Porchland
Sep 8, 03:30 PM
We'll I guess you guys are right about getting a new streaming airport... looks like the wait time is back up from 24hours to 1-3 WEEKS WEEEEHOOOOOO!!!!!
Airport Express still shows available within 24 hours, so looks like Extreme is getting updated but Express is not.
Airport Express still shows available within 24 hours, so looks like Extreme is getting updated but Express is not.
imac_japan
May 3, 10:18 AM
As for me, I think Apple could make some changes but that it is in much better shape than it was, say, eight years ago.
I agree !! but they need to do more than provide quick cool products...The ipod and the itunes music store isn't going to last because there are going to be others. They need to push a product (ie: cheap mac) into the home ! People will buy it
I agree !! but they need to do more than provide quick cool products...The ipod and the itunes music store isn't going to last because there are going to be others. They need to push a product (ie: cheap mac) into the home ! People will buy it
Rocketman
Jan 1, 05:31 PM
I am expecting MACworld to bring (2/3 of):
A couple of interesting new MacPro BTO options.
A new iMac which is an iTV mainframe of sorts.
iTV enabled monitors.
An iTV breakout box for talking to existing computers and televisions.
802.11n in many places including a "surprise" (to some) announcement Macs have been shipping with 802.11n for several months now and it can be enabled by a software update (available today).
A consumer SAN.
New iPod games
New iLife/iWork apps and upgrades and backgrounds.
FCP update.
One more thing: Video iPod
Later: a "media release" perhaps leading to or at NAB
Later: an iTunes event announcing more movie studios and broadcast content libraries.
Later: Leopard, Mac-Mini C2D, MacMaster (workstation class system)
Rocketman
A couple of interesting new MacPro BTO options.
A new iMac which is an iTV mainframe of sorts.
iTV enabled monitors.
An iTV breakout box for talking to existing computers and televisions.
802.11n in many places including a "surprise" (to some) announcement Macs have been shipping with 802.11n for several months now and it can be enabled by a software update (available today).
A consumer SAN.
New iPod games
New iLife/iWork apps and upgrades and backgrounds.
FCP update.
One more thing: Video iPod
Later: a "media release" perhaps leading to or at NAB
Later: an iTunes event announcing more movie studios and broadcast content libraries.
Later: Leopard, Mac-Mini C2D, MacMaster (workstation class system)
Rocketman
slffl
Apr 26, 09:20 PM
Count me in there.
Apple have become Big Brother and Big Bully lately.
In the past they trod more lightly.
Oh give me a break! Maybe it's because all you read are the headlines which focus on Apple. Apple has no more lawsuits than any other company out there, not to mention the private lawsuits against Apple for dumb ass stuff like 'tracking', antennas, batteries, etc. etc. etc.....
Apple have become Big Brother and Big Bully lately.
In the past they trod more lightly.
Oh give me a break! Maybe it's because all you read are the headlines which focus on Apple. Apple has no more lawsuits than any other company out there, not to mention the private lawsuits against Apple for dumb ass stuff like 'tracking', antennas, batteries, etc. etc. etc.....
ccroo
Oct 23, 11:52 PM
That's right.... I bought a MBP nearly a month ago and while I'm very happy with it, I'm still here.... :o
Does your Macbook Pro have the "uneven backlight illumination" problem?
It's most apparent on 17" models. A light grey desktop shows brightness concentrated in the center and darkening in the corners -- like vignetting. Generally uneven constrast gives the screen a 3D quality, a sense of depth -- like you could put your hand inside.
I went to the Apple Store tonight and looked at a bunch of MBP's -- all had this characteristic. I put light grey desktops on some Macbooks and they look perfect - even illumination across the screen, like my old PB G4 17".
Apple Care sort of suggested this is what Macbook Pro display's look like. He didn't sound all too sure a replacement or repair would look much different to my "trained eye."
Are all Macbook Pro's like this?
Does your Macbook Pro have the "uneven backlight illumination" problem?
It's most apparent on 17" models. A light grey desktop shows brightness concentrated in the center and darkening in the corners -- like vignetting. Generally uneven constrast gives the screen a 3D quality, a sense of depth -- like you could put your hand inside.
