posted
Strange how events can change one's life. Late last year we won a charity auction of a holiday in Port Douglas, Queensland. As our summer time would be too hot and the wet season in Northern Queensland we decided to go on Lori's (my partner) birthday 27th May. As we left Auckland airport we found the e-reader Kobo had just been released in NZ and as Lori is an avid reader and this is the first e-reader in NZ we bought one duty free. On arrival at Cairns airport we discovered the iPad had just been released in Australia. A quick text to Lori's son-in-law back in NZ had us on the lookout to purchase an iPad for him. By this time we where on our way to Port Douglas and hour north of Cairns and an Apple free zone. The next day we hired a car and headed back to Cairns and the only store that sold Apple products to find they had sold out of the 3G models and only had 2 64g wi-fi models left. An impulse buy on my part had me with my very first Apple product..!! All I can say is what an amazing product the iPad is. The speed and clarity is truly amazing and all the apps had me hooked. OK guys, I must admit when I saw the comments on here about the rivalry between PC and Apple I didn't take much notice but I now own an iMac as well and all because of the iPad experience.
-------------------- Norman Biss aka KiwiNorm Living and working in one of the best countries on earth... Papamoa Beach, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand norman.biss@gmail.com Posts: 141 | From: Papamoa Beach, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand | Registered: Nov 1998
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I'm interested in the iPad, but only as a sketching / photo holding computer that's compact for travel. I'm not at all interested in the 3G phone ability. Same with the iPhone, I could care less about these features. The last thing I want when listening to music or photo editing is the phone ringing because my wife needs me to "run to the store" or some moron is calling for a survey or whatever... I'm not into this "phone in your pocket" planet these days.
posted
I started out using Macs in 1984, and until 1999 I hadn't used a PC at all. I have logged thousands of hours on Mac computers. After '99 I started having to use PCs on a daily basis, and found that I could get just as much done with the Adobe Suite on a PC as I could on a Mac. Eventually the Windows interface became more comfortable to me.
The "rivalry" comes from Mac zealots trying to tell people like me what a terrible time we are having with our PCs, and how our lives will be problem-free if we just switch to the Mac. They tell fairy tales about how "graphics are better on the Mac". They tell even taller tales about how, no matter what processor a Mac has, it is always faster than a PC. My own experience hasn't led me to believe any of those tales. I have nothing against Macs. They are just computers, and they have problems too.
My mind wanders. And that's not a good thing, 'cause it's too small to be out there alone. Posts: 3129 | From: Tooele, UT | Registered: Mar 2005
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before the other traditional Apple haters join in here and start another waste-of-time Mac bash-fest, I just wanna say, Russ... I agree with you. With that in mind, this goes both ways. I also spent my first computing years using PCs. Then I was using both. It was not until the last four years I have only been using Macs 100% of the time. However, in my past years I would hear ridiculous comments from PC users saying things like "Macs can't create an artboard larger then a 4' x 8'" I'm not kidding, someone actually said that. Also pathetic comments like "Arial does not exist on a Mac" and the best one "You can't design a web site when using a Mac". It's all so funny.
So as you see Russ, both parties can blurt out endless amounts of jibber jabber. In the end it's like food, my wife tries everything to make broccoli taste good... it never works. People like what they like... move on.
posted
After using Windows 7 for a while now, I feel Microsoft has finally come up with a real winner. I still prefer the Mac's interface, but I see Apple becoming more Windows like and Windows becoming more Mac like all the time. And I've still had better luck with Apple machines, but really, that's just a Ford vs. Chevy thing.
This may be a mute point in a few years if the predictions of cloud computing becomes a reality.
Edit: Forgot to mention, Windows 7 64 bit absolutely screams on an 8 core desktop Mac.
[ June 07, 2010, 11:11 AM: Message edited by: Dave Sherby ]
-------------------- Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 sherwoodsign@sbcglobal.net Posts: 5396 | From: Crystal Falls, MI USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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Loving my iPad, which I just got last week. Very useful for a lot of different tasks. Adobe's sketch APP is pretty cool. I find myself carrying it around the house a lot. Was just on vacay, and found it much easier to manage than laptop.
"Some are born to move the world, to live their fantasies. But most of us just dream about the things we'd like to be." - Rush Posts: 1192 | From: Washington, NJ | Registered: Feb 1999
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I dont like either Mac or Windows. I prefer crayolas.
