I'm 42 myself and am over the thrill of working out some complicated device's interface. That was fine when I was 20, but now I just want to use it and get on with life.

In regards to my comments on how you do not “really own” the songs you pay for with iTunes, let's get real here. You pay $.99 for a sing you can only play on a handful of systems after which it won't work on any more, and it only works on the Apple iPod. Fairplay does not = fair use. I think you are blinded by Apple and its sad to see that.

You argue that Sean is supporting the “Dark side” meaning Bill Gates, but I hardly think Steve Jobs is an angel. How many lawsuits have there been against Apple due to faulty batteries? What about the scratched screen on the Nano? Or putting retailers out of business that used to sell Mac products? Or how about using Apple fansites for leaking information? None of those are acts worthy of a Nobel Prize, so why support Steve any more than Bill? There is no lesser evil here.

I can tell you probably spent a couple hours writing responses to everyone which tells me you have too much time on your hands. ASnd being an environmentalist probably means you stress out more than the average guy, seeing how everyone is poluting the world on a daily basis.

Relax and realize this is a FUN debate, and there is no reason for name calling or aggression please.

Thanks!

“I love the maclot, I truly do” that's great to hear!! If only I knew what the “Maclot” was?! Are you stereotyping me off one little post I made?! That's just as bad(and stupid) as saying all black people are criminals! (I'm half Black by the way) So I should assume you are part of the Windoze lot then?! Pardon me, but I think you are the one that has been brainwashed into thinking that there are such “lots”. I'll tell you I do love MOST Apple products and CHOOSE to use them because of their QUALITY. Ever hear of the saying: “YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR”?? Do you really think that most people buy BMWs because they are a status symbol??! That's what Hummer H2s are for. If you can afford quality then why not go for the more expensive, better product?! I can afford Apple…therefore I buy it. What I can't afford is a $100 Apple case for my iPod made of the finest leather, therefore I bought a cheaper case to suit my budget which still gave it the same amount of protection. But some people can afford a $100 case so why shouldn't they buy it?!

“Do people like Vets really not see that they have fallen for the best new trick in marketing, the ?new luxury? brand?”

No, actually I don't see that! Is it really a trick?! (again you've stereotyped “the people” to be like me) I paid for a computer and a DAP that clearly work better, look better, and interact more seamlessly together than any other product out that I could've bought with my hard-earned money. Shouldn't that mean I have to pay a 'little' more for them?! For example: shouldn't you pay more for dinner at the fancy Italian restaurant than the McDonalds just for the fact that it works better with your stomach even though they both fill you up the same?! (okay bad example-but you get the point, don't make me compare BMW to Kia)

“I bet Vets only buys his kitchen gear from Williams Sonoma, his golf clubs from Callaway Golf and drives a BMW not for the fact it?s an amazing driving machine but because it?s brand appeal and status symbolism.”

Wow, this one makes you sound like a complete jackass, you couldn't be farther from the truth. My iMac & iPod are about the only “luxury” things I have because I'd rather have no computer at all than have to use Windows all the time…..yeesh. 90% of my kitchen gear is from my local Value Village on East Hastings, Vancouver. The other 10% is from my local grocery store. (if you don't know what Value Village is, it's a second-hand shop) Nor do I even know what Williams Sonoma is! I have never played golf once in my life (I'm 24) (except mini-put!!) I see it as a complete waste of money….why pay so much to hit a freakin ball on some nicely cut grass??! I'm more into downhill mountain biking, especially in Whistler, BC. Lastly, I have never owned a vehicle in my life, not because I can't afford it, but because I'm one of those people that actually cares about our Earth. I get around mostly by bicycle, or skateboard/bus/subway combo………how's that for a status symbol A$$hole! I bet you drive a gasoline chugging truck Sean! (or whatever, something that damages our environment) If I could afford it, I'd buy the damn most expensive green car I could, and will once they are absolutely zero emmisions.

