The countdown begins

[rhys]

It's not long now until Macworld 2008 (Jan 14-18th) in San Francisco.

Anybody got any predictions?

I'm hoping there'll be a 12" Macbook with a solid state hard drive.

[carianoff]

Apple develops a cure for AIDS.

Oh and the next gen intel everyone is so hyped about in a Tower.

[ben_r_]

Eh, I dont do macs... Im more interested in the photography event were they might be announcing the 5D Mark II! :D

Thats what my count down is set for!

[rhys]

Apple develops a cure for AIDS.

There already is - abstinence!

[Richard_Miami]

How about an Intel based Mac that competes with the PCs on price! If they can close that gap, they will attract a LOT more customers.. myself included.

(I am sooo close to crossing over... :) )

[rhys]

How about an Intel based Mac that competes with the PCs on price! If they can close that gap, they will attract a LOT more customers.. myself included.

(I am sooo close to crossing over... :) )

I'm crossing over. Just waiting for Expo to see what'll be announced.

I'm very tempted by the 7" Asus Linux-based laptop though. Having said that, the small size of the memory is a bit of a turn off as is the high price of flash memory that I'd use to store photos.

[kuanyu]

I predict they'll welcome Mr. Gates (again) :)

[carianoff]

Eh, I dont do macs... Im more interested in the photography event were they might be announcing the 5D Mark II! :D

Thats what my count down is set for!

Then don't post in a mac expo thread. :)

How about an Intel based Mac that competes with the PCs on price! If they can close that gap, they will attract a LOT more customers.. myself included.

(I am sooo close to crossing over... :) )

How about a PC that is as well designed as a Mac for the same price as a Mac. I don't want them to close the gap, everyone doesn't deserve to feel as good as I do every day.

[rklepper]

Then don't post in a mac expo thread. :)



How about a PC that is as well designed as a Mac for the same price as a Mac. I don't want them to close the gap, everyone doesn't deserve to feel as good as I do every day.

Maybe a Mac priced according to its real worth?

[carianoff]

Maybe a Mac priced according to its real worth?

You can't put a price on Job's happiness. :P

I'll toss money at him as long as he keeps them guessing and continues raiseing the bar for the industry and the world.

[rhys]

You can't put a price on Job's happiness. :P

I'll toss money at him as long as he keeps them guessing and continues raiseing the bar for the industry and the world.

In life I discovered things have their price.

How people like to be told their photos weren't worth as much as they want to be paid for them just because Uncle Billy Bob has a compact camera and charges less?

The fact is Apple just makes a better product.

[Richard_Miami]

For the record.. I don't mind paying a reasonable premium for reasonable advantages. From what I can see, the relative freedom from viruses and malware et al is worth a bit, the OS stability is a benefit (I am a Unix kind of guy anyway) and the overall performance and look and feel of the OS is nice. If I recall correctly, PS was built to be native on the MAC, and retooled for the PC. From what I can see that is true. And I use CS3 now. All of that might be worth 10 - 15% to me.. but comparing spec to spec it looks like a minimum of 25% premium.. to be honest I need to research this better tho.

[mellowd]

The fact is Apple just makes a better product.

That's not fact, just opinion

[blonde]

the only thing that i would love to see is a 2nd gen iPhone so i can replace my blackberry and iPod touch and only use one device. here is what it must have:

support for MS Exchange
16gig memory at the bare minimum
more capabilities in Safari such as copy and paste
ability to download files from the net and save to HD

if they do that, i will be first in line in the apple store.

[carianoff]

The fact is Apple just makes a better product.
That's not fact, just opinion

Semantics.

No computer company plans, designs, constructs a unit anywhere as close to the level as Apple.

Thats the fact.

[blonde]

Semantics.

No computer company plans, designs, constructs a unit anywhere as close to the level as Apple.

Thats the fact.


no, it is still an opinion...

[Anke]

Semantics.

No computer company plans, designs, constructs a unit anywhere as close to the level as Apple.

Thats the fact.


Still an opinion I'm afraid......albeit the right one ;)

[rhys]

no, it is still an opinion...

Apple controls what goes into Apple computers. Apple write the O/S around those components. This results in a rock solid platform that does not need wobbly 3rd party drivers or an O/S that's supposed to work with thousands of different 3rd party devices or badly-written device drivers. It results in a platform based on known quantities unlike Windows.

