Mike’s iMac Is Now Out of Date
Not cool Apple. Seriously not cool. Today Apple released the first of the new line of intel-mac (as widely predicted). They started with the iMac.
Whats different? Nothing really. Just instead of a G5 chip, they now sport a new Intel Core Duo. Thats all. I’m 50% bummed.
50%, because on one side is the obvious reason: My iMac is barely a few months old and its not new anymore. On the other hand though, I’m not sure I would really want the first edition of the Intel Macs. Not all the software is ported to the cross-platform “dual binary” (Meaning the software will run on both older PowerPC Macs and on new Intel Macs.)…in fact not even all of Apple’s own software is running on dual binaries at this time, so your use of your machine will be stunted to some degree. Couple that with the fact that the first editions of things always seem to have unforseen problems, and I’m still pretty happy with my machine. Maybe you don’t care, but that little paragraph of text seems to have helped me a bit.
Ok, I feel 50% better. Now off to watch the webcast of the keynote. Feel free to leave your thoughts about all of this in the comments.
Mossberg Likes My Computer
Walt Mossberg, the big daddy of tech writers, wrote in a recent column that…
We’ve been testing this new iMac, and our verdict is that it’s the gold standard of desktop PCs. To put it simply: No desktop offered by Dell or Hewlett-Packard or Sony or Gateway can match the new iMac G5′s combination of power, elegance, simplicity, ease of use, built-in software, stability and security. From setup to performing the most intense tasks, it’s a pleasure to use.
Sounds like he’s pretty happy with it, which in turn makes me even happier than I was before with my new iMac. Why? I’m not sure. But any little added iMac happiness helps these days because my credit card bill just arrived.
One minor issue with Mossberg’s article though. Towards the end he wishes that the iMac’s remote had a power button. It does! Well, its a Sleep Button really, and its kind of hidden…but it is there. I wrote that it was one of my favorite features in my iMac review. (You just hold down the Play button for a few seconds.)
Review: iMac G5 (iSight)
As promised, after speeding a few days with my new computer, I am now ready to sling a little review your way. Lets just get right to it shall we?
How fast is it?
Coming from a G4 933 iBook, the G5 (1.9 Ghz) in this last revision of the iMac seems very quick. Though you really don’t notice the speed difference until that first Spolight search. All iLife apps that I have tried so far (I’ve yet to get to Garageband) preform well. iPhoto handled my smaller sized library with no problem what so ever, scrolling up and down with little issue. iDVD and iMovie both preformed well in the simple tests, and I even tried to see how a more professional level video editing software, but…well, I’ll get to that later.
The iMac Has Landed
My new iMac G5 has arrived. Thats the good news. The bad news is that I can’t play with it today (I’m at work), tonight (I have plans) or tomorrow (Work again). But tomorrow night! Thats when the magic happens. And since I have noticed a complete lack of new iMac reviews on the web, I will pick up the slack and save the internet’s ass yet again by contributing a full review this weekend.
Thats all I have for this post. Sorry, it sounded like a lot more in my head.
Are PowerPC Macs Down To Their Last Four Years?
Now that I have just plunked down some currency and bought one of the new iMacs, what do you say we start a discussion and see how depressed I can make myself (with some help from you)? According to Chris Adamson, Apple computers purchased today have about a four year lifespan (Is It Time to Wait for Intel?).
Here is Adamson’s logic:
The key is probably: how soon will it be until new stuff that you want won’t run on your PowerPC Mac? Here’s how I’m teasing out this logic: at WWDC 2005, we were promised a look at Leopard (Mac OS X 10.5) at WWDC 2006, which is next Spring or Summer. There’s usually a lag between unveiling an OS to developers and shipping it, so the developers can learn and use the new features. Add 6-12 months to the Leopard preview and we probably don’t expect Leopard until, what, late 2006 or (more likely) sometime in 2007. Intel Macs are supposed to ship in mid 2006, so clearly some future version of Tiger will support them, as will Leopard.
Apple said with the release of Tiger that the timeframe between major OS releases would slow down, so when do we expect to see Leopard’s successor? If Tiger shipped in 2004 and Leopard is in 2007, then maybe Mac OS X 10.6 ships around 2010 or so. That’s four years after the Intel switch.
Of course, just because you can’t run the latest operating system, it doesn’t mean that machine is dead. There are many, many functioning, productive computers out there running strong on Panther or Jaguar. The real question boils down to: How long will your computer be “Modern”? “Modern” meaning that your computer can run the tasks of a current off the line computer. Do you think 4 years from now Steve will be extolling the joys of OS X 10.6 (lets say Ocelot) and then mention that the “transition is complete! …so we aren’t offering this for PowerPC.” and then quickly move on to the new iPod that cooks you breakfast and doubles as a vibrator? Mac people do tend to hold on to their computers longer than most PC users, but does that mean that Apple has the same bond to their legacy computers?
Is my new iMac not going to make it past the age of 4? Will I ever get to see it get on the bus to kindergarden?! Talk amongst yourselves…I’m getting vaclempt.
Apple’s New iMac: Released or Not?
I’ve got a gripe with Apple. Yes, its true, I have found fault with his Steveness and his kingdom. My gripe is:
When you release a new product…actually release it.
