Matthew Fordahl reviews Apple’s new iMac G5 for The Associated Press, writing of the included Front Row software, “Front Row doesn’t display live TV and, more significantly, it can’t output anything – videos or pictures – to an external display such as a big-screen plasma.”
MacDailyNews Take: That’s an inexcusable, glaring error that makes one wonder just how much time Fordahl spent with the iMac G5. In fact, one wouldn’t even need to spend a nanosecond with the new iMac; just visit Apple.com’s iMac webpage where it clearly states, “Treat your friends to a slideshow of your latest vacation photos right on TV. All iMacs offer a mini-VGA port so you can use the Composite/S-Video adapter to mirror your iMac display on television. You can also mirror your creative output to an external projector via the Apple VGA Display Adapter. Just click this link to the Apple Store and click “Mac Accessories” then “Cables” and you’ll find the Apple Video Adapter (US$19.00) and the Apple VGA Display Adapter (US$19.00) ready to buy. This is very sloppy work by Fordahl, especially considering that this AP article will probably be picked up by thousands of media outlets worldwide.
You’d think that Fordahl, if he’s too lazy to conduct a proper hands-on review of the machine, could at least spend 10-seconds to read Apple’s iMac webpages first to get the basic facts right, especially as he knows that what he writes will be syndicated verbatim worldwide. Anyone who reads this article as it stands will think all media is trapped in the iMac and that’s completely incorrect. (Somewhat as an aside, we have read thousands upon thousands of Apple-related articles and reviews, and where mistakes are made, they are almost never in Apple’s favor. Instead, such mistakes almost always shortchange the Apple product. Why is that? And are they really just mistakes? Call us conspiracy theorists if you must, but we can’t remember having to correct any article that incorrectly described an Apple product as having more than it offered. Such “mistakes” never seem to be made. Unfortunately, we have to correct plenty of stupid mistakes such as the one Fordahl’s made above.)
Fordahl continues, “Those missing features certainly make it less functional than a Windows Media Centre PC. But, at the same time, the new iMac bundle excels at what it can do. Sometimes, less is more. There’s still plenty that, as it evolves in future releases, could end up send the designers of Microsoft’s Media Centre back to the drawing boards. Once Front Row is launched by pressing the ‘Menu’ button on the remote, four options are available: Play a DVD, listen to music, watch a video or view photos. They appear on an invisible, virtual lazy susan that’s completely controllable by the remote.”
“The entire program is actually just a shell that makes it easier to control the Mac’s underlying programs from a distance with the remote. Each option opens up an underlying library from iTunes (music and video downloads), iPhoto (pictures) or iMovie (home movies),” Fordahl writes. “Throughout, the display is both simpler and pleasing to the eye than the Media Centre shell.”
“Unlike a Windows Media Centre PC, however, Front Row never dumped me in a position where I had to leave the couch and pick up the keyboard. The machine also doesn’t have the nasty habit of turning itself back on after it’s been put into standby mode – a problem I’m currently having on a Media Centre PC I’m testing in my bedroom,” Fordahl writes.
“But even if you don’t ever use Front Row or touch the remote, the iMac G5 is an excellent computer. Like previous generations, it’s an all-in-one with all the guts of the computer elegantly contained in a white display that’s mounted on a silver base,” Fordahl writes. “Of course, the all-in-one design and lack of a video output seriously limits the expandability – and means you’ll be stuck with a dorm- or studio apartment-friendly display even if Apple someday introduces TV capabilities in Front Row.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Again, Apple’s iMac G5 does not lack video output. Get it right before you write. And the all-in-one design doesn’t limit expandability for the consumer buyers who’d consider an iMac, either. That’s why iMac G5 offers the two FireWire ports and five USB ports. The whole “all-in-one design limits expandability” concept is a canard. A very small percentage of people ever open their computer cases; if you’re a customer who needs to add cards and internal drives, the Power Mac G5 is made for you. Overall, the review is positive for the iMac, as are pretty much all iMac G5 reviews we’ve read, but Fordahl’s effort is destroyed by his botching of basic, readily- and freely-available facts.
