 Road bike - part 2
posted by Dante on 4.11.2004 - 9:02 pm
Well, after several more hours of shopping on Saturday, I managed to make a bike selection. Specialized had some of the nicest bikes I put myself on, and the Roubaix model was just awesome. I spent less time building my first computer and buying my first car. But you don't really test drive computer components, and cars don't need to be custom fit. The extra time really left me feeling like I made the right decision. The first 25 miles I put on my new Roubaix today says I'm right.
Rather than saying anything more about my great bike, I want to spend the rest of this post talking about the single best place to buy a bike. Mike's Bikes in San Rafael is staffed by some of the best people I've had an opportunity to interact with. Richard and Skye answered every question I had, and demonstrated the patience of Job when it came time for me to do some of the more mundane things (like picking out shoes and a helmet). If you live in the San Francisco bay area and you're in the market for a new bike, go to Mike's.
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 busy
posted by Christopher on 4.12.2004 - 12:40 pm
this is busy season for me at work, so don't expect much ranting over the next couple of weeks.
off to my next meeting - later
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Apple: no desire to get Real --
posted by Dante on 4.16.2004 - 10:07 am
I heard a story last night where Real Networks was trying to approach Apple about getting their music onto iPods. The news on the wire this morning suggests that Apple has rejected this offer. This makes very little sense to me. The rumor suggests that Apple feels they have the number 1 player (iPod) which works with the number one music service (iTunes Music Store), so why deal with the number 2's.
Incidentally, given the childish connotations of 'number 2' (#2 = poop, don't make me spell it out people) - I am very amused with the statements linked to Apple where they refer to Real Networks as a 'number 2'.
But I digress, this kind of arrogance is a blight on Apple, and this is the same kind of closed minded thinking that gets people into trouble. Apple vehemently asserts that the music store is operated at a loss, and it is used solely to drive the sale of iPods. If that is a serious claim, let someone else eat the losses on the music, and keep collecting fat profit margins on iPods. This looks like the kind of win-win scenario most deal-makers drool over.
This is an opportunity to extend the sphere of influence. Just like letting HP sell branded iPods. Apple has a chance to build an empire. Let's grow the power base. Why do we have to stay locked inside the castle like greedy isolationists?
The digital music market is balkanizing, and Apple is unwilling to read the writing on the wall. Battle lines are being drawn. Apple currently mistakes itself as the only superpower, and that kind of "going solo against the world" mentality demonstrates amazing hubris. Apple made a similar decision when it rejected offers to license the MacOS. Now it has something like 5% of the computing market. If it continues, we will all be witness to another fall.
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