Mac fans are nothing if not predictable

Mark says:

Mr. Kantor,

So, by referencing Dvorak’s video confession, you admit to baiting Mac users for hits?

Thank you for your honesty.

You might be interested in reading this:
http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/12286/

Andrew says:

I was thinking more about his description of how frenzied they get, but sure I’ve baited them. It’s too easy: Just write, “I think the Mac is less than perfect” and the screaming begins.

In this case, though, I stand by my review. No 3G support, no replaceable battery, no expandable memory, locked into iTunes and Cingular — not for me, thanks, although it’s certainly a beautiful device.

Mark says:

Mr. Kantor,

Have you used, touched, or even seen the iPhone in person?

David Pogue (who actually spent and hour hands-on with the iPhone) reported in the New York Times, “at the moment, the iPhone is in an advanced prototype… [and] the software is still unfinished, and many questions are still unanswered.”

Don’t you think you should do as Pogue and Mossberg both did – not do a review, but a preview – and not start recommending that business users or any other users look elsewhere?

Sources:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/11/technology/11pogue.html
http://ptech.wsj.com/archive/ptech-20070111.html

Do you see the possibilities of the iPhone UI taken to future iPods and also to larger screen Mac tablets and devices? Can’t you see the future? Or are you for soem reason upset that Apple has been granted and applied for over 200 patents that will allow them to protect their innovations from Microsoft et al. this time?

Thank you for your time.

Robbie says:

Your a Journalist?

Cliff says:

Mr. Kantor,

And you are not predictable? I expect any story from you about an Apple product to say things that are very critical, then once you get the usual response from Apple fans, you publish an article saying the same thing (mac fans go nuts anytime there’s the slightest criticism of Apple). Sounds pretty predictable to me.

By the way, mac fans themselves often criticize Apple (without getting attacked by other Mac fans). So do others (again, without getting the kind of counterattack you get). So, it’s not any kind of criticism that invites attack from mac fans.

For example, lots of mac fans have criticized Apple’s .Mac services. They don’t get the kind of counterattack you get.

It really boils down to mac fans thinking your criticisms (or some of them) are particularly baseless or off. That’s what gets people steamed. Not any old criticism will do it.

Joe says:

Maybe some members of the Mac community will utilize their time more efficiently by IGNORING articles like this one and what Mr. Dvorak writes. After all it’s more than apparent that Kantor and Dvorak crave this kind of response.

Macademia Nut says:

Here’s the problem with all people who complain about 3G inclusion. How many cell towers in the US currently support 3G? Not many. Now, 3G is expected to be a super duper hit. SJ already mentioned that they are working on 3G technologies for future product. See the keynote.

Here’s the 3G coverage map of Cingular.

http://www.cingular.com/business/3G_cov_maps_pop

As you can see, 3G is not as prevalent in US as it is in other places. The vesion 1 of the model has only EDGE for a reason. For all you can think of, it might include the chip required for 3G, but they have not yet developed the necessary software support for it. It will be known only by June.

Kody Bryson says:

No 3G support: Does this mean you have a 3G phone now, use the myriad (sarcasm) of 3G features out there, or are set to buy a 3G phone in the very near future because 3G helps you accomplish your day to day tasks?

No replaceable battery: This is a problem because you see yourself keeping the phone for like 10 years or something way past the warranty and/or feel Apple will not stand by its warranty and fix a phone with a broken battery? I suppose this would enable you to buy 3 batteries for more battery life, and you do this with your current phone, which is why you love the idea so much.

No expandable memory: The large version has 8GB. What exactly is it that you plan to store on your phone that requires so much storage? I guess this means you currently have a phone in which you’ve expanded them memory to over 8GB. If you plug in to charge and sync your calendar every once in a while you have plenty of opportunity to shift things around, but it sounds like you want this device to be you primary media storage device for some reason?

Locked to iTunes and Cingular: Are you aware of an amazing store that sells phones that are not locked to a single carrier and play music from multiple DRM vendors? Please tell us where this amazing store is. I want one of those phones too!

It’s not so much that we’re Apple fans, we’re just logic fans. And that seems not to be your thing.

