So... CrapWorld 2009

[coupdetat]

As Apple, and MR, get more popular it's only natural that the signal-to-noise ratio starts to head south (IIRC when I joined MR there were 20k members a now there are over 250k). Also, many people who've gotten into Apple the past few years did so because of a very popular product so they expect (unrealistically) Apple to always hit home runs because the only Apple they know is the home run hitting Apple. They weren't around for the stagnation of the G4. They didn't get to experience the peeling TiBooks. They probably aren't even familiar w/the term Apple Death Knell.

It is what it is which is why I largely ignore the threads I find ridiculous. Bitching about the bitchers is as pointless as what the bitchers are bitching about to begin with.


Lethal

Even when the G4's weren't doing anything, Apple was hitting home runs with the iPod and with awesome software. And the TiBook itself was a home run.

This time, we got a battery.

 

[IJ Reilly]

It is what it is which is why I largely ignore the threads I find ridiculous. Bitching about the bitchers is as pointless as what the bitchers are bitching about to begin with.

What about bitching about the bitchers who are bitching about the bitchers?

Yeah, you're probably right about it being pointless. I suppose what makes me so grumpy these days is after having endured Apple's near-death experience, we're now being brought low by some of the very same complaints we heard 15 years ago. Back then they were deserved. Now they aren't by in large.

And what's so unrealistic about hoping for the signal to increase at the same rate as the noise?

 

[IJ Reilly]

Even when the G4's weren't doing anything, Apple was hitting home runs with the iPod and with awesome software. And the TiBook itself was a home run.

Selective memory. Perhaps you forget that when the iPod came out it was hardly seen as a home run. In fact it was Mac-only, and the general reaction from the we-hate-Apple media was "stupid, stupid, stupid!" Hardly anyone could see where Apple was going with this product, and those who had an idea were called "Apple cultists."

This time, we got a battery.

Obviously not, but then, that's precisely the kind of ridiculous comment we have to endure in such remarkable quantities these days.

 

[coupdetat]

Selective memory. Perhaps you forget that when the iPod came out it was hardly seen as a home run. In fact it was Mac-only, and the general reaction from the we-hate-Apple media was "stupid, stupid, stupid!" Hardly anyone could see where Apple was going with this product, and those who had an idea were called "Apple cultists."

Obviously not, but then, that's precisely the kind of ridiculous comment we have to endure in such remarkable quantities these days.

The mainstream media loved the iPod, remember? It wasn't quite accessible by consumers yet, but it was clearly revolutionary. It challenged people's conceptions of MP3 players as techy toys. Apple's playing it too safe these days.

As for your second comment.. please enlighten us on what was so great about yesterday's presentation?

 

[LethalWolfe]

Even when the G4's weren't doing anything, Apple was hitting home runs with the iPod and with awesome software. And the TiBook itself was a home run.

And the reason Apple had to release quality first part software (some of it for free) was because 3rd parties were jumping ship faster than rats off the Titanic. Apple's market share slipped down to 2-3% and people lambasted them because Steve's 'big announcement' was an overpriced MP3 player that was Mac only. Then once the iPod started to become popular Apple got blasted again for making it cross-platform. The history of Apple is filled w/peaks and valleys and even when the company is on a peak there is a segment of the user base that wants to bitch like Apple is deep in a valley. As the saying goes, you can't satisfy all of the people all of the time.

This time, we got a battery.

Yes, this was the first time ever anyone has been disappointed after an Apple event. Apple's stock almost always tanks after events like these because unrealistic expectations are never met.

And what's so unrealistic about hoping for the signal to increase at the same rate as the noise?

Because generally speaking there are more ignorant than informed people in the world?


Lethal

 

[IJ Reilly]

As for your second comment.. please enlighten us on what was so great about yesterday's presentation?

I said it was fine, not great. And as I said before, I thought it was fine because I liked two of the announced products well enough to plan to buy them. I also thought it was fine because I know that the calendar has at least 365 days on it, and also that Apple has clearly signaled its intentions to release new products when they are ready, instead of on one arbitrary day in January.

