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New MacBook Air and Mac Mini Models Driving Record Mac Sales for 3Q 2011
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I was being sarcastic. But at first, I was pretty annoyed that the Mac Mini lacked a standard optical drive. I don't think it's a mistake. Instead, I think this is Apple staying true to their style...
"The best way to predict the future is to invent it."
- Alan Kay
- Alan Kay
This news shows that Apple is well on it's way in helping to kill the optical drive. I've learned from history. The iMac helped kill floppies and ushered in USB as a successor to SCSI.
I could get mad at Apple working to kill optical drives, or I can see how it benefits me.
- As a developer, digital downloads are good for my business.
- As a customer, longer battery life in laptops are cool!
- I haven't been using optical discs that much anyway.
The most telling sign that Apple is heading in the right direction is Blu-Ray. I have two blu-ray players in my home... BUT ONLY ONE BLU-RAY DISC! And while Wall-E is a great movie, I've only used the disc like twice... once to watch the movie... and then again to watch the extras.
So, the future has a big problem to solve... what are houses going to look like in the future? Without CDs, DVDs and Books to stack, walls are going to look pretty boring! Does this mean smaller homes? Less clutter?! It's going to radically change the way of life for hoarders.
would be cool, but...
This is the same as all the previous bastardized Mac laptop docks. Every connector has a corresponding input. Unwieldy and awkward are the only two adjectives that come to mind when I see this. Now if you had that same functionality/form factor w/ a single TB connector that would be compelling.
This is the same as all the previous bastardized Mac laptop docks. Every connector has a corresponding input. Unwieldy and awkward are the only two adjectives that come to mind when I see this. Now if you had that same functionality/form factor w/ a single TB connector that would be compelling.
I do not have an ipad, but I do own a 3GS. I too have an imac which for those reasons makes it hard to justify a macbook air, even though it is a very cool machine. Gotta pay for horse riding lessons for the kids somehow.
I heavily disagree - just for the mere fact that I personally LOVE music Blu-Rays. Maybe you should start getting into it. Don't know your personal style of music, but having DTS on a music Blu-Ray is so wonderful.
Heck - it's just 20 bucks - so give it a shot and buy one of your most favorite musician. Chances are high you'll have a jaw-dropping experience.
But I don't want to put this into another BluRay discussion and just state congrats to Apple. OTOH I hope they offer some juicy MacPro update by the and of the year - and hopefully with a fully supported Blu-Ray option.
Sarcasm or not, I laugh at the people who argued so vehemently about Apple ditching the optical drives, going so far as to citing this as among one of the worst mistakes Apple could ever do.
Yea, right...
Come on Apple. Take out the ODD in the iMac next. I'm ready!
As someone who just bought the $799 Model it was a valid complaint, not a whine. I would have preferred the drive be in there but I bought it to replace my 2010 Mini because of the superior graphics.
The graphics was more important to me than the drive but for $800 it should have been in there. I also prefer the older design but what can you do?
I have last year's Mac mini server, the first mini without an optical drive. I picked up a $50 LaCie external USB DVD burner, it works great when I use it (which is maybe once a month).
It's not a big deal.
It's not a big deal for me either, but it may be an annoyance for those who need the drive. More desktop clutter, which Apple is always trying to do away with.
In any case, I can live without it
Count me as one of the recent Mac Mini purchases as well. My dad's old laptop died, and he had to use my Mac for a few months (getting him used to OS X), and I surprised him with it last month. He loves it
The only thing I wasn't expecting, is that the 2 gigs of memory really isn't enough for him - he mainly does eBay and email, but he keeps like 8 browser windows open all the time...looks like I'll be hitting OWC on my next payday...
The only thing I wasn't expecting, is that the 2 gigs of memory really isn't enough for him - he mainly does eBay and email, but he keeps like 8 browser windows open all the time...looks like I'll be hitting OWC on my next payday...
Count me as one of the recent Mac Mini purchases as well. My dad's old laptop died, and he had to use my Mac for a few months (getting him used to OS X), and I surprised him with it last month. He loves it
The only thing I wasn't expecting, is that the 2 gigs of memory really isn't enough for him - he mainly does eBay and email, but he keeps like 8 browser windows open all the time...looks like I'll be hitting OWC on my next payday...
Yes web browsers seem to be the memory hog today
4G min is what you need for RAM. It's why I was PISSED when apple put only 2 in their base Airs.
Before anyone refutes me, Safari, Chrome, Opera, are all resource hogs. Most users have multiple tabs/windows open with their browser
Indeed. It's great to see Apple finally providing the same sort of docking station capability PC laptops have enjoyed for 10+ years.
I remember a discussion a while back about the MBA not being able to drive two TB Displays. Was that ever definitively resolved ? Because it's a huge let down (and probably a dealbreaker for me) if it can't.
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Why? A $100 price drop and a Sandy Bridge upgrade would logically result in much more sales.
It is fun to see the ODD naysayers proven wrong though.
