Something big is going down at Apple
- Thread starter strawman
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Announced today the iphone will be available to verizon customers. http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/splash/iphone.jsp Good luck to those who now have to deal with their customer service.
Hey, fuck you too buddy.
I've never had a bad experience with Verizon customer service. Hell, when I had a Razer that crapped out on my they took one look at, and just gave me a new one free. I had a piece of shit Blackberry Storm that crapped out on me, so they gave me a Droid 2 for 100 bucks off.
Yeah, Verizon has always responded to my problems. But I'm in an area where Verizon is the premier cellular utility, and when I had problems I didn't bother calling, I just visited the verizon store, chuck the phone at them, and they replace it.
Same with the iPhone, but I chucked the phone at the apple store techs rather than the AT&T store. The 3G had died on the phone. I used edge for a few days, wondering if it was the network, then just walked into the apple store and 20 minutes later walked out with a refurbished iPhone.
But for every 100 good experiences, there' at least one bad one, and it only takes one bad experience to sour one's relationship with a wireless provider.
Same with the iPhone, but I chucked the phone at the apple store techs rather than the AT&T store. The 3G had died on the phone. I used edge for a few days, wondering if it was the network, then just walked into the apple store and 20 minutes later walked out with a refurbished iPhone.
But for every 100 good experiences, there' at least one bad one, and it only takes one bad experience to sour one's relationship with a wireless provider.
fade
Staff member
I admit ignorance when it comes to cell phones. I just got my first for Christmas (an iPhone, actually). But what's so much better about Verizon? It almost looks like people jumping from one leaky boat to another.
I will say this anecdotally: My wife had T-Mobile for years, and phone calls sounded like phone calls. Now on at&t, the calls sound all electronic and warbly. I'm fairly certain it's not the phone, either, because other sounds are fine through the earpiece.
As for Mathias's earlier comments concerning an iPad being a bigger iPhone... While that's kind of true, the iPad specific software takes advantage of the bigger screen, AND the use-cases are totally different. When it comes down to it, a laptop is just a foldable, carriable desktop. But clearly form factor matters a lot. Take this from an Apple nut who thought the iPad was the stupidest invention with no niche. But now that I got one (through a teaching grant), I find many uses for it that I could never use my iPhone for. Including the one I got the grant for.
I will say this anecdotally: My wife had T-Mobile for years, and phone calls sounded like phone calls. Now on at&t, the calls sound all electronic and warbly. I'm fairly certain it's not the phone, either, because other sounds are fine through the earpiece.
As for Mathias's earlier comments concerning an iPad being a bigger iPhone... While that's kind of true, the iPad specific software takes advantage of the bigger screen, AND the use-cases are totally different. When it comes down to it, a laptop is just a foldable, carriable desktop. But clearly form factor matters a lot. Take this from an Apple nut who thought the iPad was the stupidest invention with no niche. But now that I got one (through a teaching grant), I find many uses for it that I could never use my iPhone for. Including the one I got the grant for.
J
Jiarn
I'm with Mathias on this one, iPad doesn't do a single thing for "me" that my Droid X doesn't. The bigger screen is actually a hinderance because I wouldn't be able to use it freely in my car or at work.
But Apple is supported by the "fanbois" so it'll do fine.
But Apple is supported by the "fanbois" so it'll do fine.
People are excited because of the choice. Being locked to AT&T sucks for people who want an iphone but don't live in an area with AT&T coverage. Verizon has a much larger coverage area. Case in point, even in the boonies of Florida, where I live, I can get full 3G verizon coverage, and absolutely nothing from AT&T.
But I won't be switching from my Droid X.
That's really the crux of it. Most of the Apple users I've talked to start frothing at the mouth if you utter one disparaging word against Steve Jobs.
Added at: 12:47
I'm pretty sure the iPad 2 is going to get the "Jobs" touch.
fade
Staff member
I see some apple frothing, sure. But I also see a lot of Apple users getting defensive because an equally frothy anti-Apple "boi" attacks the thing they just bought for weak reasons, usually while touting something that either does no better, or has negatives of its own. I like Apple products, but not blindly. The reason I've seen Apple fans "froth" half the time is because the other side (as you implied in your post) comes out swinging. It's never "the closed app store isn't a great idea because x,y, and z" from the droid camp. It's "LOL, app store so gay! You so gay and gentrified for liking apple, LAWL."
For the record, I (and almost every single mac fan I know personally) don't really give two hoots about Jobs. I like apple products, not some dude in a turtleneck. There are certainly things I dislike about apple. Their business practices can be fairly unethical. I don't like the closed app store model (though the same droid fanbois who rant about that usually go home and intimately touch their linux boxes with an distro that distributes through a walled-garden package manager).
For the record, I (and almost every single mac fan I know personally) don't really give two hoots about Jobs. I like apple products, not some dude in a turtleneck. There are certainly things I dislike about apple. Their business practices can be fairly unethical. I don't like the closed app store model (though the same droid fanbois who rant about that usually go home and intimately touch their linux boxes with an distro that distributes through a walled-garden package manager).
