vwcruisn
Mar 23, 05:45 PM
Don't drink and drive.
agree,.. but what about all of the other forms of dangerous/distracted driving? Cell phone, texting, eating, speeding, etc etc... shouldn't they all be punished similarly? why has DUI become 1000x worse than everything else?
agree,.. but what about all of the other forms of dangerous/distracted driving? Cell phone, texting, eating, speeding, etc etc... shouldn't they all be punished similarly? why has DUI become 1000x worse than everything else?
Stella
Mar 30, 12:56 PM
Scotch tape.
In the UK its sellotape ( got the spelling correct ) to refer to sticky tape.
"Don't sellotape the paper to the wall, the paint will come off!"
Scotch tape is a brand name of sticky tape, as is sellotape.
In the UK its sellotape ( got the spelling correct ) to refer to sticky tape.
"Don't sellotape the paper to the wall, the paint will come off!"
Scotch tape is a brand name of sticky tape, as is sellotape.
AppleScruff1
Mar 23, 07:23 PM
If it was a Microsoft app most here would have a different opinion.
Eidorian
Jul 14, 09:23 AM
Woohoo! 3GHz here we come. As was mentioned before, though, a mid-sized tower priced at the iMac level (but upgradable) would be the final logical step in the Apple product line. That would leave Woodcrest to the high end MacPro with its quad configuration.I might be able to slide with a $1799 education discount tower. I want a laptop though. :(
AppleMacDudeG4
Apr 28, 07:53 PM
Apple is doing extremely we'll in a lot of markets. Microsoft does well in the corporate market but they are not flashy or innovative in terms of their core market. Microsoft does well because corporations have settled on Windows / Office combination. Since it does well for their purposes, it is enough to sustain them.
Congratulations to Apple for doing so well but do not feel bad for Microsoft.
Congratulations to Apple for doing so well but do not feel bad for Microsoft.
SBacklin
Apr 22, 10:00 AM
hence why i have unlimited data....when i am on the go i am not limited. do you know how much data it takes to stream something like pandora? not a lot. you are all acting like ur going to be hitting 50gb data usage by streaming something. I don't have abnormally high data usage at all. It's actually less most months than 2gb's but it's not worth it to me to give up unlimited data to save $5/month.
You still don't get it. Look at where the future is going. Look at the storage on iPads, MBA's etc. There is not a need for massive local storage like there was in the past. Heck i have a 64gb MBA and have over 40gb's free bc nothing is locally stored. I can access everything at anytime from any device. Local storage is not necessary and just makes things more difficult when wanting to get music on multiple devices. Physical media is slowly going away bc it's old technology and there are better ways to do things. Local storage is the same thing man.
No no, I do get it. If anything its a very fine line or grey area. Not everyone has unlimited data and not everyone can get unlimited data. You also ignored my statement about AT&T actively going after the heavy data users even on unlimited plans. Also, your issue is that your wanting people to "change" well before its really time do do so. I'm always up for the latest and greatest. Please, don't be wrong on that. I spend a lot of money on tech. However, the key crutch here is cellular data and bandwidth charges. Cellular data is not where it needs to be in terms of stability and coverage. Also, not all WiFi hotspots are all that great. I've seen instances and lot of them where cellular data was faster then the hotspot. Then again, there is bandwidth usage. Until the carriers can come up with a non-gouging pricing model...especially on a not so reliable connectivity, its not time to quickly do away with local storage. or physical media.
You still don't get it. Look at where the future is going. Look at the storage on iPads, MBA's etc. There is not a need for massive local storage like there was in the past. Heck i have a 64gb MBA and have over 40gb's free bc nothing is locally stored. I can access everything at anytime from any device. Local storage is not necessary and just makes things more difficult when wanting to get music on multiple devices. Physical media is slowly going away bc it's old technology and there are better ways to do things. Local storage is the same thing man.
No no, I do get it. If anything its a very fine line or grey area. Not everyone has unlimited data and not everyone can get unlimited data. You also ignored my statement about AT&T actively going after the heavy data users even on unlimited plans. Also, your issue is that your wanting people to "change" well before its really time do do so. I'm always up for the latest and greatest. Please, don't be wrong on that. I spend a lot of money on tech. However, the key crutch here is cellular data and bandwidth charges. Cellular data is not where it needs to be in terms of stability and coverage. Also, not all WiFi hotspots are all that great. I've seen instances and lot of them where cellular data was faster then the hotspot. Then again, there is bandwidth usage. Until the carriers can come up with a non-gouging pricing model...especially on a not so reliable connectivity, its not time to quickly do away with local storage. or physical media.
