iPhone as luxurious remote?

[Charming]

Hi. i am wondering: can I use the iPhone as a remote controler? for instance; when i'm sitting on my cauche browsing on my iPhone, surching the web for my favorite sites, can i switch to control my radio/tv or even pc? to change the mp3, radiostation, tv channel or movie i'm watching from my harddisk?
and if so, how does it work. Does it need special written software? or is the onboard bluetooth software and hardware enough?

 

[Charming]

please. tell me at least if it is possible to use it as a remote for a mac computer. I have a pc, but this could be a real turner for me. i need a new computer soon. its either vista on a pc, or the best of both worlds on a mac.

 

[Seattle18]

please. tell me at least if it is possible to use it as a remote for a mac computer. I have a pc, but this could be a real turner for me. i need a new computer soon. its either vista on a pc, or the best of both worlds on a mac.

It's almost silly nowadays to even think of buying a PC. With Parallels and Boot Camp, it's like you said - the best of both worlds. Get the Mac, you'll thank me later.

 

[Charming]

Maybe. There is a price to pay. A mac is far more expensive than a pc. and there is little software included ( But correct me if i'm wrong please).

 

[Seattle18]

Maybe. There is a price to pay. A mac is far more expensive than a pc. and there is little software included ( But correct me if i'm wrong please).

To put it as nicely as possible, you are wrong. In the past that has been very true, but over the most recent years Macs hav come down significantly in price while maintainng the high standards they always have. The only caveat to that is when you start including the low-end PCs in the mix. It is not a fair comparison to place a Mac up against an HP with a Celeron processor at Circuit City for $499, with a flat screen monitor and printer! But there is the Mac Mini at about that cost, without the monitor. Regardless, the prices nowadays are VERY competitive, and since you can now run Windos on a Mac machine, there is, as I said before, no reason to buy a PC anymore. I use Parallels to run XP for my BLackBerry Desktop Manager software, and it takes me about 35 seconds to have XP boot up and be ready to run. Then after I'm done I close it and come back to paradise in Mac OS X. And there is TONS of software included! I don't know where you got that idea from. The only thing you lack is Microsoft Office, but that can be bought for about $150 (Check it out here)

I encourage you to visit your local Apple store and ask a lot of questions and take a good long look at the Macs. You will be very impressed, and very satisfied if you decide to buy one.

 

[Kabeyun]

please. tell me at least if it is possible to use it as a remote for a mac computer. I have a pc, but this could be a real turner for me. i need a new computer soon. its either vista on a pc, or the best of both worlds on a mac.

Nobody knows the answer to your question. Except perhaps Steve Jobs, and he ain't tellin'. Get the Mac (see below). It comes with a remote anyway.

Maybe. There is a price to pay. A mac is far more expensive than a pc. and there is little software included ( But correct me if i'm wrong please).

I'm afraid Seattle18 is correct. If you actually compare Apples to Apples (no pun inten... OK, pun a little intended), prices are equivalent and have been for some time. The price argument is a hackneyed one that has entered pop culture (kind of like suggesting DVD players are too costly to be worth it). Find a computer with the computing power, built-in WiFi, built-in Bluetooth, backlit keyboard, web camera, suite of digital media applications, etc, etc, etc, and you get the price of a MacBook, probably more. Now consider the value of running any OS you want (not just Windows...and yes, Vista is supported (but why on Earth would one want to run it?)) alongside the MacOS and there's really no choice. If you consider ease of use, you'll find nothing else in the first place. Plus, Macs, especially the laptops, are just pretty.

 

[Limatoones]

Also remember that Mac's really do hold their value a LOT better than PCs do. Heck, even go on ebay and type in "dell" then try "powerbook" or "iMac."
Do some price comparisons, you'll be surprised.
They don't really get viruses.
The $1,700 I spent on my MacBookPro was WELL worth it and there are a lot cheaper macs out there.

 

[Charming]

Nobody knows the answer to your question. Except perhaps Steve Jobs, and he ain't tellin'. Get the Mac (see below). It comes with a remote anyway.


