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So as of the morning, it was 91 movies. So he didn't check that evening if they added 8 movies?

So he went and watched all 91 movies to see if they were all 5.1 surround? Just because it's not listed doesn't mean it's not 5.1. I have downloaded HD movies that didn't say it had 5.1, but they did.

Interesting.

Err...9 movies added :-)

I have to agree with most of what Paul says here . But one important piece he overlooked, with respect

Funny, Paul.  You only use "lie" when it's Apple.  Microsoft truly LIED to users about "Vista Capable" machines that, in fact, knowingly were not.  They did this to sell people junk boxes last christmas to keep the money rolling in before the launch of Vista.

That's an outright lie, but I haven't seen you call it out as such.  If you have, please show me the link.

Plus, this Vista Capable lie lead people to spends hundreds on a computer they would soon learn could barely run Vista at all, and certainly not with all the "Wow" MS focused on in it's marketing.

There's no moron equivalence between these lies and the fact that the movie studios have not yet delivered the movies that they promised Apple to iTunes.  none.

All that said.  If Apple is currently claiming the store has more rentals than it does, it certainly is a lie.   If, however, this was a projection made in January that has failed to materialize, it's only a lie if you can prove they knew there wouldn't be all the movies ready in time.

It's sort of like saying that Jobs lied when he claimed the G5 would reach 3ghz in a year.  IBM clearly told him they would.  They didn't.  Lies require knowledge to the contrary of your statement.

"Which makes me wonder: Why exaggerate?"

I dunno - I wonder why Steve Ballmer said that the Zune had significant market share, based on a skewed highly favorable comparison (the share in one quarter of hard drive players in the U.S. alone).  

Or why Ballmer, while saying the iPhone would never get significant market share, misleadlingly implied that windows mobile had "60% or 70% or 80%" share (it doesn't even remotely) .  

Or why Gates recently claimed that XX million people were using Vista (when a lot of those installed OEM copies were downgrounded to XP, especially by enterprise users).  

It's not just MS or Apple.  Every company distorts the facts with marketing.  Why doesn't Paul ask why Budweiser ads imply that if a chubby guy drinks Bud on a beach he will be surrounded by hot chicks?  

Look, I have no problem with Ballmer and Gates or any other company making marketing points.  That's business.  Paul of course doesn't ever say Ballmer or Gates are lying.  Because he doesn't have a shred of objectivity when it comes to Apple and MS.

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John. Whoa.

I call Microsoft out as needed as well. In fact, I was the earliest critic of Microsoft's Vista bifurcation strategy, given that I was the one who first revealed it. But let's not muddy an argument by brining in an unrelated topic. This is about Apple, not Microsoft. We can and will dump all over Microsoft when that's deserved. This is a different topic. (Though I appreciate your employ of a classic debating strategy: Changing the topic.)

That's called marketing, simply. When GM or Ford releases a new truck, the TVs are flooded with ads that mention it's the toughest and more powerful truck ever. We are inundated with these marketing gimmick all day long, and still you seem to only bother when they come from Apple. Only Apple has rightfully some of the best hardware engineering in the world, which makes the gimmick a bit more relevant.

Regarding Microsoft and exaggeration, I've often said, this is a company that makes plenty of mistakes. We don't need to make stuff up to criticiize Microsoft. There's plenty there. After all, this is a humongous company that's hell-bent on maintaining and extending its monopolies. It's not hard to find issues.

The thing with Apple is, they get a pass. Journalists actually cheer at their product announcements, which is sort of disgusting. There's a perception they do no wrong. I don't "target" Apple. I just see the inequity because I write about technology and understand this market. But then I also rate  their products highly, in general, because as I said they generally make good products. The reason I write about iPod and related products so much on a Windows site is that these products have a big effect on Windows users. We are, after all, Apple's biggest customers. But these inconveniences of truth, such as they are, seem to be lost on some. I'm just calling it like I see it.

With regards to cesjr 's comments, none of these specifics are very interesting, sorry. Zune *is* the number two player now, which is pretty impressive given they weren't in this market 18 months ago. (On the other hand, it's a distant number two. So what? I've ragged on the Zune quite a bit. Listen to Windows Weekly.) If you can't remember what Ballmer said about WM market share, we can move on. I feel that Apple has distorted the iPhone's success, though it's been considerable. WM outsold iPhone 4:1 in 2007. Windows licenses are sales, so whatever. Is the figure only 80 million "users"? Who knows? I don't write about beer, obviously. But if I ever started a consumer advocacy site, I'd be happy to look into that issue. :)

Long story short, Apple is pretty brazen with facts. It's well established. No one seems to care. I guess that's what I find interesting about this. It's not like Microsoft ever gets the same benefit of the doubt.

Paul,

You haven't responded to the point brought up earlier in the comments that it may, in fact, be beyond Apple's control. It is far easier for you to type "Apple are lying" than to actually bother to check to see if the studios have delivered on their promises.

