Guest Editorial: Apple "MehBooks" and the Future of Macs

Not that I know of, and in fact I don't even think many other 15.4" laptops are as light weight as the MacBook Pro, or get nearly as good battery life. You have to give Apple credit for this - anything else is pure biased thinking.

You're right that whether these things are important or not depends on your personal preference. Personally, I use my laptop as a portable computer which I use on my lap, on my bed, and carry around, so weight is very important, a mouse that doesn't need a desktop surface is important, and since you can't replace it, a good quality (and bright, for outdoor viewing) screen is extremely important. Build quality is always important, and being a "careful owner" is never an excuse for buying a poorly built machine. I don't care about backlit keyboards much though.

True. CPU/RAM/etc. is definitely important to me, I just value a quality build, touchpad, etc. higher than specs. For example I'd rather have a well built 1GHz machine than a 3GHz machine made out of cardboard (of course that's a ridiculously extreme example).

The point is this: Just because you don't value good build quality, light weight excellent touchpads, tough shells, and a glass screen, doesn't mean everyone else doesn't. I understand and respect that some people do not care about these things, but to say with implied authority (as this article does) that Apple is unfairly overpricing their laptops because it's unique features are not worth it to the author is extremely self centered and subjective.

Many people will gladly pay the price to get the previously mentioned features unique to the new MacBooks, and I think Apple's sales will prove this beyond any doubt. The only thing left to debate is why people value these features, which is very easily explained (light weight makes things easy to carry, tough design means less worrying about damage, etc., etc.)

 

Lately, I've begun to think that they pick up more and more sales simply due to the fact they've dedicated entire marketing divisions to finding ways to bash their competition.

If somebody tells you enough over time Product X is flawed, flawed, flawed... and they eventually run into a problem, their first reaction may be "My god, they were right! It's as bad as they say!". It doesn't mean it's bad, per se, just that it ran into a problem. I've run into problems on my Vista PC and laptop, my Mac Mini loves to crash using Photoshop. Everything I've ever used has had a problem or two, usually minor, rarely major. Hell, my iPhone reboots for no reason while browsing Safari. It's annoying, and it's rare that it happens... but I still love it.

Even as an Apple fan, though, I'm getting sick of the "PC -vs- Mac" commercial. They air every once every 15 minutes or so, and over a year of non-stop Vista bashing (humorous as they may be) gets old. Mind you, I'm not the world's biggest Vista fan. I admit that I like it, but I'm no fan, and do prefer OSX better (though, since I'm a gamer, it will never be my primary OS). But people have become convinced if they go Vista they'll make a huge, huge mistake (it's flawed, but not that bad).

So what alternatives do you have to Vista? OSX... or try to find an XP laptop, which is harder to do now. Apple laptops are fantastic, but I can't help but sometimes think the "PC -vs- Mac" commercials have become a humorous scare tactic. They're memorable, but tend to leave a bleak, destructive outlook towards all things PC. And that doesn't sit well with the average consumer who may not know better.

EDIT: Don't get me wrong, I'm an Apple fan... but that doesn't mean I always agree with them. In addition, Apple's support is generally well above average. Part of the premium goes towards said support, which is well above the standard package included from Dell.

 

Apple has a history of spontaneously throwing away older technology and not providing support. A recent case is let see...getting rid of firewire! They have also dropped IBM PowerPC support. It has only been 3 years since the last PowerPC on Mac was released. If Microsoft did this, people would be up in arms. They also dropped bluetooth support in Leopard in address book to sync with your mobile phone. My friends have been screwed by Apple dropping old tech to quickly.

Apple has never catered to businesses because Apple wants everyone to update to the newest, newest tech. Businesses are less eager to splurge on the IT budget every 2 years.

As apparent by Apple's "I'm a Mac and I'm a PC" commercials, which person do you think looks like a business person? That's right, the PC looks like a typical business person with a 2 piece suit. It kind of shows Apple does not care about the needs of business people. Apple rather cater to the "I'm so creative that I cannot make it in Hollywood so I brainstorm at my local Starbucks and pretend I am an important creative person."

If you care about your budget, getting an Apple PC is bad idea.

 

Balanced and opinionated editorials are always fine, this is nothing different from anything we've posted in the past, we just tend to stick with reviews for the most part and don't do so much on the opinion column side. For the most part reviews are much more popular, but obviously editorial on Apple can light a fire as well.

