New laptop

[libertyyne]

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Apple as a company circled the drain late 80s/90 with the attitude of "we know what's best" and they're doing it again only caring about profit margins of X for Y. I mean look at how **** Siri is compared to Alexa or google now...and Siri is supposed to be a big feature

I honestly don't think Apple has been an innovator nor has it had the software talent that companies like Microsoft , Google, or Amazon have. Apple is a fashion/marketing company that happens to sell hardware. They tend to refine technology that has been around for some time and market it effectively to the masses.

 

[IsleyOfTheNorth]

I wonder if they offer student discounts. The 8gb, 256 , i5,dgpu for 1200 would be a fair deal.

Microsoft does offer student discounts of 10% on the Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book. Probably others too, but I know those two for certain:
https://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/edu

 

[kb1900]

I honestly don't think Apple has been an innovator nor has it had the software talent that companies like Microsoft , Google, or Amazon have. Apple is a fashion/marketing company that happens to sell hardware. They tend to refine technology that has been around for some time and market it effectively to the masses.

Completely agree. But I really feel like they used to do this well and now they don't even do that anymore.

The only reasonable way ppl ever justified the overpriced hardware was bc of quality/integration/longevity. But that advantage simply doesn't warrant the price difference at all anymore. It (questionably) did about half a decade ago when every single competing laptop couldn't last more than a couple years

 

[aldol16]

Apple as a company circled the drain late 80s/90 with the attitude of "we know what's best" and they're doing it again only caring about profit margins of X for Y. I mean look at how **** Siri is compared to Alexa or google now...and Siri is supposed to be a big feature

Well, I think Siri was meant to be the pioneer - the problem was, Apple failed to realize that the pioneer has to also change through innovation. Otherwise, it becomes obsolete. Siri and Cortana haven't changed that much, although one could say that Siri was the trailblazer for this kind of technology. Alexa can do a lot, but it's still really just a Siri that's marginally free-standing from your phone or computer.

 

[Oh_Gee]

The Touch Bar is one of those things you make an investment on now because it's such a cool piece of technology with a lot of potential and you wait for the third-party software to catch up with the hardware. Lots of capacity for growth there in the next few years. Then again, every failed piece of technology was marketed the same way.

and you can play pac man on the touch bar

http://venturebeat.com/2016/12/12/play-pac-man-on-the-macbook-pro-touch-bar-with-this-app/

 

[kb1900]

Well, I think Siri was meant to be the pioneer - the problem was, Apple failed to realize that the pioneer has to also change through innovation. Otherwise, it becomes obsolete. Siri and Cortana haven't changed that much, although one could say that Siri was the trailblazer for this kind of technology. Alexa can do a lot, but it's still really just a Siri that's marginally free-standing from your phone or computer.

Here's the thing that really pisses me off about Siri though:
-technology is advanced enough that Siri could have a latent connection to the internet that doesn't drain power and is as responsive as Alexa
-you have to turn OFF Siri to use normal voice activation commands. What the ****?? So if I'm in a ****ty internet spot (hands free driving for example) I literally can't even say "hey Siri text Jane" unless I pick up my phone

This kind of issue is straight up a QA failure. Voice activation commands can literally take a nanosecond compared to siri's pinging the internet for data just to make a phone call


And these kind of "minor" issues are rampant in almost all Apple software outside of basic iOS functions (photos, iWork suite etc)


Last thing is, I have an Alexa and it's AI Voice/language/grammar-understanding capabilities blow Siri out of the water alongside the other features it boasts over Siri. It's a shame

 

[aldol16]

Here's the thing that really pisses me off about Siri though:
-technology is advanced enough that Siri could have a latent connection to the internet that doesn't drain power and is as responsive as Alexa
-you have to turn OFF Siri to use normal voice activation commands. What the ****?? So if I'm in a ****ty internet spot (hands free driving for example) I literally can't even say "hey Siri text Jane" unless I pick up my phone

This kind of issue is straight up a QA failure. Voice activation commands can literally take a nanosecond compared to siri's pinging the internet for data just to make a phone call

Well, Apple basically designed Siri and then left it alone for years. Other companies have built off of Apple's early success with Siri and continued development. The problem with Apple is that it needs to realize that it has to continue innovating or lose market share to Google or Amazon.

Last thing is, I have an Alexa and it's AI Voice/language/grammar-understanding capabilities blow Siri out of the water alongside the other features it boasts over Siri. It's a shame

I also have the Echo and I think that its language comprehension ability is similar to Siri's but it is able to do more things. But it's also very limited because it has to wait for its infrastructure to catch up with it. The Echo isn't meant to be used simply for flash briefings, weather, etc. The long-term idea here is to have it control most aspects of your home (e.g. lights, ceiling fan, thermostat, coffee maker, etc.). And whether that pans out we will see in the next few years - if manufacturers don't end up going in that direction, you just have a beefed up version of Siri. But if they do, now you have an integral piece of home technology that can revolutionize the way you interact with your home.

 

[kb1900]

Well, Apple basically designed Siri and then left it alone for years. Other companies have built off of Apple's early success with Siri and continued development. The problem with Apple is that it needs to realize that it has to continue innovating or lose market share to Google or Amazon.



I also have the Echo and I think that its language comprehension ability is similar to Siri's but it is able to do more things. But it's also very limited because it has to wait for its infrastructure to catch up with it. The Echo isn't meant to be used simply for flash briefings, weather, etc. The long-term idea here is to have it control most aspects of your home (e.g. lights, ceiling fan, thermostat, coffee maker, etc.). And whether that pans out we will see in the next few years - if manufacturers don't end up going in that direction, you just have a beefed up version of Siri. But if they do, now you have an integral piece of home technology that can revolutionize the way you interact with your home.

