Mav
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Post by Mav on Jun 2, 2013 8:28:39 GMT -8
E-book-gate is just so damn stupid. DOJ, SEC, same general incompetence on display.
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JDSoCal
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Aspiring oligarch
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Post by JDSoCal on Jun 2, 2013 8:50:07 GMT -8
I have to be candid here. I'm in the market for a new laptop. While I feel guilty whenever I buy a non-Apple tech device, the fact that the Retina MBP's are not in any way upgradable by the end user has me looking elsewhere. Soldering in a CPU is bad enough, but soldering in RAM is absolute, complete chickenshit, a practice I intend to e-mail Tim Cook about, the guy who is supposedly all about the customer. I do vow not to consider Samsung. Toshiba and Asus are both copycats too, but they are the only ones with decent customer satisfaction rankings. I'm a 20-year Apple bull, but I'm not going to let fanboy dogma run over my Karma. All the new thin, sealed, laptop computers have soldered RAM. It's the only way to get that thin. Just spring for the 16GB if you think you need so much RAM (what I should have done, but instead got the 8GB RAM version - working well so far). Most MBP's do not have soldered RAM, but suddenly it's a design imperative in the Retinas? Bullshit. It takes more time and money to solder a part in than to just stick it in. Why would Apple do this? Apple wants to fleece people for one of the cheapest components of a computer to increase margins. Same thing with batteries in mobile devices. And this idea that upgrading RAM is akin to brain surgery is also bullshit. Changing your car's oil is harder and a buttload of people do that. Even among the technophobes, ton of people hire Geek Squad types to do it. I'm surprised at the defend-everything-Apple-does ethos in this thread. I'm an Apple bull and a long time stockholder, but c'mon people, this is a money-making enterprise, not a beneficent non-profit.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2013 9:03:25 GMT -8
Less of apologist behavior than acknowledgement of compromise.
Do we even know if the RAM is accessible for upgrade if it were not soldered in? Apple has reduced the pricing on RAM but yes, Crucial still prices it for less. I would PREFER it not be soldered in, but this compromise is FAR less than driving a portable made by ASUS, Lenovo, etc.
JD, if you're serious about a Windows machine, wouldn't you miss Apple's OS and Apps? I have Parallels and Win7 on 2 of the 5 machines I own. I would never own a computer that just ran Windows, even in my business.
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Mav
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Post by Mav on Jun 2, 2013 9:10:33 GMT -8
I thought JD uses a PC? Which is just fine of course.
Apple RAM upgrade pricing is a joke, always has been. Crucial was selling 16GB 2x8 kits for $80 at the beginining of the year. Apple sells 32GB for friggin' $600.
Over the years I've saved hundreds by going with third-party RAM, easily enough for a Mac mini.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2013 9:25:27 GMT -8
I thought JD uses a PC? Which is just fine of course. Apple RAM upgrade pricing is a joke, always has been. Crucial was selling 16GB 2x8 kits for $80 at the beginining of the year. Apple sells 32GB for friggin' $600. Over the years I've saved hundreds by going with third-party RAM, easily enough for a Mac mini. As I've said, Apple has improved its RAM pricing and your example bears more resemblance to earlier times. For example, the upgrade from 4 to 8GB of RAM on the MacMini is $100 and Crucial is $70. Pfffft.
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Post by rob_london on Jun 2, 2013 9:31:28 GMT -8
I thought JD uses a PC? Which is just fine of course. Apple RAM upgrade pricing is a joke, always has been. Crucial was selling 16GB 2x8 kits for $80 at the beginining of the year. Apple sells 32GB for friggin' $600. Over the years I've saved hundreds by going with third-party RAM, easily enough for a Mac mini. As I've said, Apple has improved its RAM pricing and your example bears more resemblance to earlier times. For example, the upgrade from 4 to 8GB of RAM on the MacMini is $100 and Crucial is $70. Pfffft. In 1993 I paid more than 400 British pounds for 4 MB of RAM for my PowerBook 180...
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2013 9:38:25 GMT -8
I think its a side effect of apples lack of divisional structure, which is great in a lot of ways, but means there is no iWork division devoted to producing a new version every x amount of months/years - instead features just get added to iWork as needed by the wider software development team. I wonder if there is even one person devoted solely to iWork? Pretty remarkable considering the tens of millions (hundreds of millions?) in revenue both the iOS & OS X iWork versions bring in annually. Which is probably why Apple's R&D expense is so low as a % of Revenue. A Divisional structure increases fixed costs and separates production into turf protection fiefdoms. Look at MSFT's ongoing turf battles, R&D costs, lack of integration, and lack of innovation. There is no cross breeding going on there because of the structure of the firm (and it used to be worse). This may be SJ's greatest contribution to Apple.
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Mav
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Post by Mav on Jun 2, 2013 9:39:34 GMT -8
Progress. Esp. the PowerBook example. ;D
The iMac example, not so much. Btw, that $80 price is now more like $120+. Which is ridiculous in the age of trucks.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2013 9:53:30 GMT -8
In 1987 I paid about US$1,200 for an external 20 MB SCSI hard drive. Drives went internal long before I needed more storage.
