Search forums

Forums

Export thread

Got myself banned...

Feb 12, 2014#1

GasBandit

... from the tech blog of an intellectually dishonest british "mobile expert" who's crowing that there are now more Apple computers being sold than windows computers.

The kicker? He's including mobile devices in that figure. Phones and tablets. iPhones and iPads.

I said,

Desktop PCs and smartphones are apples and oranges. Our Accounting dept is not doing payroll on an iPad. Our broadcast studios couldn't run on pretty much anything Apple sells. Furthermore, I've never bought a "Windows pc" for my home. I have, however, assembled dozens from parts - a common practice among the tech-savvy that probably don't get considered when figuring "Windows PCs sold."

Apple just continues to be the best seller of shiny plastic and bright lights to people who don't actually need a computer to do their job, which granted, is most people.

To which he replied -

I was going to delete this as a trolling post, but actually it's worth leaving up as an illustration of bow badly people can misunderstand an industry. The self-built PC market is truly tiny, while the idea that all computing is for is accounting and video editing really ought to have died 20 years ago. Have you heard of the web?

And IMMEDIATELY blocked me from replying. Of course, I didn't discover this until after disqus let me type out and submit all of the following of my reply:

Sorry to burst your bubble, but I am "the industry." I'm the IT director for an independent radio broadcasting LLC, supporting ~50 users. Sure, half the sales force has iphones, (the other half Android devices) but they're used as mere facebook and e-mail platforms (aside from the obvious SMS and telephony). There's two (2) macbooks in the whole building. Apart from that, our commercial traffic systems, our broadcasting automation systems, our audio production systems, our music scheduling, our servers, and all desktop machines and laptops are windows systems. Anyone trying to do their job exclusively on mobile platforms would soon find themselves unemployed. When actual work needs be done, people still go into the office and sit down at the desk - where you won't find very many Macs. Our business couldn't function on Apple hardware, or any other handheld devices for that matter, except only painstakingly awkward via VNC client, perhaps - and that only because there's an actual Windows PC at the other end. The only real alternative to windows-based platforms on an enterprise level are Unix flavored. This has been the case at every position I've held in my 16 years in the industry.

The fact that you feel tempted to delete posts like this only speaks to the fragility of your assertion. Saying more Apple "computers" are being sold than windows "computers" and including mobile devices - even on both sides - is like saying Walmart is selling more food than CostCo, then revealing that pet food and alcohol were included in the figures. It's intellectually dishonest.

I'll be sure to let Newegg and Tigerdirect know their market is "truly tiny" so they should close up quick before they go bankrupt.

Little did even I know how fragile and dishonest, eh? What a hack.

Feb 13, 2014#2

GasBandit

Oh, and look. Apparently I'm in an internet slap fight with Duncan from Community.

Feb 13, 2014#3

Frank

He didn't include xboxes because those aren't personal computing devices.

You know, like iPhones.

Feb 13, 2014#4

LordRendar

All that guy can say is "Read the post" or something in that vein. Cant back up his arguments at all. What a tool.

Feb 13, 2014#5

Bowielee

This guy is a total idiot.

Feb 13, 2014#6

Celt Z

I see he's operating on the "If I close my eyes and stick my fingers in my ears, I can't be wrong" theory.

Feb 13, 2014#7

PatrThom

Well, there are always some people who refuse to listen to reason, even when the evidence is compelling.

--Patrick

Feb 13, 2014#8

Celt Z

Yeah, don't let things like "facts" and "evidence" get in the way! :confused:

Feb 13, 2014#9

Covar

Aren't PC sales still something like 300 million units a year?

Feb 13, 2014#10

GasBandit

And now the apple hipsters are coming out of the woodwork to defend their favorite MegaCorp. "You just don't understand how computing is changing." Yeah, you just don't understand what computing means.

Feb 13, 2014#11

Bowielee

If the guy's point, which looking at his previous stuff, it looks like it is, is that tablets and smart phones are more prevalent than actual desktops, well DUH. In a multi-family home, they only need one, maybe two desktops, but everybody in the home is going to have a phone in today's day and age. Each family member is likely to have a tablet as well.

