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New macboook is a winner: yay or nay?
- Thread starter marklight
- Start date
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Apple definitely hit the nail on the head with this new MacBook line, but I'd have to say that the MBP went nowhere in this update. :/
hmm maybe for the guys in USA the price point and the spec of the macbook seems ok, but for people in Australia the new range is very very "unattractive"
what i don't quite understand is all that hardware upgrade to make it faster and look better, but at the end of the day it's got a 13" screen for god sake! gaming on a 13" screen...?!? makes me just want to point and laugh
what i don't quite understand is all that hardware upgrade to make it faster and look better, but at the end of the day it's got a 13" screen for god sake! gaming on a 13" screen...?!? makes me just want to point and laugh
Even here in the States it was a disappointed. Hitting the nail on the head? Nope.
kinda bummed that the 2.0Ghz one isnt backlit.
ohh welll. ill just get the backlit keyobard and swap em
ohh welll. ill just get the backlit keyobard and swap em
I have to say nay, only because of FireWire.
Otherwise, the new MacBooks appear to be an improvement over the old ones in every way.
Otherwise, the new MacBooks appear to be an improvement over the old ones in every way.
From an outsider's perspective (aka a former mac owner):
I was looking forward to today's event, but unfortunately find myself very disappointed.
While my opinions may be biased and ignorant, here goes.
I don't like the idea of the glass touchpad and no button. I can't quite put my finger on it, but something aboud that just seems gimmicky and flawed from the get go.
The design of it is ugly. The black border around the screen and the black keyboard just seem to clash with the silver design.
Lack of Firewire = huge downer.
Price point is the biggest downer for me. I ordered an EEE PC awhile back, and it'll be arriving tomorrow. Today's MacBook release was going to be the determination if I keep the EEE, or immediately relist it on ebay without opening. In a way I kind of wanted the MacBook to work out, I don't know why...but in any case, unless God him/herself comes down from heaven tonight and says BUY A MACBOOK STUPID, I'm probably keeping the EEE.
Maybe I'll look into a secondhand Macbook on ebay.
It's horrible in my mind though when my biggest gripe with buying a used one on ebay is the lack of warranty on them...maybe a testament to my unlucky experiences with Macs before, but still.
I was looking forward to today's event, but unfortunately find myself very disappointed.
While my opinions may be biased and ignorant, here goes.
I don't like the idea of the glass touchpad and no button. I can't quite put my finger on it, but something aboud that just seems gimmicky and flawed from the get go.
The design of it is ugly. The black border around the screen and the black keyboard just seem to clash with the silver design.
Lack of Firewire = huge downer.
Price point is the biggest downer for me. I ordered an EEE PC awhile back, and it'll be arriving tomorrow. Today's MacBook release was going to be the determination if I keep the EEE, or immediately relist it on ebay without opening. In a way I kind of wanted the MacBook to work out, I don't know why...but in any case, unless God him/herself comes down from heaven tonight and says BUY A MACBOOK STUPID, I'm probably keeping the EEE.
Maybe I'll look into a secondhand Macbook on ebay.
It's horrible in my mind though when my biggest gripe with buying a used one on ebay is the lack of warranty on them...maybe a testament to my unlucky experiences with Macs before, but still.
No FireWire == another garbage netbook like Macbook Air
And pretty much every other laptop out in the market, which are, apparently, all netbooks. I wish it had FW as well, but I won't really miss FW on a MB too much.
I guess this is your last post?
This new MB is like the old one, but made of metal, and it has "real" graphics processing....the same one used on many non-integrated (i.e. separate) video cards. These are what people were asking for (and I'm not going by what SJ said during the keynote), as you could tell by many of the posts at MR over the years. No need to upgrade to an MBP just for light gaming.
And yet here we are with a new machine that ticks all the boxes, and is essentially a small form factor MBP, but without FW and ExpressCard34. That's pretty good.
Excellent upgrade for the Macbook, apart from the lack of Firewire and the $200 price rise here in Australia.
I'm not interested in firewire but I think its a mistake to leave it out - I really do. The machines themselves look good - no surprise there. If I was buying - then I'd wait and see how they performed. I guess silver & black is the new white (generally).
I'm neutral at the moment.
I'm neutral at the moment.
As I said before it was a huge disappointment for me, People are saying oh its like a MBP, well in my country it is the same price as the old macbookpro! And the old mbp looks better than the new line and is faster for the same price. I was set going to the apple store today to buy one but now im going to ask about the old stock. It just doesnt do it for me I think the people who are saying oh im gettin one they are in some sorta trance, take a step back and lot at it xD
Hopefully they redeem themselves next year
Hopefully they redeem themselves next year
I saw the Macbooks in the Sydney Apple store tonight, all I can say is that I really like the new cases the images don't do them justice. However the screen is by far too reflective (more so than the good old Macbook displays)....