Ted Wood says:

I suppose part of my frustration, as a Mac user, is that we’re essentially divided into two camps — Mac users and Windows users. Well, I have one foot in both camps, plus a third in Linux. I am what you might call an “all-around computer guy”, however, I have die-hard passionate about the Mac platform. Never have I yelled and screamed whenever someone points out the less-that-perfect nature of the Mac platform, yet as a Mac user ,you quickly group me into that crazed bunch. I don’t think that’s fair. I would drop whatever I was doing if you needed some help with your Mac. That’s the truth. Now, which group do I belong in?

iphone says:

you guys have nothing better to do? pls get a grip.

Bill Gates says:

Cody,

You hit the nail on the head. He kantor write a good article if it hit him in the head. Still, I’d really wish he’d tell people the Zune is better than the iPhone.

After all, the Zune comes in brown.

Lots of best wishes,

Bill

Mike says:

Kantor,

You don’t really offer much evidence or even logic behind your points of view regarding the iPhone. Too many tech journalists simply spew their point of view (which in a surprising number of cases is shortsighted, unenlightened and not that interesting). That’s not journalism. Unfortunately, the unwashed masses take it as gospel. In turn, Mac users get upset because as a minority group they see the misinformed mass media breeding more misinformed consumers against their platform.

Too many people take Apple isn’t perfect as meaning the alternative is better. Far from it. Any objective person can see that Apple products continually push the envelope while most of the other guys cling on good enough as long as possible. The iPhone may very well not be perfect, but as a long time Treo user, I can say it couldn’t get here soon enough. The cell phone I have dreamed of and been promised by the likes of Nokia, Mot, et al for years may finally be here.

JT says:

I always enjoy reading the USAToday and your articles. However, there is a slight element of truth to the critisms of your recent review. In essence, your review is superficial and misses the point. You should have a look at the article in Business Week (http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/jan2007/id20070112_349467.htm). The BW article is certainly more thoughtful and thought provoking. Just one thing more: your comments about Mac fans being predictable is childish and insulting at best. If you ever had the experience of “switching” (to a Mac that is), you would better appreciate the Mac Users’ enthusiasm. By the way, it’s ok to critic or to critisize, but try less to insult your readers – it’s just good journalism.

Say, what’s with the “Yer name” bit?

Bishop says:

Andy,
I think that the majority of people responding here have the same problem with your writing. That you’re writing an article in a national news paper and you’re knocking a product you admit to never having laid hands on. It’s unfair to write something like: business user might want to look elsewhere.

If you HAVEN’T seen it in person, and if you haven’t had a chance to use it, its unfair and dishonest to knock it, because in all honesty you COULD be wrong. You just don’t know. And even though you don’t KNOW… you’re saying things about it like you do.

Like Ted Woods I’m an all around computer guy. You don’t like macs? Good for you. At this point in the game, it’s all about personal taste. You like windows better. But please don’t be a fanboy for windows and knock anything that’s got apple on it. You DO do this on a consistant basis. You admit to it, and what most people have a problem with is that if you are a journalist, you’re supposed to be reporting facts, not coloring it with your opinions. And we all know that you are a biased man when it comes to Apple. Don’t deny it. It’s who you are. But please don’t let it bleed into the integrity of your work.

You and I have talked extensivly before about this kind of thing. And I’m sorry to say that you strike me as the kind of man that is aptly named “internet tough guy”. Look, my point of view,if you wouldnt say it in real life on the street to someone, then don’t say it on the web. Honestly I try not to read your column, but your name pops up every now and then and I shake my head and sigh as I click the link to read the flamebait you’re doing now.

I know you’re looking for crazy responses, but I’d appreciate it if you would kindly put up the other side of the story.

“sure people flame me and call me names and send me death threats, but then there are others like Ted Wood and Bishop who’re reasonable guys, who disagree with me, yet are perfectly nice about it.” Don’t make a blanket statement. Calling “mac users” crazy and zealots, etc.. is like calling me a nazi because I’m German.

