MacBook Shipments Have Begun?

[Unspeaked]

No - there's too many digital cameras that are FW400.

FW800 though, I could see them dumping that and putting in an eSata port on the pro (not on the MB).

I just hope you don't have to buy one of the overly large 17" models to get the good GPU/HD options.

If by digital cameras you're referring to video cameras, you make a good point. Still, I wouldn't at all be surprised if they dropped it on all but the highest end model (they need to make up for these "aggressive price cuts" somehow, right?).

I agree that they probably will only cut them $100, and that that's a nice discount - but the poster you quoted is right: 75% of the people on this forum will be complaining that $100 isn't "aggressive" enough and that they've been misled.

Case in point:

Aggressive Price for me is more than $200 to $300 cut to start.

 

[rlmccormick]

Now how many people have a plastic iBook or MacBook with any sort of case damage?

Well, I for one have the famous peeling matte finish on my black Macbook. I wouldn't say the plastic Macbooks cases are worry free.

 

[christiemp]

Aggressive pricing = $25 iTunes gift certificate.

HAHA. That one made me laugh.

 

[NT1440]

What bugs me about rumors of a thin aluminum Macbook is that the Air IS a thin, aluminum Macbook. What's the deal? I wonder if there is any point in selling the Air if the Macbook gets much thinner, gets aluminum and has an LED backlit display.

honest question: Do you understand what the air is and its limitations?

The difference is (to me anyway) is taht the macbook is an actual computer while the air is in many ways the apple version of a netbook (cept it can do more than a craptistic computer actually referred to as a netbook).

 

[NT1440]

Show of hands... how many people have an aluminum PowerBook or MacBook Pro, and how many of those have a dent in a corner and/or a crumpled bit around the ports?

Now how many people have a plastic iBook or MacBook with any sort of case damage?

I used to work in an all-Mac company, and most, yes most, of our aluminum laptops got damaged by the users. Even relatively careful users would eventually bump it off a table or plonk down a backpack that it was in.

We never had a single plastic iBook/MacBook with case damage. After a while, we stopped buying aluminum 'books altogether, unless the user absolutely demanded it. And all of those got damaged.

how many times have you seen something about the random cracks or peelings of the plastic macbooks?

I for one have seen many.

 

[bigmc6000]

They would probably be shipping stock to the stores, not individual units to the consumer. On top of that, we're probably not talking about Fed Ex here, we're probably talking about container ships.



Go buy yourself an iPod Touch, and in three months you and I will be swapping specs for Wifi-swiping Pringles Cantennaes.

Well if it's container ships we need to move our guess back to November

No fair comparing the Touch! It's processor isn't even remotely close to that of a MB or MBP - doesn't have the processor power to keep up with the big boys. Now I *know* that plastic gives you better reception - I've had enough Material Sciences classes to know that - I'm just saying that most people don't spend most of their time on the "fringe".

Speaking of Fringe did anybody else watch that last night? I thought it was alright, might watch it again...

 

[alphaod]

Tomorrow is Tuesday. Oh noes!!! The Internet will phail from all the repeated refreshes!

 

[rlmccormick]

honest question: Do you understand what the air is and its limitations?

The difference is (to me anyway) is taht the macbook is an actual computer while the air is in many ways the apple version of a netbook (cept it can do more than a craptistic computer actually referred to as a netbook).

I understand that the thinness led to the exclusion of ports found on the Macbook. That being said however, if the new Macbook is less than an inch thick AND has the ports available I would think that the attractiveness of the Air comes into question. I'm sure there will still be a market for it but that market is going to shrink.

 

[bigwig]

If they dump the Pro as some posters have suggested, what about 30" ACD support? That's not a trivial difference between the regular and Pro laptops (along with FW800).

 

[Drumjim85]

"Sound better" means good headphones and good bit rate..everything else is close to irrelevant.

iPods are supreme in a market that already existed but whose demand Apple reinvented for the whole world, since every other player was a crap and continues to be a crap to this day.

while i agree that apple really knows how to play the market, there are a few other important things that effect the sound.
-DAC converters
-Headphone amp

both things can effect the sound greatly..

 

[bigmc6000]

how many times have you seen something about the random cracks or peelings of the plastic macbooks?

I for one have seen many.

And it's about fracture mechanics. You can bend and dent an aluminum laptop, you aren't going to do that with a plastic one. It's either going to end up with a scratch or it's going to break. I dropped my PB on it's corner once (in the case) and it's got a fairly noticeable deformation in the corner but it's still trucking along. Now, it's quite possible that with a plastic one nothing would have happened but it's also quite possible that it would have cracked and sent a fracture through the entire body.

