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It'll be great to finally see those new LED displays that let the new Macbook dock into them.

Really hope there is 899 ibooks... unfortunately finance no longer looks at quality but rather price of the machine.

Oct 14, 08 - 10:31 am Comment from: MacDave

My prediction: Steve won't be able to please everyone....

Oct 14, 08 - 11:01 am Comment from: Wandering joe

Seems to me with the growing interest for Apple's products, that the list of sites giving live coverage is also growing.

Oct 14, 08 - 11:03 am Comment from: Wandering joe

Live coverage here, in Danish.

http://mediamac.comon.dk/index.php/news/show/id=20296

Oct 14, 08 - 11:04 am Comment from: Wandering joe

just for fun

http://divi1551.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/3087.jpg

I believe the $899 product is not an LED Display, but rather a sub-notebook with an 8 inch screen, clamshell design with just a keyboard on one side and a touch screen on the other. It has a 64GB SSD (i.e. two 32GB iPod touches), wifi, NO optical drive, and runs Mac OS X. There's your $899 laptop. Besides, why would they talk about an LED Display if this event is has the Spotlight on notebooks?

MDN Magic Word - alone - as in, I'm probably "alone" in my prediction here.

I wrote some more details about my prediction for a MacBook mini on my site, imacazine.com

my prediction...apple stocks will tank no matter what they introduce

Uhhh How about 9 am ALASKA time.....

We are really a state in this great union after all....

(And have the highest per capita Internet use/penetration in the nation)

John in Fairbanks

I really hope Jobs unveils something more than just eyecandy and some slightly new form features. I want to see a GAMECHANGER, a huge price drop in macbooks would give PC-box makers nosebleeds!

Oct 14, 08 - 12:10 pm Comment from: KingMel

@Boyarsky

It isn't surprising that Alaska has the "... highest per capita Internet use/penetration in the nation." After all, a few Apple Extreme base stations and a bit of T1 line is all that is needed to get most of Alaska's population hooked up, right? And it is easy to bury T1 cable in snow...

Still stating the obvious

"Let's talk about notebooks... First, I'd like to talk about some new ways to build notebooks."

WHOOP WHOOP WHOOP

Maybe they're starting to groom him to host Macworlds post-Steve? He's certainly got the look and the charisma.

This is exciting! "What will they think of next?"

MDN's coverage is still by far the worst of them all! Totally pointless! Use Ars or even cnet's... ignore the MDN "feed" that is woefully behind and short on detail. FAIL.

Oct 14, 08 - 12:22 pm Comment from: shen

where are those brilliant people who said that it wasn't possible that they would use a single aluminum piece now? still wondering what you know that Jobs and Ive don't.....

Oct 14, 08 - 12:28 pm Comment from: TowerTone

Four finger gestures?
Windows still uses one finger....

All-glass screen... ugh. I'll have to get a previous model I guess.

What?!

glossy ONLY display's?!!

what is this?

http://live.macobserver.com/article/2008/10/

Oct 14, 08 - 12:32 pm Comment from: KingMel

@shen
I did not say that it was not 'possible.' But I honestly did not believe that it was viable to hog out a laptop chassis from billet aluminum from the standpoint of cost and numbers of parts. Apple warned about reductions in margins, and this might be one of the big factors driving that. Price reductions will hopefully be a part of the reduced margin story, as well.

I haven't heard the chassis details yet, so it may still be some type of hybrid plastic/aluminum backbone approach, or even machine finishing of a near-net casting. Still, it appears that my initial skepticism might have been unwarranted.

It does not pay to underestimate Apple, or what is possible and feasible given sufficient thought and effort.

On second thought, I'll still get one of these. I'll just have to use an external display for some things. Ah well... I'm sure it will be pretty for day to day use.

Except when... MDN: outside. Freaky!

Oct 14, 08 - 12:39 pm Comment from: shen

"It does not pay to underestimate Apple, or what is possible and feasible given sufficient thought and effort."

yeah, i think that is the point.....

WTH!!! Glass screened Cinema display?!?!?

FAIL.

Oct 14, 08 - 12:41 pm Comment from: shen

ah the little book gets some love too.....

"MacBook: precision aluminum unibody enclosure, LED-backlit display, Next-gen grpahics, Multi-Touch(tm) galss trackpad, Mini Display Port connector, Environmentally responsible."

And a BITCH to work on

Oct 14, 08 - 12:44 pm Comment from: shen

yes chris, glass. it is a newer tech for some, but we think it has a future.....

.... i heard rumors it is coming pre-installed in many houses now.

Oct 14, 08 - 12:48 pm Comment from: shen

it occurs to me that if the new graphics in the MBA is any good at all, it is going to be hard to not buy one of those babies....

the GPU performance was my only gripe about those. can't wait to see the tests!

OK, well. Nothing earth shattering so far...

@shen... no kidding, but you clearly then do not understand the implications for many professionals. Do you know how many photographers this is going to turn off?

