[Helmling]

We knew that Steve and Co. could never match the thrill of last year, what with the unveiling of the iPhone, but I was taken aback by what a let-down this year's keynote was.

Yes, there is the Air. It is a gorgeous piece of hardware (like everything that's born the logo in the last decade, with the exception of the tie-dyed iMacs). It is, however, a real niche product. I'd love to get one in the mail and all, but most users prefer a more robust laptop to use as a primary computer. The Air will please a slice of the Mac user base and may win a few convertees, but in the end it's not much more significant than the old PowerMac cubes in terms of Mac's overall product line.

Beyond that, what did we get? Some very overpriced movie rentals? While current releases may be about on par, the fact is that most people (or at least, most people who are potential customers for this service) have access to current releases through on-demand downloads that go along with high speed cable. This addition might open up on-demand downloads to some DSL customers who were lacking good satellite packages, but again, it's not going to hit a large segment of the market. The rest of the catalog of movies you can rent are outrageously overpriced. Why would I pay $3.99 to download a feature film when I could drive to Blockbuster and rent it for 99 cents--in about the same time, no less.

And what else? It's a year after the original iPhone and we get nothing but a software update? I can jiggle my icons into place? Big deal. I was really counting on a 16Gb version of the iPhone today so I could drop Verizon like a rock when my contract's up next month, but now, I may just wait until there's an iPhone that can hold my stuff.

I know you can't blow my socks off every year, Steve, but come on, were you even trying?

[smacintush]

They can't all be exciting to everyone.

[lpkmckenna]

Originally Posted by Helmling 

Why would I pay $3.99 to download a feature film when I could drive to Blockbuster and rent it for 99 cents--in about the same time, no less.

Instant gratification. Looking for a movie to watch in TV will be far more convenient than going to Blockbuster.

[Uncle Skeleton]

Originally Posted by Helmling 

Steve and Co. could never match the thrill of last year, what with the unveiling of the iPhone
...
Yes, there is the Air. It is a gorgeous piece of hardware (like everything that's born the logo in the last decade, with the exception of the tie-dyed iMacs). It is, however, a real niche product.

You don't think a $600 phone is a niche product? I think the extravagance of the iPhone as a phone is easily as ridiculous as the Air is as a notebook. I can't afford either, but I'm far more excited about Apple entering the subnotebook niche than about them entering the superphone niche.

[Cipher13]

I'd rather drive to Blockbuster since that doesn't chew my bandwidth up.

Anyway, does the Aus iTunes store even have TV shows available for purchase yet? Probably not.

[Kerrigan]

We already have a whining thread.

[smacintush]

Originally Posted by Cipher13 

I'd rather drive to Blockbuster since that doesn't chew my bandwidth up.

Anyway, does the Aus iTunes store even have TV shows available for purchase yet? Probably not.

What does that matter? If you are watching a movie on your TV you aren't USING that bandwidth. Downloading and seeding your BitTorrent porn can wait two hours.

[Uncle Skeleton]

Originally Posted by Cipher13 

I'd rather drive to Blockbuster since that doesn't chew my bandwidth up.

I think most people are more concerned about chewing up their car and about having to put on pants to go outside than they are about the state of their bandwidth.

Edit: oh yeah, Australia. Do you have bandwidth caps? We generally don't.

[Uncle Skeleton]

Originally Posted by Kerrigan 

We already have a whining thread.

Then go whine in it!

j/k I agree with you

[Cipher13]

Originally Posted by smacintush 

What does that matter? If you are watching a movie on your TV you aren't USING that bandwidth. Downloading and seeding your BitTorrent porn can wait two hours.

By bandwidth I actually meant my download quota, not the available bandwidth of my cable line. I was using the term as it's colloquially used (admittedly incorrectly).

Originally Posted by Uncle Skeleton 

I think most people are more concerned about chewing up their car and about having to put on pants to go outside than they are about the state of their bandwidth.

