eazyc10 said:
Mine too. But are we sure it left? For all we know it could now be sitting on the plane in Shanghai! Man this is going to be a long weekend.
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Apple Releases PowerBooks and iBooks
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Mine too. But are we sure it left? For all we know it could now be sitting on the plane in Shanghai! Man this is going to be a long weekend.
MacRAND said:I'm surprised to hear that you find the
4x DVD mobile SuperDrive to be "out-dated", Jeff.
I should've been more specific. If you're talking about SLOT loading DVD burners, then I suppose that burner is current. However, as far as DVD burning technology in general goes, 4x has been out at least a year and a half. 8x is out and 16x and dual layer are both right around the corner. You complained about a lack of cheap dual layer media, but I said when someone was looking to sell (we were discussing resale value and potential lack thereof with a PB w/o a SuperDrive) would be probably 1-3 years down the road. At that point, dual layer should be already out for a while and media and burner prices should have had a chance to settle down.
Blu-Ray and whatever else will not be compatible with existing DVD players. Until HD becomes more widespread I don't see most people buying new BlueRay players when their existing DVD player still works fine.
This is no slam on Apple - I'm glad they offer the DVD burner in the laptop for those who need it. It just wasn't worth it for me.
Jeff
Well, the pilot would be one happy camper if he could get his hands on a power sourceraiste said:This plane better not end up like the one in "Cast Away".
Shipped!
My BTO PB 15" was shipped today - tracking number says it's waiting for pickup. Expected delivery on Wednesday. I'm psyched! I ordered it on Tuesday at like 1PM EST.....not a bad turnaround for a BTO, and especially since I didn't order the moment they came out. I had heard the horror stories of Apple announcing hardware and then not being able to fill demand - so I'm pleasantly surprised!
I got the extra RAM and a carry bag on the way...still need to track down a wireless router. Was looking at the NetGear 624 I think... Anyone have recommendations for a decent wireless G router?
Jeff
My BTO PB 15" was shipped today - tracking number says it's waiting for pickup. Expected delivery on Wednesday. I'm psyched! I ordered it on Tuesday at like 1PM EST.....not a bad turnaround for a BTO, and especially since I didn't order the moment they came out. I had heard the horror stories of Apple announcing hardware and then not being able to fill demand - so I'm pleasantly surprised!
I got the extra RAM and a carry bag on the way...still need to track down a wireless router. Was looking at the NetGear 624 I think... Anyone have recommendations for a decent wireless G router?
Jeff
Not for me:
Order Status as of 07:34 AM PDT, 04/23/2004 Open
same order date. from being on the west coast...?
totally blows. can't believe it. i've purchased over US$50K in my name, and this! oh, well. it's just a tool, it's just a tool...
Order Status as of 07:34 AM PDT, 04/23/2004 Open
same order date. from being on the west coast...?
totally blows. can't believe it. i've purchased over US$50K in my name, and this! oh, well. it's just a tool, it's just a tool...
jetlife2 said:
raiste said:This plane better not end up like the one in "Cast Away".
wilson better keep away from my powerbook.
I've got a nice
Zero Halliburtion Z3si waiting here to protect my new investment. OOOOH thte pain of it all...
Has anyone who ordered Tuesday morning had their powerbook ship or more specifically the 17 inch? I ordered mine BTO 5:30 A.M. PDT and it still hasn't shipped... Does Apple ship on weekends?
Does it take longer for an education order to ship?
Does it take longer for an education order to ship?
eazyc10 said:
Then maybe they're still shipping the Monday orders? I ordered mine early Tuesday so mine should be shipping soon. (please)
Order Up!
I finally took the plunge and ordered a 15" maxed out PB. I found this thread very usefull in making my decsision. Thanks everyone! I also did quite a bit of research on the seller getting quotes via email etc. The best deal I came up with was from CDW: 15" w/ superdrive@5400 128 VRAM single 512 slot from Apple and 512 additional from CDW w/($159.00) w/ free install - total cost: $2785.00 beating Apple by $214.00 for exact same configuration. Plus NO TAX! Be carefull of the Free RAM offers - I spoke to Macmall - to get the free 512 chip you have to toss one of the installed 256 slots so you end up with 768 not 1 gig - kinda deceptive IMHO.
