As for Apple’s new iMacs and MacBook, Mossberg reports, “I’ve been testing these new computers for a few days, and I can recommend both… The new iMacs have spectacular screens that are larger and sport much higher resolutions than those on their predecessors. They also add more memory capacity, bigger hard disks and faster processors… The new $999, 13″ MacBook now includes most of the key features of the similar-sized MacBook Pro, which costs $200 more. These include a large multitouch trackpad, significantly enhanced battery life, and a brighter screen. Despite its lower price, the lowly MacBook comes with a 56% larger hard disk (250 gigabytes versus 160) than the Pro model.”
Full review here.
MacDailyNews Take: In the full “review,” Mossberg seems hell-bent on fabricating a Microsoft revival of sorts – whether it’s warranted or not (it isn’t). This is the first new Mac review of Mossberg’s that we can remember which fails to mention Mac OS X or Mac-only software advantages (iLife, for example) and, not only that, but Mossberg feels compelled to tack on this conclusion: “These new models now round out a full line of refreshed Macs, but they will face stiff new competition from a horde of PCs running the new and better version of Windows.”
Oh, did we mention, that Mossberg opened his review of three new Apple products with, “This is the week when Microsoft finally starts selling Windows 7, its much-improved successor to the disappointing Vista version of Windows. PC makers, who have suffered from Vista’s poor reputation, will begin touting models that come with Windows 7, which I praised in a detailed review earlier this month.”
Detailed bullshit is still bullshit, Walt.
Also, in the midst of his Apple product review, Mossberg also threw in this helpful talking point: “Though both new Macs sport important improvements, they are evolutionary, not revolutionary, and neither follows the industry trend toward bargain-basement prices. The MacBook is still $999, and the iMac still starts at $1,199, though the company is giving users more power and features at those same price points. You can pay much less for laptops and desktops from competitors like Dell and Hewlett-Packard.”
The PC industry trend is helplessly watchin Apple’s Mac sales growth lap them repeatedly, Walt. (Please see: Windows PC box assemblers’ margins squeezed as Apple rakes in stellar profits – October 21, 2009.) Hey, do you intend for your reviews to come off like you’re working for the PR departments of Microsoft, Dell and HP? If so, good job. If not, maybe you should have someone sane vet them before they’re published.
Do you think MacBooks and/or iMacs are overpriced for what they offer, Walt? If so, come out and say it. Leave out the Dell and HP ads if you value your credibility.
We fear that Mossberg has finally lost his shit. Lately, he seems to totally forget that Windows 7 still has its crappy Registry, still rots over time, still quaintly requires defragging, still faces huge malware threats, etc. Ignoring Windows’ crumbling foundation while overly praising its new paint job doesn’t mean that you’re being fair and balanced, Walt.
Mossberg seems out of it; maybe not thinking as clearly as he usually does. Or maybe Jobs told him to get lost when Walt asked for a tablet prototype to test three months early? Whatever the problem is, either snap out of it, Walt, or pass the baton entirely to Katie lest you savage your good reputation. Based on your most recent work, Walt, Boca’s calling loudly.
Related articles:
What’s wrong with Walt Mossberg’s Windows 7 review? – October 09, 2009
Mossberg reviews Windows 7: Apple’s Mac OS X still better – but not by much – October 08, 2009
CNET conducts Mac OS X Snow Leopard vs. Windows 7 smackdown: Mac OS X Snow Leopard wins – October 22, 2009
Apple COO Cook: ‘Windows 7 is just another opportunity to remind everyone to switch to a Mac’ – October 21, 2009
Shrewd Apple obliterates Microsoft’s Vista service pack, er, ‘Windows 7’ launch – October 20, 2009
Infoworld: Mac Lust; Microsoft Windows 7’s faux-Mac experience may drive users to the real thing – October 19, 2009
Washington Post: Windows 7 is no Vista, but it’s still just Windows and certainly no Mac OS X – October 16, 2009
Apple’s Mac OS X Snow Leopard consistently beats Windows 7 in performance tests – October 16, 2009
Apple gearing up to capitalize on Microsoft’s Windows 7 launch – October 15, 2009
Apple unconcerned about Windows 7 release: ‘At the end of the day Windows 7 is still just Windows’ – October 15, 2009
Stats show Apple immune to impact of Windows 7 release – October 12, 2009
Study finds Microsoft Windows 7 boots slower than Vista – October 09, 2009
What’s wrong with Walt Mossberg’s Windows 7 review? – October 09, 2009
What’s wrong with Windows 7 – October 08, 2009
