So the Anandtech staff prefers Apple?

[bgstcola]

I remember I once read that Anand used a MacBook as his main working machine.

Are the staff Apple all the way or do some of them prefer Android or windows?

 

[badb0y]

What an idiotic thing to say....As long as Anand and his team stay objective does it matter what they use as their personal device?

 

[Lyfer]

No he uses Campbell soup cans with a long ass string.

 

[bgstcola]

It does matter to me because subjective opinions are interesting when they come from competent people.

 

[BenSkywalker]

What an idiotic thing to say....As long as Anand and his team stay objective does it matter what they use as their personal device?

Absolutely and profoundly so. It really isn't a matter of bias, it is a matter of sometimes painfully bad reviews that have glaring omissions or do things that just don't make any sense whatsoever. Going back to Eclair AT has reviewed pretty much every Android device with the stock browser *only*. Who was using that garbage? This is something any knowledgeable Android user would identify instantly as a no brainer to swap- but because they are all devout iOS users, it never dawned on them.

They would frequently spend pages lamenting the particular launcher a device came with, but never bothered to swap to one of the ones people actually used and comment on how it held up on the devices. Again, *any* Android user that is going to read AT would instantly replace a bad launcher, but AT doesn't bother.

I don't consider those factors of bias, simply ignorance that the iOS loyalists don't think about or don't think should be factors. It would be akin to Anand reviewing the new iPhone 4S and spending pages going off about how terrible the earbuds are. Obviously, we all know that, everyone throws them away and gets decent ones. For the iPhone 5 I can understand why that would be different, but given that changing out your earbuds is actually a far more labor/cash intensive task then replacing the launcher is it really worth wasting pages on?

These are very isolated issues, and I could probably give a few pages worth of examples. What it comes down to is that people that rely on a particular platform day in and day out in the tech field are going to have a certain level of understanding about the strengths and weaknesses of the platform and what the users of said platform are going to care about moreso then those who are giving a 100% honest and 'fair' assessment but don't use the devices on a daily basis.

I would rather have an expert with a slanted perspective reviewing the products then someone who doesn't understand the platform giving a perfectly even handed review.

 

[Aikouka]

Absolutely and profoundly so. It really isn't a matter of bias, it is a matter of sometimes painfully bad reviews that have glaring omissions or do things that just don't make any sense whatsoever. Going back to Eclair AT has reviewed pretty much every Android device with the stock browser *only*. Who was using that garbage? This is something any knowledgeable Android user would identify instantly as a no brainer to swap- but because they are all devout iOS users, it never dawned on them.

They would frequently spend pages lamenting the particular launcher a device came with, but never bothered to swap to one of the ones people actually used and comment on how it held up on the devices. Again, *any* Android user that is going to read AT would instantly replace a bad launcher, but AT doesn't bother.

Sounds like a fantastic way to interject someone's opinion of what the proper app substitution for Android is, and if you wanted full coverage of a whole slew of apps, then you would be ballooning the size of all Android version reviews/previews up.

Devices are reviewed in stock form because that's what you buy. If Anandtech says "oh hey, this aspect of it isn't that good", just look at it this way... they're telling you what you should probably consider replacing.

 

[you2]

I'm mixed here; dpreview used to do the same thing when evaluating jpeg output from the camera (they would use the default settings; instead of optimial settings; and some camera manufactors had horrible default settings). At least in this case you are not replacing the firmware on the camera; just toggling settings.
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With the phone you bring up that a knowledgable user would change this or that. The problem is once you start changing software on the phone where do you draw a line ? Should they flash the kernel; should they swap the sd card; should they install CM ?
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So while I think changing the browser is not that unreasonable once you start changing the software (much less the software settings) it can quickly become a slipperly slope.
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Besides what if the replacement browser they pick is not as good as the original

 

[Skurge]

Sounds like a fantastic way to interject someone's opinion of what the proper app substitution for Android is, and if you wanted full coverage of a whole slew of apps, then you would be ballooning the size of all Android version reviews/previews up.

Devices are reviewed in stock form because that's what you buy. If Anandtech says "oh hey, this aspect of it isn't that good", just look at it this way... they're telling you what you should probably consider replacing.

I don't think he's saying anand shouldn't review the stock browser for example, but reviewing ONLY the stock browser and then saying your browsing experience on an android device isn't that great is the issue. Almost everyone I know with an android phone uses chrome now. Benching the stock browser and chrome for example wouldn't be too much to ask.

As for luanchers, that could be a seperate article.

 

[Skurge]

I'm mixed here; dpreview used to do the same thing when evaluating jpeg output from the camera (they would use the default settings; instead of optimial settings; and some camera manufactors had horrible default settings). At least in this case you are not replacing the firmware on the camera; just toggling settings.
-
With the phone you bring up that a knowledgable user would change this or that. The problem is once you start changing software on the phone where do you draw a line ? Should they flash the kernel; should they swap the sd card; should they install CM ?
-
So while I think changing the browser is not that unreasonable once you start changing the software (much less the software settings) it can quickly become a slipperly slope.
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Besides what if the replacement browser they pick is not as good as the original

The brower and the launcher can all be changed on the stock rom.

 

[Fx1]

After all the extensive coverage and work that Anand does for Apple. He didnt even get a review device.

Time to switch sides Anand.

 

[bgstcola]

I think you guys misunderstood my intentions. I'm not accusing anyone of anything. I'm just curious because I respect Anand an the team, so their subjective opinions are interesting to me.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

After all the extensive coverage and work that Anand does for Apple. He didnt even get a review device.

Time to switch sides Anand.

Because people follow sites like Gizmodo and Engadget and TheVerge because they're "cool" and on the forefront of gadget releases. Anand looks at it differently. I don't mind if his review comes weeks later.

