Mini-DisplayPort has replaced Mini-DVI on the MacBook, and the MacBook Pro lost its full-size dual-link DVI. Enjoy buying new dongles for both DVI and VGA at $29 a pop. Oh, and the adapter for dual-link DVI costs $99. Ouch. While I understand Apple is trying to embrace a new standard, isn't it a bit early?

You might be able to say that about USB, back in the day. Or SCSI. Or PCI-X, or PCI 64bit, or PCI 66MHz. Or dual CPUs (the G4's, maybe even the ol' 604's and 604e's too).

Win some, lose some. I think DisplayPort is more like a superset to DVI and HDMI, so it probably makes sense to use that as the main interface and then convert down to the standards that require less bandwidth, etc.

the new designs are cool, but in terms of specs, the differences are almost negligible. my 17 inch MBP @ 2.4 ghz and 4gb RAM is still almost as good as it gets.

and there was no 17 inch refresh anyway. I won't be feeling the envy until they get off their ass and add some blu-ray love, and maybe some more interesting mobile CPU and GPUs.

If I absolutely needed a new laptop, I'd probably be happy to get one of these new model MacBooks, although I would have to consider my options carefully to assess the best value. However they do last a good long time in my experience so if you aren't the type to upgrade every year or two you can get a good amount of use, and hence value, from them. Assuming the NVIDIA chips don't break...

Oddly enough I think the best news of the day was the MacBook Air losing some of its anaemic qualities - namely gaining decent graphics, 45nm CPUs, faster DDR3 memory and larger hard drives, and potentially a longer battery life. However I don't see how it will work with Apple's new (expensive) monitor, because the Air's magsafe is on the other side to the USB and Mini DisplayPort, yet they're all on the same cable for the monitor...

http://kankky.apina.biz:8003/9400.jpg

I propose the base Macbook should be retitled MacBook Lame.

Typical Apple approach: we shove features in a pattern that our marketing approves down your throat and you zombies will take it and like it because it has the almighty Fruit logo on it.

Just waiting for this site to go all Mac. By the number of fruit-related articles per day it seems to be coming along nicely.

I think we should take bets on how much longer Jobs will actually live. He says he's healthy, but he's been awfully thin in the last several photos I've seen of him, and I know he had some sort of pancreatic tumor earlier this year. I heard the tumor had been removed/treated, but I have to wonder how effectively, given his gaunt appearance.

While the removal of FireWire is sure to upset a vocal minority of MacBook users, Apple probably doesn't care.

They should, even though they don't. College students on ramen-noodle budgets have often gotten their video-editing on with the iBook/Macbook line before moving up to the Macbook Pro when they graduate and start earning money. Apple should be thinking about this the way software vendors think "academic licensing", as it has helped them grow their higher-end market.

My ThinkPad T61 cost $300 less than the new entry-level discrete graphics Macbook (I got it this past April) with all of the features that that Macbook has, plus Firewire and a few other goodies. I didn't get OS X of course, but I do have the ability to hook up a camcorder.

If a Macbook can't support iMovie, I see it as a crippled Mac. It's a cornerstone app for the platform.

Ahhhh - finally we get some mac journalism on the TR - I finally have an ally....

Great post man.

I love my "early 2008" MBP. I'll wait until the next revision before looking again. The black keys on silver looks horrible.

Nice Post.

I have a Inspiron 1525 and it serves me very well, but I'm going to get a macbook as soon as possible. I don't know if i'm getting a pro but definitely my next laptop is going to be a mac.

I think it has a lot to do with Apples not having any current method for GPU-assisted video decoding. 1080p is a lot to grunt through on the CPU alone.

HDCP might be involved, also might be licensing Apple's DVD Player app to decode BDs.

Also there's the 'SarbOx' clause that bit Apple with 802.11n. Can't add BD decode to installs that didn't pay for it.

Who freaking knows? It's STEVE.

Great news ! I think Nvidia graphics are good but , but the Nvidia chipsets are crap, plus the rate of failing is very big .I wouldn't buy a expensive mac that has a a known problem with heat. NO thanks.
Even Apple admitted that Nvidia has a problem .(a big one)
http://techreport.com/discussions.x/15685
http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/39687/135/

Apple just doesn't think it's worth it to put BR drives into its laptops. Even now, BR is a niche market just like DVD-Audio and SACD. There's no reason for Apple to spend extra money to quip its laptops with BR drives that virtually no one will ever use.

EDIT: Bah, meant to reply to #12

Steve's response when asked about it was, "Blu-ray is just a bag of hurt. It's great to watch the movies, but the licensing of the tech is so complex,

Apple is a member of the BDA. They must not invite Steve-o to the meetings.

14 posts in, and no Adisor? Adi, where are you? We miss you ...

I may be misreading something, but your comment on the nVidia graphics seems to suggest that Macbooks and Macbook Pros have identical graphics capabilities now.

Just in case there is a misunderstanding, I wanted to point out that while both have the integrated 9400M graphics, only the Macbook Pro has the 9600M GT discrete graphics.

Cheers!

You are spot on, with the features that the new macbooks get such as the LED screen, discrete graphics, and blacklit keyboard, the difference between the Macbook and the Macbook pro just got blurred (aside from screen size). If a year ago the Macbook had the same features as it does today, i certainly would of gone for that rather then the Pro version.

That's OK, I'll take it off your hands. That way it doesn't cry :lol: