Recent Comments:
Apple ponies up free Mini DisplayPort spec licenses {Engadget}
Dec 2nd 2008 11:37AM Some of you have apparently not seen inside the new MacBook (which I happen to be typing on at this moment)... THERE'S NO DAMN ROOM FOR A FULL-SIZE DISPLAYPORT.
Seriously. The hard drive/battery access takes up the entire front end of the Macbook. The mainboard doesn't even go there.
The two USB ports, Mini DisplayPort, Magsafe/AC power port, Audio in, Audio out, and Ethernet hog all the space available. If you look at the guts, you'll see that there's simply no more room. You can't add even half of a port-- There's simply no space. The other side of the MacBook has the optical drive,
Where would you propose they pull the space for an extra firewire port AND a full-size DisplayPort?
I suppose they could have made it a bigger computer, but frankly, I like the compact size.
This isn't "Apple trying to get money from selling adapters" -- It's sacrificing full-size ports in favor of a smaller form factor for the computer as a whole. If you don't like that design, then get the other version of the MacBook. It's really Just That Simple.
Me? I'm glad I moved up to the Aluminum. Yes, I had to shell out $30 for an adapter, and yes, I would like more space between the USB ports, but other than that, this is an truly excellent computer and will serve me for years to come.
Dreamcast PC features Blu-ray, nostalgia for the late 1990s {Engadget}
Nov 27th 2008 11:56AM Step 1: Pull guts out of old toy/geek appeal item.
Step 2: Cram a PC into it.
Step 3: Engadget fame
Does no one else get sick of this lame trend?
Guitar Hero-playing robot takes on Cult of Personality {Joystiq}
Nov 23rd 2008 12:22PM And this is why Guitar Hero kinda sucks. It takes no imagination or creativity at all. It's just memorizing a series of button pushes, and once you've done that you've mastered the game.
A monkey could learn to be good at Guitar Hero, if given a piece of fruit after repeating the proper button sequence.
WRUP: OMG HOME LOAD TEST edition {PS3 Fanboy}
Nov 22nd 2008 10:48AM Users don't get invites. Sorry. Sony hands them out based on your status with them. Members of the PSU and other insider clubs get picked, usually.
It will be out soon, though. Just play some Jeopardy! until it arrives.
Who watches the Watchmen? You do - in Home {PS3 Fanboy}
Nov 22nd 2008 10:45AM Finally got my Home invite yesterday.
I guess NDA forbids me from sharing anything about it, but I will say this: I hope there are more "starter" clothes for avatars when they actually launch it than there are in Beta.
I'm sick of seeing guys all wearing the same shirts!
How would you change Apple's unibody MacBook / MacBook Pro? {Engadget}
Nov 22nd 2008 10:43AM Seconded. As it stands, I have to use a short USB extension cable to plug in some devices because the ports are too close together for me to plug the devices in directly. I understand it has to do with space in the case, but they could have rearranged so that the mini DisplayPort was between the USB ports, and that would have made it possible to plug in two devices with bulky plug-housings while in the field where you wouldn't be using the mini DisplayPort anyway.
How would you change Apple's unibody MacBook / MacBook Pro? {Engadget}
Nov 22nd 2008 10:32AM I've gone through four Powerbooks, three iBooks, and three MacBooks. I've not had a single Superdrive or Combo Drive fail.
I prefer the slot-loading mechanism. If you're under warranty, Apple will repair it if it fails. If not, the current MacBook is pretty easy to work on-- You could put your own slot-loading SATA optical drive in there.
I just think tray-loading is cheap and prone to being broken a lot easier than a slot drive. I don't want parts popping in and out of my portable device.
How would you change Apple's unibody MacBook / MacBook Pro? {Engadget}
Nov 22nd 2008 10:28AM As someone who actually owns a unibody MacBook, here's my list:
1. The USB ports are too close together. Some USB plugs don't fit in side-by-side because of this, so I'd ask Apple to give the USB ports some space.
2. Include the damned minidisplay adapter. The only way I can get one is mail order from Apple.
3. Bring back the inlaid number pad. Some programs require a keypad, and not having it means I'm stuck connecting an external number pad. That's a pain in the ass.
4. That hard drive SATA connector makes me nervous. Could it be made of something more solid?
5. Firewire would be useful for some people (not me), but I'd much rather see USB 3.0 on your next MacBook.
6. Could we get Lightscribe (or similar technology) on the Superdrive? Come on, guys! Every PC laptop has this now. I'd like to burn labels on my discs.
7. Blu-ray Disc support. I don't need to watch videos, but I'd like the option of huge optical discs on which I can store backups.
8. You know Front Row is useless unless you include an Apple Remote, don't you? OK. Just checking.
9. 64-bit Windows Vista drivers for Boot Camp, please.
10. (This can be done now) Make the gestures on the trackpad more customizable. I don't use Expose very much, but I do use Spaces a lot. Let me make gestures for Spaces, or any other function I desire. Let me connect gestures to Automator scripts of my design.
That's about it, and I had to struggle to come up with those requests. I love my new MacBook.
New MacBook Pro benchmarked within Boot Camp {The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)}
Nov 20th 2008 2:11PM I'm not sure what problems you're having, but I'm running Boot Camp on my unibody MacBook and it's fine. In fact, I'd say it runs Windows XP better than any PC I've owned or built. It's rather smooth and hasn't given me a single crash yet.
I'm running XP Home, and I've not tried Vista yet. I'm tempted, because XP Home can't recognize my MacBook's full 4GB of RAM (it's a 32-bit OS) and Vista might have a better shot at that with the 64-bit version.
What happens when RAM gets cheap and I upgrade to 6GB? It seems a waste to run 32-bit XP and not utilize 2/3 of the RAM in my system because the OS is too stupid to address it.
I also do virtualization via VMware Fusion 2.1 and it runs very well on my Macbook. The only reason I use Boot Camp instead is because VMware just doesn't lend itself well to most games, and I'm having limited luck with Crossover Games.
In deciding whether to load World of Warcraft or Neverwinter Nights in OS X, or in Windows XP, the choice was obvious to me. In OS X I can access all 4GB of RAM. Why would I install in the OS that is crippled when it comes to accessing RAM on my system?
BusinessWeek: HP "out-touches" Apple {The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)}
Nov 20th 2008 1:59PM Well, *I* don't want a multi-touch screen on my laptop. That's just stupid. I'm paranoid enough about the display without adding it being touched to the reasons it might go bad.
`You ever paid to have a laptop display replaced? Can you imagine how much it would be to replace a multitouch laptop screen?
Jeez. If you want a multitouch computer that uses the display as the touch-surface, then get an iPhone. I'll stick with my unibody Macbook, thanks.
