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Kilbey · Jan 12, 2005, 12:53 AM

From the end of this article.

The machine in every other sense is close to perfect. It has the right array of inputs and outputs, built-in networking and sound along with a versatile video output that should work with almost any monitor you already own.

Once this unit gets into the field and passes the tests of the real world, I'll have no trouble recommending it as a machine of choice, especially to new users. And I haven't done that with an Apple product for years.

Rev-O · Jan 12, 2005, 12:56 AM

You beat me to it! I just got done reading his bit, expecting the usual anti-Apple crapfest... but he was actually kinda positive.

What gives? Sign of the impending apocalypse?

cjrivera · Jan 12, 2005, 01:02 AM

His Alzheimer's dementia must be worsening.

Randman · Jan 12, 2005, 01:15 AM

DAMN! DAMN! DAMN! This means it's doomed to fail. Damn!

Goldfinger · Jan 12, 2005, 01:56 AM

Hell has really frozen over.

mixin visuals · Jan 12, 2005, 02:03 AM

thats like hearing a mother complain about a girlfriend. they are never happy

Spheric Harlot · Jan 12, 2005, 05:22 AM

Originally posted by Randman:
This means it's doomed to fail.

.

juanvaldes · Jan 12, 2005, 05:25 AM

Originally posted by mixin visuals:
thats like hearing a mother complain about a girlfriend. they are never happy

...and then you bring a new one home and she likes her.

eery....

theolein · Jan 12, 2005, 06:18 AM

Given Dvorak's inability to even predict the next sunrise, I hope this doesn't bode ill for the new little Maclet. On the other hand, I think the thing is so cool that his liking it simply shows how broad its appeal is.

I wouldn't be surprised if Apple sells millions of these little bricks.

Lancer409 · Jan 12, 2005, 06:28 AM

Originally posted by Goldfinger:
Hell has really frozen over.

megaditto's...

that being said .. WTF?!?

*shrugs and grabs a snowboard*

pathogen · Jan 12, 2005, 06:30 AM

I see his ruse.

He wants to recommend it to new users so that they get disappointed.

1. It's a wee bit slow for gaming.
2. Most windows users who are upgrading are UNAWARE that their old serial mice and keyboards won't work with a mac right out of the box.
3. They buy it now, before Tiger, and whammo... they get the FUD they'll have to buy an OS upgrade.

chris v · Jan 12, 2005, 07:10 AM

Originally posted by pathogen:

3. They buy it now, before Tiger, and whammo... they get the FUD they'll have to buy an OS upgrade.

Consumers rarely, if ever feel like the have to upgrade anything. I have a co-worker who refused to install 10.3 on his iMac until about 2 months ago, despite the fact that he could do so for free under my 100 seat license. 10.1.5 was working just fine for him. I have another semi-freelance artist I contract work to who refuses to upgrade his dual 450 from OS 9.1, despite the fact that he could also use my 10.3 license. I've offered to come over and do it for him, and he still hesitates. This is more the norm with your average joe than feeling 'compelled' to upgrade.

As far as the Dvorak article, he notes that Apple has "had problems" with their similarly design machines, like the Cube, while failing to mention that the problem was price, and that it is not a problem with this one.

mitchell_pgh · Jan 12, 2005, 07:23 AM

Originally posted by Randman:
DAMN! DAMN! DAMN! This means it's doomed to fail. Damn!

I agree. That, that guy hasn't got anything right about the Mac in years. In fact, I think he mentally checked out long ago...

ajprice · Jan 12, 2005, 08:00 AM

chris v, your designer friend might be sticking with OS 9 because his design software is OS 9 based. Sure, he could use the OS 9 apps through Classic, but he may be thinking that OS X system means OS X applications, so he'd have to upgrade them. For a freelance designer its probably a big commitment to go out and get Quark 6 and Adobe CS upgrades in one whack.

Randman · Jan 12, 2005, 08:03 AM

I think the designer is more likely stuck in his ways. While I can understand a business sticking with OS9 because of high costs, the advantages these days of OSX vs OS9 are minimal at best.
Heck, the only reason why I have Classic is for the few times a year I need Quark 4 (and to play some older games).

chris v · Jan 12, 2005, 08:03 AM

Originally posted by ajprice:
chris v, your designer friend might be sticking with OS 9 because his design software is OS 9 based. Sure, he could use the OS 9 apps through Classic, but he may be thinking that OS X system means OS X applications, so he'd have to upgrade them. For a freelance designer its probably a big commitment to go out and get Quark 6 and Adobe CS upgrades in one whack.

