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- obeezy, on 01/17/2008, -37/+537Apple has been acting real funny lately.
- fluidfoundation, on 01/17/2008, -56/+15funny ha ha or funny queer?
- JoeDiggsIt, on 01/17/2008, -13/+36The STFU funny.
- fluidfoundation, on 01/17/2008, -0/+5a lot of fanboys in the audience today!
- orlandogeek, on 01/17/2008, -1/+5Funny as in douchey.
- RubberBinder, on 01/17/2008, -16/+55On a semi-unrelated topic, the people on Digg have acting funny lately as well, Maybe it's just me but it seems like there has been a whole lot more sarcasm floating around recently. =/
- arbulus, on 01/17/2008, -2/+64Ya think?
- JoeDiggsIt, on 01/17/2008, -4/+56Wow, we didn't notice! :O
- slashbot, on 01/17/2008, -2/+55You must be new here
- gothsquirrel, on 01/17/2008, -27/+178Apple is really starting to remind me of Sony with their proprietary crap only working with more of their over priced proprietary crap. I don't like it
- fkr3, on 01/17/2008, -10/+109When was Apple's crap ever non-proprietry?
- deadlyfluvirus, on 01/17/2008, -10/+3http://developer.apple.com/opensource/
- TomFrost, on 01/17/2008, -0/+3It was always proprietary, but as far as my memory goes, I don't know of them ever purposefully locking a device down to only work on one *kind* of mac.
- fkr3, on 01/17/2008, -0/+2Except for their software you mean....
- L0g1X, on 01/17/2008, -19/+0Actually it should work with many laptops. Many new laptops (ex. most HP laptops) can supply more power to the USB port but some of the smaller laptops dont (ex. asus eee). For example, back then portable hard drives require 2 USB connection to supply enough power. With most of the new laptops, you can connect it with just one USB cable and it will work.
- xtc46, on 01/17/2008, -0/+14It doesnt appear ot be a simple power issue, it looks like they are locking it down to the Air intentionally, not becasue they dont want to tweak the USB settings on their other notebooks.
- hexydes, on 01/17/2008, -5/+96Welcome to a taste of what the world would have been like if Apple had won the desktop.
You think you don't like Microsoft...- keyo, on 01/17/2008, -30/+2Microsoft are the all round prize winners of vendor lock-in. Either company is bad.
- Elranzer, on 01/17/2008, -0/+23Yeah cuz Windows only runs on Microsoft-brand computers...
- brufleth, on 01/17/2008, -1/+27@keyo
MS doesn't control the hardware you run windows on and in fact they work pretty damn hard to make sure it runs on whatever hardware you throw at it. MS and Apple are in completely different playing fields when it comes to hardware vendor lock-in. - threemagic, on 01/17/2008, -11/+4Apple doesn't compete with Microsoft. Apple competes with HP and Dell.. Apple wouldn't care if you bought their hardware and ran Windows on it.
- threemagic, on 01/17/2008, -8/+1Digg me down, but it's true..I know, I'm an apple dealer
- bobbyi, on 01/17/2008, -1/+7Yeah, they're just like HP and Dell. That's why HP printers only print from HP computers and Dell monitors only work with Dell PCs.
- mrdoogee, on 01/17/2008, -1/+1I do run Windows on it!
- keyo, on 01/17/2008, -30/+2Microsoft are the all round prize winners of vendor lock-in. Either company is bad.
- tdowling, on 01/17/2008, -0/+11But you can still use any other USB drive with the MacBook Air, no?
- Elranzer, on 01/17/2008, -4/+2Maybe.... not?
- MacParrot, on 01/17/2008, -2/+4Until I can have this verified by a more reliable source, I really have to question how accurate this is. There are many USB-based external CD/DVD burners out there, few of them work with OS X because they never wrote drivers for it for their equipment. With all the complaining about Vista when it first came out regarding 3rd-party gear, most of it had to do with drivers. Drivers were written and now it's like it never happened. Microsoft mostly doesn't write the drivers for 3rd-party equipment and neither does Apple.
