SBacklin
Apr 22, 09:18 AM
Problems:
--Dependence on an internet connection. Deal breaker right there. Subways? Forget it.
--Buffer times
--Connection instability/loss
--Already way overstrained data networks contributing to the above
--Battery life will suffer if it's wifi
--And if it's 3G, well there's another bill in the mail every month. A recurring bill in the form of data charges to listen to my music I already paid for? No thank you. No, no, no thank you.
Since when did every device in the house need a monthly bill to go with it? AT&T provides a pretty crappy service as it is to begin with, why shuffle any more money right into their pockets?
Dependence on an internet connection and a bill in the mail are enormous deal breakers.
To the people saying "Oh, well Apple isn't taking your hard drive away", no, they aren't, but this is the first step. In 20 years hard drives will be obsolete, as everything will be cloud based, and you'll be forced into the cloud whether you want to be or not.
This service is a completely stupid idea for anyone who has an iPod with a big enough hard drive to store their stuff. I can see the appeal for those with more than 160 GB of music, but other than those people, I see literally zero benefits to be had by this, and a slew of problems/frustrations to be gained.
That is the problem I'm seeing too....the bandwidth. Everyone is screaming about HDDs. Hello, storage is cheap. I just see the carriers salivating at the idea of Apple wanting people to stream. I do see and understand that some people can find this new setup useful. However, a LOT of us see a major problem in terms of data charges. If Apple still gives the storage capacity in its devices as it does now, then I personally will NOT have a problem with this. I would prefer to have it stored locally. Cellular data connectivity is no where where it needs to be for me to happy with it as a replacement for local storage. Nah uh...no way. With my music, video and pictures, I have 3 running copies at any given time and this has worked out for me for many years. Why fix something that isn't broke?
--Dependence on an internet connection. Deal breaker right there. Subways? Forget it.
--Buffer times
--Connection instability/loss
--Already way overstrained data networks contributing to the above
--Battery life will suffer if it's wifi
--And if it's 3G, well there's another bill in the mail every month. A recurring bill in the form of data charges to listen to my music I already paid for? No thank you. No, no, no thank you.
Since when did every device in the house need a monthly bill to go with it? AT&T provides a pretty crappy service as it is to begin with, why shuffle any more money right into their pockets?
Dependence on an internet connection and a bill in the mail are enormous deal breakers.
To the people saying "Oh, well Apple isn't taking your hard drive away", no, they aren't, but this is the first step. In 20 years hard drives will be obsolete, as everything will be cloud based, and you'll be forced into the cloud whether you want to be or not.
This service is a completely stupid idea for anyone who has an iPod with a big enough hard drive to store their stuff. I can see the appeal for those with more than 160 GB of music, but other than those people, I see literally zero benefits to be had by this, and a slew of problems/frustrations to be gained.
That is the problem I'm seeing too....the bandwidth. Everyone is screaming about HDDs. Hello, storage is cheap. I just see the carriers salivating at the idea of Apple wanting people to stream. I do see and understand that some people can find this new setup useful. However, a LOT of us see a major problem in terms of data charges. If Apple still gives the storage capacity in its devices as it does now, then I personally will NOT have a problem with this. I would prefer to have it stored locally. Cellular data connectivity is no where where it needs to be for me to happy with it as a replacement for local storage. Nah uh...no way. With my music, video and pictures, I have 3 running copies at any given time and this has worked out for me for many years. Why fix something that isn't broke?
Michael383
Apr 17, 05:08 AM
I think Intel's support for both Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 will be a good thing in the end.
Rodimus Prime
Apr 25, 01:11 AM
EDIT: @ Rodimus - Had she hit me when I slammed on the brakes, she would have been at fault. All I have to do is tell the cop that I thought I saw an animal run across the road. She is supposed to keep enough distance to be able to stop if I slam on the brakes. Doesn't matter than I cut her off, she has to prove that I did, and she also has to prove that I slammed on the breaks with malice.
-Don
umm good luck with that. My father has a ticket to prove other wise. He made the mistake and cut off a guy who was speeding by mistake. Cop handed him a ticket for illegal lane changed and the other guy a ticket for doing 20 over the limit.
It was declared a no fault and both were on their own. Both cars totaled.
You cut her off therefor made an unsafe lane changed. Legally you should of given her enough room to be able to adjust for you. Add to the fact you are 16 and chances are would be a witness or 2 saying you were speeding. Your word vs hers and your word is pretty worthless.