Bomino
Apr 25, 01:57 AM
Good luck tracking my actual identity down. And also good luck getting anything you dug up admitted in court, because there is absolutely nothing legal about introducing any evidence of my identity you found by tying this account back to my IP/ISP without a warrant.
-Don
you just admitted that what you are doing is wrong.
-Don
you just admitted that what you are doing is wrong.
Tymmz
Sep 14, 05:53 AM
Can't believe it until I see it in stores. Sorry.
Miles513
Apr 4, 09:20 AM
Having been bitten numerous times by McAfee, I never believe their press releases.
Way back, I subscribed to their virus and firewall software. I tested the firewall, and it worked. Until they updated it to a slicker looking interface. Some sixth sense made me test it again, and bingo, my computer was exposed. McAfee customer "support" was not interested. They had my annual subscription, and that was all they wanted.
After ripping all McAfee code out of my PC, I was dismayed to find that my employer signed up for McAfee products.
Months and months of slow PC, followed by bricking thousands of employee PCs with their encryption-at-rest software.
co-sign, same thing happened to me
Way back, I subscribed to their virus and firewall software. I tested the firewall, and it worked. Until they updated it to a slicker looking interface. Some sixth sense made me test it again, and bingo, my computer was exposed. McAfee customer "support" was not interested. They had my annual subscription, and that was all they wanted.
After ripping all McAfee code out of my PC, I was dismayed to find that my employer signed up for McAfee products.
Months and months of slow PC, followed by bricking thousands of employee PCs with their encryption-at-rest software.
co-sign, same thing happened to me
katewes
May 3, 04:03 PM
No matte antiglare screens on the new iMacs. If you need matte screens, there's something you can do - add your voice to 1,300+ petitions at http://macmatte.wordpress.com Unlike personal emails to Apple - which Apple just ignore, asserting everyone loves glossy screens - make it count by adding to the online petition where your voice will remain visible on the net until Apple listens. Remember, adding your comment to transient news articles on the net is fine, but those articles go out of date in a few weeks, and also there is no long-term accumulation and consolidation of numbers, like there is at a petition site.
Tomacorno
Mar 23, 05:00 PM
I hope this does not make it harder to get my app approved. iBurgle, tells you where all the squads are in a 3 mile radius.
dornoforpyros
Sep 5, 03:37 PM
you know, just to throw some gasoline on the fire, maybe we're finally getting the Mac Mini PVR. That rumors been MIA for a while.
DeSnousa
Sep 4, 07:10 PM
I believe this media player will simply be a better iPod with better integration to your television, via possibly a nice dock. It makes sense, it's keeps the iPod in the forefront which would enable the market to grow because most will buy it for the music, but seeing it can attach to the t.v... :)
dornoforpyros
Sep 5, 03:37 PM
you know, just to throw some gasoline on the fire, maybe we're finally getting the Mac Mini PVR. That rumors been MIA for a while.
whatever
Sep 12, 10:41 AM
Yes, lets just ignore the huge performance, upgradability and price gap in Apples product lineup, shall we. It can be the elephant in the room when we all swoon over our "laptop on a stick" desktop while PC users get to play with the REAL hardware.
Sounds good to me. After all, it's not like Apple wants to actually sell more computers. That's crazy talk!
Does anyone think a slightly bigger version of this would be a fantastic desktop?
Apple doesn't want people spending a few hundred dollars every year on 3rd party computer upgrades. They want you to buy a new computer every 2 years for $1,500. As an Apple shareholder I want you too!
People do not want to hook something that looks like a computer their Home Entertainment Centers. Something streamlined, smaller than a cable box, that looks kind of like a game system, yes.
Like the iPod, Apple will be targeting the consumer market with such a beast. There are other cool media products on the market (TiVo), which are really cool, but just never caught on, because they appear to complicated.
Sounds good to me. After all, it's not like Apple wants to actually sell more computers. That's crazy talk!
Does anyone think a slightly bigger version of this would be a fantastic desktop?
Apple doesn't want people spending a few hundred dollars every year on 3rd party computer upgrades. They want you to buy a new computer every 2 years for $1,500. As an Apple shareholder I want you too!
People do not want to hook something that looks like a computer their Home Entertainment Centers. Something streamlined, smaller than a cable box, that looks kind of like a game system, yes.
