I have to use windows xp, so I use boot camp. But I wonder how windows xp is going to work on MBPro new hardware? Is apple going to release a new update for boot camp with new drivers? How does this work? I think if I buy one now I am going to have a problem.....am I?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
MacBook and MacBook Pro Unpacking, Disassembly and First Impressions
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I don't think you're right about there not being a backlight on the 1299 one...
How is it that yours ships in 1-3 business days and my Mac Book Pro is 3-5 business days. That makes me angry!
i asked the apple sales rep that same question (but about the MBs). She said that she couldn't possibly imagine them releasing hardware that wouldn't be compatible with bootcamp. But since she got burned by telling me that the keyboards are all backlit (see a few posts up), she checked with her "gurus" who said new hardware will absolutely be compatible with bootcamp and XP but might not have the depth of functionality that it does on OSX. I'm thinking he was referring to drivers supporting multi-touch gestures. So I'll be going in to the apple store today and making them partition a new macbook with bootcamp and see exactly how functional it all is.
Your Samsung doesn't have a DVI connection? Hmm. I bought my 42" 1080i DLP a little over 3 years ago and it has a DVI and all the new ones I've looked at have a DVI. The audio cable is a cheapie stereo to RCA - unless you want digital audio that is. Not sure how much those cost.
Is a hard drive attached via USB fast enough to edit HD video with? Or any video at all for that matter?
That option was removed before 10pm CDT on the 14th (talking about the White Macbook not the mid level model). Not sure what would have changed today.
Heh, I just ordered the OLD one too! This will be my first laptop (all desktops until now including Windows, Linux and Mac PCs). I got it for $1440 with a rebate from Amazon. Heck, it's cheaper than the 2nd tier regular new Macbook and it STILL wipes the floor with it. It has a matte screen, TWO firewire ports and is nearly as fast as the new one despite the new GPU. It also LOOKS better when open (that black bezel is downright ugly IMO). What's supposed to be BETTER on the new MBP? The case? Slightly better graphics and slightly higher bus speeds that you probably won't even notice? That glass based touchpad that doesn't even have ONE dedicated button on it? No thanks. I just had to have a tree damaged in a storm a few weeks ago taken down for $500. The savings buying the old MBP instead of the new one will cover that. All you people buying the new one are getting ripped, IMO. The old MBP is quite a DEAL right now. When's the last time you saw a brand new MBP for $1440? That's with 2GB of ram and a 200GB hard drive standard.
Comparison of screen reflections, anyone?
Has somebody made a comparison between the reflectiveness of the MacBook screens between the old Plastic and the new Aluminium model?
It certainly seems to me (judging from the photos) that the new model is much more reflective (since it is a glass screen on top), than the old one, which had some quite effective coating directly applied to the display itself.
It would be nice if somebody could make a quick check on this...
Has somebody made a comparison between the reflectiveness of the MacBook screens between the old Plastic and the new Aluminium model?
It certainly seems to me (judging from the photos) that the new model is much more reflective (since it is a glass screen on top), than the old one, which had some quite effective coating directly applied to the display itself.
It would be nice if somebody could make a quick check on this...
Not really. Not if you understand economics, manufacturing, pricing.
Basically, sort of like Chrysler buying Jaguar, with a NEW Macbook Pro, you are really getting a Macbook with a better GPU, better screen, and firewire, everything else is Macbook.
From a price point and manufacturing point of view, Apple is making a killing as they are slapping on a few more items and you are paying much much more for it when it cost's them at the very least, 50% less to manufacture so there profit margin is much higher but as the end user, you receive a cheaper product.
All in all, the Macbook is the best deal if the $1299 includes backlit, still, the lack of firewire is a huge blunder. Especially for those that have FIREWIRE AUDIO and VIDEO interfaces.
I am shocked that this has happened. Think about it. Apple has spent the last few years moving away from Logic, Final Cut and so on, and has been pushing iLife and consumers. Now, they don't have any way to get their video into the machine, none at all.
It's another MAC/APPLE "CATCH-22" - the machine is too powerful and with a $1299 price point, Jobs is once again FEARFUL that the PRO user will use it so he kills off firewire.
With the older Macbook, I saw the OPEN_GL bench mark go from 70%, to 110% all the way up to 171% and you still couldn't play a game but you could run MOTION so Apple crippled it and released the X300 and the benchmarks went back down to 70%, again.
