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Actually, I went to the Apple store and spent quite a bit of time playing with it in person and to me it is even uglier in person than in the pictures. Especially the cheap feeling plastic keys and the cheesy black display bezel. This is just my opinion and I am not a designer or expert, but I know ugly and cheaper build quality when I see it. I can't believe Apple did this downgrade to the MBP and expect to charge the same money for it.

Really? I think side-by-side the new MBP makes the old one look chunky, dated and very 2001. Plastic around the edge, screws on the sides, display latch..etc.etc.
 
Last gen MBP looks better.

New MBP looks like a dell.

People say this kind of thing all the time, but I don't think they ever look at apple products in the flesh. I admit that I'm not a huge fan of the new design, but it simply can't be compared to a Dell. Yes, it's black and Al, and the PC's out there are black and "metal-look" as well, but when you compare them in the flesh there's no comparison. The plastic feel of PC's isn't present at all on Apple products. It's like comparing an Ferrari to a Ford.
 
i think the design is more functional. They macbook like keys are more sturdy instead of the flimsy aluminum keys. The Black bezel of the screen is more appealing maybe to windows users, but theres a reason black bezels make better screens especially for professional photograghy. The all aluminum silver look was good, but I think in a tactile manner the new mbp seems more appealing to touch.

50% grey is the best background colour to work with for dealing with images, that's why photoshop defaults with this as the image surround, that's also why the old design was much better for doing any kind of visual work.
 
People say this kind of thing all the time, but I don't think they ever look at apple products in the flesh. I admit that I'm not a huge fan of the new design, but it simply can't be compared to a Dell. Yes, it's black and Al, and the PC's out there are black and "metal-look" as well, but when you compare them in the flesh there's no comparison. The plastic feel of PC's isn't present at all on Apple products. It's like comparing an Ferrari to a Ford.

I think it's more like comparing a Ferrari kit car built on a Pontiac Fiero to the real thing. :D

Side note, the Euro Ford Mondeo actually impresses me. Not bad for a Ford.

50% grey is the best background colour to work with for dealing with images, that's why photoshop defaults with this as the image surround, that's also why the old design was much better for doing any kind of visual work.

Hmm correct me if I'm wrong, but there's probably a reason why most/all professional monitors only come with a black bezel.
 
When I saw the pictures, I thought the same as you guys.

But I went to the Apple Store yesterday and saw them in person. They look AWESOME. I don't really like glossy screens, but I have to admit they look very sexy.

And I also didn't like the tapered edges in the pictures. But in person, I found it's also tapered on the bottom, and the design is still asymmetrical. I was impressed. They are very, very sexy and sleek looking (and feeling!) machines.

*this post does not regard any usability concerns - glossy screen, lack of Firewire, et al, only on aesthetics.
 
I think it's more like comparing a Ferrari kit car built on a Pontiac Fiero to the real thing. :D

Side note, the Euro Ford Mondeo actually impresses me. Not bad for a Ford.

That is a better analogy, I was trying to think of an American car that looked like a Ferrari, but couldn't think of one! Oh, and I agree with you, the euro-spec Fords are great cars. Too bad they don't sell em on this side of the pond. If they did maybe Ford wouldn't be so F'd.
 
Hmm correct me if I'm wrong, but there's probably a reason why most/all professional monitors only come with a black bezel.[/QUOTE]

neutral grey is best, it's kind of anal and not really the point (the screen not being particularly accurate anyway) but it's easier to judge tonal ranges when not influenced by a really strong black or white background to what your looking at.
 
Really? I think side-by-side the new MBP makes the old one look chunky, dated and very 2001. Plastic around the edge, screws on the sides, display latch..etc.etc.

Yes really. Side by side comparison at the Apple store to me made the new one look even cheaper and uglier. The el cheapo plastic on the new one along with the cheesey black bezel simply make the machine look inexpensive and dime a dozen common. Where the previous model looks even more sophisticated with its all aluminum appearance, clean lines and matching bezel. Not having a real latch or trackpad button saves them some mfg costs but look cheap as a trade off, not too mention the lid on the one I played with wouldn't even stay closed, what a joke. I'm sorry but side by side is just even worse for the new model IMO.
 
neutral grey is best, it's kind of anal and not really the point (the screen not being particularly accurate anyway) but it's easier to judge tonal ranges when not influenced by a really strong black or white background to what your looking at.