I finally took the plunge and ordered a 15" maxed out PB. I found this thread very usefull in making my decsision. Thanks everyone! I also did quite a bit of research on the seller getting quotes via email etc. The best deal I came up with was from CDW: 15" w/ superdrive@5400 128 VRAM single 512 slot from Apple and 512 additional from CDW w/($159.00) w/ free install - total cost: $2785.00 beating Apple by $214.00 for exact same configuration. Plus NO TAX! Be carefull of the Free RAM offers - I spoke to Macmall - to get the free 512 chip you have to toss one of the installed 256 slots so you end up with 768 not 1 gig - kinda deceptive IMHO.
Combo drives are ancient, obsolete technology, not even retro.
I just didn't understand your argument about 4x mobile SuperDrives being "out-of-date" since they just became available in laptops and are therefore a fresh new mobile technology, whereas the combo drive became obsolete years ago when Apple introduced SuperDrives and began offering them in PowerBooks.
While Blu-ray technology has been championed in the quest to bring HD video to disc media, having 25~50GB capacity on a disc instead of a mere 4.7 or 8.4GB on a DVD disc is a pure comparison of "memory storage" not just bandwidth. If anything, Blu-ray discs will kick 700mb CD discs off the market as DVD discs become the new hallmark of "low tech".
So logically, being unable to "write" to basic DVD discs makes the combo drive incredibly obsolete as of more than 2 years ago, while SuperDrives are the new minimum.
Another way of looking at is that because of the rapid change we experience in the computer industry, by the time any technology reaches us as consumers it is ALREADY OBSOLETE and soon to be replaced by the next technology coming down the road. The only thing that saves us is the high cost of new technology which makes old technology more available.
If we refused to adopt, apply or purchase "old technology" because we know WHAT IS COMING, then would anyone buy the latest PowerBook or PowerMac release? Yes, because we can only BUY what is currently AVAILABLE even though we have a pretty good idea what is coming and is likely to replace our "latest and greatest" new toy. It's the price of progress.
What confounds me is when people adopt not just old but "ancient technology" like a combo drive rather than keeping up with progress? What makes "combo drives" a waste of space (ALMOST) is the significant "labor cost" of replacing a combo with virtually anything - from SuperDrive to Blu-ray drive. When you are ready to sell your laptop in a few years, it is far harder to explain the choice of what amounts to an "8 track tape player" to a buyer than a "DVD burner". That buyer will not only knock off the value of a SuperDrive (that isn't installed) but will further discount your PowerBook by the labor cost ($200 or more) to install either a SuperDrive or the then current WonderDrive.
Since 2001, burning a 700 mb CD in a computer instead of a 4.7 GB DVD has become almost a pointless waste of time...unless the intended user does not have a DVD player, especially now that 1x burning has given way to 4x in laptop size drives.
Dual-layer is not a significant technology beyound 2004 because at 8.4GB it does NOT even DOUBLE the 4.7 normal capacity per side.
And as for arguing that Blu-ray will "not be compatible with existing DVD players" actually proves the point, since (Blu-ray / DVD) is likely to follow the (DVD / CD) path in the future, which is going to do nothing less than obsolese CD players/burners that are already ancient technology.
Regardless, if your needs are satisfied with a sub-GB technology, then a combo is right for you.
Jeff, regardless of logic or reasoning, your decision NOT to spend money on any option because It just wasn't worth it for me cannot be argued with, because no one else in the world can make your decisions for you.jeffh said:
I just didn't understand your argument about 4x mobile SuperDrives being "out-of-date" since they just became available in laptops and are therefore a fresh new mobile technology, whereas the combo drive became obsolete years ago when Apple introduced SuperDrives and began offering them in PowerBooks.
While Blu-ray technology has been championed in the quest to bring HD video to disc media, having 25~50GB capacity on a disc instead of a mere 4.7 or 8.4GB on a DVD disc is a pure comparison of "memory storage" not just bandwidth. If anything, Blu-ray discs will kick 700mb CD discs off the market as DVD discs become the new hallmark of "low tech".