[mellowd]

It results in a platform based on known quantities unlike Windows.

There is more to PC's than just Windows.

[rhys]

There is more to PC's than just Windows.

Yes there's Linux and Free BSD. They suffer from the same problem with drivers and the lack thereof. Example - I have tried several Linux distros that just will not work on my laptop.

[mellowd]

Yes there's Linux and Free BSD. They suffer from the same problem with drivers and the lack thereof. Example - I have tried several Linux distros that just will not work on my laptop.

Fair enough, but its simple to either get a laptop that is supported or to simply hack it to work.

You might then say, but why would I want to buy new hardware? Well, buying an apple is buying new hardware

[Anke]

Why does this always escalate into a PC/Apple war? The original poster just wanted some fun predictions for the expo.

[mellowd]

agreed, I didn't really want it to escalate. I'll leave it at that

[Richard_Miami]

^ I was just going to post exactly what Anke said... all it is about is choices... geeze

[blonde]

Apple controls what goes into Apple computers. Apple write the O/S around those components. This results in a rock solid platform that does not need wobbly 3rd party drivers or an O/S that's supposed to work with thousands of different 3rd party devices or badly-written device drivers. It results in a platform based on known quantities unlike Windows.

great, how does that change the FACT that what he stated is still an opinion? can you prove and backup the claim that apple makes the best products?

[cosworth]

Maybe the new iMac will brick when you try to use it on a non-approved ISP.

I certainly would like to see a proper tower.

[rhys]

Fair enough, but its simple to either get a laptop that is supported or to simply hack it to work.

You might then say, but why would I want to buy new hardware? Well, buying an apple is buying new hardware

There we are - exactly why Linux is not worthy of serious consideration for most users. As soon as you have to "hack" an O/S to make it work then it's not worthy of consideration. Linux promises much but delivers very little on the desktop front.

I can buy a copy of windows and it'll kinda work on most laptops. I buy a copy of Linux and it might work. There's a big difference there.

With Apple, if I buy an Apple laptop then Apple OSX will work - no kinda sorta about it.

With Windows I cannot buy a Microsoft laptop. With Linux, I cannot buy a Debian, Red Hat, Mandrake or Ubuntu laptop. None of the other O/S companies build laptops.

[Richard_Miami]

I certainly would like to see a proper tower.

Proper = Affordable I was looking at the Mac Pro tower this afternoon.. which brought about my first post here about pricing. Max that puppy out and it costs over $16,000 :shock:

A couple of those and I will trade them in for the 1200L in the B&H used dept!

[rhys]

Proper = Affordable I was looking at the Mac Pro tower this afternoon.. which brought about my first post here about pricing. Max that puppy out and it costs over $16,000 :shock:

A couple of those and I will trade them in for the 1200L in the B&H used dept!

Most of that is surely memory which can be obtained cheaper elsewhere as are hard drives.

[Richard_Miami]

Rhys - you are of course correct. But the base tower is still way over priced. If I could get one for 20% over the comparative price of an equally equipped PC, I would make the jump.

Sorry I overstated...was just making a point.

[Anke]

So, anyone any predictions after all this?

[rhys]

Well, I have heard mention of a 12" Macbook and of a solid-state hard drive. Having said that they could well produce even more crap like another iPhone.

Apple is obviously trying to diversify since the bottom is clearly going to drop out of the computer market since everybody and their dog is now making computers. It can't be long before the Chinese start making Apple clones or mainboards that work with OSX and Windows.

I have heard of people running OSX on PCs with a lot of hacking around.

[cosworth]

Yes, proper = affordable.

[mellowd]

It's possible to run it on a PC. You just need the hacked image and compatible hardware

[Anke]

Having said that they could well produce even more crap like another iPhone.

Have to agree with you there. Hopefully they can now concentrate on proper hardware and software and really surprise us again. Like the good old days :D

[FlyingPhotog]

Steve Jobs will terminate (loudly and profanly) at least one assistant during technical rehearsals...

[Anke]

I predict Steve will surprise us this year and wear a white poloneck :shock:

Isn't there quad-core pros coming this expo?

[Richard_Miami]

Isn't there quad-core pros coming this expo?

