tychay
Nov 28, 08:09 PM
I have no idea where you got that one from. The original Xbox never made a profit. Microsoft is deliberately selling the Xbox 360 at a loss to capture marketshare. However, the PS3 and Ninetindo Wii are selling like hotcakes, are latest big things, and have the buzz. The best laid plans ...
I think the first statement is correct or close to it. They may have had a single profitable quarter when Halo 2 was released. I'm not sure because they bury games in a Microsoft Entertainment and Devices Division. Which includes their smartphone stuff (now that it has stopped bleeding money) and their profitable and acclaimed mice, keyboards, and other stuff (all manufactured by other companies, sort of like Dell, but with a nicer design).
The second part I believe is now wrong. I think the XBox 360 is no longer a loss lead, though that might change as there is some speculation that they will be dropping the price to undercut Sony soon. I believe the fact that it is no longer a loss lead is causing a confounding with the "360 is profitable" commentaries here.
Another commenter mentioned how smart it was was the XBox had a hard drive on it. I’d say if it is so smart why did Microsoft remove it in the base model 360? I’ll point out that this happened because the price of hard drives do not get any cheaper! In fact the price of commodity hardware design doesn’t get any cheaper! Huh? Hard drives get bigger, not cheaper. Processors and chips get more powerful, not cheaper.
What went on is that successive iterations of the Playstation and Playstation 2 would allow Sony to combine chips to reduce the price (and make smaller PSOne and slim-cased Playstation 2). This outlet wasn't available to Microsoft because of their design which is why the XBox was a losing money for it's entire run and Sony played games by dropping their price before it ever turned a profit.
Those two things are "of a piece". While commodity hardware was an interesting idea, it was a failure. Which is why the XBox 360 is not built from commodity PC hardware. The hard drives are a necessary evil of the "Live" strategy so they're left in as an option and bundled with the Playstation 3. That's why these 6G consoles are expensive and not dropping in price fast.
Right now all this is moot since the thing to watch is the Sony gamble on a blue laser. Obviously it will get cheaper fast, but the question is how fast and how cheap? The horrible yields on the Cell processor isn't helping things.
Currently, the XBox 360 has sold very consistently at around 1.5 million units a quarter. The XMas quarter last year had supply issues and only sold .9 million units. That's hardly dominating. In fact, I think the Playstation 2 outsold the 360 in each of those quarters even though the device is six years old. Let's put some numbers here. Last year over 100 million Playstation 2’s had been sold, six months ago, they were selling 380k/month. The XBox 360 sold 6 million units since it's introduction over a year ago, six months ago they were selling 300k/month, they had fixed the channel problems that plagued the release.
Consider this: Nintendo sold 600,000 Wiis in the last eight days. Given the scarcity of the Playstation 3 and the popularity and addictiveness of WiiSports and Zelda, they should easily crush that .9 million opening quarter of the 360. And consider this: each unit at a profit with a number of titles putting money directly in Nintendo's pocket.
I'm not claiming that the Wii will beat the 360. I'm just pointing out that according to sales numbers, the 360 is no iPod, is not trending to an iPod, will never be an iPod. The iPod sits on 75% market share. The closest thing to an iPod in the entertainment market is the Playstation 2.
Which is a big distraction from the point. And what is the point? That the XBox is a bad analogy. It is best to consider their Windows CE->Smartphone Microsoft play to see that the Zune is a bad idea. How many years and failed ideas have there been (Windows CE, Windows Mobile, PocketPC, etc. etc.)? How many billions sunk (some years more than the entire capitalization of the PDA market)? How much marketshare? 6% of smartphones, 60% of the dead-end PDA market, and most of the dead ATM teller market (because IBM did a phased pull out, not because Microsoft "won"). And even those markets are being eaten by Linux faster than Windows.
The only thing we can learn from the XBox and Microsoft is that Microsoft pees on their partners (NVidia) at the earliest opportunity. But we already knew that as soon as the Zune didn't support Plays For Sure.
I think the first statement is correct or close to it. They may have had a single profitable quarter when Halo 2 was released. I'm not sure because they bury games in a Microsoft Entertainment and Devices Division. Which includes their smartphone stuff (now that it has stopped bleeding money) and their profitable and acclaimed mice, keyboards, and other stuff (all manufactured by other companies, sort of like Dell, but with a nicer design).
The second part I believe is now wrong. I think the XBox 360 is no longer a loss lead, though that might change as there is some speculation that they will be dropping the price to undercut Sony soon. I believe the fact that it is no longer a loss lead is causing a confounding with the "360 is profitable" commentaries here.
