As for Apple’s new iMacs and MacBook, Mossberg reports, “I’ve been testing these new computers for a few days, and I can recommend both… The new iMacs have spectacular screens that are larger and sport much higher resolutions than those on their predecessors. They also add more memory capacity, bigger hard disks and faster processors… The new $999, 13″ MacBook now includes most of the key features of the similar-sized MacBook Pro, which costs $200 more. These include a large multitouch trackpad, significantly enhanced battery life, and a brighter screen. Despite its lower price, the lowly MacBook comes with a 56% larger hard disk (250 gigabytes versus 160) than the Pro model.”
Full review here.
MacDailyNews Take: In the full “review,” Mossberg seems hell-bent on fabricating a Microsoft revival of sorts – whether it’s warranted or not (it isn’t). This is the first new Mac review of Mossberg’s that we can remember which fails to mention Mac OS X or Mac-only software advantages (iLife, for example) and, not only that, but Mossberg feels compelled to tack on this conclusion: “These new models now round out a full line of refreshed Macs, but they will face stiff new competition from a horde of PCs running the new and better version of Windows.”
Oh, did we mention, that Mossberg opened his review of three new Apple products with, “This is the week when Microsoft finally starts selling Windows 7, its much-improved successor to the disappointing Vista version of Windows. PC makers, who have suffered from Vista’s poor reputation, will begin touting models that come with Windows 7, which I praised in a detailed review earlier this month.”
Detailed bullshit is still bullshit, Walt.
Also, in the midst of his Apple product review, Mossberg also threw in this helpful talking point: “Though both new Macs sport important improvements, they are evolutionary, not revolutionary, and neither follows the industry trend toward bargain-basement prices. The MacBook is still $999, and the iMac still starts at $1,199, though the company is giving users more power and features at those same price points. You can pay much less for laptops and desktops from competitors like Dell and Hewlett-Packard.”
The PC industry trend is helplessly watchin Apple’s Mac sales growth lap them repeatedly, Walt. (Please see: Windows PC box assemblers’ margins squeezed as Apple rakes in stellar profits – October 21, 2009.) Hey, do you intend for your reviews to come off like you’re working for the PR departments of Microsoft, Dell and HP? If so, good job. If not, maybe you should have someone sane vet them before they’re published.
Do you think MacBooks and/or iMacs are overpriced for what they offer, Walt? If so, come out and say it. Leave out the Dell and HP ads if you value your credibility.
We fear that Mossberg has finally lost his shit. Lately, he seems to totally forget that Windows 7 still has its crappy Registry, still rots over time, still quaintly requires defragging, still faces huge malware threats, etc. Ignoring Windows’ crumbling foundation while overly praising its new paint job doesn’t mean that you’re being fair and balanced, Walt.
Mossberg seems out of it; maybe not thinking as clearly as he usually does. Or maybe Jobs told him to get lost when Walt asked for a tablet prototype to test three months early? Whatever the problem is, either snap out of it, Walt, or pass the baton entirely to Katie lest you savage your good reputation. Based on your most recent work, Walt, Boca’s calling loudly.
Related articles:
What’s wrong with Walt Mossberg’s Windows 7 review? – October 09, 2009
Mossberg reviews Windows 7: Apple’s Mac OS X still better – but not by much – October 08, 2009
CNET conducts Mac OS X Snow Leopard vs. Windows 7 smackdown: Mac OS X Snow Leopard wins – October 22, 2009
Apple COO Cook: ‘Windows 7 is just another opportunity to remind everyone to switch to a Mac’ – October 21, 2009
Shrewd Apple obliterates Microsoft’s Vista service pack, er, ‘Windows 7’ launch – October 20, 2009
Infoworld: Mac Lust; Microsoft Windows 7’s faux-Mac experience may drive users to the real thing – October 19, 2009
Washington Post: Windows 7 is no Vista, but it’s still just Windows and certainly no Mac OS X – October 16, 2009
Apple’s Mac OS X Snow Leopard consistently beats Windows 7 in performance tests – October 16, 2009
Apple gearing up to capitalize on Microsoft’s Windows 7 launch – October 15, 2009
Apple unconcerned about Windows 7 release: ‘At the end of the day Windows 7 is still just Windows’ – October 15, 2009
Stats show Apple immune to impact of Windows 7 release – October 12, 2009
Study finds Microsoft Windows 7 boots slower than Vista – October 09, 2009
What’s wrong with Walt Mossberg’s Windows 7 review? – October 09, 2009
What’s wrong with Windows 7 – October 08, 2009
Same old, same old: Microsoft’s Vista service pack, er, ‘Windows 7’ allows remote BSOD attacks – September 08, 2009
Microsoft’s Vista service pack, er, ‘Windows 7’ can’t compete with Apple’s Mac OS X Snow Leopard – August 26, 2009
Leave the Snow out of this: Windows 7 lags behind Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard – August 25, 2009
Apple Snow Leopard easier to install, costs less than Microsoft Vista service pack, er, ‘Windows 7’ – August 13, 2009
Move to Windows 7 will be tough for millions, so now’s the time to get a Mac – July 24, 2009
Microsoft admits Windows 7 will not save PC market – June 10, 2009
What’s ‘new’ in Microsoft’s Vista service pack, er, ‘Windows 7’ is old in Apple’s Mac OS X – May 07, 2009
Windows 7 looks to be sequel to Vista; 83% of businesses will not be upgrading until at least 2011 – April 13, 2009
Microsoft’s ‘ugly, painful’ Windows 7 upgrade path could drive smart IT pros to Apple’s Mac OS X – February 25, 2009
A recent Mac switcher’s take on Microsoft’s Windows 7: UI remains largely unchanged from Vista – January 27, 2009
Massive Windows virus continues rapid spread, also affects Vista, Windows 7; Macintosh unaffected – January 21, 2009
InfoWorld: Windows 7 is really just lipstick on the Vista pig – October 29, 2008
Microsoft previews Mojave, er, Windows 7; unceremoniously dumps ‘Vista’ name – October 29, 2008
Microsoft to spend record amounts to market Vista service pack, er, ‘Windows 7’ – October 28, 2008
Microsoft CEO Ballmer says Windows 7 is Vista, just ‘a lot better’ – October 17, 2008
The Motley Fool’s Bylund: Windows 7 demo shows Microsoft is officially out of ideas – May 29, 2008
Gates, Ballmer preview Windows 7: Multi-Touch and a Dock; Steve Jobs must be so proud – May 28, 2008
Hmmm, he’s turning into a bit of a goon, isn’t he?
