What's innovative about sharing drives over a network? Apart from the price, what's innovate about a wireless optical drive?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Aluminum MacBook and MacBook Pros Spotted?
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
What's innovative about sharing drives over a network? Apart from the price, what's innovate about a wireless optical drive?
Rant and Rave about the Port Issues, etc
Majorly disappointed if this "port change" decision is for the MacBook Pro.
I support keeping the full-size DVI-I (a universal DVI) port which has dual-link support (can drive 30" displays at 2560x1600 resolution) -- I use this port all the time, I have a 30" at home, a 22" at work as well as a 23" Cinema display. I hate the fact that with mini-DVI you have to use the Apple adapter -- and this only adapts it to a DVI-D, NOT a DVI-I!!!!!!! -- if you want to hook up a "non-Apple" or non-DVI-D display (most displays now use DVI-I), then you have to find where you can buy a DVI-D to DVI-I adapter, and they don't sell them through Apple. Bonkers.
So please keep the DVI-I port. I like it. IT WORKS. (fine)
And, for the FireWire 400, I believe most video cameras use FW 400 for digital interfacing with most video programs (iMovie, FinalCut, Adobe, etc) -- so it's still a useful port and shouldn't be nixed.
Plus, the MBP already sports a FW 800 too, and I have never even used that port, there's very few peripherals out there that take advantage of FW 800.
The current port selection on the MacBook Pro appears to be "just right" as/is -- it's great, there's everything you need. Well, I Wish we could bring the PC card slot back...so many uses...so many PC card...ahhhhh That way I could use my Megahertz 56k PC card modem (because the MacBook Pro lacks a modem now). Also Dual Monitor support would be lush, but that is never going to happen ;-)
Majorly disappointed if this "port change" decision is for the MacBook Pro.
I support keeping the full-size DVI-I (a universal DVI) port which has dual-link support (can drive 30" displays at 2560x1600 resolution) -- I use this port all the time, I have a 30" at home, a 22" at work as well as a 23" Cinema display. I hate the fact that with mini-DVI you have to use the Apple adapter -- and this only adapts it to a DVI-D, NOT a DVI-I!!!!!!! -- if you want to hook up a "non-Apple" or non-DVI-D display (most displays now use DVI-I), then you have to find where you can buy a DVI-D to DVI-I adapter, and they don't sell them through Apple. Bonkers.
So please keep the DVI-I port. I like it. IT WORKS. (fine)
And, for the FireWire 400, I believe most video cameras use FW 400 for digital interfacing with most video programs (iMovie, FinalCut, Adobe, etc) -- so it's still a useful port and shouldn't be nixed.
Plus, the MBP already sports a FW 800 too, and I have never even used that port, there's very few peripherals out there that take advantage of FW 800.
The current port selection on the MacBook Pro appears to be "just right" as/is -- it's great, there's everything you need. Well, I Wish we could bring the PC card slot back...so many uses...so many PC card...ahhhhh That way I could use my Megahertz 56k PC card modem (because the MacBook Pro lacks a modem now). Also Dual Monitor support would be lush, but that is never going to happen ;-)
Putting a few things together
Apple could theoretically put integrated GPUs into the entire notebook lineup and say, "The all-new MacBooks. Now with the latest NVIDIA graphics," and then say something about "2x faster graphics than the previous MacBook."
(j/k)
Combining the speculation that Apple will merge the MacBook and MacBook Pro lines, the speculation that the new NVIDIA chipsets will be used in the upcoming notebooks, and some of the speculation in this thread:
Apple could theoretically put integrated GPUs into the entire notebook lineup and say, "The all-new MacBooks. Now with the latest NVIDIA graphics," and then say something about "2x faster graphics than the previous MacBook."
(j/k)
How about some maturity and respect for other people's points of view? Not too hard a concept to grasp.
As a victim myself, I am sad to say - not on this forum.
Well, in all likelihood - every "prototype" MacBook and MacBook Pro example is housed under strict lock and key at Apple R & D right now. There are basically no "confirmed" photos circulating of a somewhat certain model or prototype design. Alot of this is hearsay completely, and some of it is developers giving tidbits of info about "something maybe in the works" -- these tidbits turn into rumors and people think they are "likely confirmed" and they turn up here.
