize some portion of Mac sales. But these various little things aren't going to replace real computers for doing real work any time soon. It's not so much the capabilities as the physical interface. I am NOT going to spend all day every day squinting at a tiny screen and typing on a tiny fake keyboard. I can't see many office workers wanting to work that way, either. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *