Apple on Blu-Ray, Touch Screen Displays, Netbooks

[overcast]

Oh so are you telling me that today I can buy a Blu-Ray burner and copy 200GB of data on to it. This is available....

Today I can buy 32GB flash thumb drive which will plug into any computer and R/W data. For under $100.00.

By the time I can do that with a Blu-Ray disc, I'll be able to do more with Flash Thumb drive.... And it will still be cheaper and again it's R/W many not R/W once.

Does anyone remember the old Apple Superdrive? The one that ran DVD-RAMs. Or does anyone have piles of Zip disks which are now obsolete. Removing the hardware (such as the CD, DVD, Blu-Ray, Zip drive) is the safest way forward.

No, but you can buy a $25 50GB bluray disc instead of $100 for a 32GB flash drive. What if I don't want it to be R/W? What if I want it to be a little less volatile? There are R/W Blu-Ray discs.

So your answer to everything is removable thumb drives? How are companies going to distribute software, games? Flash IS NOT a long term media storage option.

 

[thenightstalker]

Except, none of them run OSX except for the Apple ones. So it kind of makes both of are arguments pointless.

No, it made my statement of hardware correct. Unlike you bold statement of the "value" that they have compared to dell's, hardware wise. And they can be hacked. Theres a difference between having osx and being gouged to be able to run it.

 

[manowarwi]

Macbook = consumer line!

You guys just don't get it. If you want to edit videos, etc at a professional level, get a professional mac. I am a Mac admin at a university and do a lot of side work and very few people who I see owning MacBooks do anything more than typical web surfing, document writing, etc and I deal with easily hundreds of owners a year. These people don't want to pay the extra for Firewire or bluray. Yeah, it sucks they lost the Firewire port, but if 5 percent of people actually use it then 95 percent could benefit from it not being there. If you want bluray, find an external burner/player. One thing Apple cannot afford to do is offer 35 different laptop models like Dell or HP. With Apple you are a normal user = MacBook or a professional user = Macbook Pro.

 

[overcast]

No, it made my statement of hardware correct. Unlike you bold statement of the "value" that they have compared to dell's, hardware wise. And they can be hacked. Theres a difference between having osx and being gouged to be able to run it.

99.9% of people using OSX right now are not going to spend time to learn how to hack osx onto a pc. It's just going to happen. Those that would, would not be complaining about the Apple prices. The fact that Apples revenue is surging quarter after quarter, and taking percentages away from the PC market just solidifies that. Obviously the cost is not THAT big of an issue. Worth is all relative to what someone is willing to pay for it. If Apple couldn't make money at that price, they would be lower. You want lower prices, don't buy it. Yes, the costs are more. Yes, there are some that complain about it. Yes, there are more people that don't care and buy them.

 

[cycomiko]

This has to do with the drop in value of pound versus dollar, and nothing more.

When the pound rose in value to the dollar, like it has since the origonal pricing scheme was introduced, did apple reduce the price of their products, or did they take the winnings and laugh all the way to the bank?

 

[iPaf]

I think $999 (the new price for the white MacBook -- Apple's "best-selling Mac ever") is low enough, having dropped a full $100 yesterday.

It used to be everyone wanted a $1000 laptop… now that they have it, they piss and moan about $200 cheaper. Sure, I guess if they would've announced that the old white MacBook was $799, I would've been very surprised and thrilled -- but you know what,... people would've been biz-nitching that they weren't getting the Aluminum MacBook for $799.

If what you wants costs $999 or $1299 or even more, then save your money until you have enough and go buy it. Or get a credit card and try to pay it off as fast as you can. But please, those people who can't see the value in the $1299 MacBook that was just announced just need to shut up.

Jobs said it best:

"The new MacBook delivers Metal enclosure, much Faster graphics, LED backlit display. To get into these features, yesterday, cost $1999 -- you'd have to step up to a MacBook Pro to get all of these features. Starting today you can get all these features for just $1299. That's $700 more affordable for these key features. Or 35% lower entry price for these features."

Honestly, what's in a name? They could've easily called the 13.3" MacBook the 13.3 MacBook Pro and no one would've thought otherwise. Same uni-body enclosure, major graphics chip increase, glass track pad, etc. Apple is essentially giving everyone a MacBook Pro, despite the name.

While I can understand people griping about lack of firewire and the glossy screen, for the life of me, I don't get everyone all bunched up in the panty area about $200. The new technologies they're offering are certainly worth the couple extra bones you're paying for the new $1299 version vs the $1099 you pay for the white thing.

Grow up. Save your money. Quit complaining. These new machines are awesome.

+10000!! I'm with you on that one It's well said, well structured: a big BOOM!

 

[mpb2000]

Even if they were the same quality, no quality NLE (Non Linear Editor) captures through USB. Files from a hard disk drive camera have to be captured with proprietary software and then converted for use in the NLE. When they are captured through firewire inside the NLE they are ready for editing without conversion. All quality consumer or prosumer camcorders use firewire. It is the defacto standard. HDD and DVD camcorders are consumer junk for moms a dads that take video at Christmas and birthdays that will never be edited and no one wants to watch. Flash camcorders are coming into play but they are not widely supported in editors.