 

Ah! Anyone remember the Apple clone wars?

 

http://gizmodo.com/5025770/apple-demands-recall-of-every-psystar-mac-clone

You mean the ones that are still ongoing? =P

 

I agree on all fronts.

It's funny to me that they're getting away with some of these commercials, especially the latest one where they're talking about Microsoft's advertising budget. There are more Apple commercials on TV than just about anything. Sort of a "pot calling the kettle black" situation.

 

And the commercials always fail to mention the "Oh yeah, you may not be able to run all of the software you already own... and will need to rebuy some of your apps." issue. That's one big thing this article missed, and is a definite cost that can go with the Mac. Especially for standard apps like Office.

Yes, Apple comes with some great apps, but... if you had to be told you may or may not be able to run any software/programs you already own, that may make a huge difference whether people buy a Mac. Most only discover this once they'd made the investment. The average consumer's not aware of the software incompatabilities.

Parallels helps the Mac/PC transition, but it's not perfect.

 

This article is far from balanced. It blatantly favors the low-end consumer market and alienates and in fact puts down Apple for making a laptop that clearly is not a low-end consumer notebook. It's causing all this objection because honestly it's insulting anyone who understands what it means to buy a quality laptop.

It would be like saying people who buy a Prius are wasting their money because you can get a similar car for half the price, and failing to acknowledge that the Prius gets very good gas mileage, and some people choose to pay the premium for this feature.

I agree. I watch the commercials and laugh because it's funny to see what Mac users are supposed to think of PCs, and just how wrong they can be. Not all of the ads are misinformation/propaganda, but unfortunately a lot of it is.

 

You could also compare support packages, 24/7 onsite support by Dells. IBM and HP versus Applecare, It is like night and day. Enterprise users expect a very high standard of service.at is pretty commonplace to have a direct line to your Dell rep who has done business with you for 8+ years, who knows your staffs knows the exact parts you need without having for me to hunt down model numbers.

This rep also knows your exact needs, exact industry you work in and by default, Fedex all your parts and computer.

It is an ecosystem that does not exist in the Apple community. You think consumers are high maintenance? Apple has it easy.

 

I own a low end consumer notebook. It may not be made of diamonds and gold, but it's still a high quality machine.

That's not to say I haven't owned high end machines, because I most certainly have. I've owned Macs and very high end PC notebooks. But, honestly, they don't really offer much over the Best Buy special, which I own by choice, not necessity.

 

Totally true, I did realize that Apple puts up way too many commercials for Macs than Microsoft does for Windows. My take on them is that they are entertaining to watch, yet lack the substance on why Mac's really are better than Windows PC's.

 

Seriously what was the point of putting this thread on front page?

 

Andrew,I don't say that editorials are bad or that you should stop them,no I totally/strongly support them and all new/fresh/creative staff,but,as you said,they must be balanced.I am sorry,but I can't call this one balanced.Hope you understand what I mean.


C'on,they are not as bad as describe in this editorial.hey have flows,but nothing is perfect.Yes,I agree that they cost more that they should(i think that 1800 is the right price for macbook pro and 1200 for macbook),but it wouldn't be apple if it does everything that we want

 

But that's just it. The commercials don't have to sell you a product, just get you talking about them. The Apple commercials are memorable, they're funny, generally stick in your head. And that's what the Apple commercials sell you. The idea that they're more fun, more lively. How often do you see PC having fun in the commercials? Mac, he's curious, enjoyable. PC, nervous and jittery, though still likable.

Though, hidden below the surface, they're bashing the competition, poking holes at their rival while showing themselves to be spotless. But it's wrapped in fun package and sprinkled with a bit of sugar to make it all seem innocent.

 

This is most easily answered by comparing the post count of this thread to every other article on the front page.

This editorial has garnered more attention than any article in months.

Say what you will. Geeks like talking Mac vs. PC.

 

This is how it's always been. Just listen to Steve Jobs talk about PCs. These commercials, simply, echo the beliefs of the man in charge.

 

I think a controversial, flame invoking "editorial" brings in more site hits and ad clicks (read: revenue) for NBR...

 

That's a strange way to look at it. I've only owned high end computers also. I may not get the specs maxed out initially but usually upgrade later at better pricing than OEM. Anyway, I know and appreciate that most people can't afford or justify paying a premium for quality or high specs. So whenever I advise them on a computer purchase, I always try to assess their needs first. I notice that a lot of people don't really understand their needs and think if they pay a premium they are invariably getting something for their money or fear that it won't perform well unless it's expensively outfitted. Unfortunately with computers which are a fast obsolescing product, you don't always get what you pay for relative to what you need it for.