I went to the Apple Store tonight and looked at a bunch of MBP's -- all had this characteristic. I put light grey desktops on some Macbooks and they look perfect - even illumination across the screen, like my old PB G4 17".
Apple Care sort of suggested this is what Macbook Pro display's look like. He didn't sound all too sure a replacement or repair would look much different to my "trained eye."
Are all Macbook Pro's like this?
vartanarsen
Apr 21, 12:04 PM
great. This is exactly what I want my senators to be working on.
pudrums
Nov 28, 08:06 AM
Custom-made gloves in black leather with cream-colored stitchings. I'll post a pic when I get them.
Synchromesh
Apr 20, 10:50 AM
The hondas I've driven from 02-06 (including mine) have all have very good engaging transmissions.
I beg to differ. Aside from S2000 whose transmission really is orgasmic, everything else from 2002 on I've driven by Honda was average at best. I drove an '07 Civic Si which was ok but nothing spectacular as well as '06 Accord V6 with manual. That one had a vague shifter that looked like an afterthought. Didn't like it. My daily driver is another Honda (Integra GS-R) and that car has an excellent shifter. But it was designed back in early 90s.
Another crappy shifter award: Subaru. Most Imprezas/WRXs I testdrove recently sucked with a passion. Only exception was one with the short shifter kit.
I beg to differ. Aside from S2000 whose transmission really is orgasmic, everything else from 2002 on I've driven by Honda was average at best. I drove an '07 Civic Si which was ok but nothing spectacular as well as '06 Accord V6 with manual. That one had a vague shifter that looked like an afterthought. Didn't like it. My daily driver is another Honda (Integra GS-R) and that car has an excellent shifter. But it was designed back in early 90s.
Another crappy shifter award: Subaru. Most Imprezas/WRXs I testdrove recently sucked with a passion. Only exception was one with the short shifter kit.
wkhahn
Sep 7, 12:48 PM
Using an advanced video codec like h.264, you can get decent quality in 720p at 6 Mbps and 1080p at 8 Mbps. (Look at the HD trailers on apple.com)
With current cable modems now getting 8 Mbps download speeds, we're not talking 2 and a half days, we're talking realtime or close to it.
I'm betting apple skips "DVD Quality" (whatever that means) and goes straight into HD. It is the 21st Century after all...
On my lunch break at work, I just downloaded a couple of HD trailers, both 2min30sec in length; 1 at 480p and the other at 720p. My set up is an 3.0Ghz Pentium D, 1G ram, 256K Nvidia Gforce 6800, 20" Dell Digital LCD.
I could tell no difference in file quality. The problem lies in download time. Both files average dl speed was 150KBps. Thats 1.2Mbps if my math is right. The 420p file took 4:28 to dl, translating to 3:34:24 for a 2hr movie. For 720p, it took 12:39, meaning a full movie would take 9:28:45.
I know my cable provider offers up to 4Mbps downlaods, for about $120/month. And thats before the cable servise itself. Even then its not dedicated. Most people with cable will opt for their providers basic service ,like $40 - 50/month for 500-600kbps, or 1/2 as fast as my test. The movies would take twice as long to dl. 19hrs to downlaod will not fly. 7hrs may not either.
If the compression works to get a DVD quality movie down to 1G, then it could be downloaded in about 1h50mim, nearly realtime at work, or 3h40min at home. At work, I would only need maybe a 15min buffer before I start watching, and not catch up to the dl. But at home, I would need about 1h40min buffer. Maybe this is acceptable to some, but if I can walk to Wal-mart or Blockbuster and back in that time, then what's the consumer advantage beyond the novelty?
I'm sure apple engineers can do these same napkin calculations. There would have to be some alternative to the straight dl. Maybe a torrent of some kind built into iTunes 7. I don't know. Just thinking.
With current cable modems now getting 8 Mbps download speeds, we're not talking 2 and a half days, we're talking realtime or close to it.
I'm betting apple skips "DVD Quality" (whatever that means) and goes straight into HD. It is the 21st Century after all...
On my lunch break at work, I just downloaded a couple of HD trailers, both 2min30sec in length; 1 at 480p and the other at 720p. My set up is an 3.0Ghz Pentium D, 1G ram, 256K Nvidia Gforce 6800, 20" Dell Digital LCD.
