hvfsl
Jul 14, 07:42 AM
I would like to point out a few things:
-Of course BluRay burners will be optional in Macs (until they cost around the same as DVD writers cost now)
-A BluRay writer will allow people to record movies on their HD camera (Sony and co already have a few pro-sumer models out) and then burn them in HD to BD-R using upcoming versions of iDVD and DVDstudio.
-You will be able to watch HD movies on your Mac.
Also I personally want BluRay to win over HD-DVD because it will mean that we won't need another new format for many years to come. BluRay has plans for 200GB disks.
HD-DVD may be fine for current HD movies, but what happens when we move to even higher resolutions and to 3D (Lucas and Jackson both have plans to release their movies in 3D).
-Of course BluRay burners will be optional in Macs (until they cost around the same as DVD writers cost now)
-A BluRay writer will allow people to record movies on their HD camera (Sony and co already have a few pro-sumer models out) and then burn them in HD to BD-R using upcoming versions of iDVD and DVDstudio.
-You will be able to watch HD movies on your Mac.
Also I personally want BluRay to win over HD-DVD because it will mean that we won't need another new format for many years to come. BluRay has plans for 200GB disks.
HD-DVD may be fine for current HD movies, but what happens when we move to even higher resolutions and to 3D (Lucas and Jackson both have plans to release their movies in 3D).
KnightWRX
Jun 22, 07:50 PM
Touch interfaces don't NECESSARILY mean touchscreen interfaces.
The Magic Trackpad � http://www.macrumors.com/2010/06/07/apples-magic-trackpad-or-magic-slate-revealed/ � would allow for multi-touch on desktops, enabling many iOS applications to be used on a desktop computer (and obviously laptops could do the same thing with their trackpads).
There are lots of ways this could be useful. For example: touch input in a desktop environment could be useful for manipulating or selecting MULTIPLE buttons/sliders/whatever independently, and at the same time � which you can't do with a mouse.
iOS apps are designed for touchscreen operations. A trackpad would fail miserably as an input device for these. Think about it, how do you know where on screen you are touching if you're not directly touching the screen. Trackpads work because of the cursor indication the position on screen. Touchscreens don't require cursors because you are "directly" manipulating graphical objects.
It just doesn't translate well to one another.
The Magic Trackpad � http://www.macrumors.com/2010/06/07/apples-magic-trackpad-or-magic-slate-revealed/ � would allow for multi-touch on desktops, enabling many iOS applications to be used on a desktop computer (and obviously laptops could do the same thing with their trackpads).
There are lots of ways this could be useful. For example: touch input in a desktop environment could be useful for manipulating or selecting MULTIPLE buttons/sliders/whatever independently, and at the same time � which you can't do with a mouse.
iOS apps are designed for touchscreen operations. A trackpad would fail miserably as an input device for these. Think about it, how do you know where on screen you are touching if you're not directly touching the screen. Trackpads work because of the cursor indication the position on screen. Touchscreens don't require cursors because you are "directly" manipulating graphical objects.
It just doesn't translate well to one another.
pkson
Apr 2, 07:29 PM
Such a great ad.
They should have done something like this and not the "well you don't have an iPhone" ad.
They should have done something like this and not the "well you don't have an iPhone" ad.
Aleco
Sep 15, 09:30 AM
I don't see this hurting iPhone 4 sales, not one bit. Who even listens to CR these days?
chrismacguy
Feb 27, 05:21 AM
I recall paying the same price for mine as the Mac Pro currently costs. Sheesh! Stupid me. I should've put that money into Apple stock! If I had put the $7k I blew on my Dual 800/22" into Apple shares I could afford a Ferrari right now :(
Being 14 and stupid FTW?
I wonder if I'll be in the same boat in 7 years :p (I just bought a Mac Pro with a 27" Cinema Display a few months back)
Being 14 and stupid FTW?
I wonder if I'll be in the same boat in 7 years :p (I just bought a Mac Pro with a 27" Cinema Display a few months back)
globalhemp
Nov 29, 04:05 PM
AT&T offers a service called "Homezone" (http://www.sbc.com/gen/general?pid=7910) which uses 2WIRE (http://www.2wire.com/?p=11) products.
Of course, it has an ugly interface you'd expect from most companies outside Apple. Microsoft's Media Center even does a better job.
