The gf likes it, but her big complaint is there are a few people who want to "chat" every time she logs on.

I've got a couple of those. I find it creepy, so I never answer. Nobody ever calls me out on this; if they did, I'd use the eminently plausible excuse of having wandered away from my computer immediately after checking my two or three notifications.

One of these serial chatterers is also a serial status updater; for the year leading up to her wedding, I hid her wall posts from view so's not to have 80 percent of my Facebook wall at any given time taken up with her latest change in emotion, or the latest stumbling block in the Big Day planning process (which were often causally connected).

She's become more bearable now that the wedding's passed...

I really wish Google+ would catch on.

I should mention that there is a Hall of Merit Google+ page

She's become more bearable now that the wedding's passed...

I wonder if her husband* feels the same way.

I'm not married, but the whole "bridezilla" thing seems like a huge red flag.


(* Or wife; wasn't trying to be non-P.C. here.)

My life would be duller without Repoz's FB feed.

The serial chatter is a very strange behaviour. I have one guy who's like that...I will turn on FB chat once every 5 months or so, just out of boredom, and it takes me about 0.0003 seconds to message me when I do. What's weird is that he never does anything on fB, I never see any status updates from him, nothing. Creepy.

Or the phone that you've been paying a gazillion dollars for the last 24 months is obsolete. I'm so mad that I can't get the new MLB AT-BAT app for my iPhone 3G. I use it only as an iPod touch now since I no longer have service on it. But now it's becoming useless because the apps are starting to obsolete it. Basically if you don't want to upgrade your phone, you'll be forced to because apps will be grading you out in 3 to 4 years. It just shouldn't be the case that a palmtop computer that's only 4 years old can't run the latest apps or ios operating system. This is why Apple is a bunch of ####### ########. Because they think they're a hardware company, they make software decisions that require you to purchase new and updated hardware. The hardware pipeline comes first and it's always about getting you a new device in your hands.

If you think this is bad with Apple devices, you'd be in for a real shock with Android. There are Android devices that don't get software updates past 6 months of their release. The new version of Android that came with the Galaxy Nexus is still available on next to 0 other phones. Compare that with the iPhone situation, where iOS version 5 finally obsoleted the iPhone 3G, but that wasn't done arbitrarily. The 3G is just massively deficient in processing power compared to the 3GS. Even iOS 4 ran like #### on the iPhone 3G. It's simply a fact that the development of hardware in the mobile space has been lightning quick over the past 5 years, so expecting a 4 year old device to still run the latest and greatest software is just unrealistic. The fact that the model after that (3GS) can still run virtually everything released on iOS is in fact a tribute to how well Apple has done supporting outdated devices in comparison to their competitors.

My life would be duller without Repoz's FB feed.

Nice name dropping, ####.

(Joking)

the development of hardware in the mobile space has been lightning quick over the past 5 years

Maybe, but there's nothing really comparable to the way cell phones have been designed to obsolete themselves every 2 years, which incidentally coincides with the length of the standard cell phone contract. I don't think that there's all that much difference in computing power between the original iPhone and the latest one. The environmental impact of getting all those rare earth metals out of the ground is an externalized cost we don't take into account when we think of how this "cheap" hardware is so quickly obsoleted.

The fact that the model after that (3GS) can still run virtually everything released on iOS is in fact a tribute to how well Apple has done supporting outdated devices in comparison to their competitors.

The fact that each version of the software is designed with inherent limitations (no video till 3GS, really?) is a testament to the fact that Apple is NOT committed to supporting "outdated" devices. My iPhone 3G should still be a very usable phone. But it's not, and that's irritating considering I spent $2500 on it from 2008 to 2010.

I don't think that there's all that much difference in computing power between the original iPhone and the latest one.

Then you simply have no idea what you're talking about. You might as well suggest there's no difference in the horsepower of a Model T and a 1966 Mustang.

I don't think that there's all that much difference in computing power between the original iPhone and the latest one.

You're wrong.

My iPhone 3G should still be a very usable phone. But it's not, and that's irritating considering I spent $2500 on it from 2008 to 2010.

It's plenty usable, just not for every recent innovation or app update. Plus, it didn't cost you $2,500; most of that was for your phone service.

