Apple today unveiled the newly designed MacBook, the world’s most advanced consumer notebook featuring the Intel Core Duo processor and a gorgeous new 13-inch glossy widescreen display, all in a sleek design that is up to five times faster than the iBook and up to four times faster than the 12-inch PowerBook. Together with the 15-and 17-inch MacBook Pros, the new MacBook completes Apple’s Intel-based portables lineup and replaces both the iBook and the 12-inch PowerBook, as MacDailyNews first reported back on January 11, 2006. Apple’s entire portables lineup now offers Intel Core Duo processors; a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing on-the-go; breakthrough Front Row media experience with Apple Remote; and several advanced features including DVI with dual display support, optical digital audio input and output, Gigabit Ethernet, Sudden Motion Sensor, Scrolling TrackPad and MagSafe Power Adapter.
“Apple began the transition to Intel Core Duo-based notebooks in February with the 15-inch MacBook Pro, and now just 90 days later we have completed the transition with the release of the all new MacBook,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, in the press release. “The complete MacBook lineup leads the industry with Apple’s trademark innovative design and advanced mobile features — from top to bottom it is the best notebook line that we have ever offered.”
With prices starting at $1,099, the MacBook lineup includes three models: a 1.83 GHz and 2.0 GHz MacBook in a newly-designed white enclosure and a 2.0 GHz MacBook in a new black enclosure. The new MacBook offers performance up to five times faster than the iBook and up to four times faster than the 12-inch PowerBook with a completely new system architecture including a 667 MHz front-side bus and 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM memory expandable to 2GB. At about one-inch thin, the new MacBook is 20 percent thinner than the iBook and features a gorgeous new 13-inch glossy widescreen display. With a display that is 79 percent brighter than the iBook and the 12-inch PowerBook, the MacBook provides incredibly crisp images with richer colors, deeper blacks and significantly greater contrast. At a resolution of 1280 x 800, the MacBook display provides 30 percent more viewing area than the iBook and the 12-inch PowerBook.
Every new MacBook comes with a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing on-the-go using Apple’s award-winning iChat AV, or recording a video Podcast or iMovie using iLife ’06. MacBook also includes Photo Booth, Apple’s fun-to-use application that lets users take quick snapshots with the built-in iSight video camera, add entertaining visual effects and share their pictures with the touch of a button. The new MacBook gives customers a simple way to enjoy their digital lifestyle content wherever they go — including music, photos and videos from across the room using the Apple Remote. With Front Row, users can effortlessly access shared iTunes playlists, iPhoto libraries and video throughout their home via Bonjour, Apple’s zero configuration wireless networking built into Mac OS X.
Designed to withstand the rigors of life on the go, every MacBook comes with Apple’s MagSafe Power Adapter, created especially for mobile users that makes charging the notebook’s battery easier than ever by magnetically coupling the power cord to the MacBook. The MagSafe Power Adapter safely disconnects from the notebook when there is strain on the power cord, helping to prevent the notebook from falling off its work surface. Every MacBook also includes Apple’s Sudden Motion Sensor that is designed to protect the hard drive in case of a fall, and all MacBooks include a Scrolling TrackPad to easily scroll through long web pages or pan across large photographs.
With the latest high-performance connectivity options, every new MacBook includes built-in 10/100/1000 BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet for high-speed networking, built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11g WiFi for up to 54 Mbps fast wireless networking, built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), two USB 2.0 ports, combination analog and optical digital audio input and output ports, and a mini-DVI video output to connect up to a 23-inch Apple Cinema HD Display.
Every MacBook includes iLife ’06, the next generation of Apple’s award-winning suite of digital lifestyle applications featuring iPhoto, iMovie HD, iDVD, GarageBand and iWeb, a new iLife application that makes it super-easy to create amazing websites with photos, blogs and Podcasts and publish them on .Mac for viewing by anyone on the Internet with just a single click. All the iLife ’06 applications run natively on the new Intel-based MacBooks for maximum performance.
Every MacBook also comes with the latest release of the world’s most advanced operating system, Mac OS X version 10.4.6 “Tiger” including Safari, Mail, iCal, iChat AV, Front Row and Photo Booth, running natively on Apple’s Intel-based notebook line. Mac OS X Tiger includes an innovative software translation technology called Rosetta that lets customers run most Mac OS X PowerPC applications seamlessly. Intel-based Mac customers have more than 1,700 Universal applications to choose from and the list is growing each day with hundreds of developers including Adobe, Quark and IBM’s Lotus division announcing support for Mac OS X Intel-based applications. An updated list of Universal applications for Mac OS X is available at http://guide.apple.com/universal
The new MacBook is available immediately through the Apple Store, Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. Apple today also increased processor speeds on both models of the 15-inch MacBook Pro, delivering even greater performance at no additional cost. The $2,499 model now includes a 2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo processor, up from 2.0 GHz, and the $1,999 model now includes a 2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo processor, up from 1.83 GHz. Beginning today, the MacBook Pro also offers the new glossy widescreen display as a CTO option on both the 15-and 17-inch models at no additional cost.
The 1.83 GHz, 13-inch white MacBook, for a suggested retail price of US$1,099, includes:
• 13.3-inch glossy widescreen 1280 x 800 display with 250 cd/m2 brightness
• 1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo processor
• 667 MHz front-side bus
• 512MB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 2GB
• 60GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor
• a slot-load Combo (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) optical drive
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
• Mini-DVI out (adapters for DVI, VGA and Composite/S-Video sold separately)
• built-in iSight video camera
• Gigabit Ethernet port
• built-in AirPort Extreme wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
• two USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire 400 port
• one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog
• Scrolling TrackPad
• Infrared Apple Remote
• 60 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter
The 2.0 GHz, 13-inch white MacBook, for a suggested retail price of $1,299, includes:
• 13.3-inch glossy widescreen 1280 x 800 display with 250 cd/m2 brightness
• 2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo processor
• 667 MHz front-side bus
• 512MB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 2GB
• 60GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor
• a slot-load SuperDrive(TM) (DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
• Mini-DVI out (adapters for DVI, VGA and Composite/S-Video sold separately)
• built-in iSight video camera
• Gigabit Ethernet port
• built-in AirPort Extreme wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
• two USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire 400 port
• one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog
• Scrolling TrackPad
• Infrared Apple Remote
• 60 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter
The 2.0 GHz, 13-inch black MacBook, for a suggested retail price of $1,499, includes:
• 13.3-inch glossy widescreen 1280 x 800 display with 250 cd/m2 brightness
• 2.0GHz Intel Core Duo processor
• 667 MHz front-side bus
• 512MB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 2GB
• 80GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor
• a slot-load SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
• Mini-DVI out (adapters for DVI, VGA and Composite/S-Video sold separately)
• built-in iSight video camera
• Gigabit Ethernet port
• built-in AirPort Extreme wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
• two USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire 400 port
• one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog
• Scrolling TrackPad
• Infrared Apple Remote
• 60 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter
Additional build-to-order options for the MacBook include the ability to upgrade to 80GB, 100GB or 120GB 5400 rpm hard drive, up to 2GB DDR2 SDRAM, Apple USB Modem, Apple Mini-DVI to DVI adapter, Apple Mini-DVI to VGA adapter, and the AppleCare Protection Plan.
See the new Apple MacBooks here.
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• iPod Radio Remote. Listen to FM radio on your iPod and control everything with a convenient wired remote. Just $49.
Related articles:
Apple’s new Mac mini: perfect for HDTV – March 01, 2006
Apple Mac mini’s Intel GMA950 Integrated Graphics Core reviewed – March 01, 2006
Old Apple Mac mini G4 vs. new Mac mini’s graphics and video specs – February 28, 2006
RUMOR: Apple iBook to become ‘MacBook’ while ‘MacBook Pro’ will offer more screen size choices soon – January 11, 2006
Intel Graphics Accelerator? Give me my ATI / Nvidia!!!!
The price is a bit steep for an entry level laptop (it’s really cheap when you look at all you get, but…)
And my last problem with these new machines is that Apple is going to get tons of complaints about the black MacBooks being scratched so easily.
Let the games begin…
Luv ’em! They’ll all sell like hotcakes. FireWire is still there. The black looks kewl.
$1099 for the cheapest one? Ouch.
Shared memory for graphics? Ouch.
I am looking for something nice to say… but damn, that black Mackbook is absolutely F-Ugly!!
Finally. They missed the magical price point, but it’s a long overdue revision.
Wow… I’m speechless
OVER PRICED!!! I need a 15 inch Macbook What $1500?? I guess I will get a $800 AMD Turion instead. One lost sale.. You can get the power now in $800 laptops. Apple priced themself out of the market again!!
Black + 20GB extra = $200 ? They’re kidding, right ?
The ibooks, with 32 MB VRAM were kinda useless as graphics machines anyway.
Why is the black one $200 more? The only option it has is the increased HD capacity which is a $50 option on the other 2ghz one.
Damn.. I’d love to have one, but the MacBook Pro is more my style.
very very nice upgrade indeed!
When the 2.0 GHz white and the 2.0 GHz black MBs are maxed out, they are identically configured (except for the color), yet there is a $171 price difference (black>white) in the Canadian educational store…
WHY?
There were similar descrepencies comparing the 17″ and the 15″, where the maxed out 15″ comes out more expensive than the 17″…
Strange.
Apple needed a $899 laptop!! They F’ed up
Lousy graphics chip w/ shared emeory. Low res display. High price. Ooooh, but it’s teh glossy.
Look for this one to be on the bottom end of most budget laptop shootouts.
Black plastic obviously costs more.
