Why I argue against Apple products

[SoulKiss]

This originally was going into this thread (http://forums.sv650.org/showpost.php?p=2713352&postcount=16).

Then it got too big, too lon, and provided too many places for derails, so I thought I would spin it off to its own thread.

So, let the rant begin... :)

I would like to spend a moment, before I recommend a device other than an Apple product, to re-itterate WHY I will never recommend them.

Control, pure and simple.

Apple have created a walled garden, Appleland if you will. They choose what you can do by controlling which Apps available, and what you can do with it. They lie, well dodge the truth anyway, constantly about the capabilities of their devices, either promoting features that dont work outside of the US, or saying that they are the first to do something when other people have been doing it for years (ok the previous version may not have worked quite so well, but thayt was usually due to the technical limitations of the time.

Add to this their approach to competiton, ie to sue them out of the market place if their device even looks remotely like their, and come on, all phones look a bit like each other, there is really only one design for the things - ie big screen on the front with some buttons, the point the took offence at was that the rivals little rectange had rounded corners, like their little box.

[EssexDave]

And yet their phones are good, solid, their products rarely crash and in the business world if you think someone is 'stealing' your ideas your sue to protect your business share.

I have an iphone and an andriod. The andriod is brilliant, but you can't beat the iphone for simple functionality.

No there isn't as much control and you have to do things as they are given to you, but it still works and is still a damn good phone.

The only issue I have with Apple is the cost.

[markc123]

The walled garden is one of the advantages - much better than the more open Android Marketplace for (many) users.

Its like Windows PCs - users break them because there is no quality control on what malware they can install. The walled garden and the way the software is written means little chance of anything malicious and badly written stuff is unlikely to cause stability issues on the device. WinPho 7 is similiar.

Could not suggest anyone buys android as its too buggy, techy and unless you bus a nexus device the software update roadmaps are awful - depends what mood the vendor is in at the time.

Used many androids, iPhones, Windows phone 5-7 and happy on iOS now, at work we are 100% Microsoft on the PCs, 50:50 iOS and WinPho7 on the smart phones.

All the big players in the mobile market seem to be patent trolling constantly.

Always fun to argue about.

[Fallout]

+1 SoulKiss. I don't hate Apple. I'm really not bothered enough by technology to let it pish me off, but the things that do annoy me a little bit are:

- The advertising campaigns. As you said, they like to 'suggest' they invented all this amazing stuff. All they've done is improved and commercialised existing concepts that were normally taken from the business sector.

- The price. They're the Audi of the computer world. They use the same components as everyone else (more or less) but sell at 50% on top.

- And they achieve this because of their branding. Somehow they have made iStuff cool, and the future, and if you don't have an iPod and an iPhone and an iPad, you're not cool, and you're behind the times. So there is a culture of fanboys/girl who swear by their apple devices, and wait in hungry anticipation of the next iPad, ready to shell out all their savings on it. When you buy an iPad, you're buying into a big fluffy corporate dream of amazing technology that will change your life. But you're not ... you're buying another type of computer, which will make you a fat geek. You've just been brainwashed by a giant corporation. iStuff is no cooler, nor more "the future" than anything else out there.

When people say to me "I might get an iPad, they look quite good", I think fair play. When people say to me "OH MY GOD. I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT IPAD. IT'LL BE AMAZING!" I want to poke them in their eyes and tell them to climb out of the corporate sphincter they don't realise they've climbed in to.

[WayneL]

Personally, I just want ease and support. For computing I have a PC, not a Mac. For a phone I have an iPhone. It's the standard these days = lots of support, apps etc. plus the OS is the best for me.

I'm not a fan of iTunes though.

[timwilky]

It is apples restrictive practices that get me. It is my lump of technology. Why should the manufacturer tell me what I can or cannot do with it.

As a developer. I object to the hoops apple would have me jump through and what my development environment should be. Therefore I target android.

[SoulKiss]

The walled garden is one of the advantages - much better than the more open Android Marketplace for (many) users.

Its like Windows PCs - users break them because there is no quality control on what malware they can install. The walled garden and the way the software is written means little chance of anything malicious and badly written stuff is unlikely to cause stability issues on the device. WinPho 7 is similiar.

