Did I read that right? You have load an aftermarket app to get a calculator on the iPad? Wow, cutting edge technology!

LOL!!! What a joke!!

"Microsoft is still bigger company for now"

Does this writer know anything about tech? Anything at all? Aside from walking through a Best Buy...what qualifications does this writer have? I guess there is nothing like pronouncing one's ignorance on a national stage. Here's a few questions this joke of a writer should ask themselves before getting all foamy at the mouth over a small yet overpriced computer washed in unicorn tears.

1) What does Apple's database server offering look like?

2) What does Apple's search engine look like?

3) What does Apple's gaming console look like?

4) What does Apple's cloud computing solution look like?

5) What does Apple's server platform look like?

6) What does Apple's e-mail server solution look like?

7) What does Apple's AV solution look like?

8) What does Apple's perimiter security solution look like?

9) What does Apple's enterprise class document sharing solution look like?

10) What does Apple's productivity solution look like...oh yeah...its Microsoft Office....my bad.

Should I go on? I hate to break it to the rest of the world...but there is more to the world of IT than some teeny bopper MP3 players and Facebook. Apple doesn't even begin to scratch the perverbial nuts of MS.

Jess

SHHHH! You're not supposed to point out that computers are used for more than surfing the web, watching a movie, or playing a watered down version of a PC game.

Where's the usual (MSNBC is a joint venture of Microsoft and NBC)? Looks like your write just LOVES to bash your parent company while extolling the virtures of a $500+ POS iToy or iFeminine product that can't do Flash, can't multi-task, running a PHONE O/S?

Back with the launch of Halo 3 video games surpassed movies as the top-grossing entertainment release and Halo's number's were blown away by the recent release of MW2.

Can you play Halo, MW2, ME2 or Fallout New Vegas (when it comes out) or any other nonFart-app game on the iPad or the iPhone- NO! How about on the God-like Mac? Ummm, that would be no again, unless you buy and run an additional MICROSOFT product called Windows on your holy machine filled with child-like wonder. But you can sure play them on a Microsoft Xbox OR a Microsoft Windows PC and MILLIONS of do and won't be changing that anytime soon.

And if you want to talk about innovation, let's hear about the Courier. Now THAT looks like a truly revolutionary device that has the real techno-geeks salivating and buzzing the blogosphere about whilst laughing our butts off at the iMaxi Pod. Oh, btw, it's being developed by Microsoft also.

Sorry, but we will take our Macs any day over the unreliable windows computers we once had. Don't care that they can't run Windows game, that's what our xbox is for.

Greg&Jeff, I don't have a dog in this hunt - I use both lines of products, and think they each have their strengths and weaknesses. Their respective utility depends on what your priorities are and what you are using them for.

But I can tell you that the MS products that used to crash every other week are a thing of the past. In fact, I had MUCH more trouble with my MacBook locking up than either of my PC laptops, one runs Vista, the other Windows 7. Every PC problem I have had has been related to the hardware manufacturer (Sony and Dell), not the software.

I think we need to look at this a little more technically :)

Microsoft makes an OS that is expandable to any hardware or software. Apple does not make an OS that is as expandable as the Microsoft OS. Hardware on the Apple is closed.

There are no two systems that run Microsoft that are exactly the same, almost every Apple system is the same. Because of the differences with the OS and the software delivered on the base OS, Microsoft has opened itself to alot of lawsuits. Apple not so much for the fact that its a known closed environment, you get what you pay for.

This article writer quoted people that praise Apple for making the choice to deliver a close OS and hardware platform. Choices are important and Microsoft has excelled in that area. The choices they have made with their OS platforms are groundbreaking, the delivery of patches for the OS and support for the software is stellar..well not always but it beats the hell out of ignoring a known issue and providing security by sticking your head in the ground -cough cough- ..Apple.

