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New macboook is a winner: yay or nay?
- Thread starter marklight
- Start date
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I've been waiting for the updates to buy a new MacBook. I need a new computer, but the wife have been waiting to see what Apple would release.
I'm not so pleased with the Canadian prices, but expect I'll buy one of these in the next few days.
EDIT: I completely forgot to add the fact that FireWire isn't a concern for me. I don't use it on my MBP, either.
I'm not so pleased with the Canadian prices, but expect I'll buy one of these in the next few days.
EDIT: I completely forgot to add the fact that FireWire isn't a concern for me. I don't use it on my MBP, either.
For me, the mac notebooks are all about OS X and the killer trackpads. But to be honest, I'm not married to either. I was thinking about getting rid of my d620 for a macbook, and I still may, but I'm not nearly as convinced as I was. I like the design, and I don't mind a shiny display, but the price premium is more than I expected for what we're getting.
Actually, I think a better compromise would be those nicely priced 15" MBPs over in the refurb store
Actually, I think a better compromise would be those nicely priced 15" MBPs over in the refurb store
I like the fact that the WhiteBook is still an option. I believe a BlackBook Aluminum will come back sooner or later. I cant believe Apple still has a MBP with nVidia 8600 graphics! Who will seriously buy that? On the Apple website they say the 2.0 Ghz has backlit but others say it doesn't. I don't know what to believe. Also, how could Apple have gone BACKWARDS on speed? That makes no sense! I also expected Centrino 2.
All in all, I love the new MacBook even with its many flaws!
I just hate the price!
But I'm still buying one by November!
All in all, I love the new MacBook even with its many flaws!
I just hate the price!
But I'm still buying one by November!
It's a marginal upgrade, and not worth the price hike. (The upgrade from DDR2 to DDR3).
The supposed benefits of upgrading to DDR3 are:
1.) It's faster
2.) Uses less power
However, in real world performance, you'll probably see maybe 15 more minutes of battery life from DDR3 1066...
And you won't notice the difference in speed.
It's pretty much the same reason PC builders are still using DDR2 in comparison with DDR3. The marginal upgrade isn't really worth it. Probably won't be worth it until fourth quarter of next year, when the prices drop on DDR3.
Sure, Apple is attempting to build a premium product here. But the jump to DDR3 really wasn't that big of a deal. Just something to throw in there to make people believe they're getting some great value for their money.
These laptops are luxury.
Winner on the design and materials used.
Lose on the lack of ports and price of components.
You're paying for the engineering of the case.
Well, it possibly is a winner...
I have no idea (but perhaps Steve has already) if SnowLeopard might take much more advantage of the hardwae presented tonight than Leopard can right now?
He said, people demanded this upgrade, so they give in to this demand.
I know there is christmas-time and they have to make profits during Q4 2008, but isn't it possible that Apple initially might have wanted to publish the new notebooks in combination with OS X 10.6, because there is a much higher synergy?
Just a thought though...
BTW: Steve didn't make the happiest impression tonight, did he? He didn't seem to be particularly fond of this event.
I have no idea (but perhaps Steve has already) if SnowLeopard might take much more advantage of the hardwae presented tonight than Leopard can right now?
He said, people demanded this upgrade, so they give in to this demand.
I know there is christmas-time and they have to make profits during Q4 2008, but isn't it possible that Apple initially might have wanted to publish the new notebooks in combination with OS X 10.6, because there is a much higher synergy?
Just a thought though...
BTW: Steve didn't make the happiest impression tonight, did he? He didn't seem to be particularly fond of this event.
he actually seemed kinda cranky, especially when he was passing around the MBP frames.
Everyone always tries to say that Macs of any kind are luxury or premium items.
But I do not see that.
A "premium" or "luxury" product typically has very high end specifications and features. No Mac has any of these. All in the MacBook and MBP line are spec'ed worse than equivalently priced PCs. $1299 on a MacBook gets you an ugly aluminum case (that will most likely be hotter than the plastic case) with an HP display tacked on (yes the new Cinema Displays and notebook displays look EXACTLY like HP's LCD displays from over a year ago), a 2GHz Core 2 Duo, integrated graphics that still perform worse than almost 2 year old GeForce 8400M GS, and it lacks many things that are considered standard on other PCs, such as HDMI, memory card readers, etc. That same amount at HP is going to get you a 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo, 3GB of RAM, a 512MB GeForce 9600M GT powering a 15.4" 1680x1050 display with similar real world battery life with many standard features like eSATA, HDMI, memory card readers, full size ExpressCard.
Now, which one is the higher end product? The MacBook with fewer features than a $600 Compaq from Walmart or the HP with more power than the MacBook Pro?
Case closed.
I don't care about the engineering of the case. I do NOT want an aluminum case that is going to get so ridiculously hot that I still cannot use it on my lap. I can pick up my current HP after hours of gaming and set it on and use it on my lap without getting warm. My MacBook? 20 minutes of browsing and its too uncomfortable to use. My friends MacBook Pro (Santa Rosa refresh) is even worse than my MacBook.
