I agree with Nexxo up there,^^^ first time I saw a mac mini in a public library, I was thinking "how does it come apart?" and "how can I get safari to crash?"
I tried my hardest... I went on forbiden websites, but I couldn't make it malfunction.
I felt disappointed: I can usually crash any OS through it's browser.
Originally Posted by Ramble h.264 is part of the mpeg-4 spec just as divx and xvid is.
Yes. However, the difference in quality is drastic. :)
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No argument on Mpeg-2, but it does require FAR lower processing power to decode the stream.
That's true.
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Originally Posted by completemadness Yeah but how much larger are files using the h.264 codec, Don't forget, xvid/divx are really popular because they produce pretty good picture quality, at low processing power, and produce small files
People aren't that interested by quality, as is proven by MP3's, and don't forget, an xvid/divx can actually be done properly, just like an mp3, and make pretty damn good videos
I never could understand why people assume H.264 encoded videos will be larger than DivX or XviD videos. It depends on the quality, compression, and resolution, just as the file size depends on these parameters when a video is encoded using DivX or XviD.
A movie encoded as a 700 MB H.264 video will have drastically better quality than a movie encoded as a 700 MB XviD, assuming all other parameters are constant and the source material is high quality itself (DVDs aren't).
Originally Posted by completemadness i guess that depends on the person alot, Personally, i find windows quite intuitive, im probably one of a few, and having used it for quite some time probably helps alot, but im just using windows as an example, i find most things reasonably easy to use, aslong as they are atleast 1/2 well designed
However, having used apple products (ok the ipod and mac (a bit) mainly) i dont really find them that intuitive, their simplicity is a barrier to the power user, sure i can see people who have trouble using a pc might find it easy, but to people who pick things up very quickly, they just slow you down
As you said, you have used it quite a lot, so you have learned its quirks and take them for granted. But the general public does not find it nearly as intuitive.
You struggle with the Mac OS because you approach it like Windows, which it is not. However I reckon that a total newbie will get the hang of OS X quicker than of Windows. Moreover, portable devices like iPod and iPhone do not run a miniature version of OS X with desktop etc. because that would be inappropriate for the device. However Windows Mobile insists on being a miniature Windows Desktop.
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Originally Posted by completemadness Now im not saying apple products arent pretty good, and they do look pretty cool, but the final nail in the coffin is the price, ok i can but a 90% finished windows product, or a 99% finished apple product, but the windows product is 2/3 to 1/2 the price of the apple product, i dont know about you but i will take the windows product every time
Depends on how much you value out-of-the-box useability and productivity. We are geeks, so a 90% finished product is no problem for us --even attractive, because we can mod and personalise the remaining 10%. But the general public wants a 100% finished product they can use.
Originally Posted by Da Dego (the lack of 3g does confuse me, too)
Apparently when the iPhone is released in the EU it will have 3G, the US version is 2.5G only though. Don't ask me for sources, I probably read it on theinquirer. :D
Originally Posted by Ramble h.264 is part of the mpeg-4 spec just as divx and xvid is.
No argument on Mpeg-2, but it does require FAR lower processing power to decode the stream.
It's MPEG-4 AVC or AVHD iirc, which is different to MPEG-4 Divx/Xvid. Dvix and Xvid don't bode well for HD, which h264 is better designed for. For the same file size, h264 can do a better job that anything else.
Originally Posted by oasked Apparently when the iPhone is released in the EU it will have 3G, the US version is 2.5G only though. Don't ask me for sources, I probably read it on theinquirer. :D
I think it's mainly to do with the power consumption of 3g networks, I remember reading somewhere that that was the reason, just can't remember where :(
Originally Posted by completemadness now that its out, it hasn't disappointed 1 bit, its just as crap as i thought, and with any luck it will be the downfall of M$ - of course most people seem to just plain ignore the problems with it, and shell out £200 for a newer more bloated worse piece of software, its a crazy world
Windows won't be falling any time soon....
They make PEANUTS from the standard user such as you and I, they make ALL their money from the endless businesses that use their software.