What this article writer has forgotten is the shear number of systems that Microsoft supports, I think the article writer could use a walk into a TRUE IT environment and escape from the room with no windows Apple. Should the article writer enjoy limited ownership of their own system and hardware more power to them but they should have the intellectual to know when not to preach about age and coolness of a system as the factors they seem to lack..and its very evident..is a technical aptitude to understand that service, support, stability, integration into an established environment are all much more important.

I think that's a dude - Andreas Schobel

Ah, I thought that was a typo of Andrea... Between the hair and the scarf, I'd say it's a 50/50 possibility. :)

LOL, okay, let's call it a woman for now.

Maybe it's because of the defect rate of nearly 50% in XBoxes? Ever hear of the Red Ring of Death fiasco? Charging hundreds of dollars for poorly-design and poorly-built products isn't cool, last I heard.

Your information is a bit outdated. The red ring of death was a problem with older models. They've since fixed the over heating problem and continue to fix any of the older models that experience this issue. They also, up until recently, were sold for twenty five percent less then it's nearest alternative, the PS3. To be sure, the PS3 is a bit more high powered so I can understand the cost by looking purely at specs but can barely tell the difference when playing one or the other.

I agree with you, dude, there should have been some mention if you're going to write an article comparing Microsoft and Apple. Geez, and here I thought I'd never feel the need to defend Microsoft.

It's so HIP to be used, har har.

Seriously, the iPad is something out of a parody piece except you can actually buy one. The Onion had a parody of Apple called the "Mac Wheel", and was so friggin' close to the actual iPad hype that it almost wasn't funny.

Have you ever heard of mobile phones? Microsoft had built six and a half versions of its mobile operating system before Apple came in and stole a giant portion of the market with one try.

Without any real competition, Microsoft thought it could rest on its laurels but then got massacred in the mobile phone market. Now it's desperately trying to catch up with version 7.

There are plenty of places you can compare these two companies.

Yeah, like scalability, versatility, cross compatibility, diversity of use, customization, software development, etc, etc....

In those categories Microsoft wins hands down. The business world is a long way away from getting rid of their PCs and switching to Apple.

Now, if you want to watch a movie, browse the internet, or just be able to say you have the latest gadget then Apple is probably your thing.

Phil, MS makes an OS, not the hardware. You seriously don't seem to understand.

Phil,

How's that multi-tasking ability going? Changed a battery on your iPhone or iPad lately?

Perhaps you missed the press conference yesterday (Thursday). Multi-tasking looks like it will be pretty good when it is released in just a few short months. As for changing batteries, how often do you need to do that? Apple sold 300,000 iPads on the first day! Yesterday it was up to 450,000 and they should be well above a half million by tomorrow, the one week mark. They've sold over 50 million iPhones. Clearly it's a non issue for the great majority of people. If it weren't, then they wouldn't sell so many devices.

Microsoft has about 50% of the gamer business with the xbox. Apple has... none.

None? That's not true at all. iPhones/touches and now iPads ARE part of the gaming market. It's why Sony keeps redoing it's handheld over and over....they see Apple as a threat.

I love statements like this. You do understand that in no way is that Apple virus proof. Its apparent that you have not contacted Apple support, read the Apple hosted and managed forums for their own user complaints.

You seem simple. I'll keep this simple.

Get an anti-virus.

I have vista 64 ultimate, I don't use any anti-virus and have no issues, love every moment of my PC, but you're not at my level, so don't play with fire and forget your fire extinguisher.

If anything, the MacOS is actually less secure than Windows. the only reason there are so few viruses written for the MacOS is because the installed base is so minuscule that most hackers don't find it worth their time to write a Mac virus. It's also why you never saw viruses for Windows CE.

Precisely. By the time the MacOS ever makes it to a 30% market share, they'll be flooded with virii as well. With only a 10% share, they just aren't worth the trouble for most hackers. Sometimes it pays to be small.

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Sorry to you Folks above, but - Baloney

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To say Mac is not the target of Hackers because of it's "smaller market share" ?

Total B.S.

