chg

I agree with Eloise. As a reader I wouldn't mind seeing a second smaller reference system used for comparisons. Actually, when I first read about Chris' system I was a bit surprised to see that the king computer audiophile didn't have a nice little secondary desktop system. Most computer audiophiles today have at least a main and desktop system. Next project Chris?

Hi Chris- Yeah, (Cook) Apple has (hit my hot button). I'm feeling better though. The last two days we've seen some good news come from Cook Apple, so I'm not feeling as steamed. I just wish the non-upgradability strategy would end. Apple's Reorganization Goes Deeper Than Just Who's In Charge - Mac Rumors Yes, designs will be Ive's driven, no doubt, but the decision to eliminate user accessibility/upgradability, I theorize, comes from Cook. On the old Mac Mini users' complained about poor memory accessibility and under Jobs we got the removable bottom cover. Cook seems to be reversing that philosophy. There's only one reason to prevent memory accessibility/user upgradability... I don't know anyone excited to purchase the 13" Retina whereas everyone I know picked up the standard Macbook when it came out. If they keep the standard Macbook around (with a refresh), keep the next Mini accessible, put a memory door on the iMac, then I'll have no complaints. Cook appears to be making some darn good decision this week. And Ive is producing some beautiful new gadgets these days.

Read my earlier posts. I predicted this Mini would be a refresh (which it is), so it stays the same. This is a Job's Mac Mini. As stated, the next Mini will be a Cook Mini, complete with higher price, sealed design, built in death clock. I think I might buy 3 of the current Mini to stock up before the Cook inspired model comes out. $1,950 13" Retina (which I included the now near mandatory AppleCare) vs. $1,200 (plus $150 for OWC SSD and memory upgrade if desired) for the old Macbook and the Retina is 8GB for life. You don't think the Retina is over-priced? I think customers have no problem buying a $1,200 13" Macbook. A 13" Retina at $1,950 (and 8GB for life) customers will think long and hard on that purchase, and many will likely pass. They'll start to care once they find out they have to buy a new $2,000+ Mac every few years. And, that's what the Air should be for (the casual user), not the entire Mac line. I know, I was just kidding with you. Is he as bad as the UK press makes him out? Because that's where I saw the majority of the dirt. True. But that's because, thankfully, Cook realized he's screwing up Apple and probably feared losing more top guys, that's why he's reversing himself. That is, top guys are leaving because they don't like the direction Cook is/was going. http://www.macrumors.com/2012/10/03/tim-cook-faced-an-insurrection-following-announcement-of-bob-mansfields-retirement/ No, I had plans of buying it before the 15" Retina was out. Saw the 15" plans wavered, 13" comes, plans determined. You don't make sense here. Because the Retina Macbook has soldered RAM, it's a given that the iMac would? Most people wouldn't have predicted that, I did however. Yeah, when it's 6 months or less. Have you not seen the iPad news? I think the word you're looking for is NOT not NOW. All of my predictions have been correct so far, so yes, when. It's an easy prediction, if you know Cook's agenda. Yes, that's correct. But that's why I predicted earlier that Cook will see a backlash in a few years. The "general consumer" won't simply accept higher prices, closed hardware, having to buy a new $2K Mac forever. Remember this is a Cook run Apple now. When Jobs was around I never criticized the higher prices, or control, etc. Cook is pushing it to a new over the top level though. At least he's proven capable, recently, of realizing his mistakes and reversing things before they go bad, so I'm optimistic that if things get bad he will reverse.

