The iPhone

[billybreen]

The reviews (http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2007/06/27/iphone-review-roundup) have been as strong as I hoped. I knew the network was going to suck, but if it 'lives up to most of the hype," as David Pogue of the NYT says, that's good enough for me. Uncle Walt also says text entry isn't a problem, and that was one of my fears. And registration and number portability all from within iTunes? That's _amazing_ for anyone who has gone through the pain of selecting a pricing plan under the steely gaze of a sweaty cell phone salesman.

But the killer feature for me is a REAL web browser in a portable device. No WML / WAP junk for me. I expect this to be a pretty big development in my space, and I've done my part (http://www.ajaxperformance.com/2007/06/24/in-defense-of-ajax-for-the-iphone/) to add to the hype.

So, damn the price, I'm taking the plunge as soon as I can find one, hopefully Friday. What about you?

[hc5duke]

But the killer feature for me is a REAL web browser in a portable device. No WML / WAP junk for me. I expect this to be a pretty big development in my space, and I've done my part (http://www.ajaxperformance.com/2007/06/24/in-defense-of-ajax-for-the-iphone/) to add to the hype.

So, damn the price, I'm taking the plunge as soon as I can find one, hopefully Friday. What about you?

Most smart phones, especially ones in the $500 range, support HTML, not just WML. I'm fairly happy with my Treo 755p, and even if the iPhone was a lot cheaper, I like my Sprint network (even though it doesn't work at my house :p) enough not to switch... count me out.

[billybreen]

There is a big difference between the browsers on smart phones and the full Safari instance on the iPhone. A huge difference. The iPhone provides a true browser experience, with the layout and CSS/JS support you expect from your desktop browser.

I just can't use the browsers you find on Treos or Blackberrys.

[Dukerati]

I'm buying one. Hopefully tomorrow. I'll post some thoughts about the iphone once I get to play around with it for a few days.

[billybreen]

Good luck! I'll be in line as well. I'm not sure which store to hit since I expect them all to be overrun and I'm not lining up at 9am.

[-jk]

My Blackberry browser, combined with Opera mini, works well enough for me, with html and js support. No, isn't quite a full browser, but then the screen isn't 800x600, either.

My problem is the AT&T (formerly Cingular) network isn't anywhere as effective for me in the DC area. I had a company BB on Cingular last year, and coverage issues drove me to distraction. We had to get a Verizon BB for a VP for that reason.

If the iPhone comes out for Verizon, I'll be very tempted.

-jk

[billybreen]

Yeah, the network hurts, and it's the main reason I was waffling until this week. But a chance to experience the software now rather than later is too much to resist.

And there's always a hope I can convince the boss to make it a comped purchase, but that may be wishful thinking :)

[johnb]

I've been waiting for 6/29 (and reviews) and my only hesitation is the network and the fact that the fast, cool internet browsing is only done in a wifi area. Otherwise, it's apparently slower than dialup.

Those caveats aside, it looks fab.

[Dukerati]

Good luck! I'll be in line as well. I'm not sure which store to hit since I expect them all to be overrun and I'm not lining up at 9am.

I have network concerns as well having experienced Cingular's poor, poor service for the last three years. The way I rationalized it to myself is that I have had to deal with it the past three years, so what's a few more with a cooler phone?

As for the lines, I was just planning on dropping by after work and hoping that the fervor was overestimated. Wishful thinking probably but I've been right before:)

[hc5duke]

There is a big difference between the browsers on smart phones and the full Safari instance on the iPhone. A huge difference. The iPhone provides a true browser experience, with the layout and CSS/JS support you expect from your desktop browser.

I just can't use the browsers you find on Treos or Blackberrys.

My 755p's browser supports CSS/JS - it doesn't support Flash (though I think there are plug ins), AJAX, and tabbed browsing, but Opera Mini can take care of some of that. Guess I'm just not a big fan of non-computer apple products.

[billybreen]

Right, but it doesn't support the true web layout of Safari on the iPhone. That is the real sweetness, especially with intelligent support for adjusting the orientation when the device is tilted (and the whole pinch-to-zoom metaphor which is brilliant).