I'm waiting to hear this confirmed before believing it.
- TheReport, on 01/17/2008, -4/+3Any company protecting intellectual property and have shareholders to answer to will always have "proprietary crap" name me on company who is for profit that doesn't have this supposed "proprietary crap" that you ramble on about.
- cawpin, on 01/17/2008, -1/+8Microsoft. The HD-DVD drive for the Xbox 360 works on PCs and Macs.
- Bootes, on 01/17/2008, -2/+5And what kind of wireless controller connection does the 360 use? Hint: It doesn't use Bluetooth like the PS3, it uses a proprietary wireless protocol.
You also can't just plug in any USB Wi-Fi device, like older Tivos. You have to buy MS's hugely overpriced proprietary Wi-Fi addon.
What about the HD? Can't just slide in any HD that's the right size like on the PS3. Have to buy MS's overpriced HD in a plastic case. - Dubbsacc, on 01/17/2008, -1/+5Most consoles are proprietary, that's the point. They are recovering from loses on sales of the console itself.
The console gaming market has nothing to do with the PC market, I have no idea why cawpin decided to bring it up. Stay on topic.
- Bootes, on 01/17/2008, -2/+5And what kind of wireless controller connection does the 360 use? Hint: It doesn't use Bluetooth like the PS3, it uses a proprietary wireless protocol.
- Thisistooboring, on 01/23/2008, -0/+1The point you've obviously failed to find before retorting, is that Apple is creating an abundance of proprietary, overpriced ***** with relation to other major players in the same industry. Get it?
- cawpin, on 01/17/2008, -1/+8Microsoft. The HD-DVD drive for the Xbox 360 works on PCs and Macs.
- fkr3, on 01/17/2008, -10/+109When was Apple's crap ever non-proprietry?
- VitaminH, on 01/17/2008, -34/+25Yup that's why I'm now a Linux user. Fed up with their crap and antics.
- MrTito, on 01/17/2008, -26/+10You left Apple for Linux. Wow.
- agaudet, on 01/17/2008, -9/+19yea, hes a smart man
he realized that he can get the same os for free
lol
Linux > Apple Prorietary BSD
The only thing we cannot use is your *Proprietary apps*
I run OS X on my dell and i dont use it because Linux does more and is less annoying and less ugly- TheFinaleofSeem, on 01/17/2008, -12/+17Same OS? Sorry, but that's a big load of fail. Linux has come a long way, but the user interface is nowhere near as refined or intuitive as OS X. It's to the point where the average user can find their way around, but at the core, it's still a techie OS.
- MacParrot, on 01/17/2008, -0/+5"The only thing we cannot use is your *Proprietary apps*"
WHAT? You can't easily use applications originally written for Windows or OS X on Linux?
I'm stunned.
- theblt, on 01/17/2008, -17/+8Too bad you can't do the same things on Linux as you can on a Mac. Such as, use any Adobe product, or any other industry standard design/product software.
- Chaulis, on 01/17/2008, -7/+8Actually fanboy, you can. Check your facts next time.
- theblt, on 01/17/2008, -6/+9Fanboy? I own an iPod, that's it. As far as the facts go, no, you can't run industry standard software under Linux without running it through some sort of VM. Try running Maya, ProTools, Final Cut, or After Effects through a VM or Wine. Maybe it's my fault for only trying Virtualbox and no other VM. Maybe it's my fault for only using Ubuntu 7.10 and Fedora, but no other distros. I guess I should have done more research...oh wait a minute..how come professional media production companies don't use Linux as their main operating system on their workstations? Oh that's right, because it doesn't work in the professional environment. You can go push your pixels around in GIMP all you want, I'll stick to my PC with Photoshop.
Check YOUR facts before trying to sound smart. - SpeedSteamBoat, on 01/17/2008, -1/+3@theblt: It's called dual-boot, and it means you're wrong again.
- Bootes, on 01/17/2008, -1/+2Linux is an OS. He wouldn't be in Linux if he's running another OS to run these programs...