Feb 13, 2014#12

PatrThom

GasBandit said:
And now the apple hipsters are coming out of the woodwork to defend their favorite MegaCorp. "You just don't understand how computing is changing." Yeah, you just don't understand what computing means.

Hey, I'm probably the Apple-est hipster here, and even I know the difference between computing, personal computing, and personal assistants.
Also, a thing is useless if it doesn't do what you need, no matter who makes it.

--Patrick

Feb 13, 2014#13

Dave

Smartphones and tablets are not personal computing devices? How odd. I wonder why somewhere over 100bn apps have been installed on them.

Apps are a metric that shows a device's computing power? Huh? I suppose all those Angry Birds and their clones are really helping businesses cope with analytics.

Feb 13, 2014#14

PatrThom

Dave said:
Apps are a metric that shows a device's computing power? Huh? I suppose all those Angry Birds and their clones are really helping businesses cope with analytics.

It would be hilarious if someone developed an addicting game that simultaneously did folding@home in the background or something, tricking people into accomplishing something while they waste time.

--Patrick

Feb 13, 2014#15

Dave

PatrThom said:
It would be hilarious if someone developed an addicting game that simultaneously did folding@home in the background or something, tricking people into accomplishing something while they waste time.

--Patrick

I have absolutely 0 apps on my iPod that makes me a more productive employee. In fact, let's take a look at the top utility apps in the Apple store.

Scanning software. These apps scan in documents and can email them, etc. Not valid for iPods because they can't scan. Wonder how easy to use with iPad. I would think they would be difficult to read. There are at least 5 of these in the top 20.
Scheduling. This app helps schedule things like meetings. Handy, but not really anything more than a calendar with notes and a clock.
Eastern PA Weather Authority. Well now THAT'S handy if you are conducting business in Texas!
Business card scanners. A lot like the first group. Useless on the iPod - which was counted in his metrics - and not useful in running a business. Sales, maybe, but not an office.
Voice translator/recorder. This one can be useful, I guess. Depends on how accurate. Oh, and iPods don't have voice inputs so they don't count here as well.

Well maybe all these less than useful things are because I'm looking in the "Business" category. Maybe I should go to "Finance".

1 mileage calculator and the rest are all budgeting apps.

My informed and researched view is that this guy is using bullshit metrics to try and bolster his inflammatory and incorrect point for no reason other than to bring in site traffic and promote himself. His refusal to debate any actual facts is very Ham-like where he instantly dismisses any contradiction and says, "Did you even read my post?" Which, I might add, has no citations and is so suspect with its methodology that if I presented that to my boss he'd either fire me or make me wear a helmet. This is the lamest attempt at critical analysis I've seen in a long time.

Feb 13, 2014#16

GasBandit

PatrThom said:
It would be hilarious if someone developed an addicting game that simultaneously did folding@home in the background or something, tricking people into accomplishing something while they waste time.

--Patrick

That's kinda what that cancer game I linked in the other thread is.[DOUBLEPOST=1392324615,1392324492][/DOUBLEPOST]

Dave said:
My informed and researched view is that this guy is using bullshit metrics to try and bolster his inflammatory and incorrect point for no reason other than to bring in site traffic and promote himself. His refusal to debate any actual facts is very Ham-like where he instantly dismisses any contradiction and says, "Did you even read my post?" Which, I might add, has no citations and is so suspect with its methodology that if I presented that to my boss he'd either fire me or make me wear a helmet. This is the lamest attempt at critical analysis I've seen in a long time.

Yeah, it's probably a heavy bit of clickwhoring, mixed in with the desire to drive the "mobile is the future, you guys" narrative since his bread and butter is as a "mobile expert."

Feb 13, 2014#17

Bowielee

I do have to say that in school, my iPad increased my productivity by quite a bit.

Feb 13, 2014#18

sixpackshaker

Bowielee said:
I do have to say that in school, my iPad increased my productivity by quite a bit.

I really am not trying to be a jerk, honest question. How is it to type on? Like if you have to write multiple pages. Or do you just get a Blu-Toof keyboard?

