I ordered a MacBook Air site unseen. That's a first for me.
As I write this I'm about to go workout and it dawns on me that I'm on my 3rd generation of Apple IPod. I started with the original, switched to a bigger version (to back up all my pics and show off my kids to my friends) and then for the holidays, got myself and wife an ITouch.
Goodbye Ipod. With the new $20 dollar software that I downloaded yesterday, my ITouch gives me music, pictures and now email, calendar and a very cool basic GPS system that leverages the WiFi available. Touchtyping is still impossible for me on it, so it wont ever replace my phone for texting or primary mobile email, but its definitely encroaching on its territory. Solve the keyboard problem for fat fingered typists and I might even buy an IPhone.
I like the ITouch enough that I just sent an email to the Mavs IT head to see how we fans with ITouchs (and Wifi devices like Nokia among others) could leverage WiFi in the American Airlines Center before , during and after Mavs games, HDNet Fights and other events...
After many PC years, I've crossed over. Me the fanboy.
I can't believe I'm becoming an Apple Fanboy
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Reader Comments
(Page 1)2. Mark, glad to hear it! I become an Apple fanboy over a year ago it's been awesome. It's amazing how much better my MacBookPro is than any other computer I've owned. I also love my iPod.
Posted at 6:23PM on Jan 22nd 2008 by JOhn
3. It's amazing that more companies don't offer paid feature upgrades on their "hardware". At least apple sees the device as a platform not unlike the mac, and that there is a viable business opportunity in bringing people new features.
I've stayed away from iPods because they lack the ability to play music from a subscription service like Rhapsody. If iTunes launches a Rhapsody-style service, I'll switch in an instant.
Posted at 6:44PM on Jan 22nd 2008 by Nick Davis
4. Glad to hear your switching over along with so many other people Mark. I've worked for Apple and been riding the stock for five years ecstatic over their performance and their products. I think wifi making it into mobile devices like the iPod Touch will be huge in the future for content creators and advertisers. To me, delivering content by podcasts (imagine downloading highlights of the game or a 15 min Sportscenter show during halftime) will be a huge value add for business in the future. As much as I've thought about it, I haven't figured out how to build a business around it, though I'd love to try.
The iPhone and iPod could really become something like the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, a device where we can get any info we want at our fingertips. The key is how advertisers will key into this. If only the wireless tech would hurry up and get there.
Posted at 6:45PM on Jan 22nd 2008 by Ian Van Mater
5. Ok, i get it...I like Apple too, but you have to admit the "die hard" Apple people are just annoying. I like Mac, but it has flaws, just like windows (or any other OS for that matter)...You just need to be honest with yourself and admit there is no perfect solution.
Posted at 6:49PM on Jan 22nd 2008 by justin case
6. Welcome, indeed!
I, too, will be waiting for the next gen iPhone before dropping any coin.
We'll be curious to read your take on MacBook Air after you've had it for a bit... for the moment I'm holding off on that one, too. Too many Macs around here already!
Posted at 7:11PM on Jan 22nd 2008 by Daniel Holter
7. I had the same gradual conversion experience about a year ago. I'm now attached at the hip with my macbook pro!
Posted at 7:13PM on Jan 22nd 2008 by John Gauger
8. Oh, btw, GREAT idea on incorporating personal technology with Mavs home games. I'm not even an NBA fan and that sounds fantastic!
Posted at 7:13PM on Jan 22nd 2008 by Daniel Holter
9. Mark, glad to hear the news. I really enjoy my iphone. One thing I wish for is NBA game and box scores that are mobile device friendly. The nba.com homepage is unusable to check scores on iphone/itouch because the devices don't implement flash. But even if they did flash, the nba.com page design is too heavy for a mobile device (banner, score widget, features, videos, gazillion links etc). I use yahoo sports instead to check nba scores but it's a little hard to navigate and read on a small screen, especially box scores.
Posted at 7:14PM on Jan 22nd 2008 by David V
10. I think the thing to remember is that the iPods aren't the only mobile WiFi platforms. Using them during and after the games is a great idea. But, make sure to support other mobile WiFi platforms like the Nokia N810, they're likely to catch on also. Same as always, increase your available market, stick to open standards.
