Apple stealth marketing?

[Durandal]

SPSS is a port of Windows software that is years behind (SPSS for Macs is still merely 13.0, I believe--Windows has been up to 15.0 for well over a year), and offers nowhere near the functionality of SPSS for Windows. I've also heard that there are some serious issues with porting files.

Oh, well in that case, let me just go to work tomorrow and fix the bugs in the SPSS source.

Oh wait, that's right, Apple employees don't work on SPSS.

I consider a serious statistical package an essential part of business software. Do you not agree? It's great that you have some video editing software, but show me some business-oriented stuff that's halfway enticing.

Why? Is there something wrong with your current statistical package that you think only Apple could possibly do better?

I'm not sure, but I don't see that as being particularly relevant to the point that Apple advertises its computers as toys more than tools.

We advertise them as computers that are less hassle and allow you to actually be creative instead of wrestling with nonsense like spyware and viruses. If that's what you want, buy a Mac, throw Parallels on it and run your statistical software in there. Seriously, there's no area where statistical software is going to be revolutionized, and the people already in that market are doing a fine job with the solutions they offer.

And say we did release a statistics package. Guess what you'd say? "It doesn't do this, this, this, ..., and this. Fuck Apple. I wanted a complete statistics package that was just as functional at 1.0 as SPSS 15.0 is! Guess they're just selling to toy statisticians. Fuckers. God, what a bunch of hippy fags."

Okay, maybe not that exactly. But you get the idea.

[Master of Ossus]

Oh, well in that case, let me just go to work tomorrow and fix the bugs in the SPSS source.

Oh wait, that's right, Apple employees don't work on SPSS.

Nonetheless, for someone who uses statistical packages fairly regularly on work-related applications, the lack of a statistical package is a serious disadvantage. I don't really care why OSX versions of programs like SPSS and Stata are years behind the Windows versions.

Why? Is there something wrong with your current statistical package that you think only Apple could possibly do better?

No, but I believe that if I buy a computer for work then it should be able to run applications that are needed for me to do my job to the best of my ability. I certainly can't justify buying another computer to myself if it will actually regress in terms of my ability to run work-related applications.

I'm not sure, but I don't see that as being particularly relevant to the point that Apple advertises its computers as toys more than tools.

We advertise them as computers that are less hassle and allow you to actually be creative instead of wrestling with nonsense like spyware and viruses. If that's what you want, buy a Mac, throw Parallels on it and run your statistical software in there. Seriously, there's no area where statistical software is going to be revolutionized, and the people already in that market are doing a fine job with the solutions they offer.

And say we did release a statistics package. Guess what you'd say? "It doesn't do this, this, this, ..., and this. Fuck Apple. I wanted a complete statistics package that was just as functional at 1.0 as SPSS 15.0 is! Guess they're just selling to toy statisticians. Fuckers. God, what a bunch of hippy fags."

Okay, maybe not that exactly. But you get the idea.

I probably still wouldn't buy a system that doesn't have a statistical package as good as the ones offered by its primary competitors because I use my computer to run statistics on a regular (several times per week) basis and consider that to be an essential part of using a computer. I don't really see that we're disagreeing with each other, here.

[Durandal]

Nonetheless, for someone who uses statistical packages fairly regularly on work-related applications, the lack of a statistical package is a serious disadvantage. I don't really care why OSX versions of programs like SPSS and Stata are years behind the Windows versions.

Yes, you don't care why. Just blame Apple. All our fault.

You want the folks working on SPSS and Stata to get their Mac versions in line? Complain to them.

No, but I believe that if I buy a computer for work then it should be able to run applications that are needed for me to do my job to the best of my ability. I certainly can't justify buying another computer to myself if it will actually regress in terms of my ability to run work-related applications.

Uh, so don't buy it. I thought the commercials have been pretty clear on this. Both Macs and PCs have their places in the computing world. Obviously, you can't live without a statistical package.

I probably still wouldn't buy a system that doesn't have a statistical package as good as the ones offered by its primary competitors because I use my computer to run statistics on a regular (several times per week) basis and consider that to be an essential part of using a computer. I don't really see that we're disagreeing with each other, here.

I'm disagreeing with your assertion that Apple is somehow at fault for the lack of a native statistics package. Especially when Apple not only provides a way for their computers to boot into Windows, but also pimps Parallels' virtual machine software as well. Use Windows for the things Windows is good at.

[Praxis]

This makes me all the more glad I went with a Zen: Vision M. It does everything an iPod video does but better. Because it's not made by Apple.

Yeah, right. It has the same screen resolution and size of screen and just about everything else, and is virtually identical to the iPod in just about every way except that:

A) There is no peripheral support for it (at least, none worth speaking of)
B) There is no online content available for it
C) There is less software support for it
D) It is nearly twice as thick
E) It has a lower battery life
F) It has a FM tuner
G) It has a microphone

And they are the same price.

Using Handbrake I can rip my DVD's in one click, at full TV resolution (640x480).

Will people quit bashing the iPod? I thoroughly researched and decided to purchase a 60 GB one, and I've been extremely satisfied. Tell me, what can your Zen do better than my iPod? That's what I thought.

I think it's become hip to hate anything that is mainstream.

[Praxis]

I thought Microsoft was the company that wrote the Mac versions of Office. Wouldn't that be an error with Microsoft then?

No. Apple is responsible for developing software or having good compatability.

That's just silly. By that logic we can blame Microsoft every time someone else ships a buggy piece of Windows software.

Anyway, according to rumors iWork '07 will have a spreadsheet application. I think Apple has got fed up with Microsoft being so lax on Mac software (Office STILL isn't Universal, even the latest version runs under Rosetta). Apple has GOT to be concerned that Microsoft could pull Office for Mac if they compete directly with them though, because that would seriously hurt Apple in the business arena.

[SeeingRed]

I consider a serious statistical package an essential part of business software. Do you not agree?

No, I don't agree. Why would I? It's hardly true that a majority or even a significant plurality of businesses would require a "serious statistical package". And even if they do, as has already been pointed out, SPSS is available for OS X. And if you don't like the version that's there for OS X, then you can install windows natively and run the windows version, while having all the additional benefits of Apple hardware and software.

It's great that you have some video editing software, but show me some business-oriented stuff that's halfway enticing.

Um, to name a few...Mac OS X Server, Microsoft Office, Apple iWork, File Maker (database), Apple Remote Desktop, Remote Desktop Connection (to connect to windows machines -- interestingly, that allows Macs to connect easily to both Macs and Windows boxes, while Windows machines can only connect to other windows machines. "Compatibility issues" my ass). Would you like me to go on?