YoureThePundit
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I am become Middle Schooler, destroyer of Macs
I spent the morning dealing with the fact that my beloved daughter has killed yet another Hackintosh. It's not exactly her fault. For example, the drive outlived its years. The power connector on the device-side is broken, too. Neither one was worth fixing -- especially given the years of service we got out of the devices and our max investment of about US$300 (outside of OS and software purchases). So here she is, a middle schooler, with the need to do research and writing, organize her homework, and perform light email duties. I don't want to deal with the headaches of hackintoshing a new system -- much as I love our Hackintoshes, it's such a pain to do Sys Admin for them. When considering a similarly-priced, used Apple laptop, we're looking at 2006-vintage MacBooks, bought over eBay or similar, from untrusted vendors. I really don't want to go there. And so it occurred to me: how about an iPad? Could she do all her light computing, research, and writing (she's a terrible typist, so we're not talking about a big step down in efficiency) using a 1st or 2nd generation iPad? Over at Apple's refurb store, the 1st gen starts at $300, the 2nd at just $350. So I pitch the idea to her. I asked her about possibly using an iPad in place of a laptop and suddenly she perked up -- SURE! As long as she can print. Can she print? And I am all "Yes, you can print." And here she is, not just a little enthusiastic, but basically over the moon with the idea. I'm getting concerned here -- that level of enthusiasm seems out of line. What does she know that I don't? Is it that her Hackintosh doesn't have as many games as an iPad? That it doesn't offer as much engagement or fun? So I'm turning this over to the TUAW braintrust. Am I being an insane mother considering providing my child with a full-time iPad in place of a laptop? You tell me. I've added a poll here and the comments follow after. Please jump in and lend me the wisdom of the TUAW readership braintrust. %Poll-74247%
You're the Pundit: Why is Android ugly?
When it comes to analyzing the next big thing, we turn to our secret weapon: the TUAW braintrust. We put the question to you and let you have your go at it. Today's topic is Android. Why doesn't Google put as much of a design emphasis into its Android releases as Apple does with iOS? Is the open source process inimical to strong design principles? Or are iOS users just prejudiced against Android design patterns on principle, rather than understanding their strengths and innate beauty? Consider the following screenshots from a recent Business Insider write-up. Apple's insistence on control over font choices, standard GUI elements, and presentations that respect real-world finger sizes provides a slicker overall look than the Android equivalent elements, which look rather Eastern Block Cold War in comparison. Why isn't this kind of standardized high-quality design part of the Android experience as well? Is it Apple's central control? Android's need to be open to third party changes? You tell us. Place your vote in this poll and then join in the comments with all your analysis. %Poll-74224%
You're the Pundit: Does your iPad 3 make your Mac look fat?
When it comes to forecasting the next big thing, we turn to our secret weapon: the TUAW braintrust. We put the question to you and let you have your go at it. Today's topic is the new iPad's retina display. Does your Mac look less beautiful because of the iPad Retina display? Is the iPad's new hotness making your computer old and world weary? You tell us. Place your vote in this poll and then join in the comments with all your predictions. %Poll-74126% No actual Fat Macs were hurt in the creation of this post. TUAW is a strong supporter of the ethical treatment of personal computing devices.
You're the Pundit: Mac Pro refresh or graceful finale?
When it comes to forecasting the next big thing, we turn to our secret weapon: the TUAW braintrust. We put the question to you and let you have your go at it. Today's topic is the Mac Pro. As Apple moves briskly towards the post-PC future, does the tower Mac make the trip? We've covered the Mac Pro before in the Pundit series, but the question is really on the table now. This month, the server-class versions of the Sandy Bridge processors the hypothetical Mac Pro refresh depends on began shipping from Intel. With the multiprocessor Sandy Bridge/Xeon E5 chips hitting the market, Apple has a choice to make: revise the draft horse of its computer lineup, or put it gracefully out to pasture. (Not for nothing, those are some really expensive CPUs; the next iterations of Mac Pros, should they come to pass, will undoubtedly continue to carry premium price tags.) With well-equipped iMacs taking on some of the roles in business that Pros used to occupy, is it time for Apple to end-of-life its power machine? Is the Thunderbolt port a fair substitute for a full rack of slots and GPU options? Or are there still enough seats in animation, video production, scientific computing and high-end graphic design (where every cycle makes a difference and time is money) to keep the Mac Pro on the product list for another few years? You tell us. Place your vote in this poll and then join in the comments with all your insight. %Poll-74120%
You're the Pundit: iPad 3 in the heat of the moment
When it comes to forecasting the next big thing, we turn to our secret weapon: the TUAW braintrust. We put the question to you and let you have your go at it. Today's topic is the iPad 3 and how it tends to run hot. So it's pretty much a given that it operates a little more warmly than the iPad 2, but does it matter? Will this temperature increase have an effect on the operation or longevity of the device? You tell us. Place your vote in this poll and then join in the comments with all your opinions. %Poll-74111%
You're the Pundit: What do we call the new iPad?
