The Apple Two 643
theodp writes "Over at Slate, Tim Wu argues that the iPad is Steve Jobs' final victory over Steve Wozniak. Apple's origins were pure Woz, but the Mac, the iPod, the iPhone, and the iPad are the products of the company's other Steve. Jobs' ideas have always been in tension with Woz's brand of idealism and openness. Crazy as it seems, Apple Inc. — the creator of the personal computer — is leading the effort to exterminate it. And somewhere, deep inside, Woz must realize what the release of the iPad signifies: The company he once built now, officially, no longer exists."
Re:Like Woz didn't move on a LONG time ago? (Score:5, Informative)
He likes the iPad
http://www.pcworld.com/article/193329/apples_woz_ipad_great_for_students_grandparents.html [pcworld.com]
Though, I can't imagine using it as my only computer as a student, blech
Sure, it's official (Score:5, Informative)
Not very well thought out (Score:4, Informative)
If that was the case, would Wozniak's wife still work for Apple's sales department? .plist files can simply purchase and use an iPad.
I think Woz is smart enough to understand that times are still changing, and those that want more open devices can simply go out and purchase an HP slate with its USB port, and all sorts of do-das. Those who don't want to mess with configurations, settings and
The appropriate bash.org quote (918519) (Score:0, Informative)
Apple dumped the geek/hobbyist market to go after the highly profitable moron/trendy market.
Creator of the personal computer? (Score:5, Informative)
Really? The first PC was the Altair 8800 (shipped in 1975 and ran Microsoft Software no less), the first fully assembled PC you could buy ready to run was the Commodore PET in 1977 (shipped in January - Apple ]['s shipped the same year in June).
But neither were made by a couple of hip guys from silicon valley named Steve - so it doesn't count right?
_the_ home computer? (Score:1, Informative)
Really? No Commodore, Atari, Tandy? TI? Kaypro? Or others too may to mention? Apple invented the home computer? They invented the 6502? PCBs? Keyboards? Floppies?
ENOUGH with the fanboi revisionism! How come you technogeeks who can keep track of every new toy can be so innacurate when it comes to history?
And how impressive is Woz anyways? The guys who designed chips for the C64 did much more complex work! Why no love and respect for Charpentier or Yannes?
Re:Like Woz didn't move on a LONG time ago? (Score:4, Informative)
Yeah, Wozniak wanted things open. The "other Steve" wants to benefit off of BSD but then close up stuff tighter than Microsoft does now. I knew they were somewhat like this all of the time especially when they sued Microsoft for their look and feel issues over Windows. Why can't all graphical user interfaces have a trashcan instead of a recycle bin? There is a lot of this in the industry that just makes it tough on the user when switching programs and I guess that's what most Electronic/Software/Media companies want.
As anyone who has ever watched Max Headroom in the 80's knows these things need to be kept separate by separate companies. When you control it all the quality suffers. Apple used to be a hardware company and Microsoft was a software company and all was well. Now they are both into everything. I wonder how long it will take Apple to crack into gaming and really hit the big time? Sony is an absolute power in electronics/media/. They farm out their gaming development. The new PS3 looks like the best toy I have ever seen. Apple tries to be a toy maker, but their toys ain't no fun any more.
Re:Apple has made Microsoft look "open". (Score:5, Informative)
You can develop for (almost) *ANY* Windows Mobile phone, not just 100 phones, without App Store intervention.
Re:Creator of the personal computer? (Score:4, Informative)
The first PC Woz made was the Apple I, not the Apple II, in 1976. While the Altair was a computer from a similar era, it had no keyboard or monitor setup, and was run via toggle switches and blinkenlights. So it would be not unreasonable to declare the Apple I to be the first example of anything resembling the modern PC.
Re:Apple has made Microsoft look "open". (Score:3, Informative)
I am, by the way, as anti-Apple as you can find, but you must be lazy as fuck. I mean seriously, Google + 5 min and done.
Re:Officially? (Score:3, Informative)
Also, while Microsoft was correctly slammed by the courts for making it slightly more inconvenient to run competing browsers, there's no problem at all with Apple banning any apps that might possibly interfere with their business models.
Conveniently forgetting that the issue with Microsoft was leveraging a monopoly in order to do so? What monopoly does Apple have on smart phones?
Re:The difference being... (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Creator of the personal computer? (Score:4, Informative)
The first PC was the Altair 8800
The first American PC was the Altair 8800. The world's first "personal digital computer" was the French Micral 8008 [wikipedia.org], 1972.
Re:Shrug. (Score:3, Informative)
1). On the Desktop, how is Windows 7 more open than OS X? Last time I saw, you could actually get the kernel source for OS X.
2). Someone hasn't looked at Windows Phone 7 (not series anymore, the person responsible for naming products has been sacked), and that Windows is going with a closed App Store model too. And even less customization of the UI.
Re:Black & White (Score:2, Informative)
Cellular providers have consistently killed features and interoperability on their handsets for decades
...in the USA. Don't assume that the rest of the world's cellphone industries work the way yours does. In Europe, nobody would accept phones where the phone manufacturer's disabled, at the network's request, the ability to use your own MP3s as ringtones.
Apple's anti-consumer, anti-tinkerer, Uncle Steve Knows Best, appalling unopenable hardware is the same worldwide.
Re:Apple has made Microsoft look "open". (Score:3, Informative)
Since you asked, here you go [microsoft.com].
Re:Apple has made Microsoft look "open". (Score:3, Informative)
Can you get developer tools from Microsoft for free like you can with Apple?
Seriously? Are you really asking this? Not only can you get Microsoft developer tools for free, more that a couple Microsoft compilers are installed by default on Vista/7 and are delivered to XP with service pack 2.
Now I have to go check your other claims, because if you can be so wrong about this one.. while posting on slashdot.. then who the hell knows how much shit your are trying to throw.
Re:Apple has made Microsoft look "open". (Score:3, Informative)
That may have been true before MS announced Windows Phone 7 Series, complete with locked down app distribution limited to what MS approves, no multitasking, no filesystem access, etc. It looks like MS is vigorously following Apple down this path of artificially restricted devices. Apple and MS both look like petty control freaks with totalitarian aspirations.
Re:Apple has made Microsoft look "open". (Score:4, Informative)
You _do_ know that this "feature" will be removed from Windows Mobile 7 right? Enjoy it while it lasts : http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/confirmed-marketplace-will-be-the-only-way-to-get-apps-on-windo/ [engadget.com]