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General discussion

Regarding "Weak" Announcements - A Baseball Game

Feb 28, 2006 3:45AM PST

Apple tends to deliver home runs every 3 or 4 trade shows/invites and when they just get on first or second base with some of these announcements, people feel let down.

Look, Apple is a company concerned primarily about integration of its products. Can this hardware plug into that and run this software and work without having a degree in programming?

Some of these products are just "neat" and not revolutionary but some like the new Mac Mini are a huge step towards winning the game. Right now, the bases are loaded. I figure with the next "big" Apple announcement, we'll see something regarding the iTunes store and finally we'll have that complete, integrated DVR/media center many of us have been waiting for.

-Kevin S.

Discussion is locked

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only hope

that's all that is keeping me going at this point.
V

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I agree
Feb 28, 2006 4:10AM PST

I don't consider anything Apple announced today as a "letdown." Just because it's not something that appeals to me, or is far too expensive to justify my spending that much, doesn't really mean there isn't a niche for it. If there wasn't, I don't think they would have made it in the first place. Heck, even everything Microsoft announces isn't groundbreaking, or a "home run" either.

-Terry

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Apple fouls one off
Feb 28, 2006 5:51AM PST

Carrying Kevin's metaphor too far, I think apple fouled one off.

Even though they didn't do much to foster it, there were huge expectations. They didn't strike out of course, and they're still up to bat, but now they're down 0-2 with a couple of men on base. However it's still early in the inning and the game's far from over.

Apple has a pretty good OPS and can overcome Microsoft's unbalanced lineup.

OK now I really have gone too far.... Or have I?

Apple has solid leadoff hitters but weak cleanup, and can't seem to get far enough above .500 to take the division lead. Microsoft plays an American League style game, looking for the big inning when their big guy hits, but rarely getting on base the rest of the time, and constantly dealing with injuries.

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Ok, I'm thoroughly confused now ...
Feb 28, 2006 5:54AM PST

Have we been talking about baseball this whole time? Happy

-Terry

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Wow, Tom's a real baseball guy
Feb 28, 2006 6:07AM PST

Luckily, I'm a baseball guy, too, so I can follow it.
Very good analysis, though.

-Ryan

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GRRRR
Feb 28, 2006 6:10AM PST

I made a LARGE post about the Apple Mac Mini, in this thread, and now its gone! GONE! GRRR.

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For the monitor...
Feb 28, 2006 6:12AM PST

In case the moderator comes by, I posted the reply and then the forum loaded the dreaded "page cannot be found" it has been doing this all day, and a lot of times it will still post the thread, but I guess it did not this time.

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I'll try again...
Feb 28, 2006 6:42AM PST

If this happens to get posted again, please note that earlier when I tried posting the forum crashed.

Anyways, to sum up what I said earlier. I think that Apple is trying to pull everyone away from the ''mainstream'' media model. I think that is why they were so reluctant to introduce the FM tuner for the iPod. I know a while back I said it was bad that they weren't doing that, but honesty, when I think about it. When was the last time I listened to the radio? I seriously can't remember, its been such a long time.

If Apple was going to release a DVR, I think it would have already happened. For me personally, the new Mac Mini is exactly what I want. A box that I can hook up to my television and watch my video podcasts that I subscribe to and listen to podcasts, and then if I decide to make my first purchase from iTunes...then so be it.

I know there is Myth TV, Freevo and the like, but HONESTLY, the Apple thing would just work sooo well for me and be so easy.

I do however think that there is a video store in the future for Apple. If I was going to download a movie, or anything, I would not pay a LOT, I'd pay a few dollars for it, but for me personally, I would rather have a nice looking case like you get in the store.

Just my two cents.

(P.S. Are you guys scared yet, I just said something positive in Apple's favor!)

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Grand Slams
Feb 28, 2006 6:26AM PST

I wouldn't call today's announcement a foul ball. It's more like everybody expecting a grand slam with Barry Bonds up to bat when most of the time, you should just expect him to load the bases.

What a pity if these cool new products get ignored just because they weren't the d*mned **** Tracy-friggin'-interstellar-transporter-watch that everybody wants them to be. Those will soon be coming. Maybe it will be Microsoft's Origami first and kudos to Microsoft for maybe pushing the envelope for a change. But I'd rather wait for Apple to do it right with all of their hardware and software ducks lined up before stuff goes to market, so the product they DO bring us will be simple, elegant and fun.

-Kevin S.

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OK, maybe a bunt
Feb 28, 2006 6:47AM PST

It's good. It's what you need to do. It's the fundamentals. But it's not pleasing to anyone except the true fans of the game.

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Baseball ?
Feb 28, 2006 6:48AM PST

Is that the one where people tackle each other? lol, just joking. I know its the one with the net in the middle of the court!

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Patience for the true fan
Feb 28, 2006 7:08AM PST

Remember, Apple was FAR from the first company to introduce a portable music player. I think iRiver or Creative(?) and others were out there way before.

But Apple blew the thing wide open with the iPod. Before that, MP3s were the realm of tech geeks - my computer illiterate relatives and friends weren't even using Napster. Just the people like us who listen to BOL.

But Apple made it simple and fun enough for Joe Jock and Suzi Cheerleader to plug in a cool piece of hardware and "like totally download music, ya know?

True fans want a homer like anybody else. But as you say, at the end of the day we realize that the fundamentals are how you win the game and we can look forward to the next time they are up to bat.

-Kevin S.

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Suddenly
Feb 28, 2006 7:15AM PST

I'm very anxious for baseball season to start.

Certain that Next Year is here,
-Ryan

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Oddly enough...
Feb 28, 2006 7:49AM PST

I can't stand the sport. I quite literally find it the most boring sport on the planet (sorry Tom and Ryan Happy)

My brother is a HUGE fan and being his only sibling, I know how to play it and was even an OK player but to sit and watch it...UGH! it would always take priority over (the original) Battlestar Galactica, Bionic Woman, Six MIllion Dollar Man, etc. when conflicts arose, so I came to despise it (we had just one TV).

-Kevin S.

PS for the longest time I wanted a German Shepherd because of Maximillion the bionic dog Happy

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you know what's interesting about this?
Feb 28, 2006 11:28AM PST

The level of expectation by the public (or at least the geek-public). The Mac Mini is quite a little machine, but when you consider where it's from, it loses a bit of it's shine because it didn't create an earthshattering kaboom (shout out to Marvin).

I was a PC user for 15 years. The last model I owned was a Gateway widescreen Media Center edition. I now own a 20" iMac, and I have to say that nothing compares to this machine. It isn't the most powerful on the market, but it is the most usable and enjoyable machine I've ever had. The DVR portion of the Gateway media center was nice, but after all, it was a computer, not a home entertainment center. Watching your favorite show without the comfort of your easy chair wasn't really that appealing. Maybe Apple realizes this...?

Based on my limited Mac experience, I'm willing to cut Apple a little slack. They've proven to be pretty successful so far.