In the movie "The Graduate" an experienced businessman pulls young Dustin Hoffman aside and tells him that in a word, the future is: "plastic."
I'm here today to tell you that two important words for the future are: "digital video."
My publishing company, Asogomi Publishing International is about to expand into video creation. We've been ramping up on hardware (and moving into Mac hardware/software especially) ... and it is simply amazing!
Here's a test videos ... not the most exciting video in the world, but the resolution of the picture is what is AWESOME! :-)
HD Evergreens from Tim Warneka on Vimeo.
Amazing!
Friday, March 28, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
First Run Through of Garage Band
Wow.
That's all I can say after spending a few hours last night playing with Garageband ... Apple's music creation/editing software.
I've been playing with various music creation software package for years (nothing serious like Cubase and the like, just basic off-the-shelf software packages). I've played the guitar for years, and love jazz music. I can't read music, though, and even with my musical lack, Garageband appears simple and straightforward to use.
I was very impressed with the flexibility and ease of use of Garageband. I'm looking forward to creating soundtracks for my movies and audio products.
...and best of all? Garageband comes installed free with every Macbook!
That's all I can say after spending a few hours last night playing with Garageband ... Apple's music creation/editing software.
I've been playing with various music creation software package for years (nothing serious like Cubase and the like, just basic off-the-shelf software packages). I've played the guitar for years, and love jazz music. I can't read music, though, and even with my musical lack, Garageband appears simple and straightforward to use.
I was very impressed with the flexibility and ease of use of Garageband. I'm looking forward to creating soundtracks for my movies and audio products.
...and best of all? Garageband comes installed free with every Macbook!
Web Experts Weigh in on the Macbook's Operating System
Ubergeek Chris Pirillo (a.k.a., Lockergnome), who's exploits I've been following since the early days of the 'net, weighs in on Apple's new Operating System:
http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/02/14/50-reasons-to-switch-from-microsoft-windows-to-apples-mac-os-x/
When someone like Chris switches to Apple's OS, that's worth sitting up and listening.
Regards,
Tim Warneka
P.S. Don't sweat it. I didn't understand everything Chris was talking about in his article.
http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/02/14/50-reasons-to-switch-from-microsoft-windows-to-apples-mac-os-x/
When someone like Chris switches to Apple's OS, that's worth sitting up and listening.
Regards,
Tim Warneka
P.S. Don't sweat it. I didn't understand everything Chris was talking about in his article.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
...and some glitches on the Macbook
Computers always have problems.
I ran into my first glitch on the Macbook.
I took some video of my kids on my Flip Ultra Video camera, and wanted to test out iMovies.
The problem is ... the newest version of iMovies doesn't accept the Flip camera's video formatting (.AVI).
After searching the web a bit, I found others with this problem. Some people were able to solve this problem by upgrading the firmware on their Flip Camera.
I tried that. No luck.
I searched the web some more, and found that there are some programs that you can buy for around $30.00 to translate the Flip Video camera's .AVI file into something that iMovie '08 can read.
Sadly, other reviews on the web say that this software works well with previous versions of Apple's OS, but doesn't work well with Leopard (the Operating System that is most current).
So ...
My Flip Video camera will sit unused on my Macbook. (I still have my Windows XP machine I can use it on).
My first Macbook problem. Fairly minor, but still annoying.
I ran into my first glitch on the Macbook.
I took some video of my kids on my Flip Ultra Video camera, and wanted to test out iMovies.
The problem is ... the newest version of iMovies doesn't accept the Flip camera's video formatting (.AVI).
After searching the web a bit, I found others with this problem. Some people were able to solve this problem by upgrading the firmware on their Flip Camera.
I tried that. No luck.
I searched the web some more, and found that there are some programs that you can buy for around $30.00 to translate the Flip Video camera's .AVI file into something that iMovie '08 can read.
Sadly, other reviews on the web say that this software works well with previous versions of Apple's OS, but doesn't work well with Leopard (the Operating System that is most current).
So ...
My Flip Video camera will sit unused on my Macbook. (I still have my Windows XP machine I can use it on).
My first Macbook problem. Fairly minor, but still annoying.
Some good on the Macbook ....
So far, I'm enjoying my on-going test of the Macbook. Two things that I like about it include the trackpad and the ability to increase the font size of any page that you are viewing
TRACKPAD
The trackpad on the Macbook is so nice to use that I have not even bought a mouse yet. You set up the trackpad a variety of ways in the systems folder. Here's two features I like:
RIGHT CLICKING
It took me awhile to figure out how to "right click" on the trackpad. It's simple ... just tap the trackpad with TWO fingers and you're right clicking. (You have to click the appropriate setting in the Systems folder)
Very cool!
SCROLLING
If you want to scroll down through a webpage, simply drag TWO fingers down your trackpad ... and you're scrolling!
Again, very cool!
I'm sure that I'll probably buy a mouse once I start doing more advanced graphic design work on the Macbook ... but for now, the trackpad is GREAT!
INCREASING FONT SIZE
I was a bit worried that the 13" monitor would be too small for my eyes (I have fairly poor eyesight). The Macbook has a very easy-to-use feature that increases the font size of any webpage I'm viewing ...
