Reader Reaction to Time's iMac article

Posted:
in General Discussion edited January 2014
This week's issue, Feb 4th, of Time had reader reaction to the LCD iMac story. The replies ran from supportive to critical of the new iMac, Apple, and Jobs. Most of the PC-centric ones were typical, but I have to wonder how representative they are of PC users. Not hard-core ones, but the general population. I'm hopping that newbies, former Mac users, and people who dislike Win XP, etc. will really give the iMac a chance. I posted four below.



In the wake of recent events, social and economic, Apple should be commended for its bravery in the high-tech marketplace. The new iMac computer is an eye-catching symbol of Apple's vision and leadership. Apple's user-friendly operating system, Mac OS X, is employed by everyday users who are happily unaware that it is a state-of-the-art-system. Toby Smith, Pittsburgh, Pa



Once again Apple releases a cute but basically irreleveant desktop computer, and the media fawn over it. Any Joe Average can go to a store and walk away with a Windows box that has a nice, fast Pentium 4 processor and is compatible with almost everything. Apple can sell overstyled tosy to its fanatical 5%, but way should the rest of us care. Mike Yurkkovich, Lincoln Park, Mich.



Jobs has an uncanny gift for knowing what people want their computers to do. Nearly all Apple's good ideas have been copied by others, but they can never make the concepts work as well or with as much style. Apple says," Think Different" and I agree. So I say to computer users: Watch Out. If Steve is doing it, you are likely to see an imitation of it soon. Michael Klein, San Antonio



The new iMac is cute, but after cute then what? At my local computer store, Mac-compatible software titles are vastly outnumbered by those for the PC. Apple grabbed the graphics industry, while the PC people took over the rest of the field. The number of users who edit movies or sound is small, and you can do those things on a PC as well. If Apple is to survive, it must become a bit more mainstream and lot less cult driven. Barry Pearlman, Chesterfield, MO



[ 01-28-2002: Message edited by: imacSE ]</p>
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 24
    Could you post what it says?
  • Reply 2 of 24
    emaneman Posts: 7,204member
    Sounds pretty good. Please post a link or what it said.
  • Reply 3 of 24
    imacfpimacfp Posts: 750member
    [quote] Could you post what it says? <hr></blockquote>



    I posted in my original one. See above.



    [ 01-28-2002: Message edited by: imacSE ]</p>
  • Reply 4 of 24
    My only complaint is that Time felt the new iMac was the most important piece of news that week.
  • Reply 5 of 24
    sebseb Posts: 676member
    Here's a <a href="http://time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101020204-197619,00.html"; target="_blank">link</a> to some more letters.



    Typical myopic viewpoints mostly.



    Which story would have suited you better Gonzo? Another Afgahnistan story? The still breaking Enron story? Some other bit of depressing news like the kind that was on every other magazine cover that week?



    [ 01-28-2002: Message edited by: seb ]</p>
  • Reply 6 of 24
    eugeneeugene Posts: 8,254member
    DoctorGonzo, as opposed to having 10 consecutive weeks of Bin Laden's face plastered on the cover? Or the Enron scandal...of which it is prominently featured this week?



    What was the biggest news for you on January 7th?
  • Reply 7 of 24
    applenutapplenut Posts: 5,768member
    [quote]Originally posted by DoctorGonzo:

    <strong>My only complaint is that Time felt the new iMac was the most important piece of news that week. </strong><hr></blockquote>



    uh... it wasn't?
  • Reply 8 of 24
    torifiletorifile Posts: 4,024member
    [quote]Originally posted by applenut:

    <strong>



    uh... it wasn't?</strong><hr></blockquote>



  • Reply 9 of 24
    pscatespscates Posts: 5,847member
    [quote]The new iMac is cute, but after cute then what? At my local computer store, Mac-compatible software titles are vastly outnumbered by those for the PC. Apple grabbed the graphics industry, while the PC people took over the rest of the field. The number of users who edit movies or sound is small, and you can do those things on a PC as well. If Apple is to survive, it must become a bit more mainstream and lot less cult driven. Barry Pearlman, Chesterfield, MO<hr></blockquote>



    This kind of thing is what irks me the most: this idiotic viewpoint that "oh, the Mac only runs graphics software...".



    People who use the "no software for Macs..." argument are nimrods.



    It's as if they need to own and master every $39.95 half-ass word processor or cheez-o "home print publisher" app in existence.







    Perhaps it's more accurate to say that there is simply more useful, quality software available for the Mac, and less low-grade, schlocky crap, like the stuff lining the shelves at Office Depot and the PC department at CompUSA.



    Quality over quantity.



    Microsoft Office? There. AOL? There. Quicken? There. Games? There. Browsers and e-mail? There. Publishing and layout apps? Uh, hello...DEFINITELY there! Digital media apps? See "publishing and layout".







