<strong>I prefer slot loading and no floppy.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I certainly love mine. I use it for CD's and DVD's mostly. And I have not had a problem ever! I used to have a white iBook, but didn't like the popout optical drive. More often than not, I accidentally hit the eject button and it popped out when I didn't want it to. I once snagged it on a USB cable that I had connected to my Sony digital camera, and I thought I was going to pull the whole laptop off the table it was on. Nope, the less guts I see on a Mac, the better.
yeah, personally I've loved the slot loading drives ever since I first saw one. In fact (and this may have been my brightest hour ) when the first iMacs came out, and my High School got some, I thought, man these need those new slot-loading drives, and a few months later...there they were.
No thanks, I don't care for slot loading. I've had to fish enough misloaded disks, coins, etc out of drives without making it easier. (Odd bit of trivia, you really can fit two floppys at once into a Mac floppy drive, course then auto-eject becomes pliers-extract). Yes children are the primary guilty parties, but adults are certainly not completely innocent...
Only two things bother me about the slot loaders, one of which is share with even the tray loaders on most macs (so that nees some attention too)
1.) 8cm discs. Like it or not, they are a part of the standard spec of BOTH DVD and CD. Expect to see them in more DVD based camcorders, and MP4 based video solutions. AFAIC, they can keep the slot loader so long as they find a way to accomodate these discs. Odd shaped discs? I don't care, they're not a part of the spec, and I've never even put one into any of my tray loading drives.
2.) MANUAL Force Eject. You're going to need this. Hollywood and Record companies don't just want to keep material from working properly in your drive, they have some schemes that want to do real damage to your computer. It would be a good thing to include on all optical drives, even the tray loaders where Apple ignorantly covers up the force eject pinhole. <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" />
When the slot loader debuted there was some confusion on Apple's own page about which discs were and weren't supported. At first they claimed to support 8cm media, but later dropped that claim.
also, i have found that some discs have a print/texture that makes the disc especially difficult for the machine to take in, or eject (i have had to use tweezers on one disc to pull it out, because the feed rollers couldn't get enough traction on the disc to push it out further than a few milimeters). i am assuming that this is a sub-standard, cheaper method of printing cd's and dvd's, but if you have run into the same problem, you know what i am talking about. trays are not evil... they'r ejust not for everyone.
there is nothing more disconcertign than the mac desperately trying to eject a disc, and hearing the gears grind and fail. ugh.
Thank you. It's not a Mac-thing, or a Damn Jobs' style obession thing, it's just a practical matter. At the end of the day there are simply more issues with reliably using a slot loader than with using a tray loader. I'd rather avoid those issues if at all possible. Just because something 'feels' cool in operation is no real justification for doing it that way. Apple made the right decision reverting back to tray loaders in the iMac and eMac designs, and never abandoning them in the PowerMacs or iBooks. I wonder what will happen once the Ti gets a restyling/redesign? They should go back to trays, but they'll probably stick to slots, too bad really...
And while I'm not a fan of odd shaped discs, it just goes to show that you can't count on anyone else to strictly adhere to a standard. Odd disc shapes are a little out there, but new coating processes are an expected artistic development, and 8cm discs were part of BOTH standards from the beginning.
Bring back the trays, Powerbook users deserve the best, heaven knows they're paying for it.
Why don't you just tell us your favorite PC configuration, then buy one, and leave the Macintosh alone? You're constant harping is becoming noise. "Oh, another Matsu complaining post. I'll just pass on by..."
<hr></blockquote>
Yes, whenever certain people talk, it becomes more a case of human psychology then actual market reasoning.
We have it partly to blame with the age old american tradition of, "The best bang for a buck" or "Bigger is better." As they say, "tangables" matter in this thinking.
Since most people don't take/remember economic, business, or variants of these, the concept of "Hidden cost" is lost to most people on a daily basis.
Leaving aside the ideals of what Macs advantages are and various other "services" they include...
Let's take a classic example of what I'm trying to say. Fixing the kitchen sink.
You know what the problem is. You think you have the "tools" and You seen a couple of video's and say "Hey why pay some punk $20/hr when I can do it myself"
Of course, they fail to see many "hidden costs" and trade offs in this senerio. The theory of "specialization" is lost to them. And we have another real life episode of some sitcom where things screwed up.
Back to computers... IF you're a computer hobbist, and have acceptable knowledge, and free time to devote to it. The "hidden costs" are low.
IF you're making $15/hour and work 8hrs + overtime(a little extra spending money). You'll value free time a lot more then obscured research and thinkering.
And that's where Mac get their 'Mac Friendliness" and Window's/PCs get their, "Geekiness from".