Brian,
this isn’t an entry level laptop. It’s a macbook. Only “complaint” is colors. why not black/white option for all configs? Minor question. I’m sure its a cost issue.
Otherwise, we’re 4/5ths to a complete intel shift!
I know 3 people who will order this this morning.
I smell ” LET DOWN” on this board !!!! Almost feel the wind knocked out of me!!
I can get by with a Microjunk laptop at these prices. Like I said, hey just lost my sale. I will have to hunt down a new AMD Turion today. Again one lost sale here. And I wanted so to buy a Mac
coolness!
I just feel very sad to see the PowerBook 12″ go. Best of the line and now no more.
And from the “Meet the Family. Now Complete” line, it isn’t coming back.
I hate Apple right now 🙁
Only complaint is the built-in iSight, which cannot be deleted.
I won’t be allowed to bring this into my company due to the built-in camera. Very strict security here.
GMA950 is the deal-killer for me. A modest accelerator would have been preferable to the Intel memory-stealing chipset.
I suspected Apple would do this, but I was holding out hope.
Big Boy, you are an idiot. Go play with your $600 piece of crap. You get what you pay for, moron.
Tekriter, You will just have to pay Apple to pull it out then. Another $100
Reasons above (if only Apple’s laptop was $200 less! *whine, whine whine*) is why Apple will never get into the Wintel OEM marketplace. Those buyers can’t see past tomorrow or even next week. The initial outlay is all that matters to them, even if the end experience is much more expensive. And, like a chorus of infants who have soiled their diapers, they never shut up. They are quite boring based upon their sheer predictability.
Hey “Big Boy”.
My bosses just got a few Turion desktops. The original G3 iMacs they replaced were faster. I can not believe how bad they are.
ps Dell still SUCKS.
Not a fan of the high gloss screens. Other than that, good machine.
Beauty is in the eyes of ….
I think the black model looks great!
Pricing — hey, $299 would be even better than the price complaints above, but we’re in inflationary times right now — and Apple knows it. If price is so important to you — just be creative and make more money — then a few bucks won’t be such a big deal for you. Or switch to Windoze — Macs aren’t for losers — get a life.
” I guess I will get a $800 AMD Turion instead.”
If you can’t see the value, then you deserve the pool of dreck you are about to step into.
What about Bootcamp on ’em?
Hea, I am an Apple guy. I have 3 macs! This will be my portable and it is all about price. Strict adherence to price. To bad you are a FAN BOY and can’t take the heat. Apple Fed up on the pricing deal with it. I have a right to voice my opinion. I can except both platforms it is just a computer.
Count me in among the baffled about the price difference between the top two models. As a reseller, how am I supposed to tell people “Yes, of course you can order the white one with an 80 gig hard drive for 1350. But for only 150 dollars more you can get it in black! Cool, huh?” It makes no sense. I don’t care if there’s a cost issue with making the black case, there should’ve been two models in black and white, period. I’m not happy with this announcement, and I don’t think users will be either. I hate to say it, but Apple screwed the pooch this time.
Bad price point. If they can lower it, they’ll sell really well.
Don’t buy the early ones anyways. What Apple laptops haven’t had serious quality problems in the early production runs?
Original iBook: Logic boards
Ti PowerBook: Peeling paint
Al PowerBook: White spots
MacBook Pro: Overheating, MagSafe fires
Buy this puppy in about a year.
Glad I got the 17″ MBP. I was wanting to see how this would fare before making my decision. But I couldn’t wait any longer.
Still don’t know why Apple insists on such a low resolution on their consumer line of notebooks. And I still think the price is WAY too high. $899 should have been the start. And why does black cost more? I expected the integrated graphics, but come on Apple, 1GB should be standard with the integrated graphics.
“The initial outlay is all that matters to them, even if the end experience is much more expensive.”
So true, these are the folks who buy a Kia because the Toyota costs too much. It will catch up with you sooner than expected.
Very very nice gear…a homerun, you will see…
For all those who don’t like them…buy a Dell or a Chop_Sue model and stay away from here….
MacB in the Netherlands….that’s in Europe.
the mbp is miles better than this crap
WHERE IS THE 12″ MACBOOK PRO???????????????
I am very disappointed in Apple for not making a 12″ MacBook Pro. The 12″ PowerBook is the best Mac I will ever have owned. The size is perfect. The 13″ MacBook will be too big, relatively speaking, for airplanes and for hotel room safes.
Apple, you have disappointed me!!!!!!!!!!
Glossy display?! WHY!!!???
Wonderboy, I need a 15 inch screen 13 inch is unusable in my opinion. I just see the high price coming on the 15 inchers
Nothing has changed. They introduce the best valued laptops on the planet and look at the responses of supposed Mac users. “Its too expenisve, it’ll never sell, its ugly”.
Comments like these from people that couldn’t give away cold water on a hot day.
BS, everyone of you know they F’ed up on pricing . But are just TOO fan boy to admit it.
Why don’t you people go to the Apple store and at least check one out before you start a flame fest. Some people cannot be pacified.
Big Boy: Have fun fighting hotbar, spybar, spambar, popup bar, and worm ‘o the day on your el cheapo Windows laptop. You deserve each other.
They could lower the prices if they had more market share and could do more volume. With these attitudes out there, though, that will never happen. If I don’t convey a shitty attitude I’m an fanboy I guess. People suck.
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You idiots. You pay more for the machine because it has OS x on it. I’m buying one.
Anyone want to buy a three year old ibook?
Man, Like I said I own 3 macs and am typing on one now, You have to stop the cult, fan boy stuff. If price is my switching point. Then they have to know it. They did a great job with the Mac Mini. If you except high prices and don’t whine you get high prices. You piss and whine as a fan boy community you may see a $899 Apple laptop. You just don’t get it I see.
Glossy display is now a CTO option in the 15 and 17 inch pro models. Avoid this. Glossy screens are awfull to work with. You will get tired of seeing your own face and background reflected into the screen. It’s a pain in the ass. I saw some Acer computers with this feature and I started to love even more my matte Titanium Powerbook display.
NO FIREWIRE!!!????!!!! This is worthless if I cannot connect it with my DV camera. What are they thinking?
pbs –
it HAS firewire.
5.2 lbs and only integrated graphics for $1100+ ?????!!!!!!
what a joke
Apple is not going risk financial destruction to get you a $899 laptop. They have a predefined margin percentage on this stuff (read my previous post). If you want cheap crap, there’s plenty of it out there. You don’t like cult, fanboy stuff, well, I don’t like anti-corporate whiney BS.
There is a firewire port.
educational discount only saves you $100 on the 2.0 ghz. No discount on the 1.83 ghz.
“the mbp is miles better than this crap”
Thats why they are PRO!!!! MBP is supposed to be better you fool.
Also, they are not crap, I will be getting one, only problem is I can’t decide Black or White??
What everyone think, Black or White?
only one optical drive? Apple you’ve just took two steps back!
How is it that other manufactures can get 13.3′ notebooks under 4lbs WITH discreet video and APPLE, the utterly amazing design company gives us this desktop replacement of a notebook with crap intel 950 graphics. Do they want anybody to purchase this hunk of trash?
I can’t believe the attitude here.
The specs on the machine are fantastic – we got a Core Duo for christs sake!
Plus:
iSight
remote
thinner
MagSafe
How can you be disappointed? What the heck did you expect? That the specs would be better than the MacBook Pro? This is the low end, but a bloody wicked low end.
Apple’s $1099 price is excellent – especially considering all the standard features. PC laptops for $700-$900 never include all the features people want, and when they add the desired upgrades the price is always closer to or even higher than Apple’s. Sure, it’d be nice if Apple offered a stripped down version without some of the buzz and whistles just so they could advertise a lower starting price, but that’s not how they do business. I’m sure they will sell all they can make of these new Macbooks.
For those complaining about the size compared to the old 12″…
The MacBook 13″ is smaller than the iBook 12″.
12.78 x 8.92x 1.08 = 123.12 cubic inches
versus
11.2 x 9.06 x 1.35 = 136.99 cubic inches.
OK, so it’s largely down to it being much slimmer, but overall the volume is down and there aer more dots on the screen too. I think this qualifies as positive progress.
Glossy screen is no good for me. Sorry Apple. I was really waiting for the MacBook.
Big Boy, they packed more features into it and lowered the price over the old iBook G4. They didn’t mess up the price at all. Sure you can get a bottom of the barrel POS AMD Turdion for $800, but you get what you pay for. You didn’t really want to buy the new Macbook, and now you’re justifying it by finding everything wrong with it that you can. Whatever helps you sleep at night I guess.
Ignoring price etc, which looks better,
BLACK or WHITE?
Sixty-third post!!!!!!!!
Big Boy-
I think I understood most of your incoherent babble. Some of it even seemed like proper English. Here’s the bottom line: For run-of-the-mill consumers, this machine will be great. It’s got a decent screen, nice features, and is affordable. Since I’m a graphic designer and video editor, I will be upgrading my PowerBook to a MacBook Pro. Simply put, if you don’t like it, don’t buy it.
Black one is nice. Buut I can see the problem now: which one to choose!
I just went to the Apple website and maxed-out a Black MacBook…it came out to $2600!! Holy expensive Batman! I mean, 2 Gigs of RAM costs an additional $500!!
I’d go out and get a MacBookPro if you’re looking to spend some decent cash on a portable. $1099 isn’t bad for the entry level if you’re just looking for a great laptop to have fun with…but anything above that I would caution against.