As soon as possible, The Associated Press should fix the blatant mistakes in this article and issue a correction regarding iMac G5’s capacity to output to any screen a user so desires. Matthew Fordahl can be reached via email here: mfordahl@ap.org and the AP can be reached via email here: info@ap.org
[MacDailyNews Note: iMac, iBook, and eMac owners should also be aware of Screen Spanning Doctor which will allow for many consumer Mac models to allow extended desktop screen spanning, in addition to their default mirroring capability. Pro Mac models such as Power Mac and PowerBook already support screen spanning out-of-the-box.]
[UPDATE: 9:01am EST: The AP article has been rewritten by Fordahl. The lines described above have been changed to read, “Front Row doesn’t display live TV, though it can be connected to a TV to mirror what’s on the computer… Of course, the all-in-one design seriously limits the expandability — and it means you’ll be stuck with its built-in display if you choose to hook it up to an external TV.”]
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Related articles:
Mossberg: ‘Apple iMac G5 the best consumer desktop you can buy this holiday season, period’ – November 30, 2005
Computerworld: Apple’s new iMac G5 ‘very quiet, minimalist, a wonderful machine’ – November 28, 2005
BusinessWeek: Apple iMac G5, the best gets better, best consumer desktop around – November 18, 2005
USA Today: Apple iMac G5 ‘exquisite, handsome, mighty attractive’ – November 17, 2005
Apple’s new iMac G5 a solid all-round performer that also has ‘wow factor’ – November 13, 2005
PC Magazine review gives Apple’s new iMac G5 with Front Row 4.5 out of 5 stars – November 04, 2005
Apple’s brilliant, deceptively simple Front Row software has a bright future and raises questions – October 28, 2005
NY Times’ Pogue: Apple’s iMac G5 with sleek, virus-free, spyware-free OS earns place in living room – October 20, 2005
Analyst: ‘media companies will call Apple to strike deals, Front Row is Media Center done right’ – October 12, 2005
Apple’s new iMac G5, iTunes 6, iPod video designed to bait Hollywood – October 13, 2005
Apple’s Front Row with Apple Remote and iMac G5: media center done right – October 12, 2005
Apple introduces new thinner iMac G5 with built-in iSight video camera, ‘Front Row’ media experience – October 12, 2005
Switching from Windows to Mac? Save money by asking to ‘crossgrade’ your software – April 12, 2005
Time to publically flog him
Release the hounds….
“I PITY THE FOOL…” who doesn’t pay attention to details and MDN seems to check everything.
I found two other fools already this week.
http://www.mac360.com/index.php/mac360/comments/media_fool_of_the_day_award_goes_to_tv_reporter/
The world of online site such as MDN and others has changed forever the pompous, glorified, self important world of traditional media. They can’t and don’t get away with weak and biased reporting– too many people are watching, and many of us have a way to share what we know, and expose such inaccuracies.
Go MDN. ‘Who’s watching the media watchdogs?’ The new media, of course.
Tera Patricks
Mac360
Someone could contact the AP editors and advise them to KILL the article until the blatent inaccuracy is sorted out.
AP has moved an update. The modified sentence now says –
“Front Row doesn’t display live TV, though it can be connected to a TV to mirror what’s on the computer.”
that it doesn’t have the best KIND of output to connect to CERTAIN displays like a big plasma screen. That is true. No DVI, no component, no full-resolution support, no spanning, no widescreen output etc.
Those ARE limiting, especially for watching widescreen movies. (Get a PowerBook if you want to do that right on a big high-res screen.)
But the way they have said it is NOT true, and if they DID mean the above, readers won’t know that. They NEED to correct this.
I’m just saying it may be bad wording instead of bad information.
But if it IS stupidity, which is equally likely, then it’s MASSIVE stupidity. Just LOOK at the back of the machine and you’ll SEE the video out port. No need to “research” a thing!
Plus ALL Macs have had this ability–even the eMac–for ages now.
AP did the responsible thing!
Now… did we? Were we all mature adults sending a helpful, non-childish correction?
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News Junkie writes: “Someone could contact the AP editors and advise them to KILL the article until the blatent inaccuracy is sorted out.”
Lily Tomlin seyz: “I always wondered why somebody doesn’t do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody.”
I’m sure everyone did it the polite and courteous English way: “I say old chap, I’m fairly sure I’ve seen a little socket thingy on the back of the iMac that looks jolly like a video out port. Are you quite sure you mightn’t have overlooked this? Might be a good idea, if you agree with me, to amend that little piece you did, chop chop”.
