macbook

savemejebus

well looks like the macbook will be announced within the next few hours, i have to say i'm really looking forward to this machine, and finally finding out the real specs.

should be good!:D

dubmick

looks very good

http://www.apple.com/macbook/macbook.html

You can get it in Black too!

savemejebus

oh my, it's better than i imagined...more expensive too tho

heggie

wow thats quite a laptop for the money, i can see vaio sales dropping due to this!

RE*AC*TOR

heggie wrote:

wow thats quite a laptop for the money, i can see vaio sales dropping due to this!

its a good laptop apart from.....

Intel GMA 950 graphics processor with 64MB of DDR2 SDRAM

savemejebus

i dunno, how many people buy a 13" laptop for gaming?

heggie

yeh nearly all small form laptops have crap gfx

davmigil

I guess Apple reckoned any better graphics would take away sales from Mac Book Pro.

Looks like a good package for the money. Can't decide between base model and next one up... Black model is at a bit of a premium though, €200 for a paint job and 20Gb bigger hard drive, no thanks!

1.83 CoreDuo/Combo vs 2Ghz CoreDuo/DVD-RW and €200 difference, what do you guys and gals reckon?

savemejebus

not being smart but i reckon i'm gonna wait a few months till they have the (yes i'm a pessimist) hardware probs sorted, and hopefully by then there will be a cheaper black one

Elessar

They are nice for sure, but I just don't get it. The top end Macbook model is 500 cheaper than a MBP, and the only real difference is the x1600 in the MBP.

Apple would have to offer me much more to sway me towards a MBP, considering the Macbook could run many pro apps just as well as the pro.

heggie

i'd love to see this new 'glossy' display, i presume similar to sony's ? anyone any experience?

savemejebus

thats actually something i'm disappointed with, a friend has the compaq with the "supeprbrite glossy display" and as far as i can see the only thing it does is attract grimy fingerprints and make it difficult to see the screen in a bright room

flogen

This will probably be my choice of laptop, although I'd add some ram onto it!

Now, all I need is a grand and a half!

davmigil

I guess adding third-party RAM will work out cheaper than ordering off Apple, presume they have left the slot accessible anyway.

rainbow kirby

Big decision time for me.. In a few months I'm going to be moving up from my 12" iBook G4 1.2GHz, and I'm undecided on whether to get a 2.0GHz Macbook, or a 2.0GHz Macbook Pro (which is now the base model).
Decisions, decisions, decisions!
The Macbook looks sweet, but I'd like the black one which is unfortunately more expensive. Though the MBP is more expensive again, it *is* tempting me. A lot. I really wish there'd been a 13" Macbook Pro though, I really do like the small form factor that the 12" iBook has.

Oriel

But, but, but look how UGLY it is!!!

babypink

that keyboard....while i'm sure is better than the old iBook one....its just not nice to look at...maybe better in person. Its certainly alot of laptop for the money...spec wise apart from the 2Ghz max speed and the graphics and better battery life and HD...there's not much to choose between them MB and the MBP. Value for money it has to be the MacBook.

I'm seriously tempted to trade my 12' PB 1.33 Ghz, but i think i may wait for issues to be resolved, AND for them to offer the matte screen. I'm personally not a fan of the glossy ones...yeah they look lovely and vibrant, but the glare goes through my nut...especially as i tend to turn down the screen brightness (need max batt life - often 4/5 hours without charger)

....tempting though.... I wonder what's in store on thursday?????

rob1891

rainbow kirby wrote:

Big decision time for me.. In a few months I'm going to be moving up from my 12" iBook G4 1.2GHz, and I'm undecided on whether to get a 2.0GHz Macbook, or a 2.0GHz Macbook Pro (which is now the base model).
Decisions, decisions, decisions!
The Macbook looks sweet, but I'd like the black one which is unfortunately more expensive. Though the MBP is more expensive again, it *is* tempting me. A lot. I really wish there'd been a 13" Macbook Pro though, I really do like the small form factor that the 12" iBook has.

The 13" widescreen is an inch and a bit bigger in width that the 12" PB, I really like the size of my PowerBook, kinda disappointed that the MacBook is replacing the all 12" models (is this definitely the case?).