Quad core pros are on their website.. that is what I was looking at today

[Anke]

Quad core pros are on their website.. that is what I was looking at today


I haven't kept up with all things Apple the past month or so, I have a friend who was waiting for the expo before purchasing a quad pro. I thought he was waiting for something new.

[Richard_Miami]

Link to quad core and other specs: http://www.apple.com/macpro/specs.html

[rhys]

Have to agree with you there. Hopefully they can now concentrate on proper hardware and software and really surprise us again. Like the good old days :D

What I don't get is why Apple even bothered with phones. They're just so much blah these days. Back when everybody needed a smaller phone, people went for new phones. I have five phones. Three work in Britain and two work in the US.

My 3 UK phones are Siemens C25 and Siemens A80. The C25 is a ton simpler and is thus a lot easier to use. It has no funky web browser or games - it's just a phone. Here, I have some Nokia or other and a Kyocera. They both have games, web browsers and all kinds of crap on them that I don't want, don't use and which is quite frankly a pain in the rear when I want to adjust a phone function quickly. I just don't want to have to plough through all those damned menus. Apple, of course, produced a phone with a ton of gizmos on it. They don't seem to get that a phone is just a phone but I suppose they're appealing to their late teens to early thirties market. The rest of us couldn't give a hoot and prefer tools that do the job simply and well, without extra features.


I'd like to see Apple concentrating on laptops rather than on other stuff. Heavens, they might even subscribe to the 4:3 format and produce a 4:3 SLR camera!

[Anke]

As long as they bring out things that aren't iPod or iPhone related, I'll be happy.

[cosworth]

The iPhone doesn't have cut and paste. It doesn't do voice dial.

The people I know who bought them have since sold them due to lack if well, simple features. If Apple can release a GPS enabled iPhone it will be smart. Not triangulation, true GPS. I think you will see a 16gb iPhone and not much more in handheld.

I really would like to see an affordable tower and won't really predict it, but sales of smaller desktops is not a growth market. So no go I think.

Apple TV II? Steve says it's just a "hobby".

I just can't see a direction here.

[RichNY]

I find it really funny to hear people comment that some Apple products command a 10-20% premium but think nothing about spending over 100% more to by an L lens because it is better. If Apple's came with a red ring would that satisfy everyone :)

[cosworth]

Show me a 300 2.8 lens with IS that I can buy cheaper that has the same image quality. Actually I'm looking for a really fast 200mm prime say a f/2 that has IS. Got any options for me?

[Bootsie]

I am hoping for a second gen iPhone that I can use on T-mobile. ( I used to feel that these big fancy phones were crazy as well, but I played with my co-workers iPhone, and I love them) I would also like to see some upgrades in notebooks because I am considering making the switch.

[mellowd]

Apple might kit all its new computers with blu-ray drives. This makes sense as Disney uses blu-ray (And Jobs is a director at Disney)

[Anke]

Apple might kit all its new computers with blu-ray drives. This makes sense as Disney uses blu-ray (And Jobs is a director at Disney)


Oooooh that would be very cool!!!

[carianoff]

Yeah i heard a rumor about that as well. That would make them alot cooler.


Penryn
Wikinews has related news:
Intel launches 45nm "Penryn" processor aiming for energy-efficiency

The successor to the Merom core currently used for the Core 2 Duo T5000/T7000 series mobile processors, code-named Penryn, debuted on the 45 nanometer process which will also be used for the Conroe sequel, Wolfdale (see below). Many details about Penryn appeared at the April 2007 Intel Developer Forum. Its successor is expected to be Nehalem.

Important advances[38] include the addition of new instructions (including SSE4, also known as Penryn New Instructions) and new fabrication materials (most significantly a hafnium-based dielectric).

Penryn is paired with the 2007 desktop chipset series, Bearlake[39], some of whose models include an increase in bus speed (connection to the northbridge, etc.) to 1333 MT/s and support for DDR3 SDRAM. In notebooks and other mobile equipment, Penryn pairs with the mobile chipset series Crestline, which does not support DDR3, although Intel believes[40] future DDR3 support will benefit mobile equipment's power- and heat-constrained environments.

Penryn will also be released in a quad-core version for desktop replacement notebooks.

The newest Intel Core 2 Extreme processor that boasts this new core is the Core 2 Extreme QX9650. This chip has a clock speed of 3.0 GHz and a FSB of 1333 MHz, and features new SSE4.1 instructions. SSE4.1 can greatly speed up tasks like certain key operations in video encoding. Intel released sixteen new 45 nm Penryn processors on November 12, 2007. However, all but the QX9650 were Xeon models.