Could not suggest anyone buys android as its too buggy, techy and unless you bus a nexus device the software update roadmaps are awful - depends what mood the vendor is in at the time.

Used many androids, iPhones, Windows phone 5-7 and happy on iOS now, at work we are 100% Microsoft on the PCs, 50:50 iOS and WinPho7 on the smart phones.

All the big players in the mobile market seem to be patent trolling constantly.

Always fun to argue about.

Android is too techy? Rubbish.

Yes I am a tech geek, but I cannot think of a single thing in Android that requires me to be that. I know many non-techs (my Dad for example) who are more than happy with their Android devices and dont call me to find out how to do basic stuff.

Last time he had to talk to me about it was the day he got it and he was looking for his email settings (I look after his email on my Mail server) and while I will admit that it may have been easier on Apple due to it dumbing things down, its not hard on Android, despite it using the technically correct name for things.

Yes as it gives you more options to do things, teathering for example, there are some more complex concepts to get your head around, but they are all fairly well documented and easy to understand.

Which bugs in Android have you come across, or are you just repeating what you have heard?

[Spank86]

I have an Ipad, an android phone and a windows PC, I honestly think I have the best of both all worlds although I wouldnt mind adding a cheap netbook for running diagnostics and tuning on the bike.

You can add an external keyboard to the Ipad, either a bluetooth one or a plug in, the one thing you cant have is a mouse or trackpad which would be handy very occasionally.

[NTECUK]

Android has a cutie corporate logo and you can get it in a plush.
Nuff said ;)

[Mr Speirs]

They are all owned by the same people now so it doesn't really matter.

Back in the day apple were very good, stable products specifically geared towards multimedia. Ten or fifteen years ago you wouldn't have even dreamed of running a recording studio on anything other than a mac. Anything else was far too unstable.

The walled thing soulkiss talks about was a thing apple did from very early on, primarily to ensure that only approved products were used with their computer to ensure their stability in pressure environments. For this stability you paid a premium...although you could buy custom PC's geared for studio work they generally cost a lot more than a standard G4/G5.

Nowadays however since intel and apple got together I've noticed my apple products have started to slow down after updates.

That's said using PC's infuriates me. I've been using macs for 11 years now and know them.
I have a MacBook, a G5 and an iPhone. I won't buy anything else but not because I'm a massive fan boy or nothing but because I like the way they work and I can't be bothered to work out how to work anything else...especially phones!

[mufman]

Agree with the SoulKiss on most points.

Apple for me is like a dictatorship.... one example which shows it brilliantly and if someone can answer this question (answer it good with solid facts) than I will here publicly admit that Apple is "not that bad".

The question is:
Iphones have bluetooth but can't communicate through bluetooth with phones of other brands. Why? Why? Whyyyy? It is technically possible, all other manufacturers do that.... I love when my friends who have iPhone are sending me pictures through email while we are standing next to each other :)

They charge ridiculous prices for their products and dictate you what feature you can use and what you can't. If somebody wants to pay ridiculous price and be told what he can and can't do than OK, it's your choice.... Maybe a little hint from me then... You might consider moving to North Korea or Cuba, I think with this attitude you would have a lovely time down there...:mrgreen: (no personal offence ;) )

[L3nny]

This sums up the Apple vs Windows debate perfectly to me. If you know how to use Windows properly then it is great. If you need your hand held every step of the way then an Mac is probably better suited to you. The only problem I have with Apple stuff is the price and as SK said the way they justify it.

http://www.loleg.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/mac-vs-pc.jpg

[pookie]

More fashion over functionality.. some people like living with restricted boundaries. which is good in some ways.
Others prefer an option especially when paying for the privilege.

Personally I'd have the Ninja please and make my own mind how fast I go :)

[metalangel]

Walled garden is nice... I call Xbox Live (similarly controlled environment) a ghetto. Being allowed in or being allowed to access the big bad world beyond Live is almost impossible because MS hate giving up control, or giving away free stuff.

