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New MacBooks dropping plastic for aluminum
Say goodbye to the black plastic MacBook: a new aluminum one is said to be on the way.
(Credit: Apple)The MacBook redesign is just around the corner, and further proof has surfaced that it's going to look a lot like its siblings.
AppleInsider reports that new MacBooks and new MacBook Pros have been spotted by people-in-the-know, and that as expected the new systems will get aluminum-based exteriors similar to the ones found on the MacBook Air and iMac. This will give Apple some consistency across the Mac notebook lineup entering the holiday shopping season; for years, the MacBook has had a distinct look separate from the MacBook Pro.
One interesting part of the report also suggests that Apple plans to drop the Firewire 400 port and the DVI-I ports currently found on the MacBook Pro in favor of a Firewire 800 port and a mini-DVI port.
New MacBooks have been expected for months now as the MacBook design gets a little long in the tooth. The last time new details surfaced on the notebooks, October 14 was targeted as the introduction date.
Tom Krazit, a staff writer for CNET News, focuses on all things Apple. He has covered traditional PC companies such as Dell and Hewlett-Packard, chip companies such as Intel and Advanced Micro Devices, and mobile computers ranging from Research In Motion's to Palm's. E-mail Tom.
If Apple thought they could get people to pay $10,000 for each machine, they would do it. So would anyone.
Most heavy sided mac users use these things to do work on things like photoshop. When there are equal laptops coming out now in Vista 64, that actually run CS4 in 64 bit mode, why would they get an over priced mac?!!
They are going to be running most things in Vista 64 anyway.
The MacBook Pro already has *both* a Firewire 400 port and a Firewire 800 port, so I'm not sure what the article means by "in favor of". Sounds to me like they're removing the FW 400 port and replacing it with....nothing?
In fact, the switch to aluminum was so successful that it sparked a massive spree of aluminum-clad Macs (e.g. aluminum-cased MacBook Pros, MacBook Airs, Power Mac G5s, Mac Pros, iMacs, Mac Minis, Xserves, etc.). Now we're getting aluminum MBs. Looks like Apple has found their "magic metal".
Oh, and the other reason, Dell and other PC makers use thick heavy plastic is because most people tend to throw their PCs around when Windows crashes of the BSOD appears. Most people get frustrated with Windows and tend to punch it, slam it, throw it out the window, etc. Don't have to worry about that with the Mac
Why not improve the battery life, instead?
A SSD would be nice though.
And why in hell, Apple Store Mexico does not sell mini-DVI to VGA, RCA... Adaptors?
Sorry... Last one was a freebie... :-)
Highlighter colors, @$$ ugly print graphics behind the monitor, laser lights all over the thing, and windows vista... Now that sounds like a recipe for a design triumph.
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by jeffkash
October 9, 2008 8:33 AM PDT
- The problem with aluminum casing is the fact that it is not as transparent to wifi signals as the plastic casings are, which is why everyone that sits next to me in lecture halls with their macbooks that cost 4 times less than my macbook pro will get wifi and I don't. Not to mention all of the PC users around me with their Dells, IBMs, or Sonys surfing the net while I'm stuck taking notes! Although, going to aluminum casing may make me fell a little bit better when sitting next to someone with their new macbook who is also not getting wifi. I guess it is form over function for Apple this time around...
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