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Apple iPhone – some thoughts before the release (it keeps getting better and better) June 27, 2007

Posted by Hans in apple, blackberry, iphone, safari, wireless.
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iPhone – seems like it’s the only thing people are talking about lately.  With an official launch of 6PM (local) in the US, this coming Friday June 29th should be an interesting one.

I predict that Apple will sell all of its inventory of iPhones at the outset and will be a huge success.  The bigger question si whether Apple can keep up its sales after the initial hysteria.  Remember, Apple created the device but also has to rely on AT&T to deliver part of the oustanding customer experience – I’m just not sure a phone company knows how.

Personally, I’m torn by the iPhone.  I mean when I first say the introduction at Macworld 2007 (via webcast), I was just amazed and awestruck.  My jaw dropped and I had to watch the webcast several times.  The iPhone looks beautiful and simply kicks everything else out there in terms of aesthetics.  I currently use a Blackberry 8703E and am very satisfied with it.  But after seeing the iPhone presentation, my blackberry device suddenly looks a bit … clunky.  I’m very satisfied with my Blackberry device and love how it serves my needs.  But, I can’t help but be drawn to the iPhone – not because it’s the latest consumer device, but because I think there’s great potential there.  I don’t think it’s perfect, but overall is going to be very compelling for people – consumers and business people alike.

Here are my thoughts about the iPhone based on information I’ve read on-line (as of June 24th), my experience with other mobile technologies, and just some basic thinking.  Hopefully I’ll get a chance to try one out if/when it gets released here in Canada:

  1. I’m not convinced about the software keyboard.  I’ve gotten used to the Blackberry keyboard and am quite proficient at it.  All I’ll say is that I’m with-holding judgement until I can try the iPhone for myself.  UPDATE:  The early reviews suggest the software keyboard is usable.  I’ll still have to compare it with the Blackberry keyboard (see links reviews at bottom).
  2. The motion sensors and multi-touch screen are technologies that are going to be tough to copy, giving the iPhone a very unique and large advantage over other “smartphones”.
  3. Big, large, hi-resolution screen – that’s a huge winner.  Not much else to say about that.
  4. Battery life – Personally, I would prefer a removable battery – but that’s just me.  I tend to use my portable devices constantly and like having the option of carrying a second battery so I can swap batteries during the day.  The updated specs seem better and I hope they are real.  I suppose we’re going to have to wait for either additional battery pack accessories or a small cottage industry of do-it-yourself replacable battery kits or battery replacement services (like with the iPod).  I suspect that Apple is using some sort of Lithium-Polymer battery instead of the standard Lithium-Ion concoction (Li-Ion can only be recharged between 400–600 times before the chemical process basically breaks down – that’s about 1.5–2 years of daily charging).
  5. Safari browser – Welcome to the real Internet!  I agree that Safari and multitouch allows for real web surfing instead of just giving you a glimpse of the Internet.  My Blackberry, as much as I love the device, is still disappointing when it comes to providing web access – I can (technically) browse the Internet, but the experience leaves much to be desired.  As Steve Jobs said, “no more baby Internet”.
  6. Music and video on the phone – Again, personally, I don’t understand why people want to listen to music on their phone (I admit that I’m in the minority).  But, since this market is expected to grow, this looks like a winner by taking the best of the iPod and combining it with the phone.
  7. WiFi – Another clear winner.  What’s not to like about this feature?  Combined with Safari, surfing on your phone can’t be easier.  Because of mobile phone coverage, you can access the Internet from anywhere – no more being tied to a computer!
  8. Service Plans – To those who complain about service plans, don’t buy an iPhone.  That’s the price for the freedom to roam and access information wherever you are, rather than being tied to a desk.  Why do you think people love their Blackberry devices so much?  UPDATE:  Wow.  I never thought AT&T would come through, but they sure did.  Those iPhone monthly plans are great!  Unlimited data and reasonable voice minutes (text messaging is a bit a bit disappointing).  Compared to the rates I currently pay for my Blackberry (roughly $75/month for 200 minutes of voice, unlimited evenings & weekends, and 1MB of data), these monthly plans are outstanding!  Maybe it’s just here in Canada that we’re gouged, but these rates seem very competitive to me.  I mean, UNLIMITED data!  Wow.
  9. Camera – the 2MP camera is pretty standard.  I would have liked something higher, maybe in the 4–5MP range.  Then the iPhone would be good enough to consider ditching the digital camera too.
  10. GSM/EDGE network – This was a bit of a downer for me.  I’ve gotten used to the faster speed of the 3G speeds (EVDO on Bell’s CDMA network).  I think EDGE should manage, if not being slow.  However, the WiFi should make up for any shortcomings of EDGE.
  11. Price – I’m not sure why people are so up in arms over the price of the iPhone.  Apple isn’t targetting the masses (yet).  They’re going after the more affluent, tech-saavy user who, in the past, probably paid (or was willing to pay) $300–$500 for a smartphone or other such portable device like the iPod.  I know I bought my most recent Blackberry device for $400+.  You get so much more with the iPhone.  If you’re worried about paying $400–$500 for the phone, how are you going to afford the monthly service plan?  Daniel Eran from Roughly Drafted has some great analysis on the cost of the iPhone.