    I don't know, so I'm truly asking: are there any mainstream, common USEFUL and popular apps out there that DON'T have a Mac version?



    I don't mean some obscure scientific thing that 33 people at MIT use. I mean day-to-day, mom-and-pop/consumer/student/soccer mom/senior citizen stuff?



    Plus, these articles always neglect to mention VirtualPC...if it's NOT available for the Mac, then friggin' run Windows on your Mac if you absolutely have to!



    Nobody ever writes an article or letter bitching that PCs can't use iTunes or an iPod or a Cinema Display...now THAT would truly be a travesty and would make me throw my Dell or Gateway out the window!



  • Reply 10 of 24
    [quote]Originally posted by pscates:

    <strong>



    This kind of thing is what irks me the most: this idiotic viewpoint that "oh, the Mac only runs graphics software...".



    People who use the "no software for Macs..." argument are nimrods.



    It's as if they need to own and master every $39.95 half-ass word processor or cheez-o "home print publisher" app in existence.







    Perhaps it's more accurate to say that there is simply more useful, quality software available for the Mac, and less low-grade, schlocky crap, like the stuff lining the shelves at Office Depot and the PC department at CompUSA.



    Quality over quantity.



    Microsoft Office? There. AOL? There. Quicken? There. Games? There. Browsers and e-mail? There. Publishing and layout apps? Uh, hello...DEFINITELY there! Digital media apps? See "publishing and layout".







    I don't know, so I'm truly asking: are there any mainstream, common USEFUL and popular apps out there that DON'T have a Mac version?



    I don't mean some obscure scientific thing that 33 people at MIT use. I mean day-to-day, mom-and-pop/consumer/student/soccer mom/senior citizen stuff?



    Plus, these articles always neglect to mention VirtualPC...if it's NOT available for the Mac, then friggin' run Windows on your Mac if you absolutely have to!



    Nobody ever writes an article or letter bitching that PCs can't use iTunes or an iPod or a Cinema Display...now THAT would truly be a travesty and would make me throw my Dell or Gateway out the window!



    </strong><hr></blockquote>



    Precisely.
  • Reply 11 of 24
    imacfpimacfp Posts: 750member
    The whole lack of software FUD annoys me too. How many PC users go out and buy new productivity software once they buy a computer? I bet not many do and I'm sure those applications that are bought are available for Macs. When people say "no software" that is code for no games, which is not really true. There might not be as many games but they seem to be fair better games.
  • Reply 12 of 24
    I agree.... except for the games part. It is a large problem, and many people will simply overlook the mac because of it. Although apple is trying to fix this, there is still a long way to go.
  • Reply 13 of 24
    [quote]Originally posted by pscates:

    <strong>



    This kind of thing is what irks me the most: this idiotic viewpoint that "oh, the Mac only runs graphics software...".



    People who use the "no software for Macs..." argument are nimrods. </strong><hr></blockquote>





    i agree, but at the same time i see where they get that idea from. i went to my local compUSA and couldn't even find a copy of quicken to run on a mac. now we all know that compusa sucks, but it is places like this that people go to buy computer realted products. and they didn't even have quicken! and what's worse, the apple stuff (in this store, at least) is delegated to a back corner, with software on on wall, about 6 shelves and about 20ft long. the windows software alone takes up more space than the entire apple area.



    we can bitch and bitch and bitch, but the simple reality is that if you know only what you see at stores like this, then it is a reasonable assumption that there is no software for macs.
  • Reply 14 of 24
    serranoserrano Posts: 1,806member
    no quickbooks



    how many of those 'digital media' apps are there on os x



    <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />
  • Reply 15 of 24
    [quote]DoctorGonzo, as opposed to having 10 consecutive weeks of Bin Laden's face plastered on the cover? Or the Enron scandal...of which it is prominently featured this week?<hr></blockquote>



    I just feel there are plenty of things going on in the world that are far more important than Steve Job's new toy. The U.S media covers a tiny fraction of World, and even national events I find it dissapointing that they would go with something that shows they are little more than a "fast-food" news magazaine. Going for whatever will sell, instead of what is most important.



    [quote]What was the biggest news for you on January 7th?<hr></blockquote>



    In the immortal words of Adam Clayton.......I can't remember back that far.
  • Reply 16 of 24
    pscatespscates Posts: 5,847member
    [quote]Originally posted by Stroszek:

    <strong>i agree, but at the same time i see where they get that idea from. i went to my local compUSA and couldn't even find a copy of quicken to run on a mac. now we all know that compusa sucks, but it is places like this that people go to buy computer realted products. and they didn't even have quicken! and what's worse, the apple stuff (in this store, at least) is delegated to a back corner, with software on on wall, about 6 shelves and about 20ft long. the windows software alone takes up more space than the entire apple area.



    we can bitch and bitch and bitch, but the simple reality is that if you know only what you see at stores like this, then it is a reasonable assumption that there is no software for macs.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    Well, that's because our favorite fruit company has done an amazingly piss-poor job of tackling this stuff head on and dispelling the myths and addressing some of these common misconceptions in an agressive and clever manner.



