Forums | MacLife

NAG · 2008-05-21 10:14 am

sturner wrote:
NAG wrote:
It is stupid to dismiss the mainframe method just as it is stupid to dismiss the everyone uses a full powered computer method. Using examples of companies who did a sucky job is also a bad example. I can haul out any number of companies that make really crappy pcs that nuke your data.

Do I think mainframes will save humanity? No. But I think ignoring the advantages they have for mobile applications is equally as silly.
I had to work off of a mainframe using a dumb terminal once. It took me 2 days to do what I could have done on a standalone computer in 2 hours.

Mainframes are nice for certain jobs, not distributed computing of vast numbers of clients.

Is that a standalone computer in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

ukimalefu · 2008-05-21 10:35 am

It's obvious people can't stop fixing Apple.

sturner · 2008-05-21 10:54 am

Gee, no matter how I answer that question I'm pretty well screwed!

ScifiterX · 2008-05-21 10:59 am

I hate the dumb terminal system and feel it has few redeeming attributes. A smart terminal system is more preferable IMO. It provides many of the benefits of both distributed and fully encapsulated systems. Things like Back to my Mac, AppleTV, iPhone are more representative of a smart terminal system than a dumb terminal. However as dv pointed out there are limits even there.

NAG · 2008-05-21 11:10 am

ScifiterX wrote:
I hate the dumb terminal system and feel it has few redeeming attributes. A smart terminal system is more preferable IMO. It provides many of the benefits of both distributed and fully encapsulated systems. Things like Back to my Mac, AppleTV, iPhone are more representative of a smart terminal system than a dumb terminal. However as dv pointed out there are limits even there.

Exactly, I don't think the system used by the iPhone and the iPod are good for lots of things. But for many things that people are buying sub $1k computers this system would work fine if not better due to the increased portability. I don't think Apple is going to kill off the mac line for cloud computing, but I do think the iPod/iPhone is going to be Apple's answer to it.

thumbprint · 2008-05-21 11:12 am

I just hope that more companies like Psystar take off with the low cost Mac idea.

I love OS X (software)... but Mac's (hardware) aren't Ferraris, folks. They're just computers.

user · 2008-05-21 12:18 pm

I just bought a $680 notebook.

A Vaio.....

sturner · 2008-05-21 1:44 pm

And you are running Windows Vista, Home Edition a $280 OS. If you got the Pro/Business version you have a $380 OS. I'm not completely impressed at the OS to hardware cost ratio.

Bat · 2008-05-21 1:52 pm

Of course, OEMs don't pay even close to retail $ for licenses.

sturner · 2008-05-21 1:55 pm

No they don't. Doesn't change the fact that the cost is overblown, or that the OS is questionable in several catagories.

Bat · 2008-05-21 2:03 pm

Yeah, Vista retail pricing is just nuts. Don't know what they're smoking in Redmond, except I want some.

user · 2008-05-21 3:08 pm

Vista Home PREMIUM

:: muffles laughter ::

user · 2008-05-21 3:11 pm

So far it's not a bad lappy, I just wanted a portable for my trading business and don't want the distractions of being able to do anything else on it (like graphics apps).

It was on sale at that price. Normally it's closer to $800.

Looks like I'll have to get an Airport Extreme Base Station to replace my old Netgear wireless b router. Vista doesn't support WEP.

Last edited by user (2008-05-21 3:12 pm)

Pariah · 2008-05-21 5:34 pm

I think the future is pervasively available networked data but local processing.
If I wanted a network drive out on the net I sure as smurf wouldnt use a free service for my data. I'd pay the $100 or so a year for a more secure and private commercial service. Like DotMac except not slow.

Booksley · 2008-05-21 7:09 pm

user wrote:
Looks like I'll have to get an Airport Extreme Base Station to replace my old Netgear wireless b router. Vista doesn't support WEP.

Aside from WEP's security problem, different WEP implementations are a PITA to deal with. WPA-TKIP, or WPA2-AES are good choices for wireless security.

user · 2008-05-21 8:00 pm

Well, I got the Airport Extreme Base Station. I only paid $42 for it, the clerk was distracted and apparently somehow managed to scan it in wrong - or there's a problem with the code in the system. It's on my receipt as a "CD case".

Someone also gave me a microwave oven today.

Anyway, the Vaio likes the connection better but it will only see the local network. There's a red X over the connection from the router to the internet (connects fine when I plug in the cable directly). So far nothing works and there's not a lot of information on the net that I've found yet. Guess I'l have to start a thread in Balloon Help ( wink ) about this.

I've got a headache....

reece_james · 2008-05-22 3:10 am

That scientific calculator had better be coming and a graphing calculator and Spore and WPA2 and and and...

I can't wait for WWDC. big_smile

Bat · 2008-05-22 4:03 am

reece_james wrote:
That scientific calculator had better be coming and a graphing calculator and Spore and WPA2 and and and...
burnrfreez wrote:
..gddr5

...a new type of graphics RAM someone read about in Gaming and just had to be first to mention here with no clue about it. It's only just reached production.

I can't wait for WWDC.

I predicks you can't hazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzit then. wink Not in a Mac, anyway.

Spore is slated for early September IIRC.

pirloui · 2008-05-22 5:51 am

Pariah wrote:
What problem does cloud computing solve?

It would solve hours of render time for a single 3D image.
But obviously that's one of the few things that don't get churned out pretty fast nowadays.

resedit · 2008-05-23 1:30 am

Two two problems I have with Apple -

Even their low end computers are priced too high. You can get a much better computer than the mini for the cost of a mini.

