Are we still cutting edge?

[robanga]

I have seen the MacBook Air act as a pretty nice cutting edge for a cake. There is a YouTube video around somewhere....

 

[*LTD*]

You're thinking too focused on the desktop power and its usage.

Think about the user interface and interactivity between the user and the computer as the cutting edge technology here. Hardware is not the only thing that can be cutting edge.

My mother does not use computers, an old fashioned woman and yet she knows how to navigate with my iPad than she'll ever understand with a PC and so does my 5 year old nephew.

The interaction of the iPhoneOS/iPad/iPhone is the cutting edge part, it has never been done before.

It's easy for tech-heads to get blinded by specs and numbers. It's pretty "cutting-edge", however, the way Apple has empowered the average user with the iPad, which really represents the next step in "personal computing." No one has done that. By putting the user experience first (something which they do all the time), they've found a technology lifestyle platform for everyone. It's all about putting simple, usable, enjoyable power into everyone's hands.

I've had a chance to use an iPad for the first time today, the iPad having arrived in Canada on Friday. I was originally going to wait until the second gen, but after using it for about half an hour (I was glued to the damn thing!) I have to say that it was an out-and-out joy to use. It's seamless, fun, and I was up and running with Pages in no time. The potential of this device is absolutely phenomenal, and developers are already exploiting it. And to see people use it who would stereotypically not be seen as tech-savvy was so gratifying.

 

[DeepIn2U]

Windows 7 has ONLY surpassed OS X in terms of ownership & shipping volume, along with updates for real world user volume statistics. Where have you been?! The HP Slate is a dead mission! Its not going to be released - too underpowered for full Win7, a rumored rewrite to using WebOS (which is a smarter move), and heavier weight to it not being produced at all.

Right now I've read 3 potential iPad fighters being shelved - even Lenovo's netbook/tablet hybrid a sexy idea is being shelved!!!

All the others where VERY slow to marketing, shipping REAL end products with backing by publishers, mobile video content development houses, and real world useful apps for them that they're now dying before even passing marketing department before production.

YES there were MANY Tablets "slate" models on the market and still are. They're very sparse in wide acceptance. MIDs right now have a MUCH better chance; and those WinCE tablets that stock brokers used on a shoulder leash in the NYSE or NIKKEI are ancient and serve a specific purpose that "MAY" get shelved. They're better seen as MIDs just like the HTC models from 2yrs ago and the Dell model that O2 is getting next month.

 

[Phormic]

I think Logic Pro 9 is cutting edge. It is a very good piece of kit from Apple (even if it does dominate your hard drive). Now that is what I'd call 2010. Not the iPad.

I don't know how you can even compare the two. They're worlds apart. Logic is extremely complicated and highly specialised software, designed to appeal to a very, very small market. The iPad is the computer for everybody. The original dream of the PC finally made reality.

You seem to equate complexity with being "cutting edge". Nothing could be further from the truth. It's a lot harder and requires a lot more work to create a device that is so simple and easy to use, it could be used by your grandmother. Feature driven bloatware is easy to do by comparison. That's why we see rather a lot of the latter and not very much of the former.

 

[Phormic]

Windows 7 is better than OS X Snow Leopard - that's the main reason. It's more stable, more secure (Microsoft patches the holes when they are found, whereas Apple waits months or even years to do so) and has a much better interface.

https://www.macrumors.com/2010/05/3...ndows-mostly-to-mac-due-to-security-concerns/

Google is phasing out the use of Windows company-wide due to security concerns. The move comes after news in January that Google was hacked in an attack originating in China. Those attacks used a security vulnerability in Internet Explorer for Windows. News of the report comes from FT.com who cites several Google employees.
"We're not doing any more Windows. It is a security effort," said one Google employee.

The majority of those moving away from Windows PCs are moving to Mac OS according to another Google employee. New hires are given the option to run Mac OS or a Linux-based machine.

 

[KingYaba]

i was just thinking that since the death of PPC (yeah I know this has been pondered millions of times) and a complete generic intel line-up now, what separates us from the pc peasants? Like aside from an operating system? what happened to our ideals? it feels like apple did a 180 on me but it was so subtle only now i notice it.

sure 2 years ago a backlit keyboard, slim LED screen, 2 gpu's and a C2D was still somewhat cutting edge, especially wrapped in apple's perfect sculpture like shell and shipping with the best os ever.

but is it enough now? if i have buddies throwing leopard on a netbook, and making a $600 quad core into a $4000 Mac Pro then what exactly are we still fighting for?

Just remind me

First off, the bolded part doesn't help improve the snotty Apple user stereotype. Secondly, Apple separated itself with the iPod, iTunes application and iTunes store. Very easy to use and quite convenient. There's a reason it's dominating.

Oh you're talking about computers? I don't know, really, it's just the design that separates the Mac. They look fancy and command a hefty price tag.

then what exactly are we still fighting for?

Fight the power!