So logically, being unable to "write" to basic DVD discs makes the combo drive incredibly obsolete as of more than 2 years ago, while SuperDrives are the new minimum.
Another way of looking at is that because of the rapid change we experience in the computer industry, by the time any technology reaches us as consumers it is ALREADY OBSOLETE and soon to be replaced by the next technology coming down the road. The only thing that saves us is the high cost of new technology which makes old technology more available.
If we refused to adopt, apply or purchase "old technology" because we know WHAT IS COMING, then would anyone buy the latest PowerBook or PowerMac release? Yes, because we can only BUY what is currently AVAILABLE even though we have a pretty good idea what is coming and is likely to replace our "latest and greatest" new toy. It's the price of progress.
What confounds me is when people adopt not just old but "ancient technology" like a combo drive rather than keeping up with progress? What makes "combo drives" a waste of space (ALMOST) is the significant "labor cost" of replacing a combo with virtually anything - from SuperDrive to Blu-ray drive. When you are ready to sell your laptop in a few years, it is far harder to explain the choice of what amounts to an "8 track tape player" to a buyer than a "DVD burner". That buyer will not only knock off the value of a SuperDrive (that isn't installed) but will further discount your PowerBook by the labor cost ($200 or more) to install either a SuperDrive or the then current WonderDrive.
Since 2001, burning a 700 mb CD in a computer instead of a 4.7 GB DVD has become almost a pointless waste of time...unless the intended user does not have a DVD player, especially now that 1x burning has given way to 4x in laptop size drives.
Dual-layer is not a significant technology beyound 2004 because at 8.4GB it does NOT even DOUBLE the 4.7 normal capacity per side.
And as for arguing that Blu-ray will "not be compatible with existing DVD players" actually proves the point, since (Blu-ray / DVD) is likely to follow the (DVD / CD) path in the future, which is going to do nothing less than obsolese CD players/burners that are already ancient technology.
Regardless, if your needs are satisfied with a sub-GB technology, then a combo is right for you.
Indiana Jones line of progress - perfect!
What a perfect visualization, dnoonan; and from Shanghai too! Priceless...made my day.dnoonan said:
1 15" 1.5Ghz waiting to defect from China
I can't wait! I found out my powerbook was shipped last night at 10pm. I ordered a 15" 1.5 w/ bto 128meg vram on Monday at 7pm ( West coast time, Ca ). Keep you guys updated!
I can't wait! I found out my powerbook was shipped last night at 10pm. I ordered a 15" 1.5 w/ bto 128meg vram on Monday at 7pm ( West coast time, Ca ). Keep you guys updated!
FedEx efficiency is prompted by their secret use of Apple computers
Could it be that FedEx efficiency is prompted by their secret use of Apple computers?iomatic said:...same order date. from being on the west coast...?
totally blows. can't believe it. i've purchased over US$50K in my name, and this! oh, well. it's just a tool, it's just a tool...
Now that's impressive!!!
They consistently beat their own estimates.
Great job by Apple and Fedex.
MacRAND said:
I'd have to disagree with that statement. I have an external dvd burner and RARELY use it since I have no need to store 4.7 gigs of space. Not to mention the fact that 700mb CDRS are cheaper than dirt, it's more economical for me to burn things to a cd. Comparing about 1dollar per DVD to about .10 per CD, I'll chose the CD.
In the next year or two i'm hoping dvd media will decrease in price so I can use it on a regular basis, but as for now, i will stick with CD's.
raiste said:My money would be on one of you West coast guys...
I'm in Californa, so maybe I'm in a good position!
I ordered a spare power adapter with my 17" BTO. It left Taiwan on Teusday (I got a notice at noon my time) and was delivered on Wednesday at 9:00 am. They said it wouldn't be here until Friday. Too bad it isn't the home delivery service coming internationally..even if it is here tonight I can't get it until monday.
dnoonan said:
i'm on the plane too
lets just hope our friends reach us by 10:30 AM monday, otherwise next time we will charter!