- Dubbsacc, on 01/17/2008, -1/+2Not to be technical, but you didn't say anything about virtualization in your post so Chaulis is still correct.
- lengau, on 01/18/2008, -1/+2@theblt - I stopped reading after you called Final Cut an industry standard. I know quite a few people who edit films/commercials/TV shows for a living. every single one of them grumbles when someone brings in a Final Cut project. They're much happier using other software.
- mrBitch, on 01/17/2008, -3/+16Actually, leaving Apple for Linux makes more sense when you realise that OS X is a BSD Unix sitting on top of a Mach micro-kernel. Once you use OS X, the only other OS that compares is a *nix based OS.
- TomKarpik, on 01/17/2008, -3/+7Yeah, but with a real (and consistent) UI.
- SteveMax, on 01/17/2008, -1/+3Hey... Bash is real and consistent. Not friendly to new users, but very comfortable to those who have used it.
- bjornski, on 01/17/2008, -0/+4I'll have to say, it's interesting to see a Linux vs Mac argument for a change......
- TheReport, on 01/17/2008, -0/+4"I'll have to say, it's interesting to see a Linux vs Mac argument for a change......"
yeah and the most pointless seeing as both are in the same family and for argument sake are both really great alternatives to Windows.
- agaudet, on 01/17/2008, -9/+19yea, hes a smart man
- jh32488, on 01/17/2008, -10/+11why would you leave apple for linux?
linux doesnt do hardware?
your comment makes no sense to what apple is doing in this situation
linux is just software, you can run it on apple products and you wouldnt put up with apple. im confused by your stupidity- prophetpimp, on 01/17/2008, -2/+8Linux does pretty good with Hardware. Especially Apples Standardized Hardware.
- GregR, on 01/17/2008, -5/+2Apple is a software company that happens to also make hardware.
- youareretarded, on 01/17/2008, -1/+3I would disagree and say that apple is a design company.
"They don't make the products you use, they make the products you use prettier." - Tippis, on 01/17/2008, -1/+1Obviously - that's why their main focus is on iPods, Macs, and now phones.
- threemagic, on 01/17/2008, -1/+1GregR: that's where you are 100 percent wrong. We have seminars all the time and we invite all the big vendors from VMware, Cisco, HP, Apple, and MS (many others). Apple is the only one that ever puts a stipulation on them coming.. that stipulation IS that they have a both and as much visability as HP. They don't care about MS.
- mlwarrior, on 01/17/2008, -0/+2*apple is a hardware company that also happens to make software.
- mrdoogee, on 01/17/2008, -0/+2I tend to disagree. Apple has been traditionally a hardware company that makes software out of necessity. Only in the last few years have they really tried to make inroads into the non-Mac Software market. Other than quicktime and itunes, which were both developed for Mac before being ported to PC, Apple doesn't really bother with software that runs on anything but a mac.
- youareretarded, on 01/17/2008, -1/+3I would disagree and say that apple is a design company.
- bjornski, on 01/17/2008, -0/+4He left Apple to avoid the expensive hardware lock-in.
He can run Linux on damn near any spare parts he finds laying around.
- MrTito, on 01/17/2008, -26/+10You left Apple for Linux. Wow.
- r3negadeX, on 08/11/2008, -11/+124Since when has making you pay an astronomical price for hardware been considered "acting funny" for Apple?
- rotarychainsaw, on 01/17/2008, -5/+17Yeah, now you funny too.
- tattertech, on 01/17/2008, -2/+6Well done sir.
- mrdoogee, on 01/17/2008, -0/+2+1 for George Thorogood
- elvenseven, on 01/17/2008, -9/+207Don't worry guys, I'm sure Steve Jobs will release a patch fix for
$20.- TheReport, on 01/17/2008, -3/+8or you could just wait for 10 years for another Service Pack
- r3negadeX, on 08/11/2008, -1/+2I like Windows and all...but Zing!
- TheReport, on 01/17/2008, -3/+8or you could just wait for 10 years for another Service Pack
- rheaume, on 01/17/2008, -8/+6Lately... nice
- affanjam, on 01/17/2008, -21/+6News Flash: Companies are out to make money.
