Apple Announces New Aluminum MacBooks

[The Awesome]

I feel fuzzy inside!

1st impressions:

The 9400M is most welcome!

I like the design... or at least Apple's photography/CGI

I'll read more into this after school but all I can say now is, "Apple, you've done it again!"

 

[syclone]

QUESTION:

I have an external FIREWIRE 400 hard drive that I've used for my last, oh, three computer transitions. If I were to obtain a new MacBook....how would that even work?

How would I get my data off the external and onto the MacBook? I can't put all the data on my external on my iMac and then buy a new USB powered external, because there's just too much.

Any suggestions?

Surprisingly, I don't think anyone has mentioned this yet, but I'm guessing you just use the Migration Assistant with a wired/wireless network just like with the MacBook Air.

If so, that eliminates what seems to be the biggest complaint here about the lack of an FW port (followed closely by Target Disk Mode and DV camcorders)

 

[LaMerVipere]

What the F is with the ****** EDU discount?

 

[9822737]

I was sure I was going to buy one of the new macbooks, but now definately not for that (UK) price.

I may come back once Snow Leopard is released and it comes bundled with iLife '09 and iWork '09, as I would no doubt end up splashing out on those too if I bought one, which I just cant afford.

AnDy

 

[Alzum]

Not Happy

I tell my girlfriend to patiently wait for new updates to be lumped with a huge price increase and even the base model going up in price!!
Will not be happy if the UK education discount has gone down too.
so much for waiting for updates. I'll learn better next time. Better tell my girlfriend to go hackintosh.

 

[bushbaby]

Editguy, I may have to learn Premiere Pro. I've been Mac for a long time, I really love it, but my 2001 tiPb is dying now. And I can't edit HD on it. So I've been waiting for today for a MBPro

But with the glossy only screen... and lo-res, I'm not jumping. And I had hoped for blu-ray.

So as much as I love FCP, I may be having to learn Premiere Pro. I like having a laptop instead of a tower as it's less space and I can travel with it.

 

[BrownManUPS]

By the way, the education discount for the warranty isn't shafted, so it is still the low $183 price.

 

[liketom]

I tell my girlfriend to patiently wait for new updates to be lumped with a huge price increase and even the base model going up in price!!
Will not be happy if the UK education discount has gone down too.
so much for waiting for updates. I'll learn better next time. Better tell my girlfriend to go hackintosh.

What are the Edu prices for the new range?

 

[Manie Frizzle]

It's been an "optional" accessory (extra $) since the last refresh.


Same way you've used it on all Apple's notebooks which have supported it - through the iSight webcam. It's still there, just harder to see due to the glass layer and black bezel.

i didn't know about the last refresh excludes the remote. And my macbook has the IR sensor next to the breathing light that's what i was looking for.

 

[C6toC9]

actually for me thats the only page of the entire store that is still down.

haha, yeah, i have one tab with that page loaded (which has the backlit as the only option and i will not close), and another to navigate through to see if it gets changed. if they change it, i'll order from the old page and see if i can force apple to give me a backlit on the 2.0 ghz option. i'm not thinking i will win this...

 

[Jack123]

Not to mention that Firewire is required for Music editing and I couldn't count how many people where at my school with MacBooks for editing. But no more because I am damn sure they wouldn't have spent $2000+ to do that.

I use Firewire everyday with my sound card, and im due an upgrade.

Im seriously considering the new Dell. Which i can also run the new protools on with no problem

 

[Hunts121]

Has anybody noticed a mini displayport => DisplayPort adapter on Apple's lineup? I mean since mini-displayport is a completely proprietary port and I'd like to have full size (since e.g. the 2008 Dell displays do handle DP)

well of course there will be, that way the millions of people who don't have this connector on their laptops will now have to pay even more to use this thing. Same goes with people who want to use the new display, they too will either have to buy a new macbook or buy the adapter. DisplayPort is supposed to be an alternative to HDMI....however seeing as everything uses HDMI these days and few if any use displayport at this point...I question this move by apple...and most others made on these new machines/displays.

 

[brop52]

What are the Edu prices for the new range?

MB 949, 1249, 1499 so
MB -50, -50, and -100

MBA 1699, 2299
MBA -100, -200

MBP 1899, 2299, 2599
MBP -100, -200, -200

 

[JSmoove05]

I just bought a new macbook 2.4 13' inch I got approved for the visa jupiter card should have it before monday so im stoked!

