As for Apple’s new iMacs and MacBook, Mossberg reports, “I’ve been testing these new computers for a few days, and I can recommend both… The new iMacs have spectacular screens that are larger and sport much higher resolutions than those on their predecessors. They also add more memory capacity, bigger hard disks and faster processors… The new $999, 13″ MacBook now includes most of the key features of the similar-sized MacBook Pro, which costs $200 more. These include a large multitouch trackpad, significantly enhanced battery life, and a brighter screen. Despite its lower price, the lowly MacBook comes with a 56% larger hard disk (250 gigabytes versus 160) than the Pro model.”
Full review here.
MacDailyNews Take: In the full “review,” Mossberg seems hell-bent on fabricating a Microsoft revival of sorts – whether it’s warranted or not (it isn’t). This is the first new Mac review of Mossberg’s that we can remember which fails to mention Mac OS X or Mac-only software advantages (iLife, for example) and, not only that, but Mossberg feels compelled to tack on this conclusion: “These new models now round out a full line of refreshed Macs, but they will face stiff new competition from a horde of PCs running the new and better version of Windows.”
Oh, did we mention, that Mossberg opened his review of three new Apple products with, “This is the week when Microsoft finally starts selling Windows 7, its much-improved successor to the disappointing Vista version of Windows. PC makers, who have suffered from Vista’s poor reputation, will begin touting models that come with Windows 7, which I praised in a detailed review earlier this month.”
Detailed bullshit is still bullshit, Walt.
Also, in the midst of his Apple product review, Mossberg also threw in this helpful talking point: “Though both new Macs sport important improvements, they are evolutionary, not revolutionary, and neither follows the industry trend toward bargain-basement prices. The MacBook is still $999, and the iMac still starts at $1,199, though the company is giving users more power and features at those same price points. You can pay much less for laptops and desktops from competitors like Dell and Hewlett-Packard.”
The PC industry trend is helplessly watchin Apple’s Mac sales growth lap them repeatedly, Walt. (Please see: Windows PC box assemblers’ margins squeezed as Apple rakes in stellar profits – October 21, 2009.) Hey, do you intend for your reviews to come off like you’re working for the PR departments of Microsoft, Dell and HP? If so, good job. If not, maybe you should have someone sane vet them before they’re published.
Do you think MacBooks and/or iMacs are overpriced for what they offer, Walt? If so, come out and say it. Leave out the Dell and HP ads if you value your credibility.
We fear that Mossberg has finally lost his shit. Lately, he seems to totally forget that Windows 7 still has its crappy Registry, still rots over time, still quaintly requires defragging, still faces huge malware threats, etc. Ignoring Windows’ crumbling foundation while overly praising its new paint job doesn’t mean that you’re being fair and balanced, Walt.
Mossberg seems out of it; maybe not thinking as clearly as he usually does. Or maybe Jobs told him to get lost when Walt asked for a tablet prototype to test three months early? Whatever the problem is, either snap out of it, Walt, or pass the baton entirely to Katie lest you savage your good reputation. Based on your most recent work, Walt, Boca’s calling loudly.
Related articles:
What’s wrong with Walt Mossberg’s Windows 7 review? – October 09, 2009
Mossberg reviews Windows 7: Apple’s Mac OS X still better – but not by much – October 08, 2009
CNET conducts Mac OS X Snow Leopard vs. Windows 7 smackdown: Mac OS X Snow Leopard wins – October 22, 2009
Apple COO Cook: ‘Windows 7 is just another opportunity to remind everyone to switch to a Mac’ – October 21, 2009
Shrewd Apple obliterates Microsoft’s Vista service pack, er, ‘Windows 7’ launch – October 20, 2009
Infoworld: Mac Lust; Microsoft Windows 7’s faux-Mac experience may drive users to the real thing – October 19, 2009
Washington Post: Windows 7 is no Vista, but it’s still just Windows and certainly no Mac OS X – October 16, 2009
Apple’s Mac OS X Snow Leopard consistently beats Windows 7 in performance tests – October 16, 2009
Apple gearing up to capitalize on Microsoft’s Windows 7 launch – October 15, 2009
Apple unconcerned about Windows 7 release: ‘At the end of the day Windows 7 is still just Windows’ – October 15, 2009
