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Apple's notebooks are not loaded with peripherals

S

sreehemanth

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 17, 2008
27
0
Amongst the current notebooks, Apple's new MacBook is definitely the most desired, best-looking, best design,.... the list goes on.

BUT! the list never seemed to have any memory card readers, or HDMI, or TV-tuners, etc any of the cool and most useful peripherals that almost every other notebook provides.

For an entry-level MacBook, one has to shell out $1299, which is much more expensive than most of the notebooks, given the size and capabilities.

Fair enough, Apple always has been bringing in top-class processors, body-designs, and now graphic-processors to its notebooks.

But if one were to spend so much for an notebook and comparing it with the cost of the others, it is certainly a pain in the wrong place to lose for the wrong reasons.

BTW, I am an ardent Apple supporter and do not intend to dig up some mud here.

Its just the lingering frustration that everyone has in such a scenario.

I really wish at least the next version of the notebooks come with these peripherals and bring in more value for money to the product line-up.

What say?! :apple:
 
The result would be a much bulkier notebook. For those of us who have no need for such peripherals, their presence would be a big turn off. Meanwhile, those who want such features, can easily add them through third-party add-ons.

Remember: K.I.S.S.
 
Nothing new here that hasn't been pointed out before
It is Apple's philosophy and the product line reflects it

Mac v. PC threads are common with the same themes

Woof, Woof – Dawg
pawprint.gif
 
I don't understand why people want memory card reader built-in on their notebooks. If Apple desires to put one it, which format to go?

As for HDMI and TV tuner, I don't think they are necessary on a notebook.
 
EricNau said:
The result would be a much bulkier notebook. For those of us who have no need for such peripherals, their presence would be a big turn off. Meanwhile, those who want such features, can easily add them through third-party add-ons.

Remember: K.I.S.S.
Click to expand...

You can't add everything if your laptop doesn't support it. Like FW.

Some things they could add and it wouldn't add much weight/bulk to it. I saw some pics of the inside of it and not all of the Macbook's space is used.
 
EricNau said:
The result would be a much bulkier notebook. For those of us who have no need for such peripherals, their presence would be a big turn off. Meanwhile, those who want such features, can easily add them through third-party add-ons.

Remember: K.I.S.S.
Click to expand...

Um...which empty slot does my specially made for Apple built in card reader go it? :rolleyes:
 
minik said:
I don't understand why people want memory card reader built-in on their notebooks. If Apple desires to put one it, which format to go?

As for HDMI and TV tuner, I don't think they are necessary on a notebook.
Click to expand...

They have many-in-1 readers.
 
dukebound85 said:
i only like apple for osx pretty much

their hardware is lacking and unimpressive considering what it could be i agree
Click to expand...

I have to agree with you there, as nice as Apple's designs are if they did not have OSX they would not have the following they do and they wouldnt be able to charge as much. If Apple was just another company like HP or Dell that just ran Windows people would bitch about the lack of features in their laptops.

Apple gets away with the lack of peripherals and putting the same hardware in their laptops that Dell and HP put in a $800 laptop because of their operating system which is seen by many people as superior and much more stable than Vista.

That and Apple hooks alot of people through the "halo" effect, why do you think they push iPods so much?
 
Sorry but card readers, HDMI and TV tuners are niches and not things everyone looks for. As others have pointed out you cannot limit to one type of card reader and you can't foresee new cards. You can easily buy for $5 to $20 USB card readers that plug in like a flash drive for specific or multi card types. Trying to add that to the notebook would surely make it bulky and unsightly. As for HDMI and TV tuners, very niche there, and as someone pointed out there are ways to make those work with the notebooks quite easily. HDMI is not the all-in-one cable that everyone clamoring for it makes it out to be. It has a limited resolution and is not ideal for computing needs. The MacBook Pro offers an expresscard slot which can solve some of these problems for you without having to unplug each time you want to move it, but even so, you would still have to unplug whatever is plugged into your notebook.
 
