Steve is healthy, and still cracking some jokes on stage about his health. But, he did seem to be making a transition this time around. More time was given to other major “players” at Apple. Could it be an audition? Only time will tell, but I keep getting the gut feeling that the grooming of Mr. Ive is well underway.
Anyhow, on to the “gifts”
- New Macbooks, and Mac Book Pros
- New Cinema Display (24 inch only)
There you have it!
Ok, I’ll give you a little bit more.
The new Macbook comes in at 1299 USD and features a pretty kickass new feature. The four finger salute. The track pad button has been removed, and replacing it is an expose knowing, multifunctional glass track pad that also works like a button. The entire laptop line has been reworked to look more like the “imacs”, and this concept was pushed to the monitor line as well. The Macbook pros come with a sweet video card upgrade that allows users to initiate a “turbo” mode to get more out of their professional applications and games. This feature alone has me salivating a little bit.
The rumors were true, and the design of the new models are being constructed out of a solid piece of aluminum. They’re telling us it will make the machines more rugged, and less likely to break down. Both noble endeavors if you ask me.
Finally, the monitor got the long awaited webcam that everyone and there brother has been calling for over the last three years. You can also charge your laptop via the monitor now with its built in magsafe adapter port.
This pretty much sums up the event. What was your favourite moment? Are you going to upgrade because of these changes? Sound off in the Comments.
October 16th, 2008 at 12:32 am
i've been contemplating the purchase of a notebook for a while now. with regards to the new ones:
i use the chicklet style keyboard at work and already prefer it to anything else i've ever used – but thats a personal opinion and i respect the loyalists to the scissor switch style of previous mbp keyboards (also great to type on, but a pain to keep clean).
i work in video by trade, but not as a colourist, and i have a nice matte cinema display to hook up when it counts. my roommate has a glossy imac which looks nice enough to me, so again i'd be ok with the new models – but i fully support those who find it unacceptable. apple should have found a way to keep the matte option alive for people bothered by reflections and people who prefer it for colour work.
so technically i'd be ok with the new mbp, but i am irked for 2 reasons:
1) they cut firewire from the new macbook, which feels like a measure designed solely to force people who have already invested in firewire devices to pony up for the mbp when the macbook specs would otherwise meet their needs. shitty tactics in my book. the reduction to a single fw800 port on the mpb is a little more flexible, but still falls sort of a proper pro-level solution.
2) they upped the prices as you noted and hobbled the student discount… or ahem… the “parents who happen to be teachers” discount, now that i'm graduated ;) combined with their less pro-like qualities, this is a bit of a turn off.
so in conclusion, apple of late seems to exude a “screw the long term customer in favour of making new ones” approach, which makes me wonder if they'll retain their current ubiquity amongst media professionals. and yet, i'm still chomping the bit for getting hold of one of these new systems. they really are a bit of a cult, aren't they?
October 16th, 2008 at 12:32 am
i've been contemplating the purchase of a notebook for a while now. with regards to the new ones:
i use the chicklet style keyboard at work and already prefer it to anything else i've ever used – but thats a personal opinion and i respect the loyalists to the scissor switch style of previous mbp keyboards (also great to type on, but a pain to keep clean).
i work in video by trade, but not as a colourist, and i have a nice matte cinema display to hook up when it counts. my roommate has a glossy imac which looks nice enough to me, so again i'd be ok with the new models – but i fully support those who find it unacceptable. apple should have found a way to keep the matte option alive for people bothered by reflections and people who prefer it for colour work.
so technically i'd be ok with the new mbp, but i am irked for 2 reasons:
1) they cut firewire from the new macbook, which feels like a measure designed solely to force people who have already invested in firewire devices to pony up for the mbp when the macbook specs would otherwise meet their needs. shitty tactics in my book. the reduction to a single fw800 port on the mpb is a little more flexible, but still falls sort of a proper pro-level solution.
2) they upped the prices as you noted and hobbled the student discount… or ahem… the “parents who happen to be teachers” discount, now that i'm graduated ;) combined with their less pro-like qualities, this is a bit of a turn off.
so in conclusion, apple of late seems to exude a “screw the long term customer in favour of making new ones” approach, which makes me wonder if they'll retain their current ubiquity amongst media professionals. and yet, i'm still chomping the bit for getting hold of one of these new systems. they really are a bit of a cult, aren't they?