Never thought I would ever be seeing headlines like this:

Apple passes Microsoft to be biggest tech company


Is Microsoft really losing the plot so badly?

Regards,
Martin

On the other hand, Apple is a top feeder. After market software cost less, but factory installed also includes a hardware sale. As many have already remarked, Apple hardware is expensive, but you are getting higher end hardware in the process. As the results, even at 10% of the market, Apple can do as well as Microsoft. This is why Apple is not interested in making their software run on non-Apple hardware.

I'd hardly say that Apple is using high end high quality parts. Notice the slow CPU speeds and need for intel compatible mobos/cpu to make their computers "top of the line". Without Intel or intel compatible hardware you wouldnt see any Nvidia or ATI GPU's being run on an Apple. Lets not forget that for the longest time Apple made a computer that was not meant to be opened. what they sold you was it. want more RAM? tough. Bigger harddrive? Oh well you just couldnt do it.

Now suddenly they have high tech? the best? hardly. give my an x86 CPU anyday.

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In a rich man's house there is no place to spit but his face.
Diogenes Of Sinope

Never thought I would ever be seeing headlines like this:

Apple passes Microsoft to be biggest tech company


Is Microsoft really losing the plot so badly?

Regards,
Martin

On the other hand, Apple is a top feeder. After market software cost less, but factory installed also includes a hardware sale. As many have already remarked, Apple hardware is expensive, but you are getting higher end hardware in the process. As the results, even at 10% of the market, Apple can do as well as Microsoft. This is why Apple is not interested in making their software run on non-Apple hardware.

I'd hardly say that Apple is using high end high quality parts. Notice the slow CPU speeds and need for intel compatible mobos/cpu to make their computers "top of the line". Without Intel or intel compatible hardware you wouldnt see any Nvidia or ATI GPU's being run on an Apple. Lets not forget that for the longest time Apple made a computer that was not meant to be opened. what they sold you was it. want more RAM? tough. Bigger harddrive? Oh well you just couldnt do it.

Now suddenly they have high tech? the best? hardly. give my an x86 CPU anyday.

I have a 4 year old power PC with what was the bottom end graphics card, a Gforce 6600 and my 11 year old system uses ATI chips. Do a custom build on the Apple web site and you will find most of the systems can be constructed with some up to date hardware. Apple makes their own Mother boards intended to fit their hardware but they have been working close with Intel for over 5 years. They construct systems around chips that Intel has not released to the public. I suspect they are about to do a redesign with new processor chips soon because it's about time. If you want to try a custom built, Click here.

As for x86 software, OS X dates back to the Next system and was constructed to run on any processor chip they encountered. That's why Apple switched to the Intel processor so fast 5 years ago. They were running on intel processors around the year 2000 but the Power PC was still faster. When IBM wouldn't construct a low power chip for laptops and the G6 drew more power that the G5, Apple decided it was time to switch to another processor company. OS X has been moving in another direction. Apple is constructing the OS environment where an application can break it's work into many task at the same time. Apple has seen the limits on processor speed feels that future needs will involve one task using many processors. When you see an eight core system, it means that Apple expects to see user applications running on all 8 cores at the same time.

Apple provides good support for the graphic cards, but tends to keep the processing in the computer. They are not into CUDA but do provide a good deal of hardware to people who work with graphics. If they were not meeting the needs of this market, their sales wouldn't be as good as they are.

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Let me just run out and get those same parts at the local Fry's. Hmmm my build seems to cost less than 1/2 theirs. I can only assume its the superior par... no wait its the Unix base OS... no wait... It's just Steve Jobs taking his cut. Thanks no I'd rather build my own PC and not worry about Apple and its proprietary nightmares

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In a rich man's house there is no place to spit but his face.
Diogenes Of Sinope

Let me just run out and get those same parts at the local Fry's. Hmmm my build seems to cost less than 1/2 theirs. I can only assume its the superior par... no wait its the Unix base OS... no wait... It's just Steve Jobs taking his cut. Thanks no I'd rather build my own PC and not worry about Apple and its proprietary nightmares

If cost is your issue, you can get non-tower systems for far less. As I said, this is server grade hardware and intended to be installed and used for 6 to 8 years or more. If you replace your system in twice in that time you will still break even.