An example NOT like this is that photo of the orange iPod nano in the box which turned up over a week before the iPod event release. That was likely a stock item in a store which was photo'd by somebody who worked there, then leaked -- a stock item in the back room in a sealed box which wasn't supposed to be opened. But the photo came out.
Usually with products like the MacBook Pro, confirmed photos of product design don't show up until imminent release date (ie within 48 hours of release)...sometimes these photos are leaked (seeded) to the magazines or websites which do reviews of the product, so they will be able to put out a publication with official photos right after release. But these photos get into the hands of a select few/many RIGHT before release. Not months, or weeks, like we are dealing with here.
MacBook Pro Convergence
OK let's step back a second. A great many of you are wishing and hoping for this that and the other feature (technical or cosmetic) on the new MacBook and MacBook Pro's. If we believe that these machine are going to be announced and available to order (BTO) on the 14th of October, then is stands to reason that the design and all features for this iteration are already locked down. The standard configurations (motherboards, display panels, keyboards, et al) have all been component sourced, sub-assemblies built and tested, laptops assembled, tested for product standards certification (FCC, UL, TUV, et al) and have been boxed and shipped/embargoed.
My point is it is all over but the shouting (either with glee or agony) once we see what Apple hath wrought.
The question really is what do we really know versus well place rumors about rumors. What do we really know or what can we infer based upon real facts?
I for one now just wait patiently (small comfort that is...) ;-)
OK let's step back a second. A great many of you are wishing and hoping for this that and the other feature (technical or cosmetic) on the new MacBook and MacBook Pro's. If we believe that these machine are going to be announced and available to order (BTO) on the 14th of October, then is stands to reason that the design and all features for this iteration are already locked down. The standard configurations (motherboards, display panels, keyboards, et al) have all been component sourced, sub-assemblies built and tested, laptops assembled, tested for product standards certification (FCC, UL, TUV, et al) and have been boxed and shipped/embargoed.
My point is it is all over but the shouting (either with glee or agony) once we see what Apple hath wrought.
The question really is what do we really know versus well place rumors about rumors. What do we really know or what can we infer based upon real facts?
I for one now just wait patiently (small comfort that is...) ;-)
seems to me that the ONLY facts/rumors we can judge upon are:
- People like Kevin Rose, O'Grady and a few others who supposely have 'sources' and have informed them that they are coming
- Intel's chip release dates, etc
- Supposely shots of the new casing of the MB
- Shipping early rumors
Feel free to add...
- People like Kevin Rose, O'Grady and a few others who supposely have 'sources' and have informed them that they are coming
- Intel's chip release dates, etc
- Supposely shots of the new casing of the MB
- Shipping early rumors
Feel free to add...
The sad thing is that the nVidia 9200/9300 IGP is at least 2x faster then the GMA X3100.
I thought I read that as well. Too bad no one is leaking this info as readily as the macbooks. I wonder what "speed bump" the imac is getting... processor? ram? I don't wanna wait a month or so for a miniscule bump like that... I don't think.
I would say that is due to the iMac's update not being as big as the notebooks'.
Few updates have had nothing but GHz speed bumps. The February 2006 and May 2006 MacBook Pro "updates" come to mind, but that seems to be about it. "Speed bumps" seem to indicate that there won't be any new chipset or new GPUs
mad. I do expect along with the GHz bump (2.4»2.53 GHz, 2.67»2.8 GHz, 2.8»2.93 GHz, 3.06»3.2 GHz or so), a doubling of VRAM (for the HD 2x00s anyway) and 2 GB RAM standard. I wouldn't count on HDD capacity increases until 2009. If anybody could clarify the AppleInsider definition of "speed bump," that would be welcome.
Yes, but we're talking about the MacBook Pro here. As far as configurability goes, it has less options than any Dell notebook (including the low-end consumer models), and Dell has over 30 different notebook models, Apple has 4 (MB, MBA, MBP 15", MBP 17").