[Fallout]

The question is:
Iphones have bluetooth but can't communicate through bluetooth with phones of other brands. Why? Why? Whyyyy? It is technically possible, all other manufacturers do that.... I love when my friends who have iPhone are sending me pictures through email while we are standing next to each other :)


Well, I know you know the answer already. ;) It's all about the money. Apple are placed strongly enough that they can avoid supporting/communcation/acknowledging any other technology, because they don't need to to make cash. And this encourages other people to the platform so that they can do these things Apple locks out. It's just good business sense, but calling them a dictatorship ..... sounds about right to me. :mrgreen:

I've gone the other way though. To have technology stuff work between me and my mrs, we could've gone iPhone, iTune etc. Instead, I bought her a Sony MP3 player (just as good, if not better, for half the price), and we're both on Android. Problem solved, and I can still afford the weekly shopping. :)

This sums up the Apple vs Windows debate perfectly to me. If you know how to use Windows properly then it is great. If you need your hand held every step of the way then an Mac is probably better suited to you. The only problem I have with Apple stuff is the price and as SK said the way they justify it.

http://www.loleg.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/mac-vs-pc.jpg

Love it. :)

[nikon70]

I have an MacBook Pro, MacBook, iPad 2, the new iPad, iPhone, Apple Tv, and anything else Apple.

Pure and simple because they just all work together and SHMBO can't use anything else that requires the simplest configuration - much less effort for me to do anything!

Charging is also a doddle... they all take the same one!

Plus it's purty!

[andrewsmith]

They are all owned by the same people now so it doesn't really matter.

Back in the day apple were very good, stable products specifically geared towards multimedia. Ten or fifteen years ago you wouldn't have even dreamed of running a recording studio on anything other than a mac. Anything else was far too unstable.

The walled thing soulkiss talks about was a thing apple did from very early on, primarily to ensure that only approved products were used with their computer to ensure their stability in pressure environments. For this stability you paid a premium...although you could buy custom PC's geared for studio work they generally cost a lot more than a standard G4/G5.

Nowadays however since intel and apple got together I've noticed my apple products have started to slow down after updates.

That's said using PC's infuriates me. I've been using macs for 11 years now and know them.
I have a MacBook, a G5 and an iPhone. I won't buy anything else but not because I'm a massive fan boy or nothing but because I like the way they work and I can't be bothered to work out how to work anything else...especially phones!

Agree with that
With the PC vs Apple thing, I picked the Macbook over the laptop as I didn't want Vista at the time and the previous two machines had ****ed up.

I've found XP works prefectly on a MacBook for some reason :scratch:

[Spank86]

Well, I know you know the answer already. ;) It's all about the money. Apple are placed strongly enough that they can avoid supporting/communcation/acknowledging any other technology, because they don't need to to make cash.
More likely its simply a part of their "walled garden" ethos, bluetooth to other devices would be an ungarded gate allowing unverified stuff to enter.

If you want that then you should probably have an android.

[yorkie_chris]

the rivals little rectange had rounded corners, like their little box.

in the business world if you think someone is 'stealing' your ideas

The nokia 3310 had managed to avoid stabbing your bollox off every time you step forward and they didn't make c***s of themselves over it ;)


Which bugs in Android have you come across, or are you just repeating what you have heard?

Mine's fine so far?


Charging is also a doddle... they all take the same one!

Plus it's purty!



Hmmm, funny, my HTC and blackberry both take a mini USB? You know, a well known standard size not limited to one manufacturer.

The nokia I had before took that plug too.


Do you have to have your house rewired with apple branded 230V to plug the f***ers in too :-P

[Sid Squid]

Apple; no functional advantage, lots lots more money and no reasonable or defensible explanation as to why that is.

If how it looks is important to you, and if it is I can't help thinking you rather missed the point of a computing device, (of any kind), and the price doesn't put you off, then buy Apple as they're not actually poorer than other makes*.

FWIW I own an Apple device as it came into my hands at exactly the right money, it works fine but I'm not blind to its faults and Itunes has to be the worst joke in the world of computing - although that may be deliberate as I understand it's slightly less terrible on a Mac.

* Itunes excepted obviously.

[Fallout]

More likely its simply a part of their "walled garden" ethos, bluetooth to other devices would be an ungarded gate allowing unverified stuff to enter.

If you want that then you should probably have an android.

Yes, but I think their "walled garden" ethos has little to do with security and reliability and more to do with making money. If you have total control over software for your system you can take a bite out of every transaction. Anyone can develop for their own iPhone privately, so malicious unchecked software can still be spread, just not by their regulated market place or other restricted systems.

