There was a really good short series on BBC I think a few weeks ago called 'Stephen Fry in America', in which he had a short interview with Johnathan Ive in the last episode. I recommend watching the series if you can, if not for that part then because it's an interesting narrative of America from a Brit's point of view, and Stephen Fry is a freaking genius. You know Hugh Laurie from House? He would be NOTHING without Stephen Fry. #jonathaniveobjectified
I found the little bit about the indicator light interesting, because I never really did see much value in all of the little lights lined up on a lot of other laptops, not even the HD access light. #jonathaniveobjectified
@Kaiser-Machead: Those lights drive me crazy. When I look at PC laptops, I see so much that does so little.
Apple has been hiding indicator lights for a while, but I first noticed this style of hiding an LED behind a metal bezel with micropores on one of the portables as part of the integrated iSight. I think it was the first intel MacBook Pro. #jonathaniveobjectified
@ludwigk: I believe it was the second revision of the MacBook Pro. The first had a standard led, flush-mounted in the bezel. I noticed because I had a first gen, and when the new one came out, I saw the actual led was hidden and thought "Holy smokes, that's brilliant." #jonathaniveobjectified
@ludwigk: The first mac I had with a hidden indicator light was a G3 iBook. Not the clam shell one, but the first all white one, it had a very cool indicator light hidden next to the display release button.
And my big problem with PCs in general is the feeling that they just sort of figured out how bit the product would be, surrounded it in plastic, and called it a day. If it even looks like they tried to design a part, then it has touches, and finishes that look like they'd appeal to 7 year old Joel, not 25 year old old. Like that HP laptop that was on here not too long ago, it was obviously "inspired" by the macbook pro, but then they put that weird circular pattern thing on some of the surfaces that just looked ridiculous. I mean don't they realize adults are their main market. I'm not discounting kids that get computers, but c'mon, why does it have to look like something out of a bad sci fi. #jonathaniveobjectified
@Mark Zegarelli: You could be right. I've got the 2nd gen sitting in front of me now, and whenever I use the isight, its a tiny spark of joy to see the status LED. #jonathaniveobjectified
@ludwigk: Oh, yah, fair enough, I have a macbook pro now, with the iSight light, and the first time I saw that, I was super confused, I thought "did I not notice the little black dot in my bezel before" so I closed out, and it just went back to looking like metal. And then I was really impressed... I still would like to know how they do that. #jonathaniveobjectified
Neither the Mini, MacBook / Pro or iMac seem to have HDMI port(s) at any price.
Even my shitty HP Pavilion has one (to go along with its flimsy, useless drawer-loading HD-DVD drive and Vista.)
What does Mac have against HDMI ports in their cheaper computers? Honestly, if someone knows, enlighten me, because I'd by a Mini (maybe two!) in a second if it had one.
@bmoreDLJ: HDMI has lower resolution and less functionality as it was designed for TVs. Display port is more advanced and was designed for computer monitors.
For an example see Target Display Mode. New 27 inch iMacs can be used as a display by taking video input through its display port. #applenews
@bmoreDLJ: HDMI is old, that's why. Apple always tends to push new technology - the original iMac went all USB when USB was still a novelty, for example. Now we have DisplayPort, which is the next-gen display connector. It can still connect to HDMI via an adapter, anyhow, but, it's getting to be an old interface not suited for the high-res displays computers have. #applenews
In response to (1) - One of the biggest rallying cries against the Mac is the expense of the hardware, particularly the desktops. I've always felt that Apple should use AMD processors in, at the very least, their down-market computers. The i5 + i5 mobo combo is expensive. A Phenom II + AM3 mobo would be significantly ($100+ savings) cheaper, something that can be marketed and passed on to an economically depressed consumer. #applenews
@clarketelecom: Apple should have bought AMD. They new their alliance with PPC (Apple, IBM, Moto) was seeing a ceiling in Ghz yet, Sony saw the 7-core Cell and ... well...that's Apple! #applenews
Why would they take out the replaceable battery? What if you want a spare to keep with you when the main one dies? Or what happens when your battery gets old and can't keep a charge? Why would they remove this possibility?
I'm sorry, the rest of this stuff seems fine, but why would they do that? I don't have a Macbook, but I've replaced the battery on my laptop once since I bought it 3 years ago and I've heard of plenty of people who like to have several batteries. #applenews
@Platypus Man: I believe their argument is that by removing all the stuff necessary to make it removable, they can make it bigger, which eliminates the need to have another battery. Seeing as laptop batteries are ridiculously expensive, I'm all for it. #applenews
@Platypus Man: Yes. By non-replaceable, it means Genius only replaceable.