- trvr, on 01/17/2008, -0/+14If that is true, why wouldn't Apple allow these drives to work on any computer? They would definitely sell more of them...
- yugiohdan6, on 01/17/2008, -2/+5yes, but then instead of people paying $200 to get it integrated they would just buy the $100 external drive.
- bjornski, on 01/17/2008, -1/+2Because the people that just HAVE to spend the money for an MBA will have no choice to but to pay for this.
Just like the iPhone. Take major features out, and then charge you by the piece for them after you have your half-capable"must have" toy.
If you MUST HAVE it, well, you have nobody to blame but yourself.
Enjoy your "Porsches"
- trvr, on 01/17/2008, -0/+14If that is true, why wouldn't Apple allow these drives to work on any computer? They would definitely sell more of them...
- TxAggie08, on 01/17/2008, -4/+50Apple has ALWAYS been about proprietary crap for most of their history. The only time they make something non-proprietary is to lock in market share that they will lock down with proprietary crap later.
- Spuy767, on 01/17/2008, -32/+1you actually just described microsoft. It probably has something to do with the power supply or something. Still, there's nothing stopping you from bringing your own, likely cheaper, DVD-R to the party.
- Kappa00, on 01/17/2008, -2/+21Proud fanboy ^^^^^^
- Spuy767, on 01/17/2008, -8/+3No, Just trying to inject a little reason into this one sided bash fest. Seriously, consider it. If Tx's post was an accurate portrayal of Apple, do you still think that iTunes would be on Windows? If anything, Apple tends to open its products more as it goes along. Ask yourself: Why would apple purposely limit the market of a device that it produces. Granted, someone would have to be an imbecile to pay $100 for an external DVD burner, but Apple is in business to make money, why would they disable people from buying a product that they manufacture? They wouldn't, there's more to this that Apple being and evil vertically integrated company.
- agaudet, on 01/19/2008, -0/+1you really dont understand the iTunes debacle do you?
its a double whammy
they make it run like ***** and the standard tool to use their ever popular iPod
with the advent of better music managers than iTunes such as Amarok and Songbird, which despite Apples encryption methods every time they bring out new iPods to try and lock out other programs it only takes about a week for them to get the cracked encryption codes working with these programs ^_^
sorry for being the wrong reply, digg is buggy as ***** saying invalid session when i tried to reply to him
- Kappa00, on 01/17/2008, -2/+21Proud fanboy ^^^^^^
- Spuy767, on 01/17/2008, -32/+1you actually just described microsoft. It probably has something to do with the power supply or something. Still, there's nothing stopping you from bringing your own, likely cheaper, DVD-R to the party.
- Raian, on 01/17/2008, -2/+61Wow it's starting to feel like the 1980s all over again... without Woz.
- raindogmx, on 01/17/2008, -1/+12Exactly! Once again a fellow digger said what I wanted to say with much more clarity than I would.
- DephexTwin, on 01/17/2008, -1/+12Bravo! Thank you for expressing the endorsement of Ralan's post better than I would have.
- pgouy, on 01/17/2008, -0/+1Even better than myself!
- raindogmx, on 01/17/2008, -1/+12Exactly! Once again a fellow digger said what I wanted to say with much more clarity than I would.
- TheFinaleofSeem, on 01/17/2008, -24/+5Not really. There may well be a technical explanation for it. Can a USB port even power a DVD burner? I don't think so, but maybe I'm wrong. It could be that the MBA outputs more juice than the USB spec calls for, which means that only a MBA can power it. That's just a guess, though.
- truspect0r, on 01/17/2008, -1/+10Of course it would, my Dell CD/RW does.
- agaudet, on 01/17/2008, -7/+10Well as I work for an OEM
I can tell you that every external drive is usually powered by a usb port and then the other transfers the information
dugg down for being a noob- KaneElson, on 01/17/2008, -7/+3Well seeing as the macbook air only has one usb port :)
- TheFinaleofSeem, on 01/17/2008, -7/+2Well, pardon me, asshat. I've seen several portable DVD burners, and the only ones I've seen that were bus powered without dual USB for juice were Firewire burners. I haven't seen every portable burner out there. That's why I kinda said "maybe I'm wrong" in there.
