# Look at the new Apple Laptop! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 15, 2008, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-at-the-new-apple-laptop/433633 "2008-01-15T18:24:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-at-the-new-apple-laptop/433633/41 "2008-01-16T05:30:17Z")
[QUOTE=bouv] no Firewire (but who actually uses that right now?) [/QUOTE] Musicians (I think that video cameras tend to transfer over firewire these days as well), for one. And as arts-specific people (in both the audio and visual world) have often been _the_ market for Apple (maybe it’s not so any more), lack of a firewire port is a poor poor choice, IMHO. I’ve been contemplating moving to a mac for audio work, and I still may (hello MacBook), but as has already been said, this machine really offers nothing that a cheaper product put out by Apple already has. It’s nice to see some new technologies make their way into the world, but this machine is way too crippled to be more than an expensive toy. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-at-the-new-apple-laptop/433633/42 "2008-01-16T05:59:39Z")
[QUOTE=bouv] no Firewire (but who actually uses that right now?) [/quote] Uhh… we Mac repair techs? anyone who wants to make digital video movies on the go (I have yet to see a digicamcorder that uses USB 2.0 for transfer, they’re all FireWire/IEEE-1384), anyone who wants _GUARANTEED_ bandwidth with no USB-Drag?, USB slows down when more devices are connected, FW devices don’t [QUOTE=bouv] Seriously, it seems it was made just so it could be made. “Ooh, look, we have the thinnest laptop ever! It’s sexy! Buy it all you MacZombies!” [/quote] Agreed, Steve seems to be testing the limits of his RDF, I’m not saying the BulliMac won’t sell, it will, but probably not as well as it could, the comparison to the Cube is very apropriate [QUOTE=bouv] There does come a time when function is better than form. [/QUOTE] Yes, it’s called “always”, form should _always_ be last, function is of prime importance ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-at-the-new-apple-laptop/433633/43 "2008-01-16T06:36:32Z")
[QUOTE=MacTech] Uhh… we Mac repair techs? [/QUOTE] Techs? Plural? Theres more than one? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Barrington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Barrington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barrington)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-at-the-new-apple-laptop/433633/44 "2008-01-16T13:46:01Z")
I don’t have any particular dog in the perennial PC vs Mac debate, but recently a close friend in Spain replaced her underpowered PowerMac G4 with a new Macbook, at a cost of €2000. She already has a G5 and an iPod, and is an unashamed devotee of Mac styling. Her background is in the arts, and she has a fine eye for _objets d’art_, but knows very little indeed about computer hardware. I said to her that she could get a more powerful and all-round better PC-based laptop for little more than half the cost (if that), but she was determined to get the Macbook, simply because of its looks. She freely admitted that she placed higher value on form than on functionality. I don’t understand that mindset, but it’s not my position to say she was wrong as such - it’s her money. To me, this amusing article entitled [Apple to charge $2000 for shit in a box](http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/science-%26-technology/apple-to-charge-%242000-for-shit-in-a-box-20080116663/) kind of sums up a different pro-Apple mindset. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-at-the-new-apple-laptop/433633/45 "2008-01-16T15:14:56Z")
You can get 3 or 4 Eee PCs for the price of one of those. ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-at-the-new-apple-laptop/433633/46 "2008-01-16T15:27:26Z")
[QUOTE=Barrington] I don’t have any particular dog in the perennial PC vs Mac debate, but recently a close friend in Spain replaced her underpowered PowerMac G4 with a new Macbook, at a cost of €2000. She already has a G5 and an iPod, and is an unashamed devotee of Mac styling. Her background is in the arts, and she has a fine eye for _objets d’art_, but knows very little indeed about computer hardware. I said to her that she could get a more powerful and all-round better PC-based laptop for little more than half the cost (if that), but she was determined to get the Macbook, simply because of its looks. She freely admitted that she placed higher value on form than on functionality. I don’t understand that mindset, but it’s not my position to say she was wrong as such - it’s her money. To me, this amusing article entitled [Apple to charge $2000 for shit in a box](http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/science-%26-technology/apple-to-charge-%242000-for-shit-in-a-box-20080116663/) kind of sums up a different pro-Apple mindset. [/QUOTE] I seem to walk into discussions like this all the time. If she spent $2000, it better have been a Macbook Pro, because the most expensive Macbook stateside is \<1500 dollars (I believe). Also, go spec out a PC laptop with the included software (and webcam), and various other hardware, and you’ll find only a modest price difference. Unless she just got completely ripped off for a Macbook. ---