-------------------- dennis kiernan independent artist san francisco, calif, usa Posts: 907 | From: san francisco, ca usa | Registered: Feb 2010
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In a perfect world, one could waltz into a computer store and try out the perfect PC and the perfect Mac for a true blue comparison.
I needed a part for my PC, so I went to talk to a tech guy. He sold Mac and PC's. His claim was many rush in to buy Macs because generally poor and cheap PC's are on display only. (due to their low price structure) But then they generally bring back the Mac due to PC habits only (not a quality issue), so then he builds a GOOD PC for them.
I told him to get a roarin' PC AND Mac in for me to try. He was willing to build one for me, but wouldn't demo one because 'a quality PC wouldn't sell.'
??? Doesn't make much sense, does it?
Talking about old outdated machines or programs from way back has little bearing on today's market. No matter what brand it is.
[ June 07, 2010, 06:04 PM: Message edited by: Donna in BC ]
posted
No one commented on cloud computing that I mentioned in my reply. Maybe no one knows much about it. I just heard about it myself, but some claim it will be computing of the future. Cloud computing is where programs are available for use on the internet. So all you need is a basic bare bones computer that will run the internet, and you will just pick the app you want to run and use it that way. No programs would be installed on your machine. I don't know if I would like that or not. I'm sure the software companies don't like the idea. The article I read claimed Bill Gates is scared to death of cloud computing. Like he needs to worry about money.
-------------------- Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 sherwoodsign@sbcglobal.net Posts: 5396 | From: Crystal Falls, MI USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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Didn't know if I was allowed to post in this thread or not, Dave, since I am a lowly PC user.... ;-)
But I use pretty much all cloud services now.... I don't even have Excel and Word on my computers anymore, I use only Google Docs.... I use Google Voice for my business number and voicemails, so that it can ring me whereever I am.... I use Picasa for all my pictures.... my Canon camera memory card automatically uploads all my pictures to my online Picasa account when it has an internet connection... I use Google Calendar, Contacts, and store lots of my files up in my Google space. I'm switching over to using Quickbooks Online so my accounting will be available to me anywhere in the world from any computer.
I have an HTC Droid Incredible phone on order, which has all these services built into it... so I will have access to EVERYTHING from my phone 24/7, along with thousands of other cool Android apps I'll be able to run... it has an 8 megapixel camera on it that takes awesome pictures, so I won't have to carry my Canon around with me anymore... built in GPS software that even uses Google Maps Street View so I won't need a Garmin...
All I really need 'Windows' for anymore is to run Coreldraw. Computers as we know them will be soon be a thing of the past except for specialized business uses, etc. In my opinion Microsoft is not adjusting fast enough, and will be left behind in the future.
So as I've said a million times.... I'm not an Apple 'hater', or Windows 'lover'... I'm just allergic to the classic 'Fanboy' who tries to push Apple on me, when not only would it cost much more, it would not suit my needs.
Apple totally lost the last race to Microsoft because of being extremely controlled and closed... there are over a billion Windows PCs being used in the world today.... in 2009 estimates put Macs share of 'installed computers' at around 5%. Apple was seriously losing money in the 90's, but has since been on the rebound... no small part of that being the success of its Ipods, Iphones, etc.
Now Apple has a great product in the Iphone and a nice entry in the newly emerging tablet market.... however, Steve Jobs is still pursuing the method of extreme control and excluding any app that doesn't suit his fancy, and this really hurts the Iphone (and Ipad) with millions of people.
This closed approach is going to ultimately cause Apple to once again fade into the background as Android and other much more open architectures rocket to popularity in this new world of devices.... just Apple's refusal to carry an app for Google Voice is enough to make me refuse to get a Mac product. I just couldn't operate without Google Voice...
It's really too bad that Apple did not learn their lesson the first time around in their race with Microsoft... they are once again at the forefront of technology as the world changes the way it uses electronic devices, and have a chance to remain there. Unfortunately, like Microsoft, they are not changing their ideology fast enough to remain in the leader spot and will soon be relegated back to the 'niche' market status, unless they shift gears very soon.
In 5 years and 10 years, it'll be interesting to come back and read this thread and see how everything works out!
[ June 07, 2010, 08:51 PM: Message edited by: Jon Jantz ]
-------------------- Jon Jantz Snappysign.com jjantz21@gmail.com http://www.allcw.com Posts: 3395 | From: Atmore, AL | Registered: Nov 2005
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Very interesting post, Jon. Mind if I copy it and send it to my nerd daughter and her friend?
