Cute, but not to the point

Post #46,036 by tjsinclair 7/18/02 9:52:12 PM Reply	Cute, but not to the point .mac isn't about online content. It's about: - e-mail (POP/IMAP/Web) - online storage (100 MB) - Web hosting - integration with all those cool iApps (for iCal and iSync alone I'm going to sign up) - online/offline backup services - Anti-virus - <future Web services to be added later> The cartoon is right. I'm not that willing to pay for online content, at least with no added value. I'm willing to pay for my content (e-mail, schedule, backup data) along with the value-add of iSync, iCal, iChat, etc. It always seems to be this way with new Apple stuff these days. When they're announced, it's either screams of rage or barely stifled yawns. It's not until the ideas have a chance to sink in before everyone starts to 'get it'. For my money, I can see some seriously cool uses for .mac already, both at work and with friends and family. If you get a chance (and have Quicktime) take a look at the keynote demos. There's some majorly forward-thinking stuff going on there. (Though some may disagree.) Tom Sinclair "Subverting Young Minds Since 03/13/2000"
Post #46,077 by snork 7/19/02 12:06:17 PM Reply	But I already have it! First off, lemme preface this by disclosing that I am a Mac fan of many years (15+). I have 4 Macs networked in the house - only one OSX-capable. I'm not an early adopter, but I will move when I think the kinks are worked out. Anyway, the problem I have with the new .Mac scheme is that I have nearly all of what they are offering already with my current isp. Webmail, POP mail, hosting, 100MB storage - all for $10/month. I have no use for shared calendaring or synchronization at this point and my backups are happily automated with Retrospect and a CD-RW over my home ethernet. I am not arguing that some will find .Mac useful. But $100/year? I think a better price point would have been around $40. I just don't think that there will be enough takers at the current pricing for it to be successful. "But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong." :) "With the bravery of being out of range." - Roger Waters Cliff
Post #46,124 by tjsinclair 7/19/02 5:17:56 PM Reply	Good point For me, however, the real value will be in the shared calendaring and the synchronization. Tom Sinclair "Subverting Young Minds Since 03/13/2000"
Post #46,261 by snork 7/21/02 12:33:40 AM Reply	Can't argue with that The good folks over at [link\|http://www.macedition.com\|MacEdition] have posted what I think is a very well written [link\|http://www.macedition.com/letters/letters_20020719.php\|letter to the editor] that sums up how a lot of folx that I've talked to feel. I guess we'll see how this all shakes out over the next few months. I'm hoping that they'll either beef up the services to allow a few more of us to justify it or modify the pricing. "With the bravery of being out of range." - Roger Waters Cliff
Post #46,573 by tuberculosis 7/23/02 5:09:37 PM Reply	Yeah I know I think a better price point would have been around $40. Me too. But as an existing user I get it at about that this year. So I ponied up and will see if it justifies the expense. I like having a stable mac.com email address with IMAP access. As a point of presence on the internet - its not bad and I don't have any other ISP (I "borrow" wireless networks from time to time or use the connection at work). I am out of the country for the duration of the Bush administration. Please leave a message and I'll get back to you when democracy returns.

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