Umm Macbook Pro... Same old design?

[maya]

I'd have liked to see a mini-drawing tablet; or a stylus so you can use the current touchpad as a tablet. Would be great if you had to work on fine detail etc and didn't want to lug a big one around.

I don't mind that it's the same design. It does still look pretty good; I'm just concerned about the loss of a FW port. I know it daisychains but when I'm importing video from the camcorder to an external drive, it's much easier to have the camcorder on the FW400 port and the hard drive on the FW800 one.

I believe incorporating a tablet into the trackpad would be a terrible idea, as people would only use it to try it out and after that they would not even bother. Reason being it is too small to do anything productive with it. Having a Touch Screen is another venue for Apple to expand on.

Most external HDD have 2 FW ports, so I see this less of a problem. The whole point is that Apple is trying to make the MacBook minimal, clean, and effective. Can you honestly tell me that you are always rooming around with 2 FW devices or using them both in a mobile situation. Most external HDD do not even draw power from the FW port on any Mac, they have they own PSU. Only mobile HDD draw they power from notebooks and most come with another FW connector.

Plus Apple is trying to boost they profit margin.

 

[Phat_Pat]

its thin its looks sexy


and it says Macbook Pro where it used to say Powerbook G4

and frontrow runs smooth as butta on this thing


even faster than my G5

 

[2nyRiggz]

what was wrong with the powerbook design? nothing...if it aint broke dont fix it...the design still looks cool


Bless

 

[MacTruck]

I can't believe some of the replies on this topic. Are you guys nuts?

First of all,

Counterfit, you don't know what you are talking about at all. Removable drives don't add weight and thickness. I have a Thinkpad T42p with all those options and guess what? Its as light as the powerbook and exactly 1" thick. Bookendzdocks is NOT a dock. Its a bunch of ports that you jam into your powerbook all at once. A dock connector is for docks period. Again, Thinkpad T42p has one. Aluminum handles drops better than steel? Again you are nuts. You should NOT have the display open to vent. Thats a defect as far as I am concerned. No place to put 2 dvi ports? Again, you are nuts.


Mechcozmo, 3 button mouse doesn't fit on laptops? I guess if you tried to cram a MOUSE into a laptop you are right, but a 4 button trackpad would fit just fine. AGAIN my T42p has not only a Trackpad with 3 buttons but also a pointer stick in the middle of the keyboard.

Great update on the macbook, just wish these little things were done to it. Its entirely possible, as IBM did it with the Thinkpad and tons of other laptop makers have done it as well. The THinkpad is the best laptop out there period but it runs Windows which bites it. Maybe there will be a hack for OSX intel so I can put it on the thinkpad. Best of both worlds.

And why is the macbook only up to 1.83ghz? That sucks. Should be 2ghz top of the line. Sorry folks but its true.

 

[xyian]

Even though I think the PB was the sexiest design ever, I think this was the key time to switch over to a new design and maybe lure in some windows users with a new look. I think a lot of windows users might still link the look to the old macs, which they already deem as incompatible as hell even though it's the windows file system that's incompatible with everything else!

 

[mustard]

I can't believe some of the replies on this topic. Are you guys nuts?

First of all,

Counterfit, you don't know what you are talking about at all. Removable drives don't add weight and thickness. I have a Thinkpad T42p with all those options and guess what? Its as light as the powerbook and exactly 1" thick. Bookendzdocks is NOT a dock. Its a bunch of ports that you jam into your powerbook all at once. A dock connector is for docks period. Again, Thinkpad T42p has one. Aluminum handles drops better than steel? Again you are nuts. You should NOT have the display open to vent. Thats a defect as far as I am concerned. No place to put 2 dvi ports? Again, you are nuts.


Mechcozmo, 3 button mouse doesn't fit on laptops? I guess if you tried to cram a MOUSE into a laptop you are right, but a 4 button trackpad would fit just fine. AGAIN my T42p has not only a Trackpad with 3 buttons but also a pointer stick in the middle of the keyboard.