Another commenter mentioned how smart it was was the XBox had a hard drive on it. I’d say if it is so smart why did Microsoft remove it in the base model 360? I’ll point out that this happened because the price of hard drives do not get any cheaper! In fact the price of commodity hardware design doesn’t get any cheaper! Huh? Hard drives get bigger, not cheaper. Processors and chips get more powerful, not cheaper.
What went on is that successive iterations of the Playstation and Playstation 2 would allow Sony to combine chips to reduce the price (and make smaller PSOne and slim-cased Playstation 2). This outlet wasn't available to Microsoft because of their design which is why the XBox was a losing money for it's entire run and Sony played games by dropping their price before it ever turned a profit.
Those two things are "of a piece". While commodity hardware was an interesting idea, it was a failure. Which is why the XBox 360 is not built from commodity PC hardware. The hard drives are a necessary evil of the "Live" strategy so they're left in as an option and bundled with the Playstation 3. That's why these 6G consoles are expensive and not dropping in price fast.
Right now all this is moot since the thing to watch is the Sony gamble on a blue laser. Obviously it will get cheaper fast, but the question is how fast and how cheap? The horrible yields on the Cell processor isn't helping things.
Currently, the XBox 360 has sold very consistently at around 1.5 million units a quarter. The XMas quarter last year had supply issues and only sold .9 million units. That's hardly dominating. In fact, I think the Playstation 2 outsold the 360 in each of those quarters even though the device is six years old. Let's put some numbers here. Last year over 100 million Playstation 2’s had been sold, six months ago, they were selling 380k/month. The XBox 360 sold 6 million units since it's introduction over a year ago, six months ago they were selling 300k/month, they had fixed the channel problems that plagued the release.
Consider this: Nintendo sold 600,000 Wiis in the last eight days. Given the scarcity of the Playstation 3 and the popularity and addictiveness of WiiSports and Zelda, they should easily crush that .9 million opening quarter of the 360. And consider this: each unit at a profit with a number of titles putting money directly in Nintendo's pocket.
I'm not claiming that the Wii will beat the 360. I'm just pointing out that according to sales numbers, the 360 is no iPod, is not trending to an iPod, will never be an iPod. The iPod sits on 75% market share. The closest thing to an iPod in the entertainment market is the Playstation 2.
Which is a big distraction from the point. And what is the point? That the XBox is a bad analogy. It is best to consider their Windows CE->Smartphone Microsoft play to see that the Zune is a bad idea. How many years and failed ideas have there been (Windows CE, Windows Mobile, PocketPC, etc. etc.)? How many billions sunk (some years more than the entire capitalization of the PDA market)? How much marketshare? 6% of smartphones, 60% of the dead-end PDA market, and most of the dead ATM teller market (because IBM did a phased pull out, not because Microsoft "won"). And even those markets are being eaten by Linux faster than Windows.
The only thing we can learn from the XBox and Microsoft is that Microsoft pees on their partners (NVidia) at the earliest opportunity. But we already knew that as soon as the Zune didn't support Plays For Sure.
celticpride678
Apr 3, 12:51 AM
??? My 25gb partition was clean and blank when I installed Lion DP 1 and I think that's the case for most others as well. I'm not sure where you heard that, if I'm understanding you correctly.
It worked for me too on DP1. On DP2, I had to install Snow Leopard first.
It worked for me too on DP1. On DP2, I had to install Snow Leopard first.
joe.cavers
Feb 23, 03:53 AM
No idea what film that is, but I do spy Handbrake on the MacBook, which looks identical to the one that I just retired. My optical drive in that machine was starting to go, I think. Only thing I've used the one in the new MacBook Pro for is to reinstall the OS after I got it...
Handbrake comes VERY close to destroying my Macbook ha ha, the CPU goes up close to 90 degrees celsius! Terrifying!
Handbrake comes VERY close to destroying my Macbook ha ha, the CPU goes up close to 90 degrees celsius! Terrifying!
Squire
Jul 18, 02:55 AM
Didn't read the article yet, but why on earth would Apple announce an iTunes/Movie rental service at the WWDC? With Leopard and the probability of new hardware announcements, it looks like Jobs is already going to be plenty busy giving that slide clicker of his a workout. So unless there is some sort of special tie-in with yet to be disclosed Leopard whiz bang technologies and the Video service, why WWDC?
It also strikes me that the WWDC isn't really the venue for this sort of announcement. It always gets a lot of media attention, but mostly the kind of attention that appeals mostly to nerds and not the general public per se - the target audience for Apple's video what-have-you wares. One of those hasitly assembled Apple "special events" or Macworld seem more logical for this sort of thing.
I see your point, but if the timing is right, why not?