I still think the iPad is useless, as there are better (and cheaper) alternatives to it.
You just described everything apple!
Fade makes a good point, the Apple front does get a large amount of "hate" swung at them. On that same note, I'm usually of the camp that doesn't give a flying fuck what someone says about my TV, stereo, computer, penis pump... I usually research my major electronics purchases and 99.9% am quite satisfied with what I choose. I looked into an iPad, but in the end -for me-the cost didn't justify its capabilities over, say, a netbook.You just described everything apple!
My brother-in-law just bought himself a mac-mini, and while it's small and convenient and comes with good video editing software (the only reason I'd consider it), I felt that the grand he spent could have been better dished out on better bang for the buck alternatives. But - hey- it looks pretty.
fade
Staff member
The price/performance thing is so subjective, though. I mean, technically, a guy wildly throwing punches and a kung-fu master are accomplishing the same goal of beating the tar out of someone. And the argument that kung-fu training for 30 years was ultimately a waste of time has some merit to it, sure. It depends on what you want.
I guess for me, it's the form factor again. A netbook does the same thing, but not in the same way. You get an iPad FOR the big, flat touchscreen, not in spite of it. I mean, that's what you're buying. My grant was to have an alternative to both lab samples and the projector. I could pass around a near-infinite set of annotated rock and mineral samples that are interactive. Sure, that could be done on a netbook, but then you lose the sharable, gather-roundable really crisp color-controlled screen and the touch interface, which really cements the geo concepts more than a mouse, to me. Plus it was only $450 with the university discount. It runs unix software and openGL, so coding on it is a lot simpler than learning proprietary DirectX.
I guess for me, it's the form factor again. A netbook does the same thing, but not in the same way. You get an iPad FOR the big, flat touchscreen, not in spite of it. I mean, that's what you're buying. My grant was to have an alternative to both lab samples and the projector. I could pass around a near-infinite set of annotated rock and mineral samples that are interactive. Sure, that could be done on a netbook, but then you lose the sharable, gather-roundable really crisp color-controlled screen and the touch interface, which really cements the geo concepts more than a mouse, to me. Plus it was only $450 with the university discount. It runs unix software and openGL, so coding on it is a lot simpler than learning proprietary DirectX.
It reminds me of the early days of the internet.
"So... what does internet do...?"
"Well, you can send messages to other people, read webpages about what kind of food iguanas like, that sort of thing!"
"So... why would I do that rather than call someone on the phone, or go to my library and get a book on iguanas?"
"...Uh... I guess it's something you'll have to try to understand..."
"So... what does internet do...?"
"Well, you can send messages to other people, read webpages about what kind of food iguanas like, that sort of thing!"
"So... why would I do that rather than call someone on the phone, or go to my library and get a book on iguanas?"
"...Uh... I guess it's something you'll have to try to understand..."
Horses for courses. Some people will never use a hammer because they never need to nail something together, and have a hard time understanding why someone would own a hammer, nevermind own several different types. Others nail stuff together all the time, and can't understand how one can go through life without nailing in nails.
Then there are those...
Then there are those...
C
Chibibar
Heh. Like I said before, we were PCs for a long while. Until my father bought me my first iMac. My wife LOVE it so much, she took it from it. 
We just upgrade our flip phone from t-mobile to iPhone. My wife and I love it. We use our phone more (calls, text and games) than before. Yay! We didn't go droid due to contract reasons, but I don't think my wife will give up her phone. She is comfortable with it.
She was totally against iPad due to cost, but when I manage to get her one (only 16GB model) she find many many many many uses for it. She loves it.
There is always an alternative when it comes to technology. Some go with the "shiny" some go with "economical" and some go between the two.
If I want multi touch screen portable unit, I would go iPad
If I want a single touch but more powerful system (also more open) I would get a laptop with touch screen capability (currently single touch due to OS I think)
If I want a gaming system, I go with tower PC (I still do)
But that is me.
We just upgrade our flip phone from t-mobile to iPhone. My wife and I love it. We use our phone more (calls, text and games) than before. Yay! We didn't go droid due to contract reasons, but I don't think my wife will give up her phone. She is comfortable with it.
She was totally against iPad due to cost, but when I manage to get her one (only 16GB model) she find many many many many uses for it. She loves it.
There is always an alternative when it comes to technology. Some go with the "shiny" some go with "economical" and some go between the two.
If I want multi touch screen portable unit, I would go iPad
If I want a single touch but more powerful system (also more open) I would get a laptop with touch screen capability (currently single touch due to OS I think)
If I want a gaming system, I go with tower PC (I still do)
But that is me.
So now you're indirectly calling me obtuse because I don't buy into Steve Jobs' bullshit?