Even today I'm only using 36 GB of my 500 GB HD. If it wasn't for the cost I'd get one of the NAND drive iMacs today. Even with the same processor (or even slightly slower), the read/write speed boost would be significant. I can see Apple using older (relatively) processor, and smaller HDDs, in future iMacs and achieving perceived speed increases because of NAND drives. I think we may see a migration from internal to external HDDs for STORAGE, not work space. Don't we already have Wi-Fi backup capability? Wouldn't NAND drives make "dumb" terminals faster?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2013 10:01:23 GMT -8
My number one wish for the next iPhone is a marked improvement in battery life. The problem is that this requires new technology, and once the new technology is out, every manufacturer will have it in their devices in short order (because it is a "must have" item). Not true. Apple owns patents for battery SHAPES that are NOT symmetric. This allows Apple to be more creative in its MB designs, allowing battery designs to fill all possible voids. Also Apple's battery controller software is the finest out there. It would be very difficult for a Samsung to copy these technologies without clear infringement of Apple's patents.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2013 11:16:49 GMT -8
I visited a high traffic ATT store today (one in which MSFT brass and Steven Elop have been seen). Some comments re: handset sales:
iPhone continues to sell well; HTC One is not, despite ATT now having supply. Samsung's new GS4 is selling well but not ANYTHING like a new iPhone would.
The rep said he was "worried" about Microsoft given the lackluster sales, despite the fact they're being marketed in Mr. Softie's backyard.
Blackberry: The physical keyboard handset is coming but it's a very limited niche market. Let's face it, this company is going to be sold to somebody.
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Mav
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Post by Mav on Jun 2, 2013 11:26:34 GMT -8
That's one factor keeping me from shorting BBRY. The takeover prospect, as dumb and remote as it seems to me.
I wonder if Apple "knew" that customers would start the mix-shift to cheaper iPhones as the iPhone 4 and 4S became "good enough" (never mind that that the best investment is ALWAYS the newest iPhone, 100 extra bucks be damned - where this kind of subsidy system exists, anyway).
If so, makes me cautiously optimistic that the iPhone 4S will be tweaked into a new form factor (plus current Retina Display), become the Fabled CheapPhone of Legend, or both. The old Retina iPod touch is history, after all, so the Retina Display "anachronism" is encouraging. Can't see how a "redesign" of the iPhone 4S once iPhone 4 fades away wouldn't raise unit sales by at least a few million a quarter.
Oh, AND the whole "30-pin cable? What's that?" deal. I'm getting more and more convinced that a Lightning-connector A5-based iPhone is on the way this year. ;D
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Post by michelc on Jun 2, 2013 11:41:37 GMT -8
About a month ago La Presse news paper In Montreal make a bold move. They came up with one of the best app I've seen for a news paper. They basically giving for free the news paper, even hopping to lower the print version numbers. The business plan is to be paid 100% by advertising. Now just realize today that they have a first I think with apple. If you order an iPad fom a link on they're web site apple Canada will ship a special version that have a quick link to the app pre-install and the lock screen personalize to La Presse logo. As far as I can tell the is a first. Here ( in French). plus.lapresse.ca/offreipad.htmlAnd the app in the us store itunes.apple.com/us/app/la-presse+/id603111926?mt=8Take a look even if you don't read French
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Mav
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Post by Mav on Jun 2, 2013 11:42:46 GMT -8
Wait what? Apple providing ANY iOS hooks to the app, even via a shortcut? You sure about that?
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Post by michelc on Jun 2, 2013 11:56:46 GMT -8
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Post by michelc on Jun 2, 2013 12:00:44 GMT -8
Maybe this is what tc was talking about when he mention a more open API at the alld conference. This fit with apple way, customize but still control the experience for the customer. Imagine that now for school.
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Post by PikesPique on Jun 2, 2013 14:26:05 GMT -8
As I've said, Apple has improved its RAM pricing and your example bears more resemblance to earlier times. For example, the upgrade from 4 to 8GB of RAM on the MacMini is $100 and Crucial is $70. Pfffft. In 1993 I paid more than 400 British pounds for 4 MB of RAM for my PowerBook 180... Time to take a ride in the way-back machine: in 1979, I paid $79 (USD) to upgrade my first computer from 4K (kilobytes) of RAM to 8K. This equates to, if I am doing the math correctly, $79 million dollars for a 4G upgrade in 1979. I'd say $100 dollars today seems quite reasonable.
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Mav
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Post by Mav on Jun 2, 2013 15:04:59 GMT -8
In relative terms.
With Mac mini having so little on-board memory, that's ONE Mac where I wouldn't feel much hesitation in buying the full 16GB kit for around $130 and just donating/recycling/ahem environmentally responsibly disposing of the 4GB RAM that's onboard. 4GB is _enough_ for OS X but 8GB should be the new minimum sooner than later.
