Comment Re:Still awaiting an Intel iBook or similar (Score 1) 410
Apple is tempting you! If you want to run OS X (legally) then you have to use their hardware.
When the Intel iBook (MacBook?) will come it most likely will be a Core Solo laptop to differenciate between the consumer and prosumer lines and to lower the cost of the iBook.
Do you really need a Core Duo laptop ??? What can you do with a Core Duo that you can't do with a Core Solo? What do you need FW800 for? Do you need really fast access to huge amounts of data? How often have you been in a place recently that had a modem port BUT didn't have wireless access points or ethernet? If you weren't at a hotel then most likely you didn't have access to either a modem or ethernet port (without permission).
Do you have a cell phone? Do you know that you can access the Internet through your cellphone from your laptop (through USB or bluetooth) without breaking your contract (search Google for QNC [quick network connect]). Granted QNC only gives you 14.4kb/s while using your minutes (no extra fees), but who really needs really fast access in the middle of nowhere? If you really need it then get a data plan from your cellphone provider. Here (Ontario, Canada) I can get a PCMCIA EVDO card that gives me up to 500MB transfer per month for $100 CDN.
Yes it would be nice to have a higher cap on the data plan (1.5GB to 2.0GB per month), but who really needs that much right now that doesn't have access to ethernet or a wireless connection.
If you need a fast graphics card, a core duo laptop with OS X, then get the MacBook Pro. If not then wait for and get one of the upcoming Intel iBooks. If you're not able to spend $1000 USD on a laptop (current cost of entry-level iBook) then get a heavy, loud, short battery life Windows XP laptop and please stop complaining. For the last couple of years (2-3 probably) Apple laptops have been feature competetive and are (with introduction of Intel chips) starting to be CPU competetive as well. There hasn't been such thing as a "Mac Tax" since the late '90s when Macs started being priced comparitively to mid-high-end PCs (which have things that cheap PCs don't - FW400, USB2.0, 802.11g, GB ethernet, dedicated video cards, SATA, DVI, etc.)
When the Intel iBook (MacBook?) will come it most likely will be a Core Solo laptop to differenciate between the consumer and prosumer lines and to lower the cost of the iBook.
Do you really need a Core Duo laptop ??? What can you do with a Core Duo that you can't do with a Core Solo? What do you need FW800 for? Do you need really fast access to huge amounts of data? How often have you been in a place recently that had a modem port BUT didn't have wireless access points or ethernet? If you weren't at a hotel then most likely you didn't have access to either a modem or ethernet port (without permission).
Do you have a cell phone? Do you know that you can access the Internet through your cellphone from your laptop (through USB or bluetooth) without breaking your contract (search Google for QNC [quick network connect]). Granted QNC only gives you 14.4kb/s while using your minutes (no extra fees), but who really needs really fast access in the middle of nowhere? If you really need it then get a data plan from your cellphone provider. Here (Ontario, Canada) I can get a PCMCIA EVDO card that gives me up to 500MB transfer per month for $100 CDN.
Yes it would be nice to have a higher cap on the data plan (1.5GB to 2.0GB per month), but who really needs that much right now that doesn't have access to ethernet or a wireless connection.
If you need a fast graphics card, a core duo laptop with OS X, then get the MacBook Pro. If not then wait for and get one of the upcoming Intel iBooks. If you're not able to spend $1000 USD on a laptop (current cost of entry-level iBook) then get a heavy, loud, short battery life Windows XP laptop and please stop complaining. For the last couple of years (2-3 probably) Apple laptops have been feature competetive and are (with introduction of Intel chips) starting to be CPU competetive as well. There hasn't been such thing as a "Mac Tax" since the late '90s when Macs started being priced comparitively to mid-high-end PCs (which have things that cheap PCs don't - FW400, USB2.0, 802.11g, GB ethernet, dedicated video cards, SATA, DVI, etc.)
