The semi-conductor industry has been massively affected by the on-going economical slow-down, as consumes and corporate decided to post-pone their computer hardware purchase/exchange/upgrade plans. The last figures revealed by the Semiconductor Industry Association indicates that over the last 12 months, the market dropped by 30%, the most impressive decrease ever recorded. The SIA expects to have hit the bottom of the cyclic curve. It might be true as the first element of the production chain, in other words founders, such as TSMC and UMC, have already received new orders. It also makes sense as companies have first tried to empty their stocks. we should see new products in the coming months, however, it is unclear if their price will fit with the current economic environment, for sure the financial results of Apple for the past quarter to be released on April 22nd will be an interesting information.
Asus Unveils its Nehalem-based Server
Asus keeps surfing on its EEE-PC success, even though the poor performance of those models have pushed Asus and other manufacturers to offer boosted netbook models. To demonstrate that Asus can also release Pro oriented products, the company unveiled its 1U Nehalem-based server, the RS700-E6/R.
As shown on this photo, the design is clean, quite similar to Apple's knowledge in this field, not a single cables visible. Regarding specifications, as it is powered by a Nehalem, there are not a lot of surprises:
- 2 Xeon Nehalem sporting 8 cores each.
- 12 RAM memory slots, 6 for each CPU.
- 2 independent and redundant PSU.
- 8 bays for 2.5" HD, 4 of them only hot-swappable.
The lat point is the most interesting one. so far Apple has only been offering Xserve based on 3.5" HD (3 bays), not the best design for RAID 5 volume. Last but not least, Asus model sports 2 PSU certified 80+, in other word, high efficiency with a yield over 80%, a marketing (and environmental) parameter on which Apple did not communicate so far.
NY Times op-ed on the hate that dare not text its name: iPhone rejection
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Cult of Mac, iPhone
Heffernan's criticisms of the iPhone swing between the rational (the challenge of adapting to the on-screen keyboard, AT&T's mediocre coverage) and the surreal (dislike of the device's "tarty little face" and how it "kept aloof from the animal warmth of my leather wallet"). In fairness, she does admit that she's not thinking particularly clearly. In the end, she returns to the AT&T store where the sales rep seemed to know that she was a troublesome case, and swapped out her iPhone for a Blackberry.
It may be heretical to admit it here, but it's true: the iPhone is not for everyone... excuse me, they've come to take away my fanboy badge, this will take just a second. There, all done; I'm back.
Yes, if you're looking for a high-speed texting and email platform because you live your life in text messaging, the iPhone's keyboard will frustrate you; if you don't care about the incredible universe of apps, the first-rate media player and the best mobile browser, you'd be better off with a Blackberry and a permanent keyboard.
Yes, the iPhone's phone is probably its weakest offering, and the AT&T network has bigger dead zones than Anthony Michael Hall; if you can't tolerate the intermittent dropped call or fuzzy audio (or my personal top annoyance, the "I'm on 3G and my phone just doesn't ring" issue), and you want to focus on the phone, get a free RAZR or shiny Samsung.
In my personal transition from the Blackberry to the iPhone, I found plenty of gotchas and things that took adjustment (#1 is not being able to keep an IM application running in the background, #2 is having to cycle through the home screen to switch apps, and #3 is not being able to easily copy URLs or phone numbers for use elsewhere), but I'm still finding new and enjoyable things about the iPhone every day; my Blackberry was staid and predictable, a useful tool but not a spark of innovation or a way for me to accomplish things I never could do before.
I know there are thousands of unhappy iPhone users, and thousands more who haven't upgraded to the 2.x firmware, visited the App Store or explored one-tenth of the capabilities of their mobile computing platforms. When I saw a family friend a few weeks ago, a lady of a certain age, she was surprised and puzzled when I asked her where she synced her not-that-new iPhone ("I don't understand. If I want to put music or apps on it, I have to connect it to a computer? I have my grandchildren put photos on the phone for me!"). The iPhone isn't for everyone, and there's no judgement in that; you aren't obligated to love it, want it or find it useful. Forgive us, still, if we think that many of you (NY Times columnists excepted) will love it once you try it.
