“With the release of the new MacBook series of laptops, Apple finally enters the world of thin and light laptops,” Tim Bajarin writes for Technology Pundits. “Up to now, the MacBook’s predecessor, the iBook, has been Apples best selling portable computer even though it was boxy and a bit on the heavy side. But these new models clearly bring Apple and their new portables into a segment of the market that continues to be the fastest growing area for laptops and where thin and light portables have the lion’s share the market.”
MacDailyNews Take: “Apple finally enters the world of thin and light laptops?” Wha? Uh, 12-inch PowerBook, Mr. Bajarin? Heck, the 15-inch PowerBook G4, introduced over five years ago in January 2001, qualifies as “thin and light” at 1-inch thin and just 5.3 lbs. If Bajarin meant “consumer” laptops, he should have qualified it as such. Apple’s been leading the world of thin and light laptops for many years with their PowerBook models.
Bajarin writes, “These are the best consumer notebooks Apple has created and are sure to be big winners with a lot of mainstream consumers. Although they start at $1099, they are really good buys given that they all have Core Duo processors and thanks to Apple’s Bootcamp software, can run OSX and Windows XP. The black MacBook could be a Trojan Horse to get MacBooks into mainstream business markets. The consumerish look of the white iBooks did not necessarily look like business machines but the black version could pass as a Lenovo ThinkPad but with Apple’s famous Logo on it. Plus it can run OS X and Windows. I believe that this version could end up in a lot of business users hands who have lusted after the ease of use of OS X but have to live in a Windows IT world. With these new laptops, Apple clearly takes aim at a broader market for mobile devices where thin and light designs are important and no-compromise machines are driving the exceptional growth in portable computers over desktops.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Most business people that we see with Apple notebooks carry PowerBooks and, now, MacBook Pro models – of which Bajarin has apparently never heard – that offer features such as PC Card and ExpressCard slots that iBooks and MacBooks do not. MacBooks are for consumers. MacBook Pros are for professionals. It’s pretty simple. That said, we do agree with Bajarin that Apples’ new MacBooks are best consumer notebooks Apple has created and are sure to be big winners with a lot of mainstream consumers.
Advertisements:
• Introducing the super-fast, blogging, podcasting, do-everything-out-of-the-box MacBook. Starting at just $1099
• Get the new iMac with Intel Core Duo for as low as $31 A MONTH with Free shipping!
• Get the MacBook Pro with Intel Core Duo for as low as $47 A MONTH with Free Shipping!
• Apple’s new Mac mini. Intel Core, up to 4 times faster. Starting at just $599. Free shipping.
• iPod. 15,000 songs. 25,000 photos. 150 hours of video. The new iPod. 30GB and 60GB models start at just $299. Free shipping.
• Connect iPod to your television set with the iPod AV Cable. Just $19.
• iPod Radio Remote. Listen to FM radio on your iPod and control everything with a convenient wired remote. Just $49.
Related articles:
Analysts expect Apple’s new MacBook to drive market share gains in near future – May 17, 2006
Apple’s new MacBooks are mobile HDTV media centers – May 17, 2006
Apple MacBook dissection photos – May 17, 2006
PC World: Hands on with Apple’s new black MacBook running Mac OS X and Windows – May 17, 2006
Analyst: Apple’s new MacBook costs a bit more than iBook, but will sell strongly – May 16, 2006
Close-up Apple MacBook photos (keyboard, glossy screen, and more) – May 16, 2006
Apple debuts new 13.3-inch widescreen MacBook; replaces both iBook and 12-inch PowerBook – May 16, 2006
Analyst: Apple Macs cost less than most people think – May 16, 2006
Apple quietly boosts MacBook Pro speeds – May 16, 2006
Dude, you got a Dell? What are you, stupid? Only Apple Macs run both Mac OS X and Windows! – April 05, 2006
“The whine will never end as it comes from the MS zealots.”
Yeah, all those posting detailed problems with their MacBook’s on Apple Discussion boards are MS zealots. Apple should hire you to work tech support and inform all these posters that their “whine” problems are just figments of their imagination.
What a bunch of MS zealots….sheesh!
It got quiet here. Either the M$ zealots are reading the article or the local library kicked them off the computers.
You must be a bunch of pansies if you think the Macbooks get too hot. My MBP 17″ has been working hard today and did not get too hot at all.
The fans are very quiet too.
I don’t know what’s up with you lot!
I drove down to my local store and tried out all the macbooks, all seemed to work fantastically and smoothly… I worried about the keyboard, but nope, just fine… They still had some ibooks and in comparison, the macbooks are gorgeous while the ibooks look horrible. That is: in comparion, I still liked the ibooks.
“How many notebooks have ever had anything but integrated graphics you fsking dum sheets!”
hmmm…oh, I don’t know…maybe all prior iBooks and PowerBooks.
If anyone wants a real laugh, do a archive search on all of MDN’s previous comments on “integrated video.” That’s of course if MDN hasn’t deleted those along with his/her wonderful comments on Intel processors.
