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For all those annoyed about 480p Facetime camera, remember you won't see this..
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But you might want the person you're calling to see you well. Especially when doing business calls.
But personally I still think the webcam resolution to be a very small issue.
I agree - I never use this feature, the next update will go to 1080 or whatever and I don't think it will matter too much.
Seriously? Apple gimped people with this. That's all there is, stop trying to find excuses.
yes, and they did it just to be malicious. it has nothing to do with current design limitations, or anything like that.
in fact, according to an internal (leaked) apple memo, it was done specifically to piss you off...
seriously. whatever gets updated for v2 is...an update. that's the nature of tech, and has always been so. perhaps the next cameras will be thinner, or...whatever. processors will get faster, drives larger. etc.
hardly mysterious, sneaky, or evil. (unless, of course, you're a conspiracy theorist...)
yes, and they did it just to be malicious. it has nothing to do with current design limitations, or anything like that.
in fact, according to an internal (leaked) apple memo, it was done specifically to piss you off...
What design limitations?
Really? Apple "gimped" people with this? Please. I bet if you did a mass poll on how many people use the FaceTime camera on the MacBooks on a regular basis I am willing to bet it is less than 10% (if not lower). I have been using MacBooks since 2008 and I have used the front camera less than 1-3 times a year, and I am being very generous in that number. In reality it's less than once a year - if that.
It amazes me people keep crying over a feature so small. If you don't like it, don't buy it. There are other Apple laptop models that fit your need. Stop acting like the world should revolve around what you want.
It's not that most people don't use it. It's the fact that your paying $1300 and over for an SD camera.
I'm sure the MacBook 2 will have the HD camera in the same design.
At least it's in a place where it's usable. The position of the camera in the latest Dell XPS 13 would take a LOT of getting used to, although as pointed out above the owner isn't the person who has to suffer with the consequences of the engineering and marketing decision.
lol.... See, those of us who don't use it don't see ourselves paying $1300 for it...We're paying for the features that we DO use.
People who need an HD FaceTime camera can get one on an MBP.
I guess I just don't get it... why don't people use the camera on their phone if they are so concerned? I sometimes just prop mine up on the computer as I'm doing work so I can do work and facetime/skype at the same time!
I agree. I think it's a non-feature anymore. It's cool to have on the computer, but those who keep saying "use for business" ... who is using their laptop for business in any scenario other than just a quick video chat with a co-worker. No legitimate company is using this as a conferencing solution with customers or location to location for anything important. There's a whole market for that purpose. FaceTime and Skype are consumer-grade video chat services, not even to be called video conferencing.
If someone works for a company so small that they rely on Skype and FaceTime for important video communication needs, the Macbook isn't the product for them. I think you're right in saying 10% might use it 1+ times per year. I have a Mac family and Mac group of friends and I don't think any of us have used our computers to video chat in the last year... if we FaceTime, it's on the phone, which is far more convenient.
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Then you'll be happy to know you have a whole plethora of Apple, Dell, HP, Acer, Sony, and many other manufacturers who have product offerings not out to "gimp" you if this one doesn't suffice for your needs.
His point is that Apple can use this to promote their next MB. HD webcams came out 15 years ago, and I am sure that Apple could include HD cam in the rMB if they wanted. That being said I would do the same as Apple. They can brag bout HD cam next update
Smart choice.
I was surprised to see a camera on the MacBook at all! Considering that some ultraportables placed the camera next to the hinge a bit to one side, and since Apple would never let such a thing happen, I was expecting them to suppress it. But of course, no doubt the next generation will have a 1080p camera.
His point is that Apple can use this to promote their next MB. HD webcams came out 15 years ago, and I am sure that Apple could include HD cam in the rMB if they wanted. That being said I would do the same as Apple. They can brag bout HD cam next update
This is the thinnest display Apple has ever produced. It's pretty obvious that they used an SD camera in it because it was the one that would fit in this display. When they can fit an HD camera in the same space, they'll do so.
And alas this has again become an "I don't use this feature so nobody else should mind" thread.
I remember the 2011 Macbook Air debut when people also hoped for an HD camera but the excuse was the thinness of the LCD bezel.
It's 2015 and still this argument is used. I can hardly believe the tech isn't there yet, it's just cost cutting.
I use the FaceTime camera a few times a week for private use nothing work related and having a good quality device is quite of the essence. Sometimes it's not the resolution that counts so much for me as low light performance since I don't always have perfect lighting conditions let alone a light box.
Comparing my rMBP with the 11" MBA it's like night and day - literally.
I don't accept the argument that it's not relevant to implement a high res camera module in the MacBook just because some users do and some users don't use it. FaceTime is a highly publicized feature of Apple products and they should keep the standards above average.
I remember the 2011 Macbook Air debut when people also hoped for an HD camera but the excuse was the thinness of the LCD bezel.
It's 2015 and still this argument is used. I can hardly believe the tech isn't there yet, it's just cost cutting.
I use the FaceTime camera a few times a week for private use nothing work related and having a good quality device is quite of the essence. Sometimes it's not the resolution that counts so much for me as low light performance since I don't always have perfect lighting conditions let alone a light box.
Comparing my rMBP with the 11" MBA it's like night and day - literally.
I don't accept the argument that it's not relevant to implement a high res camera module in the MacBook just because some users do and some users don't use it. FaceTime is a highly publicized feature of Apple products and they should keep the standards above average.
Posts like this have never made sense to me. The camera spec was published, image quality is important to you, yet you still purchased the laptop. Why complain about it now? Options, buy a camera, Return it, or sell it to someone who fits the "I don't use this feature so nobody else should mind"
I work for a large company, and I've never heard of anyone "doing business calls" from their laptop. We use internal chat that sometimes people will turn on video, but as far as anything needing high res, no way.
Not to mention, it's not about the quality of the camera, it's about the quality of the connection.
I can count on no hands the amount of times in 20+ years of traveling for work to Hong Kong, China, UK, France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, or wherever where I've ever had a hotel room or office connection strong enough to have a decent HD video session with the wife and kids back home anyway.
Apple's philosophy on the new MacBook helps in this regard- by placing the emphasis on an incredibly slim form factor instead of feature overload, we're packing light, taking just the necessities. An HD cam is not one of them.
BJ