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Apple Releases New MacBooks
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Intel say: "With a powerful 400MHz core and DirectX* 9 3D hardware acceleration, Intel® GMA 950 graphics"
Yes, it's crappy, and the vertex processing is handled by the CPU, but it's not 1999 quality as the combination of GMA950 + Drivers can (in Windows) handle DirectX 9 completely (or OpenGL 1.5 / 2.0 / whatever, in Mac OS X).
Oh, this is a long post, and your first argument was incorrect. Think I'll skip the rest...
Nothing unusual about the MacBook update. It may have been a few months longer then usual to release but this is pretty much a standard mid-cycle update. We'll need to have a major bump in the Pro line and have that run for a few months before they move the MacBook up to that level.
Hopefully we'll see the SR platform soon. Then we can start talking about a SR MacBook. As usual, most will be happy to get these more powerful machines at the same price.
Still waiting on at least a minor Imac update......
Hopefully we'll see the SR platform soon. Then we can start talking about a SR MacBook. As usual, most will be happy to get these more powerful machines at the same price.
Still waiting on at least a minor Imac update......
No Santa Rosa, but big Euro price drop! 
What American customers usually don't notice - Apple has terminally fixed prices in the US, but they are fiddling with their international price points at just about every product revision, both for Macs and iPods.
Specifically, the Macbook in most Euro zone markets today dropped from 1119/1319/1519 EUR to 1049/1249/1449 EUR. 70 EUR price drop. Yay! I haven't followed prices in the UK or some Euro countries with individual prices, like Austria. But I'd imagine it would be similar there. Way to grow, European market share!
What American customers usually don't notice - Apple has terminally fixed prices in the US, but they are fiddling with their international price points at just about every product revision, both for Macs and iPods.
Specifically, the Macbook in most Euro zone markets today dropped from 1119/1319/1519 EUR to 1049/1249/1449 EUR. 70 EUR price drop. Yay! I haven't followed prices in the UK or some Euro countries with individual prices, like Austria. But I'd imagine it would be similar there. Way to grow, European market share!
Sheesh Wolfpup, its hard to respond to a post that is so long.
But anyway, the thing about entry-level and all of that, you cannot say that it has to be between specific prices. Just like consumer and pro are designated by Apple those price ranges are created by other companies. Just because an entry-level Mac is more expensive then an entry-level Dell does not mean that it is no longer entry-level. My personal definition of entry-level is the type of computer someone might get as their first computer. If someone made a computer for less then $400 would it be sub-entry-level?
But anyway, the thing about entry-level and all of that, you cannot say that it has to be between specific prices. Just like consumer and pro are designated by Apple those price ranges are created by other companies. Just because an entry-level Mac is more expensive then an entry-level Dell does not mean that it is no longer entry-level. My personal definition of entry-level is the type of computer someone might get as their first computer. If someone made a computer for less then $400 would it be sub-entry-level?
Well, it doesn't much matter how you see the intended audience: the fact remains that college students drive the majority of MB sales. Most other consumers are probably looking at a desktop rather than a laptop, since that makes more economical sense.
Aside from that, you've basically ignored all that I said in regards to gaming on a MB. Apple is not targeting gamers with their consumer laptop, nor would it make sense for them to. The simple fact is, gamers are NOT looking at buying an Apple, and the majority are not looking at a laptop at all (if they ARE looking at a laptop, they're probably looking towards Alienware - which means they're going to be paying as much as a MBP costs anyways).
It's just how it is.
Why one would want SR:
1. 800 MHz front side bus which can toggle up and down
1a. New Socket connection
2. Less heat, better power management
3. faster processer speeds
4. Turbo Memory(formally Robson Cache)
5. X3100(the improved graphics card)
6. Better for boot camp users
These are reasons for the MB.
Mainly good for the MBP:
1. Support for more memory
Hey, I agree. We're all here because we appreciate at least some aspects of what Apple brings to the table. I'm just saying that Apple probably doesn't refuse to upgrade hardware just because it brings too much capability, and that product differentiation among their line isn't the end-all be-all of their upgrade decisions -- it may play a role, but as long as they have competitors, their upgrades will be largely determined by what people want. There are a number of reasons why Santa Rosa might not have been adopted this time around, but I don't think things that other people have mentioned, like "the students we want using this shouldn't be playing games", are so much a factor.
It's a decent upgrade. I'm not complaining, but if the lower end macbooks are indeed geared towards the average user, and as the mac employee said earlier 40% of his customers are students, don't you think they should incorporate a slight graphics bump to at least make some of the more popular games more playable?
I plan to pick one up whenever they get in stock in my local apple store
I plan to pick one up whenever they get in stock in my local apple store
You mean, like the iMac getting Intel before the MacPros?
Since when? The iMacs had Intel processors before Power Mac/Mac Pro did.
I am sorry but Intel processors weren't new tech. They might have been new to the Mac but weren't new tech. So this argument is void.
Did it ever occur to you that someone might be willing to shell out the money but they DON'T want and MPB because the thing is huge and heavy?? I don't want a sub-note book. What I want it a laptop with a 13.3 inch screen but more of the features of the MBP. I am WILLING to spend the money but Apple doesn't offer it. Their options are very limited! I would never want to carry around a MBP.
I can gather from this update that those of us with Remembrance Day (Veterans Day) C2D MacBooks will retain better resale value seeing as the upgrade was an 8% speed bump and a bigger drive rather than a full SR makeover.
They must be working hard on the new iMacs and minis cause there really hasn't been any new hardware (sans CPU upgrades) for almost a year (Mac Pro switch to Intel in August). I doubt
TV or iPhone could have consumed that much hardware development resource.
They must be working hard on the new iMacs and minis cause there really hasn't been any new hardware (sans CPU upgrades) for almost a year (Mac Pro switch to Intel in August). I doubt
TV or iPhone could have consumed that much hardware development resource.
No, because it's not. During the transition, the whole line-up (laptops and desktops) was in chaos, mostly. Apple wasn't following the standard rules, it was just introducing the new lines alongside the PPC lines as they got 'em done.
dang, there is nothing anyone can do about apple's products except buy them or not buy them. stop coming here to complain. send your disgruntled comments directly to apple.
apple wants people to switch from windows, but they get all the money and we at MR have to deal with the baggage it brings.
I have assimilated. resistance if futile. yes there are apple apologists here, and if you don't like it, take it somewhere else.
love ya though!
apple wants people to switch from windows, but they get all the money and we at MR have to deal with the baggage it brings.
I have assimilated. resistance if futile. yes there are apple apologists here, and if you don't like it, take it somewhere else.
love ya though!I didn't take venue into account when making my prediction because I don't think the venue has anything to do with an iMac announcement. The iMac is long overdue for a serious update.
The VENUE announcement will be the release of the beta version of Leopard - that has been the advertising plug apple has been running, after all.
Yep. I was actually going to get the black one until today. The price difference is even more pronounced now than before. White it is!