Comments on: The Peter Principle http://www.macalope.com/2007/01/25/the-peter-principle/ Full of sound and furry Mon, 19 Dec 2011 18:20:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Rip Ragged http://www.macalope.com/2007/01/25/the-peter-principle/#comment-1181 Rip Ragged Sat, 27 Jan 2007 05:45:18 +0000 http://www.macalope.com/?p=152#comment-1181 I've been using both systems for 20 years. Windows at work, Mac at home. I don't understand how anyone can prefer Windows. I haven't seen a single feature in Windows EVER that made me think I'd be better off using it at home. Every Mac I've ever owned has been a useful machine for at least four years. The only reason a three-year old Windows box isn't obsolete is because Microsoft hasn't issued an update to their bloatware operating system in five years. Tiger will still run, with all the features, on a G4 with 2 Gb of RAM. Will Vista run on a 6-year old computer? At all? I’ve been using both systems for 20 years. Windows at work, Mac at home. I don’t understand how anyone can prefer Windows.

I haven’t seen a single feature in Windows EVER that made me think I’d be better off using it at home. Every Mac I’ve ever owned has been a useful machine for at least four years. The only reason a three-year old Windows box isn’t obsolete is because Microsoft hasn’t issued an update to their bloatware operating system in five years.

Tiger will still run, with all the features, on a G4 with 2 Gb of RAM. Will Vista run on a 6-year old computer? At all?

]]> By: Erik http://www.macalope.com/2007/01/25/the-peter-principle/#comment-1180 Erik Fri, 26 Jan 2007 22:14:33 +0000 http://www.macalope.com/?p=152#comment-1180 I think some people just get confused about what the word "zealot" means. To those used to computing *in spite of Windows*, anyone who is really enthusiastic about computing must be a complete whack job. Thus, people who enjoy using their Macs must inherently be zealots. Perhaps this explains why many long-term Windows users who switch to Macintosh are astounded at how much more pleasant it is to work with Macs. For so long they've believed that the Mac zealots were all just high on the Reality Distortion Field. When they actually make the switch, the realize it is actually possible to really enjoy the experience of working with a computer. Many of these folks become the biggest Mac proponents. I think some people just get confused about what the word “zealot” means. To those used to computing *in spite of Windows*, anyone who is really enthusiastic about computing must be a complete whack job. Thus, people who enjoy using their Macs must inherently be zealots.

Perhaps this explains why many long-term Windows users who switch to Macintosh are astounded at how much more pleasant it is to work with Macs. For so long they’ve believed that the Mac zealots were all just high on the Reality Distortion Field. When they actually make the switch, the realize it is actually possible to really enjoy the experience of working with a computer. Many of these folks become the biggest Mac proponents.

]]> By: David S. http://www.macalope.com/2007/01/25/the-peter-principle/#comment-1179 David S. Fri, 26 Jan 2007 21:14:11 +0000 http://www.macalope.com/?p=152#comment-1179 Re Fader's (and several others) comments on the lack of Mac announcements at MW - anyone who watched the KN *heard* Jobs say Apple have some "awesome" Mac products coming out this year, "but today's not about that", and then later he said he would be "seeing you all again very soon" (or words to that effect). How does this show Apple's losing interest in the Mac? We *know* OS X 10.5's coming, we *know* iWork '07 (and presumably iLife '07 too) is coming. It's London to a brick that an 8 core Mac Pro (and 8 core X Serve?) is coming any week now. Surely a C2D Mac Mini can't be far off either. And that's just the Mac stuff we know has to be near, only SJ knows what else in the Mac area will come out later in the year, say during WWDC or other special events. This year is likely to see the largest number of new Mac models and Mac-related add-ons ever (with the possible exception of '06 which was a special year due to the Intel migration, every Mac model got refreshed). Re Fader’s (and several others) comments on the lack of Mac announcements at MW – anyone who watched the KN *heard* Jobs say Apple have some “awesome” Mac products coming out this year, “but today’s not about that”, and then later he said he would be “seeing you all again very soon” (or words to that effect). How does this show Apple’s losing interest in the Mac? We *know* OS X 10.5′s coming, we *know* iWork ’07 (and presumably iLife ’07 too) is coming. It’s London to a brick that an 8 core Mac Pro (and 8 core X Serve?) is coming any week now. Surely a C2D Mac Mini can’t be far off either. And that’s just the Mac stuff we know has to be near, only SJ knows what else in the Mac area will come out later in the year, say during WWDC or other special events.

