What Apple Really Needs to Do...
is take that lovely 10 inch touch screen with multitouch functionality and virtual touch-typeable keyboard, and attach it to an actual computer. You know, one that runs OSX and can do things like play Flash videos and compile LaTeX? OK, so yeah sometimes my priorities on software are a bit skewed. They also need to put in a webcam for video chat. And a USB port. An optical drive is totally unnecessary, so the whole thing should be about the same size as the so-called iPad. I would pay for that. I would pay a lot more than $500 for that. That I would save up for and buy with lust and joy.
This whole "App Store" thing is crap. Not that I don't like the apps on my iPod; they're better than nothing. But paying everytime I want to install something no matter how trivial, and without third party competition? No. Also, not having a real OS and not being able to edit the file tree or run multiple things at once (I mean geez, this alone is a complete dealbreaker.)? No, just no. I am not paying for a full-size computer that thinks it's an iPod.
And the ebook reader thing? I want an ebook reader, I really do, but when I get one it is going to be one whose screen is actually designed for extended reading and easy on the eyes. Also, I am going to wait until the technology straightens itself out. Why will these companies (Apple included. App store, I'm looking at you.) never ever learn that information wants to be free? Proprietary formats and non-unlockable files and programs are for the lose. Lose. Fail. Suck. When I can go on the internet, browse competitive prices (and that means competitive with paperbacks, folks. Probably with used paperbacks. It's not like you have any opportunity cost at all when selling an individual ebook.), and get any book I want in a format I can read on any of my many electronic devices, then, and only then, will I buy an ebook reader. Until then, the Stanza app on the iPod is good enough for me. It fits in my pocket, it's as easy to read as anything else, and it has access to Project Gutenberg.
So, thank you Apple, but no thanks. Don't you have marketing executives?
This whole "App Store" thing is crap. Not that I don't like the apps on my iPod; they're better than nothing. But paying everytime I want to install something no matter how trivial, and without third party competition? No. Also, not having a real OS and not being able to edit the file tree or run multiple things at once (I mean geez, this alone is a complete dealbreaker.)? No, just no. I am not paying for a full-size computer that thinks it's an iPod.
And the ebook reader thing? I want an ebook reader, I really do, but when I get one it is going to be one whose screen is actually designed for extended reading and easy on the eyes. Also, I am going to wait until the technology straightens itself out. Why will these companies (Apple included. App store, I'm looking at you.) never ever learn that information wants to be free? Proprietary formats and non-unlockable files and programs are for the lose. Lose. Fail. Suck. When I can go on the internet, browse competitive prices (and that means competitive with paperbacks, folks. Probably with used paperbacks. It's not like you have any opportunity cost at all when selling an individual ebook.), and get any book I want in a format I can read on any of my many electronic devices, then, and only then, will I buy an ebook reader. Until then, the Stanza app on the iPod is good enough for me. It fits in my pocket, it's as easy to read as anything else, and it has access to Project Gutenberg.
So, thank you Apple, but no thanks. Don't you have marketing executives?