So although I am very tempted in buying a new Macbook the screen is a serious turn off for me and it looks like I'm getting a refurbished 15" Macbook Pro instead.
So although I am very tempted in buying a new Macbook the screen is a serious turn off for me and it looks like I'm getting a refurbished 15" Macbook Pro instead.
Feel the same way. To be honest, since my work sched is so insane, I haven't used my video camera in years. (Guess I could import digitally taped video into my trusty PB, move to my MB for editing...) Also, my two FW-only external HDs are pretty puny by todays standards...good excuse to buy new ones!
Realize many people feel strongly about FW, but it seems to be a fading standard, life goes on. (Now ready to get trashed!
)One little-mentioned feature I did really like (went to Osaka's AppleStore tonight) is how the trackpad/button can be programed like a 'control-click' or Windows 'right-click' at either the right or left bottom corner. I set to left--one subtle little press with the thumb and up comes a contextual menu--cool!
I just visited one of our Apple Stores for a few minutes just now before I headed to work. I agree with your opinion. The cases are sturdy and look pretty good. I'm not the biggest aluminum fan, but these are pretty nice. As I said before, I didn't think I would like the two-tone of the keyboard and the black around the screen. I still don't care for it. The screen was like you said, way to reflective and that will cause a problem for some. The graphics are better, but that was expected.
Overall I was so-so impressed, but not enough to sell or give away (to my brother) my black Macbook. I was thinking about doing it sense I have plenty of money in the bank to cover the price difference. It isn't worth it to me. Hopefully Apple will make some changes in the near future.
BTW I do use the FW port on my Macbook for a few things and that is a serious drawback IMO. What was Apple thinking?
Congrats to those getting this new lineup of Macbooks. I'm sure they will be good, but like the 2G iPod touch, it wasn't worth it for me to upgrade at this time.
I love my MBP and OS X, but IMO this is clearly a case of "It's shinier than the last one and Steve says it's better so I'm going to buy it."
If the aluminum enclosure is costing them an extra $200 bucks, I wish they would've stuck with the plastic.
As a new MB owner. Here are some thoughts (upgrading from an ibook G4 and use a Dell 640m at work)
1. The trackpad: pretty cool. Totally intuitive, it works just like t ibook one, without a seam for the button. I LOVE that i can easily right click. Takes a few to get used to, but not longer than a few minutes. Still getting used to the additional key strokes. Slightly weirded out by not having to scroll in the scroll zone. That is the biggest touchpad transition for me. Everything else is business as usual.
2. Screen: shiny and bright, but i didn't find it ridiculously glossy compared with other glossy screens
3. The case: AMAZING. Wow it feels totaly solid and well put together. Not creaky.
4. The heat: haven't done anything crazy, but the metal seems to stay extra cool. Possibly due to the thickness. Anway it was pleasantly cool.
5. Wireless: seems good
6. Form factor: very much like a 12in PB. But well it makes even that cute laptop seem like a clunker.
7. Keyboard: different but easy to get used to. Almost typing like a pro after 2 hours use.
My verdict: great notebook if you are updating from something older like g4 status or a cheaper PC laptop. Much better build quality. If you have a macbook of recent vintage? Wait till rev b. It is much cooler and sleeker but i don't believe in trashing a perfectly serviceable notebook just for something new and shiny. But a good solid (in all senses of the word)notebook. Hope to get 4 years out of it like my ibook!
1. The trackpad: pretty cool. Totally intuitive, it works just like t ibook one, without a seam for the button. I LOVE that i can easily right click. Takes a few to get used to, but not longer than a few minutes. Still getting used to the additional key strokes. Slightly weirded out by not having to scroll in the scroll zone. That is the biggest touchpad transition for me. Everything else is business as usual.
2. Screen: shiny and bright, but i didn't find it ridiculously glossy compared with other glossy screens
3. The case: AMAZING. Wow it feels totaly solid and well put together. Not creaky.
4. The heat: haven't done anything crazy, but the metal seems to stay extra cool. Possibly due to the thickness. Anway it was pleasantly cool.
5. Wireless: seems good
6. Form factor: very much like a 12in PB. But well it makes even that cute laptop seem like a clunker.
7. Keyboard: different but easy to get used to. Almost typing like a pro after 2 hours use.
My verdict: great notebook if you are updating from something older like g4 status or a cheaper PC laptop. Much better build quality. If you have a macbook of recent vintage? Wait till rev b. It is much cooler and sleeker but i don't believe in trashing a perfectly serviceable notebook just for something new and shiny. But a good solid (in all senses of the word)notebook. Hope to get 4 years out of it like my ibook!