Apple notebook event video online
Wednesday, October 15th, 2008
Apple has put yesterday’s presentation on the new MacBook Pro and MacBook online: Apple notebook event video.
It’s worth watching although Steve Jobs doesn’t look all that well. Still, the new machines are wonderful, every bit as great as the hype.
Note that they both come with glossy screens only and the MacBook doesn’t have a firewire port of any kind anymore. Neither of these are deal breakers but they’re important pieces of information to consider.
so what are people thinking about the new macbooks (Pro)? I think the new monitors looks pretty nice.
Edward: I don’t know yet, they’re so new. But, my concern is that both the screen in the MBP and the new 24″ external are glossy screens. I’m not sure how that will work for image editing. I’m going to take one of my external HDs down to an Apple store next week and boot one of these new Mac connected to the screen with my system. Then I’ll be able to open my own images in Lightroom on that monitor and see how things work. Stay tuned.
I find it sad that they only make glossy monitors for the macbook pros. The mat finish on the macbook pros was one my favorite aspects on these machines.
Olivier: I agree but I’m reserving final judgement until I get my hands on one in a store and maybe do some image editing in Lightroom on it.
I’m in no huge rush for a new machine, this one is pretty new, but at some point I’m going to need one. We’ll see…
I think Apple has let us down. Sure, some people with money can afford whatever it takes to have choices, like the new 24″ screen, but for many that is out of the question: the price of the machine itself is all they can afford. So, I think the glossy-only option was a mistake. It IS an issue for image editing especially on a laptop where you are more likely to experience poor lighting conditions (unless you just keep it indoors in a dark room all the time and so why bother). I have worked on an iMac with a glossy screen doing editing and swore I’d never do it again. Also, the lack of a firewire port on the MacBook is a deal breaker for anyone needing to do video work. Most of the video cameras out there use firewire as a protocol even though a few units also offer USB. Firewire is a better protocol for transferring video. It just seems like another nudge toward adopting Windows standards which means giving Apple users less choice in the long run.
Scott: I had a feeling you’d be weighing in on this.
Maybe there’s an express card with a firewire port on it. I know, it’s not like having it built in but I’m just sayin’.
As far as glossy monitors, this is certainly a concern of mine and I’ll be curious what other photographers think about it. We can always buy a monitor from a third party but then all that great cable design built into this new monitor is gone.
So, yes, there may be some issues here, I’m not quite sure yet.
The only thing I use firewire for is connecting small external hard disks to my computer for backing up with SuperDuper. If I were getting a MacBook I’d simply buy a Time Capsule and do it via Time Machine I guess.
I respect your opinion very much Scott but I’ll reserve final judgement until I get down to an Apple store with my HD and try doing some photo editing with Lightroom, both on the MacBook Pro’s display and on the new 24″ monitor.