Intel has announced its new 45nm Penryn-based Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Extreme processors will be released on January 6, 2008. The new processors will launch exclusively with a 35W thermal envelope. The new processors are slated to be unveiled further at MacWorld 2008 as part of Apple's mobile lineup.[41]

[SoaringUSAEagle]

Anyone else excited for office 08? lol

[EnronRocks]

There already is - abstinence!

Lets do keep in mind that AIDs is not just transferred via sexual contact.

Plus Apple doesn't have the intelligence to do something of that nature. Bill will hire people to find it before Apple figures out its here.

[Richard_Miami]

I find it really funny to hear people comment that some Apple products command a 10-20% premium

Check my message please- what I said was that I would happy to pay a 10-20% premium for Apple - what I object to is their price points which appear to me to be way above that.

It's all about the value add to me - for twice the functionality, I will pay twice OR for twice the performance- I will pay twice. I see Apple's Mac line as being a better value than the PC, but not as much as the delta in price requires. Its a judgement call

[Blackey Cole]

aSince this is basiclly a Mac thread I got a question.

It is the intel Macs. What chipset do they use I guess hoping for the same as the windos would be too much to expect. It would be nice to be able to use a dual boot loader and choose which system you need based on what application you are going to use. If you need to do typical windows stuff boot up in to windows and if you which to do apple stuff boot up in apple boot running in native mode so that they run the quickest. That way everyone wouldn't need to go with propriatory hardware and or run in emulation mode which never runs as well in native mode. That way when someone finds that they have outgrown windows and or needs to run a apple only application they can just go out and buy the new OS. Especially since the linux runs on both hardware frames.

So does the new intel apples os run on the same hardware and windows or is it a special intel chipset.

[mellowd]

aSince this is basiclly a Mac thread I got a question.

It is the intel Macs. What chipset do they use I guess hoping for the same as the windos would be too much to expect. It would be nice to be able to use a dual boot loader and choose which system you need based on what application you are going to use. If you need to do typical windows stuff boot up in to windows and if you which to do apple stuff boot up in apple boot running in native mode so that they run the quickest. That way everyone wouldn't need to go with propriatory hardware and or run in emulation mode which never runs as well in native mode. That way when someone finds that they have outgrown windows and or needs to run a apple only application they can just go out and buy the new OS. Especially since the linux runs on both hardware frames.

So does the new intel apples os run on the same hardware and windows or is it a special intel chipset.

The same, which is why hacked versions of macosx can run on regular pc's

[cosworth]

Apple might kit all its new computers with blu-ray drives. This makes sense as Disney uses blu-ray (And Jobs is a director at Disney)


Plus Apple has been in bed with sony and its hardware for a loooooong itme. It makes total sense to go blu-ray for Apple.

Blu-Ray iMac. Can't see why this would NOT be introduced. Good call.

[rhys]

Anyone else excited for office 08? lol

I gave Microsoft the finger over office when Office 97 would not run under XP. I went over to Open Office and haven't looked back.

[harrydog]

That's not fact, just opinion
But it's a fact that in every customer survey that I've seen, Apple is always at the very top, year after year. Their computers and OS are reliable and just plain work. And if you do have a problem, their help desk people are located in the USA, not India.
I owned Macs from 1987 until the mid 90's when I switched to Dell. I had more problems with the Dells and the agravation of dealing with the people in India (mainly a language issue) to get things resolved was more than I could bear.
So I'm back to Apple again and although I wish they cost less, I'm more than willing to pay the premium.

[mellowd]

But it's a fact that in every customer survey that I've seen, Apple is always at the very top, year after year. Their computers and OS are reliable and just plain work. And if you do have a problem, their help desk people are located in the USA, not India.
I owned Macs from 1987 until the mid 90's when I switched to Dell. I had more problems with the Dells and the agravation of dealing with the people in India (mainly a language issue) to get things resolved was more than I could bear.
So I'm back to Apple again and although I wish they cost less, I'm more than willing to pay the premium.

I assume all these surveys were sponsered by Apple?

Secondly, what if I were in India? I'd prefer speaking to someone from India than the USA. Don't blame PC's for Dell's problems. I've never used a Dell, and don't plan on anytime soon

[Anke]

Yeah i heard a rumor about that as well. That would make them alot cooler.