To increase the font size of any webpage, simply hit the COMMAND key and the "+" key.
To decrease the size, hit COMMAND and the "-" key.
I LOVE this feature. Some webpage formatting gets thrown off a bit, but if you've ever coded in HTML before, you'll know that's to be expected. I love the ability to make a webpage much more easy to read.
Yay, Macbook!
TRACKPAD
The trackpad on the Macbook is so nice to use that I have not even bought a mouse yet. You set up the trackpad a variety of ways in the systems folder. Here's two features I like:
RIGHT CLICKING
It took me awhile to figure out how to "right click" on the trackpad. It's simple ... just tap the trackpad with TWO fingers and you're right clicking. (You have to click the appropriate setting in the Systems folder)
Very cool!
SCROLLING
If you want to scroll down through a webpage, simply drag TWO fingers down your trackpad ... and you're scrolling!
Again, very cool!
I'm sure that I'll probably buy a mouse once I start doing more advanced graphic design work on the Macbook ... but for now, the trackpad is GREAT!
INCREASING FONT SIZE
I was a bit worried that the 13" monitor would be too small for my eyes (I have fairly poor eyesight). The Macbook has a very easy-to-use feature that increases the font size of any webpage I'm viewing ...
To increase the font size of any webpage, simply hit the COMMAND key and the "+" key.
To decrease the size, hit COMMAND and the "-" key.
I LOVE this feature. Some webpage formatting gets thrown off a bit, but if you've ever coded in HTML before, you'll know that's to be expected. I love the ability to make a webpage much more easy to read.
Yay, Macbook!
Friday, March 21, 2008
Apple Care Test Drive .... Okay!
I had a small question about running my Macbook, so I called AppleCare line. AppleCare comes free for 90 days with a Macbook, and then buyers can decide if they want to extend it for 3 years (I did ... better safe than sorry.).
Frankly, I called more to check the wait time and customer service of AppleCare than I did to get my question answered (I've found all the other answers to my questions by simply googling the question.)
I was pleased. I called during the middle of the day on a weekday. My call was answered within 5 minutes, and my question was answered quickly. The AppleCare employee even offered a few other helpful suggestions about I found helpful.
So, in this admittedly non-empirical test, AppleCare checked out okay.
Frankly, I called more to check the wait time and customer service of AppleCare than I did to get my question answered (I've found all the other answers to my questions by simply googling the question.)
I was pleased. I called during the middle of the day on a weekday. My call was answered within 5 minutes, and my question was answered quickly. The AppleCare employee even offered a few other helpful suggestions about I found helpful.
So, in this admittedly non-empirical test, AppleCare checked out okay.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Let's talk about Mac Life .... as a brand
Apple users seem to have a reputation for being insufferable when talking about the superiority of their products.
While I am appreciating my experience with the Macbook so far, I have no intention of turning into an Apple snob. I purchased this Macbook as a tool for my business, and as with all tools, I'm most interested in performance. I'm keeping this blog as a service to people who come after me in deciding they are sick of Vista OS and want to seriously look at the Mac (this is the blog I wish I could have read when I was deciding on buying a Macbook)
For example, for me a car is a tool to get me from location A to location B. I'm not interested in brand names or hype or empty promises or what my neighbors think about the car I drive ... I want a car that performs well and requires as little attention as possible. (I own two Honda, if you must ask. Very reliable. Drove Toyotas for years, but their quality control seemed to be slipping.)
From an organizational consultant's perspective, it is fascinating to witness the emotional engagement of Apple users. I wrote about the importance of emotional engagement in my book LEADING PEOPLE THE BLACK BELT WAY: CONQUERING THE FIVE CORE PROBLEMS FACING LEADERS TODAY. Essentially, emotional engagement recognizes that people make decisions (purchasing decisions in this case) based more on emotional connections that they feel then being the rational Spock-like characters that they would have you believe.
As a brand, Apple has done a superior job building emotional engagement with their customers. Emotionally engaged customers are far more likely to return again and again and again.
So, as an organizational consultant, I applaud Apple's ability to engage their customers emotionally. As a newcomer to Apple, I can see how easy it can be to be seduced.
There are far more important things in this world than computers and laptops and ipods and iphones, though.
While I am appreciating my experience with the Macbook so far, I have no intention of turning into an Apple snob. I purchased this Macbook as a tool for my business, and as with all tools, I'm most interested in performance. I'm keeping this blog as a service to people who come after me in deciding they are sick of Vista OS and want to seriously look at the Mac (this is the blog I wish I could have read when I was deciding on buying a Macbook)
For example, for me a car is a tool to get me from location A to location B. I'm not interested in brand names or hype or empty promises or what my neighbors think about the car I drive ... I want a car that performs well and requires as little attention as possible. (I own two Honda, if you must ask. Very reliable. Drove Toyotas for years, but their quality control seemed to be slipping.)
