Since I can not change the thread title this is todays (10/20) sad adition:
Originally written October 18th:
So I went to the apple store yesterday, unsure if I would be buying a new MBP. I have been using a PowerBook G4 running 10.4 for the last 3 years, and have been wanting to upgrade for about a year. The things I thought I really wanted on the new machine were not there, namely a hi-res 15" screen. I was not excited about chicklet keys, and was really sad to see the end of matte screens. At the same time, I really did want a computer with better graphics & CPU performance, for games, for downloading and watching hi-def video (the PB could only handle 480p files, nothing larger), and for some photoshop work (once upon a time I was a graphic designer, but have since gone back to school in an entirely different field, so I do a lot less intensive graphics work then I once did). I considered buying a clearance MBP, but I wanted to take a look at the new models first.
When I actually got my hands on the new MBP I was pleasantly surprised. While pictures and video of the new design did not wow me, when I was standing in front of it I really liked the design.
The keyboard: it is so much more usable then the chiklets on the old MB's. The action on the keys is perfect (for me at least). I am actually typing with fewer typos then on my old PB. I have been in love with the PB keyboard since as long as they have made them (5+ years I think). I never thought I would like a new keyboard as much, but this is a real dream to type on. And when the key illumination is on they are just gorgeous. I tried to snap a photo, but none of them really captured just how stunning the jeyboard looks all lit up in dim light.
The monitor: this is the only area thing that I am not in love with. I have been wanting a a high-res 15" monitor for ages. I loved my PB monitor, and I resented loosing pixels in an upgrade (the PB is 1440 x 960 in a 15" monitor, rather then 1440 x 900 in a 15.4" monitor). I did take a quick look at the hi-res 17" monitor they had in the apple store and it was gorgeous, but more money then I could afford to pay, and more weight then my back is willing to carry on a regular basis. I actually like the black bezel around the monitor (did not think that I would, but again this something that looks a lot better in real life then in videos and pictures). I could however deal with a thinner bezel, closer in size to the old MBP/PB. I still really wish that there was a high res version of the screen, but the color on this monitor is gorgeous. If I was still making my living as a graphic designer, this would probably have been a deal breaker for me. But now, most of my intensive computer use is for leisure rather then work, so I have taken the hit on the monitor. The one other minor gripe I have is the unilateral sided ports. I am ok with having all my ports on one side, but I wish they would let you choose which one. If all the ports were on the right, that would be perfect. The fact that they are all on the left is less convenient for my desk. A brief word on glossy glare, namely it is not that bad. The apple stores are lit up brighter then the sun and so the glare there is actually pretty noticable, but once at home, in my medium light, unevenly lit appartment the glare is actually much reduced provided there is not a light directly behind me. I would still like a matte option, but the glossy is a lot better then I thought it would be.
The track pad; hot damn! Using this trackpad is a thing of beauty. Now I was someone who used the limited multitouch functionality of the old PB track pads (scrolling & clicking), so I am an easy convert for multitouch. It does feel very similar to, but better then my old PB track pad. The balance of smooth/friction is excellent. It does not feel like glass, but it does not feel like plastic either. It almost feels like microfiber that has been wrapped taught over a solid surface. The only issue I have had with it so far is this: there is apparently a multitouch action that increases the size of text in Safari. I have inadvertently done this action 2 or 3 times in the last 42 hours. If I actually new what the action was, I would probably use it intentionally, but I don't, and since I don't it means I have to fix it using the keyboard command, rather then the trackpad.
Now obviously I am seeing amazing performance increases on even mundane tasks, but I am trading up from a PowerBook and not a MBP, so that is to be expected. I have yet to feel my MBP get even warm, let alone hot, but I have not done and truly processor intensive activities yet.
So overall I am pretty much in love with my new computer. I do recognize that this is no longer a true pro computer and more of a high end consumer model, but since I guess that is the category I now find myself in, I will take it. I have included pictures below because, apparently I am a proud new mommy.
So after 4 days of a dream relationship, I closed the lid on my new MBP and went to get some dinner. When I came back and opened it up, it would not wake from sleep. Nothing worked. So I did a forced restart. Grey screen, apple logo, spinning cog wheel . . . for 15 min! I tried a safe restart (with shift held down), same thing, I reset the power manager, I reset the PRAM, still no luck. Per the Apple IT guy, I tried to do an archive and install of the OS. . . . and the install failed! Tried to Verify the disk and Verify disk permissions, these also both failed. A hardware test came up with out problems. So now my brand new baby is getting shipped back to Apple.