Feb 13, 2014#19

Bowielee

It types for shit. I had a bluetooth keyboard. However, for writing papers and such, I used my laptop. I mostly used it for homework tracking, taking notes, and scheduling.

Feb 13, 2014#20

figmentPez

GasBandit said:
That's kinda what that cancer game I linked in the other thread is.

Only better, in some ways, because that cancer game isn't using CPU clockcycles to crunch numbers, it's using human analysis for processing.

Feb 13, 2014#21

Covar

Bowielee said:
It types for shit. I had a bluetooth keyboard. However, for writing papers and such, I used my laptop. I mostly used it for homework tracking, taking notes, and scheduling.

I used my laptop for everything in school, this being a few years before the iPad came out. I decided early on that it wasn't worth a damn taking notes by hand, because I can type faster than I can write. It was a novel enough idea at the time it seemed like, despite everyone having a notebook of some variety (I think the university either encouraged or required everyone to have one) not many other students were using them during class. I remember there were a couple of teachers that had a problem with it, the most bizarre being the occasional computer science teacher.

Feb 13, 2014#22

Dei

Bowielee said:
If the guy's point, which looking at his previous stuff, it looks like it is, is that tablets and smart phones are more prevalent than actual desktops, well DUH. In a multi-family home, they only need one, maybe two desktops, but everybody in the home is going to have a phone in today's day and age. Each family member is likely to have a tablet as well.

We have 4 PCs in our house, 2 tablets, and 2 smartphones. >.>

Feb 13, 2014#23

sixpackshaker

I just wonder if the numbnuts thought that Mac outselling Dell meant that they were outselling all PC's.

Feb 13, 2014#24

CrimsonSoul

I have two pcs two windows laptops and two windows tablets and one Mac laptop because my wife was going through a phase and now that laptop sits in my kids room so they can watch mine craft and rainbow loom videos on YouTube

Feb 13, 2014#25

CrimsonSoul

And two smartphones. Of which I have two games Facebook and tapatalk a fake caller ID program and a text bomb program. Nothing productive lol

Feb 13, 2014#26

GasBandit

So what makes YOU so special, Mr, "I'm so special the board doesn't automerge my doubleposts?" Cause I want to be special too.

Feb 13, 2014#27

Frank

He's posting with tapatalk.

Feb 13, 2014#28

Covar

MERGE THE HERETIC!

Feb 13, 2014#29

sixpackshaker

maybe he could make the point that a bunch of appliances outsell PC's... but that does not mean anything. Cell Phones have been selling quite well for many years, and Apple recently cornered a bit of the market. Of course Android phones outsell Apple, so I guess all those companies are now computing juggernauts.

Feb 13, 2014#30

GasBandit

sixpackshaker said:
maybe he could make the point that a bunch of appliances outsell PC's... but that does not mean anything. Cell Phones have been selling quite well for many years, and Apple recently cornered a bit of the market. Of course Android phones outsell Apple, so I guess all those companies are now computing juggernauts.

I'm pretty sure toasters and microwave ovens also outsell PCs... though by his definition they might also be considered computers. The fridge sure as hell must be, it even does DOS attacks.

Feb 13, 2014#31

PatrThom

GasBandit said:
That's kinda what that cancer game I linked in the other thread is.

Yes I know.

--Patrick

Feb 13, 2014#32

Covar

GasBandit said:
I'm pretty sure toasters and microwave ovens also outsell PCs... though by his definition they might also be considered computers. The fridge sure as hell must be, it even does DOS attacks.

YOU'RE MISSING THE POINT! GHAWD!

Feb 13, 2014#33

PatrThom

Dei said:
We have 4 PCs in our house, 2 tablets, and 2 smartphones. >.>

5 people in my house.
1 smartphone (& 2 dumbphones)
2 tablets (iPod touches)
11 computers which are used regularly (only 3 of which are mine), split 3xMac, 8xPC
(there are many more computers, but that's just how many get used regularly)

--Patrick

Feb 13, 2014#34

Bowielee

GasBandit said:
I'm pretty sure toasters and microwave ovens also outsell PCs... though by his definition they might also be considered computers. The fridge sure as hell must be, it even does DOS attacks.