On the other hand, my brother's family and my sister are all PC users. I have even been known to help them solve problems. It's your decision and not mine.

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To my view, it looks like Apple is also becoming emboldened to overtake Microsoft for FUD and restrictive practices:

Apple's HTML5 'standards' hype debunked

Apple is hyping HMTL5 again, this time with a new website purporting to show open web development in action. But the company's standards-following rivals have pointed out the Jobsian site is peddling nonsense.

[...]

Opera Software man Haavard Moen is not amused. "When the page doesn't work in Opera or other browsers it isn't because these browsers don't support HTML5," he blogged. "It's because Apple uses browser sniffing and vendor prefixes, and in addition to that they aren't really testing a lot of HTML5 at all. Most of their demos seem to have got nothing to do with HTML5, as a matter of fact."

According to Moen, it seems that the only parts of HTML5 in the showcase are the spec's <audio> and <video> tags.

Mike Shaver, chief technology officer with Mozilla, the open-source operation that builds Safari-rival Firefox, was less diplomatic on Twitter. "Having difficulty suppressing my contempt for Apple's arrogant and ridiculous HTML5 positioning today," he said.

While Safari implements open standards, Apple's browser plays HTML5 video using its own CSS3 code prefixes — all vendors use their own code prefixes — and it uses the patent-backed H.264 video codec. Thus, its video demos won't work in Opera or Firefox because its two rivals refuse to use H.264, preferring open and royalty-free coding instead...


Oooo... The proprietary fiendish irony of it all!

To my view, this is looking like Apple is looking even worse than Microsoft!


Regards,
Martin

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See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

another interesting op-ed page on apple

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In a rich man's house there is no place to spit but his face.
Diogenes Of Sinope

I don't hate Apple, i just don't like it.
I don't like Mac OS, i don't like touch and multitouch (i preffer buttons in phone and don't really think that OS can have any infuence on results of artistic work).

I'd hardly say that Apple is using high end high quality parts.

All made in china so what the difference
"high quality" now is a myth. There's good chinese parts, bad chinese parts and trash no-name chinese parts.

Actually I dont understand the rush to buy anything apple. As a consumer I don't see their products doing anything more than their competitors. They do have great marketing. I just get tired of the silly sheeple that rush to a store to get the latest gadget then put it on a shelf in a few weeks when they find it just another inconvenience. I never wanted an Ipod, Iphone, or Ianything. They simply make a common product that they insist on charging more than double what their competitors charge for the same equipment. I'm just not that easily impressed.

the Ipad is nothing more than those silly touchscreen HP's that were around last year. The 2 big differences are the size and portability. Gee that makes me want one right now. NOT.

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In a rich man's house there is no place to spit but his face.
Diogenes Of Sinope

IPad is really great to read comic books and glamour journals which i don't like both. For simple reading e-ink devices is much better. To watch films at 9-inch displays - it's for perverts.

Actually I dont understand the rush to buy anything apple. As a consumer I don't see their products doing anything more than their competitors.

You know, this is a secret of their's marketing. Devices became TOO complicated, so Apple makes a device with restricted functions which have only necessary functions for masses and make it with true great design. You know to blondes design is a main part.

I agree. It looks cute so it must be great!!!

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In a rich man's house there is no place to spit but his face.
Diogenes Of Sinope

And second - special effects, "wow effect"
If everyone around is jealous, it's worthy thing to blondes
So it was at the start
But now they're sitting on the needle of drug named "AppStore" or whatever
Some bought apps summary times more than original iPhone cost

***Let me preface this my saying the only Apple product I will ever pay for is the iPhone. Why? It may be locked in and a insidious revenue buffer for AppleT&T, but it simply is the best smartphone out there at the moment.***

Aye aye aye - do I upgrade to the iPhone 4?
I can reason with a 2 year upgrade cycle, not 1 year however. I may be forced to however, as my battery life has seriously degraded on my iPhone 3G.