Thank you. All you people who say USB video cameras are the "standard" today and provide quality that is equal to that of DV are just wrong. This is not opinion, or personal preference, it is a fact. Do some research before you post. Just because HDD camcorders are newer technology doesn't mean they automatically produce better video quality.

Apple took a huge step backwards yesterday, but they did make my decision easy with this keynote. Nice reburbished 2.4 GHz blackbook for $1099. $500 cheaper than the current MB with the same processor speed. I'll take the $500 and firewire, and apple can keep they're new graphics card and trackpad. Maybe Apple will get it's act together the next time I'm in need of a computer.

 

[thenightstalker]

99.9% of people using OSX right now are not going to spend time to learn how to hack osx onto a pc. It's just going to happen. Those that would, would not be complaining about the Apple prices. The fact that Apples revenue is surging quarter after quarter, and taking percentages away from the PC market just solidifies that. Obviously the cost is not THAT big of an issue. Worth is all relative to what someone is willing to pay for it. If Apple couldn't make money at that price, they would be lower. You want lower prices, don't buy it. Yes, the costs are more. Yes, there are some that complain about it. Yes, there are more people that don't care and buy them.

Lol, yeah, they're going so far ahead of people..oh wait, they dont. Mac share is 3.6%, 8.1% US. Wow, they rule, oh wait they dont. They make a killing on the things they sell, their margin is HUGE. Dont give me the crap about the software for the price, I know it costs money, you guys act like vista or xp doesnt cost the vender money, not does it, they are the middle man in selling the software.

 

[editguy]

You guys just don't get it. If you want to edit videos, etc at a professional level, get a professional mac. I am a Mac admin at a university and do a lot of side work and very few people who I see owning MacBooks do anything more than typical web surfing, document writing, etc and I deal with easily hundreds of owners a year. These people don't want to pay the extra for Firewire or bluray. Yeah, it sucks they lost the Firewire port, but if 5 percent of people actually use it then 95 percent could benefit from it not being there. If you want bluray, find an external burner/player. One thing Apple cannot afford to do is offer 35 different laptop models like Dell or HP. With Apple you are a normal user = MacBook or a professional user = Macbook Pro.

No, you don't get it. Thousand of students use MB's to produce video for television classes. It did a great job of running FCE and at a cost that many student's parents could squeeze into their budgets. The cost of firewire was minimal (did the price drop with the removal of the firewire? Absolutely not. Yet, it's on the remaining White books at a lower price than the new ones.) And why would anyone benefit from something not being there? Even if they only used it once, or even have the option to use it if the need ever comes up, it's a benefit. But, by your reasoning they shouldn't have added the Ethernet because I would never use it so it must be of no value. What warped logic.

 

[macshill]

SJ in Macworld 2005 lol

Oh dear Steve...


http://www.engadget.com/2005/01/11/l...-jobs-keynote/

Pfft. I think Stevie is bowing to the over-protective movie studios about people being able to burn copies of Blu-ray DVD movies.

But think about the storage possibilities! You're denying the data plus of Blu-ray. You missed the boat, the bus and whatever else not supporting Blu-ray.

 

[macshill]

Well said...

Apple is a greedy snake trying to swallow an elephant. Damn

XACTLY!

 

[Rez]

While Apple did drop the price of the lowest-end MacBook yesterday to $999, that model retains the old MacBook architecture and casing. Readers should note, however, that the new entry level MacBook ($999) now ships with a SuperDrive. The previous $1099 MacBook contained only a Combo Drive.

In Australia, the lowest-end MacBook (the old white one) went up from AU$1499 to AU$1649. That's one expensive SuperDrive! Sigh.

 

[macshill]

Blu-ray is dying on the vine people.

Sony is all but giving them away with the PS3 and people aren't buying them.

Both Apple and Microsoft are betting on digital downloads of movies. Sure, it may not be "true HD", but SJ is right on the money when he says a majority of people watch a movie once and then they're done.

I've said before and I'll say it again, the day of hard media is dead.

As far as storage goes, ripping things to Blu-ray is again just a stop gap.

You are sooooo wrong on that, I don't even know where to begin (?).

 

[TwinCities Dan]

You do know that pioneer make blu-ray drives don't you ?
Apple not putting Blu-ray is an embarrassment, they could at least support it, so at least people could buy the drives themselves.

10.5.6 will include support, calm down...

 

[macshill]

Yeh because buying stacks of giant harddrives makes total sense, especially when I need to mail them to customers. A disc is SLIGHTLY more archival safe than a hard drive.

Exactly. If I want to go to a buddy's house to watch a movie w/ him, I'd rather take a Blu-ray disk in a jewel case. If he wants to borrow it, same thing.

And w/ more and more ISPs charging you for overages, d/l movies has many flaws.

 

[macshill]

Blu-ray is a useless feature, if it was so popular why is it struggling to catch on?