[Hat tip to Apple 2.0]
TUAWNY Times op-ed on the hate that dare not text its name: iPhone rejection originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 05 Apr 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Microsoft at it again with 2nd ad tweaking Macs
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware, Cult of Mac
Microsoft is really working hard to get potential Mac customers to either buy or stay with Windows-based PCs. After the initial "Lauren" ad -- see BusinessWeek's take on her choice of a poorly-rated HP model, and TechFlash & Apple 2.0 on her oddly extensive acting career for someone who supposedly answered a Craiglist ad for market research -- a new ad [YouTube link] in the series launched today. Our new shopper, Giampaolo, looks at a Mac at a computer store and says it is "so sexy," but then adds that "Macs are more about aesthetics than they are about computing power." [Check Harry McCracken's detailed side-by-side of 17" laptop hardware comparisons to debunk the "Apple Tax" and performance arguments.]
He winds up with an HP laptop which is within the $1500 dollar budget Microsoft gave him. The model he chooses is a Pavilion HDX 16t. We hope he enjoys it!
It's a strange campaign. Microsoft is spending a lot of time and money promoting HP, while saying not much at all about the advantages of Windows Vista... which is, after all, the product Microsoft sells.
Is it effective? Is it giving you second thoughts about buying Apple products, based on cost considerations? (Is this a rhetorical question?)
TUAWMicrosoft at it again with 2nd ad tweaking Macs originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 04 Apr 2009 20:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Next Gen iPhone: 802.11n and Video Editing?
Since the iPhone 3.0 beta release, developers have been digging through the firmware looking for evidence of future iPhones and capabilities. An early finding revealed that a number of unknown iPhone model numbers already appear in the beta firmware...
Rumor: Xserve refresh coming up soon
Filed under: Enterprise, Hardware, Rumors, Xserve, Snow Leopard
If you're in the market for Xserves, would you buy now for a known quantity or wait for the latest and greatest? Let us know below.
TUAWRumor: Xserve refresh coming up soon originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 04 Apr 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Did the Semi-Conductor Industry Hit the Bottom of the Curve?
The semi-conductor industry has been massively affected by the on-going economical slow-down, as consumes and corporate decided to post-pone their computer hardware purchase/exchange/upgrade plans. The last figures revealed by the Semiconductor Industry Association indicates that over the last 12 months, the market dropped by 30%, the most impressive decrease ever recorded. The SIA expects to have hit the bottom of the cyclic curve. It might be true as the first element of the production chain, in other words founders, such as TSMC and UMC, have already received new orders. It also makes sense as companies have first tried to empty their stocks. we should see new products in the coming months, however, it is unclear if their price will fit with the current economic environment, for sure the financial results of Apple for the past quarter to be released on April 22nd will be an interesting information.
Asus Unveils its Nehalem-based Server
Asus keeps surfing on its EEE-PC success, even though the poor performance of those models have pushed Asus and other manufacturers to offer boosted netbook models. To demonstrate that Asus can also release Pro oriented products, the company unveiled its 1U Nehalem-based server, the RS700-E6/R.
As shown on this photo, the design is clean, quite similar to Apple's knowledge in this field, not a single cables visible. Regarding specifications, as it is powered by a Nehalem, there are not a lot of surprises:
- 2 Xeon Nehalem sporting 8 cores each.
- 12 RAM memory slots, 6 for each CPU.
- 2 independent and redundant PSU.
- 8 bays for 2.5" HD, 4 of them only hot-swappable.
The lat point is the most interesting one. so far Apple has only been offering Xserve based on 3.5" HD (3 bays), not the best design for RAID 5 volume. Last but not least, Asus model sports 2 PSU certified 80+, in other word, high efficiency with a yield over 80%, a marketing (and environmental) parameter on which Apple did not communicate so far.
NY Times op-ed on the hate that dare not text its name: iPhone rejection
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Cult of Mac, iPhone
Heffernan's criticisms of the iPhone swing between the rational (the challenge of adapting to the on-screen keyboard, AT&T's mediocre coverage) and the surreal (dislike of the device's "tarty little face" and how it "kept aloof from the animal warmth of my leather wallet"). In fairness, she does admit that she's not thinking particularly clearly. In the end, she returns to the AT&T store where the sales rep seemed to know that she was a troublesome case, and swapped out her iPhone for a Blackberry.