I notice that when Apple released Michael Collins day and date with the DVD you didn't do an article saying "Apple are lying... They said there would be a 30 day window between the DVD and it hitting iTunes.

"The thing with Apple is, they get a pass"

There you go you are constantly irritated when Apple misses deadlines or leaves some features out of their products and the press doesn't seem to bother, while MS gets constantly bombarded. Well I understand it can be irritating for a MS fan.

The difference that the non MS fanboy press sees is that even if Apple misses sometimes by a few months its deadlines or makes inflated claims about their products, in the end (and rather sooner than latter) they constantly deliver the best products in their category, whether it's OS X, laptops, or iPods or iPhones... So even if it's outright a lie as you like to call it, in the end it turn out to be a great product even if St Jobs decides to make some deliberate design omission in the name of estheticism... that guy is just maniac about it, but hey in the end we get products we enjoy watching and touching every day... besides the dudes that don't give a damn about design and prefer their Alienware boxes !!! (or Zune)

"This is about Apple, not Microsoft. We can and will dump all over Microsoft when that's deserved. This is a different topic. (Though I appreciate your employ of a classic debating strategy: Changing the topic.)"

No - it's not changing the topic.  The counterargument people are making is that marketing is marketing.  Every company stretches the truth and exaggerates in its marketing points.  You're simply trying to dodge this argument - and thus fail to respond to it.

"The thing with Apple is, they get a pass. "

Macworld didn't give them a pass on the number of movies now available in iTunes, did they?  

Paul, you ought to look in the mirror on this issue - why are YOU giving MS a "pass" on the fact that MS caved to Intel and said a certain class of machines were Vista capable when they really weren't (with any kind of good experience)?  

"With regards to cesjr 's comments, none of these specifics are very interesting, sorry."

And it's "really interesting" that Apple said it would have a 1,000 movies by the end of some month and we're a few days into the next month and the goal/promise was not met?

Really, this is like, important?  Please.

Warning, topic change!

It still will disagree with all of you about 'Vista capable' and the many flavors of Vista. There are many levels of computer hardware and you really need at least levels....entry level, home user and business level. You can even argue that there needs to be a high end and low end business level. You need these levels for an affordable price structure. Also,Vista Capable machines should have been researched more by the purchaser. I was well established that multiple versions would be available, so it is up to the consumer to investigate if the cheap POS they bought could handle any of the versions, without upgrades. Just like the people who bought an iPhone and wanted a removable battery. Research before you buy. Here's an exampl. I bought a car that was 'iPod capable', however, I needed to purchase a $1200 upgrade to make it work with an iPod. It is common marketing terminology that the consumer is responsible for investigating, IMO. It's not 'buyer beware' it's buyer investigate it a little, and the Vista capable logo did not need much investigation. Otherwise, the consumer could have waited until more information was available. I still cannot believe that someone buying a $300 computer will spend money on the Vista upgrade, let alone the Ultimate version. Do any of you? BTW, I just posted this on my Mac Pro Tower.

"I feel that Apple has distorted the iPhone's success."

And I guess MS hasn't ever "distorted" the success of any of its products?  What planet do you live on Paul?

That's exactly what Ballmer did with the Zune and that bogus, hard-drive only, U.S. only, one-quarter only market share figure.

Look, companies should trumpet the success of their products.  There is no real harm in any event, because people take marketing points with a grain of salt anyways.

Paul,

My criticism of you remains that of tone.  You absolutely call MS out all the time.  But you don't use the same kind of language.  You don't say that Microsoft "lied". You'll point out the lie, but not call it a lie.

You're a writer.  You know (or should) the power of language and connotation.

My take away from your tone is that you treat Apple like it's a person and Microsoft like an organization.  I don't think that's fair or warranted.  I don't think it makes sense for you to be "shocked" to discover that Steve Jobs is a salesman...

Again, I think this gets back to the personal ties you have with Microsoft employees which cause you to pull your punches in the harshness of your language.

Tone matters and it's your tone that bothers me.  Your actual opinions and information I find interesting and informative.

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"Apple is brazen with facts"

Well, from where I sit, Microsoft has been lying to the market about the features of future products with vaporware and paper releases since it's inception.

I think Apple's record under Jobs of releasing features that they demonstrate is FAR GREATER than Microsoft's.  WinFS?  Smartdisplays? Plug-and-play?  How many times has Microsoft told people something was coming and had that turn out to be utterly false?  With every single product?  Pretty close to that.  Their record on undelivered or under-delivered features makes Apple look like a saint.

"Their record on undelivered or under-delivered features makes Apple look like a saint."

Since when did two wrongs make a right?

Paul's reaching here. Obviously. :-) But his point is still valid--Apple misses a *lot* of dates, and for the most part, they get a pass from a mac-friendly press.

"Lying" is a bit strong, but whatever. It ups Paul's hit counts, I'm sure.

Let's see, apple fanboys just cannot stand any criticism on Apple. When Paul criticize MS, they remain silence; and when Paul criticize Apple, they change topic. Classic.