Wrong. Please research this issue. Blu-ray has already caught on faster than DVDs did when they replaced VHS.

When DVDs were first out, you'd see a new-to-video ad on TV and they'd say "on VHS and DVD". Then it became on "on DVD and VHS". Then the VHS disappeared. Today, it's "on DVD and Blu-ray". It's progression.

 

[TwinCities Dan]

I'll bet you are totally wrong.

A thin notebook appeals to anyone who has to carry a machine in a briefcase.

A tablet appeals to people who want to be in Star Trek.

C.

HA! Post of the day!

 

[yoyo5280]

Grow up. Save your money. Quit complaining. These new machines are awesome.

I was not complaining. I was defending the PolyMacbook. If you read the post I quoted in mine, you would realize that I think it is a better decision, comparing to what they could have done (ultracheap macbook with watered down OS )

The new machines ROCK. Minus the lack of firewire on Macbook2

 

[overcast]

Wrong. Please research this issue. Blu-ray has already caught on faster than DVDs did when they replaced VHS.

When DVDs were first out, you'd see a new-to-video ad on TV and they'd say "on VHS and DVD". Then it became on "on DVD and VHS". Then the VHS disappeared. Today, it's "on DVD and Blu-ray". It's progression.

Don't try to reason with stupidity.

 

[jfanning]

I don't care if they offer it as an option, but I do care if they ram it down my throat to the point that it elevates the price too high.

No one is demanding that it is the standard drive, they are wanting it as an option.

Why look at Apple products? because Windows is so crap. Mac's are the only viable alternative to Windows.

If you class Apple as being your only choice, then you can't complain about price that much, Apple has always charged more for an item.

 

[Mr.Gadget]

Just give us the option for the BD drive Steve... If there are royalties or extra costs, than so what... Pass them on to us but at least give us the choice!

Unless Steve has a personal dislike of BluRay than I can't understand why it isn't at least an option.

 

[whatever]

No, but you can buy a $25 50GB bluray disc instead of $100 for a 32GB flash drive. What if I don't want it to be R/W? What if I want it to be a little less volatile? There are R/W Blu-Ray discs.

So your answer to everything is removable thumb drives? How are companies going to distribute software, games? Flash IS NOT a long term media storage option.

Sorry I should have said the flash thumb drives are one example today of a technology is far superior and more portable than Blu-Ray.

Who knows, in the future, we might be able to go to a store, go to a Netflix kiosk, select a movie in the RED format (which is far superior to HD), swipe your Netflix card, go home and insert the Netflix card into the Card Reader next to your TV and load the movie from the card....

The day of the optical disc is over!

 

[MagicWok]

I honestly don't understand all the fuss about tablets (as opposed to touch screen laptops or desktops, which are non-starters). The first thing I would have to do with a tablet is plug a keyboard in. I don't get their purpose at all.

Could a tablet-Mac-wanting person explain it to me?

I don't need a tablet, yet. But this is one example of why a tablet is so damn useful for some people.

Check out the video link half-way down, it's amazing.
http://www.dgp.toronto.edu/~shbae/ilovesketch.htm

 

[captnfun]

Sorry I should have said the flash thumb drives are one example today of a technology is far superior and more portable than Blu-Ray.

Who knows, in the future, we might be able to go to a store, go to a Netflix kiosk, select a movie in the RED format (which is far superior to HD), swipe your Netflix card, go home and insert the Netflix card into the Card Reader next to your TV and load the movie from the card....

The day of the optical disc is over!

Have you lost your mind man? There are literally Billions of optical discs out there, CD's, DVD's, and in case you don't actually go outside your house to a store, there are now aisles of Blu-Ray Discs.

The reason Blu-Ray is relevant is because the drives read and even write all of those formats. I agree things will eventually go to download, but that is an even greater reason to adopt Blu-Ray, I think it will be the last physical format and thus have an even greater shelf life.

On to a productive discussion, what exactly is needed to incorporate Blu-Ray? I assume just some system level software and drop in the actual drive right? These new super graphics chips should be Blu-Ray ready right?

I read in another forum that the new Sony Vaio TT has the slim form factor slot load Blu-Ray reader/writer, so the actual drive exists.

 

[aaarrrgggh]

The Complaints...

Seems like Firewire will have to be solved with an external ethernet media converter and a driver in OSX. With gigabit ethernet, you should easily be able to support the throughput of FW-400 and maybe even bridge through another LAN connection. Yeah, an external dongle sucks but it is cheaper than using ethernet or fiber for the links to a camera or audio equipment. If a nice compact solution is too important, go for the 15".

The whole netbook thing is a surprise to me. Strategically, it will be interesting to see if waiting until MWSF helps them prevent erosion of sales to the cheapest option, or if it gives Asus, Acer, and MSI a big leg up. Personally I think they made the wrong choice (I'd expect stagnant sales of the $999 computer given the competition).

At the same time, I think they will really need Snow Leopard to make the Netbook do what will make them proud to put an apple on it. I haven't been impressed by what I have seen on the Windows or Linux implementations of the netbooks, although people claim them to be functional.