Ondrej Holzman This week is extremely interesting in the tech world. New products were presented by Microsoft today, followed by Apple tomorrow, and it is interesting because we will be able to get a good insight into the strategy of both companies, how they think about computers. Also Apple's keynote should mainly concern computers.
There is roughly only twenty-four hours to debate what Microsoft introduced, what it means, and how Apple should respond to it, so it would be best to wait that one day before making any judgments. But today, Microsoft threw down a gauntlet to Apple, which should probably take its juice. If not, he may very well turn away significantly from the users who once helped him to the top.
We are talking about none other than the so-called professional users, by which we mean various developers, graphic artists, artists and many other creative people who use computers to materialize their ideas and ideas and therefore also as a tool for their livelihood.
Apple has always pampered such users. His computers, often inaccessible to the average user, used to represent the only possible path such a graphic designer could take. Everything was made so that he had everything he needed, and of course not only the graphic designer, but anyone else who needed high computing power, to connect peripherals and use other advanced tools.
But that time is over. Although Apple continues to keep computers with the nickname "Pro" in its portfolio, with which it targets demanding users, but how many times it seems that this is just an illusion. There is the utmost care for filmmakers and photographers, for whom Macs, whether desktop or portable, were the best choice.
In recent years, Apple has generally overlooked its computers, all in one, but while the average user sometimes doesn't have to worry so much, professionals suffer. Once Apple's flagships in the area — the MacBook Pro with Retina display and the Mac Pro — haven't been updated in so long that one wonders if Apple still cares. Other models don't get the necessary care either.
Tomorrow's keynote therefore represents a unique opportunity for Apple to show all doubters, as well as loyal customers, that computers are still a topic for it. It would be a mistake if it wasn't, even though mobile devices are much more in vogue. However, iPhones and iPads are not for everyone, i.e. a filmmaker simply cannot edit things on an iPad like on a computer, no matter how hard Tim Cook tries to convince the contrary.
Surely many will now note that all of the above could wait until tomorrow, as Apple can introduce products that will put it back in the saddle, and then such words will be largely unnecessary. But given what Microsoft showed today, it's good to remember the last few years of the Mac.
Microsoft clearly showed today that it cares a lot about the professional sphere of users. He even developed an entirely new computer for them, which has the ambition to remodel the way creatives work. The new Surface Studio may resemble an iMac with its all-in-one design and thin display, but at the same time, all parallels end there. Where the iMac's capabilities end, the Surface Studio just begins.
Surface Studio has a 28-inch display that you can control with your finger. It displays the same wide palette of colors as the iPhone 7 and thanks to two arms it can be tilted very easily so that you can use it, for example, as a canvas for comfortable drawing. In addition, Microsoft introduced the "radial puck" Dial, which works both as a simple controller for zooming and scrolling, but you can also put it near the display, rotate it and change the color palette you are currently drawing. Cooperation with the Surface Pen goes without saying.
The above is just a fraction of what the Surface Studio and Dial can offer and do, but it will suffice for our purposes. I dare to guess that if Mac owners, corresponding to the professional box, watched Microsoft's presentation today, they must have sighed more than once, how is it possible that they are not getting something like this from Apple.
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It's certainly not the case that Phil Schiller should march on stage tomorrow, throw away everything he's preached so far and introduce an iMac with a touch screen, but if everything revolves around only basic MacBooks, that will also be wrong.
Today, Microsoft showed its vision of a creative studio where it doesn't necessarily matter if you have a Surface tablet, a Surface Book laptop or a Surface Studio desktop computer, but you can be sure that if you want (and get a powerful enough model in the category), you will to be able to create everywhere, even with a pencil or Dial.
Instead, in recent years, Apple has been trying to force iPads as the sole replacement for all computers, completely forgetting about professionals. Although they draw great on the iPad Pro with the Pencil, a powerful machine in the form of a computer still needs many of them on their backs. Microsoft has an ecosystem designed in such a way that you can actually do anything and everything, more or less everywhere, all you have to do is choose. Apple doesn't have that option for various reasons, but it would still be great to see that it still cares about computers, both hardware and software.