So, my final verdict (before I even touch the unit)?  Some people will love this device while others won’t.  The AT&T network might be a deal-breaker for some.  I also think some people are going have “sticker-shock” at the price of the monthly plans, having been used to roughly $20/month voice plans.  Sure there are things on the iPhone I wish I could change, but I can see myself getting one if/when it’s made available here in Canada.

The biggest draw for me, and what I believe is the iPhone’s greatest competitive advantage over all other smartphones/phones is the Safari-full Internet combination.  Now you have the Internet wherever you go.

Think about that.

Let me say that again – you have the Internet wherever you go.  Or, you can carry the Internet “in your pocket”.  Yeah, EDGE isn’t the best, but having WiFi should more than make up.  All the other stuff (music, videos, multi-touch, looks) is just icing on the cake.  Just think – this is Apple’s first version.  It’s only going to get better and better as they improve the software to add more features, and make improvements with newer versions…

Author’s note:  I wrote this post up on the weekend but didn’t get a chance to upload it until Wednesday June 27th.

Links of Early Reviews:

  • Mossberg & Boehert review from the Wall Street Journal – “a whole new experience and pleasure to use”.  I’d say a very fair review of the iPhone.  I’m impressed with the battery results.  The keyboard experience didn’t surprise me.
  • Baig review from USA Today – “iPhone isn’t perfect, but worthy of the hype”.  Seems to support many of my predictions about the battery, WiFi, EDGE, and Safari.  Another good review.
  • Levy review from Newsweek – “A significant leap”.  Good review.  Some very good comments about the battery life (can get a full day of use), intuitive use, and some very reasonable criticisms.
  • Pogue review from the New York Times – “much of the hype and criticism is justified…the iPhone is revolutionary”.  Probably the most even-handed review of the bunch.

Why I’m switching to Apple/Mac. June 25, 2007

Posted by Hans in Microsoft windows, apple, hardware, linux, open source, osx.
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I’ve spent the past six months investigating the Mac platform and have come to an informed decision. The next computer I buy will be a Mac – probably a Macbook unless Apple releases the much rumoured Macbook “thin”. I did not come to this decision lightly, but hopefully some of my thinking can be of use to others who are considering a “switch” from Microsoft Windows to Apple’s Mac/OSX.

About Me
First, a little information about me. I’ve been using computers since I was in grade one. My first exposure was to gaming systems like Colecovision and Atari, but I was fortunate to try out the Commodore64 at school. Luckily for me, my school principal was a bit forward thinking and managed to find money to place a Commodore64 in every classroom (mid 1980s) and also managed to get a special for parents interested in buying them for the home. My parents ended-up buying one and our family used it for several years. Later we bought an IBM clone running Microsoft Windows 3.1 and continued a string of computer purchases – Pentium 166MHz MMX, Pentium2 466MHz, and then a string of AMD CPU machines. I bought my first laptop in 2003, a Sharp ultralight notebook, and used it until it died last year.