I actually already have it controlling all the lights in my apartment and even my AC unit! Cost me only $30 for the lights and $10 for the switch control for the AC. But tbh the integration with apples homekit is just as good as with Alexa - the only difference being the voice control

But yeah I completely agree with all your points about apple stagnating after each introduction of tech

 

[aldol16]

I actually already have it controlling all the lights in my apartment and even my AC unit! Cost me only $30 for the lights and $10 for the switch control for the AC. But tbh the integration with apples homekit is just as good as with Alexa - the only difference being the voice control

You are definitely at the vanguard of the new technology then. I would never drop $30 on lights no matter how smart they are. Cost will be a major factor in determining when (not if) the smart home concept takes hold at a mass scale. If it's only accessible to upper-middle class people and up, it likely won't take hold. It has to appeal to the working class and the working class has to be able to afford it. So I'll get smart lights if the cost is within 120-150% of conventional lights but not before that.

 

[libertyyne]

I actually already have it controlling all the lights in my apartment and even my AC unit! Cost me only $30 for the lights and $10 for the switch control for the AC. But tbh the integration with apples homekit is just as good as with Alexa - the only difference being the voice control

But yeah I completely agree with all your points about apple stagnating after each introduction of tech

I am curious what their stock prices and market cap is going to do over the next 2 years.

 

[libertyyne]

You are definitely at the vanguard of the new technology then. I would never drop $30 on lights no matter how smart they are. Cost will be a major factor in determining when (not if) the smart home concept takes hold at a mass scale. If it's only accessible to upper-middle class people and up, it likely won't take hold. It has to appeal to the working class and the working class has to be able to afford it. So I'll get smart lights if the cost is within 120-150% of conventional lights but not before that.

Economies of scale, almost everyone has a smartphone in their pocket now. LED bulbs are becoming increasing affordable. It is just a question of when/ how long and if the idea is generally one that people can get behind as a fad or as a daily thing.

 

[kb1900]

You are definitely at the vanguard of the new technology then. I would never drop $30 on lights no matter how smart they are. Cost will be a major factor in determining when (not if) the smart home concept takes hold at a mass scale. If it's only accessible to upper-middle class people and up, it likely won't take hold. It has to appeal to the working class and the working class has to be able to afford it. So I'll get smart lights if the cost is within 120-150% of conventional lights but not before that.

Idk I literally never bought lights in my life and tbh it was a fairly worthwhile purchase for me with how often I go in and out of my apartment daily. Having them auto turn on when you get home, turn off when you leave, and dim 0-100% by voice control made it pretty worth it to me. But again that's bc I disproportionately (and somewhat irrationally) value new "lazy person" tech if it makes my life 1% easier

 

[kb1900]

I am curious what their stock prices and market cap is going to do over the next 2 years.

Admittedly my fanboyism for the company arose from the incredible amount of money they made me when I was a teenager. It will definitely be an interesting stick to follow even just thru 2017

 

[libertyyne]

Admittedly my fanboyism for the company arose from the incredible amount of money they made me when I was a teenager. It will definitely be an interesting stick to follow even just thru 2017

I have been wanting to short them for age's now, but factoring their cash reserves into the equation they are actually a fairly valued stock last I checked.

 

[aldol16]

Economies of scale, almost everyone has a smartphone in their pocket now. LED bulbs are becoming increasing affordable. It is just a question of when/ how long and if the idea is generally one that people can get behind as a fad or as a daily thing.

It's still a question of "if." As you say, it hinges on whether this will be like the clapper or if it will be paradigm-shifting.

I am curious what their stock prices and market cap is going to do over the next 2 years.

It's Apple. There won't be a significant departure from historical trends in the next couple of years. It's got too big of a fan-base. Apple could come out with a computer with 1 GB RAM, 20 GB hard-drive, worse-than-Core M processor, etc. and people would still buy it because they like the shiny logo on the back.

 

[JustAPhD]

Idk I literally never bought lights in my life and tbh it was a fairly worthwhile purchase for me with how often I go in and out of my apartment daily. Having them auto turn on when you get home, turn off when you leave, and dim 0-100% by voice control made it pretty worth it to me. But again that's bc I disproportionately (and somewhat irrationally) value new "lazy person" tech if it makes my life 1% easier

Huh that actually sounds really cool. Must look into that. Which lights did you go with?

 

[kb1900]

I have been wanting to short them for age's now, but factoring their cash reserves into the equation they are actually a fairly valued stock last I checked.

exactly. hindsight 20/20 i obviously should have held on but financial pressures and what not forced me to sell at like ~500 4(?) or so years ago.

 

[kb1900]

Huh that actually sounds really cool. Must look into that. Which lights did you go with?

i went with the philips hue system with some 3rd party bulbs. got the entire set second hand from someone who decided it wasn't for them.

but i just checked amazon for the price and can confidently say its not worth it (yet!). $100 is still insane for this stuff because u have to invest in the little hub that connects to ur wifi.

this is their high-end starter pack thing with the hub + a white and color bulbs
Amazon product ASIN B00A4EUUO8
if ur actually interested id check craigslist/ebay etc

 

[PreMedStudent55555]

Does anyone have the new MacBook Pro? Could you please comment on its battery life? I just read Consumer Reports' horrible review on MBP's battery life and am reluctant upgrading my MacBook Air.

I actually get more than 10 hours on mine. I think a lot of people don't understand that the 10 hours if for safari surfing and doing basic apps like Word. Not video processing and etc. I set my laptop to 75% brightness like Apple recommends and I'm good for 14-15 hours. You can also check the battery monitor on your MacBook to monitor which apps are taking the most energy.