I Wear Pants;378436 wrote:Google isn't taking Android to the desktop.

It is making Chrome OS for netbooks/tablets/whatever.

But the problem with that is the OS is basically a web browser which means it can have a lack of flexibility when it comes to what the apps/programs can do.

Something like Apple's Iphone OS (a very stripped down mobile version of OS X) or Microsoft's replacement for Windows CE (I forget what it's called it was announced this week and is their new embeddable OS) is probably a more accurate vision of the future of netbooks and tablets. Can't count out a version of WebOS from Palm either.

Android is going to takeover no market except maybe the smartphone market. And I don't see it gaining a massive market share there either or at least not for long. Apple, Nokia, Microsoft, and RIM aren't just going to sit around and let Google take the marketplace. I envision that the smartphone market will be more evenly matched than many tech sectors for a while simply because there are such unique options available that offer different things and excel at different tasks.

Really? In a matter of months Android is the 2nd most installed cell base in the US, something like 26% to Apples' 21% and RIM's 36%. You are grossly misjudging the leveraging capabilities of Google and VZW. The companies you list could compete with those capabilities if they combined, but that seems very unrealistic for the two key ones you mentioned.

Google obviously isn't focusing on Android to the desktop (which is a dinosaur in it's own right), but I'll give you 100 to 1 odds it's coming. It's open source and based on Linux, so it's not like it's a herculean task. In fact, two developers already did this back in 2009. Claimed it took them "about 4hours". I guess no one was shocked that, yeah, Android is already nearly box-ready to run netbooks. Not that it matters, much, since all Google may really need is software capable of browsing the internet to run all it's web-based sweet of packages.

And I guess your other point is also wrong. I believe android-based tablets are already out, and Google is reportedly working on its own branded tablet.

Android already has tablets out that are <$150.

Google is developing a linux-based OS for Desktop's.

sleeper;378459 wrote:That's one of my concerns as well, are Mac's associated with homosexuality?

Definitely. Only raging homosexuals own Apple products.

If you own an iphone - gay
If you own a Mac - gay
If you own an ipod - gay
If you own an ipad - gay

If you own more than two of them you are actually a super gay, which is way gayer than a regular gay.

I own three of the four, and my work computer is a Mac Pro, so I am one of the rare super, duper, extra gays.

Shit I got 2 iPods and a MacBook....wtf have I been doing hookin up with these chicks all the time?!@1

justincredible;378472 wrote:Definitely. Only raging homosexuals own Apple products.

If you own an iphone - gay
If you own a Mac - gay
If you own an ipod - gay
If you own an ipad - gay

If you own more than two of them you are actually a super gay, which is way gayer than a regular gay.

I own three of the four, and my work computer is a Mac Pro, so I am one of the rare super, duper, extra gays.

i know you were being facetious, but there is an extreme amount of truth to this portion.

gut;378465 wrote:Really? In a matter of months Android is the 2nd most installed cell base in the US, something like 26% to Apples' 21% and RIM's 36%. You are grossly misjudging the leveraging capabilities of Google and VZW. The companies you list could compete with those capabilities if they combined, but that seems very unrealistic for the two key ones you mentioned.

Google obviously isn't focusing on Android to the desktop (which is a dinosaur in it's own right), but I'll give you 100 to 1 odds it's coming. It's open source and based on Linux, so it's not like it's a herculean task. In fact, two developers already did this back in 2009. Claimed it took them "about 4hours". I guess no one was shocked that, yeah, Android is already nearly box-ready to run netbooks. Not that it matters, much, since all Google may really need is software capable of browsing the internet to run all it's web-based sweet of packages.

And I guess your other point is also wrong. I believe android-based tablets are already out, and Google is reportedly working on its own branded tablet.

Yes, there are Android tablets and MIDs. But no one is buying them.

Android has been out since October of 2008. That's not a "matter of months".

How are Apple and RIM and Microsoft and Nokia out leveraged when they all (well not Apple as of now) have handsets available on Verizon as well? They would destroy Google if they combined.

Again, Android isn't coming to the desktop. They have Chrome OS for that and even then they've focused mostly on netbooks and portable devices. Android isn't suited to being a full fledged desktop operating system.

justincredible;378472 wrote:Definitely. Only raging homosexuals own Apple products.

If you own an iphone - gay
If you own a Mac - gay
If you own an ipod - gay
If you own an ipad - gay

If you own more than two of them you are actually a super gay, which is way gayer than a regular gay.