Sorry you think the iphone will be a flop.
Bishop

Ted Wood says:

Thanks for the kind support, Bishop. I think that’s it’s too easy for people to take sides, so I can understand Kantor’s deficiency in this regard.
Kantor makes some good points about how the iPhone is designed (or lack there-of), but he fails to put it into perspective. I believe the truth is that even if the iPhone had all of those features, he’d still find some reason to knock it down, because that’s his way.
He fails to realize the end-user experience of using the iPhone. Is there a device out there that has everything he wants and works as well as he expects the iPhone to? I doubt it, but how many of us really know for sure. All we have to go on at this point is our experience with other Apple products (which is much higher than the industry as a whole), and Steve’s demo of the device.
It’s okay to criticize a product, but let it be something people are using first. I doubt that Kantor’s intentions are to put pressure on Apple to improve the iPhone. He just wants to criticize, sadly.

JuggerNaut says:

Hey, just bash Microsoft and Windows in an article or two and you’ll get the same results! There’s fanatics on all computer platforms!!

Greg says:

All I want you to do is report and be a reporter. Do your homework. After having read many of your articles it seems you only to half the research needed to get the entire “picture”. You throw out half baked comments without any facts or check up on the information. Just be a reporter. Check your facts and report the news.

Mark says:

Mr. Kantor,

You’re obviously an expert in User Interfaces as evidenced by your screenshot of Windows’ “highly advanced” folder structure.

Microsoft. Perpetually behind Apple; currently by about 5 years in computers and at least 10 years in smartphones.

You, sir, are a joke.

Andrew says:

[blink] Um, that’s a shot of Thunderbird’s folder structure, genius.

Andrew says:

So let me get this straight. You’re all so darned upset because I wasn’t impressed by the specs of a product that none of us has used. Ooooookay.

“Hey, just bash Microsoft and Windows in an article or two and you’ll get the same results!”

Actually, no. First, I didn’t “bash” anything, unless you consider anything other than a glowing review “bashing.” Oh, wait. Mac fanboys. You *do* consider anything other than glowing reviews to be bashing. Second, no, Windows users aren’t fanatics. Bash Microsoft all you want and they couldn’t care less — they don’t define themselves by the computer they use.

In fact, I “bashed” Microsoft not long ago. Not a peep.

I *love* the “You must be paid off my Microsoft” comments. Brilliant! Especially because I mentioned all those MS products in my column. Oh, wait. I didn’t mention one. Next time how about “You must be paid off by Nokia.”

Now, as to “knocking a product I haven’t laid hands on”: What would using it change? I said, quite clearly, that I expected the interface to be fantastic, as all Apple stuff is. What I was not impressed with were the features and specs. Would those features magically change when I used it? Would it suddenly get a better camera or video capabilities?

I’m sorry you all are more impressed with the specs than I was. But honestly, that’s all we’re talking about here.

Andrew says:

Sorry — I should be clear: The “You must be paid by Microsoft” comments came via e-mail.

Andrew says:

Oh, and as for Bishop’s comment, “You don’t like macs? Good for you.” Um, where did I ever say I didn’t like Macs? Wasn’t this a column about the iPhone?

In fact, if you bothered to check, you would have found comments of mine like this:

“That said, I think OSX is a beautiful thing (although possibly coming too late to save the Mac, considering that there are, I hear, now more Linux users than Mac users). I think it’s a great OS on a great piece of hardware, and I’m heartened to see so much software coming out for it.”

I assume even fanboys differentiate between Apple products.

Mark says:

What I was not impressed with were the features and specs. Would those features magically change when I used it?

Just for starters, you’d probably finally understand that the iPhone has a full-blown Web browser and email client and all apps are desktop-class. That way, at least, you wouldn’t be foolishly equating it with features found on all other so-called “smartphones” in your misleading and laughably incorrect articles.

Thunderbird? Sorry, I use Mail. You screenshot looks quite antiquated to me – you must use Windows. Have you ever used a Mac running Mac OS X Tiger?

Anyway, it’s okay, I get it now. You have your agenda. It’s too bad it seems to be to make the annual “Idiots Who Wrongly Predicted Apple’s Failure of [fill in the blank]” list every year for the rest of your life.

Good day, sir.

David says:

Linux is nowhere near Mac market share. You heard wrong.

Andrew says:

Oh, sheesh. Besides the fact that I wrote that quite a while ago, did you decide to completely ignore the rest? How typical — see what you want, ignore the rest.