Many are asking “why” on the gloss screen. I think it is merely to keep up with the other portable computers out there. I had a friend of mine ready to get a MacBook Pro but she opted for a PC because it had the glossy screen. All she does is surf the internet and some word processing but the freaking glossy screen made here get a PC. So, many out there think that the glossy screen looks better. I wish her luck with the mess that is Windows media center edition.
Looks great to me, but I can’t wait for the new Apple TV spot featuring AC/DC . . . think about it . . . think about it . . . okay, “Mac in Black”.
To all you business execuives that are whining about this new computer, why should these price points be any surpise? These are Apple’s price points. This is what the consumer models sell for and since the G3 iBook the price point has not change.
Apple does a great job of maintaining its price points and staying profitable; unlike Dell, Gateway, etc. that are competing for the lower tiered market and losing money. Profit margin and cash flow is everything. And for Apple to survive as a viable company both of those things must be maintained.
Further, Apple is not for everybody. Apple is not trying to sell to everybody. There are a handful of people in the world that want what Apple offers. If you don’t like the value you receive when you buy a Mac, move on.
They’ll sell millions of these. They pass my drool test, which is how I know which Apple products will succeed or not.
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I’m pretty sure if you go to Sony or HP and configure a CORE DUO machine it will be as much or more with less features. Dell can probably be discounted with coupons for less, but these are more competitive than people are thinking. Remember, many of the rumors were pointing to a Core Solo in the 1099 model. I’m very pleased to get a 1.8 duo loaded at this pricepoint.
Can anyone show me a Duo machine with these specs for less?
Apple priced them the way they have always priced them; higher than the competition, but also including more than the Windoze junk.
So they didn’t mess up, as they’ve sold plenty in the last three years. And they will sell plenty in the coming months.
$1099 for a 1.83GHz Core Duo is great given all the other stuff included. The 1.83 is a surprise – most would’ve been happy with a 1.67 Core Duo (not Core Solo). Anyway, they’ll drop to $999 before Christmas.
Apple priced the black more because they’re betting that some people will be willing to pay more just for black. They could’ve done it for the nano and still sell them like hotcakes but they didn’t. This is just smart business…
And finally, the speed bumps on the MBPs are nice.
Near-identical specs to the mac mini (save for the proc. speed). $300-$700 more. Ouch.
We’re all agreed:
– $150 for black is weak.
– Glossy display is a loser.
– Price increase over the mini is too much.
– Where’s the rumored iPod update?
So that’s gonna have to hold you ’til August. Take it or leave it.
Why are there so many complaints and whining???? Princing point mean jack. You are getting a whole package!! 800 vs 1000?? 200 dollars difference?? I think the iLife suite of softwares more then compensates that 200 dollars difference!!!! Plus,… hummm security from viruse and worms?? That’s worth more then 200 dollors for me, save me tons of time doing reinstall and figuring out what the hell is wrong with my machine!!!! And the experience with MAC OSX…. priceless.
My friend who works for intel in Taiwan has been using PC all his life and sweared that he will never get a Mac. Guess what??? He got a Mac Mini and installed bootcamp… a week later hie said “once you go Mac, you can’t go back, Microsoft is going down”, his exact words!
I don’t know how bad the price really is…I just hopped on Dell’s site and punched up a machine that is somewhat comperable to the $1299 model (only somewhat b/c it has a 14″ screen with higher resolution) and it was $1600.
This looks sweet, what other laptop can run Windows and glorious OS X?
I am fine with integrated graphics, I dont see why people complain about it. It has been proven it can display 2 feeds of High Def. What else do you need on a laptop? Games (come on)
Only thing that worries me is the display 1280 x 800. Still definitley worth a trip to the apple store to have a play.
The mini has neither a screen, a keyboard, a battery or the portability.
How do you produce all that for free?
Where’s the illuminated keyboard ????
I really need that feature !!!!!!!!!!!!!
arghhhhhhhhhhh!
To all the naysayers, I went to try and compare Apple’s MacBook to Dell’s equivalent, the Inspiron 710m.
Look at this:
Dell: Apple:
12″ 13.3″
1 X 1.7 Ghz 2 X 1.83 Ghz
Windows XP MacOS X Tiger
512 MB RAM 512 MB RAM
60 GB HDD 60 GB HDD
Combo Drive Combo Drive
Wireless Wireless
Integrated Graphics Integrated Graphics
Front Row
iSight
$1,637 $1,099
Does the MacBook still look like overprices POS? I think not.
Link to dell configuration:
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=19&fb=1&l=en&oc=710MIR&s=dhs
cnet.co.uk report that the Black MacBook comes with
“with 80GB of memory”
Bless them, they don’t understand about computers.
Big Boy, who has already been seriously whacked here, said:
I can get by with a Microjunk laptop at these prices. Like I said, hey just lost my sale. I will have to hunt down a new AMD Turion today. Again one lost sale here. And I wanted so to buy a Mac.
No, you obviously didn’t. If you really wanted a Mac, you would still buy one and–perhaps rightfully–complain about the price. But suggesting that your other option is to buy that non-Mac crap reveals that you don’t want a Mac very much at all.
Oops. Post went a bit wrong. I’ll try again:
To all the naysayers, I went to try and compare Apple’s MacBook to Dell’s equivalent, the Inspiron 710m.
Look at this:
Dell:
12″
1 X 1.7 Ghz
Windows XP
512 MB RAM
60 GB HDD
Combo Drive
Wireless
Integrated Graphics
$1,637
Apple:
13.3″
2 X 1.83 Ghz
MacOS X Tiger
512 MB RAM
60 GB HDD
Combo Drive
Wireless
Integrated Graphics
Front Row
iSight
$1,099
Does the MacBook still look like overprices POS? I think not.
Link to dell configuration:
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=19&fb=1&l=en&oc=710MIR&s=dhs
PC Apologist-
$300-$700 price difference from the Mac mini with near-identical specs? Um, what about the SCREEN?
I have to say i am abit diapointed with the new look, i think that the old iBook g4 looked much better and its a shame not to see a 12 inch, i hope apple release a 12 inch beacuse as far as im concerned im sticking with my iBook at this moment.
Dell E1404 can be had for $998 w/ same processor, BT, RAM, wireless AND 14″ screen.
Apple line on website:
“MacBook: the most advanced affordable Mac notebook ever.”
So its more advanced than even the Macbook Pro??? How?
How hot does it get? Couldn´t find that spec.
keyword ‘affordable’, two different lines.. one’s consumer (affordable), and one’s professional. As long as there aren’t any first design major goofs, they’ll sell well.
Anyone have any ideas about battery life? Cant seem to find anything on the tech specs on apple.com
CHeers
Mike
>Can anyone show me a Duo machine with these specs for less?
No, I can’t. I’ve just priced the latest HP DV1000t with core duo at same speed with wireless, webcam, 512MB single chip and XP Pro and it’s over $1216. No photo software, magsafe, and other things. Seems a fair price to me.
No KEYBOARD!!???!! This is worthless if I cannot input my data through a keyboard?!? What are they thinking?
PC Apologist says “- Price increase over the mini is too much.”
——————-
You’re joking right? Do you realize that the MacBook comes with a 13 inch widescreen display which alone costs $143, plus an iSight cam, keyboard, trackpad, magsafe connector, battery, AND it’s portable.
The glossy screen was interesting choice, but the MBP is also available with a choice of glossy or matte:
“Also as of Tuesday, both the 15-and 17-inch MacBook Pro models offer Apple’s new glossy widescreen display as a CTO option on at no additional cost.
According to Apple, customers should choose the glossy widescreen display if they want to make their graphics, photos, and videos appear with richer color and deeper blacks. The new display is also great for watching DVD movies, the company said.
Meanwhile, those customers who prefer a display with anti-glare coating for a matte rather than glossy viewing experience, should stick with the standard widescreen display. “
Dang! I just bought a 15″ PowerBook G4 1.67 HD (the last version before Intel) for $1400 cash yesterday. I had to replace my TiBook that has been on the fritz.
I’m still deciding how much buyer’s remorse I should be having.
Actually a better Dell to compare it to would be this one:
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&oc=E1405S4&s=dhs
Still @ $1400 or so it is more than the equivalent Mac.
“GMA950 is the deal-killer for me. A modest accelerator would have been preferable to the Intel memory-stealing chipset.”
Question: How many of you people who complain about the “deal-killer” GMA950 have actually used the thing over a period of time? Inspite of the whine, whine, whine, when the new Mini came out I bought one for my home theater set up. Guess what? It’s fine, it’s no “deal-killer” for most day to day normal usage. I think most people couldn’t tell the difference and don’t even give an damn. And I suspect most complainers are just repeating what they’ve heard others say and have never seen the thing in action.
Observation: I always get the feeling I’m reading the fantasy ramblings of a lot of 15 year old boys when I read MDN. But then again I find it funny, witty, and a great read. Kinda makes me 15 years old too I guess.
Opinion: Anyone who says they own three Macs and then says “it’s all about price” and opt for $800 worth of crap instead of the $899 iBook over at Amazon is a troll.
Apple cut the price of the Mac mini to be worth MORE then competition at the competitions pricing. Apple could easily have had a $899 price on the low ender laptop . Make it a core solo for God sake.
So whats up with the keyboards…you guys all see how they have rounded buttons???
A troll with you guys!! Everyone is a troll who has another opinion then you. I have to laugh, now I see how I must look to my PC friends when all I talk about Apple is the best. I am the Apple zealot with my friends, but have an open mind and except Microjunk for what it is, And the funny thing, I learned on an Apple as my first computer only 5 years ago and had to get a microjunk for work. Yea they suck, but it still is a computer. Just posting and being with you guys has open my eyes to how I must look in their eyes. Pathetic.