And if you did if they can prove malice or road rage you just increased your charges and heck could be nailed for insurance fraud as well.
You are proving to us all that you should not have a DL. You just are increasing the case that you should not be behind a wheel of a car.
On and do not use the argument that the car can do 186 mph. Sorry that is for another country. Top it off I am pretty sure my car can out handle your car.
I've seen people like the OP get pulled up and receive whopping great tickets from the cops. To say the least they look terrified about what their mum will say when she finds out. It makes me laugh.
Funny story. One time when I was driving back to TTU some idiot in a purple VW blew past me like I was standing still a little north of Houston. At the time I was doing 5-10 over the limit (75-80 mph). Scared the crap out me as they wiped right around me.
about 30-45 mins later I see the same purple VW pulled over and the driver was in hand cuffs. It was priceless.
-Don
umm good luck with that. My father has a ticket to prove other wise. He made the mistake and cut off a guy who was speeding by mistake. Cop handed him a ticket for illegal lane changed and the other guy a ticket for doing 20 over the limit.
It was declared a no fault and both were on their own. Both cars totaled.
You cut her off therefor made an unsafe lane changed. Legally you should of given her enough room to be able to adjust for you. Add to the fact you are 16 and chances are would be a witness or 2 saying you were speeding. Your word vs hers and your word is pretty worthless.
And if you did if they can prove malice or road rage you just increased your charges and heck could be nailed for insurance fraud as well.
You are proving to us all that you should not have a DL. You just are increasing the case that you should not be behind a wheel of a car.
On and do not use the argument that the car can do 186 mph. Sorry that is for another country. Top it off I am pretty sure my car can out handle your car.
I've seen people like the OP get pulled up and receive whopping great tickets from the cops. To say the least they look terrified about what their mum will say when she finds out. It makes me laugh.
Funny story. One time when I was driving back to TTU some idiot in a purple VW blew past me like I was standing still a little north of Houston. At the time I was doing 5-10 over the limit (75-80 mph). Scared the crap out me as they wiped right around me.
about 30-45 mins later I see the same purple VW pulled over and the driver was in hand cuffs. It was priceless.
dal20402
May 3, 06:51 PM
2. Drop their dedicated three ACD CCFL LCD lineup that was top notch and replaced with one stripped down iMac LED LCD
... which is a better display in any way you care to name, except vertical resolution with the 30", than the 23" or 30" ACDs.
3. Ditch "Resolution Independence" (it's been over 4 years, c'mon Apple!)
Just like every other vendor, they realized it was pretty much impossible to implement. Use Windows at 150% mode and you'll see what I mean; *everything* is horribly broken. There will be pixel-doubled Macs within the next year.
4. Increased focus on iDevices and iOS (yeah, it's banked them $55+ billion, great, invest a small portion back into the Prosumer market Apple pulled away from with a full display line and a re-vamp of Pro-sumer desktops and apps, they revamped a mobile device market they can do the same with the Prosumer market and make money)
The prosumer market is tiny. Everyone in the country who is not dirt-poor or a Luddite has a phone. There are a few hundred thousand prosumers at most. You don't make money engineering expensive, cutting-edge products just for that market.
5. Begin merging iOS with OS X Lion
Merging? Some iOS interface features are being added to Lion. They are not "merging." Lion is not losing any capabilities (other than Rosetta).
5. Funnel less money into Pro-Apps (Final Cut X is meh)
You are saying Final Cut X is meh before anyone has even seen it? :rolleyes:
8. Replace reasonably priced PowerMac G4/5's w/ over priced/over powered Xeon Server based Mac Pro's and no serious revamp in over 8 years. PowerMac's cost anywhere from $1400+, were great for professional photographers/designers/professionals/small businesses, esp. paired w/ the late ACD CCFL line which worked perfectly with OS X.
There is no margin whatsoever in commodity desktop hardware; it's THE most price-sensitive part of the PC market. Apple doesn't do things where it can't generate high margins. It's not a charity, it's a business.
9. Drop focus on OS X development - iOS Lion is schizophrenic w/ iOS features in OS X: Launchpad, 2D Spaces, Mission Control, lack of TRIM for 3rd party Sandforce SSD's, painful ergonomic implementation of multi-touch w/ the "Magic Trackpad," etc.
What capabilities are missing from Lion as a result of iOS interface influence?
