auctiontheory (u/auctiontheory)

auctiontheory commented on Technichi: Macbook Subscription Service technichi.com/... · Posted by u/charlieirish

dragontamer · 11 years ago

Your fanboy radar betrays your better judgement.

This is a thread about how computers get better over the years. A modern Macbook Pro is leagues better than one 2 years ago (SSD, PCIe, Retina Screen, smaller), and the one 2-years-ago is leagues better than a 4-year-old Macbook Pro (Sandy Bridge vs C2D, GPU upgrades, etc. etc.).

I chose the Dell Venue 8 Pro because it is a cheap $300 machine to emphasize a point. Computers continue to make progress exponentially... to the point where a 4-year-old "premium computer" is specs-for-specs comparable to one of the trashiest, slowest modern computers of this time.

I'm a little pissed that I have to change my argument structure to cater to your fanboy mindset. I'm not taking a dig at Mac, I'm trying to make a point about technology and the rate at which it improves.

Long story short: the computer industry has always been about forward progress at an exponential rate. This will make it difficult for any "leasing" structure to work with computers. Depreciation of laptops happens too quickly.

auctiontheory · 11 years ago

I'm trying to make a point about technology and the rate at which it improves.

Make whatever point you want, but TFA is about an MBP subscription service. People buy MBPs for usability and reliability, not for hardware specs. Always have.

When you claim that one computer is "leagues better" than some other computer, I say "prove it - according to MY criteria as the purchaser and consumer - not your criteria as a chip overclocker."

auctiontheory commented on Technichi: Macbook Subscription Service technichi.com/... · Posted by u/charlieirish

dragontamer · 11 years ago

I'm thinking of the typical car vs the typical computer.

>> New cars typically lose about 20% of their value the moment they’re driven off the lot, and about 65% after five years.

MBPs are one of the few computers that hold their value the best. But after 5 years, you're looking at a depreciation rate of 75%+ (going from $2000+ in 2009 to only $500 in 2014).

But we're looking at the _best_ computer that holds its value the best. No one gives a damn about a refurbished Dell Inspiron from 2010.

www.sears.com/dell-refurbished-dell-latitude-e6400-14inch-notebook-intel/

You're looking at ~90% depreciation for the more typical laptop, and maybe 70% if you focus only on Macbooks. With Cars, you're looking at 65% typical depreciation, with only ~45% if you focus on Camrys or Corolas.

A 2009 Camry will run you ~12k today, only 45% depreciation.

auctiontheory · 11 years ago

Did you read the article? These guys are leasing MBPs, not Dell Inspirons. Your MBP depreciation numbers ($2000->$500 in 5 years) are also wrong.

auctiontheory commented on Technichi: Macbook Subscription Service technichi.com/... · Posted by u/charlieirish

dragontamer · 11 years ago

Then get the $300 Asus Vivotab Note, instead of spending $60/month on a lease on a new laptop. Within 6 months, you'll have made your money back and then some (Especially since the $300 tablet can do everything a 4-year-old computer can do, while having superior battery life, significantly less weight, support of a Wacom Active Stylus and a touchscreen)

Yes, I have run Photoshop and Gimp on a $300 Baytrail Tablet. Yes, they work. I can personally verify that fact. On the other hand, I do notice significant performance increases when comparing these cheap, tiny computers against my beefy Desktop. Regardless, I speak from experience.

Benchmarks do not lie however, these $300 Baytrail tablets are faster than Macbook Pros from 4 years ago.

Regardless of how you slice it, computers depreciate significantly faster than cars. For those where "just enough" performance is good enough, you might as well buy these modern $300 netbooks / tablets than lease a top-of-the-line laptop for $60/month... unless you really throw away your laptops after less than 5 months of usage.

A brand new cheap computer is better than a top-of-the-line computer from 4 years ago. And for those who are chasing the top end, modern premium computers are released too often for this lease business model to make sense IMO.

auctiontheory · 11 years ago

Regardless of how you slice it, computers depreciate significantly faster than cars.

Actually an MBP [1] holds its value better than many Detroit products[2].

[1] See eBay. [2] http://www.forbes.com/2010/10/27/cars-resale-value-lifestyle...

auctiontheory commented on Technichi: Macbook Subscription Service technichi.com/... · Posted by u/charlieirish

sscalia · 11 years ago

Doesn't matter. Does Photoshop feel measurably faster on a 4 year old Macbook Pro vs. a new one? Does email? Does web browsing?

Minus some spergy cases (PC gaming, 3d rendering, virtualization, etc) most computers are just fine for everyday tasks for a long while.

auctiontheory · 11 years ago

You were downvoted for saying exactly what I was about to say: for most consumer use, my 2009 MBP does everything I need. It beats me at chess. A/V transcoding could be faster, but that's really an edge use case for me, and probably most people, even on HN.