Secondly - all but the pro towers are extremely wasteful. There is no useful upgrade path to stretch the life of the computer. This means people buy new when they otherwise could upgrade, and that's extremely wasteful.

I'm smurfing tired of our disposable society. And I'm sickened by Apple contributing to it.

And it's not just their computers - it's even the iPod and the iPhone, which are pretty much garbage should the battery fail out of warranty.

Last edited by resedit (2008-05-23 1:31 am)

Pariah · 2008-05-23 5:55 am

resedit wrote:
Two two problems I have with Apple -

Even their low end computers are priced too high. You can get a much better computer than the mini for the cost of a mini.

Secondly - all but the pro towers are extremely wasteful. There is no useful upgrade path to stretch the life of the computer. This means people buy new when they otherwise could upgrade, and that's extremely wasteful.

I'm smurfing tired of our disposable society. And I'm sickened by Apple contributing to it.

And it's not just their computers - it's even the iPod and the iPhone, which are pretty much garbage should the battery fail out of warranty.

Ya, the disposable thing is one (of many) of my objections to All In Ones.

reece_james · 2008-05-23 8:08 am

Pariah wrote:
resedit wrote:
I'm smurfing tired of our disposable society. And I'm sickened by Apple contributing to it.
Ya, the disposable thing is one (of many) of my objections to All In Ones.

Yeah, it's quite nasty. This is probably my only true gripe with Apple's products. At the end of the day, they're disposable. (Though only after they break badly)

NAG · 2008-05-23 9:41 am

They have a recycling program. And in the end, aren't all computers disposable after they break?

ScifiterX · 2008-05-23 10:09 am

That just gave me a thought. Despite good intentions, I'm frankly far more likely to recycle whole devices than I am a component. I'm probably not alone in this respect and I suspect that's actually not even an uncommon behavior pattern. OTOH my last few system were recycled and or regifted after many year of use..

resedit · 2008-05-23 10:39 am

NAG wrote:
They have a recycling program. And in the end, aren't all computers disposable after they break?

Yes. But here's the thing - my Monitor went bad, I was able to replace it and recycle it w/o needing to replace the computer. Then later, I built a new computer - and was able to move the old computer to completely headless and attach the new computer to the monitor.

I can add drives to it w/o a wire mess, I can add capability to it via pci/pci-x slots if/when I need to, I can upgrade the video card if I need to (doubt I will but I could), I'm going to add a bluray burner once the prices drop a little bit, etc. - all without needing to buy a whole new computer.

I may add a second monitor (it's got twin DVI) etc.

While I built mine - I could have bought a PC with similar specs and upgrade path for less than the cost of an iMac.

Forums | MacLife

#26 2008-05-21 10:14 am

Re: It's obvious apple needs more sub $1k offerings

sturner wrote:

NAG wrote:

#27 2008-05-21 10:35 am

Re: It's obvious apple needs more sub $1k offerings

#28 2008-05-21 10:54 am

Re: It's obvious apple needs more sub $1k offerings

#29 2008-05-21 10:59 am

Re: It's obvious apple needs more sub $1k offerings

#30 2008-05-21 11:10 am

Re: It's obvious apple needs more sub $1k offerings

ScifiterX wrote:

#31 2008-05-21 11:12 am

Re: It's obvious apple needs more sub $1k offerings

#32 2008-05-21 12:18 pm

Re: It's obvious apple needs more sub $1k offerings

#33 2008-05-21 1:44 pm

Re: It's obvious apple needs more sub $1k offerings

#34 2008-05-21 1:52 pm

Re: It's obvious apple needs more sub $1k offerings

#35 2008-05-21 1:55 pm

Re: It's obvious apple needs more sub $1k offerings

#36 2008-05-21 2:03 pm

Re: It's obvious apple needs more sub $1k offerings

#37 2008-05-21 3:08 pm

Re: It's obvious apple needs more sub $1k offerings

#38 2008-05-21 3:11 pm

Re: It's obvious apple needs more sub $1k offerings

#39 2008-05-21 5:34 pm

Re: It's obvious apple needs more sub $1k offerings

#40 2008-05-21 7:09 pm

Re: It's obvious apple needs more sub $1k offerings

user wrote:

#41 2008-05-21 8:00 pm

Re: It's obvious apple needs more sub $1k offerings

#42 2008-05-22 3:10 am

Re: It's obvious apple needs more sub $1k offerings

#43 2008-05-22 4:03 am

Re: It's obvious apple needs more sub $1k offerings

reece_james wrote:

burnrfreez wrote:

#44 2008-05-22 5:51 am

Re: It's obvious apple needs more sub $1k offerings

Pariah wrote:

#45 2008-05-23 1:30 am

Re: It's obvious apple needs more sub $1k offerings

#46 2008-05-23 5:55 am

Re: It's obvious apple needs more sub $1k offerings

resedit wrote:

#47 2008-05-23 8:08 am

Re: It's obvious apple needs more sub $1k offerings

Pariah wrote:

resedit wrote:

#48 2008-05-23 9:41 am

Re: It's obvious apple needs more sub $1k offerings

#49 2008-05-23 10:09 am

Re: It's obvious apple needs more sub $1k offerings

#50 2008-05-23 10:39 am

Re: It's obvious apple needs more sub $1k offerings

NAG wrote:

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