How is the Magic Trackpad "painful?" Mine is my favorite input device ever by a huge margin. My only problem with it is that Apple took about 3 years too long to release it. What would you do to make it not "painful?"
11. iLife '11 in 32-bit?!
What benefits would 64-bit provide to the user, other than a very small performance improvement? iLife applications' GUI threads are not using more than 4 GB of RAM.
12. "Pro-sumer" App's such as Aperture "improvements" w/ "Share to Facebook." Keep that consumer shizz in iPhoto and focus on better professional tools Apple.
Are you in favor of the prosumer, or the elitist "pro" who thinks their app is debased by a consumer feature? Prosumers use Facebook and (especially) Flickr. Since Apple already built the feature for iPhoto, it costs them nothing to throw it into Aperture.
16. iOS err, OS X App Store?
How is easier app installation hurting you?
17. USB 3.0?
Thunderbolt.
... which is a better display in any way you care to name, except vertical resolution with the 30", than the 23" or 30" ACDs.
3. Ditch "Resolution Independence" (it's been over 4 years, c'mon Apple!)
Just like every other vendor, they realized it was pretty much impossible to implement. Use Windows at 150% mode and you'll see what I mean; *everything* is horribly broken. There will be pixel-doubled Macs within the next year.
4. Increased focus on iDevices and iOS (yeah, it's banked them $55+ billion, great, invest a small portion back into the Prosumer market Apple pulled away from with a full display line and a re-vamp of Pro-sumer desktops and apps, they revamped a mobile device market they can do the same with the Prosumer market and make money)
The prosumer market is tiny. Everyone in the country who is not dirt-poor or a Luddite has a phone. There are a few hundred thousand prosumers at most. You don't make money engineering expensive, cutting-edge products just for that market.
5. Begin merging iOS with OS X Lion
Merging? Some iOS interface features are being added to Lion. They are not "merging." Lion is not losing any capabilities (other than Rosetta).
5. Funnel less money into Pro-Apps (Final Cut X is meh)
You are saying Final Cut X is meh before anyone has even seen it? :rolleyes:
8. Replace reasonably priced PowerMac G4/5's w/ over priced/over powered Xeon Server based Mac Pro's and no serious revamp in over 8 years. PowerMac's cost anywhere from $1400+, were great for professional photographers/designers/professionals/small businesses, esp. paired w/ the late ACD CCFL line which worked perfectly with OS X.
There is no margin whatsoever in commodity desktop hardware; it's THE most price-sensitive part of the PC market. Apple doesn't do things where it can't generate high margins. It's not a charity, it's a business.
9. Drop focus on OS X development - iOS Lion is schizophrenic w/ iOS features in OS X: Launchpad, 2D Spaces, Mission Control, lack of TRIM for 3rd party Sandforce SSD's, painful ergonomic implementation of multi-touch w/ the "Magic Trackpad," etc.
What capabilities are missing from Lion as a result of iOS interface influence?
How is the Magic Trackpad "painful?" Mine is my favorite input device ever by a huge margin. My only problem with it is that Apple took about 3 years too long to release it. What would you do to make it not "painful?"
11. iLife '11 in 32-bit?!
What benefits would 64-bit provide to the user, other than a very small performance improvement? iLife applications' GUI threads are not using more than 4 GB of RAM.
12. "Pro-sumer" App's such as Aperture "improvements" w/ "Share to Facebook." Keep that consumer shizz in iPhoto and focus on better professional tools Apple.
Are you in favor of the prosumer, or the elitist "pro" who thinks their app is debased by a consumer feature? Prosumers use Facebook and (especially) Flickr. Since Apple already built the feature for iPhoto, it costs them nothing to throw it into Aperture.
16. iOS err, OS X App Store?
How is easier app installation hurting you?
17. USB 3.0?
Thunderbolt.
Eidorian
Sep 9, 11:41 AM
Sounds like a set of chips to me ;)
daveNapa isn't a chipset. It's a grouping on Intel components (processor, northbridge/southbridge, and wireless) that make up the Napa platform.
Apple only uses the processors and northbridge/southbridge from Intel. Chipset normally ONLY refers to the north/southbridge.
daveNapa isn't a chipset. It's a grouping on Intel components (processor, northbridge/southbridge, and wireless) that make up the Napa platform.
