MacBook Pro... Where's the Power?
Don't get me wrong, the new MacBook Pro looks nice and all but I can't help noticing some important features are missing...
Firewire 800
S-Video
Internal Modem
PCMCIA
8x DVD
I guess you need to weigh what was lost against what was gained but as for myself I'm going to sit this one out. Apparently they are still selling the PowerBooks for a while so maybe I'll pick one of those up after all.
This just seems like it would be better as a new midrange laptop line than a PowerBook replacement.
Firewire 800
S-Video
Internal Modem
PCMCIA
8x DVD
I guess you need to weigh what was lost against what was gained but as for myself I'm going to sit this one out. Apparently they are still selling the PowerBooks for a while so maybe I'll pick one of those up after all.
This just seems like it would be better as a new midrange laptop line than a PowerBook replacement.
Comments
Originally posted by 1984
Firewire 800
S-Video
Internal Modem
PCMCIA
8x DVD
I'm surprised about the FW800.
S-Video, I can't believe there won't be an adaptor.
Internal modem? I travel a lot with my powerbook, and I used it once to fax something to someone stuck in the 1980s. $49 for a usb modem doesn't seem bad. You can buy third party for cheaper. If you really need it, you could buy a card (see next).
Well, PC-Card hasn't been called PCMCIA for quite awhile . It has been replaced with ExpressCard/34 which is superior.
8x DVD. I'm surprised about that also. I can't find the specs on the DVD.
What I REALLY want to know is: does it have firewire target disk mode? That is a requirement for me.
I don't think we can expect much from the iBook replacement which surely must now have the single core Yonah. Pooh. I won't be buying one of those. And I certainly won't be buying a MacBook Pro at the current asking price. I hope I can talk myself out of buying a Windows based Duo instead. But then if that 13.3" MacBook Pro comes out at the 12" PowerBook price ....
Originally posted by Jootec from Mars
And I certainly won't be buying a MacBook Pro at the current asking price. I hope I can talk myself out of buying a Windows based Duo instead.
Well, Dell's Dual Core Inspiron starts at the same price: $1,999.
Acer's TravelMate 8200 starts at: $1,999.
I've never used the s-video feature, so I personally won't miss it. Same with modems these days. I travel all the time but find that nearly everywhere I go has either an ethernet connection I can use or wireless. Braodband is certainly much more ubiquitous these days.
Ditto regarding the PC card slot - Expresscard is a faster protocol.
I can't imagine the DVD being slower than 8x. That WOULD be odd.
On the plus side, the processor speed increase is double or more than double, plus the buss speeds are fantastic. On top of that the HD is now SATA which is way faster than ATA.
I DO use FW target mode a lot too. Will be interesting to see if that still applies.
Lots of great features in this I think. I'm going to wait out the usual V1 possible hiccups though, not to mention I'm broke after buying the Quad G5 a couple of weeks ago...
Slot-loading SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW)
* Maximum Write: 4x DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD+RW, and DVD-RW; 24x CD-R; 10x CD-RW
* Maximum Read: 8x DVD-ROM (single layer); 6x DVD (double layered), DVD-9, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW; 24x CD
Originally posted by JLL
Well, Dell's Dual Core Inspiron starts at the same price: $1,999.
Looking at Dell's UK site, for a similar amount to the entry MacBook Pro that makes no difference, I could get a Core Duo machine with 1.83GHZ CPU, 1GB 667mhz DDR2 RAM, nVidia 7800Go GPU with 256MB RAM, 17" 1920x1200 screen, internal modem, 6xUSB2 ports, s-video out, 5in1 card reader and XP Pro. Only 10/100 ethernet tho. Otherwise identical. Seems to me that Apple may be charging us a little too much.
Edit: Of course the MacBook Pro does have built in iSight.
-K
Originally posted by Kabeyun
anyone know what happened to the last 60 pixels of vertical resolution?
The iSight took up the extra 60 pixels.