I actually took the time to read Walt’s bio on ReCodes newly launched mobile site. It reads & REEKS of self defense on how & why he reports & reviews tech gadgets. Walt it is about time you hang up your wired Microdog mouse. You are so yesterday Mossbog.
Walt’s just acknowledging the reality that many users will be tossing up between a Windoze 7 PC and a Mac. It was Apple that timed its launch to coincide with Microsoft.
You know, failing to get on his knees and offer Steve Jobs a free BJ is not the same as not supporting Apple. He doesn’t HAVE to praise Apple to the skies in every article, nor condemn M$ to the depths of hell, in order to be a fair reporter.
MDN:s problem list for W7 is antiquated. Please find peeves that matter. In real life. 2009.
I can imagine the WSJ gets quite a bit of advertising revenue from the likes of MS, HP, Dell etc. Maybe an editor or two have had a word asking him to turn down the pro-Apple volume.
To be and remain credible, there is a necessity to know how and when not to always disparage the other.
Hey, if MS wants to offer me a bag of money to talk up 7, I’ll take it.
And buy a MBP 17″, a new iMac 27″, and a BRAND – NEW – CAR (in the voice of The Price is Right’s Rod Roddy [RIP]!
If microsoft got away with bribing Gartner to change cost-of-ownership numbers, I’m sure they would be okay with incentivizing reviewers and analysts to like msft products.
Walt knows who butters his bread – Rupert Murdoch, whose empire derives advertising revenue from the 800 lb. bald ape from Redmond.
Maybe he tried using Apple’s broken, useless, annoying blu-ray ‘feature’ in FCP that doesn’t work, and now he’s angry. I know I am.
MDN – Mac Daily News. Maybe you should change your name to WDD Windows Daily Dis. This site spends an inordinate amount of time degrading all things Microsoft. There are plenty of other sites who specialize in that sort of task. How about sticking to MAC NEWS.
@Pc Fanatic
So are all those antiquated “peeves” fixed?
Mr. macdailynews,
You seem to have a bug up your *ss.
Give it a rest and take a vacation.
Adios.
I love the MDN take! Not only is it usually spot on, it’s also incredibly entertaining.
Everyone on Fox News (the only one that’s Fair and Balanced) is using Macs. How do you explain that Arnie. Rush Limbaugh only uses Macs too. Vote liberals out fast before they destroy the country!
WSJ got bought up by the same people who own Faux news, what did you expect would happen?
So Limpball uses Macs. What does that prove?
The product refreshes are evolutionary – did not an event – just updated in the store and some press releases.
Mac costs sure do have a premium price – look in the Best Buy catalog on Sundays and all the machines are 1/3 of the price of the Macs. Windows 7 – don’t know. People sure are raving about it. Snow Leopard… same as Leopard to me. I’d like to see Apple raise the bar and lower the price of hardware.
Faux news? Oh, yeah, hire that leg-tingled Chris Matthews. Then they’ll be for real news.
Yeah, you betcha’ massa’ Obama.
SteveJack, get back on your meds…
What’s wrong with Walt Mossberg is that he bends over backwards to avoid offending his readers, 90% of whom are obviously Windoze users. Nobody can accuse Uncle Walt of forgetting which side his bread is buttered on! On the other hand, his opinions become more and more irrelevant the farther he stretches to make nice with Microsloth.
What is the big issue here? Walt said that a nicer screen, faster processors and more memory is evolutionary, not revolutionary. What’s so bad about that?
Personally, with the new screen and the new magic mouse, it is a bit revolutionary, but if he disagrees, so what?
Hey, he’s on M$’s payroll.
@ Scott Murphy – Go Be a Doctor Scott…There’s still time…Remember the Secret…
Yeesh… the Windows Astroturf Brigade are out in force today, I see. I suppose it makes sense, this being the big release day and all.
And it’s comical how Microsoft’s talking points continue to hammer on the price thing, despite Apple’s latest fantastic quarterly results. Quality costs more, people. Several members of my family are still happily using iBooks from 2004 as their main computer. How many disposable PC laptops from 2004 can say the same? I have no doubt my 2007 MacBook Pro will command a nice resale price when I decide to upgrade.
So you do indeed get your money’s worth, either via longevity or resale. And judging from Apple’s latest quarterly results, more and more people are starting to realize that.