MacDailyNews - Where Mac news comes first

Yep we are a smug, condecending, anti-pc, MS hating bunch. Get over it.

Where does it say we have to be nice to the PC community? Were they nice to us back in the late 90's? Are they nice to us now?

If someone wants to buy a Mac they will. If they can't handle the critisism and are put off by the "community" oh well. Let them keep their PC.

I'm tired of the spineless " we better play nice or others won't like us" mentality.

Who said we wanted all the PC users to switch to the Mac anyway?

Hello TowerTone, I agree with you on this one as well. I personally think that

Ford / Lincoln / Mercury are the best American cars made (although I usually

buy Nissan). GM's are plagued with substandard electrical systems, and

Chrysler definitely has it's share of issues. Ford's are better, than GM or

Chrysler IMO.

Ford, Toyota, Honda, BMW et al are all irrelevant going forward.

Why? The Chinese are coming. There's no way the old school can compete with the $5000 cars that will land here someday soon.

Go ahead and laugh. Detroit laughed at Japan one time too.

USS Yorktown, controlled by 27 Windows NT systems, had this little glitch one day.... "In September 21, 1997 while on maneuvers off the coast of Cape Charles, Virginia, a crew member entered a zero into a database field causing a divide by zero error in the ship's Remote Data Base Manager which brought down all the machines on the network, causing the ship's propulsion system to fail." The ship was either dead in the water for a few hours or was towed back to port, depending on who you want to believe.

I for one do not believe Microsoft has learned any lessons from this. They continue to produce shoddy software and will continue to do so as long as they have their monopoly. Wait until your mass airflow sensor hiccups one time and sends an unexpected value to the engine control system, then see yourself stranded in the median for hours. This or something like it will happen, not once or twice but on many many highways. Just wait n see.

Funny comments. Although as someone who has owned a Ford product, they are hardly 'crap'. I loved my Ranger as much as I loved my Honda Civic (I drove 'em both into the ground).

Someone is definitely smoking something with this relationship to Microsoft though. It smacks of really old, white dudes making decisions for people they hardly understand. They've had several years to witness Microsoft's lameless with OSes and leisure products. Why would they think somehow this would be different?

Ford:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Ford_factories

Yeah, because France, Portugal, Mexico and Venezuela are the 51st 52nd 53rd and 54th states of the U.S.A.

My grandfathers were engineers that helped to design the weapons systems our country used from the 60s to the 80s. My father has served in the Middle East and Latin America. I love these great men, I love our country.

Don't pull this "you're not patriotic" bullshit. This is America, go fsck yourself.

Maybe Bill Gates swung the deal with Ford by offering to prop-up their failing company pension scheme and give them a couple of hundred million..?

"You are attempting to turn left. Are you sure you want to do this? Click OK to continue"

HAHHAHA

...couple of hundred million dollers..?

(I should have added)


MDN word 'amount'

I'll be walking into my local Ford dealer, Spend some quality time with a Salesman haggling the price of a Mustang, then when I'm about to sign, I ask-
"Oh shoot, i almost forgot, what kind of iPod connectivity do you offer?"
"Only an Aux in Jack?"
"Gee sorry guys, I'm gonna have to go with Acura"

That will really piss off some sales folks.

S

More mindless bashing by know-nothing Mac idiots. Can we at least wait until the product comes out, you know, like that vapor hardware iphone?

To squirted:

"You know what? Let's stop all the in-fighting. Pull it into Hug Harbor."

You know that old joke about what would happen if Microsoft built cars.

http://www.jokesandhumor.com/jokes/163.html

I think we're about to find out...

Seriously, Ford is going to "unveil" this. Like make a big deal about it as a selling point for their cars. If I had to have Microsoft software embedded in my products, I'd hide that point very carefully.

Steev,
I've heard Acura's crap OEM stereo, and just like the one that came in my new Mustang GT, I'd have ripped it out and replaced it with the same Alpine/iPod combo that I purchased.
The aftermarket BLOWS OEM AUDIO into the dirt, so if that's your argument to the sales guys, you'll just be embarassing yourself.

I wonder when the first MSExploder will hit the streets

"The Chinese are coming. There's no way the old school can compete with the $5000 cars that will land here someday soon."

That is a good point, I have researched it. The Chinese models that will soon

be introduced to the American market are viable for the market, but $5000

is an exaggeration. The PRC autos will be priced slightly below the Korean

competition, so yes they will be a factor. They will do better than the Yugo

LOL. Actually the same fellow that brought the Yugo to the U.S. is almost

solely responsibly for the coming Chinese invasion. Look it up.

http://www.nysun.com/article/7177

"For reference, our two vehicles now are both Daimler Chrysler. '04 Dodge RAM and an '03 BMW 3."

mAc-warrior loses a bit of credibility here, unless there's been an acquisition I missed....