Well guys, what do you think? It's the future and now we see what (Cook) Apple offers: New Mac Mini: Same price No dedicated GPU I bet Cook opted for a slightly lower quality, less expensive RAM in the 2012. The next Mini will no doubt get the Cook treatment of non-upgrade ability/maximize profits. 13 Retina: 8GB memory soldered NON-CONFIGURABLE!!! 8GB for life! iFixit 2 out of 10 repairability score Over-priced MacBook Pro 13" Retina Display Late 2012 Teardown - iFixit 21.5" iMac: On-board memory (I guess it was important to eliminate those extra few mm's depth with soldered ram vs. replaceable ram on the desktop too? Some people actually believe that's the reason for the soldered memory!). no SSD option 21.5" iMac Has No User-Upgradable RAM; 27" Has Four Accessible RAM Slots - Mac Rumors I think Cook's strategy is to make every Mac purchase a $2,000+ sale, or, if under $2,000, then make sure it's lifespan is limited. Spend $2,000+ and you get what you want! Also, instead of trying to sell a customer on upgrades the idea is to simply force the customer into them. And, don't forget to add the now practically mandatory Applecare warranty. Some good news: Cook recognizes mistakes (or was in fear of things going down hill) and attempts to reverse them. Browett is out! (Maybe Eloise can hire him, she thought he was the cats meow). Mansfield is back. Ive is given added responsibilities Apple Announces Management Changes: Scott Forstall and John Browett Out, Ive and Others Add Responsibilities - Mac Rumors Now if Cook just got rid of himself (or just kept his profits first mentality to the production/distribution end) and got Johnson back, then things will be smooooth. I was planning on buying the new iPod touch when it came out but it's over-priced at $300, so I passed. I planned on a 13 retina, but for the reasons mentioned above, I will pass. I want an iMac (it is beautiful), but soldered ram = pass. iPad mini: in 6 months the A6 retina will be out = pass. Thankfully the standard Macbook is still available, but it's a bit dated, and what happens when that's officially replaced by the retina. I hear many other prospective Apple buyers deciding to pass on planned Mac purchases. I think sales will decline and like any corporate numbers guy, Cook will put blame elsewhere, then try and cut costs. Quality goes down, sales go down further. Lets hope not.

The LG problem is not likely to go away anytime soon with this news; Samsung to Cease Providing LCD Panels to Apple in 2013 - Mac Rumors Early on, I remember reading that displays would be sourced from both LG and Samsung, I turned to a friend and said "I'll take the Samsung Retina". LG is no Samsung. "attracted by better pricing." Jobs was interested in making the best product, Cook is interested in maximizing profits. Apple with Cook will be very different, I think.

Absolutely! Because when I search Browett, Currys, Dixons, PC World I see an overwhelming hatred. Only Bin Laden, Bieber, and Kim K. are more hated. I can't wait until he incorporates his FIVES sales model to Apple. The 1:25-1:35 mark in this video is especially frightening. Currys Fives.. The FIVES – how DSGI stores convert their customers | BitterWallet I like you too much to do that. Of course they're going to drop the standard Macbook. The line will be: closed Air, closed Retina, closed iMac, closed Mini. Only time will tell.

Originally posted by Eloise: I think chg is refering to the iFixit report on disassembling the MacBook Pro Retina (MacBook Pro 15" Retina Display Mid 2012 Teardown - iFixit). They did give it a 1/10 for ease of repairability. Not that there is any reason to think that it will need to be repaired. Yes Eloise, thank you. I forgot to reference the iFixit report, or assumed Mr. Paul was familiar with it. Cat collusion!!! Like I said, I hope I'm wrong about Apple. Only time will tell, I guess.

[h=3]From Apple; Memory Every MacBook Pro with Retina display comes with 8GB of 1600MHz memory. Please note that the memory is built into the computer, so if you think you may need more memory in the future, it is important to upgrade at the time of purchase.[/h] Note that every MacBook Pro with Retina display comes with 8GB of memory built into the computer. If you think you may need 16GB of memory in the future, it is important to upgrade at the time of purchase, because memory cannot be upgraded later in this model. 16GB 1600MHz DDR3L SDRAM [Add $200.00] [h=3]Storage[/h] Your MacBook Pro comes standard with 256GB or 512GB of flash storage. Please note that the flash storage is built into the computer, so if you think you may need more storage capacity in the future, it is important to upgrade at the time of purchase. 512GB Flash Storage [Add $500.00] 768GB Flash Storage [Add $1,000.00]

