Five things still missing from Apple MacBooks
Unless you've been living under a rock (or in Redmond where Microsoft resides), you've no doubt seen the flood of product news coming from Apple's WWDC 2009 conference--from the new iPhone 3G S to an entire line of revamped MacBook laptops. While we're down with the new SD card slots and lower prices, there are still a few items on our MacBook wish list. 1. Matte screen options Despite the fact that nearly every serious laptop user we know prefers matte, non-glossy screens, only Apple's 17-inch MacBook Pro offers a matte option--in the form of a S$85.60 (US$63.02) anti-glare coating addon. Especially with the current models' edge-to-edge glass, popping open a MacBook outdoors (or in an overlit room) is just asking for trouble. Sure, glossy screens make colors pop and movies more dramatic--but we'd like to have the option of choosing a matte screen anyway (and not for S$85.60 (US$63.02), either). 2. Blu-ray drives While high-capacity Blu-ray drives aren't quite a necessity, the format is slowing gaining a foothold. Many inexpensive Windows laptops at least offer it as an option, and many high-end laptops in the MacBook's price range include a Blu-ray drive by default. Leaving aside the idea of having a high-capacity optical backup capability, Blu-ray seems like a natural fit for the MacBook's multimedia-friendly vibe. 3. Mobile broadband options Another widespread option from most PC makers. We're slowing getting to the point where having a mobile broadband account connected to your laptop is just a common tool, rather than an exotic novelty--especially with iPhone tethering plan not yet available. While having to choose one carrier's antenna over another is a hassle, we found the built-in 3G on Netbooks to be "an obvious mashup of two useful technologies". 4. HDMI outputs Mini-DisplayPort is Apple's video connection of choice, and we've also seen a push toward it from PC makers such as Dell. But few of us have an external display with DisplayPort--HDMI, VGA, and even DVI are all more common. Apple offers some helpful adapters (at S$44 (US$32.40) each) for DVI and VGA--but no way to connect a new MacBook to an HDMI-equipped TV, for example. Fortunately, some third-party vendors now offer a DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapter for a little less. 5. Touchscreens If we had a dime for every blog rumor about an Apple tablet we've seen, we'd have at least enough for a large soy-based coffee beverage from Starbucks. Plus, Apple has already proven it's mastered the touchscreen in the iPhone and iPod touch. Actually, someone has already done this, in a way. Axiotron makes custom MacBook-based tablets by buying stock MacBooks, taking them apart, and rebuilding them as tablet PCs. Of course, we haven't missed these features enough to keep us from bestowing the coveted Editors' Choice award on the new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pros. What's on your list of missing MacBook features? Let us know below! Original article at CNET Crave Tags: Apple MacBook, Apple iPhone, Laptop Computer, Blu-ray Drive, Apple MacBook Pro
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Devlin says...
I have the last generation 15-inch MBP (non-unibody) with the glossy display because I got it knowing I would be using it to watch a lot of movies and videos. While I do love how vibrant the colors look I think Apple should really offer the option of selecting between glossy and matte. Not only would this be a boon to creative professionals, it would also be useful to people who do use their notebooks everywhere and to people like me who aren't exactly fans of the edge-to-edge glass aesthetic.
I've decided to hold off any purchases of a new MBP till the higher resolution screen of the 17" model is offered on the 15" along with a Blu-ray drive. Otherwise, there really is no point to having the Blu-ray drive because flash memory and external HDDs are becoming cheaper by the day. I'll upgrade once I can easily enjoy a 1080p movie on my next notebook.
I've never felt the need for built-in mobile broadband but I supposed it'll have its uses. If Apple were to do it though I wish their implementation were more like the USB sticks offered wireless carriers: multi-band antenna and a SIM card slot instead of a proprietary antenna locked to a single carrier.
HDMI should be the universal standard among manufacturers. It'll make things easier on everyone. As for a touchscreen, not quite sure if I'd need/want to use a notebook with a touchscreen.
Jun 17, 2009 16:48
I have the last generation 15-inch MBP (non-unibody) with the glossy display because I got it knowing I would be using it to watch a lot of movies and videos. While I do love how vibrant the colors look I think Apple should really offer the option of selecting between glossy and matte. Not only would this be a boon to creative professionals, it would also be useful to people who do use their notebooks everywhere and to people like me who aren't exactly fans of the edge-to-edge glass aesthetic.
I've decided to hold off any purchases of a new MBP till the higher resolution screen of the 17" model is offered on the 15" along with a Blu-ray drive. Otherwise, there really is no point to having the Blu-ray drive because flash memory and external HDDs are becoming cheaper by the day. I'll upgrade once I can easily enjoy a 1080p movie on my next notebook.
I've never felt the need for built-in mobile broadband but I supposed it'll have its uses. If Apple were to do it though I wish their implementation were more like the USB sticks offered wireless carriers: multi-band antenna and a SIM card slot instead of a proprietary antenna locked to a single carrier.
HDMI should be the universal standard among manufacturers. It'll make things easier on everyone. As for a touchscreen, not quite sure if I'd need/want to use a notebook with a touchscreen.
Jun 17, 2009 16:48
shashanktripathi says...
Don't care about touchscreen at all. Maybe there'll be a NetBook for that, but the iphone is the best netbook there is.
There are some pretty petty cavils in this post :) The only real gripe imho is the HDMI thing, but monoprice.com offers an US$ 9.00 mini display to hdmi adapter. Get it and an HDMI to HDMI cable, and you're set. Shipping from the US to Singapore may set you back an additional, say, US$15, but in about SG$ 50 you should have it all.
Jun 18, 2009 12:24
Don't care about touchscreen at all. Maybe there'll be a NetBook for that, but the iphone is the best netbook there is.
There are some pretty petty cavils in this post :) The only real gripe imho is the HDMI thing, but monoprice.com offers an US$ 9.00 mini display to hdmi adapter. Get it and an HDMI to HDMI cable, and you're set. Shipping from the US to Singapore may set you back an additional, say, US$15, but in about SG$ 50 you should have it all.
Jun 18, 2009 12:24
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