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I had circled Tuesday on the calendar, if not literally, than figuratively, long in advance (yes, before any such date was announced). I was prepared to buy myself a MacBook. While I genuinely loathe glossy screens, I had accepted, with a heavy heart, that I'd be saddled with such a screen for the four years I'd expect to get, from the computer.

I refreshed Engadget like a man possessed throughout the announcements and my excitement grew into horror as I watched "Pro" machines receive decidedly -non- "Pro" screens. Still, with news of my future MacBook still ahead, I listened attentively.

Surely the rumors about the new case and the loss of FireWire had to have been wrong, I believed. Sadly, my confidence was crushed.

Now listen, maybe uber-new digital video cameras come with USB 2.0 ports. Maybe the average MacBook customer doesn't care about fast backups to hard drives or target disk mode.

Or maybe I'm not the average MacBook user (although I suspect I am), but if my budget limits me to a MacBook, it certainly doesn't allow me to run out and replace the FireWire video camera I bought only two years ago from an Apple store. It also doesn't allow me to replace both FireWire hard drives that I have connected to my current G5 iMac.

I'm heavily invested (by my economic standards) in FireWire. If FireWire is to be replaced in much the same way that USB replaced serial ports, then drop FireWire -WHEN- you provide it's replacement and I'll accept that, even if I'm not thrilled about it.

But to drop FireWire completely and -THEN- charge HUNDREDS of dollars more for the same processing power that a lower price would have netted me, only one day earlier, is an insult.

I don't care how proud they are of their super-over designed case. I don't care how much they tout their mouse-button-less glass track pad. I don't care if they think the "coolness" of the backlit keyboard is going to awe me into making a poor financial decision. If it's Apple's intent to provide me with dramatically poorer value than they had previously, then it's my intention not to buy their "beautiful" new machine.

In fact, my need for a portable machine -was- happily resolved today. I was able to purchase a brand new "Early 2008" Penryn entry level MacBook Pro for $100 less than the high end MacBook would have cost me. I can't believe I'm the owner of such a sweet, matte screened, FireWire-laden, highly expandable powerhouse of a machine. This is my 11th Apple Macintosh.

It's also my last until Apple gets off this outrageous glossy screen kick and starts respecting the intelligence and needs of it's customers. Say what you will about the first generation iBook days, but Apple was hungry to prove they could make a good looking computer that was powerful and they gave you more technology and capability than you'd get, anywhere else.

The MacBook is a disastrously poor value. It's a worse value than the previous generation. I only hope this doesn't portend similar decisions yet to emerge from Cupertino.
Right so go and get the last generation machine which is still being offered since it's of such great value. :rolleyes:
 
maybe if they would have chosen to make the cases the old way instead of making them from a brick the cost could and should be lower and still have out ports.

no wonder they said profit margins would be smaller. they're wasting money on this overly designed case.
Another useless post, so Apple finding ways to improve the quality of their products, after it suffering the past few years, is not good, right. :rolleyes:
 
Signed ;). Well folks I guess its time to max out the RAM and put larger 7200 RPM hard drives in your previous generation MacBooks! Keep them going as long as possible if you still need the firewire connectivity. I know my digital camcorder is firewire only.....

Yes, but the graphics capabilities are diabolical. That is precisely why I was waiting for the new Macbook. Even viewing YouTube the fan goes full blast and Safari uses 70% CPU. So they've addressed one problem (which should have been done long ago IMO) only to create another one.
 
As I have said before, the lack of FireWire from the current MB could be a future trend of Apple. That is what several of us are concerned about. Ditching FireWire is boneheaded because it would be taking a step back. FireWire is superior to USB in every way.

Not true. There are some serious security problems with firewire that dont exist in usb.
 