Stats show Apple immune to impact of Windows 7 release – October 12, 2009
Study finds Microsoft Windows 7 boots slower than Vista – October 09, 2009
What’s wrong with Walt Mossberg’s Windows 7 review? – October 09, 2009
What’s wrong with Windows 7 – October 08, 2009
Same old, same old: Microsoft’s Vista service pack, er, ‘Windows 7’ allows remote BSOD attacks – September 08, 2009
Microsoft’s Vista service pack, er, ‘Windows 7’ can’t compete with Apple’s Mac OS X Snow Leopard – August 26, 2009
Leave the Snow out of this: Windows 7 lags behind Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard – August 25, 2009
Apple Snow Leopard easier to install, costs less than Microsoft Vista service pack, er, ‘Windows 7’ – August 13, 2009
Move to Windows 7 will be tough for millions, so now’s the time to get a Mac – July 24, 2009
Microsoft admits Windows 7 will not save PC market – June 10, 2009
What’s ‘new’ in Microsoft’s Vista service pack, er, ‘Windows 7’ is old in Apple’s Mac OS X – May 07, 2009
Windows 7 looks to be sequel to Vista; 83% of businesses will not be upgrading until at least 2011 – April 13, 2009
Microsoft’s ‘ugly, painful’ Windows 7 upgrade path could drive smart IT pros to Apple’s Mac OS X – February 25, 2009
A recent Mac switcher’s take on Microsoft’s Windows 7: UI remains largely unchanged from Vista – January 27, 2009
Massive Windows virus continues rapid spread, also affects Vista, Windows 7; Macintosh unaffected – January 21, 2009
InfoWorld: Windows 7 is really just lipstick on the Vista pig – October 29, 2008
Microsoft previews Mojave, er, Windows 7; unceremoniously dumps ‘Vista’ name – October 29, 2008
Microsoft to spend record amounts to market Vista service pack, er, ‘Windows 7’ – October 28, 2008
Microsoft CEO Ballmer says Windows 7 is Vista, just ‘a lot better’ – October 17, 2008
The Motley Fool’s Bylund: Windows 7 demo shows Microsoft is officially out of ideas – May 29, 2008
Gates, Ballmer preview Windows 7: Multi-Touch and a Dock; Steve Jobs must be so proud – May 28, 2008
Hmmm, he’s turning into a bit of a goon, isn’t he?
I actually took the time to read Walt’s bio on ReCodes newly launched mobile site. It reads & REEKS of self defense on how & why he reports & reviews tech gadgets. Walt it is about time you hang up your wired Microdog mouse. You are so yesterday Mossbog.
Walt’s just acknowledging the reality that many users will be tossing up between a Windoze 7 PC and a Mac. It was Apple that timed its launch to coincide with Microsoft.
You know, failing to get on his knees and offer Steve Jobs a free BJ is not the same as not supporting Apple. He doesn’t HAVE to praise Apple to the skies in every article, nor condemn M$ to the depths of hell, in order to be a fair reporter.
MDN:s problem list for W7 is antiquated. Please find peeves that matter. In real life. 2009.
I can imagine the WSJ gets quite a bit of advertising revenue from the likes of MS, HP, Dell etc. Maybe an editor or two have had a word asking him to turn down the pro-Apple volume.
To be and remain credible, there is a necessity to know how and when not to always disparage the other.
Hey, if MS wants to offer me a bag of money to talk up 7, I’ll take it.
And buy a MBP 17″, a new iMac 27″, and a BRAND – NEW – CAR (in the voice of The Price is Right’s Rod Roddy [RIP]!
If microsoft got away with bribing Gartner to change cost-of-ownership numbers, I’m sure they would be okay with incentivizing reviewers and analysts to like msft products.
Walt knows who butters his bread – Rupert Murdoch, whose empire derives advertising revenue from the 800 lb. bald ape from Redmond.
Maybe he tried using Apple’s broken, useless, annoying blu-ray ‘feature’ in FCP that doesn’t work, and now he’s angry. I know I am.
MDN – Mac Daily News. Maybe you should change your name to WDD Windows Daily Dis. This site spends an inordinate amount of time degrading all things Microsoft. There are plenty of other sites who specialize in that sort of task. How about sticking to MAC NEWS.
@Pc Fanatic
So are all those antiquated “peeves” fixed?
Mr. macdailynews,
You seem to have a bug up your *ss.
Give it a rest and take a vacation.
Adios.
I love the MDN take! Not only is it usually spot on, it’s also incredibly entertaining.
Everyone on Fox News (the only one that’s Fair and Balanced) is using Macs. How do you explain that Arnie. Rush Limbaugh only uses Macs too. Vote liberals out fast before they destroy the country!