WUSBDesign

The black one kind of reminded me of the Powerbook G3 - except that the latter is a little more curvy/sexy :cool: . Must these new portables be just straight?

K.O.Kiki

It has audio-in! Whee!!
Sadly, still expensive -- I'll have to find someone to help me buy VAT-free again, when I upgrade...
Anyone know what speed the HDD is? Also, why 2x256mb RAM default? Surely they should have gone with 1x512mb (like my iBook).

K.O.Kiki

rob1891 wrote:

The 13" widescreen is an inch and a bit bigger in width that the 12" PB, I really like the size of my PowerBook, kinda disappointed that the MacBook is replacing the all 12" models (is this definitely the case?).

Seeing as the MB is widescreen, it should be approx the same height, just a little wider. (I should check the maths of that)
I doubt there will ever be a 12" MB. Besides: why go smaller?

rob1891

ah, I liked it small, have to see this one in the flesh to decide if I'll change, there's that and I'm still recovering from the powerbook purchase two years ago ;-)

the numbers:

1.08 x 12.78 x 8.92 inches (ye olde powerbook)
1.18 x 10.90 x 8.60 inches (ye newe macbook)

CrowdedHouse

€200 extra for black FFS

Would an extenal DVD recorder work OK with the basic model ?

I see they charge 200 for that as well

savemejebus

have been using an external dvd recorder with my g3 500mhz ibook for over a year so i don't see why the mac book would be any different

luckat

If anyone buys this, would you do me a favour? Take it out in the garden and try using it in outdoor light.

I'd buy a computer like a shot that I could use outdoors - all those warm summer days when you could be out sitting in the yardio under a sun brolly working with a cool fruit drink at your elbow...

Chardee MacDennis

luckat it is the same screen that is used on the Vaios and i can use that outside.

davmigil

Have these laptops landed in any shops yet and if so where? Wouldn't mind a look

luckat

Woohoo! I'll start saving up now and maybe after Christmas...!

440Hz

The black looks soooo good. Good enough to tempt me to upgrade. Seriously considering it now... my 12" ibook has been so good to me, but a 5X speed increase is not to be sneezed at.

What does anyone think the chances of selling as 12" ibook will be now that these babies are on the scene?

whitetrash

Are these actually in the shops yet?

I'll probably end up selling my iBook as well.

440Hz

whitetrash wrote:

Are these actually in the shops yet?

I'll probably end up selling my iBook as well.

not in the shops yet, but you can buy from store online or on phone.

Hugh_C

CrowdedHouse wrote:

€200 extra for black FFS

Would an extenal DVD recorder work OK with the basic model ?

I see they charge 200 for that as well

It works out at 150 for the black, not 200 coz you get an axtra 20 GB on the drive, which is an extra 50 on the BTO for the middle model.

Meh, they're still ripping us off!

Hugh_C

davmigil wrote:

I guess adding third-party RAM will work out cheaper than ordering off Apple, presume they have left the slot accessible anyway.

Crucial is yer only man. The RAM slots are easily accessible through the battery compartment, as is the hard drive. That's a big step forward for the iBooks, er MacBooks. Previously you had to have a degree in electrical engineering and fingers of a five-year-old to change the drives in iBooks, but it seems that it's dead easy now.

whippet

it will be at least 3 weeks i'd say before they start landing !!

it says a few days on the online store .. but they always say that with new products and then never deliver!!

CrowdedHouse

hughchal wrote:

It works out at 150 for the black, not 200 coz you get an axtra 20 GB on the drive, which is an extra 50 on the BTO for the middle model.

Meh, they're still ripping us off!

WOW 20GB for €50 - the generous fools /SARCASM]

Thumper Long

they will be here sooner than that, i ordered one today and will have it hopefully monday and its not coming direct from apple, but there are only very limited supplies at the moment, i got 1 of 4 machines coming in.

whippet wrote:

it will be at least 3 weeks i'd say before they start landing !!

it says a few days on the online store .. but they always say that with new products and then never deliver!!