One more time, since there are a lot of slow people here:

“I think OSX is a beautiful thing”
“I think it’s a great OS on a great piece of hardware”
“I’m heartened to see so much software coming out for it”

If you want to focus on the Linux comment, go ahead. You’re just proving my point.

Mark says:

Mr. Kantor,

Before I take off. Do you have proof that “there are now more Linux users than Mac users?”

I happen to have some actual, honest-to-goodness independent proof that shows that, once again, you are writing misleading statements. You really should work on that, Mr. Kantor.

Operating System Market Share for December, 2006 via NetApplications’ Market Share: http://marketshare.hitslink.com/report.aspx?qprid=2
Note: “Mac OS” are pre-Intel-powered Apple Macs. Add “MacIntel” (I have no idea why they insist on calling it that bastardized name or separating the two in their final tallies) and you get 5.67% for Apple Mac vs. 0.38% for Linux. That’s 0.38% for Linux. M’kay?

Other links of interest (please note the trends):
IDC: Apple Mac attained 5.8% of U.S. market share in Q3 06 (vs. 4.8% in Q2 06):
http://tinyurl.com/y2l6k2

Gartner: Apple Mac grabbed 6.1% of U.S. market share in Q3 06 (vs. 4.6% in Q2 06):
http://tinyurl.com/y7v8t8

All of the firms above each use different criteria for measure share. It’s really the trend that matters, not the actual number. The trend clearly shows Mac gaining share and momentum, Windows losing share, and Linux stagnant.

Therefoe: There have always been more Mac users than Linux users. Don;t believe everything you hear (or read, if you wrote it).

Sorry to use actual facts, Mr. Kantor. I know it must hurt your head.

Anna says:

The internet is a double-edged sword for you journalist ‘playahs’.

Nothing dies on the internet. The agendas of the Dvoraks, Kantors, Enderles, and Forrester Researchers are outed with one or two Google searches.

Enjoy your 15 minutes of fame.

And welcome to 2007.

Matt says:

Look, Andrew, if you don’t like the product, that’s fine (although, like others, it baffles me how you can like or dislike a product you haven’t been within 100 feet of most likely, let alone used). Apple “fanboys” (wow, could you use that derisive term a few more times maybe) are rather discerning folks. I have no problem with you critcizing Apple but your article simply made all kinds of unsubtantiated remarks that anyone could criticize.

What problems are iTunes or FairPlay fraught with? I would say 100 million iPods and 2 billion songs would suggest that the vast majority of people seem to find it rather trouble-free. Now before you answer, let’s compare iTunes/FairPlay with a *real* shipping DRM system that actually exists. Sure if you compare it to “download all I want illegally and put it wherever I want” system, then yes, I admit, iTunes is flawed.

And the iPhone is a “wonderful interface wrapped around an average product.”

And the original Mac was just a computer with a “wonderful interface wrapped around an average product.” And the Apple II was just a “wonderful interface wrapped around an average product.” And the iPod is just a “wonderful interface wrapped around an average product.”

Can you really be making a living as a tech journalist and yet somehow not realize that the interface *is* the product?

ROTFLMFAO says:

Mac fans are nothing if not voraciously chewing up Andrew Kantor and spitting him out.

dave says:

Andy,

I’m in journalism too. I love Macs and don’t have a problem with your column, though I think it’ll be proven shortsighted and incurious by the time the iPhone is released. But what I’m looking forward to is when the baiting and condescending attitude in your blog catches up with you in your day job. You may not have noticed, but editors don’t take kindly to alienating readers these days. And that is what these Mac users you loath are–they are readers.

I’m not a writer myself but have known scores of them well. You are the ego-driven type, which isn’t always a bad thing, just usually. You need to feel clever, and can’t handle criticism. You can dish it out but can’t take it. If I were to offer a little advice, which is kind of a waste of effort because you’re in a strictly adversarial frame of mind–it’s part of the job. Stop baiting and don’t get drawn in. It’s unprofessional.

Now, I’m sure you need to get back to your “prose.”