"Let's see, apple fanboys just cannot stand any criticism on Apple. When Paul criticize MS, they remain silence; and when Paul criticize Apple, they change topic. Classic."

Windows fan pulls out the old artie macstrawman argument - AGAIN.  Jeez, can you guys come up with ANYTHING better than this.  Apple fans criticize apple all the time - they don't have any problem with that (where warranted).  Sorry.

And Paul can criticize apple all he wants - as long as there is a basis for it.   Right now he in fact does not have any basis for arguing that apple "lied" about the 1,000 movies by the end of February.  As someone pointed out, Paul would have to know that Apple in fact knew they would never meet the goal.  At best they got it wrong here, which may deserve criticism - I dunno, this pretty unimportant - but it's not a lie based on what we know.

But defence for Apple, technically, they did not "lie" about this: they only say they "will offer over 1,000 titles by the end of February", but they didn't say which February, did they? Maybe Feb 2010, who knows. Are you happy now, Apple fans?

Wow, I'm actually partially agreeing with lotsa twice in a week.  I also agree that the term lying is not really accurate.    Must be that leap year...

"Macworld didn't give them a pass on the number of movies now available in iTunes, did they? "

No, they didn't, but Paul already addressed that.  This is one drop in the bucket.  For every negative point, there are tons more glowing points that the Apple centric press makes.  For MacWorld to complain, it must be somewhat of a big issue, right?  Or at least noteworthy, because of the originator of the article?

"How many times has Microsoft told people something was coming and had that turn out to be utterly false? "

A ton of times, and they are duly noted by the press, the blogosphere, /. and the commenter's on Pauls articles.  Apples misgivings get a mere blip.

CESJR & John:

I think you two need to cut down on the Steve Kool Aide.  You two are hilarious in your constant craziness defense of Apple. Good grief, I believe you two can't read any article no matter the topic without seeing a hidden Apple slam.  

I'm starting to think you two must be joking in your comments. Cause no one can be this fanatical serious about software.

"you treat Apple like it's a person"

It pretty much is.  Can anyone name even one other person at Apple corporate?  Outside of the occasional lackey on stage, it's all Steve.  He's a "spotlight" stealing megalomaniac.  

"Windows fan pulls out the old artie macstrawman argument - AGAIN.  Jeez, can you guys come up with ANYTHING better than this."

======

Ok, then, can apple fans stop mentioning MS on a post like this which is completely UNRELATED to MS? Do you feel so bad without mentioning MS? This is a post about Apple, so let's just stick to it.

Delmont - "Good grief, I believe you two can't read any article no matter the topic without seeing a hidden Apple slam.  "

And I guess you know what articles I read and how I react to them?  Geez, can you make a more baseless argument about someone you don't know?

Hey, you've got a great argument technique - avoid the substance and just insult someone.  really great arguing, there.

"Ok, then, can apple fans stop mentioning MS on a post like this which is completely UNRELATED to MS? Do you feel so bad without mentioning MS? This is a post about Apple, so let's just stick to it."

Answer - no.  See my post above explaining why if you want.

"Answer - no.  See my post above explaining why if you want"

Ok, so your post above said "it's not changing the topic.  The counterargument people are making is that marketing is marketing." So I guess this is the reason? Great, marketing is marketing, and using "lie" as a method of marketing is also a option, isn't it? So what's the problem? And if you really want an example besides Apple, you can use other companies, such as Google, IBM etc. The point is why do apple fans constantly mention MS (but not other companies) to "prove" their theory. Can't apple fans think of any other examples? This is best they can do? Maybe they really hate MS. Maybe that's why.

"The point is why do apple fans constantly mention MS (but not other companies) to "prove" their theory."

hooboy - I did no such thing.  I never argued that MS should be castigated for making ordinary, puffed up marketing claims like all companies do.  Paul castigates apple (and apple alone) for marketing.  While giving MS a pass for its marketing exaggerations.  In your words - "Maybe he really does hate apple.  Maybe that's why."

I'm not sure I would call this lying, more of another example of not making a target it stated in public.  Which IS growing kind of tiresome. What happened to the mantra of shipping when its ready at Apple?

"I never argued that MS should be castigated for making ordinary, puffed up marketing claims like all companies do."

I didn't say any companies (including MS and Apple) should be castigated for marketing either, did I? And apparently nobody questioned your point "marketing is marketing". "Paul castigates apple (and apple alone) for marketing". Of course, as I said, this is a post about Apple, isn't it? Should Paul include all the companies in the world when writing a blog about this iTunes movie rental thing? If you are interested in making a comparison of Apple and MS' (or any other company) marketing you are welcome to write another article in your blog, and people may find it interesting.

heran - "Should Paul include all the companies in the world when writing a blog about this iTunes movie rental thing?"

Really, this is your argument?  This is more strawman rubbish, from people that have nothing real to argue apparently.

I, and others here, have been quite clear on our argument.  Paul attacks apple's marketing claims as "LIES" and then lets MS off, never calling them a liar.  He just treats any questionable marketing claim from MS completely different from one from MS - not what you would expect from someone who claims to be the paragon of objectivity in the tech blogger world.