In the words of Bill Mar, "The computer and Internet are overrated. They can't do what 3 good assistants can."
~And he is right, why bother learning a computer when you have viable options that are just as good, and less hassle.
Just like the fact that saving that $200 on a home build PC, when you might have lost 3 times the "productive time" [Working/resting/appointments]
SO in conclusion, because I have an essay to write on monday... They see it from one point of view, but is completely blinded by the whole. Which is fine as long it's indivual and not society.
I agree with Johnny Dangerously on most predictions:
- Farewell to Mac OS 9.
- Mac OS X transition update
- Presentation on the Switch campaign
- iPod sales @ new retailer recap.
- iSync release & demo.
- iMovie 3
- .Mac recap & new features.
- iTunes 3.1 update to include Rendezvous.
- eMac price drops (to $899 & 1199).
- His iMac specs
- possible new device
Steve's "one more thing..." suprise performance by Guns N' Roses, Axl's voice will be pristine unlike the unfortunate VMA performance. At the finale, Steve takes centre stage and holds up the new pro music software box, arms straight in the air without a word.
Steve's "one more thing..." suprise performance by Guns N' Roses, Axl's voice will be pristine unlike the unfortunate VMA performance. At the finale, Steve takes centre stage and holds up the new pro music software box, arms straight in the air without a word.
First, I predict that Steve Jobs will give another fabulous speech (I've been in Toastmasters for a year now and public speaking without notes (GOOD public speaking continues, "AH", to elude me). I stand in total respect to that man's speaking ability.
Second, I predict that I will not be able to catch the speech live. One thing will lead to another and I will wind up chasing all over these boards trying to find out what in the hell he said. I will also wade through MANY suicidal messages bemoaning the fact that this and that were not released.
As for hardware, Apple WILL introduce a PDA with OS X Lite, a Tablet with full-blown-balls-out OS X, and for good measure an i****, a V1**** AND a V2****. Kormac 7X will be introduced and identified by Steve Jobs as an agent of Apple Marketing. Matsu will be kinda surprised, to say the least.
But how do I know this, you may be wondering....
I know this down to the bottom of my feet because my Palm III died and I shelled out bucks for a Palm m515! Now that I've made THAT capital investment, and (to my astonishment) have actually come to like it, Apple is CERTAIN to release the VunderDLDs listed above.
They will also introduce an OS X stove, oven, microwave and ice cream maker. The OS X server/dishwasher will continue to elude them.
?More talk of and demonstrations of Bluetooth enabled mobile phones. News about released Bluetooth features in OS X.
?More talk of and demonstrations of Rendezvous. Maybe some third party consumer products will be demo'd. How about a TV that can show a slideshow over airport? More printers that use this will be announced.
?More Apple store discussion.
?OS X in general will be discussed a lot. 10.2.3 will be out by then. Improved iChat. Some success stories of journaling. Several success stories. Maybe some third party companies will demo some software for OS X. Hopefull Sal will do a kickass AS Studio demo.
Phil will do his trick with the magic iTunes-on-a-PowerBook over Rendezvous.
?Maybe some iApp and other upgrades
\tiCal
\tiMovie
\tiTunes
\tiDVD
\tMail
\tiPod (new firmware)
?.Mac gets new services to help justify the expense
Tougher Calls
?Portables makeover unlikely as they just got upgraded. Save this for March.
?iMac LCD upgrade likely. It will have been 1 year since the introduction and with no change to the CPU since then.
?PowerMac really should get a hefty upgrade but I bet it doesn't for reasons everyone has hashed over elsewhere.
Far Out Guess
?Just leaves time for one additional product. One new item. I wish it were a PDA but maybe it will be an ultralight powerbook (under 3.5 pounds) or an iPhone or a low-cost, headless iMac.
---
Regarding Steve's speaking style, I agree, he is extremely skillful. The best part is how easy he makes it look. By the way, he does use a large screen TV pointing up at the stage as a teleprompter.
A teleprompter would definitely help, but the man has 'presence'. Can't just be the shirt and jeans....
What, like the MP3 Player spectrum, is a hopeless kluge and needs some Jobsian/Ivesian simplification? Not cameras or phones or PDAs (like I said, you'll see the New Apple PDA (NAPDA) that's in the bag), but something that everyone will want?
I just couldn't resist. And since it's 2:13 a.m., I take no responsiblility for anything written here:
My fearless Macworld predictions:
Blah-d-blah about OSX-only machines and iApp goodness.
Steve then gets this serious look on his face and says "OSX is finally here for good. We've got all this great software to go with it. What we've been looking for over the past two years is the thing that will put us over the top. Something that will get users out of their seats and scream. We've been working really hard on something that will finally take away all excuses for not Switching to Macintosh.