Great update on the macbook, just wish these little things were done to it. Its entirely possible, as IBM did it with the Thinkpad and tons of other laptop makers have done it as well. The THinkpad is the best laptop out there period but it runs Windows which bites it. Maybe there will be a hack for OSX intel so I can put it on the thinkpad. Best of both worlds.

And why is the macbook only up to 1.83ghz? That sucks. Should be 2ghz top of the line. Sorry folks but its true.

First off removable drives due ad weight, take out your harddirve, cdrom, exc. then remove the unecessary screws, plastic casing, and additional cabeling then weight your ladptop with just the bear drives.
That stuff does add weight even if it si not signigfigant, it could be lighter.
Also regarding weight to volume what exactly are the dimensions of your ThinkPad H/W/D.

Regarding a dock it is just something else that has little or no real value for the majority of users as well as adding to cost and potential problems.

Also what is a 3 or four button mouse going to accomplish that a single mouse button and 78 keys on the standard keyboard, I will tell you nothing other than coffusion.

Also I don't think there are any laptop manufactures producing a 2.0GHz Duo Core Laptop at any level let alone the size, and weight of the macBook.

I am not trying to get on you but it seems as if you have already scourned the macBooks, so it sounds as if your next laptop will be a ... IBM/Leveno.

 

[-Escher-]

Also what is a 3 or four button mouse going to accomplish that a single mouse button and 78 keys on the standard keyboard, I will tell you nothing other than coffusion.

Believe me: it makes sense and everyone smarter than an oyster would not be conffused at all! They've been stubborn not adding at least one more button....Mac lovers just think it is better with only one and haven't even tryied a double button touchpad...humpf....You can do magic with an extra button!

 

[MacTruck]

First off removable drives due ad weight, take out your harddirve, cdrom, exc. then remove the unecessary screws, plastic casing, and additional cabeling then weight your ladptop with just the bear drives.
That stuff does add weight even if it si not signigfigant, it could be lighter.
Also regarding weight to volume what exactly are the dimensions of your ThinkPad H/W/D.

Regarding a dock it is just something else that has little or no real value for the majority of users as well as adding to cost and potential problems.

Also what is a 3 or four button mouse going to accomplish that a single mouse button and 78 keys on the standard keyboard, I will tell you nothing other than coffusion.

Also I don't think there are any laptop manufactures producing a 2.0GHz Duo Core Laptop at any level let alone the size, and weight of the macBook.

I am not trying to get on you but it seems as if you have already scourned the macBooks, so it sounds as if your next laptop will be a ... IBM/Leveno.

Dude, blindly following anyone or anything will get you in big trouble. Just look at the Nazis.

 

[mustard]

Believe me: it makes sense and everyone smarter than an oyster would not be conffused at all! They've been stubborn not adding at least one more button....Mac lovers just think it is better with only one and haven't even tryied a double button touchpad...humpf....You can do magic with an extra button!

I am not saying that 2 buttons wouldn't be welcomed by a majority of users (including myslef), but what is more than 2 going to accomplish - for most people nothing or confusion.

 

[MacTruck]

I am not saying that 2 buttons wouldn't be welcomed by a majority of users (including myslef), but what is more than 2 going to accomplish - for most people nothing or confusion.

Confusion? I think you are confused here. Every computer in the world has at least 2 buttons on the mouse or notebook and I never EVER heard a single person say "WHAT THE HELL IS THIS BUTTON FOR?" and that includes old ladies.

OK I take it back, my 2 yr old didn't know what it was for, but then again he ain't gonna be using a $2500 macbook either the mac mini is all he is getting for a while.

 

[law guy]

Confusion? I think you are confused here. Every computer in the world has at least 2 buttons on the mouse or notebook and I never EVER heard a single person say "WHAT THE HELL IS THIS BUTTON FOR?" and that includes old ladies.

OK I take it back, my 2 yr old didn't know what it was for, but then again he ain't gonna be using a $2500 macbook either the mac mini is all he is getting for a while.

My ThinkPad has three buttons around the "ultranav" trackpad. That third button on top is the tipping point for the non-technical (those that didn't read the quick start guide).

 

[mustard]

Nazi's (?)