I honestly think that some of those who take offense or are calling it biased are those with whom a nerve had been struck as they may not have personally fully justified their purchase to themselves but bought into a justified and unjustified hype of MAC being inherently better irrespective of any other consideration.

There are many people on a budget who may not realize that you can get a quality kit without buying a MAC but never knew that. Or that they needed to justify buying a MAC and needed to more thoroughly assess the benefits. This sort of commentary may help them in their purchasing decision. And ultimately that is what this site is about. Helping others have a better computing experience.

And if you look at it economically, when does the Prius start to "pay for itself?" You spend so much more to save so much gas by buying a Prius. bUt at what point do you overcome the premium such that you actually save gas over the car that cost half the price? In other words, what is the total cost of ownership over the life of each vehicle. It may turn out that while you may pay more for gas up front with the cheaper car, if you only plan on keep the car a few years, it may end up being cheaper in the long run than the Prius. But you wouldn't know unless you did the math. Well... that's what the OP did. He did the math for those who care about the economics of ownership of items that will practically perform the same tasks. There's no bias in mathematics.

 

I don't agree. Saying this is add driven sounds like finger pointing. I think the owners of this site are enthusiasts, like the readers. As such, they have as much interest in the Mac vs. PC conversation as you or I.

It's interesting conversation. If people can't handle it, then they shouldn't take part in this exchange.

 

You have to understand how the site works, this was an article posted to the front page and we post all news that goes on the homepage into the forum so members can discuss it. It started life as a news article and was written by somebody that has been published before, an editor edited the work and it was put into a content queue for release on a specific day that fit with flow of content on the site.

We do not just take random threads and place them on the homepage based on popularity. The community generated content is in the forums while editorial work is on the homepage and from time to time we accept user reviews that get edited.

Hope that clears things up.

 

Oh come on people! Macs are expensive, not as useful as PCs, and the new ones are not worth the upgrade (no matte screens either!). What else is new?

 

I don't think that's all of it, but I digress...
I'm surprised this thread has exploded already, there's no way I'm going to be able to read all 18 pages (as of writing this ) today. It's just like MR where threads explode into dozens of pages in a single day. It's hard to keep up.

 

Lots of people agree with that, myself included. Based on the year that I've owned my MBP, it's become too costly compared to what I could have gotten with an HP, Dell, or Gateway laptop. The hardware is good though, just not for the price I paid for it. My next machine is not going to be an Apple.

 

QFT after reading this I feel so ripped of buying the MBP...

 

my t500 > MBP

 

Ah, the lost art of sarcasm

 

This is the worst article I have ever read!! I m pretty much disgusted by it.

 

I honestly wonder what would happen if Apple released a stand-alone version of their OS that can be installed on other systems. I mean, obviously their system sales would disappear, but what kind of margins can they possibly be making on them that wouldn't be made up by such a large portion of PC users making the jump to OS X?

EDIT: And people, it's an EDITORIAL, not a news article. It's meant to be opinionated and stir up debate.

 

Sure,no one is arguing.

Already talked on this topic

 

I don't think so. I've owned so many computers, from the cheapest, up to $2000 models (I haven't spent much more than that though), and I've learned from experience what works for me and what I like. I've found that quality is very important (to me, because I work with computers for a living). You may be different, but the fact remains that that article was very biased and gives potentially very bad advise to people in different situations.

I have nothing against netbooks, cheap laptops, etc., because I understand that they fill a need for some people. Just as I wouldn't unconditionally recommend against netbooks/cheap laptops, I'm disappointed to see this article on notebookreview.com show the same level of bias against expensive laptops.

I was waiting for that argument . You're absolutely right about the Prius, but I was just trying to make a point that you have to be careful when assuming your point of view applies to everyone. Just as someone may want the Prius for it's gas milage, you may want a Hummvee for it's power and off-road capabilities. It doesn't make one or the other better for the money. The problem here is that the article is clearly making a statement that one is better than the other for the money, when this is obviously untrue for many people.

 

You must have never owned any of the plastic MacBooks sold over the last few years.

I've owned one for nearly 20 months. In that 20 months it has been Apple's hands for a full 2 months for repairs relating to BUILD QUALITY issues. Cracking, discoloring, case separation, battery warping, and a bad optical drive out of the box.