A nice 12-inch MacBook in rose gold might be enough for regular users, but it won't satisfy creatives. Today it seems like Microsoft cares a lot more about these users than Apple, which is a big paradox considering the history. Tomorrow, however, everything can be different. Now it's Apple's turn to pick up the gauntlet. Otherwise, all creatives will cry.
Why the hell would Apple respond by introducing a touch iMac just because Microsoft made a touch AllinOne?
I think Apple has historically proven consistently that this is not the path for them. Because it's the road to hell. There is no point in making things bigger and better just because the competition has them. But you make them better in a way that makes sense.
However, I do agree that development is slow, at least in updating Macs' internals.
But there was no mention of a touch iMac. This is where the iMac, MacBook pro, Mac Pro and all the machines that keep us (a lot of us) alive.
Because, for example, the iMac 5K (I'm currently writing from it) is beautiful - but if I have to connect a second monitor to it - it will definitely not be the Thunderbolt Cinema Display. (and here we are at the source of the problem - because the previously best option on the market is now very, very backward - and so it is with most of them)
Thanks for this note. It's amazing how stubbornly Apple clings to its disgustingly glossy and completely average quality displays, which make the iMac completely unusable for anyone even a bit of a professional user...
Because according to the brilliant Apple designer, whom no one at Apple dares to contradict, a glossy display looks good in a store, nobody would notice a matte one... And that it is also necessary to work on it - after all, that is irrelevant, it does not interest anyone.
Yes, and the fact that glossy displays in the professional sphere (photo, video) generally give worse colors than matte ones, Mr. Japek is not interested in anyone.
On the contrary, I think that Microsoft did well in this, although I'm not such a professional, but when I saw it, I wanted the computer right away. Compared to this, the iMac looks like a poor relative... I like Macs, but it's time for Apple to start paying attention to them again, even those system updates are not a thing anymore (but Microsoft is still worse at this - see installing updates today at 7 am in work, without the possibility to work an hour :D)
I know from my own experience that these large touch gadgets - I mean laptops or, God forbid, displays - start to get in the way after a while.
Mainly it hurts the hand, the display is blurry, etc. My opinion is that computers should be non-touch (or touch for minimal interaction). Touch belongs to mobile devices
So macOS doesn't seem backward to me. It's better than Apple starting to remake it on a touch interface, but what scares me more is the non-updating and cutting of professional software. So that a person switches to adobe what with amd graphics in macs... well :D
macOS is, again in my opinion, the best system for the masses that is on the market. Unfortunately, the frequent release of new versions (once a year) has harmed it in recent years. So is iOS. It seems to me that since then errors (it is true that mostly minor, graphic or other minor ones) have increased by a geometric number.
I agree. However, I don't miss more frequent updates of the "innards" of Macs (especially portable ones). Parameters and performance in benchmark tests by themselves do not in any way guarantee actual performance and practical usability... ;)
Microsoft (in my humble opinion) introduced a bunch of shit. I would probably expect more from a monopoly IT company than Paint 3D and a computer for 70 sticks
I'm buying shit? They had to put a lot of effort into this, just making the monitor and the puck was a lot of work...
and at the same time such stupidity...
The 3D paint is pretty stupid, I agree. The biggest fail is the ad where the kids say how revolutionary it is and how they've been waiting for it all their lives. But as far as hardware is concerned, I like MS quite a bit. They are trying to push the boundaries and possibilities of professional computers, which is definitely not to be thrown away. The big minus, however, is the price of any surface product.
I agree. I also always enjoy Microsoft hardware. I roared with laughter at the recent presentation of the jointed abomination called Surface... :D :D :D ... This drawing board is not so much fun anymore, but the persistent effort to cram into an area that I absolutely cannot handle makes me smile... ;)
Well, Microsoft also wanted to break into the consumer sphere first, but because Win 8/10 came very late, it didn't succeed. Win ended development on that account. phone and your band. As part of consumer PCs, he also could not compete with well-established cheap manufacturers, so he went into the only possible sphere, which was released to him by Apple. As a big "apple fan boy", I have to admit that Microsoft is doing incredible things and proves that the idea of PC is not overcome by the idea of "PostPC", on the contrary, both theses can complement each other wonderfully. Microsoft converts beautifully crafted and thought-out machines that are exactly its philosophy, and I would like it if Apple came up with something similar within its philosophy, which is definitely not to have a touch display in every machine. Such a solution would require rebuilding macOS, which would spoil the overall user experience. It would be enough if you could draw on the trackpad or the entire lower edge of the MacBook/magickeyboard/tracpad using an Apple pencil, for example, so that Apple could catch up with the competition in hardware, etc.