Whether you think this is a good value or not, it is interesting to see the reaction from the street:
http://www.google.com/finance?q=AAPL
Yep, The street even thinks the pricing sucks!
Okay, I, for one, am hugely excited. When I can justify replacing my lovely little 800 mHz 12″ iBook I’ll be upgrading to this. If it wasn’t still chugging along happily and with no problems, I’d be ordering one. As it is, hopefully I’ll be able to buy one about a year from now, when problems will have been ironed out and the price will have dropped.
Big Boy,
AAPL generally always takes a dive when new products are released. This is typical and nothing new. It will rebound to a higher level by weeks end.
Oh my God, my partner just configured a Sony with the same specs and it was 2K with no extra software like iLife. The 14″ Dell mentioned above for a grand does not include a webcam the new magnetic technology, dual touchpad, the anti fall gizmo, etc… AND is forced to used XP and no ilife or other bundled apps. This bottom end Mac may be there BEST deal in the Apple lineup, there isnt as cheap a deal in the PC world today!!! Way to go Apple. They will sell zillions of them. (go look at the price points on the HP version, and even the Assus who makes them has a similar model for almost 2K!!!)
I am concerned about the glossy screeen however. My partners new Dell 17″ glossy screen is anoying. Hopefully these are nicer to live with. I use mine for DVD playback/Ichat/Safari/itunes mostly, so not too worried.
Seriously gang, those of you complaining about price should look at the bargain basement PC’s, this is an amazing value IMHO.
Big Boy,
Get your Turion. Who the hell cares what you do? Does the Turion have exactly everything the Macbook has? I doubt it. Match up the specs exactly and let us know what the price is. I get what Apples doing, you don’t. They are including all of the best options on their computers. You get them even if you don’t think you need them. You may end up using them and realize that they are great and you do like them. That’s Apple’s game plan. If you don’t like it don’t buy one. Get lost. Scram.
Forgive my ranting everyone, but i just configured my new machine and am ready to buy:
Bottom of the line unit upgraded with 1 gig RAM, upped to an 80 gig internal, and an extra mini-DVI addaptor and my total is $1268.
Thats a nice config for that pricepoint.
i think the price is totally fine and im buying one.
one thing though i would like to be able to upgrade to a superdrive on the lowest priced model and you cant do that, you have to go the next model up, which may or may not work out to the same price.
thats the only thing that bugs me.
for everyone that winging about price try and get a dell or anything pc with those specs for less.
cmon try instead of whinging.
It’s two inches wider than the 12 inch Powerbook, and half a pound heavier. It’s too big for me to carry in my briefcase.
Looks good to me — the black one will go nicely with my iPod video.
Only one thing… I’ll have to inspect one in a store to make sure which screen to go for…
But… I want it NOW!!
I really don’t understand the issues people have with pricing. It’s a hundred more. Big deal. The iSight alone is like, what?, 130 or 150. Plus a Core Duo chip (which I think was kind of unexpected) and all sorts of stuff that is now standard that used to be totally optional. Man, when did Mac fans turn into such whiners??
To the people asking about battery life, the “wireless” page states this:
“MacBook offers up to 6 hours of battery life. (2.5 hours of DVD playback, 3.5 hours with wireless turned on.)”
DAMN!!! Intel integrated gfx. iGuess I’m not getting 1 now. iReally need a new computer too. Oh well, guess I’ll wait until the end of the yr to c what else develops.
Big Momma says “I really don’t understand the issues people have with pricing. It’s a hundred more. Big deal. The iSight alone is like, what?, 130 or 150. Plus a Core Duo chip (which I think was kind of unexpected) and all sorts of stuff that is now standard that used to be totally optional. Man, when did Mac fans turn into such whiners??”
———
Agreed! And don’t forget the $999 iBook was a 12″, the $1099 is a 13.3″ widescreen! No complaints here.
Big Boy, there are trolls and there are trolls … one kind talks trash while the other waits under a bridge to mug you. The latter is not known for its ‘smarts’ or manners.
My opinion on this:
=> I think Apple messed up when they priced it over $1,000! They should have found a way to hit that magic number.
=> $150 for the glory of ‘black’? That suggests:
-=> a) they want to be seen offering it
-=> b) they don’t really want many of these out there
-=> c) they want it to be a status symbol – Hi, I’m Rich and Stupid
=> ‘glossy’ screen the only option? WHY?!?!?
Nice package, overall … I’ll be saving my pennies for a base model with extra RAM and a bigger HD … ~$1,300 to replace my 12″ iBook with a nice wide screen and four times the horses.
One question guys.
whats your intepretation of how the integrated graphics will effect the battery life?
would you expect it to increase the life or decrease it?
STILL NO PCMCIA SLOT!!! Good luck adding your Verizon or Sprint Broadband cards to these things. And yes, $1100 is to high a price point for this krap! Apple just doesn’t listen to its costumer’s.
iReally need a new computer too. Oh well, guess I’ll wait until the end of the yr to c what else develops.
So you NEED a new one, but can wait until the end of the year ?
That means you don’t NEED one, you just WANT one.
The specs won’t change much this year. The processors will get faster maybe, as new models are released. That’s about it.
so many stupid apple fan boi here.
fan boi who never admit themselves fanboi.
stupid fanboi.
i’ve been using mac for years and love my mac a lot, but i’m not blind and above all, i’m not fan boi.
compared to the macbook pro i mean
Am I the only one who misses the latch? How does this thing close? Magnetic?
Given that Apple will not be able to produce enough MacBooks in the foreseeable future (and because coolness is a big selling point) I perfectly understand why the black one costs more. When sales will slow they will lower the price. (“Now 200$ less” sounds good too
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These books sure are cool, the price point is extremely competitive, you won’t find a comparable Windows laptop (OK, a laptop capable of running *only” windows…).
For $1100 bux you can get a great computer. My last laptop cost over $2000 and it lasted 5 years. The specs are better than the iBook and it only costs $100 more.
from the way some people are going on they wanted apple to give them away. oh noes…Apple is charging a fair price and probably making a profit…why can’t they be commodity priced like HP and Dell???
the price is fine. now I have to decide on iMac or MacBook.
magic word = growth as in market share needs some growth
C
2 gigs max- yay! up to 224 megs for video, dvi out, up to 2046×1536 on an external display. 1080p capable. TELL me that doesn’t kick ass! Knee jerk to integrated is that it sucks, but it doesn’t. You fools.
You don’t know the history of things that are 13″ and black. I do.
Lets get one thing straight:
MacBook Pro = Pro user computer
MacBook = Consumer user computer
If you use your comp for just email, web browsing, writing letters, dowloading songs etc, GET A MACBOOK!
You do not need a high definition screen to do this or 2gb RAM or a faster harddrive.
I have my own design company and bought a MacBook Pro because I need as much power as possible and as high a definition screen as possible for me to do my day to day work with.
I would get a MacBook for my wife, who would be extremely happy with it’s power and looks.
Not good enough for professional use, but then THAT IS WHAT THE MACBOOK PRO IS NOT DESIGNED FOR.
Regarding the price, you pay for what you get!
I upgrade my macs once every 6 years, and buy the most highly specced ones available at the time because they are an investment in the future.
Price may be a deal breaker for some, but think about how long you are gonna keep your mac… pound for poun it works out a hell of alot cheaper!
Apple must be the only computer manufacturer whose prices have been consistently going UP. (Yes, you get more each time, but the price-to-play has been rising on Macs.) And with the diminishing education discounts, the effective price for students and teachers has been rising even faster. It’s possible Apple is sacrificing long-term customer base for short-term profits.
My 12″ G4 powerbook is the best and most compact laptop computer I have ever owned. I almost sold it recently, thinking that a new 12″ MacBook Pro was just around the corner! But now…
Doesn’t it figure that the most nearly perfect model in the lineup would be the one to be discontinued?????????????????????
I agree with most everyone here that I’m also a bit disappointed. Integrated graphics suck, they always have sucked, and always will suck in the forseeable future. The GMA950 is no better than it’s predecessors, regardless of pixel engines, pipelines, etc. The simple fact that video’s number one bottleneck is RAM, and RAM alone, means that as long as you share memory you’re going to have a huge underperformer.
While the Radeo 9600 on the iBook wasn’t awesome – it was truckloads better than the GMA950. At least I could play WoW on my iBook.
Damn.
Just like the Mac Mini. Apple’s going to mainstream consumerism on their products. I also agree that $999 would have been a more effective price point – they could have ditched the built-in iSight and saved the $100.
If you don’t think people will pay an extra $200 for a Black Mac, then you just don’t understand Apple. This is not Dell.
Big Boy, you don’t know the history of Microjunk…. I do.
nonarKitten –
And why won’t you be able to play WoW on a MacBook? It easily satisfies the system requirements.
I love the new MacBook. Better than expected. The price is fine. I think they’re awesome. My order is in already!!
I’m Partyin’ !!!!!!!!
I’m amazed that Apple would not want to get the price of the entry-level MacBook under $1000.
Here’s my challenge:
Try writing a comment without using third grade level adjectives such as “stupid,” “idiot,” and “crap.” I know it will be challenging, but the exercise of your brain will do you good.
Just try it for a day and see if you don’t regain the use of dormant intelligence, and, feeling invigorated, even impress yourself.
Have at it.
By the way, anybody who gets a black one is friggin’ stupid, ’cause it’s a piece of crap only an idiot would like. I’m gonna get me a white one ’cause it’s kewel! (Kidding!)
alansky: My 12″ G4 powerbook is the best and most compact laptop computer I have ever owned.
