patrick.net

there’s no alternative to phones, it’s monopoly. so will go up. they can replace all white people in commercials with black trannies and still have sales.

GNL says

Illegals are receiving $1,500 phones?

Nope. Fake news. Misc needs to show a link at least. Or at least say that he saw it happen in person. Neither were done.

Let's see there were about 300000 given out in 2022. The totals for 2023 ain't been given yet, but I bet it's over 1 million.

https://abcnews4.com/news/nation-world/costly-failure-biden-admin-gave-300k-smartphones-to-migrants-costs-over-360k-a-day-cell-phone-alternatives-detention-program-ice-customs-immigration-illegal-president-white-house-joe-mexico-border

It's only our taxes.

Misc says

Let's see there were about 300000 given out in 2022. The totals for 2023 ain't been given yet, but I bet it's over 1 million.

https://abcnews4.com/news/nation-world/costly-failure-biden-admin-gave-300k-smartphones-to-migrants-costs-over-360k-a-day-cell-phone-alternatives-detention-program-ice-customs-immigration-illegal-president-white-house-joe-mexico-border

It's only our taxes.

I'm not happy about it, but at no point did it say iPhones. All phones are smart now. So they gave them phones to track them from the link you posted. That should be the news. If they can track illegals, they're tracking you too. They didn't give them iPhones.

Ok, I cede the point, but let me see if I am tracking with you, The only Smartphone manufacturers with that kind of output are Apple, Samsung and the rest are based out of mainland China. So probably our Department of Homeland Security is giving the illegals coming into our country free smartphones from a company based in Communist China with Chinese tracking gear to keep track of the millions of illegals in our country?

Your take is more accurate than mine and monumentally more funny.

Can I steal it?

Misc says

So probably our Department of Homeland Security is giving the illegals coming into our country free smartphones from a company based in Communist China with Chinese tracking gear to keep track of the millions of illegals in our country?

Bingo. I gave up on privacy because I don't do anything illegal. I know my rights. They're moving these illegals into population centers to win individual counties. They know where they are at. Even if you turn off wifi and go into airplane mode, cell towers know where you're at. Even with passcodes and facial recognition, anyone can get in your phone. I had a seizure and someone was able to get in my phone and text my office.

They moved some illegals about 10 miles east of me. Literally just dropped them off at a rural intersection in a neighboring county. Chicago has always been a shit show about this and that's why it's news all the time. It's more than just POTUS. It's House Reps and Senators that most people overlook in elections. I think it's funny when states like Florida or Texas ship them to Chicago and New York, but it's fucking illegal as well. At some point it's not funny.

Anyone not have a fence on their property even if it's a subdivision home? I have one 6' tall. Never in about a decade now have I had a solicitor knock on my door. Not once. We need walls and we need government officials to enforce the law. Someone from Ecuador will be the equivalent of a millionaire and they move back on a $10/hr wage and live like a king. Taking the money out of the country.

Misc says

Your take is more accurate than mine and monumentally more funny.

Can I steal it?

Take whatever you want. I'm not sure if this is sarcasm as I post early in the morning usually and have Joe Biden brain at times. So my comments may not always seem coherent. Insomnia sucks.

Misc says

zzyzzx says

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/apple-overtakes-samsung-top-seller-122528536.html

Apple overtakes Samsung as top seller of smartphones

This does not surprise me, as Samsung also charges way too much for their phones. If you are going to overpay for a phone, may as well get an Apple.

This has little to do with Samsung's pricing and everything to do with Chinese market share. Samsung used to have a huge share of the Chinese market, but with the Android operating system,

I got out of all of my holdings (300 shares) of Apple at $185 this year.

Still holding off on Tesla. About 947,000 Tesla's were sold in 2023 in China (compared to 555,000 in 2022), and a total of 1.8 million Tesla's were sold worldwide (compared to 1.3 million in 2022).

**********

https://www.the-express.com/finance/business/130595/tesla-apple-china-sales-byd

Tesla and Apple could be about to lose millions of customers in China as the state pushes people to opt for domestic products rather than Western technology.

Both companies have reportedly been forced into discounting many of their products to compete with Chinese competitors.

Many at China’s annual Communist Party event told the Financial Times that they are using devices from Chinese companies.

Zhan Wenlong, a nuclear physicist and party delegate, told the outlet: “For people coming here, they encourage us to use domestic phones, because phones like Apple are not safe.

“[Apple phones] are made in China, but we don’t know if the chips have back doors.”

MrMagic says

Larry Kudlow, director of the National Economic Council, said Friday that Apple’s technology may have been stolen by the Chinese.

There's nothing to steal. Apple doesn't have any technology that every other tech company doesn't have.

richwicks says

MrMagic says

Larry Kudlow, director of the National Economic Council, said Friday that Apple’s technology may have been stolen by the Chinese.