I hope that Apple's iTV will do more than play content that's in the next room on my iMac, I'd much rather see an offering that allows my home / office to be remotely accessed such as what is possible today with Sling Media (http://www.slingmedia.com/indexa.php).
1. You attach a Sling Box to your cable / satellite tv at home / work
2. Attach your broadband network to Sling Box
3. Access your Sling Box from anywhere that has a broadband connection
So, if you live in Sunnyvale, CA, you can travel to Chicago and still watch the local news in Silicon Valley or San Francisco. Or, you can travel to Tokyo and watch not only the news from back home, but any of your satellite / cable channels, as well as content on your DVR. I'm sure that you could even hook-up a camera to see your wife and kids at home if you wanted to as well.
Anyhow, I think this is much cooler than watching a slideshow of the photos on my iMac in the next room, or listening to the music from my iMac on my television. I mean AirTunes pretty much already does that.
So, I'm still hopeful that Apple has something more up their sleeves. Otherwise, iTV will be as popular as oh, say the iPod Hi-Fi.
As for portable movies, a true video iPod already exists as well. Its called "PocketDish" (http://www.pocketdish.com/?section=home) from DishNetwork. PocketDish allows users to sync their DVR content and take it with them. So, record Spiderman for the kids, sync it, and go on that road trip. The largest PocketDish has a 7" LCD (480x234 pixel resolution) and sells for $399.
Of course, it has an ugly interface you'd expect from most companies outside Apple. Microsoft's Media Center even does a better job.
I hope that Apple's iTV will do more than play content that's in the next room on my iMac, I'd much rather see an offering that allows my home / office to be remotely accessed such as what is possible today with Sling Media (http://www.slingmedia.com/indexa.php).
1. You attach a Sling Box to your cable / satellite tv at home / work
2. Attach your broadband network to Sling Box
3. Access your Sling Box from anywhere that has a broadband connection
So, if you live in Sunnyvale, CA, you can travel to Chicago and still watch the local news in Silicon Valley or San Francisco. Or, you can travel to Tokyo and watch not only the news from back home, but any of your satellite / cable channels, as well as content on your DVR. I'm sure that you could even hook-up a camera to see your wife and kids at home if you wanted to as well.
Anyhow, I think this is much cooler than watching a slideshow of the photos on my iMac in the next room, or listening to the music from my iMac on my television. I mean AirTunes pretty much already does that.
So, I'm still hopeful that Apple has something more up their sleeves. Otherwise, iTV will be as popular as oh, say the iPod Hi-Fi.
As for portable movies, a true video iPod already exists as well. Its called "PocketDish" (http://www.pocketdish.com/?section=home) from DishNetwork. PocketDish allows users to sync their DVR content and take it with them. So, record Spiderman for the kids, sync it, and go on that road trip. The largest PocketDish has a 7" LCD (480x234 pixel resolution) and sells for $399.
J the Ninja
Apr 12, 08:45 PM
I know this thread is probably full of pro video geeks so don't eat me alive here. What's the primary difference between FCP and Express aside from the fact that Final Cut Pro is packaged in a suite of applications?
Pretty sure FCE doesn't support 24fps, which is kinda a problem for film editing, and an increasingly bigger problem for other work as 24fps gets used more. IIRC, it doesn't have stuff like the color scopes or audio mixer either. The main difference is the suite though.
Pretty sure FCE doesn't support 24fps, which is kinda a problem for film editing, and an increasingly bigger problem for other work as 24fps gets used more. IIRC, it doesn't have stuff like the color scopes or audio mixer either. The main difference is the suite though.
Surely
Nov 26, 05:00 PM
Link please!
....or you can, I don't know, check the image's url to determine where he bought those shirts.........
Lurchdubious, are you building a glasses case?:p
/ok, I'll stop now
....or you can, I don't know, check the image's url to determine where he bought those shirts.........
Lurchdubious, are you building a glasses case?:p
/ok, I'll stop now
PowerFullMac
Jan 12, 09:07 AM
I think that "Air" is a good name and it really could be the name, think of the iPhone, no one thought that would be the actual name, but it is was and is! So we shall see in a few days...
And the reason its not "Lite" or "Light" is because they have been used a million times, and Apple thinks different :)
And the reason its not "Lite" or "Light" is because they have been used a million times, and Apple thinks different :)
ipadder
Sep 30, 11:29 PM
Those clear cases are pretty bad. They don't fit my iPod Touches at all. Shame I wasted $6 on them ($3 x 2). Any recommendation guys?