I couldn’t agree more. I think today made me love my 12″ PB even more. From what it stands at now, I don’t even want a mac book. Maybe in a year or two I’ll look into whatever macbook pro is the hot ticket item. Until then I’ll be happy with my 12″ PB with apple care.
PS awesome name.
There is much, much more intelligent and useful discussion of the new MacBooks at Slashdot http://apple.slashdot.org/apple/06/05/16/1258213.shtml
Not just a bunch of ads like this site. This whole page is just an ad, and man, I hate those green ads. What a slap in the face.
Am I the only one here who thinks Tom Cruise is hillarious?
“You don’t know the history of _________. I do.”
Ok, so, it’s not funny on it’s own but when you find it in every story it gets to be pretty damn funny.
Duper says “I’m amazed that Apple would not want to get the price of the entry-level MacBook under $1000.”
——–
With the specs on the new MacBook there was no way they could have done it. The components used make the MacBook considerably more expensive to manufacture than the iBook.. Even at $1099 I’d be willing to bet that Apple has cut it’s profit margin compared to the iBook.
-The 13′ widescreen costs significantly more than the 12″ screen on the $999 iBook ($143 is Apple’s cost.)
-The core-duo chip is considerably more expensive than the 5 year old g4 chip.
-iSight Cam
-MagSafe connector and latch
-Remote control
-Gigabit ethernet
-Digital audio in/out connectors
All of these upgrades boil down to one thing, A more expensive machine to manufacture.
Of course, Apple probably could have offered a stripped down single core processor without all of the extra features and got down to below $1000, but Apple is not about selling the cheapest products available.. They are about selling the best products available.
You will always be able to buy a cheaper Dell, but you get what you pay for.
“It’s two inches wider than the 12 inch Powerbook, and half a pound heavier. It’s too big for me to carry in my briefcase.”
Buy a new briefcase……
Bill asks “Am I the only one here who thinks Tom Cruise is hillarious?”
——–
Yes.
If everyone hates the new Macbook this much, it’s going to make it a much shorter wait for me to get one – was worried that there would be a shortage
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You know…I click on MDN everyday to read these blogs. Not only are they hilarious, but it really makes me appreciate the fact that I DO have a life! So my ex-wife was wrong! Woo hoo!
Up close pics of the black MacBook here:
http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1748
Notice the letters on the keyboard are centered within each key instead of being placed on the lower left-corner of each key.
Mike K, I am all for a core solo. That would fit me fine and thousands would agree with me I would bet.
Big Boy says “Mike K, I am all for a core solo. That would fit me fine and thousands would agree with me I would bet.”
———-
Maybe.. I agree that psychologically, $999 sounds better than $1099.. BUT, when it boils down to consumers actually making a purchase, I believe that few people would actually choose a single-core machine without the bells and whistles when they could get a dual-core machine with twice the performance and many extra features for a measly hundred bucks.
I just wish they would make 1GB RAM standard across the line, show people what OS X and iLife can really do.
Mike K, $899 ($200) not $999 ($100)
You pay a premium for a Mac. Why is this so surprising to everyone? Apple is not looking to compete with Dell and Gateway on pricing anymore than BMW wants to compete with Hyundai. You’re shocked that you can configure a Dell with “similar” hardware specs for less money than a MacBook? No surprise there. Inferior products generally cost less than superior ones. Macs simply have much more to offer than PCs out of the box.
Let’s look at what you get on a Mac that you don’t get with a Windows XP laptop:
1. OSX. As a life-long Windows user until 1 year ago, the OSX experience alone is worth an extra $200 to me.
2. iLife. PC users, you don’t know what you’re missing. iPhoto and iMovie alone are life-changing software applications for anyone with a digital camera and/or camcorder. And they come bundled on a Mac.
3. Style. If you don’t think style and design matter than you’re not a Mac person. Move on.
And what you don’t get on a Mac:
1. Viruses
2. Spyware
3. Worms
4. Etc.
That’s a lot to pay for black v.s. white.
6 words for all of you. Total cost of long-term ownership!
My 333 Lombard was a screamer way back then and is still running Tiger now. I paid 2,600 with an additional battery. No camera, no bluetooth, no firewire, no wireless, and no DVD burner.
If this Macbook holds up the same way, the total cost of long-term ownership will be pennies.
I just wish they had a red one.
Oh, I do. I have every setting maxed on my MBP, and it still runs like silk. The MacBook was a candidate for a second LAPTOP to be used for more portability where the MacBookPro is more of a NOTEBOOK (and dangerous to keep on your lap).
And to RicMac – I’ve gone through half a dozen laptops over the last year. I’ve thouroughly tested a Sony Vaio Centrino/GMA, Gateway Centrino/GMA, Acer Duo/x1400, Toshiba Duo/x1600, as well as my MBP Duo/x1600. I can say, without a doubt, that just within Windows – not running any 3D apps, I can tell the difference between them. Even running Word and Internet Explorer on the GMA is frustrating. It’s not childish to expect a $1000 modern machine to be able to redraw windows near-instantly.
“To put it mildly, it’s no contest. To put it more bluntly, it’s a complete and total rout for the GMA950, with the possible exception of the CPU-intensive Flight Simulator 2004. Even then, what you get is playable frame rates, but the GeForce 6800TC still crushes the GMA950. The verdict is even worse when you realize the GMA950 wouldn’t even run Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory or Painkiller, even though the specs of the GPU suggests they should. Intel has acknowledged a driver bug with regards to Chaos Theory. But if this is any indication of the potential compatibility issues users may encounter, running games on the new core is a dubious prospect.”
In otherwords, POS. The GMA950, is at best, half the speed of the slowest most usless grahpics chip nVidia can produce. Or, more precisely, about 1/8th a basic x1300 with Hypermemory, and 1/20th the speed of the x1600 in my MBP.
Junk. Garbage. What more can you say?
Big Boy “Mike K, $899 ($200) not $999 ($100)”
—–
You’re grasping at straws here. Apple have never had a laptop at $899. You’ve got to get it through your head that Apple have NEVER been the cheapest and they never will. They have never entered the commodity business like Dell and HP and that is the very reason we are all here discussing their products with such passion (or dis-passion..)
Apple is a premium vendor. After 30 years of NOT being the cheapest available, why would you expect anything different now?
Their pricing is what it is.. If you don’t like it, then don’t buy it. Girping about it is not going to change anything, it’s wasted energy… Accept the fact the new MacBook has been upgraded considerably and costs $100 more. Big deal, Move on.
Awesome. I’m buying the $1100 one, with 3rd-party ram and a DVI adapter to connect to my 20″ Dell LCD. It’s about time I replaced my 3 and a half year old TiPB, that I spent $2500 on.
I told our resident know-it-all that these would be called “MacBook,” but Mr. Smarty Pants insisted that they would be called “iBooks.”
Not bad, but they aren’t any MacBook Pros.
Not bad, but they aren’t any MacBook Pros.
——–
You’re right. They’re MacBooks
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At Canadian educational prices:
Dell Latitude D520 2.0GHz Dual Core
$1,849
Windows® XP Professional, SP2, with media
No bundled software
14.1 inch XGA LCD Panel (1024 X 768 resolution)
1.0GB, DDR2-667 SDRAM, 2 DIMMS
80GB Hard Drive, 9.5MM, 5400RPM
8X DVD+/-RW w/Sonic Digital Media™ and Cyberlink Power DVD™
Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950 (Up to 224MB shared)
4 Cell Primary Battery
65W A/C Adapter
Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200 802.11a/g WLAN mini Card
Bluetooth
Serial, docking connector, S-Video, firewire 400, 4 USB, VGA, headphone/speaker out, infrared port, modem, ethernet, integrated microphone
3yrs limited warranty,plus 3yrs Next Business Day Onsite Service
w=5.24lb, thickness=1.4″ ; width=13.3″, depth=10.75″
White MacBook 2.0 GHz
$1,788
Mac OS X
Bundled: iLife, Front Row (+remote)
1280 by 800, the 13.3-inch glossy widescreen display
1GB 667 DDR2 SDRAM – 2×512
80GB Serial ATA drive
SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Intel GMA 950 graphics processor with (Up to 64MB shared )
55-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery
60W MagSafe Power Adapter with cable management system
built-in iSight,
Apple USB Modem
AirPort Extreme Card & Bluetooth
One FireWire 400 port, 2 USB, Mini-DVI port, audio in/audio out ports, infrared port, ethernet (10/100/1000)
AppleCare Protection Plan for MacBook/iBook – Auto-enroll
w=5.2lb, thickness=1.08″, width=12.78″, depth=8.92″
So, thanks to the i950 graphics, I can’t use Aperture on this MacBook (doesn’t support i950) and Photoshop is barely usuable (will need to wait at least another year for the universal version).
Funny, while a $1K Dell or HP sure ain’t as pretty, I can atleast get some graphics work done on it.
What was that about OS X being for “work” and Windows for Solitare?
Heck of a job Apple, heck of a job.
Considering all of the standard features, the $1,299 MacBook is a bargain. Show me another notebook with a 2GHz Core Duo processor, SuperDrive, iSight camera, Front Row, built-in wireless and DVI out all included for that price…
I like the fact it uses the same CoreDuo processor as its big brother but don’t think that they priced it correctly on the high end… another 20GB of HD and it is $200 more!!! WTF?
You think a serious professional photographer willing to pay $300 for Aperture is going to be using anything but a MacBook Pro? I just can’t see it.
It is a shame that Adobe is not releasing a universal version of Photoshop sooner, but I still think that the consumer users that the MacBook will appeal to are probably not heavy Photoshop users; the iPhoto editing tools are sufficient for the casual photographer.
Great Product, except for the shiny screen
Can’t figure out the dumb ass shiny screen!!!!!???????!!!!