My university is basically all Windows, and were working on switching most peoples machines to vista within the next 2 years. we just recently finished migrating our exchange servers to 2003, and are probably in the works to bump that to Exchange 2007 (or whatever MS is calling their next one)
With Tens of thousands of LARGE organizations (be it a fortune 500 company, or a school) using Windows, you will never see the downfall of them. it just Won't happen.
Originally Posted by zero0ne With Tens of thousands of LARGE organizations (be it a fortune 500 company, or a school) using Windows, you will never see the downfall of them. it just Won't happen.
Indeed. Due to a special software license, I can just go to the University's front counter and receive a free authentic copy of Windows XP. I can't imagine how much that cost the school.
Originally Posted by Amon Indeed. Due to a special software license, I can just go to the University's front counter and receive a free authentic copy of Windows XP. I can't imagine how much that cost the school.
of the 3 universitys i went to while looking to study (imperial, surrey and southhampton) they were all 90% linux 10% mac - no windows atall
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As you said, you have used it quite a lot, so you have learned its quirks and take them for granted. But the general public does not find it nearly as intuitive.
You struggle with the Mac OS because you approach it like Windows, which it is not. However I reckon that a total newbie will get the hang of OS X quicker than of Windows. Moreover, portable devices like iPod and iPhone do not run a miniature version of OS X with desktop etc. because that would be inappropriate for the device. However Windows Mobile insists on being a miniature Windows Desktop.
Its quite possible, but as i said its not just windows, i can pick up almost anything and just work it (phones, computers, laptops, pda's, tv's etc etc) and yet my dad on the other hand usually has problems with a lot of things
So i actually find it quite hard to judge usability, because as long as its reasonably designed, i usually have no problem working it
Oh and as to the 3g thing, i read that 3G consumes a magnitude more power, so apple didn't want to put it in because it would lower their battery life figures
Originally Posted by Hells_Bliss 200 dollars probably
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Originally Posted by Amon Indeed. Due to a special software license, I can just go to the University's front counter and receive a free authentic copy of Windows XP. I can't imagine how much that cost the school.
It probably doesn't cost the school anything if they give it for free.....oh wait, is your school tuition free too? At my friends University, they charged him $20 about two years ago, then he got mad because it dropped to $10, then to $5 and now it's free. WindowsXP is obsolete now in the eyes of MS, so they probably dump loads of disk's at the schools now at no cost. Just like buying a PC at Best Buy, they are loaded with FREE software, mostly because it's junk anyway. Just like getting a free antivirus and powerDVD with a new motherboard, it's old and obsolete, so give it away for mostly advertising.
Back on subject, the hype for iPhone is functionality and a stepping stone as to the way things should be, user friendly. People scoffed at Intel with HyperThreading, but it was a stepping stone and test base for what we have now, dual and quad core cpu's and no one is scoffing at that. When more products begin to follow suite and we take the functionality for granted, no one will be complaining.
Well first of all, I just use my phone for actually calling people and maybe sending a SMS every now and then.. thats it. Sure my current phone has camera, mp3 player and probably a whole lot more that I don't know of. But I never use it:|
BTW. Did the battery work? even though the color was wrong
I agree 100% on the mac store thing, and they do kick you out when you refer someone to a better/cheaper product.
I have features on my smartphone thats about 2 years old that are just showing up in regular phones, my girlfriend just got a new one and kept going "I bet your phone cant do this" and everything she said that about it could do. I admit windows mobile can be clunky at times but so far I like it, and its a hell of a lot cheaper than an iphone and Im used to it. For me macs are trendy and thats what justifies the price, what nexxo said about the 10% unfinished part is true and the general population doesn't want that and they will look to whats popular.
And I believe the title is a Fallout perk, cant wait till 3 comes out regardless.
Apple doesn't claim macs to be more powerful than any computer with windows on it. The specs are the specs. What makes a mac a mac is its interface.