From an organizational consultant's perspective, it is fascinating to witness the emotional engagement of Apple users. I wrote about the importance of emotional engagement in my book LEADING PEOPLE THE BLACK BELT WAY: CONQUERING THE FIVE CORE PROBLEMS FACING LEADERS TODAY. Essentially, emotional engagement recognizes that people make decisions (purchasing decisions in this case) based more on emotional connections that they feel then being the rational Spock-like characters that they would have you believe.
As a brand, Apple has done a superior job building emotional engagement with their customers. Emotionally engaged customers are far more likely to return again and again and again.
So, as an organizational consultant, I applaud Apple's ability to engage their customers emotionally. As a newcomer to Apple, I can see how easy it can be to be seduced.
There are far more important things in this world than computers and laptops and ipods and iphones, though.
First Road Test
Today I took my Macbook out with me for its first road test. I took it to the nearby Lakeland Community College where I teach part-time. My main interest was seeing how fast/easily it would connect to the school's wireless network.
I turned it on.
One prompt came up asking me if I wanted to connect to "Lakeland" wireless network.
... and I was up and surfing the 'net quickly.
Bottom Line:
The Macbook connected far easier and quicker than Windows laptops I've used.
woo hoo!
I turned it on.
One prompt came up asking me if I wanted to connect to "Lakeland" wireless network.
... and I was up and surfing the 'net quickly.
Bottom Line:
The Macbook connected far easier and quicker than Windows laptops I've used.
woo hoo!
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
First Impressions on the Macbook
Awesome.
After a far-too-typical-for-a-small-business-owner 14-hour day, I stayed up far too late unpacking my new Macbook laptop.
So far, I have nothing but praise. A few observations:
1. Fast setup.
When I set up my second Windows desktop computer last year, I was somewhat impressed with the speed of the setup. It only took me about 1-2 hours to get everything up and running. My biggest fight was getting the computer to recognize the wireless network in my office.
The setup on the Macbook simply blows that experience away. I've never seen a computer get set up faster. I took it out of the box, plugged it in and was off and running ... in minutes!
The Macbook recognized my wireless network immediately (it took me about 10 minutes to find the encryption key code for the network, but that has nothing to do with the Macbook).
Fast, fast, fast set-up. No fighting with computers.
I'm very impressed with the ease of setting up the Macbook.
2. Easily software installation
I purchased a copy of iWorks with the computer, and the disks came with the Macbook. The software installed very easily. Granted most Windows software installs fairly easily these days, too.
The difference for me on the Macbook was there were only two screens before I could get to the program: one that asked for the serial # and one that asked me to register (and imported my information so I only had to click, "yes."). I've installed some Windows programs that had several more screens popping up before I could get to the program.
I'll give the edge to Apple here, too.
3. Nice "feel"
As I previously mentioned, I preferred the feel of the Macbook Pro keyboard better than the Macbook, but couldn't justify the added expense for my business.
I was a bit concerned about how I would like the "chicklet" typing keys on the Macbook, but so far, I've been pleased with the feel of the Macbook keyboard.
The key spacing is a bit different than a typical IBM QWERTY keyboard, but my fingers seem to be adjusting quickly.
Bottom line, my initial impressions of the Macbook are very, very positive.
After a far-too-typical-for-a-small-business-owner 14-hour day, I stayed up far too late unpacking my new Macbook laptop.
So far, I have nothing but praise. A few observations:
1. Fast setup.
When I set up my second Windows desktop computer last year, I was somewhat impressed with the speed of the setup. It only took me about 1-2 hours to get everything up and running. My biggest fight was getting the computer to recognize the wireless network in my office.
The setup on the Macbook simply blows that experience away. I've never seen a computer get set up faster. I took it out of the box, plugged it in and was off and running ... in minutes!
The Macbook recognized my wireless network immediately (it took me about 10 minutes to find the encryption key code for the network, but that has nothing to do with the Macbook).
Fast, fast, fast set-up. No fighting with computers.
I'm very impressed with the ease of setting up the Macbook.
2. Easily software installation
I purchased a copy of iWorks with the computer, and the disks came with the Macbook. The software installed very easily. Granted most Windows software installs fairly easily these days, too.
The difference for me on the Macbook was there were only two screens before I could get to the program: one that asked for the serial # and one that asked me to register (and imported my information so I only had to click, "yes."). I've installed some Windows programs that had several more screens popping up before I could get to the program.
I'll give the edge to Apple here, too.
3. Nice "feel"
As I previously mentioned, I preferred the feel of the Macbook Pro keyboard better than the Macbook, but couldn't justify the added expense for my business.
I was a bit concerned about how I would like the "chicklet" typing keys on the Macbook, but so far, I've been pleased with the feel of the Macbook keyboard.
The key spacing is a bit different than a typical IBM QWERTY keyboard, but my fingers seem to be adjusting quickly.
Bottom line, my initial impressions of the Macbook are very, very positive.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Comparing the Macbook and the Macbook Pro
Let's talk Macbook Pro for a moment, shall we?
