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Steve Jobs' reality distortion takes its toll on truth

tech.fortune.cnn.com

61–70 of 342 posts

Re: Steve Jobs' reality distortion takes its toll on truth

#61
post #54
post #50

It's a bit hard to take CNN seriously as a tech commentator, frankly. They published this today: http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/gaming.gadgets/03/03/missing.fr... I've rarely seen a tech article that was less useful or more silly.

Not sure why you chose to justify criticising CNN with a single article that was written by a guest, who happens to actually work for Mashable. I don't read CNN regularly so I won't argue for or against CNN's tech coverage, but if you want to argue against it you should try a little harder.

I think the article referenced in the current thread makes for a pretty good second data point.

The author tries to pretend that sales "into the channel" are real sales (they aren't, of course). He pretends that all RAM is equal and directly comparable (on-die RAM is clearly superior). He pretends that megapixels in cameras that are a few mm in size is a hugely important measurement of camera quality (it's not). He pretends that the Nook and Kindle are at all comparable to the iPad or even in the same product category (they manifestly aren't). He pretends that all dual-core CPUs are equivalent (which is laughable).

I can't remember the last CNN tech article that I found to be insightful or informative. By contrast, I read a few dozen things via Hacker News daily that pass muster.

Re: Steve Jobs' reality distortion takes its toll on truth

#63
post #5

I'm curious if specs in mobile devices have become less important when the device is only supposed to do more or less what it's advertised to doand what the user bought it to do, and not much else. Apple advertises all the apps that work on the iOS line of devices, but these apps are (should be) designed to fit "inside the box" of functionality on the device. Android seems to take a different philosophical approach w…

I'm not sure I buy it, or at least that reasoning doesn't match Apple's apparent position on this. For example, at the iPhone 4 launch, the retinal display was the big topic. It would seem hard for them to then turn around and say that the better resolution of the XOOM is irrelevant. This is the first product version launch I can remember where Apple wasn't on the leading edge in terms of specs. If they launched mont…

Except that we know why the iPad resolution hasn't changed:

1. There are 65,000 apps tuned to work with it, so a minor bump to 'compete' on specs would make the user experience worse.

2. We know they are going to double it to 'retina' levels when they can. If motorola want to follow that approach, it's going to be longer before a double size panel is available.

3. The Xoom has an aspect ration that is better for playing a small subset of HD videos, but is worse for using in portrait 'magazine' orientation. It's not actually better for a lot of users.

I'm not even sure where the idea that they are behind the Xoom spec-wise is coming from.

Re: Steve Jobs' reality distortion takes its toll on truth

#64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree that it seems negative and I'd rather he didn't do it, but I can see why he does. There are plenty of even less accurate commentators who are prepared to make analyses of the situation that are unfavorable to Apple. Most people don't take the time to critically analyze the 'news' they hear and are actually influenced by this stuff. Apple needs to at least state their viewpoint so that it is out there alongsid…

Is it so hard for you fanboys to say something like "Lying is wrong and he shouldn't have done it" and just leave it at that? No bullshit, no qualifications, no Gruber-style excuses, just a simple condemnation of someone doing something wrong.

If you respond to something I actually wrote, I'll be happy to discuss it with you.

Re: Steve Jobs' reality distortion takes its toll on truth

#65
It's a great piece, but I don't agree that Jobs focuses on specs. Apple is great in that they do their utmost to explain what is good about their products and simplifying the purchase and customization options for the user.

The iPhone 4 wasn't interesting because it had x more DPI clocking in at a total of y; it was interesting, because they had achieved so many DPI that the average person would not be able to discern the pixels.

The Android handset manufacturers are losing the marketing battle partly because they get caught up in numbers and data: x megapixel cameras, y RAM, z megahertz. To the average consumer, all these extra parameters to consider before buying a product makes it all the less likely and rewarding to pick out your next phone.

Re: Steve Jobs' reality distortion takes its toll on truth

#66

Lot of nitpicks and to be expected framing/number fudging by Steve, but straight up misquoting the Samsung rep was very odd. That had been widely corrected, so either Apple did not research their presentation (unlikely) or just knowingly lied (yuck).

Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity

This is one of my favorite quotes. But, in this case I don't think so. People involved are known to be extremely capable.

Re: Steve Jobs' reality distortion takes its toll on truth

#67
post #5

I'm curious if specs in mobile devices have become less important when the device is only supposed to do more or less what it's advertised to doand what the user bought it to do, and not much else. Apple advertises all the apps that work on the iOS line of devices, but these apps are (should be) designed to fit "inside the box" of functionality on the device. Android seems to take a different philosophical approach w…

I'm not sure I buy it, or at least that reasoning doesn't match Apple's apparent position on this. For example, at the iPhone 4 launch, the retinal display was the big topic. It would seem hard for them to then turn around and say that the better resolution of the XOOM is irrelevant. This is the first product version launch I can remember where Apple wasn't on the leading edge in terms of specs. If they launched mont…

The smallish difference is irrelevant unless you care about 720p movies. Double dpi would not be irrelevant as the results are much more obvious to the eye in most situations.

Re: Steve Jobs' reality distortion takes its toll on truth

#68
post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm sure Microsoft has the answer to that question. Or at least the experience.

A cheap jab at Microsoft with no citations that doesn't even follow the conversation, in an Apple thread no less. I'm shocked.

I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but I'm a Windows user.

If you can't recall any egregious Microsoft failures, you're the fanboy trapped in a distortion field. Microsoft may have a lot of things going for them, but they are ginormous klutzes.

Do you seriously think that there isn't stupidity involved in any billion-dollar projects and companies?

Re: Steve Jobs' reality distortion takes its toll on truth

#69
Let's just take the bull by the horns here. Seth Weintraub's first sentence in this article, and ostensibly his main point, is:

"Apple twisted facts (or worse) to try to convince crowds that all other tablets had no shot at de-throning the iPad in 2011."

I'll put up $100 right now that says no competitor will sell more units than the iPad this year. I'd be surprised if anyone cracked 50%.

Does anyone seriously doubt that the iPad will kill its competition this year? I think it's pretty obvious. Weintraub is just dreaming if he thinks otherwise.

So who's guilty of reality distortion, here?

Re: Steve Jobs' reality distortion takes its toll on truth

#70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Quite a few years ago, Apple was one of the design leaders in the laptop space, then others caught up, more or less. The same thing happened in the smartphone space. Who are these companies? Seriously. Have you used an Apple product side by side with a non Apple equivalent? Does any company come close to the build quality or original design of Apple? If other companies are almost catching up, it still means they ar…

I can't speak for design, I know most people think that Thinkpads look ugly, however regarding build quality I own a Thinkpad T500 I bought 2 years ago and I have: +Dropped it way more times than I can count, usually while closed and turned off but also while it was running, and while it was open (both running and not). +Totally stood on it, putting my full weight on the closed lid many times. +Left it running in my…

It's not just build quality, it's also aesthetics. You say you can't speak for design, but that's what most people care about more than the ability to bounce their laptop off of concrete. That's why the average consumer isn't in the market for a Toughbook.
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