Like the iPod, Apple will be targeting the consumer market with such a beast. There are other cool media products on the market (TiVo), which are really cool, but just never caught on, because they appear to complicated.
aristotle
Apr 20, 10:55 AM
What's the problem here? It is stored on "YOUR" device and you have the option to encrypt your backups.
If you are investigated for a crime that you actually committed then it is "YOUR" fault. It is also your choice to carry an iPhone and turn on location services.
I don't see how this affects regular law biding citizens. This information does not leave your phone other than to go to a backup which you can choose to encrypt. This is basically a log file and you can choose to wipe your device and start from scratch instead of restoring from a backup.
Seriously, this rampant paranoia is a mental illness and anyone affected by it should seek professional help. The average person is actually not interesting enough to spy on.
If you are investigated for a crime that you actually committed then it is "YOUR" fault. It is also your choice to carry an iPhone and turn on location services.
I don't see how this affects regular law biding citizens. This information does not leave your phone other than to go to a backup which you can choose to encrypt. This is basically a log file and you can choose to wipe your device and start from scratch instead of restoring from a backup.
Seriously, this rampant paranoia is a mental illness and anyone affected by it should seek professional help. The average person is actually not interesting enough to spy on.
TheRick
Sep 5, 02:07 PM
This could be either really big or really bad. Either way, I don't see it going over to well without a burn to DVD option. It also needs a settop media mac. Either way, it'll be interesting to see how everything develops. Good thing I'll be in Milwaukee on the 12th. I might want to go to Mayfair to see how everything went.
I live in Milwaukee so maybe I'll see you at Mayfar on the 12th. :)
I live in Milwaukee so maybe I'll see you at Mayfar on the 12th. :)
suzerain
Sep 16, 01:44 PM
Well, here's what I'm hoping for. (Crazy, I know, but I think there's a chance, because Apple's a computer company, and they seem to approach everything with the computer as the center of everything.)
I want a GSM phone with VoIP capabilities, so it will work with either Vonage or Skype. That way, I can pay way less money...
(Obviously, it has to have bluetooth and sync-ability, but I don't undersstand why people here even consider that optional...Apple created iSync, after all.)
I want a GSM phone with VoIP capabilities, so it will work with either Vonage or Skype. That way, I can pay way less money...
(Obviously, it has to have bluetooth and sync-ability, but I don't undersstand why people here even consider that optional...Apple created iSync, after all.)
aiqw9182
Apr 16, 01:53 AM
No different? What planet on you living on because it's not Earth.... The link quoted tested a slow 2.5" drive and still showed a 3.5x speed improvement. USB3 can only go as fast as the drive it's connected to. You're going to find that out with TB as well. You can't make gold out of dirt.
These people on here suggesting Intel should can USB3 are not real computer users. They're non-computer types that don't know WTF they're talking about. Period. There is NO reason to NOT use USB3 on new computers. Their cost is next to nothing. They're 100% backwards compatible with USB2.0,1.1 and 1.0 and you'll need those ports regardless whether your computer has TB or not. Not having USB3 simply means less flexibility. Even if you hate it, your friend comes over with his 7200RPM USB3 drive and connects it to your Mac using USB 2.0 and instead of going 110MB/sec as it would under USB3, it goes 30-35MB/sec under USB 2.0. He then asks you why your Mac SUCKS SO HARD and your reply will be that he should have paid $400 for that drive with a TB connector instead of $150 with a USB3 connector (even though TB will not go faster because that's the limit of the drive itself). Your friend will then suggest you give him some money since you're stinking loaded to WASTE $250 more on the TB drive when USB3 would have done just as well. But then you remind him that Apple don't support no stinking USB3 and he then tells you that his PC just 'PWNED' your 'Crapple'. :eek:
Apple isn't doing themselves ANY favors to ignore mainstream tech. They want TB? Fine, but don't leave out USB3 to spite yourself. Oh wait. They already did that with Blu-Ray.... :rolleyes:
Or you could just buy a multi-port Thunderbolt adapter(that supports USB 3) for less than $10 when they are released making your half-baked scenario completely worthless.
Lol
Oh and why would someone pay extra money for a drive that can reach at the LOWEST twice the performance of USB 3? Gee, I wonder. I'd love to know where you got the sales figures from also.