I'd rather draw on the display as on a big canvas and not down somewhere and look up like a blind person. Which is more natural?
Otherwise, something like this puck is commonly used by designers not only for zooming in AutoCAD
I wonder if any professional designer or architect draws on the display with a pencil, or if they will use this special puck. I don't think so. It's good enough for a promotional video.
Please someone correct me if I'm wrong.
I note that after years of Windows users criticizing the iMac for its poor expandability, Microsoft has cut through the controversy. He made something like an iMac. Although it has not yet mastered the technology like Apple and was unable to fit everything into the body of the monitor, it is still headed in the right direction.
The puck is a good idea - I think it's really good for all these studios and stuff like that. In my opinion, it's a different version of Applácký's Tragic Trackpad. The calculator is interesting, dear. The fact that it has a large and thin display scares me a little. It will probably sell, but in my opinion it is nothing extra.
So the iMac has a bump on the back and this under the display :D I personally think that it can be very useful for quickly changing the color, moving the slider and so on. And not only attached to the display but also lying on the table. Nothing that would bring a lot of new options, but it is a certain zergonomization of system control. So far from my impression.
If I take the concept of the iMac to heart, which, unlike Microsoft, Apple manages incomparably better in terms of technology and design, I always end up with a disgustingly shiny glass and non-calibrable display, with which Apple kills it again...
I think that the "puck" should be purely software directly in the system; displayable by some gesture. As hardware, it's just another thing to break, lose, and most importantly, probably pay for.
This will be killed by the essence of Widlem, the only thing that could save it is Ubuntu.
Just recently I was thinking that I would buy a Surface and install Linux on it (if it's possible and you don't have to worry about it). Then I wondered how much the surfaces cost.
The problem with Windows is that people run the system on terrible scraps. At the same time, all you need is an ordinary SSD disk and a reasonably large amount of RAM, and the problem is over. I have an SSD drive on both the desktop and the old NTB. 20GB of RAM on the desktop (it's for games) and NTB only 4GB. Everything flies. I've had Win10 on my desktop for over a year. Not once has it crashed, it doesn't slow down, all new and old programs work. Nothing to complain about. NTB is an ancient HP 6730S. Vista was originally there. There was nothing to do with them. That's how Ubuntu walked there for years. After upgrading the drive to SSD, I tried to put Win10 there. Everything works, the old battery lasts 5-6 hours (new battery). It is enough for work in Offices. Widle is not a bad system. Unfortunately, the assemblies that run OSX are many times more expensive and then Widle seems to be crap. Put it on comparable HW and the situation is different. What Microsoft presented will be expensive iron, but it will run the same as OSX on Apple
Put Lubuntu or Xubuntu and Spyware 10 on the same iron => Widle is shit, Lubuntu flies like a slingshot.
Thanks for the nice article. I feel pretty much the same way. I work on both platforms, I'm a friend of both windows and apples, but when I compare my macbook pro today with a Dell XPS 13, the mac is simply an outdated piece of iron. We'll see tomorrow. I really like what Microsoft presented today.
May I ask, please, how do you compare the old MacBook with the miracle from DELL and what work do you do better under "Wokenicema"? ;)
MacBook Pro 2015. In general - if I work with a MacBook in notebook mode, I work better with macos, if I pick up a mouse and connect a monitor - I prefer windows. Both systems have their pros and cons and I find the discussions about which is better to be laughable. It depends on what one does and in what style one does it.
The Dell always doesn't even have a retina display...
Dell makes these laptops in two resolutions
13.3 inch FHD AG (1920 x 1080) InfinityEdge
13.3 inch QHD+ (3200 x 1800) InfinityEdge
Battery life, performance (if I compare configurations in the same price categories), wearability and overall usability of the entire device is a category higher. And I say this as the owner of a macbook pro 2015 model. And I'm afraid how many ports will disappear again tonight from the new macbook :-)
1) But your Dell XPS13 has defective connectors (the most common defect in complaints).