    I'm sorry, but a cute little 6-question "debunker" section in the back of the latest iMac pamphlet (as well as an online counterpart BURIED on their website...who in the hell, besides the Apple faithful and regular visitors, would even FIND that on their site?!?!) is NOT enough.



    They could (and should) have addressed these things YEARS ago, in a strong and constant manner.



    The myths exists because Apple themselves did/do very little to dispel or counteract them.



    Personally, I don't give two damns because I already know the deal. But if Apple wants to run their yapper about "increasing marketshare" and all that, THEN acting like such do-nothing pussies (and not lifting a finger to let others, besides US, know they have 27 retail stores in existence), then it gets very tough to feel sorry for them.



    I love Macs and I even appreciate and admire where Apple is right now, but it doesn't mean I can't be upset when they drop such an obvious ball.



  • Reply 17 of 24
    [quote]Originally posted by pscates:

    <strong>



    Well, that's because our favorite fruit company has done an amazingly piss-poor job of tackling this stuff head on and dispelling the myths and addressing some of these common misconceptions in an agressive and clever manner.



    I'm sorry, but a cute little 6-question "debunker" section in the back of the latest iMac pamphlet (as well as an online counterpart BURIED on their website...who in the hell, besides the Apple faithful and regular visitors, would even FIND that on their site?!?!) is NOT enough.



    They could (and should) have addressed these things YEARS ago, in a strong and constant manner.



    The myths exists because Apple themselves did/do very little to dispel or counteract them.



    Personally, I don't give two damns because I already know the deal. But if Apple wants to run their yapper about "increasing marketshare" and all that, THEN acting like such do-nothing pussies (and not lifting a finger to let others, besides US, know they have 27 retail stores in existence), then it gets very tough to feel sorry for them.



    I love Macs and I even appreciate and admire where Apple is right now, but it doesn't mean I can't be upset when they drop such an obvious ball.



    </strong><hr></blockquote>



    true.



    but i think that the blame does not entirely rest on apple. software companies could advertise that their products are available for macs too. it's not going to make any difference to them if someone buys the mac version or the pc version, it's money in their pockets anyway. not that i can think of any software commercials off the top of my head except for the roxio driving around one. but still.

    and i still think that some fault lies with retailers. why should compusa care if someone buys a mac version or a pc version? if both exist, it would do them good to stock both. but no. so outpost.com got my money instead. their loss. (or is it everyone's loss?) <img src="confused.gif" border="0">
  • Reply 18 of 24
    [quote]Originally posted by RyanTheGreat:

    <strong>I agree.... except for the games part. It is a large problem, and many people will simply overlook the mac because of it. Although apple is trying to fix this, there is still a long way to go.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    let me say that the following (slightly tangential) post is not to start a flame-a-thon, simply my personal feelings (which cannot, by anyone, be deemed 'wrong')...



    I miss the days of truly great gameplay. I feel that the major shift towards 3D reality (be it FPS, 3rd person adventure/explore, whatever) has left behind the most important thing in a great game, fundamentally solid gameplay. It's not that I have a problem with advanced 3D renderings, or vast, highly modeled worlds, it simply seems that most developers have gotten caught up in the 'texel' race as a result of the shift towards this type of game. Very few developers seem to focus on innovative content and basic quality of gameplay.



    That said, I'm not all down on the developer world, I happen to love SMAC, and Bubble Trouble (yes, an older one from Ambrosia).



    I'm just left wondering whether or not it's a lack of amazing developers, or that the few BIG GUYS manage to keep innovation at bay, you know, like the fossil fuel industry has done for decades to 'alternative' energy innovators.



    ramble, ramble, ramble...



    [ 01-29-2002: Message edited by: concentricity ]</p>
  • Reply 19 of 24
    eugeneeugene Posts: 8,254member
    [quote]I just feel there are plenty of things going on in the world that are far more important than Steve Job's new toy. The U.S media covers a tiny fraction of World, and even national events I find it dissapointing that they would go with something that shows they are little more than a "fast-food" news magazaine. Going for whatever will sell, instead of what is most important.<hr></blockquote>



    Ah, so you can't really think of anything? What a surprise...with all that is happening out there.
  • Reply 20 of 24
    eugeneeugene Posts: 8,254member
    pscates, I think the Myths page on the magazine insert is going to be more effective than you think. It's a step forward, and I've already got a lot of my friends envious of Macs if not on the verge of buying them.



    Whatever Apple is doing, it's starting to work.
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