I have three computers in my house (two desktops and a notebook), shared between my sister (an engineer), my retired parents, and myself.I would classify myself as a power-user or “pro-sumer”. I try to purchase entry level professional products as I find that products geared for consumers are somewhat lacking in features and don’t last very long. For example, I purchased a laser printer (HP laserjet 6P) in 1997 that works perfectly – it wasn’t cheap at the time, but I expect to be able to use it for at least another 3–4 years. I understand how computers work at the conceptual level and am not afraid to tinker with them. I’ve built and re-built several computers on my own.

When it comes to software, I am comfortable using different packages and can do some basic modifications as I have some very basic computer programming skills (took some classes in high-school and at university). Lately, computer science has advanced far too quickly for me to keep up, but I try to follow trends and keep up, even though I’ve given up on programming.Just so you know, as far as I know, all of the software running on the computers in my house are legally acquired. I’ve either paid for licenses, use open-source software products, or other free products from Google or the like. I realize that the software industry has real costs to pay (i.e., salaries), so I don’t mind paying for software if it’s useful. I just have issues when the prices are way too high. I’ve been able to buy Windows XP Pro and Office Pro for about $150CDN through contacts (see below) and I try to take advantage of any educational discounts I can get.

Disatisfaction with Windows

Because I’ve been comfortable with computers, I’ve been able to trouble-shoot most of the problems I’ve encountered while in the Windows world. Through trial and error, I’ve come to realize that a Windows computer works best right after a “clean” installation with just a few necessary programs installed. After about 6–8 months, I start to notice the machine getting sluggish because of errors to the registry, mal/spyware, and some weird happenings because of device and program installation/uninstallations. As such, I have pared down my software to a small list of programs that I absolutely must use. Every 6 months, I wipe out my OS and all it’s programs and re-install everything. Unfortunately, this is a drastic measure and takes me about 12–24 hours to complete. It’s actually a more extreme measure of “restarting Windows”. Recently, I discovered Norton Ghost and that’s allowed me to speed-up the reinstallation process greatly.

I’ve been fortunate that I have friends who work at Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Washington and I’ve been able to get copies of product at family/friend prices. At the prices I can get either through my contacts or via educational discounts (on average ~$50–$75 per product), software is pretty reasonable to purchase, even multiple copies/licenses. I seem to be doing okay.

So, what is my problem with my current set-up? I guess my disatisfaction with the Windows world is that you get tied into Windows products. Ever since I’ve been exposed to the Open Source Software movement, I’ve come to realize that there is something to be said for using and enforcing open standards. I’ve seen many open source products arise out of nowhere and compete with mainstream commercial products (e.g., Firefox, The Gimp, and Open Office). I think this open source ideology of paying for “valued or convenience services” is a fair one, especially for consumers. I used to argue with a friend of mine, before I was exposed to the open source way of thinking, that it’s impossible to make money on open source. I’ve now come to realize that you can make money – it’s just in a different way, and probably not as much as in the past when you pretty much could charge whatever you wanted.

I’ve also grown tired of the seemingly never ending security updates that are “critical”, patching some sort of flaw. An increasing amount of malware, spyware, and other forms of attacks (especially viruses) make me increasingly frustrated with Windows. Although my computer set-up works, I’ve had to spend more and more time being my own tech-support group. As a result, I decided to try and look for an alternative to see if any were better than Windows.