Then you simply have no idea what you're talking about. You might as well suggest there's no difference in the horsepower of a Model T and a 1966 Mustang.

I know very well what I'm talking about. I was a computer programmer for a number of years and did a lot of work on imaging on mobile devices. It depends on the slice of time you pick, so it's not the same thing at all the difference between a Mustang and a Model T. The difference between them is comparable to a top of the line computer sold 6 years ago and a top of the line computer sold today. They can still run much of the same software. OS design limitations are what prevents them from running all of the same software, not the hardware itself.

You're wrong.

What the #### is with you people? You're both wrong.

It's plenty usable, just not for every recent innovation or app update. Plus, it didn't cost you $2,500; most of that was for your phone service.

Oh, so I could have just spent $2100 on the phone service itself without the phone. Gotcha.

The phone company subsidizes the cost of your phone and charges you higher prices over time. That's why the phone is more expensive without the 2-year plan. You can buy the phone without the plan, and then shop around for the cheapest plan.

The phone company subsidizes the cost of your phone and charges you higher prices over time. That's why the phone is more expensive without the 2-year plan. You can buy the phone without the plan, and then shop around for the cheapest plan.

Except when the phone is locked into a particular carrier, as was the case with the iPhone until recently.

Probably to get people to listen. I have teleconferences all the time, and most of the time I'm not listening, I'm wasting time on Facebook instead.

In all seriousness, teleconferences are extremely hard to follow. I have little idea of who is saying what, assuming I can even hear them well in the first place.

We just switched over to Global Meet from a combo MS LiveMeeting + conf call system, and I gotta say -- it's a pretty sweet setup.

Integrates directly into Outlook and VOIP network, meeting invite highlights the name of the speaker during the call, allows for onscreen drawing (like I said - eliminating the need for whiteboarding in a room)... supports video, too - but I see no need to use it.

Oh, so I could have just spent $2100 on the phone service itself without the phone. Gotcha.

Are you trying to argue something or just stomping your feet? Your iPhone didn't cost you $2,500, so why are you claiming otherwise?

Are you trying to argue something or just stomping your feet? Your iPhone didn't cost you $2,500, so why are you claiming otherwise?

Do you not understand that I couldn't have spent that $2500 without the phone? That in order to have spent that $2500 I had to have that particular phone, and that I was contractually obligated to spend $2500 for the phone and plan. What do you not get about this? If you like, I can amend my statement to "that I spent $2500 on it and service from 2008 to 2010."

My point about smartphones is that much of the cost is "hidden" in the contract. As I've argued before, if you just put a $2500 price tag on the phone and said, "for $2500 you get this phone and 2 years of service, 450 minutes a month and unlimited data," no one would buy the phone (+ the service).

I don't think that there's all that much difference in computing power between the original iPhone and the latest one.

The first model and the 3G were pretty much equivalent performance wise. Since then each model has had about a 70% jump in performance over the previous model. That equates to a 5X jump in performance from the 3G to the current model.

My iPhone 3G should still be a very usable phone. But it's not, and that's irritating considering I spent $2500 on it from 2008 to 2010.

I think it is reasonable to count $400 that is subsidized by the carrier in the cost of the device, but that only gets you to $600 ($700 if you have the larger storage capacity). It isn't reasonable to include the other service related costs.

318 — How is that different from literally any other cell phone over the past 15 years? Should I have been mad at Motorola because the phone I bought in '96 had fewer features than the phones released in '98?

You claimed your iPhone 3G isn't a "usable phone," but it assuredly is a usable phone. It just can't do everything the latest-gen phones can do. (Hell, the original iPhone is still a usable phone. Thousands are still in use almost 5 years later.)

I've definitely had to miss out on some upgrade cycles and doing so stinks, but expecting backwards-compatibility of cutting edge features and apps just isn't realistic.

318 — How is that different from literally any other cell phone over the past 15 years? Should I have been mad at Motorola because the phone I bought in '96 had fewer features than the phones released in '98?

It's not. My point is a larger one about smartphones in general. Their cost does not equal what I get out of them. Your mileage may vary.