I should know better then to buy a 1st gen apple product in the 1st few weeks of release.
Originally written October 18th:
So I went to the apple store yesterday, unsure if I would be buying a new MBP. I have been using a PowerBook G4 running 10.4 for the last 3 years, and have been wanting to upgrade for about a year. The things I thought I really wanted on the new machine were not there, namely a hi-res 15" screen. I was not excited about chicklet keys, and was really sad to see the end of matte screens. At the same time, I really did want a computer with better graphics & CPU performance, for games, for downloading and watching hi-def video (the PB could only handle 480p files, nothing larger), and for some photoshop work (once upon a time I was a graphic designer, but have since gone back to school in an entirely different field, so I do a lot less intensive graphics work then I once did). I considered buying a clearance MBP, but I wanted to take a look at the new models first.
When I actually got my hands on the new MBP I was pleasantly surprised. While pictures and video of the new design did not wow me, when I was standing in front of it I really liked the design.
The keyboard: it is so much more usable then the chiklets on the old MB's. The action on the keys is perfect (for me at least). I am actually typing with fewer typos then on my old PB. I have been in love with the PB keyboard since as long as they have made them (5+ years I think). I never thought I would like a new keyboard as much, but this is a real dream to type on. And when the key illumination is on they are just gorgeous. I tried to snap a photo, but none of them really captured just how stunning the jeyboard looks all lit up in dim light.
The monitor: this is the only area thing that I am not in love with. I have been wanting a a high-res 15" monitor for ages. I loved my PB monitor, and I resented loosing pixels in an upgrade (the PB is 1440 x 960 in a 15" monitor, rather then 1440 x 900 in a 15.4" monitor). I did take a quick look at the hi-res 17" monitor they had in the apple store and it was gorgeous, but more money then I could afford to pay, and more weight then my back is willing to carry on a regular basis. I actually like the black bezel around the monitor (did not think that I would, but again this something that looks a lot better in real life then in videos and pictures). I could however deal with a thinner bezel, closer in size to the old MBP/PB. I still really wish that there was a high res version of the screen, but the color on this monitor is gorgeous. If I was still making my living as a graphic designer, this would probably have been a deal breaker for me. But now, most of my intensive computer use is for leisure rather then work, so I have taken the hit on the monitor. The one other minor gripe I have is the unilateral sided ports. I am ok with having all my ports on one side, but I wish they would let you choose which one. If all the ports were on the right, that would be perfect. The fact that they are all on the left is less convenient for my desk. A brief word on glossy glare, namely it is not that bad. The apple stores are lit up brighter then the sun and so the glare there is actually pretty noticable, but once at home, in my medium light, unevenly lit appartment the glare is actually much reduced provided there is not a light directly behind me. I would still like a matte option, but the glossy is a lot better then I thought it would be.
The track pad; hot damn! Using this trackpad is a thing of beauty. Now I was someone who used the limited multitouch functionality of the old PB track pads (scrolling & clicking), so I am an easy convert for multitouch. It does feel very similar to, but better then my old PB track pad. The balance of smooth/friction is excellent. It does not feel like glass, but it does not feel like plastic either. It almost feels like microfiber that has been wrapped taught over a solid surface. The only issue I have had with it so far is this: there is apparently a multitouch action that increases the size of text in Safari. I have inadvertently done this action 2 or 3 times in the last 42 hours. If I actually new what the action was, I would probably use it intentionally, but I don't, and since I don't it means I have to fix it using the keyboard command, rather then the trackpad.
Now obviously I am seeing amazing performance increases on even mundane tasks, but I am trading up from a PowerBook and not a MBP, so that is to be expected. I have yet to feel my MBP get even warm, let alone hot, but I have not done and truly processor intensive activities yet.
So overall I am pretty much in love with my new computer. I do recognize that this is no longer a true pro computer and more of a high end consumer model, but since I guess that is the category I now find myself in, I will take it. I have included pictures below because, apparently I am a proud new mommy.
