Sorry, but this isn't for rich, middle aged, Starbucks patrolling narcissists; this is for people who work for a living and need something durable. Lets say, for example, the owner of a construction company or a manufacturing officer.
Apple has nothing to do with this, nor would it have anywhere near the durability of a toughbook, and far less functionality, to boot.
Yeah, I can see why Apple haters don't hear Apple saying they're positioning the iPod Touch to be a mobile platform. Or that you're not aware they fixed the scratching problem. Or that they've been working on a pad-type computer for years. Or they invented the category of potable computers (Newton).
You all are just so typical. Big and ugly means functional to you. Thick so you can't park it on your belt never means anything. Or that horrendous keyboard can't possibly be bested by what the iPod Touch has no matter how dumb the arrangement of the keys. Or that some other company might catch what Apple is up to and start producing functional computers that don't look like they're stuff is made from Legos.
No, all you can see is the word Apple and you're like bulls seeing a red cape.
No, Toughbooks are made for functionality- not form. It would be pointless to release a product that is both ugly and non-functional, but that is not the case here.
It's just like the Air- Apple goes with form over function, and would no doubt be the same situation in this market.
By the way, I don't see Apple anywhere in this post- maybe you shouldn't bring it up?
Maybe people need to keep bringing Apple up until other manufacturers realize that they don't have to make something ugly to be functional. Or that people who buy things can appreciate that good design is more than just looks, but is about functionality as well. Maybe manufacturers need to actually ask users how things work for them? Maybe spend another $10 on the hardware to make it fit with the way people work, rather than visa versa?
But I guess that's like expecting D&D players to not dress like geeks and take showers once in a while.
Wow, that was one of the quickest trolliest comments ever eric. You realise that this has NOTHING to do with apple. Its something designed for a market that the iPod touch couldn't be less suitable for. I really can't tell whether you are witty parody of a fanboy, or the real thing.
You can talk about what Apple has in development till you are blue in the face, but for the time being, they don`t have any rugged computers to speak of.
I`m no Apple hater, as I own both an iPhone and an iMac, so I can speak with objectivity saying that I would not use any current Apple product in a situation where it can get banged around or wet. I can give a rats ass what the computer looks like as long as it is durable and does the job.
I still haven`t decided wether you are a super fanboy or a super trollboy.
Eric, you've totally, totally missed the point here. Toughbooks aren't even really consumer devices. They're specialised machines aimed at a very specific market - one which values durability over everything else (including price, spec and aesthetics).
Comparing this to anything made by Apple is like comparing a Ferrari to a tank. They're two totally different solutions to two totally different problems.
It's ironic, given your hatred of 'apple haters' that you love apple enough to evangelise blindly next to an unrelated product.
Allright guys, I'll concede this isn't for the market that device is aimed at. But really my main point was just how ugly someone can make something when it's not really necessary. I just threw in Apple because they seem to be the only company that makes things both functional and good looking. Why can't a tough device by some other company take a few cues without being labled shallow, simplistic or a fanboy?
I'm not being a troll, other than my use of the word abomination which was, I'll grant you, hyperbole. I guess I'm just sick of other companies not deciding good design means how things look, feel and funciton as an organic whole. But my apologies for taking it too far. Okay? Can we all be friends?
Apple has not released a UMPC. It released the pathetic AIR. I have an iPhone and iTouch and MacPro 2008 and a MacBook Pro so I am a total Apple nerd but this ruggedized UMPC is for work in harsh environments. Not likely a place where I'd download Starbuck music. And frankly it looks good. It looks rugged.
Last year I bought an HP Blackbird 002 for gaming and it's amazing for design and power. HP Gaming makes all Apple computers look like the new beige box of yore.
People, let's face it. Intel's Atom chips are too big for Apple computers. Steve J. won't be happy until he can announce that for their new and smaller and lighter iWhatever they've managed to 'split the Atom' - and of course when you split an Atom you go 'BOOM'!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Eric @ Mar 5th 2008 10:50AM
What an abomination! Just wait and see what Apple comes out with. It'll make this thing look like a Kindle in comparison.
Zeus.:God @ Mar 5th 2008 11:15AM
Sorry, but this isn't for rich, middle aged, Starbucks patrolling narcissists; this is for people who work for a living and need something durable. Lets say, for example, the owner of a construction company or a manufacturing officer.
Apple has nothing to do with this, nor would it have anywhere near the durability of a toughbook, and far less functionality, to boot.
Eric @ Mar 5th 2008 11:21AM
Yeah, I can see why Apple haters don't hear Apple saying they're positioning the iPod Touch to be a mobile platform. Or that you're not aware they fixed the scratching problem. Or that they've been working on a pad-type computer for years. Or they invented the category of potable computers (Newton).
