Lord Blackadder
Aug 9, 06:39 PM
Couple points...
1) The problem with MPG on something like the volt is that it doesn't make any sense to measure it this way
- MPG is simply the wrong standard to use when you're talking about what is primarily an electric car
- Regarding it "only getting 50mpg", I don't believe that's been settled, but if true, then that's still 8MPG than the best highway mileage VW is able to currently offer in the US
It is true that measuring the Volt's efficiency is problematic if you are trying to speak in terms of "mpg". However, we can't simply ignore where the extra electricity is coming from - especially when that electricity was probably produced by burning coal or oil.
And that's what's so sinister about the electrics. Because it is hard to track just how efficient (or inefficient) the electricity from the grid is (created from fossil fuels, suffering from parasitic loss through the lines and then being stored in a battery before being used), people tend to ignore that whole side of the equation. But it is just as important.
In terms of using its onboard generator, the Volt is very efficient. But most people that use one will probably drive it as an electric most of the time, so the efficiency of the power coming off the grid becomes the primary concern. And figuring that out is much harder than looking at mpg numbers. How many pounds of coal/gallons of oil are burned at the power plant to get your Volt a mile down the road (I assume it works out to be fairly efficent, but I don't know any numbers)? More importantly, would a proliferation in plug-ins result in regular rolling blackouts because power plants can't keep up with rising demand?
2) Diesels don't get 50-60mpg in the US for two reasons
a) The MPG numbers for a Euro engine are measured in imperial gallons, which are 20% bigger than US gallons and thus inflate the MPG by 20%. Furthermore, these MPG standards are measured using completely different testing methods between the US and Europe, so you can't directly compare them.
b) None of those super-fuel-efficient Euro engines have been able to pass US emissions laws yet.
Would I drop 41K on one (or 33K after rebates)?
Probably not, but I'm sure they'll sell every one that they can make and I'm sure that price will come down over time.
Imperial gallons are easily converted on Google, I was accounting for that. The biggest thing Americans have trouble with is adjusting to smaller cars. The cars we drive are, on average, unneccesarily big - and anyone who says otherwise is thought to be a Communist. If you want better mielage, drive a smaller car. 90% of truck and SUV owners use their vehicles to their full capacity a tiny percentage of the time. Most of them could do with a much smaller vehicle. Lifestyle changes (buying a smaller car, driving less) are the only way to really reduce fuel consumption on a national or global scale in the near to medium future. We can't wait for technology alone to pick up the slack.
The emissions legislation differences are a farce. The US, EU and Japan should standardize a set of emissions & safety legislation so that any car made in those countries could be exported to any of the others. There's no good reason not to - but a lot of stupid political reasons why it will never happen.
1) The problem with MPG on something like the volt is that it doesn't make any sense to measure it this way
- MPG is simply the wrong standard to use when you're talking about what is primarily an electric car
- Regarding it "only getting 50mpg", I don't believe that's been settled, but if true, then that's still 8MPG than the best highway mileage VW is able to currently offer in the US
It is true that measuring the Volt's efficiency is problematic if you are trying to speak in terms of "mpg". However, we can't simply ignore where the extra electricity is coming from - especially when that electricity was probably produced by burning coal or oil.
And that's what's so sinister about the electrics. Because it is hard to track just how efficient (or inefficient) the electricity from the grid is (created from fossil fuels, suffering from parasitic loss through the lines and then being stored in a battery before being used), people tend to ignore that whole side of the equation. But it is just as important.
In terms of using its onboard generator, the Volt is very efficient. But most people that use one will probably drive it as an electric most of the time, so the efficiency of the power coming off the grid becomes the primary concern. And figuring that out is much harder than looking at mpg numbers. How many pounds of coal/gallons of oil are burned at the power plant to get your Volt a mile down the road (I assume it works out to be fairly efficent, but I don't know any numbers)? More importantly, would a proliferation in plug-ins result in regular rolling blackouts because power plants can't keep up with rising demand?
2) Diesels don't get 50-60mpg in the US for two reasons
a) The MPG numbers for a Euro engine are measured in imperial gallons, which are 20% bigger than US gallons and thus inflate the MPG by 20%. Furthermore, these MPG standards are measured using completely different testing methods between the US and Europe, so you can't directly compare them.
b) None of those super-fuel-efficient Euro engines have been able to pass US emissions laws yet.