Apple products are NOT premium products.
Apple products are basically like Bose. They're not nearly as good as those in the same price range, should cost around half as much as they do, and people only think they're good because of the brand name.
Right now Apple only makes 2 good products. The iPod touch and the iPod classic. I would have said the iPhone too, but they don't make the original any more.
I'm sure I can't speak for everybody but I have a Macbook and I haven't used the Firewire port on it -- it's not a deal breaker for me
I love the design -- I've been spoiled with my iMacs glass screen and it's nothing short of amazing so I'm sure it's appeal will carry over to the notebooks.
I would definitely purchase one if my Macbook wasn't less than a year old
I love the design -- I've been spoiled with my iMacs glass screen and it's nothing short of amazing so I'm sure it's appeal will carry over to the notebooks.
I would definitely purchase one if my Macbook wasn't less than a year old
To be honest, I wasn't comparing Apple Laptops to PC equivalents. But Apple does definitely consider themselves as a luxury, or else their laptops wouldn't be priced so highly for the components used.
They're also taking the consideration that OS X is a "Superior" operating system than Vista, and that you're getting a premium end user experience after having bought a freaking expensive laptop in comparison to the PC equivalent.
I'm not advocating either side... but that's life. I don't think Apple will ever be economically priced compared to PC equivalents.
They're also taking the consideration that OS X is a "Superior" operating system than Vista, and that you're getting a premium end user experience after having bought a freaking expensive laptop in comparison to the PC equivalent.
I'm not advocating either side... but that's life. I don't think Apple will ever be economically priced compared to PC equivalents.
i think that the only thing that really sets the apple products apart from their competition is how they work together in their environment.
Some people like the products and some people do not. I think that the people that use multiple apple products see more value in this environment. i have a macbook and an iphone and i think that their value is much more when you use them together. (even better when mobileme cooperates)
Apples prices are high. If HP or dell could sell at this price, they would. HPs and dells do not sell cheap to be nice to customers, they just do it to stay alive, people do not see a value in the name. If consumers can see a value in an apple product worth paying more money for, then apple would be stupid not to charge more money for it.
You realize DDR3 will become the new standard right?
Its called future proofing. I wouldnt be suprised to see if Snow Leopard does something nifty with it either.
Bad decision on price point
I nearly fell off my chair at work while watching the Gizmodo coverage feed. $1300 for backlit keyboard, glass screen with LED, and new graphics? When did macbooks become sweeping gaming notebooks?
I think this price decision is going to haunt Apple badly, where there will be a price drop close to Xmas and leave a large number of early buyers(like the original iPhone pissed for paying the higher price.
Also Apple knows a big % of their customers are students, and price isn't too important when they usually purchase the Macbooks through their college loan program.
I could understand fully if they moved the manufacturing to the USA, then I would be proud to shell out the extra bucks but for a shiny look, and graphics card I can't spend money for those reasons.
I am quite mad since I have been waiting for 7 months to buy a macbook, since it was leaked in April model revamp was coming.
Steve how could you do this to us?
I nearly fell off my chair at work while watching the Gizmodo coverage feed. $1300 for backlit keyboard, glass screen with LED, and new graphics? When did macbooks become sweeping gaming notebooks?
I think this price decision is going to haunt Apple badly, where there will be a price drop close to Xmas and leave a large number of early buyers(like the original iPhone pissed for paying the higher price.
Also Apple knows a big % of their customers are students, and price isn't too important when they usually purchase the Macbooks through their college loan program.
I could understand fully if they moved the manufacturing to the USA, then I would be proud to shell out the extra bucks but for a shiny look, and graphics card I can't spend money for those reasons.
I am quite mad since I have been waiting for 7 months to buy a macbook, since it was leaked in April model revamp was coming.
Steve how could you do this to us?
Praise Apple for kicking out integrated crapographics from Intel, what an achilles heal to put something thats so dreadful in a modern computer. Should have never used them in the first place.
Now if Mini will just get this GPU.
Now if Mini will just get this GPU.
Well, Leopard isn't superior to Vista at all. Leopard certainly isn't "the worlds most advanced OS" either, considering it can't even hardware accelerate H.264 video. I've had OS X crash on me more than Windows ever has. My first OS X hard lock was the first time I had an OS lock up like that on me in more than a decade.
People don't see value in HP and Dell's name? Is that why those two companies alone make up more than half of all computer sales worldwide? People don't see value in Apple's computers and thats why they still don't sell very well. Apple brags about selling 2 million units in the same time period HP sells 25 million.
I have an iPhone and iPods. They work every bit as well on Windows with iTunes as they do in OS X.