Same old, same old: Microsoft’s Vista service pack, er, ‘Windows 7’ allows remote BSOD attacks – September 08, 2009
Microsoft’s Vista service pack, er, ‘Windows 7’ can’t compete with Apple’s Mac OS X Snow Leopard – August 26, 2009
Leave the Snow out of this: Windows 7 lags behind Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard – August 25, 2009
Apple Snow Leopard easier to install, costs less than Microsoft Vista service pack, er, ‘Windows 7’ – August 13, 2009
Move to Windows 7 will be tough for millions, so now’s the time to get a Mac – July 24, 2009
Microsoft admits Windows 7 will not save PC market – June 10, 2009
What’s ‘new’ in Microsoft’s Vista service pack, er, ‘Windows 7’ is old in Apple’s Mac OS X – May 07, 2009
Windows 7 looks to be sequel to Vista; 83% of businesses will not be upgrading until at least 2011 – April 13, 2009
Microsoft’s ‘ugly, painful’ Windows 7 upgrade path could drive smart IT pros to Apple’s Mac OS X – February 25, 2009
A recent Mac switcher’s take on Microsoft’s Windows 7: UI remains largely unchanged from Vista – January 27, 2009
Massive Windows virus continues rapid spread, also affects Vista, Windows 7; Macintosh unaffected – January 21, 2009
InfoWorld: Windows 7 is really just lipstick on the Vista pig – October 29, 2008
Microsoft previews Mojave, er, Windows 7; unceremoniously dumps ‘Vista’ name – October 29, 2008
Microsoft to spend record amounts to market Vista service pack, er, ‘Windows 7’ – October 28, 2008
Microsoft CEO Ballmer says Windows 7 is Vista, just ‘a lot better’ – October 17, 2008
The Motley Fool’s Bylund: Windows 7 demo shows Microsoft is officially out of ideas – May 29, 2008
Gates, Ballmer preview Windows 7: Multi-Touch and a Dock; Steve Jobs must be so proud – May 28, 2008
After reading Uncle Walt’s review I immediately plunked down $700 for a fresh copy of Windows 7 and MS Office.
What… I did what?
Apple will end up with a black eye with the whole windows 7 thing. People are going to flock to it. In most minds windows has now CAUGHT UP with apple. This is bad news. It will take something amazing for apple to enjoy their OS lead of years past. Now with MS literay coping everything apple does right down to the MS store, what percieved difference is there by Joe public other than price?
Walt also complains at one point, saying “One downside – the $1499 model how has a smaller screen – 21.5″ versus 24″ – though it has a larger hard disk and better graphics card.”
I didn’t know Apple referred to their models by Price Point, Uncle Walt, and the iMacs sport 3.06 GHz processors now (cept the quad core i5 chip.), so don’t forget that little tidbit.
This is getting boring is anyone here really going to suggest that PCs at a third the price of Macs are to the same spec. I think not, well not the sane ones.
Windows is Windows is Windows.
A chrome-plated turd remains a turd nonetheless.
I have NEVER used a Windows OS. My first mac was 1994 from Sears. And many of thousands of dollars later…
MacDaily News is angry with an independent reviewer not writing an article the way it want’s it to be. Very weird.
I understand MacDaily News is a Mac site, but you’re upset with Mossberg why?
This site becomes more strange each day.
He too must remmeber or gets told to remember who is buying ads in this weak ad rev environment.
Well, Apple does face stiff competition from MS. After all, PC’s do dominate (be it for all the wrong reasons). And since so many Mac buyers are new to Apple (“switchers”), they’re deciding whether to stick with their current platform, which they already know, or switch to something new. That cuts both ways for Apple (since they may hate Windows) but it does make for serious competition.
And filed under “perception = reality,” MS has successfully gotten people to believe Win 7 is not the Vista debacle.
And finally, like the budget car analogy… if all you want to do is go to work and back, many settle on a bad car. And they do the same with Windows because all they want to do is e-mail and surf the web… and they don’t mind the pain.
Payola
He’s bending so far backward in an effort to be “balanced” that he’s making a fool of himself. Repeating the M$ spin that you can get a lot of other computers for much less than a Mac, WITHOUT mentioning that you also get what you pay for, is just hackery. Sorry, Mossy, you’ve jumped the shark.
he’s totally getting paid by microcrap. i cant wait till these loser bloggers and analysts have to report whos paying them, no longer able to operate under the false pretense of objectivity. i think its supposed to happen dec 2. look for a lot fewer microsoft stories after that date.
The Journal is owned by, who? So Uncle Walt must toe the line. Duh.
Walt isn’t paid by Microsoft – he has a detailed disclaimer on his website.
Now, WSJ – they take in a pretty good chunk of change from advertising for Microsoft, HP, Dell, etc.