There's nothing to steal. Apple doesn't have any technology that every other tech company doesn't have.

The Chicoms are just going to crate cheap clones of the iPhone and the Teslas.

No different than the late 1990s with the advent of cheap personal computers (PCs) made in China.

.

AD says

The Chicoms are just going to crate cheap clones of the iPhone and the Teslas.

The appeal of Apple is their marketing and their "look and feel". China can't steal that without being noticed.

Apple isn't a technology company, they are a jewelry company. I honestly see Apple products as technology designed for women.

It's like Louis Vuitton and Prada, they don't make better products they make products the same as everybody else, it's their marketing. They aren't higher quality, they are just expensive because of the brand. When I have to work on an Apple computer it takes me about 10 minutes before I run into something I can trivially do on Linux or Android, which is just about impossible to do on their systems. Move an mp3 or mp4 file to your iPhone and try to play it. Basic everyday things for me become complex and stupidly difficult. I use my Android as a general storage device, for data that isn't personal and I don't care about being protected - if I have that, it's password protected.

From the point of view of an engineer, the Apple products are a nightmare of design. They take this immensely powerful machine, and dumb it down so it's like working on a computer from the late 1990s when networking wasn't taken for granted. I hate them.

"Apple products aren't expensive; they just cost more than some people can afford."

The MacBook Air M1 is $650 new today; that's a capable laptop and not too expensive.

clambo says

"Apple products aren't expensive; they just cost more than some people can afford."

The MacBook Air M1 is $650 new today; that's a capable laptop and not too expensive.

Can get a new Mac Mini for around $600 and buy a used LCD, keyboard and mouse at Goodwill for $100

This is affordable for even working class especially if they buy a refurbished Mac Mini

.

clambo says

The MacBook Air M1 is $650 new today; that's a capable laptop and not too expensive.

Add $100 for a USB port

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/apple-introduces-ai-powered-object-235855734.html

Apple's new iOS developer beta lets you remove objects from pictures using AI

Obligatory:

.

Asking for advice, looking for an Apple Mini Mac (at least 8 GB RAM) and a portable monitor (which I can connect with an HDMI cable to the Mini Mac).

My budget is $300 total.

Went on Amazon, but asking if anyone has specific suggestions and if this would work out for home use computing. I assume the Mini Mac is more stable and does not freeze up and crash using a browser (Firefox, Chrome, etc) like a Windows computer (even on Ubuntu).

.

AD says

does not freeze up and crash using a browser (Firefox, Chrome, etc) like a Windows computer

I have been using Windows computers for years, crashes are rare.

HeadSet says

AD says

does not freeze up and crash using a browser (Firefox, Chrome, etc) like a Windows computer

I have been using Windows computers for years, crashes are rare.

You are lucky then. Never had a Windows machine that didn't need a restart weekly. I'll never buy anything with Windows installed on it. Partially I don't like it and there's the Bill Gates factor. I'm sure he still gets residuals from it. I ain't giving that creep any of my money. I don't fund pedophiles as far as I'm aware of.

Almost a decade into my iMac. No issues. When I was in my younger PC/Windows phase I'd have to dump them every 3 years. Lost a decade of photos that were unrecoverable. Even took it to a place to try and recover. I'll never own a windows OS machine again in my life. I'd definitely would never rely on it for business.

10 out of 10 times there's an issue at a business I visit, it's because of Windows fucking up. Not being hyperbolic either.

WookieMan says

Almost a decade into my iMac. No issues.

That is what I figured as iMac's including Apple Mini Mac are very stable as Apple has a lot more control over its product's hardware, operating system, and software.

I am wondering if I should wait as I heard that Apple is coming out with a new Mini Mac this month. Maybe that will help to lower price of its older models.
.

AD says

I am wondering if I should wait as I heard that Apple is coming out with a new Mini Mac this month. Maybe that will help to lower price of its older models.

I'd check out used right now unless you need a lot of processing. In 2024 internet speed is more important than computer specs, unless you're using it for music, media, video, photos, etc. editing type stuff. That's chip and RAM important in those realms.

I was recording and doing photo editing when I got it. Now it's overkill for what I do. I will be starting to record again though. Maybe a lot in 8-9 months. Might sell it and get a Mac pro rack mount. That will last 10 years.

I won't trust a windows machine and am too lazy to mess around with linux and other bull shit like that. I would bash Apple users up until about 2006. Got one and only one other (not phones or tablets, though have them). MacBook, still works and my current iMac. Pushing 20 years on 2 computers. Done a ton of shit with them. Made good money using them. Never failed me.

Went through multiple PC's with windows every 2-3 years. It's a trash OS. Had used is from 1995-2006. Maybe it's better now. Everyone I know still has issues with them. It's also just a shit interface and Explorer as a browser can eat a dick.