3 ms·

I love in Apple product announcements when they show people doing tasks that not only don't require recent hardware, but in fact could have been done without mu

I love in Apple product announcements when they show people doing tasks that not only don't require recent hardware, but in fact could have been done without much trouble 20 or 30 years ago. Specifically talking about the ice cream spreadsheet that I suppose was there to show off how small businesses can use the new iMac. I'm sure it's a fine machine, but it does to me highlight the upgrade treadmill.

steve_adams_86 2y ago
No way, we need local LLMS to help us populate the spreadsheet!
tylerrobinson 2y ago
> iMac with M4 features the world’s fastest CPU core, making multitasking across apps like Safari and Excel lightning fast. This stuck out for me too, plus the examples of using Siri on the desktop. I reckon that invoking Siri to say, "Send Gema a text" and then having to proofread and approve the message is more effort than just sending Gema a text. Same for typing out "turn on do not disturb". You could imagine the argument being that there are a lot of deep settings or hidden controls that people would like to find, but then wouldn't a vector search that shows relevant settings be just about the same outcome?
- lotsofpulp 2y ago
  Siri is hot garbage, but having apps open and close near instantaneously is a productivity boost. Which was also helped by SSD, but I would say the next material change since SSD I have experienced is M processors. Amortize the time and “focus” savings over years of using the machine, and even a couple thousand extra dollars is worth it.
- Etheryte 2y ago
  You can also talk to Siri, you don't need to type any of it. I know their demo shows typing, but that's an easier visualization since you don't really want the webpage to be playing video with sound out of the blue. In this case I think it is simply a trade off of making the presentation more clear for the audience.
cheschire 2y ago
I’m not sure the iMac market is centered on upgrades. Humanity is growing. There are more new people ready for their first desktop than ever before. Many young new computer buyers have never used anything but a phone. I think the screen size alone is the biggest indicator as 24” is a step down for many existing desktop users, but anything larger might overwhelm someone accustomed to tablets and phones.
brailsafe 2y ago
I agree, but now that I've been spending months working directly with people on kind of slow machines that occasionally present minor roadblocks to basic productivity, there is at least a little value derived from making periodic upgrades to your office or retail computers. Most of the time that I've seen people encounter real problems, it's the result of overly arduous, or inconsistent software interfaces, rather than hardware, but it's not not worth re-investing in every half-decade or so. If it's your personal computer, even as a layman, you'll be willing to deal with things like one might with an aging car, but if it's the computer you've been given to get work done on in front of customers, it's a different perspective. Some people will literally just stop showing up sometimes if tools aren't working for them, and they might be right to do so. Again though, it's tenuous how often this occurs for basic tasks on hardware that's within the decade.
brianpan 2y ago
Isn't that show the opposite of the upgrade treadmill? When I buy a new MacBook, it WILL be to make ice cream spreadsheets. Not because M3 is now an M4. (Except for the Intel to M1 transition, I waited for that one.) And when I buy a new iPhone it won't be because I really need a Dynamic Island, it'll be because of Fantastical and Overcast.
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]

steve_adams_86 2y ago

No way, we need local LLMS to help us populate the spreadsheet!

tylerrobinson 2y ago

> iMac with M4 features the world’s fastest CPU core, making multitasking across apps like Safari and Excel lightning fast. This stuck out for me too, plus the examples of using Siri on the desktop. I reckon that invoking Siri to say, "Send Gema a text" and then having to proofread and approve the message is more effort than just sending Gema a text. Same for typing out "turn on do not disturb". You could imagine the argument being that there are a lot of deep settings or hidden controls that people would like to find, but then wouldn't a vector search that shows relevant settings be just about the same outcome?

lotsofpulp 2y ago
Siri is hot garbage, but having apps open and close near instantaneously is a productivity boost. Which was also helped by SSD, but I would say the next material change since SSD I have experienced is M processors. Amortize the time and “focus” savings over years of using the machine, and even a couple thousand extra dollars is worth it.
Etheryte 2y ago
You can also talk to Siri, you don't need to type any of it. I know their demo shows typing, but that's an easier visualization since you don't really want the webpage to be playing video with sound out of the blue. In this case I think it is simply a trade off of making the presentation more clear for the audience.

cheschire 2y ago

I’m not sure the iMac market is centered on upgrades. Humanity is growing. There are more new people ready for their first desktop than ever before. Many young new computer buyers have never used anything but a phone. I think the screen size alone is the biggest indicator as 24” is a step down for many existing desktop users, but anything larger might overwhelm someone accustomed to tablets and phones.

brailsafe 2y ago

I agree, but now that I've been spending months working directly with people on kind of slow machines that occasionally present minor roadblocks to basic productivity, there is at least a little value derived from making periodic upgrades to your office or retail computers. Most of the time that I've seen people encounter real problems, it's the result of overly arduous, or inconsistent software interfaces, rather than hardware, but it's not not worth re-investing in every half-decade or so. If it's your personal computer, even as a layman, you'll be willing to deal with things like one might with an aging car, but if it's the computer you've been given to get work done on in front of customers, it's a different perspective. Some people will literally just stop showing up sometimes if tools aren't working for them, and they might be right to do so. Again though, it's tenuous how often this occurs for basic tasks on hardware that's within the decade.

brianpan 2y ago

Isn't that show the opposite of the upgrade treadmill? When I buy a new MacBook, it WILL be to make ice cream spreadsheets. Not because M3 is now an M4. (Except for the Intel to M1 transition, I waited for that one.) And when I buy a new iPhone it won't be because I really need a Dynamic Island, it'll be because of Fantastical and Overcast.

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]