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Some Apple users are so cute in their fandom

I agree the keynote was extremely underwhelming. No new mac mini, a non-removable battery as a feature, no spec bumps to iMacs, iPhone, iPods, iWhatever. That said, your anti-Apple (and to a lesser extent anti-Google) biases are getting ridiculous. I don't normally look at the author (or usually even site) as I'm reading through my RSS feeds, but I can always tell when I'm reading a Steven Hodson post as soon as I come across some anti-Apple/Google line (or Microsoft apologies).

There's plenty to bash in this year's keynote, but Apple's DRM stance isn't one of them. The reason it took Apple this long to get rid of DRM on all their music was the labels, not Apple. It's pretty common knowledge that the labels have been allowing Amazon and others to sell DRM-free music as a way to strong-arm Apple into allowing variable-priced music. Well, they finally won and now we'll see what happens.

I use OS X, Windows, Linux, whatever works for the task I'm doing, and they all have their strengths and weaknesses. I understand the web is full of Apple fan boys and you feel it's your job to balance them out, but this is getting ridiculous

Uhm … if I am anti anything it has to be anti-blind loyalty or anti-stupid. If you have read any of my writing on WinExtra (my home blog) you will see I am not a Microsoft apologist – or at least I try very hard not to be. This post was meant in part as a fun type thing not as a slap against Apple or Mac users but more at the idea that fandom (even in a general sense) is silly especially when what is presented is opposite of the fawning that goes on.

As for the DRM issue – two points .. 1) while they are allowing users to replace previously purchased tracks with non DRM versions it is going to cost you 30cents 2) the DRM will still be applied to books etc that are available on iTunes .. only the music has changed in that regard.

Look I just call 'em as I see them – I don't pretend otherwise. If I think something stinks I don't care who is causing the stink I'll say so regardless.

I agree, it was an ehhh keynote. I think most people make mountains over molehills about replaceable batteries – besides my digicams I've never possessed extra batteries for any of my gear and I suspect this is true for most devices. As such, trading replaceable batteries for one with significantly more life sounds good to me. Either way, it's not a huge deal.

As a buddy of mine brought up – it's good to get off the Macworld train because it gives them the freedom to announce products when they want to, not always at the beginning of January. And that's good for everyone. I expect more Apple special events to replace this convention.

that is a good point to keep in mind

I actually haven't ready any of your home blog, but I will subscribe and give it a shot. I understand the shot at fan boys, and I agree with that 100%, I just don't think the DRM point was the one to aim at. I work with a few Apple fan boys, and understand how absurd their support can be, and trying to make today's keynote out as anything other than very disappointing is not an easy task. Personally, I guess I'm a Google fan boy if anything, but that's mainly because their offerings work on whatever OS I'm running (for the most part) wherever I may be.

That said, I still can't fault Apple on the DRM thing. Do you really think the mighty labels would allow Apple to grant users free upgrades to DRM-free tracks? There is no way they would allow that, there's money to be taken from users so they will. And audio book prices have always been absurd, and I think it will be a long time until the publishers allow DRM-free purchase through iTunes. Videos are a whole other beast, and I don't think we're going to see DRM-free video downloads for quite a while (at least not legitimate ones).

The non-removable battery though? I'm still trying to understand how that is a good thing (I'm sure I'll read 10 different arguments for it though). The 17″ Macbook Pro would seem to be aimed at power users, who are the most likely to have a use for an extra battery. Of course, I said the same thing about not having a removable battery in the iPod and the iPhone and I guess that didn't hold those products back too much.

First regarding subbing to my home blog – I really appreciate that and if I ask only one thingof my readers is that they keep me honest – but somehow I think you will do that.

As far as the DRM issue and iTunes – granted that this is probably an label driven condition there is still a shitload of money that is going to be floating around. As one calculation has it – there are 6 Billion downloaded songs that stand to be upgraded to DRM-less versions at 30cents per song. that amount to $1.8 Billion that is either going to the labels or to Apple or both. People talk a lot about scams well in my opinion this is one of the biggest scams yet on the net.

I've seen a couple of people try and justify the non-removable battery as it being a non-issue but I also know that if Dell or HP or any number of PC laptop makers tried the same thing shit would hit the fan royally and I know as a user I wouldn't stand for it. That is defacto proprietarism as far as I am concerned.

The funny thing is though with Apple and it's attitude towards proprietary practices is that they are the darling of the Web 2.0 and social media crowd who are always going on about open this and open that. Makes me laugh my ass off.

I just would like to talk about the 17″ macbook for a second. I actually think the non-removable battery isn't the worst idea. For one to make a battery that's removable requires an extra amount of space, that seems to be something Apple is always trying to reclaim.

More importantly this is a 17″ laptop, this is basically a desktop replacement, and most people probably never even removes it from the power cord, let alone needs to replace the battery when they are on the go. I don't think the majority of users we really care.

Always enjoy your opinions Steven, now you get to enjoy mine!