 

[SkippyThorson]

Go buy yourself an iPod Touch, and in three months you and I will be swapping specs for Wifi-swiping Pringles Cantennaes.

That got a Lol. I want to buy in on this technology! Judging on the amount of Cheeseburger Pringles I buy, I can provide a single point broadcast of Wifi service to the North America Holiday Inn chain. Let's do this!

That is right up there with one of the greatest posts of all time.

 

[Vulcan]

how many times have you seen something about the random cracks or peelings of the plastic macbooks?

I for one have seen many.

And if everyone who has a MacBook had a MBP, we'd hear about denting, scratching, failing latches, etc, a lot more.

 

[supremedesigner]

I just pee'd a little. That's awesome!...If true...

Yes, 10 years from now, you'll be like WTF - MB looks ugly than today so slow! I'll LOL'd at you.

 

[rezonat0r]

That exactly what I suggested over a month ago.

Great minds think alike. : ) Ever since the aluminum Macbook cases were leaked, it became clear to me what Apple's strategy will be: Simplify their notebook line before a "future product transition" to touch tablets.

Now the 13" Macbook is going to look almost *exactly* like the 15" and 17" MBP. Same Air-like keyboard (probably), LED and multitouch... The "Pro" name becomes meaningless.

I'm waiting for a mini or equivilent (dell studio hybrid) to come with the onboard GPU x4500 HD and a blu-ray option.

That will make the perfect Home Theater PC with Plex (XBMC) installed.

Could not agree more. A new Mac Mini will finally let my original Xbox rest in peace. Slight correction though: Plex is a fork of XBMC. XBMC is coming out with their own Mac version. So there will be at least two (similar) choices for good media centers on OSX.

 

[bananas]

Here they come!
And I want one, even though I don't need one

 

[JG271]

Anyone else get the feeling we've seen the last of Firewire - 400 or 800 - on the MacBook line?

I think given that many of apple's customers still work with audio and video, both of which often require firewire for cameras or interfaces. I don't think its the end of firewire just yet, until they make a high bandwidth replacement, or usb3 takes over as the standard.

 

[Andy-V]

As he said "Macbooks" that could include the MBP as well.

/optimism

 

[Col127]

sounds amazing can't wait to see what comes out!

Barrons reports on an analyst note from Citigroup's Richard Gardner who claims to have received confirmation that new MacBooks are shipping.

The report cites "field checks" as the source of the information and describes the new MacBooks with a "very thin aluminum casing, an LED-backlit display and an aggressive entry-level price point."

This description matches many of the circulating rumors, including photos that claimed to depict the new MacBook. Also, the "aggressive" price point could also represent the lower margins that Apple predicted for future quarters during their Q3 2008 Financial Results. At that time, Apple described a "future product transition" which could impact margins.

The most recent claims have pinpointed October 14th as the possible day for the MacBook release.

Article Link

 

[atlendor]

As long as Apple beats those new offerings from Sony, I'll be very happy! The Z, SR, FW, and soon to be released AW have an amazing design and specs! I love how Sony eliminated the excess border around the screen, particularly in the 13inch models. PLEASE APPLE! DO ELIMINATE THAT BORDER.

I couldn't agree more.

I was going to get an Air, but for all its compromises. However, with no border around the screen a new MacBook would be an excellent compromise. Especially if a little lighter, too....

 

[sighlent]

I'm guessing tomorrow since the education iPod + Mac promotion ends today, and tomorrow is a Tuesday.

 

[Desamell]

better ship before..

october 26th

 

[NT1440]

And if everyone who has a MacBook had a MBP, we'd hear about denting, scratching, failing latches, etc, a lot more.

well mayb its just me, but personally id rather have a dent or a scratch than an actual structual damage to my computer.

 

[polaris20]

It'll be cool if they throw the HDMI on there too, as the GPU (X4300) supports it. The new Thinkpad R400 has HDMI ports, and that's a great addition. Many companies such as mine are now using plasma or LCD monitors for smaller conference rooms instead of LCD projectors. They look great when doing presentations!

Not to mention the tons of TVs out there with HDMI in homes.

 

[teasphere]

Back to school promo ends today... It's wishful thinking for me as I have been waiting to see the offering and to determine if it is time to finally add a Mac to my stable.

As for the ALU and wifi issues, this is no different than the MBPs or the old 12"ers which were also ALU and work fine with Wifi. Yes, it probably has a small impact but if you need to be that far away from the AP then get a higher gain antenna for your AP. Unless your coffee shop is bigger than a Walmart you should be fine there too.

You give me $899 a DVDRW drive and Intel X4500 graphics and I'm in the second they are announced. I'd probably still bite at $999 but a $200+ premium over a better spec'd (but uglier) lappy is tougher to swallow.