Chris Seibold's Profile

  • Nov 06, 2009
  • 314
  • 157

Recent articles written by: Chris Seibold

Latest comments made by: Chris Seibold

  • "Is Android not innovative?" Not yet. I like the easy hackability but so far, well, it seems like another iPhone knock off. But Android has a chance. Of course, this was written in jest. I'm sure engineers are busting it to try to come up with something better but they can't. If the iPhone weren't around you probably would've have seen five phones hailed as revolutionary in the last few years and the revolutions would've been lame in comparison to what the iPhone as added to the mix. But that's just me, I'm in the paragraph a group, Apple fan, stockholder, Apple author so I think it is all good. What's the old saying? Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery? Or am I thinking of: Lead, follow or release Windows mobile 6.5 and become irrelevant? One of those must be it.
    United StatesChris Seibold had this to say on Oct 23, 2009 Posts: 314
    Why It's Okay to Loathe the iPhone
  • "So why do they keep insisting that it’s a computer platform instead of the best phone to ever hit the market?" Well if you look at the Apple marketing you'll note that they pitch it as a phone that does a whole lot more so you are more in tune with the official Apple pitch than Chris Howard. On the other hand Chris is right, it is a pretty great computer. For most people a computer anymore is the internet. I know you make movies and run FCP and Chris Howard does Photoshop and programs stuff. But you guys are exceptions, not the average user. The average user writes emails, browses the web, does some social media stuff and plays games. For my Dad or sister the iPhone is a great computer, it can do it all and live in their pocket. I'd opine that the iPhone is almost enough computer for most people. As for the price, well, if you asked everyone for the total cost of the contract and phone up front people would run scared. But it is like a frog in boiling water, if you get it 80 bucks at a time it doesn't seem so bad, you might be willing to get boiled alive. Someday people won't be gouged for data on their phone and cable on their tv and data on their network they'll just pay for data... Well, I hope so anyway
    United StatesChris Seibold had this to say on Jun 11, 2009 Posts: 314
    WWDC: Christmas in June
  • What kind of computer can’t handle basic multi-tasking, sells apps from one store and one store only, and costs $3000 every two years to own? I think this is an example of the computer companies really, really want you to buy. Is the iPhone a computer? No doubt about it. Compared to my first mac the iPhone is way over powered. I had 40 MB of drive space, the iPhone starts with an order of magnitude more. My original mac couldn't do color, the iPhone can. To top it off the iPhone can't multitask and neither could my first 4 macs. These are the computers that companies have always wanted to sell, microsoft has a hard on for the subscription model and Apple's yearning to control everything is obvious. So these are great computers, fantastic machines and so forth. Both from the perspective of Apple and Palm and RIM and from the perspective of users. For Apple and other companies this is what they've wanted to sell you forever. For end users this is a way to always be in contact. Is the iPhone more computer than the average user needs? Yes. Well, not if they use flash but otherwise... You're right though, if that was the marketing pitch: The new MacBook, 80 a month, no multitasking, 3 inch screen it would fail. So they pitch it as the best phone ever instead of the worst mac since OS 9. Though I think the ads would be cool if they said "1997 in your pocket, and it gets calls too"
    United StatesChris Seibold had this to say on Jun 11, 2009 Posts: 314
    WWDC: Christmas in June
  • "Chris, that’s one model of computer from one brand, and I fail to understand why these PC vs Mac comparison always turn out to be Dell vs Mac comparisons, as if no one else makes a PC. Yes, there are some PCs that cost as much as Macs. That’s not really the point." Actually, that was the point. The point I was trying to make was that since Dell was selling a 1300 compy that was equivalent to a MacBook on specs that there was a 1300 dollar price point that people were comfortable with. The reason people always choose Dell is because they are a big player. All that said, we're talking about consumer stuff, Apple doesn't really do the business thing. And here I'm wrong. The latitude isn't easily accessible if you go to Dell's website (which is a mess) and every other similiarly specced computer is substantially cheaper than the lat or the MacBook. (not the adamo) I surely get what you're saying Beeb abut the problem is that we're confusing specs with demand. We both know the only reason Apple charges 1300 for a MacBook is because people will pay that price. We also both understand the profit motive, there's no reason for Apple to sell a $500 computer if the company can make more money selling a $1200 computer. Finally, we both agree that it would be fantastic if we could get Macs for a lot cheaper than we can now. But there is a huge gulf between what is good for you or I and what Apple is willing to do. We love the "apple community" was a great strategy for Apple when the community was fifteen people
  • actually I was just bouncing around dell's website and it seems to me that the latitude must be some super gouge model cause I couldn't find any other laptop line that costs as much (well adamo, but....)
  • I'm not sure about that Beeb, the whole point of the comparison was to say that there is a Dell Latitude out there with roughly the same specs as both a Macbook and the Insprion. Now the latitude is nice it's metal and black and all that. And if I had a ton of dough I'd get the latitude over the inspiron but, just looking at the specs, you'd have to wonder who would buy the inspiron. It doesn't turn into a tablet or anything compelling. It matches up really well specwise to the MacBook and costs the same (or a little more). For the record the latitude does have a nice design. Gotta say if I was buying a Windows machine I would seriously consider a latitude. But you don't really get anything more with the latitude than you do over the inspiron or Macbook. For the record, if anyone is thinking of buying a Latitude, it is a nice machine but if they try to upsell you to the docking station just say no. The docking station is craptacular