It is THE #1 Target of Hackers

Whoever is First to Hack a Mac will be World Famous - and they're trying their best

But, sorry, won't happen

Unix/OSX is, by design, secure and stable

AND - Unhackable without Physical Admin Access to the computer itself

And even then must have the passwords/security codes/etc

Something Windows can only dream about

(cough, DOS, cough, dll's, cough, registries, cough, cough)

.

But keep believing what you want to believe

Micro$oft and the Anti-Viru$ Folk$ are banking on it

(smile)

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BC

Whoever is First to Hack a Mac will be World Famous - and they're trying their best

But, sorry, won't happen

Er... hate to break it to you but...

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2006/08/hijacking_a_macbook_in_60_seco.html

Whoever is First to Hack a Mac will be World Famous - and they're trying their best

But, sorry, won't happen

Hate to break it to you, but there is no such thing as an unhackable system. EVERY computer system has exploitable vulnerabilities. I recently read an analogy of windows vs mac security.

Owning a mac is like living in a farm house in the countryside where you don't even have locks on the door because it is only you and a few close neighbors, while owning a windows system is like living in a bad part of a big city where you have bars on the windows and multiple locks on every door. Though there is more security measures in the big city apartment you are still much more likely to get broken into than if you live way out in the boonies.

PS. Here is a brief article about the current state of mac security. I summed up it's main point of safer, but less secure.

http://www.h-online.com/security/news/item/Mac-OS-X-safer-but-less-secure-Update-957981.html

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Sorry Dave, but ...

The reference you site only proves the Mac "wireless device driver" was hackable

They admit the "device" is not from Apple, and Apple did not write the code for it

.

AND, the article gives no evidence to support this claim they made -

"... remotely circumventing the security of an Apple Macbook computer to seize TOTAL CONTROL over the machine."

(my caps for emphasis)

So your Washington Post article is just talking out their rear end, and presents no proof.

Sorry

.

And, those Black Hat Conferences are notorious for "wiggling" the rules

Yes, after no one can get into OSX on Day One

On Day Two - they release the "security codes/passwords"

And then even a High School Kid could "get in remotely"

Any Honest Techie knows Black Hat is a joke when it comes to Mac OSX

.

Aside from that ...

Yes, are many examples of "proof of concept" hacks to OSX and Unix

Of course - can show "proof of concept" about a lever moving the World

If have a place to stand, and a lever big enough

.

Need to take any "concepts" and put them in the Real World

Then we'll talk about "hacking" OSX/Unix

Just won't happen unless you have THE PHYSICAL MACHINE and ADMIN PASSWORDS

(my caps for emphasis)

.

Again, hacking some "device driver" doesn't qualify as "hacking OSX"

Sorry, keep trying

(smile)

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BC

Uh, BC? Hacking isn't about becoming famous. Sorry guy but in the hacking world being unknown is considered a great asset. This isn't some Hollywood movie, it's a business.

.

To Nobody Important ...

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Sorry, but the reference you give - H Security

They don't give any examples or evidence of OSX Hacks

They only refer to CanSecWest and what will, maybe, be presented

Even that only appears to apply to Safari and Quicktime

And not sure if those are only the Window's Versions (?)

But, sorry, don't see anything about OSX

.

And, H Security appears a "business" that relies on, well ... "security"

Of course, if you listen to SafeTouch, etc - ALL of us "need" their service

Whether or not our doors and windows are locked, with dogs and fence

No matter the neighborhood

.

Please ...

You Windows Folks keep buying your Anti-Virus/Malware/Security Software

Imagine McAfee, Norton, etc appreciate your business

.

And, as I write further below ...

Let's all meet back here in 10 or 20 years

Then we'll see what's what

.

BC

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p.s. to estcst ...

Hacking is a "business" ?

Aside from hacking into a Credit Card Company

How could someone make money at it ?