Thanks for adding your smartass and ignorant comment though.

Oct 14, 08 - 12:52 pm Comment from: KingMel

A lot of games have excluded Macs using the built-in Intel GMA graphics. I wonder if developers will warm up to the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M / GeForce 9600M GT?

Oct 14, 08 - 12:54 pm Comment from: shen

@chris

gee, as a photographer, i submit that you are the ignorant one.

lemme check with a few other photographers and get back to you though.....

oh wait, it occurs to me that i don't care.

you don't like it? you are free to buy a dull. have fun then. bye now.

CNBC is of course talking about Steve's appearance, as usual. Hardly any mention of the new products.

Dicknecks.

OK, I'm the biggest Apple apostle you'll ever find. And I know you get what you pay for, but is Apple blind to current economic conditions? Low end MB is $1,299?!?!?! Give me a break.... Off to Ebay.

My prediction.... stock going to take big hit today.

Waiting for the "and one more thing"

I'm a photographer too, and work with many. Many disagree with you.

I hope you aren't this big of an a-hole every day.

Oct 14, 08 - 12:58 pm Comment from: TowerTone

"One more thing"
Steve's blood pressure is OK

Oct 14, 08 - 12:58 pm Comment from: shen

OMG, you are right. the economy is in the crapper, and yet Apple has the nerve to charge a reasonable price for what they sell.

....i can't see why they don't drive to every individual house in America, ask them exactly what they want, build it custom, including shitty screens for whiners, and then make it for that customer alone. and then sell it for about $200 per machine.

they have plenty in the bank, let them take the loss.

Oct 14, 08 - 12:58 pm Comment from: Galloway

@superdave

Low end MB is still the white plastic one. They dropped the price from $1099 to $999... but they probably should have dropped it further.

Oct 14, 08 - 12:59 pm Comment from: KingMel

My interpretation of the MacBook story is that the existing design currently selling for $1099 will drop to $999. But you will only get the new goodies (metal enclosure, want faster graphics, want an LED-backlit display) if you spring $1299. And $1599 will get you a faster processor, larger hard drive and backlit keyboard.

$999 seems like a fair price for the entry level MacBook - that's 9.1% less than it was yesterday. But the $1299 model is clearly the value sweet spot. Many will buy the under-$1000 version of the MacBook, but I would do my best to scrape up the additional $300 if I were in the market.

Oct 14, 08 - 01:01 pm Comment from: shen

gosh Chris, you are right, i humbly apologize.

just because you dislike the screens you are allowed to speak for everyone. i should not think your a prick for announcing what everyone thinks. you are our leader, and we hang on your every word.

please forgive your most humble servant.....

Oct 14, 08 - 01:01 pm Comment from: TowerTone

"Blue-ray is a bag of hurt" has an odd ring to it....

Oct 14, 08 - 01:03 pm Comment from: shen

"-What's the concern about the glare on the new screens? Are you planning to incorporate matte screen in the future? Steve says "We're going straight glass. A few of our customers prefer matte screens, but a vast majority (capital "V" on Vast) prefer glass because of brighter colors, etc.""

hey Chris, you want me to tell them they are wrong?

Hmm...not sure I really like the new designs. I have to say I'm more a fan of the older style, expect the Macbook. Anything is an improvement over the plastic. The new cinema display looks terrible IMO and add my voice to one who can not stand glossy displays.

Oct 14, 08 - 01:05 pm Comment from: Willie G

As a professional working in the fields of Motion Graphics/3D Animation and Video Editing, I can say that I am not turned off in the slightest by glossy screens.

However, I am VERY disappointed that there is no 17" MBP option. I need the extra screen real-estate in remote situations, and do not want to have to tether to an external screen just to have a useable workspace.

More disconcerting is that at $2499 with an option to upgrade the processor (probably at a $200-$300 cost) the top in 15" is coming in at a 17" price point.

Oct 14, 08 - 01:06 pm Comment from: Macdoc

I really think Apple screwed the pooch on this one.

Glossy only...Yeah, there is an uproar from professionals!
That's why the stock is down.

I'm one on those pros that doesn't want to fight the glare.
I was in a client's office yesterday, trying to watch a presentation on a glossy laptop through all the reflections from their corner office windows.

I know you people in your dens love the glossy, but some of us have to work in daylight.

No new MacBook Pro for me.

@ Shen

Lighten up dillweed; and learn to spell.

Oct 14, 08 - 01:08 pm Comment from: Willie G

Reading more on the Ars feed, I see that someone brought up the 17"MBP. The answer was that they are still being around and are being 'refreshed'. This implies that they will hold the current aesthetic, but will get some stronger internals. I view this news with trepidation, as it still feels like the beginning of a phase-out.

Oct 14, 08 - 01:09 pm Comment from: TowerTone

store is back up
actually, been up for 5 minutes.
MDN had a problem posting my comment

Oct 14, 08 - 01:11 pm Comment from: Willie G

@Macdoc,

Thanks for your insightful analysis....