Ummm, I am not waiting for an ultra portable. I want to do video editing work with my mac book pro and because of that an ultra portable just won't work for me.
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Are you waiting for Macbook Pro Ultraportable?
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At this point, I'm waiting...but pessimistic
As much as I really want a 12-13" MBP with LED, I unfortunately cannot see Apple releasing one at WWDC. It just doesn't make good business sense to completely update the current line and leave out an update that is planned for a week later. If they were going to do it now, I think we would have seen a 12-13" MBP this week when the others were updated. I now think it will likely be early next year. This makes me really sad, and I'm still planning to wait...but I'll probably cave in and buy the 15" matte, LED, middle MBP or a fully loaded black MB if WWDC doesn't bring good ultraportable news.
By the way, I'm a newbie and have been watching this site for months. I love the helpfulness that regulars exhibit for the rookies and I want to thank you all for taking your time to give out advice. I have not yet purchased (obviously) a MBP nor have I ever owned an Apple....but I'm really excited to become a part of the Apple clan and leave Microshaft behind forever!!
As much as I really want a 12-13" MBP with LED, I unfortunately cannot see Apple releasing one at WWDC. It just doesn't make good business sense to completely update the current line and leave out an update that is planned for a week later. If they were going to do it now, I think we would have seen a 12-13" MBP this week when the others were updated. I now think it will likely be early next year. This makes me really sad, and I'm still planning to wait...but I'll probably cave in and buy the 15" matte, LED, middle MBP or a fully loaded black MB if WWDC doesn't bring good ultraportable news.
By the way, I'm a newbie and have been watching this site for months. I love the helpfulness that regulars exhibit for the rookies and I want to thank you all for taking your time to give out advice. I have not yet purchased (obviously) a MBP nor have I ever owned an Apple....but I'm really excited to become a part of the Apple clan and leave Microshaft behind forever!!
I doubt that an UP would be a good option for that type of use; in my mind, it's about having a reasonably updated computer that is really, really portable, but probably won't be doing any intensive tasks.
I'd like one so I can travel light, maybe even take the thing with me everywhere, have lots of battery time, just for standard browsing/chat and office apps.
I shudder at the thought of having to take my 15" PB across Europe.
I'm really waiting for an Apple Tablet. I have used the recent HP tablet machines and it's really a whole different experience. I use it in class to take notes and it's very nice to be able to just write.
I know there are obviously some issues w/ strong handwriting recognition and i have yet to decide whether or not I would sacrifice size to get a convertable tablet. I just really think that it would be a nice addition to the apple lineup and I think they would sell well enough to make it worth it.
Even just a regualar UP would be ok with me, my 15" MBP is sometimes just too big to fit on desks in lecture halls.
I know there are obviously some issues w/ strong handwriting recognition and i have yet to decide whether or not I would sacrifice size to get a convertable tablet. I just really think that it would be a nice addition to the apple lineup and I think they would sell well enough to make it worth it.
Even just a regualar UP would be ok with me, my 15" MBP is sometimes just too big to fit on desks in lecture halls.
I'm glad someone else sees the method to my madness
I'll keep my 12" as well for now but even better than that would be a 10"/11" ULTRA-portable; doesn't have to be super-powerful but good enough for iChat video, email, web plus whatever other applications you might want to add on there for use when travelling.
I really want an ultraportable, preferably one with an external dvd drive (to minimise weight/size).
If apple doesn't hurry up, I'm gonna have to grab myself a Dell (D420 or something similar).
If apple doesn't hurry up, I'm gonna have to grab myself a Dell (D420 or something similar).
i dont see how you can say that, for me thats like saying im waiting for a motorbike from triumph but if they dont hurry up im going to go buy a ford car?
surely a dell with windows crapsta on it is no alternative to Leopard, Tiger or even cheetah!?
lol
i waited and waited for an updated 12" macbook pro and couldn't wait any longer = got a black macbook and man do i hate it. construction feels cheap, no dedicated graphics card and i am not a big fan of the glossy screen. if apple ever releases a new, smaller macbook pro i would be first in line.
however, i don't see apple releasing these in '07 - they just updated the macbook pros and i can't see them releasing a new model a week later.
however, i don't see apple releasing these in '07 - they just updated the macbook pros and i can't see them releasing a new model a week later.
If a very compact size really matters, Mac laptops aren't really an option right now. The Dell D420 is not the smallest laptop around but it is smaller and significantly lighter than a MacBook.
My very first computer was a 13 inch Satellite Pro 4600 Toshiba laptop and I really liked the form factor of it. I wish that Apple would release a pro ultra portable laptop.
I don't think that Apple will release one now as i think they would have done it long before now if they was going to do it.
I would like to see one released at WWDC but i do not hold out much hope that one will be released.
I have no intention on getting a MacBook and i seriously doubt that i would pay out for the mid spec MacBook with Applecare either. I did once own a 15 inch MBP but I would prefer to buy a pro ultraportable this time round if i was to upgrade.
