Filed under: TUAW Business
By way of introduction...
Hi all. Dan Fellini here to introduce myself as one of TUAW's newest team members. Glad and honored to be here.
I live in sunny Portland, Oregon, and work as the executive producer for an online video network. I love my job, love my city and love technology, social media, the outdoors and, of course, my Macs and my iPhone. In previous lives I've been a reporter, editor, sysadmin, programmer and, way back, I was an EMT. Lights and sirens baby!
The first time I touched an Apple computer was back in elementary school, when I programmed Logo to act like Joshua from Wargames. Oh yes. My 6th grade teacher freaked. We were supposed to be making cute designs with the turtle, and there I was bringing our classroom to the brink of global thermonuclear war. How about a nice game of chess? Not so much.
Now, as an adult, I spend 8, 12, sometimes 16 hours a day in front of a MacBook, a MacBook Pro, or my iPhone. I'm not saying I couldn't live without Apple, but my quality of life would definitely not be as good.
And that's the point. That's why I'm here, writing about a company I don't get a paycheck from. Writing about a company that (let's be honest) charges a bit too much for their products. Writing about a company that doesn't know I exist. I'm here because Apple products contribute to my overall quality of life, in a positive way, and when a company or product does that, it's a special relationship. There are so few companies like that these days.
I'm not a fanboy. Let's get that cleared up straight away. I'm not of the 'Apple can do no wrong' mentality. What I am, though, is a big fan of products that are well designed, well built and that inspire me to do good work.
I'm thrilled to be part of this team. I've been reading TUAW for a long time, and have always considered it the blog of record for the word on Apple. To be a part of it now is something I'm quite proud of.
Now, on to more pressing issues...
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
(01) said 6:27PM on 12-07-2008
Good note, welcome Dan!!
Reply
Aurel said 6:29PM on 12-07-2008
Kudos Dan, thanks for introduction and welcome to TUAW. Totally with you on 5th and 6th §'s.
Cheers, Aurel
Reply
Lungkisser said 6:48PM on 12-07-2008
What is this, like, the third new person just this week? Did a lot of people quit/lose their jobs or did TUAW just decide to expand out of nowhere?
Reply
Perspective said 7:04PM on 12-07-2008
Lungkisser: You must've missed it when TUAW announced it was accepting apps for new contributors.
Dan: If Apple "charges a little too much for its products," why not just buy something else? I mean, it's not like you were assigned to Apple or something. No offense, but people that buy products that aren't necessities (i.e. food, clothing, etc) and then complain those products are overpriced are, well, tools. With that said, congrats on the TUAW gig. Maybe the extra cash you receive can go to purchasing some more of those overpriced Apple products, and as a shareholder, I'm really hoping you do just that. Cheers.
Reply
Quine said 7:21PM on 12-07-2008
Well, if there are N options for one's personal computer, and Apple charges a little too much, and the remaining N-1 options cost between "more than a little too much" and "total ripoff" (*cough* dell with vista *cough*), then it makes sense to buy the computer that is "a little too much" doesn't it?
Well, you might say "then it isn't too much, so don't complain." That, however, is a bad decision. A lot of people immigrate to the US because they think it is better than their alternatives, but does that mean they think the US is perfect? Absolutely not. Does that mean they should resist complaining about the US' faults? Absolutely not. The same applies to a myriad of other thing that, while better than the competition (in one's view), still need to be pushed to improve.
As you can see, acknowledging that Apple raises the prices on its products more is necessary in no way implies that one must buy another computer or be completely content.
Quine said 7:42PM on 12-07-2008
*more than is necessary
mcg said 8:17PM on 12-07-2008
The fact that Dan Fellini is willing to pay $20 for a part he thinks ought to be $8 means... that Apple is right and Dan is wrong. Now if Dan refused to pay $20 for a part he things ought to be $8... that might be evidence he's right.
puhsitch said 11:50PM on 12-07-2008
I think that he was stating more of a fact than a complaint.
Quine said 12:22AM on 12-08-2008
That's the same fallacy perspective engaged in. "The best" is not "Perfect."
Fred said 7:24PM on 12-07-2008
Oh good, finally someone who can write well.
Reply
Aaron said 9:43PM on 12-07-2008
Seriously. Love your writing style Dan--welcome aboard.
Dan Fellini said 7:28PM on 12-07-2008
What Quine said. That's what I was getting at.
Truth is, I don't actually mind paying a slightly inflated price for most of Apple's stuff. What really ticks me off, though, is spending almost $20 for a dock-to-USB connector for my iPhone. Should be about $8.
Reply
Christina Warren said 9:32PM on 12-07-2008
Monoprice.com. Learn it, live it, love it. I'm with you though, I only get annoyed with the small overpriced stuff. I'm content to spend more to get what I want than to spend less but be less than satisfied. But then, I'm also the type of dumbass who spends $150 on jeans so scoffing at the Apple tax would be kind of pointless...
Christina Warren said 9:34PM on 12-07-2008
Oh -- a link would help: http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=108&cp_id=10831&cs_id=1083101&p_id=2732&seq=1&format=2
$1.67. Order 5. Even if they all end up breaking in a year, it's still cheaper than buying one from the Apple Store.
Luna Lovegood said 10:33PM on 12-07-2008
"I'm also the type of dumbass who spends $150 on jeans..."
We already know all about your $150 jeans. Give it a rest, honey.
Christina Warren said 5:06PM on 12-08-2008
@Luna Lovegood
Oh, SNAP. You totally told me.
Stephen.4 said 7:55PM on 12-07-2008
Welcome to the sight, give me you're iPhone. :)
Reply
edward said 8:05PM on 12-07-2008
I don't know about you. but that's really pathetic life. sitting in front of mac for more than 8 hours a day? I don't know what you do. but if your job is something to do with web design, or software development, I understand you. but if you are not, that's really dangerous no matter what you like mac or PC. that's obviously addictive. if you are latter, seriously get out of mac, do something healthy. I know you love mac, iphone whatever. but that's not sound good. at least you need to work out something outside everyday.
Reply
Quine said 8:47PM on 12-07-2008
As he clearly stated, he is an executive producer for an online video network. Between managing production and ensuring everything online is running smoothly, it makes perfect sense for him to spend a large part of his day in front of a computer. Plus, he also included time spent in front of his iphone, which could easily include checking it for a few minutes on the bus or in his car (during a red light of course).
I don't think it's reasonable to draw your conclusions from what he said. It seems like he spends a lot of time in front of a computer, and is glad that computer is a Mac. Please point out any evidence that his behavior is "obviously addictive."
Also, considering you don't know what he does, and he revealed that in the second paragraph, I'd stop passing judgments so quickly if I were you.
Dan Fellini said 8:56PM on 12-07-2008
Thanks for your concern Edward. It's not computer/internet addiction that keeps me in front of the screen. It's my chosen profession. In much the same way it's not pathetic for a truck driver to spend so much time with his/her truck, it's not pathetic for a web producer to spend much of his/her day in front of a computer.
I'm just lucky in that my organization is tolerant of Macs in a mostly PC environment.
You're right though about taking time away and getting outside. It's one of the reasons I live in the Pacific Northwest. So much outdoors to explore here.