OT: Way Cool New Apple Stuff, Mac Mini & iPod Shuffle Options

[McMark]

I made a scale model of the Mac Mini. TINY! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smile.gif) Might have to buy one for the shop.

Apparently I'm the only person who already has a monitor, keyboard and mouse and am PLEASED to be able to save some money there! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/rolleyes.gif)

[skline]

QUOTE (Pnambic @ Jan 11 2005, 05:01 PM)

If your car stereo doesn't have a hookup for you to connect the iPod (or any MP3 player for that matter), you can get an FM modulator for about $15 - $20 from places like Circuit City that will transmit the music through your car stereo via its FM tuner. I use one on long trips. Its nice not having to search for a decent local radio station constantly (and in places in KY, there's nothing but country country music (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wacko.gif) ) and you can store your entire CD collection on some of these tiny new MP3 players nowadays. Here's an example...

Although they do work, FM modulation loses some of the quality despite what the manufacturers claim. They have been using them for years to hook up CD changers in cars. They work ok but are not near the quality of a direct link.

[Bleyseng]

I have both Mac and PC and prefer to play on the Mac as everything is easier to do. I have even converted some of my Microsoftie friends as they are buying Powerbooks. Gosh Qarl, have you even tried the new Macs?? I think you be working too much or the paint job went south again.....

I still use the Dell laptop at work.

Geoff

[skline]

The one main reason I wouldnt buy one of those little macs is the fact that it is not upgradeable at all. Kind of like the IPod, when the batteries die on it, your only option is to throw it away and buy another one. With the batteries being the same type as in a cell phone, if not properly discharged and recharged, they will only last a year to a year and a half. To me, it just seems like a waste of 300 to 500 bucks for that length of time. If Apple were smart, they would have made them replaceable like the Creative Zen. It's called "Planned obsolesence" In my opinion, that is just wrong. The new mini mac is pretty much the same, the CD will wear out after a year or so or the hard drive will fill up and get slow and its probably a sealed unit. Again, planned obsolesence.

[ws91420]

There is something going on with I-tunes and a possible antitrust suit. It seems that they encode the downloads so you can only use an I-Pod and no other personal MP3 player.

[McMark]

Upgradability is overrated in my opinion. I've almost never upgraded my system. But I buy big from the beginning so I have room to grow. Also, everything is upgradable. I just bought a new HD for my iBook (first time I've done this). I've gotta take the whole damn thing apart, but it'll be no problem. I'm sure both replacing the iPod battery and upgrading the MacMini would both be similar. Take it to your local Apple retail outlet if you're not comfortable taking things apart. The point of the MacMini is to be small. Small does not equal easy to upgrade. If you want upgradability it's not the one for you. Of course there are external drives as well. Seems to me there are a lot of options in that regard. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/confused24.gif) Regardless, it impresses me. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif)

[Rhodes71/914]

I love my Mac!
So glad I switched back to apple products after being forced to use windows in the business world. Everything I need to do on a computer I can do on my Mac and it's a hell of a lot easier and more fun.

If you do go with the fm modulator get the itrip by Griffin, much better than the Belkin or others that will fit the ipod. Scott is right though you lose a little quality, direct hook up is best.

Apple does encode their music in their own format to prevent pirating not so it can't be played on other players. Other players just don't support the format.

BTW - I got a 40GB ipod for christmas and I love it. My whole music collection, over 4000 songs, in one little package. I can take it anywhere and listen to it in any car, home stereo, skiing, biking, wherever. It's awsome.

[Series9]

QUOTE (Rhodes71/914 @ Jan 11 2005, 09:41 PM)

I love my Mac! So glad I switched back to apple products after being forced to use windows in the business world. Everything I need to do on a computer I can do on my Mac and it's a hell of a lot easier and more fun.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/agree.gif)

F'in A Bubba!

[MattR]

I tried to use a mac at school once but I couldnt right click... i damn near shot the bloody thing.

Ive been on a windows (or dos) based system since I was about 5 and I dont plan on changing now. Hell, all I use my computer for now days is this board and a clock, anyway.

I agree with the software thing and money though. Piracy is illegal, but very convenient (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/type.gif)

[96conv]

QUOTE (skline @ Jan 11 2005, 07:02 PM)

The one main reason I wouldnt buy one of those little macs is the fact that it is not upgradeable at all. Kind of like the IPod, when the batteries die on it, your only option is to throw it away and buy another one. With the batteries being the same type as in a cell phone, if not properly discharged and recharged, they will only last a year to a year and a half. To me, it just seems like a waste of 300 to 500 bucks for that length of time. If Apple were smart, they would have made them replaceable like the Creative Zen. It's called "Planned obsolesence" In my opinion, that is just wrong. The new mini mac is pretty much the same, the CD will wear out after a year or so or the hard drive will fill up and get slow and its probably a sealed unit. Again, planned obsolesence.

Apple can replace iPod batteries for you for $99.

[skline]

$99 for two lithium batteries? Seems a bit out of line to me. I will stick with the Creative Zen.

[double-a]

corporate personalities are interesting. some companies are leaders, some followers. some are pioneers, some are settlers. the personality of apple is that of a pioneer, and has been from day one. and that just bugs some people i guess.

and what about that software? adobe: check. macromedia: check. m$ office? check (and btw, it works better in os x). high-end graphics and video software: check. best-in-the-industry customer satisfaction and support: check. award-winning, modern operating system: check. in fact i daresay the fantastic software bundled for free into every version of os x looks and functions better than the "95%" of the bloated, hastily-written and poorly-supported software for windows.

find another company equally pioneering in the areas of software development, hardware development, user interface/user experience, digital music, digital video production, etc etc.

but alas, i am a cross-platform user, having had both a dell and a powerbook on my desk for many moons now. i use the dell, but i enjoy using the mac. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

~a

[sj914]

Jut got back from Mac World and the mini lives up to its name "mini". The biggest thing featured there was the ipod. They had some ipod ready cars out there on display, a couple Mercedes and a couple mini coopers.

