Comments on: Live blog from Macworld 2008

Bookmark this page for continuous updates from Apple CEO Steve Jobs' keynote speech at Macworld 2008.

[Kee Hinckley]

The song is "A Few Words in Defense of Our Country"

It's been on the iTunes store for a while, I think it was a freebie a
while back.

http://ax.phobos.apple.com.edgesuite.net/WebObjects/MZStore.w
oa/wa/viewAlbum?i=213637311&id=213637308&s=143441

[josmor]

Bad for Cnet

I had a feeling of "disappointment" from the start of this coverage. I mean... a pessimistic start. Not good.
MacRumors worked well. Much shorter updates but much more often. Very good!
The coverage of this Blog was slow, the page wasn't available half of the time... and between "reloads" the page updated (?) to older versions!

Tom Krazit is, in my opinion, a good Blogger and I read his articles constantly. I trust on what he says. This time probably he hasn't one of his best days.

[mouseclick]

iPhone 2008 = Palm 2007

Stupid. Apple announces these new iPhone features and everyone ooohs and awwwws. These features have long been part of Palm Treo (Palm OS) phones. Yawn. Stop buying into "fake" hype.

[rgersmrk]

ILame

No kidding. On top of that they are charging the IPod ITouch users $20 bucks to upgrade to get basic features. How nice.

[healdkw]

Yawn

So these are the big announcements? Really think it is a bit of yawn. Netflix recent announcement of subscription based movie downloads seems like a much bigger deal. I can already get movies through my cable service, so why would this intrique me unless I was someone who just bought everything Apple?

[rgersmrk]

More lame than CES

What a disappointment. No 3g IPhone. Apple TV is finally doing what XBox Live has been providing to the 360 for 2+ years (wow!). A wireless backup product (double yawn) and a super thin (overly expensive) laptop. Honestly to get the cool features for the super thin laptop (solid state hard drive) you are going to have to spend 3k (1799 for a laptop with a ipod style hard drive in it) for the laptop. No thanks. I'll get a macbook for 200-500 dollars cheaper and have my laptop weigh a few more ounces.

[Maclover1]

I have had a 360 since early

2006 and it only got movie rentals in 2007. The content has been really think until recently and even now its nothing compared to what Apple TV two will have now.

The 360 rental are more expensive for movies and you have to use that OH SO STUPID microsoft points. The 360 movie rental experience is right up there with Apple TV 1.0 NO THANKS.

Apple got it right this time. Time for MS to catch up. Then again they are busy patching the crap out of Vista, Live, OneCare, Zune, and WHS so dont hold your breath.

[Penguinisto]

So you prefer vapor, then?

...because CES was mostly that - vaporware.

You are incorrect ab't the XBox Live. They only got movie rentals sometime last year, not "2+ years" ago. Too bad you can't rent movies through it with real money, either.

[i]"Honestly to get the cool features for the super thin laptop (solid state hard drive) you are going to have to spend 3k (1799 for a laptop with a ipod style hard drive in it) for the laptop."[/i]

Well, let's peek around...

For a 64GB solid-state SATA drive on your Dell Latitude ATG D630 (the ATG is the only model that seems to have the option for one), you get to pay $2919 - but you only get a 32GB solid-state drive as an option. Dell does sell a 64GB solid-state drive separately, which will cost you nearly $1000 extra.

Now you can get a Latitude D430 w/ a 64GB solid-state disk, but the screen is only 12", the Core Duo processor is only 1.2 GHz, is 1" tall (instead of 3/4"), and with all the options and software to match OSX in just basic features (e.g. for Windows you add A/V, anti-spyware, etc), you get to pay $2,578 for it.

Since Apple hasn't said 'boo' about what they'll charge for a solid-state drive, $1799 is still a bargain, esp. once you consider that that same Dell Latitude D430 w/ (almost) the same specs will cost you $1836... and you still get stuck with the Dell's smaller screen, slower CPU, etc.

/P

[grtgrfx]

stupid Air comments

Duh, first, ultralights are generally MORE expensive than this one,
with smaller screens and keyboards, and second, a Macbook
weighs, oh, 35+ ounces MORE than this one. So know what you're
talking about before you spew.

You don't want an ultra-portable, fine, but don't compare one to a
normal laptop. That's like comparing a Sony ultra-portable with a
standard Vaio. There's a size and $1,000 difference there too.

[bignumone]

Did I hear right?

The iPhone is going to have 500 gig or 1 terabyte of memory?