As others have noted, a rental service for movies is not such a bad idea. For the few movies you'd watch multiple times, buying the DVD-- with all the extras-- is a better option. I can't get too excited about it, though, because it will obviously be a US-only service.
-Squire
It also strikes me that the WWDC isn't really the venue for this sort of announcement. It always gets a lot of media attention, but mostly the kind of attention that appeals mostly to nerds and not the general public per se - the target audience for Apple's video what-have-you wares. One of those hasitly assembled Apple "special events" or Macworld seem more logical for this sort of thing.
I see your point, but if the timing is right, why not?
As others have noted, a rental service for movies is not such a bad idea. For the few movies you'd watch multiple times, buying the DVD-- with all the extras-- is a better option. I can't get too excited about it, though, because it will obviously be a US-only service.
-Squire
takao
Mar 3, 07:58 AM
I will give it the benefit of the doubt until I get a chance to test drive it.
Apropos to our discussion here, if Volkswagen takes the Jetta downmarket, that will bode well for GM and the Cruze diesel, which may be able to equal or exceed the new Jetta TDI's level of equipment, refinement and pricepoint.
i haven't seen either in the flesh yet to be honest... GM selling the cruze in europe without a hatchback version for 2 years simply was a mistake
if you want to be successful in europe as mass car maker you have to:
1. offer a diesel
2. offer a hatchback if its a small car/ offer a station wagon if it's a large one
3. combine rule 1 and rule 2
4. offer them within 3 months of release
on quality i wouldn't be surprised if the the new jetta spikes up in that department ... after all there will be less to go wrong ;). Never underestimate the people who just want a good sized car which simply drives
i suspect this new jetta is going for a very similiar strategy like Renault went with the Dacia Logan around here: decent size, no bells and whistles, reliable/old technology and a low price
on the opposite side Lexus Europe is in a delirium or absolutly high: they expect their new CT200h to double lexus sales in europe: a 30.000+ euro hatchback which looks like a 18.000 mazda3 except made uglier, has a less comfortable and noisier ride then usual for a lexus, without achieving any 'sporty' fell whatsoever despite claiming otherwise, has a whopping 136 hp hybrid only which doesn't even come close to it's claimed MPG, a very american interieur, less interieur space than the A3 despite being larger on the outside etc.
i wan to have the things they are smoking... doubling sales :rolleyes:
compared to the other premium compacts, A3, BMW 1, Alfa Guiletta and even the Volvo C30 they are going to fail miserable
Apropos to our discussion here, if Volkswagen takes the Jetta downmarket, that will bode well for GM and the Cruze diesel, which may be able to equal or exceed the new Jetta TDI's level of equipment, refinement and pricepoint.
i haven't seen either in the flesh yet to be honest... GM selling the cruze in europe without a hatchback version for 2 years simply was a mistake
if you want to be successful in europe as mass car maker you have to:
1. offer a diesel
2. offer a hatchback if its a small car/ offer a station wagon if it's a large one
3. combine rule 1 and rule 2
4. offer them within 3 months of release
on quality i wouldn't be surprised if the the new jetta spikes up in that department ... after all there will be less to go wrong ;). Never underestimate the people who just want a good sized car which simply drives
i suspect this new jetta is going for a very similiar strategy like Renault went with the Dacia Logan around here: decent size, no bells and whistles, reliable/old technology and a low price
on the opposite side Lexus Europe is in a delirium or absolutly high: they expect their new CT200h to double lexus sales in europe: a 30.000+ euro hatchback which looks like a 18.000 mazda3 except made uglier, has a less comfortable and noisier ride then usual for a lexus, without achieving any 'sporty' fell whatsoever despite claiming otherwise, has a whopping 136 hp hybrid only which doesn't even come close to it's claimed MPG, a very american interieur, less interieur space than the A3 despite being larger on the outside etc.
i wan to have the things they are smoking... doubling sales :rolleyes:
compared to the other premium compacts, A3, BMW 1, Alfa Guiletta and even the Volvo C30 they are going to fail miserable
gwuMACaddict
Mar 19, 04:59 PM
Like O'reileys viewers play and listens to Rap. Apple is lost when it comes to marketing and building computers for the masses.
but they buy it for their kids... c'mon, apple is HARDLY lost when it comes to marketing... many of my PC friends rave about the way apple has marketed the iPod and their iMac... many of them are switchers because the comercials got them interested
but they buy it for their kids... c'mon, apple is HARDLY lost when it comes to marketing... many of my PC friends rave about the way apple has marketed the iPod and their iMac... many of them are switchers because the comercials got them interested
zombierunner
Apr 19, 02:51 PM
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_2 like Mac OS X; en-gb) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8H7 Safari/6533.18.5)
True dat ... This is going to be my first iMac ... I have never owned an apple computer before .. Bought my first iPhone last year
... iPhone 4 ... That was such a wonderful day ... Can't wait
True dat ... This is going to be my first iMac ... I have never owned an apple computer before .. Bought my first iPhone last year
... iPhone 4 ... That was such a wonderful day ... Can't wait
Eric-PTEK
Mar 24, 10:59 PM
I would replace my Hack Pro with a Mac Pro if I had my choices of video cards.