**Author:** ![Screaming\_Amoeba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Screaming\_Amoeba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Screaming_Amoeba)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-at-the-new-apple-laptop/433633/47 "2008-01-16T15:46:05Z")
[QUOTE=chaoticbear] Also, go spec out a PC laptop with the included software (and webcam), and various other hardware, and you’ll find only a modest price difference. Unless she just got completely ripped off for a Macbook. [/QUOTE] I would like to see you prove this. AKA…cite??? ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-at-the-new-apple-laptop/433633/48 "2008-01-16T15:46:30Z")
The idea that Macs are more expensive than PCs is largely a myth. You must be sure you’re comparing apples to apples (ouch, I’m sorry). ---
**Author:** ![Screaming\_Amoeba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Screaming\_Amoeba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Screaming_Amoeba)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-at-the-new-apple-laptop/433633/49 "2008-01-16T15:52:46Z")
Again…don’t just repeat the anti-myth. Prove it. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-at-the-new-apple-laptop/433633/50 "2008-01-16T15:53:26Z")
Also, the idea that aesthetics doesn’t add value, or isn’t something desirable is absurd. It may be subjective and unquantifiable, but Apple’s products have this in spades. And on top of that, they deliver innovative, well built, and IMHO superior machines. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-at-the-new-apple-laptop/433633/51 "2008-01-16T16:18:41Z")
In this corner, we have a sleek, white [MacBook](http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?nnmm=browse&mco=7B72365D&node=home/shop_mac/family/macbook) (the one in the middle) She’s got: 2.2Ghz Intel Core Duo. 120 GB HD 1 GB Memory DVD/CD Built in iSight camera WiFi (802.11n) Bluetooth Gigabit Ethernet MagSafe Power Cord 13.3" Screen (1280 x 800) 4-6 hrs of Battery life And, of course, bundled with Apple’s iLife Suite, Mac OSX Leopard, and some other 3rd party games and stuff. **COST: $1,299** In this corner, we have a [Dell XPS M1530](http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/xpsnb_m1530?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~tab=bundlestab) (Better version) This beauty come with: 2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo 3GB of memory 120 GB HD DVD/CD Burner Webcam WiFi (802.11n) No Bluetooth 15" Screen (1280 x 800) Not sure on battery life? _Anti-Virus software!_ Photoshop Elements And of course, Windows Vista, Home Ed. **COST: $1,698 ($1,249 if you take advantage of a deal that ends Jan 31st).** ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-at-the-new-apple-laptop/433633/52 "2008-01-16T16:25:46Z")
[QUOTE=cmyk] The idea that Macs are more expensive than PCs is largely a myth. [/QUOTE] Since you can’t buy the exact same spec machines in both flavors, it’s impossible to compare directly. But the fact is, the cheapest Apple laptop is $1099, and the cheapest desktop is $599 without display. The cheapest Dell laptop is $499, and desktop without display is $349. All of these are sufficient for basic PC use (web surfing, word processing, etc). ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-at-the-new-apple-laptop/433633/53 "2008-01-16T16:25:48Z")
If they could get this new laptop to be 2 pounds I think they’d really have something. Even with the no-replaceable-battery and other limitations. I’d love to get a Mac laptop for myself but I just have too much software that I’d have to completely replace, far beyond the cost of just buying the computer. A 2-pound \*full-sized \* model that I could use for traveling though would be great, but it would also have to be a lot cheaper to justify the limitations. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-at-the-new-apple-laptop/433633/54 "2008-01-16T16:29:03Z")
[QUOTE=scr4] Since you can’t buy the exact same spec machines in both flavors, it’s impossible to compare directly. But the fact is, the cheapest Apple laptop is $1099, and the cheapest desktop is $599 without display. The cheapest Dell laptop is $499, and desktop without display is $349. All of these are sufficient for basic PC use (web surfing, word processing, etc). [/QUOTE] **(see my post above)** Comparing Apple’s bottom of the line Mac to Dell’s is folly. Surely, you must see why? I compared two similarly featured laptops, and feel that’s a fair way to compare. There are some differences, but with some quick mental adjustments, you can see that the myth is just that. ETA: Under the MacBook specs, it should read: DVD/CD Burner Apple Remote (for FrontRow, Apple’s MediaCenter) ---