Yes, neutral gray is best because black makes colors appear more saturated then they really are and white makes blacks appear richer. While black may look better on-screen, it's not a realistic representation of photos or other color-intensive work.
 
I dropped in to have a look at Regent Street and found them sort of flashy and cheap looking.

They remind me of a cheap Asus with those glassy looking screens and black trim around the screen.

Gone are the days when the simplicity of the white iMac or the aluminum MBP or the ultra clean looking ACDs defined Apple's aesthetic. The current iMacs and MacBook Pros and the new display are a much more "hey look at me!" look that shouts out to the passerby with flash and contrast. The previous generation were so subtle and gorgeous that their elegance stopped many of us dead in our tracks. I respect others' differing opinions, but for me the Mac line has veered toward the garish.
 
I think they're beautiful, especially after paying a visit to a local Apple Store and seeing them in person. And they feel great, too--very solid, very pleasing texture. I'm not sure about the glossy screen, but that's the only potential negative for me.
 
I like everything about it except for the thick black bezel.

The previous generations bezel was really thin, new model is a step backwards in that regard.
 
The current iMacs and MacBook Pros and the new display are a much more "hey look at me!" look that shouts out to the passerby with flash and contrast. The previous generation were so subtle and gorgeous that their elegance stopped many of us dead in our tracks. I respect others' differing opinions, but for me the Mac line has veered toward the garish.

I agree with you. The latest models will literally flash passerbys in the eyes with their glossy glare. The monochromatic days of yore are sadly gone.
 
I dropped in to have a look at Regent Street and found them sort of flashy and cheap looking.

They remind me of a cheap Asus with those glassy looking screens and black trim around the screen.

Gone are the days when the simplicity of the white iMac or the aluminum MBP or the ultra clean looking ACDs defined Apple's aesthetic. The current iMacs and MacBook Pros and the new display are a much more "hey look at me!" look that shouts out to the passerby with flash and contrast. The previous generation were so subtle and gorgeous that their elegance stopped many of us dead in our tracks. I respect others' differing opinions, but for me the Mac line has veered toward the garish.

Totally agree with you.

I'll bet 20 years from now the old powerbook/mac book pro will still be regarded as a design classic.

And the new cinema display is properly ugly, looks like a cheap samsung.
 
I don't dislike the appearance, and in person the overall design with the unibody shell is quite striking. But it's not nearly as iconic to me as the aluminum design.

It would have been interesting to see an all-silver treatment with the new body. Perhaps that would have been viewed as being too similar to the old design. But it would probably be my preference.

I do like the feel of the new keyboard. The MBP and MacBook Air have much better keyboards than the old MB, they are much more solid feeling (similar to the new desktop keyboard.)
 
I'm devastated at the new powerbook pros

What on earth are they thinking, that everybody will accept a glossy screen, personally I will only use the matt screen, and what is with the black keys and black border to the screen???? I can't fathom these design decisions at all?

I have the generation MacBook before and just gave it to my sister, and today went into the store to purchase the new one, now she will have to do without. I am keeping mine. There's no way I am replacing it with this absolute travesty of a design.
 
I think you are spot on and not anal at all....

These are after all for me a design tool and you are right about tonal values.


Hmm correct me if I'm wrong, but there's probably a reason why most/all professional monitors only come with a black bezel.

neutral grey is best, it's kind of anal and not really the point (the screen not being particularly accurate anyway) but it's easier to judge tonal ranges when not influenced by a really strong black or white background to what your looking at.[/QUOTE]
 
I dont think it's necessarily ugly, its just gaudy, there's too much going on, it lost the sleek simplicity of the old laptops.
 
No. What a loaded question :p If you look at them side by side I think even the MB air looks older than the new MB/Pro designs. The all silver 'space age' look was cool in 2000 LOL :D
 
2 things that i cannot accept... at all

1. the reflection from the glossy only screen
2. black keyboards on a silver body with the Black BEZEL.. reminds me of my 5 yr old sony Vaio


" Once you go Black, No One wants you back" - in reference to the new MBP of course!
 
They're quite horrid. I've long found the MBP one of the most attractive laptops on the market, but that flew out of the window with this latest upgrade. I don't have the budget nor the interest in buying or saving for a refurb, so I'll just keep using my white Macbook (which also looks better than that 13" disaster) and waiting to see what Apple will tackify next.
 
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