I get the whole "outta the box" concept for the iPad. I really do. But I think you're being distracted by the "shiny" over what it can actually do. The advertisement motto for the thing states that "it's magical". Come on! Magical? That alone sets off my bullshit detector for useless crap. I'm sorry, no matter how much Apple and fans of the iPad sugarcoat it, it's just an electronic version of the Sham-Wow. Yeah, it's handy but a paper towel or rag does the same thing.
fade
Staff member
It does exactly what I wanted to, exactly how I conceived something like that should before they even came out with it. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that's Apple's whole appeal. They (and I reiterate, it's far more than a figurehead/mascot in a turtleneck) are good at doing things the way you intuitively expect them to. It's like this button on the iphone headset. What? One button? Okay. Play/pause. I get it. Oops the the phone's ringing. Hey the button works for that and call waiting. Wow. I hate this song, and I don't want to fumble around for the touchscreen...wonder what double clicking does? Hey! FF, just like I expected. That was a great song. If ff is 2 clicks, I bet RW is 3. Sho' nuff.
It's not like the shamwow to me. It's like satellite tv versus sticking a paperclip in the coax hole. Both work to get you tv, but the difference is clear there.
Added at: 23:52
By the way. Pick your favorite product. I can guarantee its ad tagline is stupid/corny/aimed at the lowest common denominator, too.
It's not like the shamwow to me. It's like satellite tv versus sticking a paperclip in the coax hole. Both work to get you tv, but the difference is clear there.
Added at: 23:52
By the way. Pick your favorite product. I can guarantee its ad tagline is stupid/corny/aimed at the lowest common denominator, too.
I have absolutely no use for an ipad.
That doesn't mean I think they're useless. As many have said already, they do provide a useful niche, and the compact form factor and ease of use is a major selling point to most people.
But it's not going to be for everyone. For portable needs, I can do everything I need on my phone (Droid X), and for heavier computing needs I have a laptop. I have used an iPad, being a verizon employee I've had to train with it so that I know how to use it and sell it to potential customers, but it just isn't for me. Being that I'm not invested in iOS, that limitation is a major factor as to why I dislike it. That, and as a frugal person (jew) I can't justify its expense when I'd much rather use a netbook running windows, or maybe one of those legendary windows tablets that don't suck that will be coming out one day.
All that said, the Galaxy Tab is pretty fun, and you should buy one now from your local Verizon retailer.
That doesn't mean I think they're useless. As many have said already, they do provide a useful niche, and the compact form factor and ease of use is a major selling point to most people.
But it's not going to be for everyone. For portable needs, I can do everything I need on my phone (Droid X), and for heavier computing needs I have a laptop. I have used an iPad, being a verizon employee I've had to train with it so that I know how to use it and sell it to potential customers, but it just isn't for me. Being that I'm not invested in iOS, that limitation is a major factor as to why I dislike it. That, and as a frugal person (jew) I can't justify its expense when I'd much rather use a netbook running windows, or maybe one of those legendary windows tablets that don't suck that will be coming out one day.
All that said, the Galaxy Tab is pretty fun, and you should buy one now from your local Verizon retailer.
In a device that nobody came close to producing at the time. They may not have rushed some of the specs (could they have? maybe) but there was nobody even in the neighborhood with that device. They didn't need to add anything else to it to do well.
No, not at all. I got it because I had a client purchase it for me. I couldn't justify the cost with what I perceived it to be useful for.
Once I got it, I "got it" and now if I had to go back and make that same choice I'd do it in a heartbeat.
What I'm saying is that people who call it useless, imply it's only for apple fanboys, simply don't get it in the same way that a lot of computer users in the early nineties didn't get the internet.
It's a new way of doing the same old things, and for some things it's better than the old way.
I get that it's not for you. That's fine. I'm not saying you made a bad decision or trying to convince you to change your mind. I honestly don't care. But it does rankle me that you imply repeatedly that the device itself is useless or that only apply fanboys are going to get any use out of it. You're making statements with baseless assumptions.
fade
Staff member
As another use case, I use it more or less exactly the way they used the PADD on TNG. Do work on the Pro, droP data in DroPbox, fire up Dropbox app on the iPad and share figs with research group. Yes I could do that on a netbook, but the iPad just works better for it. As far as purposely underfeatured... It's funny, but I've been making the exact opposite argument for years. That computer companies need to sell a less-featured computer to capture the blissfully computer illiterate crowd. I think that's par of the whole iOS and app business model.
personally I am waiting for a win 7 pad, I have already experimented with them and they work well for what i would need. however I do like apples product, what I don't like is their closed wall product for hardware. honest to god if you could buy a mac os disc and install it on any computer I probably would do so in a heartbeat. but I am a power user and I am not going to pay them 2-3x as much money to have the privilege to use their OS on some of my rigs.
also fade, stop being a troll with mathias, its not cool bro.
also fade, stop being a troll with mathias, its not cool bro.
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