2) Has Windows or Ubuntu (at least Linux is a plus)
3) Most of the XPS13 has a terrible LCD panel, the QHD one is not bad, but it didn't convince me.
The most important thing…. the most powerful (and also the most expensive) XPS13 variant today has weaker CPU performance than the Macbook Pro 13 mid2014.
The XPS13 has a noticeably slower SSD drive than the MBP 13 Early 2015.
The XPS13 keyboard is a mockery in itself, a terrible toy store design.
The sandwich construction, a sheet of aluminum on the outside, maybe a magnesium alloy covered with a thin layer of plastic on the inside, is also pretty terrible (I understand on the PC platform it's the best), compared to the unibody Macbook chassis, Dell is again horrible and low-quality.
Who remembers, microshit had that wrap table with a "puck" and they tried to do something with it. I'm looking at the "puck" project, they dug it out of the closet and fit it in here. SW solutions better. In terms of HW design, Microshit is pretty good. It's interesting that somehow I can't find more extensive tweets, discussions, 5 articles on idnes and other rants on fb about how overpriced machines are
Yes, that's true and somehow I can't imagine how I have the puck on the table and then fart it on the display, which will soon be full of scratches, but maybe it's different.
It always freezes me when I see how much work someone has put into creating yet another piece of nonsense. If Microsoft stuck to the only thing they really know how to do (server OS and related SW), they would do better. Another design perversion, true, not as hideous as the "articulated" Surface, but when you consider what will power it... And the "two in one" concept is stupid enough for a screaming Green Monster TV commercial... ;) ... Only, What I agree with in the article is the statement that Apple is increasingly targeting the professional user...
The concept is definitely good. If it does not perform it is killed.
I have to say it's a tough show, if someone here says they wouldn't want such a machine, they're a fucking hypocrite
I can't wait until tomorrow I see a new computer with cut ports and the same display quality, over which someone will rave that it's the best and the world and stupidity over the keyboard, although in my heart I hope it won't be like that and if it is, I'm done with Apple
Unfortunately, I have to agree. This has bothered me a lot about Apple in recent years. They come out with an average product, but act like the whole world is waiting for it and price it like that.
Apple is also struggling. You need to cancel the esc keyboard that everyone uses :) also cancel USB A, even if people still use them... after all, one is innovating and the other is changing ports.
I don't use the ESC key :-) Not that I want you to cancel it, I just react to the word "everyone"
How can anyone not use ESC? :D
I ask what for?
I specifically use it a lot - I'm generally more of a 'keyboard' person. I will quickly cancel some window, dialog.
Command + Option + Esc helps me to quickly exit frozen applications.
Everything can be solved with the mouse, but it's a matter of habit.
I'm also a keyboard person, but it's true that I solve frozen applications with the mouse command + option + esc I remembered after writing this. Anyway, I can't think of anything else.
The second thing is that I primarily responded to the word "Everyone", by the way OSX is built I understand that each user can use it in their own way, simply as it suits them. I'm comfortable using OSX without ESC, but I'm not saying that everyone does, that's why I was interested in using this key again, maybe I'll learn something new that I might use over time.
The second thing, if the led panel can be adjusted, and as I looked, yes, so I assume that the ESC will be put there globally for everyone, let's be surprised.
Ok, so not everyone, but let's say a large part of users use esc. Did he really have to go? Is it really impossible to innovate differently and better? I have nothing against simplification, but it has to have a head and a heel. And that was true under Jobs. Simply, how many times have I said to myself for Jobs's Apple, yes, they succeeded in this. I don't say that to Cook now, maybe only for a few things, but quite often, on the contrary, I say to myself, "for God's sake why?" I won't be alone when their profits are falling, obviously more people are starting to say that.
I understand your point of view and in a way I identify with it, anyway we will see what will be presented in the evening. All the servers say that A, i.e. ESC will be removed, but they don't call it B, ie. by which he will reason, which I suppose will be in the evening. We'll see, maybe it will be disappointing for me too, but time will tell if it was good or bad.
