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I will never understand how an adult, male or female, would _not_ take the looks of a laptop into account when buying. Male adults buy things that are ten times more expensive than laptops based on looks (I'm talking about cars here). You put your laptop on your table, and depending on what you bought, you either smile, or you think "what a butt-ugly thing this is". That difference is worth money to me.

One or two posters were annoyed that I would look at what laptop someone uses when hiring a graphics designer or photographer. Think about it: Would you use a hair dresser that has a terrible hair style? If they don't even care what their most important tool looks like, what does that say about their attitude to design?


The difference, is that often people use cars as status symbols. It's something to brag about. Display your wealth, etc.

By comparison, most people look at computers as tools. They don't care what they look like. They just want them to do a job.

Honestly, I've never sat down in front of any computer and wished it was more attractive. I don't really care. It does it's job. And, it's not there for everyone to judge me by.

The current Mac Models do look very dated to me. And, honestly, I would prefer standard black PC-type towers and cases. They are not only more durable, but also remain better looking after a few cleanings. Apple's aluminum wears a bit after more than a few light cleanings (Paint doesn't survive well). The glossy cases of the others show wear and such after only light handling.

I like the industrial strength offered by the PC world. So what if it looks plain. So what if it isn't "elegant". It survives. It can handle normal use (instead of this babying stuff I have to do with the Apple machines).

For those who use computers as tools, and see computers as tools, the looks of the Lenevo are just fine. I personally find it more attractive than the MacBook and MacBook Pro's.

Understand that the majority of the world does not care what a computer looks like. You're not going to get a job or lose a potential job based on the appearance of the laptop you carry. Perhaps if the laptop is all busted up and duct taped together, but not because it wasn't elegant looking.

And, going back to cars, you'll notice that those who view cars purely as tools drive cars that are significantly less attractive. They can have fenders falling off, duct tape holding plastic sheeting in for windows, and whatever else. All they care is that it gets them where they're going.
 
LMFAO! The macbook pro case hasn't changed in this decade.

the thinkpad has looked the same for a long time now. if you want to go back farther, it always had the same basic look, mostly you just had shape changes as things got smaller or they tried other ideas (like the butterfly keyboard). even in the different size models, the basic makeup of the thinkpad has looked pretty much the same.

my old t20 looks pretty much the same as that innovative lenovo as far as case design goes.
 
Why does it have to be 1" thin and 5.4 lb? External hard drives take up space and weight.
Why can't the 17" at least be thicker and have 4 RAM slots and/or 2 HD bays? (The 17" is generally used as a desktop replacement anyway.)

What's funny is that, in the days of the PowerBook, the larger the screen size, the thinner the laptop. :confused: :D
12" - 1.2"
15" - 1.1"
17" - 1.0"

Almost the same thing today
13" - 1.1"
15" - 1.0"
17" - 1.0"
 
What's funny is that, in the days of the PowerBook, the larger the screen size, the thicker the laptop. :confused: :D
12" - 1.2"
15" - 1.1"
17" - 1.0"

Almost the same thing today
13" - 1.1"
15" - 1.0"
17" - 1.0"

Don't you mean, "the larger the screen size, the thinner the laptop"?
 
Business laptops have changed very little. Take a peek at the DELL, HP, and Lenovo business lines. I don't think they've changed radically over time. In fact I like the older DELL models than the new ones. Cheap plastic latches, half assed gray/pewter plastic hand rests...

The white MB I'm using right now is minimal in design, clean looking, and functional.
 
"We consumers" should not be confused with "me consumers".

I am sure Apple does a great deal of market research on product design, even if they cloak it really well to keep people from getting an advance feel for what is coming down the pike.

As such, just because tens of thousands of people think some particular form factor is a great idea, does not mean that tens of millions will, which is the sales figures such a product likely needs to achieve to justify Apple spending the money to offer it.
 
Kind of reminds me of my g3 wall street from about twelve years ago

Yeah. That was Apple's most popular product. I hear 100,000,000,000 people bought that.

The Wallstreet PowerBook G3 wasn't introduced until 1998, ten years ago.

Is there like a bug going around that makes people lose number sense? I feel like I'm in the twilight zone =x

And studios, a wider and deeper laptop means more cubic space per square foot, allowing for more of the computer to be spread out instead of stacking it higher (or "thicker").
 