  • I hear you Beeb. If you're all about the specs and have to use FCP it would really chafe to have to buy a Mac. That said there is obviously a market for the $1300 lappy. I don't know why a multinational company decides to send out the Latitude instead of an equally specced Dell but they've got an IT department devoted to this stuff. To me Macs, and probably the latitude are worth the extra dough. The latitude is a pretty nice computer, not as nice as a macbook, but getting there. But I'm not too concerned with render times and processing power per dollar. That's a personal thing though. I gave up really caring about Apple's bottom line a few years ago because it isn't like they are kicking any back to me. That said, looking at the question from Apple's perspective leaves me thinking that low end is not the way to go. Sure it would be great for me (cause I've never bought something and wished I'd paid more) but great for me and great for Apple aren't the same thing. And guess which option Apple will go with every time?
  • Chris, I did see the news about apple selling fewer Macs but the market share went up according to this article: http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/163251/apple_market_share_rises_slightly_as_pc_shipments_fall.html
  • I agree with everything you say Beeb. But I wonder about how the ad serves Microsoft in any meaningful way. Suppose the ad was so successful it put apple out of the computer business. Has Microsoft really gained anything? Sure, there's one less competitor who was never going to win the desktop battle anyway and Ballmer can run around and scream "We're back to 97%, woo" but other than that what is the point? Even in that scenario the impact on the bottom line would be negligible. So whatt is the point of the ad? Well other than making Apple a legitimate competitor to Microsoft in the eyes of the public? I think the ads where the kids stitch together photos are actually much more effective. I'm sure you can do that with XP but I don't know how. You can def do it with OS X but the method I would use is involved. You have to wonder why Microsoft is beating up on Macs when they should be showing off Vista or Windows 7. Maybe Vista is just a lost cause, maybe this ad is the most bang for the buck, maybe Microsoft thinks they are losing the battle for new users. Nothing against Microsoft, they crank out some nice stuff, but what are they trying to get at here?
    United StatesChris Seibold had this to say on Apr 01, 2009 Posts: 314
    Will Microsoft's new Ad Anger PC Makers?
  • Well Steve you have a good point. I used a poor choice of words when I used "Abandon". That set up a completely unnecessary comparison of the two. You are right, it isn't an either or kind of deal. The point I was after (and missing) is that the go to platform for mobile development is no longer Windows Mobile.
  • Dammit, I stole the railroad line from the new yorker! When are they going to get some fact checkers?
  • quite right bob-bob. Thanks for the correction
  • Glad you liked it Chris Beeblebrox, not to be trite but you know the old saying: If you have to ask how much it costs you haven't fully grasped that it makes fart noises out of the box. How much do you spend on fart apps? Hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands? Exactly, there is no price point that could possibly reflect the value of the new iPhone. Let's do this SJ style! It's an iPod ($200) A smart phone ($200) A video camera ($300) A clock radio ($15) A paper weight ($3) A flashlight ($1.50) A digital camera ($150) A portable gaming console ($150) A personal fart machine ($5,000) Add all that up and you'll see that whatever Apple charges for the phone would be a steal at twice the price.
    United StatesChris Seibold had this to say on Feb 19, 2009 Posts: 314
    The next iPhone finally revealed
  • That is a good point about the Snow Leopard time frame pilky. I was certain that Steve himself mentioned the first quarter but I've looked into it and from what I can tell you are absolutely right. The release date has never been locked in stone or anything. Apple might of had a page up that said late first quarter or early second quarter but that isn't even certain. So whatever I said about snow leopard being delayed was in error (for now). All that said I still think Apple is neglecting the Mac. Or at least neglecting the Mac compared to the olden days. At one time the Mac was all Apple had. It wasn't all the company wanted to have but it was the company had. If you're an old school kind of guy you remember a time when Apple was all about the Mac. It isn't that way anymore.
    United StatesChris Seibold had this to say on Feb 11, 2009 Posts: 314
    Apple Neglecting the Mac?
  • That's a nice graph pilky, it illustrates my article nicely. Should have made two graphs I guess. If you take a look at pilky's excellent you'll again notice the flatish line for Mac revenue and a sharply upward sloping line for the iPhone. REcall that Apple accounts for iPhone revenue differently than Mac rev (the company spreads the iPhone rev out over 8 quarters) and note that the graph of iPhone will intercept the Mac revenue within the next two years. It all points back to the same thing: Apple is putting its money where the future is, where the biggest bang for the investment is. What OS was delayed for months and months? That was Leopard. What product shipped on the day the said it would? The iPhone 3 G. Where is this snow leopard that was supposed to be out the first quarter of this year? Not out. How close to out is it? I don't know, my ADC membership lapsed. It isn't that the mac isn't relevant, it's more a question of resources allocation.
    United StatesChris Seibold had this to say on Feb 10, 2009 Posts: 314
    Apple Neglecting the Mac?