Mac Notebooks* Over The Years
The 15-inch MacBook Pro
On the eve of Apple's launch of their next generation of MacBooks, Fortune has posted a collection of photos detailing the evolution of Apple notebooks, from 1989 to the present. Mac Rumors is the site to visit for the latest pre-release speculation.
Likely changes to the product lines include:
- Single-cut aluminum cases for both MacBooks and MacBook Pros.
- A starting price of ~$800 for low-end MacBooks.
- Enhanced graphics via migration to NVIDIA chips.
- Blu-ray support.
- Release of a networked HDTV (unlikely).
* The change in nomenclature from "laptop" to "notebook" was prompted by early efforts to increase processor speeds and allow portable computers to act as desktop replacements. While this change allowed consumers to forgo the purchase of a desktop computer and set aside more money for their laptops, (formerly a secondary luxury for the traveling business person or software professional), a key side-effect was increased heat generated by the faster, more powerful processors. Powerbooks, and then early MacBook Pros, got so hot that customers complained of burning and blisters on their legs when they used their portable computers on their laps for extended periods.
To minimize the risk of lawsuits and to discourage people using these computers on their laps, the industry as a whole changed the nomenclature used when describing these products. Instead of "laptops," portable computers are now exclusively referred to as "notebooks." Different name, same thing.
("Netbooks," is an even younger term denoting a subset of portable computer that weighs in at around two pounds, has a max screen size of ten inches, a weaker, more energy efficient processor, no built-in media drive (CD/DVD), and is meant to be extremely portable, inexpensive, and primarily used for accessing the Internet while on the road. The Asus Eee PC 4G was the first netbook to make a splash, but they have been so successful that nearly all major notebook manufacturers will be offering their own netbook by the end of 2008).
More Air incentive
A friend was taking a look at the MacBook Air this morning in my early class. Such pretty machines. But they're sorta pricey for my tastes. The student discount only pulls $100 off of the price. Better than nothing, but not enough to make it a no brainer. But again, the Air is just a beautiful machine. Reports like the following do more than the $100 discount to push me closer, ever closer, to the Air...From Sports Illustrated's Peter King:
Aggravating/Enjoyable Travel Note of the Week
'I've heard that question, or some derivative of it, a dozen times in the past month, when I've traveled with my feather-light MacBook Air. The other day, on my flight to Fort Lauderdale, a women holding a 5-month-old baby in her left arm, gently bouncing her up and down, admired the little laptop and I said, "Here --you can even hold it while holding the baby.'' The woman took it with her right hand and held it like it was the new Grisham book, shaking her head in amazement. It's almost that light.
Four times at The Breakers on Sunday, people asked to hold my computer, including Niners coach Mike Nolan. I could do a commercial for this thing. Except for the fact that my wireless DSL card doesn't work with it (there's no CD drive or DSL port), it's pretty much the perfect laptop.
(Via Daring Fireball.)