David Pogue vs. Fanboys
I read the review that David Pogue wrote, and he really goes after Apple for cutting out lots of features of iMovie. In my opinion, he’s totally right. You don’t release a new iLife suite with fanfare, then when you open the box and install it realize that you had features taken away. That doesn’t make any sense whatsoever.
One of the more interesting reactions was by MacDailyNews, which typically attacks anything that anyone says that is bad about Apple, regardless of the fact that David Pogue is always using Apple products in his columns, as well as multiple video segments where he proudly displays Apple hardware. Talk about turning on someone at the blink of an eye.
Here are some of the more amusing quotes from the MacDailyNews piece. Keep in mind an objective viewpoint. There are features that are in iMovie ‘06 that have been removed from iMovie ‘08, and MacDailyNews is simply justifying it.
iMovie shouldn't be about doing any level of "professional" work. Apple had pushed iMovie way, way too far ahead of its original intent.
As I took it from David Pogue, it wasn’t about making “professional work” as much as it was about having the ability to typical tasks that you would expect from a movie editing program in late 2007.
Let's face facts: iMovie is part of a US$79 suite of five products (also includes iPhoto, GarageBand, iWeb, and iDVD). For one-fifth of $79, or $15.80, you shouldn't be able to edit feature films on it (which people were), or Apple isn't doing a very good job of running their business of differentiating and selling software.
I take the similar viewpoint of RoughlyDrafted when it comes to software bundling. The strategy is that the iLife suite creates real value for customers that makes buying an Apple computer attractive. Isn’t that what half of the Apple TV commercials are about?
• You got pretty advanced features for many years
I think we all realize that if Microsoft had done the same thing, where you had a great software product that was priced reasonably, and then they had turned around and given out a new version that took away lots of features everyone would be screaming bloody murder. At Apple? Nope. MacDailyNews basically says that “You don’t deserve it anymore because you weren’t buying more expensive software! Shame on you!”
• Different does not mean worse and change can be for the better
How so? I’m still trying to figure this one out.
• Apple is a business, not a provider of basically free editing tools for professionals
Same point as before. iLife creates value to consumers to convince them to purchase Apple computers. Anyway, I’m not entirely surprised with the Apple blogging community. It’s useless to try and have an actual discourse with them about anything beyond “APPLE IS GREAT!!!111hexffbinary”