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MacBook and MacBook Pro Unpacking, Disassembly and First Impressions

The glossy screen should be a non issue, someone will quickly sell a $20 plastic nonreflective film you can slap on.

But the omission of FW400 on the Macbook... I think that was a bad move. Otherwise it would have been nearly a 12" PB replacement.

I guess if you buy a Macbook and want to use Firewire-based camcorders, you also have to buy a $599 Mini as a second computer, just for its FW400 port. Or I guess you can pick one up secondhand for less.
 
CPU isn't everything

xDYLANx said:
ALL OF THAT DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE THE OG ENTRY LEVEL MB HAS A FASTER PROCESSOR THAN THE ENTRY LEVEL NEW ONE!!!


how is this progress?😡?😡?😡?😡?
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the new MB has a much better GPU, and 'SnowLeopard" will enable apps to offload processing from the CPU to the GPU, that's where this baby will scream past the 'old' MB.....
:apple:

Nevertheless, I want a new MBP, and am a little miffed about the loss of the FW400 port, my current Powerbook has both the 800 and 400 port, and that's handy when using a FW800 external HD, and a FW400 audio interface....:apple:
 
Glossy only

valdore said:
I'm holding on to the hope that they release at least an anti-glare screen along the lines of the 17 inch MacBook Pro for the fifteen inchers... glossy is a no-go as far as I'm concerned if I'm going to be doing photography editing.
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All current MBs and MBPs use TN panels and I bet the new ones will have TN panels too. With TN panels you have much more color shift when changing the viewing angle, than you have with a glossy vs. mate display in general. I'd say TN panels are not suited for color critical photo-editing, whether they are mate or glossy.

On the other hand, LCD displays on notebooks are much more prone to fingerprints and scratches than desktop displays. Thus I welcome the shielding glass in the new design. Makes the new notebooks much more rugged than the older designs.

If there will be a MBP with a high-end SIPS panel in the future, then it is a meaningful discussion, whether this display should be mate for ultimate color fidelity, but as long as we are dealing with TN panels the discussion is pointless IMHO.

Anyhow I can understand, that some people don't like the reflections on the glossy display just as others don't like the milky contrast of the mate - that's personal preference.

Having both, a mate Pismo and a glossy MBP I prefer the glossy.

Cecco
 
Pretty taken with the updates, and I like the option with no backlit keyboard, and am very much considering downgrading my Feb '08 2.5GHz MBP for it.

Chiclet keyboard, ports on the left, no displeasing plastic lip, which now just makes even the Feb '08 MBPs look old, given that that 'feature' has been around since the switch to aluminium for the G4s!

And slower entry processor, but faster FSB, and faster RAM (although apparently that's not so good as it sounds), a much nicer enclosure, much nicer display and graphics.
 
qoqo said:
LOL. And to think 10" was big back in 1975....
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True, but looking at what its used for today is key.
Video editing in the field...would love a 19" laptop. (HP has one)

They may be a beast, but there are pro areas that would and do benefit from the large screens. Editing on a 17" is even a pain...15" is undesirable. 🙂

Peace

dAlen
 
I love the Aussie's pronunciation of Aluminum 😎 What was it? Oh yeah, Aluminium! :apple: 🙄[/QUOTE]

No offense intended but : You've probably missed the fact that the whole world pronounces it " Aluminium", except so it seems, in the US. That it is even called Aluminium in the scientific world doesn't seem to matter. When enough people say and spell it wrong, it will eventually become right. 🙂:apple:
 
After researching about new laptops I've come to a conclusion that they are actually VERY nice 🙂

MacBook

Higher price for MB is explained by a presumably more expensive manufactoring (which should result in higher quality bodys), alum/glass body, new chipset that has incredible graphics and DDR3 memory, LED display that are higher quality than previous crapscreens, awesome new trackpad and better keboard, which is illuminated on the higher-end model.

The lack of FireWire is saddening, but it could be much worse. And seriously, how many % of MB users need FireWire? I bet no more than 5.

The design of these is incredible! Actually, I don't know how I will continue to work on my old MB now, seeing how much better new models are 😱

MacBook Pro

Glossy screen everyone here seems to be mad about was expected. As much as this is a Pro machine I don't know anyone who does color-critical work on a notebook screen. Even those with 17" MBPs use ACDs and other high-quality screens for that.

As for reflections... well I was against glossy when first MBs came out, but after having my MB for a few days it turned out not to be an issue. Sure, there's some reflection when there's a bright light source facing the display, but its definitely not as bad as most people think. Think of how it will be with a matte screen - the light coming to the screen will be diffused over the entire surface so you loose a LOT of contrast. Ever wonder why there's no matte screen phones or MP3 players? Because those devices are mostly used outside and they perform much better with glossy screen.

The same CPU speed for the price is explained by basically the same reasons I've given for MBs so no problem here.

2 GPUs is a nice feature, especially since the integrated one is actually decent and according to Apple saves up to 1 hour of battery life. You switch to the dedicated card when you're on AC power or when doing graphics-intensive stuff like Aperture/Motion or heavy 3D games (casual 3D games can be easily played on 9400 to save battery life).

Again, lack of FW 400 is saddening, but you still have FW800 that is compatible with 400 so its not that bad.

DisplayPort - a welcome feature. Saves a TON of space and looks better than the huge DVI with screws and all those pins. I'd rather use the adapter than have my laptop's sides (and back and front like on PC laptops) be covered with holes of different sizes.

