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Apple Updates 13" Aluminum MacBook, Rebranded as "MacBook Pro"
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I understand your point clearly...
YOU want Apple to impliment Bluray into its systems so that YOU can play your Bluray discs on you laptop.
What YOU don't understand from ME is that Apple have no reason and no need to implement Bluray into its systems.
Apple already have a successful and working system of distributing media of the likes of music, video, podcasts to its customers through iTunes. I understand that by rejecting Bluray is doesn't give much option to people who have Bluray discs already and want to watch them on their Macs, but what YOU don't seem to understand is that Apple are not interested in physical media and see more potential for itself as a company and for its customers as a distributer of downloadable media.
Films on SD? No my friend. Most of my films are on DVD or have been downloaded onto the hard drive of my MacBook to then pass onto my iPhone if need be. I have many films such as Rain Man, 50 First Dates and Shawshank Redemption on standard DVD which I am happy to watch on my MacBook as they don't 1080p quality to appreciate. I bought a Bluray player and 42" LCD to recreate the cinema experience with surround sound etc. If I want to watch 1080p movies, I purchase Bluray DVD's worth purchasing and watching in 1080p on my 42" LCD eg. 300, Transformers etc.
The situation is very similar to XBox's HD-DVD drive. Bluray won that battle and XBox has now ditched HD-DVD. But what is interesting is that Microsoft didn't then decide to include a Bluray device into its system but instead concentrate on downloadable media through its Marketplace and Zune.
"'is its successor mature enough to take over yet?' You seem to think it is, I disagree."
I have never said that it's successor is mature enough. My point is that Apple is working on its "future" successor but you can't just expect a company to click its fingers in 2011 and have 1080p HD content available to the masses. Apple needs to nurture it's format, build a structure and understanding with it's customers. With the way iTunes, Apple TV etc. are going it looks like a very well structured and organised format to me once that first full 1080p movie does become available as a legal download.
I still don't think you know what I'm getting at here though. Apple sees downloaded media as the best way to progress with distributing its content. iTunes is very much what makes Apple tick. Without iTunes and iPod, Apple would not be in the position that they are in today... so why shouldn't they take advantage of this and use iTunes as its base for its customers to access media content?
The death of discs? You say 7 years, I say 3... The internet has grown rapidly since 2003. I had 512kbps broadband then and now I have 50mbps with companies increasing speeds year on year. Japan's has 1gbps for crying out loud. You really think it'll take 7 years for internet speeds to be sufficient enough to stream or download 1080p HD movies? That long?
These are your options.
1. Stick to watching the 70+ BD discs that you willingly purchased; without really fully understanding the format that you've banked on, at home on your Bluray player + LCD.
2. Purchase a Windows PC with a Bluray disc to watch your 70+ BD disc movies on its screen until it crashes on you half way through.
3. Move out of your area into a more developed town or city with 8mbps+ broadband speeds.
What we both seem to agree with is that downloadable content is the future. Apple are working on the best way to distribute downloadable content as of now. Let them do their work and you shall be happy once it's perfected.
6-bit vs 8-bit
Actually, the question of the hour, is this the same 6-bit display that was in previous generations, or have they moved to the same 8-bit (IPS?) displays in the 15" and 17". Anyone know? If it is 8-bit, I am sold.
Actually, the question of the hour, is this the same 6-bit display that was in previous generations, or have they moved to the same 8-bit (IPS?) displays in the 15" and 17". Anyone know? If it is 8-bit, I am sold.
Haha, I had the same reaction. I've got a D40, and it uses SD. But of course, the D40 is the baby Nikon DSLR.
The point is, though, that most users use SD, and not Compact Flash. Putting a CF reader on the MBP would be stupid, since only a small percentage of users would make use of it. Way more users will make use of an SD slot.
I'm not sure why people don't realize that "Pro" is a marketing term, and doesn't actually mean the computer is designed with the specific needs of professionals in mind.
I'm with you on this. I do not understand why there are complaints that the MacBooks do not have BR. Are you really going to watch a BR movie on your notebook. :/ I mean do these lap top screens going to be as good, then a HDTV? I bet you watching a DVD or BR on a notebook is any different.
Hugh
I thought many/most Blue-Ray discs were coming with digital copies for download onto your computer anyway. Seems like a simpler solution than lugging the discs around, anyway. Even if not, it's not that big of a deal to buy an external Blue Ray disc and rip the movie and save it your HDD. Do you really carry an armful of Blue Rays around with you in case you feel the need to watch one?
Now you can carry a small pack of SDHC cards full of ripped DVDs (and Blu-Ray)
No wonder they updated the screens recently on the 13" Macbooks. I wonder if the speakers got an update as well Anyone know if the speakers were upgraded as well??
Anyone know if the speakers were upgraded as well??
I would also like to know this. I need a better display than the older unibody MB had.
I don't get why people would want to watch Blu Ray movies on such a small display? And as for burning, isn't external hard drive much easier?
And as for the card slot, I personally don't see how inconvenient it is to just use your USB cable to connect your devices instead of pulling the card out. But of course, it's better to have it than nothing. However, what I really want to see from future Macbook is more USB ports. 2 is simply not enough imo.