It may be heretical to admit it here, but it's true: the iPhone is not for everyone... excuse me, they've come to take away my fanboy badge, this will take just a second. There, all done; I'm back.
Yes, if you're looking for a high-speed texting and email platform because you live your life in text messaging, the iPhone's keyboard will frustrate you; if you don't care about the incredible universe of apps, the first-rate media player and the best mobile browser, you'd be better off with a Blackberry and a permanent keyboard.
Yes, the iPhone's phone is probably its weakest offering, and the AT&T network has bigger dead zones than Anthony Michael Hall; if you can't tolerate the intermittent dropped call or fuzzy audio (or my personal top annoyance, the "I'm on 3G and my phone just doesn't ring" issue), and you want to focus on the phone, get a free RAZR or shiny Samsung.
In my personal transition from the Blackberry to the iPhone, I found plenty of gotchas and things that took adjustment (#1 is not being able to keep an IM application running in the background, #2 is having to cycle through the home screen to switch apps, and #3 is not being able to easily copy URLs or phone numbers for use elsewhere), but I'm still finding new and enjoyable things about the iPhone every day; my Blackberry was staid and predictable, a useful tool but not a spark of innovation or a way for me to accomplish things I never could do before.
I know there are thousands of unhappy iPhone users, and thousands more who haven't upgraded to the 2.x firmware, visited the App Store or explored one-tenth of the capabilities of their mobile computing platforms. When I saw a family friend a few weeks ago, a lady of a certain age, she was surprised and puzzled when I asked her where she synced her not-that-new iPhone ("I don't understand. If I want to put music or apps on it, I have to connect it to a computer? I have my grandchildren put photos on the phone for me!"). The iPhone isn't for everyone, and there's no judgement in that; you aren't obligated to love it, want it or find it useful. Forgive us, still, if we think that many of you (NY Times columnists excepted) will love it once you try it.
[Hat tip to Apple 2.0]
TUAWNY Times op-ed on the hate that dare not text its name: iPhone rejection originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 05 Apr 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Microsoft at it again with 2nd ad tweaking Macs
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware, Cult of Mac
Microsoft is really working hard to get potential Mac customers to either buy or stay with Windows-based PCs. After the initial "Lauren" ad -- see BusinessWeek's take on her choice of a poorly-rated HP model, and TechFlash & Apple 2.0 on her oddly extensive acting career for someone who supposedly answered a Craiglist ad for market research -- a new ad [YouTube link] in the series launched today. Our new shopper, Giampaolo, looks at a Mac at a computer store and says it is "so sexy," but then adds that "Macs are more about aesthetics than they are about computing power." [Check Harry McCracken's detailed side-by-side of 17" laptop hardware comparisons to debunk the "Apple Tax" and performance arguments.]
He winds up with an HP laptop which is within the $1500 dollar budget Microsoft gave him. The model he chooses is a Pavilion HDX 16t. We hope he enjoys it!
It's a strange campaign. Microsoft is spending a lot of time and money promoting HP, while saying not much at all about the advantages of Windows Vista... which is, after all, the product Microsoft sells.
Is it effective? Is it giving you second thoughts about buying Apple products, based on cost considerations? (Is this a rhetorical question?)
TUAWMicrosoft at it again with 2nd ad tweaking Macs originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 04 Apr 2009 20:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Next Gen iPhone: 802.11n and Video Editing?
Since the iPhone 3.0 beta release, developers have been digging through the firmware looking for evidence of future iPhones and capabilities. An early finding revealed that a number of unknown iPhone model numbers already appear in the beta firmware...
Rumor: Xserve refresh coming up soon
Filed under: Enterprise, Hardware, Rumors, Xserve, Snow Leopard
If you're in the market for Xserves, would you buy now for a known quantity or wait for the latest and greatest? Let us know below.
TUAWRumor: Xserve refresh coming up soon originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 04 Apr 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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