Room goes dark, dead quiet hangs in the air for 10 seconds then WHAM! lights blast on and their sits Steve-o at the desk working on a computer and the most enormous screen above him with "G5" on it and nothing else.
Steve goes into discussion about how "IBM has produced this really fantastic chip (the 970) for us and it's shipping in three weeks. We had them fudge the timeline when they intro'd it last year because we're just that cruel."
-- bake-off tests are used for the first time in years showing G5/970 trouncing Intel and AMD in PS tests ---
Lots of stuff about 64-bit happy time, etc, etc.
Then: "In addition, Motorola will continue to produce the outstanding (gotta stroke the ego) G4 for the award winning iMac and iBook." (which get some serious bumps. 1.4 ghz for iMac, 867 for iBook or something like that.)
Now here's my thinking:
On the hardware side (we're talking guts here, not outer beauty), Apple (re: Moto) really has been uninspiring. Not pathetic, just uninspiring. There hasn't been a hardware revolution at Apple like the OSX revolution that has dominated for the past 18 months.
So screw the slow transistion. Forget early 2004 for the G5/970. By then it will be just another CPU in the middle (or low end) of the pack of the computer market at the projected specs (1.8 ghz or so.) Forget scraping along with revamped G4s on the high end.
Apple's going to blow the doors off hardware, I think. The new specs and prices on the laptop lineup is a ploy. They'll do well for the holidays, then the real fun begins.
I don't want to hear why this is all wrong. This is my fantasy and the way it should be, damnit!!
Must ... stop ... drinking ... before ... bedtime ...
Sorry rentedmule, but publicly traded companies can not "fudge" product announcements as a rule. They may cloak the details with phrases like "wide release in Q3 '03" with the inference being that certain parties get the product earlier.
Regardless, January is far, far removed from Fall. MSWF is not the time, people.
Apple needs a big push in hardware to better position their software. They have not been able to take full advantage of the OS X transition, or their purchase of Shake due to hardware that is lagging behind. Apple has been quite on the 970 as far as I know. i would expect some indication on how apple is going to procede with their platform either in SF or at the next earnings call. I would imagine that it is remotely possible that the 970 could ship by summer (but I wouldnt hold my breath for it) or that Apple has something else up their sleve.
Right now it looks like another unremarkable hardware anouncements, and some software upgrades. Displays are long overdue for a price reduction, and reduced prices for all of their computers would help as well. I would like to see a consumer desktop/tower but I wouldnt count on it,
Another digital lifestyle device needs to be released. would be a good bet.
Speaking of Shake...that's exactly what I'm expecting at SF, and here's why:
As a compositing program, Shake is it. The closest 'affordable' solution for us desktop video designers is Discreet's Combustion. Well, Discreet just dropped the price of Cumbustion from 5000 to 1499. That's huge. People are reasoning that it's to get After Effects users to switch up, and it's working. I personally think Discreet is grabbing as many AE users as they can before January (when the price drop ends) because Apple is introducing a 1499 program of its own. Whose gonna buy ANOTHER $1500 piece of software when they just bought one last month?
It's time for Apple to release another 'big' app. DVDSP was what, 2 years ago or so? As far as hardware to run this new beast, I haven't a clue. Quads maybe? There hasn't been a quad Mac since Daystar if I remember correctly.
Comments
<strong>I prefer slot loading and no floppy.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I certainly love mine. I use it for CD's and DVD's mostly. And I have not had a problem ever! I used to have a white iBook, but didn't like the popout optical drive. More often than not, I accidentally hit the eject button and it popped out when I didn't want it to. I once snagged it on a USB cable that I had connected to my Sony digital camera, and I thought I was going to pull the whole laptop off the table it was on. Nope, the less guts I see on a Mac, the better.
1.) 8cm discs. Like it or not, they are a part of the standard spec of BOTH DVD and CD. Expect to see them in more DVD based camcorders, and MP4 based video solutions. AFAIC, they can keep the slot loader so long as they find a way to accomodate these discs. Odd shaped discs? I don't care, they're not a part of the spec, and I've never even put one into any of my tray loading drives.
2.) MANUAL Force Eject. You're going to need this. Hollywood and Record companies don't just want to keep material from working properly in your drive, they have some schemes that want to do real damage to your computer. It would be a good thing to include on all optical drives, even the tray loaders where Apple ignorantly covers up the force eject pinhole. <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" />
When the slot loader debuted there was some confusion on Apple's own page about which discs were and weren't supported. At first they claimed to support 8cm media, but later dropped that claim.
there is nothing more disconcertign than the mac desperately trying to eject a disc, and hearing the gears grind and fail. ugh.
