“Apple’s bestselling MacBook laptop just got its 2008 makeover. It’s a thing of beauty, clad in aluminum like its more expensive Pro siblings. It’s slightly lighter than the previous black or white plastic models (and, at $1,300, more expensive), but feels sturdier and more sculpted, thanks to the tapered edges,” David Pogue reports for The New York Times.
“The MacBook has enough storage and power that it could be your main machine. In fact, that’s the idea behind Apple’s new 24-inch monitor that was revealed alongside the MacBook; it’s for laptops only. A three-headed cable from the screen connects to a Mac laptop’s magnetic power-cord jack, USB jack and video output,” Pogue reports. “And now the sad news: the MacBook doesn’t have a FireWire jack.”
Pogue reports, “With the disappearance of FireWire, there’s once again a lot of wailing online. And this time, I’m among them… Last week, on the phone, I got a chance to vent my unhappiness to Steve Jobs himself. I told him about my long-held intention to edit down… 100 MiniDV tapes carefully stored–of my children growing up, of my TV appearances, of our trips and memorable moments… maybe when I’m retired.”
“I must admit, he gave me quite a wakeup call. He pointed out that in 10 years, there won’t be any machines left that can play them,” Pogue reports. “Deep down, I’ve known all along that the window for rescuing those old tapes would eventually close. In the end, all Apple has done with its FireWire phaseout is to set a date for it, or at least to start the countdown clock.”
Pogue reports, “I love the new MacBook, I really do. Maybe I’ll get one someday. But in the meantime, I’ve got a big project ahead of me.”
Full article here.
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