Oct
17
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A podcast about all things Macintosh. For Mac geeks, by Mac geeks. Episode 503. Apple’s next event 10.16.2014. Updates on Apple Pay and the Apple Watch. Brand new iPads in the form of the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3. An awesome new Retina 5K iMac and the updated Mac mini. Plus, Kelly Guimont from The Mac Observer stops in to share her thoughts and the latest new tech from Apple.
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Hi Adam,
you were saying the the iPad Air 2 does not have a SIM drawer as the Apple SIM is built in. In the pictures you can see a tiny hole next to/above the volume switch which I would think is for the SIM.
Also, remembering Apple’s first attempt on getting a software/virtual SIM approved by ETSI a couple of years ago, I think it is mandatory to have a physical SIM to be approved under the GSM standard, so the SIM drawer still must be there.
Regarding the event itself: I think it mostly delivered what was to be expected , except:
– iPad Mini 3: Could have used a little more love, i.e. A8 processor, 8MP camera
– Mac Mini: Nice low entry price for a hardware spec below any standard these days; the better models overpriced; no i7 quad core option; no server version; on-board RAM, really??? I guess I’ll just buy a refurb 2012 server when there’s one available (after kind of waiting over a year for the update). Very disappointing.
As for the presentation: every second of Tim Cook talking hurts (me) … he talks so slowly with this almost bedroom voice and most of the stuff sounds so full of pathos the way he talks. He seems to know it as – thankfully – he hands over to Craig and Phil. But still …
Greetings from Hong Kong,
Bernd
Adam, you questioned whether buyers of the 2013 Mac Pro were “marginalized” by the new Retina iMac. You asked for comments — and here’s mine. Honestly, I think you need to step back a bit and consider:
1. Apple’s in the business of selling sexy new products. They delivered in spades with the Mac Pro and again with the Retina iMac. What else would you have them do? Had they NOT delivered either product, you might have justly criticized them for abandoning a category.
2. Whenever you buy a new computer, you’ve got to face the cruel fact that something even more desirable will soon hit the market. I’ve been dealing with this ever since buying my first PC in 1982. Do I feel envious when the new hotness hits? Sure. Marginalized? No! “It’s business.”
In my own case, I sprang for the new Mac Pro last March and have been delighted with it every day, ever since. As you alluded to, it’s even a pleasure behold when it’s off. And for me, it was a no-brainer, because I use a PC as well — my desk has space for two monitors max — and now I can use both monitors on both machines.
So now I have two QHD monitors (30″ and 27″) that I share between machines. My plan has always been to replace them with two 4ks when prices drop sufficiently, as they probably will in 6-18 months.
Much as I admire the Retina iMac, it just doesn’t fit my needs. I expect many Mac Pro owners might tell you the same. And I can still look forward to the wonderful day when Apple — or Samsung, or Asus, or Monoprice! — releases an affordable 4k display.
Thanks for the great Maccast, Adam! I’ve been listening to you on Ewen Rankin’s shows, but am a first-time Maccast listener. All the best, Arthur (@KingofKats on Twitter)