That said, as a longtime DOS/Windows/Mac user and unix sysadmin, based on experience with Microsoft OS's, I would personally not buy a car controlling anything with one.

Quoting Windows Whore:

"More mindless bashing by know-nothing Mac idiots. Can we at least wait until the product comes out, you know, like that vapor hardware iphone?"

History agrees. MS' track records prove it.

Everything MS touches end with a fizz. That's why MS has to force feed people. They force fed for 97% market share.

I always say, don't blame the hardware, it's Windows that's the problem.

"For reference, our two vehicles now are both Daimler Chrysler. '04 Dodge RAM and an '03 BMW 3."

mAc-warrior loses a bit of credibility here, unless there's been an acquisition I missed....

HEAR HEAR! LOL

Ah, that reminds me: American cars have gotten consistently better

reliability ratings that European cars for a few years running now.

Don't get me wrong, I love European cars. I was planning to buy a

new Passat TDI until I found out that VW does not offer the new

model Passat in diesel, GRRR.

Noooooh!

There goes the Land Rover!!!
It will never work again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A whole new meaning to the words: “crash and burn.”

Guess I stay with Chrysler and GM!

At one time I had my hear set on an X-Series but then Ford embraced the anti-Gay folks and that put a stop to that!

And to think I was thinking about there new green SUV!

But I'm not going to buy anything that’s got MS crap in it - at least not knowingly!

spinning beach ball of car crash writes: “I would not want OSX driving my car either.”

Then buy more RAM you fool.

@Thorin: VW is apparently sitting out the 2007 model year on diesel offerings in the US because their engines do not yet meet the new US diesel emission standards. However Subaru will be announcing their new diesel boxer engine in Geneva come March (although it may take a year to reach the US; will be offered first in Europe). Subaru has some good alternative to full sized SUVs.

Ford + Microsoft = A perfect match. No two companies in the world symbolize mediocrity any better.

"Introducing the Homer."

For all you MAC bashers - get a sense of humor. No one believes Microsofts software will run the car.
It would be an added cost to the vehicle if it becomes standard. From my personal history of using Microsoft products I would not buy the vehicle. There is other software out there, besides MAC, that could do a nice job. It's amazing how Ford could pick the worst one.
My lease on my Ford comes due in one year. If the car I want has Microsoft in it I will lease a GM or Toyota. I have already e-mailed Ford my concerns.
Keep up the great work MDN - some of us still have a sense of humor

@Rainy Day,

Interesting, thanks. I had it built up in my head that VW already boasts the

cleanest diesel emmision ratings around. Wrong, I guess.

"Exactly. MDN and its commentators are a prime example of why people are hesitant to purchase a Mac. They don't want to join this community of Camry driving, Jesus sandal wearing, San Francisco liberal freaks."

most people don't read MDN for starters, and if that's your view of the demographic of Mac users you need to get out of your mom's basement more. Oh yeah and maybe get some help with your hate.

/must be a lot of liberal sandal wearing hippies out there

Windows Whore:

The iPhone can't be considered vaporware if Apple didn't announce it! You twit.

If the car I want has Microsoft in it I will lease a GM or Toyota.

Agreed. And just when everyone though Bill Ford's "Way Forward" plan couldn't drag the company any further into the swamp...

I thought a GM/Ford merger would be likely in 6-8 years. Maybe it's GM and Toyota who need to work closer now.

@Thorin: The news surprised me too when i read it. Guess they plan to be back in the game for model year 2008. VW is not alone in sitting on the bench for model year 2007, though.

Europe is a much larger market for diesel cars, and i thought they had stricter emission standards than the US, so i’m not sure i fully understand what’s going on. It may just be a certification issue, not a technology issue.

Although i’ve been driving diesel VW’s for the last quarter century, i’ll be probably be buying a diesel Subaru when it becomes available here (and after its been out for a year… in any market). I’m really impressed by the boxer engine design, and by Subaru’s safety features. I hope they design it to be biodiesel compatible. I hope by then they have better iPod integration.

“The iPhone can't be considered vaporware if Apple didn't announce it!”

It’s more like wet-dreamware, you fool!

Interesting, thanks. I had it built up in my head that VW already boasts the cleanest diesel emmision ratings around. Wrong, I guess.

The 2007 U.S. diesel emissions regulations are TOUGH and are giving all the manufacturers fits, from semi trucks to small equipment.

IMO if you're looking for a diesel, either try to find a remaining 2006, or hold out to see which new ones prove reliable. Some manufacturers are trying to work around the new regulations with bad-sounding, high-maintenance ideas like urea injection (which needs regular refilling) and particulate traps (which need regular cleaning). I'm waiting to see who can meet emissions without needing the extra maintenance.