That can't be right.

Palm treo...yawn.
Blackberry...yawn.

iPhone...WOW!
An OS on a phone that is easy to use? WOW!

Sorry to be sarcastic, but what is good for the goose, right?

[ralfthedog]

Unfortunately, you did not.

He was talking about Time Capsule, not the iPhone.

_______________________________________________

It would be cool if the author would reformat his blog so you can tell where one comment ends and the next starts. A nice line would work quite well.

[NeoJingo]

pricing

Off of Apple's site... pricing with the solid state HD and the upgraded 1.8Ghz CPU is just under $3000.

[sanjayb]

No change in stock price

Seems like Macworld isn't having an effect on Apple's stock price. Like everything today, Apple stock is down.

I really was hoping for wireless syncing for the Touch just like how u can do it with the Zune.

[DrtyDogg]

check the graph though

it was holding strong until the keynote, and then it tanked.

[Vegaman_Dan]

Neat stuff and catching up

There's definitely some neat stuff down the pipeline for Apple products.

The super slim laptop should be popular. It's not new technology- the thinner laptops have been around for a decade or so- even Toshiba had the Portege 2000 that was this thin. It's a good item to add to the Mac lineup though. The multitouch screen technology was a good addition. I'll be curious to see how it works with actual use. That's something I don't think anyone can predict until it gets into the hands of end users.

iPhone and Touch updates: Nothing particularly new here. Expected software updates and the GPS-'like' location service. Here they are starting to match the service available on most phones today. Without actually including a GPS chip, this is the most you can do with the hardware provided. A good addition and should be well integrated with the OS I expect.

AppleTV: After being dismissed only as a 'hobby' product by Jobs, it's good to see they are going to take a second stab at this device. The oversight of being unable to download content from iTunes has been resolved with the new unit. It still doesn't do any sort of DVR feature, so the real appeal of a TV set box is limited. Wait and see what happens. It could revitalize this overlooked product or just be ignored like the first one. Time will tell.

Movie Rentals: This was expected and the selection from various studios looks impressive. The price is right. The idea that you have 30 days after downloading it to watch it is good, but only having 24 hours to watch it after you start playing seems to be a real limitation to me. Does this mean that I would have to download the content a second time if I wanted to watch it on another device? If I download it to the AppleTV and then want to watch it on the iPod, would I have to buy it twice? What if you are interupted and can't watch it until tomorrow? Curious limitation there. I think I would have made it also a 30 day time limit with no restriction to moving between devices. The jury is out on that one.

Overall, I think Apple delivered exactly what they promised they would in the keynote. There was nothing more than what they said would be there. In a history of the keynote having one special block buster or teaser at the end suggesting something fantastic on the horizon, this one was- a bit lacking. The audience was obviously on the edges of their seats waiting for the big announcement- and there wasn't one.

Still, there were some good news which was expected, a few curious things, and a few which left people scratching their heads wondering what was going on.


I'll give this keynote a B+.

[crsouser]

Disappointed to say the least, at least they mentioned "Mac"

Well I can say they at least mentioned "Mac" at "MacWorld" though I am disappointed to the say the least. I am honestly sick of hearing about Media devices from Apple. Are they are computer company or a media distribution company?

I feel abandoned as a OSX user as I can't get the hardware I want to drive what I want to do in computing.

An Ultra-Portable has no use to me, and the people it would be most useful to it is out of their price range. I'll stick with my MBP.

I want an expandable Mid-Class Mac desktop (think Mac Mini with 2 3.5" hd slots) without a monitor, them to sell a stripped down MacPro under $1500, or open up the OSX platform to be able to run on more than Apple's hardware as they aren't providing enough hardware options for its users.

As an OSX user I want hardware options to run it on, not Iphones, ipods, and AppleTvs. Its not MacWorld anymore is "ITunesWorld".

Christopher

[ralfthedog]

The computer industry is dead.

The computer industry is dead. Anyone who tries to survive just building computers will be bankrupt. If Apple wants to survive, they must become an information tool and information service company.

[Gromit801]

Apple

You are aware, that Apple dropped "Computer" from their name
awhile back?

They will always make Macs, but have expanded everywhere.

[mailbox001]

Any place for a Data Card?

Is there a slot for an express Card? When I travel, there are places that don't have wifi.

[rapier1]

Nope

No slot. No firewire. No GPU. No ethernet. No eSATA. *One* USB port.

Obviously this is a niche product.

