Apple Announces New Aluminum MacBooks

[kerryn]

I was kind of thinking the same thing. I've never owned a mac but have always liked the pros. It's light enough and powerful enough for me and costs $50 more then the new MB. It would be nice to have the smaller, lighter new MB but the refurb is probably the better deal.

Actually refurbished MBP seem to be a good deal right now. You can get a 2.4 15.4in, 2GB, 200GB, non glossy screen, multi touch for only $1349. That's almost as cheap as the new Macbook and it has a faster graphics card.

Does the old 15.4 MBP have the LED backlight or was it only the Air prior to yesterday?

 

[Lurchdubious]

Does the old 15.4 MBP have the LED backlight or was it only the Air prior to yesterday?

The newer MBP's have a backlit keyboard, but I don't think they have LED...

 

[jodelli]

I'll be joining you, just as soon as someone gets Logic & iLife running on Ubuntu!

That's the main remaining reason I use Ubuntu only as a secondary OS right now. If ease of use suites like iLife or a Logic type app emerge for it that will change.

 

[onigami]

I'ma go ahead and take a stab on both. I demoed them today, and felt unimpressed.

The lack of FW on the MB is a huge issue, no matter how you look at it. True, the point may be to push pros upward (which is a bad idea, let me tell you), but even so, it leaves media students in a bad situation. Given that:
A. FW is a necessity for production students,
B. Apple's nicked the student discount further, giving students a huge disadvantage (unless they're lucky and they go to a school that offers steeper discounts),
Not having FW at the base level is bad. Granted, they left the original model (which has it) available, but that's only for now. And given the current economic situation, a 600-dollar difference is a BIG deal to students and their parents.

Glossy: I'm not angry about the lack of choice, bad though it may be. I'm angry about Ivie's and Jobs's arrogance in response to even offering a choice, or even addressing the glare issue. Insults to my intelligence.

Graphics: MacBook, that's an improvement. The GMA950 makes even Spore unplayable, so this is positive. MacBook Pro, on the other hand: WTF? The fact that they refused to implement Hybrid SLI when they could most certainly do so, and the fact that you have to practically reset to change chips, is f-ed up. It's another example of letdown towards Mac gamers through its unwritten law of "Okay, we'll placate, but not do enough" (See: Mac Pro).

No Blu-ray: I don't see the fuss, seriously. Then again, I still don't see any particular benefit to Blu-ray (or HD, for that matter) right now. It took devs in all corners of software development several years until DVD-ROM became the de facto storage standard for installing software. That's what really determines whether a certain disc storage should be standard on any form of computer. I see that happening again here, with standardization prolly not happening till well into next decade (2012, maybe).

Mini-display port: Whaaat? Are they kidding themselves? What was so wrong with mini-DVI? That's just exploitation. Screw that.

 

[jodelli]

From early Sept:

If they get rid of the combo drives Apple will have to find another way to sneer at entry level buyers.

If there's a way, Apple will find it.

• Keeping the white MacBook for the low end
• Keeping the same specs as the current $1099 MacBook but with SuperDrive
• Discontinuing the $1099 model and reducing the $1299 model by $100
  
• Intentionally crippled, or a curious lack of, [X]

Those are some ways I can think of.

I was pleasantly surprised by Apple dropping the price on a fully configured White Book as the entry level portable. I stand corrected on my previous comment.

That being said, iMacmatician pretty much nailed it with their comments, both with the White Book offering and something being 'crippled, or a curious lack of' in the new MacBook.

 

[brop52]

Actually refurbished MBP seem to be a good deal right now. You can get a 2.4 15.4in, 2GB, 200GB, non glossy screen, multi touch for only $1349. That's almost as cheap as the new Macbook and it has a faster graphics card.

Does the old 15.4 MBP have the LED backlight or was it only the Air prior to yesterday?

Previously, it was only the MB without the LED backlight.

 

[thebez]

To file a complaiont about the exclusion of FIREWIRE in Macbooks you can simply click here... very simple.

http://www.apple.com/feedback/macbook.html

I just sent this:

Dear Apple,

I will be buying no further products from you until FireWire is returned to every model of MacBook. Furthermore I have just canceled my MobileMe account out of disgust with the situation. I, like many others that you have been hearing from, Have a considerable investment in FireWire gear. FireWire was a standard feature on every Mac model from 2001 up until earlier this year when you released the MacBook Air. While most users understood the omission of FireWire from the MacBook Air, Many people from many walks of life depended on FireWire in the MacBook. College students in particular often need FireWire in their line of study, IE: video production, Audio production, graphic design, etc. USB 2 is simply not fast enough to meet the needs of most people in these fields, student or otherwise.