Dude, blindly following anyone or anything will get you in big trouble. Just look at the Nazis.

Feel free to elaborate on the Nazi comment - I was simply trying to point out that there were false statements in MacTruck's post. I am not trying to beat an idea/opinion into any one, I was just trying to correct/play devil's advocate.

Correct me if I put my foot in my mouth, but what is not true:
- removable drives add weight (even if just a little bit due to additional non-necessary stuff)
- dock conectors are hit or miss depending on the user (from my personal experince with customers maybe 1 of 200 purchase an additional docking station let alone use it)
- 3 to 4 buttons are generally not necessary other than for obscure software specific needs (I never said two was bad)
- No other manufacturer has a 2.0 Duo Core for sale or even announced

- As far as the IBM/Leveno comment - maybe not called for, but just a personal opinion formed by MacTruck's post.

Nazi's (?)

 

[applemacdude]

You should NOT have the display open to vent.

the vents are in the rear now so it shouldnt be a prob

 

[portent]

It needs a new design. Here is what I would like to see.


- Removable hard drives. With this intel cpu I can install xp on a seperate hard drive and swap them when I need to. I must have I think.

- Removable Superdrive. Let me have accessories like another battery, another hard drive or the option to upgrade my superdrive later.

- A FREAKING DOCK CONNECTOR!

- Something more rugged than this cheap aluminum that bends if you look at it wrong.

- A TWO BUTTON TOUCHPAD PLEASE!

- A power button on the outside of the case so I can power it on when hooked up to a monitor without having to open the damn lid.

- Dual DVI ports so I can use 2 monitors. The video card supports it so why not?

Am I wrong folks?

A split Trackpad would be nice.

Removable Hard and Optical drives mean thicker cases (since the drives have to have their own shells to protect them when they're out of the 'Book, they take up more space inside the 'Book.) and latch mechanisms which break.

A dock connector would take up space on the outside of the case, and there isn't any. You basically have to choose between a docking system, and a full array of ports on the computer itself.

The card supports dual displays, but one of those is the internal LCD. You'd need triple display support to drive a second external display.

External buttons have a way of getting pushed when the system is in the bag. I'm sure glad my laptop doesn't power up every time I pick up the case.

 

[law guy]

- No other manufacturer has a 2.0 Duo Core for sale or even announced

A note on one item: 2.0 GHz Duo laptop reviewed on pcmag.com - http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1907007,00.asp

 

[MacTruck]

A split Trackpad would be nice.

Yes it would.

Removable Hard and Optical drives mean thicker cases (since the drives have to have their own shells to protect them when they're out of the 'Book, they take up more space inside the 'Book.) and latch mechanisms which break.[/QUOTE]

Ok so how do all those 1" thick notebook makers do it then?

A dock connector would take up space on the outside of the case, and there isn't any. You basically have to choose between a docking system, and a full array of ports on the computer itself.

Wrong. My thinkpad dock connector takes up ZERO space.

The card supports dual displays, but one of those is the internal LCD. You'd need triple display support to drive a second external display.

You might have me there but can't they make it so the laptop display turns off?

External buttons have a way of getting pushed when the system is in the bag. I'm sure glad my laptop doesn't power up every time I pick up the case.

Well I have seen it done nicely so you can't hit it by accident. IBM had a great switch but yes even they have put the stupid power button under the lid but they have a dock for it with a power switch so no worries.

If one more person says they can't make the drives removable without making the notebook thicker... well I call you dumb.

 

[ozone]

Originally Posted by ozone:
That being said, I agree with MacTruk... Apple could have done other things to increase the modularity of the MB Pro. My HP tablet allows me to easily swap out the hard drive, change the ram, connect to a dock, etc. And almost all of it is on the bottom anyways where you can't see the connections and tabs anyways.

Is it 1 inch thick?

[Response.] Pretty much. 12" notebook. Maybe 1.2" thick. Not super svelte like a Sony, but it's no clunker. I think increasing the modularity of a MB Pro would have increased the thickness marginally to allow for the interchangability. Keep in mind though that all things being equal, a greater "depth" in the chassis would allow for greater rigidity.

