Opinion: The iPhone 4 Case Design

My take on the whole iPhone 4 reception problem is this; It's simply a bad design that Apple didn't test either enough or not at all. The Antenna band should have been placed at the top-side of the phone where people don't place their fingers on the phone. Apple sometimes does these Overlooked Design Flaws. There's just no rhym or reason to it.

Hidden Valley Clearlake

MacMobile Services is looking for a new location and would like to know if the residents and businesses of Hidden Valley and Clearlake in Lake County California need Apple Macintosh computer and Apple product support. MacMobile Services can also help PC users switch over to a Macintosh. Today's Macintosh computers, both Desktop and Laptop models now have the Intel processors, which means that the Macintosh can run like two computers in one. It can now run Windows just like a PC and just as fast as any stand alone PC. The Macintosh can even run Windows and the Mac OS at the same time so that you can move files between both Operating Systems if you like.

Please let me know your opinion, suggestion, or even if you would like to make an appointment. Please send John an email at: mserv@sbcglobal.net. You can also leave your opinion or suggestion by clicking on the Comments link at the end of this paragraph. Thank you for your feedback.

The iPad Launch Today

Today I went to my local Best Buy store to see if they had the iPad. As I was walking toward the front doors, I noticed that there were no signs of advertising for the iPad. Seeing no signs around the front door and none inside the front of the store, I was thinking that this Best Buy store was one of the few that wasn't assigned any out of this initial launch shipment because of a lower than hoped production. Still, I continued in and went to the Apple section and low and behold there's the iPad. To the right of the display table where the iMacs and MacBook demos sit, was a tall cage-like box with several iPad boxes inside it. On the display table next to it was four iPads to try. This Best Buy store was ready for the iPad launch, with surprisingly little fanfare.

I picked up an iPad off the table and held it in my hand. The first thing I noticed was how heavy it was. The body of the iPad is made from a solid piece of machined aluminum. I was holding it like if I were going to read a book on it. I think if you were going to read a book, I would suggest holding the iPad with both hands. When I was holding it with one hand, because of the weight of it, my hand was starting to get fatigued. The display is beautiful and very good size. It had the Apple iWork suite on it. I launched the Pages word processor App and started typing on it. The on-screen keyboard rises up from the bottom of the screen and is very functional. It's very capable when your on the go.

If your in the market for a book reader and you've been waiting to see what the iPad is like before you decide, I think you get a lot more for your money with the iPad then you will with a standalone book reader. Since they are just one-trick ponies and at half the cost of an iPad at that! The iPad is definitely a bargain by comparison because the functionality of the iPad is practically limitless by its design. (If there is no retail store that carries an iPad near you, here's a link to Apple's online store.)

That being said, I think this first iPad is a good start. My overall impression; It's an incredibly built device with very basic features. The biggest feature it lacks is a camera. For me, this is a big deal breaker. I can imagine doing video conferencing using iChat on it. The iPad, I think, would be a perfect device for that. The iPad has enormous potential. It's only going to get better as the next generations follow. Personally, I'm going to pass on getting this first iPad until Apple adds a built-in camera with iChat. Until then, my iPhone 3GS is all I need right now.

Going to MacWorld Expo San Francisco 2010

I was excited about going to the newly revamped MacWorld Expo in San Francisco this February. I say "was" because here in the Bay Area there are going to be more rate hikes. Bay Area bridges are going to raise tolls again and now BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) is now going to have a whole bunch of increases and reduce service at the same time.

This is what BART is planning to do;

• Charge a 25 cent "Transbay Tube surcharge"

• 2% increase to fares across the board

• More Expensive parking fees, no more free parking for anyone, those days are gone

• Reduced train service, running less trains.

For the Bay Area bridges, here is an example of the toll hikes for the Bay Bridge; During Commute Hours the toll goes from $4.00 to $6.00, Non-Commute will stay at $4.00, Weekends $5.00, and for the first time Carpoolers will have to pay to go over Bay Area Bridges of $2.50 per bridge.

Combined with this lousy economy and these fare and toll hikes, I'm finding it difficult seeing myself attending this upcoming MacWorld Expo. BART if your listening, you're not helping increase your ridership by doing this. It's pretty simple common sense. Now, I'm not even sure I can afford to go at all! I'm seriously considering finding alternative transportation and it might take some creativity to find transportation that won't cost me an arm and a leg. I suggest you doing the same, even boycotting BART and all Bay Area Bridges if you can. Consider taking one of the different Ferries around the bay. You remember the Ferry don't you? Or take a Transbay transit bus if your going to San Francisco from the East Bay. I think taking a transit bus is cheaper than taking BART or the bridge combined with paying for parking in the city.

These agencies/authorities need a wake up call. They need to understand that the public doesn't have bottomless pockets, especially during this lousy, rotten economy.

Frustration with computer printer manufacturers

Being a computer consultant that sets up a lot of computers systems, over the past few years I have noticed that the printer companies have changed the way they do business with the consumer market. They have really cracked down on their software support. For example, I have an HP DeskJet 970C series printer (pictured left) that I purchased new back in 1999. It's been a great printer and still works great to this day. The problem I'm having isn't with the printer, but with HP. I can't upgrade my Macs to Mac OS 10.6 Snow Leopard because HP hasn't written the software to support my printer. Instead, I have to rely on a generic third-party printer driver which doesn't support the two-sided page printing capability. Since I use that feature a lot, I continue to run Mac OS 10.5 Leopard which has the HP software with all the options for my printer. With this lack of support, it forces the consumer to purchase a new printer even though the one they already have works fine. Isn't it enough that these printer companies make millions of dollars on selling the ink and toner on all the existing printers already out there plus new printers being sold currently?

A second problem I encountered last night working with a client's Canon MP470 printer (pictured left) was that I was connecting the USB cable to an Apple Airport Express Base Station to network the printer wirelessly. The Canon software was all up-to-date but the Canon printer would not communicate with the Mac connected through the Airport Express Base Station, but only worked connected directly to the Mac. I believe the Canon MP470 is a new enough model to have Apple's Bonjour networking technology incorporated into it, but it seems not to have it and didn't work.

If your tired about how the makers of your printer does business, let them know, because ultimately we all vote with our dollars and they know that.

THE ECONOMY AND US

We have all had a hard time during these tough financial times about the past year and a half or so. Since the Real Estate collapse and the Banks crashing, it's no wonder everybody got scared. Unfortunately, when people get scared people stop spending their money and that contributes to the poor economy even further. I have experienced this first hand. It's been extremely difficult keeping the bills paid and the business running. So, I put it to the people that have money but are holding tightly on to it right now; Please start spending, otherwise this poor economy will extend indefinitely and everyone will continue to suffer for it. The final results will show that Capitalism is a poor system for everyone in general.
A quote from the movie THX 1138 might encourage you further:
"Let us be thankful we have commerce, buy more, buy more now, buy and be happy."

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone

It's the time of year when we're reminded to give thanks.

Instead of waiting until next year to be reminded,

Let's make every day one of thanksgiving;

After all, each day is a unique gift.

So, give a hug for no reason;

Say I love you, just because;

Share a smile with a stranger;

Take the time to count your blessings;

Don't take anything or anyone for granted;

And end each day with no regrets.

Thank you, for the opportunity to be of service to

you all, along with your continued support

to keep MacMobile Services going all these years.

I am very fortunate to have such great clients in my life.

And I am thankful you have allowed me

To be a part of yours.

May you and yours have a safe and memorable Thanksgiving.