Re: [NTLK] Platform crap...

From: Hal Widlansky (hal_at_whoever.com)
Date: Wed Nov 07 2001 - 19:05:56 EST


very well said. as a new list member, an Apple shareholder, a Mac user and a
(recently returned) Newton user, I couldn't agree more.

I rediscovered the Newton platform about a month ago (after using a palm since
1996) and had forgotten how great it was. I have a 130 and am in the process of
acquiring a 2100 so I don't have to lug my powerbook around just to be able to
keep up on email.

As far as bashing Apple, it's important to reiterate that most of the
innovations introduced in the last 20 years of computing were popularized by
Apple, even if they weren't invented there. Everything from PDAs to laptops
with trackpads and trackpads to firewire and USB. Not to say Apple invented all
(or even most of them) but they played a huge role in popularizing them. If it
weren't for Apple's adoption of USB and the explosion of peripherals for the
iMac, I seriously doubt Microsoft would have pushed USB for Windows 98 (not
that it worked well). See, support for innovation comes from the strangest
places. Heck, Microsoft even chose Apple's Firewire over Intel's USB 2.0 for
Windows XP, but I digress...

Anyway, not that everyone has to be an Apple fan, but bashing the company and
the products will only tarnish the image of a great innovator. Besides, if not
for Apple, we'd all still be using command key sequences to select text in our
text-only word processors. ;-)

Any newton "newbie" suggestions are welcome. :-)

cheers,
-Hal

SlashDevNull wrote:

> Good Googly Moogly!
>
> Why does everyone think I am attacking them or why do they feel a need to
> get defensive.
>
> I am completely platform agnostic.
>
> I code on a Fujitsu laptop with Delphi 5 C/S.
>
> I have a P3 933 I use for a gaming system.
>
> I use a G4 to do EVERYTHING else.
>
> And I use a Newton for a PDA.
>
> My point is that I can not stand people that say that any company is the
> worst plague to befall the earth but one product they make is the absolute
> best. And then they tell everyone how much that one company sucks. This
> keeps everyone that they are talking to away from that one company.
>
> The company I am specifically mentioning is Apple.
>
> And another point is that when damn near everyone speaks ill of Apple then
> end result is that Apple will be out of business. And then where will style
> and elegance be in computers? Answer, it won't.
>
> Sure you can say that Sony does some things right. As does Intel and
> Palm. And even microsoft. Well, not microsoft. The first thing ms makes
> that doesn't suck will be when they create a vacuum cleaner.
>
> I'm not going to get in a point-to-point argument about other companies
> how how some people like their products and some people don't.
>
> But quickly, look at your examples. Pentium? You don't interact with
> that. Games? You don't interact with the OS, same with Palm's syncing.
>
> I hate windows because of the interface and the way windows works. I
> personally don't care what hardware runs under OS X. I don't interact with
> the hardware on a daily basis. Everyone who loves the mac, loves it because
> of the interface. Not because the machine is blue, or beige, or silver.
>
> A small sidebar here, a perfect example is the computer advice I give to
> friends. NEVER skimp on the display, mouse, and keyboard. These are the
> parts that you touch and look at every second. If you get a cheap display
> then using the computer will not be enjoyable. If you get a cheap mouse or
> keyboard then as you touch them, you will slowly transfer the cheapness you
> touch to the cheapness of the computer. Why do you think Apple spends so
> much time and effort on the display, mouse, and keyboard.
>
> As for Palm being #1, big deal. I could not care less. Just because it
> is #1 does not mean that it is the best. The New Kinds on the Block have
> the top 2 most popular songs ever. I remember reading a webpage that spoke
> of such things that were #1 in popularity.
>
> I am listening now to a Flim & the BB's CD (or actually MP3). I really
> could not care less if they sold anymore that the 1 CD that I own. But I do
> mention them in a positive way whenever the conversation goes that way.
>
> It just seems that it is now fashionable to bash Apple. If you want Apple
> to create a new PDA, write them. Every week. If Apple gets enough emails,
> then they will listen. Tell others how cool the Newton is. Create a
> groundswell. Apple is not in the PDA market now because there is no maoney
> to be make there. You don't think microsoft is not losing money hand over
> fist? Of course they are. But they have the deepesdt pockets in the
> industry and they can outlast Palm and Handspring.
>
> But telling everyone how Apple sucks is only going to hurt Apple and will
> ensure that no Newton is created. And it turns new Apple users away before
> they even have a chance to look at Apple. And eventually could kill Apple.
>
> David
>
> > At 05:26 PM 11/7/2001 -0500, you wrote:
> >> And that company that YOU hate, but LOVE their products no longer makes
> >> anything. And then you have Palm and windows. Completely third rate
> >> hardware and software.
> >
> > There is nothing wrong with the Pentium architecture. OK it might have
> > some areas where it could improve.. but third-rate? Not hardly....
> >
> > As far as Windows goes, for a general-purpose platform it's excellent,
> > IMNHO.. Games are excellent on it and syncing up with my Palm is as easy
> > as pie. As a server platform it's a joke.. and a bad one at that.
> >
> > As for the Palm... perhaps it *is* third-rate.. but it's *also* the number
> > one PDA now. So what do you do with that?
> >
>
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