Apple only uses the processors and northbridge/southbridge from Intel. Chipset normally ONLY refers to the north/southbridge.
steve_hill4
Sep 9, 11:15 AM
That's almost 100% a hardware malfunction that causes Windows to restart after a serious failure. The default setting in Windows is to restart when it encounters a serious system failure and this can be disabled in the control panel to aid in seeking out the failing hardware. But I guess this is too late to fix now, since it sounds as if you sold the machine.
Stevie doesn't sell machines, especially one's he can still use daily.
When I can be bothered, I will scrub both drives on it clean and reinstall XP and Fedora Core 5 on there. It still won't get used as much as my Mac though.
Stevie doesn't sell machines, especially one's he can still use daily.
When I can be bothered, I will scrub both drives on it clean and reinstall XP and Fedora Core 5 on there. It still won't get used as much as my Mac though.
aristotle
Nov 13, 09:08 PM
To be fair, that's quite possibly a limitation imposed on them by navteq/teleatlas.
That is irrelevant. It is still someone's IP and Google is bound by law to honour their license agreement with that other company. It is also possible that Apple could be bound by an agreement for their system icons. Not likely but it is possible. I know that icon factory created a lot of the XP and Vista icons for MSFT.
I have no problem with people using fair use for justifying their own personal use but publishing apps on the app store whether for free or for profit crosses that line where fair use cannot be used as an argument. These apps are not a commentary or piece of journalism but rather a product offered to promote a commercial product called Airfoil which is available for the mac and windows.
Are you trying to tell us that you promote ripping off icons from other people? Is it only ok if they are stealing from other companies? What if someone has a custom icon set installed? Did they creator of that icon set consent to this iPhone/iPod Touch app having access to those icons?
That is irrelevant. It is still someone's IP and Google is bound by law to honour their license agreement with that other company. It is also possible that Apple could be bound by an agreement for their system icons. Not likely but it is possible. I know that icon factory created a lot of the XP and Vista icons for MSFT.
I have no problem with people using fair use for justifying their own personal use but publishing apps on the app store whether for free or for profit crosses that line where fair use cannot be used as an argument. These apps are not a commentary or piece of journalism but rather a product offered to promote a commercial product called Airfoil which is available for the mac and windows.
Are you trying to tell us that you promote ripping off icons from other people? Is it only ok if they are stealing from other companies? What if someone has a custom icon set installed? Did they creator of that icon set consent to this iPhone/iPod Touch app having access to those icons?
Jupeman
Mar 23, 07:14 PM
God save us from the nanny state.
linux2mac
Apr 4, 12:53 PM
It's only fantasy because not enough law-abiding civilians are toting guns.
Virginia Tech, Trolley Square, Columbine, Ft. Hood, the list goes on and on - someone trained, armed, and on location in any of those tragedies could have been a godsend.
The fact an off-duty policeman was onsite at Trolley Square certainly saved many lives, but an armed, trained civilian could have done the same.
+1
Criminals have the edge because they know most law abiding citizens are not armed.
Virginia Tech, Trolley Square, Columbine, Ft. Hood, the list goes on and on - someone trained, armed, and on location in any of those tragedies could have been a godsend.
The fact an off-duty policeman was onsite at Trolley Square certainly saved many lives, but an armed, trained civilian could have done the same.
+1
Criminals have the edge because they know most law abiding citizens are not armed.
sord
Sep 10, 02:53 PM
Dare I dream? How about a quad processor quad core system! 16 cores in all!!!
I hope they at least keep dual processors in the pro machines if they start using these so we get 8 cores. Then toss one of these suckers in a mini.
I hope they at least keep dual processors in the pro machines if they start using these so we get 8 cores. Then toss one of these suckers in a mini.
segfaultdotorg
May 3, 02:32 PM
Shouldn't it show faster performance for the i7?:confused:
Perhaps they're comparing the old i7 to the new i7?
Perhaps they're comparing the old i7 to the new i7?
Eidorian
Jul 19, 07:59 PM
http://news.com.com/2100-1006_3-6096192.html?part=rss&tag=6096192&subj=news
Cloverton and Kentsfield coming 4th quarter 2006Stop tempting me. I need a new Mac NOW as it is.
Cloverton and Kentsfield coming 4th quarter 2006Stop tempting me. I need a new Mac NOW as it is.
mwayne85
Mar 22, 02:32 PM
This is good news... but they REALLY need to get rid of the chin. That would be my dream desktop aesthetically.
vitaboy
Aug 24, 12:14 PM
There's not real precedence since Apple settled. If it had gone to court and Apple lost, then there would be a precedence.