Lastly, my speculation of moving the 13" to the Pro lineup is to create 2 different markets:
Macbook: Plastic, consumer budget, < $1000.
Macbook Pro: Aluminum, prosumer, > $1000.
This also means that there may be 15" plastic Macbook one day that is priced below $1000 to attract budget-minded consumers who wanted a big screen but don't want to spend a fortune. What's more, they can introduce their so-called tablet or netbook thingy into the Macbook lineup. Lastly, Apple can also separate the 2 processors by having Core i7 in the Pro lineup while retaining Core 2 Duo in the Macbook lineup until supplies run out in the near future.
Great strategy if you ask me.
dL
And as for the card slot, I personally don't see how inconvenient it is to just use your USB cable to connect your devices instead of pulling the card out. But of course, it's better to have it than nothing. However, what I really want to see from future Macbook is more USB ports. 2 is simply not enough imo.
Lastly, my speculation of moving the 13" to the Pro lineup is to create 2 different markets:
Macbook: Plastic, consumer budget, < $1000.
Macbook Pro: Aluminum, prosumer, > $1000.
This also means that there may be 15" plastic Macbook one day that is priced below $1000 to attract budget-minded consumers who wanted a big screen but don't want to spend a fortune. What's more, they can introduce their so-called tablet or netbook thingy into the Macbook lineup. Lastly, Apple can also separate the 2 processors by having Core i7 in the Pro lineup while retaining Core 2 Duo in the Macbook lineup until supplies run out in the near future.
Great strategy if you ask me.
dL
There are two main reasons why people want to watch BD (it's "BD", not "BR") movies...
- They already own the BD movies for their home big screen, and want to be able to watch the same discs on the go. They don't want to have to buy a lower quality DVD, or buy a much, much lower quality download. They paid once.
- The 2 MPixel 1080p BD image downscaled to the laptop screen will be much sharper and clearer than the 300KPixel DVD movie upscaled to a laptop screen.
Now you can carry a small pack of SDHC cards full of ripped DVDs (and Blu-Ray)
At $110 for an SD card with 60% of the capacity of a BD disc....
Right.
Totally wrong. Physical media may be dying, but that doesnt mean there wont be a use for it for 10 more years. Look at the CD. People still use them...and when did MP3 come out? Not to mention downloadable content is not true HD, nowhere near BR quality, takes time to download, gigabytes to store, and can't be carried around or stored on a shelf in a non-corruptible waterproof format. Oh, yeah, and the bandwiths not in place and ISPs throttle if you try to downlaod. And what about people who do HD video work, how are they supposed to burn their stuff and carry it around, or watch it, or demo it? Should they just keep it on their computer or in Hard drive forever?
Maybe realistic for yourself. Maybe some people don't have TVs in their family room, or want to watch their movie in bed, or on a plane? Maybe they just want to watch their movie on whatever they have? Maybe they want to rip it for their phone or ipod to watch when bored? but, one would rightfully reply...
quickly purchased portable media; able to move from one screen to next: See: a disk.
I appreciate that online downloads are convenient, but they really aren't perfect yet. I admit its easier to impulse download a movie, though. Which is more convenient:
a) download a not-true HD movie over the course of an hour with worse sound for blu-ray price, and store it on your hard drive forever. You can't take it anywhere (I mean to a friends house or something, or to work). If it was in the cloud, you'd have to download it again. All you can do is download/stream it to your other equipment.
b) buy a blu-ray at some point in time, with full sound and HD, that can be ripped to your computer if you choose, and could theoretically come with pre-ripped copies for computer, phone etc, since the disk capacity is large enough. Use what you need when you need, drag it to your computer and delete it when you don't want it. The disk can sit on your shelf till you need it again, or want to carry it somewhere else and pop it in. You have a digital AND physical copy.
They sure don't, but their pro customers do, if they want to transport HD files or burn large capacity discs in the foreseeable future. (I didnt see this other post before, just the first one.) Also you are good forum member with clear posts and arguments. And yes, I do want to watch blu ray on my laptop, and other customers do too, so there is a need.
Apple may not be interested, but the fact remains their customers will still use physical media for the foreseeable future. At least for a few more product cycles. They don't have to shut down iTunes y'know. I don't believe CDs are challenging their iTunes sales, so its not like blu-ray is a huge threat. Its a stopgap for the next 4-5 years.
And you keep all your films on your hard drive? You ripped/downloaded all of them and have room to store them? I admire your tenacity. I personally gave up ripping my several hundred DVDs as it took too long, and I didnt have enough room on my iMac. What do you do if you want to watch your 1080p movies on a trip or at work or at your desk? Buy another copy? (no sarcasm intended). I think its much easier if blu-ray came with pre-ripped copies, or if you could just rip the blu-ray.
Thats true. So when will it be available? how many times will people have to upgrade their movies? I hope apple upgrades all those "HD" downloads they have now when true 1080p comes out, for free.