Sorry, you have no idea about the "artistic poetry" of Global Hackers

They ARE in it for The Glory and Fame

AND, they know who they are, even if you don't

(smile)

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BC

http://www.pcworld.com/article/144921/mac_hack_contest_bug_had_been_public_for_a_year.html

enjoy eating your own words

All in all aside from attacks to either side, lets be fair about this. An objective view is needed for security and vulnerabilities. One thing that is known and very much more a part of todays world relates to user involvement with an OS is a good area to start. Hacking an OS today isn't as big a deal as it was in the past.

But lets analize the aspects that do affect computers today.The real word nitty gritty so to speak. All this relates to users and the manor in which they use the computer. Today the key factors are malware and trojans. Either of which can open holes in the OS, but time to explain.

I have read computer security bloggers who have stated that some apps are considered trojans because of how they act, not because they are made to be malicious. They are by design, meant to be a power tool but do run as root and sometimes with out authentication or other quirks that security people do not like.

An Operating System cannot be responsible for people who use no or weak passwords that are susceptible to dictionary attacks. If your password is your dog's name, then most likely it will be in some form of a dictionary attack or anyone who may know you could guess it.

Operating Systems can not be held responsible for the user's lack of knowledge or lack of "best" practices on a computer. The iLife virus spread all over the Internet, but that is no fault of OS X. That is the fault of the user downloading pirated software with malicious code slipstreamed into the packages. Obviously, if you buy legit software you wouldn't have that problem.

Apple does come out with tons of security updates, ever read MOAB? Those guys found legit out of box exploits for OS X.

Now, it does have it's advantages. There is no single point of failure like in Windows. You corrupt the registry, you might as well reinstall Windows. You corrupt a property list in OS X, you delete that property list and you are good to go. So, there are some advantages it has by design, but OS X itself is not immune to malicious code infecting it.

Also, the approach Unix takes, with the GUI > Shell > kernel where the kernel is only accessible by the shell and the user must authenticate to do so, does tend to stop a ton of self propagating viruses in their tracks from even installing.

Truth be told though, with the built in run as administrator functions of Windows Vista and 7, you aren't going to see as many out there as you did in the past. In fact, most viruses are probably still targeting XP and under machines, as they use a more archaic model of system permissions where every user runs as 'root' so to speak.

Now, that is not going to stop shady software developers from writing malicious code in disguise as actually legit apps. Last I read Apple has about a 22% consumer market share in the USA (not to be confused with world market share), and you never know what may or may not happen in the future. The one thing that Apple does have going for them is their gestapo of regulations on their app store for their hand held devices. I can only imagine they hold third party software products to the similar standards? Quality control is something they have a decent grip on, but you also miss out on some things when you tighten your grip too much.

Really, I think it is in the user's benefit to learn best practices concerning security since best practices seems the way to go, rather than something like security through obscurity.

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mopman

Yes, know all about the Charlie Miller "hack" from 2 years ago

Is the example I gave about Black Hat, and how they wiggle the rules and definitions

Then give out the passwords/codes on Day Two, so someone can "win"

.

AND - carefully read the article you reference

The "hack" - and we should use that term loosely - was to the Safari Web Browser

Not OSX

Sorry

.

Now, you seem to have a bit more knowledge of these matters than the Average Bear

Yes, the best "security" even in this Digital Age ?

The simple things we learned from Grandma

Don't take candy from strangers, don't download from unknown sources, etc

.

Remember the "I love you" virus from a couple of years ago ?

(or one of them, doesn't matter for sake of this example)

As I remember, it started on a Work Day, and rapidly spread around the World via Email

However, the propagation was mostly by Businesses and Corporate Networks

Individual Mom and Pop Home Users apparently followed proper procedures

And did not blindly open/download an unknown email supposedly from a "friend"

Guess those who rely on I.T. types to cover their butt hadn't had their coffee yet ?

(smile)

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BC

Writing off a method use to infiltrate a vulnerability of a system because it was unrelated to the OS is a mute point when the software in question is deployed with the base OS. Those breaches in OS security cannot be written off as they fall solely on the shoulders of the package developers for the software. That would be from the developers of the OS. As you may claim that the web browser is not past of OSX you are wrong in this case.