With dual processors and VM's I'd just run 2 30" screens, one with osX, one with Win7 in a VM.
This is the biggest deficiency that Apple has.
With dual processors and VM's I'd just run 2 30" screens, one with osX, one with Win7 in a VM.
This is the biggest deficiency that Apple has.
Lord Blackadder
Mar 4, 02:58 PM
If you buy a truck or SUV because you want to tow or haul, drive offroad or use it for work, fine. If you bought it because you're being "protective", then, yes, that is a selfish motivation.
Larger SUV's and trucks often do suffer fewer driver fatalities, so in some ways they are safer (in the US), but that is because they force smaller vehicles to absorb most of the impact during a crash. Also, the rollover risk remains high, so that the "protection" you are buying is pretty conditional and may come at the expense of other people's lives.
In addition, I should point out that minivans are safer than SUVs, so if you want your family safe, buy a minivan. Finally, it's a proven fact that pickups are less safe than cars, period.
If you want to debate it further I suggest we start another thread though, so we can keep this one on-topic.
Larger SUV's and trucks often do suffer fewer driver fatalities, so in some ways they are safer (in the US), but that is because they force smaller vehicles to absorb most of the impact during a crash. Also, the rollover risk remains high, so that the "protection" you are buying is pretty conditional and may come at the expense of other people's lives.
In addition, I should point out that minivans are safer than SUVs, so if you want your family safe, buy a minivan. Finally, it's a proven fact that pickups are less safe than cars, period.
If you want to debate it further I suggest we start another thread though, so we can keep this one on-topic.
*LTD*
Apr 3, 02:00 PM
So we actually need sarcasm tags in forums now. :D
dukebound85
Apr 12, 06:11 PM
I don't think people are pumping it up at all. I personally think that people who can't drive a standard transmission, are just lazy (and that goes for my mother, and her habit of doing her makeup while driving). People only get autos, because they don't want to have to "inconvenience" themselves with pushing down on the clutch and throwing the car into the next gear; because doing so requires them to stop shoving food down their face, or to get of the damn phone. I also hate to hear people moan about how inconvenient a standard transmission is during stop and go traffic; I mean it's not that bad, and I recently took my standard transmission accord to chicago and drove in stop and go traffic for over two hours, and it was not as annoying as some would make it out to be. People are just too willing to sacrifice the fun of driving for convenience.
-Don
having driven a manual for over 10 years, it gets annoying quite often...
-Don
having driven a manual for over 10 years, it gets annoying quite often...
MacSA
Sep 6, 12:11 PM
Is it just me, or does the $599 mini *not* let you configure it with a DVD burner?
Apple want you to "upgrade" to the more expensive model. The superdrive was a BTO option of �30. That Superdrive probably costs Apple �5, and they're still using a Combo Drive, which must cost them 99p
Im going to give this Mac Mini a miss.
Apple want you to "upgrade" to the more expensive model. The superdrive was a BTO option of �30. That Superdrive probably costs Apple �5, and they're still using a Combo Drive, which must cost them 99p
Im going to give this Mac Mini a miss.
dethmaShine
May 2, 05:24 PM
If you click on Show Content on any app and replace the first three files from an app downloaded from the app store it will happen with any app you want.
Right Click -> Show Package Contents -> Contents
Copy:
_CodeSignature
_MASReceipt
CodeResources
Then select and app not from the Mac App Store and Right Click -> Show Package Contents -> Contents
Then paste the three files. After you reboot your Mac it should work.
(This has been working since the past DP)
Im on DP 2 Update 3. This un-installation process applies to all external apps, not just MAS apps. No code, no change required. :)
Right Click -> Show Package Contents -> Contents
Copy:
_CodeSignature
_MASReceipt
CodeResources
Then select and app not from the Mac App Store and Right Click -> Show Package Contents -> Contents
Then paste the three files. After you reboot your Mac it should work.