Penryn
Wikinews has related news:
Intel launches 45nm "Penryn" processor aiming for energy-efficiency

The successor to the Merom core currently used for the Core 2 Duo T5000/T7000 series mobile processors, code-named Penryn, debuted on the 45 nanometer process which will also be used for the Conroe sequel, Wolfdale (see below). Many details about Penryn appeared at the April 2007 Intel Developer Forum. Its successor is expected to be Nehalem.

Important advances[38] include the addition of new instructions (including SSE4, also known as Penryn New Instructions) and new fabrication materials (most significantly a hafnium-based dielectric).

Penryn is paired with the 2007 desktop chipset series, Bearlake[39], some of whose models include an increase in bus speed (connection to the northbridge, etc.) to 1333 MT/s and support for DDR3 SDRAM. In notebooks and other mobile equipment, Penryn pairs with the mobile chipset series Crestline, which does not support DDR3, although Intel believes[40] future DDR3 support will benefit mobile equipment's power- and heat-constrained environments.

Penryn will also be released in a quad-core version for desktop replacement notebooks.

The newest Intel Core 2 Extreme processor that boasts this new core is the Core 2 Extreme QX9650. This chip has a clock speed of 3.0 GHz and a FSB of 1333 MHz, and features new SSE4.1 instructions. SSE4.1 can greatly speed up tasks like certain key operations in video encoding. Intel released sixteen new 45 nm Penryn processors on November 12, 2007. However, all but the QX9650 were Xeon models.

Intel has announced its new 45nm Penryn-based Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Extreme processors will be released on January 6, 2008. The new processors will launch exclusively with a 35W thermal envelope. The new processors are slated to be unveiled further at MacWorld 2008 as part of Apple's mobile lineup.[41]

Ahhh, that's what my friend is waiting for!!! Apparently, as he does high-end film editing, the current quad-pros overheat too much and these are supposed to run a lot cooler. I knew I wan't going mad.

[ben_r_]

Maybe a Mac priced according to its real worth?

HA no chance of that! They know all the mac heads out there are so convinced theyll pay anything for those computers.

[mellowd]

Ahhh, that's what my friend is waiting for!!! Apparently, as he does high-end film editing, the current quad-pros overheat too much and these are supposed to run a lot cooler. I knew I wan't going mad.

They don't really overheat but the 45nm parts do in fact run a LOT cooler (as less energy usage to boot)

[col4bin]

hopefully some updated cinema displays.

[vjack]

Hey, as long as we're hoping, how about a tower with similar components to an iMac but without the built-in monitor so we could select our own. With the Mac Pro seeming to be overkill for many, this is what I'd love to see.

[carianoff]

hopefully some updated cinema displays.

Why?

They are pretty much the most perfect items for sale in the free world.

[col4bin]

Why?

They are pretty much the most perfect items for sale in the free world.

They are 4 years old without updates. Surely there are some improvements that can be made. I would like to at least see the prices come down.

[mellowd]

I would like to at least see the prices come down.

This is Apple

[col4bin]

This is Apple

I know all too well. I am a loyal apple user with a thin wallet!!!

[mellowd]

I know all too well. I am a loyal apple user with a thin wallet!!!

Unfortunately this is the primary problem with Apple. No competition means high prices. :/

[carianoff]

This is Apple

Yeah apple's system works. they have had the same price points for 10 years. they just rotate in new gear. Granted it took them a few years to find the perfect cost level for the lcd monitors.

[red hot sheep]

I suppose they're appealing to their late teens to early thirties market.

That's quite a big market to make money from!

[rhys]

That's quite a big market to make money from!

Thinking about it - those are the guys with a job and an income and no real expenses as most likely they live at home.

[anmoldagreat]

to whoever said it
the acds are supposed to be revamped
1080p, build in webcams, etc...

and i would also like a midend tower similar to the imac w/o the monitor or a sub 14in macbook pro to rid myself of this white macbook that is just not powerful enough...

[John_TX]

I predict Apple releasing an ultra-thin laptop to match Apple user's ultra-thin wallets after decking the halls with Apple regalia.

[anmoldagreat]

macworld was quite lame
im dissapointed

i guess i can wait til next year for my sub15in macbook pro with bluray drive...