I doubt there's anything to stop someone writing a bluetooth program to simulate an iPhone and communicate with one, and potentially be malicious. I believe Apple chooses not to support standard protocols purely because the ability to communicate with other devices reduces the need for a mac and an ipod and an iphone. I quote Nikon above ...

I have an MacBook Pro, MacBook, iPad 2, the new iPad, iPhone, Apple Tv, and anything else Apple.

Pure and simple because they just all work together and SHMBO can't use anything else that requires the simplest configuration - much less effort for me to do anything!

Once you're big enough with attractive enough products, you can ignore and purposefully exclude support for competitor devices and begin your monopoly. That's the Apple long game, me thinks.

[Spank86]

Anyone can develop for their own iPhone privately, so malicious unchecked software can still be spread, just not by their regulated market place or other restricted systems.

only if you jailbreak the Iphone, essentially knocking down the walls and giving you an expensive android phone with no warranty.

I doubt there's anything to stop someone writing a bluetooth program to simulate an iPhone and communicate with one, and potentially be malicious. I believe Apple chooses not to support standard protocols purely because the ability to communicate with other devices reduces the need for a mac and an ipod and an iphone. I quote Nikon above ...

the only thing preventing it is that apple try their best to protect their phones, if it was easy there'd be an app to send photos to ipods in the android store.

You could equally use the wifi capability or even the phone signal to spread malicious software but it' not easy or widespread.

[mufman]

Do you have to have your house rewired with apple branded 230V to plug the f***ers in too :-P

:mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen:

[SoulKiss]

Yes, but I think their "walled garden" ethos has little to do with security and reliability and more to do with making money. If you have total control over software for your system you can take a bite out of every transaction. Anyone can develop for their own iPhone privately, so malicious unchecked software can still be spread, just not by their regulated market place or other restricted systems.

It costs you £99 (or is it $99) for the Apple SDK, that only runs on Apple.

You can only put your developed Apps on a few phones with that, to get wide-spread distribution you would need to submit it to Apple to get them to Certify it and then put it in the Store.

This is great as it adds to security.

However the other side of the coin.

I can download the Android SDK for free, write an app thats useful only to me and my friends and guve them the program file to install on their Android phones as long as they have chosen to let non Marketplace apps be installed.

This adds to the functionality of the platform.

The decision is what is more important to you.

Freedom to do what you want with the device you purchased, or the safety of someone else deciding what is good for you.

[shonadoll]

My iPhone is the only phone where I've managed to use every function. It plays music through my sena Bluetooth on my bike, in my car, and synchs everything with my iPad. I certainly wouldn't buy the latest unless my two died, but do love the simplicity and logic of apple stuff. It is expensive though.

[jambo]

Stolen from The Lone Wolf:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/579737_10151000486451209_504311208_12058983_244661 781_n.jpg
I don't have a point, I just wanted to post that up :D

[Fallout]

It costs you £99 (or is it $99) for the Apple SDK, that only runs on Apple.

You can only put your developed Apps on a few phones with that, to get wide-spread distribution you would need to submit it to Apple to get them to Certify it and then put it in the Store.

This is great as it adds to security.

However the other side of the coin.

I can download the Android SDK for free, write an app thats useful only to me and my friends and guve them the program file to install on their Android phones as long as they have chosen to let non Marketplace apps be installed.

This adds to the functionality of the platform.

The decision is what is more important to you.

Freedom to do what you want with the device you purchased, or the safety of someone else deciding what is good for you.

Price is more important to me, hence I'm an Android user. Started off on a dirt cheap phone, then updated a couple of times, always paying half the cost of an iPhone.

I know where you're coming from btw. I have developed two games for Android (game developer by trade ... if you can call it that). Will post up some links if you're interested. Have you made any apps?

[Small Clanger]

I don't drink cider. I'm just not compatible with it.

[Lozzo]

It's not the "walled garden", the lack of functionality, the corporate branding or any other reason put forward so far that prevents me from buying anything Apple - it's the fact that 99% of Apple fan-bois are smug to55ers and I don't want to be perceived by the general public and my friends as being the same. I can be my own brand of to55er without needing some crap piece of electronic hardware to help me along.