And while I'm not a fan of odd shaped discs, it just goes to show that you can't count on anyone else to strictly adhere to a standard. Odd disc shapes are a little out there, but new coating processes are an expected artistic development, and 8cm discs were part of BOTH standards from the beginning.
Bring back the trays, Powerbook users deserve the best, heaven knows they're paying for it.
Why don't you just tell us your favorite PC configuration, then buy one, and leave the Macintosh alone? You're constant harping is becoming noise. "Oh, another Matsu complaining post. I'll just pass on by..."
<hr></blockquote>
Yes, whenever certain people talk, it becomes more a case of human psychology then actual market reasoning.
We have it partly to blame with the age old american tradition of, "The best bang for a buck" or "Bigger is better." As they say, "tangables" matter in this thinking.
Since most people don't take/remember economic, business, or variants of these, the concept of "Hidden cost" is lost to most people on a daily basis.
Leaving aside the ideals of what Macs advantages are and various other "services" they include...
Let's take a classic example of what I'm trying to say. Fixing the kitchen sink.
You know what the problem is. You think you have the "tools" and You seen a couple of video's and say "Hey why pay some punk $20/hr when I can do it myself"
Of course, they fail to see many "hidden costs" and trade offs in this senerio. The theory of "specialization" is lost to them. And we have another real life episode of some sitcom where things screwed up.
Back to computers... IF you're a computer hobbist, and have acceptable knowledge, and free time to devote to it. The "hidden costs" are low.
IF you're making $15/hour and work 8hrs + overtime(a little extra spending money). You'll value free time a lot more then obscured research and thinkering.
And that's where Mac get their 'Mac Friendliness" and Window's/PCs get their, "Geekiness from".
In the words of Bill Mar, "The computer and Internet are overrated. They can't do what 3 good assistants can."
~And he is right, why bother learning a computer when you have viable options that are just as good, and less hassle.
Just like the fact that saving that $200 on a home build PC, when you might have lost 3 times the "productive time" [Working/resting/appointments]
SO in conclusion, because I have an essay to write on monday... They see it from one point of view, but is completely blinded by the whole. Which is fine as long it's indivual and not society.
~Kuku
New Powermacs.
iPad.
iCal 2
iChat 2
iMovie 3
- Farewell to Mac OS 9.
- Mac OS X transition update
- Presentation on the Switch campaign
- iPod sales @ new retailer recap.
- iSync release & demo.
- iMovie 3
- .Mac recap & new features.
- iTunes 3.1 update to include Rendezvous.
- eMac price drops (to $899 & 1199).
- His iMac specs
- possible new device
Steve's "one more thing..." suprise performance by Guns N' Roses, Axl's voice will be pristine unlike the unfortunate VMA performance. At the finale, Steve takes centre stage and holds up the new pro music software box, arms straight in the air without a word.
[ 11-15-2002: Message edited by: PURE ]</p>
Steve's "one more thing..." suprise performance by Guns N' Roses, Axl's voice will be pristine unlike the unfortunate VMA performance. At the finale, Steve takes centre stage and holds up the new pro music software box, arms straight in the air without a word.
<hr></blockquote>
That would be freakin' AWESOME!!
First, I predict that Steve Jobs will give another fabulous speech (I've been in Toastmasters for a year now and public speaking without notes (GOOD public speaking continues, "AH", to elude me). I stand in total respect to that man's speaking ability.
Second, I predict that I will not be able to catch the speech live. One thing will lead to another and I will wind up chasing all over these boards trying to find out what in the hell he said. I will also wade through MANY suicidal messages bemoaning the fact that this and that were not released.
As for hardware, Apple WILL introduce a PDA with OS X Lite, a Tablet with full-blown-balls-out OS X, and for good measure an i****, a V1**** AND a V2****. Kormac 7X will be introduced and identified by Steve Jobs as an agent of Apple Marketing. Matsu will be kinda surprised, to say the least.
But how do I know this, you may be wondering....
I know this down to the bottom of my feet because my Palm III died and I shelled out bucks for a Palm m515! Now that I've made THAT capital investment, and (to my astonishment) have actually come to like it, Apple is CERTAIN to release the VunderDLDs listed above.
They will also introduce an OS X stove, oven, microwave and ice cream maker. The OS X server/dishwasher will continue to elude them.
<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
Aries 1B
?More talk of and demonstrations of Bluetooth enabled mobile phones. News about released Bluetooth features in OS X.