In reality…he’s hiding in a darkened room with the hounds baying all around.
Well an interesting slant by MDN on the fact that inacuracies always seem to be in the Apple product’s debit, as opposed to credit column. I too have always felt that to be the case, but proof, well thats another matter.
Glad that your own circumstances have gone some way to support my theory however and ease my paronoia. Puts into true perspective the rubbish spouted by Thurrott a while back about the press always exaggerating the qualities of Apple products, I remember at the time he almost convinced me black was white too, or was that the nano launch, like these journos I get confused. However i do remember his assertion was scientifically based, apparently fuelled by his excellent grasp of astrology, on the simple and well known fact that these hacks all use them. And this man too actually makes a living, what is the World coming to. One might as well say any journo who uses a Dell automatically becomes a clown, aaaah now I come to think of it…
Macaday are you English? Or have you been watching too many Hi de Hi shows.
Yes I asked for corrctions to be made and sent that to the email address provided by MDN above.
I also sent an email to Mr. Fordahl, even at times questioning his journalistc skills, to re-write the article, pointed him to where he find the correct details and used a piece from MDN above with confirmation of MDN as source.
MW: ‘lost’ as in all the upsurge in popularity of Apple and the Macintosh is anyone getting lost in all of this?
Spiffing what, I say Macaday
Jolly good show!
Macaday – It’s really scary that you think we brits might actually sound like you suggest!
eye wont too bee a jurnolest to
Sometimes, less is more. Less Fordahls, higher average IQ for the population.
The machine also doesn’t have the nasty habit of turning itself back on after it’s been put into standby mode – a problem I’m currently having on a Media Centre PC I’m testing in my bedroom
Uh huh. Is that a remote in your pants or are you happy to see me?
News Junkie, the article on the currently linked page has NOT been updated. That will probably be true of any other that uses the original release.
Macaday:
Have you been overdosing on the Nöel Coward again?
There are certain bits of London where you’d be more likely to be regaled with something like…
“Oi, you, you, f****in’ f****ed-up f **k, what you f***kin’ lookin’ at – call that a f***in’ review of the iMac, you nonce…”, and so it would continue.
Guy Ritchie has a lot to answer for…
This is just typical work by a AP reporter. All the AP ever does is report their agenda as “news”, it’s not like they ever do any actual research in any of their reporting. This is just another example among the many.
Complete rewrite which now reflects video correctly
http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2005/12/02/review_latest_imac_offers_remote_control/
A new writethru from AP has corrected the story as of about 1 a.m. Dec. 2. The new paragraph reads:
“Front Row doesn’t display live TV, though it can be connected to a TV to mirror what’s on the computer.”
MCCFR:
Spot on! I caught the start of Desert Island Disks with David Frost; his first choice was Mad Dogs and Englishmen by Noël Coward…
Shame we can’t buy it – its from Sony.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/desertislanddiscs.shtml
I hope Matt has flame retardant underwear on. However, it is pretty sad for a “reviewer” and “professional writer” to overlook the very obvious video out port on the back. Here’s a thought >
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Please submit a proof of any upcoming reviews, conjectures or editorials concerning any Apple product past, present, or future to the most current discussion thread at macdailynews.com for discussion, dissemination, correction and approval. Failure to do so is at your own risk and also the risk of losing access to your soon-to-be overloaded e-mail account. Your professional and personal reputation, employment status, and mental health standing may be in serious jeopardy if you ignore this warning.
Remember, help us help you.
Denounce Fordahl here
http://www.post-gazette.com/contact/comments_form.asp?ID=42
He probably learned his craft in “Journalism School” where they are taught to do everything by a textbook formula, which may have never been proved out on the street.
This is so true in many professions.
Want to be really good at what you do? If you want to be a journalist or a whatever, work as an intern for a year or so in your chosen profession, THEN go to Journalism School , or whatever School where you can bring some actual street knowledge to your classroom education.
If you do it the wrong way, your classroom knowledge with no street application will cause you to get your butt whipped by an real pro with street experience.
I believe in college education, I have two degrees, but I knew nothing until I tried to apply it to the real world.
I am just speculating, but maybe that is this guys background. The rest of the article does not make him sound like a blazing idiot.