And with the aluminum MacBook HP ripoffs we already hear reports of loose casing, slanted keys that don't work, poor quality backlights..

Don't even get me started on how many MacBook Pros over the years I've seen with warped casing due to just heat.

So don't even try to say that Apple's computers are well built.

 

Lets clear one or two things up. First of all, build quality does not equal to durability. Yes a durable product must be well build. But a well build product does not mean that it can withstand above average physical usage (frequent traveling and handling of the notebook). A macbook might have high quality finishing and not manufacturing defects (in most cases), which give an instant perception that it will last a long time. Where as some product are designed to be durable and is built well in order for that to be true.

Ok, lets do a quick comparison, someone mentioned before that several other factors such as build quality, screen quality, warranty, keyboard, pointing devices, battery life and weight should be taken into account.

So, A thinkpad T500 and the new MBP.

Build quality (aka manufacturing quality, finishing quality) - About the same, both well finished. I am not going into hardware defect rates.

Materials - The thinkpad has carbon fibre embedded plastic shell, magnesium rollcage, magnesium chassis. The MBP has Al unibody. Sure the MBP *might* feel more solid as it is a single piece of metal, but in real life situations the Thinkpad wins. One drop and the nice looking Al shell is dented.

Screen quality - The LED WXGA+ screen has received high praise and is excellent indeed. But many professionals or regular users prefers Matte which is more flexible in terms of usage. Also the Thinkpad has options for screens as do other similarly priced business notebooks. We'll call taht one a draw.

Battery life - About the same between the two when both are in IGP mode. Apple might edge it in some cases but the Thinkpad has possibilities of expanding.

Weight and form factor - MBP wins hands down.

Keyboard - Thinkpad wins by far.

Warranty and service - Both can be upgraded to 3 years, whilst Apple does provide high quality consumer service, Thinkpad has 24hr business class warranty. As mentioned before parts are sent out by couriers such as Fedex and UPS which arrives next day in most cases. Whilst a user can bring their notebook to their local apple store for service, apple stores are not available in many major cities. Where as Brands such as Dell, HP, and Lenovo have business service centers in most major cities around the globe to cater for their business clients.

Pointing devices - Lets call this one a draw as there are die hard track point fans and there are people who love their multi touch trackpads. Each has its own advantage.

Price - Thinkpad is cheaper even with the 3year warranty, other business notebooks often include the 3 year warranty. A similarly configured Thinkpad is cheaper than a MBP with all the features listed.

That is all for now.
Johnny T



EDIT: Oh and, backlit keyboard? The Thinkpad has the Thinklight.

 

Johnny T: Good! That's a very good objective comparison which takes account of input devices, build, etc. in addition to the specs. This is the kind of neutral trustworthy comparison I expect from NBR.com.

Now try comparing the Dell Studio 13 to the new MacBook the same way and see how it turns out

It's really very simple. Biased comparison is almost always the result of omitting information that does not support your opinion and emphasizing the information that does support your opinion. Being unbiased and neutral means taking everything into account, even if it doesn't mean much to you personally.

The article is a classic example of a biased "inflammatory" comparison, and as I've already said I'm disappointed. Fortunately most of the laptop reviews are inherently objective because they focus on the laptop itself and let the viewer make up their own mind when it comes to comparisons.

 

I'm a little bit confused after reading this review. I knew about notebookreview.com about 3 years ago. I always believe that this is one of the best sites about notebook. Before making decisions, I always read for review on this website (yeah, for all my 4 laptops). This kind of "editorial" review make me feel somehow disappointed about how unbiased the reviews were. Even though I visit quite often this site but reading the review like this make me have the full motivation to create account and give the reviewer some little feedback.

First, I don't have the intention to fire the war between Mac and PC since I use both of them (and actually, they're both PC - Personal Computer). Each one has its own advantages and drawbacks too.

Let's look at the chart. I think the author want to make the point about the differences in price structure but he/she should be more honest on this. The author tried his best to "blur" all the information regarding the specs just to "cheat" readers.

• CPU: they're all 2Ghz but really different in the performance. You never the equation P7350 = T5800
• RAM: once again, 1066Mhz != 667Mhz

I can't easily apply the same "technique" that the author used to "smash down" on MacBook to all other products from Lenovo, HP to Sony, ... It's a shame of writing something like that.

