Regarding the iPoop....er, iPod.
Power adapter. Okay, unless you're planning on taking your Mac on a
trip, you'll need a power adapter. Tower Mac user here, do I have to buy
a laptop too? What good is this device on a cruise, long flight, or even
a serious road trip without a power source? Gone for a week or more?
Ditto. Unless you're one of the people who are working with major files
that have to be shared via this sort of hardware, the portable HD stuff
isn't much use. I mean, forgive me, I'm just a commoner who still has
use for floppies. Still, it holds a lot. Okay, so how many times will
one swap out major amounts of music if it holds so much? I'm sure some
will, but the lightning fast firewire swap would be lost to me. I mean,
if it takes an hour to recharge (like pretty much every other
lithium-powered device), why do I need 10-second CD upload capability? I
mean, can't you cue up your upload/download, hit "go" and go do
something else while it does this? Again, for data-swappers, I'm sure
it's great to have this speed.
As for industry firsts.....The GUI for Mac wasn't the first, but
it's the best yet. Newton? There's been nothing like it before or since,
but if Steve sits on it long enough, that too will change....just ask
Sharp. Yes, we expect another Newton. The market is changing. The curve
has finally caought up and people are wanting their handheld devices to
do more....just like the Newton was doing long ago. Truly great
companies make new markets. Chrysler proved this repeatedly with entries
that created new market niches...a term Steve has thrown about a bit.
Shouldn't Apple market to Windows users? Ohhhh no, let's not entice
95% of the market to Apple products. Does anyone really believe someone
will spend a small fortune swapping platforms to get free iTunes? And
with the money saved on iTunes, it'll be easier to afford that easily
dentable $400 + $50(power adapter) device. Swapping data with a Windows
work machine so you can work on it at home on either a Windows or Mac
machine? Can it do that? Steve needs to have the pressurization in that
multi-million dollar jet of his checked. Further proof that Steve is
outta touch is the hype he personally threw out for us. We expected
more, at least some of us did, because we're accustomed to seeing more
beef and less bull. Besides, if they really want to generate growth,
they missed the boat. Cellular companies are a perfect example. They
give away the expensive phones and charge for use. Apple gives away
inexpensive software, and expects people to shell out big bucks for an
MP3 player that can be had for much less, albeit with less storage from
other sources. So what if it doesn't match the TiBook I don't have.
As far as the state of the handheld market, is MP3 any better? The
only people who want it are the users. All the major recording industry
people are against it. There are at least two other digital formats that
have been introduced in an attempt to sway users. With all the issues
around copyright stuff, and granted I haven't kept up with it all, can
you think of a more uncertain handheld device market than MP3 players?
Obviously I'm not an MP3 power user, but I am gradually getting more
involved. Personally, I prefer the option of ripping a few CD's, having
them ready immediately, and not needing a firewire hookup as one needs
with the 'pod. To each his own. I've been living with Walkman CD-sized
players for years now, so it's no big deal. I never liked anything in my
shirt pocket anyway.
So, what does all this solve? Nothing, but I feel a little better in
making these points. Granted, the 'pod isn't the only one to have
certain shortfalls. I mean, the way I've dumped on it, you'd think I was
upset that it wasn't powered with cold fusion and had 1000 mile wireless
range. Hey now, there's an idea. Just don't tell Steve.
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.2 : Thu Nov 01 2001 - 10:02:32 EST