What about Linux?
I gave Linux some serious consideration. Some of my colleagues are serious Linux “geeks” and open source advocates. Unfortunately, they are all programmers by training. But, I decided to try it out.Some of the software selection available is getting quite good – Open Office (freely available at openoffice.org) is a great alternative to Microsoft’s Office suite. For non-profit groups, I’d highly recommend Linux and open source software as a cost-effective solution. I’m sure they could find some volunteers to handle some of the technology management part – these alternatives definitely make hardware run longer.After a few experiments, I decided not to go with Linux. My main issue was that I couldn’t find products that were as polished or as ready to meet my needs as in the Windows world (yet). Finding an Outlook replacement wasn’t too hard, but trying to get those services to synch with my RIM Blackberry? Forget about it.

My biggest disappointment with Linux was that I had to spend so much time managing the software and hardware, especially at the beginning. I’ll admit that there is a pretty steep learning curve that could be skipped if I went with a distribution like Xandros or Ubuntu (which are both great choices). If it was just a software only issue, I think I could probably stick it out with Linux. But, we’re also talking hardware and that’s probably where the biggest hurdle lies. I couldn’t get drivers for the products that I wanted to use. I didn’t want to spend 1–2 hours per day tinkering with my computer with multiple patches and configurations. I think I’m at a point where I just want my computer to “work” so I can get things done.

Why Apple?
So, I started to investigate Apple. I was fortunate because I worked along side some people who used Apple products. The refreshing thing was that these people weren’t Apple evangelists and weren’t very snobby like the people I’ve met in the past. Over the past while, I’ve been able to address each and every one of the barriers to using Macs:

  1. No convenient place to try or learn about Macs – with my co-workers and the recent Apple retail stores, I can try out and ask about Macs as much as I want. I can touch and feel and interact with the devices and try out OSX.
  2. Mac snobs – I can’t remember specific names, but some Mac users are just snobs (just like some Linux or Windows users). In the past, I tried to learn more about Macs but was rebuffed because I was using a “PC”. I just wanted to learn more about the Mac platform and had some questions. These people kept insisting that the Mac was the “best computer” and couldn’t understand why I didn’t think so or use one. That just turned me off for the longest time and I just decided it wasn’t worth exploring. Luckily for me, things have changed and I’ve met better Mac users.
  3. Price – a big issue in the past was about the perceived price of Mac products. Now that I’ve seen Macs, I’m not so sure there’s much (if any) price difference. You get great value with Mac products. I’ve only been able to learn about this because of point #1.
  4. Lack of compatibility – Again, much of this has been dispelled because I’ve been able to get educated about the Mac.

Here are some of my reasons for choosing the Mac:

  1. It just works – Just like the ads say, Apple products just work. I don’t need to worry about compatibility with devices (assuming I get Mac compatible peripherals) and I don’t need to worry about the main computer working. Apple controls the software and hardware, and that makes for a seamless and integrated experience. I don’t want to spend time fixing or tinkering with my computer. I want to use my computer to get things done.
  2. Unix foundation – This factor appeals to the small “geek” inside of me. I like Unix and the power that it brings. With Windows, it’s a great big black box that I have no control over. While Apple isn’t Linux, it’s pretty darn close. I get the power of Linux on great hardware that I know works. The Unix foundation means OSX has a solid foundation.
  3. Pleasing aesthetics – Basically, Apple products look pretty and have great industrial design. Sure some people discount this factor, but I’ve grown to appreciate the value of great design.
  4. All the OSes via virtualization – I’m not sure how much practical use I’ll get out of this one, but OSX allows me to try every OS out on the market via virtualization. None of the other operating systems can run Mac OSX (legally).

Even though I’ve decided to go and switch to a make, I still have some lingering issues.