Edit: oh yeah, Australia. Do you have bandwidth caps? We generally don't.

Yeah, careful of the 2 minute trip to the video store, that's bound to be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

We do indeed... horrific ones. My cable service (which costs a bloody fortune) has a 20GB peak quota (peak: usage between 12pm and 12am), with an extra 40GB off-peak (between 12am and 12pm). Using up the peak quota automatically removes any remaining off-peak data available and caps the line to 64kb/s (thank **** for that, it was until several months ago capped to 28.8). Welcome to the stone age.

[Face Ache]

Yeah, mine's also capped at 20GB/month in peak hours.

So how many movies could I download before I'm on 64kb/s?

[C.A.T.S. CEO]

Originally Posted by Kerrigan 

We already have a whining thread.

Yep

http://forums.macnn.com/89/macnn-lou...whining-begin/

[Zeeb]

Originally Posted by Uncle Skeleton 

I think most people are more concerned about chewing up their car and about having to put on pants to go outside than they are about the state of their bandwidth.

Edit: oh yeah, Australia. Do you have bandwidth caps? We generally don't.

Really, up to $4.99 for a video rental that you have to watch within 24 hours once started is a joke really. I'm sure it will do fairly well, but is no threat to a service like netflix. You don't have to put on pants to get those either. The only thing is the instant gratification part--and netflix already has the ability to download some titles which they are also expanding. AND its included in the membership. Far, far cheaper than $4.99 per rental. What a ripoff. They are also close to a partnership which will release a set top box which I would much more likely to get than an Apple TV.

[ort888]

Put It In The Damn Thread That Is Already There!

[Zeeb]

Originally Posted by ort888 

Put It In The Damn Thread That Is Already There!

Ok. Breathe in, relax, focus, and imagine all your anger being exhaled as black smoke.

[imitchellg5]

Originally Posted by ort888 

Put It In The Damn Thread That Is Already There!

That should be posted at the head of every forum, since people don't seem to read the guidlines.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by Cipher13 

We do indeed... horrific ones. My cable service (which costs a bloody fortune) has a 20GB peak quota (peak: usage between 12pm and 12am), with an extra 40GB off-peak (between 12am and 12pm). Using up the peak quota automatically removes any remaining off-peak data available and caps the line to 64kb/s (thank **** for that, it was until several months ago capped to 28.8). Welcome to the stone age.

Well, that sucks.

But why is that Apple's fault or problem, and how does that make movie rentals in general a bad idea ?

-t

[Eug]

Originally Posted by lpkmckenna 

Instant gratification. Looking for a movie to watch in TV will be far more convenient than going to Blockbuster.

Not really. My local Blockbuster is a 2 minute drive away, and they have a far bigger selection. Well, maybe not for HD (they have a limited selection of Blu-ray and HD DVD), but at least I don't have to wait hours for an HD download if I go to Blockbuster. Furthermore, I don't have to wait 30 days to rent a new movie at Blockbuster.

And I hate Blockbuster, yet I'd rather go there than use AppleTV.

[Helmling]

Originally Posted by Uncle Skeleton 

You don't think a $600 phone is a niche product? I think the extravagance of the iPhone as a phone is easily as ridiculous as the Air is as a notebook. I can't afford either, but I'm far more excited about Apple entering the subnotebook niche than about them entering the superphone niche.

Come on--the iPhone was a huge deal for Apple and has cemented their position as THE leader in the high-end tech market.

You're comparing apples to hand grenades.

Now, after watching the whole tour on the Air, I've got to admit that it is one hell of a little machine. But the price-point will mean that it steals market share from the Pro, not from the now ubiquitous Macbooks.

[Helmling]

Originally Posted by ort888 

Put It In The Damn Thread That Is Already There!

That damned thread wasn't clearly labeled!

So Bite Me!

[Eug]

Originally Posted by Helmling 

Come on--the iPhone was a huge deal for Apple and has cemented their position as THE leader in the high-end tech market.