What we are pointing to goes far beyond one post - it's based on his conduct and writing at this site over the course of many posts.

If you want to debate this - i.e, claim that Paul is not doing what we're arguing - FINE.  Go ahead, tell us we are unfairly describing what Paul does.  And provide support for y our argument, please.

"He just treats any questionable marketing claim from MS completely different from one from MS "

I meant  - "He just treats any questionable marketing claim from MS completely different from one from Apple."

"The thing with Apple is, they get a pass. Journalists actually cheer at their product announcements, which is sort of disgusting."

And so they should get a pass. As for cheering, Apple is exciting. Microsoft is not. Do you want people to live dull, uneventful lives with mundane, mediocre products all their lives? Is so, you've chosen wisely when you chose Microsoft.

Anyway, that's totally waste of Blogosphere space, as Paul is what he is, and is not gonna change anytime soon (even less with counter-arguments from Mac Fanatics): a self-proclaimed unbiased tech writer that puts to shame Mossberg and Pogue when it comes to the tone of their article and their so-called unbiasedness. As John stated it above, Paul is a old-school computer lover who has an inner guilt at falling in love with Apple gear, and make himself feel better by trashing them whenever he can on stupid things that he only cares about and magnifying these fact to make them look like some really heatless liars (closed-captioning, itunes content, hidden OSX features, late delivery...).

And then he dares pointing fingers at people like Pogue or Mossberg and tags himself as an unbiased writer.... hmmmmpf...

As we say in French: c'est l'hopital qui se moque de la charite !!(it's hospital making fun of charity !!!).

And you know what Paul, I read tons of negative article about Apple (I even write some myself) most of them on Apple related sites or general computer info blogs, and I don't care because their writer have an even vocabulary and tone regardless of what they review or talk about. It's only the substance of the article that differs.

And by using your 2 tone (and vocabulary) approach whenever it's MS related stuff or the ones selling competing products, you're totally discrediting your reviews and the quality of your writing...

Too bad, I guess it's what makes a difference between a great writer like Mossberg and you or any company-fanatic writer.

Delmont:

"Hidden Apple slam"

Um... what part of the "lying" slam is hidden, exactly?

As for why I pulled out the MS examples, it's simple.  I'm not disputing the fact that Apple messed up on their projection about the movies.  I just see no evidence to support the allegation that Apple knew they'd miss their projected content availability.  And that's because there is no evidence to support it.  Now, if they are currently claiming to have more content available then they actually do... that's a lie.  So... show me the money.  Where are they currently claiming something that's demonstrably false?

Dipsht Admin:

Could you name anyone at GE?  How about Viacom (my employer)? Companies are smart not to advertise their best talent, lest they invite competitors to try and snap them up.  

Even so, if you were an actual mac user, you'd know that Apple has lots of people interacting with users of their products very publicly, from Joe Schor for Aperture to Michael Wong in the pro video team.  Steve is very flattering to his developers in every keynote, even though he may be a complete jerk to them behind closed doors (just like Gates has been know to be).  i think that kind of behavior is horrible and I don't endorse or condone being abusive, but Steve ain't the only scary boss in corporate america.

Steve is simply smart enough to know that you don't put up some monotone code monkey to give a presentation.  Give me a break, people.  Apple's got it's problems, but their messaging and presentation are the best in the business.

As for Heran and the rest.

I brought up MS simply to illustrate how Paul uses very different language when criticizing Apple then when he does MS.  This is "The Supersite for Windows" after all so it's not like MS can ever be that irrelevant.  Regardless, when it comes to Apple, he quickly jumps to language like "lying" that is built on ill-intent that he couldn't possible know to be true.

Paul is dead set in the belief that Apple and Steve Jobs "lies" more than any other tech firm.  He's said so explicitly to me in email on numerous occasions.  I believe that this idea is demonstrably false and is part of Paul's subjective biases that taint his writing.  He's not a bad guy or a bad reviewer of Apple products.  But he's got a distorted perception of Apple that's been colored in part by his closeness to MS employees and by the constant bashing he's received from ignorant, pro-apple platform zealots.

#1.  Paul needs to get a grip on the "Mac freaks".  He runs a "Supersite for Windows" and frequently criticizes Apple.  OF COURSE mac partisans are going to jump all over it.  He's inviting it and shouldn't be surprised or offended.  Journalists have been getting nutty letters to the editor since the beginning of time.  

#2.  Paul needs to drop the "I'm objective and no-one else is" posture.  His tone is clearly more harsh and black-and-white when he criticizes Apple.  He's clearly more willing to assign ill-intend on the part of Apple and more willing to chalk up Microsoft's missteps to organizational dysfunction...  even though MS has a long and public history of choices built on the ill-intent of top executives (hence my Vista-capable example).

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What people have to realise, and I think 99% of you do, is that is this a Microsoft fanboy's website. There is no way around it.

"is that is this a Microsoft fanboy's website. There is no way around it."

