Comments on: The New Hotness http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/ Random samplings from a universe of ideas. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:54:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Andrew http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/comment-page-1/#comment-59154 Andrew Wed, 14 Jan 2009 02:25:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/#comment-59154 Get the Intel X25 SSD, not the one that Apple ships. Get the Intel X25 SSD, not the one that Apple ships.

]]> By: ropata http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/comment-page-1/#comment-58783 ropata Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:09:54 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/#comment-58783 what, no Blu-Ray? what, no Blu-Ray?

]]> By: Moody834 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/comment-page-1/#comment-58586 Moody834 Sun, 11 Jan 2009 04:36:31 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/#comment-58586 Showed my MacBook to our office's geek-in-residence. She'd not looked at a Mac since Apple was promoting OS 8. She looked at OS X, looked at the computer's specs, heard about the full Unix compliance, and deemed it very good indeed. Why? Because it's a good tool, and it's pretty, and it plays well with others. Now, I don't even need to dream about the new breed of laptops coming out of Apple. However, I am fairly sure that it's a good indicator of where everyone will be headed in the next couple of years. Is it overpriced? In this economy most things are overpriced, or seem to be. Don't get the TotL package. You'll still be getting a hella nice computer. Then, when you get bored or feel experimental, you can install the excellent Ubuntu OS on it, and when you need to or have to you can install Windows on it. Me, I use OS X and don't worry about all that stuff. The MacBook runs a lot of nice software for science geeks, and it runs it very well. That's all I need to know. I don't need my computer to be a gaming platform, really, and I have another computer for Ubuntu: one of the old candy colored Macs. As far as I can tell, there is no real OS war going on, whatever else the Windows people are saying on AOL and MySpace. ;-p Showed my MacBook to our office’s geek-in-residence. She’d not looked at a Mac since Apple was promoting OS 8. She looked at OS X, looked at the computer’s specs, heard about the full Unix compliance, and deemed it very good indeed. Why? Because it’s a good tool, and it’s pretty, and it plays well with others.

Now, I don’t even need to dream about the new breed of laptops coming out of Apple. However, I am fairly sure that it’s a good indicator of where everyone will be headed in the next couple of years. Is it overpriced? In this economy most things are overpriced, or seem to be. Don’t get the TotL package. You’ll still be getting a hella nice computer. Then, when you get bored or feel experimental, you can install the excellent Ubuntu OS on it, and when you need to or have to you can install Windows on it. Me, I use OS X and don’t worry about all that stuff. The MacBook runs a lot of nice software for science geeks, and it runs it very well. That’s all I need to know. I don’t need my computer to be a gaming platform, really, and I have another computer for Ubuntu: one of the old candy colored Macs.

As far as I can tell, there is no real OS war going on, whatever else the Windows people are saying on AOL and MySpace. ;-p

]]> By: T http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/comment-page-1/#comment-58565 T Sun, 11 Jan 2009 01:53:24 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/#comment-58565 Oh Phil. Phil Phil Phil. I sure love you guys. You had better hope your little Volkswagen doesn't run Vista. The blue screen of death may mean so much more to you. Oh Phil. Phil Phil Phil. I sure love you guys. You had better hope your little Volkswagen doesn’t run Vista. The blue screen of death may mean so much more to you.

]]> By: wds http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/comment-page-1/#comment-58561 wds Sun, 11 Jan 2009 01:26:33 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/#comment-58561 I think most people buy macs for the fit and finish really. I am happier with other laptops - I load some flavour of linux on them anyway - but the craptastic way most laptops are put together has always bothered me. You pick it up and it just feels like it's going to fall apart (and frequently does). That's one thing Apple really does do right, but then they go and ruin it by patting themselves on the back about it all the time. I think most people buy macs for the fit and finish really. I am happier with other laptops – I load some flavour of linux on them anyway – but the craptastic way most laptops are put together has always bothered me. You pick it up and it just feels like it’s going to fall apart (and frequently does). That’s one thing Apple really does do right, but then they go and ruin it by patting themselves on the back about it all the time.

]]> By: NDomino http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/comment-page-1/#comment-58353 NDomino Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:21:35 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/#comment-58353 SSD's time will come but until prices come down to be competitive with HDD they will only be for tech enthusiasts. SSD’s time will come but until prices come down to be competitive with HDD they will only be for tech enthusiasts.

]]> By: Phil http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/comment-page-1/#comment-58332 Phil Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:38:30 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/#comment-58332 Eh I think it's more likely that you are simply a Macwhore. I had a macbook in college(still have it actually). PCs really can do everything macs do(and more!) at a much lower premium. The performance of a volkswagen does not even approach that of a ferrari, however. I do not really fault people for buying macs, they generally are very slick, aesthetically appealing machines. The mentality that the extra money you are paying is somehow going to pay yield dividends in terms of performance is just demonstrably false, however. Eh I think it’s more likely that you are simply a Macwhore. I had a macbook in college(still have it actually). PCs really can do everything macs do(and more!) at a much lower premium. The performance of a volkswagen does not even approach that of a ferrari, however. I do not really fault people for buying macs, they generally are very slick, aesthetically appealing machines. The mentality that the extra money you are paying is somehow going to pay yield dividends in terms of performance is just demonstrably false, however.

]]> By: T http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/comment-page-1/#comment-58091 T Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:30:53 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/#comment-58091 @Phil So you must be a PC user or a volkswagen driver :) @Phil

So you must be a PC user or a volkswagen driver :)

]]> By: Brian Mingus http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/comment-page-1/#comment-58045 Brian Mingus Thu, 08 Jan 2009 07:35:10 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/#comment-58045 That is pure hotness. But me, I'm holding out a few years for an 8 core / 64 GB Ram / 1 TB SSD Macbook Pro in the sub $3,000 price range. Sooner than you think. That is pure hotness. But me, I’m holding out a few years for an 8 core / 64 GB Ram / 1 TB SSD Macbook Pro in the sub $3,000 price range.