Otherwise, I don't know if I should watch at all in the evening. It will simply be:
– Hello, great fall, sold so many iPhones and watches,
– Hmm hardware, the best we've done so far,
– goodbye
It seems to me that even those keynotes had a different atmosphere under Jobs, now it's the same as through a photocopier and either I just didn't see it before or I didn't want to see it :-(
I do not get it. I know Jobs was a visionary, but there were certainly a lot of creative people who told him what and he said yes/no. Where did the people go? Don't tell me it was all Jobs's ideas, that would be very sad :-(
Those people are still there, but the one who said yes/no at the right moment is not there. As Jobs himself said: Tim knows how to run a company and arrange everything around, but he has no feeling for the product. And so he allegedly set it up with the fact that Tim is the best choice at that moment and others should take care of the product. Unfortunately, it doesn't quite work and they didn't really understand the simplification either. It should make it easier to use, not cut anything.
I agree, I also say that at keynotes :-D
...even though I said "finally something" for the first time with AirPods
closing all dialogs…
Thank you.
during programming closing all possible hints (intellisense), closing spotlight, I press ESC 1000 times a day :). But sure, I'm not denying that someone doesn't use it :)
Hmm, I have to apologize to everyone, I use it, but I don't realize it at all :-( Intelisense :-/ I'm just on a project where you have old SAP, and intellisense doesn't work very well there, so I didn't realize it :-(
I apologize for my bluntness…
Apple will cancel the keyboard, put a big touchpad, and everything will be handled by gestures
Well, I've been saying this for a few years that the best thing for MS was to fire the Ballmer monkey, who was sinking the company... I'm curious about Apple, but I'm under no illusions that what they will present today would be somehow extra...
Ballmer was a real evil for Microsoft, but Mr. Satan Mandala is not going anywhere.
Although MS presented some good ideas in general (I really appreciate, unlike Mr. Sweaty Monkey Ballmer, that they stopped ignoring the Linux world), but they don't finish them and a bunch of things don't work for them
At least I don't "prevent" people from inventing new things and starting to open up to the world, whether their products work or not I'll leave it up to their users, because I know that X things don't work on Apple either (some bug reports stink to me over 2 years and 2 operating systems).
It is true that I take the whole thing as a merit of the "new" director, the question is how it works inside MS now.
Yes, I agree with you in everything. Every company has flies. Time will probably tell all the changes, I just hope for the better
That's 2 of us… Even if things don't look very positive for Apple at the moment :-(
EDIT: But I'm writing this mainly after recent experience with upgrading from iPhone 5 to 7...
So I wonder? Something wrong?
Nothing major, just details...
– My iHealth (encrypted backup via iTunes) was messed up, after the recovery I lost my data, probably the database got kicked (ticket 28976572),
– The phone requires a SIM card before restoring, but as soon as I restore from iTunes and someone calls me, the restoration is interrupted and I can start over (I know this annoyed me when I switched from iPhone 4 -> 5 in 2012), as well as when uploading applications , if I then put sync in iTunes, the application synchronization no longer works and you have to reset and try again and hope that no one calls (I also took out the SIM card, but that then produced other problems),
– If it doesn't find an app in iTunes (I back up bigger chunks and delete on my computer because my app library is big), it just throws a message instead of remembering which app it was and not trying to download it from the App store.
Indeed, details that I would expect from Apple to be resolved...
turn it off in auto operator settings and set another then undo
Thanks, I'll do it that way next time.
Anyway, I take this as a standard "workaround" if I was using windows, I got really lazy, what about user habits when using computers and phones :-( Let's see, I didn't give a bug report, I gave a feature request, so maybe catch yourself.
Isn't it easier to switch to flight mode?
Well, it's probably the details, but I totally understand that these things probably shouldn't happen. However, restoring the phone from the cloud also has its problems (in short - sometimes problems arise)
I understand that, and as a programmer I know that mistakes will happen. Rather than just waving my hand and saying "It will happen", I want to continue to be a satisfied user of their products and not just complain about how incompetent they are.
But it's really hard, honestly the app's bug tracker is the worst I know. While others are trying to prevent you from starting a new one, if there is already one that works, then everyone should put in the app and then they just say that it is a copy, etc. etc., which I think puts a burden on their people and then they don't have the capacity to deal with the real problems... When I gave them a ticket about it, they wrote me that they do it because they don't want to compromise the privacy of other users, but that's the way it is … They could practically hide attachments and stuff. It's their struggle, maybe they'll figure it out on their own in time...