11. Welcome, Welcome. We are happy that you joined our ranks :)
On a serious note, I had a similar epiphany the a few weeks ago with Google related products and services. In 2007 I made the full switch to gmail, started using google calendar, started texting google or calling google 411 for addresses, used google news alerts, and started using Google reader. Nothing, however, changed my internet experience more in 2007 than Google reader. Incredible product, as most things Google are.
Posted at 7:31PM on Jan 22nd 2008 by Jeremy Beyda
13. I think it'd be awesome to have all kinds of stats available during the game. A site you can load from the iPod Touch that has players listed, click on one and see percentage, time played, etc.
Posted at 8:00PM on Jan 22nd 2008 by Brian
14. Something to think about: the figures on share of mobile browsing are just astonishing: iPhone and the Touch have basicallky blown previous mobile devices out of the water in terms of actual web browsing. As someone who has an iPhone, and used to have a Samsumg Blackjack, it's easy to see why: Apple has gotten mobile web browsing right in a way that nobody has.
So frankly, if you're working on support for mobile devices in an environment like a stadium, starting with iPhone/Touch support is a good choice.
As for the fanboy thing, well, good products are good products. I've used plenty of tech products over the years, and I keep coming back to Apple because I get more work done more easily with their stuff. It's really that simple.
I do get annoyed by the "apple is perfect" crowd, though. Apples are like all computers: complex systems that sometimes do unexpected things, usually at the worst possible time. That's life. Having experienced tech support from HP, Dell, and Apple, however, I'm very happy calling Apple when those things do occur.
Enjoy the Air. Not a practical choice for most people, but it looks pretty damn sweet.
Posted at 8:17PM on Jan 22nd 2008 by John Whiteside
15. Mark - me too. I wrote about it here:
http://www.ithinkthisworldisperfect.com/2007/11/closing-window.html
Love your blog, by the way.
16. I know we keep talking about get up to date sports info on the iphone and apple wifi devices.
Take a look at sportstap on your iphone/itouch...it is designed for the iphone with all the latest scores and statistics
sportstap.mobi/
Posted at 8:50PM on Jan 22nd 2008 by sham
17. Congratulations, my wife and I made the switch over the past 5 years. Three mac laptops later, 6 ipods (2 lost, one free with laptop), 1 iphone (wife), 2 airports, multiple software upgrades, etc...
Whats amazing is that they do not discount. I am a phd candidate so I get the edu discount (usually 10%)... but they have complete pricing power. Its really amazing from an individual business strategy and from an industry lense in that they are growing a high margin hardware businesses where few others can. They key, i think, was focusing on user experience and design. Eventually the market caught up.
But again, welcome to the family.
Posted at 8:56PM on Jan 22nd 2008 by Campus Entrepreneurship
20. Apple continues to push the boundaries of excellent consumer-oriented design without ever actually innovating. It's not that they do anything spectacular, it's just that they do it a little bit better than everyone else.
The iPod - Plays MP3s. So did everything else. Apple just took a laptop hard drive, wrapped it in plastic and metal, and gave it a very very slim OS.
The iPhone - Does the exact same things as every smartphone on the market, it just looks better doing it. Navigation, music, web browsing; it was all there before the iPhone.
The MacBook Air - My personal opinion is that the Air represents the height of Apple's arrogance. They created an ultra-portable that is almost useless without a second computer (probably also a Mac). Not only that, but they're selling it for a mint. Give Intel a little credit, being as they created the ultra-small processor at the heart of this thing. If it succeeds at all, expect every manufacturer to make something just as small and light, AND figure out a way to put an optical drive in it.
Ironically, I'm attempting to de-Apple my life as much as possible. I'm going to replace my iPod with a Zune 80. I don't use QuickTime. and I'm getting rid of iTunes as soon as feasible. Oh yeah, and I'm definitely not ditching my service on Verizon for an iPhone. I'm rather happy with my Blackberry Pearl, thanks.
1. welcome to the apple family!
Posted at 6:23PM on Jan 22nd 2008 by Ryan J. George