When it comes to forecasting the next big thing, we turn to our secret weapon: the TUAW braintrust. We put the question to you and let you have your go at it. Today's topic is the new iPad. Specifically, what is its name? In the old days, we could say iPod 4G and iPod 6G. Readers would understand that these names referred to the 4th and 6th generation iPods. But now, ever since Apple messed things up with the iPhone 3G, generation names have been tied to telephony and not to hardware upgrades. So what do we call the newly released iPad? You tell us. Place your vote in this poll and then join in the comments with all your analyses. %Poll-74040%
You're the Pundit: What's the best way to unload your old iTech?
When it comes to forecasting the next big thing, we turn to our secret weapon: the TUAW braintrust. We put the question to you and let you have your go at it. Today's topic is trade-ins (all prices quoted are as of this writing). With Amazon offering US$297 for a 16GB Wi-Fi iPad versus Gazelle's $250, it's worth shopping around for the best trade-in offers. And yet, service, reliability, and name brand recognition seems to play an important role in the who-do-you-trust game. Are you in the market to sell your iPad? Who have you used and was your experience positive? You tell us. Place your vote in this poll and then join in the comments with all your insight. %Poll-73984%
You're the Pundit: Do iPad data buckets matter?
When it comes to forecasting the next big thing, we turn to our secret weapon: the TUAW braintrust. We put the question to you and let you have your go at it. Today's topic is data buckets. Data buckets refer to the bandwidth allocation you can purchase monthly on the iPad. For example, AT&T's smallest bucket is 250 MB at $15/month, then jumping up to 3GB at $30/month. Verizon offers 1GB at $20/month and 2GB at $30. Bottom feeders can get 4x the monthly data for $5 more by choosing Verizon over AT&T. Many iPad consumers tell us that bucket size doesn't seem to matter. They just care that their unit can connect to the Internet whenever they're on the go, and that their credit card isn't maxed out at the end of the month. Unlike iPhones, which are used anywhere and anytime, we hear that iPads are more often taken out in Wi-Fi friendly locations like cafés in addition to unfriendly ones like DMVs and Doctors offices, requiring less on-the-go data use than driving-while-Siri-ing. Minimal use may sound like a counter-intuitive idea. After all, many iPad owners cling to their grandfathered unlimited accounts. Others love streaming movies and TV shows. And yet, from our experience, the vast majority of iPad users we encounter care primarily about light surfing, messaging and email. Outside of the power-users, does bucket-size matter for most iPad users? Do you see soccer moms, business folk, and retired grandparents really worrying about balancing buckets and usage? Or are we seeing a skewed sample among typical iPad users? You tell us. Place your vote in this poll and then join in the comments with all your insight. %Poll-73948%
You're the Pundit: Reverting the iPad name
When it comes to forecasting the next big thing, we turn to our secret weapon: the TUAW braintrust. We put the question to you and let you have your go at it. Today's topic is the new iPad -- specifically, its name. Macs and iPods have traditionally gone nameless. There's no Mac mini 3 or iMac 2S. You might have purchased a late 2010 MacBook Air or a 4th generation iPod touch, but other than generation and manufacturing date, there haven't been product differentiations in the names. You go to an Apple store, and you say, "I'd like to buy an iMac." Now, Apple seems to have stepped away from the iPad naming game. There was the iPad, the iPad 2, and now the new iPad (3rd generation, early 2012). If this trend continues, it looks like there will never be an iPhone 5 -- which, ironically, would have been a 6th generation product. So is Apple going to pull the trigger on its iPhone line as well as the iPad? Are they moving back to dates and generations? You tell us. Place your vote in this poll and then join in the comments with all your predictions. %Poll-73900%
You're the Pundit: Why go AT&T iPad?
