Category: Things that make you say hmmm?

I’ve been a computer geek for a very long time.

I’ve owned DOS machines, Windows machines, and Apple machines.

About 15 years ago I made the switch to Apple because I got sick and tired of dealing with not being able to just turn on my Windows computer and simply Work. (update this, download that, security patch this, reboot, patch failed, reboot, back patch out, reboot)

All I wanted to do was write a letter… 6 hours later I’m using a pen a paper because my computer is updating over a dialup line.

The Apples of the day provided a wonderful alternative and while they were very much more expensive, they worked without a lot of B.S. for 5 – 7 years. When you amortize the cost of the computer over that period, the cost per year of owning an Apple was much lower than the equivalent Windows machine.

I guess you could call me an aging Apple fan boi.

My current Apple machine is a 2008 MacBookPro. It’s been pretty reliable with the exception that it runs really HOT.

A couple of years or so ago I was speaking with an Apple Representative about this, and was told that my MacBook was in fact NOT a laptop. It was a portable computer and was best operated on a desk.

Oaaakkkyyy sure… whatever you say Apple. The fact that the machine got hot enough to discolor my dining room table suggests that the portable computer may not work best on a desk either… but that’s another discussion.

I disagreed then and disagree now. I think that Apple was engaging in pure sophistry. But other than running hot, I’m overall very pleased with the machine. The Apple koolaid is strong my friends…

Last year Apple released Lion. This is the most recent update to it’s OS X operating system. With that release comes iCloud.

iCloud is supposed to be THE best thing since sliced bread. All your music, and calendars, and contact information is in the cloud. It’s synchronized across all your Apple devices all the time. It’s MAGIC! It’s Wonderful, It’s the next big deal.

I’m unimpressed. It’s not a bad system. The integration between the OS and Apple Store, and iCloud is very nice, It’s just not for me, YET…

In point of fact I had the same synchronization between my computer, ipod, iPhone (when I had one), and iPad. The latter devices, iPhone & iPad were synced with my dot Mac account. All of them were synced when I connected them to my computer and frankly I was very happy with the arrangement.

Dot Mac morphed into Dot Me and the services remained pretty much the same. For me it was a no brainer to continue paying Apple 99 bucks a year for the convenience of having an email account, a web page, contact synchronization, calendar synchronization, and blog, all in one place under the auspices of  the mother ship… Apple.

With iCloud, in June 2012 we loose the Web page and the Blog. But it looks like the other features may be free I honestly can’t tell because there’s nothing clear and concise that says THIS IS FREE or THIS COSTS X.

I fucking hate the current marketing hype/spin/lack of information in favor of pretty graphics!

Since the rollout of IOS5 to my iPad, I’ve been unable to synchronize my calendar using Mac services. In fact a large number of appointments have gone missing.

To be honest, I suspect that the trouble is that I’m not running Lion, but the iPad is running IOS5. In all likelihood this trouble would be resolved if I upgraded to Lion.  I haven’t upgraded, and doubt that I will. Maybe the next version…

I don’t want to upgrade to Lion because I don’t want to incur upgrade fees on OTHER software that I own.

I can’t see paying for the Operating System and then paying an unknown cost to upgrade other software packages just to have compatibility with Lion but with no other functional benefit to me. No improvements to the packages themselves etc.

The Synchronization is a minor problem…


One that has a FREE solution.

It’s remarkably easy to integrate your Google Calendar and Gmail contacts with your Apple machine.

If you’re already using an Android phone it’s childs play.  Since I defected to an Android a year and a half ago, I haven’t been using dot Me calendars all that much anyway. The exception being professional appointments where the professional I’m working with has and uses Apple products.

After the rollout of iCloud and the troubles I started having with my iPad, I’ve asked all those professionals to use my gmail account instead. Works like a champ, Since I made those changes while the dust was still settling around Lion, iCloud, and IOS5 I haven’t seen a need to go back.

You see, I’ll pay $99 a year to have a decent web page, contacts, email, calendar, and blog hosted by Apple. I’m not going to pay $99 a year to have all my music, computer settings, contact information, and other stuff in the cloud. It’s not worth it to me, I can wait to synchronize via a cable. I’m known for my impatience but even I have limits.

Besides, I’m buying most of my music from Amazon as mp3s because of the DRM issues with some of iTunes music. Try playing iTunes protected music on your Android device… “Guess I’ll have to buy the White album again…“

All of this is especially true when I can have everything iCloud provides provided to me by GOOGLE or Amazon for free. One notable exception is iPad finder. I’m sure that a free solution to that is being worked on by someone.

I wonder how many people are thinking in this vein? I’m not going to be surprised if Apples revenue drops a bit in June when they don’t get the renewals on iCloud that they’re expecting.

Whatever were they thinking?