I own three of the four, and my work computer is a Mac Pro, so I am one of the rare super, duper, extra gays.

Thanks for clearing that up. I guess my question is, if I buy a Mac Pro, but no other MAC products, would it be possible to remain straight? I feel like owning only one product with the intentions of trying to get some VAGINA would help circumvent the gayness of the actual product.

sleeper;378486 wrote:Thanks for clearing that up. I guess my question is, if I buy a Mac Pro, but no other MAC products, would it be possible to remain straight? I feel like owning only one product with the intentions of trying to get some VAGINA would help circumvent the gayness of the actual product.

Nope. In fact, even thinking about buying an Apple product makes you gay. So...

j_crazy;378476 wrote:i know you were being facetious, but there is an extreme amount of truth to this portion.

My wife and brother-in-law both thought they were ridiculously gay/stupid when they came out. Both have since messed around with them at the Apple store and said they were pretty fuckin' awesome. I'll get one, but not until the next one comes out and they had a few minor features.

justincredible;378491 wrote:Nope. In fact, even thinking about buying an Apple product makes you gay. So...

There's got to be some gray area here, I'll consult some of my gay friends, see if I find them attractive to test this theory out.

I Wear Pants;378484 wrote:Yes, there are Android tablets and MIDs. But no one is buying them.

Android has been out since October of 2008. That's not a "matter of months".

How are Apple and RIM and Microsoft and Nokia out leveraged when they all (well not Apple as of now) have handsets available on Verizon as well? They would destroy Google if they combined.

Again, Android isn't coming to the desktop. They have Chrome OS for that and even then they've focused mostly on netbooks and portable devices. Android isn't suited to being a full fledged desktop operating system.

How long has RIM and IPhone been out there? Relatively speaking, it is a matter of months. And it's been a little over a year for the bulk of it.

Android is linux based and already capable of running netbooks. Sergey Brin has already said Chrome and Android will likely merge or integrate at some point, but then it would take a fool not to see that as obvious - that's what leveraging is all about. They didn't take on MS directly in PC's, they are backward or laterally integrating into it while the technology is moving toward them in direction.

And you are misguided if you are only looking at handsets. VZW has land lines, cell towers, 3G and rolling out the next gen, they have fiberoptics and cable. Google has the cloud, dominant search...I can go on and on. The two are far more integrated vertically and horizontally than the other companies you mention, with MS a distant 3rd, and as partners they have significant shares in all the key tech. "Boxes" are ultimately commodities, Google and VZW have pipelines and a larger breadth of consumer bases that they are creating real value and synergies for. Google or VZW alone are not as dominant, together it's US vs. Iraq when it comes to any of them individually, even Apple or MS.

How do you break-up that partnership between VZW and Google? Well, you commoditize the phones. Who wins that? Google. Google's model is based on collecting info to target ads, they're giving the shit away that other companies sell to make a profit. Google is disruptive technology, and it's partnership with VZW is like super extreme steroids. It's a no-brainer how this plays out. As a side note, VZW couldn't care less - they're selling the pipelines, and competition for the hardware only helps their bottom line. So they win, too, regardless. I suspect I'll only be wrong if the DoJ steps in at some point and breaks Google/VZW into smaller pieces because of anti-trust violations.

Verizon and Google don't have as tight a relationship as you seem to think. I mean, they work well together but they aren't tied to each other. Both were fine before the other got involved.

Everyone is rolling out LTE, fiberoptics, and cable. Verizon was one of the first consumer FTTH (fiber to the home) providers in the US but they aren't the only ones. Google isn't the only company doing great work in the cloud either. Besides Microsoft, Apple, and Nokia (OVI service) there are tons of 3rd party companies doing awesome shit in the cloud. Google does have the dominant search position and will for the foreseeable future but Microsoft is making some nice gains with Bing. I think they're at 12% marketshare now and they are doing really interesting things with the service to make it not so much a list of websites but something that helps you find what you want.

And for the love of god, stop wording your posts like a damned press release. Buzz words aren't impressive.

Give me some info on netbooks you dweebs! I've never even messed around with one before. Again...primary uses are for, managing iTunes, surfing the web, Skype and video conferencing, so built in cam is a must.

Price range...$500-600.

You can get a NOTEbook for that price.

Netbook's generally run 250-400.

Automatik;378599 wrote:Give me some info on netbooks you dweebs! I've never even messed around with one before. Again...primary uses are for, managing iTunes, surfing the web, Skype and video conferencing, so built in cam is a must.

