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Saving the environment - NO new MacBook for me...

southerndoc said:
I think the palm rests are more tolerable on the Aluminum MacBook (or Uni-MacBook as you call it) than my black MacBook.

The black MacBook would often leave marks on my wrists after typing for a while. No marks from the Aluminum MacBook.
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Of course the plastic MacBooks have sharp edges. It seems the way I'm using the larger trackpad of the new MB is positioning my palm on the edge more, so it bothers me more - maybe I will get used to the new MacBook as I have to work on them more. My question is why should a design element be only "more tolerable" - the sharp(ish) edge of either MacBook is for looks at the expense of comfort/usability. I'm just not a big enough fanboy anymore (god knows I used to be) to happily accept these poor (IMHO) design elements.

I didn't start this thread to fight with people. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Yes, because I'm a musician and a Mac consultant I'm upset about Apple dropping FW - lots of people don't use the display port or Ethernet or Firewire, but I think a premium priced computer like a Mac should be full-featured. If Apple still thinks FW is worth having on a MacBook Pro (and a plastic MacBook), why is it good that they dropped it from the new MacBook? They are removing a feature and customers defend their decision? Reminds me of Apple's lemmings ad from 1985.
 
abernathymusic said:
but I think a premium priced computer like a Mac should be full-featured. If Apple still thinks FW is worth having on a MacBook Pro (and a plastic MacBook), why is it good that they dropped it from the new MacBook?
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I have a different viewpoint. I always view the Macbook as Apple's entry level laptop. Yes, the MB costs a lot more than a PC laptop with similar spec. But that's because we are paying a much bigger share to support the R&D of OS X (<20% of computer users are Mac users). So we pay more to buy OS X, not premium hardware.

As to why they think it's okay to drop the FW on the Al-MB? That's because USB won the interface war and the world is phasing out firewire. There are less and less consumer electronics that are FW only, not to mention USB 3.0 coming in the near future.
 
Why does everybody think it's there business to talk trash and persuade people to not buy something that they don't personally like??? If you don't like it then don't buy it, end of story. Go by a PC if you're so frustrated with Steve.
 
silverblack said:
Beta tapes, floppy discs, HD-DVDs, now firewire. It sucks, but life goes on.
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The thing is those things all lost to their better counterpart. With firewire, there is no reason to take it out at this current moment. It's not like they gave us USB 3
 
abernathymusic said:
Apple's decision to drop Firewire has had an interesting effect on me - to Apple's detriment. I would have rushed out and bought this machine if it had FW. Now I've lost interest in buying ANY new Mac until I'm more clear about Apple's direction. This has helped me evaluate my consumerism/consumption/finances and basically slow down my spending. That's even better for the environment than aluminum and glass!

So this weekend I was hands-on with my first Uni-MacBook, setting it up for a client (I'm a full time Mac consultant). Lack of FW aside, I still don't like this Mac. Apple has gone overboard with form over function/comfort. Worst of all, Steve finally has the razor-sharp palmrest edge he's obviously been craving - yes it is pretty, and it actually hurts to use. Instead of carving out a little finger notch why didn't they just bevel the whole front edge? And with the trackpad positioned so close to the edge you are constantly scraping across the sharp metal. The trackpad takes just enough extra pressure to make it much harder to double-click - working on this Macbook for only an hour made my wrist problems flare up (which doesn't happen on my white MacBook). Also, the screen quality/viewing angle is surprisingly poor - I would assume the display quality is no worse than my old MacBook, but for some reason (the glass or the black surround?) it is more annoying. Couldn't Apple innovate with some kind of low-glare glass - there's something to put some R&D into.

Apple really seems to be focusing on showroom sexiness over usability. What is good about a highly reflective laptop screen, a super sharp palmrest edge, and less expansion (Firewire!)? My old white MacBook feels warm and fuzzy now - I'm taking extra good care of it!
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Highly reflective my ass. This just reflects pure opinion over fact. I have a White MacBook too, and before the Aluminum MacBook, people constantly complained about it's reflections. I only noticed it with the sun directly over it. In my room or any other place, it's very negligible, unless you look from the side, but then, it provides some sort of privacy, the reflection blocking out the screen's contents.

The palmrest is no sharper than on the polycarbonate MacBooks. When I type, I don't firmly press my wrist onto the palmrest. It just rests there, letting blood circulate like it should. What's this about expansion? FireWire doesn't expand anything. It is an I/O peripheral. Nothing more. Expansion is like PCI slots or extra ram slots. Those ports "expand" the computer. FireWire does not. It transfers data. Period. Most consumers don't have a need for FireWire. I edit video and audio and do a fair share of graphic design and web design. I haven't had the need for FireWire yet, even though I have it. I had an old camcorder which had a FireWire 400 port on it, but you could use USB to connect as well.

Last bit of advice, quit looking at specs. And actually use it for more than a minute and clear your mind before you do. Don't go trying it out with your mind set to hate it. Keep an open mind.

What does complaining do? Nothing, you just waste your time. Does Jobs bother to read these noobish complaints about wants and not needs? No. If you don't like it, don't blow your ass over it and buy something else. It's not like someone forced you to buy it. It doesn't affect you in any way.
 
People always seem to have problems with palm rests on Mac notebooks. I feel like the black sheep because I never had an issue with mine. I wonder what kind of intense typing some of you do with your notebooks.
 
SnowLeopard2008 said:
Highly reflective my ass. This just reflects pure opinion over fact. I have a White MacBook too, and before the Aluminum MacBook, people constantly complained about it's reflections. I only noticed it with the sun directly over it. In my room or any other place, it's very negligible, unless you look from the side, but then, it provides some sort of privacy, the reflection blocking out the screen's contents.

The palmrest is no sharper than on the polycarbonate MacBooks. When I type, I don't firmly press my wrist onto the palmrest. It just rests there, letting blood circulate like it should. What's this about expansion? FireWire doesn't expand anything. It is an I/O peripheral. Nothing more. Expansion is like PCI slots or extra ram slots. Those ports "expand" the computer. FireWire does not. It transfers data. Period. Most consumers don't have a need for FireWire. I edit video and audio and do a fair share of graphic design and web design. I haven't had the need for FireWire yet, even though I have it. I had an old camcorder which had a FireWire 400 port on it, but you could use USB to connect as well.

Last bit of advice, quit looking at specs. And actually use it for more than a minute and clear your mind before you do. Don't go trying it out with your mind set to hate it. Keep an open mind.

What does complaining do? Nothing, you just waste your time. Does Jobs bother to read these noobish complaints about wants and not needs? No. If you don't like it, don't blow your ass over it and buy something else. It's not like someone forced you to buy it. It doesn't affect you in any way.
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Thanks for the laugh this morning. You have history of attacking anyone who is even the slightest critical of the new Macbook. Calm down. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and to like or dislike what they want. It will be alright if not everyone gets all wet looking at the new Macbook.
 
Emotions are running at a all time high. Why all the hate. It must be the economy that has people panties in a bunch, he gave his opinion, and people are ready to hang him....

I say buy whatever you feel it's best for you and if you need to rile up the troops make a thread and give your opinion.
 
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