Dugg down for being a dick.
- ophello, on 01/17/2008, -13/+4Im a mac user, and may I say...thats BS.
HOWEVER....who really needs a superdrive anyway? Dont most new laptops have them?- hexydes, on 01/17/2008, -0/+15Yes...MOST new laptops DO have them...
- xtc46, on 01/17/2008, -2/+2yea, most do, but there are other devices where this would come in handy. (like ultra mobles)
- DephexTwin, on 01/17/2008, -3/+3Yeah, if only it worked on the MacBook Air! Oh wait......
- arctic, on 01/17/2008, -9/+3Must not be a TRUE Apple fan or you'd know that the Macbook Air does NOT have one.... irony!!!
- PathDaemon, on 01/17/2008, -1/+1Don't forget multiple drives for disk cloning and simultaneous burning.
- jskistud7, on 01/17/2008, -16/+50The superdrive requires more power than a normal usb drive will put out. The macbook air's usb port was specifically made to provide the needed increase in power, thus, the superdrive only works with the macbook air. I don't see what the huge controversy is.
- afx1, on 01/17/2008, -8/+10where exactly did u read that the only reason it's tied to the mba is because the mba was specifically designed to output extra power to the device?
- eridius, on 01/17/2008, -10/+13Why are you so skeptical? Do you honestly believe Apple would intentionally cripple this device when it makes absolutely zero business sense? When has Apple ever had bad business sense? I'm sure they'd love to see the SuperDrive to everybody, it'd make them more money, so there must be some technical reason why it won't work, and jskistud7's suggestion is the most likely (it also matches an explanation given by a mac blogger, though I don't recall offhand which one).
- SteveMax, on 01/17/2008, -2/+9The cheapest MacBook doesn't have a DVD burner. This forces people who need DVD burning to go with the more expensive one, paying at least US$200 more. It makes business sense to keep getting 200 dollars more from people than to get only 100 dollars more from them.
- Eldoo77, on 01/17/2008, -4/+3In a word... "Yes".
- diggimator, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1They might be selling the SuperDrive cheaper than it would make sense except in order to promote MacBook Air. That and the special power requirements might be the reason. After all, it's their first attempt at an external burner. People who are buying a MacBook with a combo drive should have no problem buying a non-Apple external burner.
- eridius, on 01/17/2008, -10/+13Why are you so skeptical? Do you honestly believe Apple would intentionally cripple this device when it makes absolutely zero business sense? When has Apple ever had bad business sense? I'm sure they'd love to see the SuperDrive to everybody, it'd make them more money, so there must be some technical reason why it won't work, and jskistud7's suggestion is the most likely (it also matches an explanation given by a mac blogger, though I don't recall offhand which one).
- theblt, on 01/17/2008, -4/+9That's because you did your research..and not believe everything you see here on Digg.
- keyo, on 01/17/2008, -4/+10They could just use two usb cables like most portable hdds.
- BentleyGT07, on 01/17/2008, -8/+3man you are an idiot
- ers35, on 01/17/2008, -2/+4The MacBook Air only has one USB port.
- bjornski, on 01/17/2008, -0/+4@ers35
I think that's what Bentley was trying to emphasize. He's defending it.
But the rest of us are laughing at the bad idea of only building one USB port into what is basically an expensive toy.
- Elranzer, on 01/17/2008, -8/+2"The macbook air's usb port was specifically made to provide the needed increase in power"
That can't be true... otherwise it would FRY any other USB device that required power.- bjornski, on 01/17/2008, -2/+5Well, since there's only one port, it COULD detect if the superdrive is hooked up and adjust voltage accordingly.
But this also negates the possibility of using it though a hub, or using a second USB device at the same time.
That's could be inconvenient. Unless they'll sell you a special hub (for $49) that has a port set aside specifically for the superdrive.