Chardee MacDennis

hughchal wrote:

Crucial is yer only man. The RAM slots are easily accessible through the battery compartment, as is the hard drive. That's a big step forward for the iBooks, er MacBooks. Previously you had to have a degree in electrical engineering and fingers of a five-year-old to change the drives in iBooks, but it seems that it's dead easy now.

the 512mb is actually 2x256 and you will need at least 1gb to run these.

daveyjoe

Elessar wrote:

They are nice for sure, but I just don't get it. The top end Macbook model is 500 cheaper than a MBP, and the only real difference is the x1600 in the MBP.

and a bigger screen (15") and the backlit keyboard (with ambient light sensor) and the express card slot and the beautiful lightweight aluminum alloy case and Dual-link DVI (and a DVI to VGA adapter). I'm not saying that those extras are worth the extra 500 for everybody but for some people they are. Apple is well known for taking a bigger margin on their 'pro' range of products. There is something exclusive about owning a MBP or a powerbook that you just don't get from a MB or iBook.

This is how I see it (Completely unfounded estimates)...
15" Screen = ~€100
Backlit keyboard = ~€50
Graphics Card (128mb x1600) = ~€150
Aluminium case = ~€50
Dual-link DVI = ~€50
DVI to VGA adapter = €19
express card slot = ~€30

Which totals to €449

Bare in mind that when I say ~€100 for the 15.4" screen, I'm saying that it is probably about €100 euros more expensive than the 13", I'm not saying that it costs €100 for the screen. I'm well aware that my estimates are probably way off but I'm only trying to show you that your not paying €500 for just the graphics card.

Having said all of that... Guess what I just ordered... A macbook 2.0ghz with 1gig ram, 80gig Hard drive and Mini-DVI to DVI adapter and I payed just under €1500 for it.

spidermonkey

the black is ugly, but i'd really want to see it in my hands before i dismiss it. the biggest benefit is that ibooks are gonna be everywhere for sale, so you could pick one up second hand for 600/700

daveyjoe

spidermonkey wrote:

the black is ugly, but i'd really want to see it in my hands before i dismiss it. the biggest benefit is that ibooks are gonna be everywhere for sale, so you could pick one up second hand for 600/700

Yeah I sold mine (1.2ghz) for €650 3 months ago, I sold it because I didn't want to try and flog it for half nothing after the macbooks came out.

I reckon you could knock at least another €100 off the price now for the same model.

silverlining

Another reason to buy a macbook: http://isnoop.net/blog/2006/05/20/macsaber-turn-your-mac-into-a-jedi-weapon

condra

why does everyone seem so calm about the new macbooks? arent they the koolest thing ever? i think they fkn rule.

flogen

so any word on the actual shipping times? 3-5 days is what the site says, can any confirm it or suggest what the real wait will be?

How long does it usually take to get to the high street anyway? Weeks, months?

Thumper Long

I got my hands on a 1.83GHz Macbook today after only ordering it on thursday. i must admit i was excited about opening the box, but it exceeded all expectations. The sonyesque widescreen is fantastic and the new keyboard is in my opinion far superior to the previous iBook keyboard. the ram slotsunder the battery aren't realy any easier to get at as it still requires removing a few screws to get at it. the battery is longer and slimmer than the previous ibook . the isight is fairly good quality and the remote is a nice touch, haven't used a mac with the remote before. it is similar in height to the MBP and the plastic is definitely warmer than the aluminium. The build quality appears to be very good, and they have removed the magnetic latch, replacing it with a seamless magnetic catch. the magnetic power cord is a fantastic innovation, cant believe it took so long for someone to come up with the idea on the MBP. graphics seem fine, didn't play any games but dvd playback etc was flawless. Speed wise it seemed very fast and smooth as expected from OSX. Seriously nice machine, pitty this one wasn't mine to keep, i think i shall have to purchase a black one in the US which is becomming ever mor worthwhile with the falling dollar. well done steve jobs, i might even buy one in the new apple store on fifth avenue.

flogen wrote:

so any word on the actual shipping times? 3-5 days is what the site says, can any confirm it or suggest what the real wait will be?

How long does it usually take to get to the high street anyway? Weeks, months?

flogen

Thanks for that Thumper;
I'm really split on this one... I need to get a new machine of some description, and assuming I can get the money I'm looking at mac..
A mac mini might be a good choice, frankly the portability of a laptop is useful but not something I'd need most of the time; the macbooks look great and seem to have everything I want, but for a similar price I could fork out for an imac instead...
I guess I'm going to have to wait and see if I can get the money first.