Dennis Copy and Paste Professional.
-------------------- dennis kiernan independent artist san francisco, calif, usa Posts: 907 | From: san francisco, ca usa | Registered: Feb 2010
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Jon...all that online service and hosting and availability is nice...BUT...what happens when the servers go ofline for a while?
This morning my ISP had a 2 hour glitch..I could access my email account and my home page, but could not access anything else online.
It wasn't a real biggie for me cuz I had time to wait and other things I could do in real life.
BUT, if I had vital info that I needed at the time it would have been a very real annoyance.
What if Google or other services happen to go offline for a couple of hours? Or even longer? Will that present a serious problem to someone who depends on them?
I'm not taking sides on PC/MAC or LCD/LED or Adobe/Corel or anything else, just wondering if we don't rely way too much on the internet for our own good these days?
I guess I am old fashioned, I have little piles of notes here and there all over the "office" area, some hand written and some printed. About once a year I go through them and see if I remember what they are about. If I don't remember then I toss em, if I do remember what they mean and they are still relevant I keep them for another year.
Real paperwork is always available even if the cyberpaper is temporarily not.
Jon, as I said a few days back....not attacking you!!! Just typing my thoughts.
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
quote: this really hurts the Iphone (and Ipad) with millions of people.
This not a small fact being lost upon those millions.
There is a huge installed base of websites that use both java and flash. The ipad cannot access any site that uses one or the other or both.
This is a fact and is causing hundreds of thousands to pass on the ipad. Especially those who need online secure access to websites to do their job.
People who spend their lives traveling cannot use an ipad for online access to any site that uses java security systems. (nearly everyone of them)
So, for as good as these machines are,, they do have their limits..
The droid systems are coming on strong.. Watch them grow.
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5274 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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Dave, I do keep a copy of most of the files on my local server. You can make the online Quickbooks keep a local copy of your Quickbooks file as well.
A person does depend on the internet then for access to your data. However, our internet here is almost NEVER down. I've been using Gmail exclusively for all my email addresses now for a couple years and can't remember ever having having trouble getting to my email.
Even though it's really rare, places like Google have lost data before. However, they have redundant servers running redundant drives and their downtime is almost nonexistent...
But one cool thing is that technology is starting to evolve in the internet access area as well. For example, if my DSL internet died for a few hours, I will be able to use my HTC Incredible for a WIFI hotspot and access highspeed internet on my computer system through my cell phone... Verizon charges extra for this service, but I'm seeing where guys are writing apps to do this without any extra services.
One could argue your data is actually safer. The big server farms have up to the second backups of all your stuff. My server is probably more likely to die than theirs and if it does, I can just hope all my backups are current and uncorrupted.
With having your stuff in the cloud, if your local computer dies, there is no copying over all your data, email, contacts and everything else to your new system. You simply walk over to any computer and still have full access to all your apps and data.
Like I said, I've been moving this direction for the last couple years and am only loving it more and more. It'll probably bite me in the butt at some point though, that's my usual luck.
-------------------- Jon Jantz Snappysign.com jjantz21@gmail.com http://www.allcw.com Posts: 3395 | From: Atmore, AL | Registered: Nov 2005
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"Dennis, that is just a dumb Alabama boy's concept of the changing tech world, but you are welcome to C/P it to whomever you like..."
Well, since y'all was nice nuff to let me copynpaste your story, I'll just overlook what you jus sed about Alabama boys. My daddy was one of them, ran the Colonial Bakery in Montgomery, and he was smart as all getout. He was smart enuff to cetch the biggest tarpon ever caught in Lostman River in Florida-- 156 pounds. They dont come no smarter than thet.
-------------------- dennis kiernan independent artist san francisco, calif, usa Posts: 907 | From: san francisco, ca usa | Registered: Feb 2010
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Well, Dale.... That whole article pretty much echoes what I said up above. That Apple has designed some great devices and has positioned themselves perfectly to be the leaders in a couple of the fastest growing areas of tech. They have a golden opportunity and if they play their cards right, they could maintain their spot on the top of the heap for many years to come.
It also says they've been in this spot before, and got severely trounced by Microsoft and almost put into bankruptcy by not adjusting quickly enough to the changing landscape.
If a year or two or five from now, Android devices (or some other OS) are outselling the Iphone/Ipad by a mile.... it'll be unarguable that Apple/Steve Jobs should have loosened up a little bit and not been quite so tyrannical about some of the features/apps.
