Amex Digital gets a little too inspired with new portable Super Multi Drive
By Darren Murph 
posted July 9th 2008 9:58AM
posted July 9th 2008 9:58AM
posted July 9th 2008 9:58AM
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Wow...
I think comments on here are starting to resemble Youtube's comments...
"OMG, he's sooooOoOoO, lYkE, in LUV w/ HIM!@!$#"
I do prefer Apple products because personally I've had better luck with it. Lasted me longer, now available to have 3 OS that I want to have, and has the style factor. It's not that I want to show off that I have a mac, they just happen to design their hardware with simple/minimalist concept - which just happens to be everything else in my apartment. But that doesn't mean I only buy Apple products.
The thing is that Apple had it "first". Whatever that's widely publicized/distributed (even just in design) will be compared to that of the "followers". So the comparison (or in this case, 'taking' their 'idea') is obvious. And that guy who said it looks like iomega external floppy drive... That's like comparing apples to oranges... I've never seen a tray coming out of a floppy drive to take my 1.44. ^.^;
It is cheaper, and burns discs faster than Apple's version...
Andrew, I doubt Apple went to the trouble of putting a different controller in the unit. All it takes is a ROM string match if you wish to make a device exclusive to a specific product range. That is part of the customization options OEMs offer in their reference designs.
My only hope(s) are that it works with iMovie and the rest of the iApps and that after the next update Apple doesnt make it stop working...
a) The timing and design of this product indicate it was indeed "inspired" by Apple's drive.
b) Apple's drive only works with the Air, so it's a wonderful idea to design an alternative drive for all other computer users.
c) While Engadget's R&D comment seems a little over-the-top, it would have been ridiculous to write a story on this drive without mentioning the point made in a).
what a fun post!
Apple is founded on taking (or ripping off, or stealing) ideas already being worked on and developed, and then claiming they have created it. They have done this over and over, and are masters at it.
For example:
- widgets and the now famous "dock" - these were being developed in the early 90's for the "acitve desktop" on pc, and were called "Things" (may require some research to find them - but i remember downloading and trying them out)
- apple's new Multiple desktops - another side windows development started a few years ago
- the iphone itself - can anyone say Prada? or HTC? or Origami?
- "push" - again, microsoft has been doing this for years...
- iphones new handwriting app - someone developed this as an adaptation of the Palm software, and they (thankfully) bought his idea from him, you won't see them give him credit though....
- the app store - "installer" anyone?
this list obviously goes on and on -
sleek, yummy and coveted yes, but original? No. Apple takes things already being made and repackages them in a much easier way to use, and (only sometimes) actually better.
Keep in mind how crappy the Airport was/is, and how incredibly slow and useless the laptops were, much less the desktops, until the latest versions have come out and they switched to Intel.
be a fan, but don't be blind....
Don't get me wrong, I think this was a horribly written article and pretty much ignores the fact that the AIR drive is about the same as any other USB optical drive, but your points are not well made yourself.
Widgets are indeed not a unique invention, but neither were "things". The idea of lightweight, small puprose, ubiquitious utilities have been kicking around in the industry for a long time, but were probably first popularized by konfabulator and similar ilk (even though that postdates things. Active Desktop was a horrible implementation). Apple certainly liked the idea, but the sidebar in Vista owes a great deal more to konfabulator that it does to the "things" back in the day as well.
Mulitple desktop is not an MS innovation in the least. It is more a *nix scheme, and in my opinion a poor hack to accomidate for an inneffective way of dealing with numerous open windows. Now the "stacks" on the dock, those are pretty much a direct ripoff of the consolidating tabs in Windows, with pointless animation added, but who cares.
The Iphone, handwritting app, etc, could be traced back to the illfated newton as much as anything.
But all of that said, who the hell cares. A world with only one company allowed to adopt and build on an idea is a completely wretched world. If Apple was the only one allowed to work on PDA like devices because of the newton that entire market segment wouldn't exist, the iphone wouldn't exist, etc, because the newton would have died and no company would have renewed interest. The new Envy is a direct response (not copy) of the Air, and the market is better because of it. A mark of a product's impact is not how well it does, but how much an industry changes as a response.
Engadget, this is just embarrassing. I'm pretty sure Apple hasn't patented "White box with slimline drive in it." We all know you love Apple to pieces, but seriously... this product is BETTER in every significant way than Apple's device, yet all you can say is that it rips off their "design"? Seriously, as another commenter said: Apple didn't invent minimalism. That's like saying any modernistic piece of architecture is "ripping off Frank Lloyd Wright."
Fail, Engadget. Fail.
So you need massive R&D to design DVD drives? Come on, how different can you make a DVD drive?
While I realize the intent of the comment, I cannot help but mention that R&D "overhead" should never be factored into the price, it is a sunk cost.
Big Apple fan, I am. But.
Nothing to see here. You make an external DVD-RW drive slim, it's going to look like this.
At least this drive has an eject button, like all drives should :p
One thing I can't figure out about Apple's drives is their lack of eject buttons. Yes, it looks clean without. Bud goddamnit, I want to eject stuff every now and again when the friggin' OS won't let me!!!!!111!!11!!
I really could give a shit who ripped of who's design team, if at all. All I know is this will look damn sexy with my white macbook, and give me an excuse to get an optibay, finally.
http://www.mcetech.com/optibay/
1TB Macbook here I come! (maybe get an SSD for my boot drive?)