It is a perfectly valid argument. Because the uneducated masses only know USB and use Windows, should we also switch to Windows?
Be my guess, do what's best for you, no one is forcing you to buy anything from Apple.
 
wrong os

you folks keep mentioning the lenovos and hp's with firewire and may I plug a MATTE screen - but these are not an option (yet) because they will not run Mac OS X. We are here not only for the snappy hardware but more likely because of the operating system and software: Logic, Final Cut; Shake etc. - I just got the previous MBP (brand new apple clearance) for $1700 american - that should do until apple reconsiders. In fact maybe Steve did this new design so he could clear out old inventory.
 
Except for Appleserfs that come to whine about the complaining.
Right because maybe we don't want to keep reading from a minority bunch of whiners who won't make any difference in the long run, I know you need somewhere to let out your anger, but come on. :rolleyes:
 
Not true. There are some serious security problems with firewire that dont exist in usb.

Maybe it's due to the fact that I have only had 2 hours of sleep in the past 24 hours, but I fail to see why anyone would use FireWire as a network interface other than TDM. I don't think people are concerned about their camcorders becoming self aware and hacking into their Macs via their FireWire connection.
 
If the users switch to linux then the commercial applications will come. But why don't oracle and IBM counts as commercial applications? There are lot of them!
But sure there are not that much for the private consumer to buy most of the needed functionality is there for free. So it's only about critical mass. Not many
hardware manufactures ignore linux any more, and Im sure that the software companies wont either very soon.
No because Linux users probably don't want to be paying for software, all they care about is getting it for free. :D
 
As I have said before, the lack of FireWire from the current MB could be a future trend of Apple. That is what several of us are concerned about. Ditching FireWire is boneheaded because it would be taking a step back. FireWire is superior to USB in every way.
But you don't seem notice that the general trend is moving away from firewire, USB is the future, and the sooner people realize that, the better, firewire will be dead in a few years. Apple is recognizing that like they did with the floppy and preparing users for that.
 
So, the Air is a useless expensive toy. The Lenovo is a more expensive fully functional notebook. Actually, the Toshiba R600 is better.
Nonsense, you people come here to complain about Apple's prices but then praise others which have more expensive prices than Apple's hardware, I mean I thought Apple's computers are overpriced garbage while PC's are wonderful 500 dollar bargains. :rolleyes:
 
Be my guess, do what's best for you, no one is forcing you to buy anything from Apple.

It amazes me how often people throw out this line without considering that some of us are heavily invested in Apple software. And then there's the time investment: I personally have over 25,000 photographs organized and edited in Aperture. I can't walk away from all of that. So yes, I am forced to buy Apple hardware now.
 
Nonsense, you people come here to complain about Apple's prices but then praise others which have more expensive prices than Apple's hardware, I mean I thought Apple's computers are overpriced garbage while PC's are wonderful 500 dollar bargains. :rolleyes:

We complain about Apple hardware prices when they are overengineered or have less features at higher cost.
 
It amazes me how often people throw out this line without considering that some of us are heavily invested in Apple software. And then there's the time investment: I personally have over 25,000 photographs organized and edited in Aperture. I can't walk away from all of that. So yes, I am forced to buy Apple hardware now.
Well you should have thought about how closed Apple is before investing all that time and money in their hardware, besides there are other Apple products with firewire if you need it, including a cheaper Macbook. :eek:
 
But you don't seem notice that the general trend is moving away from firewire, USB is the future, and the sooner people realize that, the better, firewire will be dead in a few years. Apple is recognizing that like they did with the floppy and preparing users for that.
Respectfully, there is a flaw to your argument that I see. Apple ditched floppy drives because there were better alternatives. What better alternatives are there for those of us who use FireWire and depend on it?
 
We complain about Apple hardware prices when they are overengineered or have less features at higher cost.
Right a cost which more and more people are willing to pay for. These days people aren't just paying for their computers just based upon specs, Apple compters are loaded with features, you just choose to pick the ones that matter to you while ignoring everything else and labelling that they don't have any features. How many other computers out there can you run Mac OSX, Windows, and Linux on. :rolleyes:
 
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