I could tell no difference in file quality. The problem lies in download time. Both files average dl speed was 150KBps. Thats 1.2Mbps if my math is right. The 420p file took 4:28 to dl, translating to 3:34:24 for a 2hr movie. For 720p, it took 12:39, meaning a full movie would take 9:28:45.
I know my cable provider offers up to 4Mbps downlaods, for about $120/month. And thats before the cable servise itself. Even then its not dedicated. Most people with cable will opt for their providers basic service ,like $40 - 50/month for 500-600kbps, or 1/2 as fast as my test. The movies would take twice as long to dl. 19hrs to downlaod will not fly. 7hrs may not either.
If the compression works to get a DVD quality movie down to 1G, then it could be downloaded in about 1h50mim, nearly realtime at work, or 3h40min at home. At work, I would only need maybe a 15min buffer before I start watching, and not catch up to the dl. But at home, I would need about 1h40min buffer. Maybe this is acceptable to some, but if I can walk to Wal-mart or Blockbuster and back in that time, then what's the consumer advantage beyond the novelty?
I'm sure apple engineers can do these same napkin calculations. There would have to be some alternative to the straight dl. Maybe a torrent of some kind built into iTunes 7. I don't know. Just thinking.
Mr Bigs
Sep 15, 09:17 AM
bmustaf
I agree with you on the points that Apple does need a reminder of where it stands in the consumer/producer relationship every now and then, just as any other company does. Consumer Reports generally does a good job with facilitating this. I'd much rather a major publication start taking Apple to task about not allowing sideloading/locking down the device though to be honest.
My issue, from a personal viewpoint as an iPhone and Android user, is the way the iPhone4 antenna issue was approached and in my opinion blown out of proportion in terms of the net effect.
Yes the phone suffers a -20dB attenuation when you hold the device and bridge that antenna. My HTC Desire gave me a -14dB attenuation when I held it in one hand and my Galaxy S gives me -18dB when holding it in one hand. The only difference is that the attenuation on the iPhone4 is possible by simply bridging that antenna with your pinky finger rather than needing to hold the device.
The point there is that how often does someone do that where they lay a device on a table and touch that particular spot with a pinky finger? Or why would someone do that? The issue is that the signal attenuates when the device is held. But every phone suffers that to some degree, with even phones that have internal antennas giving comparable attenuation when held in your hand.
They focused quite a bit on "if I touch the device just like this when it's laying down it gives me the attenuation" despite the fact no one does that. They should have looked at it from a net user experience, where "does a -20dB attenuation make a phone not recommendable compared to a phone with only a -15dB attenuation" being the more deciding factor.
To me personally, I can't see how someone can recommend a phone that gives you -15 to -18dB attenuation when held and then not recommend a phone that gives you -20dB simply because it can also be reproduced by touching a marked spot with your pinky if the device is laying on a table. That's not to say that Apple should be proud that their phone also attenuates (and usually more so by varying degrees), but where's the cutoff?
Is -19dB the maximum allowable attenuation before you say something isn't recommendable? I think that's a fair question to ask.How many of those devices actually loose service because of a grip ?
I agree with you on the points that Apple does need a reminder of where it stands in the consumer/producer relationship every now and then, just as any other company does. Consumer Reports generally does a good job with facilitating this. I'd much rather a major publication start taking Apple to task about not allowing sideloading/locking down the device though to be honest.
My issue, from a personal viewpoint as an iPhone and Android user, is the way the iPhone4 antenna issue was approached and in my opinion blown out of proportion in terms of the net effect.
Yes the phone suffers a -20dB attenuation when you hold the device and bridge that antenna. My HTC Desire gave me a -14dB attenuation when I held it in one hand and my Galaxy S gives me -18dB when holding it in one hand. The only difference is that the attenuation on the iPhone4 is possible by simply bridging that antenna with your pinky finger rather than needing to hold the device.
The point there is that how often does someone do that where they lay a device on a table and touch that particular spot with a pinky finger? Or why would someone do that? The issue is that the signal attenuates when the device is held. But every phone suffers that to some degree, with even phones that have internal antennas giving comparable attenuation when held in your hand.