WSJ got bought up by the same people who own Faux news, what did you expect would happen?
So Limpball uses Macs. What does that prove?
The product refreshes are evolutionary – did not an event – just updated in the store and some press releases.
Mac costs sure do have a premium price – look in the Best Buy catalog on Sundays and all the machines are 1/3 of the price of the Macs. Windows 7 – don’t know. People sure are raving about it. Snow Leopard… same as Leopard to me. I’d like to see Apple raise the bar and lower the price of hardware.
Faux news? Oh, yeah, hire that leg-tingled Chris Matthews. Then they’ll be for real news.
Yeah, you betcha’ massa’ Obama.
SteveJack, get back on your meds…
What’s wrong with Walt Mossberg is that he bends over backwards to avoid offending his readers, 90% of whom are obviously Windoze users. Nobody can accuse Uncle Walt of forgetting which side his bread is buttered on! On the other hand, his opinions become more and more irrelevant the farther he stretches to make nice with Microsloth.
What is the big issue here? Walt said that a nicer screen, faster processors and more memory is evolutionary, not revolutionary. What’s so bad about that?
Personally, with the new screen and the new magic mouse, it is a bit revolutionary, but if he disagrees, so what?
Hey, he’s on M$’s payroll.
@ Scott Murphy – Go Be a Doctor Scott…There’s still time…Remember the Secret…
Yeesh… the Windows Astroturf Brigade are out in force today, I see. I suppose it makes sense, this being the big release day and all.
And it’s comical how Microsoft’s talking points continue to hammer on the price thing, despite Apple’s latest fantastic quarterly results. Quality costs more, people. Several members of my family are still happily using iBooks from 2004 as their main computer. How many disposable PC laptops from 2004 can say the same? I have no doubt my 2007 MacBook Pro will command a nice resale price when I decide to upgrade.
So you do indeed get your money’s worth, either via longevity or resale. And judging from Apple’s latest quarterly results, more and more people are starting to realize that.
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.
@QuadCore:
It’s not what he says about Macs. It’s that he insists on comparing Windoze machines to Macs as if they were almost as good, which is pure crap.
Not only is Mossberg on the take with MS, a bunch of commenters on this page are also.
Dear MS lovers: you don’t have to read MDN, if the opinions on this site offend you. You can go to Thurrott’s site to get your unblemished and rewritten stories.
@MacMatte
You’re a buffoon, repeating tired memes.
The real problem with the review — which no one has mentioned — is that he brings in products from other companies with no actual real comparison, just to say “they’re cheaper” or “the new Windows 7 is great — in the MIDDLE OF AN APPLE PRODUCT REVIEW!!!
This is unprofessional. This is why the review is unacceptable.
Since when do you give a detailed review of a BMW and then insert a lame sentence that a GM car will be cheaper? That doesn’t belong. It’s lame. It looks like pandering. It looks really bad. It looks like an advertisement thrown into another product’s review!
You don’t review a product and then snipe at it from the side of your mouth saying a competitors product is cheaper, unless you’re actually doing a comparison of the two products, spec for spec, and side by side.
He’s not doing a comparison — he’s reviewing an Apple product but insists on bringing in irrelevant and snide remarks about other company’s products without making a fair or actual comparison.
It’s very low level, pop journalistic writing, at best, and coming from him that’s really disappointing.
@ MacMatte,
XP was a dog. Vista was slower and more annoying than XP.
Windows 7 is still as vulnerable as Vista and XP SP3.
All three are are still one zero day exploit away from disaster.
Take that to your leaders.
I’ve had a Mac since the original 128K. I’m pro-Mac, evangelized them into my office, use nothing but Mac’s, but enough of the knee-jerk reaction anytime a writer doesn’t jump on the anti-Redmond bandwagon. But I have yet to understand why anyone who says something positive about MSFT is automatically bashed by many of Apple’s users. We’re Mac users, we’re better than all that folks.
MDN isn’t the only one that has wondered about Walt lately. TechnightOwl posted similar commentary about Walt just a few days ago.
I’ve always like Walt and was willing to give him a pass about the Windows 7 is the best Windows comment since it’s probably true… and really isn’t saying much when you think about it.
I’m not going into a W7 vs. OS X blow-by-blow… however saying “You can pay much less for laptops and desktops from competitors like Dell and Hewlett-Packard” is just nonsense. Walt knows that in most comparisons you can’t “pay much less” and get an Apple hardware comparable PC. For the most part, they cost as much or more. Rarely do they cost less and when they do, it isn’t a substantial amount.
