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Apple Prepping for Notebook Refresh?
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I was a bit luckier, since my first computer was an Apple //e clone with green phosphor monitor, a 5 1/4" DD and 256Kb of RAM...but I must admit having lots of fun with cassette games used in a friend's ZX Spectrum clone, or with another friend's MSX clone...good ol' days!
different as night and day
Right - if you have Microsoft Windows, you use your computer to surf, do email, watch Youtube, download stuff, upload stuff, store your digital pictures and videos, maybe write some papers, IM and social network, ...
On the other hand - if you have Apple OSX, you use your computer to surf, do email, watch Youtube, download stuff, upload stuff, store your digital pictures and videos, maybe write some papers, IM and social network, ...
An OS isn't a religion, it's just part of a tool.
Right - if you have Microsoft Windows, you use your computer to surf, do email, watch Youtube, download stuff, upload stuff, store your digital pictures and videos, maybe write some papers, IM and social network, ...
On the other hand - if you have Apple OSX, you use your computer to surf, do email, watch Youtube, download stuff, upload stuff, store your digital pictures and videos, maybe write some papers, IM and social network, ...
An OS isn't a religion, it's just part of a tool.
It helps to have facts when you're making an argument.
have you seen a side by side comparison of DVD to BRD? Go to a retailer that runs the demo disc where you can see the same image, one half standard one half HD, and tell me then that it's a marginal improvement. It's more like putting an out of focus image into sharp relief.
Everyone I know has an HD set, and they're selling quite well, especially with the new scare ads about the analog shut off. The thing is people have HD sets and no HD input, and that will change as time goes on. People didn't all rush out and get color TVs in 1955, but by the 70s they were pretty standard - the time cycle is collapsed now but it's going to happen.
And ridiculously high? you can get players for $3-400 right now. That is more expensive than DVD, but 2 years after DVD came out (1999) you couldn't find players in that price range, and I think they did ok.
Nobody says you have to like Blu-ray, but these arguments hold no weight.
As an Apple Shareholder...
I would be thrilled to purchase a Mini for my wife to replace my old iBook G3 that she is using but only if it gets an update. She doesn't need a new laptop and she doesn't need an iMac since she has a fantastic 20 inch flat display. What she does need is something fairly basic that is not using 2 year old tech for $700.00. Please don't tell me there is a $599 option because as far as I am concerned, a mini with a combo drive is not an option.
I would also be extremely happy to replace my 12 inch Powerbook G4 with something that fits in the same or smaller footprint. I love the idea of a 3LB computer but not one that takes up too much space in my school bag.
I would much rather see a $599 machine that works for many people and doesn't force them to purchase something out of their price range and don't care if there are a few less iMac sales, shareholder or not.
I would be thrilled to purchase a Mini for my wife to replace my old iBook G3 that she is using but only if it gets an update. She doesn't need a new laptop and she doesn't need an iMac since she has a fantastic 20 inch flat display. What she does need is something fairly basic that is not using 2 year old tech for $700.00. Please don't tell me there is a $599 option because as far as I am concerned, a mini with a combo drive is not an option.
I would also be extremely happy to replace my 12 inch Powerbook G4 with something that fits in the same or smaller footprint. I love the idea of a 3LB computer but not one that takes up too much space in my school bag.
I would much rather see a $599 machine that works for many people and doesn't force them to purchase something out of their price range and don't care if there are a few less iMac sales, shareholder or not.
:| Well that OBVIOUSLY isn't true. Unless final cut pro, logic studio, adobe software and ALL pro software doesn't actually exist and no one's ever bought/used it.
Perhaps you did not understand what I and others are saying...even though it might be clear the BR will prevail in the long run, its adoption rate is far slower in comparison with other technology changes that have showed a much clearer evolution to the market.
I still remember when CDs were out and people still had LPs and cassettes...pretty much EVERYONE I knew WANTED a CD for its crystal-clear quality and convenient size (LP and analog audio lovers notwithstanding).
As for BR, pretty much nobody cares in the market because crisper images don't automatically translate into "need to buy" without better price incentives, economies of scale and an "ecosystem" that allows for mass adoption.
Fact is: you may say that BR looks nicer on a good screen and I agree with that. But most people DO NOT care about the difference for now even with their HD TVs and (for many) their upscaling DVDs.
More facts:
1 - most TVs have a limited set of HDMI inputs;
2 - the crushing majority of stores and film studios continues to deliver DVDs nonstop, and this does not help in the adoption of BR;
3 - believe it or not, BR IS expensive. I compared disc prices and they were MUCH more expensive than DVDs, not to mention the players, which are way over what you call the "$300" range. And no, I don't live in the US.
4 - Do you really think I want to hook up YET another disc player when I already have a cable box, a DVD and an AppleTV?
Aiden Shaw also "forgot" to include the obvious "advantage" of viruses, malware and bloatware in Windows...as well as the "disadvantages" of OS X and iLife in Macs...