Well, I have lived in major metropolitan areas all my life, and ISPs are in NO hurry to get optic laid to every corner of LA, Long Beach, or Orange County. Not to mention they want to throttle/tier it. I'm not going to let my entertainment depend on some arbitrary cap, or pay tons of extra for "unlimited" home net, just so I can download all my movies. Japan may have one GBPS, but I dont live in Japan. Their cell phone network is faster than my areas landlines.
Downloadable content is the future. But it wont be where MP3 is for at least 5 years. I will be very happy once its perfected, but it is not 2014 and in the meantime I, and many others, would like to watch blu-ray movies on our laptop and other players, AND on my TV, without having to buy multiple copies, deal with ISPs, or compromise quality on the "full" version. Not to mention those blu-rays they sell now will be around for years to come.
I say the fact the pros need blu-ray solely for transferring large files and demoing their stuff is a good enough reason. Apple has customers in the pro category too, at least for now, and they will probably need blu ray for at least 3-4 years...until flash storage comes down in price. But even then, a BR disk is cheaper, disposable, mailable, and all in all easier than a drive.
"Films on SD? No my friend." Considering the context, I think he means standard definition.
"I have 50mbps with companies increasing speeds year on year."
"Move out of your area into a more developed town or city with 8mbps+ broadband speeds." I'm sorry (and I don't mean any offense), but this is beyond ignorant. I live in Vancouver, BC (which in case you don't know, would generally be considered a "developed" area) and the FASTEST speed I can get is 25mbps for $94 a month. All I have currently is 6mbps for $25, which is plenty enough for anything besides what you described (HD video). The state of broadband in North America unfortunately isn't as rosy as you appear to think it is. Don't get me wrong, if it were possible due to massive bandwidth, Internet > Physical Medium. Unfortunately, that's just not feasible in the short term, so Blu-ray is the only real option for me (albeit a pretty darned good one). Also, 8mbps is hardly enough for what you're advocating.
"Purchase a Windows PC with a Bluray disc to watch your 70+ BD disc movies on its screen until it crashes on you half way through." Seriously, enough with this crashing Windows thing that permeates so much of these forums. I know people with the Sony VAIO Blu-ray laptops, and it's FINE. You're comment, minus the crashing part, seems to be exactly what the author you quoted might have to do.
"What we both seem to agree with is that downloadable content is the future. Apple are working on the best way to distribute downloadable content as of now. Let them do their work and you shall be happy once it's perfected." Holograms are probably the future, doesn't mean it's a good idea to stop work on LCDs.
First, I think Apple should have left the "Macbooks" be "Macbooks", anger is with in me about this! Yes do all that they did (put in firewire 800, sd card slot, all that). But keep it Macbook!
Next, drop the Macbook Pro price to 1,699 (like they did) but keep the 9400 + 9600 GPUs in ALL macbook pro models (15 inch at least) and I want an express card slot for my 3G card but I guess I could live with USB. Oh and keep the battery thing!.
Also, SD card slot?? Really? The card doesn't even go in all the way! here is an idea how about an other USB port! You can never go wrong with adding more USB ports! I have seen people in Best Buy (When I worked there), they would give up a ram or hd space or even processor speed (and/or make). for more USB ports! it is like how when women go car shopping, # cup holders can make the difference of witch car she wants (or buys) (i am not being sexist, studies have shown!). As it is good to have both cup-holders and USB ports, there is a fix for both at least, just go to walmart and spend $8.
Next, drop the Macbook Pro price to 1,699 (like they did) but keep the 9400 + 9600 GPUs in ALL macbook pro models (15 inch at least) and I want an express card slot for my 3G card but I guess I could live with USB. Oh and keep the battery thing!
.Also, SD card slot?? Really? The card doesn't even go in all the way! here is an idea how about an other USB port! You can never go wrong with adding more USB ports! I have seen people in Best Buy (When I worked there), they would give up a ram or hd space or even processor speed (and/or make). for more USB ports! it is like how when women go car shopping, # cup holders can make the difference of witch car she wants (or buys) (i am not being sexist, studies have shown!). As it is good to have both cup-holders and USB ports, there is a fix for both at least, just go to walmart and spend $8.
Now you can carry a small pack of SDHC cards full of ripped DVDs (and Blu-Ray)
And how do you get the digital copy / rip the Blu-ray disc without a Blu-ray drive?
Why do you feel $90 for 4gb is high?
I guess technically you are losing 2gb if you upgrade via apple in this fashion, but if NewEgg sells 2x2gb for 65, that is a loss of 25 bucks.
I have a blackbook and paid crucial for memory, had a nightmare since the early 06 blackbooks needed specific memory.
i saved money, but had endless headaches, until crucial replaced the memory.
During this pass, I opted to pay the 25+loss of 2x1gb modules for the ease of ready to go.
On the other hand their harddrive upgrade options are terrible. Ill get a 500gb 7200 for 80-100 bucks when they want 200 for a lousy 5400 model.
and dont get me started on 8gb of ram, YIKES.
..But you can't open the back of the notebook. I am still not 100% sure you can open it by yourself to upgrade RAM. Can someone confirm this please?