The ILOVEYOU virus was first released in May 5, 2000. You are correct, organizations did not follow their own best practices rules, with the disregard for the security measures built into the IT model it quickly surpassed all known instances of an outbreak of malware. That virus was released before my time in the IT field, actually before the end of my freshman year in high school.

With the measures that are built into today's network, specific for information traffic flow, there are far more security "check points" then in previous generations of software. The primary tool in any IT infrastructure is a business model to keep all email separate from sensitive production servers.

What is current in today's models was not used in the past. With the development of new security layers in networks, breaches have become far less prevalent then in times past. In today's world, the same mom and pop businesses that were not affected in times past are now far behind large organizations that have learned through mistakes and spent the money on infrastructure to secure the intellectual property of the network.

BC,

Here's a link for you to consider. I am not responsible for it's contents nor do I endorse or encourage the usage of any of the techniques/code listed in this site. Just food for thought.

http://milw0rm.com/platforms/osX)

P.S. Do you get paid by the carriage return?

The notion that hackers don't write for Apple because it is a smaller base is such a dumb one. Apple has many loyal fans and a following that is almost cult like. A hacker would love to take all that down. The fact that it hasn't happened yet, says it all.

There have been some worms, but no widespread viruses floating about...even after all these many YEARS. There certainly has been plenty enough time to write them by now.

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Dave and mop

Appreciate our conversation, sorry I've been busy with other things till now

Hope you check back also, though I may not have anything worthy to offer

.

Dave

Interesting link, looks like Hacker Database Heaven

But sorry, I've been out of "line coding" for so long it may as well be Greek to me

Am curious about the 'mil' part in its name, reminds me of Mil-Spec-xyz

However, that only shows my Military Tech Background from Pre-Historic Days ;-)

And, no, I don't get paid by the carriage return - ha ha ha

Is just my ee cumming's style of poetic writing for forums of this nature since continuous typing in paragraph form tends to get all jumbled together becoming difficult to easily read and digest quickly when the eye has to stop and figure exactly where we are. But if you'd like I can write just enough in this manner to drive home the point of what I'm talking about when we try to read something in one-never-ending-run-on-sentence.

Dig ?

Plus, MSNBC has plenty of virtual space available - doubt will cause them extra printing cost

(smile)

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mop

Sheez, you're still a Puppy, but seem a "quick study" ;-)

Please, continue to develop your Aesthetic and Cultivate your Palette

Computers, Technology, Machines, etc are nice "tools" but ...

Better make us Better Human Beings, or why do it ?

In a recent Keynote, Steve Jobs showed a graphic of a Corner Street Sign

The Intersection of Technology and Liberal Arts

That's where Apple has always tried to be

And is a good path for us to travel into the Digital Age

(metaphorically speaking)

.

Ok, thanks again

And catch everyone up the road

Later, BC

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See 12.15

If someone hasn't deemed all that apple-ism worthy by now, they never will. Just the mere fact that people claim there can be no viruses on it should have been enough motivation by now.

The trend in malware for a long time now is to make money, not pit skills against an operating system's security for the fun of it.

Malware that can redirect to adult and gaming sites, that can gather personal data for marketing, identity theft, credit card fraud, malware that is used in corporate espionage to get at secrets, malware that can be used against governments to attack utility and defense IT infrastructures - that is where the real skills and activity are now.You make money by going after the low hanging fruit - if MS is running 90% of the operating systems around the globe, why bother with duplicating your efforts to include the crumbs? Too small of a profit margin there to make it worthwhile.

Hackers in foreign countries, especially Russia and China seem to consider it their patriotic duty to hack into US government and corporate systems, and Apple is not a part of that scene. They are all about personal devices and entertainment, MS has a stake in that but they are also about running the infrastructure that the government and corporate worlds need to function. Hacking into that infrastructure is where you will find the real kudos, money and challenge (if you are looking for a challenge).