If you look at the car industry, what separates a premium car from a cheap car is the options. Budget brands save costs by offering limited choices. Typically there's 3 trim levels, half a dozen colors and 2 or 3 engine alternatives. On a BMW, Mercedes or Audi on the other hand, there's a plethora of options and colors and you can customize your car down to the smallest of details. That's why it takes 80-100 hours to build an Audi A3, but only 30 hours to build a Peugeot 308. Peugeot passes those savings on to the customer.
Does Apple do the same? No, instead they charge Audi prices even though they adhere to something closer to Peugeot's business model, while Dell is closer to the Audi business model. When I buy a Dell Latitude notebook, some guys in Ireland put together a computer for me according to my exact requirements. When I buy a MacBook Pro, some guy in a depot in Ireland waddles up to a shelf, picks up a box containing a preconfigured computer that's mass produced in China, slaps my address label on it and he's done.
Right - you really want Apple to release 30 different types of laptop model? The MacBook A1, the MacBook 7Z etc? Really? Apple likes to keep things simple. Why have a huge range of laptops? It isn't necessary.
Have you heard of Built-To-Order? Obviously not. Hard drive, RAM, CPU and glossy/matte variations (which will give close to 30 variations as a BTO option).
One of the beauty's of OS X is that it goes so well with the hardware. If Apple starts releasing a stupid amount of laptops, with different GPU's for example, then they have to provide support for a lot more laptops. And with each refresh, that figure will keep going up, considering there is people still using iBook's and so on.
If you really love Dell, why don't you shut up and buy one?
No, I want them to offer at least one truly professional and highly configurable laptop, as opposed to slapping a "Pro" label on a mediocre PoS with very few options and underwhelming connectivity. Or, they can stop calling it "Pro" and be off the hook.
Here's how I see it: If HP doesn't have the exact machine I need, I can go to Dell. If Dell doesn't have it, I can go to Gateway, or ASUS, Toshiba, Sony, whatever. But since Apple is the sole supplier of computers that'll run OS X, they need to cover as many bases as possible. They should have a wide product range and offer a high level of configurability. Instead they offer less than any given PC manufacturer. Well, that's their call but then they should adjust their prices down from "exquisite tailor-made Italian suits" level to "Target's one-size-fits-all suits".
30 variations is NOTHING. There are 18 variations of the friggin' iPod Nano.
No, the real bummer with OS X is that it doesn't even go seamlessly together with the extremely small range of components that were hand picked by the effing OS manufacturer. Leopard was littered with hardware related (and other) bugs, some of which took 3 or 4 maintenance releases to sort out. I've had to deal with more troubleshooting on my iMac than any of my Vista machines, yet Microsoft had absolutely zero control over the hardware configurations I've subjected Vista to. They have an excuse for hardware compatibility troubles, Apple has none whatsoever.
Oh yes, what a terrible prospect for the OS manufacturer that already has it a billion times easier than M$ does. Oh, the agony of having to support a whopping 3 or 4 more GPU's! That only adds up to, what, 0.01% of what Windows has to support? If the Cupertino engineers consider that a difficult challenge, I guess they should go back to school... in Redmond.
As evident from my signature I own two Dell machines and three Macs (2 active, one collecting dust), so I already put my money where my mouth is, thank you. On the next update cycle (due in the summer of '09), I would however like to replace my Dells with Macs so that I can run both OS X and Windows. The Mac Pro is configurable enough so I'll take that one, but the MacBook Pro doesn't come close to having the options I need. I want a 1680x1050 or 1920x1200 15.4" screen, not a 1440x900 for the visually impaired, and I don't want to have to buy a gargantuan 17" notebook to get a decent amount of pixels. I want a proper docking station, not a messy desk where I have to unplug a dozen cables every time I take the laptop on the road. I want 4 USB ports and built-in 3G. If this rumor is any indication of where the MBP is going (even fewer ports, glossy-only etc), I guess I'll be taking my business to Dell. Again.
Surely someone at one of the factories could leak a pic-I'm sure the security isn't as tight there. By the way I'm assuming that manufacturing has already begun, if it's an Oct. 14th release, surely they are making them as we speak.