LethalWolfe answered your other question. No need to repeat.

 

[coupdetat]

Yes, this was the first time ever anyone has been disappointed after an Apple event. Apple's stock almost always tanks after events like these because unrealistic expectations are never met.

Stock nearly always tanks because short-term traders buy on rumor, sell on fact. The actual announcements make little difference. As for the disappointment: yes, people tend to be disappointed by high expectations. But this time was truly bad. Some new revenue streams for Apple (iWork.com, GarageBand, tiered iTunes pricing) but nothing for consumers.

 

[joaoferro37]

I was expecting to see new MAC mini but CRAP!!!! I can careless about iLife. I want a new MAC mini.

 

[italiano40]

I was expecting to see new MAC mini but CRAP!!!! I can careless about iLife. I want a new MAC mini.

i think that some of the new features are cool, but come on the mac mini hasn't been update in very long time over a year, unless the next gen mac mini is going to below my socks off this is a half ass keynote

 

[synth3tik]

I kind of had a feeling Apple was going to just tip toe into 2009 and that the "last" MacWorld would not offer much. In the past couple of years Apple has really failed to impress me come time for MWSF or WWDC. So I was not expecting much. It is kind of nice to know where Apple is going with the portables, seeing non-replacable batteries on Apple laptops may now be the norm. It's nice to know this so I do not have to wait for a laptop that would just be a dissapointment anyway.

I think Apple is at least a couple years behind where they should be with bring iWork to the net. This is something that should have been in the works since Google announced Google Docs. Why Apple has waited so long is beyond me.

At least Apple released iWork and iLife. Some people seem to forget that throughout 2007 we had to deal with iwork and iLife 06. Not that these are important to me, but it is nice to see Apple stay on schedule.

I haven't bothered to watch the video streams and most likely will not, so as far as I have heard and read these were the biggest things for the keynote. Very lackluster.

 

[LethalWolfe]

I was expecting to see new MAC mini but CRAP!!!! I can careless about iLife. I want a new MAC mini.

And herein lies another problem. Apple doesn't make products, or tailor product announcements, for any one individual specifically. I'm sure there are other people that couldn't care less about an update Mac Mini but welcome the improvements to the iLife apps.

Would I have been happier w/a show-stopping announcement? Sure, but I'm not going to moan because it was middle of the road rather than spectacular. Personally I like the fact that Apple is moving away from big shows like this. I don't want products held back, or rushed forward, just to meet a meaningless deadline. Other companies are moving away from trade shows as the be all/end all and I welcome that.


Lethal

 

[IJ Reilly]

Stock nearly always tanks because short-term traders buy on rumor, sell on fact. The actual announcements make little difference. As for the disappointment: yes, people tend to be disappointed by high expectations. But this time was truly bad. Some new revenue streams for Apple (iWork.com, GarageBand, tiered iTunes pricing) but nothing for consumers.

So iWork and iLife are not for consumers? No matter, that was just one day in January. Everybody, including the markets, will have to get used to the fact that Apple will now be using the entire calendar to release products.

 

[coupdetat]

So iWork and iLife are not for consumers? No matter, that was just one day in January. Everybody, including the markets, will have to get used to the fact that Apple will now be using the entire calendar to release products.

Yeah, woohooooo, I can now pay $79 to put some map animations into my home videos! And Numbers can now do *gasp* trendlines! Of course, it will probably find trendlines at molasses-slow speed, the same way Numbers does everything else. Oh, and iPhoto now has a face recognition feature that Google Picasa offers for free!



I maintain that the updates sucked. If Apple comes out with something good to justify the $25bn they are sitting on, I might change my mind. As of now, it seems like some serious reinvestment in products is needed...

 

[IJ Reilly]

I guess I can only say that my response stands. You quoted it back, but I don't think you actually read it.