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Apple Announces New Aluminum MacBooks

I really like the new Macbook. I've been leaning towards the macbook air but this has caused me to rethink for two key reasons:
1. It's lost 1/2 centimeter in height - 2.41 cm as opposed to 2.75 cm
2. It's lost 1/2 a pound in weight - now 4.5 pounds as opposed to 5 pounds

I can live without firewire - I was looking at the MBA anyway - as I have an iMac at home but I do like the 250GB Hard drive and the new touchpad, neither of which the MBA appears to have.

IMO it's a really nice laptop that will sell gazillions...
vanilla

PS: I note the new MBP has actually INCREASED in weight.....
 
Firewire for Transferring Settings

I understand how Apple sees the Macbook as a consumer product and that Firewire is more of a 'professional' connection, but removing it altogether was a serious error.

The reason? What about 'transfering your settings from another Mac' which can only be done via Firewire? What about, also, mounting your Mac HD on other Macs for file transfers (again, can only be done via firewire?).

Just months after the FW 800 was introduced into the new iMac, Apple kills FW altogether from the Macbook. I don't understand this song and dance routine.
 
FJ218700 said:
keeps the price down a bit, saves space, plus probably < 10 % of consumers use firewire anyway.
Click to expand...

Keeps the price down by maybe a couple of dollars, saves space, what less than an inch.

<10%, well that'll be true now cause the idiots have dropped it.

Sorry to harp on, but complete numpties.

I just don't like the fact that I'll be forced to spend an extra £600 just so I can use Firewire, and I prefer the form factor of the 13.3" MB :(
 
bushbaby said:
thx, fj. So if I wait for the 17" I'll get the better res. Was there any hint today when that refresh is coming?
Click to expand...

that's what i want to hear. I saw the quiet update with the hard drive and led display but no graphics card update even??? Sad
 
So it's true, the $1299 and $1599 MacBooks don't have any FireWire. That is a complete rip-off at that price-point. Many older Mac users who want to trade in their Apple notebook and who have FireWire peripherals won't be able to buy a cheap Mac notebook newer style. Also new-to-Mac persons who have older or recent DV and HDV camcorders won't be able to connect them to their new MacBooks. These people will have to buy an old style white MacBook, yesteryear's design. Yes, DV and HDV are on its way out, but we're in the middle of a transition period. Many people and schools still have DV and HDV camera's, and you can still buy HDV camera's. Most can only be connected to the Mac using FireWire. And what if you buy a new-style MacBook and you get to work with a HDV camera on loan? You're out of luck then, it seems. Apologists would say that there's nothing wrong with Apple's decision, because they have kept the white MacBook. But for how long? You can twist it any way you want, I still think it's a rip-off.
 
Where are the White ones?

No White Macbooks anymore? Major error I think, certainly don't look good to me. Looking like a normal PC laptop now :(
 
::sigh::

steve,
way to blow it. all the rumors had me seriously considering a switch to mac, not an easy feat in itself. to justify the already extreme price discrepancy between a macbook and windows laptop, i figured the rumors of a new design, better hardware and slightly lower price would finally tip the scale. then you blew it. $100 cheaper so you can get rid of year old technology is just not a sweet enough deal. and jacking up the price on an already over-priced product line, while losing firewire and forcing the glossy display broke the camel's back.

looks like my fanboy status will remain limited to just ipods/iphone.

now if you'll excuse me, i've got some vista laptops to research.

:mad:
 
You know, I probably would have purchased a MB, but the lack of Firewire really is a problem for me. I have three hard drives that instantly become useless to me, since they're Firewire only.
EDIT: I suppose I could use the USB HD that is currently used to backup and iMac and use one the Firewire drives for the iMac instead. So only two drives are useless.
 
BrownManUPS said:
Think of the clinetele. People who buy Macbooks today don't use the old technology Apple used to use. Firewire is no longer compatible with iPods, and only external HDDs seem to support it. It just isn't important to have one. I'd take an extra USB port any day.
Click to expand...

I use the firewire disk mode to connect two macs all the time. It's sad to see it go.
 
Removing firewire stinks, but consider how much more expensive and difficult it is to find firewire equipped devices.

Almost all external hard drives now start with USB only options; you usually have to pay an extra $30-50 for the same drive with firewire (usually marketed as a "dual" or "triple" interface; USB, Firewire, etc;).

DV cameras are mainly USB and some do still have firewire. Still; firewire is becoming more the exception to the rule on these devices.

I mention these because I have a macbook and bought both of the above items within the last 12 months.

I'm not apologizing for Apple; I'd still rather have more connection options and more reliable speed and power with firewire.
 
Pretty disappointed with the pricing. Good luck with continuing to grow your business in these tough economic times with those prices. I'm guessing the only reason the white plastic mackbook is still available is because they had a bunch of the casings left over that they need to get ride of. I'm guessing that will go away by macworld '09 and it will be aluminum across the board.
 
BrownManUPS said:
Think of the clinetele. People who buy Macbooks today don't use the old technology Apple used to use. Firewire is no longer compatible with iPods, and only external HDDs seem to support it. It just isn't important to have one. I'd take an extra USB port any day.
Click to expand...

I'm sick of people who seem to think that Firewire is dead, just because the ipod isn't FW doesn't mean Firewire dead, and where's this extra USB port, it aint on this model.

Get your head out ya a** :cool:
 
No freakin' FireWire. I use FireWire to import video from my camcorder. So now I have to spring for the bigger and more expensive MacBook Pro? :mad: LAME.

Well at least there's no plastic to chip off the edges this time! Makes me kind of regret I ever bought a Rev.A MacBook.
 
I like the way they look and their new form factor, but the price is too high for me to jump away from my iMac and into this new MB. :(
 
ju5tin81 said:
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?
Click to expand...

IF you are looking at UK prices, then 719 pounds is for the OLD model, the new one is listed as £949 Pounds, that's 1.7 times more!!!
 
Mac21ND said:
Removing firewire stinks, but consider how much more expensive and difficult it is to find firewire equipped devices.

Almost all external hard drives now start with USB only options; you usually have to pay an extra $30-50 for the same drive with firewire (usually marketed as a "dual" or "triple" interface; USB, Firewire, etc;).

DV cameras are mainly USB and some do still have firewire. Still; firewire is becoming more the exception to the rule on these devices.

I mention these because I have a macbook and bought both of the above items within the last 12 months.

I'm not apologizing for Apple; I'd still rather have more connection options and more reliable speed and power with firewire.
Click to expand...

USB drives are not suitable for video editing. I'm not talking about professional editing. I'm talking about DV/HDV with iMovie.

That's really all there is to it. Nothing you wrote addresses that.
 
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