Most people jump to the conclusion that, not having a non-removable battery sucks, including me. But if you think about it, you actually save money and get a seriously impressive battery. It's a smart move. There is only an extremely small percentage who have multiple batteries for long, outlet-less, trips.
The only downside is you might be without your laptop for a day, which is traumatizing in itself. #applenews
@Platypus Man: Yes, you do. But also, most laptop users are non-pros who often upgrade their machines. I used to complain about iPod batteries until I realized I never have had to replace them because I end up selling my older model and getting a newer one before the battery kicks the bucket.
It still upsets me we are in a disturbingly disposable world, but consumer products nowadays forgo practicality. Makes me wistful for the days of yore.
@im001: Don't laugh, Apple may just do that. They routinely test materials in their lower end products before utilizing them in their entire line. So, rubber may end up in future products besides the Macbooks. #applenews
@tim004: For example, they tested the white plastic they used on a Nano before making it less prone to scratches on a Macbook. They learned a lot from the user experience that it was way too scratch prone so they changed the compound.#applenews
1. Still have to use their buggy $100 Mini-Displayport to Dual-link-DVI adapter, I could see laptops, but even on the mini, still? I guess I should just ebay my 30" Dell if I want my desktop to be a Mac
2. Firewire is gone again from the Macbook. Stay Away. Spend $200 more on the Macbook Pro.
3. No BluRay still.
4. No Previous-Gen Mac Minis in the Refurb store. #applenews
The "chin" on this one is actually quite classy looking. The chin on the last year's iMac was quite huge. I personally liked the black back, but I doubt I will be seeing much of it anyway.
I am debating, though, if I should get the wireless or the wired (edit: meant to add "keyboard." silly me), since I already have an Apple wireless.
@Identity (reclamation): Yes, he does look fucking hot even when babbling about taking the glass to the "very perimeter." Don't look at the ugly black picture frame, dammit, look where the glass ends! Wanna see my pecs? #apple
11/07/09
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11/07/09
Apple has been hiding indicator lights for a while, but I first noticed this style of hiding an LED behind a metal bezel with micropores on one of the portables as part of the integrated iSight. I think it was the first intel MacBook Pro. #jonathaniveobjectified
11/07/09
11/08/09
And my big problem with PCs in general is the feeling that they just sort of figured out how bit the product would be, surrounded it in plastic, and called it a day. If it even looks like they tried to design a part, then it has touches, and finishes that look like they'd appeal to 7 year old Joel, not 25 year old old. Like that HP laptop that was on here not too long ago, it was obviously "inspired" by the macbook pro, but then they put that weird circular pattern thing on some of the surfaces that just looked ridiculous. I mean don't they realize adults are their main market. I'm not discounting kids that get computers, but c'mon, why does it have to look like something out of a bad sci fi. #jonathaniveobjectified
11/08/09
11/08/09
11/08/09
10/21/09
Even my shitty HP Pavilion has one (to go along with its flimsy, useless drawer-loading HD-DVD drive and Vista.)
What does Mac have against HDMI ports in their cheaper computers? Honestly, if someone knows, enlighten me, because I'd by a Mini (maybe two!) in a second if it had one.
10/21/09
For an example see Target Display Mode. New 27 inch iMacs can be used as a display by taking video input through its display port. #applenews
10/21/09
10/21/09
10/21/09
10/20/09
10/20/09
10/20/09
10/21/09
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10/21/09
10/20/09
I'm sorry, the rest of this stuff seems fine, but why would they do that? I don't have a Macbook, but I've replaced the battery on my laptop once since I bought it 3 years ago and I've heard of plenty of people who like to have several batteries. #applenews
10/20/09
10/20/09
10/20/09
Most people jump to the conclusion that, not having a non-removable battery sucks, including me. But if you think about it, you actually save money and get a seriously impressive battery. It's a smart move. There is only an extremely small percentage who have multiple batteries for long, outlet-less, trips.
The only downside is you might be without your laptop for a day, which is traumatizing in itself. #applenews
10/20/09
It still upsets me we are in a disturbingly disposable world, but consumer products nowadays forgo practicality. Makes me wistful for the days of yore.
10/20/09
10/20/09
10/21/09
10/21/09
10/20/09
10/20/09
2. Firewire is gone again from the Macbook. Stay Away. Spend $200 more on the Macbook Pro.
3. No BluRay still.
4. No Previous-Gen Mac Minis in the Refurb store. #applenews
10/20/09
10/20/09
(yeah, I checked myself. Monoprice doesn't have it)
10/20/09
I am debating, though, if I should get the wireless or the wired (edit: meant to add "keyboard." silly me), since I already have an Apple wireless.
10/20/09
10/20/09
10/21/09
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10/20/09