As for the relevance to Ford? Their diesel trucks have to pass emissions too...

@smogger: M$ will never pass the emissions standards either!

kk: little history for you: BMW changed it's IDRIVE software from first release on microsoft CE to LINUX!!

since then it's running perfectly

I wonder if you will have to go to the START menu to shut down your car.

Yikes... haha

My apologies for the earlier comment. No idea where that comment about DC owning BMW came from. I was thinking of the Daimler-Benz and Chrysler merger a few years back. I guess I shouldn't post immediately after waking up... haha. Sorry guys. I suppose BMW is a lot more closely related to Ford than they are to DC.

--mAc

I’ve heard that Ford stands for Fix or Repair Daily. Wonder if they’ll be changing that to Fix or Reboot Daily?

How did Ford get their hooks into Jaguar, Volvo and Mazda?

Given Ford’s safety record, maybe they can cut a deal for bulk purchase of these babies and pass the savings along to their customer’s next of kin?

those of you who choose to see the comments on this site as representative of the entire Mac community are just as silly as the comments you are referring to.

MDN is a blog. It's not a "news" site. Deal with it.

Talk about a "Bold Move" for Ford... No wonder our household is buying Toyotas.

BTW, 80% of Camrys sold in the US are built in Georgetown, Kentucky, using American workers, 75% US/Canadian-made parts (more than a Ford Mustang, I do have to add), and 100% US/Canadian steel. The other 20% of US-market Camrys will be built in Lafayette, Indiana starting next year (currently, the other 20% is built in Aichi, Japan), also with 75% domestic parts. The Ford Fusion, OTOH, is built "south of the border" in Hermosillio, Mexico.

MDN MW: "went"; as in Ford production went to Mexico

The same people who buy Toyotas today with the claim that they are buying american, are the same people who bought toyotas yesterday when they were made overseas, or the parts came from overseas. That doesn't make Toyota an "American" company. Second, there are actually some people out there who have never had any problem with a Ford vehicle, I happen to be one of them. Just because your personal preference is Toyota, doesn't mean you need to stand at the highest mountain and shout it to the world. Some of us frankly just don't give a crap. Most of us drive what feels good to us, and what looks good to us. I have never once seen a Toyota I liked, and from real world experience, I see more Toyotas and Hondas on the side of the road, then any other manufacturers. So I don't buy the whole reliability argument. Ford is also the only car company I've heard of actually using Macs internally, if Apple had an embedded operating system, I'm sure Ford would have very possibly considered it over WinCE or whatever they are using from Microsoft.

Ford's trucks are vastly better than anything the Japanese can make, and their cars are better than you think (check this year's Consumer Reports to see that Ford's new Fusion outscores Camry and Accord ... and it's better looking).

And a little economics lesson for you import lovers - it doesn't matter how many commercials Toyota makes to convince us they are an American Company. All their profits get shipped to Tokyo, where they prop up the Japanese economy, which in turn props up the yen to keep the margins on US sales higher.

They're laughing their asses off at American consumers. Enjoy your Camry.

Why did Ford choose Microsoft for their Bluetooth software?

Why not go to a cell phone maker?

Oh well, the only people dumb enough to buy Ford are exactly the kind of people who buy Microsoft.

"The Detroit Free Press reports that a Windows Automotive software suite named Sync will be featured in some cars available Spring 2007, all 2008 Ford models, and Lincoln and Mercury models later. The software does not, apparently, run the engine or do anything directly connected with transportation. It will, rather, allow the user to 'use their vehicle as a computer in key ways, such as hands-free cell phone calls or downloading music or receiving e-mail.' Bill Ford and Bill Gates were reported as saying that having high-definition screens in vehicles, speech recognition, cameras, digital calendars and navigation equipment with directions and road conditions will set car companies apart from their competitors in the future. 'There are going to be those who have it and those who don't. And even those who get it later are going to be a generation behind,' Ford said."

Doesn't look like it is going to be as doom and gloom as import drivers want people to think. I still think an Apple embedded solution would have been better, or even a Linux embedded solution. But nevertheless, it is good to see Ford integrating these capabilities into their cars. Perhaps some innovative hacker will find a way to replace the OS with Linux if absolutely necessary...

I've got a mint Black 97' Mustang GT convertable with 120k that runs and looks perfect. We've had two toyotas with over 225k on them. Both needed more work than the Ford did per 100k miles, but were solid vehicles. Both companys make good products.

"Why not go to a cell phone maker?"

Dozens of cellphones run Microsoft's software.

Now all Apple needs to do is come out with a Bluetooth or WiFi enabled iPod that can wirelessly hook into the vehicle audio system.

Proud owner of a 2001 Ford Taurus - it just works (and looks OK, too).

Nothing too fancy.