Oh it had storage media. What you did was plug RCA cables into a regular tape cassette deck or was it headphone to read the cassette. anyway it didn't work regardless. yes, painful typing on bubble keys, and once you types a basic line number, the next key the system would guess the command you were trying to type
What do you base that on? Blu-ray adoption is exceding the rate of DVD adoption in the same period since its introduction in 1997.
As you say, you're not in the US, but everytime you go into Best Buy lately the BR section is growing larger. The retailers are working to create that ecosystem. Studios are putting exclusive features on the BD versions of things, even though, as you say, they continue to put out DVDs.
I suppose that's down to the crowd you know. I'm probably biased knowing so many film people, but even my Mom, who still uses VHS on a semi-regular basis saw BD in the Costco and started talking about getting one.
1 and 4 - the BD player would replace the DVD player, same # of inputs you'd need now. and how many people actually have an
tv? Outside of this forum I mean. I've never seen one. I know more people that still have laserdisc players than have tvs. 2 - see my point above
3 - The discs are more expensive now, but the studios are starting to come down. Warner Brothers has started reducing prices for catalog titles to $11 for retailers for example, which would lead to around $15 in store - same as an average catalog DVD. If you shop online you can find lower prices for discs generally as well. Entry level players are available here in the states for $300, at Wal-Mart and Costco etc. BR read only drives are available for $150 or less if you have your pc connected to your TV.
Those things show how DVDs look if they're being shown through a standard DVD player. If you have a DVD player that upscales, Blu-Ray is better, but not by enough to justify the price to me.
Computers upscale too. If you've ever watched a standard DVD on a home computer, it looks great. Not better than Blu-Ray, but close enough for me.
But as a storage medium (PS3 games), Blu-Ray kicks booty.
That's fair enough, I know that in comparing DVDs upscaled on the HD player to the HD versions, I've still been able to see a lot of difference, because upscaling introduces its own artifacts and issues.
But to bring this back to the topic - what is wrong with offering the BR option on the MBP to those that want it? Does it hurt anyone? I fail to see how.
I don't think anyone is arguing that BR should be included as a standard, I have no info on the battery issues, but if that's true than it should be an option only, for sure, but an option nonetheless.
MB or MBP update???
Hmm, just realized the original article said MACBOOK supplies are low, not MACBOOK PRO. That means there's not any new evidence for an update of the latter (the design of is *much* more overdue than the design of the former).
Hmm, just realized the original article said MACBOOK supplies are low, not MACBOOK PRO. That means there's not any new evidence for an update of the latter (the design of is *much* more overdue than the design of the former).
Yes chances are you and many other MR members will have their periods time and time again before the mini is updated. So, truthfully your threat is 100% accurate.
We been there already.
Last time, it seems that people here used VM (slightly) more than Parallels.
I disagree.
Try a full HD at least 52" screen with a blue ray movie. Hard to compare anything to it.
So in terms of quality there is a significant difference... Price... well... Still away from mass market.
What do you base that on? Blu-ray adoption is exceding the rate of DVD adoption in the same period since its introduction in 1997.
As you say, you're not in the US, but everytime you go into Best Buy lately the BR section is growing larger. The retailers are working to create that ecosystem. Studios are putting exclusive features on the BD versions of things, even though, as you say, they continue to put out DVDs.
I suppose that's down to the crowd you know. I'm probably biased knowing so many film people, but even my Mom, who still uses VHS on a semi-regular basis saw BD in the Costco and started talking about getting one.
1 and 4 - the BD player would replace the DVD player, same # of inputs you'd need now. and how many people actually have an
2 - see my point above
3 - The discs are more expensive now, but the studios are starting to come down. Warner Brothers has started reducing prices for catalog titles to $11 for retailers for example, which would lead to around $15 in store - same as an average catalog DVD. If you shop online you can find lower prices for discs generally as well. Entry level players are available here in the states for $300, at Wal-Mart and Costco etc. BR read only drives are available for $150 or less if you have your pc connected to your TV.
Here's the thing with BR. It does look great (and sound great) if you have all the other expensive pieces. You also need a fairly expensive player (DVD players can be bought in wal-mart for $50 now) and the movies often cost more.
BR's main problem though is the environment it's coming into. There are so many more ways to have movies delivered to you know. Even my hardcore movie friends end up watching most movies through on-demand cable or at the theater. They haven't bought a movie in years. I know on-demand isn't in HD, etc... but from my standpoint a large majority of people don't care. The convenience of deciding to watch a movie and then watching it 10 seconds later trumps everything-even if the picture or sound isn't as great.
As we said above, it's still difficult to justify buying a BR movie instead of an upscaled DVD...once the market overwhelmingly adopts BR with low prices, this conundrum disappears, of course.
What is wrong in offering it, then? Nothing. But Apple is smart in waiting a little bit until BR media and player prices fall enough to justify mass production in its notebooks and desktops.
And so far, nobody really cares because DVD-RW and hard disks are cheap as bananas; and also because if you REALLY wanna watch a movie in big screen, you won't use a computer for that.