What’s the advantage to seeing all the reflections of everything around you on your screen??? I’ve seen these retarded shiny screens on shitty pcs and just wondered why. I don’t get it.
I think they are a great deal – better than most people expected. The specs are as good or better than any sane person hoped for.
The only surprise is that Apple charges an extra $150 for the color black!
Anyone know if the 80GB drive in the black book is a Hybrid drive? That would justify the extra expense, if not I can’t figure it out. The price of the other models is competative to similar specification laptops but you get a better OS and iLfie into the bargain.
Integrated graphics on my mini isn’t a problem, it happily does 1080p.
Cheers,
Tim.
Don’t buy RAM from Apple! It’s a RIP-OFF!
I’m not buying a MacBook until it cures cancer. For $1099, I expect that.
Big boy is exactly the opposite of what his name implies. He just wants attention.
R.I.P. PowerBook
Wow, I can’t wait for the next-gen MacBook Pros with Core 2 Duo to get the pure magnetic case latch and new super-cool keyboard.
If the MacBooks didn’t have integrated graphics, I’d be tempted to get one – I use Aperture, so I need the dedicated graphics.
anyone notice the addition of a mini-phone jack audio input? A lot of GarageBand-ers are going to like that. ‘Bout time, if you ask me. Though a second FW port would have been nicer.
And as to all the whingeing about price? Well, my three-year-old iBook cost $1,499 when I bought it, and it’s still going strong. So I’d say paying the same price three years later for a much, much faster laptop with extra software (iLife), hardware (iSight) and other stuff (mag-safe, or whatever it’s called, integrated WiFi, gigabit ethernet, etc.) is pretty cool.
Even the non-universal Photoshop runs a heck of a lot faster on the new MacBook than it did on the iBook. And professional photographers that need to use Aperture shouldn’t be buying a MacBook, they should be using either a MBP or a PowerMac.
No mini-DVI to VGA adapter included? Huh? A $19.00 adapter? Duuuuudes!
I love all things Apple and I always will, but that is just damn dumb!
I have a hard enough time trying to explain exactly what a VGA connector is, much less that Apple uses DVI on Powerbooks, mini VGA on iBooks, mini DVI on 12″ Powerbooks.
I can’t wait for the tech support calls I’m going to get from teachers who bought one of these shiny new lovelies and didn’t realize you HAVE to have an adapter to connect it to a projector!
I think i’ll need to up my meds for this one…
Complaining about a frickin $100 increase for a boatload of new features and 5x performance increase….
Tell you what, instead of taking your girlfriend out to dinner and a movie this weekend, tell her you’re gonna pick up Chinese food and a rent a movie from Blockbuster.. Then you can take the $100 bucks that you would have spent on dinner and a movie and put it into your new MacBook that you will be using everyday for the next 3-4 years..
Then quit your whining and shut up already… Fricking cheapskates!
Luke, I would usually agree with your assessment of Apple’s prices for RAM … not here. You buy your own and install it yourself and you may not save a penny – OK, you get to keep the extra sticks of RAM you’ve just replaced which might constitute a “savings” – and you take a chance of damaging something while revoking your warrantee. Not a great plan, in my mind. Usually, though, Apple memory is seriously over-priced.
All you guys regretting the loss of the 12″ PB … what are you regretting? The iBo … MacBook NONPro is more powerful, reportedly by a factor of 4, and has a larger and more useful screen without adding significant bulk. A 12″ notebook is not – and never HAS been – an acceptable system for serious graphics work or gaming. So, what’s the complaint here? You miss your shiny metal case? Higher price? Spend the $150 for the MIB Edition and get over it.
Mike K:
“professional photographers that need to use Aperture shouldn’t be buying a MacBook, they should be using either a MBP or a PowerMac.”
…the funny thing is that the new MacBooks are more powerful than my MacBook Pro 1.83Ghz is – except for the integrated graphics. Same memory, same bus, same Core duo, 1280 resolution, FireWire and USB 2.0, same hard drive… The only thing missing is dedicated graphics.
The TCO argument is irrelevant; the only people who believe it already own a mac and will replace it with a mac.
If Apple’s marketing strategy is wholly comprised of beating the TOC drum, dull hardware, and saturation bombing with snotty ads… <5% market share is here to stay. All the people that are interested in this approach are already customers.
Hate to be a naysayer here (since I love the company)… but the stock isn’t likely to recover anytime soon. I suspect we’re heading for the high 50’s w/i a week or two.
When will macosrumors update their iBook (NOT MacBook) page?
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Magic word = thats
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THAT’S not the name
Mike K:
“Even the non-universal Photoshop runs a heck of a lot faster on the new MacBook than it did on the iBook”
umm… no.
go here:
http://www.macworld.com/2006/05/firstlooks/mbp17bench/index.php?lsrc=mwrss
They ran their Photoshop suite on a 2.16Ghz MacBook Pro 15″ and it took 2:32 to finish. They ran the same suite on a 1.67Ghz PowerBook (a bit faster than the old 1.4Ghz iBook) and it took 1:34 to finish.
The iBook would clearly dominate the new MacBook in Photoshop, until Photoshop CS3 comes out in 2007.
“Mike K, I am all for a core solo. That would fit me fine and thousands would agree with me I would bet.”
…except that Core Solo is only like $20 cheaper than a Core Duo. Not a good trade-off, considering that pretty much everything in Mac OS X is multithreaded and runs much better on a Core Duo.
From: Apple_fan
May 16, 06 – 01:44 pm
Big boy is exactly the opposite of what his name implies. He just wants attention.
So I can’t have an opinion other then yours without getting this kind of comment.
Nick, It was not me who said that is was Billy Boy.
Nick says “…the funny thing is that the new MacBooks are more powerful than my MacBook Pro 1.83Ghz is – except for the integrated graphics. Same memory, same bus, same Core duo, 1280 resolution, FireWire and USB 2.0, same hard drive… The only thing missing is dedicated graphics.”
—————-
Exactly, dedicated graphics…
That’s why a professional who does photo and/or graphics work should buy a machine WITH professional dedicated graphics.
“The only thing missing is dedicated graphics.”
Not true, the MBP also has PCI express card slot, Firewire 800 port, and a dedicated GPU with 30″ display support.
Why are there so many Windowsusers here whining and complaining about a product they not going to buy???…..Too much money? buy a windoze crappy box with 100.000 viruses, malware, spyware and other shit waiting for you and “share” your pc with a dozen mafia hackers…or buy a second hand mac and have fun. If you’re a pro user price is not that important unless you make no money with your work. In that case quit that job and find another. Apple macs rocksolid hardware that just works and that gives me the freedom to do my (creative) works without to worry about security that much…firewall on and no “blind opening” of downloaded stuff… i JUST WORKS, it does NOT CRASH and comes loaded with cool apps! It’ss worth the price if you like it…if you don’t like it buy another brand!
MacB..still the Netherlands.
I hope this Macbook laptop is just a testicle warmer not a testicle toaster….that is if you have testicles.
I know two people who will buy one. Heck, I’d trade my MBP for one (with a rebate for the difference of course).
I don’t need the video card.
These new machines look fantastic.
Black MacBook $150 Extra?!
we detail in this blog how a Black MacBook with the same specs as a White MacBook (80BG hard drive, 2.0GHz Core Duo, super-drive) is $150 more. Will people pay $150 just for color?
^^ See the appleinsider pictures someone else posted above.
The pictures Apple has up don’t do the design justice–they don’t really let you see the design and the texture. I hope they change them.
One Button Trackpad & Intel Graphics for $1,100-UP. OMFG!
No thanks.
I am not going to drink any Kool-Aid on this one.
“Complaining about a frickin $100 increase for a boatload of new features and 5x performance increase….
Tell you what, instead of taking your girlfriend out to dinner and a movie this weekend, tell her you’re gonna pick up Chinese food and a rent a movie from Blockbuster.. Then you can take the $100 bucks that you would have spent on dinner and a movie and put it into your new MacBook that you will be using everyday for the next 3-4 years..
Then quit your whining and shut up already… Fricking cheapskates!”
———-
Lol!
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” />
“Not true, the MBP also has PCI express card slot, Firewire 800 port, and a dedicated GPU with 30″ display support.”
Hmm, my MacBook Pro doesn’t have FireFire 800. =)
I guarantee I will never need that card slot, just like 99% of the people who have MBPs.
The dedicated GPU is good for games, Motion and Aperture – that’s about it. Integrated graphics works as well for everything else. The MacBook 2Ghz would outperform my MacBook Pro 1.83Ghz at rendering, FinalCut Pro, Logic Pro, and most other pro aps. Funny.
The MacBook would work fine with a 30″ display. It won’t run it 2500*1600, but it will certainly support it.
Ugh says ‘One Button Trackpad & Intel Graphics for $1,100-UP. OMFG!”
————
Actually no, It’s $1099 for:
– A 5x faster core-duo processor
– Faster Front side bus
– Faster DDR Ram
– Gigabit ethernet
– 13.3″ Widescreen display
– Built in iSight cam
– Mag safe connector and latch
– digital audio in and out
– Front Row w/ remote control
– iLife 06
– Dual boot machine
– 1 inch thin
You don’t need any Kool-aid to see that this is the best value and feature set of any laptop made by any manufacturer.
Nick, I’m not sure what your point is… If you don’t need the extra features that the MBP has then sell it and buy a MacBook, it’s a lot cheaper.
i was just pointing out the differences between the pro and consumer level machines. Pros are typically the ones who will need dedicated graphics, FW800 and a card slot, so they should stick with the MBP.