Actually, I belive the strength of a patent is enforced if a company can show there are valid, paying licensees for it. It make the patent that much harder to overturn.
This was exactly the tactic Microsoft used when taking a big multi-million dollar license for SCO so-called patent for all things Uni (and Linux).
Now, SCO's patent claim is even more ridiculous than the Creative patent, and pretty much proven to be so, but Microsoft decided a few million would be worth the cost of helping SCO out because SCO winning would mean Linux losing big time. And we know how Microsoft feels about the Linux threat.
Basically, the settlement gives Creative the ammunition to go after other makers of music players. It's almost guaranteed that Zune will be hit with a lawsuit because Zune is an even bigger threat to Creative's existence than the iPod was....and a Zune lawsuit would definitely work to Apple's benefit.
Actually, I belive the strength of a patent is enforced if a company can show there are valid, paying licensees for it. It make the patent that much harder to overturn.
This was exactly the tactic Microsoft used when taking a big multi-million dollar license for SCO so-called patent for all things Uni (and Linux).
Now, SCO's patent claim is even more ridiculous than the Creative patent, and pretty much proven to be so, but Microsoft decided a few million would be worth the cost of helping SCO out because SCO winning would mean Linux losing big time. And we know how Microsoft feels about the Linux threat.
Basically, the settlement gives Creative the ammunition to go after other makers of music players. It's almost guaranteed that Zune will be hit with a lawsuit because Zune is an even bigger threat to Creative's existence than the iPod was....and a Zune lawsuit would definitely work to Apple's benefit.
Josias
Sep 14, 01:35 PM
Definiantly - I love it. Defiant + Definitely! I think you just coined a fantacular word!
Think Different
Think Different
jafd
Apr 25, 02:48 PM
(see back lit keyboard in current MBA)
And replace backlight with Braille print? Cool, it would save some battery juice at night. By the way, I don't look at the keyboard when typing. Are you?
And replace backlight with Braille print? Cool, it would save some battery juice at night. By the way, I don't look at the keyboard when typing. Are you?
AppleScruff1
Apr 25, 05:57 PM
Hopefully they get rid of the sharp needle points where you open the cover. I know a guy who slashed his wrist open on the sharp point.
macquariumguy
Apr 20, 05:28 AM
DEATH TO MCDONALDS!!!!!!!!!
Because of them most of the US is obese..
So, you're against personal responsibility then?
Because of them most of the US is obese..
So, you're against personal responsibility then?
peharri
Sep 18, 09:00 AM
You are right. I make a call. i expect to pay for it. i dont expect the person im calling to get billed for the damn call.
The other way of looking at it is that the mobile user has made a technology choice. They shouldn't expect other people to pay for their technology choice. A system where each person pays to connect to the network and decides how they want to pay for that is inherently fairer, even if it makes it harder for people to choose to subsidize the systems of others.
(Remember too that in the majority of cases, most US users have a fixed bill because of the high number of bundled minutes coupled with the huge unmetered portions of their bills. It's not the case that we get billed for the incoming call in the majority of cases. If it's made at peak time, from a different network, then yeah, we'll use bundled minutes, but most of us end up with large amounts of bundled minutes free at the end of the month despite this. And you never have to accept an incoming call.)
and. as for pricing. yes, vodafone have a 1c/sec flat rate on calls. but. i pay $79/month and at the end of the my account has a automatic refund (of sorts) applied, so anything up to $500 in calls/txt/etc is included in the $79.
That doesn't sound like a bad plan, that's unusually good outside of the US from what I've researched, though most of my research has been limited to the UK.
i DO use my mobile for most calls. i use my landline maybe once a week, because it has a better speakerphone if im using it for a long time.
If I were back in Britain, I couldn't substitute a cellphone for a landline because of the incoming calls issue. It's simply not fair to my family or friends to make them pay through the nose to contact me. I might use one for the bulk of my outgoing calls, but for incoming calls, it wouldn't be right.
An ideal compromise, in my view, would be for the operators to provide two numbers on every phone, a caller pays and a mobile party pays (with the latter being treated as ordinary airtime, or unmetered according to a fixed monthly charge), but alas I don't think the operators would ever do something that could potentially undermine their interconnect revenues like that.