You're comparing apples to hand grenades.

Now, after watching the whole tour on the Air, I've got to admit that it is one hell of a little machine. But the price-point will mean that it steals market share from the Pro, not from the now ubiquitous Macbooks.

The iPhone is a niche product... but it's totally awesome. The MacBook Air is a nice product too, but there is a difference.

The iPhone does way more than almost any other phone out there, and it does it with elegance.
The MacBook Air does way less than almost any other laptop out there, but it does it with elegance.

[imitchellg5]

Originally Posted by Helmling 

That damned thread wasn't clearly labeled!

So Bite Me!

[ort888]

Originally Posted by Helmling 

That damned thread wasn't clearly labeled!

So Bite Me!

Did you just assume that we hadn't bothered creating a thread to discuss Macworld?

[Andrew Stephens]

Originally Posted by ort888 

Did you just assume that we hadn't bothered creating a thread to discuss Macworld?

Macworld? Whaa?

[Cipher13]

Originally Posted by turtle777 

Well, that sucks.

But why is that Apple's fault or problem, and how does that make movie rentals in general a bad idea ?

-t

Er, it doesn't make movie rentals in general a bad idea - I never said that.

I also don't care who is at fault, or who is at the root of the problem. The service would be pretty useless for *me* and that's all I really care about right now, and all I said.

[Buckaroo]

I thought it was a great keynote. Keep in mind we also got Mac Pro updates a few days before.

We got a lot of important upgrades for free, along with a lot of great new products.

I love the MacBook Air, I'm not all that crazy about the name, but it is perfect. As soon as I can afford one, I'll buy one. BTW, the college discount is $100.

I felt the most important announcement was the upgrade to the iPhones. I have been needing those features for a long time. It's icing on top of the cake.

That Time Capsule is a great upgrade to the Airport. You get a Backup hard drive, Server (I believe . . . Firewall also maybe???) and a WiFi Base Station all in one unit.

The only concern I have is the ability to install Windows on the MacBook Air. I hope someone figures out how to do it.

If I am able to transfer AVI (DIVX or whatever they are) movies from my computer over to the new AppleTV to play on my HD LCD, I'll be buying a AppleTV, something I never would have considered before.

I thought it was a great Keynote, of course I was dancing on the ceiling when he announced the iPhone upgrades.

[- - e r i k - -]

Switch to TPG already Ciph. 150GB/m for the same price

[maxintosh]

Originally Posted by Helmling 

Why would I pay $3.99 to download a feature film when I could drive to Blockbuster and rent it for 99 cents--in about the same time, no less.

Whoa, Blockbuster only charges 99 cents where you are? Here in NYC it's 5 bucks! It was a little cheaper back in MA but definitely not 99 cents, more like 4 dollars IIRC.

[CharlesS]

Originally Posted by Cipher13 

We do indeed... horrific ones. My cable service (which costs a bloody fortune) has a 20GB peak quota (peak: usage between 12pm and 12am), with an extra 40GB off-peak (between 12am and 12pm). Using up the peak quota automatically removes any remaining off-peak data available and caps the line to 64kb/s (thank **** for that, it was until several months ago capped to 28.8). Welcome to the stone age.

You think that's bad? In the town where I used to live, the cable provider puts a 10 GB cap (when I lived there it was 6 GB) on all data transfer per month. There is no concept of peak/off-peak hours - 10 GB is all you get, even if you just download stuff overnight. If you pay extra for the $60/mo super-expensive package, they'll be so generous as to up that to 40 GB. If you are cheap and go for the basic package, you get a 1 GB download cap per month. Go over it, and you'll be paying huge overages per GB.

They also prohibit the use of NAT routers, insisting that you must have only one computer connected to the service, so no wireless for you.

[imitchellg5]

Originally Posted by maxintosh 

Whoa, Blockbuster only charges 99 cents where you are? Here in NYC it's 5 bucks! It was a little cheaper back in MA but definitely not 99 cents, more like 4 dollars IIRC.

