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The metaphor would work but for the fact that smaller is a harder technical challenge than bigger. They're not skirting some kind of spiritual calling to make b

The metaphor would work but for the fact that smaller is a harder technical challenge than bigger. They're not skirting some kind of spiritual calling to make better technology by focusing on portable instead of workstations--if anything, they are doing exactly what the author wants. To equate pushing the envelope with losing money is very superficial reasoning.

jcsiracusa 14y ago
Good thing the I didn't do that, eh? As I noted in the article, there are many more axes of innovation beyond just performance. But performance is definitely one of them! Apple's pursuing top-end performance with gusto in its laptops and mobile devices. But its desktops have been left to languish, not even using the fastest available off-the-shelf CPUs and GPUs (let alone using custom high-performance silicon designed in-house, a la the latest iOS devices).
- fusiongyro 14y ago
  I'm saying there is no such relationship between halo cars and the Mac Pro. They're "leaving them to languish" while inventing amazing technology on the side of the spectrum. They've managed to make a $330 product seem aspirational. The more I think about your argument the less sense it makes. Great article, well written and full of interesting facts, but I don't think your point holds much water.
acqq 14y ago
Exactly. The real technological breakthrough is still 2048 × 1536 pixels in the iPad, together with the processing power needed to drive it small very mobile form and ten hours of work on battery. Compare that with the whole PC industry. The smallest monitor I can buy in my rich european country, which has nearly so much pixels on the shorter side is 27 inches in diagonal, having only 1440 pixels and just 110 dpi. Or with the Microsoft's Surface Pro of only 5 hours and "only" (a lot compared to the 1366x768 Surface RT, only compared to the iPad) 1920 x 1080.

jcsiracusa 14y ago

Good thing the I didn't do that, eh? As I noted in the article, there are many more axes of innovation beyond just performance. But performance is definitely one of them! Apple's pursuing top-end performance with gusto in its laptops and mobile devices. But its desktops have been left to languish, not even using the fastest available off-the-shelf CPUs and GPUs (let alone using custom high-performance silicon designed in-house, a la the latest iOS devices).

fusiongyro 14y ago
I'm saying there is no such relationship between halo cars and the Mac Pro. They're "leaving them to languish" while inventing amazing technology on the side of the spectrum. They've managed to make a $330 product seem aspirational. The more I think about your argument the less sense it makes. Great article, well written and full of interesting facts, but I don't think your point holds much water.

acqq 14y ago

Exactly. The real technological breakthrough is still 2048 × 1536 pixels in the iPad, together with the processing power needed to drive it small very mobile form and ten hours of work on battery. Compare that with the whole PC industry. The smallest monitor I can buy in my rich european country, which has nearly so much pixels on the shorter side is 27 inches in diagonal, having only 1440 pixels and just 110 dpi. Or with the Microsoft's Surface Pro of only 5 hours and "only" (a lot compared to the 1366x768 Surface RT, only compared to the iPad) 1920 x 1080.