This year is likely to see the largest number of new Mac models and Mac-related add-ons ever (with the possible exception of ’06 which was a special year due to the Intel migration, every Mac model got refreshed).

]]> By: terceiro http://www.macalope.com/2007/01/25/the-peter-principle/#comment-1178 terceiro Fri, 26 Jan 2007 21:07:34 +0000 http://www.macalope.com/?p=152#comment-1178 I bought a Cube back in the day. In the day they were discontinued and highly discounted. It was the cheapest G4 available at the time. And what a workhorse. It's still running. And iPod socks? Yeah, I've got one of those. I didn't buy one, but somone I know bought six of them (because, you know, they came in packs of six) and gave me one. It was a rather tight fit on my first gen iPod. And my other iPod. Not my nano, tho. Oh, and I've bought (for personal use) sixteen macs in the past twelve years. I think I'm somewhat of a Mac fanboy. And I have no intention of buying a iPhone. Because I don't buy crap just because it has a fruit logo; I buy what fits my needs and budget. I have no need for a smart phone or new iPod. And you know what? I have read reviews of Vista with an idea that I'd buy a license if it were any good. I'd plunk down the cash for a Dell and turn in my MacBook and not feel even a tinge of remorse. Because I don't have sex with my Mac. It has borne me no children. Unsurprisingly, Vista appears to be roughly on par with Tiger (though I think there's a few areas where Vista beats 10.4). I expect that Leopard when it ships will remove Vista's small edge over the Mac OS. So I don't upgrade. Er, downgrade. Whatever. The point is that one can spend quite a lot of dough on Mac stuff and still use their brain. I mean, since I can afford to spend the premium for higher-end goods, and I can choose what will best meet my needs, why not use a Mac, or an iPhone, or a pair of good headphones? I bought a Cube back in the day. In the day they were discontinued and highly discounted. It was the cheapest G4 available at the time. And what a workhorse. It’s still running.

And iPod socks? Yeah, I’ve got one of those. I didn’t buy one, but somone I know bought six of them (because, you know, they came in packs of six) and gave me one. It was a rather tight fit on my first gen iPod. And my other iPod. Not my nano, tho.

Oh, and I’ve bought (for personal use) sixteen macs in the past twelve years. I think I’m somewhat of a Mac fanboy. And I have no intention of buying a iPhone. Because I don’t buy crap just because it has a fruit logo; I buy what fits my needs and budget. I have no need for a smart phone or new iPod.

And you know what? I have read reviews of Vista with an idea that I’d buy a license if it were any good. I’d plunk down the cash for a Dell and turn in my MacBook and not feel even a tinge of remorse. Because I don’t have sex with my Mac. It has borne me no children. Unsurprisingly, Vista appears to be roughly on par with Tiger (though I think there’s a few areas where Vista beats 10.4). I expect that Leopard when it ships will remove Vista’s small edge over the Mac OS. So I don’t upgrade. Er, downgrade. Whatever.

The point is that one can spend quite a lot of dough on Mac stuff and still use their brain. I mean, since I can afford to spend the premium for higher-end goods, and I can choose what will best meet my needs, why not use a Mac, or an iPhone, or a pair of good headphones?

]]> By: Mark http://www.macalope.com/2007/01/25/the-peter-principle/#comment-1177 Mark Fri, 26 Jan 2007 21:03:54 +0000 http://www.macalope.com/?p=152#comment-1177 PLEASE. iSocks are awesome. One of the best examples of an Apple product ever. Everyone else makes complicated folding / slot opening / clear plastic / uglifying covers for an iPod, Apple realise that all you really need to do is slide out your iPod every now and again to change a song. Of course, if you're a step ahead you use a real sock folded over. Have for 2 years now and it's never failed me. PLEASE.

iSocks are awesome. One of the best examples of an Apple product ever. Everyone else makes complicated folding / slot opening / clear plastic / uglifying covers for an iPod, Apple realise that all you really need to do is slide out your iPod every now and again to change a song.

Of course, if you’re a step ahead you use a real sock folded over. Have for 2 years now and it’s never failed me.