I have been trying to get my hands on a new 17″ iMac with the Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. Its simple. Thats all. When you call the two Apple stores I have in my area, they both gave me the same exchange:
Me: I was checking to see if you have any of the new 17″ iMacs with bluetooth keyboard and mouse?
Them: Let me check…[long wait]…well, we had one, but we sold it.
Let me just pull a “Out of This World” on this story, and pause it right there. (See? Now the image at the top makes sense!) You had ONE and you sold it? You just had one? What the hell kind of release is that? One! Lets continue…
Me: Do you have any idea when you will get more in?
Them: Hold on…[long pause]…Not really, no. We do have a couple of the 17″, but not with the wireless keyboard and mouse.
Me: Ok…but you have no idea when the package with the Bluetooth keyboard and moust combo are arriving?
Them: No, but the ones we have in stock do have Bluetooth, they just aren’t paired with the keyboard and mouse.
Me: Yeah…I want the keyboard and mouse…What do you think? Should I just order it online?
[ Puts fingers together.] Pause! At this point in the conversation, the guys rambles on for a few minutes about how ordering it online would be a “custom order and ordering it in the store would be a custom order, but they have custom order boxes ready to go” (just not now I guess) …and blah blah blah, never answering my question.
Why the hell would you release a product and then not ship it to the stores in more quantities than one? Steve said: “Available today. Shipping from the factory.” yet I guess its just the one guy putting the damn things together over there, because none of the stores in St. Louis seem to have the faintest idea when they are going to recieve more. Seriously Steve…what the hell?
On the plus side, I did find a way to work in a very obscure early 90′s TV show reference. Lets see your BoingBoing‘s or your Slashdot‘s do that!
Also, if any Apple Store employees are reading this by chance, could you be so kind as to answer the question the guy I got never did: If I want the bluetooth keyboard and mouse, would I be saving time ordering it online?
UPDATE: Screw it. I just ordered one at the online Apple Store.
Apple FrontRow Hacked For Use On All Macs
Well its happened. It was just a matter of time. It actually took longer than I thought. FrontRow, the application from the new iMacs, has been hacked to work on all Macs. It also didn’t take long for all kinds of media popping up proving the fact.
- Here’s a video of FrontRow running on a Mac Mini.
- Here’s a flickr set about FrontRow running on a Mini.
- Here’s a how to on getting FrontRow on the mac of your choice.
Can we all now assume Dan will be up tonight getting it to run on his Mini?
Via TUAW
Apple Remote: Battery Replaceable or Not?
As I semi-patiently wait for my local Apple stores to get in the new 17″ iMac (with Bluetooth keyboard and mouse), I’ve been trying to find a good review of the new features and get any info from people that are lucky enough to already have one of them in their possession. Recently I ran across an article on CNET Asia that included an interesting tid bit that I haven’t heard anywhere else yet. Here’s the part of the article that matters: (The emphasis, is mine.)
For a better audio-visual experience, Apple has added a cool remote control which looks so much like an iPod shuffle you may just want to stick your headphones into it. Using infrared technology which is usable up to 9m from the desktop, it lets you control photo viewing, DVD movies as well as video and music playback vie Apple’s proprietary Front Row interface. One feature we liked was the magnetic back which allows the remote to “stick” to the side of the screen when not in use. The remote has enough power to last for up to two years, after which the remote has to be sent to Apple’s service center for battery replacement.
Is that odd to anyone else? If you want to replace the battery in your iMac remote you have to have it sent to Apple for a replacement?! I just can’t believe this. So off to Apple’s support page!
After checking the Apple Support page, I found a whole page on how to change the battery on your own. Weird. Is there something with the Asian versions of the iMac that don’t allow battery replacement? Some weird Chinese regulation? Is the writer of the article a moron? No matter what the answer is, the fact of the matter is that I was mostly done writing an article about how lame it is that you can’t change the battery yourself when I found out that, in fact, you can…so I just figured I would post this article up anyway.
Sorry to waste your time, but its not like you had anything to do anyway.
Is Windows A Necessary Evil?
So I’ve pretty much decided that I will be taking the plunge and buying one of the new G5 iMacs when they hit stores here in St. Louis on October 25. Rest assured I will give a full review in a week once I’ve set it up and gotten a chance to play with it a bit. I realize the fact that I’m buying a new computer is not news-worthy, but I think the problem I’m having might be worth a read. The question I have been turning over in my head the past few days is: Should I have at least one Windows machine?
In my current home networking setup, I have: 1 iBook, 1 Windows XP machine, 1 Linux server. When I get my shiny new iMac, my plan was to bump the XP machine to another (faster) Linux server, and move my media files off the older computer to the faster Linux server and then use the older Linux server as a web / asterisk / whatever server. After the initial euphoria of the thought of living in a Windows free house, I got a little worried that I might, at some point need a Windows server. What if I can’t open some a file or a friend’s hard drive? What if I need to run a program that is only on Windows? …etc. Do I really need at least one Windows box or am I just nervous about that annoying yet comfortably easy to use Windows box not being around for the first time in 10 years?
What do you think? If I got with a *nix (fedora and OS X) based world at home (I still have to use Windows at the office), will I be a fool or finally liberating myself? Please, do try to keep the” Windows sux” comments to a minimum, I know it sucks, but the majority of the computing world runs on it, so will I be screwing myself by taking it away?