It really is comparing apples to oranges...pun intended!

The trend in malware for a long time now is to make money, not pit skills against an operating system's security for the fun of it.

Oh please. Hackers love challenges and a lot of them hate Apple and would love to take them down a peg. It's NOT all about money.

Charging $1400 for a computer in which the Windows-equivalent costs $700 will guarantee that Apple will remain a niche.

HikingStick

You seem to have missed a couple of things. IBM PC's ran on Microsoft OS, and Apple relied on Microsoft for applications. IBM did not want to buy the OS, or develope chips, they used off the self hardware, and soon clones appeared. Apple went the other way, they started with off the shelf parts, then changed to custome chips, so they could make sure that as they added to their system, they could not be cloned, and they could control the price, in the end the end, both lost market share, while Microsoft sold the OS, and Applications to all the IBM clones, and grew.

Charging $1400 for a computer in which the Windows-equivalent costs $700 will guarantee that Apple will remain a niche.

A niche? Perhaps. But a very profitable one, which seems to be the only thing they are trying to be. They have captured a huge share of the mp3 market, on their way to capturing a huge slice of the phone pie, continue to exceed their Mac sales and have a buzz that ANY company would be envious of.

Call me crazy, but I like the idea of being able to upgrade my computer's memory or purchase a new battery. Both are possible with a PC. For Apple, you have to mail the device away and be without it for a month.

And that's the gist of Apple products. For people who don't know how computers work and don't want to know computers work. I guess it's hip to be dumbed down.

I think Apple's strategy is the same as Sony's with the PS3. There are plenty of people who will buy simply because it's Apple, not because it's actually a good product.

Isn't it nice to know these companies expect you to shovel money into their pockets because your a fanboy?

@ Some Lame Name Here

FYI: Sony's PS3 is far more reliable to the the X360. <_< That's like some Apple Fanboy saying M$ crashes more than the apple does.

I don't know about you but I'm not buying a product with a 50% Failure Rate to Sony's 8% Failure Rate. It's not rocket science. Most of Sony's products tbh in the console division were pretty reliable products. Hell, the FIRST EVER PlayStation SONY made that i still own has NEVER been repaired and works just like the day I got it. Compared to my 9 1/2 yr old PS2 where the CD Tray likes to stop coming out unless i tap on it.

Squall

FYI

They've fixed the overheating issue that caused the red ring of death in xbox 360. I've had mine for going on two years and it has yet to crash. I also remember the problems with the earlier versions of the PS2 in case you don't. Now, the PS was d@mn near impervious. I think mine still works too. I think with the case of the PS2 and the 360, there was a rush to release prematurely but I prefer the 360 now that it's stable because it has far more titles in the genres I like than the PS3. I guess it's all about what you like.

I think Apple's strategy is the same as Sony's with the PS3. There are plenty of people who will buy simply because it's Apple, not because it's actually a good product.

But Macs ARE good products. Most people like an iPhone when they try it, and iPad reviews have all been pretty good.

And that's the gist of Apple products. For people who don't know how computers work and don't want to know computers work. I guess it's hip to be dumbed down.

Not at all. Our last PC was self built. Some of us just want things that work and don't want to spend all of our time resolving arcane issues with Windows.

Mac OS: A closed flavor of FreeBSD (a free linux based OS that was closed off and tweaked with so that MAC would control everything, in other words.. copy writing a free OS)

Anything else you wanna spout out without any knowledge of a true OS?

IT2

Apple got their OS from Xerox, and Linux came from Santa Cruz, who is to this day fighting in court.

I have just been informed that Xerox is either an OS or were the owners of the OS based from FreeBSD that MAc took. What I think you were looking for is what Xerox had, I don't remember the name, so do forgive me for that, but their OS was a Unix platform. I am looking for specifics. Making the flamboyant accusation that Windows 7 is Apples idea from 2001... based on what? They have no coding in common, the driver interface with the hardware works different.. all in all they are different beasts.

