Comments on: All eyes on the MacBook

By: S.H., Philadelphia, PA

S.H., Philadelphia, PA — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:47:12 +0000

I agree – go back to a smaller size offering for serious portability. After all this time, I still adore my 12" PowerBook G4 and love that it fits into almost any bag I have. I have an iMac for the big screen – don't need a huge screen on my laptop.

By: Robert Brown, Finger Lakes, NY

Robert Brown, Finger Lakes, NY — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 04:18:49 +0000

The current MacBook Pro does not look like the titanium PowerBook. It does look like the aluminum PowerBook G4 that followed.

And is that so bad? The currently ongoing design is about as near to perfection as any laptop ever designed.

On the technical side, it introduced the idea of moving all connections from the back (hinge area) of the computer to the sides where they are more accessible. It was the first laptop with a backlit keyboard, and to this day is still one of the few, from any vendor, with that feature.

On the design side, it has simple lines and the matte aluminum finish. It is a classic, in the way that Movado watches or Bang+Olufsen electronics are classics.

Yet the technology has evolved and stayed cutting edge while the design remained the relatively unchanged.

Why change a classic?

(Written on an aluminum PowerBook G4)

By: Willyboy: Round Mountain, Nevada

Willyboy: Round Mountain, Nevada — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 23:41:39 +0000

Physical media is a dead stick and just eats into battery life. Just say no to Blu-Ray.

By: Paul, Oak Harbor, WA

Paul, Oak Harbor, WA — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 21:43:29 +0000

What is this love of big screens. Geez louise, big screens are nice for viewing the spreadsheet and for some web sites, but many of us are looking for reliability and light weight. Joke all you want, the Powerbook G4 is still my favorite machine when travelling.

By: Justin Flood, East Rockaway, NY

Justin Flood, East Rockaway, NY — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 20:50:34 +0000

I wouldn't expect to see all that much in the new macbooks. Though I would expect to see the removal of the "pro" moniker from the high end line, and a design refresh that brings all three models into a similar design language.

Expect to see a 13, 15, and 17 inch macbook, all aluminum and glass, with multitouch trackpads, led backlit displays, backlit keyboards, and possibly the option for blu ray on the higher end 15 and 17 inch models that can display a 1080p screen resolution.

Other than that, I'd expect a general price drop to the whole line, possibly with the lowest end macbook coming in at $899 to put it in a more competitive space with other laptop manufacturers. Either way, we'll find out soon I'm sure.

By: BMWTwisty Johnstown, PA

BMWTwisty Johnstown, PA — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:23:54 +0000

…sorry. I'm just chucklin'…

By: John, Bethesda MD

John, Bethesda MD — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:07:25 +0000

Handle?? God no, please don't bring back the handle.. There are plenty of bags out there with a multitude of things to hold on to.

I want a MacBook Pro refresh with 8 gig or more of memory, and a docking station!

By: Jim Cortese Bartlett, Illinois

Jim Cortese Bartlett, Illinois — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 18:14:54 +0000

I have 4 macs and an ibook in my home. I use the ibook for work but is slowing me down because it is the G3 clamshell. My reluctance to upgrade is as simple as it has a handle. I have never dropped my ibook while others in my office have had cracked screens and more from this type of accident.

Steve Jobs please bring back the handle.

By: Don P. Pittsburgh Pa.

Don P. Pittsburgh Pa. — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 18:14:46 +0000

Playing the, "Good Cop" today are you there Phil? No fire in the theatre headlines today there Phil? You are soooo predictable.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 18:04:43 +0000

As always too much hype around none essentials. Skip that and go directly to the one and only machine we need from Apple a 8-10 inch portable with a minimum of hanky pany

Hemnrik