[Otmar]

Ah yes, this is almost a political debate. I think I'll put on my fire suit! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)
I have a nice 1 ghz Mac Powerbook on a 23" screen that does 99% of what I want.
Then I have a 2.4 ghz Windblows machine that I bought for running 2 programs that I can't run on my Mac. What a piece of shit! It took me three video cards, 2 days and many restarts just to get it to run the 23" DVI monitor. And that was just the beginning! I believe Bill Gates deserves to die for his crimes to humanity, his idiotic short sighted greed has wasted millions of man hours.

In the end it comes down to one thing for me. When I use my Mac I mostly feel happy with how it works. (sure, they have problems too, but nothing like when I work on the alternative) When I use a Windblows machine I get angry a lot. Mac `aint perfect but it sure works for me.

Now that they have a $500 one out, all the cheapskates who would spend hundreds of hours making the POS work rather than spend the extra bills for something good have no excuse anymore. (unless of course you are addicted to games, then I guess you're stuck) Myself, I like being productive. It seems that most of the highly intelligent people I know use Mac and Linux. I wonder if that's a coincidence. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/idea.gif)

Oh right, and then there is the other time I recommend PCs. When you don't know anything about computers and all the people around you use PC's. Then it's certainly better to use a PC and have people around to help out.

Myself, I'll stick to my virus free, easy to use Mac. Windblows "plug and play" never even got close to this quality of life. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smile.gif)

[Pnambic]

QUOTE (double-a @ Jan 12 2005, 12:57 AM)

corporate personalities are interesting. some companies are leaders, some followers. some are pioneers, some are settlers. the personality of apple is that of a pioneer, and has been from day one. and that just bugs some people i guess. and what about that software? adobe: check. macromedia: check. m$ office? check (and btw, it works better in os x). high-end graphics and video software: check. best-in-the-industry customer satisfaction and support: check. award-winning, modern operating system: check. in fact i daresay the fantastic software bundled for free into every version of os x looks and functions better than the "95%" of the bloated, hastily-written and poorly-supported software for windows. find another company equally pioneering in the areas of software development, hardware development, user interface/user experience, digital music, digital video production, etc etc. but alas, i am a cross-platform user, having had both a dell and a powerbook on my desk for many moons now. i use the dell, but i enjoy using the mac. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif) ~a

There's an interesting point....Mac's OS sounds to have a lot more built in than Windows, but no one has filed suit against Apple. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/confused24.gif)

I've never owned an Apple, (though my wife's maiden name is Wozniak, yes, THAT Wozniak family) so this is just hearsay, but I would be surprised is Apple has made their music format public, or if they have, it's probably got a licensing fee to make it impossible to make a competing application. They are notorious for maintaining scrupulous control over EVERYTHING concerning their Mac empire. The iPod seems to have become the de-facto MP3 player of choice so I imagine that if it were possible to utilize their music format, a lot of apps would be out there doing that already. Just a guess on my part here.

BTW, my wife's limited interaction with Steve Wozniak has been less than impressive. She says he's about as much of a prick as you'll ever find. I bet Mr. Gates would be more fun. Hell, he's got a 959, right? He can't be all that bad.... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/laugh.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/driving.gif)

[Pnambic]

And true, radio does lose some of the sound quality, but its just as good as listening to the radio and you get to listen to your music. Besides, if you're really an audiophile, you wouldn't convert to MP3 in the first place as it loses quality in comparison to the CD.

Take it with you and it works in your car, a friend's car, the rental car, whatever. All cars have FM radios anymore.

A lot easier than toting a head unit around with you everywhere... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smile.gif)

[CptTripps]

I'll bet I'm a bigger 'mac guy' than anyonew else on the board. I'm the CTO of a company that has 60-70 macs....and 3 WinTel machines. I won't spark the debate here, but taking a look at the link below will give you an idea of where I stand.

http://www.hardman.org/detail.tpl

I've got one of every iPod ever produced. I think its one of the better devices made in the last 10 years. I have it integrated into my Saab 9-3ss, and plan on buying the Alpine gear to integrate it into a 914. (When I get one.)

I'll have 2 of the minis next week. I'll post pics for anyone that is interested. (Ordered an iPod Shuffle too)

[Qarl]

I don't know nothing about no apples....

I am entitled to my opinion... I think they are good for a limited number of things. You gotta look at my environment... Medically billing.... there are ONE or TWO applications for it... and they suck.

Just look at the corporate world... what percent of the marketshare in business to macs prevail? Very few.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/pissoff.gif)

[mongrel-gs]

in case they head south, replacement ipod batteries for much less than $99

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ipod/batteries/

[double-a]

QUOTE (Qarl @ Jan 12 2005, 05:54 AM)

I don't know nothing about no apples.... I am entitled to my opinion... I think they are good for a limited number of things.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/confused24.gif) i'm sorry to fan the flames here, but i've got to point out something. if you"don't know nothing", then it's fairly difficult to arrive at an educated opinion, isn't it? i use both platforms, every day, and the better machine and operating system is pretty obvious to me.

the top selling car for years used to be the ford taurus. does that automatically make it a better car than, say, a porsche? my dell is that taurus. i'd rather be driving the sportscar. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/driving.gif)

~a