As a way of comparison, here are the specs on the Macbook 13" white model (at today's prices off of Apple's website):
2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
2GB memory
250GB hard drive
Double-layer SuperDrive
$1,299.00
... and here are the specs for the basic Macbook Pro (15" screen):
2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
2GB memory
200GB hard drive1
Double-layer SuperDrive
NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 256MB
$1999.00
So basically the only difference between the Macbook Pro and the Macbook are:
* The Macbook Pro has a metallic body, where the Macbook has a plastic body. (Whether that's good or bad depends on who you ask. Several websites report that the Macbook Pro's body scratches and dents more easily than the plain ol' Macbook.)
* The Macbook Pro has the upgraded video card. (a good thing, methinks ...)
* The Macbook Pro has a larger screen (15" and 17"). (not bad ...)
* The Macbook Pro costs $700.00 more! (an absolute deal-breaker ...)
OVERALL IMPRESSIONS
I liked the feel of the keyboard on the Macbook Pro better, but as a small business owner, I couldn't justify the $700 extra cost. If I don't like the keyboard on the MacBook (and the jury is still out on that one), I can buy an external keyboard for far less than $700.00.
I'm not sure about the real difference in the videocard, so I went with the less expensive version (which is my company's policy when I'm not sure about the cost/benefit of a particular business tool).
I also liked the slightly larger screen on the Macbook Pro, but I was strongly committed to keeping size/weight down. I like to backpack as a hobby, and I've learned the hard way about buying bigger (and heavier) equipment! ;-)
With all of the inconveniences facing travelers these days, when I travel for a keynote speech or some other business purpose, I want to keep my weight down to a bare minimum.
BOTTOM LINE FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
All other things being equal, had the Macbook and Macbook Pro been closer in price, I might have been swayed to decide in favor of the 15" screen on the Macbook Pro, but the huge price difference between the Macbook Pro and the Macbook just didn't justify a Macbook Pro purchase.
On the road, I'll mostly use my Mac for writing and internet connectivity, although I do like to work with graphic design programs when I'm in the hotel during the evening (designing book and workbook layouts, etc). I'll also do some straightforward video editing, but nothing that I think will tax the graphic card on the Macbook.
So, for a small business owner, the seemingly unnecessary higher cost of the Macbook Pro makes the cost/benefit analysis pretty simple:
For the entrepreneur and small business owner, the regular Macbook is the way to go.
As a way of comparison, here are the specs on the Macbook 13" white model (at today's prices off of Apple's website):
2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
2GB memory
250GB hard drive
Double-layer SuperDrive
$1,299.00
... and here are the specs for the basic Macbook Pro (15" screen):
2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
2GB memory
200GB hard drive1
Double-layer SuperDrive
NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 256MB
$1999.00
So basically the only difference between the Macbook Pro and the Macbook are:
* The Macbook Pro has a metallic body, where the Macbook has a plastic body. (Whether that's good or bad depends on who you ask. Several websites report that the Macbook Pro's body scratches and dents more easily than the plain ol' Macbook.)
* The Macbook Pro has the upgraded video card. (a good thing, methinks ...)
* The Macbook Pro has a larger screen (15" and 17"). (not bad ...)
* The Macbook Pro costs $700.00 more! (an absolute deal-breaker ...)
OVERALL IMPRESSIONS
I liked the feel of the keyboard on the Macbook Pro better, but as a small business owner, I couldn't justify the $700 extra cost. If I don't like the keyboard on the MacBook (and the jury is still out on that one), I can buy an external keyboard for far less than $700.00.
I'm not sure about the real difference in the videocard, so I went with the less expensive version (which is my company's policy when I'm not sure about the cost/benefit of a particular business tool).
I also liked the slightly larger screen on the Macbook Pro, but I was strongly committed to keeping size/weight down. I like to backpack as a hobby, and I've learned the hard way about buying bigger (and heavier) equipment! ;-)
With all of the inconveniences facing travelers these days, when I travel for a keynote speech or some other business purpose, I want to keep my weight down to a bare minimum.
BOTTOM LINE FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
All other things being equal, had the Macbook and Macbook Pro been closer in price, I might have been swayed to decide in favor of the 15" screen on the Macbook Pro, but the huge price difference between the Macbook Pro and the Macbook just didn't justify a Macbook Pro purchase.
On the road, I'll mostly use my Mac for writing and internet connectivity, although I do like to work with graphic design programs when I'm in the hotel during the evening (designing book and workbook layouts, etc). I'll also do some straightforward video editing, but nothing that I think will tax the graphic card on the Macbook.
So, for a small business owner, the seemingly unnecessary higher cost of the Macbook Pro makes the cost/benefit analysis pretty simple:
For the entrepreneur and small business owner, the regular Macbook is the way to go.
Macbook Arrives ... But Has to Wait ...
My Macbook arrived last Friday ... but I wasn't home to sign for it, so back it went to FedEx.
After a weekend of waiting, the FedEx person was on my doorstep bright and early this Monday morning (and Happy St. Patrick's Day to those who celebrate such things!)
Problem is ... my schedule is so full that I probably won't have time to open it until Tuesday afternoon.
Argh!
Ah well, the patience is good training. Plus, maybe the RAM that I ordered will be here and I can install it right away.
Stay tuned!
