I love my main camera, a Canon 1D. It cost far too much, but it has performed flawlessly for more than two years and taken tens of (hundreds of) thousands of shots. The trip to shoot the rally in India was an example of its excellence; four days of hard shooting with the camera ending up covered in dust and muck. It delivered thousands of great shots and it never missed a beat. I didn’t even have to charge the battery. It has more than paid for itself over the period I have owned it. It not only produces shots that customers are happy with, but just having it round your neck gives the impression that some serious photography is about to take place which must be worth the money being charged. This is often just bluff on my part, but it works.
I expect it is capable of giving excellent service for many years to come; but yesterday Canon announced the new 1D and I fully expected my natural “new gadget, want it” hormones to kick in. But I was rather pleased to find myself disappointed. There was the usual offering of more megapixels and better high ISO performance; but I was also hoping for 15 frames per second, but it stays at the existing 10. And there is now a video mode, which is interesting but not sure how much I would use it. And the whole offering is soured by an increase in price from $3,500 to $5,000. My lust metre is at zero.
Later in the day, Apple announced a new range of computers, and they are actually good upgrades, but I don’t want them. Or rather I don’t need them. When I had Windoze machines, every trip to Tukcom was an adventure. What exciting new part was on offer to boost performance? Would I return home with a bag of goodies and rip my machine apart yet again; never knowing if it would burst back into life after I had rebuilt it? Then I got an iMac and could look forward to days like yesterday to see if I could “justify” an upgrade. Then I got a Mac Pro and stuffed it full of hardrives (4), memory (10GB) and a raunchy graphics card. I now have my ideal computer which does everything I ask it to do, and quickly, and quietly, and reliably. Pop across into Windoze and it is a mean gaming machine too. It’s going to be years (that means more than one) before I feel the need for an upgrade.
Plugged into my Mac Pro is an Apple keyboard and it is excellent. Also plugged into my Mac Pro is a Logitech mouse, and it is also excellent. Originally it was an Apple Mighty Mouse, but it was crap. I had been warned by more than one Apple owner that the computers were good, but the mice sucked. And they do. Very little feel to the buttons, and the tiny scroll wheel looks cute but is difficult to use initially, and impossible to use later because it stops working. But Apple have solved this problem by eliminating the scroll wheel with the new mouse announced yesterday, the Magic Mouse.
Stupid name for something that looks like a fillet of fish. Apparently you can use the top of the fish to do all the clever swipe things that you can do on an Apple laptop, as well as button clicking and scrolling without actually using any buttons or scroll wheels. I think I’ll stick with Logitech,
So I managed to get through the day without wanting a new camera or a new computer, or a new mouse. Feeling a little let down, I cheered myself up by ordering a new windsurfing board which I hope will arrive before the end of the month.
No pockets in a shroud.
Comments 🔗
2009-10-21| Pattaya Ghost saysAs of a week ago, I am the very proud, and somewhat confused, owner of a new MacBook Pro. Used Macs all my life, but this is the first I’ve owned.
Lovely machine. Wish I’d had the money for the 17 incher.
Adjustment to the Macworld is a little bufuddling, but I’m mnaaging.
Now, of course, there’s the new 27-inch iMac, my new object of affection. I’m hoping it will be my Xmas gift to myself.
Lovely screens.
And I want one of them new mice.
By the way, I just bought a mouse for the MB Pro and went to iStudio. They had a Mighty Mouse (wired) for 1,700 baht!!!!!
The iStudio girl kindly pointed out just about any mouse would work and she walked me over to a store across the hall at Tukom where I bought a mouse for 200 baht that works fine.
1,700 baht?
These new Magic mice, however? I could see spending the cash on those. Very cool.
2009-10-21| Spike saysWelcome to Apple ownership! Yeah, the Mighty Mouse is over-priced, especially as it doesn’t work. Enjoying your posts over at tfs2m by the way, you could be accused of real journalism!
2009-10-21| Spike saysBy the way, expect you have been here long enough to know that “wish I’d had the money for the 17 incher” is not something you would drop into conversation in certain establishments.
2009-10-21| Brunty saysSpike as said before, great blog, excellent and witty humour and great photos.
I know you are a tech guy, what do you think about the new Canon Hybrid lenses, I am purchasing soon.
What is your take on them. http://www.dcviews.com/press/canon-hybrid-is.htm
http://www.dcviews.com/press/canon-ef-100mm.htm
How is your new white cat box going?
2009-10-22| todd saysi think mac need to come to the table and design more ergonomic keyboards and mice… as someone who works on a pc for 14hrs a day, the last thing you want is to strain to use a device…
that mouse looks horrible for all day every day use.
IMO microsoft make the best key&mouse. i used to have logitech but they never lasted / ate batteries like there’s no tomorrow - 1 set of batteries would last 1 month, but my microsoft devices last for many many months of everyday usage with the 1 set of batteries.
spike, i remember you posting a url of a place you buy your ps3 games from online in thailand - do you still have that url? i cant find it and i’m in need of a few more games…
2009-10-22| Spike saysBrunty, Glad you like the blog. I have the 70-200F4 which has the previous IS upgrade and it is significantly better than the old IS. I would expect this new offering to be even better, I can’t use EF-S lenses on my camera and have recently sold my 100mm macro because my LX3 does a better job; so no real interest for me. There is a review here: http://reviews.davidleetong.com/?p=1290
2009-10-22| Spike saysTodd, I love the Mac keyboards. I have this one: http://images.appleinsider.com/next-gen-imac-kb-070727-6.jpg It is very comfortable. My Logitech mouse has this wire thingie coming out of it which I plug into the side of the keyboard. Voila! No batteries!
I think you are referring to Nadz Project?: 2009_01_go-nadz
2009-10-22| Lloyd saysI’d have to agree with Todd, Microsoft offer some excellent Keyboards and Mice that for people who work long house in front of a computer put Mac products to shame.
The monitors on the new iMacs now have decent resolutions but are still sub standard specs compared to the high end models available seperately.