“For one second let?s look at the third product introduced during this event..” why even bring this up, and your stupid “luxury company” theory. The reason it's so expensive: 1. not to alienate 3rd party case makers 2. It must be some damn fine leather (have you even saw it in real life? touched it? If there are leather boots out there for $1000s just compare the amount of material, I'm sure you are getting your money's worth-the people that can afford it will anyways. It's not like Apple is selling expensive clothing apparel, for Christ's sake-look what SJ wears at his keynotes. It's not like he's wearing Versacci or whatever, even though he could clearly afford it. People won't be wearing Apple's $100 leather case on their forheads.

“…brought ?new luxury? marketing that creates brand zombies from idiots…” I don't doubt that there are some people that will buy everything Apple puts out, but I'm sure these “brand zombies” are few and far between. Also applies to much more than just Apple products! “…individuals looking for something ?better….? Apple products in general usually are better than cheaper products. Higher quality materials & engineering=better. Of course everyone has their own opinions on particular products, such as Apple's new iPod case.

“Apple chose to go with six buttons on their remote because they know from market surveys that the vast majority of their target market are in fact these brand zombies that can?t manage more than seven options at a time mentally”

You think the majority of Apple users are brand zombies?! You really need to get out and socialize a little more buddy. Let me ask you three questions: 1. Why would anyone need to “manage more than seven options at a time”? 2. Why would Apple add more buttons if they can do what they wanted to do with only six? 3. Do you have any concern for our environment at all? If Apple's remotes are 20% the size of competitors remotes, that means an 80% reduction of toxic materials. If all remotes that were ever made were the same size as Apple's it would mean whole hell of a lot less toxic material ending up at landfills. I'm glad we're finally on the thread topic, as I see this as one major reason Apple chose to use such a small remote. A smaller remote with less buttons will give the battery a longer life span. There's also no battery draining LEDs on it either!

“….YES Apple could have fit an encoder into the mini….”

Okay mister engineer……you still didn't address my question of storage space? Unless minituarization continues at an amazing rate, they would have to alter the Mini's casing to fit in a practical size hard drive. Clearly you didn't think this out, since you are a know-all and seem to think Apple is merely a “marketing monster”. You just had to blurt it out to prove the “maclot” wrong, right?! Consider this, since Apple is aiming for the Mini to be a streaming machine, that would mean there has to be a bigger computer around. That computer would be the one with storage space and video capture abilites. PowerMac users have had video capture cards for years, and iMac users could easily add a solution such as EyeTV. Problem solved, there's absolutely no reason for the mini to have a PVR built in. The idea of the mini is that it's small and unobtrusive to add to your existing home theatre setup. If anything, I can see Apple making a “mini” Mini, instead of just cramming more and more stuff into it as components get smaller.

“….however Apple must offer better resolution versions of content or people will complain that the picture simply sucks.”

Wow, Sean….I'm impressed. I actually agree with you on something!! Wait till April 1st buddy! I can see Apple rolling out the fabled Video iPod along with huge improvements to the iTunes store! Let's all hope!!

“I personally thought Ian's comments were interesting and he has a point. If I buy something like this, I want to own the media thats being played on it. I do not want to be bound by Apple's iTunes rules.”

Uhhhh, am I missing something?? That is what iTunes is all about! That is exactly why Apple chose a pay per track model instead of a stupid subscription model where you would lose all your content the minute you stop paying. Now if it were like that your comments would be justified. Sure there is fairplay, but if you have an iPod….then it is perfect! Media companies wouldn't let content sold over the internet to not be protected from copyright fraud somehow.(thanks to all the people that steal over P2P)
It doesn't limit how many times you can watch it, you can even make a back-up copy.

As for other content: you can rip your dvds, home DV camera footage, video podcasts, plently of other royalty free content online, P2P (although I don't support it), and if you NEED it: you can get a video capture device such as a Neuros MP4 recorder, Elgato EyeTV, etc. Am I missing anything? Surely any content that a “Media Centre” can handle!