Well it does say SuperSite for Windows.  What were you expecting?  And an often asked question, why are people like you here then?  Speaking for myself, I don't feel the need to either read or comment over at Apple centric blogs such as TUAW, daringfireball, etc.  It would be a waste of my time and would serve no real purpose.

"As for cheering, Apple is exciting."

If they are real journalists that are are intent on being unbiased, they certainly should not be cheering, no matter how "exciting" the product may be.  It would be hard for me to trust your opinion of something if you were cheering for a product by the competition.  The RDF is real, and that kind of behavior wouldn't be appropriate at publications covering other types of products.

Oh look!  An anti-Apple article with over 40 comments!  

Who would have thought?

"Well it does say SuperSite for Windows.  What were you expecting?  And an often asked question, why are people like you here then?"

Because it's not very palatable to see such posts by a rampant Windows fanboy. Blind fanboy-ism, like that of this blog, is not a pretty thing. One wonders how such a skewed view can be held to Microsoft. Hence one can't pass by without commenting. Even if one comments with a constant shake of the head, as one read's the blog posts.

"If they are real journalists that are are intent on being unbiased, they certainly should not be cheering, no matter how "exciting" the product may be."

People, even journalists, have feelings. You can't blame them for getting excited about what Apple is doing. After all, they are only human. Apple is cool, innovative, revolutionary and... well, simply better. You don't see that happening with Microsoft? Well, guess why not? Because they are dull. The new IBM: Big Boring Business. The beast may have been wounded by the DOJ and EU, but  such an animal does not change its spots. It's the same animal within.

"Really, this is your argument?  This is more strawman rubbish, from people that have nothing real to argue apparently."

No, this is not my argument. This is what you do.

"...simply to illustrate how Paul uses very different language when criticizing Apple then when he does MS. "

You know what, I heard that in India, women being fat are regarded beautiful. Of course, in many countries, being thin is beautiful. So what's the problem here, why the exact same woman could received quite different judgements? If you think about it, if everyone else is thin (like in India), what's the point of being thin; and if everyone else is fat, who wants to go fat as well? If the most world praise Apple and bash MS insanely  (even Apple itself does it constantly), don't you think a little balance might be needed somewhere?

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befuson:

:) Given I just got an iMac G3 for simple computer stuff in the bedroom, I must be one of a very small minority more than happy with Windows, Mac OS (Classic and X) and Linux :)

"Hence one can't pass by without commenting."

Umm, yes you can.  I do it.  I always see articles or posts at pro-Apple publications, and while I shake my head in disagreement, I don't feel the need to post at every blog in the world that dare spread wrong information.  I like to keep my commenting to a small amount of sites.  I simply don't have the time.  What this does show is exactly what Paul was talking about with Apple fanatics.  Here is a post that Paul made about what a pro-Apple site has said negatively about a product, and the barrage of comments start.

"Apple is cool, innovative, revolutionary and... well, simply better," "Blind fanboy-ism"

The pot and kettle have been getting pretty cozy lately.

If Apple is "cool, innovative, revolutionary and... well, simply better" they do deserve a lot of criticism then.

If a company is only praised by journalists then... something is deffinitely wrong. This isn't the way journalism was intented to be.

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Apple has a problem with delivering goods just like Microsoft does. Except most times, Microsoft is pretty open about when they don't deliver. Apple cannot claim so, because often times they give us the silent treatment or some spin. In my eyes, its pretty clear why I stay a Microsoft customer. I'd rather be told its not happening or its being delayed than not hear a word. Its the same reason I'm pissed off at Lucas Arts. Its just bad business.

Heran,

Hello there mr world of relativity.  Dude, this is all about Paul claiming to be even handed while he clearly isn't.  What you're saying is that his anti-Apple stance is a counter-balance to the rest of the allegedly "pro-apple media".  I'd be fine with that, and ignore him as a partisan hack, if that's what he claimed to be.  But he doesn't.  He claims to be the most "objective" man in tech punditry.  Just read this:

community.winsupersite.com/.../does-this-explain-mac-fanatics.aspx

You and I apparently agree that he is not unbiased. Hypocrisy is what drives me nuts.  Paul needs to drop the sanctimony about his own objectivity and embrace the reality of the website he runs and the biases, or shall we say, opinions, he holds.

Subzero,

Perhaps Microsoft is better at warning you of disappointments, but Apple clearly disappoints FAR less often.

Apple is MUCH better at delivering on their demonstrated features than Microsoft.  MS clearly demonstrates and promises features and software with an eye on chilling the market for competitors, then fails to include them due to incompetence or the fact that they were never going to in the first place.  There is simply no contest here.  

Do both miss ship dates?  Sure. Every tech company does.  It's part of the reality of development.   But at least you know that if Jobs shows off a feature, it's gonna be in the software and work as demonstrated with very few exceptions.

This is all about delivering on promises, and Microsoft's track record blows compared to Apple's.

As for content delivery, which is the root of this post, again, this is certainly a function of the studios and not Apple.  Hell, they've been slow to provide content for the movie sites they actually OWN AND OPERATE.

In reality, the tech pundit that most deserves the wrath of Apple users everywhere is Rob Enderle.  That guy is a complete hack stooge that should be legally forbidden from discussing Apple.  I must give Paul credit for engaging the community and at least opening himself up to the hits from mac users.  Enderle is just a cowardly, ignorant hack who unfortunately get quoted left and right by even more ignorant, lazy hacks.

"Apple is MUCH better at delivering on their demonstrated features than Microsoft."

That's a weak argument.  The difference is that MS makes its list of features known before the product is delivered, while Apple tells you near nothing.  So of course Apple is going to have a much higher percentage of hits.  If they were planning a feature that eventually didn't make it, how would we know that they didn't?  If a tree falls in the forest, and no one is around, does it make a sound?

I agree with you about Enderle.  While I don't have any grudge against him, I don't trust his analysis on anything, and I simply ignore his name when it comes up.

At the end of the day, Paul is Paul.  If you don't like what he is saying, I see no reason to continue to harp on him and just move on.  I could have easily fired up a sh!t storm of comments at the idrankthekoolaid site that has a pingback here.  But I realized it simply wasn't worth it, and I'll just ignore him.  I suggest that some of you should do the same.

"... needs to drop the sanctimony about his own objectivity and embrace the reality of the website he runs and the biases, or shall we say, opinions, he holds."

We could put so many names in place of Paul in that sentence and they would fit perfectly.  Mossberg comes to mind.

hey Dipsht, we come we dual Mac-PC users come here as computer geek because Paul, labels himself as a unbiased tech lovers of all things MS and Apple and others... So we rightfully expect to read fair and interesting things over here.

Only it does just not happen, unlike what content you can find on Ars, ElReg, or Slashdot...

It's not even an equivalent of TUAW or Daring fireball for Windows because these sites rarely talk about Windows, and when they do they never use bashing or condescending tone like employed here...

Its this simple.  Both "market" their products.  Both have bugs and both miss dates.  None of this is curing or not curing cancer.

That said, Paul clearly uses language that stands out when talking about Apple.  This language is never used when talking about Microsoft even though this is much greater opportunity to do so.

I imagine Paul sitting there in his home office red as a beat, shaking all over,  screaming out "LLLLLIIIIIIAAAAAARS!!!!!!" and the spittle hits hits his screen, kids jump up scared in the other room, when typing up stuff about Apple.

On the other hand, I can imagine him murmuring "dam can they ever get anything right" under his breath when spinning praise about the latest Zune.

I think its obviously clear from the comments here that I am not off base here.  

Just read this......

"Jobs stated he is "not happy about" the fact that they were unable to meet the 1000 movies on iTunes goal by the end of February. Jobs blamed the delay on movie studios getting the necessary approvals from various rights holders of each film."

So if you have full control, say Vista being a few days late.....its ok?  Yet if you really want to give the public something but you dont have full control...its worse somehow?

^ + 1

I doubt Apple would be dumb enough to intentionally hold back some movie release just to piss Paul off !!! It costs them of course and tarnishes their image. It's undoubtly something beyond their control like big majors who are more than happy now to have a big leverage on Apple and make them pay for being the leader in music business and dictating their law. Cf mp3 DRM/pricing accorded to Amazon vs. iTunes. Ditto Movie business now...

But what I like about Steve is that he won't back down in the interest of the customer and prefer to offer less content rather than bow to the will of the big majors.

"If a company is only praised by journalists then... something is deffinitely wrong. This isn't the way journalism was intented to be."

The problem is that journalism is not what it is intended to be. And it hasn't been for a long long time. Like Nixon once correctly said "The press are all sluts." And they still are. Look at the way they look away when it comes to the Iraq <del>war</del> invasion. Never pose hard questions, for years and years on end. They would only pose the difficult questions when it suits them. Hence, they are sluts.

Paul is clearly not a bad person or a crazy.  If you listen to the Windows Weekly podcast, you find his tone about Apple to markedly different and his tone with Microsoft to often be quite harsh and sarcastic.  Which is why I find his writing to be so unusual.  I try to write with the same tone as I speak: passion and verbosity.  

Paul, on the other hand, seems to use this blog and sometimes his Apple reviews, as a place to vent his frustrations and personal hang-ups with Apple users and Steve Jobs.

I'd just like to see Paul allow his intelligence to prevail over his emotions when it comes to Apple.

Why do I care about it?  Because I like reading Paul's stuff, I love the Mac platform and Apple approach to products and I'm a huge geek.

"But what I like about Steve is that he won't back down in the interest of the customer "

What, like not offer user replaceable batteries in the MBA, iPhone and iPods?  And charge higher than normal prices to replace said batteries?

Not allow OS X to be installed on non-Apple hardware?

Not have expandable memory in their iPods and iPhone?

Offering DRM laden music for years that can only be used in Apple products?

Yeah, these seem like pretty customer positive actions.  :rollseyes:

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"What, like not offer user replaceable batteries in the MBA, iPhone and iPods?  And charge higher than normal prices to replace said batteries?"