(This has been working since the past DP)
Im on DP 2 Update 3. This un-installation process applies to all external apps, not just MAS apps. No code, no change required. :)
T'hain Esh Kelch
Sep 1, 12:28 PM
Apple legal taking action? Macosxrumors.com down now..
gr8whtd0pe
Jan 2, 07:22 PM
And since it doesn't fit into the garage (it's too long), I have to clean the snow off :mad: :
266105
You call that snow? PFFT. lol
266105
You call that snow? PFFT. lol
Spock
Nov 29, 01:45 PM
Its the Pippin 2!! this time its intel instead of Bandai!
chutch15
Sep 12, 08:30 PM
I really like it. It fits well and I like the material. It provides a good grip, slides nicely into my pocket, but doesn't slide around in my car when I place it on my center console.
I searched for the Belkin case on BestBuy.com then clicked Find in Store. The Concord Pike store was the only one within 30 min of me that showed it as in stock. However, I just did it again and it says differently. I was there at 3:30pm today and I'm sure they didn't have a rush on them this afternoon. There were a lot there of each color. I'd suggest running over there tomorrow. They are on the iPod Accessory rack near the front of the store on the far right side.
I searched for the Belkin case on BestBuy.com then clicked Find in Store. The Concord Pike store was the only one within 30 min of me that showed it as in stock. However, I just did it again and it says differently. I was there at 3:30pm today and I'm sure they didn't have a rush on them this afternoon. There were a lot there of each color. I'd suggest running over there tomorrow. They are on the iPod Accessory rack near the front of the store on the far right side.
nitynate
Aug 17, 01:46 PM
PowerBook G5 next Tuesday! :rolleyes:
Benjy91
Apr 2, 07:58 PM
I much prefer this approach to advertising, the "If you don't have an iPhone" ad was just horrible.
bob_hearn
Oct 23, 08:30 AM
Of course, we all know exactly what this rumor really means.
It means, simply, that the "Full Laptop Refresh By Holidays?" thread will stop short of 4000.
It means, simply, that the "Full Laptop Refresh By Holidays?" thread will stop short of 4000.
SactoGuy18
Apr 20, 06:51 PM
Manuals are cheaper to buy, cheaper to maintain, more reliable, longer lasting, more powerful, more fuel efficient, and offer better driver control. Automatics are for the elderly and the handicapped.
That used to be the case, but in recent years even conventional automatics have actually gotten a lot simpler because a lot of the functionality involved in shifting gears using hydraulics have been taken over by computers. As such, you don't see as much highly-complex hydraulics as older automatics, and that's why Hyundai was able to reduce the size of their new six-speed automatic so you even find it in the Hyundai Accent model (Hyundai just showed the 2012 US model today at the New York Auto Show).
Manuals still have their place, but it's likely going to be increasingly found on low-end automobiles and high-end sports cars over the next few years.
That used to be the case, but in recent years even conventional automatics have actually gotten a lot simpler because a lot of the functionality involved in shifting gears using hydraulics have been taken over by computers. As such, you don't see as much highly-complex hydraulics as older automatics, and that's why Hyundai was able to reduce the size of their new six-speed automatic so you even find it in the Hyundai Accent model (Hyundai just showed the 2012 US model today at the New York Auto Show).
Manuals still have their place, but it's likely going to be increasingly found on low-end automobiles and high-end sports cars over the next few years.
vincenz
Feb 23, 02:36 PM
This is my first Mac computer so nothing special but I love it.
Nice place to start for sure.
Nice place to start for sure.
yg17
Mar 22, 11:49 AM
Which anti-war groups picket veteran's funerals? The only group that I'm aware of is the Westboro Christian anti-gay Church.
And their reasoning for picketing has nothing to do with opposition to the war.
I don't think you'll find any anti-war groups protesting at funerals.
And their reasoning for picketing has nothing to do with opposition to the war.
I don't think you'll find any anti-war groups protesting at funerals.
bketchum
Sep 1, 12:19 PM
Originally Posted by BlizzardBomb
I'm wondering if Apple would kill off the 17" if they did introduce a 23". I'm pretty sure now that the manufacturing cost difference between 17" and 20" is quite small.
I highly doubt they would killl it off. I think they'd drop the price on it which would make it even more desirable for standard consumers with a budget. Sort of a, why get the mini when I could just pay a bit more for the iMac 17" kind of thing.
And the 17-inch iMac has an important educational role, taking the place of the eMac.
I'm wondering if Apple would kill off the 17" if they did introduce a 23". I'm pretty sure now that the manufacturing cost difference between 17" and 20" is quite small.
I highly doubt they would killl it off. I think they'd drop the price on it which would make it even more desirable for standard consumers with a budget. Sort of a, why get the mini when I could just pay a bit more for the iMac 17" kind of thing.
And the 17-inch iMac has an important educational role, taking the place of the eMac.
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