My reality check is the number of glowing apple's I see at conferences (even the windows developer conference;-), in coffee shops and in airports worldwide. My "real world" count says MacBooks are very common, easily the -most- common brand laptop I see.
Your and my real world aren't full sales numbers, let's not be myopic. Also, do you really think those people in the coffee shops care about hackintoshes, and how mad will they be when updates break everything? NOT going to happen.
I'm hoping they'll come to their senses in generation 2, as they did with Air, and add a second port. Then it's great. Otherwise, put that screen in the 11" Air and I'd buy that over the MacBook any day.
Specs are important, it is just that you have to focus on the right specs. This is perhaps Apples greatest failing with the Mac Book, they don't seem to realize that ports (a spec) are important to many. So are things like processor performance which in this case is totally unknown.
Specs are referential. You have the best individual specs in the world but if they don't work well together, the device will fail.
That is certainly true but the problem I see here is that they did not think about the reality of the single port completely. At the very least they could have broken out the USB and video ports at the charger (I don't see any sign of this being done). That would have solved so many problems with the design that I don't think we would have seen such a strong negative reaction to the machine.
I guess it depends upon the students and the college. If we are talking a liberal arts institution that may be the case, at an engineering school you will see a completely different use case.
I think it's pretty arrogant of you to say Apple didn't think of more ports. It made a design choice. On my work laptop, the only thing I plug in when at home is a mouse and power cable. That can be solved with a Bluetooth mouse. So if people only work like that, this thing is great for them. If you need more ports, get the other models.
I find it funny how these companies have a combined worldwide PC marketshare (excluding tablets) about 6x Apple's yet still see Apple as the company most worthy of their attention. What are they afraid of? Apple has that mindshare nailed down.
Asus has joked around with Apple a few times. They're the ones that made the padfone. They tend to mimic Apple, just look at their website:
Their laptop design has clearly take a lot of design cues from Apple's laptops. At least consumers are getting better quality hardware as a result. The following looks like a good enough laptop:
Retina IPS display (plastic anti-glare though), free Intel Inside stickers that they don't show in marketing images, large multi-touch trackpad, 8GB RAM, 256GB PCIe SSD, aluminium shell. If it hadn't been for Apple pushing in that direction, those laptops wouldn't be anything like that.
The price difference mostly comes from profit margin. Apple can sustain 25% net margins, Asus is down around 5%. If you switch a $1299 price from 25% net to 5%, the retail price would be closer to a $999 price point, which is more competitive with Asus at around $800. But why lose money for the sake of marketshare?
This is the problem with Asus, Dell, Lenovo - they claim superiority by sustaining a lower price, anybody can do that. The real achievement is sustaining a higher price. If their aim is to gain marketshare, they should really be attacking each other because they're the ones that have it.
I guess it depends upon the students and the college. If we are talking a liberal arts institution that may be the case, at an engineering school you will see a completely different use case.
And a completely different computer. This isn't rocket science, man.
I'm hoping they'll come to their senses in generation 2, as they did with Air, and add a second port. Then it's great. Otherwise, put that screen in the 11" Air and I'd buy that over the MacBook any day.
I'm hoping they'll come to their senses in generation 2, as they did with Air, and add a second port. Then it's great. Otherwise, put that screen in the 11" Air and I'd buy that over the MacBook any day.
Why would they? Most do not need more ports. Especially if you are looking for premium mobility. Get a MacBookPro if you need more ports. I love my 15" Retina...it is plenty portable and battery is OK.
But Yosemite craps and wipes it's ass over Windows!
Yes, other than the wifi problem which Apple hasn't fixed yet. The discussion forum at Apple has almost 1 million views and counting. I wish Apple is not waiting for a law suit to make it a more urgent issue.
Bottom line is this ... it isn't the only laptop they offer.
I for one LOVE it for a certain kind of use -- one cord to hook it into a fully functional dock with all of my stuff connected at work, and a different dock for home. It's perfect and a long time coming -- I'm a former Duo user and I kept mine alive until it was beyond life support.
However, if you do a lot of "pro" activities in the field, then this is absolutely NOT the laptop for you. Thank goodness, Apple still offers a wide selection of laptops for everyone else's needs.
No, it is not. However, it is obviously the direction they are going in the big picture. Eventually they all will be like this and we will adapt (no pun intended) by buying new cables and new adapters and new peripherals.
No, it is not. However, it is obviously the direction they are going in the big picture. Eventually they all will be like this and we will adapt (no pun intended) by buying new cables and new adapters and new peripherals.
I'm now thinking the big wait for the "retina" cinema display is to have just one cord - a USB-C - to transfer data, power, and display to the laptop, like they wanted to be able to do with the old ACD.
Later this year or next year all the macs will have USB-C and then they can make this happen. And there's your extra ports.