Apple doesn’t make “perfect” products. No company does. But Apple does make the best quality hardware, software and of course OSX. I’ve still got my old LCII, CI, 8500/150 and they still work fine, albeit a bit slow. I never went on a support forum for them because they just work. Same with my G4′ PPC and my notebook. If I have a problem I can’t figure out I just post the question here and some good hearted Mac zealot answers it. No problem!
The MacBooks just went on sale. How could thousands of complaints be on the forums already?
Oh, they are old complaints about problems with MacBook Pros. Problems that, for the most part, have been fixed.
Seems the Trolls can’t read.
Is Microsoft that scared that they have employees troll the Mac sites?
Happy cheese yardstick cesspool.
“I’ve still got my old LCII, CI, 8500/150 and they still work fine, albeit a bit slow.”
Holy crap Mike, you still have a IIci? I used to
do board level repair on those in ’92 when the
logic boards still sold for like $3000 (and they
were getting old then). They were the best until
the IIfx came out at a blistering 40mhz. Good
times.
Why is the stock continueing (sp) to tank?
What’s not to like about the new macbooks? Besides my DP 2ghz G5 Powermac, I’ve got a generic P4M laptop with 32meg integrated graphics.
The laptop at 2.2ghz and 512 meg ram, is pretty freakin’ fast when it comes to running windows applications. The only thing it will NOT do is run the latest, greatest, demanding games. That’s okay, because I use the laptop to do WORK out of the house. Okay, okay, okay, AND to surf the internet, play solitare and occasionally watch a DVD or two on the road.
Will the new macbooks handle the latest, greatest games? Probably not; that’s why they have desktops and the macbook pro. But the specs on the macbook look great for most computer users, and for an Apple, the price isn’t terribly bad. Personally, I’m surprised and pleased that they put in so many features in the consumer laptop, such as the i-Sight, Front Row, etc. And now I can run my necessary Windows apps for work and use OSX for the rest.
Geez, guys, have portable computers ever been as powerful as, and had all the features of, contempory desktops? Without costing two or three times as much?
Stormy:
Because the market is down. Watch the financial news or read a newspaper.
Macfanboy #12 said: “what is a progessional? A doctor, lawyer, teacher…what?”
Good question Macfanboy #12. MDN has obviously fallen prey to the marketing hype. I just gave my old PowerBook to my 12 year old. He loves using it and he is not a “professional”.
What say we stop labeling people and let them buy and use what ever the hell they want?
…and Dell passes Apple’s market cap again (55B vs 53B). What did MDN say again? That the next time Apple passes Dell’s market cap, there’s no looking back? Prophetic, that. NOT.
Stock markets ebb and flow. Tomorrow Apple might pass Dell again, and then we’ll get another headline from MDN about how Apple is trumping Dell. But right now? Not a peep.
I have an Apple II !!!
Works like heaven !!!
I also have a Mac (original), a Mac Plus and a NeXTstation!!
They ALL work great!!!
I know, this has nothing to do with the discussion. I just wanted to brag a little about my odl computers, hehehe!!
(OK, now you can make fun of me…)
stockmarket,
Let’s check what MDN really stated:
“Apple Computer is now worth more than Dell in a race whose leadership is likely to oscillate a bit in the near term (before Apple pulls away for good).”
Source: http://www.macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/apple_passes_dell_in_market_value/
The operative phrase, stockmarket, would be: …likely to oscillate a bit in the near term…
You lose.
Stormy: If your question is actually meant to imply that the stock is down due to possible product problems such as those under discussion — then you lack basic intelligence (or translated for your level — “You’re a dumbass idiot”)
Read comments from blucaso!
Forget the MacBook, get a refurbished MacBook Pro for $1599 from the Apple store online. Just 0.4 pounds heavier, with a much larger and higher resolution display, powerful x1600 graphics, an expansion port, dual-link DVI and a superdrive standard.
FactChecker:
Thanks for pointing that out. However, I think the operative term is “before Apple pulls away for good“, implying that at some point Dell will never catch up with Apple. Like I said, stocks ebb and flow (NOT just in the nebulous “near term”; at some point that becomes “long term”). It’s stupid to say that Apple will pull away for good; just as stupid as what Michael Dell said.
So, I lose? Lose what? And what do you win exactly? The fawning adoration of the MDN masses? No thanks, I’ll pass.
tim@creativestrategies.com
professional users are ones that can write off the purchase on theri taxes. Consumers are the ones who don’t
“Consumers are the ones who don’t”
Unless you can get away it of course. : )
I’m typing this on my new black macbook – and I have to say that this is the best laptop that apple has ever made – this thing is so solid-thin-and-light and you have to see and touch it ton know how nice the matte black finish is. And this thing is very very quiet. – I just wish it had a backlit keyboard like my 17″ powerbook.
I like how he holds up a Lenovo ThinkPad as some pinnacle of corporate style.