TechCrunch: The Death Of The Spec

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by kjk

Sure, but what does twice the RAM give you? The Blackberry Playbook has 1GB of RAM and a 1Ghz dual core processor, something they proudly advertise as "TONS OF PERFORMANCE".
The iPad 2 has (apparently) 512M, and also a 1Ghz processor.

How does "twice the RAM!" help in that comparison? Does it give you any idea that things are better?

It does tell me that Apple is trying to shortchange me, that I would have a better user experience on an iPad2 with 1 GB of RAM than on the actual iPad2 with 512GB. And it makes me think that I shouldn't support those that give me cheaper components even though they charge very high prices and try to tell me it is for my own good. Instead of giving me a choice of buying an iPad2 with microSD slot and more RAM or a cheaper version as they have it now.

[Andrew H.]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

It does tell me that Apple is trying to shortchange me, that I would have a better user experience on an iPad2 with 1 GB of RAM than on the actual iPad2 with 512GB. And it makes me think that I shouldn't support those that give me cheaper components even though they charge very high prices and try to tell me it is for my own good. Instead of giving me a choice of buying an iPad2 with microSD slot and more RAM or a cheaper version as they have it now.

How do you know you would have a better experience with 1 GB of RAM? In fact, you have no idea whether this would affect performance at all. Is 1GB of ram with single channel memory running at 667 Mhz really that much better than 512 MB of dual channel memory running at 1066 Mhz on iOS?

And do you also complain that Android gives you cheaper components because you get a single core GeForce ULP GPU rather than the vastly superior dual core PowerVR SGX 543?

If nothing else, I think this gripping post demonstrates why marketing people shy away from focusing on specs.

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by Andrew H.

How do you know you would have a better experience with 1 GB of RAM? In fact, you have no idea whether this would affect performance at all. Is 1GB of ram with single channel memory running at 667 Mhz really that much better than 512 MB of dual channel memory running at 1066 Mhz on iOS?

And do you also complain that Android gives you cheaper components because you get a single core GeForce ULP GPU rather than the vastly superior dual core PowerVR SGX 543?

If nothing else, I think this gripping post demonstrates why marketing people shy away from focusing on specs.

We are comparing Apple with Apple, I wasn't talking about Android. Look me in the eye and tell me that the iPad wouldn't be a better device with 1 GB RAM and an expansion slot?

If anything you made an argument for even more detailed specs.

[vaughnmr]

Originally Posted by Sil_liS

The ipad1 came out with specs on the level of laptops 5-6 years before. They weren't going to advertise that.

Boy, I'm glad I didn't buy one of THOSE laptops! Seriously, if you think that an ARM proccesser based phone/tablet can outperform a 5-6 year old laptop, you are mistaken.

As for the arguement about ram (not flash memory storage), the more the better the OS can work. 256K was a bare minimum, and only worked well with cripled multasking, 512K works a lot better, and 1G is probably the new min for the new OS that are out now. Your OS, along with any various cache memory, and programs are installed in the base memory, and performance will depend on available ram memory. CPU speed (and number of cores) will make a big difference, of course, but the available ram is probably the biggest limit to smooth OS operation at this time. You will probably have a subpar experience running the newest iOS or Android on an older phone/tablet based on the available ram vs cpu speed alone.

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by vaughnmr

256K was a bare minimum, and only worked well with cripled multasking, 512K works a lot better, and 1G is probably the new min for the new OS that are out now.

256K minimum? 20 years ago, maybe.

[vaughnmr]

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

256K minimum? 20 years ago, maybe.

I was trying to talk about phone/tablet OS architecture. Good point tho, thanks for the clarification.

[greencat]

For some people specs don't matter, for some they do. The specs that may concern some people don't bother others.

A friend of mine is really fond of the colour purple. It made buying a phone really easy for her because there were only two purple coloured phones available at the time. She simply asked the store which was the best of the two and bought that one. For her the only spec was the colour.