  1. Limited hardware options – I’m pretty much limited to whatever Apple offers for sale. If you have a specific need and Apple doesn’t meet it, you’re pretty much out of luck. For example, I want an ultralight/small notebook that is <3lbs. I had intended to get a 12” Powerbook, but the Intel transition kiboshed that. The 12” Powerbook was still a bit heavy for my taste, but I thought I could live with it (I used to have a 2.9lbs laptop so anything over 4lbs feels like a tomb-stone). I’m still not convinced about Apple’s plans for a lower cost desktop computer – the Mini is pretty good, but it’s not really inexpensive. And I’m not sure that Apple is going to continue this product. The iMac, on the other hand, is a great product. But what if I already have an LCD monitor that I want to use…
  2. Liminted peripheral options – Unfortunately, not all peripheral devices are available for the Mac platform. This situation, however, is changing, albeit slowly. For the longest time, RIM Blackberry devices weren’t supported (they still aren’t compared with the Windows world), but this too is changing.

The good thing is that there is a growing “ecosystem” of third party developers that are creating more options for Mac users. Hopefully with Apple’s continued success, more and more developers and vendors will make their products available for the Mac platform. The Mac seems to offer the best blend of commercial support for hardware, software, and open source developments – I’m not stuck in either extreme.

An Informed Decision
So, after all of this investigation, I’ve come to the decision that the Mac is for me. It’s not 100% perfect, but it is the best overall solution for me. I’d like more hardware and peripheral device options, but hopefully that will change.I’m just waiting to buy a Mac because I’m a bit strapped for funds right now as I’m still in graduate school. I’d also like to get my parents an iMac to replace their existing computer. They have the most basic of needs, but I think they’ll get more use out of a Mac than a Windows box.I have to admit that Macs aren’t for everyone.

  • Some people are only concerned about the price tag and will always look for the “cheapest” computer they can find – I guess you get what you pay for.
  • Some people are too ingrained in their habits of using Microsoft Windows and don’t want to switch. My sister absolutely hates iTunes and is frustrated that she has to learn new ways of doing things. She’s fortunate that she has tech support from her company to make sure her notebook works. The strange thing is that she complains about Windows and espouses the virtues of Unix (she develops hardware using products on both platforms).
  • And finally, I think that some people just don’t care. They are willing to accept what they’ve got.

I’ve spent 6–10 months researching and investigating Linux and the Mac. I’ve tried out various Macs (iMac, Macbook and Macbook Pro) and can identify what I like and dislike about them. I can do the same for several Windows notebooks, and even Linux distributions too. I’m not a Mac or open source “zealot” in any way. I just want the technology that I use to work. At the end of the day, computers are just a tool to get things done. Based on my analysis, I think the Mac will best suit my needs.

Additional Reading…
If you want to read another account, you should read an article available from CIO.com. One of the technology saavy CIOs did a farily rigorous test of Linux, Windows, and Mac OSX for the enterprise. While many of his experiences matched mine, he had concerns specific to a health care enterprise. The concepts and issues, however, remain the same.

Safari on Windows – some early thoughts June 25, 2007

Posted by Hans in Uncategorized.
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Much has been written and speculated as to why Steve Jobs and Apple Inc. decided to release Apple’s Safari web browser for Microsoft Windows.  Honestly, no-one really knows why except for Mr. Jobs (for some excellent analysis, you can read some postings from Roughly Drafted).  All I know is that there is now another option available to me as a current Microsoft Windows user.

I downloaded a copy of Safari 3.0 (beta) the first night it was available.  Installation was just a few clicks.  I am using a generic desktop PC running Windows XP Professional with all of the latest patches installed.  This machine has only necessary programs installed as I’m trying to keep it “lean and mean” so I can finish my PhD work on it.  My browser of choice so far has been Mozilla’s Firefox and I’ve been using it since version 0.8 or so (it must be at least two or three years now).