After all, restoring 60GB of applications in a day (yes, a lot of games and crap) more than once is tiring, and it's even more tiring to do it manually... Then you have to synchronize Apple Music, which doesn't keep a backup of everything that's been downloaded, to complete other things, like for example, offline materials for mapy.cz and think about it before I need it :-)
The puck is the most interesting innovation since Apple came up with multi-touch gestures on the touchpad. Microsoft can pay Adobe just to implement support for that puck in their professional programs, and professionals can gradually switch to Surface Studio with a change of hardware. MS presented it exactly like Apple presented the iPad Pro. Only Surface Studio is much more interesting for professionals.
If Apple removes ESC and the entire upper row of keys and replaces it with that toolbar, professionals will die of laughter :-)
I'm already looking forward to Apple leaving only one or two usb 3.1 ports on the MBP and declaring that they are the only ones brave enough to do it all. And those who want to work normally will need at least two docking stations to be able to charge it, connect ethernet, external display and speakers and charge at least iPhone and iPad. Two docking stations because he will need one at work and one at home. He won't carry her to work after all.
The Mac Pro is three years old now and it's really outdated. Likewise, iMacs are already obsolete. Both need new graphics cards and Thunderbolt 3 and USB 3.1 ports. Mac pro also needs a new Xeon processor.
Mac mini is probably written off for professionals.
iPad Pros need a new A10X processor, because they are already slower than the iPhone 7.
And I wonder what will happen to the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 4. Both are already two years old.
dfx
Well, ESC can be remapped in the settings, so I wouldn't see it as a problem.
In addition, I always change my MBP after about 5-7 years (I am now about a third of the cycle), so in many cases only new buyers will be looking for reductions...
In addition, many people use the monitor as a USB hub, so you simply "stick" the old peripherals there.
In addition, if they were of any use, they will also introduce a docking station (ideally wired and wireless)
Pretty nice, but I don't know any artist/graphic/creative who would voluntarily switch to windows :)
So, during my entire career, I went through a lot of studies/advertisements/editions, and fortunately, macs were used everywhere.
Even IBM has realized this and is switching over to Macs.
Well, you just don't have the perspective :-) I know a lot of them who do it on Windows. One is sitting right in front of me now. As for designers, architects, etc., they are quite a bunch.
Mac is almost dead in this business. Win had already overtaken him long ago. It is true that from the point of view of technical ageing, my Mac is still significantly better because I have 6-year-old Macs running fine, but in reality I only work on PCs, which I upgrade about every 2 years, but the compatibility with external environments and peripherals is priceless . On the other hand, I don't know a better mobile phone than the iPhone, and I haven't even tried another brand since the 3 I had as my first. Service and Apple services are famous.
Great for me. Already for that effort and thought.
I've been with Apple since 1995 and the cut off from professional users is sad. Damage.
Just find a photo of Steve's office with then Tim. That says a lot about Apple's direction.
We'll see in the evening. But I expect less ports and more emoji.
MS clearly thumbs up for me! The puck is the biggest innovation in the last couple of years (unfortunately...). They have it well thought out and if SW manufacturers support it, it will be a success.
As for the touch toolbar and removing esc, I probably don't care. I was wondering when was the last time I used esc and I really can't see. In addition, I assume that Apple will manage this change well and everything will work completely normally, only new control options will be added for the given applications.
And I think that the toolbar will also be possible to customize, so if you can't do without esc or other keys, just set it up and you're done. It's just going to be touchy..
If you start using Siri in the new operating system, the only way to close the window is to use esc
Interestingly.
https://techcrunch.com/2010/08/23/apples-imac-and-macbook-touch-patents-tease-ios-convertible-devices/
it will be a patent fair again :)
This is exactly what I expected from Apple after the introduction of the first iPad. I don't know what they were waiting for and are waiting for. Mainly because they were brandishing the post PC era. I don't expect that they will release something like that tomorrow and I hope that the reaction will come soon even if they are second again.
Well, this article really speaks to my soul in some passages - Apple is following the path of commerce, and it doesn't care about professionals. But it will happen to them one day - iPhones develop much more slowly than the competition, and the snobbery that makes people buy them will probably wear out one day...
Then they either go bankrupt or meekly return to proper machines…