Journal #8, October 19

http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/14/apples-all-new-macbook-pro-packs-new-nvidia-gpu-glass-trackpad/

So Apple comes out with new laptops. Well not really, they came out with the exact same thing and said it was new. Well what I was expecting was for Apple to make an 800 dollar Mac and at least try to compete with the PC price range. They are not going to keep up with the economy with new 1,999 dollar laptops. You can get a very good computer off eBay for way less. I got my desktop that runs at lightning speeds for 600 dollars. It has better specs than apples best laptop starting at 2,700 dollars! I assure you that you will not be taking that portable sun with you everywhere you go either so it's not that great. Basically right now it’s the same Mac with better stuff inside. They always do that. I guess I had my hopes up.

What did they really do on this update? They got rid of the touch pad button. They took away half the I/O ports (note there is no more IEEE1394A). Then finally they "upgraded" to glossy look only. Seriously? Not a good choice in my book. First, I need the touch pad button. That button is the only thing from making me destroy every laptop ever made. I hate just wanting to scroll or move my mouse when as soon as i touch the touch pad it automatically clicks whatever the pointer is on. I always disable the touch pad internal click so it never does this. No fire wire (IEEE1394A) means no hookup for DV cameras and other software. The whole update boils down into they took the old laptop, put a better graphics card in it, cleaned it up, and shipped it out. Doesn't every other company do this? By the way, every tried playing a game with a touch pad?

http://www.apple.com/macbook/
http://www.macworld.com/article/133150/2008/05/macbuying.html