]]> By: Glenn Fleishman http://www.macalope.com/2007/01/25/the-peter-principle/#comment-1176 Glenn Fleishman Fri, 26 Jan 2007 20:58:56 +0000 http://www.macalope.com/?p=152#comment-1176 The critique of the Cube is always interesting. It was the only computer you could purchase at the time that was quiet. That's why I bought one and used it for about three years. It still had good resale value. I was able to fill to the brink with memory (2 GB, I think), and later upgrade its hard drive and video card. I think it was actually more a pricing issue: it had a huge differential against the quick cheap Power Mac G4 models introduced at the same time. I now own two Mac minis, but one is in a server room (headless, cold, and in the dark -- how sad), and the other is a home entertainment controller. The critique of the Cube is always interesting. It was the only computer you could purchase at the time that was quiet. That’s why I bought one and used it for about three years. It still had good resale value. I was able to fill to the brink with memory (2 GB, I think), and later upgrade its hard drive and video card. I think it was actually more a pricing issue: it had a huge differential against the quick cheap Power Mac G4 models introduced at the same time.

I now own two Mac minis, but one is in a server room (headless, cold, and in the dark — how sad), and the other is a home entertainment controller.

]]> By: grovberg http://www.macalope.com/2007/01/25/the-peter-principle/#comment-1175 grovberg Fri, 26 Jan 2007 20:30:19 +0000 http://www.macalope.com/?p=152#comment-1175 This is why business schools drive me nuts. The man clearly has no idea what he's talking about, but he and other MBA's will go on to make gobbles of cash and always be hired to manage the people who actually do know what they're talking about and make like 1/3 of his salary. I makes me so mad...I just wanna...grr...ack! I need to get some tea....I'm gonna go lie down. This is why business schools drive me nuts. The man clearly has no idea what he’s talking about, but he and other MBA’s will go on to make gobbles of cash and always be hired to manage the people who actually do know what they’re talking about and make like 1/3 of his salary.

I makes me so mad…I just wanna…grr…ack! I need to get some tea….I’m gonna go lie down.

]]> By: Andy http://www.macalope.com/2007/01/25/the-peter-principle/#comment-1174 Andy Fri, 26 Jan 2007 20:07:59 +0000 http://www.macalope.com/?p=152#comment-1174 This is *the guy* who chaired the committee to design a horse and produced a camel... Enderle co-chaired. I work with twits like this daily (taken care of, thanks, I'm resigning...anybody need an old Mac engineer?) They, collectively and personally, just don't get it!! They cannot understand how silicon valley can be so productive or imaginative. They are the Cingular prez. The difference is obvious to those who do get it. Further, this explains why their IT depts all face Redmond and bow. Why books like "The Inmates Are Running the Asylum" are written. Why pop music sux... 1984 is real and now.... This is *the guy* who chaired the committee to design a horse and produced a camel…
Enderle co-chaired.

I work with twits like this daily (taken care of, thanks, I’m resigning…anybody need an old Mac engineer?)

They, collectively and personally, just don’t get it!!
They cannot understand how silicon valley can be so productive or imaginative.
They are the Cingular prez. The difference is obvious to those who do get it.

Further, this explains why their IT depts all face Redmond and bow. Why books like “The Inmates Are Running the Asylum” are written. Why pop music sux…

1984 is real and now….

]]> By: Bergamot http://www.macalope.com/2007/01/25/the-peter-principle/#comment-1173 Bergamot Fri, 26 Jan 2007 19:22:35 +0000 http://www.macalope.com/?p=152#comment-1173 The two main problems with the cube were that it cost $500 more than an equivalently-specced PowerMac, and its rats-nest of cables (conveniently left out of the promotional photos) ruined any aesthetic appeal. The iPhone has no equivalent rivals, costs at least in the ballpark of the non-equivalent rivals, and only needs one cord. The two main problems with the cube were that it cost $500 more than an equivalently-specced PowerMac, and its rats-nest of cables (conveniently left out of the promotional photos) ruined any aesthetic appeal.

The iPhone has no equivalent rivals, costs at least in the ballpark of the non-equivalent rivals, and only needs one cord.

]]> By: Quix http://www.macalope.com/2007/01/25/the-peter-principle/#comment-1172 Quix Fri, 26 Jan 2007 18:59:26 +0000 http://www.macalope.com/?p=152#comment-1172 Anyone who feels compelled to use the word "zealot" or "fanboy" in any product critique instantly loses all credibility. They're simply words used by those who have nothing objective or intelligent to contribute to the discussion. Funny how Microsoft has massive 90% market share, yet no one ever uses the term "zealot" to describe their customers... Anyone who feels compelled to use the word “zealot” or “fanboy” in any product critique instantly loses all credibility.

They’re simply words used by those who have nothing objective or intelligent to contribute to the discussion.

Funny how Microsoft has massive 90% market share, yet no one ever uses the term “zealot” to describe their customers…

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