Anyway, I hope Anand at least reviews the Nexus phones with as in depth as he does with Apple phones. I would also ask that he looks at Android SoCs too with some in depth assessment. Certainly the Exynos deserves a good look as it's the most popular SoC right now given its use in the SGS1, 2, 3, and Note.

 

[Fx1]

Because people follow sites like Gizmodo and Engadget and TheVerge because they're "cool" and on the forefront of gadget releases. Anand looks at it differently. I don't mind if his review comes weeks later.

Anyway, I hope Anand at least reviews the Nexus phones with as in depth as he does with Apple phones. I would also ask that he looks at Android SoCs too with some in depth assessment. Certainly the Exynos deserves a good look as it's the most popular SoC right now given its use in the SGS1, 2, 3, and Note.

My point is that Anandtech as a website bums Apple. Even as a former Apple fan i could see it. Now i moved to android i see it more.

Apple doesnt deserve the universal praise it gets. Especially from a High Tech blog like AT.

iOS is a dumbed down kids OS that wont even let you do the most basic of changes, like change a setting from the home screen. BT,WIFI,3G Toggle anyone?

Apple are the ANTI - TECH. They are taking away control and choice and the whole world praises them for it. If they were a government the US would have bombed them by now.

 

[shortylickens]

What an idiotic thing to say....As long as Anand and his team stay objective does it matter what they use as their personal device?

I dont think you realize the logical fallacy you just committed.

 

[runawayprisoner]

I remember I once read that Anand used a MacBook as his main working machine.

Are the staff Apple all the way or do some of them prefer Android or windows?

I believe Anand uses a MacBook Pro (probably the Retina version) as his main laptop now...

But he probably doesn't use an iPhone as his main phone, or at least not his only phone.

Phone choice is obvious.

Laptop choice probably has to do with the fact that he can run all of the current mainstream OSes at once on the machine... and not to mention the hardware is nice... like in the case of the Retina MacBook Pro, you get a quad-core CPU, good RAM, SSD, super high resolution screen in a body that's MacBook Air/Ultrabook thin. Plus you can throw good battery life in the mix.

 

[Fingolfin269]

First, calling out a reviewer for using the stock software that comes on a phone as not doing the review right is ridiculous. Seriously? Do you really think most people who walk into a cell phone shop are rooting/changing roms?

Second, if the reviewers at AT started using PC laptops would that present some kind of bias towards Microsoft?

Third, every person in this world has bias whether they know it or not. I have no idea what the AT staff bias is but I do find their reviews to be the most objective out there.

 

[MrX8503]

What if he uses all windows and Android phones? Can I call him bias and a fanboy?

Wake up OP, Anand does some of the best reviews on tech. No one's gonna miss you if you leave. Try Engadget or theverge.

 

[Skurge]

In the newest Podcast I heard him say he was using a motorola Razr. Brian carries 4 phones with him at all times and seems to prefer android. Specificaly the S3. For now anyway.

 

[Skurge]

First, calling out a reviewer for using the stock software that comes on a phone as not doing the review right is ridiculous. Seriously? Do you really think most people who walk into a cell phone shop are rooting/changing roms?

Second, if the reviewers at AT started using PC laptops would that present some kind of bias towards Microsoft?

Third, every person in this world has bias whether they know it or not. I have no idea what the AT staff bias is but I do find their reviews to be the most objective out there.

Once again, the browser is not the same as rooting and flashind a difference rom.

 

[ControlD]

What if he uses all windows and Android phones? Can I call him bias and a fanboy?

Wake up OP, Anand does some of the best reviews on tech. No one's gonna miss you if you leave. Try Engadget or theverge.

Wow, assume much? Where did the OP accuse any of the staff at being biased? Seems like a simple question that could have been civilly answered rather than providing fuel for the usual team players to start piling on again.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Once again, the browser is not the same as rooting and flashind a difference rom.

You're right, I missed that part. But should a reviewer really go looking for ways to optimize performance out of the box before reviewing?

 

[Chapbass]

First, calling out a reviewer for using the stock software that comes on a phone as not doing the review right is ridiculous. Seriously? Do you really think most people who walk into a cell phone shop are rooting/changing roms?

Second, if the reviewers at AT started using PC laptops would that present some kind of bias towards Microsoft?

Third, every person in this world has bias whether they know it or not. I have no idea what the AT staff bias is but I do find their reviews to be the most objective out there.

I'm staying out of the argument, but the only thing I'll say is that its difficult to make that statement on this site, because Anandtech is writing FOR technical people, not the every day person, as already established within this thread. So with that said, I don't think its too much of a stretch to test other pieces of software.

Like I said, not taking sides, just making an observation.

 

[darkewaffle]

AT is easily the most objective, centrist source around. Not to mention staff knowledge pretty much dwarfs other sites; no other explores nearly so deeply or has such innate understanding of how the devices work (Anand at least, the other guys seem solid too just seemingly in more specialized areas).

They test the out of the box experience. If that favors Apple, so be it. Apple understands that in the end what most people want is a something that works well and doesn't take a lot of work. It's the most fair way to do it because it's not just a hardware review or a software review, it's ultimately a product review.

 

[Chapbass]

I'll make one more observation and note that the main anandtech.com webpage has a background for OWC macsales.com upgrades

I don't think AT is biased (at least much, if at all), but the timing with this thread is just comical.

 

[bgstcola]

Wow, assume much? Where did the OP accuse any of the staff at being biased? Seems like a simple question that could have been civilly answered rather than providing fuel for the usual team players to start piling on again.

Thanks, exactly. I do find the reviews to be very objective. So I'm not complaining in anyway. I'm just curious about their subjective opinions as well.