I was referring to the Retina (and Air) and making the prediction that the rest of the Mac line will follow. And yes, preventing an owner from upgrading/replacing his own HD, or memory is a bad thing. Things have worked quite well for Apple on the standard Macbook all these years. Why change it? Profits, I say. The Retina (repairability). Not doubting the reliability, but if something did go wrong after the 1 year warranty would you rather buy a new $50 memory or $80 HD and pop it in yourself, or have to replace a $1,500 logic board? And even if nothing went wrong, wouldn't you like to have the ability to upgrade a part when you like? Better cut back on the cat nip over there. Actually, I didn't know that. But, I have never required any of that for any computer, and I'm sure many others wouldn't either. We should have a choice. With the Retina, there is no choice. Buy Applecare or you're screwed. Not yet, just worried that it's headed in that direction. I hope not, because I really like Apple and couldn't think of switching back to Microsoft. I'm with ya' on the Microsoft criticisms. I actually agree with the closed/control philosophy, but, as said before, IMO the Retina pushes it too far.

I think you just see things that aren't there, because your agenda is to counter as many posts as possible and attempt to get into a back and forth. Sorry to be blunt, but that's my opinion. Where did I say anything about Browett having anything to do with design? I simply said the Cook/Browett (both profits first types) combination makes me nervous. Yet you felt the need to give a lesson in the Apple chain of command. Just Google Apple Browett, or Browett Dixons and you'll find a never ending list of criticisms. Here are just a few; Here's Why Apple Is Suddenly Laying Off Employees From Its Retail Stores - Business Insider Browett seen as bad for Apple thanks to Dixons’ poor reputation | Ars Technica Apple newbie John Browett brings Dixons to Apple Retail Stores – MacDailyNews - Welcome Home

Hi Paul, I'm sensing some unconditional Apple love. I love Apple products, but when they start making HD's and memory non-upgradeable that's where I draw the line. Am I understanding correctly? Are you defending the non-upgrade model? Yikes! The only reason they're doing it is for profits IMO. My Apple criticisms begin with the retina and what looks like a move to eventually have the entire Mac line score a 1 out of 10 repairability. OK. So you would rather be forced to pay the $250 for the extended warranty (it's actually 2 years after the 1 year included), but as you mentioned, it's unlikely to go bad in the first place. So, you wasted $250 on a warranty you didn't use. But, if it does go bad and you don't have the warranty you're looking at a thousand+ repair for a simple bad memory? Also, as you probably know, warranty service is replacement of exact part only, so all that warranty, repair, service, etc. means no upgraded parts ever. I'll take a few mm thicker standard Macbook (which was already super thin), easy user repair/upgrade ability, and no extorted, I mean, extended warranty. Oh yeah, and because it's not upgradeable, you have to order the thing maxed out and buy Apples over-priced upgrades. Also, no upgrades means new Mac purchase sooner than planned. This is what Tim Cook is good at, he's got extra money coming in from all angles. And, $250 is not "cheap insurance". That's expensive insurance. In general (99% of the time) extended warranties are a sucker bet. Just curious, how much is AppleCare if you plan to extend it past the 3 years? I think beginning with the retina that's about to change. This is where my Apple criticisms begin (retina model and future). Just basically a little worried for the future I guess. Apple Meeting With Accessory Makers to Promote Lightning Integration - Mac Rumors

Do you even read and understand, or do you just go straight to argument mode? I said, "I'm not normally an Apple basher". Soooo... I basically said, I'm not normally an Apple basher, but in this thread I am. Understand? Or are you just stating the obvious for your own amusement? Yes, and they report directly to Cook. Add Browett, who has a horrible reputation, on the retail end and you've got a Cook/Browett combination that has got me nervous. Explaining and clarifying every post is getting old.

Post #6 should read: To save myself some typing, I'll paste this post from a member (not me) from another site:

My fears shared by an Apple expert, now I'm really nervous. I was hoping everyone would just tell me how wrong I am.

As far as the new iTunes, I noticed a big emphasis on shopping, buying. Almost every paragraph has some mention of buying from the store. I hope they didn't sacrifice user experience to gain greater store traffic. https://www.apple.com/itunes/new-itunes/ I'm not normally an Apple basher, but this Cook/Browett combination has got me nervous.