If anyone is even remotely thinking that Windows is on parity with Mac OS X and that Redmond has finally caught up to Cupertino, they are smoking their own ass.
Just keep watching. The growing legions of OS X users are getting their friends to buy more Macs, left, right and center.
Just like it has always been, as we all know too well since the 1980s.
There’s no reason to buy any other computer. You are getting both a Mac computer and a Windows computer in the same hardware. You can even run Linux, BeOS, whatever, if you like. But mostly you’ll run Mac OS X.
I say someone is on a kick back program. I guess he is getting plently of Microsoft points!
What’s wrong with David Pogue? Same thing- they need a big audience and are afraid of being called “Apple fanboys.” Pogue wrote in the NY Times that the Vista criticism was harsh- a “religious war” launched by “people who didn’t like Microsoft.”
Hmm.. I wonder who That could be….
Could it be…. oh, I don’t know…..
– SATAN?!
No- it must be us!
Did you miss Maccy’s comment? Did you even read the article? People aren’t jumping on Walt because he said nice things about Microsoft.
They’re jumping on him because… Excuse, I’ve just GOT to tell you about the Nintendo Wii. It’s sooooooo much cheaper than a Mac, and with the revolutionary Wiimote along side award-winning franchises such as Super Mario Bros.(TM) and The Legend of Zelda(TM), you’re sure to have hours of fun! How much fun can you have on a Mac? I mean does it even HAVE games? Once you get a Wii you won’t even need a computer anymore thanks to its amazing web-browsing feature, so boy does Apple ever have some stiff competition!
…What? Why are you looking at me like that? Just because I’m saying something positive about Nintendo you’re going to automatically bash me? Enough of the knee-jerk reactions just because I didn’t jump on the anti-Nintendo bandwagon. Enough, I say! We’re Mac users, we’re better than this!
Get the hint now, Frankie?
Incidentally, the problem with Walt saying that Windows 7 is the best Windows yet isn’t that he’s praising Microsoft. The problem is that he said the very same thing about the epic debacle that was Vista.
Also, I think it’s pretty clear now that MacMatte is just another happy little Microsoft astroturfer, who happens to have latched on to matte screens as the excuse du jour to point at Apple and call them the bogeyman. That would explain why he conveniently finds major fault with every single solution to his glossy screen problem, and why he never makes good on his threat to switch to Windows and be done with it. He cannot allow the issue to be fixed, because if he did, he’d no longer be able to pose his strawman fallacies.
The man now wants to work for FOX news!
Considering the PC astroturfing on this site today, I’d say that Microsoft is sweating bullets over the new Apple lineup and the fact that Windows 7 is just Vista with makeup. While annoying, such behavior is a reflection that Microsoft, while still a monster, is nevertheless a dying monster.
I haven’t really heard anything bad about win7. Matter of fact, I hope it’s a secure, stable and easy to use OS that gives mac osx some real competition. I hope pc manufacturers offer it on a range of products with a choice of hardware and features that are reasonably priced.
If they do that, I’d consider it if one of my macs die out of warranty. Competition and choice are good for consumers. Mac is my os, not my religion.
Like the Times. the WSJ has too succumed to the pressures of those who pay their bills. Word of mouth is spreading like wildfire and users will continue to migrate to MAC. The die hard PC users will hold on for a long time no matter what. It’s those with an open mind and the tendancy to try or use superior products that will move over. Some just don’t care. Mossburg is definately trying to be more unbiased but failing at it – he knows he’d rather have a Mac any day. Suck up.
I don’t get the argument of “Macs should be cheaper because I think they should be.” Three record quarters in a row for sales clear show they are at a viable price point.
Price cannot be analyzed alone, one must look at the price/value ratio. Macs have always had high value for the dollar spend; the same certainly cannot be set for the cache and feature-crippled PCs the big box stores try to pawn on us.
Maybe Apple’s check bounced this month?
To all of the posters on this thread that think Windows 7 is the non-Apple answer to the Mac — go ahead, buy a new PC. You’ll get what you pay for. More and more people will consider the Mac as they’re forced to upgrade their XP computers. Even a couple of percentage points increase in market share is huge for Apple’s bottom line. If MS and the Windows box assemblers keep trying to imitate instead of innovate, Apple and the users of its products can look forward to a bright future.
Walt… Sold out much lately????????????