I find the attempted forced up-sale to the MacBook Pro to be in extremely poor taste. Many Mac users do not desire the large form factor of the MacBook Pro, nor do any desire the higher price tag. You may have forced some of your customers to buy the more expensive unit now, but it is at the expense of the long term alienation of a large portion of your core customer group.

This may be the final straw for me and my family. Think about this - my 11 year old daughter is just now learning to use computers, and my entire family is due for hardware upgrades. Do you wish for her to spend her entire life using OS X, Or Windows? I am a Man of limited means, but I have always understood the benefit of using a quality tool versus a cheap one. Unfortunately without FireWire I would put the new MacBook into the latter catagory.

Sincerely,
Steve Beswick
Mac user since 1988

feel free to copy / paste any bits you might need.

 

[Quillz]

I just sent this:



feel free to copy / paste any bits you might need.

Nice letter, but I really doubt Apple gives a damn, especially if your daughter uses OS X or not. Apple is a hardware company and has made far more profit off the iPod than the Mac. At this point, who cares if they sell a few hundred less MacBook models? It won't even be a blip on the radar as they continue to sell millions more and throw in "free" iPod models.

 

[redwin11]

Prior to the announcements, I was considering ditching my iMac for a portable, as i needed some flexibility with where i work.

As a Quark/Photoshop user though, i really had doubts that the Macbook would be powerful enough to do what i want it to (forgetting the screen size, which isn't an issue), whilst the MBP was just out of my price-range.

So doesn't the new Macbook now fit perfectly between the two?
Can it be considered a 'Pro' machine?

 

[thebez]

The targeted markets for the MBs don't even know that FW exists, in fact...and I am talking here about students, ...

I hope you don't mean film students, music students, or graphic design students. for them, firewire is a NECESSITY.

 

[LillDrutten]

The new apple slogans.
"It used to work."
"Think different, every time"

 

[MagnusVonMagnum]

I'm amazed at how ticked off so many Mac users are at the loss of something that almost NO ONE in the Windows world gives the slightest crap about (i.e. Firewire). How is it they can do without it and you guys can't?

The only piece of hardware I have here that even has Firewire on it is an external hard drive I use to backup my PC's Windows drives and my PC doesn't have Firewire so it's still not getting used. My Mac has no firewire devices, although now that I've ordered an MBP (the old model that has two ports and a matte screen ) and want to start doing some multi-track recording with my Roland Digital Piano, Fender guitar and a microphone, I might get a PreSonus Firewire device, but seeing as Firewire is going the way of the Dodo, I'd probably be better off finding one that either has USB or USB in addition to Firewire or I might regret it at some point in the future.

But seriously, I get the distinct feeling a lot of people are upset about something they don't actually use either. They just don't like the idea of Stevie taking something away. They feel like he's trying to screw them over (well, he probably IS... Steve is out for $$$ and a power trip and nothing else).

 

[localoid]

I'm amazed at how ticked off so many Mac users are at the loss of something that almost NO ONE in the Windows world gives the slightest crap about (i.e. Firewire). How is it they can do without it and you guys can't?

You apparently have no idea of how many people use Firewire for audio and video in the both the Mac and Windows worlds. Newegg has about one hundred different models of C2D notebooks available with Firewire, starting at just over $600. If no one "gives a crap" then why do those manufacturers bother to include FW on their products, from low-end products through the high-end?

The only piece of hardware I have here that even has Firewire on it is an external hard drive I use to backup my PC's Windows drives and my PC doesn't have Firewire so it's still not getting used. ...

And because you don't use it, you think no one else does? Try reading through the whole thread and you should be able to get some clue about how many people use FW, and what they use it for...

 

[PMR]

Can USB cope with the data transfer rate of SD. I know USB 2.0 is supposed to be 800Mb/s but from what I've seen it can't sustain it for any length of time. But in all honesty I've never tried so would love to hear the views of somebody who's captured from a Camcorder with USB 2.0.