My iPhone 3G is not a usable phone largely because 1) battery life is shot, 2) the cost of the contract is prohibitive, still, and 3) I have yet to find an easy way to downgrade to iOS 3.x. Carriers would require me to buy a data plan, but even if I could use it on any carrier, I still can't use it on any carrier I like.

321 — OK. I thought your complaint was specific to Apple, which didn't make sense to me. Anyway, I believe AT&T is now unlocking out-of-contract iPhones, although this might be mooted by your problems Nos. 1 and 3. (Per #315, you might know this already; I wasn't sure if you were talking about phone unlocking or AT&T's early monopoly on the iPhone.)

As for smartphones in general, I'm a big fan. In less than 20 years, we've gone from paying $200/mo. for a mobile phone that had to be carried in a briefcase-like bag and could only make calls to paying as little as $80/mo. for tiny, cutting-edge devices that can do just about anything. (Now, if only these damn kids would stop using so much data watching mindless YouTube videos and posting pictures, maybe data prices wouldn't keep increasing.)

Fortunately for me I inherited my free unlimited data and I get 20% off my bill through my company.

I use Boost Mobile. It started out at $55 per month for unlimited talk/text/Web with no contract. Now it's down to $40 per month because they have these permanent discounts for customers who pay their bill on time for x number of consecutive months. I have a phone that iPhone users will laugh at, and my carrier seems to be the preferred carrier of gangbangers, but it does what I need on the cheap.

My iPhone 3G is not a usable phone

As you point out, the monthly plan is what really costs you. So sell your 3G on gazelle.com for $43, and go buy a brand new 4 for $99, renewing your contract at the same price. For $56 and no new ongoing costs you'll have a huge upgrade in experience.

Good god. If Mr. I Don't Have & Don't Want a Cellphone (speaking! or, I suppose more apropos, typing!) has no problem with Facebook, I can only assume that snapper has decided he wants to go back & live in the Middle Ages like gaelan, or whatever the latter's name is.

What people are willing to pay for a few minutes of internet a day still boggles my mind.

I love my smart phones. I have apps that do everything. I have a chess.com app that lets me keep track of my correspondence matches, I have MLB At Bat which is one of the greatest things ever, I have Shazaam which is the second greatest thing ever. Right now I have both an iPhone 4 and a Razr, and I use them both all the time. But in general I hate the original concept of the phone.

Maybe I have a social disorder, but having conversations with people when I can't see their faces terrifies me. Also, I'm petrified that I'll interrupt them and they'll think I'm rude, or worse that they won't answer. Then I have to decide if I'll leave a message, or call back, how long do I wait to let them call back before I call again. Its very annoying.

Also, I hate texting. Best case scenario, the intended recipient gets the text and responds promptly, but they didn't get to enjoy my trademark sarcastic wit. Worst case they miss it in the cacophony of life or forget to respond while busy and my brain hurts. Worser case you accidentally text the girl your dating a message meant for one of your guy fiends about the girl your dating.

I still use snail mail whenever possible.

I love my smart phones. I have apps that do everything. I have a chess.com app that lets me keep track of my correspondence matches

Okay, there's a good point in favor of me getting a smartphone. I wouldn't have let my two games time out when I was sick a couple of weekends ago and out of my routine.

Back in the old days, before people could blather on endlessly & obsessively about the wonderful features of whatever stupid phone they own at the moment, what piece of machinery did they blather on endlessly & obsessively about owning? Their cars, I guess. Maybe their stereos.

And before that? Their commodes?

Get lives (directed not just at people in this thread but people in general, of course), dammit. Jesus. Defining oneself by one's appliances is sort of creepy, at least for those few of us who don't share the tendency.

Now, let me rhapsodize about my Mr. Coffee Frappe Maker ...

Back in the old days, before people could blather on endlessly & obsessively about the wonderful features of whatever stupid phone they own at the moment, what did they blater on endlessly & obsessively about owning? Their cars, I guess. And before that? Their commodes?

From #### my Dad Says twitter feed:

"Son, no one gives a #### about all the things your cell phone does. You didn't invent it, you just bought it. Anybody can do that."

Defining oneself by one's appliances punk rock records is sort of creepy, at least for those few of us who don't share the tendency.