Non-replaceable batteries have two advantages in a small device - allows a smaller physical form and the device is more durable (the battery door on my Nokia was always coming off)

And where's your proof they charge higher prices?  And there are cheaper third-party options usually (just like RAM).

"Not allow OS X to be installed on non-Apple hardware?"

This is done to provide a better customer experience (better integration, fewer problems and what problems exist are easier to fix because of fewer hardware configurations).  Look, you can prefer open hardware, but there are downsides to it and it's nice there is a choice in the market. That's good for consumers.

"Not have expandable memory in their iPods and iPhone?"

I do think Apple does this one primarily to force people to upgrade.  However, as in the case of removable batteries, adding this feature would increase bulk some and create something else to fail.  Sealed memory is trouble-free.

"Offering DRM laden music for years that can only be used in Apple products?"

If you remember, Zune adopted the same approach  Why?  Because interoperable DRM (Playsforsure) was a nightmare - it never worked.  Also, the record companies forced DRM on Apple.  They never wanted it and are trying to get it removed.

"If you remember, Zune adopted the same approach"

Oh, I know.  As lotsa said earlier, two wrongs don't make a right.  I was addressing in particular the point that was being made:  that Apple was some altruistic organization that has the consumers in mind.  However they are out to make a buck, which there is nothing wrong with that.  But many believe that Apple is their friend.  This is really not the case.

"And where's your proof they charge higher prices?"

I was thinking mainly of the iPhone.

www.apple.com/.../battery

$85.95 total replacement cost, plus loss of use of your phone. I just replaced the battery in my phone after 1 1/2 years with an OEM replacement from eBay for < $15 with shipping.

"adding this feature would increase bulk some"

microSD cards are so incredibly small, I can't see this as being a problem.  It's to keep users on the upgrade treadmill.

At the end of the day, the lack of a replaceable battery and lack of expandable memory make the upgrade decision to iPhone Take 2 that much easier.

To say that not allowing OSX on non apple hardware is promoting user experience and choice is as laughable as it can get.. I think why apple does it is to force consumers buy apple hardware if they want OSX. Maybe they fear that everyone will buy OSX and install it on their PCs otherwise.. In what way this allows choice, beats me! ;-)

"To say that not allowing OSX on non apple hardware is promoting user experience and choice is as laughable as it can get.."

I realize that it is hard if not impossible for open hardware zealots to realize there are downsides to open hardware.  Remember, there's almost always upsides and downsides to everything.  Apple's closed approach has downsides too.

Note that a number of windows bloggers have said that it's a lot harder for MS to provide a smooth experience, because of the plethora of PC hardware out there.  They've acknowledged this as why there's been more trouble with Vista, for example.  In essence I am saying the same thing.  This is really not debateable.

""If you remember, Zune adopted the same approach"

Oh, I know.  As lotsa said earlier, two wrongs don't make a right."

But is it wrong - limiting DRM to one maker's devices - when the other approach simply fails and does not work?  You're arguing that the "right" approach is something that fails.  Sorry, you're wrong.

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More than half of the features of Leopard did not make it into the final version. Did Apple pony up and say anything about it? No. Microsoft was open about their problems and changes to Vista. Look at the comments about the iTunes movie rentals and closed captioning? Again, the silent treatment and spin from Apple.

It seems pretty clear that Jobs bashes and spins at Microsoft about everything to Apple's advantage. Microsoft doesn't waste their time with such smear tactics. They promote their agenda without stupid commercials that insults half their consumer base. Even with their campaign against Linux, they told the truth. Thats why Linux doesn't account for much of the PC market.

Microsoft is no angel, but its much further away from the devil than Apple is. At least we get functionality over form with PC's and Microsoft. Apple's Macbook Air is perfect example of their flawed and no justification thinking.Not enough ports, no ethernet ports, and a rediculous price point. Most of their machines lack the versatility I get with a much cheaper PC.

While Apple does a better job these days, its still lacks the professional touch of being as honest. The idea that a PC was bulletproof to viruses and malware was total baloney from Apple. They have more critical fixes than Vista. At least Microsoft has been proactive at fixing these things in a timely manner. Apple just spins it that nothing is wrong with their machines.

Jesus, I can't believe you people are complaining about OSX not running on other hardware.  Talk about ideological zealotry.  Open hardware has inherently reliability and support problems.  If Microsoft's own executive team was having their PC's reduced to "$2100 email machines" by Vista and the third party driver woes that came with it's launch, what makes you think OSX wouldn't fall prey to the same problem.

Again.  This is about market choice.  If you want a wide-open hardware platform, choose Windows or Linux.  If you want a system with dramatically higher reliability (as measured by every neutral consumer survey on record from PC Magazine to Consumer Reports)... and are well served by the hardware choices Apple provides... buy a mac.

Why does this approach bother you people so much?  