Besides, the author also stated about the problems related to previous product lines. Would you please show me any other laptop line from other company that doesn't have any issue? The point is that Apple customer usually ask for the high quality product; hence, they pay and demand the company keep the high standard. Did Apple fix these?

For me, I use PC for tasks that my MB/MBP doesn't do well (possible to do but more complicated than just using a PC). Products from Lenovo, HP and Sony have very good build quality. But I admit that the build quality of products from Apple always one step ahead (this is just my opinion). Are BMW and Matiz car? Yes, they are. But the feeling when you drive a BMW is much more different from a Matiz (from Korean). Therefore, you need to pay for this difference.

Last point, I think this review should be removed from the homepage since the author wrote a so bias review without much knowledge about the products. Let's end with the phrase the *nix gurus always say: "First, choose the software that you need, then select the corresponding hardware".

 

i won't try to say it... i will say it. apple's computers are well built. if slanted keys and a battery cover that moves 1/16th of an inch are huge build quality/production issues then i think you're being a little melodramatic. EVERY single laptop company has units that go bad, no one is exempt from the laws of statistics.

 

And I really hope they'll stay forever below 10%. (No, it's not exclusivism)

 

apple has succeeded in making a hype for its new products. maybe apple lost communication with its consumer base or maybe its trying to market its products like if they were fashion products.i've came very close to buying a mac serveral times, but rumors of an upcoming update and the somehow unethical marketing ways. i'm paying a $400 - $ 700 premium for a product, then i expect the best quality and components. many people are complaining of the problems with the macbooks,macbook pro,..etc. from uncolored palm rests to screen problems to many other things, also the recent apple problem with the nvidia chips that apple refused to admit it was its fault and replace the chip only after a long period of time. i find this decieving and unethical.the question is why is apple asking for a premium when it should be lowering prices to compete more and increase the number of mac users ? another question is why is apple tieing its os with its hardware, why not give the option of selling the os alone (i guess this would carry many losses as people would buy the os instead of the hardware).i've nothing against apple as i really would like to try them. but these are some of my thought of the current situation.

 

Well, the store display models are often switched out regularly so you don't see the affects of discoloration due to both use and heat. You don't see the case cracking from heat. Need I go on?

Also, let's look at things realistically. My original MacBook was replaced (due to too many botched repairs by the service center) in September of last year. A few weeks later I had a new HP on my door step that was about $500 less after taxes. That HP gave me better build quality (no cracking due to heat, no discoloration), a bigger screen, DEDICATED graphics that are still faster than what you get in the MacBook, and a whole host of ports that the new MacBooks still lack, such as FIREWIRE, HDMI, memory card readers, fingerprint reader, VGA with no adapter, S-Video with no adapter, the list goes on.

I can confidently say that a $600 Dell, Compaq, or Acer from Walmart will be built better than a MacBook.

Whats even better about these new MacBooks is their aluminum body. As ridiculously hot as the plastic MacBooks get and as hot as the previous MacBook Pros got, I can't wait to see how hot these new MacBook and MacBook Pros get.

 

As I said to the other poster, you never owned a plastic MacBook or a previous generation MacBook Pro then.

Cracking due to heat and use, discoloration due to heat and use (regular well known issues!), warping in the MacBook Pro due to heat and use, odd beeping sounds out of the headphone jack, lack of user serviceable parts, lines in the screen, hit and miss quality with the screen, uneven backlighting, should I go on?

Apple's computers are not built as well as the ones you can buy from Walmart.

 

You definitely have a good argument against the plastic MacBooks if what you're saying about the defects and flaws are true, but it remains to be seen how the new MacBooks do. So far the review states that it doesn't get that hot like the previous ones, so I think we should assume for now at least that they'll be well built and won't "melt down" like some horror stories would suggest.

The bias and subjectivity of this article still remains, and if any admin is reading this, you know that many agree with me that this article is an embarrassment to NBR.com and it's members.

Think about it.

 

Actually, I owned a black macbook and it was perfect until the day I sold it. I simply put an invisible shield on it and babied it. Laptops aren't meant to be tossed around, and I take extra good care of my investments. I also never had heat issues with my black macbook, even though it idled around 58C.

 

I know some people don't like Macs (and some PCs) but why must people go out of there way to tell everyone how poor a product is? I know Apple does bash Vista through their commercials but seriously? If you don't like something that's fine. But why do we care if you don't like it? or its not worth the price? etc...Anyways the OP (lev?) just opened a can or worms.