They focused quite a bit on "if I touch the device just like this when it's laying down it gives me the attenuation" despite the fact no one does that. They should have looked at it from a net user experience, where "does a -20dB attenuation make a phone not recommendable compared to a phone with only a -15dB attenuation" being the more deciding factor.
To me personally, I can't see how someone can recommend a phone that gives you -15 to -18dB attenuation when held and then not recommend a phone that gives you -20dB simply because it can also be reproduced by touching a marked spot with your pinky if the device is laying on a table. That's not to say that Apple should be proud that their phone also attenuates (and usually more so by varying degrees), but where's the cutoff?
Is -19dB the maximum allowable attenuation before you say something isn't recommendable? I think that's a fair question to ask.How many of those devices actually loose service because of a grip ?
im_to_hyper
Jul 19, 03:47 PM
Other than recently, how often have Mac sales been in the million+ a quarter? Didn't 2002 or something only see that many shipped the entire year?
imac_japan
Mar 24, 01:32 AM
But Apple's market is shrinking.....
Acer and Sony and Toshiba, etc, etc are all part of a larger market - The IBM one. Apple is the only player in the Apple league.
Apple needs to get the mums and dads, the people who have never touched a mac or a computer.
The Switch campaign failed because they focused on the wrong people. Just like in the early 80's - Steve and Co thought that IBM was the devil, but we all know who really was the devil.
They need to focus on the every day person who cares about email, web surfing and word processing. A cheap machine would do the job.
Acer and Sony and Toshiba, etc, etc are all part of a larger market - The IBM one. Apple is the only player in the Apple league.
Apple needs to get the mums and dads, the people who have never touched a mac or a computer.
The Switch campaign failed because they focused on the wrong people. Just like in the early 80's - Steve and Co thought that IBM was the devil, but we all know who really was the devil.
They need to focus on the every day person who cares about email, web surfing and word processing. A cheap machine would do the job.
charlituna
May 2, 10:33 PM
TO ALL FANBOYS:
This is better than what we have now.
Life goes on. Live moves forward. Apple is a forward-thinking company.
Deal with it!
The best part is that it is an option. You don't have to use this or Launchpad if you don't want to. The whole Finder thing is still there for all the geeks and such
This is better than what we have now.
Life goes on. Live moves forward. Apple is a forward-thinking company.
Deal with it!
The best part is that it is an option. You don't have to use this or Launchpad if you don't want to. The whole Finder thing is still there for all the geeks and such
mambodancer
Jul 18, 10:18 PM
I think you are confusing the term HD in various context.
A movie file (computer file) can be in HD resolution (1280x720 or 1920x1080) encoded in a variety of formats (MPEG2, MPEG4-H.264 aka AVC, Microsoft VC-1).
If the non-DRM'd file is available on your computer, you can view them using a variety of playback software such as Quicktime, Windows Media Player, VLC player, etc.
However, you rented HD-DVD. This is a physical media that requires a blu-laser based HD-DVD player to play it on. Currently only Toshiba sells such a player as a standalone player HD-A1 I believe. They also have a high-end laptop with this player built-in. So, you need a HD-DVD readable drive to playback the HD-DVD disc you rented from Netflix.
What Apple is talking about is authoring HD disks. You can make HD movies using Final Cut Pro or even iMovie by importing a HD movie (probably in HDV format). Then create a DVD image of it that is capable of HD. I have not used this feature - so I don't know the details.
I would have preferred a way to burn H.264 based HD movies into a standard DVD (red laser based single or dual layer DVD) and play it back on a low cost player that can do H.264 decoding (including HD resolution). I guess a Mac Mini is one such beast ;-)
That's what I figured. I knew it was too much to hope that I could play HD-DVD's in my iMac without buying a stand alone player. Oh, well. Thanks for the reply.
A movie file (computer file) can be in HD resolution (1280x720 or 1920x1080) encoded in a variety of formats (MPEG2, MPEG4-H.264 aka AVC, Microsoft VC-1).
If the non-DRM'd file is available on your computer, you can view them using a variety of playback software such as Quicktime, Windows Media Player, VLC player, etc.