Would I drop 41K on one (or 33K after rebates)?
Probably not, but I'm sure they'll sell every one that they can make and I'm sure that price will come down over time.
Imperial gallons are easily converted on Google, I was accounting for that. The biggest thing Americans have trouble with is adjusting to smaller cars. The cars we drive are, on average, unneccesarily big - and anyone who says otherwise is thought to be a Communist. If you want better mielage, drive a smaller car. 90% of truck and SUV owners use their vehicles to their full capacity a tiny percentage of the time. Most of them could do with a much smaller vehicle. Lifestyle changes (buying a smaller car, driving less) are the only way to really reduce fuel consumption on a national or global scale in the near to medium future. We can't wait for technology alone to pick up the slack.
The emissions legislation differences are a farce. The US, EU and Japan should standardize a set of emissions & safety legislation so that any car made in those countries could be exported to any of the others. There's no good reason not to - but a lot of stupid political reasons why it will never happen.
crobbins
Mar 24, 10:26 PM
I remember getting my first OS X machine in early 2005. Tiger was so different from the world of windows I'd been used to it. I've been a crazy apple fan ever since!
leomac08
Jul 28, 01:26 PM
That is true. I'm surprised nobody has brought even diesel based hybrids here yet. I recall hearing VW was planning on it, but I don't remember where I read that.
The Audi A3 clean diesel TDI
The Audi A3 clean diesel TDI
Stridder44
Oct 3, 05:28 PM
God, I hope the Macbook Pros get updated before Macworld, but honestly Macworld is only 90 days away...
I will drink to that!
I will drink to that!
more...
fishmoose
Apr 25, 12:14 PM
I don't get the fascination with a marginal bigger screen, if I need a bigger screen I get my iPad.
knightmare456
Nov 6, 06:35 PM
Getting it for PS3, I haven't pre ordered it but I'll probably get it at midnight from BlockBusters.
I always preferred W@W to MW2 so I'm hoping it's gonna be more like that. If it's more like MW2 I'll probably be like this within a day.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5v_dFtizv7I
I always preferred W@W to MW2 so I'm hoping it's gonna be more like that. If it's more like MW2 I'll probably be like this within a day.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5v_dFtizv7I
more...
tvguru
Sep 25, 11:34 AM
You are kidding right? There's a whole guide on "next Tuesday" right here on MR.
His entire comment was in a joking manner, but that part he meant. :p
His entire comment was in a joking manner, but that part he meant. :p
rhett7660
Apr 22, 10:37 AM
WTH.. -1 already!!!! I don't like it..... :eek::D
LOL
LOL
more...
Uragon
Nov 17, 11:23 AM
I think Digitimes always comes out with an exaggerated news to cover-up for something new....ahem.. that is completely different
Belly-laughs
Oct 3, 06:23 PM
Your idea sounds a lot like Bill Gate's smart fridge telling the us that our milk is going bad and that we should buy a new carton the next time we are at the supermarket.:D :D
Cinch
You just wait. Soon your Mac will send you a message saying it wants more RAM and a processor upgrade the next time you�re visiting the Apple Store. :D :eek:
Cinch
You just wait. Soon your Mac will send you a message saying it wants more RAM and a processor upgrade the next time you�re visiting the Apple Store. :D :eek:
more...
PODshady
Nov 24, 04:25 PM
I get the macs that price anyways with my student discount
BJ.SoundWave360
Apr 16, 02:08 AM
Google does search.
Apple does design and creativity.
Google does books. No, as we've seen.
Google does music. No.
Apple.
Apple does design and creativity.
Google does books. No, as we've seen.
Google does music. No.
Apple.
more...
fun173
May 3, 01:51 PM
This sucks. I don't want to have to pay Verizon an extra $20 a month on top of an already expensive phone bill to do this crap. Will this affect using PDAnet on a jail broken iPhone?
Macinthetosh
Apr 29, 03:50 PM
I am glad they got rid of the slider. The slider currently used for Time Machine is annoying.
more...
Gatesbasher
Mar 24, 04:07 PM
I still think OS X peaked from an aesthetic and reliability standpoint with Panther. They've added more capabilities of course, but I'm always noticing fresh things missing with each release, and what with the interface becoming progressively duller and dingier....