After a weekend of waiting, the FedEx person was on my doorstep bright and early this Monday morning (and Happy St. Patrick's Day to those who celebrate such things!)
Problem is ... my schedule is so full that I probably won't have time to open it until Tuesday afternoon.
Argh!
Ah well, the patience is good training. Plus, maybe the RAM that I ordered will be here and I can install it right away.
Stay tuned!
Friday, March 14, 2008
Comparing Apples to Apples ... Revisited
"Apples are a lot more expensive."
When I started researching Apples, that's what I heard a lot of people say. That's even what I thought. But it turns out that's not always the truth.
I want to offer some data around the conclusion I arrived at that Apples aren't really that much more expensive.
Off the Apple website, the specs/prices (as of today) are:
13" WHITE MACBOOK
2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
1GB memory
120GB hard drive1
Combo drive
Ships: Within 24 hours
Free Shipping
$1,099.00
13" White Macbook
2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
2GB memory
160GB hard drive1
Double-layer SuperDrive
Ships: Within 24 hours
Free Shipping
$1,299.00
13" Black Macbook
2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
2GB memory
250GB hard drive1
Double-layer SuperDrive
Ships: Within 24 hours
Free Shipping
$1,499.00
As you can see, the only difference between the last two units is the color. Even the salesperson at the Apple store referred to the difference as a "coolness tax" if you want a black laptop (which other computer makers offer as STANDARD ... so Apple loses points here.)
I wanted black, but I'm not willing to pay $100 for the priviledge, so I went with white.
BTW, if you're an educator or student (or, apparently, willing to pretend to be one, as Apple never asked to see a faculty ID or paycheck stub or any other typical form of proof), you can get a educational discount of about $100 from Apple's website. (So change the above prices accordingly)
ENOUGH! ONTO THE COMPARISON!
Sure, you can pop into one of the Big Box stores like Best Buy or Circuit City and get a Windows laptop for under a $1,000 ... but as you get what you pay for, you're going to get a slower computer. All of the computers I looked at these stores had processors with speeds of 1.0 GHZ to 1.6 Ghz, and usually 1 GB of RAM (a few had 512 MB ... didn't even know they used that anymore), and some had smaller hard drives.
If processing speed doesn't matter to you, then go for it! Buy one of these babies. If I was buying one for my kids for school, I would have probably bought one from Best Buy or Circuit City or some such store. (If you can find one with XP ... I wouldn't touch a laptop with Vista, as it seems to suck resources).
However, I'm a knowledge worker, so the computer is my main tool of trade. I love the internet because it can more at the speed of thought ... as long as your computer will support such speeds. Nothing is more frustration for me than waiting around for my computer to catch up to what I'm doing. I multi-task with a vengeance and I want a machine to keep up.
Also, as an entrepreneur like myself, time is money, so I'm willing to pay a bit extra for a machine with faster processing speed ... it saves me money in the long-run.
So ... jump on any of the Window computer makers' sites (HP, Dell, Gateway, etc). You'll see some really sweet prices ... until you begin to upgrade the systems to where it's tolerable.
Some of the other computers I looked at included (after configuring the systems to bring them in line with the Macbook):
A Dell D630, which had great reviews.
14.1" screen.
2 GB RAM
120 GB hardrive
2.2 Core 2 Duo processor
bluetooth
etc.
$1,576.00
A Dell XPS M1330
2.0 Ghz Core 2 Duo Processor
3 GB RAM
120 GB Harddrive
etc.
$1,562.00
A Dell XPS M1530
good reviews.
2.0 Ghz Core 2 Duo
4 GB RAM
120 GB Hard drive
etc
$1,393.00
I really liked the look of the HP tablets, too ... smaller laptops that have a screen you can twist around (!) and fold down with the screen face-up and use it as a writing/drawing tablet. Every HP tablet that I looked at was out of the budget range, though. (Maybe in a few years). Oh, and they all ran Vista, too.
OKAY ALREADY! WHAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE?!?
That's just a sample of the prices I found, but it's pretty representative. Basically, I consistently found that in order to get a laptop computer into the speed/disk space/etc. I needed, I was in the $1300 - $2,000 range (or more. One could easily spend $3,000 on a laptop). As you can see from the price I listed above, the Macbook is price-wise right in the ballpark.
Plus, all the Windows computers ran Vista. (Ugh.) So I would have had to pay extra to downgrade to Windows XP. Apple has a "cool tax" to upgrade to a black Macbook. Windows has a "frustration tax" (and it's more than $100!)to downgrade back to Vista. (Both manufacturers lose points here.)
So ...
Price-wise, the Macbook is actually in the general ballpark when one compares processing speed and hard disk drive space.
The Macbook Pro, however, is a different story.
But that's another blog.
When I started researching Apples, that's what I heard a lot of people say. That's even what I thought. But it turns out that's not always the truth.
I want to offer some data around the conclusion I arrived at that Apples aren't really that much more expensive.