You all are just so typical. Big and ugly means functional to you. Thick so you can't park it on your belt never means anything. Or that horrendous keyboard can't possibly be bested by what the iPod Touch has no matter how dumb the arrangement of the keys. Or that some other company might catch what Apple is up to and start producing functional computers that don't look like they're stuff is made from Legos.
No, all you can see is the word Apple and you're like bulls seeing a red cape.
Zeus.:God @ Mar 5th 2008 11:24AM
No, Toughbooks are made for functionality- not form. It would be pointless to release a product that is both ugly and non-functional, but that is not the case here.
It's just like the Air- Apple goes with form over function, and would no doubt be the same situation in this market.
By the way, I don't see Apple anywhere in this post- maybe you shouldn't bring it up?
Eric @ Mar 5th 2008 11:29AM
Maybe people need to keep bringing Apple up until other manufacturers realize that they don't have to make something ugly to be functional. Or that people who buy things can appreciate that good design is more than just looks, but is about functionality as well. Maybe manufacturers need to actually ask users how things work for them? Maybe spend another $10 on the hardware to make it fit with the way people work, rather than visa versa?
But I guess that's like expecting D&D players to not dress like geeks and take showers once in a while.
Fraggle.Rock @ Mar 5th 2008 11:36AM
Gentlemen, please please... no need to fight and carry on like this.
Besides, we all know that the greatest computer company ever was Amiga :-)
[chuckles to himself, wonders why people get in these little tit-for-tat disagreements on Engadget... must be something in the water]
Christopher @ Mar 5th 2008 11:43AM
Wow, that was one of the quickest trolliest comments ever eric. You realise that this has NOTHING to do with apple. Its something designed for a market that the iPod touch couldn't be less suitable for. I really can't tell whether you are witty parody of a fanboy, or the real thing.
LC @ Mar 5th 2008 11:51AM
Eric,
You can talk about what Apple has in development till you are blue in the face, but for the time being, they don`t have any rugged computers to speak of.
I`m no Apple hater, as I own both an iPhone and an iMac, so I can speak with objectivity saying that I would not use any current Apple product in a situation where it can get banged around or wet. I can give a rats ass what the computer looks like as long as it is durable and does the job.
I still haven`t decided wether you are a super fanboy or a super trollboy.
j_g_puff @ Mar 5th 2008 11:50AM
Eric, you've totally, totally missed the point here. Toughbooks aren't even really consumer devices. They're specialised machines aimed at a very specific market - one which values durability over everything else (including price, spec and aesthetics).
Comparing this to anything made by Apple is like comparing a Ferrari to a tank. They're two totally different solutions to two totally different problems.
It's ironic, given your hatred of 'apple haters' that you love apple enough to evangelise blindly next to an unrelated product.
Eric @ Mar 5th 2008 12:09PM
Allright guys, I'll concede this isn't for the market that device is aimed at. But really my main point was just how ugly someone can make something when it's not really necessary. I just threw in Apple because they seem to be the only company that makes things both functional and good looking. Why can't a tough device by some other company take a few cues without being labled shallow, simplistic or a fanboy?
I'm not being a troll, other than my use of the word abomination which was, I'll grant you, hyperbole. I guess I'm just sick of other companies not deciding good design means how things look, feel and funciton as an organic whole. But my apologies for taking it too far. Okay? Can we all be friends?
j_g_puff @ Mar 5th 2008 12:30PM
That was a mature apology. I'll be your friend now.
peternj @ Mar 5th 2008 12:30PM
Apple has not released a UMPC. It released the pathetic AIR. I have an iPhone and iTouch and MacPro 2008 and a MacBook Pro so I am a total Apple nerd but this ruggedized UMPC is for work in harsh environments. Not likely a place where I'd download Starbuck music. And frankly it looks good. It looks rugged.
Last year I bought an HP Blackbird 002 for gaming and it's amazing for design and power. HP Gaming makes all Apple computers look like the new beige box of yore.
Apple's are not the only fruit.
ShadowMaker @ Mar 5th 2008 2:24PM
People, let's face it. Intel's Atom chips are too big for Apple computers. Steve J. won't be happy until he can announce that for their new and smaller and lighter iWhatever they've managed to 'split the Atom' - and of course when you split an Atom you go 'BOOM'!
Onetruebill @ Mar 5th 2008 3:39PM
Eric...
Were you looking in a morror when you wrote this??
"What an abomination!"
Some things are not for LOOKING AT.
Do you drive a car or an image statement??
Eric @ Mar 5th 2008 3:47PM
Well, if there's one thing I don't claim is that I'm something worth looking at! And no, I drive a Honda.