[SoulKiss]

It's not the "walled garden", the lack of functionality, the corporate branding or any other reason put forward so far that prevents me from buying anything Apple - it's the fact that 99% of Apple fan-bois are smug to55ers and I don't want to be perceived by the general public and my friends as being the same. I can be my own brand of to55er without needing some crap piece of electronic hardware to help me along.

+1 - that was the unwritten part of my post :)

I knew someone, probably Lozzo would come along and voice it for me :)

[Bluefish]

One of the lads at work is a proper fanboi, he has just got the latest ipad £460 odd quid, that's with the works discount, he relly thought that when you played video on it that it was like a 3d laser effect in that the images popped up out of the screen, cos he saw a vid of it on poo tube. i'm sure it will come, just not yet Lol

[Bri w]

I'm not fussed what I have as long as its at a price I can afford and does what I want it to do.

Can I use all the functions of my laptop or my phone? No.
Can most people use their 'toys' to the full capabilities? No.
So does it actually matter?

Why aren't we all riding around on a Hyosung? It would get us from A to B, and its cheap.

If you want Apple, buy Apple. You don't have to justify it to anyone, nor are your reasons wrong. Its what you wanted, and what you bought.

[hindle8907]

I'm not going to go into a huge detail but let me give you some back ground

1.) I'm a techno gadget freak and and own 1000's of pounds worth of gadgets of which I hack/crack/break and then fix again.
I own x3 flat screen TV's x3 5.1 amp/ surround systems , 3 PS3's , 3 xbox 360s , x1 wii , 2 psp's , 2 Nintendo DS's , Manny laptops and PC's and an array of other mobile devices.
2.) I'm a Network Administrator and I have worked for the last five years in a mobile drvien I.T Department my role was to manage, maintain test and deploy all types of mobile devices and tablets across the fleet .
3.) I'm not an apple fan boi and welcome all types of hardware and platforms and love how each year devices are getting better and better.
4.) I would never buy a mac as I'm a avid PC gamer.

The below four devices did all belong to me the two devices on the left are apple i-Devices running IOS and the two on the right are Samsung device running Android. All devices are in the same price range.

I got the two on the right to replace the apple devices.
That didn't happen and I sold the two on the right at a Huge loss after 3 months of ownership.
Why ?
Simply because the apple devices have much more to offer and run x10 better.

http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo290/hindle8907/DSCF1311.jpg

I sold the the galaxy tab on here, its got two years on my ipad1 "first generation" and it still didnt stack up.
And the Samsung S2 phone is just blocky as hell compared to the iphone.

So what the devices on the right can have a SD card put in them big wooptedooo ! thats about the only thing that had on the apple devices.

I'm not biased and can give a honest opinion as ive had exposure to all types of devices for extended periods of time which propababy lets me have a stronger option than most.

My opinion is that if you want apple buy then go and buy apple if you want android ect ect then buy that
but don't anyone on this forum put you off as half of them don't even own or even had enough exposure to apple or other devices to give valid comment.

Yes you will allways get one of two people whos devices didn't work for them or became faulty but when does that not happen with technology !!!

Pics not to show off but just show you that I take pride in my hobby and do acutally do what I state above.

http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo290/hindle8907/IMG_0791.jpg
http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo290/hindle8907/IMG_0787.jpg

http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo290/hindle8907/IMG_0778.jpg

http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo290/hindle8907/AVFo/DSC01202.jpg
http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo290/hindle8907/AVFo/DSC01207.jpg
http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo290/hindle8907/Fullsize/LR7a.jpg
http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo290/hindle8907/Fullsize/BR.jpg

[The Idle Biker]

I don't understand teh fixation of any of it, I couldn't give a monkies, I just like Sh@gging, riding bikes, football, boxing, drinking beer and earning money.

Wtf do you do with an Apple / Android just play purile games and surf the internet? Oh yeah coooooollllll.

[hindle8907]

Depends what type of user you are.
I use my devices as work tools.
It's like a hammer to a builder but multifunctional and also has some fun bits to it as well.

[widepants]

I don't understand teh fixation of any of it, I couldn't give a monkies, I just like Sh@gging, riding bikes, football, boxing, drinking beer and earning money.

