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Apple's all-new MacBook Pro

engadget.com

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Re: Apple's all-new MacBook Pro

#51

Post by weegee »

SwellJoe wrote: post #17
weegee wrote: post #8

the Macbook keyboard takes some getting used to. it's a shame they moved away from the nicer keyboards on the old Macbook Pros. I use a bluetooth keyboard while at home with my Macbook as well as an external monitor, which makes it a lot nicer. Also leaving Firewire 400 off is interesting, as I prefer it to USB 2.0 for the higher speed. Looks like I'll not be buying another Macbook for a while.

Also leaving Firewire 400 off is interesting, as I prefer it to USB 2.0 for the higher speed. If you mean "lower" when you say "higher", then your statement is true. USB 2.0 is 480 Mbps. Firewire 400 is...100, 200, or 400 Mbps. Firewire 800, on the other hand, tops out at 800 Mbps, but uses an incompatible cable type, thus making it even less common than Firewire 400, and practically useless except for folks doing hi…

the reason USB 2.0 is more common in the marketplace is that it's cheaper than firewire. Firewire, or IEEE1394, requires a license from Apple (this could be just if the company wants to use the term "Firewire"). Each firewire device has its own controller, which relieves the CPU from having to manage transfers, thus a real-world faster transfer time. I routinely do large transfers (4gb) from CF cards and having a firewire card reader is really great. I tried a USB 2.0 reader at a friends house and it was much slower.

On-Paper standards are interesting. Real-world performance is more interesting.

Re: Apple's all-new MacBook Pro

#52

Post by weegee »

unalone wrote: post #16
weegee wrote: post #8

the Macbook keyboard takes some getting used to. it's a shame they moved away from the nicer keyboards on the old Macbook Pros. I use a bluetooth keyboard while at home with my Macbook as well as an external monitor, which makes it a lot nicer. Also leaving Firewire 400 off is interesting, as I prefer it to USB 2.0 for the higher speed. Looks like I'll not be buying another Macbook for a while.

This is more like the Air keyboard, though. And I've used that, and it's been pretty excellent.

good to know. I've yet to try that keyboard. The Air is a pretty nice looking notebook computer.

Re: Apple's all-new MacBook Pro

#54

Post by [deleted] »

weegee wrote: post #8

the Macbook keyboard takes some getting used to. it's a shame they moved away from the nicer keyboards on the old Macbook Pros. I use a bluetooth keyboard while at home with my Macbook as well as an external monitor, which makes it a lot nicer. Also leaving Firewire 400 off is interesting, as I prefer it to USB 2.0 for the higher speed. Looks like I'll not be buying another Macbook for a while.

[deleted]

Re: Apple's all-new MacBook Pro

#55

Post by herdrick »

weegee wrote: post #8

the Macbook keyboard takes some getting used to. it's a shame they moved away from the nicer keyboards on the old Macbook Pros. I use a bluetooth keyboard while at home with my Macbook as well as an external monitor, which makes it a lot nicer. Also leaving Firewire 400 off is interesting, as I prefer it to USB 2.0 for the higher speed. Looks like I'll not be buying another Macbook for a while.

They're all crap. On my MPB (mid-2008 model) there's no tactile feedback at the exact point of the key firing its signal. Sure there's a feedback point, but it's about a millimeter too high (early). You have to push a key firmly into its mushy base to get it to work. Combine that with the lack of audio feedback and you get a keyboard that I hate.

There are some laptops out there with great keyboards. They don't run OS X though: http://herdrick.posterous.com/cant-i-have-tasteful-with-a-go

Re: Apple's all-new MacBook Pro

#56

Post by jwilliams »

alaskamiller wrote: post #24
petercooper wrote: post #3

What a shame Apple's releases today have stirred up a cauldron of disappointment and inconsistency. No significant spec upgrades, prices have gone up (in the UK, at least) - we've gained slightly better video, a glass trackpad, a new case, and an SSD option. With computer prices falling (generally), it's remarkable that Apple hasn't responded to that at all. Even the old MacBook they're trying to pass off as the new…

Apple goes through transitional phases, if it could have lopped off that white macbook completely it surely would have. And as with any good Apple faithful knows, you don't buy version 1. If you really want a laptop it's best you wait until next Feb when the specs are updated again and the kinks worked out. This then brings into question what WILL get updated during MacWorld. I'm thinking SnowLeopard, Mac Pro/Mac min…

> And as with any good Apple faithful knows, you don't buy version 1.

This is really true. A style change is a big upgrade in Apple terms. The next release of this will likely pack a lot more features.

Re: Apple's all-new MacBook Pro

#57

Post by pgebhard »

mdasen wrote: post #5

I'm a tad frustrated. I love Apple and the Mac OS, but sometimes it really gets to be that the Mac space is a one supplier game. Apple has decided for me that I like glossy screens. I was pretty sure I hated them, but I guess Apple must be right. I also hate real buttons I guess. I'm looking forward to when Apple replaces my keyboard with a pretty glass piece as well. I really need a new laptop (PowerBook is ready to…

I'm there with you on the lack of a matte display. I find it hard to believe that glare is not an issue to those with glossy screens. I think people simply deal with it because of our inherent draw towards that which is shiny...

Re: Apple's all-new MacBook Pro

#58

Post by rbanffy »

jcl wrote: post #41
mechanical_fish wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe I'm the only one who feels like Apple is getting arrogant with their marketshare. Methinks you have cause and effect backwards. Apple's willingness to simplify their product line is the reason they have a growing marketshare. Apple's been making design decisions like this since Steve Jobs insisted on the one-button mouse. And left the floppy out of the original iMac. And released a notebook without a CD-ROM dri…

You can have any color so long as it's aluminum. Nice turn of phrase. The irony is that Ford made everything black because it was cheaper. Jobs is making everything aluminum because it acts as a distinguishing factor, so it lets him charge more... I imagine we're only a few years away from hardwood computers.

Well... The Apple I had a nice wooden case.

Re: Apple's all-new MacBook Pro

#59

Post by rbanffy »

speek wrote: post #10
aerocapture wrote: post #2

What I really want to do is buy one of these at about a 30% discount, sans MacOS, and run Kubuntu on it.

but but but... OS X is really great! I like the *buntus, but I think that OS X is a little more polished and solid.

It has no APT (well... it has but it's kind of a bolt-on solution). And no, ports is not an adequate substitute.

No APT is a deal-breaker for me. At least as my main work computer. But looks insanely great.

Re: Apple's all-new MacBook Pro

#60

Post by rbanffy »

jmatt wrote: post #50

For some reason it looks like an old circa 2004 dell laptop to me. It's the black keys with the silverish case. I haven't seen one in person but that is my immediate impression. I'm a proud owner of a black macbook - which I love. And I think the previous macbook pros look good. Maybe I just need to see one in person, where I can see all the "detail". That, plus the permanent glossy screen, is a deal breaker. I won't…

As someone being forced to use a Dell D630 notebook for work, I can tell you there is a world of difference between any Mac and any Dell...
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