It'll be interesting to see how this all plays out over the next several years, and to see if Apple has learned from their past mistakes. I'm not rooting against them, I was just giving my opinion... As long as I can buy what I need, to do the job I want to get done, I couldn't care less about market share and who's selling the most of what....
If 5 years from now, if Apple is still leading the pack in numbers of devices sold, I will repent and ask for forgiveness for not placing my trust in Steve Jobs. I mean, I really do want to go to heaven.
Hahaha, Dennis. I do know quite a few smart Alabama boys as well. I don't get to talk to them much though, because they've all moved away.
[ June 08, 2010, 01:27 AM: Message edited by: Jon Jantz ]
-------------------- Jon Jantz Snappysign.com jjantz21@gmail.com http://www.allcw.com Posts: 3395 | From: Atmore, AL | Registered: Nov 2005
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Hey guys!! I didn't want to start another Microsoft vs Apple debate but just show how a couple of events can change a persons outlook on things. I have enjoyed the debate tho. and agree with Dave that Windows 7 is a vast improvement on Vista. I also enjoyed Jon's insight into the possible future developments. Also, I have been thinking of upgrading my cellphone and now have to look at the iPhone just released to replace my trusty 3 year old Sony Ericsson.
-------------------- Norman Biss aka KiwiNorm Living and working in one of the best countries on earth... Papamoa Beach, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand norman.biss@gmail.com Posts: 141 | From: Papamoa Beach, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand | Registered: Nov 1998
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Norman - Congrats on the new iPad purchase. I bet you'll have great fun with that. If you get a chance - post a couple screen shots of it with the various apps you use. Would be interesting to see.
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
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Norman you didn't start the debate. It is what it is. I can totally agree with your original post. Apple makes great products. I fought the apple empire for years. Until my son got an ipod nano for Christmas this past year. When I had the slick little music player in my hands, it wasn't long until I had my own. The quality of the music play back is overwhelming compared to other music players. If it wasn't for the lock to a cell provider such as AT&T in this country I'd have an i-phone 4 as soon as they are released.
One thing you can't debate. There is some sort of magic surrounding Apple, none like Microsoft has ever seen. Apple has always been an innovator, and Microsoft has been the imitator.
And I'm a strictly PC guy. go figure.
-------------------- Bob Rochon Creative Signworks Millbury, MA 508-865-7330
"Life is Like an Echo, what you put out, comes back to you." Posts: 5149 | From: Millbury, Mass. U.S. | Registered: Nov 1998
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I'm waiting to see a commercial with the Mac guy saying, "I'm a Mac, and Windows 7 was my idea".
-------------------- Bill Modzel Mod-Zel screen Printing Traverse city, MI modzel@sbcglobal.net Posts: 1356 | From: Traverse City, MI | Registered: Nov 1998
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In the near future we'll all be wanting faster and larger wifi bandwidth for that device that is gonna thrive on it,....and we'll all be griping about subscription rates for access to cloud apps to run on our devices,......be prepared you never know,... Job fans and Gates fans may be a thing of the past soon,...ten years from now it might be nokia or lg,,.....not that I know who,... but logic states if you're on top,...sooner or later you're gonna end up going downhill,..I can remember when I first saw a netbook on display at bestbuy,....I recalled the $2K pc(286 12 MHZ 2MB RAM 20MB HD) that took up my whole desk that I started off with in 1989 and smiled to myself as I forked over the cash to buy the netbook(its smaller than any of my textbooks at school),..it paid for itself the first time I used it in a sales presentation ten fold,.....I want to know what is gonna be next,..the primary reason I went back to college for information technology this past spring,...next thing ya know we're gonna be complaining about the new ultra thin led truck door magnetics and the lousy designs that keep flashing on them and how any idiot with little or no design concepts can buy and sell them,...stay tuned,....
[ June 08, 2010, 01:33 PM: Message edited by: Tim Barrow ]
-------------------- fly low...timi/NC is, Tim Barrow Barrow Art Signs Winston-Salem,NC Posts: 2224 | From: Winston-Salem,NC,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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quote: Apple has always been an innovator, and Microsoft has been the imitator.
AHAHHAHAHHAHAAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5274 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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Actually apple stole the gui from xerox,..Wozniak and Jobs made a deal to spend 3 days in the xerox research facilty that permitted xerox to purchase a 100,000 of shares of apple stock for $10 a share just before they went public,while there he saw xerox's gui and later on they ended up in court but xerox waited too long to file suit so it was thrown out,...The original xerox gui was called alto.