Wtf do you do with an Apple / Android just play purile games and surf the internet? Oh yeah coooooollllll.
the beers are on me :smt008

[Spank86]

What's football except another puerile game?

[widepants]

another beer on its way

[Lozzo]

I don't understand teh fixation of any of it, I couldn't give a monkies, I just like Sh@gging, riding bikes, football, boxing, drinking beer and earning money.

Wtf do you do with an Apple / Android just play purile games and surf the internet? Oh yeah coooooollllll.

I knew there was something I liked about you - aside from sharing an awesome first name with me - but do something about the football ffs, it's a girls game :D

[The Idle Biker]

What's football except another puerile game?

mmm good point, but it's a sport and to me that's different to Angry Birds and all the rest of that bollox. That said I did enjoy Gears of War but I don't know if you can do that on an Apple. If you can I take it all back, a bit, nah fnck it, I don't really ;-)

[Bluefish]

I've had an iphone, now got an android, next who knows, probably not been invented yet, and yeah footballs cack ;0)

[daveyrach]

This is food for thought Apple are Samsung's biggest customer for components, if that's the case why not just buy something Samsung.

[Specialone]

Speaking from my own experience, my wife and I both own iPhones, 3GS and 3G, I think they are good gadgets, Internet and apps are very good.

But... As a phone, I think they aren't very good at all, in my area they struggle to pick a good signal yet my previous phones all had very good signal and always seemed to have signal wherever I went, our phones go no service a lot.

They also drop out mid conversation for no reason whatsoever.

As mr spiers said, they also slow over time with updates (the cynic in me thinks this is a intended ploy by apple) but you can reduce this apparently by wiping the device then updating it rather than updating over the top of previous updates.

[hindle8907]

This is food for thought Apple are Samsung's biggest customer for components, if that's the case why not just buy something Samsung.

*facepalm*

[Spank86]

Signal on new phones is definitely a lot worse, they really need to sort that out.

[Balky001]

I miss my iphone. The Galaxy II predictive test sucks. But what I really miss is the connectivity/usability to my car stereo and Denon player. Ipod docks are so easy. I get the anti-competition thing but all large corps are the same.

[Tigerrrr.......]

Personally, I just want ease and support. For computing I have a PC, not a Mac. For a phone I have an iPhone. It's the standard these days = lots of support, apps etc. plus the OS is the best for me.

I'm not a fan of iTunes though. A Mac is a PC.

[fizzwheel]

but you can reduce this apparently by wiping the device then updating it rather than updating over the top of previous updates.

Thats common among many platforms. Microsoft products suffer the same issues and have done for many many years.

What I don't like is the fact that some people will use the technology that a person chooses to use and then use that to judge them. Or look down on them. Or think that person x thinks person y is a retard because they choose to buy and use a product from company z

Whats going in in the smartphone market now is no different than what happened when I was a kid with BBC Micro vs Commodore 64 vs Spectrum, I remember similar conversations among my friends over which was better. The thing is they were all good but were good at different things.

[allantheboss]

I hate Apple.

[Dabber]

And yet their phones are good, solid, their products rarely crash and in the business world if you think someone is 'stealing' your ideas your sue to protect your business share.

I have an iphone and an andriod. The andriod is brilliant, but you can't beat the iphone for simple functionality.

No there isn't as much control and you have to do things as they are given to you, but it still works and is still a damn good phone.

The only issue I have with Apple is the cost.

Well said!

I had an Android phone but it was too glitchy. Now have an iPhone and it runs much smoother. Also have an iMac & iPad. All 3 are one happy family :)

[JamesMio]

Personally I prefer snowboarding, mountain biking, motorcycling, food, beer and sex to spending my days arguing with people on the Internet about which little electronic gadget is 'better' than the other.

Each to their own though I suppose, whatever makes you happy.....

[Spank86]

I applaud your ability to post whilst simultaneously snowboarding down a mountainside and pleasuring a beautiful woman and drinking beer.

[JamesMio]

Sounds like an alright afternoon to me.

[Spank86]

Me too, apart from the inevitable frostbite in areas that should remain un(frost)bitten.

[maviczap]

Personally I prefer snowboarding, mountain biking, motorcycling, food, beer and sex .....

Which would explain that contented smile on your avatar ;)