MacBook Is Time's Gadget Of The Week

[MacRumors]

Time has selected Apple's MacBook as its "Gadget of the Week."

The MacBook is a powerful and affordable option, especially for people who are uncertain about their Windows future. The next version, Vista, might be a success, but with a MacBook you can hedge your bet. You get a computer that runs both Mac OS X and Windows XP today, and even appears to meet the minimum requirements for Vista once it gets here. Dell and HP should be very worried indeed.

Apple has been previously featured on Time's October 24th, 2005 front cover with Steve Jobs holding a 5G iPod. Other appearances have included the 4G iPod being another Gadget of the Week, and the G4 iMac being leaked on the advance January 14th, 2002 issue of Time.

 

[pianodude123]

This is extremely good news considering Time has usually favored the PC market.

It is so true though, the macbook is an extremely good deal. It can run windows too, so what would be the advantage of buying a pc!

This should help with publicity.

 

[bassman]

And this is why I can't wait to get one this summer.

 

[whee900]

It's definitely a worthy choice for gadget of the week. I didn't notice the pricing trick until the article mentioned it. It's pretty weird.

 

[aricher]

Nice albeit short review. Good news as most PC knucklehead pay credence to Time. PC Mag has had some glowing review lately as well.

 

[tigertrainer]

Aapl

I wonder if Time Magazine's selection of the MB for gadget of the week is responsible for the %3.75 run up of Apple stock today? If so, can we have another gadget of the week, please!

 

[sunfast]

I love my MacBook! But, again, I ask myself who rated this negative?

 

[runplaysleeprun]

This is extremely good news considering Time has usually favored the PC market.

I can think of twice that a Mac has graced the COVER of Time, as well as numerous mentions. I think Time is, at least with large articles, Mac-friendly.

 

[DisturbedSith]

Yea, who can rate this negative? Any good publicity from a Magazine like Time is a great thing for Apple.

 

[BornAgainMac]

Well, it is about Time (tm)!

 

[quigleybc]

I never really thought of a notebook as a "gadget" but hey, any good press is....good.

 

[iowamensan]

My favorite part of this thread was the link to the thread about the G4 iMac on Time magazine... some very quotable posts..
Some good ones -
agreenster: iPhoto seems kinda like a waste of time
kishba's sig: "I personally don't give a shiza what Intel is at and personally i'm tired of hearing about them. Intel based machines don't run OS X or Final Cut Pro. End of story."
GeeYouEye(re. the G4 iMac): There is no way in hell, Earth, or heaven or beyond (OK maybe heaven ) that everything else can fit in there, along with the G4 and, more to the point, the heatsink. It just isn't possible.

Amazing how far Apple has come..

 

[greenchester]

"My biggest problem was an inability to "right-click" using the MacBook's trackpad. Although there is a way to do it by pushing control-shift-F10, I found it was easier to just add an external USB mouse."

I find this line really confusing- Does he not know that you can just control click to get the same thing? or that the two-fingers-on-the-trackpad-and click feature???

 

[MrCrowbar]

"My biggest problem was an inability to "right-click" using the MacBook's trackpad. Although there is a way to do it by pushing control-shift-F10, I found it was easier to just add an external USB mouse."

I find this line really confusing- Does he not know that you can just control click to get the same thing? or that the two-fingers-on-the-trackpad-and click feature???

He's refering to right-clicking in Windows XP (boot Camp).

 

[amac4me]

At a minimum, I hope it urges PC users to at least go and check out the MacBook.

Apple's strategic decision to switch to Intel processors and subsequent release of Boot Camp is driving some people to purchase Macs.

 

[shawnce]

No way the current MacBooks will be able to handle Vista's "Aero" stuff...

Actually Intel's GMA 950 chipset (what is used in the MacBook and Mac mini) supports Aero just fine. You just need 1 GiB of RAM in the system (Vista wants that in general, not just for Aero).

...any other BS you want to fire off?

 

[MacBookDJ]

Seems like Time Magazine has always been friendly to Apple. More-so than most major US publications. Anyway, news like this is always great.

 

[amac4me]

Story is not accurate

The story is not accurate. The MacBook is NOT the "Gadget of The Week".

Time Magazine has only posted a review of the MacBook. Time's "Gadget of The Week" URL is:

www.time.com/time/gadget

It currently redirects to "XM Satellite Radio's Newest Toys". Note that the page has "Gadget of The Week" whereas the link to the MacBook review does not.

 

[KindredMAC]

MacBook, Maybe Apple's best laptop ever? Even better than the MacBook Pro?

We have had our MacBook now for 2 weeks and I only have two problems to report:
1) CS 2 is pretty much unuseable if you are a Pro like me that also uses a PowerMac G5 at home and at work to have to compare it to.

and the most important problem I am having....

