Read more.New launches to take limelight away from Windows 7?
Read more.New launches to take limelight away from Windows 7?
Nothing impressive really except the mouse. Would like to have a go at it to see how well it performs.
That mouse does look great. Tempted to see if work will get one for 'testing'
I seem to remember that this is because of BluRay licensing issues?
£1349 for a 27" LED display with a resolution of 2560x1440, and it is almost worth it just for the display alone
Couple this with "27-inch models also support input from external DisplayPort sources" and an ATI 5870 with display port, and it makes a very tempting prospect as a PC gaming display
I haven't been able to track down the exact adapter they mention is sold separately as there are several combinations sold
[EDIT] Found this cable
http://estore.circuitassembly.com/pr...ter-Cable.html
Last edited by inter8ection; 21-10-2009 at 01:46 PM.
The multi-touch mouse sounds like a neat innovation, I'll check it out at the Apple Store next time I'm passing.
The new unibody MacBook also makes it a little more tempting than the equivalent 13" MacBook Pro, in so much as matches the latter's specs, then one-ups it with a larger hard drive and a cheaper price tag. I do like the subtle changes to the design, with the more rounded edges - but I think I'll hold out for USB 3.0 (and perhaps wireless n someday) before I upgrade.
Tried the mouse. It's as dire as it looks. Anything but smooth scrolling, sharp edges, where the Mighty Mouse had rounded ones and too flat for protracted use. About the only improvement over its predecessor is that right clicks no longer require finger ballet to accomplish.
The new white Macbook not only loses firewire but is a fingerprint magnet. Somebody needs to wallop that design team around its collective heads with a 4 by 2.
Last edited by Noggin; 22-10-2009 at 09:34 AM.
Part of me thinks hmm, nice idea.
Then I think what the hell are they thinking, this will be more of a joke than the mighty mouse, bet it has hudge issues with anyone who rests their fingers on the touch area.
Given that I'm used to very high sensitive mice, a requirement for many high res monitor navigation without causing major RSI for me. I'd imagine that I'd want a very sensitive setting for the gesture, and I think that would create issues with resting fingers.
throw new ArgumentException (String, String, Exception)
apple has gone and shot themselves in the foot, AGAIN. No more firewire port - lol. And apple's are supposed to be so media friendly?
Larry Jordan has just posted a big rant on his blog about this very issue - crucial for media producers.
Peeved at Apple, Again… Posted by Larry on October 21, 2009
This morning Apple announced a plethora of new hardware, some of which looks pretty interesting — as long as you aren’t interested in editing video.
You see, Apple removed the FireWire port from the MacBook - again. A few iterations ago, FireWire was in. Then, they took it out. Hue and cry ensued. They put it back. Now, it’s gone again.
The only interfaces that remain for moving data between the computer and an external drive is USB2, Airport, or Ethernet .
The problem with USB2 is that it is too slow - roughly half the speed of FireWire 400.
The problem with Airport is that it is slower than USB2.
The problem with Ethernet is that there is no way to connect a FireWire device via the Ethernet port. And that’s assuming you are willing to give up a high-speed connection to your server, in order to attach a separate hard drive.
Yes, you can use your Ethernet port to connect an iSCSI device - provided you have a device that supports it. However, you can’t convert between FireWire and iSCSI. Or eSATA. Or PCIe. In other words, your data is trapped on your hard disks and can’t get off. Not on these MacBooks.
If Apple had replaced FireWire with some new high-performance port that we could connect peripherals to, I could understand. But to remove a critical high-performance port and replace it with nothing is just STUPID!
I realize that FireWire is not the fastest interface out there. eSATA, PCIe, iSCSI, and FibreChannel are all faster. However, the MacBook has never had an ExpressCard/34 slot, so that rules out eSATA, PCIe, and FibreChannel. And I know of only one iSCSI storage device currently shipping - the DroboPro. A great unit, but hardly as affordable as a stand-alone hard drive.
Granted, the vast Macintosh public may not need to connect external devices. (I’m sure no one really needs to back up their data to anything but a slow hard drive.) But media professionals do - whether working with audio or video. Media remains a core part of the Macintosh market.
According to Apple’s financial report, earlier this week, for every desktop Apple sells, they sell three laptops. However, what bothers me about today’s announcement is that increasingly, it is becoming very, very difficult to use any of Apple’s laptops to do what Macintosh systems do best - easily work with massive media files.
We had this conversation earlier this year, when the MacBook Pros were updated - and FireWire disappeared. Now, it’s disappeared from the MacBooks. At this rate, it will disappear in the next iteration of iMacs! Not all of us want to wait while our media backs up to a Time Capsule. Nor do we want to attempt to edit HD video while connected to a USB2 drive.
Apple can do better - without jeopardizing form factor or profits.
They just need to care.
Larry
P.S. You can send feedback to Apple on this issue at:
http://www.apple.com/feedback/macbook.html
Complaining won’t fix anything in the current releases - but, perhaps, they will give this consideration in the future.
One can never stop saying Thank You
Why can't apple just stick a proper VGA or DVI port on their laptops?
You have to buy an extra flimsy adaptor just to use a monitor with them,
(that's right - they don't include it with the laptop!)
and this even on a macbook "pro" laptop
First of all, I would just like to summarise my attitude to the mouse:
And the new macbook:
And now onto the subject of Display Ports:
The lack of provision for display port adapters is annoying, however I personally think that we should move totally to HDMI and Display Port as the only connectivity means.
I say this becasue HDMI carries HD video with surround sound audio, or Display port can be converted to carry video only along any sort of cable you like e.g. Cat5e, VGA, DVI etc.
Also, with the power available from even a mid range graphics card they could comfortably drive 6 monitors each if you just wanted more desktop real estate for working. However, because we still focuson VGA and DVI, you struggle to fit more than 2 ports in each expansion slot. Wheras you can fit a whole load more Display Ports.
I know a couple of web designers who end up having to run 2 or more low - mid range graphics cards in SLI or CrossFire to provide enough ports for their multitude of moitors - needed so that they can have one for the final view of a webpage, the page of code, the folders of files, sometimes a back end admin page etc.
Laptops are obviously slightly different to Desktops in that you are not neccessarily looking to connect so many external monitors, however I do still think that Display Port is the way forward for the reasons stated above. Even if all it does is free up some space on the sides of the laptop to allow for a cleaner look or more USB ports, its all good!
Display Port: The Way Forward
I thought the available bandwidth on display port was still rather limiting, not enough for two high res monitors? Or do you mean you can fit more display ports in?
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I don't know much about the bandwidth of display port - but as far as I am aware it is basically the same signal as DVI / HDMI video but with a smaller connector.
Also, you can indeed fit a whole load more Display Ports on the back of a card than you can fit other connectors in the same space.
I hope that clears any problems up!
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