Ka-ching
- bjornski, on 01/17/2008, -2/+5Well, since there's only one port, it COULD detect if the superdrive is hooked up and adjust voltage accordingly.
- dragon76, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1except there's only one USB port on the MBA. I don't know what the problem is with the proprietary drive. Dell laptops do something similar. One of their USB ports is a double-decker looking thing that a proprietary drive plugs into the top and bottom. Also the G4 Cube's speakers only worked correctly on the Cube or when using that generation's Studio Displays because they drew extra power.
- BentleyGT07, on 01/17/2008, -8/+3man you are an idiot
- etandrib, on 01/17/2008, -0/+2It should also work on the new iMacs since they also have high powered USB drives. But why would you buy one for those? They already have nice Super Drives.
- ghdave, on 01/17/2008, -0/+9It seems a lot like you're entirely misinformed, or at least making poor assumptions. The SuperDrive isn't anything super at all - it's just an off-shore dvd burner. You could put a notebook dvd burner in an external enclosure (likely what this is going to be) and it will run fine off of just the regular old USB 2.0 port. Gateway has one of these for their m100 series laptops (also so small they can't include an optical drive so you have to use external) and it works fine on most anything that's USB 2.0 compliant and has a compliant OS.
- dragon76, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1It was Super when Apple introduced a burner that burned CDs and all the pluses and minuses for DVDs when most DVD burners were either +r or -r and wouldn't burn CDs.
- geoken, on 01/17/2008, -1/+5Wierd how the countless, nameless Taiwanese OEMs are able to produce DVD enclosures and External drives that operate just fine off USB yet Apple is not able to do the same.
- afx1, on 01/17/2008, -8/+10where exactly did u read that the only reason it's tied to the mba is because the mba was specifically designed to output extra power to the device?
- Seidoger, on 01/17/2008, -2/+11That sucks, I wanted to get 10 of them.
You know, because none of my computers have optical drives - PathDaemon, on 01/17/2008, -0/+3One of the Mac accessory makers'll probably build an adapter for other compys with an additional USB port (and probably a hub) or an AC adapter. For like $49 (overpriced but still cheap enough that people will buy 'em). Hell, I'd want one. Maybe I'll suggest it to Griffin or something at their booth tomorrow.
- Harbinger67, on 01/17/2008, -1/+3Don't suggest that to them, suggest that they devote their resources to making the iTrip not suck so much before they take on any more burdens.
- trylleklovn, on 01/17/2008, -1/+2Pms
- postalblowfish7, on 01/17/2008, -0/+2post macworld syndrome
- keyo, on 01/17/2008, -1/+7Don't kid yourself, they have always liked having proprietary components.
- phoomp, on 01/17/2008, -3/+4Apple has always acted like this. It's just becoming more obvious as they get more attenion.
- leptons, on 01/17/2008, -3/+3If the reason the drive only works on the Air is because the Air USB port supplies more power than standards-compliant USB, then I'd have to think that Apple did so because Jobs refused to include a power jack on the Superdrive due to his design fetishes - which proves once again, apple chooses FORM OVER FUNCTION!
- barnett25, on 01/17/2008, -0/+4Who wants another wall wart?
- judgeFire, on 01/17/2008, -0/+2Form is the sum of Function + Aesthetics. Perhaps you mean Apple chose Aesthetics over Function, resulting in a displeasing (to you) Form.
- bowe, on 01/17/2008, -0/+1Sour apple.
- fluidfoundation, on 01/17/2008, -56/+15funny ha ha or funny queer?
- colincornaby, on 01/17/2008, -95/+24Of course it will only work with the Macbook Air. Normal USB ports don't push enough power to power a CD drive. The Macbook Air has a special USB port that can push enough extra power to make the CD drive work.
- The_Larch, on 01/17/2008, -9/+75What are you basing that on? There are tons of bus powered USB CD drives, and a bunch of DVD burners too.
- deadbaby, on 01/17/2008, -5/+17Don't they use TWO USB ports? (2x5v) I just checked a few sites and I don't see any drive that can run off one 5v USB port. Do you happen to have a link to such a drive?
