Apple's Rotting Core?

[lurch]

A recent article that has some merit.

Phillip

http://www.tomsguide.com/us/macbookpro-apple-refresh-opinion,review-1513.html

[danieldk]

Most of it is just trolling:

- A MacBook Pro refresh is upcoming.
- The Snow Leopard incompatibilities rant is really way off, I use a lot of third-party software, and most of it worked (with updates) a few weeks after the release of Snow Leopard. Compared to Vista and Windows 7's incompatibilities with old software (or for that matter Linux's, try any old Loki game), that's a very small window. Heck, I can even still run many PowerPC applications on my Intel Macs.
- Another major point that the article misses is that it is not just a matter of sticking in the latest generation CPU. Recent generations of Macs have been really low power, because they use well-developed mobile versions of CPUs and chipsets. They may want to lag a bit to get low-power high-quality components.

Besides that, the MacBooks are still pretty cutting-edge. Who provides aluminium notebooks carved out one piece, with a glass multi-touch touchpad, with an excellent backlit display, and an operating system the pretty much blows Windows and Linux out of the water.

Macs have the highest satisfaction rate of the industry, and there is a reason for that: everything is well-balanced. But cheap shots give quick advertisement money. It would be more interesting to look at which security techniques are still lacking, which is a far more interesting question, but requires proper research.

[lurch]

Daniel: Thanks for the critique. Your illuminating reply further indicates that I am on the right track moving to the Mac platform. Perhaps there might be a Mac Mini refresh after the MacBook Pro one?

Phillip

[danieldk]

I don't know, but MacRumors has a nice overview of statistics and news items that might or might not indicate upcoming updates:

http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/

[fos]

I have had two crashes on my iMac since I purchased it about a month ago. It was running Firefox both times. I have Adobe Creative Suite and MS Office Suite with no problems.

Beyond that, it blows my recent Windows machines out of the water. My year old Dell laptop has virtually the same specifications other than CPU core frequency. I had purchased a premium Toshiba laptop prior to purchasing the Macbook Pro. It was dead slow. I'm pretty sure there was something wrong with it. I purchased a similar Toshiba for my college son at the same time. It just can not compare to the performance of the iMac or the MacBook.

The Macbook Pro has never crashed with any software. It is also significantly faster than Billy's new Toshiba. Most of my educational software would not work with Windows 7. New versions were due this month. They all had version that work with OS X. A couple of older applications work with a Virtual Win XP on the Macbook. Believe it or not, XP is faster in a virtual machine on the Macbook than it ever was installed on a desktop.

I am a new convert to Macs. Until the latest versions came out, they just didn't have enough to pull me over. I have been an Intel PC M$ (and Linux) since I graduated from TRSDOS and Deskmate.

The biggest factor for me is Apple's screen quality. After my Gateway 22" Sony monitor gave up the ghost, I have been searching for a screen that would allow me to enlarge text and remain clear. I have a half dozen monitors on the shelf that just weren't good enough. It was hard to match the 0.24mm dot pitch of the old Gateway CRT. I looked everywhere.

Tha Apple screens are the best I have found both on the laptop and the 22" iMac.

BTW, my school system is installing new Dell desktops with Windows 7. I tried one that is already installed in the computer lab. It is much slower than my Macs. The screen quality is very poor. I think Dell gave our schools a "deal". I'm going to keep my old CRT monitor when they show up to swap my computer out.

[RedAlpha3]

I've had a couple applications freeze on the Mac Mini. However, like fos , one was Firefox and the other time it has been VLC. (I have a strange hatred of iTunes, I have no idea why!)As far as the operating system goes, I've had no difficulty and the fact that the hardware/software package is perfectly compatible has been the sealer for me. I think I've been more productive.

[lurch]

Very useful to hear the iMac and Mini feedback from Fos and Pete. I may have a buyer for my Dell laptop so a Mac purchase is that bit closer.

Looking at Jobs' keynote address, the iPad looks very interesting. Due for release in Australia at the end of April.

Phillip

[Sergio1704]

I have had two crashes on my iMac since I purchased it about a month ago. It was running Firefox both times.

I suggest that it was caused by Firefox, definitely.
Firefox has crashed Windows 7 in my laptop several times.