...in other news
Sales of external USB DVD/BD drives are up 22% year-over-year for the the first two months of the third calendar quarter of 2011.
Sales of external USB DVD/BD drives are up 22% year-over-year for the the first two months of the third calendar quarter of 2011.
I also bought the new mac mini along with the trackpad and really like it. I bought it to replace my old dead pc that ran ubuntu. There were cheaper windows 7 alternatives but I had a brand new 21in Acer screen and I wanted to try a new OS. I really like Lion and I'm happy I gave Apple a chance. The missing optical drive is annoying but I rip movies on the laptop now.
Indeed. It's great to see Apple finally providing the same sort of docking station capability PC laptops have enjoyed for 10+ years.
I remember a discussion a while back about the MBA not being able to drive two TB Displays. Was that ever definitively resolved ? Because it's a huge let down (and probably a dealbreaker for me) if it can't.
The graphics chipset doesn't support more than two displays and one is taking up by the internal LCD, but it'll be simple to try it once the ATD start shipping, just plugin a mDP -> HDMI and see if works
I'm willing to bet that the MacMini tier 2 is appealing to MORE than just switchers, or current/previous MacMini users ... but also to traditional iMac users.
It finally has a dedicated Video Card for real graphics duty:
This means you walk out with a lighter box to carry,
A few more accessories to go with it (I don't just mean M/K/M/LCD),
More streamlined work surface - great for graphic designers that need the best LED HDTV/LCD's to work with.
cheaper pricing, better value!!
An easier carrying in for parts service.
(I'd HATE to carry in a 27/30" iMac for parts service; YIKES).
I'm just super happy that Apple has surpassed its "Golden years" and is now reaching its platinum years with incredible hardware and a plethora of growing software - usable software - to match!
I cannot wait till the Pro portable lineup looses their optical disk drives; it may get a rename to the "MacBook Elite" (I've patented this, btw).
It finally has a dedicated Video Card for real graphics duty:
This means you walk out with a lighter box to carry,
A few more accessories to go with it (I don't just mean M/K/M/LCD),
More streamlined work surface - great for graphic designers that need the best LED HDTV/LCD's to work with.
cheaper pricing, better value!!
An easier carrying in for parts service.
(I'd HATE to carry in a 27/30" iMac for parts service; YIKES).
I'm just super happy that Apple has surpassed its "Golden years" and is now reaching its platinum years with incredible hardware and a plethora of growing software - usable software - to match!
I cannot wait till the Pro portable lineup looses their optical disk drives; it may get a rename to the "MacBook Elite" (I've patented this, btw).
Hmm. You've just provoked a thought. Future renegotiations of contractual agreements between Apple iTunes Music and the record label henchmen ... may limit our ability to record to single user own able media ...
- records ... nobody could record on them without a studio,
- Cassettes ... viva la ownership of tracks (Radio/personal recordable)
- Digital Cassettes, same as above but didn't last more than ... what 2yrs?!??
- Mini-Disc/Hi-MD ... ability to digitally record live performances or media for sale via a 3.5mm jack/Optical cable SPDIF ... even Sony finally gave up!! :O
- iTunes and internet radio & podcasts gives birth to fallible software recording capabilities.
- iPod debuts as well and no stereo, high quality live recordings can be done, you need the "hub" to do this. Zune was NOT going to offer this anyway so nobody is the blame.
- Optical disc is beginning to die out ... only Blu-Ray is worthy, and now being bundled with DVD discs, aka X-Men First Class.
See a trend happening?! Soon that BURN button in iTunes will be an iTunes Music Match icon to export to a cloud - not from your Mac, but from the source into iCloud for retrieval later. Not sure this'll work with musicians that wish to record in hi-fidelity.
What I'll miss the most with Steve Jobs' departure, beyond the great WWDC presentations, is the iTunes Music events ... personal like with John Mayer (before his head blew up
), or with Kattie Tungsten, or an incredible performance like Wynton Marsalis! I would've given YOUR SOUL to be there!! There was one more great after with Phil Schiller but that artist escapes me as he was before my time, but a classy man and style all the same. I'll truly MISS those performances. I love Marsalis' music so much but the inspiration, soul, and powerful performance that John Mayer gave with Jobs ... the audience could just TASTE it.
Sarcasm or not, I laugh at the people who argued so vehemently about Apple ditching the optical drives, going so far as to citing this as among one of the worst mistakes Apple could ever do.
Yea, right...
I for one would have never bought an Air if I couldn't still manipulate optical media, but you know what ? It's not an a choice one has to make when getting an AIR. Optical drives work like a charm with MacBook Airs contrary that what is being vehiculed here. They just happen to be USB connected instead of internal.
So really, there is no choice like the people who like to laugh like to pretend. You can have both your cake and eat it too.
I'm gonna have to defend Apple on that one and say that pretty much all ultraportables were in that price range back then, and all of them had that low performance.
Anyway, the Mac Cube never went away really. What do you guys think the Mac Mini is ?