Card readers are incredibly useful and I find it surprising external memory storage methods used on a great many products from cameras to game consoles can be described as "a niche" :confused: Difference between popping the SD card from my Canon G9 and viewing my photos in 5 seconds, and having to remember where I put the lead and having my camera out on the desk. The convenience aspect should not be played down

Sure I love my new Macbook but my HP business notebook has card readers and PCMCIA slot...

And before anyone says bulky, I suggest they look at practically every other manufacturer. And if external card readers are only "$20", then Apple should include it in the first place. Obviously it is not a deal breaker but sometimes the little details add to the enjoyment
 
God port thread #375782919283775
If you don't like it, go post something in the suggestion board on apple.com
 
roland.g said:
Sorry but card readers, HDMI and TV tuners are niches and not things everyone looks for. As others have pointed out you cannot limit to one type of card reader and you can't foresee new cards. You can easily buy for $5 to $20 USB card readers that plug in like a flash drive for specific or multi card types. Trying to add that to the notebook would surely make it bulky and unsightly. As for HDMI and TV tuners, very niche there, and as someone pointed out there are ways to make those work with the notebooks quite easily. HDMI is not the all-in-one cable that everyone clamoring for it makes it out to be. It has a limited resolution and is not ideal for computing needs. The MacBook Pro offers an expresscard slot which can solve some of these problems for you without having to unplug each time you want to move it, but even so, you would still have to unplug whatever is plugged into your notebook.
Click to expand...

You're absolutely right. I wish they could have removed the internal bluetooth support so I could save $5 on my purchase. I'd much rather spend that $5 on a USB dongle if I want to have bluetooth.
 
Get a printer with card readers. I got a HP with card readers cheap and it works perfect.
 
jsonli said:
You're absolutely right. I wish they could have removed the internal bluetooth support so I could save $5 on my purchase. I'd much rather spend that $5 on a USB dongle if I want to have bluetooth.
Click to expand...

I feel like bluetooth is one of the main features Mac users really want. Apple even makes bluetooth as standard on the current revision of Mac Pro.

I wish my work Mac Pro has bluetooth built-in, so that I can use the Apple wireless keyboard and Mighty Mouse. :)
 
rs7 said:
Having to bring around a card reader or having it built in to the computer ready to access immediately...

I'll take the latter.
Click to expand...


Then you'll have to take a Windows PC. You're not gonna get that from Apple. that's never been their MO, so don't expect them to change any time soon.
 
more peripherals just means more stuff to **** up and break down basically.

I'll keep the clean looks,safe functional operating system and ease of use over a windoze shitbox loaded with every peripheral under the sun that's bound to break down,conflict with,be useless,gadgetry and pointless for someone who never uses them.
 
Most cameras with USB are recognised by MacOS and iPhoto without having to install drivers. I think that is very convenient.

Bluetooth, while not everyone uses it, doesn't add any ports/slots onto the laptop, it's not unsightly. I use it to sync my Palm Centro to my Mac (and control it with Salling Clicker).

What I wish that Apple still included are the video adapters. Having to spend extra on a displayport-DVI or VGA adapters is annoying. If they don't want to include it, at least price it fairly, £18 is a ripoff.
 
I think it's part of the Apple philosophy; keeping it clean of non-essentials. You either love it or hate it.

I have a card reader on my desktop instead, which is rarely used .
 
My only recommendation... More USB Ports!!!!

A USB hub is not acceptable. I have trouble connecting my iPod to a USB hub, my TV tuner doesn't like the USB hub... a lot of things don't like the USB hub. My old Dell has 4 USB, and is sub $1000... Also has firewire, modem, ethernet, vga, headphone, microphone, card reader, s-video, etc... all of which still work after 3 years. They do not take away from the design at all in my opinion.

Just throwing that out there. It's doable, but I don't think we'll ever see it.
 
D.M.S said:
more peripherals just means more stuff to **** up and break down basically.

I'll keep the clean looks,safe functional operating system and ease of use over a windoze shitbox loaded with every peripheral under the sun that's bound to break down,conflict with,be useless,gadgetry and pointless for someone who never uses them.
Click to expand...
What has this got to do with OS? A bizarre assertion

And the last time I looked, there were not mass reports of failing multi-card readers built into 90% of the world's computers
 
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