sflocal

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  • Satechi's new on-the-go USB-C adapter adds nine ports to Mac & iPad

    sflocalsflocal
    We purchased a Satechi USBc dock for a MacBook Pro and it was nothing but a pain.  Connecting two monitors to it was a test of one's patience, and the dock's ethernet port was causing network problems.  Satechi's own support pages describes a litany of problems and procedures one should do to make it work well, and expect users to do procedures that no one should have to do... daily.

    On my advice, we purchased a CalDigit USBc Pro (with Thunderbolt) because it has two DisplayPort connectors and it works flawlessly.  The user is so happy and relieved that he can actually use his MBP reliably.

    Satechi is scratched off my list.  
    Japheychiajony0

  • Final Cut Pro trademark hints at possible subscription offering

    sflocalsflocal
    flydog said:

    agilealtitude said:
    Another line item on my credit card statement every month? How fast can you say 'delete'...?
    Well good for you.

    For many apps, the business model of selling an app for a one time fee, then supporting that customer forever is unsustainable. There comes a point where most people who need the app already own it (as is likely the case with FCP), then 100% of a developer's resources are devoted solely to maintain that app for eternity.  There are relatively simple apps that require little maintenance, which may work under this business model, but apps like FCP, Office, Adobe, most certainly do not.

    For a customer, the cost is not much more.  There was a time when Adobe cost upwards of $3,000, and it lasted a few years. You could maybe stretch it 8 years, but that still ended up being almost $400 a year. Now you pay $30 a month (with the regular sales they have), and the app is updated every few months (rather than every 8 years).  

    If the app is regularly updated with new functionality, the subscription model is well worth it. If you pay 99 cents a month for a calculator, then clearly that's a ripoff.  




    I was one of those users that years ago that paid $1,500+ (or more?) for Adobe Photoshop way back when and I still upgraded every 2-3 years... Now, with Creative Suite, I pay $9.99/mo to get both Lightroom and Photoshop.  So for roughly, $120/year I get Photoshop that is always updated and current, can install it (legally) and use it on multiple machines.  That would have equated to depreciation of over 10 years if I bought it way back when at full price.  So it's a no-brainer for me that I'm getting a great deal.

    Software engineers need to eat too and there is no way a company will survive solely on new customers. 

    doozydozenAndy.HardwakebyronlFileMakerFellerfastasleepwatto_cobraradarthekat

  • Final Cut Pro trademark hints at possible subscription offering

    sflocalsflocal
    In the "old" days, one would go to the computer store, buy boxed software with with a disk and use it until whatever computer/OS/features no longer work for you.
    You then buy - years later - that same software that is current, works with your OS, and has new features you wanted.  Nothing wrong with that.

    All those years in-between from the time you first bought it, to the next time you bought that software that company still had to exist, still had to pay software engineers, and they still had to eat, and hope that they could get enough "new" customers to buy their boxed software to in order to continue developing it every year/release and hope you buy the next release to keep them in business.

    So as a developer that has to keep software updated to stay current with the times, I can understand the subscription model.  Love it or hate it, many companies have gone under because they could not sustain their business on strictly having new customers only.  If enough current customers wait years to buy that next release, the company may not be around by then, then the consumer has a hissy-fit because "What other software can I use?"

    It's a slippery slope.  There's some software I think works for the subscription model.  CreativeSuite, Office365 I think are (for me) good examples of software subscriptions that benefit me.  

    Other software like video games to me can't warrant a software subscription.

    I'm torn with FCP.  Apple used to be primarily a hardware company.  If used FCP as a method to drive hardware sales.  Nonetheless, FCP is a massive application that requires tons of resources to continue develop.  While it's not the case with Adobe, if I go to subscription I expect value for my money.  I expect it to be regularly updated, and works will my use cases.  I'm sure the amount of money Apple spends on FCP development is minuscule, but I can understand Apple (or any company) for their product to start supporting itself.

    Heck, I wish they did this with Aperture.

    dunno... I'm torn.
    doozydozenAndy.HardwakeRayz2016Fidonet127killroywatto_cobra

  • Smaller Mac Pro, 2021 iMac redesign with color options shown off by prolific leaker

    sflocalsflocal
    avon b7 said:
    No chin, at last!

    But I've had it with all-in-ones. I'll never buy a desktop Mac with the screen glued onto it again. 
    Your complaint is moot.  I think the new iMacs will be essentially a giant iPad with everything soldered in.  Gone will be the days where one could at least upgrade the RAM.

    What's your beef with removing the display?  Open that display once (or twice) ever in its life it too much?  I can remove and reinstall my iMac display in minutes.  It's a non-issue.
    StrangeDaysmacpluspluswilliamlondonJWSCwatto_cobraargonaut

  • Judge rules Tim Cook must sit through seven-hour 'Fortnite' deposition

    sflocalsflocal
    loopless said:
    I have been deposed and have endured a 10 hour deposition. It’s a nightmare for even the best prepared. You are questioned relentlessly by the opposing counsel. I can understand how people crack under the pressure of interrogation.
    I've been deposed several times, including once for a company I worked at.  I suppose it depends on one's preparedness and ability to sit in what could be considered a hostile environment.  

    My experiences were different than yours.  Being fully prepared, and most of all relaxed, my testimonies left opposing counsel looking like jackasses when they tried to manipulate (i.e. "fabricate") scenarios and pass them off as fact, or a remote possibility in order to suit their agenda.  My testimonies literally had opposing counsels searching for words and requesting recesses after being caught with their pants down.  I relished it.

    That being said, I could only imagine what kind of high-paid, flesh-eating lawyers (on both sides) will do to those being deposed.  If they're wanting Tim Cook to be on the hot seat for 7 hours, rest assured Apple will do the same, if not more, to Epic's CEO Tim Sweeney.  Sweeney comes off as the kind of guy that will squeal like a pig when put under pressure.  

    I think Tim Cook will be fine.  
    lolliveranantksundaramDogpersonmaximarawatto_cobraDetnator