Apple MacBook laptop transition brings improvements, confuses line
11:10 am, October 14th, 2008, Craig Grannell
With Apple’s announcements still ringing in the ears of the Mac faithful, it looks like I wasn’t far off the mark a month ago when I asked “Is Apple going to ditch the ‘Pro’ from MacBook Pro and streamline its laptop range, leaving just a ’standard’ MacBook (with different screen sizes and minor tinkering possibilities under the hood), and the Air for people who happily set fire to 50-dollar bills?”
The revamped line offers a new (and much prettier) MacBook Pro, with a precision-engineered, environmentally friendly case, advanced NVIDIA graphics, and a no-button multi-touch trackpad (which, given Apple’s penchant for incrementing the number of fingers required for gestures will by the next revision also require toes).
It looks like a triumph of engineering, and although the enforced move to glossy displays irks, it’s hard to see how Apple could have improved on today’s announcements, especially when you consider the MacBook also gets to play with the new toys. In fact, bar the different screen sizes and minor tinkering possibilities under the hood (more powerful graphics for the Pro, a lack of FireWire for the MacBook), these machines are more twins than distant cousins.
The one major glitch for me is that it’s so painfully obvious that Apple’s laptop range is now in the middle of a transition. The white MacBook clings on as a much-needed (relatively) low-cost option, but sticks out like a sore thumb, screaming “I’m the cheap Mac—DON’T LOOK AT ME!” while hiding its face behind its pale hands. And in Pro land, the 17″ model looks like its smaller cousin has rapidly beaten it with an ugly stick. However, I suspect this now slightly confused line is a temporary aberration, something somewhat confirmed by Apple’s new Which MacBook are you? page that ignores the old MacBook and MacBook Pro entirely.
Posted by Craig Grannell in Hardware, Opinions | Comment on this article
I would like to see Apple add one thing to their Macbook line, longer battery life. Apple (more probably Steve) seems to like the 4.5 – 5 hour sweet spot and doesn’t seem too interested in stretching battery performance. Not that I don’t like the new Macbooks, I just wish they would provide some serious battery performance upgrades as well.
- Sean
Sean, on October 14th, 2008 at 10:52 am
I realize that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I can’t believe anyone thinks these are nicer looking than the older Macbook Pros. The ugly black keyboard and bezel clash so unpleasantly with the smooth, beautiful burnished aluminum. These look like something designed by Dell or Gateway. I’m very, very disappointed with the design direction of this new product line, and I think many others will be, as well.
Pat, on October 14th, 2008 at 11:44 am
I thought that until I used an iMac. I really like the black surround, and it’s also practical, focussing your eye on the world. Aluminium is, by comparison, distracting—at least to me.
Craig Grannell, on October 14th, 2008 at 11:57 am
I can’t say that I love the new design, not yet, but ditching the FW port on the MacBook, is just a BIG mistake to me.I mean, why we have to use the painfully slowly USB ports?
Francisco Gomez, on October 14th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Painfully slow? USB 2 is faster than FireWire 400, albeit less consistent in speed (it tends to transfer in bursts). I can see how the loss of FireWire might be a blow to people with FW camcorders or FW audio kit, but I can’t really see how anyone else will even notice.
Craig Grannell, on October 14th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
I agree with a lot of what’s been said. I think these are nice looking machines, but the older Pro is better looking, except being very dated. I also understand that this completes the entire line changeover to the glass and aluminum design, which is a nice look.
I think they should have just dropped the Pro designation, since these are pretty much the same machines with increasing options/performance, like the 15 & 17″ MBPs. It would also park the MBP designation to be used when there’s a big change – like dual processor availability (and new batteries, of course).
Two things do tick me off. One all but kills the MB – no FW (per @Francisco). That’s just stupid. Kill on USB and add the FW – even if it’s 400. I’m not paying 1300 bucks for a notebook without FW. Less aggravating is the all-glossy screens. I know it’s because it’s glass, but again, if I’m paying $2400 for an MBP, I want to be able to get a matte screen. It’s not a deal killer, and maybe not on the MacBook, but for that kind of cash, the option should be there.
I also have a prediction. Fanbois will now talk in “secret code.”. Like the old days before the Franklin Planner became ubiquitous (and then burned out), where early adopters used to “bark” by repeatedly snapping their open planners at each other. Now when you pass another MacBook owner in the halls you’ll be greeted by a recitation of their blood pressure. “115 over 85!” “120 over 75!” “135 over 80!” But they’ll be far more 110 over 70s than statistically reasonable.
imajoebob, on October 14th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
[...] Apple MacBook laptop transition brings improvements, confuses line [...]
Dave and Thomas » Drool! New Apple redefines MacBook laptop lineup, on October 14th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Just so you know, the trackpad isn’t buttonless. The trackpad itself is literally a big button. As in, if you push it, it will press down and click, and it will work as the button.
Derek, on October 14th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Craig thanks but a USB 2.0 will hit a max speed of 480Mb/s but cannot sustain it – a FW400 drive can do 400Mb/s continuously. The USB speed is dependent on the other apps running. Also you are right, as you said people with FW camcorders ( I’m not sure but I guees 99% of the consumer camcorder use FW ), so iMovie? what’s the point of the app if you can not transfer the video.
Francisco Gomez, on October 14th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
[...] iPod product lines to spotlight notebooks at an event this morning, and they weren’t kidding. New MacBook, new Air, new Pro, and a new matching Cinema Display for good measure. The design team absolutely hit it out of the [...]
Cult of Mac » Blog Archive » Incredible New MacBook Family Shows Apple Does Still Care About Macs, on October 14th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
So, if I were to get a macbook, I wouldn’t be able to use my camcorder? Is there some sort of Usb to Firewire connection?
William, on October 15th, 2008 at 5:43 am
I have increasingly found myself relying on Apple software and losing my lust for the apple hardware. I no longer use my 12″ Powerbook G4, but wish one was still in the line. It was for me the height of perfection in Apple hardware. Unfortunately what I’m really waiting for now is a small notebook that upgrades to 8GB ram (for IBM WebSphere RAD in vmware) and a friggin’ matte display. 8GB will happen someday, but I’m increasingly concerned that the switch to LED just killed the matte display for good. Too bad, I may be limping along on a 15″ MacBook Pro for the rest of my days.
razmaspaz, on October 18th, 2008 at 6:14 am
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