Favorable mentions go a long way toward keeping the marketing staff happy. If you can include them without totally selling your soul, so much the better. Remembering to say something nice about your employer’s big clients – while “forgetting” to mention some of their competitor’s favorable features – isn’t too egregious. It’s far from ideal, and I’d like to say that I’d never do any such thing, but then again, I’m not Walt, I don’t work for Rupert (thank God), and so I can’t really say I’m qualified to judge.
Sun Tzu said “Know your enemy”. MDN and its readers have falsely proclaimed the new enemy to be Walt Mossberg, simply because he had something good to say about the new Windows 7.
Sorry to burst your bubble folks, but Walt is not the enemy. Far too often, everyone here jumps on anyone that doesn’t follow in lock step. Walt is a big Apple proponent. That he finds something good to say about the new Microsoft offering doesn’t make him the enemy. He merely reviewed his first look at Windows 7.
You might want to stop and think guys. Go back and read most of what Mossberg has written over the years. You will rarely find a person that has better things to say about Apple.
As for “Fair And Balanced”, I paraphrase Inigo Montoya: “I do not think that phrase means what you think it means.” You seem to think it should mean “agree with me or be ridiculed.” Wonder where you learned that.
“Mossberg seems out of it; maybe not thinking as clearly as he usually does. “
Hehe…
“9-1-1, what’s your emergency?”
“Yeah, this is the MacDefenseNetwork, Uncle Walt the Apple Shill isn’t toeing the line! We need a Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaahmbulance! Stat!”
And you say Ballmer is lame…we now return you to the collective autistic thumb sucking here at MDN.
He’s just following the money………
I think he yelled at Ballmer “show me the money”, and Bozo replied favorably to Walt.
Apple fans are ones who assume the upward market-share trajectory was a given — whereas I’ve seen it as a window of opportunity because of Vista being a dog.
Middle of next year, if Apple has not brought out a netbook (as opposed to a lame thing where you need to type on glass, where the digital keyboard obscures half the screen real estate) then I’m getting a Windows 7 netbook.
With all my active critical files on Dropbox, it’s seamless for me to operate a Win7 netbook alongside my other MATTE iMacs and MBPs.
Apple is getting arrogant, and so are its fanboys. Let’s meet here 3 years from today and see whether Apple has had the proverbial fall that comes after a proud fit.
Apple shows its arrogance by not taking seriously its monopoly on Mac OSX. It feels they can ignore certain key areas, if its not going to make tons of money. I’ve never understood why they couldn’t just make a more expensive netbook and include the margin that makes it worthwhile for them.
People need netbooks for portability — but Apple ignores them, and gives them glass tablets instead. I need a netbook for business trips where I need to work on serious documents with MS Office — not typing on glass where my fingers keep missing the keys (as per iPhone).
We also need matte screens — and Apple ignores that substantial minority (http://macmatte.wordpress.com) who want matte screens.
Pride comes before a fall. That’s a principle.
If Apple continues it’s get a Mac ads, now that Win7 is here, the laugh might be on them.
Macmatte, you are the poster child for the whiners. You keep threating to walk out and buy a Windows PC, but you never do. Really, just leave. Teach us all a lesson.
It’s still Windows. You build a shiny new million dollar house by train tracks in the ghetto – it’s not going to remain shiny for very long. It doesn’t matter what they try and do with Windows until they actually get rid of Windows and come up with something with a better infrastructure. You can polish a turd all you want – eventually it’s going to decay and stink a lot.
Will be more interesting to review this W7 v. OSX debate a year from now.
@MacMatte,
Upon which planet do you reside?
Apple has not also followed the industry trend of going bankrupt.
Or of declining sales.
Pick one.
Doosh.
I never much cared for Uncle Walt’s reviews anyways. I always liked Pogue’s writing better.
Me thinks Walt is trying to create the illusion he’s unbiased. He’s suffered a bit lately, having been so decidedly pro-Mac, with the Windows faithful. Problem: Walt knows the weasel words (IE: best Windows ever) are easily seen through by all and just can’t bring himself to say it’s the best OS. Only one option left for ol’ Walt, and that’s to omit saying nice or obvious things about Macs.
When does a fan become a fanatic? When his adoration causes him to lose all sense of reality and reason.
As we see demonstrated here.
WM is by trade a journalist, by that measure alone his word should be taken with a grain of salt.
I think Uncle Walt has done a competent job of walking the line. “Best version of Windows ever.” doesn’t even remotely say “Best OS ever.”
But I agree, that not noting what the present and future hold for Snow Leopard is extremely short-sighted. . . . Who knows? Maybe a boss was looking over his shoulder, and he had to get something out, fast.