About this Author
Sandy McMurray is a long-time technology journalist whose work has appeared in Time, the Globe & Mail, the Toronto Sun, Report on Business, Profit, and other sources. Between 1995 - 2002, Sandy wrote a weekly column about technology for the Toronto Sun, and served as Technology Editor for five Sun Media newspapers. He has been publishing on the Web since 1996.
Contact: readme@mac.com
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Monthly Archives
December 31, 2004
Posted by Sandy
One year ago, the Web was buzzing with rumors that Apple planned to introduce a $99 iPod at Macworld in San Francisco. The rumor spread to mainstream press, where it was reported as fact. Pretty soon, everyone was expecting a $99 iPod to debut at Macworld.
What they got instead was the iPod mini, with its $249 price tag. The backlash was swift and terrible. Critics said the iPod mini was overpriced. Why would anyone buy it when the regular iPod cost just $50 more? Who would buy an iPod mini instead of a cheaper, flash-based player?
We all know how that story turned out.
 This week, the Web is buzzing about the rumor that Apple plans to introduce an inexpensive headless iMac (i.e. CPU sold without monitor). What began as a rumor is now being reported as fact in the mainstream media.
I have no inside information, but I would bet money against the introduction of a $499 headless Mac, for reasons I've outlined before.
Apple's brand is built on innnovative, premium products. Entering the bargain PC market would be a major change in strategy.
...continue reading.
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December 23, 2004
Blink ›
The amazing story of Graphing Calculator
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December 21, 2004
Posted by Sandy
I introduced Mac OS X to a Windows 98 user two weeks ago. Her old computer needed to be replaced, and she asked me for advice.
A lot has changed since she bought her last PC. We discussed her basic needs (e-mail, word processing, Web browsing), the difference between Bluetooth and WiFi wireless, and the reasons you might want to have USB 2 and Firewire on a new computer.
After noting the difference between "integrated video" and a real video card, I finally asked The Question. Would she consider buying an eMac rather than a Dell or a locally built Beige Box Special? She was already planning to learn a new operating system (Windows XP). Why not try a Mac?
The discussion was interesting. She admitted that she knew very little about the Mac, but she thought she knew three facts:
1. Macs are more expensive than PCs.
2. Macs are incompatible with Windows.
3. It's difficult to switch to Mac.
In spite of marketing efforts like the Switch campaign, these "facts" seem to be well established in the mind of the average computer user.
...continue reading.
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December 07, 2004
Posted by Sandy
 I think the genius of the current iPod ad campaign is its emphasis on the white wires.
I saw a man on the subway today listening to music. I couldn't see the music player, but there were white wires leading down from his ears to his hand. I assumed it was an iPod, but as I got closer, I could see that the half-concealed device was a Creative MuVo music player. It was white. You would have to know the difference between an iPod and a MuVo not to assume he's using an iPod.
There are many better earphones than the white buds that ship with every new iPod. Nevertheless, the white buds have become part of the brand. They're fashionable, and they're everywhere, even on non-Apple players.
The clever ad campaign that focuses on those white wires makes people see iPods everywhere, even when they're not there.
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December 06, 2004
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IBM speculation
Rumor Watch: IBM to sell its PC division, then buy Apple, or partner with Apple to sell Macs. "Selling its PC Division would also pave the way for such an IBM move to be approved by the FTC. To add even more heat to already hot gossip, it turns out that Apple is not among the published list of early companies signing up for IBM's PowerPC consortia - a rather strange gap given Apple's now absolute dependency on that microprocessor range..." Read the rest here.
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December 02, 2004
Posted by Sandy
 The Canadian iTunes Music Store is finally open for business, at 99 cents (Canadian) per song.
Based on the opening day inventory, I suspect the ink is still wet on some of the legal agreements, but the store is open, and that's what counts. Let the download frenzy begin!
I made my first purchase: At Last by Etta James.
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December 01, 2004
Posted by Sandy
 Welcome to December. So much for the November launch of the iTunes Music Store in Canada.
The natives are restless. We've been up all night drinking beer, eating back bacon and punching reload on Apple.ca. After all, if the store had launched at 2:59 am California time, that would still have been November, technically speaking.
Watch it, Apple. If you're not careful, we'll take our piles of 99 cents and go to one of the other online music stores that supports Macs.
Like, um...
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