THis is exactly what we were worried about yesterday. Our designers desperately need new laptops and they have displays at home and work. If the laptops don't work with the 30" displays....what an earth will we do? What is mini-div doesn't support dual link?
WE can't spent £££'s investing in TWO Mac Pro's for every designer and we can't justify a Mac Pro being at their home. WE need Macbook Pro's which can be used in the studio with a 30", home with a display and out with clients.
I am extremely worried that Apple may take away support for the 30". Maybe they will screw us that the new displays next year will work with mini div and everyone who has spent £1200 on them up until now has to lump it, just to get the Macbook Pro 1mm thinner!!!
I have to agree here but the difference with Apple and Dell is that when I see someone with a white macbook, I know how much he paid, when I see a Macbook Pro, It's easy to tell. By doing this, you have premium cause if you have a 17inch MBP, people will know that you paid 3 grands.
On the Dell side, thers so many options that someone could own an Inspiron
and it could have cost him 3 grand either.
So what I'm trying to prove is that when I see a Mac, I can see premium computers, but when I see a Dell, it's just another Dell
Hehe, well it's more like at least 48 (if I did this right, which I'm sure I didn't; very basic and there are more options like keyboards + pre-installed software - but these are the biggies)
Right, if you pay the premium in order to be able to show off your computer as a status symbol, the Mac is undeniably a safer route. Personally I don't care much for that, my car looks rather unassuming from the outside (hey, it's gray) but has all the bells & whistles on the inside. You have to peer inside to see the sat-nav, leather seats, dual zone ACC and DSG transmission. I mean, I'm the one who paid for it, I should be the one reaping the benefits through added comfort and convenience while I'm driving the damn thing. I'm not gonna pay for giving anonymous pedestrians something nice to look at.I have to agree here but the difference with Apple and Dell is that when I see someone with a white macbook, I know how much he paid, when I see a Macbook Pro, It's easy to tell. By doing this, you have premium cause if you have a 17inch MBP, people will know that you paid 3 grands.
On the Dell side, thers so many options that someone could own an Inspiron
and it could have cost him 3 grand either.
So what I'm trying to prove is that when I see a Mac, I can see premium computers, but when I see a Dell, it's just another Dell
What premium means to me, aside from build quality, is personalized, custom features. I know I get a good guitar if I buy a Gibson, but if I want a really good guitar I go to Gibson's custom and have them build one according to my exact specs. Granted, Dell can't build me a computer that looks like a dragon or an axe, but they're still infinitely more flexible than Apple.
Fair enough.
Doesn't quite match the 1600+ variations on a Dell Precision M440 though.
Look, all I'm saying is that professionals come in many different shapes and sizes and each profession has its special needs.
The other day a friend who's a professional DJ asked me what laptop he should by. Preferably a Mac. "OK, so what do you want from it?" "Well, aside from the obvious stuff like being able to handle my software, it would be nice if it was sturdy. Sometimes people spill drinks or even knock the machine to the floor, step on and yank out cables etc."
"OK", I said, "Well, you can have a look at the Dell Latitude ATG, which has a shock-mounted LCD screen, a shock-mounted hard drive, a spill resistant keyboard and port covers... it was built to meet military standards of durability. Or, you can get a MacBook Pro, bubblewrap it, gaffer tape it to the table and pray for the best."
Someone else may need a lot of USB ports, or insane screen resolution, or batteries that last 12 hours, or built-in 3G broadband, or a docking station. Being able to choose between glossy/non-glossy and 5400/7200 RPM hard drive isn't going to help them much. If Apple wants a boom in market share, they might wanna look at the many different needs of, you know, the market. There could be millions out there dying to use OS X but unable to find the right hardware for it in Apple's meagre product line (*cough* midrange tower *cough*).
I think I remember hearing a line from Jobs along the lines of wanting purchasing a Mac to be like purchasing a toaster, in that you go and get a new one every so often. I guess the whole mid-tower idea would eat into that as people would just buy a new chip, or GPU (which Apple wouldn't get a penny of) or whatever every so often rather than a whole new machine. That could be part of the reason for the cost of the Mac Pro... as Apple won't see as much future money hardware-wise from that customer (unless they buy more of them
)