Also, not supporting Ajax is huge, from my very biased perspective :)

I think the future of the web is a very similar interface from desktop to mobile with CSS and JS enhancing the presentation and behavior as appropriate for each device. We will be able to develop one application and know that it will perform admirably on every manner of device, without the need for a stylus to approximate a mouse. The iPhone is the first device to get us there, hence my claim that it's the first mobile device with a real browser.

[throatybeard]

I want to thank Breen and other techie nuts for being early adopters so that I can buy one of these things for 40% as much in two years.

[billybreen]

I want to thank Breen and other techie nuts for being early adopters so that I can buy one of these things for 40% as much in two years.

It's just the cost of doing business, my man.

And it should be far cheaper than 40% in 2 years.

[onepresent]

With skeptics warning businesses to avoid the iPhone because of email security concerns, this looked like a groundbreaking product.

***

Visto brings corporate email to iPhone

Visto today announced that it is offering corporate email functionality for Apple's iPhone along with end-to-end security. Through Visto, iPhone users can experience secure mobile access to current as well as legacy versions of both Microsoft Exchange and IBM Lotus Domino corporate messaging platforms. Visto enables access that is easy to implement and administer, alleviating IT concerns regarding security as well as reliability, according to the company. Industry watchers cited the iPhone's lack of corporate email support as a major factor in the device's potential for adoption among business customers, as well as the question of whether the handset would support Microsoft Word/Excel documents. Apple answered that question with a recently posted online tour of the device which revealed support for viewing both types of documents in email messages.

www.visto.com

[Indoor66]

I want to thank Breen and other techie nuts for being early adopters so that I can buy one of these things for 40% as much in two years.

Great to find another techno-leech! lol

The apparent simplicity attracts me but I want to know that it works.

[pacificrounder]

I just don't understand why Apple went for the EDGE network instead of 3G. It could have been the best and most desired phone (not that it won't necessarily be, but the biggest rap I've heard is against EDGE) with just that feature.

I don't have the cash to buy one, so I'll just have to deal with an in-store demo. :)

[billybreen]

Don't look now, but EDGE speeds appear to have jumped overnight (http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/28/atandt-customers-seeing-sudden-boost-in-edge-speeds/). Could the Steve have had another trick up his sleeve all along?

The prime reasons for going with EDGE appear to be chip cost and energy use advantages over 3G. One of the surprising pluses from the early iPhone reviews has been very good battery life.

[-jk]

Billybreen, when you get your new toy today, we want to see your review!
:)

-jk

[TillyGalore]

Billybreen, when you get your new toy today, we want to see your review!
:)

-jk

I want to hear too!

[HaveFunExpectToWin]

I just walked by the Apple Store in Arlington, VA (Clarendon store) and talked to a couple guys who were near the front of line. They got in line last night about 11pm. I wished them luck.

There were probably about 50 people in line at 1pm.

[DevilAlumna]

Visto brings corporate email to iPhone

www.visto.com

Don't buy the hype. This product is aiming to solve a non-problem.

Why bother, when 1) anyone running Exchange could open up a couple ports and make access available to iPhones, and 2) Apple just licensed Microsoft's Exchange ActiveSync, which means iPhone v2 will be much more of a business-user-focused device?

That still doesn't mean that companies with decent information technology security policies will just start opening up their corporate networks so the early tech-adopters can use their latest gadgets. For example, does any blackberry user ever think twice that they're sending their corporate login/pass combination to be stored and saved on Research in Motion (BlackBerry) servers? I guarantee IT admins do....

[hc5duke]

Anyone else having problems with the Cingular network today? I'm wondering if it's because of everyone getting these iPhones at the same time and filling up the pipes. A lot of the Cingular phones at work at getting network failure issues...:mad:

[billybreen]

Got it!

I will post some first impressions once I make them.

Well, here's my very first impression: Wow, does Apple know how to package products :-)

Off I go.

[Bluedawg]

The reviews (http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2007/06/27/iphone-review-roundup) have been as strong as I hoped. I knew the network was going to suck, but if it 'lives up to most of the hype," as David Pogue of the NYT says, that's good enough for me. Uncle Walt also says text entry isn't a problem, and that was one of my fears. And registration and number portability all from within iTunes? That's _amazing_ for anyone who has gone through the pain of selecting a pricing plan under the steely gaze of a sweaty cell phone salesman.