The McCarver quote was hilarious, but I get his general idea. I can't understand the connection to these devices. The simple sound of a phone ringing has been a pet peeve of mine since the rotary dial days.

My wife and I share a cell phone that is turned off when we're not traveling. I don't own a notepad, nor do I want one. I'm not on Facebook, Twitter or anything else. BBTF if the extent of my social mediaing.

I'm a big fan of smartphones - and tablets, for that matter - but I do hate the coming death of the desktop.

I'm still resistant to going full laptop...

Give me a big, powerful processor, memory to spare, and a dedicated GFX card -- I'm not even all that keen on eye-popping RTS/FPS/etc games, but the big, broad strategic sims just don't play the same on a laptop, even they can handle them. The complexity of a good Paradox title just can't be ported to a tablet - no amount of UI TLC is ever going to make it possible to manage multiple WWII theaters on such a device.

Sadly, though - the day is fast approaching where it's no longer going to be reasonable to even buy a good desktop for such purposes. Hard to justify the cost against a few hundred dollars worth of gaming library.

/getoffmylawn

what did they blather on endlessly & obsessively about owning

Steel plows, when everyone else had wood. Actually this predates homo sapiens, I'm sure. "You're still using core tools? Hell, we've had lithic flakes for millennia now. And you call yourself evolved."

but I do hate the coming death of the desktop. I'm still resistant to going full laptop...

Maybe it's because I've spent so much time moving around, but I've never even had a desktop, only laptops since my first Gateway. Just the thought of buying one and then lugging it around made me want want to cry. (Of note, of course, is that I'm not a gamer.)

I've had my iPhone 3GS for close to 3 years and it still does 95% of the things I would want it to. Would probably do even more if I hadn't dropped it so many times (the GPS is not as accurate as it used to be, which I'm pretty sure is related to the dropping). To complain that it doesn't have all of the latest cutting edge features seems strange considering that it never had Flash to begin with (the most obvious defficiency).

I've had my iPhone 3GS for close to 3 years and it still does 95% of the things I would want it to. Would probably do even more if I hadn't dropped it so many times (the GPS is not as accurate as it used to be, which I'm pretty sure is related to the dropping). To complain that it doesn't have all of the latest cutting edge features seems strange considering that it never had Flash to begin with (the most obvious defficiency).

Flash is dead, dude... Apple won that one... and frankly, as a hater of Flash, it's one of the things I do cheer the Appleborg for doing.

I wonder if her husband* feels the same way.

I'm not married, but the whole "bridezilla" thing seems like a huge red flag.

Oh, the husband's got issues of his own, believe you me. Notwithstanding the neurosis about the pre-wedding stuff, I think the "What were you thinking, getting married to X?" questions would definitely be directed towards her more than him, were people gauche enough to ask them.

Defining oneself by one's appliances punk rock records is sort of creepy, at least for those few of us who don't share the tendency.

I've still got thousands of the things (& many more thousands if we include CDs), but sadly (or not, I guess) close to 100 percent of the real gems are long gone via eBay.

In which sense they've largely become comic books, I suppose.

*sigh*

Flash is dead, dude... Apple won that one... and frankly, as a hater of Flash, it's one of the things I do cheer the Appleborg for doing.

o rly?

http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2010/04/adobe-will-accelerate-flash-video-using-new-apple-api.ars

o rly?

http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2010/04/adobe-will-accelerate-flash-video-using-new-apple-api.ars

Yes - really... What Adobe is doing is giving up on Flash as a platform and bowing to the prevailing winds by creating a converter that will use HTML5 natively, rather than requiring a Flash plug-in. In effect, they're on their way out the door as a big player in internet media (at least, internet video...).

Eventually, it's just not going to be worth the effort to go Flash when the end-object is ultimately going to be rendered as something else. Why create an ice sculpture if you're just going to break it apart into ice cubs for drinks?

All I know about Flash is that I get notifications at home & -- at least as of yesterday afternoon, when I signed out early for a dental appointment -- here at work all the time that it's crashed. Multiple reinstalls at home (I don't have administrative permission to do so here) have had no apparent effect.

I presume that's why I haven't been able to get a decent YouTube (& similar sites) feed in at least a year now.

