By Graham K. Rogers

When looking at new Apple products, there is usually a flurry of misinformed comment starting about 10 minutes after the product has been named and the price announced. Comments usually start with Apple's lack of innovation, examine how this latest item is Apple's death knell and then compare all the other superior manufacturers of technical devices that are clearly about to corner the market again.

The reality tends to be a little different from what these early writers imagine, however. If only they would start with the technical specifications and then imagine how the device fits into the Apple ecology.

One of my must-read sources for a number of years has been AnandTech. The deep insights and objective comments, usually a few days after that early rush to print, are far more valuable, backed up as they are by several years of expertise.

It was a shock therefore to read that after 17 years as founder, CEO and driving force behind this valuable source, Anand Lal Shimpi is retiring. Having founded AnandTech at the age of 14, he is now handing over the reigns to long-time associate, Ryan Smith who will now be editor-in-chief. His comments on taking the reins confirm that AnandTech will continue as before and that there will still be much writing on the broad range of technologies covered.

We wish Anand Lal Shimpi the best for the future and wish also to convey our thanks for the valuable work he did. For Ryan, no wishes of luck as the core values are strong enough to carry you, the site and the other contributors forward.

Graham K. Rogers teaches at the Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University in Thailand where he is also Assistant Dean. He wrote in the Bangkok Post, Database supplement on IT subjects. For the last seven years of Database he wrote a column on Apple and Macs. He is now continuing that in the Bangkok Post supplement, Life.