When it comes to forecasting the next big thing, we turn to our secret weapon: the TUAW braintrust. We put the question to you and let you have your go at it. Today's topic is the AT&T iPad. Here at TUAW Central, we were debating as to why anyone in their right mind would opt for an AT&T iPad over a Verizon one with its well-deployed 4G service and free tethering. Yes, there are some valid points about grandfathered unlimited data plans, but with Verizon's options so obviously superior, are people actually ordering AT&T units? You tell us. Place your vote in this poll and then join in the comments with all your analysis. %Poll-73905% Thanks, Amilham96, Rondhi, JKohlmann, Jerrodh, Gravicle, TheRealDL_ Update: Many readers seem to be under the impression that the Verizon iPad will not operate outside of the United States. The technical specifications at Apple's page state that it does support GSM: Wi-Fi + 4G for Verizon model: 4G LTE (700 MHz)3; CDMA EV-DO Rev. A (800, 1900 MHz); UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) A call to Apple retail confirms that both units will have an onboard SIM tray. A Verizon spokesperson adds, "The new iPad for Verizon Wireless will work overseas and we do offer various global data plans for customers. Customers can sign up for global data plans and have coverage in more than 205 countries. Customers also have the option to use a local SIM card if they'd like."
You're the Pundit: Will we see any Apple TV announcements next week?
When it comes to forecasting the next big thing, we turn to our secret weapon: the TUAW braintrust. We put the question to you and let you have your go at it. Today's topic is Apple TV. March 7 is on its way, and everyone is talking iPad. So where does Apple TV fit into this event? Reports of the channel clearing are making the rounds, which is sometimes an indicator or something new on the horizon. Will we see an actual announcement then, or will 3/7/12 be devoted to iPad topics only? You tell us. Place your vote in this poll and then join in the comments with all your predictions. %Poll-73767%
You're the Pundit: Will Apple ditch the iPad home button?
When it comes to forecasting the next big thing, we turn to our secret weapon: the TUAW braintrust. We put the question to you and let you have your go at it. Today's topic is the iPad. Apple's intriguing invite for next week's iPad event seems to be missing a home button. As the biggest mechanical element on iOS devices, some have long felt that the button was a harsh intrusion of device engineering into an otherwise flawless touch-based system. Could Apple have re-engineered its button for better ergonomics, flipping the iPad to deliberately hide it? Or is the button gone for good? You tell us. Place your vote in this poll and then join in the comments with all your predictions. %Poll-73706%
You're the Pundit: What's the killer Mountain Lion feature
When it comes to forecasting the next big thing, we turn to our secret weapon: the TUAW braintrust. We put the question to you and let you have your go at it. Today's topic is Mountain Lion. This week, a developer preview was released and Apple updated its site with a list of upcoming features. They range from an iOS-inspired Notification Center to Game Center support to integrated Twitter. Which of these is the killer feature that will help define the new platform and set it apart from earlier operating systems? You tell us. Place your vote in this poll and then join in the comments with all your predictions. %Poll-73554%
You're the Pundit: Does a 7" iPad make sense for the education market?
When it comes to forecasting the next big thing, we turn to our secret weapon: the TUAW braintrust. We put the question to you and let you have your go at it. Today's topic is Education and the iPad. Last month, Apple introduced iBooks Author and expanded iTunes U. It was a big presentation and a big commitment to the textbook market. The problem is, of course, whether the desire to embrace digital textbooks can live up to the costs and grim realities. Granted, Apple's probably going to start pushing the iPad to schools much more enthusiastically now that it's ceased educational sales of the MacBook, but putting an iPad in every student's backpack is still going to be a hard sell for districts that have to hold bake sales just to buy normal textbooks. Just like everything else in the education sector, we're thinking the better-off schools in Silicon Valley and Connecticut will get iPads for Everyone™ first, and inner-city schools in Cleveland will have them by, maybe, 2032. Plus, as far as the federal government goes, we estimate their five-year initiative might take at least 35 years. So what might Apple do to speed up iPad and ebook adoption? What about that hypothetical 7" iPad? Could Apple (or better yet, would Apple) introduce such a critter this spring? Would a bargain priced "ePad" help spread tablets to the classroom, or will a discounted iPad 2 work better as a lower-cost distribution system? You tell us. Place your vote in this poll and then join in the comments with all your predictions. %Poll-73454%
You're the Pundit: iPad 3
When it comes to forecasting the next big thing, we turn to our secret weapon: the TUAW braintrust. We put the question to you and let you have your go at it. Today's topic is the iPad 3. It's been a long, cold winter for TUAW. As days lengthen and Spring becomes less of a dream and more imminent, our thoughts turn to new technology. What do we expect to see in the next generation iPad and when do we expect to see it? Preorders in March, pickup in April? You tell us. Place your vote in this poll and then join in the comments with all your predictions. %Poll-73413%
You're the Pundit: What OS does Santa use?