These people on here suggesting Intel should can USB3 are not real computer users. They're non-computer types that don't know WTF they're talking about. Period. There is NO reason to NOT use USB3 on new computers. Their cost is next to nothing. They're 100% backwards compatible with USB2.0,1.1 and 1.0 and you'll need those ports regardless whether your computer has TB or not. Not having USB3 simply means less flexibility. Even if you hate it, your friend comes over with his 7200RPM USB3 drive and connects it to your Mac using USB 2.0 and instead of going 110MB/sec as it would under USB3, it goes 30-35MB/sec under USB 2.0. He then asks you why your Mac SUCKS SO HARD and your reply will be that he should have paid $400 for that drive with a TB connector instead of $150 with a USB3 connector (even though TB will not go faster because that's the limit of the drive itself). Your friend will then suggest you give him some money since you're stinking loaded to WASTE $250 more on the TB drive when USB3 would have done just as well. But then you remind him that Apple don't support no stinking USB3 and he then tells you that his PC just 'PWNED' your 'Crapple'. :eek:
Apple isn't doing themselves ANY favors to ignore mainstream tech. They want TB? Fine, but don't leave out USB3 to spite yourself. Oh wait. They already did that with Blu-Ray.... :rolleyes:
Or you could just buy a multi-port Thunderbolt adapter(that supports USB 3) for less than $10 when they are released making your half-baked scenario completely worthless.
Lol
Oh and why would someone pay extra money for a drive that can reach at the LOWEST twice the performance of USB 3? Gee, I wonder. I'd love to know where you got the sales figures from also.
Mac-Addict
Aug 31, 06:46 PM
well I need cash and i need cash fast if they put the prices up on a macbook pro after it gets the merom chip *Preys to god that prices dont go up* plus if the "iPhone" comes out im going to need to get one of those too :D perhapes i will sell my psp..
DRewPi
Sep 2, 03:52 PM
MacBook for 999$ with some up features would be the deal for me !!!!!
Otherwise just throw in some of that C2D chips and let it rock !!!! :D
Otherwise just throw in some of that C2D chips and let it rock !!!! :D
AppleScruff1
Apr 28, 05:22 PM
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_1_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile/7E18 Safari/528.16)
$100B past Microsoft in 1 year is tremendous. Go AAPL!
:rolleyes:
Sad day for dem boys in Redmond
I'm sure they're quite sad having that kind of performance. :rolleyes:
Congrats!:D
Do you feel better about yourself now?
yawn..
they both made billions... who cares.
Really.
Congratulations to apple, eventually this day had to come. Microsoft has been slacking off in the past few years and this will make them see the larger picture.
Sent from my iPhone
What larger picture will they see? 90% of the market isn't enough?
Microsoft is DEAD. And so is Google.
GO APPLE!
It will be Chapter 11 any day now.
In the quarter where Apple will still be selling alot of iPads? And release a new iMac? I highly doubt that would be enough. Let's not forget about Back to School either.
Also, does anyone think Apple will soon be forced to bail Microsoft out? ;)
Like Microsoft did for them back in the 90's?
Microsoft lets too many things die on the vine. Everything has to be run up the flagpole to get the green light, and that whole process takes so long that nothing truly innovative ever happens.
Windows 7 is awesome, Office 2010 is awesome, and I sure do love my Xbox 360, but right now, mobile gadgets sell. Zune was a bust, Courier looked amazing but was cancelled for some reason (I REALLY wanted a Courier), and Windows Phone 7.....jury's out. I would buy a Windows 7 phone before I'd buy an Android phone, but who knows what kind of lasting support it's going to have. Maybe when Nokia is making these in full force I'll take another look.
I've been saying it for the last year, and I'll say it again--Microsoft is in a death spiral. The days of people camping out in line for the next version of Windows are over.
Record profits and that's a death spiral? So it's all about the iTards camping out for the iPad and iPhone? Now THAT"S intelligence.
"The problem with Microsoft is they just have no taste." - Steve Jobs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dR8SAFRBmcU&feature=related
Funny how the classless Jobs bashes his competition at every opportunity.
Oh I see, you're a smart ass. Oh how cute!!!
Tell ya what little boy, Besides a business degree I also hold CCE and CFCC from the AACE as well as a PMP from the PMI. On top of all that, I have worked in the industry for over 35 years. I forgot more about business that your sarcastic smart ass will ever know.
And trust me, my degree and certs have little to do with it. A grade school kid knows that a company that just posted a quarter with revenues of $16.43 billion (which is an increase of 13% from the same period in 2010), and profit of $5.23 billion isn't "DEAD"...