Pretty sure you're buggered if you're capturing HD mind.

USB 2.0 is 480Mb/s in theory. But if you get transfer rates at 290Mb/s you're already a lucky guy.

 

[marbles]

Could the USB ports on the new macbooks be the new USB 3? , in disguise ?.

Also , has anyone found out which processor these machines are using yet ......and how is the heat ???

 

[OllyW]

Could the USB ports on the new macbooks be the new USB 3? , in disguise ?

Why, is it wearing a fake moustache & glasses?

 

[marbles]

Why, is it wearing a fake moustache & glasses?

ah just a thought you know ? ...I mean Apple has been known to try and keep certain things on machines quiet .....take the 802.11n thing a while back ......I'm jjst hoping there may actually be a positive to firewire missing ..........I'm so disapointed , I was intending to get two new macbooks but ..........


...maybe the Ethernet port can be used as a firewire port .....please can someone check

 

[chrono1081]

Mini-display port: Whaaat? Are they kidding themselves? What was so wrong with mini-DVI? That's just exploitation. Screw that.

I thought so at first too...until I thought about it. This is actually pretty genius. Instead of worrying about what monitor you want to buy having what connections all you do is buy whatever monitor you want, then one adapter.

Your macbook suddenly has DVI or HDMI, or VGA, whatever connection you want.

 

[jclardy]

I thought so at first too...until I thought about it. This is actually pretty genius. Instead of worrying about what monitor you want to buy having what connections all you do is buy whatever monitor you want, then one adapter.

Your macbook suddenly has DVI or HDMI, or VGA, whatever connection you want.

They already sold Mini-DVI adapters for both DVI and VGA...and I don't think they are selling any HDMI adapters, at least not yet.

But either way, I still want one. Some parts of the casing on my first gen macbook are starting to crack...so the Unibody aluminum sounds real nice. So does the new nVidia chipset.

 

[sir Mudkip]

ZOMFG NO FIREWIRE !!1!!!!!!11!!!!

no seriously. this macbook is sexy. and with australias 50% rebate, a $2500 laptop will now cost me 1250. ordering soon!

 

[syclone]

Prior to the announcements, I was considering ditching my iMac for a portable, as i needed some flexibility with where i work.

As a Quark/Photoshop user though, i really had doubts that the Macbook would be powerful enough to do what i want it to (forgetting the screen size, which isn't an issue), whilst the MBP was just out of my price-range.

So doesn't the new Macbook now fit perfectly between the two?
Can it be considered a 'Pro' machine?

I would say definitely yes, considering that your work doesn't require an FW port.

I'm amazed at how ticked off so many Mac users are at the loss of something that almost NO ONE in the Windows world gives the slightest crap about (i.e. Firewire). How is it they can do without it and you guys can't?

The only piece of hardware I have here that even has Firewire on it is an external hard drive I use to backup my PC's Windows drives and my PC doesn't have Firewire so it's still not getting used. My Mac has no firewire devices, although now that I've ordered an MBP (the old model that has two ports and a matte screen ) and want to start doing some multi-track recording with my Roland Digital Piano, Fender guitar and a microphone, I might get a PreSonus Firewire device, but seeing as Firewire is going the way of the Dodo, I'd probably be better off finding one that either has USB or USB in addition to Firewire or I might regret it at some point in the future.

But seriously, I get the distinct feeling a lot of people are upset about something they don't actually use either. They just don't like the idea of Stevie taking something away. They feel like he's trying to screw them over (well, he probably IS... Steve is out for $$$ and a power trip and nothing else).

The difference is that in the Windows world just about every laptop has a PCMCIA or ExpressCard slot so they can get by without it or add FW if they ever need it. With the new MacBook you just don't have the option - that is why people are ticked.

They already sold Mini-DVI adapters for both DVI and VGA...and I don't think they are selling any HDMI adapters, at least not yet.

DVI and HDMI are compatible. You should be able to use the adapter to go from the port to DVI and then just use any old $10 cable with DVI on one end and HDMI on the other. I've done this to hook up an HDTV to the mini-DVI on my Aluminum iMac.

I hope you don't mean film students, music students, or graphic design students. for them, firewire is a NECESSITY.