It's always amazing that whenever Apple comes out with a new forward looking product so many people are obsessed with hanging on to the past. There's a very good reason why Apple doesn't just ask people what they want and then build it. Very few people are able to project into the future and define what needs to be built to satisfy future needs, something that Apple has proven to be very adept at. Why the sudden shadow of doubt when they've proven time and time again that they know exactly what they're doing?
It's always amazing that whenever Apple comes out with a new forward looking product so many people are obsessed with hanging on to the past... Why the sudden shadow of doubt when they've proven time and time again that they know exactly what they're doing?
So Right On, DewMe!! +1.
Having said that, I'm one of those that has been "upset" about the One-Port-Problem all week. I'm hoping that "splitter" adapters come out soon (couldn't find any in my search). Power+1 is all I'm asking. There are times that I want to charge plus have a hard wired ethernet plugged in -- or power+mouse, etc. Overall, I take your last line to heart -- don't doubt that Apple is doing the right thing by forcing USB-C. Hell, I was upset by "No serial ports - Only USB!"
It's always amazing that whenever Apple comes out with a new forward looking product so many people are obsessed with hanging on to the past. There's a very good reason why Apple doesn't just ask people what they want and then build it. Very few people are able to project into the future and define what needs to be built to satisfy future needs, something that Apple has proven to be very adept at. Why the sudden shadow of doubt when they've proven time and time again that they know exactly what they're doing?
because in the past STEVE JOBS, a visionary, brought us in directions we didn't know we needed.
we have yet to see if this "new vision" of the company is actually a history proven direction. So far their decisions have been painfully wrong for my needs including sacking the 17" macbook (which I needed for graphics), forcing me to switch to a 15" macbook which optimal retina resolution is 1440x900 (again PAINFULLY wrong for graphics).
And now they're making a statement that "ports" and "sd card slots" aren't important.
F--k you apple. if you take ports away from the pro line, this guy will begrudgingly move over to windows because apple has started the move towards believing iPone and iPad users determines the most appropriate configurations for all markets, and I can't use a laptop without ports.
Part of forward thinking is knowing what's important. So far I'm not sure Apple has that foresight anymore.
And don't get me started on Apple's "forward thinking" on making iPad models obsolete. Want to know why iPad sales are dropping off? it's because people are telling their friends about how fast iPads become unsupported by apple, and people are hesitant to spend $600 on a product that is unsupported after 2 years.
My reality check is the number of glowing apple's I see at conferences (even the windows developer conference;-), in coffee shops and in airports worldwide. My "real world" count says MacBooks are very common, easily the -most- common brand laptop I see.
Your and my real world aren't full sales numbers, let's not be myopic. Also, do you really think those people in the coffee shops care about hackintoshes, and how mad will they be when updates break everything? NOT going to happen.
Wow, your use of myopic was true irony.
Yes just because nearly half of the laptops we see in the real world are MacBooks lets not be myopic, let's use some projected sales numbers from known film flam artists with a sorted and spotty track record of misrepresentation.
However, it is true that almost -no one- is interested in "hackintoshes" no matter whether they frequent coffee shops
because in the past STEVE JOBS, a visionary, brought us in directions we didn't know we needed.
we have yet to see if this "new vision" of the company is actually a history proven direction. So far their decisions have been painfully wrong for my needs including sacking the 17" macbook (which I needed for graphics), forcing me to switch to a 15" macbook which optimal retina resolution is 1440x900 (again PAINFULLY wrong for graphics).
And now they're making a statement that "ports" and "sd card slots" aren't important.
F--k you apple. if you take ports away from the pro line, this guy will begrudgingly move over to windows because apple has started the move towards believing iPone and iPad users determines the most appropriate configurations for all markets, and I can't use a laptop without ports.
Part of forward thinking is knowing what's important. So far I'm not sure Apple has that foresight anymore.
And don't get me started on Apple's "forward thinking" on making iPad models obsolete. Want to know why iPad sales are dropping off? it's because people are telling their friends about how fast iPads become unsupported by apple, and people are hesitant to spend $600 on a product that is unsupported after 2 years.
What amazes me is the total reversal of the depiction of Steve Jobs (by people who seem to have a curious and unnatural aversion to Apple) When he was running the company they described him as a flim-flam artist, a marketeer who led a group of blindly devoted zelots using his "reality distortion field" and that Apple was doomed once those people wake up and realize that.
Now that he is gone, the same group now claim he was a -one in a billion- inventor and visionary, and without him Apple is doomed!!! ;-)
Doesn't matter that the guy running the day to day operations at Apple has been doing so for 15 years (and has been CEO for 5 years) and that the guy who has been designing the products is still designing all the products (for the last 20, or so, years). Or that thy have become the largest company in the world
It's odd to see Asus trading blows like this... especially when the bulk of their laptop sales are garbage like this:
Bluetooth as a “special feature” when Apple has had Bluetooth standard on all of its products since 2008 and all of its products except the Mac Pro since 2005. " src="http://forums-files.appleinsider.com/images/smilies//lol.gif" />
Comments
Not sure about that one...