Obviously you don't understand that, in which case, you wouldn't even be a good clerk. Judging from you childish post, I do think I've met before. Haven't I heard you say "Would you like fries with that Sir"????
ROFL!
$100B past Microsoft in 1 year is tremendous. Go AAPL!
:rolleyes:
Sad day for dem boys in Redmond
I'm sure they're quite sad having that kind of performance. :rolleyes:
Congrats!:D
Do you feel better about yourself now?
yawn..
they both made billions... who cares.
Really.
Congratulations to apple, eventually this day had to come. Microsoft has been slacking off in the past few years and this will make them see the larger picture.
Sent from my iPhone
What larger picture will they see? 90% of the market isn't enough?
Microsoft is DEAD. And so is Google.
GO APPLE!
It will be Chapter 11 any day now.
In the quarter where Apple will still be selling alot of iPads? And release a new iMac? I highly doubt that would be enough. Let's not forget about Back to School either.
Also, does anyone think Apple will soon be forced to bail Microsoft out? ;)
Like Microsoft did for them back in the 90's?
Microsoft lets too many things die on the vine. Everything has to be run up the flagpole to get the green light, and that whole process takes so long that nothing truly innovative ever happens.
Windows 7 is awesome, Office 2010 is awesome, and I sure do love my Xbox 360, but right now, mobile gadgets sell. Zune was a bust, Courier looked amazing but was cancelled for some reason (I REALLY wanted a Courier), and Windows Phone 7.....jury's out. I would buy a Windows 7 phone before I'd buy an Android phone, but who knows what kind of lasting support it's going to have. Maybe when Nokia is making these in full force I'll take another look.
I've been saying it for the last year, and I'll say it again--Microsoft is in a death spiral. The days of people camping out in line for the next version of Windows are over.
Record profits and that's a death spiral? So it's all about the iTards camping out for the iPad and iPhone? Now THAT"S intelligence.
"The problem with Microsoft is they just have no taste." - Steve Jobs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dR8SAFRBmcU&feature=related
Funny how the classless Jobs bashes his competition at every opportunity.
Oh I see, you're a smart ass. Oh how cute!!!
Tell ya what little boy, Besides a business degree I also hold CCE and CFCC from the AACE as well as a PMP from the PMI. On top of all that, I have worked in the industry for over 35 years. I forgot more about business that your sarcastic smart ass will ever know.
And trust me, my degree and certs have little to do with it. A grade school kid knows that a company that just posted a quarter with revenues of $16.43 billion (which is an increase of 13% from the same period in 2010), and profit of $5.23 billion isn't "DEAD"...
Obviously you don't understand that, in which case, you wouldn't even be a good clerk. Judging from you childish post, I do think I've met before. Haven't I heard you say "Would you like fries with that Sir"????
ROFL!
ten-oak-druid
Apr 4, 12:42 PM
What a bunch of winey gun-control people in here, the only down side was that the other two involved weren't shot and killed now they get to cost the tax payers more money in court. :rolleyes:
you're quite the hero. :rolleyes:
you're quite the hero. :rolleyes:
AppleScruff1
Apr 29, 09:57 PM
You forget one thing neiltc13.... not many people seem to share your views:
� Zune Desktop Software.... way more people prefer the iTunes ecosphere (which isn't perfect either mind you).
� Zune Hardware... This is clearly a product flop... just like M$ and it's PlaysForSure DRM. Apple's iPod after 10 years still blitzes the portable music device market.
� Windows Phone 7... Yes, Windows 7 is a significant improvement over any previous boost phone OS from M$... a shame that they had to really copy the whole "multi-touch" concept from someone else. But M$ has a long way to catch up with Apple and Google with their offerings and as yet, it would suggest that Apple and Google are still better than M$.
� Windows 7... It's a LOT better than anything M$ has released in the past. All credit to them on this one. But it's uptake hasn't really been all that good though and Microsoft continues to do the "value-add" model by charging more for greater feature sets across it various Windows editions... Too many choices for people that don't understand. Just make one version and price it at $99 and they'll get a much better uptake.
� Office 2010... Yes, it's WAY better than any offering from other companies (for Excel at least). Not sure that Office 2010 is necessarily better than Office 2007 though.
