But first, a couple of unrelated facts:
The second thing that disheartens me is the fact that there is presently no Apple notebook computer that I wish to purchase. Honestly, I think it was rather uncreative of Apple to introduce a product line with an entirely different name and totally different insides while not changing the exterior design one bit - I'm talking about the MacBook Pro, which is, in any case, too large for me and far too expensive. The MacBook - I love its form factor but I just cannot plunk down something around the vicinity of a $1100-$1500 for something that has Intel Integrated Graphics. Granted all I play is mostly strategy and adventure games. However, unless I stick to StarCraft and Age of Empires II, even the strategy games these days are demanding on graphics.
This is also the major problem a lot of hardcore Windows people have with Macs - they are ultimately confined to what Apple wishes. Mac people will tell you to go buy a MacBook Pro if you tell them you want to do some serious gaming. You say you want the MacBook form factor and they'll tell you that you have to make a compromise and see what's more important to you. I am the f'ing buyer here! Me! In 2006, with computers & tech being all the rage, I should have all the options I want with regard to computers. And… as long as that's not a Mac, I do. But what if I do want a Mac? High-end gaming laptop? Nope, Apple's got nothing that's a notebook and has a high-end graphics chip, let alone the form factor. The complete range of iMacs and MacBook Pros uses the ATI Radeon X1600 which is a midrange graphics card. Shouldn't the 17" MacBook Pro at least come with an X1800 or something? Apple, like Denethor, thinks not.
What about a powerful small laptop? Again, no go. Apple eliminated the 12" PowerBook form factor entirely. The MacBook which replaces it actually scores lower framerates in Unreal Tournament 2004! Also, it's probably worth mentioning here that after the 12" iBook, the 12" PowerBook is the most popular Mac with college students here. It makes sense. It's small - thus portable and good for taking to class. It's powerful - thus good for some decent gaming. And it's sleek. And thanks to all this, it no longer exists. Bravo, Apple, for eliminating your best selling PowerBook model!
And what does Apple say it gained out of all this? A simplified product line that doesn't confuse customers. I feel like shooting someone at the thought of this. I'm quite sure that most people (including Mac users) would rather have more variety in choosing Macs than a "simplified product line". I think that it's better to have something for everyone than two things for almost everyone. The end result of all this is that, even if I do manage to sell off this excellent iMac I'm using right now, I still won't be buying any kind of Apple notebook at least until at the very end, in September, I eventually have to.
Also, a slight note on Apple's hypocrisy regarding Integrated Graphics. Back when Apple was using G4s and G5s, it used to claim with pride that none of the Apple computers used Integrated Graphics and how good that was compared to comparable Intel machines with their sucky Intel GMA chips. Now, with the release of two entire product lines based on those very chipsets (MacBook and Mac mini), it's clear that Apple was just trying to make the best of the situation because it simply didn't have the choice of using Integrated Graphics. As a user, I applauded Apple's usage of dedicated graphics because IGs suck. What makes me mad is that publications like Macworld act like monkeys on Apple's back and they seem to have readily adopted the IGs, which they, just months earlier, wholly despised. Just sick.
- My brother has got his first degree from the esteemed Columbia University in the City of New York. Bachelor of Science Magna Cum Laude… I am proud. He completed this degree in a mere three years, so he's got one more year to pursue his more liberal academic interests. Yeah, he's a hard working guy… always makes me nervous.
- My bike still doesn't have brakes… I don't know when I'm going to get that fixed. I've been going without any kind of braking mechanism except for my sneakers for like three or four months now. Repair would probably cost a lot of money. Besides, I don't know when I can leave my bike with the repair shop for a few days because this is one device that I need constantly. Walking… is not for me.
The second thing that disheartens me is the fact that there is presently no Apple notebook computer that I wish to purchase. Honestly, I think it was rather uncreative of Apple to introduce a product line with an entirely different name and totally different insides while not changing the exterior design one bit - I'm talking about the MacBook Pro, which is, in any case, too large for me and far too expensive. The MacBook - I love its form factor but I just cannot plunk down something around the vicinity of a $1100-$1500 for something that has Intel Integrated Graphics. Granted all I play is mostly strategy and adventure games. However, unless I stick to StarCraft and Age of Empires II, even the strategy games these days are demanding on graphics.
This is also the major problem a lot of hardcore Windows people have with Macs - they are ultimately confined to what Apple wishes. Mac people will tell you to go buy a MacBook Pro if you tell them you want to do some serious gaming. You say you want the MacBook form factor and they'll tell you that you have to make a compromise and see what's more important to you. I am the f'ing buyer here! Me! In 2006, with computers & tech being all the rage, I should have all the options I want with regard to computers. And… as long as that's not a Mac, I do. But what if I do want a Mac? High-end gaming laptop? Nope, Apple's got nothing that's a notebook and has a high-end graphics chip, let alone the form factor. The complete range of iMacs and MacBook Pros uses the ATI Radeon X1600 which is a midrange graphics card. Shouldn't the 17" MacBook Pro at least come with an X1800 or something? Apple, like Denethor, thinks not.
What about a powerful small laptop? Again, no go. Apple eliminated the 12" PowerBook form factor entirely. The MacBook which replaces it actually scores lower framerates in Unreal Tournament 2004! Also, it's probably worth mentioning here that after the 12" iBook, the 12" PowerBook is the most popular Mac with college students here. It makes sense. It's small - thus portable and good for taking to class. It's powerful - thus good for some decent gaming. And it's sleek. And thanks to all this, it no longer exists. Bravo, Apple, for eliminating your best selling PowerBook model!
And what does Apple say it gained out of all this? A simplified product line that doesn't confuse customers. I feel like shooting someone at the thought of this. I'm quite sure that most people (including Mac users) would rather have more variety in choosing Macs than a "simplified product line". I think that it's better to have something for everyone than two things for almost everyone. The end result of all this is that, even if I do manage to sell off this excellent iMac I'm using right now, I still won't be buying any kind of Apple notebook at least until at the very end, in September, I eventually have to.
Also, a slight note on Apple's hypocrisy regarding Integrated Graphics. Back when Apple was using G4s and G5s, it used to claim with pride that none of the Apple computers used Integrated Graphics and how good that was compared to comparable Intel machines with their sucky Intel GMA chips. Now, with the release of two entire product lines based on those very chipsets (MacBook and Mac mini), it's clear that Apple was just trying to make the best of the situation because it simply didn't have the choice of using Integrated Graphics. As a user, I applauded Apple's usage of dedicated graphics because IGs suck. What makes me mad is that publications like Macworld act like monkeys on Apple's back and they seem to have readily adopted the IGs, which they, just months earlier, wholly despised. Just sick.
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