Yeah, same here. I want $.99 movie rentals!

[smacintush]

My Blockbuster doesn't have 99¢ rentals, but the video store I ACTUALLY GO TO does. Plus $1.00 "nearly new", rent 2 nearly new get a third free…

Blockbuster can suck my balls.

[Mac User #001]

Originally Posted by CharlesS 

You think that's bad?...

You think thats bad?

I've got a 450MB cap per 24 hours on me, though I've got no charges for going over; I'm just reduced to worse-than-dial-up speeds.

[imitchellg5]

Wow that really sucks. I don't have any limits that I'm aware of (and I frequently transfer 10-40 GB files from my Power Mac to my school).

[Chuckit]

Originally Posted by CharlesS 

You think that's bad? In the town where I used to live, the cable provider puts a 10 GB cap (when I lived there it was 6 GB) on all data transfer per month. There is no concept of peak/off-peak hours - 10 GB is all you get, even if you just download stuff overnight. If you pay extra for the $60/mo super-expensive package, they'll be so generous as to up that to 40 GB. If you are cheap and go for the basic package, you get a 1 GB download cap per month. Go over it, and you'll be paying huge overages per GB.

They also prohibit the use of NAT routers, insisting that you must have only one computer connected to the service, so no wireless for you.

I can recommend a good company for you. A moving company, that is.

[CharlesS]

Did you miss the part where I said I used to live there?

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by CharlesS 

Did you miss the part where I said I used to live there?

Oh, you DON'T wanna move BACK ?

-t

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by turtle777 

Oh, you DON'T wanna move BACK ?

-t

Now that's comedy!





I am not disappointed with the Macworld.

MBA looks cool, if I was in the market for a new laptop this would be the one I'd get.

Time Capsule looks like a future purchase as soon as I sell my Airport Extreme.

iPhone upgrade looks like it might tip the scales for me towards a purchase.

iTunes rentals will be something I will be doing as soon as my new [APPLE]TV arrives.

I am pleased with Macworld.

I just wish my portfolio was as pleased...

[sek929]

Way to post positive things, railroader!

Welcome back, BTW

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by sek929 

Way to post positive things, railroader!

Welcome back, BTW

I am easily pleased.

Thanks.

I don't understand the whining on 24 hour limit for watching a movie. Stopping the movie in the middle disrupts the flow and takes you out of the movie. Are there really that many people that can't take 2 contiguous hours to watch a movie? Why would you even bother?

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by hayesk 

I don't understand the whining on 24 hour limit for watching a movie. Stopping the movie in the middle disrupts the flow and takes you out of the movie. Are there really that many people that can't take 2 contiguous hours to watch a movie? Why would you even bother?

When I was living with my parents, (literally decades ago), I would rent a movie on a friday and watch it, my parents would watch it saturday, and my brother might watch it sunday before returning it for me. Nowadays, I rent a movie and want to return it ASAP before I forget to return it and have to pay late fees. I've rented movies and returned them 3 hours later many times. So the 24 hours thing is no big deal to me.

I would think that it wouldn't be much of an issue if Apple did 48 hours instead of 24. Most video stores around here are $2.99 for two nights on new releases and 5 days for slightly oldr releases.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by hayesk 

I don't understand the whining on 24 hour limit for watching a movie. Stopping the movie in the middle disrupts the flow and takes you out of the movie. Are there really that many people that can't take 2 contiguous hours to watch a movie? Why would you even bother?

I don't get it either.

Just start the movie when you are ready. Who wants to do a multi-day piece meal when watching movies ?

And the dude that wants to watch movies on a 15 min commute (which might take 3-4 days to finish) - I hardly think he is the target audience that Apple had in mind...

-t

[Chooglin']

What did you expect from Macworld? Gambling, hookers, drinks, and Steve coming up to you with a free MacBook Pro?