But the killer feature for me is a REAL web browser in a portable device. No WML / WAP junk for me. I expect this to be a pretty big development in my space, and I've done my part (http://www.ajaxperformance.com/2007/06/24/in-defense-of-ajax-for-the-iphone/) to add to the hype.

So, damn the price, I'm taking the plunge as soon as I can find one, hopefully Friday. What about you?

the phone cost between $500.00 to $600.00 dollars, the activation fee is $36.00 and the service is between $60.00 to $100.00 per month.

So the killer feature for me is the price!

[billybreen]

Wow, this is an amazing device. I'm posting from the phone, and typing speed is already better than I expected.

[-jk]

How's the speed difference between WiFi and AT&T's cell network? Pre-release reviews suggested it was much slower on the cell network.

-jk

[billybreen]

Yeah, the network sucks, so the wifi switching is very nice. I haven't played with EDGE for very long, but it was pretty slow on the few sites I hit.

Typing is much faster than I thought it would be, and the software is easily the best I've seen on a mobile device. Everything just works as you would expect it should, and that is very rare in non-apple products. The iPod functionality in particular is gorgeous.

Again, this message was entered from the iPhone.

[tombrady]

Yeah, the network sucks, so the wifi switching is very nice. I haven't played with EDGE for very long, but it was pretty slow on the few sites I hit.

Typing is much faster than I thought it would be, and the software is easily the best I've seen on a mobile device. Everything just works as you would expect it should, and that is very rare in non-apple products. The iPod functionality in particular is gorgeous.

Again, this message was entered from the iPhone.

i was some more juicy iphone gossip. what don't you like about it?

[throatybeard]

Anyone else having problems with the Cingular network today? I'm wondering if it's because of everyone getting these iPhones at the same time and filling up the pipes. A lot of the Cingular phones at work at getting network failure issues...:mad:

Just today?

Cingular was a-OK with me, until the re-merger or whatever it was with AT&T. Then the network went to hell. I useta could get a great signal anywhere, cities, Two Horse, MS, you name it. Now my signal is feces in most places.

My question about the iPhone is, what's to keep this gadget from catastrophically breaking like half the peoples I know's Ipods.

[billybreen]

My question about the iPhone is, what's to keep this gadget from catastrophically breaking like half the peoples I know's Ipods.

Nothing, I consider those catastrop-portunities -- an excuse to buy whatever version comes out next.

I'm curious about your iPod anecdotal evidence. Maybe there's a climatic difference in play, but I haven't seen a failure rate anywhere near that level. My wife is still on her 4 year old model, and mine has been happily working from my glove box (in temperatures ranging from -10 to 100) for 3 years.

As for other questions about iPhone dirt, I posted some more thoughts (http://www.ajaxperformance.com/2007/07/02/a-few-thoughts-on-the-iphone-plus-a-news-round-up/) over at my spot.

[Dukerati]

(Sigh) I wish you didn't enjoy your Iphone so much billy. I was all set to buy one but then got embroiled into a debate about "fiscal responsibility" with the significant other. To make a long story short, I am forced to choose between the iphone and a laptop (the new Dell XPS ultra-portable has caught my eye). Which one would you go with?

[billybreen]

Sorry to go all fanboi on you, but I wouldn't consider getting a non-Apple laptop. I have a Windows Vista machine on my desk at home and at work, but for portable use there's nothing better than a MacBook Pro. So this is an easy call: buy the iPhone and a MacBook (or Pro). In the immortal words of Chris Knight, "it's a moral imperative."

If you are looking for fiscal justification, Macs hold their value for resale far better than PCs, so you can upgrade in 18 months and recoup a non-trivial percentage of your original investment. The PC will just leave you feeling cheap and used.

[billybreen]

Actually, the MacBook is cheaper than a comparably spec-ed Dell XPS. A Dell with a 2Gz chip and 2GB of RAM is $1649 compared to a 2.16Hz/2GB MacBook for $1474.

So that $200 you save is a meaningful chunk of your iPhone purchase :)

[hc5duke]

Actually, the MacBook is cheaper than a comparably spec-ed Dell XPS. A Dell with a 2Gz chip and 2GB of RAM is $1649 compared to a 2.16Hz/2GB MacBook for $1474.