I assume you can probably use Apple's DVI to S-Video/Composite adapter to get S-Video.
The new power connector stinks too. I know plenty of people who bought extra power cables for their PowerBooks. I guess that can send them all to the landfill. I personally don't want a magnet anywhere near my internal or external drives.
Outside of faster speed and optical audio out, this is a real let down.
Originally posted by JLL
Well, Dell's Dual Core Inspiron starts at the same price: $1,999.
Acer's TravelMate 8200 starts at: $1,999.
and they have modems...WTF is apple thinking? no modem? Wifi and cellphone coverage is non existant in many areas here in Indiana, a modem can be a lifesaveer if you are staying at a motel that has no wifi/ethernet baced internet service.
I'm curious about how it holds up against Powerbooks...
Originally posted by Jootec from Mars
The iSight took up the extra 60 pixels.
screw isight.
If I am buying as a PROI DONT WANT ISIghT BUILT IN!
A. Some places do not allow cameras or mics.
B. pros want the screen realestate.
C. pros have better cameras if needed
And WTF is with the magnet power thingy? A pc tech buddy of mine and I laughed at them this afternoon.
What happends if the power adadpter plug is set on top of the keyboard while it is being set up? what if the magnet clings to the bopttom of the ALUMINUM body or a component within in transport?
hmm...magnet, Mr meet hard disk!
Originally posted by a_greer
and they have modems...WTF is apple thinking? no modem? Wifi and cellphone coverage is non existant in many areas here in Indiana, a modem can be a lifesaveer if you are staying at a motel that has no wifi/ethernet baced internet service.
Then add the optional modem. You can get a modem cable for free - I have at least 100 of them.
Originally posted by a_greer
What happends if the power adadpter plug is set on top of the keyboard while it is being set up? what if the magnet clings to the bopttom of the ALUMINUM body or a component within in transport?
hmm...magnet, Mr meet hard disk!
My guess is only the connector on the Macbook itself is magnetic, and not the plug on the power adapter.
This way I really can't see a lot of issues, except perhaps with external harddisks, but even then...
Originally posted by pmjoe
No modem sucks.
I assume you can probably use Apple's DVI to S-Video/Composite adapter to get S-Video.
The new power connector stinks too. I know plenty of people who bought extra power cables for their PowerBooks. I guess that can send them all to the landfill. I personally don't want a magnet anywhere near my internal or external drives.
Outside of faster speed and optical audio out, this is a real let down.
I'm not so sure about the DVI to S-Video adaptor. I think the adaptor Apple sells is mini-DVI.
Originally posted by JLL
Then add the optional modem. You can get a modem cable for free - I have at least 100 of them.
People traveling (the ideal laptop market) don't want to carry around extra dongles and crap that will only get lost.
firewire 800, any firewire800 device is backwards compatible with firewire 400
internal modem? Seriously, i don't want extra anything. Get the USB modem they offer if you want a modem, in 6 years i've never used one, and don't want to carry it in my powerbook
PCMCIA = the way of the dodo, pc notebooks are switching to the newer connection slot and so are macs, PCMCIA is so yesterday
8xDVD, hmm don't know what to say, maybe we can replace it later
this is just a transitional computer, apple will release more power-ful intel notebooks later.
Originally posted by 1984
Don't get me wrong, the new MacBook Pro looks nice and all but I can't help noticing some important features are missing...
Firewire 800
S-Video
Internal Modem
PCMCIA
8x DVD
I guess you need to weigh what was lost against what was gained but as for myself I'm going to sit this one out. Apparently they are still selling the PowerBooks for a while so maybe I'll pick one of those up after all.
This just seems like it would be better as a new midrange laptop line than a PowerBook replacement.
Originally posted by drumsticks
Why are some talking about optical out? Wasn't that already available in the last G4 version?
Yes, the last PowerBook G4 had it. I really wasn't expecting them to cut anything out let alone this much. One step forward, two steps back as the saying goes.