What I do care about is ergonomics, specifically the keyboard, and I have yet to find a $300 (or $600) Windows or Android machine with a keyboard comparable to a Mac. If it exists, I hope someone will let me know in the comments.

auctiontheory commented on Technichi: Macbook Subscription Service technichi.com/... · Posted by u/charlieirish

bsima · 11 years ago

I thought april fools also, but I'm really hoping it's true. My 4-year-old MBP has finally been outpaced by software speed needs.

auctiontheory · 11 years ago

I occasionally wonder whether to replace my 2009 MBP (upgraded to SSD and 8GB, naturally). What software finally vanquished your laptop?

auctiontheory commented on Technichi: Macbook Subscription Service technichi.com/... · Posted by u/charlieirish

nickconfer · 11 years ago

This seems like a difficult business to execute on.

1) You need capital to buy the machines to give out and slowly collect $60 on. Once the capital runs out, more is needed, but without getting capital quick enough, new customers have to be turned down, growth slows, and capital becomes even more difficult to acquire.

2) Since the tech and product can be easily purchased by anyone, there is room for other businesses to enter the space quickly and drive a pricing war. If large chains got involved they could offer a lower price and push local same day service.

3) Machines break. Without a hassle-free return / warranty, customers will likely get frustrated, refuse to pay, and make collections very difficult.

Not to say it can't be done, the leasing industry is fairly large, but I'd thought I'd share my thoughts on the problems that might arise. Reminds me of when they did PCs for 19.95 a month plus internet for a contract term.

auctiontheory · 11 years ago

You need capital to buy the machines to give out and slowly collect $60 on

That is a very generic argument that applies to (against) any leasing business - but clearly many such businesses exist, across many industries.

auctiontheory commented on The value of an engineering degree avc.com/2014/03/the-value... · Posted by u/austenallred

sliverstorm · 11 years ago

Caltech is much the same way though, outside of engineering nobody has heard of it. Like Harvey Mudd, it's a small *private school that hasn't yet become a household name.

auctiontheory · 11 years ago

Even in Silicon Valley, Caltech is often confused with Cal Poly. I agree that you can't assume your interviewer has a clue.

auctiontheory commented on Toward a Pill That Helps Us Learn as Fast as Kids theatlantic.com/health/ar... · Posted by u/coltr

Thasc · 11 years ago

Out of curiosity, what simpler term would you instead use for 'acetylcholinesterase inhibitor'?

auctiontheory · 11 years ago

I don't have one. In fact, I appreciate the precise technical explanation. I guess I just needed to be reminded that humor is wasted on HN.

auctiontheory commented on Toward a Pill That Helps Us Learn as Fast as Kids theatlantic.com/health/ar... · Posted by u/coltr

tomstokes · 11 years ago

Before anyone considers experimenting with Donepezil or other acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in hopes of enhancing their learning, it should be noted that there are plenty of unknowns and a few serious concerns around altering the cholinesterase levels of otherwise healthy adults.

Briefly: Acetylcholinesterase terminates acetylcholine neurotransmission events by deactivating the acetylcholine, allowing it to be reused. An acetylcholinesterase inhibitor such as the Donepezil used in the article inhibits the action of acetylcholinesterase, which in turn enhances acetylcholine neurotransmission in a dose-dependent manner.

Highly potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitors are used as poisons (Sarin gas, for example) because they interfere with all of the acetylcholine-based neurotransmission that happens throughout your brain and body. Less potent inhibitors are used at lower doses in Alzheimer's disease as it is hoped that they will improve cognitive function and perhaps even slow disease progression. Thus far the results have been mixed.

Now the bad news: Cholinergic neurotransmission is widespread through your brain and your body. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors are a very blunt and non-specific way to manipulate that neurotransmission. Unfortunately, you can't just enhance memory formation and learning related neurotransmission, you amplifiy cholinergic transmission indiscriminately everywhere. As a result, it's possible to get some quite negative effects as well. There are reports of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors causing or at least inducing PTSD-like symptoms ( http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17308243 ). Furthermore, we just don't know the long-term effects of these medications on young, healthy adults as they've primarily been studied in elderly populations.

In short: It's potentially very unwise to use Donepezil or similar medications for the purposes of enhancing your learning or your memory. Leave the experimentation to the carefully controlled studies until more is known on these powerful substances.

auctiontheory · 11 years ago

Don't give up - there is help. Reach out to your local chapter of Sesquipedalians Anonymous.

auctiontheory commented on Tamil Nadu state departments asked to switch over to open source software thehindu.com/news/nationa... · Posted by u/d4vlx

auctiontheory · 11 years ago

It's about time. In fact, it's way past time. But don't expect Microsoft to give up without a great deal more fight, a legal challenge or two, and other tactics from their vast playbook.