Now Apple addresses this issue and you will be able to play games, run motion, FCP suite, but NO FIREWIRE. Again, Apple's way of saying NO TO THE PRO USER and more so, hurting the CONSUMER in a big way.
If you have a Pro, Macbook Pro, the Macbook is now a good deal, still, if you consider that the 15 is Matte only, and the new display is 24" glossy, they are cleary getting away from MATTE and the PRO will have to look elsewhere for their MATTE screen. I'm sure you can purchase an adapter and run MATTE as color correction will not be accurate on the glossy.
They must be thinking about reducing the 17" model and tailor that model for the REAL PRO and the 15" (IMHO) has become the mini-Pro user machine but should have been priced accordingly, especially given that it uses the same FRAME and innards of a Macbook, there are very small differences and Apple could have released the PRO at $1499 and start to target/refocus the 17" at a lower price point and for the REAL PRO.
In a way, while the MB is a pretty good machine (will have to see benchmarks (anyone have any yet, Barefeets.com?)), they have sort of messed up the entire line and for the first time, I am glad I held onto my 15" MBPro 7 month old computer. Normally I buy every 6 months. This time am holding on and next purchase if not a new macbook will be a refurb 15/17 older gen.
I had a look at them today in the Apple shop (In Birmingham, UK)
They look smart, but maybe it's a grower. I don't like the way I get a electrical feel when I touch the aluminium case (I got the same off the old Air and MBP).
Also annoyed that the firewire has been removed off the MB, wonder if streaming of a camcorder on USB is possible when using iMovie?
The glossy screen seems to give off the same glare as my MB (though in a Apple shop it's fairly bright, so even matte screen would be a bit of glare).\
The lack of the mouse button isn't an issue, seems to behave as normal for me. Gesture features again seem o.k., though the 4 finger ones needed a bit more precision from me, due to my big hands!
Seemed to be a general lack of pricing information in the Apple store today (went about 5 hours after opening).
The finish on both the MB and MBP is superb, overall not a bad update, still annoyed about the lack of aggressive pricing, but really didn't expect it from Apple (despite the all the pro feature in a consumer laptop (apart from Firewire) but $700 cheaper rubbish).
They look smart, but maybe it's a grower. I don't like the way I get a electrical feel when I touch the aluminium case (I got the same off the old Air and MBP).
Also annoyed that the firewire has been removed off the MB, wonder if streaming of a camcorder on USB is possible when using iMovie?
The glossy screen seems to give off the same glare as my MB (though in a Apple shop it's fairly bright, so even matte screen would be a bit of glare).\
The lack of the mouse button isn't an issue, seems to behave as normal for me. Gesture features again seem o.k., though the 4 finger ones needed a bit more precision from me, due to my big hands!
Seemed to be a general lack of pricing information in the Apple store today (went about 5 hours after opening).
The finish on both the MB and MBP is superb, overall not a bad update, still annoyed about the lack of aggressive pricing, but really didn't expect it from Apple (despite the all the pro feature in a consumer laptop (apart from Firewire) but $700 cheaper rubbish).
You know, not all computer professionals are graphic designers
Well, the audio and video guys were also shafted with the MB...
Isaac
I went in early this morning to the Apple Store in Glasgow to buy the new MacBook. Opens at 9am and i was there at 9.50am. Walked up to one of the employees:
Me - "Hi, I would like to buy the new MacBook please."
Rep - "Um, have you booked a personal shopping session?"
Me - "No I just thought I would buy one seeing as I'm like the only guy here."
Rep - "Well we aren't selling them to just anyone, unless you have an appointment I can't sell you one."
Me - "Hang on, so you have them in stock?"
Rep - "Yeah, about 40 units."
Me - "So why can't I buy one, I've got cash on me now?"
Rep - "Cos we can't sell them to anyone like I said, I can book you an appointment for early next week"
Me - "Nah mate, just forget it. If you don't want my money I'll just go and buy a PC"
I've waited since June for a MacBook and to be treated like a piece of dirt by those guys is unforgivable. Thank you Apple for the iPhone but I won't be buying any more products from you if your gonna treat people like this!!
I posted this on another thread, but had to post it again cos I'm so mad and people should know before being confronted with rude staff.
