Macworld San Francisco 2009 Registration Opens

[Cpt. Morgan]

It's odd they still use combos. I just purchased a fantastic, fast SuperDrive for $25 3 months ago. The prices are so low, so hardware prices can't be much of an issue.

Its not really all that odd. They use the different drives to further differentiate their models of take for example, the MacBook.

The low end MacBook has slightly less of everything, and a combo drive to boot. As for the next MacBook up, its the same as the black MacBook except white. Its a way of encouraging you to spend 200$ more and get a few minor things. Differentiates products.

Personally, I think all their computers will all go super drive standard. But the MacBook Pro, The Mac Pro, and the iMac will have the option to go blue-ray. The lower end iMac's (the two cheapest models) will probably keep the super drive and have no buy to order option for blue-ray.

I think if they keep the prices of their computers the same, the ones able (MBP, Mac Pro, iMac) should have a blue-ray drive included in that price. If they drop their prices 200-300$ on everything, or so, they will have a option for one.

I really hope they do a price drop. Its needed... their hardware is way over priced. I also hope to god they give the MacBook one more USB port, and maybe the option to not have a optical drive (replace it with another hard drive etc) plus some flash card readers (is it SD readers?).

Just my two cents.

Cpt. Morgan

 

[IJ Reilly]

The keynote has always attracted thousands, even during the dark days of "beleaguered Apple." It's just a zoo anymore. The price of success.

 

[ivladster]

I bet the tablet is gonna come out. Maybe some changes to MacPro and some new features for Media. Usually Apple focuses on very large things.

 

[Eric S.]

I bet the tablet is gonna come out. Maybe some changes to MacPro and some new features for Media. Usually Apple focuses on very large things.

Last year was the Time Capsule (they stuck a disk in an Airport Extreme) and the Macbook Air (a really thin but underpowered and limited capability/capacity Macbook). Do those count as "very large things"? I would tend to think not, even though the MBA was splashy.

Given that laptop upgrades should happen sooner, Mac Pro/iMac are probably on deck at MWSF. I don't think a tablet is likely. This whole current period appears to be about incremental advances to the existing product base (except for the mini of course) than introducing anything radically new.

 

[adriaanmulder]

a

 

[MacBook08]

Yes, Apple's goal is to be as profitable as possible and they've done a great "Job" of it the last decade. But how how long will that continue if they don't give their customers what they are asking for ? How will that affect their profitability ? Am I missing something here ?

If Apple doesn't give their customers what they are asking for, then why are Mac sales continuing to climb. Why is Apple in third place behind only HP and Dell? Obviously Macs are giving their customers something they want. Something that PCs can't give. There's a fine line between things they can realistically give their customers and the things in people's imagination. For example, it's realistic for Apple to put super drives in all Macs; it is not realistic to expect to see Blu-Ray in any Mac ever (Apple's and our future is digital, not optical; I see Blu-Ray as being short-lived and not important in the eyes of Apple). Anyways, I'm pretty sure Apple will give many people exactly what they are asking for come October and sales should be great.

 

[AidenShaw]

Anyways, I'm pretty sure Apple will give many people exactly what they are asking for come October...

Ahh, the faith of the newbies.

I have my Macworld registration. I want a cobalt blue metal book with an 11" screen and 18 hour battery - thanks for letting me know that it will be there for me!

...and sales should be great.

...but not as great as they could be!

Come on Apple. It's time for BD and a mini-tower.

 

[IJ Reilly]

Ah, the sound of broken records!

 

[MacBook08]

Ahh, the faith of the newbies.

I have my Macworld registration. I want a cobalt blue metal book with an 11" screen and 18 hour battery - thanks for letting me know that it will be there for me!




...but not as great as they could be!

Come on Apple. It's time for BD and a mini-tower.

Will it? Will it be there for you? Or is it just another unrealistic dream? Cobalt Blue? Sounds like a crappy Dell color.

 

[AidenShaw]

Will it? Will it be there for you? Or is it just another unrealistic dream? Cobalt Blue? Sounds like a crappy Dell color.

You're the newbie who tells me that "Apple will give many people exactly what they are asking for come October"....

Are you saying that I'm not one of the "many", and my dreams will go unfulfilled?

And "crappy Dell color"? "Cobalt blue" is one of the richest colors around...

 

[MacBook08]

You're the newbie who tells me that "Apple will give many people exactly what they are asking for come October"....

Are you saying that I'm not one of the "many", and my dreams will go unfulfilled?

And "crappy Dell color"? "Cobalt blue" is one of the richest colors around...

My bad..I'll accept defeat..what does that color look like when it's not clear?

 

[Brien]

If Apple isn't careful, they are going to "differentiate" their smug, arrogant *sses into a customer backlash against their neglect of timely computer updates over the last few years and charging outrageous prices for stale, old technology like combo drives, junk iMac screens, Lousy wi-fi performance and ancient, underperforming video cards.

Macworld had better be about Macs and good value in a big way. I believe Apple can do it. If not, they should split off computers into a separate company and make Woz the CEO. He still cares about computers and it shows. Here's hoping for a great Macworld.

Apple's been doing that forever. I do hope if they try to change the MBP, they'll shave the height from the display (look how thin it is on the MBA) and keep it the same thickness, and use the extra 6-7mm to be able to accommodate the thicker HDD and Optical drives (blu-ray is pretty standard in $2500 laptops, if it's not at least a BTO option then I'll be bummed). I do wish Apple went to higher-end stuff, but they've always used midrange cards in the laptops. The Powermac/Mac Pro has really been the only powerhouse in recent history.