I used to worry a lot about specs - how many MHz, Gb, upgradeability etc. Now I find it is the useability and ability to do what I want with a device that concerns me more. The specs sometimes give an indication of that but it's increasingly the case that they don't. I still recall my 'upgrade' to a Psion Series 5 from a 3a. On paper everything about the Series 5 should have been better. But the screen was almost unreadable under my home lighting - and the store would not take it back. The store's decision, despite me being a good customer, meant any future purchases no longer included them in the spec.

For most devices I am looking for specs which are not readily available eg how long is this device likely to last, is it well supported by the manufacturer, can it survive regular travel. The latest Acer might have twice the specs and half the cost of my Macbook Air but after being stung by two Acers failing just outside of warranty as well as various unresolved problems within warranty- I would them never touch again. Your mileage may, of course, vary.

[Pinecone]

Originally Posted by Andrew H.

No they don't. Not at all. Most people buying cars won't buy the Kia over the Toyota even if the Kia has 170 HP and the Toyota only 160. When buying cars, the vast majority of people are much more interested in the quality of the ride, the car's reputation for reliability, etc. And not specs like acceleration, horsepower, torque. And raw horsepower isn't a very useful spec for most people.

You hang out with the WRONG group of people.

[Pinecone]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

As for cars, the likes of Car and Driver routinely fill their letter columns with protests from readers upset that since car A was a fraction of a second or a half pound lighter or a few hundred dollars cheaper, only an idiot would choose car B over it.
Much fun is made of them.
Properly.

Which is a why most comparison tests include comments by the testers about their impressions.

[Pinecone]

Originally Posted by Jessica Lares

Like I've said before on some other places... Why buy a car that goes 400 MPH when the speed limit in your state is 20-75?

Because some people take their cars to the track for track days events where there is no speed limit.

[Pinecone]

Originally Posted by ScalyFreak

From a certain point of view, if a person doesn't care about the specs, they may as well buy whatever is the most popular and the most shiny, and turn off their ability to think independently. Join the pack, follow the herd, buy what others tell you to do. You get the idea.

You mean like the vast majority of the buying public? (no smile)

[Pinecone]

Originally Posted by kjk

You happen to know that the iPad 1 had 256M, and the iPad 2 has 512M. But Apple has never marketed those specs as an added feature. They've never mentioned RAM at all in their iOS devices.

Because the typical Apple buyer has NO idea what it means and why it would make a difference.

Recently on an auto board, there was the following link about buyers no longer test driving cars. They just buy what appeals to them. More Apple buyers.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/13/au...gewanted=1&hpw

[Prestidigitweeze]

Originally Posted by greencat

A friend of mine is really fond of the colour purple. It made buying a phone really easy for her because there were only two purple coloured phones available at the time. She simply asked the store which was the best of the two and bought that one. For her the only spec was the colour.

And you, both an emerald-hued feline and a member of MobileRead, neglected to mention that a spiffy purple case and/or skin could provide all the color she needed? I for one am shocked and startled, which is why I'm now folding myself into the shape of a tiny oval.

[stonetools]

What's dead is the techie idea that specs are ALL that matters, and that ease of use and ecosystem either doesn't matter , or is peripheral. That way of comparing devices is now deader than fried chicken, and good riddance. What matters is total user experience, which includes ease of use, ecosystem, and specs , which are weighted based on the user. For the techie user, specs reign supreme, whereas for the newbie, ease of use is primary.
Apple has led this way of thinking about device comparison, but all companies and most pundits have pretty much signed on to this way of thinking, because this is how most consumers think.
The tablet wars sealed the doom of the " specs only" approach. The Android and web OS tablets were superior even to the iPad2 in lots of ways specs wise, but were rejected by the consumers but were rejected by the consumers because in terms of total user experience, the iPad2 was so superior.

[Andrew H.]

Originally Posted by Pinecone

Because the typical Apple buyer has NO idea what it means and why it would make a difference.

While the typical Xoom or Playbook buyer obviously made a much better choice?