QFTT. And if you doubt this, please friend me for access to the photo galleries of Whisper Wilson, the best cat on earth :)

I'd love to. If you're still reading this, my FB URL is listed in my profile. Or I can be reached via email, presumably (I add the adverb because someone here made reference more than once about a year ago to having emailed me about some music-related matter, but I never received anything ... Of course, I never, ever look at my spam folder, & I suppose the emails in question could've been diverted there instead, which only just now occurred to me, dammitalltohell.)

I'm one of those low-frequency FBers who does well to update my status once a month. I'm more apt to comment on others people's. Though occasional references to Sam H's toy box have been known to occur ...

Apple: Their most satisfied customers can't wait to replace their purchases as soon as possible.

Apple: Their most satisfied customers can't wait to replace their purchases as soon as possible.

Which is why the stock is going to a thousand! Woo hoo!

Sure, Flash is dying but my point is that for 5 years now the iPhone has not been compatible with Flash, even though Flash is still very much in use and other smartphones have not had this problem. Your iPhone 3G isn't "unusable" just because it doesn't have all the capabilities of every other smartphone -- it never did in the first place.

Apple: Their most satisfied customers can't wait to replace their purchases as soon as possible.

I'm by no means pro-Apple... I think Apple has always far outclassed everyone with UI design, but I strongly dislike their lockbox tendencies. I'm a PC and I don't foresee my primary laptop/desktop becoming a Mac any time soon - for all it's problems, I prefer a framework that uses more of a "pull" than a "push" paradigm... However, when it comes to more of the "toy"/"utility" products -- smartphones, tablets, etc -- I'll give my money to Apple.

My only reason for cheering Apple's slaying of the Flash beast is that I hate plug-ins. Give me integration, not 15 different things, each of which can have its own unique problem and compatibility issues. HTML5 presents new problems, to be sure, but it's closer to how I just think digital media should be done.

I'm a PC

My god, they've finally become sentient.

We're all dooooooooomed ...

My god, they've finally become sentient.

We're all dooooooooomed ...

It's for your own safety. Please be calm and follow the instructions to be provided to you shortly.

I'm a big fan of smartphones - and tablets, for that matter - but I do hate the coming death of the desktop.

I think the "death of the desktop" idea is overrated. It'll be a long time before you can no longer get a desktop system that is significantly more powerful than a laptop, usually for less money. True, the major OSes are becoming more focused on touch interfaces and other tablet-friendly features, desktops sales relative to laptop and tablet sales are down and dropping, and a lot of programming effort has shifted to apps instead of full desktop software. But that other stuff isn't going away, just becoming more of a niche product. The advantages of the desktop -- power, price, the ease of repair and upgrading -- will keep it around for quite a while. [edit: And keep people making games for them.] I view it as something like the landline phone. It's no longer sexy, no one focuses on it anymore, and lots of people go without. But they're still around, and as useful and cheap as ever.

The key with desktops and cost is to build your own system, and then upgrade incrementally rather than ditching the whole thing when you need a new CPU. When you're only replacing the display, keyboard, and optical drives (if you use them) every 5-6 years, and keeping the case for even longer, the prices of upgrades is very, very low.

We're all dooooooooomed ...

Naw. They'll just get slower and slower and slower and slower...

The key with desktops and cost is to build your own system, and then upgrade incrementally rather than ditching the whole thing when you need a new CPU. When you're only replacing the display, keyboard, and optical drives (if you use them) every 5-6 years, and keeping the case for even longer, the prices of upgrades is very, very low.

That's true - but compatibility between components can be a real #####. It's been a long time since I built my own - for a good while, it was just worth it to me to configure via a retailer. Sure, it cost more - but at the point where I could specify every last thing, from port availability to memory and type of memory to processor to audio/gfx to drives - it was worth it to me just not to worry about whether I had remembered to doublecheck every last piece for compatibility, if I was overtaxing the power supply, cooling, etc. That, plus getting plenty of add-on software for "free" (yeah, yeah).

Sadly, now that most retailers have severely curtailed your ability to configure cheaply, I'm probably going to have to relearn how to build.

