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Michael Dell Might Actually Get It

I think Dell is heading back in the right direction. The first sign was when they said they would offer Windows XP for a little while longer (though I believe Microsoft put the kibosh on that one). The second sign was when they said they would pre-install Ubuntu Linux. Now Dell announced they would answer one of the biggest complaints about their pcs, by allowing buyers the option to have their computers shipped without ANY BLOATWARE. I cannot tell you how much time I waste uninstalling that junk,whenever a client gets a brand new Dell.

The one thing that all of these moves have in common is they are all geared to what the customer wants, not initial financial gain. Keep it up and I firmly believe the financial rewards will follow.

Apple TV - Apple Gone Wrong

I can't blast Microsoft without mentioning where I feel Apple has gone wrong lately. Before I start, let me preface it by saying I love 95% of what Apple does and their products. However, in their greed, they sometimes forget about the consumer.

The beauty of most Apple products is their simplicity. With them, less is more. For example, other music players have a lot of features the iPod doesn't but most people in the world could care less. However this simplicity hurts them with the Apple TV.

The Apple TV is truly a boring product. Yes it's very easy to use but so what. Its what it isn't that makes it a failure on the first go round. But if you combine it with another Apple product that hasn't taken off (yes Mac mini I'm talking about you), you might have something.

Here's my idea of Apple TV 2.0

• Combine the Mac mini and Apple TV into one product. This makes it simple, with iTunes already on it for your media. However, make the Apple TV interface the default one.
  
• Come standard with a superdrive.
  
• Its great to have streaming but sometimes we just want to play a DVD. This product would replace your home DVD player as well. Make it very easy to rip your DVDs to your hard drive.
• Put an iPod docking station on top of this unit for either playing, syncing or just charging. Allow people to rip their DVDs, for play on the iPod, with minimum fuss.
• Have connectors on each corner of the bottom of the new Apple TV for the new iDrive. That's a portable hard drive, in the exact shape of the mini, which when stacked, automatically mounts on the Apple TV. A great place to store all those ripped DVDS, CDs and other music.
• True High Def
• Make it a signal repeater like the Airport Express.
• A real remote control, not the flimsy one they give you with their new iMacs.
• A HD TV Tuner card

This is just a start but I know it would sell like iPods. Put me down for 2.

Next time, my idea for Satellite radio and iTunes. Stay tuned