Off the Apple website, the specs/prices (as of today) are:
13" WHITE MACBOOK
2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
1GB memory
120GB hard drive1
Combo drive
Ships: Within 24 hours
Free Shipping
$1,099.00
13" White Macbook
2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
2GB memory
160GB hard drive1
Double-layer SuperDrive
Ships: Within 24 hours
Free Shipping
$1,299.00
13" Black Macbook
2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
2GB memory
250GB hard drive1
Double-layer SuperDrive
Ships: Within 24 hours
Free Shipping
$1,499.00
As you can see, the only difference between the last two units is the color. Even the salesperson at the Apple store referred to the difference as a "coolness tax" if you want a black laptop (which other computer makers offer as STANDARD ... so Apple loses points here.)
I wanted black, but I'm not willing to pay $100 for the priviledge, so I went with white.
BTW, if you're an educator or student (or, apparently, willing to pretend to be one, as Apple never asked to see a faculty ID or paycheck stub or any other typical form of proof), you can get a educational discount of about $100 from Apple's website. (So change the above prices accordingly)
ENOUGH! ONTO THE COMPARISON!
Sure, you can pop into one of the Big Box stores like Best Buy or Circuit City and get a Windows laptop for under a $1,000 ... but as you get what you pay for, you're going to get a slower computer. All of the computers I looked at these stores had processors with speeds of 1.0 GHZ to 1.6 Ghz, and usually 1 GB of RAM (a few had 512 MB ... didn't even know they used that anymore), and some had smaller hard drives.
If processing speed doesn't matter to you, then go for it! Buy one of these babies. If I was buying one for my kids for school, I would have probably bought one from Best Buy or Circuit City or some such store. (If you can find one with XP ... I wouldn't touch a laptop with Vista, as it seems to suck resources).
However, I'm a knowledge worker, so the computer is my main tool of trade. I love the internet because it can more at the speed of thought ... as long as your computer will support such speeds. Nothing is more frustration for me than waiting around for my computer to catch up to what I'm doing. I multi-task with a vengeance and I want a machine to keep up.
Also, as an entrepreneur like myself, time is money, so I'm willing to pay a bit extra for a machine with faster processing speed ... it saves me money in the long-run.
So ... jump on any of the Window computer makers' sites (HP, Dell, Gateway, etc). You'll see some really sweet prices ... until you begin to upgrade the systems to where it's tolerable.
Some of the other computers I looked at included (after configuring the systems to bring them in line with the Macbook):
A Dell D630, which had great reviews.
14.1" screen.
2 GB RAM
120 GB hardrive
2.2 Core 2 Duo processor
bluetooth
etc.
$1,576.00
A Dell XPS M1330
2.0 Ghz Core 2 Duo Processor
3 GB RAM
120 GB Harddrive
etc.
$1,562.00
A Dell XPS M1530
good reviews.
2.0 Ghz Core 2 Duo
4 GB RAM
120 GB Hard drive
etc
$1,393.00
I really liked the look of the HP tablets, too ... smaller laptops that have a screen you can twist around (!) and fold down with the screen face-up and use it as a writing/drawing tablet. Every HP tablet that I looked at was out of the budget range, though. (Maybe in a few years). Oh, and they all ran Vista, too.
OKAY ALREADY! WHAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE?!?
That's just a sample of the prices I found, but it's pretty representative. Basically, I consistently found that in order to get a laptop computer into the speed/disk space/etc. I needed, I was in the $1300 - $2,000 range (or more. One could easily spend $3,000 on a laptop). As you can see from the price I listed above, the Macbook is price-wise right in the ballpark.
Plus, all the Windows computers ran Vista. (Ugh.) So I would have had to pay extra to downgrade to Windows XP. Apple has a "cool tax" to upgrade to a black Macbook. Windows has a "frustration tax" (and it's more than $100!)to downgrade back to Vista. (Both manufacturers lose points here.)
So ...
Price-wise, the Macbook is actually in the general ballpark when one compares processing speed and hard disk drive space.
The Macbook Pro, however, is a different story.
But that's another blog.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Yes! I'm not alone in loathing Vista!
Yes! I'm glad to hear that I'm not alone in disliking Vista. Journalist Randall Stross of the New York Times wrote an article today entitled, They Criticized Vista. And They Should Know.
According to Mr. Stross, some disgruntled Vista users have filed a class action lawsuit:
"We usually do not have the opportunity to overhear Microsoft’s most senior executives vent their personal frustrations with Windows. But a lawsuit filed against Microsoft in March 2007 in United States District Court in Seattle has pried loose a packet of internal company documents. The plaintiffs, Dianne Kelley and Kenneth Hansen, bought PCs in late 2006, before Vista’s release, and contend that Microsoft’s “Windows Vista Capable” stickers were misleading when affixed to machines that turned out to be incapable of running the versions of Vista that offered the features Microsoft was marketing as distinctive Vista benefits.
Last month, Judge Marsha A. Pechman granted class-action status to the suit, which is scheduled to go to trial in October. (Microsoft last week appealed the certification decision.)
Anyone who bought a PC that Microsoft labeled “Windows Vista Capable” without also declaring “Premium Capable” is now a party in the suit. The judge also unsealed a cache of 200 e-mail messages and internal reports, covering Microsoft’s discussions of how best to market Vista, beginning in 2005 and extending beyond its introduction in January 2007. The documents incidentally include those accounts of frustrated Vista users in Microsoft’s executive suites."
