Why Apple is Kicking Everyone’s Ass – The Real Cost of Software Development is Usability

The Naked Entrepreneurs ^ | 04/08/2010 | Chris the Brain

[AFreeBird]

Sorry, you’re inaccurate on Adobe having not written a 64 bit flash. Granted it’s preproduction alpha/beta, but it does exist. I know this because I have it on my Linux laptop.

That said; Flash, 32 bit or otherwise, is buggy and bloated, and I hate it. IMHO the sooner we can get rid of one more plugin, the better.

[PreciousLiberty]

“I’d much rather be fishing, hiking or diving.”

Good idea! Take a hike! :-)

(Reminds me of an amusing bumper sticker I saw a while back: “I upped my standards and went Mac! Up yours!”. lol)

[fremont_steve]

Yep - those are all possible tradeoffs - and maybe there are other ways to do it beyond what you mention. Seems that most of the laptop manufactures have chosen to make their laptop batteries removable.

What you see with Apple is part of the “Walled Garden” engineering approach to things. They want to control the entire ecosystem. I believe this is the main reason you see the Apple engineers making their choices.

Oh - you want me to design an IPAD killer for you. Okay - I’ll be glad too - but I don’t work cheap. That DOES happen to be within my skill set!

[driftdiver]

And thats why I won’t buy a mac. People who make comments like that aren’t very good company.

[driftdiver]

Throughout history there have been a lot of walls built for defense. They all failed.

[PreciousLiberty]

"If you have to go Virtual then it doesn’t count. Thats like kissing your sister and telling your friends you got lucky."

No, you don't get it. Virtual machines (or Boot Camp when you need full hardware access) are for when you have to hold your nose and use Windows software for one reason or another. But the capability is there if needed.

In most cases, you can use native Mac software. In general, Mac software is much more consistent - easier to learn and use. Look at MS Office for Windows for instance. Every major version has had a steep learning curve.

"Go play with your mac. I’ll keep doing business on my PC."

Plenty of work gets done on Mac. You're deluding yourself if you think not.

As to doing business, I'm always bemused at how many people screw around using Windows at "work". Solitare anyone?

[PreciousLiberty]

“And thats why I won’t buy a mac. People who make comments like that aren’t very good company.”

Non sequitur much?

At any rate, I’m sure your wit and wisdom have impressed many on this thread.

[dfwgator]

As to doing business, I'm always bemused at how many people screw around using Windows at "work". Solitare anyone?

It ain't just Solitaire

[driftdiver]

Thats a picture of Congress. If you’re going to use them as an example then your judgement is lacking.

[driftdiver]

“At any rate, I’m sure your wit and wisdom have impressed many on this thread.”

Well you applebots sure get in a tither. All a person has to do is point out the hype and the fur gets all ruffled.

[PreciousLiberty]

“Well you applebots sure get in a tither. All a person has to do is point out the hype and the fur gets all ruffled.”

As long as your pointing is on target there’s no problem.

When you make a bunch of inaccurate statements it gets annoying after a time.

And of course pejoratives like “applebots” do a lot to win folks over.

[Swordmaker]

Sorry, you’re inaccurate on Adobe having not written a 64 bit flash. Granted it’s preproduction alpha/beta, but it does exist. I know this because I have it on my Linux laptop.

Thanks for updating my information. I would not put any mission critical work on alpha/beta trust... but then Flash is not required for any mission critical work.

[TheBattman]

No dividend... big whoopie. The stock’s value has gone up exponentially. Those buying just a few years ago would have tripled or more their money...

[TheBattman]

And you actually, unintentionally, brought up something you might like to ignore -

I have noticed that most people I know, casual computer users or so-called “power-users” tend to replace their machines about 2 times for every one time I do. I have friends who just have to update to a new PC for whatever reason... While I tend to keep a machine at least twice as long - with no loss of functionality as compared to those upgrading more regularly.

So - if that friend buys two $500 PC’s in the time I buy one $1000 PC - has he saved that much cash?

Or as is more the case with many I know - $799 laptop every other year, while I still have my $999 iBook working fine after 4 years...

[driftdiver]

Actually all of my pointing has been right on. But I understand that someone who has spent $500 on a paperweight might not like someone pointing it out.

[PugetSoundSoldier]

Sorry You Are Wrong. Adobe has yet to write and release a 64 bit version of Flash.

Excuse me, read what I wrote:

Additionally, there are 64-bit-compatible versions of Flash; it runs on the 64 bit versions of Windows and Linux.

It is 64 bit COMPATIBLE. It is not 64 bit itself. And it runs fine on the 64 bit versions of Windows and Linux. If you're going to charge someone with being wrong, at least READ and understand what they write!

The iPad uses a custom processor designed and made by Apple.

Yes, and it is NOT 64 bit. It has a 64 bit data bus to the RAM (two blocks internal - 32 bits wide to each block) but the internal registers are 32 bit, as is the OS.

[Swordmaker]

Oh - you want me to design an IPAD killer for you. Okay - I’ll be glad too - but I don’t work cheap. That DOES happen to be within my skill set!

Oh, if I had a buck for all the engineers who tried to design an iPod or iPhone killer over the years and failed... and now there will be a bunch of failed iPad killers, too. They are already starting... and doing the same thing that failed when they tried to make their iPod and iPhone "killers:" they are loading them down with specs and features. READ THE ARTICLE to find out why they fail... it is not about specs and feature sets, removable batteries, USB ports, Flash, card readers, video ports, or anything else, Fremont_Steve, it's about making it all work together and making it EASY to use. Only Geeks care about all of that... users care about getting their work done, and not having the device get in their way. Engineers are not the ones to design that.

It takes people with a special skills set that Apple has developed over a long time to make the features you DO include obvious and easy to use. Read the last sentence in the article. I think it is accurate.

[PugetSoundSoldier]

Excuse me? Take those batteries that millions handle daily out of their hard shell (and heavy) handleable cases, remove the hardware and ports necessary to access them safely in the devices, and perhaps you would see a few more fires and injuries reported than are already reported with those safety precautions in place

So Apple could not do what every other manufacturer who uses LiPo batteries can do. Good to know they're not as good, and cannot make a simple, removable package like all other manufacturers!

Adobe has not released Flash in a 64 bit version.

Because they support lots of platforms. The 32 bit version of Flash just works in 64 bit OSes, including Snow Leopard. Now, how does an Apple 64 bit OS support that archaic 32 bit technology called Flash?

[PugetSoundSoldier]

Currently, puget, in the wild, there are ZERO known self transmitting, self replicating, self installing viruses or worms for OS X

OSX/Leap-A was a real, in-the-wild virus from 2006. Apple itself recommends virus scanning software because viruses and trojans exist in the real world, in the wild.

On the other hand, there are approximately fifteen known malicious Trojan horse programs out in the wild, in three distinct families

Which is the case with roughly 99.9% of all "viruses" in the Windows world - trojans. I don't run a virus scanner on my daily computer (currently a HP G71 that I'm typing on now) and have not had an infection (checked monthly) for 4 years, on three different laptops.

[PugetSoundSoldier]

This is actually dead wrong. Macs can run all Windows software, either in a VM or via Boot Camp.

No they can't. For example, the data logging software with the Imada force gauges. Any software that talks directly to the serial or parallel ports (which you can still do in Windows 7).

PLUS they have the advantage of running MacOS and POSIX software natively. They get POSIX by virtue of the fact that MacOS is built on Unix underpinnings.

You can run OSX on generic PCs, and they run UNIX, Linux, and POSIX too. Natively, no boot-camp or VM needed. Of course, Steve Jobs doesn't want you doing that, but it can be done.