I like these styles from a seller I bought from before:
http://stores.ebay.com/Cimo-Cases/Soft-Gel-Cases-/_i.html?rt=nc&LH_BIN=1&_fsub=2283659015&_sid=192097565&_trksid=p4634.c0.m309
I took an image of the black matte recently in this thread i believe. Fast shipping great service.
I like these styles from a seller I bought from before:
http://stores.ebay.com/Cimo-Cases/Soft-Gel-Cases-/_i.html?rt=nc&LH_BIN=1&_fsub=2283659015&_sid=192097565&_trksid=p4634.c0.m309
I took an image of the black matte recently in this thread i believe. Fast shipping great service.
MattG
Nov 29, 02:43 PM
For the love of god Steve, you need to come out with a TiVo/Media Center PC KILLER. I would love to see that.
adamjay
Apr 8, 11:18 PM
Fact is Pcs are running away from Mac and when a 500 dollar machine kicks a new $2000 Imac .
yea show me a PC Box with a 17" to 20" LCD, and comparable spec's as the imac that costs $500 total? and don't even spit some BS about framerates in Halo.
you have to be smart to be a smart-ass.
yea show me a PC Box with a 17" to 20" LCD, and comparable spec's as the imac that costs $500 total? and don't even spit some BS about framerates in Halo.
you have to be smart to be a smart-ass.
bmustaf
Sep 14, 09:59 AM
They DO, I don't think you have the facts. CR held Lexus' feet to the fire to get them to act on the GX - http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2010/04/consumer-reports-2010-lexus-gx-dont-buy-safety-risk.html .
They EXPLICITLY came out and said "DO NOT BUY". A lot harsher than the Apple "Cannot Recommend".
People trust CR because they're a non-profit that doesn't accept ads, endorsements, or free product. So, I don't see what is wrong with not recommending a product that has a flaw that the manufacturer isn't providing a permanent/non-band aid style fix for.
If you read their article/write up on the iPhone 4, they give you the facts and let you make your decision, but when CR says "Recommended" you can be pretty sure you're buying a product without its issues. I don't think anyone here can say the iPhone 4 is without its issues. Those issues aren't a material problem for me, so I love mine, but I'm not a blind Apple fanboy type, either, so I have the wherewithall to understand that Apple and their products aren't perfect.
I respect CR for making an unpopular call & sticking with it. I tend to trust them because they are open about their testing, results, the facts, and make recommendations based on that. I can make my own decision, so I didn't heed their "Not Recommended", but I do understand and respect why they rated it so and why the Case Program isn't an acceptable answer.
PS - Auto makers pretty much do have to go door-to-door and hand out the fix for affected cars. You get a card in the mail and if it is a safety issue (e.g. accelerator/tip over, etc) they will even have the dealer come GET the car from you until it is "made safe" again. The onus is *NOT* on the owner, the company has to be proactive about it. Besides, CR isn't asking Apple to send a Steve Jobs look alike to everyone's home to put a case on their phone - they're just asking Apple to provide a *permanent* fix, be it a *permanent* case program (which I think is a band-aid, and I think CR sees it that way, too) or a *permanent* hardware fix. There is no certainty what the case (no pun intended) is going to be after Sept 30 - they have a point there.
Follow up - Lexus fixed the problem and CR lifted their "DO NOT BUY" recommendation - http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2010/05/video-lexus-gx-460-passes-retest-consumer-reports-lifts-dont-buy-label.html . CR is *NOT* the problem here, it's Apple penchant for hubris/self-involvement. I love Apple and their products, but I'm not fooling myself to expect that they'll be any more consumer-friendly and honest than they need to be to turn a profit/feed Steve's ego.
Get your facts straight before you spout off with inaccurate rhetoric.
Does Consumer Reports stop recommending automobile purchases? Because you know if there is an issue with a car, the manufacturer will issue a recall. If you are affected, you have to take it into a dealer where it will be fixed. The onus is on the owner of the car, for crying out loud! The auto manufacturers should go house to house providing the fix for free to all cars, whether their owners report a problem or not!
Wait, you mean Consumer Reports does not hold the auto manufacturers to the same artificial standard they hold Apple to? How amazing...
They EXPLICITLY came out and said "DO NOT BUY". A lot harsher than the Apple "Cannot Recommend".