Price range...$500-600.

Go mess around with some at a store. None of them are going to be blazing fast at running iTunes since it's such a resource hog but most are fine for web and streaming video though not all handle HD resolutions with ease and some have trouble with intensive flash programs.

The iPad has sold over 2 million units since it's release... 2 MILLION! And there's still a high demand for them.

People who hate on the iPad have never used one. Great device for it's purpose.

VZW isn't the only with that stuff, but they are the only one with dominant shares across markets. Google isn't the only doing cloud, but they have a huge lead and dominant market share. Shocking that you claim my posts are worded like a press release when you seem to be relatively clueless regarding the arguments being made and the capabilities involved.

The partnership isn't as strong as I claim? You obviously haven't read many press releases because you don't seem to really understand the capabilities and markets involved and what that means. And why wouldn't that partnership continue to strengthen? You think Nokia can compete? Nokia is a commodity manufacturer Both Google and VZW only benefit from increased competition, it's a win-win for both. Google and VZW are giving away what the others rely on to make money, and they do so because they have gained dominant footholds in areas that have natural barriers to competition.

The only real competition for VZW is Cox, TW and Sprint, and none of those have the range of capabilities, level of service, or customer base, nor the resources to play catch-up. The only real competition for Google is Microsoft, and MS' strengths are inceasingly under attack across multiple fronts from multiple angles. Apple will most likely continue to excel primarily as an innovator of products, but ultimately they aren't going to compete directly with Google and VZW - can't and won't and ultimately will cave to offering their products with those platforms. VZW and Google is honestly like Lebron and Kobe teaming up.

The winner is all about pipelines, services and content. Nothing comes close to matching the VZW/Google partnership. Google is disruptive technology, and now they are aligned with with the biggest player in distribution across multiple platforms. Google - like EBAY and Amazon - has created a market where there can and will really only be one dominant player, but the key difference is that position is portable to other markets. There is currently very little overlap between the two which makes the partnership very, very effective. There isn't anything out there that comes close to matching the value these two are going to be offering, together, to consumers in coming years. Now if VZW comes to view Google as a threat, not unrealistic by any stretch with Google launching free SMS and VoIP services, then all bets are off. But with VZW expanding and growing its core pipeline business, they'll just offset lost service revenue with pricing strategies in distribution - it won't matter to VZW whether you pay them for minutes, long distance, or internet access because you're just moving money from one bucket to another. And VZW giving you one-stop bundled pricing for all access with Google giving the service for "free" provides massive consumer utility. The hardware makers are going to be fighting over scraps while VZW and Google rake in premiums.

Not that companies aren't going to survive in highly profitable niches nor that the commodity business is a loser. But Google expanding into cell and computer OS is a ginormous threat to MS and Apple who's PCs will ultimately settle into a business and high-end consumer niche. You can't undercut what's being given away for free, and when you introduce VZW as a distributor there's no realistic way to stop the contagion.

Seriously, if you are Apple or MS, how do you defend yourself against the Google threat? There is not enough differentiation in these markets to make a dent in the installed bases, unless you can give it away for free. But Google makes its money on ads, and how do you replicate that without the infrastructure and installed base across segments? MS has this position in PCs, which enabled it to fend-off Netscape by - surprise - leveraging that position by providing free IE as a the default. Won't work with Google, though.

The only legit threats to Google and VZW is probably a yet-to-be-determined player in China.

hoops23;378827 wrote:The iPad has sold over 2 million units since it's release... 2 MILLION! And there's still a high demand for them.

People who hate on the iPad have never used one. Great device for it's purpose.

My first impression was, like others, who would buy an IPad when you need a PC and cell and the IPad is a poor substitute for both? But if you look at the direction of tech, tablets will ultimately replace the PC for most consumers. Now that PCs can easily handle streaming HD tv/movies/video, more power is basically overkill and tablets will eventually be able to handle that. But that may be misguided, because ultimately users will rely on wireless dumb terminals connected to a central CPU, which I use to think would be a PS3 or XBox. But even then you'll still need a pocket-sized portable which will eventually have the capability, and clearly the Gameboy and PSP missed the boat. Maybe the two will co-exist, but since your portable will need to do everything it would be redundant. And what some people aren't realizing is the biggest drawback of the cell vs. tablets and PC's is screen size, but we are probably 3 gens away from seeing fold-out or roll-out LED screens that will be 3-4X the size of current cell screens.