I’ve long been an Apple fan. It is somewhat dissonant with my strong attachment to open-source/free software, but I’ve learned to live with it because I am significantly more productive on Mac OS than on Linux, and I still have to work with plenty of MS Office (and no, Open Office doesn’t cut it.)
That said, there’s a disturbing new trend in Apple hardware: device lock-in through DRM-like devices. I’m looking to add a monitor to my desktop Mac, and the nice 24-inch screen only connects via the new, proprietary, encrypted Apple “Display Port.” Ummm, what? And now it seems the new ipod shuffle requires headphones with a decryption chip which you’ll likely have to license from Apple.
I could live with an ipod, because I could put free music on it. I could live with an iphone, because it has a web browser, supports the IMAP open protocol, and can play free music. I could even live with buying songs from the apple store when they DRM’ed them, because I could, in a bind, burn them to a CD, and that was a rare need anyways. The DRM didn’t get in the way.
But now, it really really does. Why do I need to upgrade my Mac to get a new display? Now I’m looking for a non-Apple display. Apple, WTF? This is ridiculous. Please fix this soon, it’s probably the worst decision you’ve made in the last 10 years.
I’m not sure exactly what’s on the new macs, but DisplayPort is the name of a new VESA-standard connector.
I’m not sure exactly what’s on the new macs, but DisplayPort is the name of a new VESA-standard connector.
Ah, thanks Dan, that’s something I didn’t know, thanks for pointing this out. The problem it, it doesn’t seem like a DisplayPort monitor can be plugged into a DVI Mac. Why not?
Ah, thanks Dan, that’s something I didn’t know, thanks for pointing this out. The problem it, it doesn’t seem like a DisplayPort monitor can be plugged into a DVI Mac. Why not?
This is painful to read, man… A step back. 😦
This is painful to read, man… A step back. 😦