So that $200 you save is a meaningful chunk of your iPhone purchase :)

This is simply not true. I'm not sure what you configured, but I just went to Dell and it spit back $1294 when I went for a 2.2GHz + 2GB 15" Inspiron 1520.

You could even go cheaper by getting a Latitude with 2GHz and 2GB for $984, or if for some reason you really have to have the XPS, then I'm sure it'll be more expensive, but if you pick the most expensive Dell to compare with an entry level Mac, that's just not a valid comparison.

[TillyGalore]

Actually, the MacBook is cheaper than a comparably spec-ed Dell XPS. A Dell with a 2Gz chip and 2GB of RAM is $1649 compared to a 2.16Hz/2GB MacBook for $1474.

So that $200 you save is a meaningful chunk of your iPhone purchase :)


This is simply not true. I'm not sure what you configured, but I just went to Dell and it spit back $1294 when I went for a 2.2GHz + 2GB 15" Inspiron 1520.

You could even go cheaper by getting a Latitude with 2GHz and 2GB for $984, or if for some reason you really have to have the XPS, then I'm sure it'll be more expensive, but if you pick the most expensive Dell to compare with an entry level Mac, that's just not a valid comparison.

Who needs Consumer Reports when we have DBR!

[billybreen]

He said XPS, so that's what I compared. I picked the middle of the road XPS model with the smallest screen, and based on components it's the most apt comparison to the MacBook.

[hc5duke]

He said XPS, so that's what I compared. I picked the middle of the road XPS model with the smallest screen, and based on components it's the most apt comparison to the MacBook.

Ah, I see that now. I still get $1399 for XPS1210 with 2.16GHz + 2GB though. I'm assuming you were comparing it to a 13" macbook, so I picked a 12" Dell (XPS doesn't come in 13")

[billybreen]

I was comparing to the 13.3" XPS M1330 with a 2Ghz chip (which is slower than the Mac at 2.16, not that it matters much). I believe that is the best comparison for the MacBook. You have to look at the components used, and comparing a MacBook to an entry level Dell doesn't work. I get the $16xx (I forget exactly) price when I spec out that Dell.

Even if the prices were comparable, I maintain that the seamless software/hardware integration on the Mac makes it a much more compelling offering. The ability to run Windows within Parallels at <5% performance hit makes it an unbeatable computing combination: a solid Mac foundation with Windows when you need it.

[hc5duke]

The point of getting a Dell (at least to me) is to get something that you can configure up/down to your needs - not many people really NEED (minus gamers and graphic artists) a laptop that is equivalent to a $1600 Dell. With the XPS you CAN get a $1000-$1200 unit whereas with a MacBook you can't. I guess I was arguing against something you didn't say (Mac being cheaper than Dell in general as opposed to Dell XPS). To each his own - I'd still get a similarly priced XPS over a MacBook.

[billybreen]

Actually, the entry level MacBook is $1100 for a 2Ghz, 1GB machine. So you can get a pretty nice Mac in the $1000-1200 range. Pretty much the only market for which they don't offer a part is the sub-$1000 portable, but I don't consider that any great loss.

I'm curious why you would pick a Dell over a Mac if prices are comparable. Have you had negative experiences with Macs, is it a familiarity issue, etc?

[unexpected]

I'm with Hwan on this one. Dell will always be cheaper than Apple, especially once corporate discounts are factored in. Dell gives corporate discounts of about 30% and that price includes 3 years gold-level technical support.

Apple's discounts aren't as good, and the warranty isn't as good either.

I'd be dubious about the components too- it's not fair to say that just because it's an XPS versus a Latitude, that Dell uses cheaper components for the Latitudes. Latitudes are the business class machines, and dell is really pushing them hard, as well.

The 30" monitor that Dell makes is exactly the same as Apples. They're both just a rebranded LG - it's just that Apple's is a ton more expensive.

If you're getting an XPS, it's because you're into games. If you're doing games, then you're not going to get a MacBook.