MDN Reader says:

Specifically regarding the MAC fanboy and fanatics (not MAC users, I’ve been one since 1987), they are as predictable as Pavlov’s dog. I read MDN daily, as they do cull the sources and compile a very thorough and comprehensive collection of MAC related news, however their usual MDN take and reader comments (unmoderated) do more to legitimize your assertion and perpetuate the whole Cult-MAC thing. Hardcore MAC users (to which there are many, including me) are just as appalled at their childish ways. But in all honesty, I’ve visited some PC/M$ sites that were equaled them in unbridled devotion and far surpassed them in numbers.

Masa says:

Did you ever even use the iPhone. It’s not about the hardware, it’s about the software. The iPhones UI has many things that I haven’t seen on any phone and the way they interact looks incredible. I had very big doubts about the phone before it was released.

Rockbox has nothing to do with iPhone and I don’t know anyone who uses Rockbox.

Your writing seemed like one with predefined outcome. Something I wouldn’t like read.

Lorenzo says:

In the end, i’ts the market that’s going to decide whether a product is going to be successful or not. Customers will buy the iPhone in large amounts or not. The rest is just talk.

Cliff says:

Mr. Kantor,

Everyone’s entitled to an opinion. But sometimes those opinions are simply wrong. You say the iPhone has a great interface, but then turn around and call it an “average” device. It’s way, way above average, because of that interface, which is not like anything ever seen on a phone before. You’re not a jerk, loser, idiot or whatever for calling it “average”. You are simply wrong.

David says:

Mr. Kantor, concerning your article pointing out the deficiencies of the Apple iPhone; your descriptions are technically correct, but it’s the tone of your review that underscores your bias. Much like the graphic of your directories, you come across as being predisposed to reject, disagree with, dislike, or be otherwise overly critical of anything Mac … Users included. The iPhone as displayed is a prototype, merely a suggestion of the end product. Steve himself confessed that several features have not as yet been worked out, and yet you treat the device as a final commercially available product, failing to point out or even hint that the deficiencies you list should or might be addressed in the final product, and thusly reserve final advice until the final product arrives. Many Mac users, including myself, have the same reservations you mention. The difference is we reserve final opinion until the shipping product arrives, thereby giving Apple & Mr. Jobs the benefit of the doubt … Hey they may be as smart as we are.

Thanx
David Larry

GaryL says:

And the feeding of the monkeys continues. Great sociology experiment.

Joe Schmoe says:

Mac’s, iPhones….blah blah blah….Mac is a great computer, indeed it is, for someone that doesn’t game. iPhone is a great new product. Yeah yeah…its a phone that can do a little more. Plays music, can go blind reading ur email on it…thats great!

Riddle me this Mac wankers, 8gb is enough storage? PUH-LEEEZE. Get about 6 months worth of email, music and video on that thing and you have 0gb of space left with NO way of increasing it. One should have the option of deleting all the useless apps that 95% of the people who buy it will never use.

Non-Replacable battery … thats fantastic! Everyone lets their phone die completely before recharging it so as to not have the battery gain memory on a short charge. RIIIIGHT, we all do that! I’d love to have my battery go bad, take it to Apple so they can ship it out and leave me without a phone for 2-3 weeks. Thats AWESOME! :)

And FWIW: I have your precious OSX Tiger running flawlessly on my AMD PC here. Its great! I can doodle, play with Garage Band, and hopefully someday, maybe a year or two from now, get to play the games on it that came out 6 months ago. :) Not to mention I really need to go out and buy one of those overpriced, rediculously slow Apple Cinema displays. Heh … as far as i’m concerned they can sit on the shelf, collect dust and wait for one of you Mac suckers to shell out mega bucks for a less than impressive slow screen. Try the IBM T221, more bang for the buck. :)

Enjoy!

John says:

Why start trouble (baiting people) to have something to write about?

For news reporting in the past, it was good, unbiased reporting of the facts which kept people (factually) informed.

Why not write that way? I would think that you readership would increase drastically. You woud surely be part of the few elite.

Andrew says:

Much like the graphic of your directories, you come across as being predisposed to reject, disagree with, dislike, or be otherwise overly critical of anything Mac … Users included.

[staring in disbelief] Do you sit around *trying* to find ways to feel oppressed or something? Where does this nonsense come from?