2) I can't get the damn thing away from my wife!

We bought it for me because our 900mhz G3 iBook was too doggy for me to use when I have to go away on press runs. The deal was that I got the MacBook and we would keep the iBook for my wife to use as her very own laptop. She only needs to use Office and Internet apps.

We love the size and feel of it compared to the 14" iBook. The zippiness of Universal apps is totally outrageous. I can't wait to see how this MacBook is going to handle CS 3 next year.

For all the Glossy Screen haters.... you are way too picky then.
I only notice a reflection right before I turn it on and the screen is black. It is a much much MUCH better screen than the iBook's. The old iBook actually hurts to look at it.

I have access to a 17" PowerBook in my art dept from time to time and I have to say that my MacBook blows it away in almost all aspects. Other than screen size, the only items I can think of that the PowerBook beats out the MacBook is in small "luxury" items such as backlit keyboard, expansion port and speaker quality.

Everything else just seems and feels better. Airport reception is 200% better on the MacBook, the new keyboard and mousepad are REALLY nice, the small size is perfect.

So in my opinion, if there is a MacBook Pro killer out there... the MacBook is the assassin.

Great job Steve. This is the laptop I was looking for to replace our iBook with!

 

[Multimedia]

MacBook Should Be TIME's Gadget Of The YEAR!

MacBook Should Be TIME's Gadget Of The YEAR!

I've owned a MacBook for a week now, and it's the best computer I've ever used - even better than the 15" AluBook I used to have at work. I also haven't had any heat issues with the computer. It gets warm, but no warmer than any other PC or Mac laptops that I'm used to...

Guess I'm right. Right on imalave.

 

[superleccy]

Time have hit the nail on the head. And if I were American, I'd append the word "period" to that last sentence.

OK, so the Macbook may still have a few niggling issues, but think of where Apple were 10 years ago, and think of where they are now. They finally have a "Microsoft Killer", not just technically, but commercially too. This is a very, very, significant win.

Steve Jobs and all the guys and gals at Apple are true geniuses. And this is just the beginning.

Sorry if this sounds a bit gushy, but I have had several beers. And if I were sober, I would still say it's true. Honest.

Regards
SL & beer.

 

[EricNau]

Times:

The next version, Vista, might be a success, but with a MacBook you can hedge your bet. You get a computer that runs both Mac OS X and Windows XP today, and even appears to meet the minimum requirements for Vista once it gets here.

I wish they hadn't used the term "minimum requirements." It will give many PC users the idea that it can't really run Vista, and if you try, it will be incredibly slow and freeze regularly. I really don't think that will be the case however. Maybe I'm just being picky, but I'm afraid (at least that paragraph) is doing more harm than good.

 

[lmalave]

There is also mention in that article of not being able to right click on the macbooks - tap 2 fingers on the trackpad, buddy. New feature, and a sweet one at that. Scrolling by dragging down on the trackpad with two fingers works too.

I agree, this is getting highly annoying. This is the second *very* high profile review (the other was CNet's) to falsely make an issue out of the right-click. The two-finger tap is the best input for a right click ever devised! (even better than a true right-click on a traditional mouse, IMHO). And the two-finger scrolling is the best scrolling interface ever devised (again, even better than the scrollwheel on a traditional mouse, IMHO.

Once you start using these input methods, they're more natural and ergonomic than any other alternative. In fact, the other day I caught myself using the mouse with my left hand (I'm left-handed but always use a righty mouse), and it was so easy I was doing it without even thinking.

It's just a shame that a fantastic new feature of the Mac isn't being highlighted enough. I definitely think Apple should enable two-finger tap and scrolling by default. Unfortunately it's not a feature that's easy to work into an advertisement, but it should be a feature that Apple Store sales people emphasize to potential buyers, especially potential switchers.

 

[knackroller]

Definitely a strong contender for a notebook. However, the old iBook was itself not a bad notebook in terms of its pricing too.

 

[ImAlwaysRight]

who rated this negative?

Since people always seem to ask but no one ever answers, I'll take a stab.

• Maybe they are a Newsweek reader and hate anything to do with Time.
• Maybe they are a PC weenie who comes to this Mac forum just to rate every thread negative (or the negative threads positive).
• Maybe they lost a boyfriend/girlfriend to the MacBook because it is so sexy.
• Maybe they thought the Black and Decker deluxe vegetable juicer should have been the gadget of the week.
• Maybe they just like to see people post Who rated this thread negative?!?!?

That's 5 possibilities and I'm just scratching the surface.

To the topic, personally, I'd rate the MacBook the gadget of the year.