Mailbag: Cheap Macs Not So Good
Doug
opined
recently about the lack of a good $500 Mac laptop in the market. Bill doesn't
miss it so much:
I think they tried licensing out the OS about 10 years ago. Didn't seem
to work out all that well for Apple, seeing as how their bread and butter
was computers back then. Granted, the company and its product line had other
problems at the time, so perhaps there would be better results if they ever
tried it again. I suppose if their OS got as big as Vista, er, I mean, Windows,
it would be worth it to them. Otherwise, in a short time, there would be no
more Apple.
As time marches on, computers will become a smaller part of their product
mix. If the iPhone and whatever follows in its footsteps continues to advance,
a less expensive device running OS X could well happen. Until then, a $500
Mac laptop strikes me as something one would not call "good," either
in performance, durability or effects on Apple's bottom line and by extension,
OS X.
-Bill
One reader shares his experience with online social
networking in
the corporate scene:
From what I've seen from the perspective of both legal and potential
employers, these types of social networking pages (Facebook, MySpace, etc.)
are very accommodating. In the legal world, our local district attorney's
office uses these site for the same purpose as youths: They shows a deeper
insight into the psyche. Likewise, my wife has used these sites to "weed
out" prospective employees for her business by ensuring she steers clear
of hiring the local "Nick Hogan" or otherwise distrustful and unsavory
character. You can save a few bucks on the drug screen if their recent blog
entries regal tales of how they paint the town red.
Perhaps Mark Twain did not know of the imaginable possibilities of the
Internet, but his words still speak volumes: "It is better to keep your
mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove
all doubt."
-Henry
Chris adds his praise
for Steve Jobs, whose health came
into question recently:
I agree with you about Steve. I read an article in Wired magazine
about Jobs and Apple, and while it wasn't totally complimentary, it definitely
showed that he is an enigma and is doing a great job.
-Chris
And another Chris responds to a recent
letter advising heckled iPhone fans to take the high road:
In my opinion, if the question was insulting, the content of the question
just might be hitting a little too close to home. The man in line's response
to the question ("Have you ever seen a women naked?") showed that
he was very uncomfortable and almost hurt by the question. If it's not true,
why would anyone be so offended? He might as well have said, "Stop picking
on me, you big meanie." If you want to stop the stereotype, fight fire
with fire and earn respect.
Pretending like you're above someone and then making you own condescending
comment behind their back ("let them continue to bang wood blocks together")
is no different than the smug or belittling comments you complain about. You're
in denial if you don't understand the reality of many of the stereotypes regarding
technology/computer nerds. There are plenty of technology nerds (I consider
myself one) who can hold their own, have a sense of humor, and can respond
to a snarky question with a snarky answer. It's all in good fun. Wait, are
you the guy in line?
-Chris
Tell us what you think! Leave a comment below or send an e-mail to [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on July 29, 2008