People trust CR because they're a non-profit that doesn't accept ads, endorsements, or free product. So, I don't see what is wrong with not recommending a product that has a flaw that the manufacturer isn't providing a permanent/non-band aid style fix for.
If you read their article/write up on the iPhone 4, they give you the facts and let you make your decision, but when CR says "Recommended" you can be pretty sure you're buying a product without its issues. I don't think anyone here can say the iPhone 4 is without its issues. Those issues aren't a material problem for me, so I love mine, but I'm not a blind Apple fanboy type, either, so I have the wherewithall to understand that Apple and their products aren't perfect.
I respect CR for making an unpopular call & sticking with it. I tend to trust them because they are open about their testing, results, the facts, and make recommendations based on that. I can make my own decision, so I didn't heed their "Not Recommended", but I do understand and respect why they rated it so and why the Case Program isn't an acceptable answer.
PS - Auto makers pretty much do have to go door-to-door and hand out the fix for affected cars. You get a card in the mail and if it is a safety issue (e.g. accelerator/tip over, etc) they will even have the dealer come GET the car from you until it is "made safe" again. The onus is *NOT* on the owner, the company has to be proactive about it. Besides, CR isn't asking Apple to send a Steve Jobs look alike to everyone's home to put a case on their phone - they're just asking Apple to provide a *permanent* fix, be it a *permanent* case program (which I think is a band-aid, and I think CR sees it that way, too) or a *permanent* hardware fix. There is no certainty what the case (no pun intended) is going to be after Sept 30 - they have a point there.
Follow up - Lexus fixed the problem and CR lifted their "DO NOT BUY" recommendation - http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2010/05/video-lexus-gx-460-passes-retest-consumer-reports-lifts-dont-buy-label.html . CR is *NOT* the problem here, it's Apple penchant for hubris/self-involvement. I love Apple and their products, but I'm not fooling myself to expect that they'll be any more consumer-friendly and honest than they need to be to turn a profit/feed Steve's ego.
Get your facts straight before you spout off with inaccurate rhetoric.
Does Consumer Reports stop recommending automobile purchases? Because you know if there is an issue with a car, the manufacturer will issue a recall. If you are affected, you have to take it into a dealer where it will be fixed. The onus is on the owner of the car, for crying out loud! The auto manufacturers should go house to house providing the fix for free to all cars, whether their owners report a problem or not!
Wait, you mean Consumer Reports does not hold the auto manufacturers to the same artificial standard they hold Apple to? How amazing...
boncellis
Sep 6, 01:47 PM
...Works great on my hdtv bc i have vga input on it. so i store all my music and play dvds through it to the tv.....
I sure hope you mistook the VGA input for the DVI input, otherwise you're crippling that gorgeous TV. Or you can get a DVI to HDMI cable to connect the Mini.
Sounds like a cool setup, the kind of thing I want to do too. ;)
I sure hope you mistook the VGA input for the DVI input, otherwise you're crippling that gorgeous TV. Or you can get a DVI to HDMI cable to connect the Mini.
Sounds like a cool setup, the kind of thing I want to do too. ;)
twoodcc
Aug 29, 10:15 AM
UPDATE:
It looks like the GMA X3000 is ready to go now, but a Yonah coupled with a X3000 IGP would still make the Mini a great machine.
wow, now that would be something
It looks like the GMA X3000 is ready to go now, but a Yonah coupled with a X3000 IGP would still make the Mini a great machine.
wow, now that would be something
vand0576
Sep 1, 01:28 PM
Thats crazy! no way do Computers (outside of Apple) overlap ALL THE TIME.
Of course computer lines overlap. Check the other online stores, and not the apple online store every 5 minutes and you would know this. Think about it, they almost have to! How many different models does Dell or HP sell at any given moment? How many choices does one need to narrow down? You can customize something like 11-12 machines on other sites, that are all very comparable, IMO
Of course computer lines overlap. Check the other online stores, and not the apple online store every 5 minutes and you would know this. Think about it, they almost have to! How many different models does Dell or HP sell at any given moment? How many choices does one need to narrow down? You can customize something like 11-12 machines on other sites, that are all very comparable, IMO
firestarter
Mar 20, 06:33 PM
But like homeopathy religion can achieve positive things too.
Please quantify that. Homeopathy might make you feel better about your cold, but if you're persuaded to rely on it rather than chemotherapy to cure your cancer, you'll be in for a shock.