[capfan12]

Apple TV update free? but pay for Touch update?

lets see

Major Apple TV update, free
Minor Ipod Touch update 20 bucks

somethin stinks here

[DrtyDogg]

$$$$$$

The Apple TV upgrade will result in money spent @ iTunes which = more $ the iPod touch update is just an update so the only way they can make money on it is to charge for it.

[Vegaman_Dan]

Easy economics

There are far more Apple Touch units than AppleTV units. Go where the money is.

Until the AppleTV adds a tuner and becomes a DVR, it will never be anything more than a 'hobby' product as Jobs had called it.

It makes sense to go after Touch owners instead.

[Ed Hoarse]

Even Lamer than I Predicted Yesterday

2 useless paper weights. An overpriced large laptop, yes large, being thinner means breaking easier and still way overpriced for mass market. AppleTV redux, for the money you are better off getting an Xbox 360 or a PS3.

The custom mini intel core 2 would have been better utilized in an AppleTV that doubles as a Mac Mini for the mainstream at the current mini price. And if they can get intel to shrink the CPU they should be able to do the same for a decent GPU and sound chip.

Rental downloads, I think cable companies are doing that already, and the rental price is worse than going to your public library.

Wrong market devices.

[trenchcoat]

Talking Ed

Yep, Apple know absolutely nothing about the marketplace. They
have, and never will, sell a successful device. If only they had
listened to your predictions. Go back to your stall and eat some
more hay.

[cjsmalls]

Mac

Was hoping for...

1. Time Machine work wirelessly, without having to buy their "appliance." I don't need an appliance as I already have a wireless router and hard drive.

2. Updated Mac processors/video options.

I was ready to spend my cash, but I'm waiting a little while longer now.

[bwvla]

Sort of a snore.

Really everything announced today has been in the media for months, and none of it considered any type of innovative breakthrough.

While surpassing the iPhone announcement of last year was unlikely, I thought for certain they would have one surprise R&D prototype to excite people. Perhaps an iTable to challenge Microsoft's "surface." iGlasses that correct anyones eyesight, gives you instant information on anything seen, have a "rose colored" mode for special days, and come in ultra stylish white or black frames. Or perhaps an iCar that drives itself.

A sub laptop and movie rentals is pretty conservative follow up from a company with deep coffers that has proven its r&d can deliver.

[kingodiamonds]

yawn

wait hold on 1800 bucks for a computer with an 80gig hd, no optical drive, and a 1.6ghz processor? Are there really that many people out there that would sacrifice functionality for a "manila envelope" gimmick?

[Gromit801]

Caves

Some people should stay in their caves. It's priced right up
there with other ultra slim laptops, and has a better keyboard
and screen.

It won't break as easily as other ultra slims, because it's
aluminum and not plastic.

It's meant for a certain market. Not the mass laptop market.
Guess some people see only what they want to see in articles.

[whizkid454]

It even gets worse with the AppleTV...

Now you have to buy an AppleTV to take advantage of the HD movie rentals on iTunes!!

Something made me think the AppleTV was needing a little push. I think that move was the shove by Apple to sell more of those lame excuses for a media streaming device.

[rapier1]

Cost with SSD

$3,099

Of course, if you are in the UK its close to $4000. Poor brits.

[rapier1]

TM with Wireless NAS

If you can mount the NAS you may want to try
defaults write com.apple.systempreferences TMShowUnsupportedNetworkVolumes 1

http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/10/how-to-enable-time-machine-on-unsupported-volumes/

[rapier1]

Was supposed to be a reply to cjsmalls

sorry for the misfire...

[MrStuckless]

Canada dogged again

Those folks at Apple must really have it in for us Canuks. We
still don't have the iPhone officially (even though, I know tons of
people who have been purchasing it off of e-bay and using it
with Rogers and Fido). The tool we do have officially (iTouch) we
have to pay $20US to get official apps (which we already get if
hacked for free). iTunes Canada has finally come out with TV
content you can buy... but only Canadian shows (maybe 10
shows in all). We still cannot purchase movies, we won't be able
to rent movies on iTunes until the end of the year (that's what
later this year means for Apple when thinking about Canada).
The updates to iTunes will not be available to us Canadians for
other things... so using AppleTV is pointless.

So what gives???? Are they sitting around in Cupertino singing
"Blame Canada"? I love Apple... but obviously Apple doesn't love
Canada. Anyone else here agree? (I'm sure other countries also
feel my pain)