Rotten Apples
Am I feeling grumpy? Maybe. Am I sick of Apple hype? Definitely.
Apple has recently filed more patents on some even more ridiculous multi-touch technology. I’m all for progress, but there are certain things that, in my mind, we will always need physical buttons and switches for; typing documents on a computer with any hope of efficiency and re-setting a frozen computer. Multi-touch also brings about another whole new problem… learning the gestures. Keys have a label, we know that they do one function. Multi-touch touchpads on your laptop are unintuitive as you cannot see yourself interacting with the object, the one instance where multi-touch belongs, on screen.
Some of the patents filed have described “haptic” feedback in their patented multi-touch keyboard. Apple already has haptic feedback implemented on some of their products and you probably didn’t even know it, The Apple Mighty Mouse. The switching mechanism in the mouse doesn’t make any noise when you use the scroll wheel. There is a small speaker in the mouse itself that simulates the sound of the ball scrolling. You’ve been duped.
I’ve had enough of hearing about their brilliant human interaction design. There is no magic there folks, just some good ole’ common sense. Some people have their qualms with the way things are laid out, but on the whole its hard to argue with something that MAKES SENSE. Honestly, why do I have to click Start to Shut down my computer? Lets be clear here, I’m not saying Windows doesn’t have a thought out and intuitive layout, unintuitive layouts are the domain of Linux (flamebait?).
And while I’m pissing and moaning… Before you all go off and get bent on the MacBook Air, think about a few things for me will you? No replaceable battery, one USB port, no optical drive, no 3G. This device clearly wasn’t designed for road warriors, it was designed to be a fashion accessory and a design exercise and nothing more. I want that point to be quite clear. Think that the Air is more than that? Prove it.
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by HP
On March 3, 2008 at 7:47 am
You know, the IT guys here on campus were talking about what to do when the MacAir hits the school. They keep hearing that students are interested in getting them and with no ethernet port, it makes things harder for the IT guys (campus printers can only be used with a landline).
I guess the MacAir might be a neat thing for your typical (rich) student. Someone who is going to use it for web browser, blogging, and word processing and little more. It’s easy to transport and sexy smooth.
by Tristan
On March 3, 2008 at 9:05 am
Any hardcore Linux user won’t bother to mess with the UI since the command line is so much easier anyway. Plus most Linux stuff is developed by coders who aren’t really the artsy-shmartsy type, so our focus is more on if it works or not.
Fortunately the more user friendly versions of Linux (Ubuntu….that’s about it) have about a million billion degrees of customization available, so while the default UI may be lacking if you spend some time browsing around on forums and such you can make your Linux desktop look exactly like Vista, OS X, or whatever else you fancy. Any other complaints you have about Linux you can mail to your own damn laziness.
by Tom
On March 3, 2008 at 9:54 am
I still like that time when Apple came out with the two button mouse, and it was a huge deal.
Good job, guys. You asshats.
by HP
On March 4, 2008 at 4:13 pm
I remember back in the days when I was spending hours upon hours in the school’s graphic design line, there were times I would bring in my own mouse just to have something I was comfortable with.
by Larry
On March 5, 2008 at 11:15 pm
Pretty much reinforcing what Tristan said here. While there are a lot of eye-candy aspects to Linux, its major strengths are always function and stability. It seems difficult to most people just because it’s different. At any rate, I’ll feel better if it stayed out of the mainstream.
As far as any Apple product goes, that company and all their products are utter crap. HCI isn’t an Apple-only field, like you mentioned, and I don’t feel like dealing with only one company when something goes wrong with the hardware. Throw in the constant licensing and copyright lawsuits they bring upon themselves, and you’ve got a trifecta of evil.
by Travis
On March 6, 2008 at 5:32 am
Now, I rail Apple a lot because I think they are are a bunch of money grubbing, hype inducing, sensationalizing bastards. Fact is, I’ve never had an issue with my Macbook Pro, and I rather enjoy OSX. What I hate the most about them is their brand cachet, pompous advertising, and ubiquity in the digital music distribution and digital music player industries.
It is almost like the media cannot see them doing anything wrong.
by Colleen
On March 10, 2008 at 10:58 am
I do agree, with the touch stuff. My ever so spoiled sister just got the iTouch iPod. It sucks ass. You can always accidentally zap yourself out of something for touching the screen the slightest way. It is heavy as hell, resembles the iPhone way too closely, and costs money to upgrade; which in this sliding economy, is not a good thing. I have no opinions on the Macbooks, since I don’t own one, although I’d like to.