Need a new Macbook
by Volker Weber
Sold a MacBook today to a friend who wanted a notebook but would not want to afford a new Mac. So I sold her my old one and plan to buy a new machine soon. 13" is a given since small is practical. I am contemplating waiting three weeks though since mid-October is a good time for Mac updates. Or has been in the past. What do you think?
Comments
I have a 13 inch unibody macbook - before the firewire addition :( but I do love it. I wish the screen was a little bigger for Designer but other then that it's a great machine that's very portable. I just put a new 500GB 7200rpm drive in it and couldn't be happier.
Apple just updated it not that long ago when it went from Macbook to "Macbook Pro". (I assume you're not interested in the white model that's still called "MacBook".) So I doubt there will be an update anytime soon. Or if there is one it will be relatively minor. Now that they put firewire back on what more would they add that's a must have?
I'd say that now's as good a time as any... but who knows with Apple.
David, there is a slight chance that Apple replaces the white Macbook, which is quite long in the tooth. What I need is a very portable machine. Right now I have a Samsung NC10 for that purpose, but I dread the Windows software on it. If you look at the past years, there was always some kind of hardware update in October, and I would hate to have bought a 13" MacBook Pro if Apple would announce a 10" device next month.
Well, my MBP 17" was about four or five weeks old - and I had one of the first ones - when they came up with a new release (only minor changes that I didn't want, lucky me.)
So maybe you're not even on the safe side in November ;-)
What a kind thing to do for your friend. Looks like you just saved another life from the chains of Microsoft! :-)
I had an interesting chat with someone the other day. He had a reasonable amount of time for my opinion and I explained why I moved to Mac last year. I told him the 1,001 good reasons for doing so, then when the conversation came to an end he said "but....I cannot understand why a good IT person like yourself would move to Mac". I felt like saying "where were you for the last 20 minutes!!!"
It is actually much easier: "Oh, of course you can buy a PC first, and then buy a Mac".
There's rumours of a new Apple tablet out before christmas too....
Plus Intel has just released some new silicon, although unlikely in an Apple device before christmas I suppose.
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/09/25/intel_releases_core_i7_clarksfield_mobile_processors.html
In der "Gerüchtekiste" gelten neue MacBooks bis ca. Mitte Oktober als sicher: verändertes, kompakteres Design, Plastikgehäuse, fest verbauter Akku, niedrigerer Preis. Für die MacBookPro-Linie inkl. 13"-Modell wird zur Zeit wohl nicht mit einem Update gerechnet. Und das sagenumwobene Tablet? Hmmm, wer weiß... ;-)
What I need is a very portable machine.
A MacBook Air still not on your shortlist?
Alternatively you may wait a couple of more months and go for the MacTablet..
No, it isn't. Too impractical. No Ethernet port, too little storage, no optical drive, way too little battery life. A tablet would have the same disadvantages and it would probably be missing a keyboard. Kind of moot for a writer, right?
Hello Volker,
what a change! Normally YOU give the answers, not questions!
:-)
I also would wait for the upcoming black Friday offerings.
In the last years these have been mainly consumer devices from the iPod range.
But IF there is a supersized iPod to come it could very well be introduced along the holiday season offerings. I do not expect changes to the just updated unibodies.
If you have another soul willing to change to a non-Unibody MBP 17 just let me know...
I used to have a MacBook Air, but like with the MacBook the noise is really annoying. Playing YouTube videos always got the fan running at full speed (or a couple of open pages with flash ads). That doesn't happen with a MBP and hopefully not with the next gen MB.
Btw. Yes, I know click to flash.
Well, if you like the Samsung NC10 and understandably dread the Winstuff, why not try one of the Ubuntu-Netbook adaptations till the MacBooks are out?
Ubuntu itself is quite nicely running on Atom Netbooks. And then there is EasyPeasy and Eeebuntu (also for NC10, not only the EEEs).
Best of all they can be installed on a USB-Stick and tested from there.
There are some nice Mac OSX like launchers..., I don't recommend the Netbook Remix interface or overlay GUI.
I don't dread Windows. It runs quite well on the NC10. I dread the Windows software. For instance, I want to run Keynote. Not available on Windows. And certainly not an Linux.
Just did the same - sold the MacBook to a friend who needed something she can really work with.
Now I'm just waiting for the new iMacs to come out - my time travelling around ends up soon, so I don't need a portable any more.
As the music event was all about iPods & Co. I expect Apple to at least refurbish their models in te mobile segment. My suggestion is: wait. It can't be that long. Remember the last sentence of Steve at the media event: "See you soon".
PS: Don't blame Windows/Linux for not having a Keynote version, blame the developing company ;)
I am not blaming anyone. I just explain what I need and why Linux is not the solution for me. I am not avoiding Windows. I want better software.
So do I - which is why the new iMac will ship with iWork. ;)
Maybe helpful: http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/#MacBook_Pro ;)
Unless you are looking at getting the cheap macbook, then wait to see if they update it from the white plastic to something else. Other wise just get one now, since there is no way you want a first generation apple device (MacTablet). The new 13" macbook pro line is sweet, I just upgraded to the 15" MBP with the 8hr battery and I'm super happy with it.
Volker, why not just run OSX on the NC10 - I can tell you it runs fine. Just need to swap the wireless card out for a different one, and 'deal' with the EULA issue. Instructions can be found via Google.
OS/X on an NC10? A bit like having her instead of her. ;-)
i am planning of getting a Apple laptop myself. Although resident in the UK, i plan of getting mine in the USA.
are there plans of price cuts?
a 15" will suit me fine.
the prices of Apple laptops in the UK are too high!