The difference, is that often people use cars as status symbols. It's something to brag about. Display your wealth, etc.

By comparison, most people look at computers as tools. They don't care what they look like. They just want them to do a job.

Honestly, I've never sat down in front of any computer and wished it was more attractive. I don't really care. It does it's job. And, it's not there for everyone to judge me by.

The current Mac Models do look very dated to me. And, honestly, I would prefer standard black PC-type towers and cases. They are not only more durable, but also remain better looking after a few cleanings. Apple's aluminum wears a bit after more than a few light cleanings (Paint doesn't survive well). The glossy cases of the others show wear and such after only light handling.

I like the industrial strength offered by the PC world. So what if it looks plain. So what if it isn't "elegant". It survives. It can handle normal use (instead of this babying stuff I have to do with the Apple machines).

For those who use computers as tools, and see computers as tools, the looks of the Lenevo are just fine. I personally find it more attractive than the MacBook and MacBook Pro's.

Understand that the majority of the world does not care what a computer looks like. You're not going to get a job or lose a potential job based on the appearance of the laptop you carry. Perhaps if the laptop is all busted up and duct taped together, but not because it wasn't elegant looking.

And, going back to cars, you'll notice that those who view cars purely as tools drive cars that are significantly less attractive. They can have fenders falling off, duct tape holding plastic sheeting in for windows, and whatever else. All they care is that it gets them where they're going.

That's somewhat true, but what do I care what other people see in computers? I don't like my computer to be pretty to impress other people, I like it to be pretty because I like to sit in front of something beautiful while working the whole day. And don't come with the argument "but you are looking at the screen and not the computer". I'm not staring at the screen for 10 hours straight. Often I look around, I stand up or something, thinking about concepts or ideas. I like it to sit down at something beautiful in the morning. Of course it's a tool, but I like my tool to look good.

Other people value cars, I drive a small Hyundai because I don't care about cars. Other people buy clothes weekly, I buy clothes maybe a couple of times a year. But I like to have a nice desk & a nice looking computer, because that's the place I spend 8+ hours a day.

Everybody likes and fancies different things, things that are of value to one person may seem ridiculous to another. As long as you care for particular things for your own pleasure or interest there is nothing wrong with it.

If you need something to go out and brag about you have a problem to begin with.

And please, it's not like every standard pc case is oh so durable. They show wear and tear too, but no one cares because they often look ugly to begin with. I have never babied my PowerBook, I put it in a sleeve for travel, but I'd do that with every laptop, and that's about it. I think I have never cleaned it, just the screen because I don't like finger smudges of other people on my screen, again something I'd do with every laptop. And my PowerBook almost looks like new after 3 years.
 
"Why didn't someone think of this before? Lenovo's new ThinkPad W700 is a 17-inch laptop with a second input area: A stylus-driven drawing tablet right next to the touchpad."


"Love the specs, but the palmrest digitizer is what has everyone's eyes popping out. Tablet PCs (where you can write on the screen directly) are nothing new, but putting a high-res drawing tablet into the palm rest is a real innovation"


Yahoo! Tech Review



nuff said.
 
If they really wanted to be innovative, they would have put a Cintiq drawing tablet there. :p

Of course, with all the earlier rumors about a color multi-touch trackpad coming to the MacBook Pro, maybe it will be Apple who will take this step... :cool:
 
"Why didn't someone think of this before? Lenovo's new ThinkPad W700 is a 17-inch laptop with a second input area: A stylus-driven drawing tablet right next to the touchpad."

"Love the specs, but the palmrest digitizer is what has everyone's eyes popping out. Tablet PCs (where you can write on the screen directly) are nothing new, but putting a high-res drawing tablet into the palm rest is a real innovation"

Yahoo! Tech Review

nuff said.
Yeah, Apple. The MacBook Air's trackpad won't cut it anymore. We need the multi-touch iPhone-like full-gestures-support glass trackpad to beat the ThinkPad. I'm going to be disappointed with anything less.

At least the rumors of an updated MacBook Air mean that all three notebooks can be updated with the glass trackpad at once.
 
HP released their answer to the Lenovo - the 8730w.