However, you rented HD-DVD. This is a physical media that requires a blu-laser based HD-DVD player to play it on. Currently only Toshiba sells such a player as a standalone player HD-A1 I believe. They also have a high-end laptop with this player built-in. So, you need a HD-DVD readable drive to playback the HD-DVD disc you rented from Netflix.
What Apple is talking about is authoring HD disks. You can make HD movies using Final Cut Pro or even iMovie by importing a HD movie (probably in HDV format). Then create a DVD image of it that is capable of HD. I have not used this feature - so I don't know the details.
I would have preferred a way to burn H.264 based HD movies into a standard DVD (red laser based single or dual layer DVD) and play it back on a low cost player that can do H.264 decoding (including HD resolution). I guess a Mac Mini is one such beast ;-)
That's what I figured. I knew it was too much to hope that I could play HD-DVD's in my iMac without buying a stand alone player. Oh, well. Thanks for the reply.
63dot
Jan 5, 09:05 PM
The MB W201 (1982-1993) was a brilliant small sedan, and you can still find them on the road today. Like any other German car, if you maintain it properly, it will run forever.
German, English, and Italian cars right out of the dealership are the coolest, best performing, best designed machines out there. And yes, they all need proper care.
It just that there are cars like cockroaches (not too expensive like a Carrera or Lambo and in no way as sexy) but they don't die, even when they are abused. Toyota pickups, Honda Accords (stock, not riced), and Volvos of old don't win style points, but they have the longevity that is legendary.
One of the coolest cars out there are most Jaguars from the 1970s until now, but I can't think of a car that breaks down more often, or is never seen in public if more than ten years old. There is no excuse for that. It's much more acceptable when a ten year old Yugo is not out on the road (when they hit that age back in the past) because they were very inexpensive. But at the same time period, dumping $25K or more into an XJ only to spend thousands more on repair on a car you would have to eventually sell is not acceptable.
A lawyer friend of mine got divorced and had to get rid of a car. She lived in a small, rented house and had no use for two cars. She was down to a rather new Honda Accord or a nice metallic green Jaguar 12 cylinder. She kept the Jag and dumped the Accord, which she got for top dollar. A few years later, she dumped the Jag. Not only was there the typical Jag problems that plague the maker, but the sun (near the ocean) did a job on the metallic green paintjob as it does to all metallic green paint jobs.
German, English, and Italian cars right out of the dealership are the coolest, best performing, best designed machines out there. And yes, they all need proper care.
It just that there are cars like cockroaches (not too expensive like a Carrera or Lambo and in no way as sexy) but they don't die, even when they are abused. Toyota pickups, Honda Accords (stock, not riced), and Volvos of old don't win style points, but they have the longevity that is legendary.
One of the coolest cars out there are most Jaguars from the 1970s until now, but I can't think of a car that breaks down more often, or is never seen in public if more than ten years old. There is no excuse for that. It's much more acceptable when a ten year old Yugo is not out on the road (when they hit that age back in the past) because they were very inexpensive. But at the same time period, dumping $25K or more into an XJ only to spend thousands more on repair on a car you would have to eventually sell is not acceptable.
A lawyer friend of mine got divorced and had to get rid of a car. She lived in a small, rented house and had no use for two cars. She was down to a rather new Honda Accord or a nice metallic green Jaguar 12 cylinder. She kept the Jag and dumped the Accord, which she got for top dollar. A few years later, she dumped the Jag. Not only was there the typical Jag problems that plague the maker, but the sun (near the ocean) did a job on the metallic green paintjob as it does to all metallic green paint jobs.
jclardy
Sep 14, 10:01 AM
I guess you don't read the news. Toyota has recalled millions of vehicles this year, even though not every owner of those vehicles was specifically experiencing the problem.
But his point was that the owner of the car must still bring it in for repair. If they were unaware of the issue it would be unresolved.
Which essentially makes it the same situation as the iPhone. If the owner of the phone has a problem they get the 'fix' if they request it.
But I don't think the magnitude of the problems are anywhere near equal. A $15,000-$20,000 piece of machinery that has a problem that could endanger the operators life vs a $200 cell phone that could drop a call.
But his point was that the owner of the car must still bring it in for repair. If they were unaware of the issue it would be unresolved.
Which essentially makes it the same situation as the iPhone. If the owner of the phone has a problem they get the 'fix' if they request it.