The dilemma is I still have a 2 year contract with my MSP (mobile service provider) Vodafone New Zealand, and any upgrade would be paying full price for the iPhone 4 ($1379 most likely), selling my 3G for $650 with no contract on trademe.co.nz, and transfer my SIM from my 3G to the 4.

But... the iPhone 4 takes MicroSIMs instead of the usual std. SIM (I assume to improve space for other components).

So, I shot Vodafone an email...

Hi VF,
I am currently on a iPhone 60 plan with my iPhone 3G, which I have had for slightly more than a year.
I would like to upgrade to the iPhone 4 when it is released here in July, is there some way I can transfer and keep my current plan to a iPhone 4 and sell my 3G?
Problem is the iPhone 4 takes MicroSIM's whereas the 3G is a standard SIM - can I exchange my SIM for a MicroSIM?

Thank you & Cheers,
Luke.

Got this in return...

Hi Luke

Thank you for your website enquiry.

In regards to the new iPhone 4, there is no confirmed release date for this currently, however once this model has been released you would be welcome to use your current plan with this.

You would just need to purchase the phone outright and possibly sell your current model on Trademe or using a similar method, with the MicroSIM, we have no details regarding this at the moment but information will be released as soon as we have more details of the new iPhone.

Please check with the website occasionally as any new updates will be listed here:

http://forum.vodafone.co.nz/forum/16-announcements/

Kind regards

Paul

So it's a waiting game, eh?

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- Luke.

***Let me preface this my saying the only Apple product I will ever pay for is the iPhone. Why? It may be locked in and a insidious revenue buffer for AppleT&T, but it simply is the best smartphone out there at the moment.***

Aye aye aye - do I upgrade to the iPhone 4?
I can reason with a 2 year upgrade cycle, not 1 year however. I may be forced to however, as my battery life has seriously degraded on my iPhone 3G.

You have one other option (I think). If there is an Apple store near by, give them a call and explain your problem. They will do a battery replacement for less that the cost of a new phone. They were aware that this could become a problem and have set up a program to handle it. I am not sure why you are having battery problems because the 4 year old battery in my Ibook still holds 80% of it's capacity. You might want to look on the Apple web site because they have some good information on how to make your batteries last longer.

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Is Apple going to have it's moment of iPad glory only for a moment?...


Linux Tablets, Where are You?

Analysis: It's time for Linux-powered smartphones, tablets and devices to give users top-notch alternatives to Apple's offerings.


Slate Wars: 15 Tablets That Could Rival Apple's iPad

The iPad has captured many hearts and minds, but a fleet of rival tablets led by a separatist Android army is about to attack, armed with HD Flash video, multitouch screens, front-facing cameras, multitasking...even Windows 7. Let's take a look.


Control is the worm in Apple

The technology company is overreaching itself by restricting cartoons, satire, even James Joyce's 'Ulysses'...

... an Apple fan has written to Jobs complaining that: "Apple's role isn't moral policing. Apple's role is to design and produce really cool gadgets." Another wrote to Wired magazine: "This new Apple-as-Disney censorship crap has gone too far. This is getting so 'Big Brother', it's scary."


Steve Jobs going for God?

Regards,
Martin

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See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

proprietary. Oops.. sorry for the foul language.

Apple=proprietary=evil.

Simple math.

Power corrupts. Powerpoint corrupts absolutely.

martin wrote
"Meanwhile, what a horrid mess with the last three months of Microsoft critical updates that even includes a 17-years-old exploit... But that's for another thread".

the 17 year old exploit which no hacker etc couldn´t find or use in any way.
that is good.

in general, Ipad is oversized Iphone, which doesn´t fit in tour pocket and can´t be used to make a call.

martin wrote
"Meanwhile, what a horrid mess with the last three months of Microsoft critical updates that even includes a 17-years-old exploit... But that's for another thread".

the 17 year old exploit which no hacker etc couldn´t find or use in any way.
that is good.

That is very bad.

That also suggests that there is a very rich hunting ground in there for other exploits lingering from long long ago...


Regards,
Martin

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See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)