it would be more functional if they just made it a regular DVD-ROM drive.. there would still be plenty incentive for people to step up to the Combo machine and it would be a neato 1000 portable dvd player
And they used to have a DVD-ROM option too, last revision! Only $50.
With a desktop, I'd prefer a CD-RW drive over a DVD-ROM (except that there are a lot more external CD-RW drives, so maybe I'd want a DVD-ROM built in and an external burner... what). Generally I don't watch movies on my desktop, that's what a TV is for.
On a laptop, however, I don't think there would be the need to burn CDs very often, at least on the go. It's just convenient to have it built in instead of having to buy an external one and having a power adapter, etc. But a DVD-ROM would be sweet.
On a laptop, however, I don't think there would be the need to burn CDs very often, at least on the go. It's just convenient to have it built in instead of having to buy an external one and having a power adapter, etc. But a DVD-ROM would be sweet.</strong><hr></blockquote>
True, but you could easily look at it another way. Since the floppy is dead, how do you give someone a file off your iBook short of having them have their laptop and a firewire cable.
I'll go to a meeting and have a file requested. My only response would be to send it to them via email once I get back to the office.
But there are different needs for different people. I just wish Apple would simply give us the BTO option of adding one or the other at $100 a pop. Spring another $100 and you get both at the Combo price and an extra 100mhz to boot.
It is kind of ridiculous, really. A DVD on the low end would make everyone happy, and if people want to get the CD-RW capability, then can upgrade to the Combo.
Being able to watch a DVD on my laptop is one of the main reasons I have it. A CD-ROM is pretty useless today.
As for file transfer, even though I have a combo drive iBook, I always have a FW cable with me. Makes multiple file transfers a breeze.
i think he is referring to the fact that apple wants to sell a ton of these to schools...so they have a base, basic model that runs os x ok with all the iApps, but doesn't have a burner or dvd so it isn't an issue at schools...most consumers won't get the base, basic model because they will want either a dvd or a burner or a combo drive...so base model for schools and silly parents who know their kids want an iBook, but don't know what they want on it....the step up models for the rest of us....apple gets a sub grand laptop to advertise, schools (hopefully) snatch them up, and we upgrade before buying to a more expensive model (just like at dell)....g
Yes, and schools most likely wont be buying from the consumer store. Nothing stops Apple from having different configurations in the Apple Store for Education. They've done it before with the eMac.
The argument about being designed for schools is way off base.
If schools don't want kids messing around with burning cds etc, then they don't have to upgrade to the combo option. If Apple had the option of the Combo drive, then it's not exactly like they are shoving it down our thoats right? Extra 50 bucks saved per computer too!
The new low end iBook should have a 15 inch wide screen display, 512 megs of ram, 64MB VRam, a 1.25 Ghz G4, a PC card slot, airport and bluetooth integrated (not as an option) monitor spanning, 10 hours of battery life, and a superdrive.
If apple cant do this, theyre just being a$sholes and want to keep all the money to themselves!
The new low end iBook should have a 15 inch wide screen display, 512 megs of ram, 64MB VRam, a 1.25 Ghz G4, a PC card slot, airport and bluetooth integrated (not as an option) monitor spanning, 10 hours of battery life, and a superdrive.
If apple cant do this, theyre just being a$sholes and want to keep all the money to themselves!
no, EbOy, but saying [quote] it so that they can keep a massive margin on a machine that it not worth its price tag <hr></blockquote> about a great little laptop that is under a grand, is unreasonable...just the wording is wrong...saying you want a burner or a combo as an option is cool, but saying that the iBook is not worth its price is insane....now if i was buying one (getting one in feb for my daughter), i would take a step up to the 12" 800 with combo....but some may want the cheapest system for their kid or their students or even for themselves...g
There are no BTO options on the $999 model so Apple can just make them and sell them with no custom construction overhead. The reason it's only a CD-ROM is so most customers will buy the $1299 model where there's more profit. You can construct your own external CDR FireWire Drive with an $85 external case and a $49 48x24x48x LiteOn CD-RW IDE drive. $134. No big whoop. The $1299 model is worth the extra $300.
Comments
Guess the low-end iBook is really targeted at those budget concious people who just need a laptop for typing and other simple purposes.
With a desktop, I'd prefer a CD-RW drive over a DVD-ROM (except that there are a lot more external CD-RW drives, so maybe I'd want a DVD-ROM built in and an external burner... what). Generally I don't watch movies on my desktop, that's what a TV is for.
On a laptop, however, I don't think there would be the need to burn CDs very often, at least on the go. It's just convenient to have it built in instead of having to buy an external one and having a power adapter, etc. But a DVD-ROM would be sweet.
<strong>
On a laptop, however, I don't think there would be the need to burn CDs very often, at least on the go. It's just convenient to have it built in instead of having to buy an external one and having a power adapter, etc. But a DVD-ROM would be sweet.</strong><hr></blockquote>
True, but you could easily look at it another way. Since the floppy is dead, how do you give someone a file off your iBook short of having them have their laptop and a firewire cable.
I'll go to a meeting and have a file requested. My only response would be to send it to them via email once I get back to the office.
But there are different needs for different people. I just wish Apple would simply give us the BTO option of adding one or the other at $100 a pop. Spring another $100 and you get both at the Combo price and an extra 100mhz to boot.
How logical is that?
Being able to watch a DVD on my laptop is one of the main reasons I have it. A CD-ROM is pretty useless today.
As for file transfer, even though I have a combo drive iBook, I always have a FW cable with me. Makes multiple file transfers a breeze.
<strong>Ask Apple, it's their decision. Nobody here really knows!</strong><hr></blockquote>
Oh, my mistake...I thought Jobs' was a frequent visitor of AI.
<strong>Because it's designed for Education. They don't want kids watching DVDs or pirating music during class.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I don't believe the iBook being strictly for the education market. I'd venture to guess it's a very popular consumer item.
Regardless, it still doesn't answer why Apple doesn't offer a BTO option.
<strong>Because it's designed for Education. They don't want kids watching DVDs or pirating music during class.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Who said it's specifically designed for education?
The argument about being designed for schools is way off base.
The new low end iBook should have a 15 inch wide screen display, 512 megs of ram, 64MB VRam, a 1.25 Ghz G4, a PC card slot, airport and bluetooth integrated (not as an option) monitor spanning, 10 hours of battery life, and a superdrive.
If apple cant do this, theyre just being a$sholes and want to keep all the money to themselves!
Oh yeah, and it should be 899, not 999!!!
<img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" />
<strong>massive margin.
The new low end iBook should have a 15 inch wide screen display, 512 megs of ram, 64MB VRam, a 1.25 Ghz G4, a PC card slot, airport and bluetooth integrated (not as an option) monitor spanning, 10 hours of battery life, and a superdrive.
If apple cant do this, theyre just being a$sholes and want to keep all the money to themselves!
Oh yeah, and it should be 899, not 999!!!
<img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>
Is asking for a CD-RW drive, which doesn't cost too much more, so unreasonable?