Last year was the Time Capsule (they stuck a disk in an Airport Extreme) and the Macbook Air (a really thin but underpowered and limited capability/capacity Macbook). Do those count as "very large things"? I would tend to think not, even though the MBA was splashy.

Given that laptop upgrades should happen sooner, Mac Pro/iMac are probably on deck at MWSF. I don't think a tablet is likely. This whole current period appears to be about incremental advances to the existing product base (except for the mini of course) than introducing anything radically new.

I don't think a Mac tablet is that big a reality. Apple is pushing the iPhone/iPod touch as the future. I don't think they'll have a full-featured tablet, they're more likely to (gradually) shift the laptop lines INTO tablets. First with the multitouch trackpads, then multitouch screen (like a DS). Eventually we might see something like a Modbook (but less sucky).

 

[chell]

A notebook with a multi-touch screen? I don' think that makes sense. First of all, the screen would be a bitch to keep clean. Secondly, I don't see any use for a multi-touch screen operating the OS.

What I think is more realistic is this: They're gonna make the trackpad slightly larger in size. It's gonna be made of glass and it's gonna be multi-touch. It might even be a small screen that is used to display secondary info or to interact with the OS in a certain way (imagine it housing Quicktime player controls for example).

Just because it's multi-touch doesn't mean it's better for everything.

 

[Brien]

No, what I mean is that they've already started, and that traditional, physical keyboards will probably be obsolete in a few years. Apple didn't put one in the iPhone, and there's a lot of customization available if they keyboard is virtual (MIDI input, game-specific layouts).

At the least I think it'll be like the cube and Apple will do some sort of laptop with one.

 

[RealEvil]

How much does it cost money to attend? There is no obvious pricing info (nowhere I can see anyway!).

 

[MagicWok]

Beware of predictions this far off. With nearly four months to go, almost anything could happen between now and then.

It's also quite possible absolutely nothing will happen in typical Apple-hype style

 

[chrissturgis]

If they come out with a new MBP on october 14 I could care less about what they come out with at Macworld 09.

 

[Dias]

If they come out with a new MBP on october 14 I could care less about what they come out with at Macworld 09.

+1

My guess:

October 14: MacBook Pro/Air

January: Software related stuff (SnowLeo, iLife, iPhone software update and boom, iTablet)


Still, I just wanna my MacBook Pro revision.

 

[SactoGuy18]

Don't be surprised that Apple releases the 240 GB "6.5G" iPod classic at Macworld SF 2009, using the same case as the 6G iPod classic 160 GB. In my opinion, Apple didn't release the 240 GB iPod classic on September 9, 2008 because they may be experiencing supply issues with the 240 GB drive.

 

[IJ Reilly]

It's also quite possible absolutely nothing will happen in typical Apple-hype style

That's the least likely scenario. Something will happen, probably some things which were predicted, and a few which weren't -- and some which were predicted, won't happen. This is the typical pattern.

 

[bobbleheadbob]

Very disappointed about the change in attendance to the Keynote address in the various packages this year. I attended the Power Tools Conference last year and was able to get into the Keynote as part of the package. This year it would only allow me to get into an overflow room.

Sorry, I just don't have 2x as much money to spend on a "Platinum Pass". IMO, it's just greed on IDG's part, pure and simple!

 

[HiFiGuy528]

will there be FREE wifi there so I can use my MacBook to view Live web blogs of the Keynotes?

"Keynote: Seating based on availability" Doesn't that mean first come first serve if you don't have Platinum Pass?

 

[emulator]

Come on Apple. It's time for BD and a mini-tower.

BD ROM players go for around $100 while writers can be had for $230 these days, so I think Apple will be offering them as an option. Say $250 for the player and $600 for the writer with the usual mark up.

That's the least likely scenario. Something will happen, probably some things which were predicted, and a few which weren't -- and some which were predicted, won't happen. This is the typical pattern.

Things - that were not predicted - did not happen in ages or when they did, it was just smoke, like the bump from 80 GB to 120 GB.

 

[MacsBestFriend]

Quad-Core and SuperDrive across the board (no more ComboDrives):
- Quad-Core iMacs (with GPU, RAM, HD bumps, same casing)
- Quad-Core Mac minis (dedicated GPU, RAM and HD bump, new TV/Time Capsule form factor for 3.5" HD, aluminium casing)
- Quad-Core MacBooks (with GPU, RAM, HD bumps, new aluminium casing)
- Quad-Core MacBook Pros (with GPU, RAM, HD bumps, new magnesium casing)
- Mac Pros, whatever is the best intel CPU available, possible case refresh, still aluminium, still no Blu-Ray but now comes with two SuperDrives.

Do you believe that the laptops will have these updates on Oct. 14 or sooner (I see you wrote this before the MB shipping was announced). I thought Macbooks were going Centrino 2? I like your predictions though! A bit wishful, but well thought out!

 

[gadgetgirl85]

Do you believe that the laptops will have these updates on Oct. 14 or sooner (I see you wrote this before the MB shipping was announced). I thought Macbooks were going Centrino 2? I like your predictions though! A bit wishful, but well thought out!

I don't think so I wish