 

a backlit keyboard option on my HP dv3510nr cost $25.

 

Anyways, here's a few things I'd like to point out (and probably already mentioned before by others)

1." Equipping a premium notebook with 2 GB of RAM is unforgivable in 2008."
Having 2gb of ram is certainly sufficient on a macbook since it's designed for OSX. My Asus with XP and 4gb (3gb usable) could barely keep up despite having better components.

2. OSX - sure, it's more intuitive, faster, needs less maintenance and more reliable, but it also has better power management than any MS operating system. If people are willing to spend $100+ on an extra battery, wouldn't the extra cost for OSX be worth it as well?

3. It seems like a large portion of the article was focused on hardware, so I'll just give my point of view here
" ...paying $2,000 and getting less storage than many budget notebooks is pretty funny - unless you actually bought the MacBook Pro."
To me, this sounds like comparing a base line Porche 911 to a fully loaded/tricked out Hyundai Accent that has a larger trunk and better gas mileage. Sure, you're paying more, but people still buy macs for many reasons: Superior customer service, convenience (Apple stores nationwide), skeptical consumers whom want to see and try the product before purchasing, social status, software, aesthetics, trends, requirement in schools/work, etc.

4. " I don't need to test the new Apple MacBook or MacBook Pro to know that these are poor values for average consumers."
I never thought of Apple having targeted the average consumer before. With their above average prices and their uniquely designed products, it seems that they are targeting the more wealthy individuals, and not 'Joe the plumber'.

5. As for build quality issue goes, (and I'm sure this has been said many times before), no laptop companies have made perfect units every time. eg. Dell XPS m1530 screens, AW m15x heat issue, Asus's F3 chassis crack, Sony Z battery power drain problem, etc.

 

I could have not put that in words better myself!!! kudos to u emporiumboutique!!!! u re getting rep for that. Finally someone notices more than just HD space

 

They are indeed targeting Joe the plumber in their ads by comparing Vista which runs on practically any PC, be it a high end or Walmart special sale, with a MAC. They are not bothering to differentiate. Even if it means Joe the Plumber may need to aspire to a Mac but "deal" with the "hassle" that is a Vista loaded PC, cheap or otherwise, in the short run.

This was a needed editorial to dispel the notion that Macs are inherently worth their weight in gold for everyone as Apple is trying to persuade through false advertizing.

So consider the editorial as a rebuttal to Apple's hype generating and false advertizing campaign and call it "even."

 

Good choice on the Blackbook.

Unfortunately, your experience with the Blackbook in no way reflects the reality that the white Macbook is a very flawed computer. Simply put, the plastics used on the white Macbook are complete crap.

They crack for no apparent reason, no matter how much they are babied. I went through three cases and, ultimately, a replacement, because of my spontaneously cracking white Macbook.

I really loved my Macbook, but it was the most unreliable computer I've ever owned. Every time I think of getting another Mac, I think of all the time I lost while that thing was in for service.

 

I'm a long time mac owner, but I have to concede that I broadly agree with the article.

The price of the new machines concerns me. I always found that as an avid mac user I could happily justify why a £700 mac is worth the extra money over an acer with an identical specification to any PC owning friend, but since we have seen the price of the base configuration MB rise to £949 (circa $1600), I no longer feel I am able to do that.

Yes, I appreciate that the new MB is a stunning piece of engineering, but I also think that many of HP and Sony's mid/high end consumer and business notebooks reach similar levels of style and quality.

One argument that is raised time and time again as to justify the high cost of apple hardware is the build quality and reliability. I would have to take exception with this point-of-view. Out of 3 powerbooks, a G4 Ibook, a G3 Ibook, a mini and an Imac, only the G4 Ibook did not have to be sent back to apple for one fault or another. I only bought the Imac 2 months ago, so fingers crossed.

 

The new macbooks are the Golf & Geo of notebooks and yes that includes OSX, which is fine for the diehard fans.

And no it is not a Humvee, there are notebooks series with a lot tougher build.

And yes Golf & Geo have nifty little features that the fans of those cars make a big deal of that puts other car owners to sleep.

The Guest Editorial problems might be he was expecting either a Golf & Geo price or a Mercedes product.

As for claims that hordes of people are invading stores to buy Macs, somehow I am missing that. I see lots of people looking at "PC" notebooks yet the Mac area in the same stores is strangely deserted.