That said, if OS X goes away, I'll simply stop using a computer. The alternatives aren't worth the suffering.
That said, if OS X goes away, I'll simply stop using a computer. The alternatives aren't worth the suffering.
jav6454
Dec 10, 10:12 AM
well i got a new computer case and new cpu cooler last weekend, and today is the day i take one of my systems all the way down and build it back up.
the case is a Cooler Master 922 HAF. it was on sale for $89. the cpu cooler is a silenx extreme silent cpu cooler effizio. wish me luck! :cool:
Ohhh, nice. 922s are nice for medium sized builds...
the case is a Cooler Master 922 HAF. it was on sale for $89. the cpu cooler is a silenx extreme silent cpu cooler effizio. wish me luck! :cool:
Ohhh, nice. 922s are nice for medium sized builds...
more...
balamw
Oct 2, 04:30 PM
I'm glad to see this DRM stuff getting hacked. I hate the DRM and would buy way more music, movies, and TV Shows from iTunes if there was no DRM in the files.
You didn't read the article, did you? This time Jon's working on adding iPod compatible DRM to files not originally from Apple.
B
You didn't read the article, did you? This time Jon's working on adding iPod compatible DRM to files not originally from Apple.
B
EricNau
Nov 24, 01:24 AM
Looks like it's up and running now. :)
MacVault
Oct 2, 04:28 PM
I'm glad to see this DRM stuff getting hacked. I hate the DRM and would buy way more music, movies, and TV Shows from iTunes if there was no DRM in the files.
reflex
Nov 16, 03:59 PM
Maybe AMDs for the low end lines and Core 2 Duo for the high end? What about a Mac Mini with dual AMD X2 for less than $400 with ATI graphic? :D
Sort of what I was thinking. A Turion x2 or maybe an upcoming dual core Sempron (the current one runs pretty cool). Might put the mini back at a $499 starting price.
Sort of what I was thinking. A Turion x2 or maybe an upcoming dual core Sempron (the current one runs pretty cool). Might put the mini back at a $499 starting price.
darh
Sep 12, 08:30 AM
http://www.apple.com/de/quicktime/win.html
bottom left of page
ow plz everyone, read the thread!:(
bottom left of page
ow plz everyone, read the thread!:(
kgraf6
Jan 9, 05:54 AM
These are my predictions:
Macbook Nano:
12" Multitouch Screen
32gb Solid-state hard disk
3G mobile connectivity for wireless internet access
8 hour battery
Simply a tablet (eg. Macbook cut in half); Apple Style
Mac OS X leopard Multi-touch Edition
iPhone 2.0:
3G model
16gb Storage
Also Released in Australia
Apple TV 2.0:
Dual Digital TV Tuners
EPG, time-shifting, recordings etc.
Blue-ray disc drive
Access iTunes store directly on AppleTV
Built in iPod dock
Ability to sync recordings to iPod
SDK for developers to create plugins
Mac Mini:
Complete re-design
Lower Price
Better hardware
Macbook Nano:
12" Multitouch Screen
32gb Solid-state hard disk
3G mobile connectivity for wireless internet access
8 hour battery
Simply a tablet (eg. Macbook cut in half); Apple Style
Mac OS X leopard Multi-touch Edition
iPhone 2.0:
3G model
16gb Storage
Also Released in Australia
Apple TV 2.0:
Dual Digital TV Tuners
EPG, time-shifting, recordings etc.
Blue-ray disc drive
Access iTunes store directly on AppleTV
Built in iPod dock
Ability to sync recordings to iPod
SDK for developers to create plugins
Mac Mini:
Complete re-design
Lower Price
Better hardware
xUKHCx
Apr 12, 08:43 AM
Maybe some computers come with Office as a promotional deal, and if they do, that's up to the OEM, not Microsoft. Nonetheless, I've not seen any PC come with more than a 30 day trial of Office.
Maybe it is a regional thing. I have recently bought 3 windows based machines here in the UK and they all came with trial versions of Office.
Maybe it is a regional thing. I have recently bought 3 windows based machines here in the UK and they all came with trial versions of Office.
noservice2001
Aug 1, 01:56 PM
interesting....
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