The majority of consumers will do just fine with the extremely well equipped MacBook.
Nick says “The MacBook would work fine with a 30″ display. It won’t run it 2500*1600, but it will certainly support it.”
———
I’m not 100% certain on this, but I don’t believe this is correct… I don’t think the integrated GPU in the MacBook will support the 30″ display at any resolution. Can anyone confirm?
The black looks too Dellish and early 90’s for me. Never really a fan of the white. A little splash of color would be nice. I wish they offered in silver.
It’s too bad Apple doesn’t let people choose which graphics they want, like Dell does:
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&oc=E1505S3&s=dhs
it’s an extra $79 for ATI x1300 128MB graphics, or an extra $129 for an ATI x1400 256MB card. Either would suffice for Aperture. Either would cost less than the $150 black color option.
“The black looks too Dellish and early 90’s for me. Never really a fan of the white. A little splash of color would be nice. I wish they offered in silver.”
——-
I hate to say it, but I thought the same thing about the black looking a bit “Dellish.” I would like to see a medium charcoal grey.
Nick says “It’s too bad Apple doesn’t let people choose which graphics they want, like Dell does”
——
They don’t do this because it would require two different internal design layouts for the same computer, which means higher manufacturing costs.
It’s not like they are not offering a portable with a dedicated GPU, it just costs more.. Considering that the majority of users will be fine with the integrated GPU, there really was no point for them to do this…
If you need a dedicated GPU, buy a MBP, if not, get a MacBook.
“If you need a dedicated GPU, buy a MBP, if not, get a MacBook.”
So instead of just paying another $79 like would would with Dell, you get to spend several hundred dollars more to get a larger form factor laptop from Apple. Cool.
Well, there are some additional pro- features in the MBP, but basically, yes.
It was the same argument with the G5 iMac and the G5 PowerMac.. The G5 iMac was considerably cheaper and the performance gap wasn’t very big. But if you’re a pro user and needed the expandibility and card slots, you have to pay the price.
I looked into it, and the MacBook supports up to 1920*1200 resolution on an external display. In other words, it will support 1080p HD video on the 30 inch display just fine.
http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/index.cfm?RSS&NewsID=14661
“To all you business execuives that are whining about this new computer, why should these price points be any surpise? These are Apple’s price points. This is what the consumer models sell for and since the G3 iBook the price point has not change. “
The G3 iBook 300 (clamshell) was around $1500 for the base model.
Price is right for me. I think Apple will strike an accord with many buyers.
“I would like to see a medium charcoal grey.”
——————–
Ohhh… that would be nice.
Actually, the black reminds me of the old PowerBooks. I think it’s very cool.
Looking forward to seeing it in person…but looks like I’ll be sticking with my iBook G4 for a little while longer.
Wonder if I should pick up a spare power adapter and a couple of spare batteries; when they changed the power adapter on the iBooks, I had a heck of a time getting a replacement for the adapter on my clamshell iBook…
Nick says “I looked into it, and the MacBook supports up to 1920*1200 resolution on an external display. In other words, it will support 1080p HD video on the 30 inch display just fine.”
——-
I may be wrong, but I’m still not convinced that it will power the 30″ display even at 1920*1200…
The below text is taken directly from the Apple MacBook site and says nothing about 30″ support:
“Dual Purpose
Get the big picture when you join your MacBook with either a stunning 20- or 23-inch Apple Cinema Display by way of a crystal-clear connection miniDVI port. (Requires miniDVI to DVI adapter, sold separately.)”
It’s such an awesome package and price.
The only reason I’m complaining about the integrated graphics is that I’d rather have one of these than my MacBook Pro, but silly Aperture requires dedicated graphics.
Curse Apple for making the MacBook more cool than the MacBook Pro! AAARRRGH!
Mike: “I may be wrong, but I’m still not convinced that it will power the 30″ display even at 1920*1200…”
Dude, the 30″ display is a freaking DVI monitor that supports 1920*1200 resolution. How could the MacBook not work with it? I mean, I might be wrong too, but come on! =)
if the mini can theoretically be upgraded via a cpu swap, is the same true of these?
Because only certain GPU’s will power the 30″ at any resolution.
>Tell you what, instead of taking your girlfriend out to dinner and a movie this weekend, tell her you’re gonna pick up Chinese food and a rent a movie from Blockbuster..
Honey, I’d really like to treat you nice, but I need the money to buy a computer instead
let us all know how that works out for you…
Nick, I just confirmed that the MacBook WILL NOT support a 30″ display at any resolution. The 30′ display requires a dual-link DVI connector which is not supported by the MacBook.
How did you confrm it Mike? Did someone actually try it at an Apple store? I’m still skeptical – I’ve read people claiming that the 30 display works with ordinary DVI, but just won’t run at native resolution.
I asked on the Appleinsider forums and received a response from a senior member who confirmed my suspicion.
The 30″ display is actually split in half. A single link DVI will only power half of the display regardless of resolution. That’s why dual link GPU’s are required to run a 30″. One link per side, that’s why they take up two card slots in a PowerMac. That’s also why the Apple MacBook page clearly states that only a 20″ and 23″ display can be used, both are single link displays.
Nick, you can call an Apple store or Apple directly (1-800-my-apple) if you’re still in doubt. But I assure you, it’s true.
I thinks its the best priced notebook on the market today. I just wish they had pink.
Unless something newer comes along by Christmas, I will get my wife the bottom end white one with at least 1G of ram. 512M of ram is insufficient for OS X and especially on a shared memory graphics computer. I am waiting mainly for the early design bugs to be caught and corrected.
In a few years, or maybe less, I will spring for a Mac Pro barn burner with a lot of cores.
Guys, WTF about the glossy display? You either use it, or get an anti glare film and have exactly what you want.
Ugh.
Oh, yeah: rubes.
Mike K:
That’s a shame if it’s true. That 30″ display supports 1920*1200 resolution, so it would probably just take another $10 of parts incorporated to make it work with ordinary DVI. I guess it’s in Apple’s best interest to upsale people though.
It’s nice that Apple is giving people the option of those super-high-glare displays on the MacBook Pro; some people like them a lot. Too bad it’s the only option for the MacBooks.
They are good for watching your back though – I guarantee nobody will sneak up behind you, since you’ll see their reflection in your glossy screen!
Nick, I don’t think you understand…
Yes, the 30″ display does support 1920*1200, however a dual link GPU is required to drive a 30″.. The 30″ display is literally split into two seperate halves internally. A GPU that supports dual link connectivity is a lot more expensive than $10. It’s not just the connector that won’t work, it’s the whole integrated GPU in the MacBook.
A dual link GPU can be likened to a dual-core processor. It’s essentially to gpu’s in one. And the price difference is several hundred dollars, not ten.
Mike:
Dude, I know about dual-link DVI and all of that. I was talking about the display itself – you could add a single-link DVI port along with switching circuitry for about $10 of parts. My Dell 20″ widescreen monitor at home supports VGA and DVI, for example. Get it?
For all those worried about the glare from the glossy screens… not a problem as far as I could tell. I just got back from the Apple Store and a test drive on the MacBook. The screen is fine, sooo much brighter than the old screen on the iBook. The glare problem, considering how bright and glitzy the Apple store is, was no worse than it was on an old iBook sitting right next to it. More so, because the screen is so much brighter, the glare actually seemed reduced and the image sharper.
That was my big worry… no it’s gone.
Rob
Maczeus:
You can get a dual-link DVI graphics card for under $100, so if by “several” you meant “less than one”, then I agree with you on the cost of a dual-link DVI graphics card.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814142060
http://www.connect3d.com/products/pcie_x1600pro.htm
But anyways, I was talking about the 30″ cinema display, not the MacBook.
Nick, it doesn’t work like that. The display’s circuitry has no capability to route shared video to both halves of the screen. The 30″ has no analog input – the GPU of the connected computer is responsible for distribution of the separate link’s information.
It would in fact be complicated and expensive to add that single-link scaling capability to this particular display. Which would be entirely useless to boot.
So why bother?
No Nick, I don’t understand what you’re talking about.
Are you saying Apple could add a single-link DVI port on the 30″ display?
If that’s what you mean, it wouldn’t work. No matter what resolution you choose to run your 30″ display at, it still requires a dual-link gpu. A single link port will only power half of the display, regardless of resolution settings.
If you mean something else, please clarify. I’m confused.
> Nick: You can get a dual-link DVI graphics card for under $100, so if by “several” you meant “less than one”, then I agree with you on the cost of a dual-link DVI graphics card.
Not one that will drive the Apple 30″ display. Dual link GPU’s for Mac range from $300 (NVidia Geforce 7800GT)-$1600 (Quadro FX 4500.)
Mike K:
I’m talking a different design – think electrical engineering, think outside the box man! I’m saying that Apple could easily have made the 30″ cinema display with two connectors: a dual-link DVI and a single-link DVI. It would have cost about $10 in parts per display to manufacture that way, and single-link DVI cards would have worked with 1920*1200 resolution.
Hey at least the hard drive is finally user upgradable..
Maczeus,
Dude. I gave you the link to buy the freaking card for $97, I gave you the product detail link where you can verify that it is a dual-link DVI card, yet still you do not see.
Dual-link DVI is nothing that special anymore.
ATI even made the 9600 card with dual-link DVI for Macs for $200, and that was several months ago!
Apple could have offered an ATI x1400 mobiliry upgrade for $150, and it would have had dual-link DVI:
http://www.ati.com/products/mobilityradeonx1400/specs.html
Dell charges an additional $149 for the x1400 256MB over the integrated Intel 950 crap like the MacBook has.