Well, the MacBook is still using integrated graphics. It's about the same as the GeForce 9100. So that means its still significantly slower than last generations dedicated GeForce 8400M GS and this generations AMD 3200 IGP.
i spoke poorly. people see a value in the names of both of those companies, but not in the same way as most people view apple. those companies are selling massive amounts of units, not an easy task, but i do not think they could sell as many units if they were all priced the way that apple's lineup is. most people i know wouldnt pay $2000 for a dell, but are holstering a MBP in their bookbag
Neither dell nor hp are bad companies, i just do not expect as much quality out of their computers as i would out of an apple machine
Well, based on my experience with both of my MacBooks and the MacBook Pros I have used, as well as all 3 HP notebooks I have owned, I do expect much better quality out of HP for significantly lower price.
Both of my MacBooks have had build quality issues. Cracking and discoloring due to heat, case separation, etc. My HP has none of that. My HP is built out of stronger plastic than my MacBook. I don't have to worry about my system getting ridiculously hot like Macs do, I don't have to worry about the case warping and bending due to heat like aluminum Macs do. I don't have to worry about dents or anything like that.
My HP, which cost several hundred less than my MacBook, is completely fully featured with true dedicated graphics, HDMI, memory card readers, and all kinds of neat things. I expect a lot more out of HP and Dell than I do Apple.
After my experiences with Apple, all I expect out of them is a system that costs about twice as much as it should and has half as many features it should even for that price point.
One of the most popular/loved portables is the old 12" powerbook which provided a nice compact size & decent power. This new macbook pretty much fills the void of that old machine. I like that is has so many of the features of the $2000-2500 Macbook Pro just in a smaller form factor. I think it is going to be very popular.
Well, I have a late 2007 MB, with Leopard and it's not a Penryn one. It's 2.2GHZ.
I think these new ones are great, but I'm not a freak that needs Firewire, which seems to be the biggest complaint. I also don't mind the glossy screen, as my MB has it now.
I think the MB got a substantial boost here and it brings it much closer to the MBP. It's basically the same piece of hardware now, the only difference, aside from screen size, is the dedicated GPU in the MBP. The new Nvidia GPU in the MB (and MBP) might be enough for people not to get the MBP.
The MB got these features which only the Pro had:
Aluminum shell (finally)
LED screen (well, mine doesn't have LED)
Backlit keyboard
Better GPU
Better trackpad with multitouch
Instead of the MBP looking all cool in Aluminum and quite a bit different than the MB, which was smaller and all plastic, they look more like true product line, aesthetically, like other manufacturers are doing, like Dell or HP.
I like the black edged screen and keyboard, sure, it looks more like a Windows laptop, but I don't know of any other laptop as slick and refined as these. Also, with all these MB's cracking and chipping where the lid closes, the aluminum is a welcome change. I'm sure Apple is tired of replacing that top shell. As for Firewire, it was only 400 and USB 2.0 is just as fast or faster, the only problem will be if someone has Firewire only devices. Also, the glass touchpad will help with the grease spot these laptops seem to get.
I'm glad the MB and MBP are closer in style and it's just a GPU and bigger screen separating the two. Now they just need to update the 17", my guess is they didn't have the parts in time. It's quite possible they won't do it at all.
I love em and I'd get one in a heartbeat, the 2.4GHZ one for sure. Maybe next yet. The only thing wrong with my MB now is the X3100. :\
I think these new ones are great, but I'm not a freak that needs Firewire, which seems to be the biggest complaint. I also don't mind the glossy screen, as my MB has it now.
I think the MB got a substantial boost here and it brings it much closer to the MBP. It's basically the same piece of hardware now, the only difference, aside from screen size, is the dedicated GPU in the MBP. The new Nvidia GPU in the MB (and MBP) might be enough for people not to get the MBP.
The MB got these features which only the Pro had:
Aluminum shell (finally)
LED screen (well, mine doesn't have LED)
Backlit keyboard
Better GPU
Better trackpad with multitouch
Instead of the MBP looking all cool in Aluminum and quite a bit different than the MB, which was smaller and all plastic, they look more like true product line, aesthetically, like other manufacturers are doing, like Dell or HP.
I like the black edged screen and keyboard, sure, it looks more like a Windows laptop, but I don't know of any other laptop as slick and refined as these. Also, with all these MB's cracking and chipping where the lid closes, the aluminum is a welcome change. I'm sure Apple is tired of replacing that top shell. As for Firewire, it was only 400 and USB 2.0 is just as fast or faster, the only problem will be if someone has Firewire only devices. Also, the glass touchpad will help with the grease spot these laptops seem to get.
I'm glad the MB and MBP are closer in style and it's just a GPU and bigger screen separating the two. Now they just need to update the 17", my guess is they didn't have the parts in time. It's quite possible they won't do it at all.
I love em and I'd get one in a heartbeat, the 2.4GHZ one for sure. Maybe next yet. The only thing wrong with my MB now is the X3100. :\
The $1,600 model will become the all-time best-seller. It has *everything* I want.
you don't want a card reader for your digital camera?