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Post by rickag on Jun 2, 2013 15:17:14 GMT -8
All the new thin, sealed, laptop computers have soldered RAM. It's the only way to get that thin. Just spring for the 16GB if you think you need so much RAM (what I should have done, but instead got the 8GB RAM version - working well so far). Most MBP's do not have soldered RAM, but suddenly it's a design imperative in the Retinas? Bullshit. It takes more time and money to solder a part in than to just stick it in. Why would Apple do this? Apple wants to fleece people for one of the cheapest components of a computer to increase margins. Same thing with batteries in mobile devices. And this idea that upgrading RAM is akin to brain surgery is also bullshit. Changing your car's oil is harder and a buttload of people do that. Even among the technophobes, ton of people hire Geek Squad types to do it. I'm surprised at the defend-everything-Apple-does ethos in this thread. I'm an Apple bull and a long time stockholder, but c'mon people, this is a money-making enterprise, not a beneficent non-profit. +1 Me, I'm still waiting on an xMac. I prefer Apple products both hardware & software, but not being able to upgrade the ram even in the new iMacs seems extreme. I know I am not in the typical Apple target market, but I still buy their products. My 1st Mac was a used 7500 with a Sonnet G4 upgade, an ATI Rage Pro graphics card upgrade and an additional added hard drive and yes you may call me a gray beard.
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Mav
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Post by Mav on Jun 2, 2013 15:21:38 GMT -8
Clarification. Current-gen 21" iMacs have no way to install RAM post-purchase, but the 27" iMacs have a quite user-friendly RAM installation panel. Though yes, the RAM installation restriction isn't consumer-friendly and a step backward from the previous-gen smaller iMac.
My first Mac was an LC-series. Thank God Steve Jobs came back.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2013 16:19:41 GMT -8
Let's face it, this company is going to be sold to somebody. I've been pondering who would buy ANY of the current batch of struggling handset manufacturers, and I can't think of a single defensible reason why any of them would be desirable. In this category I place MSFT (mobile division), Ericsson, Sony (mobile division), HTC, Motorola, Nokia, and RIMM. That's 7 firms comprising about 8% share. Ninety % of the world market is controlled by 2 firms (Apple and Samsung), but even Samsung has no unique (non-FRAND) mobile IP. None have market share that they aren't destined to lose anyway. None have profit share that can be expanded. None have multiple revenue streams of significance. None have brand loyalty that can be exploited. None have IP portfolios that offer competitive advantage. None have balance sheets worthy of a buyout offer. Some may have manufacturing assets, but are they modern enough to be attractive to the likes of Foxconn or Pegatron?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2013 16:23:44 GMT -8
Futures have turned very nicely positive in early Asian trading.
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Mav
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Post by Mav on Jun 2, 2013 16:33:05 GMT -8
Wow, Nikkei index is having a turbulent period right now. Down to -2%.
US futures pretty undecided right now.
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Post by michelc on Jun 2, 2013 16:55:12 GMT -8
My first Mac was an LC-series. Thank God Steve Jobs came back. One think I've always loved abut the LC was how easy it was to take apart. I use to have contest with technician on the time it took once apart to put back in order. No screw ( except the one holding the casing together) all snap on.....
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2013 17:12:54 GMT -8
Not meaningful in any way, just a mind exercise on a quiet rainy Sunday, but I extended AAPL's current trend to the end of June. What this extension of the current trend revealed was the 50 SMA crossing the 100 SMA during the last week of the month. It also showed the 100 SMA turning positive during that week. Just in time for the run to July earnings.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2013 17:16:46 GMT -8
Wow, Nikkei index is having a turbulent period right now. Down to -2%. US futures pretty undecided right now. Oh how fast Futures can change. US Indexes Up very, very, slightly. Nikkei Up ~1%.
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Post by appledoc on Jun 2, 2013 17:17:35 GMT -8
Had a wonderful day today. Spent half of it trying to get my new Nest thermostat to first connect to the internet, then connect to my account. Finally done though.
Haven't had any time to even glance at the chart, but I'm still thinking we break 465 this week.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2013 17:40:27 GMT -8
Had a wonderful day today. Spent half of it trying to get my new Nest thermostat to first connect to the internet, then connect to my account. Finally done though. Haven't had any time to even glance at the chart, but I'm still thinking we break 465 this week. My $450/$455 BCS will thank you heartily, if your thinking becomes fact.
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Post by sponge on Jun 2, 2013 19:00:13 GMT -8
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Post by prazan on Jun 2, 2013 19:43:15 GMT -8
E-book-gate is just so damn stupid. DOJ, SEC, same general incompetence on display. It's a disaster, but not just for traditional publishers. In five years ebooks have taken one-third of the market for books, taking the biggest bite out of paperbacks. That share is growing. Before Apple introduced the agency model for distribution of ebooks, Amazon took 90% of the market. After the agency model, it dropped to 60%. To have a single company controlling that large a segment of the market for books puts writers at significant risk, too, no matter what happens to traditional publishers. The DOJ is attempting to reduce competition in the marketplace, not increase it, and not to level the playing field.
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