I literally know nothing about computers beyond how to waste time at BTF on one. But last week a friend of mine offered to get me Diablo III for my birthday so we could play online. Then he looked at my computer and realized there's absolutely no way it could play Diablo III. So in addition to getting me the game he built me a computer capable of running it from scrap pieces he had lying arond his house.

So I think the lesson is, so long as generous friends with computer know-how exist, desktop computers are the most affordable option for me.

Yes - really... What Adobe is doing is giving up on Flash as a platform and bowing to the prevailing winds by creating a converter that will use HTML5 natively, rather than requiring a Flash plug-in. In effect, they're on their way out the door as a big player in internet media (at least, internet video...).

Eventually, it's just not going to be worth the effort to go Flash when the end-object is ultimately going to be rendered as something else. Why create an ice sculpture if you're just going to break it apart into ice cubs for drinks?

sure. flash is on the way out ... html5 yada yada. but to say apple won that battle i'd say that's not quite right since flash essentially forced apple to open up their video api.

It's for your own safety. Please be calm and follow the instructions to be provided to you shortly.

I refuse to agree to your terms and conditions.

desktop computers are the most affordable option for me.

If you're gaming or need a lot of processing power, and don't want to travel with the machine, desktops are and will always be the best solution. Simply by virtue of the fact that the fastest GPUs always start out huge, getting trimming in physical size later since card and chip makers are obsessed with getting everything to fit on the head of a pin.

I refuse to agree to your terms and conditions.

I'm surprised you read his sentence instead of simply clicking "I agree".

However, when it comes to more of the "toy"/"utility" products -- smartphones, tablets, etc -- I'll give my money to Apple.

No objection there. Nothing wrong with Apple and/or their products, or people buying them, or people being satisfied with their purchase.

Then again, most of my FB news feed consisted* of recently divorced women, gay men, and iPhone users, the latter glowing over the customer service they were getting for problems their products supposedly don't ever have. To tie the thread together nicely, the more vocal Apple proponents among my friends tended to be among the people that made FB less worthwhile to me.

* I say "consisted" because a few months ago FB changed their algorithm for determining what's important to each user. Since then, through very little action on my part, the majority of noise on my news feed has simply gone away. I was surprised at how little I was hearing from the aforementioned people, so I went to their FB pages to check up on them. I saw that they were posting status updates just as frequently (and as insipidly, if that's a word) as before, yet none of it was getting to my news feed. I think FB has done a marvelous job of improving the experience people were complaining about upthread.

recently divorced women, gay men, and iPhone users

I'm trying to somehow make this scan to "Old Dogs, Children & Watermelon Wine."

I was against texting until I was for it. It is 1000% better for sending someone an address than a call or voice mail.
I was against fb until I was for it. It is extremely useful for groups/meeting organizations. There is some overlap with yahoo/google groups, but fb has a better interface generally because most of us aren't snapper (who i presume complained about answering messages too, the dinosaur)
I have not found a reason to follow/tweet (other than I sometimes have to tweet scientific conferences for work... follow us at @yeastgenome !), but I am sure I will eventually do it.

In fact, somewhat appropos I am seriously considering starting a fb/twitter splosion to get revenge on my cell phone provider (Sprint). I kinda like Sprint's service -- they have a good network, reasonable prices and the only national unlimited data plan (probably I don't need it, but I like not calculating b/w). I have an Qualcomm sprint phone from the worlds first digital network. HOWEVER, they sold me a lemon phone (lasted 7 months) and it took them _3_ weeks to replace it AND they replaced it with a nearly equally broken phone... which is going to take another indeterminate amount of time to replace.

And this is a phone I pay the $8/month INSURANCE on (since I am, as they say... "hard on equipment" -- so's your mom). The phone BTW is an HTC Evo Shift. Which IS really quite a nice device - 2x4" screen with a slide out keyboard... but apparently they "left tailed" their planned obsolescence because replacement phones are essentially on permanent back order.

At a bare minimum they are not getting paid for a month, now going on 2 months. But actually they effectively owe me a $400 phone... so I will probably retroactively protest the cc charges to sprint going back 5 months or so.

Today's Facebook update from a friend;

Today will be a long day. Too much to do and not enough time to do it in.

Just a thought, if you have that much to do maybe hanging out on Facebook and posting nonsense is a way to free up some time.