[kevkrom]

Sort of makes the case for mac mini; get some good thunderbolt peripherals and swap out relatively less expensive CPU.

What I'm hearing is that the EOL cutoff is based more on GPU than CPU for Mountain Lion.

As for the "iOS-ification" comments, it's nonsense. Of course Apple wants to make certain applications and UI elements have the same look and feel across devices -- why shouldn't they? It makes it easier to capture iOS device users on the desktop, and it gives those who buy into the entire Apple ecosystem a consistent look-and-feel across devices. And with iCloud integration, it's not just consistent look-and-feel, but consistent data as well.

The point the naysayers miss is that these additions take nothing away from the existing OS -- they're new features. If you're using Apeture and Photoshop, they will still work just fine.

Nor is Apple the only one doing this. Windows 8 anyone? I fail to see what is bad about cross-device consistency.

[2ndamendmentpa]

I thought it was ironic that a lot of the mac boxes that wont be supported...will still run Windows 8! (i think mentioned in the ars thread).

[Chipper]

What? Wait!! Shouldn’t everyone want to have diagnosing PC problems as a hobby?

[dfwgator]

I’m ticked at Apple right now, because I purchased a book on iTunes, thinking I could read it on my MacBook.....WRONG!!!! You can only read them on an iOS device.

[af_vet_rr]

Nor is Apple the only one doing this. Windows 8 anyone? I fail to see what is bad about cross-device consistency.

While I don't care about cross-device consistency for the interface since I got my start on mainframes back before personal computers even existed, I am interested in having all of my data easily available on any of my computers or iPhone. That is what I like about Mountain Lion.