They got spanked by the UK advertising watch dog a couple a years ago for claming exactly that. :o
Apple are very good at taking existing technology and making it very easy to use. This is all they have done with the iPhone, there is nothing new technology wise here.
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I tried my hardest... I went on forbiden websites, but I couldn't make it malfunction.
I felt disappointed: I can usually crash any OS through it's browser.
H.B.
A movie encoded as a 700 MB H.264 video will have drastically better quality than a movie encoded as a 700 MB XviD, assuming all other parameters are constant and the source material is high quality itself (DVDs aren't).
You struggle with the Mac OS because you approach it like Windows, which it is not. However I reckon that a total newbie will get the hang of OS X quicker than of Windows. Moreover, portable devices like iPod and iPhone do not run a miniature version of OS X with desktop etc. because that would be inappropriate for the device. However Windows Mobile insists on being a miniature Windows Desktop.
Apparently when the iPhone is released in the EU it will have 3G, the US version is 2.5G only though. Don't ask me for sources, I probably read it on theinquirer. :D
That is all.
It's MPEG-4 AVC or AVHD iirc, which is different to MPEG-4 Divx/Xvid. Dvix and Xvid don't bode well for HD, which h264 is better designed for. For the same file size, h264 can do a better job that anything else.
I think it's mainly to do with the power consumption of 3g networks, I remember reading somewhere that that was the reason, just can't remember where :(
Windows won't be falling any time soon....
They make PEANUTS from the standard user such as you and I, they make ALL their money from the endless businesses that use their software.
My university is basically all Windows, and were working on switching most peoples machines to vista within the next 2 years. we just recently finished migrating our exchange servers to 2003, and are probably in the works to bump that to Exchange 2007 (or whatever MS is calling their next one)
With Tens of thousands of LARGE organizations (be it a fortune 500 company, or a school) using Windows, you will never see the downfall of them. it just Won't happen.
200 dollars probably
So i actually find it quite hard to judge usability, because as long as its reasonably designed, i usually have no problem working it
Oh and as to the 3g thing, i read that 3G consumes a magnitude more power, so apple didn't want to put it in because it would lower their battery life figures
It probably doesn't cost the school anything if they give it for free.....oh wait, is your school tuition free too? At my friends University, they charged him $20 about two years ago, then he got mad because it dropped to $10, then to $5 and now it's free. WindowsXP is obsolete now in the eyes of MS, so they probably dump loads of disk's at the schools now at no cost. Just like buying a PC at Best Buy, they are loaded with FREE software, mostly because it's junk anyway. Just like getting a free antivirus and powerDVD with a new motherboard, it's old and obsolete, so give it away for mostly advertising.
Back on subject, the hype for iPhone is functionality and a stepping stone as to the way things should be, user friendly. People scoffed at Intel with HyperThreading, but it was a stepping stone and test base for what we have now, dual and quad core cpu's and no one is scoffing at that. When more products begin to follow suite and we take the functionality for granted, no one will be complaining.
BTW. Did the battery work? even though the color was wrong
that was the point he was trying to make, its the exact same battery, but the colour doesn't fit his laptop
I have features on my smartphone thats about 2 years old that are just showing up in regular phones, my girlfriend just got a new one and kept going "I bet your phone cant do this" and everything she said that about it could do. I admit windows mobile can be clunky at times but so far I like it, and its a hell of a lot cheaper than an iphone and Im used to it. For me macs are trendy and thats what justifies the price, what nexxo said about the 10% unfinished part is true and the general population doesn't want that and they will look to whats popular.
And I believe the title is a Fallout perk, cant wait till 3 comes out regardless.
Sorry was trying to bring a little fun into the discussion....
(I assume we would have been told if the battery didn't work)
They got spanked by the UK advertising watch dog a couple a years ago for claming exactly that. :o
Apple are very good at taking existing technology and making it very easy to use. This is all they have done with the iPhone, there is nothing new technology wise here.
"Incompatible Battery: fashion violation detected. Stay here to await arrest, citizen. The Style Police have been notified." :p
hehe see that was more of the response I was hoping for :)