New keyboard - definitely an improvement over old-style silver plastic kb. Have you actually typed on the new KB before bashing it? It feels a LOT better and looks nicer too.

Overally I'm very pleased with these new laptops from Apple. Sure they have some "underwater rocks", but those are easily offset by the benefits new models give you 🙂
 
Just placed an order..

.. for the OLD MBP. YES! I already got one, but this one is for my co-worker.
Hopefully, Apple will come to their senses before these computers wear down.
 
eXan said:
Overally I'm very pleased with these new laptops from Apple. Sure they have some "underwater rocks", but those are easily offset by the benefits new models give you 🙂
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What about the "New" 17 laptops. (Apple has them listed as new as well.)
The ones that apparently have the old FAULTY Nvidia card in it.

This is something Im surprised hasnt come to the surface on the mains news/tech sites. Apple just admitted to the problem when everyone knew about it for months - and now they label it new and are trying to sell it.

Funny heh? 😉

Peace

dAlen
 
Clayne said:
For some reason I was expected more memory.

Would one notice the difference between 2Gb and 4Gb with normal computer use? (internet, download, video, chat (including video chat))?
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For those uses, you could save yourself some money as 2GB would more than suffice.
 
qoqo said:
I love the Aussie's pronunciation of Aluminum 😎 What was it? Oh yeah, Aluminium! :apple: 🙄
Click to expand...

koss said:
No offense intended but <snip> When enough people say and spell it wrong, it will eventually become right. 🙂:apple:
Click to expand...

Hahha. You're right, of course. We Americaniums can't even get with the metric system after what, like 30 years of trying. No Child Left Behind, being what it is or, more properly, isn't 🙂 Sigh! We need help, seriously! 😱
 
The line is a bit of a mess right now with Apple keeping the whitebook as the low end macbook and not redesigning the 17" ... but apple doesn't like keeping things messy very long.

They clearly just wanted to introduce this new line for the fall and holiday season and get the kinks worked out.

My theory is that come December or January they will hit the pro machine again (mac pro probably minor increases MAYBE bluray licensing will be figured out) and then they will get the process down for the 17 inch or an 18.6 with some more pro features, maybe high res and even bluray. I think the Larger laptop will either become pro and change size, or dissapear and leave the way for...

The docking type station or a few more upgrades to their other size monitors, tilting, matte and color accuracy etc, to go along with... dun dun dun their pro machine updates.

The mini may or may not die, but I am thinking MAYBE it will finally integrate with itv, and run on a magsafe like power so... YOU CAN PLUG IT INTO the new monitors.

You heard it hear first. Otherwise , while I may be a little annoyed and nervous about their messy line up of computers now, I really like them, and the direction they are going.

By early '09 I believe we will all see their genius, atleast I like to think so.
 
PerElofsson said:
I cant believe they killed it.. Hopefully, there will be a new MBPP?
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How did they kill the MacBook Pro? Seriously. They gave it a better processor, a better GPU, a better design and still kept the prices the same. Like the glossy display or not, the MacBook Pro of today is still better than the one of yesterday.
 
I look forward to buying this week.

I have to keep myself from thinking, "in Jan they could lower the prices, raise specs, etc.!!!"

I have to tell myself, "Goddamn it Clayne! You've been waiting 10 months - Just buy the thing now that they're finally out!"

And then my other side says, "...you're right. I'm gunna do it."
 
ktbubster said:
The line is a bit of a mess right now with Apple keeping the whitebook as the low end macbook and not redesigning the 17" ... but apple doesn't like keeping things messy very long.

They clearly just wanted to introduce this new line for the fall and holiday season and get the kinks worked out.

My theory is that come December or January they will hit the pro machine again (mac pro probably minor increases MAYBE bluray licensing will be figured out) and then they will get the process down for the 17 inch or an 18.6 with some more pro features, maybe high res and even bluray. I think the Larger laptop will either become pro and change size, or dissapear and leave the way for...

The docking type station or a few more upgrades to their other size monitors, tilting, matte and color accuracy etc, to go along with... dun dun dun their pro machine updates.

The mini may or may not die, but I am thinking MAYBE it will finally integrate with itv, and run on a magsafe like power so... YOU CAN PLUG IT INTO the new monitors.

You heard it hear first. Otherwise , while I may be a little annoyed and nervous about their messy line up of computers now, I really like them, and the direction they are going.

By early '09 I believe we will all see their genius, atleast I like to think so.
Click to expand...
I'm quite sure the entry level $999 MacBook is only there to clear out stock. Once they're gone, they're gone, and I suspect that the MacBook will again revert to the $1,299 model as the entry level price. I do, however, think the 17'' MacBook Pro will ultimately receive the new chassis unibody, but again, not until the current stock has cleared.
 
Cayce.? said:
they killed mac, The new key boards are terrible in my opinion. what were they thinking =]]😕:apple:
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The new keyboards are great in my opinion. I hated the old one on the MacBook Pro. What were they thinking in keeping it around for so long?
 
azilnik said:
I don't think you're right about there not being a backlight on the 1299 one...

attachment.php
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I can't get that option in the UK.

Speaking of which, for the one with the backlit keyboard, it's $1599 in America and $2009 in the UK. Including all possible taxes... Apple is totally shafting us. More than ever. Stuff them.
 
So are we completely sure about the no backlit keys on the low end aluminium macbook?
(we say aluminium in Dutch as well 😉)
 
A question for does who already have the new Macbook pro, what about windows? the 2 video cards can be a problem on Windows XP and Vista...

Any clue
😕 😕 😕
 
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