Which would you rather spend the $150 on? The color black, or dedicated graphics that supports all of your Pro apps and the 30″ cinema display?
Nick,
Buddy, I hate to say it, BUT YOU ARE STILL NOT GETTING IT!
Okay here it goes in laymans terms.
Forget about resolution for a minute, the 30″ display is a split display internally. It is two halves pieced together. So no matter what resolution each of those halves is running be it 1280*1024, 1920*1200, or 2560*1600, it is still a split picture that requires a DUAL LINK CONNECTOR AND VIDEO CARD. So even if Apple included a single link DVI connector to the back of the display, it would still only power one half of the display.
Under no circumstances will a single-link DVI card or connector power the Apple 30″display. Get it? Is that plain enough English? It can’t be done, and it has nothing to do with the connector or resolution. IT”S THE DISPLAY ITSELF!
Mike K, you are going to make me pee myself. You are so funny!
Over at the photo shoot of the MacBook at AppleInsider (http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1748), one of the first things they said is that the new MacBook has heat-staked feet.
What the heck are those? I can’t find a definition anywhere.
Ooooooh I wish we had an Apple Store somewhere in Montana. 🙁
Nick, I think the problem is that you are confusing resolution with monitor size. Apple’s 20 and 23 inch displays are one piece, so they can be driven with a single-link gpu and connector. Apple’s 30 inch display is two pieces and eaach piece needs a dedicated gpu link. What you are suggesting can’t be done. It would require a complete redesign of the 30 inch display. And even then, it is doubtful that a single link gpu would drive a display that big.
Nick, don’t wet yourself, just try to make some sense.
Happy days!
No matter how one looks at it……. the MacBook is less expensive (both initial cost and Total Cost of Ownership) than the Dell Core Duo XP Media Center notebooks.
Dell:
2.0 GHz Core Duo
100 GB hard drive
1 GB RAM
802.11g, Bluetooth
Windows XP Media Center w/ Remote
etc.
$1709
MacBook:
2.0 GHz Core Duo
100 GB hard drive
1 GB RAM
802.11g (aka AirPort Extreme), Bluetooth
Mac OS X Tiger w/ Front Row and remote
iSight (not on Dell)
MagSafe (not on Dell)
Optical audio in/out (not on Dell)
etc.
$1617
Almost $100 dollars difference.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” />
Nick says “I’m talking a different design – think electrical engineering, think outside the box man! I’m saying that Apple could easily have made the 30″ cinema display with two connectors: a dual-link DVI and a single-link DVI. It would have cost about $10 in parts per display to manufacture that way, and single-link DVI cards would have worked with 1920*1200 resolution.”
—————
Okay, so assume the 30″ display has two connectors, a dual link DVI and a single-link DVI.
The single link DVI card will still not work with 1920*1200 resolution. Is that really so hard to understand?
Oh…. and the Dell had a 14.1 inch widescreen.
Tre:
Right, what I was talking about was totally a different design. I didn’t make myself clear at first, I wasn’t talking about duct-taping another plug onto the monitor or something. LOL
I think that, in light of how cheap a dual-link DVI card is these days ($100 for desktops, $149 for laptops), the point is moot. Since the cost of adding dual-link DVI is so low (lower than making the MacBook is black, apparently), who cares about single-link DVI anymore.
I was suprised that the ATI x1400 has dual-link DVI, but it turns out that everything better than the x1300 does.
An additional single-link connector would require additional non-trivial circuitry which the current 30″ Apple display simply doesn’t have right now. Sure, it could be done. Just not “just like that” for $10.
Nick you can not run a split display with a single link GPU period. It’s like trying to fly a dual-jet airplane with one fuel line. Each half of the display needs to be fed simultaneously with the graphics card, even at 1920×1200 resolution.
Nick, the prices you are quoting for dual-link GPU’s are not going to drive the 30″ display.
You can’t just go find the cheapest card and expect it to run a monitor that big. You need a high end card to run the 30″ display, A $150 card isn’t going cut it.
Word: Stubborn
Definition: Nick
ping:
you’re probably right – it would be hard to pull off (as in not worth it), and since dual-link DVI cards are so cheap now, who cares.
I have to get to work – I’ve been having fun chatting with you people. =)
The MacBook looks totally awesome to me – rock on, Apple!
Darn – I paid more for my daughter’s G3 iBook 3 years ago.
I knew I should have waited…
Nick: Dual-link DVI cards are not really that cheap. More than that, Adding a $150 component to a $1100 computer is a significant cost. That’s a 10% increase to the product price. That would put the Macbook somewhere around $1400-$1500 for an entry level machine.. At that price you have just crossed into MBP territory. And as Maczeus said, those $150 cards won’t deliver the performance you’d expect to see on a 30″monitor. The graphics cards used in the PowerMacs are $350 for the base BTO. And besides, the MBP already has a dedicated GPU with a dual-link connector. How many people buying a $1100 MB are really going to fork out the cash to buy a 30 inch display? Not many, it would be a wasted expense to put a card like this in the MB
I hear this new laptop comes with ball burning performance.
“ball burning performance”
That’s all I needed to hear.
I love it. Thats it. There is no more to be said. I’m speechless.
It just leaves me with one really annoying question:
iMac or MacBook?
Speccing them both out o what I want, I have the 17″ iMac and the White MacBook at the same exact price. The only thing holding me back is wheter or not I need/want the portability.
..its gonna be a long night hahaha…..
Um… I dont know what to think. Im saving to switch from my Dell and was hoping the regular macbook would be $799 or lower, I mean thats not all that bad! But $1100? That’s a little too pricey. If they lower the price by a couple hundred, maybe then I’ll make the switch! I hope I do.
And I agree, the black looks bad! I’ll stick with chrome, thank you very much!
IGNORE BOTH THE FANBOYS & FUD – 3 REASONS MACBOOKS AREN’T $899:
One reason MacBooks don’t start at $899 is because Apple can’t afford a migration away from their best-selling & most profitable 15″ MacBook Pro line. For the first time, the consumer i/MacBook is now fast enough for all but legitimate graphics pros. So, now that the gap between “iBook” & “PowerBook” performance has narrowed (thanks to the Intel migration) over half of my Mac friends are tempted to get a MacBook instead of MB Pro.
Secondly, if Apple tries to increase market share by significantly lowering their profit margins for a couple of years, shortsighted Wallstreet would spank them so hard they’d bleed money. Bye bye Apple R&D budget. Finally, if will NEVER behoove Apple to EVER enter the brutal, tight margin comidity market wherein box assemblers like Dell profit mere pennies per laptop, a profit margin so slim it only works if Dell sells an EXTREMELY high volume of laptops – which, by the way, they’re failing to do, quarter after quarter… No, the only way to enter the commodity market is to FIRST increase market share THEN lower the prices, not the reverse, as common sense would dictate.
3rd reason? You’ll never see BMW or Mercedes or Audi come out with a Kia-priced sedan. Apple business model = Audi, not Dell. Want an $899 laptop? Buy an ugly 2 inch thick bathroom scale from Dell. Want an $899 sedan? Buy a used Kia.
Um… I dont know what to think. Im saving to switch from my Dell and was hoping the regular macbook would be $799 or lower, I mean thats not all that bad! But $1100? That’s a little too pricey. If they lower the price by a couple hundred, maybe then I’ll make the switch! I hope I do.
And I agree, the black looks bad! I’ll stick with chrome, thank you very much!
******
Sad_WIndows_user. My advice to you would be to stick with a PC, If $1100 is too much for you to spend on a laptop as fully equipped as the MB then you should just buy a Dell..
At least if you buy a Dell you’ll only spend $699 up front. Of course you’ll end up spending the extra $400 that you think you saved within the first two years, by purchasing all the software and paying all the annual fees and service support that you’ll need to keep your computer safe on the internet. You’ll also most likely end up replacing your Dell in half the time that you would have replaced your MacBook. But hey $1100 is too expensive, Right?
No one else has said it yet, so I’ll say it:
Don’t forget the biggest advantage of the MacBook over a comparable PC notebook:
on the MacBook, you can run OSX AND Windows.
You can’t do that on the PC notebook (legally).
The price is fair. Apple will sell a ton of these things. I ignore the whiners here (for example “Big Boy”), because these are probably the same people who said the iPod was priced too high when it came out. Look where it is now…
Post!!! Errr…..Uhhhhhh….Sorry I’m a slow typer
all the negative comments above are from microsoft patsies…
Perhaps all you complainers would prefer this board:
http://www.microsoft-watch.com/
I have just gotten Macbook
As I am setting it up I am being scraped constantly by the edges
Has anyone else noticed this problem
The black one is more expensive to cover the cost of anticipated ‘scratches’ lawsuits.
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So its decided then
We need a 12″ core solo mac book without an isight for $899
and a 12″ core duo mac book pro for $1,499
Dont piss us off Steve.
j/k you know we will buy whatever you put out there anyway
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also the $150 for the black model is OBSCENE.. it would be one thing if it was made out of a stronger material or something… but its just the same old plastic.
What happened to other colors? Red? Blue? Green?
and about the GMA950, you guys need to pull your head out of your ass. The GMA950 is a decent entry level 3D processor, and a TOP NOTCH video encoder / decoder.. and if you are concerned about the shared ram, go with a gig or two and it wont be an issue, also the GPU has direct access to the memory controller, so its not any slower than most ~$100 vid cards. I would be all set with the GMA950.. Apple has you taken care of if you want a gaming laptop go with the mac book pro.
The price fiends can chill. This won’t be entry level in 4 to 6 weeks. Right now they are getting all on board who will pay the $1099+. Once that wave has passed they will introduce a new iBook solo for $899.