I love the new keyboard. I wouldn't be surprised if Apple uses the same keyboard but molds the keys with a faux-silver plastic like the current MBP keyboards. That way yo can have the backlighting on the keys.
Curious, did you use it? Personally I'm in the 'I hate the MacBook Pro keyboard' camp.
Eh, I'm OK with mine, but I do have a problem with my "n" key. It needs more pressure to generate a character than most of the other keys. It kinda sucks, but I've only had the system for a couple months now, so I'm guessing that it'll probably teach me to hit the key harder any time now.
I love the new keyboard. I wouldn't be surprised if Apple uses the same keyboard but molds the keys with a faux-silver plastic like the current MBP keyboards. That way yo can have the backlighting on the keys.
They could be silver, but been white wouldn't stop them from being backlit.
I think the release of the aluminum MacBook hinges on (no punn intended) LED-backlit LCD panel supply, more than the release of Leopard. Leopard's release may provide coincidental timing for Apple's MacBook. From my reading of the quoted item below, it seems like the supply balance is going to be tough on LED-backlit LCD panels.
Quote:
Panel makers to introduce more LED-based notebook panels
\t
Latest news
Rebecca Kuo, Tainan, and Max Wang, Taipei; Emily Chuang, DIGITIMES
[Thursday 27 September 2007]
LCD panel makers in Taiwan and Korea are aggressively competing in the LED notebook panel market with the companies now eyeing 14.1-, 15.4- and even 17-inch widescreen notebook panel development using LED as backlighting sources, according to sources.
The move of the panel makers is preparation in line with a push by downstream vendors. Taiwan panel makers noted that Sony and Apple will increase their LED notebook shipment proportion to 20-30% in 2008 or 2009.
LG.Philips LCD and Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology (TMDisplay) both plan to launch 13.3-inch LED notebook panels in the second half of 2007 while Samsung has scheduled a 12.1- to 17-inch notebook panel lineup for 2007, according to Displaybank. AU Optronics (AUO) and Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO) have entered volume production of 12.1-inch and 13.3-/ 15.4-inch LED-based notebook panels, respectively, the research firm stated.
In addition, panel makers such as CMO, LG.Philips LCD, Samsung and TMDisplay are all shipping 14.1-inch LED-based panels, the sources added.
Displaybank estimated that LED backlighting technology will see a 40% penetration rate in 2010 in the notebook market, compared to less than 5% in 2007.
Despite panel makers eyeing LED-based notebook panel production, some notebook vendors voice concerns about a potential panel supply problem in 2008. The vendors say that panel makers currently cannot meet the demand of vendors as the yield rate for 13.3-inch LED panels is still low while 14.1-inch LED notebook panels are facing a shortage. The yield rate for LED-based notebook panels currently is about 40-60%, said the notebook vendors.
Be that as it may, the up-and-coming 9to5mac.com reporting that the new models have been seen in both black and silver aluminum is a good sign that they are nearly ready.
Be that as it may, the up-and-coming 9to5mac.com reporting that the new models have been seen in both black and silver aluminum is a good sign that they are nearly ready.
This site is so accurate I think it's a few very high up Apple folks doing it.
Might Apple drop the 2.2GHz model and replace it with the 2.4GHz model at the same price? Intro the new 17" MBP with LED-backlight screen, high resolution as the standard?
I think Oct/Nov will be a time Mac enthusiasts will come to love. Leopard in October, and either preceded, accompanied, or followed by introductions of new MacBooks, MacBooks Pro, Macs Pro, Apple Cinema Displays, and possibly a new MacBook Thin.
I think Oct/Nov will be a time Mac enthusiasts will come to love. Leopard in October, and either preceded, accompanied, or followed by introductions of new MacBooks, MacBooks Pro, Macs Pro, Apple Cinema Displays, and possibly a new MacBook Thin.
I think Oct/Nov will be a time Mac enthusiasts will come to love. Leopard in October, and either preceded, accompanied, or followed by introductions of new MacBooks, MacBooks Pro, Macs Pro, Apple Cinema Displays, and possibly a new MacBook Thin.
At least I keep dreaming!
Yeah, I'm dreaming too. Please, someone, wake me when it's over!
The MacBook Pro is an amazing laptop but it does have one limitation. People use them outside and often times expose them to less than friendly conditions. I spent two years in the Middle East and sand was a constant problem. I dropped the laptop twice because my fingers were dusty and the metal enclosure just slid out of my hand. Luckily it still worked but the lid never closed right after that, nor was it flat bottomed.
We need Apple to recognize that people will be taking their laptops outdoors and they need at least one model that'll handle dust, sand, rain, and drops. I realize that it would make the model thicker and heavier, but to the people needing the protection, it's well worth it.
I know it's a niche market that most people wouldn't use, but there currently exists no Mac ruggedized to handle that kind of abuse, at any price that I'm aware of. Considering that so many production companies use MacBook Pro's in the field, one would think that the added protection would be welcomed.
We need Apple to recognize that people will be taking their laptops outdoors and they need at least one model that'll handle dust, sand, rain, and drops. I realize that it would make the model thicker and heavier, but to the people needing the protection, it's well worth it.
This looks more like a military grade laptop. Better ask the US army for that.
Comments
I stopped using keyboards like that when I left the TRS-80 COCO.
And man, you're missing out.
Curious, did you use it? Personally I'm in the 'I hate the MacBook Pro keyboard' camp.