Transporting the 15inch MBP around i did not find it massively heavy but i could have done with it being a little bit lighter/smaller. The PB's 12 inch also look really good and i would like one but with today specs. I also like the aluminum design of the Pro range and i would not buy a laptop with integrated graphics either.
I don't think that Apple will release one now as i think they would have done it long before now if they was going to do it.
I would like to see one released at WWDC but i do not hold out much hope that one will be released.
I have no intention on getting a MacBook and i seriously doubt that i would pay out for the mid spec MacBook with Applecare either. I did once own a 15 inch MBP but I would prefer to buy a pro ultraportable this time round if i was to upgrade.
Transporting the 15inch MBP around i did not find it massively heavy but i could have done with it being a little bit lighter/smaller. The PB's 12 inch also look really good and i would like one but with today specs. I also like the aluminum design of the Pro range and i would not buy a laptop with integrated graphics either.
June 11-15 and the main keynote is on Monday, June 11 from 10:00AM until 11:30 AM Pacific Time.
The way I see it, there's currently a gaping hole in Apple's product line - 2 if you count the headless iMac.
The reasons I want a 12" or 13.3" aluminum computer:
The reasons I want a 12" or 13.3" aluminum computer:
- I find the 15" to be more cumbersome than portable for travel, and the constant back and forth to and from clients.
- The Macbooks seem cheap to me. I don't want something which will crack or discolor.
- Aside from being sturdy, the aluminum case has a "pro" look to it, which is desirable when I am with a client.
- Integrated graphics suck. I like to game a little on long trips and I often do photoshop work on the road.
- I like to burn my lap.
Where would an ultraportable fit in the current Apple-line-up though? They have:
$1000 laptops - white basic MB
$1200 laptops - white deluxe MB
$1500 laptops - black deluxe MB
$2000 laptops - 15" MBP
$2500 laptops - 15" deluxe MBP
$3000 laptops - 17" MBP
(prices are not accurate)
In my opinion, that doesn't leave a lot of room for new products. The $1700 space would be possible, at the same time it could be eaten up by either the blackbook or the basic 15". If you ask me, they should just give the blackbook a matte screen and some extras, and get it over with. Price of colour, my a**.
$1000 laptops - white basic MB
$1200 laptops - white deluxe MB
$1500 laptops - black deluxe MB
$2000 laptops - 15" MBP
$2500 laptops - 15" deluxe MBP
$3000 laptops - 17" MBP
(prices are not accurate)
In my opinion, that doesn't leave a lot of room for new products. The $1700 space would be possible, at the same time it could be eaten up by either the blackbook or the basic 15". If you ask me, they should just give the blackbook a matte screen and some extras, and get it over with. Price of colour, my a**.
If they can price an aluminum 13.3 LCD around $1700-$1800, I'll be there with bells on! The aluminum casing looks great and adds sturdiness, making it worth paying for alone, though I'd also hope for better video, matte screen, and a Santa Rosa chipset.
As it is, I never liked the white look of Apple products, hate glossy screens, and I won't pay $150 extra for black.
As it is, I never liked the white look of Apple products, hate glossy screens, and I won't pay $150 extra for black.
Why does there have to be just one option at a given price point? Presently Apple does it but that doesn't have to be like that all the time. People's needs differ. And even more so, the needs are not a monotonous function of the money they are ready to pay for a machine. As Apple is growing, they can also afford to offer a greater variety of machines to match more people's needs.
And if someone want's an ultraportable laptop, the black mackbook is not really an option and the MBP even less.
There's more to it than simple consumer-choice. Let's say the following: if Apple were to produce 10+ options they would also risk diluting sales for some of those options. Behind these options is the production process, which needs to run to manufacture and market them. So, hypothetically, if Apple were to offer 10 options and produce 1000 laptops per option, and some options would go unsold, then Apple will have wasted money on producing these laptops.
Instead, what I see is that Apple is keeping a very tight production-routine. They offer options which really fit smack into the middle of a specific market. The macbook is for students and people on a budget mostly. The 15" is for professionals on a budget. And the 17" is for professionals that want the best a laptop has to offer. And that way, they can maximise sales per option. I'm generalising here.
Of course it's a little more complex than that. The non-pro Macbook-line is in fact quite spread out. It offers three models, which take up a lot of space and sort of close the budget + portable markets. If Apple were to offer a more portable version for a few 100 bucks more, the marginal value would be quite low for people who would be fairly happy with a slightly less portable model at a few 100 bucks less. And other people would prefer a model with more oomph at a few 100 bucks more. It would leave the ultraportable to wither and die, even though a select few (but not the masses) would love to have one.
In other words, either the black Macbook would need to go or the basic MBP model. If you look at the previous setup of powerbooks vs. ibook, the situation was similar, but there was no black iBook, just a $1500 12" powerbook. And since both the Macbooks and the MBPs just got updated, I don't see a new portable in the near future. Sorry.
Incidentally, the same reasoning applies to a screenless desktop Mac.