[Tau_Myx]

I'm surprised there is no Core Solo on the low end. Apple seems to be raising the bar to entry again, as the cheapest macs are getting more expensive.

In reply to:

---

This leaves the Power Mac G5 as the only remaining PowerPC machine.

---

It's also ironic that the FASTEST mac is the last one to make the transition. A single Core chip seems to be slower then a single G5, so the Quad G5 is still the fastest mac you can buy. You'd have to have at least three Core Duo chips, (6 CPUs) to match it. Is anyone on the windows side putting multiple Core Duos in a single box? Or do we have to wait for new designs from Intel?

[JeffM]

In reply to:

---

Furthermore, the 80 GB drive is a $50 option for the white top end MacBook. That's a whopping $150 for coloring only. Boo.

---

Well, Colorware used to charge $399 to paint the shell of an iBook, so at least it's cheaper than it used to be...
...that is if you were planning on buying the high end model to begin with. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
JeffM

[NoSalt]

In reply to:

---

Buy or do not buy, but please quit the whining. There is more important stuff going on in the World than whether the low end MacBook comes in black.

---

Yes ... there are more important topics in the world than a black or white iBook. However, in this "Macintosh" forum there is not. I feel fully justified in voicing my opinion of Apple playing the "Super Size" game with us. If I were in a CNN forum or a PBS/NPR forum I would feel pretty silly whining about a computer color with all that is going on in the world, but as this is a "luxury" forum I think you should cut me some slack.
/forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif

[Gossamer_MW]

We're not discussing the world, we're discussing the Macworld you idiot! And it is ridiculous for Apple to charge 200 bucks more for 20 gigs and the black finish.

[macreader]

I may order this today. I can get a new Macbook 2 Ghz, a 20" display (for extended desktop) and three years of AppleCare for under 3 Grand. Unbelievable. I'll get my RAM elsewhere.
For me, the extended desktop via mini-DVI makes this almost as good as a Macbook Pro. I don't need super graphics speed and I'll increase the RAM to the limit on my own.
It's the best bargain of all times. The black finish for 150 makes me laugh. To me, black is IBM and Dell (OK, I know the Apple looks a lot cooler), but it's an astounding Steve ripoff. Look for the price differential to disappear within 6 months.
But back to the bargain, who needs a Macbook Pro? What is the big draw, now that the Macbook comes with so many high-end features?

[spiderbat]

Let alone the fact that the G5 is a 64 bit processor and the Core duo, AFAIK, is not. This may be not of concern in most cases, but a true 64 bit architecture can be a decisive advantage is some areas, as heavvy-duty scientific computing. I expect/hope that the successors of the PowerMac and the Xserve will sport 64 bit chips.

[icerabbit]

Glossy screen?! /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif
I hate this fashion of whatever?Brite screens that have glare like a lacquered piano in PC land. Now it's coming to Apple portables? Which screens are next in this trend?
I most certainly agree with other people that do not like these panels with a gloss screen over them. Highly distracting and straining for they eyes. It was a disadvantage with CRTs and tube television sets.

[icerabbit]

PS: And no surprise, the dial-up modem was dropped too. Everybody has broadband at home, in the hotel and so does every family member you visit, right?
So, buy the $50 dongle, another item to keep track of the already overloaded bag. If I'm not mistaken the dongle doesn't work for faxing.
Dropping the phone jack is still a premature move from Apple.

[entspeak]

In reply to:

---

But back to the bargain, who needs a Macbook Pro? What is the big draw, now that the Macbook comes with so many high-end features?

---

For your basic consumer and this was also true of the iBook, the MacBook will suffice. If, however, you want to play graphics intensive games or do high end graphics or video, the MacBook Pro would be better. The upside is that for sound engineers, the MacBook might also suffice.
I don't know yet how I feel about the black. It does remind me of a PC. While a black nano or iPod still looks very much like an Apple product, the same can't be said of a black notebook. I'd probably stick with the white. Next year, I'll buy one of these to replace my iBook.

[leicaman]

Waah, waah, waah.
It doesn't come in Dalmation, or Flower Power!
Wahh, waah, waah.
It doesn't shine my shoes, and it doesn't come exactly as ThinkSecrect said it did.
How can Apple betray us so!
I'm gonna buy a Dell and run Windows ME! And eat some worms... /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[drdreric]

I will have to go to the store and check these out, but it is definitely deeper than my 12" Al PB. Size is everything for me and I have been figuring a 13.3" widescreen would not be quite as tall as the 12" screen. Perhaps the depth is a function of the iBook style case and wider screen frame to accomodate the iSight. In any event, the 15 and 17 MBP's are too tall not to get clobbered when the person in front of you in a plane leans their seat back. Even the 12" PB is a tad tall sometimes given the airlines' seat spacing. I hope there is a true sub-notebook coming again someday - this MacBook won't replace my 12" PB anytime soon. Eventually, maybe, but not soon.
As to "glossy" I will go look, but I share the initial fears of earlier posters.

[kms007]

Well, for what I plan on using a laptop for (e-mail, web, occassional casual gaming), I think $1099 is a good price. I'll have to see the 'glossy' screen first hand before I cast my opinion on it. I'll wait a few weeks as the reports and debates rage on before buying one.
-Krishna

[OM_user]

Gotta agree with everyone here. Why in the heck is the black casing a $150 premium Apple???? What do you think we're stupid or something?
IF the top end came with 1 GB RAM, the extra 20GB drive space and the black case, then I might consider it, but at the current prices, the black top end one is not even in the running for me. It's just a measly 20 GB larger drive and black. Whatever. I hope they come to their senses and drop the differential down to $100 between middle and high end.
Also not thrilled about integrated graphics chip, but that seems to be the way things are going now that Apple's moved to Intel. I can see one would need to beef up the RAM to not run into graphics bottlenecks with this.

[icerabbit]

Two small practical details:
No USB port on the right side. As I'm not too good with trackpads, I plug a travel mouse in the right ...
Front loading orientation of the optical drive would've been more practical for cramped spaces.