When it comes to forecasting the next big thing, we turn to our secret weapon: the TUAW braintrust. We put the question to you and let you have your go at it. Today's topic is Santa. What OS does he use? According to Apple, he uses an iPhone 4S but we're not necessarily swayed by Apple PR. We're pretty sure that Rudolph is an avowed Red Nose Linux user, and Donner and Blitzen swear by any hardware that supports Thunderbolt. So how does Santa compute? You tell us. Place your vote in this poll and then join in the comments with all your reasons. %Poll-72261% (Photo by DGrinbergs, Flickr, licensed under Creative Commons)
You're the Pundit: Is in-app purchasing out of control?
When it comes to forecasting the next big thing, we turn to our secret weapon: the TUAW braintrust. We put the question to you and let you have your go at it. Today's topic is in-app purchasing, or IAP for short. We've been having a house debate recently about the proper role of IAP in game marketing and development. Some companies have been treating their customers as cash cows using IAPs. We find that attitude unacceptable. That said, many games (including Tiny Tower, Battle Nations and others) use IAPs responsibly and well. We feel IAP by itself isn't bad, but some companies (and let us be clear, those are actually the minority of companies) put in-app purchases over game play instead of the other way around. Our group take is that IAP, economically speaking, rewards bad game design. Developers can make more money from games with a high initial fun factor followed by a long, dull grind that players already in the groove will then pay out to avoid. If you're paying to avoid game play or to add cheats that put you at an advantage over other players, then in-app purchases are hiding bad game design. Similarly, if you're paying to "accessorize" your world ("collect all 12 fish"), we feel that IAP is taking advantage of customers. When IAP works in games, it branches, extends, or expands gameplay rather than cheats it. So is IAP out of control in App Store? Should Apple be cracking down on the more predatory uses of IAP? You tell us. Place your vote in this poll and then join in the comments with your take on this. %Poll-71599%
You're the Pundit: Should Apple shift its focus away from new products?
When it comes to forecasting the next big thing, we turn to our secret weapon: the TUAW braintrust. We put the question to you and let you have your go at it. Today's topic is QA. Should Apple shift its focus away from new product development in the near future and focus on QA improvements for a while? TUAW reader Lyle42 asks, "Was FCP X finished? Was Lion? Was Xcode 4?" Apple has always shipped beta. Has its "beta" become a little more alpha than usual? You tell us. Place your vote in this poll and then join in the comments with all your predictions. %Poll-71423%
You're the Pundit: Is talking to Siri the next social sin?
When it comes to discussing the next big thing, we turn to our secret weapon: the TUAW braintrust. We put the question to you and let you have your go at it. Today's topic is Siri. A push back against Siri seems to be growing. Is talking to your cell phone in public the new faux pas du jour? Or is the problem with those people who haven't mastered the raise-to-ear-and-talk-quietly maneuvers that brings discretion to the Siri table? Maybe it's just a problem for the "talks into the phone like a Nextel walkie talkie phone" crowd. Is it polite to chat with Siri in public? Is this even a real problem? You tell us. Place your vote in this poll and then join in the comments with all your predictions. %Poll-71183%
You're the Pundit: Do you need a landline?
When it comes to forecasting the next big thing, we turn to our secret weapon: the TUAW braintrust. We put the question to you and let you have your go at it. Today's topic is landlines. In the age of the iPhone, when each person can have their own voice and data center that travels with them in their pocket (or sits on their desk), what's the point of land line. Got no service? Your provider can set you up with a microcell to plug into your router. It runs off your cable data, adding full house-bound coverage. Want to use traditional handsets that ring throughout the house? You can buy a Bluetooth adapter that hooks into your home wiring and distributes your phone service to the wired handsets. Many turn to Skype or Vonage for home phones. So what's the point of a landline? You tell us. Place your vote in this poll and then join in the comments with all your predictions. %Poll-70220%
