Hands-On With the New MacBooks 128
Paige Philuer writes "Macworld has a hands-on article examining the new MacBook and MacBook Pro — not a quickie look from Tuesday's event, but a lengthy, in-depth look with laptops they actually have in their offices. Some interesting observations: No FireWire on the MacBook; the TrackPad doesn't feel like you're running your finger across a pane of glass, though that's what it is; and switching between graphics cards in the MacBook Pro requires you to log out."
Reader Bourbon contributes three links at CNET related to the new models, too: a positive written review (giving a score of 8/10 to the new MacBook), a video review, and a behind-the-scenes look at how the new models are machined.
NO!!!! Don't! (Score:0, Insightful)
Keep your hands off! They'll get all smudgy. MacBooks are for looking at, not using.
Apple is "cool" (Score:0, Insightful)
Although I really like Apple and the proprietary software, I think that we have to accept the crushing truth.
In these times it really doesn't matter if is launched the iPod nanomillimeter or Mac OS Iguana, because while both products (and others with less weight like Mac G4 Cube) were trying to impress with "cool" stuff, Apple was consolidating its position as the leader in the field of systems with DRM and privation of liberty, first with the iTunes (that have approximately 90% of the market on the US) and later with its advanced successor, the recently iPhone, that doesn't let the client to install applications written in Java, using Cingular network problems as a excuse.
The reality is that Apple has little to offer to the intelligent user. The same intelligent that is seen disconcerted by the impossibility to do a simple mp3 transfer from the iTunes to music player different to the iPhone. If you don't believe me, go out and ask to the people how they transfer a mp3 file to a player no supported by Apple: burning the file on to a CD, and then ripping this file to a free format, like OGG. THAT IS A SMART THING TO DO!
Then what we suggest to this user is that he needs to buy the last iPod version (spending a fortune) , which he will change every year to be cool (because of Steve Jobs recommendation), which he can't use with a free firmware, like RockBox, because of DRM.
How many people get to do it? Only Derek Zoolander is so faithful to the brand. We persist in THAT is the normal thing... nothing more far from reality.
Explain him why his black color MacBook is 200 bucks more expensive than the same white laptop, why he gets Windows support (thanks to Bootcamp) but he can't use Linux, why Mac OS X is still stealing from 6 years ago using Exposé like a killer feature, why he needs to pay 130 bucks for each segurity patch (although they call it "new version", it is just a patch), etc.
And the developers? Obviously they'll return to Linus, because no one will tolerate the pain of develop in a platform that threat us with stupid patents like the "spring folders", that were deleted from GNOME. By each Mac OS X application we have 5000 that run on Linux, becuase they are free as a in speech.
The proof of the Apple failure is seen also in the Windows world, either in areas like P2P and cracking (because there is not applications), computer sells (1500 bucks for a computer that doesn't run games? fuck you Apple), etc.
if Mac OS X is so cool, why it doesn't work on computers different from a shitty Mac? It cannot be that if I want to run Mac OS X in a PC I have to download from the eMule a patched version made by a juacker with a nick like moo, cow, or whatever. Who will install that with entirely confidence? And, furthermore, once it get installed, the 50% of the hardware doesn't work (unless the hardware are things with "cool" neon lights approved by Apple).
The battle for the most stupid user is lost for Linux, because Apple users are to far away in that race, even it seems like they train for that matter.
They make fun of Linux users because we go to listen to Stallman, but they go to a Keynote to listen to Steve Jobs, who sell them products, and they fight between each other just for a three button mouse (a funny thing, due to the fact that they got a shitty experience because of the one button mouse that they bought from Apple itself).
You keep defending the apple. You keep defending Safari as something unique while you read the impressed newspaper because you can't even read the BBC. You keep thinking that the people look at you with envy because of the iPods but the reality is that they think that you are just stupids. You keep insulting Windows and then you go as fast as you can to buy Bootcamp plus a Windows license. You keep insulting Intel and praising IBM to find out later that there is a new "cool" Mac. You keep attacking the free software while Apple search on Google where to get free software under permissive licenses. Keep just like that.
And You? What have you bought on Itunes today?
Thanks for you attention.
Graphics switching disappointing beside Lenovo (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Brightness (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Who cares about the hard drive (Score:5, Insightful)
One doesn't only replace the hard drive due to failure. The last time I replaced my laptop hard drive was when I discovered I needed more room and didn't want to carry around another drive. I'm guessing most people upgrade their laptop drives for this reason.