- netdroid9, on 01/17/2008, -2/+4I've run devices that use two USB ports off the one USB port before. It's not about voltage (I think. If it was, then you'd be in deep ***** as most of these devices use standard USB-B ports
- yugiohdan6, on 01/17/2008, -3/+2Maybe the drive can run the basic usb hardware on 5.5v then the air senses to see if it's a superdrive and if it is boost the power output so that the drive itself can actually spin up.
That would make it capable of powering the superdrive without frying any other usb device connected to it.
just a thought... and of course who knows maybe apple is just saying it is only macbook air compatible so people won't go "experimenting"
- yugiohdan6, on 01/17/2008, -3/+2Maybe the drive can run the basic usb hardware on 5.5v then the air senses to see if it's a superdrive and if it is boost the power output so that the drive itself can actually spin up.
- dcmjzero, on 01/17/2008, -1/+10if you read the article, it list 3 of them that can. READ, then comment.
- LoadStar, on 01/17/2008, -5/+2You're right, dcmjzero. The article DOES reference three DVD burners that function on bus power. Of course, all three operate at half speed or slower when operating on bus power alone, and only operate at full speed when plugged into AC power.
Perhaps the MacBook Air SuperDrive uses an out-of-spec USB port to provide the drive enough amperage so that it runs at full speed without having to plug into AC power.- yugiohdan6, on 01/17/2008, -0/+4or maybe it just gives the drive the standard 5.5v at first so it can power up the usb hardware, checks to see if it's a superdrive and then boosts the power so that the full drive can spin up.
- netdroid9, on 01/17/2008, -2/+4I've run devices that use two USB ports off the one USB port before. It's not about voltage (I think. If it was, then you'd be in deep ***** as most of these devices use standard USB-B ports
- lex0nyc, on 01/17/2008, -6/+1I think the person was basing it on sarcasm. Or rather, I hope.
- deadbaby, on 01/17/2008, -5/+17Don't they use TWO USB ports? (2x5v) I just checked a few sites and I don't see any drive that can run off one 5v USB port. Do you happen to have a link to such a drive?
- Linksan, on 01/17/2008, -29/+3USB is standardized..... all USB plugs supply the same amount of power.
- valkyries, on 01/17/2008, -5/+1there are ways to draw some extra power through USB, some laptops dont like it thou.
- RadicalEdward, on 01/17/2008, -21/+8His comment makes sense, they probably have it wired up in a way to deliver extra current, cause NO optical drive is powered from one usb port except this one, all the others have power adapters.
I don't see why you guys a digging him down.- epu2, on 01/17/2008, -1/+16did you RTFA??
http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.aspx?sku=340156
http://www.freecom.com/ecproduct_detail.asp?ID=173 ...
http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.aspx?sku=329232 - faet, on 01/17/2008, -0/+12I've got the LG listed above, works with my eeepc and my dads Q1 ultra with just the 1 usb port.
- KibibyteBrain, on 01/17/2008, -1/+4I know I could really be dugg down for even suggesting this, but could it be that Apple's engineers dropped the ball and did not make a drive that could run off low current, ergo the need for a special power spec usb port being justified?
- PathDaemon, on 01/17/2008, -4/+1Maybe, but can you imagine engineers working for *Apple* forgetting to use Google and just being like "yeah, not possible" and shipping that thing accidently?? I can't.
- KibibyteBrain, on 01/17/2008, -1/+4I know I could really be dugg down for even suggesting this, but could it be that Apple's engineers dropped the ball and did not make a drive that could run off low current, ergo the need for a special power spec usb port being justified?
- oenoneablaze, on 01/17/2008, -11/+1Epu2: did _you_ RTFA? I've got the LG listed above as well, and it comes with 2 USB leads which it requires for burning, whereas Apple's accessory only needs the one. Stop spreading FUD, and just don't buy the ***** product if it doesn't work for you. Capitalism is why we have choices.
- epu2, on 01/17/2008, -1/+16did you RTFA??