“I don't see anywhere where Ian was knocking the remote control on the Apple mini, so why did you attack him like he was?”

Exactly!! So why did he even post on a thread with the title 'A Remote Control that Tells the Future?' Too many people write rubbish on threads where their comments don't belong-which always ticks me off a little. I'm no better now of course but: he started it!! lol :) Of course he pushed me over the edge when he was childish and arogant enough to write: “Apple could be screwing me and I am loving it!”??? Did you read that line Michelle?? Do you always agree with people that you don't know and make ******** comments like this?!
I won't even get into it I'll save that for Sean, the reason I got mad is because his post was irrelevant to the thread and he had the audacity to make a comment like that. If he loves Apple products so much why make a comment like that? Maybe he was talking about himself….aww now I get it, maybe he likes it up the A$$!!

“It's like everyone thinks its such a genius idea what Apple is doing, yet its costing us all a lot of money for music and movies we technically do not own, well at least not do anything we want with it.”

What is he talkng about?? Pirating content and selling it? Because that is the only thing Fairplay prevents people from doing with their content. Average Joe Criminals….pfff! I hope I see Ian's name in a police report soon, it's because of people like him that Fairplay even exists. He asked for it: “Thoughts?”!

“I think you need to get some fresh air and realize this is an open debate, and not worth losing sleep over”

On the contrary, I think you need some air………and yes I do realize this is an open debate-that is exactly why I commented! By the way, I had some of the best sleep ever after my post yesterday, and I have a feeling I'll sleep even better tonight knowing I've righted some wrong in this world! :)

on the flipside, elgato's eyetv is gonna sell like hotcakes now

For one second let?s look at the third product introduced during this event, the iPod case. It?s leather, it?s designed by Apple and it?s $100! Yes! A onehundreddollar case for the iPod! Apple as of this day is no longer a technology company, Apple is no longer a computer company Apple is now a ?new luxury? company just like Coach, just like Crate & Barrel. Apple is a marketing monster, nothing more. What is sad is that for all the good ideas that Apple developers have brought to the CE/IT sectors they have also brought ?new luxury? marketing that creates brand zombies from idiots as well as well rounded individuals looking for something ?better?. Personally I think Apple chose to go with six buttons on their remote because they know from market surveys that the vast majority of their target market are in fact these brand zombies that can?t manage more than seven options at a time mentally.

From a practical EE point of view and an answer for Vets, YES Apple could have fit an encoder into the mini, the chips for this don?t take that much trace space up and they are quite small. However they went with the intergraded graphics chip from Intel and there are few options for encoding. From looking at the layout of the new mini PCB and taking into account the assumed requirement of encoding being an option, it would be quite easy to have included a riser slot above the system memory to connect the encoder.

I believe Ian Bell is correct in surmising that the choice to not include an internal encoder option by Apple was in fact made so as to help iTMS sales of TV episodes; however Apple must offer better resolution versions of content or people will complain that the picture simply sucks. I think that they have left a good opening here for companies like ATi and Haugpauge to create a thin stackable USB2 encoder device that will simply make this inane topic moot by providing an means for this device to do what many consumers wish it to do, record, playback and store rich media.

I don't see anywhere where Ian was knocking the remote control on the Apple mini, so why did you attack him like he was? I think you need to get some fresh air and realize this is an open debate, and not worth losing sleep over, because you are obviously easy to work up.

As for home system, I am sticking with Bang & Olufsen; though expensive, they make great looking products, excellent natural sound, and the best part to me, they make highly technical products user friendly. I come home press one button and the music comes on.! I understand the 'true' audiphiles may not share my appraisal, which is fine. I also do not share the idea that to get great sound you need racks, and racks of equipment. Apple appears to be heading in the right direction: introducing products that are made for non-computer geeks and are appealing to work with.

rd