Neither solution is perfect. The US seems better at the moment because of the emphasis on unmetered usage. At least unmetered incoming calls are an option here. But the downside is the lack of a practical PAYG system.
The other way of looking at it is that the mobile user has made a technology choice. They shouldn't expect other people to pay for their technology choice. A system where each person pays to connect to the network and decides how they want to pay for that is inherently fairer, even if it makes it harder for people to choose to subsidize the systems of others.
(Remember too that in the majority of cases, most US users have a fixed bill because of the high number of bundled minutes coupled with the huge unmetered portions of their bills. It's not the case that we get billed for the incoming call in the majority of cases. If it's made at peak time, from a different network, then yeah, we'll use bundled minutes, but most of us end up with large amounts of bundled minutes free at the end of the month despite this. And you never have to accept an incoming call.)
and. as for pricing. yes, vodafone have a 1c/sec flat rate on calls. but. i pay $79/month and at the end of the my account has a automatic refund (of sorts) applied, so anything up to $500 in calls/txt/etc is included in the $79.
That doesn't sound like a bad plan, that's unusually good outside of the US from what I've researched, though most of my research has been limited to the UK.
i DO use my mobile for most calls. i use my landline maybe once a week, because it has a better speakerphone if im using it for a long time.
If I were back in Britain, I couldn't substitute a cellphone for a landline because of the incoming calls issue. It's simply not fair to my family or friends to make them pay through the nose to contact me. I might use one for the bulk of my outgoing calls, but for incoming calls, it wouldn't be right.
An ideal compromise, in my view, would be for the operators to provide two numbers on every phone, a caller pays and a mobile party pays (with the latter being treated as ordinary airtime, or unmetered according to a fixed monthly charge), but alas I don't think the operators would ever do something that could potentially undermine their interconnect revenues like that.
Neither solution is perfect. The US seems better at the moment because of the emphasis on unmetered usage. At least unmetered incoming calls are an option here. But the downside is the lack of a practical PAYG system.
BenRoethig
Sep 26, 09:55 AM
No iPhone for me neither. But really, unless it was out-of-the-park good, there was no change I get one anyway.
Is anyone else getting a bit tired of all this apple branding outside of the computer space? I mean, a phone? Why o why SJ? :confused:
Okay, more Apple products out there means more brand recognition. More brand recognition means more people will be willing to check out Apple's hardware offerings. Got it?
Is anyone else getting a bit tired of all this apple branding outside of the computer space? I mean, a phone? Why o why SJ? :confused:
Okay, more Apple products out there means more brand recognition. More brand recognition means more people will be willing to check out Apple's hardware offerings. Got it?
MattyMac
Sep 13, 09:33 PM
Type the following in the Terminal:
cd /Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS
strings * | grep -i phone
Where did you get that...says Motorola Phone and other phone related items.
Wish it said iPhone.
What else did you pick up from it?
cd /Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS
strings * | grep -i phone
Where did you get that...says Motorola Phone and other phone related items.
Wish it said iPhone.
What else did you pick up from it?
ctdonath
Apr 4, 12:59 PM
The scary thing is some of these people may be sitting on the jury if this ever happens to you. :eek:
Take an LFI course (look it up). One benefit is things are arranged so if you are on such trial you can put the jury thru the same course so they will understand what happened from your point of view.
Take an LFI course (look it up). One benefit is things are arranged so if you are on such trial you can put the jury thru the same course so they will understand what happened from your point of view.
talkingfuture
Apr 19, 07:02 AM
I think this may be one of those stories where the media make it sound much bigger than it is. A load of lawyers will make a ton of money and the two companies will come to some sort of licensing agreement or Apple will get a discount on some of the parts they buy.
theelysium
May 3, 04:11 PM
Because the iMac Display mode apparently is Thunderbolt-dependent, not backward compatible with DisplayPort-only systems, I wonder if this means you will be able to daisy-chain iMacs? For example, have one iMac in the center as the master; two iMacs (one on either side) each connected via Thunderbolt to the center, acting as two displays. Then, could you slave two more Cinema Displays (or any DisplayPort monitor, even more iMacs!) from those two 'outer' iMacs for a total of five displays? Apple said in the first generation of ThunderBolt systems that they could support two displays per Thunderbolt port with daisy-chaining, and AMD's chips can support up to 6 displays.
You could just use teleport http://www.abyssoft.com/software/teleport/
You could just use teleport http://www.abyssoft.com/software/teleport/