It is, but the question no one seems to be asking is whether or not a LAPTOP is necessary. For most people, an iMac would be fine. Maybe I'm just old, but I don't know why most students need a laptop anyway. When I started college in 2002, I got an iMac G4 that lasted a year until I decided that I needed a laptop so that I could take it to the lab, library, class, etc. I ended up taking out another student loan for a $2500 for a 15" Aluminum PBG4. Considering it is only 1" wider and about a half pound heavier, the 15" G4 is essentially equally as portable as the plastic MB's that everyone seems to consider essential to students. I tried to bring it back and forth to campus, but it got old real quick. The only time I was glad that I had it was when I left to study abroad - but even then it was just nice to get it over seas where it promptly sat on a desk for 95% of the time I was there. It spent most of my senior year hooked up to an external monitor and keyboard. In grad school in '07, I decided it was time for a new machine. I decided if I was going to get another laptop, it would need to be more portable to be worth it, and I was in no position to spend more than $1300 this time around. Apple didn't have anything that fit this bill, so I bought an aluminum iMac and couldn't be happier. Fact is, the iMac was, is, and unless Apple gets rid of the FW ports (which I doubt will happen in the near future after all of the complaints here) will continue to be the best option for most graphics/design/film students whether they want to admit it or not. About the only people I can see this being a real issue for is audio pros who want something smaller than an MBP. Having a portable machine in college is nice for impressing friends, or maybe showing off/collaborating on a project, but is really less necessary than most people seem to think. I take my huge projects back and forth to campus on a tiny 250GB 1.8" USB hard drive and use lab computers and couldn't be happier. Much more portable than a MacBook.

On another note FWIW, I would have a very tough time giving up FW. I use my 800 for external drives, and the 400 for my DV cam, using my PB in target disk mode, and actually (my favorite feature) to bridge my ancient B&W G3 that onto my AirPort network. But I also can't see myself (or many people for that matter) using a tiny 13" laptop as my main computer, so I think if I ever was in the market for another laptop, I'd be willing to give up the FW knowing that I have it at home.

PS - It never ceases to amaze me that with 512MB of RAM and a clean install of 10.4 on a 10GB drive, that old 400MHz G3 beats my 2.0GHz/2GB iMac from a cold boot to the desktop by at least 15 seconds.

 

[theholydonkey]

I succumbed and bought the 2.0 ghz MacBook yesterday and I'm loving it! I stuck the 250 GB HD from my damaged MacBook black into it and it's running and looking awesome. I love the trackpad but am still getting used to it. I'm sure within a couple of weeks it'll be like second nature but being able to move the cursor to a file then just having to tap with the same finger to open it without having to click the button is still strange.

I'm running CS3 on it and it's running much faster than my MacBook Pro. I also did a speed test and started both the new MacBook and the year old MacBook Pro at the same time and the MacBook was up and running long before the Pro.

I can live without firewire (as I can use the Pro) although I'll have to buy a new back-up drive as my current drives are all firewire.

It's an awesome piece of engineering and perfect for me as I travel a lot. If you can get your head around not having the firewire port then I'd say BUY ONE NOW!

 

[Detektiv-Pinky]

Comparing Glossy to Glossy

This photo from iFixit confirms my impression. The new MacBooks are not simply glossy, they are ULTRA-Glossy

 

[rickag]

It never ceases to amaze me that posters will defend Apple, in this case in removing FW400, based on their experiences. Statements like no one in the PC world uses firewire so why shouldn't Apple discontinue it.

Firewire is arguably a much better standard than USB with faster sustainable real world speeds. Is a peer to peer standard allowing Target Disk Mode that makes servicing problem computers really really easy for those of us less technically minded. Up till recently camcorders by the vast majority used Firewire for transfers, at least in the millions if not tens of millions in use right now.

What makes this exclusion so galling, is the cost of inclusion of Firewire on a laptop costing $1299 is not excusable and I believe the only reason it was done was to upsell anyone that relies on Firewire. For professionals, that need firewire, they will probably pay the price, for the rest of us, unless we can afford the extra $700 we are out of luck. We will have to purchase new camcorders, hard drives, etc. prior to buying a new Apple laptop, all so Apple can save what??? $10, $20 ???

 

[nyisles84]

just wondering for those who have their new macbooks, just got my 2.4 model yesterday, and I havent really tested it out to much more since I am at work now, but does anyone notice lesser quality on the isight? It may have just been the lighting in the room I was in but just wondering.