**Author:** ![Screaming\_Amoeba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Screaming\_Amoeba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Screaming_Amoeba)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-at-the-new-apple-laptop/433633/55 "2008-01-16T16:30:49Z")
[QUOTE=cmyk] **COST: $1,698 ($1,249 if you take advantage of a deal that ends Jan 31st).** [/QUOTE] At which point there will no doubt be another deal (unlike Apple). If you want to really compare apples with apples (snerk), should you be comparing against a MacBook Pro? And the Dell includes a 2-year warranty. Just to be totally up-front, I’m not a Mac hater. To the contrary, I really want one. But I can’t justify the price difference on the software alone. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-at-the-new-apple-laptop/433633/56 "2008-01-16T16:34:39Z")
[QUOTE=Screaming Amoeba] At which point there will no doubt be another deal (unlike Apple). If you want to really compare apples with apples (snerk), should you be comparing against a MacBook Pro? And the Dell includes a 2-year warranty. Just to be totally up-front, I’m not a Mac hater. To the contrary, I really want one. But I can’t justify the price difference on the software alone. [/QUOTE] Perhaps. Even so, there’s only a $50 difference. Argue all you want how PCs are cheaper. I’ll be over here, enjoying the product I feel is the better value taking into account what I feel is superior quality and a better computing experience. And no… the MacBook Pro is far better than that Dell. Sorry I can’t comparison shop all day, you’ll have to take me at my word. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Screaming\_Amoeba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Screaming\_Amoeba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Screaming_Amoeba)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-at-the-new-apple-laptop/433633/57 "2008-01-16T16:36:41Z")
[QUOTE=cmyk] **(see my post above)** Comparing Apple’s bottom of the line Mac to Dell’s is folly. Surely, you must see why? I compared two similarly featured laptops, and feel that’s a fair way to compare. There are some differences, but with some quick mental adjustments, you can see that the myth is just that. [/QUOTE] Sigh. Neither of these posts are true. Dell XPS M1530 Core Duo 2.2 GHz 15.4" glossy widescreen 1440x900 display **3 GB RAM** 160 GB 5400 RPM HDD 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT Bluetooth Internal 3 year in-home service **$1944** MacBook Pro 15" Core Duo 2.2 GHz 15.4" glossy widescreen 1440x900 display **2 GB RAM** 160 GB 5400 RPM HDD 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT Bluetooth Internal 3 year AppleCare **$2848** ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-at-the-new-apple-laptop/433633/58 "2008-01-16T16:49:15Z")
[QUOTE=cmyk] Comparing Apple’s bottom of the line Mac to Dell’s is folly. Surely, you must see why? [/QUOTE] My point is that for a lot of people, buying an Apple is a waste of money. So Apple’s price may be OK _for those specs_, but that doesn’t help you if you don’t _need_ those specs. Even for high-end systems, Apples can be more expensive if they don’t offer exactly what I need. For example, a high-resolution screen is very important to me because I like to display a lot of information. (And being nearsighted, I have no trouble reading really small characters.) The low-end Apple laptops have 1280x800 screens which just aren’t acceptable to me. The only way to get a 1440x900 screen is to opt for a MacBook Pro at $1999. Or I can choose one of many Windows laptops with SXGA+ (1400x1050) displays for much less (e.g. base spec Lenovo T61 at $964). ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-at-the-new-apple-laptop/433633/59 "2008-01-16T17:03:10Z")
Not bad, it’s about as small as the [Vaio PCG-X505/SP](http://www.i4u.com/article827.html) that Sony released in 2003, and only twice as heavy. “ultra unlike anything else” indeed. Truly, Apple is on the cutting edge. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-at-the-new-apple-laptop/433633/60 "2008-01-16T17:25:18Z")
[QUOTE=Screaming Amoeba] Just to be totally up-front, I’m not a Mac hater. To the contrary, I really want one. But I can’t justify the price difference on the software alone. [/QUOTE] Why is that? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-at-the-new-apple-laptop/433633.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-at-the-new-apple-laptop/433633.md?page=4)