I don't know why you immediately assume that because one person doesn't give you the treatment you expect that this represents some kind of Apple policy or that this justifies you in badmouthing Apple stores in general. If you felt that the assistant's response was inappropriate, the answer was very simple - just ask to see the manager and explain the situation. It sounds to me like you got some inexperienced shop assistant who thought they were doing things by the book and therefore correctly. Anyone in charge would have immediately seen how ridiculous the assistant's response was and got you your Macbook. However, if you really get so mad by one person that you want to swap a beautiful new Macbook for a PC - go ahead, it's your loss.
Let's put it like this, during the Q&A after the keynote the audience was told that reflections with a glossy screen was a non-issue. Apple are great at marketing, so, let's check out their own promotion video:
http://www.apple.com/macbook/the-new-macbook/watch.html#large
Even in the marketing video, shot in probably a very controlled environment, there are problems with reflections. So if Apple them selfs are having problems producing a marketing video and have obvious problems with reflections, then how will the ordinary user experience be?
Why are you shocked? Apple has a track record of purposely and artificially crippling their hardware in ways to FORCE you to buy their more expensive, higher profit margin items. They've got it down to the point where you have to buy a $99 cable ($99!!!) just to connect ANY regular monitor to your laptop. That's no accident. There was no need to switch to a custom mini-connector that has virtually no support without an adapter. They did to MILK THE CUSTOMERS. That cable probably cost them $3 to make in mass and they're charging $99 for it. That's 3300% profit. It SHOULD be included with the laptop, but Steve-a-reno knows how to make PROFIT at your expense and he's pushing harder than ever to make Apple the most profitable it's ever been. They keep breaking record profits and they're doing it at YOUR personal expense. They know you can't go buy a Dell with OS X on it, so unless you're going to hack one, you're force to play Steve's little games where you can't get what you want until reach the highest price tiers and even then you sometimes can't get it anyway because they don't think they can sell enough (e.g. matte screens) to make it worth their time.
That's a bit of a falsehood. You're making assumptions about what kind of gear the consumer is using. Many new camcorders don't even have Firewire anymore, but instead used compressed USB2. Yeah, it sucks, but don't EVER confuse consumer with professional. Mom and Dad's home videos are hardly akin to pro-quality to begin with and outside the Mac world, Firewire might as well not exist to 90+% of the world, which is WHY many camcorders don't even support it anymore. And if you are anything even CLOSE to a professional (say and advanced amateur) and you want to do video editing, you probably shouldn't be buying a Macbook anyway. Besides, you can get the prior model MBP on closeout from Amazon right now for around $1440 with a rebate, so why even CONSIDER the new Macbook when you can get a vastly superior MBP for a similar price?
Steve wisely understands that the Mac's 3D in the lower ends has made it an utter LAUGHING STOCK in the computer world. And while all YOU may care about is editing video, most of the world does NOT edit video and couldn't care less about Firewire. Most of the world DOES play video games on their PCs at some point and the old Macbook wasn't doing the Mac platform any favors in that area. The new Macbook isn't targeted at videographers. It's targeted at regular people running regular software like word processors, games and web browsers. If you want to edit video, get an MBP or if if portability isn't a concern, an iMac or even a Mac Pro if you can afford it. The new Macbooks are priced so much closer to the MBP, that it's just not as big of a leap anymore. What Apple really needs now is a much lower priced entry level Macbook (sort of like that $999 white one, but priced closer to $600). At that level, you don't expect to play games, just browse and run simple business software, etc. There are a LOT of PC laptops running at that price level and Apple is missing out on that marketing tier. The problem for Apple is the profit margins just aren't as high there so they don't care.
I just still can't get over them dropping FW400 in the Macbook. If they were that pressed for space for slots, they should have dropped one of the USB ports and made it FW400 instead. So, so dumb. Macs are machines for creatives, there are tons of FW400 music peripherals out there, not to mention tape based camcorders.
So the MBP doesnt even come with a DVI adapter anymore? What the hell? Its a $2000 computer. So Apple is going to start treating their computer like iPods now and cutting out accessories? Whats next, Macbooks coming in clear plastic cases being hanged from a rack?
Its crap like that which make me think Apple is one of the worst companies on the planet. I may think their products are fine but their business practices are easily the most immoral and greedy in consumer electronics.
Its crap like that which make me think Apple is one of the worst companies on the planet. I may think their products are fine but their business practices are easily the most immoral and greedy in consumer electronics.