[ June 08, 2010, 10:57 PM: Message edited by: Tim Barrow ]
-------------------- fly low...timi/NC is, Tim Barrow Barrow Art Signs Winston-Salem,NC Posts: 2224 | From: Winston-Salem,NC,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Timi, the facts are that Apple licensed Microsoft's Applesoft Basic for the Apple II. The Mac was designed from scratch as a mouse driven computer and Apple designed the OS for the original platform. There was a third partner who had a lot of influence and ideas for the interface who was sorta forced out of the picture though.
And as I see it, Apple didn't have a chance in court against Microsoft over Windows because Windows originally was not an OS. It was a DOS program used as an interface for it to run programs to be mouse run and have the windows look.
Also, all you Mac haters have Apple to thank for your Windows OS. I wonder without Apple how long it might have been before someone else came up with the idea. If it weren't for Apple's stubbornness and arrogance the Mac OS would be the dominant OS instead of Windows.
Edit, I have to add a couple more comments. Curtis, I can see why your laughing at the innovators / imitators comment since Apple is no stranger to stealing and strong arming ideas from others also, but the fact is Apple came out with the Mac OS first, Microsoft was writing Mac programs years before Windows came out (ie: Microsoft Works) and Bill Gates HAD to see that the Mac platform was going to become much more popular than DOS on an old 88 machine.
One last question for Curtis or any of you other Windows Gurus. Is there a work around for dismounting a memory stick without having to quit the program you just saved a file from other than saving the file to the desktop and dragging it into the memory stick? I can live with having to open the computer window to view the contents of usb devices in Windows instead of it just showing up on the desktop, but I hate it when I save a file to the stick from the program and then have to quit the program to dismount the device.
Thanks in advance.
[ June 08, 2010, 11:33 PM: Message edited by: Dave Sherby ]
-------------------- Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 sherwoodsign@sbcglobal.net Posts: 5396 | From: Crystal Falls, MI USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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Dave in the lower right corner, in the icon tray, is an icon that if you mouse over it will display the message safely remove hardware,right click and you will get a menu with options to do what you want,(eject usb flash memory)..whether or not your program still demands access privileges is up to the individual program using it,sometimes you will have to close the file in that program if it is still open...windows itself has nothing to do with that part,unless there is a delayed write command in effect for the flashdrive from the program you saved your file in,...
Incidentally just because Apple licensed basic still doesn't mean that Gates didn't write the program. DOS is an acronym for Disk Operating system so that dog don't hunt(you have confused GUI with operating system,..os). As for the court litigation the only thing Microsoft was ever found in violation of copyright laws was the trash can icon itself and the folder icon,...two very small 32x32 pixel files,.the courts decided thankfully for all of us that the GUI was only an idea and concept and not subject to copyright law,....As for the idea of a GUI both Jobs and Wozniak freely admitted they got the idea from Xerox,...Xerox waited past the statue of limitations to sue,..had they not waited they could have won claims against both Microsoft and Apple.Not trying to start a fuss here just trying to clarify the facts in a non biased way.I have to study operating systems next semester which includes Macs so I may have some questions for you Mac people here,....
[ June 09, 2010, 02:36 AM: Message edited by: Tim Barrow ]
-------------------- fly low...timi/NC is, Tim Barrow Barrow Art Signs Winston-Salem,NC Posts: 2224 | From: Winston-Salem,NC,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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As Mopar once stated through magazine advertisements ' We have taken this one page advertisement to congratulate the Ford and Chevy guys for using our Hemi engines in their record breaking Funny Cars '
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
posted
Thanks Timi but it seems to be all of the programs that I use, and it does it for all 3 brands of memory sticks that I have. It wants me to quit the program before it can be dismounted,no matter what program I'm in. I get the message that the device is busy and can't be disconnected until I quit the program. It does this on my Dell desktop, Dell laptop, and my Mac running XP and now Windows 7. I guess I'll just have to live with it and save all files to the desktop, then transfer them to the memory stick. That is the only way I don't get the "message".
This is another thing that I feel Macs definitely do better. All devices from cameras and memory sticks to external (or internal) hard drives put an icon right on the desktop when it loads and to dismount you either drag the icon to the trash or right click and then click on "eject". The devices can be opened through the menu like on Windows, or just double click the icon and it's open.
-------------------- Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 sherwoodsign@sbcglobal.net Posts: 5396 | From: Crystal Falls, MI USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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