Apple news

[BiCranial]

Two nifty new MacBook Air models just released: 11" or 13" screen, all flash storage, starting from $1000...

See them here

The 11" models weighs just 2.3 lbs, 64 or 128GB flash storage and has a five hour battery life

13" version has a seven hour battery, 128 or 256GB flash storage, SD card slot and weighs 2.9 lbs

[BiCranial]

OS X 10.7 announced, due to ship mid 2011

Should be one to look forward to, and a 'proper' new version (as opposed to the minor update with Snow Leopard)

I reckon we can expect a bunch of new features on top of those already announced such as full screen apps and the new App Store for Mac

Lion

[BiCranial]

Apple taking aim at Android developers?

Apple has deprecated Java on OS X - so from now on we can probably expect only bugfixes and maintenance updates, and it will very possibly be dropped altogether for 10.7 (Lion)

This probably isn't a huge deal for everyday users but there are a significant number of developers who use Apple notebooks and workstations to develop in Java that will have to turn to other platforms

Disappointing, but typically Jobsian

[nikster]

Apple deprecating Java doesn't mean there won't be a Java on the Mac.

For example, Microsoft hasn't made a JAva version for Windows for years.

More here, including a quote from Steve Jobs on the topic Hacker News | Apple deprecates Java

[BiCranial]

Apple deprecating Java doesn't mean there won't be a Java on the Mac.

For example, Microsoft hasn't made a JAva version for Windows for years.

True, but the alternatives use X11, which means apps don't look native and unless Apple will provide their code to Oracle (or whoever takes up the baton) this would likely remain true as the OS X version uses private APIs that aren't available to devs outside Apple

[harrybarracuda]

Two nifty new MacBook Air models just released: 11" or 13" screen, all flash storage, starting from $1000...

See them here

The 11" models weighs just 2.3 lbs, 64 or 128GB flash storage and has a five hour battery life

13" version has a seven hour battery, 128 or 256GB flash storage, SD card slot and weighs 2.9 lbs

STARTING at $1000? Give me strength.

Buy one of these:

Asus 1215N

And you've still got enough left over for three of these:

Lacie Rugged 1TB Portable

And you can take advantage of USB 3.0.

Apple really are way too expensive, but their fanbois have more money than sense.

[BiCranial]

Apples and oranges Harry,

the Asus is half a kilo heavier and doesn't have an SSD - for the same spec as the Apple you'd be paying around the same money for any other brand...

I agree about the fanbois who buy them just for the logo, but if you're after the features then you won't save any cash buying Asus/HP/Acer etc

[harrybarracuda]

If you're telling me an SSD is worth all that extra, I'm afraid I'd have to chuckle.

I upgraded my eee's 8Gb to a Runcore 64Gb, but that was only so I could run Windows 7.

Otherwise you're better off with USB 3.0 portable drives and machine that can support them. What's the RAM and processor on these shiny new Jobs toys?

[Marmite the Dog]

but if you're after the features then you won't save any cash buying Asus/HP/Acer

If you're after features, you'll not even look at the Apple 'Emperor's New Clothes'.

[Gerbil]

the new App Store for Mac

Coming soon - The Mac a 'locked' platform like the iPhone & iPad. Soon you'll only be able to install 'Apple approved' applications.

[BiCranial]

If you're telling me an SSD is worth all that extra, I'm afraid I'd have to chuckle.

I upgraded my eee's 8Gb to a Runcore 64Gb, but that was only so I could run Windows 7.

Otherwise you're better off with USB 3.0 portable drives and machine that can support them. What's the RAM and processor on these shiny new Jobs toys?

Wasn't suggesting the SSD is worth an extra $500 Harry, I'd be laughing with you if that was the case, just pointing out that machines from any of the major manufacturers with the same specs cost around the same.

Asus make good gear, and they're great value for money! I was going to buy one for the missus, but ended up with a Samsung netbook... (Asus was the 'wrong' colour)

btw CPU on the new MB Air is a Core2 Duo, RAM 2/4GB - no speed demon but fast enough for most use

[BiCranial]

the new App Store for Mac

Coming soon - The Mac a 'locked' platform like the iPhone & iPad. Soon you'll only be able to install 'Apple approved' applications.

That's the Jobsian way...

[harrybarracuda]

Wasn't suggesting the SSD is worth an extra $500 Harry, I'd be laughing with you if that was the case, just pointing out that machines from any of the major manufacturers with the same specs cost around the same.

But (as I detailed on another thread) that applies between the various PC manufacturers, but not to Macs, which are mostly style and no substance.

Use Amazon as a guideline and look in their various price bands and play "Spot the Macbook".

[BiCranial]

Applies to Mac's as well Harry, other brand notebooks on Amazon with similar specs are similar cost (some are several hundred $ more)

At the end of the day it comes down to personal preference, if you want to run Windoze or Linux as your primary OS then Apple gear is probably not for you, if you're happy to run any OS and are looking for a specific feature set then it is worth considering.

Personally, I'm impressed with the way Ku/Ubuntu 10.10 is running on my old Lenovo so my next notebook will be a dedicated Linux machine

[Butterfly]

non-sense, to compare mac specs and say they are priced as the same as PC is completely non-sense and spoken like a true amateur,

PC specs are always superior, mac specs are always sub-par

facts are there, easy to check. And of course you have to deal with MacOS X, an inferior Unix platform with a pretty but unusable interface

[harrybarracuda]

Applies to Mac's as well Harry, other brand notebooks on Amazon with similar specs are similar cost (some are several hundred $ more)

That isn't what I said. Yes, there are overpriced non-Mac laptops, too. In fact the thread to which I referred had a poster claiming he'd narrowed his choices to a Macbook or Sony Vaio. Both of which are overpriced junk.

[BiCranial]

non-sense, to compare mac specs and say they are priced as the same as PC is completely non-sense and spoken like a true amateur,

PC specs are always superior, mac specs are always sub-par

facts are there, easy to check. And of course you have to deal with MacOS X, an inferior Unix platform with a pretty but unusable interface

trying to make friends Butterfly?

[harrybarracuda]

non-sense, to compare mac specs and say they are priced as the same as PC is completely non-sense and spoken like a true amateur,

PC specs are always superior, mac specs are always sub-par

facts are there, easy to check. And of course you have to deal with MacOS X, an inferior Unix platform with a pretty but unusable interface

trying to make friends Butterfly?

Butters is ambivalent. He buys Apple shit then moans about how crap it is.

[Jesus Jones]

Applies to Mac's as well Harry, other brand notebooks on Amazon with similar specs are similar cost (some are several hundred $ more)

That isn't what I said. Yes, there are overpriced non-Mac laptops, too. In fact the thread to which I referred had a poster claiming he'd narrowed his choices to a Macbook or Sony Vaio. Both of which are overpriced junk.

I didn't buy either.

Cheers.

[BiCranial]

Butters is ambivalent. He buys Apple shit then moans about how crap it is.

maybe the guy/gal who answers the phone at the Apple complaints department has a nice voice...

[siamect]

Apple deprecating Java doesn't mean there won't be a Java on the Mac.

For example, Microsoft hasn't made a JAva version for Windows for years.

Guess you know why... for legal reasons it's called C#...