Apple Announces New Aluminum MacBooks

[tom53092]

Ahhh, the Apple announcements...

They're always like a blind date. Unrealistically high expectations, followed by the crash and burn of reality. You think you're just going to meet for coffee, but then you find out the date's going to cost you the price of an expensive restaurant. She's great looking, but then you find out she doesn't drive and doesn't own a firewire port (er, I meant car). That said, I hope this means we're that much closer to a new Mini.

 

[citi]

they should have at least put in an express slot, that way if you wanted firewire, you would have to add it on your own. Everybody wins

 

[editguy]

Never ceases to amaze me how people will defend Apple no matter what

Ditto. I love a lot of their products, but when all is said and done, they're just a company, Not god.

 

[PCMacUser]

I just ordered mine I have never used firewire in my life so no big issue for me, but maybe that's why they took it out of the macbook because students , like me ,don't really use firewire.

The students at the Mac schools I worked at used iMovie all the time, where they would connect a digital video camera to the computer and download the content. And you know what port the video cameras use? You guessed it... Firewire. Now they will need to either buy a whole lot of adapters, or replace their suite of video cameras. This is just not on. I'm guessing they'll either not upgrade for a while, or replace their Mac suites with PCs.

 

[editguy]

All technology has a lifespan. The Egyptians invented hieroglyphics, and look what happened to that!

Still around, still being admired and still being read.

 

[NT1440]

Never ceases to amaze me how people will defend Apple no matter what

I dont understand what they have to defend in regards to the decisions they make with their own products.....

 

[Eric S.]

Still around, still being admired and still being read.

But not written very much.

 

[NT1440]

I don't live in the future. I live today and I use firewire today.

well thats unfortunate, you bought from a company thats notorious for moving into the future by means of eliminating the now and forging ahead....

 

[theBB]

That's the problem, though. I can't think about just what is available today. I have to plan for the near future. And why would I recommend them with more conviction now? It's clear that the future for lower cost video editing machines Apple is not the answer.

When your students graduate, they will be editing on real Pro machines at their jobs, as I cannot imagine anybody making professional editing on 13'' screens. If they will edit as just a hobby in the future, AVCHD might become more popular than HDV anyways. There seems to be already more AVCHD cameras than HDV ones in the market. What future are you worried about? At the moment, there is a low cost Macbook with firewire. No problems for this semester and probably for the next...

Of course, if all you want to do is rant that there is a low cost option with FW and high cost options with FW, but not a middle one, feel free to do so. I just would expect a more level headed advice from a teacher.

 

[Andrew K.]

The students at the Mac schools I worked at used iMovie all the time, where they would connect a digital video camera to the computer and download the content. And you know what port the video cameras use? You guessed it... Firewire. Now they will need to either buy a whole lot of adapters, or replace their suite of video cameras. This is just not on. I'm guessing they'll either not upgrade for a while, or replace their Mac suites with PCs.

Very true and I agree but I meant most of the students ,not using video/av stuff, will work for them.

 

[NT1440]

Using firewire 800 on a camcorder would make no sense. It would be like putting a V8 on a bicycle.

And wise companies produce products that meet the users needs. But you're right, they don't have to. But I don't have to buy their products any longer nor recommend them to anyone else.

Thats right, stick it to apple.

 

[surfdog_2005]

Just an FYI, there must have been a mistake on the store, cause I ordered the $1299 macbook, and the only options for keyboard was backlit. It specifically said that the keyboard was backlit on the 2.0 and it just gave you an option for what language.... this was before the store went down.

So does this mean the keyboard is backlit? I have no idea, but I do know if it's not I'll be showing them the printout of my receipt.... and smiling nicely... uh yea. Maybe try to get something.

I saw the same thing when I ordered my $1299 Macbook right after the event. Got notice it shipped and will be here Thursday FedEx. I'm anxious to see if the keyboard is backlit or not (although I didn't really care and wasn't about to pay the extra $300 for it and a small bump in speed).

 

[isaacc7]

I don't want to buy a windows machine...

... but I may have to for my audio purposes. Without firewire on a reasonably priced machine, it becomes useless to me. Oh I guess I could buy the $999 one, but why would I want that when it is so close to my current 2005 macbook? It wouldn't have been difficult to keep the a firewire port on the new ones... People say, "Oh firewire 400 is old technology, that's why they dropped it," still haven't explained what Apple replaced it with on the new low end machines. I have no desire to buy a 15" laptop, regardless of the price. The good news is that I don't have to buy an Apple... They really screwed up when it comes to people that create video and audio...