But I don't think the magnitude of the problems are anywhere near equal. A $15,000-$20,000 piece of machinery that has a problem that could endanger the operators life vs a $200 cell phone that could drop a call.
SMM
Nov 15, 12:48 PM
The negative for me is the tiny caveat at the bottom of the article. Apple releasing 8-core Mac Pros this month? Highly doubtful, in my opinion.
Also, negative sometimes just means you don't believe it (as in this case) not that it's a "negative" announcement.
Thanks for the clarification. Is there a written document on how rating criteria should be applied? If not, and each person decides what criteria they will use, then the rating really does not mean much. Maybe it does not anyway? I was thinking it was a non-scientific barometer of how people perceived the technology.
Also, negative sometimes just means you don't believe it (as in this case) not that it's a "negative" announcement.
Thanks for the clarification. Is there a written document on how rating criteria should be applied? If not, and each person decides what criteria they will use, then the rating really does not mean much. Maybe it does not anyway? I was thinking it was a non-scientific barometer of how people perceived the technology.
gugy
Sep 6, 10:30 PM
True APPLENEWBIE, Steve is not going there to show something that most people believe will be the same as the TV shows on Itunes. Steve knows that will not fly.
You are right, is either a combination of Movie Store and breakthrough hardware or/and Hi-def movie downloads.
like Justin Bieber,
You are right, is either a combination of Movie Store and breakthrough hardware or/and Hi-def movie downloads.
Silentwave
Jul 14, 12:03 AM
Well you know you'll get merom and leopard by that timeframe. Personally, I believe you'll get 802.11n and a blueray option as well - and with a blueray option should come HD as well.
I'm not so sure that 802.11n will necessarily be out as soon as we think. Everything out so far claiming to be it is Pre-N and the standard is not finalized. Although Intel's Santa Rosa chipset is supposed to include it, the standard did not pass last time around and the next vote as far as I can tell is after the introduction date for the Santa Rosa chipset, which will have the 800mt/s FSB version of Merom (and the new socket). Still, i'm with you on that hope. I would love to see Blu-Ray in my macs. Better still if we could get both BR and HD-DVD as BTO in the towers and pick one for the MBPs.
Of course I am really hoping apple gets behind new technologies as fast as they have in the past, particularly in storage formats and interfaces. (BR, HD-DVD, and other future formats that are emerging that may supplant those both quickly for portable discs, SAS/Sata3g/sataII for HD interfaces.
I'm not so sure that 802.11n will necessarily be out as soon as we think. Everything out so far claiming to be it is Pre-N and the standard is not finalized. Although Intel's Santa Rosa chipset is supposed to include it, the standard did not pass last time around and the next vote as far as I can tell is after the introduction date for the Santa Rosa chipset, which will have the 800mt/s FSB version of Merom (and the new socket). Still, i'm with you on that hope. I would love to see Blu-Ray in my macs. Better still if we could get both BR and HD-DVD as BTO in the towers and pick one for the MBPs.
Of course I am really hoping apple gets behind new technologies as fast as they have in the past, particularly in storage formats and interfaces. (BR, HD-DVD, and other future formats that are emerging that may supplant those both quickly for portable discs, SAS/Sata3g/sataII for HD interfaces.
czeluff
Jan 12, 12:25 PM
I think the "Air" more likely refers to over the air rentals.
Bingo! This guy nailed it. Apple maintains a professional naming scheme for all of their machines. "Macbook Air" is NOT one of them.
Based on the current specs listed, here's what consumers would choose between (and this is why those specs are wrong):
Macbook: 13.3", ~$1100, Optical Drive.
Macbook Air: 13.3, ~$1500, No Optical Drive.
Sounds like a pretty dumb decision to me. I'll take the cheaper one ANY DAY.
Bingo! This guy nailed it. Apple maintains a professional naming scheme for all of their machines. "Macbook Air" is NOT one of them.
Based on the current specs listed, here's what consumers would choose between (and this is why those specs are wrong):
Macbook: 13.3", ~$1100, Optical Drive.
Macbook Air: 13.3, ~$1500, No Optical Drive.
Sounds like a pretty dumb decision to me. I'll take the cheaper one ANY DAY.