 

[MacTruck]

A note on one item: 2.0 GHz Duo laptop reviewed on pcmag.com - http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1907007,00.asp

SLAM! Now thats a laptop. Thats what the macbook could have been. Now too get osx on it. hmmm.

 

[mustard]

A note on one item: 2.0 GHz Duo laptop reviewed on pcmag.com - http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1907007,00.asp

I stand corrected. Nice machine - a little on the heavy side though 6.7lbs

 

[law guy]

No worries Mustard - here's another - these are new machines of course, so it would be easy to miss them:

Here's another 2.0 duo - http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1907126,00.asp A little lighter than the first, but all the style of a mid-90s Toshiba. Aside from the 2.0 processor, other specs are down from the Acer noted above.

as I understand it both this HP and the Acer listed above are shipping

 

[mustard]

If one more person says they can't make the drives removable without making the notebook thicker... well I call you dumb.

Thicker no - but heavier, more expensive, more fragile yes

No worries Mustard - here's another - these are new machines of course, so it would be easy to miss them:

Here's another 2.0 duo - http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1907126,00.asp A little lighter than the first, but all the style of a mid-90s Toshiba.

as I understand it both this HP and the Acer listed above are shipping

I knew they were in existance but didn't know of any that were available for sale - haven't checked since the first of the year. I am supprised that Acer & HP beat Dell to the ouch though (not that I am a fan of Dell) After seeing the HP that woudl have been the ideal macBook - great specks and .1lbs lighter

 

[MacTruck]

Thicker no - but heavier, more expensive, more fragile yes

no, no and no. Sorry. Why don't you just go look at the lenovo site and check out specs ok. LOL!

 

[ozone]

I'm with MacTruck on almost all points.

I use a HP TC4200 tablet and have two docks: one at home, one at work. The docks sit "permanently" on the desk and are hooked up to 19" Sony LCDs and full size Logitech keyboards. If you do work at both the office and home, docks are a god-send. BookEndz are only port replicators and pass throughs; docks add additional functionality, many more ports, power, etc. Plus they're hot dockable: just snap the laptop in and out when I want to go.

I doubt having removable batteries, hard-drives, etc. add significantly to the weight. The 15" ThinkPads come in at under 6 lbs and are tremendous laptops: not equal to Apple's in style, but definitely in terms of durability and productivity, if not better (too bad about the OS though!).

Sure, maybe only 1 dock would be sold for every 100 MB Pro's bought, but those that buy the dock, like me, tend to buy a lot more stuff too. If Apple had a "complete package" for me, I would have probably gone for that instead of the HP.

The other suggestion of a tablet is tremendous. A convertible tablet these days is old hat for most PC manufacturers and the ability to take handwritten notes electronically is a big advantage for the types of meetings I'm in.

... and that being said, I still love the way Apple notebooks look! You just can't dismiss the elegance they exude. Here's hoping that the forever anticipated 13.3" widescreen and revised 17" look ultra cool...

 

[ozone]

Thicker no - but heavier, more expensive, more fragile yes

Sorry mustard... wrong on those counts. IBM notebooks - if that's what you're talking about - have very high retention value in tough work environments. Corporations source them almost exclusively for their durability, performance, and lightweight. I've owned and used one and can speak from personal experience, not just reading reviews.

 

[mustard]

no, no and no. Sorry. Why don't you just go look at the lenovo site and check out specs ok. LOL!

If you have a link I will look into it. But how can you say:

-That by having extra plastic, screws and cable wouldn't add a little weight - opposed to no having the extra bits to make a drive removable

-That adding additional materials will not cut into the companys profit and/or add cost to the machine, there is more physical material needed as well as labor/overhead to produce and assemble

-That having a removable component doesn't increases potential slips, broken tabs/conectors, exc.

I see the advantage to some, but in general computers cost in one way or another. You either pay an arm and a leg for features, an arm and a leg for asthetics, very little for little options, very little for very cheap. If all tech companies could come together as non business competitors then, and probably only then would you have the ideal computer.

I don't see that happening any time soon though.