My reality check is the number of glowing apple's I see at conferences (even the windows developer conference;-), in coffee shops and in airports worldwide. My "real world" count says MacBooks are very common, easily the -most- common brand laptop I see.
Your and my real world aren't full sales numbers, let's not be myopic. Also, do you really think those people in the coffee shops care about hackintoshes, and how mad will they be when updates break everything? NOT going to happen.Specs are referential. You have the best individual specs in the world but if they don't work well together, the device will fail.
I think it's pretty arrogant of you to say Apple didn't think of more ports. It made a design choice. On my work laptop, the only thing I plug in when at home is a mouse and power cable. That can be solved with a Bluetooth mouse. So if people only work like that, this thing is great for them. If you need more ports, get the other models.
Asus has joked around with Apple a few times. They're the ones that made the padfone. They tend to mimic Apple, just look at their website:
http://www.asus.com/Notebooks_Ultrabooks/ASUS_ZENBOOK_UX305/
https://www.apple.com/macbook/
Their laptop design has clearly take a lot of design cues from Apple's laptops. At least consumers are getting better quality hardware as a result. The following looks like a good enough laptop:
http://www.amazon.com/Zenbook-UX305FA-ASM1-13-3-Inch-Ultra-Slim-Aluminum/dp/B00SGS7ZH4
Retina IPS display (plastic anti-glare though), free Intel Inside stickers that they don't show in marketing images, large multi-touch trackpad, 8GB RAM, 256GB PCIe SSD, aluminium shell. If it hadn't been for Apple pushing in that direction, those laptops wouldn't be anything like that.
The price difference mostly comes from profit margin. Apple can sustain 25% net margins, Asus is down around 5%. If you switch a $1299 price from 25% net to 5%, the retail price would be closer to a $999 price point, which is more competitive with Asus at around $800. But why lose money for the sake of marketshare?
This is the problem with Asus, Dell, Lenovo - they claim superiority by sustaining a lower price, anybody can do that. The real achievement is sustaining a higher price. If their aim is to gain marketshare, they should really be attacking each other because they're the ones that have it.
I guess it depends upon the students and the college. If we are talking a liberal arts institution that may be the case, at an engineering school you will see a completely different use case.
And a completely different computer. This isn't rocket science, man.
I'm hoping they'll come to their senses in generation 2, as they did with Air, and add a second port. Then it's great. Otherwise, put that screen in the 11" Air and I'd buy that over the MacBook any day.
Were I to need more ports I'd get a hub:
http://store.apple.com/us/product/HD988ZM/A/belkin-4-port-usb-30-desktop-hub?fnode=51
I'm hoping they'll come to their senses in generation 2, as they did with Air, and add a second port. Then it's great. Otherwise, put that screen in the 11" Air and I'd buy that over the MacBook any day.
Why would they? Most do not need more ports. Especially if you are looking for premium mobility. Get a MacBookPro if you need more ports. I love my 15" Retina...it is plenty portable and battery is OK.
But Yosemite craps and wipes it's ass over Windows!
Yes, other than the wifi problem which Apple hasn't fixed yet. The discussion forum at Apple has almost 1 million views and counting. I wish Apple is not waiting for a law suit to make it a more urgent issue.
Bottom line is this ... it isn't the only laptop they offer.
I for one LOVE it for a certain kind of use -- one cord to hook it into a fully functional dock with all of my stuff connected at work, and a different dock for home. It's perfect and a long time coming -- I'm a former Duo user and I kept mine alive until it was beyond life support.
However, if you do a lot of "pro" activities in the field, then this is absolutely NOT the laptop for you. Thank goodness, Apple still offers a wide selection of laptops for everyone else's needs.
No, it is not. However, it is obviously the direction they are going in the big picture. Eventually they all will be like this and we will adapt (no pun intended) by buying new cables and new adapters and new peripherals.
No, it is not. However, it is obviously the direction they are going in the big picture. Eventually they all will be like this and we will adapt (no pun intended) by buying new cables and new adapters and new peripherals.
I'm now thinking the big wait for the "retina" cinema display is to have just one cord - a USB-C - to transfer data, power, and display to the laptop, like they wanted to be able to do with the old ACD.
Later this year or next year all the macs will have USB-C and then they can make this happen. And there's your extra ports.
It's always amazing that whenever Apple comes out with a new forward looking product so many people are obsessed with hanging on to the past... Why the sudden shadow of doubt when they've proven time and time again that they know exactly what they're doing?
So Right On, DewMe!! +1.