This is coming from someone who bought a MacBook Pro 3 weeks ago- and absolutely loves it. There are a lot of reasons to get a MacBook/Pro, but the price isn't a fair justification.

but backlit keyboard, OS X, more security, more fun, seamless web cam, way cooler look, feel, and case, and seamless iTunes integration, and the coolest remote control in the world are all perfectly valid reasons!

billybreen, i have an Apple question for you to. Most .dmg files will pop up a dialog when I double click on it or copy it to the applications directory; however, when i try applications like VLC or Transmission, I can't get them to install. They always mount as the virtual disk. When i try to copy them to the applications folder, it just copies the folder. Do you know how I could install these applications? (Firefox, Thunderbird, even Azureus worked fine for me)

[billybreen]

Yeah, I don't think I was really trying to say Macs are cheaper in general. I was more trying to position against the typical FUD that Macs are overpriced and unaffordable. If the prices are comparable, or even if the Mac is more expensive, I think it's a better deal for all those excellent reasons you mention :)

As for the app install question, opening a .dmg should always pop open a mounted folder. I haven't seen a case where opening a .dmg copies the app directly to Applications. In the case of Firefox or Thunderbird, all you need to do is open the mounted .dmg and drag the Thunderbird (e.g.) file to Applications.

[OZZIE4DUKE]

I've had a new notebook on my "wish list" for months, and figured I'd get an entry level Mac notebook this time around - I really wanted a 13 to 14 inch screen for the lighter weight than the 15's. My daughter bought an iBook 18 months ago and loves it (note: good thing she bought the extended warranty before her 1-year warranty was up. Last week she had her mother board and airport card replaced for free). Anyway, I got an email add from Tiger Direct and they were offering a refurbished Gateway MX3414 14 inch with anAMD Turion 64 chip and 1G of RAM, plus all the other stuff I wanted including Windows XP instead of Vista for $600. I went into their Raleigh store and picked it up. So far, I'm real pleased with it and for the money, I couldn't not buy it.

Of course, if I had waited till this week I could have spent my $600 on an iPhone. If only Steve Jobs had chosen Alltel instead of AT&T for the network.

[billybreen]

The hardest thing about making the iPhone leap was switching to AT&T, but not due to any existing contract issues or other loyalty to Verizon: I had just heard enough griping about AT&T that I was afraid of them. So far I've been really pleased with call quality. I guess Verizon just sucked that much more.

[Dukerati]

Ugh, I would love to buy both a laptop and the phone. Alas, the world is not that kind. I am presently leaning towards buying the Macbook although I fear it's more out of a desire to be "trendy" than practicality. The reason I like the XPS is that it looks amazing but is also very light. A full pound lighter than the Macbook in fact. I also have never used a Mac in my life so the switch from Windows would take some getting used to. I also use a lot of open-source software and random programs that often have full Windows support and compatability but not so much with Apple. Lastly, Apple is releasing their new OS in a few months so I figure I should wait for it to come out before buying my laptop. However, a "few months" is an eternity to wait:)

In favor of the Macbook, cheaper (who'da thunk it for Apple?) and "cooler". The battery life also rates much better for multimedia tasks such as DVD watching and internet surfing.

On another note, did you hear about the news about the Iphone battery Billy? 85 dollars to replace and three days shipping! That's ridiculous! One Iphone battery has about 300 to 400 charges so after a year, one could conceivably be down about 100 dollars and phoneless for close to a week. Ouch.

[billybreen]

Yeah, I'm not sweating the battery thing. Chances are iPhone 2 will be out by the time my battery dies, so it will be a perfect opportunity to upgrade.

As for the Macbook, I know aesthetics are subjective, but it hurts to hear the XPS described as sexier than the Macbook. Blasphemy! :) Oh well, to each their own.

I don't think you'll find that getting the Mac is about being 'trendy' once you use it. As unexpected said, there are a lot of reasons to love using the Mac, and I think you'll find it a refreshing and polished experience compared to what you're used to.

I think you'll find that leaving Windows is a non-issue when moving to a Mac. Grab Parallels for $60, and you can run Windows on your Macbook at speeds basically indistinguishable from native performance. Any Windows apps you need can be safely contained inside Parallels and still have full access to hardware and devices, and you have that extra bit of isolation when Windows decides to explode.

Waiting for the Leopard release is a good point, though. It would be annoying to shell out $100 again in October. I still think the best bet might be to get the iPhone now to satisfy your hardware lust, spend a few months restoring the discretionary income, then grab a Macbook when Leopard ships.

[unexpected]

I finally figured out how to install, thanks to your help. I have a question regarding Parallels- Will I still need an XP license to run using Parallels? I figure that I'll need one for Bootcamp, but wasn't sure regarding this point.