 

[MacinJosh]

I LOVE the new look! I'm totally into glossies so no prob there. Can't care less for Blu-ray and 16:9. This is perfect.

My gripe is that the low-end Macbook doesn't have the illuminated keyboard which is the reason why I just placed an order for the top-end Macbook but the extra 400Mhz is nice as well. Also the €/$ rate is pretty sad but whatever.

I'm not too happy about the absence of firewire but I can deal with that. Also the SSD is still too expensive but at least now it's easier to change down the road.

Joshua.

 

[eggs]

Who puts their prices UP during a worldwide recession?

£720 for a MacBook (£620 Ex Tax)... Was £699 inc VAT Yesterday...

Apples Widget tell me that $999 is £569!

What's with the £130 premium for the old plastic notebook. (COMBO FFS)

Apple: You DESERVE to LOSE sales for this. How can I honestly recommend you to PC users now?

We don't have VAT here so take that out.

 

[qwerty2k]

am i the only one who loves the current white plastic macbook look? Also, how can a iMac be £150 cheaper than an entry level new macbook ffs

 

[9822737]

Haha

Is there no slot for my SD photocard in these new macbooks?

Don't be silly..

Apple are removing features not adding them!!

AnDy

 

[MacinJosh]

Is there no slot for my SD photocard in these new macbooks?

Thank God, no. This is not a slot-ridden PC.

Joshua.

 

[HandleVandal]

Yeah it seems to be the equivalent of today being around $750-$800 tops. It is not a bad deal for a low-end starter macbook.

And it comes with firewire. If I maxed out the $999 MB with a 250GB hard drive it would cost me $1,149. Add in some cheaper RAM and for about what the mid line $1200 MB costs, I can have a faster MB with a bigger hard drive, super drive and firewire. No nvidia but oh well.

I'm still eyeballing the refurb store if I need to make a purchase in the next 6 months.

 

[originalcliche]

No firewire o the macbook? I have a Nov 07 white macbook that has firewire 400.... why on earth take it away? Thank god i didn't sell mine.

 

[pbelmore]

I was gonna sell my 2.4 Blackbook! think I'm gonna keep it now...

Yup, I just ordered that, refurbished, for $1,099. The new models look great, but no firewire was a dealbreaker for me. I still think I got a great deal though, no? ;-)

 

[MrCrowbar]

Upgrade RAM myself?

I like the design of the thing, the plastic Macbooks feel cheap because there are so many parts rubbing against eah other, bending under your palms, etc. Even the Macbook Pros had that problem. This seems to be solved with the "brick" of aluminum.

The loss of firewire is sad on the 13" laptops. Video editing isn't really fun on a small laptop so few video people would go for the 13". But the audio guys that swear on their 12" powerbooks for stage applications and on-the-go recording with external hardware need Firewire. 15" just isn't mobile as 13". So either Apple will have to add a firewire 400 due to popular demand or introduce a 12" Macbook pro.

The fact that the low end aluminum Macbook has a "slower" (MHz) CPU than the one it replaces and a higher price tag is odd. I guess the CPU is a different generation though (although still in the Core 2 family) with more Cache, daster Bus, more eficient design so it outperforms its faster clocked predecessor. Still, it feels like a downgrade.

I'd get the low end alu Macbook if I were in the market right now, but the price is a little high for what it is and I'd really miss Firewire. And I'd probably end up getting the high end version because of the backlit keyboard, not the few MHz more.


One question remains though...
Can you upgrade the RAM yourself?
YOu can remove the battery and hard drive it seems, but no mention of RAM. I'd want to get more RAM with the next OS version if it's like Leopard and requires double the RAM as Tiger to run well.

EDIT: Is that a yes for user-upgradable RAM?
http://arstechnica.com/journals/app...-on-with-the-macbookpros-removable-hard-drive

 

[chelsea smile]

does the education discount only work for those in college?

 

[mathieuheartmac]

economy factor

I am bummed that the educational discount is smaller now, but I understand if the new macbook isn't cheaper.
Just because we are in a recession doesn't mean apple has to lower the prices. People will still buy them. If you are whining that apple should have made them cheaper simply because we are in a recession...just don't buy one.
Go buy a $500 Dell and get over it.
Plus...if you are being effected by the economy right now...you probably should't be in the market for a brand new apple notebook- you would be wise to keep your money in your savings account if you are so worried about it.

Personally, I hope to have my new macbook by Christmas.