Let’s see — I said the Mac was a great computer. I said “you can assume that anything coming out of Apple is going to be slick — the interface will be close to flawless and you know it’s going to work well.” I said, “The iPhone is bound to have an incredible interface; it wouldn’t be an Apple product if it wasn’t designed from the ground up to be easy, fun, and intuitive to use.”

And from this you get that I’m “overly critical of anything Mac”? Oooookay.

For news reporting in the past, it was good, unbiased reporting of the facts which kept people (factually) informed. Why not write that way?

[speaking slowly] Because. I. Am. A. Columnist. For. USA Today.

Columnist. Opinions. Stir debate.

gnomic says:

Jeez – Does the Maccult have a favorite kool-aid? Whatabunch of whiners. It a piece of technology fer christsake. You’d think it was a golden calf (and it is!)

Just dumpted iTunes for mediamonkey. Wanted a piece of software that didn’t crash more than windows.

Mark says:

Mr. Kantor,

Again: Have you used, touched, or even seen the iPhone in person? If not, how can you recommend that business users or any other users look elsewhere?

It’s okay to stir debate, if it’s based on facts and you know something about which your are writing. Otherwise, you have no credibility whatsoever.

Do you have proof that iPhone won’t open your precious Excel and Word files when it ships in June?

gforce says:

The only thing worse than Apple fanboys are the morons who spend their time messing with them. It may be easy, but what a waste of one’s time.

Sorry, I just couldn’t keep it in any longer. I’m sick of all the people who, every time Apple releases a new product, latch onto it and say it’s the greatest thing because Apple made it, and even worse are the ones who HATE the product just because Apple made it. What a waste of time to read reviews of Apple products by either one of these grade-school minded folks with the “yes it is” “no it isn’t” arguments.

I included my email so you can tell me when you write something worth while….I’m also removingn MacDailyNews from my RSS feeds until they learn that by posting people’s email and articles they’re only driving hits and making a bad name for Mac fans everywhere.

Dorene says:

You posted this ~yesterday~ (1/12/07) and you already have 42 comments? Wow, Andrew. You really ~are~ popular. I am so darned proud.

*high five* :)

JuggerNaut says:

Second, no, Windows users aren’t fanatics. Bash Microsoft all you want and they couldn’t care less — they don’t define themselves by the computer they use.

You obviously have not been around enough passionate Microsofties to see that they will defend Microsoft and Windows to the very last breath. Windows users can be very vocal for their choice of computer platform. I work in enterprise IT world, I run into Microsofties all the time.

dave says:

Andrew
Do you sit around *trying* to find ways to act bewildered and flummoxed by the reactions you get? Let me spell it out to you in McEnglish:

You’re baiting people, not stirring debate. Don’t flatter yourself. You equated Mac users to Creationists, and you did it in an antagonizing way. You poor thing, so surprised to have drawn a reaction. Your tone is condescending. You just don’t like Mac users, and it’s silly to deny it.

Go ahead and fall back on the typical justifications of hack columnists… Add to the reasons people hate journalists. Way too many of you can be described with one word: Smug. That’s you.

Now get back to your “prose.”

thufir says:

andrew, I have to ditto big time what matt said above– it’s the user interface that makes this thing so special. Focusing on the techincals (“not enough memory”, or “not 3G”) just demonstrates you have lost sight of the big picture. Got caught up with the trees rather than the forest. It’s the UI that will make this thing take off. Example: my wife who doesn’t give a crap about how cell phone work, who is the very antithesis of a geek (she hasn’t even touched her brand new motorola-whatever phone, which is still sitting there on our counter after two weeks without being activated), after seeing the iphone, now she’s a ravenous fan: “I’ve gotta have this!”. That’s the kind of reaction which will cause the iphone to skyrocket. average non-geeky people are gonna crave this thing like crazy. Why? Because the UI.

Gzero says:

I bet you’re actually pretty pleased with the responses you get from so-called “Mac fanboys”; otherwise, you probably wouldn’t get any hits on this site at all. Nice going.

