No more “computer” in Apple?

CNN.com has the iphone as the lead story, that despite the fact that there 10,000 ‘other’ new products in Vegas with probably 10x the number of people there looking around.

But it really is a sexy phone. In the business world, it is almost a laptop substitute for some users (not me). I can think back to my days as a system admin where there were always a few people who were constantly clamoring ‘I need a laptop’ (i.e. the ones who don’t really need one) for which this phone would more than sufficient.

P.S. Gizmodo is already calling it the “Jesus Phone”

Sheesh…that’s a bit much I think.

Of course, this is all despite the fact that Apple doesn’t blog. They’re not part of the conversation, right?

…There are other ways of getting the word outside of having a blog.

The big question still goes unasked – can you put an iPhone in a blender and see it blend up like an iPod smoothie?

http://markdaycomedy.wordpress.com/2007/01/10/will-it-blend-ipods-iphones-the-constitution/

Why do people talk so much about Apple? Because people /love/ Apple. People love their MacBooks, iPods, etc. They’ll love their iPhones. Whereas most people don’t give a shit about their Dell boxes.

Sure use the word fanboy. Doesn’t worry me. I’m passionate about Apple. Never felt that way, and never will, about someone like Microsoft (for example)

Apple is finally throwing in the towel! I remember the Apple IIc, the Lisa, then the Mac. Back in the days when the only Personal Computer was made by International Business Machines. When having “computer” in your name was a mark of distinction. Since then they’ve strove to become the opposite of their IBM doppelganger. More touchy feely, more warm and cozy. Microsoft supplants IBM, and that stiff corporate persona gets transferred by osmosis. Today, instead of trying to be a computer company, Apple has decided to just BE…. whatever they are. And that’s cool, because people generally like it when you’re not trying to be somebody else. Microsoft, meanwhile, has been trying to change. And real change – character change – is a tough thing to pull off. But they’re doing it. Time will tell which company is more “real.”

iPod, iPhone, OSX 10.5, bootcamp/parallels..

It has me rethinking my next laptop purchase…

Its a pity 90% of the world still focuses on Windows for their desktop.. (and i’m one of those 90% at the moment..) But that may change ?? (even if its via parallels/bootcamp).

Hi Robert, I’m at Macworld right now, just uploaded photos on my flickr

http://flickr.com/photos/tonychung

The device is sure to disappoint. It looks great but wait until someone tries to use it in a way where text input is required. No tactile feedback = not a good experience.

I suspect that Apple’s thinking is that if a lot of text input is required for a task, a laptop would be a better tool.

Then again maybe they are leaving keyboards for the iPhone for the accessory manufacturers to build as a dock connector attachment.

Matthew: my brother-in-law worked on the new iPhone. He tells me that most of the new products Apple is funding is in consumer electronics. WHich makes sense because he has a chain of stores that he needs to fill with cool gadgets.

The word computer is completely outdated. I never refer to my MacBook as a ‘computer’, though I call it a laptop sometimes… My MacBook (and many other ‘computers’) are much more than what a computer can do: it’s a music player; it’s a movie editor, it’s so much more than a machine that does culculations and ‘computations’. Smart move.

Not sure how I’ll feel about a phone with no “keys.” It goes to show you that Apple knows what it is doing in both product creating and marketing. People love what they make because the products are usually innovative and easy to use and they look good as well.

Steve J and crew did a great job today.
The iPhone looks cool.

I am just ticked off about them patenting Multi-Touch.

Can they steal multi-touch the way they stole UI from Xerox Parc?

Apple used to make computers?! Heck, I only know them for the iPod and figured they’re just a music (and now also a phone) company!

Sorry, couldn’t resist. Once bought an original Mac (1984) for $2500 and couldn’t ever figure out why. Never owned an iPod…never will.

HOLY CRAP!?! A PHONE?!?!

I’m amazed at how crazy everybody is getting over this stupid phone. I get it, the iPod is good, but as far as I remeber, Apple has failed far more often than it has succeeded with Hardware.

Newton, Mac Mini, the monitor on a stick iMac, and don’t forget about Apple’s involvement in the wildly unsuccessful ROKR phone.

I think that this thing will have all kinds of neat features that most people don’t use and end up being killed by the contract with AT&T.

Its amazing to read these comments and think that as much as “The Scobleizer” seems like a continuing microsoft shill, the apple people are almost as bad. I have never read so much shrill snarky bagging on Apple (Scoble) or shrill snarky defense of Apple. All over little picayune points about 780 v. 1080 which quickly devolve into generalized fingerpointing about apple v. microsoft. Give it a rest.

It’s no longer a computer in Apple’s mind. It’s a digital hub for all your consumer electronics (Apple) peripherals. Computers are for Microsoft and business IT geeks, they’re not required by mere mortals, the consumer. Business computing (ie: Office) is boring. This stuff is exciting.

Gotta love the hype. I disagree with the name change. They still make computers and all of their devices are essentially computers. I miss the Commodore 64 days when using a computer actually meant learning something rather than just plug and play. P&P is nice sometimes, but one learns nothing.

Having said that, I think that too many companies are branching out in too many consumer-driven directions.

I’ve used both Macs and PCs extensively, and I use them both at work, but at home, where I have a choice, I run Linux.

In the end, I don’t want to be told what I can do with my software, with whom I can share it with, etc. Plus, the cost of Apple and MS software is sickening. Does anyone believe that an OS should really be several hundred dollars, or even $129? MS even charges for extra screen savers. Huh?

Phone looks sweet, but like my 2 ipods it’s prolly gonna be buggy.

I can’t wait for the iphone, it looks great. Good luck to Apple trying to reinvent themselves without computer in the name!

Strange Apple has everyone abuzz when this is “Microsoft’s big week”. Someone said this week was all about Apple first, and everyone else second, but I can’t quite remember who.

Damn. Oh well.

Say, Robert, you will be watching Steve Jobs on Nightline tonight, right?

“Newton, Mac Mini, the monitor on a stick iMac, and don’t forget about Apple’s involvement in the wildly unsuccessful ROKR phone.”

Actually, each Apple item on this list was a success in its time. (The Mac mini is, of course still holding its own.) The Rokr is not an Apple product. If one wants to cite an Apple market failure, try the Cube. Though, design wise, it was a success.

How anyone thinks this phone is cool is beyond me. The DRM is so restrictive to not even be funny.

Whatever happened to having a phone that is just a phone? The more technology progresses, the more I pine for the early 80s in so many ways, not the least of which was that user-based home technologies were realtively nascent and a lot more fun to me than now.

Modern man spends so much less time with his fellow man that he used to. Sure, people talk on the phones, text one another, and stay in touch with blogs, but really, folks… I really miss the old days when people had to visit one another to keep in touch. I really miss playing D&D with my buddies, dating girls in real feminine jeans (ahhhhh – Jordache!), real music, not this trash out today, school dances. Kids these days visit over webcams and stuff.

Now if only Apple could invent a time machine set to 1982…