Sooner than you think.

]]> By: Phil http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/comment-page-1/#comment-58037 Phil Thu, 08 Jan 2009 06:17:01 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/#comment-58037 @T That is not even close to analogous. @T
That is not even close to analogous.

]]> By: T http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/comment-page-1/#comment-58003 T Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:10:37 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/#comment-58003 I love the "does the same thing for cheaper" argument for the PC. It's the same argument people with volkswagens probably mutter in front of ferraris. I love the “does the same thing for cheaper” argument for the PC. It’s the same argument people with volkswagens probably mutter in front of ferraris.

]]> By: Neil B http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/comment-page-1/#comment-57937 Neil B Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:50:26 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/#comment-57937 Heh, the "new frugality" means you aren't supposed to want that thing ... Heh, the “new frugality” means you aren’t supposed to want that thing …

]]> By: joulesm http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/comment-page-1/#comment-57918 joulesm Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:44:03 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/#comment-57918 So people complain about the cost, but you can't argue that it's pretty :) Maybe it's because I'm a girl, but prettiness definitely matters sometimes, even if I would never be able to justify this purchase. so my response to this post is *droooooool* So people complain about the cost, but you can’t argue that it’s pretty :) Maybe it’s because I’m a girl, but prettiness definitely matters sometimes, even if I would never be able to justify this purchase. so my response to this post is *droooooool*

]]> By: greg http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/comment-page-1/#comment-57917 greg Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:42:56 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/#comment-57917 Frankly, the only really worthwhile thing that came out of Macworld was DRM free music on iTunes. Frankly, the only really worthwhile thing that came out of Macworld was DRM free music on iTunes.

]]> By: Tobi http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/comment-page-1/#comment-57887 Tobi Wed, 07 Jan 2009 10:42:37 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/#comment-57887 Oh, and one more: The Mactini http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noe3kR8KqJc Oh, and one more: The Mactini

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noe3kR8KqJc

]]> By: Tobi http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/comment-page-1/#comment-57885 Tobi Wed, 07 Jan 2009 10:31:13 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/#comment-57885 Check out this new Apple laptop: The MacBook Wheel http://www.theonion.com/content/video/apple_introduces_revolutionary I really love this satire video, summarizes my picture of typical Apple users pretty well ;-) Check out this new Apple laptop: The MacBook Wheel

http://www.theonion.com/content/video/apple_introduces_revolutionary

I really love this satire video, summarizes my picture of typical Apple users pretty well ;-)

]]> By: Low Math, Meekly Interacting http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/comment-page-1/#comment-57828 Low Math, Meekly Interacting Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:52:50 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/#comment-57828 Huh. A very new blurb on AppleInsider says extended charges and durability aren't due to some new generation of Li-polymer tech, but rather charging tech and just sheer size, made available by ditching latches, lids, etc. required for removability. They're apparently getting 3x the lifespan of a typical battery by smarter recharging of the component cells, and 8h charges because it's just plain big. I'd guestimate 6 hr. real-world discharge with lightweight tasks, and knock that down to 4 hr. for heavier-duty stuff, especially running a guest OS (Fusion+WinXP=2.5 hr. tops for my "5 hr." MacBook battery, and I'm not playing games, but running relatively svelte dedicated apps I need to extract data generated by instruments for which no Mac-native software exists to handle the output). Well, if that really can go on for 3x as long as expected, maybe that'd be tolerable. For a long flight, though, no spare is still an issue. I predict the market for external solutions to that problem could be brisk. Huh. A very new blurb on AppleInsider says extended charges and durability aren’t due to some new generation of Li-polymer tech, but rather charging tech and just sheer size, made available by ditching latches, lids, etc. required for removability. They’re apparently getting 3x the lifespan of a typical battery by smarter recharging of the component cells, and 8h charges because it’s just plain big.

I’d guestimate 6 hr. real-world discharge with lightweight tasks, and knock that down to 4 hr. for heavier-duty stuff, especially running a guest OS (Fusion+WinXP=2.5 hr. tops for my “5 hr.” MacBook battery, and I’m not playing games, but running relatively svelte dedicated apps I need to extract data generated by instruments for which no Mac-native software exists to handle the output). Well, if that really can go on for 3x as long as expected, maybe that’d be tolerable. For a long flight, though, no spare is still an issue. I predict the market for external solutions to that problem could be brisk.

]]> By: Brett http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/comment-page-1/#comment-57822 Brett Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:29:52 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/#comment-57822 The 8GB Ram and the SSD drive alone are 2k+! Just get a standard config MacBook or Pro version. The 8GB Ram and the SSD drive alone are 2k+!

Just get a standard config MacBook or Pro version.

]]> By: Brett http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/comment-page-1/#comment-57818 Brett Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:57:24 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/#comment-57818 Guys, he's obviously pointing out the TOP high-end configuration. I bet not a single one of you really needs that much. I do but then again i'm not the average mainstream, tsk tsk tsk. Just get a standard configuration if you can't afford the total top end config for 5k+ - That will be more than enough for you to browse websites, porn and sorting your photos. Guys, he’s obviously pointing out the TOP high-end configuration.

I bet not a single one of you really needs that much. I do but then again i’m not the average mainstream, tsk tsk tsk.

Just get a standard configuration if you can’t afford the total top end config for 5k+ – That will be more than enough for you to browse websites, porn and sorting your photos.

]]> By: Eugene http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/comment-page-1/#comment-57805 Eugene Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:54:03 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/06/the-new-hotness/#comment-57805 The solid state drive is really nice. The solid state drive is really nice.

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