Apple's iPad (tablet computer): Microsoft's idea back in 2000.

@mopman - You're looking for Xerox PARC short for Palo Alto Research Center. They were the 1st to develop the GUI and mouse MANY years ago which was later stolen by Jobs and Apple.

@IT2 see the movie 'Pirates of the Silicon Valley ' or read the book ' Fire in the Valley'

Dont forget Moscaic, develp'd by DARPA and stolen by Netscape

You must know far different types of people. Most people we know use Macs now, including us whom both used to use PC's, and none of these people run Windows. And we don't either. Keep thinking that maybe we'll need to fire up bootcamp one of these days, but that has never happened yet so don't think it will!

My big beef with the iPad is that it does absolutely nothing more than my iPhone does -- with the added benefit of not being able to make phone calls! What's the point of the iPad?!

If the device had been built on the MacOS, and still cost $600, they'd really have something worth buying. I'd buy one. But $600 for a bloated iPhone that can't make calls? I'll take a pass on that.

Excellent point. Google is far more of a danger to these companies than they are to each other.

how is this device going to improve your life? is your life really going to be richer because you now own this please of plastic, aluminum, and rare earth metals? I don't think so.

Yes. It will improve it by giving us a portable device that we can easily look up a webpage on (clearly), watch movies on with an incredible battery life, read books on, etc...

Go to a bookstore and buy a book - on paper.

But that's just it....we are moving to a digital world. Look at the music industry. You can see similar things starting to happen in the movie, book, magazine and newspaper business. ALL media content will be digital at some point. And then what...are you going to stubbornly refuse to read anything?

Buy a Kindle, much better for people who actually read on it.

Pretty much. I care about "will it serve my needs" more than "is it hip?"

Actually, the 64 gig cost 699, not 600, from the websites I checked out. That's two hundred less than the laptop I just bought that has a far faster processor, 8 gigs of RAM, and 500 gigs of storage, just to name a few of its specs. Sorry, but, like you, I'll stick with my Windows laptop.

I compiled a pretty extensive list in another thread. There are about 20 things that a $600 iPad *cannot* do that my $600 Toshiba laptop can *easily* do. It reminds me of the fable concerning the emperor's new clothes.

No camera or video chat.

True, but suspect that will be addressed with a later model. Apple always has roadmaps for their devices. If they put everything into the first year model, there wouldn't be much to grab people's attention later on.

Cannot run flash....which is what almost every website with video uses.

For video, this point is irrelevant as Hulu, Youtube, Vimeo and the like all are moving to HTML5 or iPad compatible stuff. Now if you were talking games, then you would have more of a point. Flash gaming is still pretty big and that's not going to change anytime soon.

No USB (seriously?)

Yup...this is annoying. Agreed. Suspect it has something to do with battery life though. And the fact that it's based off the iPhone/touch operating system which obviously wouldn't have USB ports either. Perhaps this will be addressed later on.

And dont forget that you have to pay a subscription fee every month as well.

Subscription every month? For what?

If you mean 3G service, you do not have to have that anymore then you need it for an iPod Touch! Just buy the wi-fi version.

If you mean for content, well that is entirely up to the user just like any print magazine or newspaper would be.

User interface and user experience have nothing to do with engineering. That's why (for example) when Lockheed builds a prototype fighter jet, it's not the engineers that test-fly it. it's the test pilot who is not an engineer, but an end user. All improvements on the finished product are based on critical feedback from the test pilot. Same in software. End user matters. I wouldn't call Apple's ability of convincing people as their "genius" though. I would rather call it the deficiency of Apple's audience. Apple knows how to exploit that deficiency well.

While I think the MS commercials are silly I still recognize the point of them as being that Microsoft listens to customer and user input.

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drjphd

Close, but not quite ;-)

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Apple does not "convince" us - doesn't need to

Apple designs, builds, and delivers Real Things "we never considered possible"

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"Convince" is more suited for Advertising of Vaporware

And Microsoft has the corner on THAT market

(smile)

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BC