Comments on: Checking under the hood of Apple's new MacBooks

The end result is a solid list of upgrades and improvements that may get lost in the "Where are the $800 MacBooks?" shuffle.

[jonDonson]

What I think everyone fails to appreciate is the impact on Apple's outstanding customer service infrastructure with the introduction of a low cost computer. One of the most appealing benefits of owning a Mac is that I can make an appointment at the Apple store and bring my computer in for some face-to-face time whenever I'm having problems FOR FREE. Not to mention that repairs are done on-site and the turnaround time is fantastic. This is a model that blows away all the other major major manufactures. The dilution of this level of support by throwing in "cheap" computers to the mix I think would negatively impact the Apple brand. I applaud them for taking such a thoughtful approach to increasing market share and penetration that doesn't outgrow their support infrastructure. Apple is all about ensuring a completely enjoyable ownership experience and their core customers wouldn't accept anything less.

[mbenedict]

Too bad the new MacBook Pros are using LAST YEAR'S TECHNOLOGY.

For example, Jobs says the 9600MGT is "state of the art"? Get real, it's a generation behind "state of the art". The 9800M series are already shipping with Vista notebooks for awhile now. It runs *three times faster* than the 9600MGT, with 112-shaders vs. 32 in the 9600MXX.

Notebookcheck.com rates the 9600MGT as a "second class" GPU.

Heck you can even find PC notebooks with *dual* SLI 9800 MGTX GPUs.

[bestbuy4ever]

I'm so disappointed w/ the new macbooks. No improvements at all. I really don't see why anyone would get a new macbook over the previous ones. The price is ridiculous! The design looks like S%&*. You gotta be F idiot to pay $1,299/$1,599 for the new ones that's not much different than the previous ones. Or, wait on the upgrades versions in spring. Don't buy it. Wait for the price cut. I promise you.

[sbethi]

Apple has great products but Apple is not the one who changed the way people use computers, Microsoft is great in all aspects.
If Microsoft did not exist more than 90% of world population could not even heard of a personal computer, for Apple it could have taken another 100 years to achieve what Microsoft did in 5 years.
Just to remind you 95% of the world population lives out side of United States and they don't get their paychecks in dollars, if you don't bring the price down they will never will be able to access technology.
Because of Microsoft innovation boomed and indirectly created millions of jobs in every corner of the world, apple created near zero jobs excluding their employees.

[SHADuck]

I always thought Microsoft's bid for Yahoo was baloney. or they wereoff track, well we now see who is the fool. I wonder if Google and the industry is distracted.

Thank God that Microsoft still has loads of cash and intellect and visionaries, not figuring how to load an asset

[e-mail]

[ouiving--2008]

Ok, Apple has mentioned this a lot. They don't want to play in the no margin bottom feeder arena. They believe that their products have a value. If you are too cheap to see the value of a Mac, go buy a Dell or one of the other bottom feeders.

[CompliantCntrl]

The things that are always so aggravating when you hear people knee jerk about Apple products. What other company faces this scrutiny. They are obviously the finest produced notebooks you can buy. Period. In terms of dual SLI set ups and what not, obviously they are not targeting you. They have put together the product they want, obviously balancing build, battery life, component cost and target consumer. If it ain't you don't buy the thing. I want a refined, quality machine. I want the user experience and the customer service to be top notch. This fits the bill. That said, do I miss the firewire 400? Sure. And do I wish they'd given the same treatment to the 17incher? I do. I was thinking I'd get that as my new "portable" system (I'm a video editor). Now I guess I'm still waiting.
But to the people who are crazy about the glossy screen, we haven't seen it in person, and furthermore I don't know anyone who does their finish work on the laptop. You take it home and finish on the monitor. Also, in regards to the "no button no way" argument. If you watch the video you will see the whole button clicks. The whole thing. And furthermore you can make your own gestures. This is about opening up interface possibilities. Not limiting them to the past. They've added functionality, not reduced it.

[iConquered]

I am not sure if it is a sound business strategy to partner up with Nvidia. They are currently in some rather serious legal troubles due to their erroneous fiscal reporting. There is also the problem with their GeForce 8 line of notebook GPU's, that have been causing problems across the board (including MacBook). It is an endearing thought, that the MacBook is becoming the game capable platform that its bigger cousin is, but it is also a dubious prospect under the current circumstances.

[Regensburger]

Agreed on the glossy screens. Why not make the glass removable for the minority of users who actually prefer it?

[vip_m]

Removing firewire from the macbook is a big mistake. A lot of people have firewire-only devices. I bet, just like when Apple removed the mic from the ibook and had to put it back because of user complaints, Apple just might, under pressure, return Firewire 400 or 800 back to the Macbook.

[ReverendRob]

I think this is because of the expense of the FW components, and, since the MacBook is a consumer model, that comes into play. Most consumers are happy with USB, even for their external HDs. It's only us pro users that need FW's consistent throughput, and that's why FW is still on the MB Pros (FW800 is backwards-compatible with FW400). Pros have no business looking at the regular MB except maybe as a backup system.

[purcell429]

Does the author not do research? The whole touchpad IS a button that depresses into the laptop.

[ace10134]

Thats a sad update, thats all i can say.