Isaac

 

[NT1440]

They really screwed up when it comes to people that create video and audio as a hobby.....


Isaac

Fixed that for you.

 

[theBB]

And wise companies produce products that meet the users needs. But you're right, they don't have to. But I don't have to buy their products any longer nor recommend them to anyone else.

If I were you, I would not recommend the aluminum Macbooks, either. Most consumers may not care, but I'd like to be able to buy an HDV camcorder if I want to. In any case, I am cheap, so I'd rather get the white Macbook anyways. Besides, I dislike grey computers with black keyboards.

 

[theBB]

But not written very much.

Content creators vs. content consumers, I guess.

 

[myca]

When your students graduate, they will be editing on real Pro machines at their jobs, as I cannot imagine anybody making professional editing on 13'' screens. If they will edit as just a hobby in the future, AVCHD might become more popular than HDV anyways. There seems to be already more AVCHD cameras than HDV ones in the market. What future are you worried about? At the moment, there is a low cost Macbook with firewire. No problems for this semester and probably for the next...

Of course, if all you want to do is rant that there is a low cost option with FW and high cost options with FW, but not a middle one, feel free to do so. I just would expect a more level headed advice from a teacher.

But it may be easier for these students to buy a cheaper PC and use Premiere instead of FCP, then when they move into work they may use the program they're more conformable with, and Apple looses out, twice.

That's one of the factors as to why FCP is an industry standard today.

 

[marbles]

... but I may have to for my audio purposes. Without firewire on a reasonably priced machine, it becomes useless to me. Oh I guess I could buy the $999 one, but why would I want that when it is so close to my current 2005 macbook? It wouldn't have been difficult to keep the a firewire port on the new ones... People say, "Oh firewire 400 is old technology, that's why they dropped it," still haven't explained what Apple replaced it with on the new low end machines. I have no desire to buy a 15" laptop, regardless of the price. The good news is that I don't have to buy an Apple... They really screwed up when it comes to people that create video and audio...


Isaac

I so feel what your saying & I don't want to use windows , I really don't but what can you , I and others do ?, there has to be some option

 

[Subhumanguy]

I saw the same thing when I ordered my $1299 Macbook right after the event. Got notice it shipped and will be here Thursday FedEx. I'm anxious to see if the keyboard is backlit or not (although I didn't really care and wasn't about to pay the extra $300 for it and a small bump in speed).

When did you get notice that yours shipped?

 

[marbles]

Fixed that for you.

Point me in the direction of decent USB audio interfaces please

 

[kiwi031]

Canadian base price goes up 50$ for MBP and edu discount goes from 200 to 100$.

I'm PISSED.

Yea man, New Zealand base MBP has gone from $3,199NZ to $3,699. (roughly 20%)

Great way to make inroads into a new market! However, our dollar has dropped massively (previous MBP was a good U$D100 or so cheaper in NZ than in the US!) due to the recent financial turmoil.

I sell Apple computers for a living and I'd say in NZ, they've pretty much killed the MBP. While Apple has a good presence and goodwill in NZ, it was hard to keep a straight face tellling customers to buy a MBP when it was 20% cheaper than it is now. With a comparable PC selling for about $2000-$2500, it's going to be hard to convince people to shell out twice that for the new MBP.

On the other hand, the new MB will be a hit here. Price is not too bad and its new array of features, including its cool design, should help it sell well.

 

[NT1440]

I so feel what your saying & I don't want to use windows , I really don't but what can you , I and others do ?, there has to be some option

well right now you can buy a certain colored macbook i beleive.

 

[Yr Blues]

Have anyone used a firewire/ethernet adapter? I wonder if it could be a substitute.

 

[slothrob]

The good news is that I don't have to buy an Apple... They really screwed up when it comes to people that create video and audio...

It's truth.

I have a lot more money tied up in audio and video equipment than I have to replace my Firewire equipment. Guess which is going to lose out, Apple?

 

[NT1440]

Point me in the direction of decent USB audio interfaces please

dont know, dont care, srry


All I was saying is the only people apple "screwed" by not including FW in the MB is hobbyists. No real professional is going to do video or audio on a 13" macbook.