And Subzero,

Please list for me the demonstrated features that did not ship in leopard.  I already know, and am really bummed, that airport disk support for time machine isn't working... though that wasn't explicitly demoed or trumpeted.  It just briefly appeared on the website.

Still.  You're claiming "more than half of the features of leopard did not make it"... which from what I can tell is an outright lie on your part.

As for viruses... OSX is inherently more secure than XP.  The objective facts is that, despite having 3% of the global market, OSX has been hit with ZERO virus attacks and there's only been a handful of trojans identified.  So, I think it's fair to say that Mac users are safer than Windows users, security hole or not.

Again.  Please back up your Leopard claims with a nice fat list of demoed-then-dropped features.  As it stands now, you just look like a liar.

Gee this has to be the longest thread on this blog ever !!!! Paul must be proud !!!

Subzero: Your post has to be the most ridicule one of all on this thread !! laughable ! As John said only one thing is missing from Leopard, and still it was never advertised...

"Microsoft is no angel, but its much further away from the devil than Apple is" laughable again... Who has the more trials and fines on their back from the 2 ???

The only thing Apple did wrong was to lock the iTunes users on iPods... They even face a lawsuit in Europe for that. They deserve it. But I'm glad that now Amazon has changed the game for music download over here.

The critical fixes thing you point has a good reason, and for the same reason linux has more vulnerabilities. They both have open-source kernel. So anybody can put its nose under the hood and find some flaws. It's much harder on Vista.

And what counts anyway is not the number of flaws found, because there always are in softs, it's the time spent to fix them.

You have to give kudos to MS for making a much more secure OS with Vista but it's still no equivalent still.

btw...

Here's the link to MS's top execs complaining to Steve Ballmer about Vista driver troubles:

www.smh.com.au/.../1204226975087.html

Subzero is clearly a know-nothing Apple basher. You know, the people that Paul claims don't exist.  He bashes with generalizations and lies, while not backing anything up and then changing the subject.  Typical.

"Talk about ideological zealotry."

Pot, do you take Kettle to be your wife?

I'd be the first one to buy and install OSX on my PC were apple to allow such a combination, just the way Windows can be installed on a mac. I love OSX, but I love my pc more. And I am sure there will be many many like me who have the same opinions. But to buy a new laptop just for OSX, no way! So I stand by my statement that in effect Apple is stifling user choice by locking OSX to apple hardware only.. This is one area in which MS has done good..

Again, since Apple lacks an extensive beta program like MS does, this effectively ensures that whatever new features apple might have proposed and missed in the final version will never be known. Those who say that there was just one feature that failed to make it to the final version of OSX must be the developers of OSX themselves, are you??

No we are talking difference between Promised and advertised features vs. delivered features. You don't need to be a developer to know the advertised features !

kanwa...

Regarding feature delivery, the facts are the facts.  Apple doesn't demo stuff unless it's gonna be in the product.  You call that an excuse, I call that a virtue.  MS's early demos are more often intended to scare competitors out of doing something than they are to inform developers.  "Well, looks like MS is moving into [insert category], I guess we'll wait for that".  "Longhorn's" early demos were done with Macromedia director from what I understand.  What's the point?  To scare competitors.

I would love to see OSX widely licensed as it's clearly superior to Windows in so many ways.  Maybe as Apple's revenue continues to diversify there will come a point where they can re-approach licensing.

However, the reality of the PC market is that it is often a horrible world of finger-pointing and zero accountability thanks to the decoupling of the hardware and software.

"Expandability" has long been a benefit of the PC market, yet doing any kind of modification to a PC instantly renders that change the sole cause of any problems when talking to PC support.

Typical HP/DELL support call:

"Oh, you upgraded your video card?  That's why your DVD-burner is no longer recognized by Easy CD creator.  Try calling Roxio or ATI or Microsoft, or frankly anyone but us."

Personal example:

I bought the digital download of vista for bootcamp directly from microsoft.com (or what appeared to microsoft.com).  They offered and "upgrade" and a "full version".  I bought the full version, since I didn't have windows.  The download was a .exe that required windows be installed.  It didn't even create an install disc.  How the hell could you sell a "full version" that implicitly requires a previous version by design?

So I call MS.  They told me that "Digital River" handles the store and it's their problem! Called digital river.  They said they only sell the bits, and know nothing about how they work or what they are and that I should call MS.  Called MS again.  They INSISTED that digital river had the answer.  I respectfully let the MS support person know that this was the reason I switched to the mac.  Called Digital River.  They became frustrated because this was apparently a problem they'd heard alot and were tired of MS blaming them.  Digital River gave me a refund.  

That was 4 hours of my life I'll never get back.  An MS support manager called me to follow up.  I informed him of the situation and that I thought the download would be a disc image (given that Vista has onerous copy protection built into the core of the OS).  He had never heard of such a thing and claimed that digital software retail was "very new".  I informed him that I'd been buying mac software as disc images for over 5 years and that they're a simple drag and drop installation from any drive.  He was intrigued.

So even in the FRIGGIN PURCHASE OF VISTA ITSELF, the PC world points fingers.