Apple October 2008 Notebook Media Event Coverage

[macguitarman]

Dude, you are un informed, big time, relax!!!

If I heard right, the new Pro has eliminated the Firewire400 port (1394a).

This is going to be a HUGE problem for videographers using MacBook Pro's to download raw footage, as most videocams have 400, not 800 (1394b).

Frankly, I don't want to have to use an express card, and the problems that will ensue to be able to use my cam. Guess I'll stick with my older Macbook Pro 17 that HAS the 400 port (I also have external hard drives at 400 to contend with)

GRRRRRR!!!!

Its called a FW 800 cable end to a FW 400 end, I use them all the time, for data and video capture. The FW 800 spec includes 400, no need for additional 400 port when you have an 800 port

 

[fat phil]

Q: Concern about the glossy screens. Are you going to offer another option?
A: Steve: We're going all glass -- we won't offer another version. Phil: You offset the reflection by the brightness, and consumers love it. One of the great things about a notebook is you can turn it however you want!

This is the worst of the lot... I thought the whole point of the Macbook Pro was that it wasn't a consumer machine but a 'pro' machine? As a photographer and designer how the hell is a super-contrasty, over saturated piece of 'glass' going to help me?

Find me a single professional who thinks this glossy piece of sh*t really is going to enhance their work... Afterall, it's about ACCURATE colour reproduction!

It's nonsense, and so is their terrible "workaround". This is a bleak day for pro users. Doesn't help that all the kiddies are clapping their hands like someone dropped a wagonload of ice cream in the gutter, it'll just spur them on to forget the pro market more with each generation.

 

[g00k]

the new mbps and mb are ugly
and 1440 x 900 pixels for a mbp is out dated...
innovation he apple?
apple just follows and makes it sexier nothing else

 

[OS X Dude]

I was expecting a screw up for the UK but Apple surpassed themselves.

Price the new macbook out of most people's proportions and then PUT THE PRICE OF THE OLD ONE UP!! Blu-ray not even offered, stupid new mini display connector, battery life seems down on "current" MBP (though could be wrong). No FireWire on MacBook and fewer connections on the MBP to boot! Wow, all great.

EDIT: oh and compulsory glossy screen. Great. I wonder if Apple deliberately took the piss this upgrade to see who will still be a rabid fanboy and watch them defend crap whilst laughing manic-ly.

Nicer looking than i imagined, but not for me. Nice Air update, shaping up to be very respectable all told.

 

[EricNau]

.........$1,300 for the entry level Macbook?!?

Is this for REAL????

No. $999 for the entry level MacBook.

 

[iEdd]

Um, pro prices for accessories:

MacBook Pro - Apple Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter [Add A$ 45.00]
MacBook - Apple Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter [Add A$ 25.00]

It's the same cable!

 

[aussie.damo]

Wow the silver body and black screen look is so ground breaking. Perhaps they got the designers from Acer/Toshiba/HP in (y'know, the ones who those companies sacked about 6 years ago?)

I was dreading this happening to Apple laptops and now it has. Pity.

 

[forgetaboutpro]

Have any of you supposed "pros" actually, I dunno, used a screen that's covered in glass? I'm not particularly aware of any currently on the market.

But some of the people wailing about it I don't think have used even a "glossy" screen (not what these are)! And by "use" I mean "really use" not toy with in a retail store (the extra-bright overhead lights in a retail setting are nothing like a production or home environment). The un-matted, "shiny" displays just tend to let more light through, providing more vivid colours. Glass-covered screens seem like the next evolution of that. I can't wait to see one in person.ATI already!

The imac has a glass screen. I have used it.

Vivid is not natural. period.

 

[slcoss]

No illuminated keyboard on the base 1299 macbook, well, i guess im gonna have to live with that... but damn I was at least expecting a price-drop on these too...

 

[surfdog_2005]

So what do you think? Is the bump from 2.0 GHZ to 2.4 GHz worth it for the extra $300 on the Macbook (and bigger drive)? What model would you get?

 

[ChrisA]

I'm very dissapointed in their very outdated pricing structure compared to other notebooks that have gone down considerably in price lately.
Also dissapointed in the glossy only screens.

Those glossy screen cost a lot less to make. Apple is saving a bundle.

The only people who care about the mat screens are a few pro photographers and graphic artists. Most people just want to use the notebooks are a media player for games, movies and the web. Glossy is best for that kind of use. For every profesional
that Apple losses as a customer they gain a "bazillion" casual users, gamers and others who like the shiny glass screen. I'm sure Apple has worked the numbers

 

[Zadillo]

.........$1,300 for the entry level Macbook?!?

Is this for REAL????

For a machine with an LED-backlit 13.3" panel, why does it surprise you it's a bit more expensive?