And Dukerati, what open-source tool are you talking about? Most of the open-source tools that I use (and I use almost everything open source) all have mac ports. Most of these guys are written in either Java or gcc, both which have support on the mac.

[billybreen]

Yeah, you still need a license. Parallels only differs from Boot Camp in that you can run Windows and OSX at the same time (but I consider that a _huge_ advantage for Parallels).

[Dukerati]

I finally figured out how to install, thanks to your help. I have a question regarding Parallels- Will I still need an XP license to run using Parallels? I figure that I'll need one for Bootcamp, but wasn't sure regarding this point.

And Dukerati, what open-source tool are you talking about? Most of the open-source tools that I use (and I use almost everything open source) all have mac ports. Most of these guys are written in either Java or gcc, both which have support on the mac.

Ah something must have got lost in translation. I wasn't trying to say that most open-source programs do not have Mac ports, I was saying that in my limited experience with Macs, the Mac ports suffer in relative ease and quality to their Windows brethren. The two main programs I have experienced this in are openoffice and autohotkey (an admittedly small sample). One of my friends also complained about Audacity, a sound-editing software, not working that well on his Macbook.

[tombrady]

Posting from an iphone at an att store. This is a pretty cool device but one that would def take some getting used to!

[billybreen]

Posting from an iphone at an att store. This is a pretty cool device but one that would def take some getting used to!

Posting from my iPhone from ORD. It doesn't take too long to get used to. :)

[-jk]

Yeah, yeah. You guys and your new toys...

I've been posting (and moderating) from my Blackberry since February.

:D

-jk

[DevilAlumna]

Is there a more mobile-friendly version of the boards, and if so, what's the URL?

Thanks!

[Exiled_Devil]

Yeah, yeah. You guys and your new toys...

I've been posting (and moderating) from my Blackberry since February.

:D

-jk

Posting from my Treo since the sbbs days...it was a little funky then, asking to download the sight, but it read nicely.

The one good thing about the interim boards was it was easy to read on a treo. This board takes a little time (I am on AT&T/Cingular) but it works well.

I wonder how many iPhone-ers who are all excited about the interweb on their phone had smartphones before?

Of course, I envy the wifi. I need something more customizable than the iPhone, though. Gimme third party software and ringtone haks!

Exiled

[billybreen]

exiled, as one who has used my share of treos and blackberrys, there is a significant difference between the interweb on the iphone vs on those devices. Corporate mail, those destroy the iphone (for now). But for web, there's nothing quite like this mobile experience.

[Bluedawg]

Wow, this is an amazing device. I'm posting from the phone, and typing speed is already better than I expected.

Since you have one, is the information I heard on the news correct, that the phone cost between $500.00 to $600.00 dollars, the activation fee is $36.00 and the service is between $60.00 to $100.00 per month.

What do you get for your $60.00 to $100.00 per month service fee? Are phone calls included or are they extra?

[OZZIE4DUKE]

Since you have one, is the information I heard on the news correct, that the phone cost between $500.00 to $600.00 dollars, the activation fee is $36.00 and the service is between $60.00 to $100.00 per month.

What do you get for your $60.00 to $100.00 per month service fee? Are phone calls included or are they extra?

Yes, you heard correctly. For the $60/month you get 450 anytime minutes on the phone and unlimited internet time. Higher monthly's get you more airtime.

As much as I'd love to have an iPhone, my large screen HDTV crapped out yesterday (the convergence went out) and I'm about to spend $325 to get it fixed, just below my threshold to replace it. That is both good and bad...

[DevilAlumna]

Wow, this is an amazing device. I'm posting from the phone, and typing speed is already better than I expected.

Will it blend? http://www.willitblend.com/videos.aspx?type=unsafe&video=iphone

[OZZIE4DUKE]

Will it blend? http://www.willitblend.com/videos.aspx?type=unsafe&video=iphone

What a waste! Very funny, but what a waste!

Did you notice how tough the iPhone was? It took several direct hits before it started breaking up. Maybe it will survive being dropped onto concrete!?!? Probably not...

[onepresent]

Yeah, you still need a license. Parallels only differs from Boot Camp in that you can run Windows and OSX at the same time (but I consider that a _huge_ advantage for Parallels).

A little thread hijacking...

