MacBook

skweek · Post by **skweek** » Tue May 16, 2006 9:25 pm 0

matt303 wrote:If you want a high performance gfx solution go and buy a PC laptop that weighs 4kg, runs for an hour off batteries and sounds like a jump jet taking off. If on the other hand you want a light, usable and affordable laptop I think you'll find they've got a good balance.

Or a Macbook Pro?

Deckard · Post by **Deckard** » Tue May 16, 2006 10:11 pm 0

Apple's MacBook sports user-replaceable hard disks

fromAppleInsider....could be useful

http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1750

ThetaReactor · Post by **ThetaReactor** » Wed May 17, 2006 12:07 am 0

How important is a good GPU? It's the main reason I'd go for an Intel Mac. I want a notebook that's good for general notebook stuff [and OSX looks to be ideal for that], but there are occasions when I'd like to boot up Windows and play a game or two.

If they offered a subnote [10"?] Macbook, I'd jump right on it, and not worry about gaming performance. On a just-kinda-small notebook, though, I want more versatility.

Firefox · Post by **Firefox** » Wed May 17, 2006 1:00 am 0

Bah, still fitted with the stoopid one-button trackpad I see...

Kronos · Post by **Kronos** » Wed May 17, 2006 1:36 am 0

isnt ATIs powerplay feature any good then? seams to cripple the performance when switched on anyway

Foozwah · Post by **Foozwah** » Wed May 17, 2006 5:27 am 0

ThetaReactor wrote:Dammit. I was that close. I wanted a small notebook, figured Mac would be the way to go. And then they cut the balls off the GPU.

Yup, same here. Was holding out to see what the MacBook was like, but now...

Can't justify (or indeed afford) the expense of a Macbook Pro just to get a half-decent GPU. Looks like I'll stick with PC for yet another generation then.

Post by **Snakey** » Wed May 17, 2006 6:06 am 0

Argh fuck.

firefox wrote:Bah, still fitted with the stoopid one-button trackpad I see...

Yeah, it really is about time they changed that, especially as they're now telling people they can also run Windows on it. And a second button is useful in OSX, no?

matt303 wrote:If you want a high performance gfx solution go and buy a PC laptop that weighs 4kg, runs for an hour off batteries and sounds like a jump jet taking off.

Well the battery life I'll give you, you aint gonna get 6 hours out of a decent GPU. But the rest I'm not so sure about. My current lappy is thin, light, has a 128MB GeForce 6600, and is silent. (and cooler than a Macbook Pro

)

Having said that - better video would have been nice, but I could live without it.

That keyboard though? Looks total shite. Don't think it'd be up to any serious typing.

The bastards just want me to buy a Macbook Pro, don't they?

Oh - and shiny screens? Love 'em, me.

ravuya · Post by **ravuya** » Wed May 17, 2006 6:22 am 0

Good deal, my 12" Powerbook is getting a bit long in the tooth because of the Go5200's shader performance (and nothing else, really). Perhaps I'll upgrade by next Christmas.

skab · Post by **skab** » Wed May 17, 2006 8:25 am 0

User upgradable HD, that's a good thing! I'll probably think about that in a few days when I'm sweating and swearing while trying to rip off the top case of my PB 12". Absolutely terrifying, you have to bend that alu plate beyond belief to loose some easily breakable plastic clips.

But then again I still have a screen I can see something even with the window shutters open or the light on.

And I still have a keyboard that doesn't look like one being designed by Commodore. 1975's Commodore. Seriously, who came up with the idea of using a 1st series PET 2001 keyboard? Did you check if there's really a optical drive on the right side? I wouldn't be surprised if there were a tape drive instead. Press Play on Tape...

The huge trackpad is great, but you're right, it wouldn't have hurt to split it and finally include a small right button.

fihu · Post by **fihu** » Wed May 17, 2006 9:41 am 0

Apple - Notebooks - Compare Models

MacBook: 60W Power connection - 6h Battery life
MacBook Pro: 85W Power connection - 4.5/5.5h Battery life

Larger displays & ATI seem to eat a lot...

zbandito · Post by **zbandito** » Wed May 17, 2006 9:51 am 0

Snakey wrote:
firefox wrote:Bah, still fitted with the stoopid one-button trackpad I see...
Yeah, it really is about time they changed that, especially as they're now telling people they can also run Windows on it. And a second button is useful in OSX, no?

It registers a command-click if you have 2 fingers on the track pad (at least in OSX); this feature evidentially was introduced on the 17" MBP and has yet to make it to the 15" (which will hopefully see it via a software update)

Kemper_Boyd · Post by **Kemper_Boyd** » Wed May 17, 2006 11:29 am 0

Reading some Mac forums the number one reason for 'not buying'
a MacBook seems to be the lack of a 'free' mini-DVI to DVI/VGA cable.
There seem to be more people bitching about that than the intergrated
graphics.

I wonder if it's the same people who were 'not buying' a MacBook Pro
because it has no built-in modem?

tufty · Post by **tufty** » Wed May 17, 2006 11:54 am 0

fihu wrote:Apple - Notebooks - Compare Models

MacBook: 60W Power connection - 6h Battery life
MacBook Pro: 85W Power connection - 4.5/5.5h Battery life

Larger displays & ATI seem to eat a lot... :?

Displays and intel processors, you mean :)

Even my netra has a lower quoted power usage than the macbook, and that's got 2 honking great 10K scsi drives in it. Looks cooler, too, although I'll grant that it is 'marginally' less usable 'on the road'...

Hmm. Seems the PSU is only hit hard when charging, only 37w at full load for the macbook pro according to anandtech, so I think it's probably fair to say the power consumption on the macbook will be similar (although presumably lower, given they are reckoning 6 hours off a 55 watt-hour battery as opposed to 4.5 hours off a 60 watt-hour battery)

I still wub my netra though :)

Oh, and in a completely off-topic vein, but possibly useful to other macwankers : A free virtual desktop manager that is being actively worked on. It seems pretty good.

Simon

Post by **Snakey** » Wed May 17, 2006 12:02 pm 0

tufty wrote:Displays and intel processors, you mean

Nah, the core duo is pretty damn good for that, for what you get out of it.

Don't think you can really fault 6 hours for a 2ghz dual core chip

Somebody buy one and tell me the keyboard isn't shit.

Kemper_Boyd · Post by **Kemper_Boyd** » Wed May 17, 2006 12:14 pm 0

Snakey wrote:
tufty wrote:Displays and intel processors, you mean
Nah, the core duo is pretty damn good for that, for what you get out of it.

It certainly is. There are more than a few benchmarks where this 31W
processor outperforms the 100W 970MP. Right now for mainstream
processors Core Duo is the performance/power king, but it would be
nice if Apple did offer a LV or ULV option. Just to rub salt in the wounds
of the PowerPC fans.