 

[BenRoethig]

http://img353.imageshack.us/img353/3282/applelaptopevent089pq0.jpg

Ive didn't lose it, he was always a little nutty. The difference now is he and Jobs are completely running wild.

No more anti-reflective screen, glare only. To bad. Looks like Apple has sold out to the mass market. I wonder how many profesional photographers will have to move back to using PCs. or is this the reason for the new 24" ACD. The idea is that you plug your MBP in to that?

I don't think they've sold out to the mass market, if anything they've abandoned it and the professional market as well. If anything they've gone completely to a priority of outward appearance and dimensions with usability and affordability as very secondary.

 

[TonyHoyle]

But some of the people wailing about it I don't think have used even a "glossy" screen (not what these are)! And by "use" I mean "really use" not toy with in a retail store

Yes. I put up with it for about 10 mintues and ditched it.

Some of us don't work 100% of the time in light controlled environments. Glare us a usability killer.

 

[VoR]

I'm glad they've gone with display port. I think they should have stuffed the macbook hardware in mini/atv case while they were at it.

The rest of the laptops are rediculously priced and not worth whinging about.

 

[dannyboi83]

Price reductions...... Where

I love the way the US gets a $100 price reduction on the old crappy base model, and the uk store increases it by £20. So if I bougt it today before the event, I coulda saved £20. What a wast, its out of date and they hike the price!!!! Apple get a grip, where is the aggressive pricing that we were expecting. You always let us down here in the UK.......

 

[EricNau]

Um, pro prices for accessories:

MacBook Pro - Apple Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter [Add A$ 45.00]
MacBook - Apple Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter [Add A$ 25.00]

It's the same cable!

One which we shouldn't have to buy in the first place.

 

[dante@sisna.com]

This "problem" is exactly as "HUGE" as getting 9-to-6-pin FireWire cable. Which is available for like 5$, shipped to you from asia.

Well, not so fast kind sir.

First off, it is one more cable to carry.

Second, a LOT of us in the Pro Market have more than one drive connected. For example, right now, I have a Dual Bay Case connected via FW 800 and two drives daisy-chained through FW 400. I can't plug a FW400 drive into my FW800 case so I am out of luck in this scenario.

The value of the last two gen MBP's just went up considerably on the used market.

It will be a long time before I part with my Matte 17" 2.6ghz for sure.

 

[Jimmni]

I'm actually really liking the new look and most of the new specs, but as I mentioned before the no button is a bit issue for me.

Apple have:

- Raised prices.
- Reduced edu discounts (and I'm sure their aggressive edu discounts were a big part of the big uptake amongst students)
- Removed firewire from the MB
- Removed the option for a matte screen

Jobs and Ive have balls, you've got to give them that.

Also, I remember back to the original iMac. No floppy drive?!? WTF!?! And the iPod. A general WTF?!? Who'd pay that?!? A lot of bitching and moaning both times, and both times Jobs was totally, utterly and embarrassingly right.

I trust his judgement on these things more than I trust mine.

I don't, even slightly, trust the way he's eyeing up my wallet, though. Whore.

 

[AppliedMicro]

.........$1,300 for the entry level Macbook?!?
Is this for REAL????

No.

$999.

 

[galstaph]

the new mbps and mb are ugly
and 1440 x 900 pixels for a mbp is out dated...
innovation he apple?
apple just follows and makes it sexier nothing else

then buy a 17, it has High res standard now and matte and glossy options.. and the old case solves your issues

 

[koobcamuk]

I dont get it, these will sell like hotcakes guarenteed. There sexy, no way around that. Just because you didnt get glossy and the outdated FW400 is gone means apple will surely fail now.....right.

No, I don't mean Apple will fail. I mean we (i.e. me and others) lose out. Losing my firewire only hard drives and matte options (for future too). Not to mention the stupidity of INCREASING the UK price.

 

[odj310388]

Love how they say it is a decrease in price and then go and up the UK price. Classic. XD

 

[rockosmodurnlif]

$400 for ~2" more of screen space? Right... I think Apple has officially begun phasing out the MBP.

 

[d3fcon]

I quite like the new look... not a fanboy never had a mac but been lloking for a laptop for a while ...I mainly do developer work so not too bothered about a glossy screen as its not relevant to me other than the reflections.... but this seems to be the trend in most laptops now... I like the look of the pro...but am wondering if the mark up is really worth it... not sure on the uk prices so if anyone knows let me know... I noramlly do a rough calculation of half the us price (converation rate) then add 17.5% tax and add at least 25% more for the queen thats how it normally works in the UK. Does anyone else think its quite a markup from MB to MBP for better graphics and little performance in CPU and cache...