The new keyboard is phenomenal. I'm in the process of getting a second one and just keeping my older mac keyboards around for emergency only.
Curious, did you use it? Personally I'm in the 'I hate the MacBook Pro keyboard' camp.
Eh, I'm OK with mine, but I do have a problem with my "n" key. It needs more pressure to generate a character than most of the other keys. It kinda sucks, but I've only had the system for a couple months now, so I'm guessing that it'll probably teach me to hit the key harder any time now.
I love the new keyboard. I wouldn't be surprised if Apple uses the same keyboard but molds the keys with a faux-silver plastic like the current MBP keyboards. That way yo can have the backlighting on the keys.
They could be silver, but been white wouldn't stop them from being backlit.
Personally I think they will keep the white keys, like in the mockup above. But there will be no black border around the LCD.
Panel makers to introduce more LED-based notebook panels
\t
Latest news
Rebecca Kuo, Tainan, and Max Wang, Taipei; Emily Chuang, DIGITIMES
[Thursday 27 September 2007]
LCD panel makers in Taiwan and Korea are aggressively competing in the LED notebook panel market with the companies now eyeing 14.1-, 15.4- and even 17-inch widescreen notebook panel development using LED as backlighting sources, according to sources.
The move of the panel makers is preparation in line with a push by downstream vendors. Taiwan panel makers noted that Sony and Apple will increase their LED notebook shipment proportion to 20-30% in 2008 or 2009.
LG.Philips LCD and Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology (TMDisplay) both plan to launch 13.3-inch LED notebook panels in the second half of 2007 while Samsung has scheduled a 12.1- to 17-inch notebook panel lineup for 2007, according to Displaybank. AU Optronics (AUO) and Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO) have entered volume production of 12.1-inch and 13.3-/ 15.4-inch LED-based notebook panels, respectively, the research firm stated.
In addition, panel makers such as CMO, LG.Philips LCD, Samsung and TMDisplay are all shipping 14.1-inch LED-based panels, the sources added.
Displaybank estimated that LED backlighting technology will see a 40% penetration rate in 2010 in the notebook market, compared to less than 5% in 2007.
Despite panel makers eyeing LED-based notebook panel production, some notebook vendors voice concerns about a potential panel supply problem in 2008. The vendors say that panel makers currently cannot meet the demand of vendors as the yield rate for 13.3-inch LED panels is still low while 14.1-inch LED notebook panels are facing a shortage. The yield rate for LED-based notebook panels currently is about 40-60%, said the notebook vendors.
Be that as it may, the up-and-coming 9to5mac.com reporting that the new models have been seen in both black and silver aluminum is a good sign that they are nearly ready.
Be that as it may, the up-and-coming 9to5mac.com reporting that the new models have been seen in both black and silver aluminum is a good sign that they are nearly ready.
This site is so accurate I think it's a few very high up Apple folks doing it.
I wonder why the lead time on the 17" MacBook Pro went up to 2-3 weeks!?!?
It's 2-3 weeks whether you choose standard resolution or the 1900x1200 high resolution option on the 17-inch.
I'd add today a 7" Newton/UMPC device though Ireland would argue for the 10" tablet version.
You know, never say never. Would you care to discuss this a bit?
Sure. Let's go over to a shiny new thread here: Newton2 Size: 5.5-7" Vs. ~10"
17" LED-backlit LCD panels?
Could be!
Might Apple drop the 2.2GHz model and replace it with the 2.4GHz model at the same price? Intro the new 17" MBP with LED-backlight screen, high resolution as the standard?
At least I keep dreaming!
I think Oct/Nov will be a time Mac enthusiasts will come to love. Leopard in October, and either preceded, accompanied, or followed by introductions of new MacBooks, MacBooks Pro, Macs Pro, Apple Cinema Displays, and possibly a new MacBook Thin.
What then at Macworld.. Steve's 'new' blue jeans?
I think Oct/Nov will be a time Mac enthusiasts will come to love. Leopard in October, and either preceded, accompanied, or followed by introductions of new MacBooks, MacBooks Pro, Macs Pro, Apple Cinema Displays, and possibly a new MacBook Thin.
At least I keep dreaming!
Yeah, I'm dreaming too. Please, someone, wake me when it's over!
What then at Macworld.. Steve's 'new' blue jeans?
Don't forget his 'new' black turtle neck sweater.
Possibly a PDA (a la Newton) at Macworld.
Don't ruin my dream!
Don't forget his 'new' black turtle neck sweater.
Possibly a PDA (a la Newton) at Macworld.
Don't ruin my dream!
That Apple PDA is called the iPhone. Copy & Psate is coming, and an SDK is coming at Macworld.
The iMacs aren't White, the MBs may not be white, the MBPs aren't white, and the last of the white iPods are gone.
We need Apple to recognize that people will be taking their laptops outdoors and they need at least one model that'll handle dust, sand, rain, and drops. I realize that it would make the model thicker and heavier, but to the people needing the protection, it's well worth it.
I know it's a niche market that most people wouldn't use, but there currently exists no Mac ruggedized to handle that kind of abuse, at any price that I'm aware of. Considering that so many production companies use MacBook Pro's in the field, one would think that the added protection would be welcomed.
We need Apple to recognize that people will be taking their laptops outdoors and they need at least one model that'll handle dust, sand, rain, and drops. I realize that it would make the model thicker and heavier, but to the people needing the protection, it's well worth it.
This looks more like a military grade laptop. Better ask the US army for that.