Steve Kidd wrote:
> >Apple has shot itself in the foot so many times that's it's now working
> on its knees.
>
> So has every computer company - Apple just gets pounced on every time
> it does it, and someone starts shouting "The end is in sight for
> Apple"
I've never shouted that. I've always wished them the best; they just don't
know how to sustain it.
>
> Sure Apple had some tough years. But still:
>
> The iMac - The top selling computer for it's first two years,
> something everyone else tried to copy.
That was stylistic. Not much different from changing the corners on a
refrigerator. The public generally doesn't know about speed and
compatabilities, but these looked...well, wow, and the copying started. No
one copied the insides, just the slick colored transparencies--the look and
feel of the case.
Look at the Cube. That's classic Jobs. Ah, how I respect the brilliance of
no fan. A lump of unexpandable plastic; looks like a computer, functions
better as a doorstop if you want to do more than play games and send photos
to your grandmother.
>
> Quicktime - There is no better multimedia technology. Windows media
> player is a pale imitation.
You're right. Windoze itself is a pale comparison and those fools still
haven't been able to pry it off their MS-Dos base.
>
> Filemaker - If you've ever tried to use MS Access, or some of the
> other database programs, you'd know what an incredible product FM is.
Again, you're correct. Programmers once were driven by vision. Not too
findable a commodity today.
>
> ColorSync - I work in the newspaper industry, and frankly I don't
> know what I would do w/o Colorsync. So innovative that MS
> didn't/couldn't copy it, but paid for a licence to use the technology.
Proof of the same pudding.
____________________________
>
>
> >What is the reason for not now recognizing non-Apple drives and such?
>
> Um, I've got third party drives in my Mac, as well as three others I
> care for - including a current G4. Apple's Drive Setup works just
> fine. Apple has been moving towards universality, not away from it.
If I'm not mistaken, the crippling of the IDE ports in the Starmax and
allowing only one device instead of the standard two was entirely an Apple
decision and in keeping with their established philosophy of creating niches
that have a built-in urgency to upgrade to the next machine level.
>
> Early signs were adoption of PCI buses, but it continues with
> adoption of USB, Firewire, and PCXXX RAM. As well Apple had a hand in
> developing some of these technologies (USB and Firewire)
Is that like Gore inventing the internet?
>
>
> >I have been loyal through all of this--and god, do I hate pc's. Watching
> >some bozo speed around a desert at his desk forever is my idea of the
> >7th circle of hell... But that's what sells right now and my loyalty is
> >insignificant.
>
> Sorry, but you're completely wrong here. Not about the guy at his
> desk, but about your loyalty.
> Loyalty, commitment and community are some of the most important
> things to keep Apple strong - because we keep coming back to buy more
> computers.
I've spent at least $35,000 on Apples since I bought my first one at the
very beginning of Macs. That's a sign of rather expensive loyalty. In 1985,
I produced an extension keyboard cable for the 128's on up that I put
together out of irritation with the OEM short cord. I sold them for $9.95
prepaid and sent out another for free prepaid if any failed. These were the
cheapest things available for macs at the time and got me in the first Mac
Bible.
My point is I believe in innovation and don't feel the need to take
advantage of people. Microsoft intends to own the universe. Apple was the
same, but got hoisted by their own petard. Them's the breaks. Market share
doesn't run on justice or being deserving--or even being innovative, Ask
Sony about Beta.
>
> I don't mean blind loyalty either. Apple has done some things that
> really tick me off, but I know that it is still the best choice out
> there, and until that changes, I'll keep buying Apple.
I buy Apple too--with all their warts and compensatory make-up. I have a
little thesaurus program from 1985 that still runs on most of my machines.
That's a long life in this business and I attribute it to the discipline of
Apple in holding developers to Apple standards. Does that mean I accept what
is done today? It's apples and oranges. Because of the range of my machines,
I have to live with every petty little manipulation they thrust upon us. I
still use Macs and I keep a machine devoted to each of my projects.
I hate windoze and only bought one because they ran the single decent voice
recognition program at the time. Windoze still sucks and Apple generally
doesn't. But it's not that Apple didn't try; they've have been Microsoft if
they could. The lure of money smothers an awful lot of vision.
Bob Wulkowicz
--
Mac Canada is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and...
Shop Canadian, visit Mantek Services <http://www.mantek.mb.ca>
Low Prices That Will Keep YOU and Your MAC Smiling
Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html>
Mac Canada info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/mac-can.shtml>
Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/mac-canada%40mail.maclaunch.com/>
Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