No, he's sticking with it because he's afraid of tampering with his machine. He's also afraid to install RAM-- I think he's still running on the orig. 64 MB shipped with. He's the type who calls someone to come hook a printer up for him. I've spent literally hours talking to him about upgrades, new hardware, etc, but he always pulls up short, because it works now, and what if... There's lots of folks around like this.

Randman · Jan 12, 2005, 08:05 AM

Originally posted by chris v:
No, he's sticking with it because he's afraid of tampering with his machine. He's also afraid to install RAM-- I think he's still running on the orig. 64 MB shipped with. He's the type who calls someone to come hook a printer up for him. I've spent literally hours talking to him about upgrades, new hardware, etc, but he always pulls up short, because it works now, and what if... There's lots of folks around like this.

Egads, I'd be worried to see his work if he's that stuck in the past.

davesimondotcom · Jan 12, 2005, 08:47 AM

Originally posted by chris v:
No, he's sticking with it because he's afraid of tampering with his machine. He's also afraid to install RAM-- I think he's still running on the orig. 64 MB shipped with. He's the type who calls someone to come hook a printer up for him. I've spent literally hours talking to him about upgrades, new hardware, etc, but he always pulls up short, because it works now, and what if... There's lots of folks around like this.

Wow, good luck to him in the future. Any designer worth his salt knows that a faster machine means more profit and usually pays for itself pretty fast. Rather than waiting 30 minutes for a PowerMac 7100 to run a Photoshop 4 gausian blur, do it in 10 seconds on a G5. Boom. You just made half an hour of billable time.

I'm always anxious for new stuff - things that help me work better and faster. Tiger, for example, I am very excited about. There are lots of tasks I can write AppleScripts for, but with Automator I can write the scripts faster. How many times a day do I use dictionary.com or Calculator or, this time of year, check the weather. All easy as pie with Dashboard. Searching? Spotlight. Tiger will help me be more productive.

I haven't used Classic in probably 2 years. OS X after 10.1 started feeling so much more polished than 9. And more stable. To me, it's idiotic to not upgrade.

As far as Dvorak. I never liked his keyboard layout much anyway. (Kidding.)

mitchell_pgh · Jan 12, 2005, 08:57 AM

Originally posted by davesimondotcom:
Wow, good luck to him in the future. Any designer worth his salt knows that a faster machine means more profit and usually pays for itself pretty fast. Rather than waiting 30 minutes for a PowerMac 7100 to run a Photoshop 4 gausian blur, do it in 10 seconds on a G5. Boom. You just made half an hour of billable time.

I have found that the best designers get their systems working and don't touch them. They generally have a second system to "play" with, but when it comes to designing... they use their "rock". They won't even install updates unless it's KNOWN to fix a specific problem they are having.

I'm not saying they are running on 5 year old hardware... but they generally buy a nice system and run with it until it's dead.

Randman · Jan 12, 2005, 09:47 AM

A nice system and sticking with OS9 are two different kettles of fish.

davesimondotcom · Jan 12, 2005, 09:51 AM

Originally posted by mitchell_pgh:
I have found that the best designers get their systems working and don't touch them. They generally have a second system to "play" with, but when it comes to designing... they use their "rock". They won't even install updates unless it's KNOWN to fix a specific problem they are having.

I'm not saying they are running on 5 year old hardware... but they generally buy a nice system and run with it until it's dead.

Well, not to brag or anything, but I think our firm is among the best of designers, and we like to upgrade software ASAP - but we still use Illustrator 10 over CS because we had some initial problems sending some CS things to press.

Hardware-wise, it seems dogmatic to stick to using an older computer simply because "it works." That seems to assume a newer one won't work. Which is not my experience with Macs. Faster is better.

ajprice · Jan 12, 2005, 10:17 AM

The fact that chris v is offering these people a FREE upgrade under his license is what gets me, I mean, if someone came over to me and offered software as a free legal copy, I'd jump at the chance.

mitchell_pgh · Jan 12, 2005, 10:20 AM

Originally posted by davesimondotcom:
Well, not to brag or anything, but I think our firm is among the best of designers, and we like to upgrade software ASAP - but we still use Illustrator 10 over CS because we had some initial problems sending some CS things to press.

Hardware-wise, it seems dogmatic to stick to using an older computer simply because "it works." That seems to assume a newer one won't work. Which is not my experience with Macs. Faster is better.

That's interesting because when we upgrade ASAP, our printers usually complain that they haven't had the software long enough to iron out any RIP issue that they might have... I'm honestly surprised. A handful of designers just jumped on OS X within the last year (when Quark 6.1 was released).