civilized ku # 467 ~ an Orwellian dystopian future is here
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at 11:03AM 
Late day sun on tree and building ~ next to 20 Main - Au Sable Forks, NY • click to embiggenYesterday, I had an idea for yet another body of work - something rather different from any I am currently pursuing.
A key element of this idea is the acquisition of an iPad. So, I began to investigate the purchase thereof only to discover the iPad's dirty little "secret"...
... listed under "Mac requirements" - that is to mean my Power Mac G5 desktop machine - is the item, iTunes 9.1 or later (free download).
OK, it's free so what's the problem with that?
Well .... iTunes 9.1 or later requires Mac OS X v10.5.8 or later on my Power Mac G5 desktop machine.
OK, so what's the problem with that?
Problem # 1 - it's not free. It's $129.00US. And, it's only available by calling the Apple Store because it's a discontinued OS (not available at Apple Stores, online or brick & mortar wise) that is still available but only as part the Apple Legacy Program.
Problem # 2 - OS X v10.5.8, once acquired, requires a "clean install". That means backing up everything - just in case something goes wrong during the install. And, assuming that nothing does go wrong during the install, there is no guarantee that all of my software, to include printer drivers, will work properly without some kind of updating.
Problem # 3 (potential) - there is no guarantee that, after all of the above, with some future version of iTunes, one might have to go through the whole PITA rigamarole again.
Problem # 4 - also listed under "Mac requirements" is the item, iTunes Store account. This is not an option, this is a requirement. While this is not exactly a problem, per se, it does, in fact, really piss me off - I have purchased a zillion things over the course of my life but never have I been required to have an account with a manufacturer or a store in order to own and use them*.
All of that said, here's what I find to be incredibly and somewhat sickeningly ironic about this whole situation - Apple's famous "1984" Super Bowl commercial, which introduced the Macintosh, was based on the concept of an Orwellian dystopian future ruled by an all-controlling "Big Brother" from which we would all be saved by a sledge hammer wielding heroine (with a picture of a Mac on her tank top) who smashes Big Brother's evil visage (and all-controlling intentions).
No more unthinking drones. No more thought control. No more conformity. No more passively accepting whatever it was Big Brother doled out. No, none of that - it was all about "freedom" and the commercial ended with the statement, "On January 24th, Apple Computer will introduce Macintosh. And you'll see why 1984 won't be like 1984."
What they neglected to tell us was that 2010 would be just like "1984", Apple-wise.
I've said it before and I'll say it again - although I never thought I'd include Apple in the bunch - screw 'em. Screw 'em all.
*my cell phone requires an account with a service provider.
Reader Comments (8)
Running 10.5.8 on a G5. Never did a clean install for the upgrade, in fact have never done a clean install full stop!
Only had to do an update to my Wacom drivers.
The G5 is sadly getting to the end of the line, no CS5, Lightroom 3, os 10.6.x etc, don't expect to upgrade itunes for much longer, but what I have is everything I need.
Seen this article? http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/13/technology/companies/13apple.html?ref=technology
This is subtle but having a Mac is not a requirement for having an iPad i.e. strictly speaking you don't need another computer. Now that does beg the question of how you will move files around. Straight file transfer is not currently in the model. But you'll notice that a Windows box is an alternative (yikes ?!?). Further, I think the store is required only in the sense that you'll need it if you want to buy something. Not all apps require iTunes for file transfer, I just can't bring the name to mind at the moment.
Also: 'There is another'. A German outfit has announced the WePad which is physically a little larger, boasts USB ports, Linix OS (a brand of UNIX as is OSX), and comes out in July. Will we see it in the States? Who knows?
So currently the iPad is not a wide open platform. Maybe that will change.
Re: CS5, Lightroom 3... not sure what they bring to the party if you're more interested in making photographs than fracking around with technology anyway.
I'm 99.9999% committed to getting one to use as a digital appliance. It's that or a laptop. And I can't see needing a laptop for what I want to do. I already have a beast of a desktop.
Linux rather.
Well, I find the above article very interesting interesting if not mostly wrong. I am a certified Apple technician and have been working on Apple products since 1984.I (wrongly) have never backed up my Mac before an update and rarely have I done a clean install. Read about Time Machine in Leopard. Apple says this to keep people from asking "Why didn't you tell me to back up my junk?" if something happens. I have never, in all my years doing what I do, had a problem installing Mac software being OS or application. All you need do is take your time and once things start leave them alone till done. Simple.
Apple abandoned the G5 processor a few years ago for Intel and there is no more G5 development. Is the unfair, well maybe a little BUT the new machines are terrific. And as Stephen suggested there is always Windows BUT Buying Windows 7 in a version comproble to 10.5 will cost you about $450.
I just purchased a new MacBook Pro with which I replaced my 3 year old MacBook Pro. I started saving this morning for my next MacBook Pro. Just a fact of life. Plus if you put a few dollars away every week when you need to upgrade it doesn't hurt as much.
As for the iTunes account that is a bunch of dunky dust. You can have an iPad and use it with the internal apps forever without ever touching the iTunes store or even connecting it to a computer. But (and there is always a but) since you cannot get apps any where else you are limiting yourself. I am surprised about your reaction though. You don't have an amazon account or don't buy anything online? Have cable/satellite TV? I am sure that this BLOG requires an account somewhere???
The 1984 commercial was pointed at IBM, the biggest computer company at the time. IBM Owned the market. Today With Apple pushing about 12% of the desktop market and Microsoft owning 80 something% the comparison can hardly be made.
Ask yourself a few questions. Is Apple controlling the content that is programed or placed in the iPad by funneling it through the AppStore a "Big Brother" issue or is Apple trying to protect its ecosystem from all the lousy programmers only interested in making money not producing good software. Buy some PC software sometime and answer THAT question. Most importantly is Apple producing technology that is high quality easy to use and maintain and just works.
I have been a Mac/Apple fan for years. They have consistently produced Great hardware and software. But an iPad. I think you will love it.
Oh by the way. If you want my Leopard disk I'll send it to you. The upgrade is on me.
edski: Why couldn't someone provide specific instructions on how to get their Epson printers working after the Snow Leopard upgrade? Or even mention that Epson sucks because they didn't provide users with any information? While you have made your case in some ways, I and thousands of others were having cornaries after upgrading to Snow Leopard last summer when suddenly our Epson printers would only run on a Gutenprint driver - impossible to use for photo printing. Apple's structure is fine if you remain in Appleworld, if you have peripherals you could be left out in the cold. Thanks to several forums, we figured out the rathewr simple fix. I will certainly wait before upgrading OS's in the future. Just sayin' nothing is perfect but all is now forgiven - lesson learned. (P.S. Ilford requires registering before they will provide any of their paper profiles!)
Equipment obsolescence certainly sucks. I have a G4 churning away here in the corner and taking up precious space. It's not pretty or fast, but has one feature I can't get by without: a SCSI card and an operating system that will run the Imacon software required for the scanner. So the computer stays until it or the scanner dies.
gravitas - I'm with you. that's why I stick to Windows. And Microsoft doesn't charge for patches and dot releases to it's OS.
I see edski has joined the party faithful. As for me, I mainly use shareware - it's cheap, it works, it's well supported and I have plenty of choice.
I buy hardware from a variety of suppliers. And it seems I don't spend as much time trying to work out how to fix stuff if it goes wrong (lots of good support out there). What, Mac's just work I hear you cry - oh, yes, what bubble are you living in.
Apple has been on my evil corp list for quite a while.