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 3)42. I dont know what your IT guy has for in-stadium WI-FI ideas, but here's a few that pop to mind:
- make it easy (!!) for me to get all the stuff that's happening around the game right now, but that I can't get even if Im there. ie: drill into a players stats. If was watching on TV, they'd give it to me. Im at a disadvantage if Im in the stadium. -- Let me watch the controversial play that just happened, but has already been replayed on the jumbotron. -- Let me quickly check on scores on other games happening right now. All the NBA / ESPN, etc sites are too slow and RQ too much drill down. -- In other words, if Im home watching the game, I've got 4 flat panels and tivo.. along with the game announcers, I can have all the views and angles I want. If Im at the game, I get the buzz, but none of the immersion that I want. Wifi + iphone/touch, and the right backend, and you've given me the best of both words. -- Oh yeah, can you let me order a beer from my seat, so that I dont have to wait for the guy to come by before I can flag him down ?
Posted at 11:14AM on Jan 23rd 2008 by Ross G.
43. I like the new technology...it helps drive the American economy. The MacBook Air is great design, though it is not revolutionary technology. It is austerely another notch in the use of smaller components and expansion of wireless technology…these types of advancements spur the economy, make our lives easier and more exciting.
Mark, I mentioned this last year...our new courtside-folding chair is revolutionary technology. Your players tried our chair, LaunchPad, last year and were like kids in a candy store. When we set-up our scientific, wellness-based LaunchPad the players were almost embarrassed to use the other folding chairs in your practice court.
I know you love technology and have money to buy a million of our chairs…though we would like to offer our chairs free to your players. We, the small guy, want to get our revolutionary technology in the hands of the players…who are our biggest proponents.
You love technology…thank you! Technology and especially revolutionary technology drives the economy.
You get a sense of awe from the technology like ITouch…your players had that same sense of awe from innovative technology when they used LaunchPad.
Posted at 12:03PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by Dr. Lee V. Alderman
44. Mark,
I like the idea of the usage of WIFI on mobile devices - I have written some mobile apps myself and find the whole concept really COOL - BUT my point is that even though I like the idea - I go to games to watch the games and get involved in the games not to be browsing my mobile apps via WIFI - the last thing I want to do is miss a grat play and have to watch it on replay. My recommendation would be to do all your promos, games and what-not before the game, half-time and after the game - this way during the game you can still use the WIFI if you want but you can focus on the game and not miss out on any prizes and such that you are going to offer during the other times.
But hey that's just me - I'm over 29 (37 to be exact) and don't know a whole heck of a lot :-) (http://www.blogmaverick.com/2007/11/06/never-friend-anyone-over-29/)
James
Posted at 12:08PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by James
45. Airbook = sick! Mark, can't believe you don't utilize the iPhone. I was skeptical at first but upon switching, I couldn't be happier. Coming from someone who is 28 and hated texting, I actually find the iPhone amazing to text and prefer it over a quick phone call now.
All thanks to Apple!
Posted at 12:11PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by Paul Bowser
46. Remember Mark: Once you go Mac, you can't go back!
Posted at 12:25PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by Rudy
47. Hey Mark, Congrats on the move.
More importantly I think it is great that you are letting WiFi devices do more at your events to interact with the action and the event of attending Mavs games and other attractions. Things like a chatting interface, stats on demand, even voting for what the next song will be over the PA would be cool. I think all of these things have the chance to increase the enjoyment at a game. As long as it is free (I think the SF Giants have something you pay for) and just an option for attendees It could add quite a bit of value to your fans.
They say "give 'em what they want," but what if they don't know what that is? Thanks for trying to make our sports and entertainment better. Also if you could hint to the people in Philly and Baltimore what real owners and sports experiences should be like, I would appreciate it.
Posted at 12:42PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by Bricknhymr
48. This is a 'me too' comment: I had the same experience of deciding to switch to Apple (and of buying a Macbook Air sight-unseen) after buying an iPhone. However, quite honestly, my decision was based as much on MS Vista as on Apple's OSX...
I wrote about my decision making process here: http://jackwilliambell.livejournal.com/199886.html
Posted at 1:48PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by Jack William Bell
49. I'd say better late than never, but we (MacFans) are still in the minority.
Posted at 2:25PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by Bob Wegener
53. its obvious how wifi can help.
for now, allow season-ticket holders, or all guests, to view the up-to-the-minute stats, maybe with shot chart, like the paper they give out to press/season ticket holders in between the qtrs.
eventually, have streaming video of replays, pause live video, so the fans can rewind what is going on..
think of it like tv for the live game.
i always thought the arenas should have this for season-ticket holder via a small touch-screen mini-pc.
but then no one would look at the over-makeupped cheerleaders.
cj
54. Apple's marketing has been so brilliant for so long that they could probably make an ad with a juggler and a web cam and it could sell 10,000 laptops. It doesn't hurt that their product design is beautiful.
Posted at 9:09PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by Web Designer
56. i have a mac g4 graphite that'll be 8 yrs old in may, and yes, it's my only computer. while i would like to have a new computer (mac or pc, but NO VISTA, THANKS!) my old decrepit mac suits me well. i've never once had to replace a single piece of hardware in it. not one hardware failure in 8 yrs. hallellujah! also, i love my ipod. i'm a fangirl for life.
57. Apple is really good at industrial design and promotion. And they actually innovate, which is more than can be said about 99% of their industrial peers.
Thats what I said!
gr,
Remco
http://www.biodiesel-expansion.com
Posted at 9:30AM on Jan 24th 2008 by Biodiesel Expansion
58. I wrote an article on video editing on the MacBook Air if you're interested... http://www.paulescandon.com/blog/?p=37
59. Welcome to the light Mark. Welcome, take a seat. You'll like it here.
Posted at 6:56PM on Jan 24th 2008 by Jay
60. Adam...to many Adam's apple jokes?
Posted at 9:18PM on Jan 24th 2008 by brian fidler
41. Mark, its iPod and iPhone (little i) not IPod and IPhone. You're not indoctrinated just yet. ;)
Posted at 11:12AM on Jan 23rd 2008 by Chris