HP's laptop has their new DreamColor LCD in 17" which offers 16 million colors (vs. the ~262,000 most current laptop LCDs offer) with excellent color accuracy. While it's a $400 option, that is a technology I'd very much like to see appear in the MacBook Pro, so hopefully Apple licenses it (if possible) or attempts to source similar performance from other vendors who will.
 
I actually think it's quite interesting. Despite the fact I really don't like Vista, it's got quite the horsepower.

But to be completely honest, I don't think the MBP is going to come close to it. IMHO, Apple's idea is that the serious Pro will be using the MBP for travel/on the go/back up and most likely have a main setup at home ( i.e. Mac Pro).. At least that's how I envision it. Of course, there are people like you and me who use the MBP as their main setup, if I really NEEDED that much power, I'd settle for the Mac Pro and buy a proper sized tablet/display.

None the less, good to know there are other options (Lenovo), despite the fact I'd rather stick to OS X.
 
I'm not going to dispute the merits of the laptop, as I'm not the target audience; however you should stop throwing around the $3000 base price as it gets you nothing advertised.

Want the quad core CPU? $875.
Want the 400NIT screen? $225.
Want the Quadro FX-3700? $400.
They don't even offer 8GB of RAM on their website, but 4GB will cost you $170.
That WACOM Digitizer that seems to be the focus? It's not even standard! Another $150 for you.

God, I didn't even get to the hard drive section yet and we are at $4,868.

alphaod said:
Dual HDD bays means a 32GB SLC SSD for boot and a 500GB HDD for everything else.

I like.

I don't. $835 for the SSD, no option for a 500GB drive. Another $235 for a 320. Ouch.

Oh and Blu-Ray? $450.

Total cost with the frankly stupid hard drive set up: $6,500 before tax. Without: $5,400. I think someone said:

iMacmatician said:
Fabiano said:
look at the size of this freakin monster! cmon. the MBP 17" is at least half the size.
And at most half the performance.

Twice the price of a 17" MBP for double the performance. Sounds right. :p
 
People here are complaining about the currently performance of the MBP...you are also forgetting that it was updated in Feb. 2008....Apple doesnt constantly update their computers, its usually 2-3 times a year...just wait for the updates before you go on your $5000 spending spree on crap that you can get in ANY desktop for less than $2000.
 
People here are complaining about the currently performance of the MBP...you are also forgetting that it was updated in Feb. 2008....Apple doesnt constantly update their computers, its usually 2-3 times a year...just wait for the updates before you go on your $5000 spending spree on crap that you can get in ANY desktop for less than $2000.

Definitely good point. For real power, go for a desktop. For on-the-road (or even your school, whatever) computing, a MBP should be plenty, especially after the revision which should add a little more performance.
 
"Why didn't someone think of this before? Lenovo's new ThinkPad W700 is a 17-inch laptop with a second input area: A stylus-driven drawing tablet right next to the touchpad."


"Love the specs, but the palmrest digitizer is what has everyone's eyes popping out. Tablet PCs (where you can write on the screen directly) are nothing new, but putting a high-res drawing tablet into the palm rest is a real innovation"


Yahoo! Tech Review



nuff said.

I have used an A6, an A5, and now use an A4 Intuos tablet and I'll repeat it again and again: A TABLET THIS SMALL IS USELESS!

Apart from that, with the laptop being as thick as it is, and no place around the tablet to rest the hand, how is anyone supposed to draw accurately and comfortably with this thing?

The machine has nice specs, but the tablet is not innovative, because not enough thought was put into it. It's not practical but unusable. It's a nice idea but the way it is done makes it useless.
 
People here are complaining about the currently performance of the MBP...you are also forgetting that it was updated in Feb. 2008....Apple doesnt constantly update their computers, its usually 2-3 times a year...
Even with the update, the MacBook Pro won't be anywhere near the performance of this laptop. I don't even think the update after that (Nehalem) will come close.

just wait for the updates before you go on your $5000 spending spree on crap that you can get in ANY desktop for less than $2000.
Desktops are not portable.
 
Even with the update, the MacBook Pro won't be anywhere near the performance of this laptop. I don't even think the update after that (Nehalem) will come close.

Desktops are not portable.

The Nehalem update will be faster than this if it's quad core. Nehalem performs a lot faster than Penryn at similar clocks, so even at dual core it'll close the cap a lot.

And let's not forget windows doesn't scale well in more than a few applications with more than two cores.
 
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