Having said that, I'm one of those that has been "upset" about the One-Port-Problem all week. I'm hoping that "splitter" adapters come out soon (couldn't find any in my search). Power+1 is all I'm asking. There are times that I want to charge plus have a hard wired ethernet plugged in -- or power+mouse, etc. Overall, I take your last line to heart -- don't doubt that Apple is doing the right thing by forcing USB-C. Hell, I was upset by "No serial ports - Only USB!"
2 usb ports
an SD port
hdmi port
a seriously processor like the i5 or i7?
and more?
apple hasn't given us a new notebook. they've given us a new iPad in a folding case with a keyboard.
I can't believe they're calling this a macbook and not an "air light"
It's always amazing that whenever Apple comes out with a new forward looking product so many people are obsessed with hanging on to the past. There's a very good reason why Apple doesn't just ask people what they want and then build it. Very few people are able to project into the future and define what needs to be built to satisfy future needs, something that Apple has proven to be very adept at. Why the sudden shadow of doubt when they've proven time and time again that they know exactly what they're doing?
because in the past STEVE JOBS, a visionary, brought us in directions we didn't know we needed.
we have yet to see if this "new vision" of the company is actually a history proven direction. So far their decisions have been painfully wrong for my needs including sacking the 17" macbook (which I needed for graphics), forcing me to switch to a 15" macbook which optimal retina resolution is 1440x900 (again PAINFULLY wrong for graphics).
And now they're making a statement that "ports" and "sd card slots" aren't important.
F--k you apple. if you take ports away from the pro line, this guy will begrudgingly move over to windows because apple has started the move towards believing iPone and iPad users determines the most appropriate configurations for all markets, and I can't use a laptop without ports.
Part of forward thinking is knowing what's important. So far I'm not sure Apple has that foresight anymore.
And don't get me started on Apple's "forward thinking" on making iPad models obsolete. Want to know why iPad sales are dropping off? it's because people are telling their friends about how fast iPads become unsupported by apple, and people are hesitant to spend $600 on a product that is unsupported after 2 years.
Not sure about that one...
My reality check is the number of glowing apple's I see at conferences (even the windows developer conference;-), in coffee shops and in airports worldwide. My "real world" count says MacBooks are very common, easily the -most- common brand laptop I see.
Your and my real world aren't full sales numbers, let's not be myopic. Also, do you really think those people in the coffee shops care about hackintoshes, and how mad will they be when updates break everything? NOT going to happen.
Wow, your use of myopic was true irony.
Yes just because nearly half of the laptops we see in the real world are MacBooks lets not be myopic, let's use some projected sales numbers from known film flam artists with a sorted and spotty track record of misrepresentation.
However, it is true that almost -no one- is interested in "hackintoshes" no matter whether they frequent coffee shops
or attend the windows 10 press event
windows_10_event_macbooks.jpeg
Or go to college
look-at-them-apples-1024x486.jpg
They want real Macs, not some hacked imatation.
Open your eyes my friend.
because in the past STEVE JOBS, a visionary, brought us in directions we didn't know we needed.
we have yet to see if this "new vision" of the company is actually a history proven direction. So far their decisions have been painfully wrong for my needs including sacking the 17" macbook (which I needed for graphics), forcing me to switch to a 15" macbook which optimal retina resolution is 1440x900 (again PAINFULLY wrong for graphics).
And now they're making a statement that "ports" and "sd card slots" aren't important.
F--k you apple. if you take ports away from the pro line, this guy will begrudgingly move over to windows because apple has started the move towards believing iPone and iPad users determines the most appropriate configurations for all markets, and I can't use a laptop without ports.
Part of forward thinking is knowing what's important. So far I'm not sure Apple has that foresight anymore.
And don't get me started on Apple's "forward thinking" on making iPad models obsolete. Want to know why iPad sales are dropping off? it's because people are telling their friends about how fast iPads become unsupported by apple, and people are hesitant to spend $600 on a product that is unsupported after 2 years.
What amazes me is the total reversal of the depiction of Steve Jobs (by people who seem to have a curious and unnatural aversion to Apple) When he was running the company they described him as a flim-flam artist, a marketeer who led a group of blindly devoted zelots using his "reality distortion field" and that Apple was doomed once those people wake up and realize that.
Now that he is gone, the same group now claim he was a -one in a billion- inventor and visionary, and without him Apple is doomed!!! ;-)
Doesn't matter that the guy running the day to day operations at Apple has been doing so for 15 years (and has been CEO for 5 years) and that the guy who has been designing the products is still designing all the products (for the last 20, or so, years). Or that thy have become the largest company in the world
Nope, they are DOOOOOOOMED!
Bluetooth as a “special feature” when Apple has had Bluetooth standard on all of its products since 2008 and all of its products except the Mac Pro since 2005.