After over two weeks of use, here are my thoughts about Safari on Windows (very unscientific):

  • After downloading a patch/update, Safari became much more stable.  I haven’t had any problems with the browser crashing on me even thought I’ve been using it as my main browser since installation.
  • Web pages seem to load about the same as Firefox or Internet Explorer 7.x.  I couldn’t discern any noticeable differences to back up the claims of being the “fastest browser on Windows” as Steve Jobs claimed.  On some of the Apple.com pages, the browser did seem a bit more “responsive”, but I could be mistaken.  Some pages on the web may load slightly faster, but nothing significantly faster that I would notice.
  • I like the overall “look” of the browser, as it seems consistent with the Apple look.  I’m certain that on a Mac running OSX, Safari would fit in very well.
  • I wish I could figure out how to install some plug-ins to customize this browser or add addtional functionality.  I tried looking for about 30 minutes and gave up because all I could find were results for Mac versions (oh the irony).  Maybe this will change in the future.  As a side note, not installing plug-ins does make Safari very stable.  I’ve noticed that Firefox has gotten less stable/reliable ever since I’ve installed a number of plug-ins.
  • My biggest beef is that some websites do not load properly (or at all) with Safari.  With Firefox, I seem to be able to manage about 98% of the sites I visit, as there are only a few sites that I visit that specifically require IE.  For example, WordPress.com doesn’t seem to load properly, or perhaps more accurately not all of the web features work properly on Safari.  I seem to have some issues with the dashbar/dashboards when I’m logged in using Safari – no problems using Firefox of IE.
  • The biggest advantage with Safari is color management.  I came across this site/page explaining color management and the differences between Safari and other browsers.  There’s something to be said about proper color management.
  • Some of the options (or “preferences to manage how the browser handles cookies, cache, disk space, etc. seem to be missing in Safari when compared with Firefox and IE.
  • I didn’t like how documents, notably PDFs, can’t be viewed directly in the browser window.  A separate “download” window appears and you have to open the file manually.  This reminded me of Firefox 1.x.
  • Some keyboard short-cuts are not “standard” Windows (e.g., CRTL+SHIFT+H vs. ALT+HOME to get to the home page or CRTL+SHIFT+[] vs. CRTL+TAB to switch between tabs).  This didn’t bother me so much – just took a while to learn the new short cuts.
  • Bookmarks.  I didn’t like the way Safari handles bookmarks as it seems somewhat rigid.  I’m sure there are reasons for this, but I think Firefox organizes bookmarks much better, as there is a specific bookmarks manager for you to use.

Based on my limited experience so far (only two weeks), I’d have to say that Firefox 2.x will reamin my primary browser on Windows (for now).  Forfox has two main advantages:  1) it’s ability to customize with plug-ins (I really miss my mouse-gestures), and 2) the overall acceptance on the web.

I will still keep Safari around and download updates to see what new features/improvements will be added.  If plug-ins become available for Windows users (or at least I can figure out how to install them), I think Safari can give Firefox a good challenge.  I’d have to say that in its current state/form, Safari 3.x for Windows isn’t as good as Firefox or IE7.  IE7 isn’t a bad browser, contrary to what everyone thinks of Microsoft products.  Safari could give IE a run for its money if more websites accomodate it (it’s somewhat of a chicken/egg situation right now).  I can see some potential in Safari, but right now, I prefer Firefox.

Just a few last thoughts to conclude.  I wonder why Firefox wasn’t made available for Linux?  If the idea is to make Safari available as a development platform for the iPhone and also to increase market share (so that Safari is more accepted), then why not make a release for Linux?  I mean, look what the open source community has done with Firefox in a few short years.  The second thought is that I’ve read that many Mac users don’t really like Safari on the Mac, and that Firefox isn’t that great either – apparently there are some other flavours like Camino that users prefer.  Regardless, I think having more browsers available as options is a good thing.  The most important thing is that open standards are enforced and that we move away from a solely proprietary web.

Coming attractions… June 24, 2007

Posted by Hans in Uncategorized.
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I’m not sure how often I’ll be publishing to this blog, but here’s a quick overview of what you can expect:

  • thoughts on the technology industry
  • analysis of technology developments
  • discussion around Open Source
  • discussion around Apple Inc. products

Basically, I hope to write about things that are related to technology but not related to health care.  Health care specific topics will be found on my first blog – Hans Oh’s eHealth blog.