Lots of little good placebo outcomes outweighed by pretty serious consequences I'd bet.
Please quantify that. Homeopathy might make you feel better about your cold, but if you're persuaded to rely on it rather than chemotherapy to cure your cancer, you'll be in for a shock.
Lots of little good placebo outcomes outweighed by pretty serious consequences I'd bet.
Calbretto
Apr 20, 10:28 AM
I simply can't wait for the refresh. I am ready for my first iMac... and my first home Mac. :) I use a Mac Pro G5 at work that is a few years old but an awesome machine. My home use for a Mac is less demanding than at work so I figure an iMac would be fine for my needs.
DJMastaWes
Feb 22, 10:22 PM
Haven't posted my setup in a couple years - last time I was able to post it in the '18 and under setup thread' - oh how I've grown (and begun to proudly pay for everything!!)
27" i7 iMac, 12GBs of RAM, 1TB HDD - 2TB LaCie External HDD.
Also have a four year old - overheating - 17" C2D MacBook Pro I pretty much just use for work. Going to either be getting a MacBook Air or one of the new MacBook Pros when they come out. I don't really need a powerful notebook anymore since I do most of my intensive work on the iMac now.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/105391/Screen%20shot%202011-02-22%20at%2011.24.16%20PM.png
*Low light iPhone picture
27" i7 iMac, 12GBs of RAM, 1TB HDD - 2TB LaCie External HDD.
Also have a four year old - overheating - 17" C2D MacBook Pro I pretty much just use for work. Going to either be getting a MacBook Air or one of the new MacBook Pros when they come out. I don't really need a powerful notebook anymore since I do most of my intensive work on the iMac now.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/105391/Screen%20shot%202011-02-22%20at%2011.24.16%20PM.png
*Low light iPhone picture
Eolian
Mar 23, 02:31 PM
You still don't get it. It is having all your music with you. The choice to play anything you feel in the mood to hear , not that you play it all from start to finish.
Exactly ~ does one read every book in the library when they walk in?
The folks that don't understand the Classic, well, they don't understand the Classic :rolleyes:
Exactly ~ does one read every book in the library when they walk in?
The folks that don't understand the Classic, well, they don't understand the Classic :rolleyes:
BabyFaceMagee
Jan 11, 11:30 PM
There are several companies that have been working on various ways to provide power without cords "the holy grail" being the eventual elimination of power cords for all sorts of computers, applicances etc.
My guess is that they will have a 'basic' version of this workable for a low power mac laptop that can be powered in a room with a wireless power transmitter doing away with the need for a power cord. As long as you are within range, similar to a wireless signal, the mac air will be able to charge and receive power wirelessly.
You heard it hear first.
BFM
My guess is that they will have a 'basic' version of this workable for a low power mac laptop that can be powered in a room with a wireless power transmitter doing away with the need for a power cord. As long as you are within range, similar to a wireless signal, the mac air will be able to charge and receive power wirelessly.
You heard it hear first.
BFM
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.
NameUndecided
Apr 3, 01:01 AM
It worked for me too on DP1. On DP2, I had to install Snow Leopard first.
Ooh. Thought you were talking about the installs for both previews. I installed developer preview 2 over the first, so I didn't realize. It still doesn't sound very accurate to me.
Forgive me -- this is what I'm understanding from you:
DP1 can install onto a blank disk/partition.
DP2 can't install on a blank disk/partition. Needs to install as an update on top of DP 1 or Snow Leopard. (?)
Ooh. Thought you were talking about the installs for both previews. I installed developer preview 2 over the first, so I didn't realize. It still doesn't sound very accurate to me.
Forgive me -- this is what I'm understanding from you:
DP1 can install onto a blank disk/partition.
DP2 can't install on a blank disk/partition. Needs to install as an update on top of DP 1 or Snow Leopard. (?)
Agaetis Byrjun
Feb 22, 09:47 PM
Those toolboxes are quite expensive. Any reason you chose one of those over, say, a plastic rolling cart from Ikea?
No Ikea for about 500 miles from me. They made a ton of different series from cheap crap to the really nice stuff. Mine was the middle on the line and was $179.00 on sales.
No Ikea for about 500 miles from me. They made a ton of different series from cheap crap to the really nice stuff. Mine was the middle on the line and was $179.00 on sales.
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