Read the post, you don't know what you're talking about. WHY WON'T ANYONE READ THE POST??????

Feb 13, 2014#35

GasBandit

Aaaand "Comments on this article are now closed." Ha, what a tool. I hope I get the opportunity to poop in his car's sunroof some day.

Feb 13, 2014#36

PatrThom

GasBandit said:
Aaaand "Comments on this article are now closed." Ha, what a tool. I hope I get the opportunity to poop in his car's sunroof some day.

Desk Clerk: "What were his personal effects?"
Arresting Officer: "A bus ticket, an empty jar of wheat germ, and 7 separate Taco Bell receipts, all dated within 15 minutes of one another."

--Patrick

Feb 13, 2014#37

GasBandit

PatrThom said:
Desk Clerk: "What were his personal effects?"
Arresting Officer: "A bus ticket, an empty jar of wheat germ, and 7 separate Taco Bell receipts, all dated within 15 minutes of one another."

--Patrick

If there was a bus to the UK, I'd have to take it just for the novelty factor alone.

I wonder if they do have Taco Bell there... I might have to make do with some manner of kebab.

Feb 13, 2014#38

Bowielee

That guy totally fails at analytics.

Feb 13, 2014#39

GasBandit

Bowielee said:
That guy totally fails at analytics.

He probably compiled them on his iPhone.

Feb 13, 2014#40

GasBandit

Another zinger I wish I could have put in his comments -

"Tell you what, let's try this... you do my job for a week using only an iPhone, and I'll do your job for a week using only a Windows PC. At the end of the week, we'll ask our coworkers who got less done."

Feb 13, 2014#41

jwhouk

All right, let's get something straight: I was, at one point, a Mac apologist. The first Mac I bought - and, if memory serves me correct, the first computer which I used to access That Old Forum We Used To Post To, was a Performa 6360. (You know, back in the days of dial-up and crappy phone lines.)

I now have three laptops - two running XP (and ancient as all get out), one running OSX.ohmigodthat'slikeANCIENT (it's a G4, so sue me).

I have two PC's - one running XP and the one I'm using to type this (a Gateway with Win7).

I have two phones that are... what would you call them? Semi-smart? Because neither one has a touch screen, despite having a slide-out keyboard and limited 'net capability (both of which I have disabled, thanks - I use it as a phone, not a time waster). I have two iPods - one's an older iPod Nano, the other a previous-generation iPod Touch. The Touch I use like most people use their iPhones - but with wifi, which is cheaper (at least for me). I also have a Bluetooth keyboard that I rarely use, but that's because I don't have any reason to do so. I do use Tapatalk, but I don't write anything lengthy with it.

If we're going to get technical, I also have my Wii, which still has limited 'net capability (until Nintendo decides to eliminate functionality to the Internet Channel at some point in the future).

My next purchase of something computer related will, in all likelihood, be a Surface-like tablet/computer - not an iPad, because I don't want to have to purchase one with a wireless plan.

Feb 13, 2014#42

Bowielee

jwhouk said:
My next purchase of something computer related will, in all likelihood, be a Surface-like tablet/computer - not an iPad, because I don't want to have to purchase one with a wireless plan.

You don't need to purchase a wireless plan with an iPad. Mine doesn't even have 3g.

Feb 13, 2014#43

PatrThom

Bowielee said:
You don't need to purchase a wireless plan with an iPad. Mine doesn't even have 3g.

Also, even if you do buy one of the ones with wireless, you only need to buy it one month at a time. No contract necessary.

(the only other thing you get from buying the cell-capable model is a better GPS chip due to being included in the wireless circuitry)

--Patrick

Feb 14, 2014#44

SpecialKO

That guy is a complete idiot. People don't use PCs or mobile devices in the same way (hell, people don't even use smartphones and tablets in the same way).

That mobile devices have overtaken PCs is important but not from a computing perspective, just from a usage perspective. Those are really, really different things.

Forums