Here's the thing I hate the most about iGadgets...

[rudeguy]

you guys get all the nice accessories. Fragmentation hasn't been an issue software wise with Android but there are just too many makes and models for accessory makers to deal with.

I would love a custom car or home dock for my phone. I would love to have a plethora of choices for cases. Heck I think I would actually prefer a car adapter instead of bluetooth so that my phone could automatically charge while its connected.


But no...I am stuck using whatever I can find after hours of internet searching. Without doubt I end up having to settle.

 

[Pliablemoose]

That's the advantage of purchasing a device that's wildly popular, why in the world should anyone gear up for a device that may not even be on the market for a year?

 

[CurseTheSky]

I realized the same thing when I bought my HP Envy 14 as opposed to a MBP 13. The Envy 14 has several accessories available from HP, but very little third-party support. The MBP 13 has tons of protectors, shields, skins, cases, etc. all made to fit it perfectly from dozens of different vendors.

It makes sense though, both in the notebook world and in the mobile phone / media player world - there are probably 100 or more MBP 13s sold for every 1 Envy 14. Similarly, there are probably 100 or more iPhone 4's sold for every Droid X (numbers completely made-up). The same goes for iPods vs. Sandisk Sansa players, or any others.

iGadges have very heavy competition from PCs, Android phones, and other MP3 players, but the others come in so many different shapes and sizes that they have a smaller target audience. Smaller audience = smaller total number of people interested in buying accessories = less incentive for companies to make accessories for it.

The other huge downside to that fact is the quality of the accessories. When competition is tight, the best of the best are hailed and the products that don't cut it are quickly spread around the Internet and community surrounding a product. However, when there are only one or two companies making screen protectors for your phone, for example, you're stuck with whatever they want to give you, or nothing at all.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Kinda of f topic but do you use your envy for gaming?

 

[DivideBYZero]

Heh, this is all music to my Wifes ears...

 

[rudeguy]

That's the advantage of purchasing a device that's wildly popular, why in the world should anyone gear up for a device that may not even be on the market for a year?

Just another reason I think Apple's proprietary connection is completely stupid. Why not make it some type of USB so all the other gadgets could share it? But no.....Apple wants to make money and ensure that those products work with their iGadgets....




To be serious for a second, you would think that with the popularity of the Samsung Galaxy's there would be a pretty wide selection of docks at least. Cases I can understand but the docks are all the same connection.

 

[Cobalt]

Just another reason I think Apple's proprietary connection is completely stupid. Why not make it some type of USB so all the other gadgets could share it? But no.....Apple wants to make money and ensure that those products work with their iGadgets....




To be serious for a second, you would think that with the popularity of the Samsung Galaxy's there would be a pretty wide selection of docks at least. Cases I can understand but the docks are all the same connection.

It doesn't help that the Galaxy phones connector is on the top of the phone and hidden through a sliding door. Awkward placement if you ask me. Micro usb is supposed to be much more robust than mini as well which I don't know why they thought the sliding door was necessary

 

[rudeguy]

It doesn't help that the Galaxy phones connector is on the top of the phone and hidden through a sliding door. Awkward placement if you ask me. Micro usb is supposed to be much more robust than mini as well which I don't know why they thought the sliding door was necessary

People complain about exposed connections. Don't ask me why...it makes them feel more secure when its covered up.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Heh, this is all music to my Wifes ears...

Come on DBZ, you're almost out of the closet

LOL, saw the locked thread, you're out of the closet.

DBZ's wife now works for Apple. Expect DBZ to convert to an Apple fanboy within the year

 

[rudeguy]

Come on DBZ, you're almost out of the closet

LOL, saw the locked thread, you're out of the closet.

DBZ's wife now works for Apple. Expect DBZ to convert to an Apple fanboy within the year

If Apple gave me a free MBP, IP4, IPT, iPad....I would convert right now.


.....I'm waiting


......still here.....

 

[s44]

The price-insensitive trendy rube market is a lucrative one for accessory manufacturers, too.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Just another reason I think Apple's proprietary connection is completely stupid. Why not make it some type of USB so all the other gadgets could share it? But no.....Apple wants to make money and ensure that those products work with their iGadgets....

With the 30-pin connector, you can do so many things though that you couldn't with just plain USB. You can output video. Connect to other devices to compliment your iDevice (GPS receiver, MIDI controller).

 

[senseamp]

Bluetooth + 12V to usb charger sounds like your best bet.

I make it a point to avoid devices that support Apple accessory protocol (or Nike+ shoes), because I really don't feel like paying Apple a chunk of my purchase price for a feature I won't use.

 

[CurseTheSky]

Kinda of f topic but do you use your envy for gaming?

Yep. It's pretty good for mid-range gaming. SC2 is doable on medium settings (1600x900), and slightly older FPS's like HL2 are no problem at all. Don't expect it to run Crysis or Metro 2033 on full detail, of course.

See my sig for a (long) user review). Unfortunately I haven't done thorough game testing, but at least it'll give you an impression of what it's capable of.