I'm afraid Seattle18 is correct. If you actually compare Apples to Apples (no pun inten... OK, pun a little intended), prices are equivalent and have been for some time. The price argument is a hackneyed one that has entered pop culture (kind of like suggesting DVD players are too costly to be worth it). Find a computer with the computing power, built-in WiFi, built-in Bluetooth, backlit keyboard, web camera, suite of digital media applications, etc, etc, etc, and you get the price of a MacBook, probably more. Now consider the value of running any OS you want (not just Windows...and yes, Vista is supported (but why on Earth would one want to run it?)) alongside the MacOS and there's really no choice. If you consider ease of use, you'll find nothing else in the first place. Plus, Macs, especially the laptops, are just pretty.

The reason i want to run windows is that, i want to be able to play all the games that are availlable for the pc. When i go to a lan party i wanna have the opportunity to participate and not be the only one who is obscured from playing because the games that are played are mostly pc based. that brings me to the following guestion.( ... and sinds it's my topic i guess i can be as off topic as i want . )

Is it possible to join in a pc (windows) based game online, whilest using a mac version off the same game myself?

 

[Charming]

Also remember that Mac's really do hold their value a LOT better than PCs do. Heck, even go on ebay and type in "dell" then try "powerbook" or "iMac."
Do some price comparisons, you'll be surprised.
They don't really get viruses.
The $1,700 I spent on my MacBookPro was WELL worth it and there are a lot cheaper macs out there.

OK. But what if i want to upgrade my mac. Is it possible, and as simple as a pc?
And i wouldend by a seccond hand computer. Mac nor pc. Both can brake down, and you don't know what they have done with the thing.

 

[Kabeyun]

OK. But what if i want to upgrade my mac. Is it possible, and as simple as a pc?

How does "connect the computers and click the 'migrate my stuff to the other computer' button" grab you for simple?

And i wouldend by a seccond hand computer. Mac nor pc. Both can brake down, and you don't know what they have done with the thing.

Try these leads for refurb Macs. Warranties are often available, and they're pretty reputable.
http://www.smalldog.com/
http://dealmac.com/
If you're intolerant of the risk inherent in buying a used computer, you should probably not shop for one. These guys are pretty good, though.

-K

 

[Limatoones]

Oh, and Charming, I forgot to mention..hehehe.. All of the iMacs and MacBooks already come with remotes!

It's a VERY simple, five or six button remote that allows you to listen to music, look at pictures, watch movies, and much more from the comfort of your couch or wherever you might be.

I use the remote for my MacBook Pro almost every day and I LOVE it. It took a little getting used to, actually having a remote for your computer, but if I ever get a computer without one I'll be looking for it.

Check it out: http://www.apple.com/imac/frontrow.html

 

[murali_itsme]

Interesting replies..!

 

[integrity]

Maybe. There is a price to pay. A mac is far more expensive than a pc. and there is little software included ( But correct me if i'm wrong please).

Adding on to what Seattle said, there is also a good amount of USEFUL software that comes installed on Macs. While many people will then download open source software like Firefox, Thunderbird, Adium, and Open Office, I find there is a lot of software I use that comes pre-installed. I love all the video editting software I can use right out of the box. Not to mention iLife and I hear new DVD Player software is coming out in 10.5.

 

[integrity]

Oh, and Charming, I forgot to mention..hehehe.. All of the iMacs and MacBooks already come with remotes!

It's a VERY simple, five or six button remote that allows you to listen to music, look at pictures, watch movies, and much more from the comfort of your couch or wherever you might be.

I use the remote for my MacBook Pro almost every day and I LOVE it. It took a little getting used to, actually having a remote for your computer, but if I ever get a computer without one I'll be looking for it.

Check it out: http://www.apple.com/imac/frontrow.html

What do you use your remote for? I've seen it used for presentations occasionally, but other than that, I hardly ever see it used. I used it a couple times with FrontRow but it seems silly to use it on my laptop.