Well ... we'll definitely have to keep our eyes on this class action lawsuit.
Mr. Stross ends his article saying,
"Now that Microsoft faces a certified class action, a judge may be the one who oversees the fix. In the meantime, where does Microsoft go to buy back its lost credibility?"
I can answer that question:
Microsoft will have to buy back its lost credibility from Apple, because that's where thousands of disgruntled users like myself are going to go: to a place that maintains at least some respect for the customer's experience.
According to Mr. Stross, some disgruntled Vista users have filed a class action lawsuit:
"We usually do not have the opportunity to overhear Microsoft’s most senior executives vent their personal frustrations with Windows. But a lawsuit filed against Microsoft in March 2007 in United States District Court in Seattle has pried loose a packet of internal company documents. The plaintiffs, Dianne Kelley and Kenneth Hansen, bought PCs in late 2006, before Vista’s release, and contend that Microsoft’s “Windows Vista Capable” stickers were misleading when affixed to machines that turned out to be incapable of running the versions of Vista that offered the features Microsoft was marketing as distinctive Vista benefits.
Last month, Judge Marsha A. Pechman granted class-action status to the suit, which is scheduled to go to trial in October. (Microsoft last week appealed the certification decision.)
Anyone who bought a PC that Microsoft labeled “Windows Vista Capable” without also declaring “Premium Capable” is now a party in the suit. The judge also unsealed a cache of 200 e-mail messages and internal reports, covering Microsoft’s discussions of how best to market Vista, beginning in 2005 and extending beyond its introduction in January 2007. The documents incidentally include those accounts of frustrated Vista users in Microsoft’s executive suites."
Well ... we'll definitely have to keep our eyes on this class action lawsuit.
Mr. Stross ends his article saying,
"Now that Microsoft faces a certified class action, a judge may be the one who oversees the fix. In the meantime, where does Microsoft go to buy back its lost credibility?"
I can answer that question:
Microsoft will have to buy back its lost credibility from Apple, because that's where thousands of disgruntled users like myself are going to go: to a place that maintains at least some respect for the customer's experience.
Macbook on the Way!
I just got an email telling me that my Macbook is being shipped from Shanghai.
(All together now! "It's a small world after all, it's a small world after all ...")
Gotta love the power of drop shipping!
Let's see how long it takes to get here.
(All together now! "It's a small world after all, it's a small world after all ...")
Gotta love the power of drop shipping!
Let's see how long it takes to get here.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Comparing Apples to Apples ... (no pun intended :-)
...it's more like comparing Apples to Windows.
"Apples are more expensive."
That was the first thing I thought when my friend suggested I consider buying a Macbook. In my research into laptops, I've heard several other people say that same thing.
Are Apples more expensive than Windows.
Yes ... and no.
You have to compare similar system ... or as close to "similar" as you can get with between Windows Vista and Apple Leopard Operating Systems (OS). Strictly financial comparison between the two are somewhat difficult.
Yes, you can go to your nearest Big Box store (Best Buy, Circuit City) and buy a laptop for under $1,000. It's gonna be slow, but it will be under $1,000. If your a worker drone working in a mind-numbingly huge corporation, then it won't matter if you work slowly. No one will probably even know.
But it's different for me.
An an entrepreneur/multipreneur, time is money when I'm working. The more I can get done in any given period of time, the better off I'll be.
It's the difference between chopping down a tree with an ax or a chainsaw. Both cut the tree down, one just does it far faster. Entrepreneurs need fast tools, and by the time I customized a Windows Vista laptop (from Dell or HP or Sony or wherever) to have approximately the same specs as a Macbook, I was going to have to speend anywhere from $1,300 USD on up ...
... which put me in the same price range as the Macbook.
When I visited the Apple store and saw the software included free on the Macbook (iMovie, garageband, etc) ... software that cost anywhere from $1,500 - $3,000 for the equivalent Windows Vista-based software (on TOP of the price of the laptop),
... one could almost argue that the Macbook is actually a MORE financially sound business expense for the small business entrepreneur.
At least that's the conclusion I came to.
Let's see if it bears out.
"Apples are more expensive."
That was the first thing I thought when my friend suggested I consider buying a Macbook. In my research into laptops, I've heard several other people say that same thing.
Are Apples more expensive than Windows.
Yes ... and no.
You have to compare similar system ... or as close to "similar" as you can get with between Windows Vista and Apple Leopard Operating Systems (OS). Strictly financial comparison between the two are somewhat difficult.
Yes, you can go to your nearest Big Box store (Best Buy, Circuit City) and buy a laptop for under $1,000. It's gonna be slow, but it will be under $1,000. If your a worker drone working in a mind-numbingly huge corporation, then it won't matter if you work slowly. No one will probably even know.
But it's different for me.
An an entrepreneur/multipreneur, time is money when I'm working. The more I can get done in any given period of time, the better off I'll be.
