arbuckle's Profile

  • Dec 31, 1969
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Latest comments made by: arbuckle

  • Let us not forget that there is a smaller market for RISC processors, not to mention they are a "younger breed" of processors, so inevitably there will be a smaller degree of variety. However, too much variety can be bad thing, and I like the consistency Apple creates; when I buy Apple, I know what I am getting (good and bad). If there was an Apple clone, would it be an Apple? I hadn't heard of the G4 variant from Motorola, but I have heard that IBM is developing a less power hungry G5 that some hope will make it to the PowerBooks (sorry, I can't recall the link). I would be pleased with either one myself, as they sound like major improvements. But of course, Apple (aka Steve Jobs) will have the final say.
    arbuckle had this to say on Feb 24, 2005 Posts: 7
    Forget the Cell Processor, What Other Chip Options does Apple Have?
  • In my humble opinion, having a much smaller market share has actually been a positive thing for Apple; it has forced them to be competitive. Would they have gone to an open source Unix based platform had they had a 95% market share? I doubt it. It took lots of pressure from an ever decreasing market share for them to take back Steve Jobs and start really innovating again. And I totally agree that Microsoft will not fade into oblivion any time soon. Let us not forget that they will release a new OS, and when backed into a corner they have a lot of weight behind them (ie cash) to be competitive. They could copy Apple's design again (in some form), and even if late in the game, that would keep them on top. However, Microsoft may have deeper problems then we are aware of. I refer readers to the article by veteran analyst Michael Malone, Silicon Insider: R.I.P. Microsoft? [url=http://abcnews.go.com/Business/print?id=88655]http://abcnews.go.com/Business/print?id=88655[/url] Regardless, let's just hope for more competition from all fronts, as a single dominant OS is no good for users. I repeat, even Apple would turn sour if it were dominant, which should be evident from past decisions (eg the attitude that the superior platform would dominate, regardless of price).
    arbuckle had this to say on Feb 17, 2005 Posts: 7
    Delusional Mac Users Need Microsoft
  • If you're looking for a good file sharing program, then look no further, what you want is the Poisoned Project... [url=http://gottsilla.net/index.php]http://gottsilla.net/index.php[/url] The beauty behind Poisoned is it searches multiple file sharing networks simultaneously (eg Kazaa, Limewire, etc), and without any spyware or adware.
    arbuckle had this to say on Feb 17, 2005 Posts: 7
    The Beauty of Free
  • If you're fan of virtual desktops, I would also recommend trying Virtue (based on DesktopManager) at [url=http://virtuedesktops.sourceforge.net/index.html]http://virtuedesktops.sourceforge.net/index.html[/url] Personally I find the Pager much better integrated, and useful if you like to avoid using your mouse (optional of course). It also has a few features DesktopManager has yet to include, such as drag and drop between desktops, control-tabbing between apps and nice icon integration of open apps. Regardless, both are good, and highly recommended. One more thing to show off your Mac with.
    arbuckle had this to say on Feb 17, 2005 Posts: 7
    The Beauty of Free
  • I switched from Linux myself, but when it came time to buy a new computer 6 months ago, I wanted something else. I used Linux on my laptop but also Windows XP at work, which I hate. And I was tired of trying to explain how to run the Linux box to my wife. Then I hear from an engineering friend about his PowerBook G4 and how much he likes it (from a technical and plain user perspective). The nice interface, easy install/uninstall of software (a thorn in my Linux side), Unix based on a RISC processor... well the last 2 were the clincher for me. So I buy a sleak and sexy 1GHz PowerBook G4 on eBay, and wow, is it ever sleak and sexy (inside and out, including Mac OS X). Now I ONLY use my PowerBook, and have become a Mac addict without question. I will still gladly use Linux when/if I need to, but I love my Mac, and intend to buy another for home, and one for my parents. I won't touch a Wintel machine any longer, and don't need to. I really do hope the ball is rolling and Apple gains market share, because they sure deserve to. Problem is there are just so many misconceptions about the Mac out there, it is an uphill battle. But I will do my part, and proudly. I love cracking open my PowerBook in public; it sure is easy on the eyes, and turns heads. PS The big mistake is shipping an Apple computer running Mac OS X with only 256MB RAM; anyone new to Mac will be quickly disappointed. Let's face it, people unfamiliar with the system (or Unix/Linux in general) may not know to upgrade, or be patient enough to do so.
    arbuckle had this to say on Feb 09, 2005 Posts: 7
    Welcome To The Revolution...Or How I Switched To Apple
  • There is talk from IBM of a newer G5 that would be less power hungry, but in the meantime the increase to 1.67GHz G4 is a slight improvement, with the 128MB of video RAM, bus speeds and 2GB RAM. Not to mention the price drop. And then there is the future Cell processor, but we know so little about it at this point, and I would wager it will be more power hungry, at least initially (from the architecture designs I have seen for it). For now though, I am real happy with my thin, light, and, let us not forget, sexy powerbook. I agree that Apple has made the right choice in waiting until the technology allows them to keep all of these factors optimized while improving performance.
    arbuckle had this to say on Feb 09, 2005 Posts: 7
    PowerBook G5: Held up By the Sleekness Factor?
  • Don't worry about your kids; now that Mac is Unix based, your kids can actually end up ahead of the pack if ever they choose a career in high tech (like myself). And let's face it, Windows isn't hard to learn how to use, just painful to use.
    arbuckle had this to say on Feb 09, 2005 Posts: 7
    Raising Your Kids on Apple