Apple's 'Big Plan' with the new Macbooks - My theory

[eGraeme]

they gave mb better graphics
so took away firewire
had to do some more to sep. pro line
thats my thought

 

[Phrasikleia]

Then don't buy it, it's not like you have to. :|

You sort of do have to if you're heavily invested in software.

 

[Compile 'em all]

Firewire has been intrinsically associated with the Mac for some time though.

I think it's jumping the gun removing it, and they will do a U-turn as thay did with the Macbook Pro and FW800 only two years ago.

Dont forget trends in Digital Djing and the proliferation of affordable high capacity external HDD - which with their current capacities cuit video streaming further still now, have only really come to the fore in the last two years aswell.

Ive used Firewire extensively for Design and music, and have only adopted it myself since having a mac. Live Ableton sets scream on it.

Theres no way everyone will adopt USB MIDI that easily for example.

iPods used to ship with a firewire cable sometime ago. If that wasn't a hint for things to come, I don't know what else is. For me firewire won't be missed, it is far superior/faster than usb but i rarely used it.

 

[Shawnanigans]

Don't bother waiting, buy your Vista thingy now. Apple has never and with their history never will bring their prices in line with other PC companies. With all of the hype that was caused from this product release and the news that Apple was releasing a $800 laptop they did nothing to satisfy half of the hype.
So unless you are just ranting carry your promise through right now and get your Vista thingy because Apple is not gonna fulfill your price conscience wishes.

But they did. In 2006 the newly released Intel based MacBook was nearly equal in price with a similarly priced Dell. Why not try to be competitive? Looking at the price increase in Canada for many models and a decreased student discount Apple is being really stupid. When they brought the price of the MacBook closer to PC alternatives people bought them en mass. It's not magic, it's simple economics people are willing to pay a premium for quality it just isn't unlimited, the smaller the premium the higher the number of people willing to pay it.

 

[isaacc7]

ok, put your money where your mouth is.

you want the latest and greatest for cheap.

but don't pretend your decision is purely rational. it isn't.

I don't need one this instant, but I will need one soon. You're right, I do want the latest Apple has to offer, but firewire isn't exactly the latest tech. It is, however, standard on just about any decent laptop $800 and up. WTF did they drop it? They didn't add anything to replace it or to bridge to newer tech. What kills me is that the current macbook is just missing a $15 port to make it ideal for me. The faster frontside bus and memory are nice additions. They could have left off any number of other things and it still would have been useful to me, but not that port.

When I do buy one (i.e. once I have the money saved up), Apple will not have a new computer for me. Not only that, it looks like they won't in the future either. I'm just venting because this has totally taken me by surprise, I never would have thought they'd drop firewire. And I never would have thought I'd be forced to think about a non-Apple computer...

Isaac

 

[fewture]

Apple's notebooks are definitely WAY overpriced right now. 1.5x+ the price of identical hardware in a notebook PC.

I'll wait till next revision. If the prices are not close to similar-specced PC's of the time, I'll buy a PC and try to survive Vista. A lot easier than surviving the current $700 a new MBP costs over an identically-specced HP.

I am so with you on that one. They are not even reasonably priced anymore. I don't care about OSX that much, I can transfer back again, it won't be a big deal. (yes I do like OSX but I am not interested in being TOTALLY ripped off)

 

[Phrasikleia]

I am so with you on that one. They are not even reasonably priced anymore. I don't care about OSX that much, I can transfer back again, it won't be a big deal. (yes I do like OSX but I am not interested in being TOTALLY ripped off)

I also have to agree about the pricing.

It was once the case that Macs cost quite a bit more, but you were getting more for having paid the premium. For example, I remember when PCs did not all come with sound cards, but my Mac had a sound card, audio I/O jacks, and it came with a free external microphone. For a long time, I was pointing out to people what ports or power my Mac had that their PC did not: sure, they paid less, but they got less too.

Then it got to the point where my Macs really didn't have much extra besides great build quality, a better OS, better graphics apps, and better industrial design (i.e. sex appeal). Those Macs cost me a bit more than a comparably equipped PC would have, but I could still justify paying that extra 20%. Now the premium is more like 60%, and I'm down to better build quality (maybe), a better OS, and marginally better industrial design. The pro-Mac argument is getting very difficult to sustain.

Personally, I'm too invested in Mac software to seriously consider switching. But I do have influence over the decisions of some possible switchers. Right now my brother-in-law is considering switching to Mac and wants my opinion about it. I've always touted Apple and have felt confident about doing so, but now...I'm not so sure anymore.