It's the difference between chopping down a tree with an ax or a chainsaw. Both cut the tree down, one just does it far faster. Entrepreneurs need fast tools, and by the time I customized a Windows Vista laptop (from Dell or HP or Sony or wherever) to have approximately the same specs as a Macbook, I was going to have to speend anywhere from $1,300 USD on up ...
... which put me in the same price range as the Macbook.
When I visited the Apple store and saw the software included free on the Macbook (iMovie, garageband, etc) ... software that cost anywhere from $1,500 - $3,000 for the equivalent Windows Vista-based software (on TOP of the price of the laptop),
... one could almost argue that the Macbook is actually a MORE financially sound business expense for the small business entrepreneur.
At least that's the conclusion I came to.
Let's see if it bears out.
Whick Macbook to Get?
Here's the specs on the Macbook.
I ordered the 2.4 Ghz processor with 2 GB RAM (I'll upgrade to 4 GB RAM aftermarket ... Apple overcharges for upgrading the RAM in my opinion).
Nothing is more frustrating to me than a slow computer, so I'm willing to pay for speed.
I upgrade the hard drive to 250 GB so I don't run out of space.
I got the white macbook ... I'm not willing to pay Apple's "cool tax" for their black Macbook (which has the same insides as the white one I ordered).
More later ....
I ordered the 2.4 Ghz processor with 2 GB RAM (I'll upgrade to 4 GB RAM aftermarket ... Apple overcharges for upgrading the RAM in my opinion).
Nothing is more frustrating to me than a slow computer, so I'm willing to pay for speed.
I upgrade the hard drive to 250 GB so I don't run out of space.
I got the white macbook ... I'm not willing to pay Apple's "cool tax" for their black Macbook (which has the same insides as the white one I ordered).
More later ....
I've Had It!
I love all things technology, and I'm an early adopter (as much as finances allow, anway). Recently I was in the market for a new laptop computer, and a friend of mine suggested that I check out the new Macbook and Macbook Pro.
I tend to research my business tech purposes carefully. As a multi-preneur and owner of several small businesses, I want to make sure I get the most bang for my business buck.
I recently bought a new desktop computer that has Microsoft Window's Vista operating system, and in a word, I HATE IT. (Okay, that's three words.). Ridiculously intrusive security systems, backward compatability problems (meaning it won't run some software that has been running quite fine on my Windows XP computer for years), and other problems made me seriously question Vista's value.
The incredibly poor design of Vista also made me question Microsoft's respect for and value of their customer. Even in an industry where beta releases often masquerade as Version 1.0 of any given software program, I couldn't imagine a company that valued it's customers releasing such a horrific program. I certainly wasn't willing to spend more money on a laptop that had Vista on it
In searching the web, I found that, apparently, I'm not alone. Many, many people are frustrated with Vista and are considering switching to Macs. I also recallsometime in the past year NPR doing a call-in talk show about the horrors of Vista.
Based on what I've read on-line and the conclusions I've personally drawn, I'm predicting that the defection rate from Microsoft Window's Vista to Apple is going to be enormous.
After several weeks of researching, yesterday I purchased a new Macbook from the Apple store in Legacy Village in Beachwood, Ohio (employees Mike and Jeremy get two thumbs up for their helpful service! :-).
So, in the interest of helping out people who are considering making the same switch away from Vista and into Apple's Leopard, I thought I would blog my journey.
I upgraded the hardrive on my Macbook, so I have to wait a few days to get it in the mail.
I'll try and be as honest as I can be in the process so that readers can get a sense about what switching to macbooks really entails.
Stay tuned...
I tend to research my business tech purposes carefully. As a multi-preneur and owner of several small businesses, I want to make sure I get the most bang for my business buck.
I recently bought a new desktop computer that has Microsoft Window's Vista operating system, and in a word, I HATE IT. (Okay, that's three words.). Ridiculously intrusive security systems, backward compatability problems (meaning it won't run some software that has been running quite fine on my Windows XP computer for years), and other problems made me seriously question Vista's value.
The incredibly poor design of Vista also made me question Microsoft's respect for and value of their customer. Even in an industry where beta releases often masquerade as Version 1.0 of any given software program, I couldn't imagine a company that valued it's customers releasing such a horrific program. I certainly wasn't willing to spend more money on a laptop that had Vista on it
In searching the web, I found that, apparently, I'm not alone. Many, many people are frustrated with Vista and are considering switching to Macs. I also recallsometime in the past year NPR doing a call-in talk show about the horrors of Vista.
Based on what I've read on-line and the conclusions I've personally drawn, I'm predicting that the defection rate from Microsoft Window's Vista to Apple is going to be enormous.
After several weeks of researching, yesterday I purchased a new Macbook from the Apple store in Legacy Village in Beachwood, Ohio (employees Mike and Jeremy get two thumbs up for their helpful service! :-).
So, in the interest of helping out people who are considering making the same switch away from Vista and into Apple's Leopard, I thought I would blog my journey.
I upgraded the hardrive on my Macbook, so I have to wait a few days to get it in the mail.
I'll try and be as honest as I can be in the process so that readers can get a sense about what switching to macbooks really entails.
Stay tuned...
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