?More talk of and demonstrations of Rendezvous. Maybe some third party consumer products will be demo'd. How about a TV that can show a slideshow over airport? More printers that use this will be announced.
?More Apple store discussion.
?OS X in general will be discussed a lot. 10.2.3 will be out by then. Improved iChat. Some success stories of journaling. Several success stories. Maybe some third party companies will demo some software for OS X. Hopefull Sal will do a kickass AS Studio demo.
Phil will do his trick with the magic iTunes-on-a-PowerBook over Rendezvous.
?Maybe some iApp and other upgrades
\tiCal
\tiMovie
\tiTunes
\tiDVD
\tMail
\tiPod (new firmware)
?.Mac gets new services to help justify the expense
Tougher Calls
?Portables makeover unlikely as they just got upgraded. Save this for March.
?iMac LCD upgrade likely. It will have been 1 year since the introduction and with no change to the CPU since then.
?PowerMac really should get a hefty upgrade but I bet it doesn't for reasons everyone has hashed over elsewhere.
Far Out Guess
?Just leaves time for one additional product. One new item. I wish it were a PDA but maybe it will be an ultralight powerbook (under 3.5 pounds) or an iPhone or a low-cost, headless iMac.
---
Regarding Steve's speaking style, I agree, he is extremely skillful. The best part is how easy he makes it look. By the way, he does use a large screen TV pointing up at the stage as a teleprompter.
What, like the MP3 Player spectrum, is a hopeless kluge and needs some Jobsian/Ivesian simplification? Not cameras or phones or PDAs (like I said, you'll see the New Apple PDA (NAPDA) that's in the bag), but something that everyone will want?
I haven't got guess one.
Aries 1B
My fearless Macworld predictions:
Blah-d-blah about OSX-only machines and iApp goodness.
Steve then gets this serious look on his face and says "OSX is finally here for good. We've got all this great software to go with it. What we've been looking for over the past two years is the thing that will put us over the top. Something that will get users out of their seats and scream. We've been working really hard on something that will finally take away all excuses for not Switching to Macintosh.
Room goes dark, dead quiet hangs in the air for 10 seconds then WHAM! lights blast on and their sits Steve-o at the desk working on a computer and the most enormous screen above him with "G5" on it and nothing else.
Steve goes into discussion about how "IBM has produced this really fantastic chip (the 970) for us and it's shipping in three weeks. We had them fudge the timeline when they intro'd it last year because we're just that cruel."
-- bake-off tests are used for the first time in years showing G5/970 trouncing Intel and AMD in PS tests ---
Lots of stuff about 64-bit happy time, etc, etc.
Then: "In addition, Motorola will continue to produce the outstanding (gotta stroke the ego) G4 for the award winning iMac and iBook." (which get some serious bumps. 1.4 ghz for iMac, 867 for iBook or something like that.)
Now here's my thinking:
On the hardware side (we're talking guts here, not outer beauty), Apple (re: Moto) really has been uninspiring. Not pathetic, just uninspiring. There hasn't been a hardware revolution at Apple like the OSX revolution that has dominated for the past 18 months.
So screw the slow transistion. Forget early 2004 for the G5/970. By then it will be just another CPU in the middle (or low end) of the pack of the computer market at the projected specs (1.8 ghz or so.) Forget scraping along with revamped G4s on the high end.
Apple's going to blow the doors off hardware, I think. The new specs and prices on the laptop lineup is a ploy. They'll do well for the holidays, then the real fun begins.
I don't want to hear why this is all wrong. This is my fantasy and the way it should be, damnit!!
Must ... stop ... drinking ... before ... bedtime ...
Regardless, January is far, far removed from Fall. MSWF is not the time, people.
Screed
Right now it looks like another unremarkable hardware anouncements, and some software upgrades. Displays are long overdue for a price reduction, and reduced prices for all of their computers would help as well. I would like to see a consumer desktop/tower but I wouldnt count on it,
Another digital lifestyle device needs to be released. would be a good bet.
As a compositing program, Shake is it. The closest 'affordable' solution for us desktop video designers is Discreet's Combustion. Well, Discreet just dropped the price of Cumbustion from 5000 to 1499. That's huge. People are reasoning that it's to get After Effects users to switch up, and it's working. I personally think Discreet is grabbing as many AE users as they can before January (when the price drop ends) because Apple is introducing a 1499 program of its own. Whose gonna buy ANOTHER $1500 piece of software when they just bought one last month?
It's time for Apple to release another 'big' app. DVDSP was what, 2 years ago or so? As far as hardware to run this new beast, I haven't a clue. Quads maybe? There hasn't been a quad Mac since Daystar if I remember correctly.
-G