[svt]

Alright, so I guess I am one of the first people to order a new one.
I just had the 1.83 GHz MacBook ordered (I think I will just have to call it "Apple Laptop" for a while - maybe I will get used to the name some day.) I went all out and got 2 GB of RAM, and the 100 Gigs hard drive with 7200 RPM. Anyway... As one of the first guinea pigs, I will keep you posted on how it fares.
I was surprised by three things:
1- No firewire 800
2- 4X DVD burning capability
3- I may be blind, but i did not notice anywhere posted how much the battery would last in the new notebook.
I wonder why these two changes from the powerbook line
I also noticed no S-video out, which I guess is not needed any longer.
SVT

[feefer]

Not sure how revolutionary that magnetically-coupled power cord is: my cheapie Lexmark printer from a few year ago uses a similar attachment, where the power adapter slides into the unit.
So how about calling the new laptop "The InBook", in reference to the Intel processor inside? I doubt Jobs would ever let THAT happen!! /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Anyway, I was jazzed about the the new MacBook Pro until I realized they scuttled the PCMCIA (PC) card slot! I use Verizons high-speed EVDO network with a Kyocera card in the PCMCIA slot, and I won't be losing that anytime soon, since I'm locked into another year on the contract! I also have a cheap PCMCIA to FW 400 adapter that offers FW400, if needed.
Guess we'll see if their PCIxpress connection (or whatever it's called) doesn't become as proprietary and failed as FW800 seems destined to become. A pisser, too, as I have a great FW800 audio interface (RME Fireface) and TWO external drives that take advantage of FW800. FW800 hasn't even reached it's potential, IMO.
And performance-wise, USB2 and FW400 are pretty much compariable, so Apple scuttled the most cutting-edge connection transfer available today in favor of (2) popular but slower protocols? If they asked me (and why didn't they? /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif ), I'd have preferred dropping the FW400, but keeping FW800 and USB2 ports.
Anyway, here's hoping the 17" version offers FW800 and drops FW400, and keeps USB2, as FW400 isn't befitting of the "Pro" name in the year 2006....
Chris

[viper11885]

crosses fingers
Hopefully it won't be too long for the other sizes to come out /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[macnuke]

yes .. lame.
but then again, i started with a Blackbird.
and it was just a 'book
and when I get one of these gems, it will still be a 'book.
no "i", no "power"
just a book.
fortunately from what i have seen, there is no stickers for intel.
and no MacBook on it.
just the usual Apple logo.
and that's a good thing. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[maya1000]

"MS Office binaries will be my tipping point since I'd already decided to go with the 15" PowerBook. Oh am I lucky that I haven't had enough money to buy the PB before now!"
Is a "binary" a program that will run on Windows and PCs? I don't quite understand how the whole thing's going to work. Will we be able to run Windows and OS X, and switch into Windows if we want to use our Windows software? Will we need new Mac stuff for the new laptops? Will it keep the cool Powerbook case?
All I know is this: it's faster, it has iSight built in. I'm there!

[pdrayton]

In reply to:

---

Oh, and right on about TiBook only being used in forums. Consumers not in know don't use those terms.

---

Yeah, I realize that. But as Argent said,
"nicknames like "TiBook" and "AluBook" are the only way of distinguishing between laptop models when discussing them online.",
and my point was that consumers will need to know there's a big difference between current PowerBooks and the ones coming out with faster Intel processors. Changing the name to MacBook Pro lets consumers know there's something very different and new about it.
It's not the greatest of names... but it'll do the job. I would guess that the name change has much more to do about how to get MacBook Pros sold to current Windows users and have little to do with current Mac owners. That's fine with me.

[maya1000]

So is it basically like the powerbook, but better? Or is there a catch I'm missing?
EDIT: Wait... if it's being targeted towards Windows users, does that make it a "tainted" mac? Sort of like it's not as "maccy" as a Powerbook because it doesn't have the same Macintosh components? lol... Because I did notice that the Powerbooks are still the same price.

[maflynn]

And so it begins,
Mac Lust Disorder or MLD
first symptom,
Drooling over the newly announced hardware
Followed by "dream configurations" and what if questions. Typically occurs with excessive posting about how they would use or configure the mac.
If left unchecked could result in the justification phase where the inflicted convinces himself (or herself) that they need the new equipment.
Full blown infection, occurs moments after entering your credit card number at store.apple.com.
recession stage occurs once the computer is a few months old. Not, the disorder can reappear at the onset of any macworld show
/forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[peterweisz]

Okay. Let's see if I've got this straight.
Back in the day of PowerPC processors...
If it's a consumer model, the name used to start with a lower case i (iMac, iBook).
If it's a pro model, the name used to start with Power (PowerBook, PowerMac)
If it's a laptop the name used to end in Book (PowerBook, iBook)
If it's a desktop the name used to end in Mac (iMac, PowerMac)
Logical and clear.
Now in the day Age of Intel...
If it's a consumer desktop, it's called an iMac.
If it's a consumer laptop, it's called an iBook.
If it's a pro laptop it's called a MacBook...?....so, therefore
If it's a pro desktop, it's got to be called a MacMac!
You can't argue with cold logic like that. Right?

[Praxis]

I wonder if the iBook will be called MacBook, since the PowerBook is now MacBook Pro?

[d0csp33d]

Few things:
I am very happy with my current 2 month old 17" PowerBook
I will wait for more reviews (battery life, performance)
I will wait for Intel's 17" Macbook Pro
Anyway it looks very nice and the name really doesn't hurt. I can live with it. Yeah, its name is kind of weird. I hope more people switch from PCs.

[peterweisz]

So if I understand your logic, the desktop pro model will be called iMac Pro?
iMac -- iMac Pro
MacBook -- MacBook Pro
Hmm...you might have something there.

[karotto1]

Has anyone noticed that the superdrive has been downgraded to 4X and no dual layer support? THis is bizarre. Maybe a typo. Also, firewire 800 gone. I think I'll cancel my order.

[MacCheetah3]

Hi
The name is very :: hangs tongue out ::
I would certainly choose these over a PowerBook G4, even though the 17" screen is very tempting, but the lack of native software outside of Apple's consumer stuff is something I'll need to watch.