Billy, the latest printed version of MacWorld, August 07, in its preview of Leopard had this comment, "Boot Camp will also include a quicker way to switch between OS X and Windows, without having to restart your computer each time."

I haven't seen anything else about this. Do you have any insight? FWIW I am both a Parallels and Boot Camp user.

[billybreen]

Maybe it will survive being dropped onto concrete!?!? Probably not...

They are actually really tough (http://arstechnica.com/reviews/hardware/iphone-review.ars/13) and can survive being skidded the length of a sidewalk with minimal scratching.

[billybreen]

Will it blend? http://www.willitblend.com/videos.aspx?type=unsafe&video=iphone

Blasphemy. They were going to blend a Zune, but they couldn't find anyone selling them. :)

[billybreen]

Billy, the latest printed version of MacWorld, August 07, in its preview of Leopard had this comment, "Boot Camp will also include a quicker way to switch between OS X and Windows, without having to restart your computer each time."

Yeah, this was mentioned on the apple.com Leopard product pages shortly after the last Jobs keynote, but it was removed from the site after it started to build some buzz. The theory is that Leopard will have a mechanism to fast suspend OSX to disk (similar to hibernating a laptop) when switching to Boot Camp, and would do the same for Windows when switching back to OSX. That would make it far less jarring than a full reboot, but we'll see if it's true.

[OZZIE4DUKE]

They are actually really tough (http://arstechnica.com/reviews/hardware/iphone-review.ars/13) and can survive being skidded the length of a sidewalk with minimal scratching.

Pretty amazing tests and great results. I wonder if the toilet test would have had different results if it were done first, before all the cracks were introduced and the case may have been properly sealed to reduce water penetration?

I have sold high tech electrical equipment for 30 years. For the most part, your drop it you break it, and buy a new one. And then you explain to your soon to be ex-boss that it wasn't really your fault...

[billybreen]

Pretty amazing tests and great results. I wonder if the toilet test would have had different results if it were done first, before all the cracks were introduced and the case may have been properly sealed to reduce water penetration?

I had the same thought. Seemed unfair to throw it in a toilet after someone stepped on it.

[onepresent]

Yeah, this was mentioned on the apple.com Leopard product pages shortly after the last Jobs keynote, but it was removed from the site after it started to build some buzz. The theory is that Leopard will have a mechanism to fast suspend OSX to disk (similar to hibernating a laptop) when switching to Boot Camp, and would do the same for Windows when switching back to OSX. That would make it far less jarring than a full reboot, but we'll see if it's true.

Thanks for your reply. I had hoped it might be some particular variation of their new "spaces" feature. Your description makes me think I will be using Parallels for some time.

[billybreen]

Thanks for your reply. I had hoped it might be some particular variation of their new "spaces" feature. Your description makes me think I will be using Parallels for some time.

Yep, I think Apple is happy to allow the market to compete to provide virtualization. Just look at the upcoming releases from Parallels and VMWare: they are really, really impressive, including support for 3d gaming at near native speeds.

A much faster context switch between OSX and BootCamp may make it more palatable, but I'll be sticking with virtualization.

[DevilAlumna]

Any of you early adopters disappointed by Job's announcement yesterday?

[hc5duke]

Any of you early adopters disappointed by Job's announcement yesterday?

Not after this announcement (http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/iphone/breaking-apple-offering-100-store-credit-for-all-iphone-owners-297182.php). Whine and ye shall receive... Can't believe Apple is actually caving in, but at least it's with gift cert's and you can't buy anything from Apple for under $100 anyway ;)

[billybreen]

Not after this announcement (http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/iphone/breaking-apple-offering-100-store-credit-for-all-iphone-owners-297182.php). Whine and ye shall receive... Can't believe Apple is actually caving in, but at least it's with gift cert's and you can't buy anything from Apple for under $100 anyway ;)

I wasn't that upset, and now I'm thrilled. I'm using the credit to defray the cost of my wife's iPhone ;)

Thanks Steve!

[-jk]

It looks like the evil empire, Microsoft^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H Apple, is bricking hacked iPhones!

Behold (http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/iphone/iphone-re+reviewed-verdict-dont-buy-302075.php) the iBrick (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7017660.stm)!

http://blog.wired.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/09/28/apple_features.jpg

-jk