� Office 2001 for Mac - Yes, especially Outlook 2011 for Mac. There was never any reason why Microsoft could not have upgraded it's old Classic Mac version of Outlook 2001 all along rather than develop it's Entourage product which in my opinion was always Microsofts half-assed way of limiting Mac Support in an attempt to marginalise the Mac platform. Guess what? It hasn't really worked so now Microsoft have realised that the best approach is to try and embrace the fact that Apple's Mac OS isn't going away anytime soon so it might as well support it properly.
� Xbox 360 - It's a pretty good product, but compared to the other two 7th generation Game Consoles (PS3/Wii), XBOX trails in third place in all markets except the US where it is second behind Wii.
� Xbox Live - Still an immature product (along with Sony's and Wii's equivalent!). I don't think ANY of the current offerings are that good really but Microsoft has a LOT more experience in internet technologies so you'd expect that Microsoft should be able to come up with something that is better than it is.
Microsoft's problem is that it struggles to actually invent something that appeals to consumers in a way that allows them to command a higher price until the market matures. Technology is a tough market to be in because most technology products fall in value dramatically when a product matures, and margins become very thin and in many cases unsustainable. The only real way to make a lot of dosh in technology is to continually be innovative and invent something new that captivates people. Simply copying someone else all the time won't cut it.
Apple started it's revolution with the iPod well before most other MP3 players came out and so it commanded a higher price (therefore profits) than conventional music devices of the time (CD Discman, Minidisc etc) had. Then just as all the me-too players jumped on the bandwagon, Apple move onto it's next innovation... iTunes Store... then iPhone... then App Store... and now the iPad.
When Microsoft goes back to it's heyday and starts being innovative like Apple and Google are now, they'll again start making a lot more money again.
They just had a record quarter, but when they innovate like Apple and Google they start to make a lot more money again. Priceless.
� Zune Desktop Software.... way more people prefer the iTunes ecosphere (which isn't perfect either mind you).
� Zune Hardware... This is clearly a product flop... just like M$ and it's PlaysForSure DRM. Apple's iPod after 10 years still blitzes the portable music device market.
� Windows Phone 7... Yes, Windows 7 is a significant improvement over any previous boost phone OS from M$... a shame that they had to really copy the whole "multi-touch" concept from someone else. But M$ has a long way to catch up with Apple and Google with their offerings and as yet, it would suggest that Apple and Google are still better than M$.
� Windows 7... It's a LOT better than anything M$ has released in the past. All credit to them on this one. But it's uptake hasn't really been all that good though and Microsoft continues to do the "value-add" model by charging more for greater feature sets across it various Windows editions... Too many choices for people that don't understand. Just make one version and price it at $99 and they'll get a much better uptake.
� Office 2010... Yes, it's WAY better than any offering from other companies (for Excel at least). Not sure that Office 2010 is necessarily better than Office 2007 though.
� Office 2001 for Mac - Yes, especially Outlook 2011 for Mac. There was never any reason why Microsoft could not have upgraded it's old Classic Mac version of Outlook 2001 all along rather than develop it's Entourage product which in my opinion was always Microsofts half-assed way of limiting Mac Support in an attempt to marginalise the Mac platform. Guess what? It hasn't really worked so now Microsoft have realised that the best approach is to try and embrace the fact that Apple's Mac OS isn't going away anytime soon so it might as well support it properly.
� Xbox 360 - It's a pretty good product, but compared to the other two 7th generation Game Consoles (PS3/Wii), XBOX trails in third place in all markets except the US where it is second behind Wii.
� Xbox Live - Still an immature product (along with Sony's and Wii's equivalent!). I don't think ANY of the current offerings are that good really but Microsoft has a LOT more experience in internet technologies so you'd expect that Microsoft should be able to come up with something that is better than it is.
Microsoft's problem is that it struggles to actually invent something that appeals to consumers in a way that allows them to command a higher price until the market matures. Technology is a tough market to be in because most technology products fall in value dramatically when a product matures, and margins become very thin and in many cases unsustainable. The only real way to make a lot of dosh in technology is to continually be innovative and invent something new that captivates people. Simply copying someone else all the time won't cut it.
Apple started it's revolution with the iPod well before most other MP3 players came out and so it commanded a higher price (therefore profits) than conventional music devices of the time (CD Discman, Minidisc etc) had. Then just as all the me-too players jumped on the bandwagon, Apple move onto it's next innovation... iTunes Store... then iPhone... then App Store... and now the iPad.
When Microsoft goes back to it's heyday and starts being innovative like Apple and Google are now, they'll again start making a lot more money again.
They just had a record quarter, but when they innovate like Apple and Google they start to make a lot more money again. Priceless.