Lord Blackadder
Feb 22, 08:54 PM
I also think cost is a big problem. There is an increase at the pump, and on the sticker. The VW Golf TDI, for example, starts at almost $4k more than the 2.4L 5 cylinder (four door models here). You would have to put a lot of miles on that thing to get that money back. I do agree with you on diesel vs. hybrid, as I like diesels, but it will be a hard sell here in the US. Hybrids have really taken off in this market.
The vexing part of that is that the cost is largely artificial - i.e. taxes. Popular pickups like the Ford F-250 have been available in a diesel for years, and because they are trucks they are allowed to use diesel engines that are far more polluting and sooty than they need to be, and are tuned for torque rather than economy - meanwhile Volkswagen has to jump through flaming hoops in order to certify a diesel in its passenger cars, meeting stringent emmissions standards. And yet how many huge displacement V6/V8 diesel trucks are sold in the US each year vs diesel VWs? It's all about arbitrary regulatory nonsense.
It's a small thing, but also in diesel's favor is the increased range you get from a tank of fuel. So while the cost savings isn't much because of the fuel tax, you still get to go farther.
I don't think the Oldsmobile thing has that big an impact on current buyers. It was 30 years ago, after all. I do think diesels do have an image problem, though, in that most people here associate them with loud, smoke belching semis, and heavy-duty pickups.
As I said above, I question that also. It happened thirty years ago - automotive journalists might know about it, but most car buyers don't, and the memory is continually fading.
The vexing part of that is that the cost is largely artificial - i.e. taxes. Popular pickups like the Ford F-250 have been available in a diesel for years, and because they are trucks they are allowed to use diesel engines that are far more polluting and sooty than they need to be, and are tuned for torque rather than economy - meanwhile Volkswagen has to jump through flaming hoops in order to certify a diesel in its passenger cars, meeting stringent emmissions standards. And yet how many huge displacement V6/V8 diesel trucks are sold in the US each year vs diesel VWs? It's all about arbitrary regulatory nonsense.
It's a small thing, but also in diesel's favor is the increased range you get from a tank of fuel. So while the cost savings isn't much because of the fuel tax, you still get to go farther.
I don't think the Oldsmobile thing has that big an impact on current buyers. It was 30 years ago, after all. I do think diesels do have an image problem, though, in that most people here associate them with loud, smoke belching semis, and heavy-duty pickups.
As I said above, I question that also. It happened thirty years ago - automotive journalists might know about it, but most car buyers don't, and the memory is continually fading.
chutch15
Sep 14, 01:57 PM
The Belkin Grip Vue does not block the speaker.
Stridder44
Nov 28, 11:55 AM
For all those people talking about XBox let's not forget one major thing about it. It took off because of Halo. What you may not know is that Halo was originally a mac game from a mac developer that MS bought in 2000. Read up on it to tell your MS fanboi friends here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bungie_Studios
Without Apple gaming there probably would be no XBox today.
Enjoy
Wow! That was new to me! The more you know I guess..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bungie_Studios
Without Apple gaming there probably would be no XBox today.
Enjoy
Wow! That was new to me! The more you know I guess..
puma1552
Jan 5, 09:39 PM
I am not to worried about that. I can do my own repairs, my last cars were major project cars. I have done pretty much everything (engine swaps, transmission swaps, etc.). Parts are not much more than I am used to, and since I won't be paying for labour does not really affect me.
Plus this guy seems like he really takes care of the car.
Sounds good then, but keep in mind the sheer downtime you will have, even if you do the repairs yourself.
FTR my E36 was a complete cream puff, one owner, full service records and regular maintenance--and it was the biggest piece of crap I ever had. I unloaded it needing $4500 worth of work, on top of the massive piles of money I had to throw into it over my four years.
Good luck, but you have been warned.;)
Plus this guy seems like he really takes care of the car.
Sounds good then, but keep in mind the sheer downtime you will have, even if you do the repairs yourself.
FTR my E36 was a complete cream puff, one owner, full service records and regular maintenance--and it was the biggest piece of crap I ever had. I unloaded it needing $4500 worth of work, on top of the massive piles of money I had to throw into it over my four years.
Good luck, but you have been warned.;)
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