The article soup linked to confirms my worst fears. Heres what appl
said about no need for built in (super)floppies, because:
>Customers can use a built-in or external modem to exchange files and >e-mail messages via on-line services, private dial-in networks or the >Internet.
>The Fast Ethernet connector allows iMac users to exchange data etc
Whats wrong? Modems: Most people first-time computer owners will only
have one phone line. Ever thought how much hassle to transfer
between two home computers that way.
Intranet: computers in different rooms (Dad's and the
new kids imac) who the hell is going to wire up an intranet with
wires around the house just to transfer occasional files, if ever?
What planet are these guys living on? The corporate planet not the
first time user or student at home planet.
UCLA dorms: glad to hear they have two network ports. But at MIT
where I lived last four years the dorm I lived in had just ONE
ethernet connection. Again, what hassle to transfer files between
two computers.
Also, in the many MIT computer rooms (Athena clusters) you find
hundreds of SGI networked workstations for students to use. What
do you find next to each one for students to bring their files
from home? Er,..., a zip drive (and occasional floppy). They'll
probably be replaced by Sony superfloppies or whatever MIT think is
the best as they wear out. But something is needed.
NeXT: the OS system was wonderful and its now what you call
Rhapsody. Inspite of that the NeXT cube tanked, not because of it.
It was on the cool and not-cheap side, but not having a hard
disk made it a laughing stock. Anyone buying it had to
'defend himself' by explaining the vision that you wont need one in
the future because of magnetooptics. By the way, this vision may eventually be correct (see Terastor near field devices) but it took
two decades.
Consumers dont have the guts to make a no-floppy
corageous leap. Some commentators applaud Steve's vision, as I do,
but consumers dont want that kind of risk / burden of justification
and will look, say wow but be put off when they hear it has no
floppy. And apple arguments may be correct when everyone has
intranets in their home, but not this summer. Their response
which didnt acknowledge the problem but showed that they really
are on cloud cookoo land worries me.
Shahn
P.S. Sorry but the rainbow is part of appl's customer recognition
and trademark. When I see a rainbow I think appl. They are discarding
a great asset. Why dont they also change their name from apple
to raspberry? |
