Patrick's Soapbox

Ok, so Apple went and released the MacBook.

Much like the rumours it is indeed a 13.3" widescreen, which is fine. It runs at 1280x800, also fine. Has either a 1.83GHz Core Duo or a 2GHz model, nice. Available in white or, for the top model black. Except black seems to cost CAD$100 (on the developer store at least) more, after you put in the upgrades to the white 2GHz model. Huh.

Sadly, and not surprisingly, it has Intel GMA950 graphics. Damn. Now I'm not an integrated graphics hater... in fact I'd have no problem if it wasn't for one single app: Aperture. Finally we have a small-ish, light weight-ish laptop from Apple that has the processing grunt and the display resolution to run Aperture, and there's no option to make it so. I'm sure you'll be able to hack it on, but that's not supported, so why would I want that? Also these new models have gained a little weight - they're up to 2.36KG from 2.2KG in the iBook G4 era.

What else is new?

• iSight
• FrontRow with Remote (my question is... will the PowerMac get this too?)
• The keyboard - I'll reserve judgement on this till I've typed on one, but it looks... weird.
• Gigabit ethernet
• Mini-DVI out, but with no adapters (so you get screen spanning, but you have to buy the dongles)
• Glossy screen. Yeah. I don't like those...
• and of course a MagSafe power connector.

It's obvious from the specs (and the fact that the iBooks and the 12" PowerBook G4 have disappeared from the online store) that we're unlikely to see a 13.3" MacBook Pro. Personally I think it would've been enough if they'd made the black model have an ATI graphics chipset, and I'd happily pay extra for it, but oh well.

Two things I've just noticed on the Apple.ca online store: 1) The price of the MacBook Pros have dropped by CAD$100 each. For now at least they're USD$20 cheaper here than in the US. and 2) You can now choose a glossy screen on an MBP - it's not the default, and it's no extra cost. Guess people have been asking for them. Can't understand it myself.