Alex MacDonald says:

I swear, some of these people make me want to switch back to Windows (Vista isn’t looking too bad right now).. Kantor writes in a column and his blog, it’s editorial, opinion, of which he’s entitled. I’ve been waiting a long time for a device that syncs seamlessly with my mac, but for me (opinion coming) this iteration of the iPhone (Apple Phone if the trademark thing doesn’t go away) isn’t it. Not because of 3g for me but because of it being a locked down system with no exchange sync functionality. Like it or not exchange is the prevailing infrastructure in corporate America and without interoperability selling 10 million of these things in the first year is nigh on impossible. Thats 20% of cingulars subscriber base! A subscriber base that 95% of spend $0-$100 on a phone. Not gonna happen no matter how shiny it is. I’m perfectly happy with the actual smartphones I do have, you know, the ones that let me add the software I want to add, use autd on my exchange server, add the memory that I want to add and have an actual “useable” keyboard (unlike the touchscreen monstrosity that David Pogue found “Difficult”) that I can use one handed while driving and composing SMS messages and browsing the web… Plus, and this is a biggie, I can stay contract free with t-mobile, get my phones unlocked by them and get my data for $19.99 instead of the $45 that cingular charge.. Not to mention that Mark Space have done an incredible job with the missing sync for WM5.. Yeah, I like my smartphones to be just that, smart… An no, I haven’t held this phone, never actually will until it does become “smart”, it’s just my uneducated opinion of something that I have absolutely no knowledge btw, so go easy fellers.. I swear, I am a mac user, my website was even “made on a mac”…

GaryL says:

That would explain why its down at the moment.

Alex MacDonald says:

Lol, probably. Although it is on a Windows 2000 server, so that may be it.

tommy says:

what you did to bait them, andrew, was to write a positive first paragraph. that made them think ‘ok maybe i’ve taught him his lesson and he will finally kiss the groud Lord Jobs walks upon in this column. i will read on…’

and then you didn’t.

come on, mac fans, you know what to expect from andrew. and he’s not wrong. there are some important issues to take with the iphone. although it’s really neat, it’s not revolutionary. it’s not something i’d bet the consumer market – at least the folks who don’t want to pay for paving the road – is ready for. the only reason i’d want to get one is to show it to other people and say ‘hey look what i got me…’ and the only service i can get reliably where i live is verizon’s, so it would be an expensive, good-looking mp3 player for me. i already have an ipod.

i really think you get a kick out of going at andrew when he offers his comments on these things. the noise in these comments is all you guys getting your kicks by ganging up on someone you don’t like.

what do you mac fans think about the zune?

poo-flinging monkey says:

I am not a monkey; you should ignore the monkeys.

Sometimes you have to walk past their cage, but they don’t usually start screaming and flinging poo unless you unless something sets them off. sometimes they start on their own. sometimes you do things you don’t realize will set them off – like appearing out of nowhere or kicking a rock which hits their cage.

you didn’t mean to set them off, they won’t understand even if you do apologise, but there’s no reason to do anything but keep walking. don’t let them bother you. whether you or they are right or wrong is not important if all you want is to stop getting poo on you – just move away from the cage.

you can’t blame the screaming poo-flinging monkeys for being what they are, and you can’t change them.

moonshadow says:

here’s something to check out it says it all http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=354164471&size=o

lionemom says:

(Hi, Andrew!)
So I am late posting here, but I remembered reading something about this just after Steve Jobs finished his keynote at macworld. So I googled and found something similar with the same info. What most Apple fanboys (which, by the way, the author of this piece calls HIMSELF!) seem to either not know or forget? The iPhone is not that impressive in Japan, where they are WAY beyond us the in the world of cell phone technology.

http://www.tranism.com/weblog/2007/01/sorry_iphone_ja.html

And, moonshadow, that is awesome!

His Shadow says:

Let me get this straight. You review a product you have never touched and found it wanting. You then have the gall to make recommendations to potential customers of a device no has seen and that you admittedly know almost nothing about.

So why exactly do you get to bitch and moan about the response you got?

Face it. The only thing predictable about these debacles is that ignorant analysts proselytize about things they know nothing about and then are shocked, SHOCKED, I tell you, that they get called on their horsecrap, and somehow believe they have been wronged.

You wrote a column full of ntohing and pretended it was analysis. You got what you deserved and any claim to the contrary just enforces the fact that most tech writers are hacks.