- kamisama, on 01/17/2008, -6/+17USB is an industry standard Meaning it has to stay within certain specifications and or parameters.
- samadam, on 01/17/2008, -5/+1They likely have increased the available current which won't really get them in trouble as a founding member of the USB group.
- KibibyteBrain, on 01/17/2008, -0/+3I have yet to see any device that follows the USB standard strictly. For example, not many "dumb" usb chargers would work at all if the standard was held to limit to 100mA until more power was requested, but almost every USB port I have ever come across gives you the full half amp anyway.
- vandy, on 01/17/2008, -0/+2well seeing as how it doesn't work with any computer aside from one product, wouldn't that lead you to believe that perhaps it isn't following a standard and thus unavailable for standard usage? the thing is as small as they can make it, they won't design a new port just to get a dvd-drive to work. so they made it work with the current usb port, but tweaked it. doesn't work with normal usb ports, but it will with this one.
- Dylson, on 01/17/2008, -5/+1http://www.8ball.co.uk/productimages/21201-1.jpg
- HappyScrappy, on 01/17/2008, -13/+6I'm sorry you're being dugg down even though you're correct.
- dcmjzero, on 01/17/2008, -1/+3did you read the article? obviously not.
- HappyScrappy, on 01/17/2008, -1/+2I don't care whether OTHER drives can run off regular bus power. This one takes too much power for one port.
Wanna bitch it can't work on the (1A) metal iMac Port? Go ahead. But the problem here is that the drive takes too much power and so Apple doesn't support it on other Macs.
- HappyScrappy, on 01/17/2008, -1/+2I don't care whether OTHER drives can run off regular bus power. This one takes too much power for one port.
- dcmjzero, on 01/17/2008, -1/+3did you read the article? obviously not.
- rpgmaker, on 01/17/2008, -1/+4I'm sure he was being sarcastic but if he wasn't that was one of the stupidest I've ever heard on digg.
- skellener, on 01/17/2008, -0/+1How about a desktop machine like an old eMac with no DVD player? Plenty of power! This drive would have been perfect for my Mom. Damn Apple!!!!!!
- The_Larch, on 01/17/2008, -9/+75What are you basing that on? There are tons of bus powered USB CD drives, and a bunch of DVD burners too.
- clak, on 01/17/2008, -49/+14Another MacBook Air topic? For something people claim to hate so much, they sure do talk about it A LOT.
- dyranios2, on 01/17/2008, -19/+7How does how often people talk about something have anything to do with how much they like it? Idiot.
- ophello, on 01/17/2008, -1/+4boy, you showed him!
- RAEP, on 01/17/2008, -2/+5We talk about the Bush administration and their exploits quite a bit as well. You know how we adore them.
- roberto_deneero, on 01/17/2008, -3/+3No *****. These whining bitches need to shut the ***** up. Slow news day for all nerd bloggers apparently.
- dyranios2, on 01/17/2008, -19/+7How does how often people talk about something have anything to do with how much they like it? Idiot.
- brnagi, on 01/17/2008, -41/+153You have to compromise so much for this laptop.
No ethernet port : Buy an adapter from Apple
No DVD Drive : Buy iTunes movie rentals or a Apple Macbook Air Superdrive- zweben, on 01/17/2008, -32/+15It's intended to be a secondary computer for people want something compact and don't care about it having all of the ports and expandability of a full sized laptop. If getting rid of the ethernet port or an optical drive is a compromise for you, you are simply not its target audience. They make their other computers for people who want that stuff.
- Urusai, on 01/17/2008, -5/+29So, basically it's for wireless web browsing. Why do you need a full computer for something like that? Somebody should make a $200 wireless web browser tablet. Heck, even Apple.
- kamisama, on 01/17/2008, -3/+20It would be more like 1200 $ if apple makes it though.
- ncaauwe, on 01/17/2008, -2/+5It's not $200, but I think Apple already makes something like that. They call them iPhone and iPod touch.
- bjornski, on 01/17/2008, -2/+2@ncaauwe
Please don't compare those tiny screens to an actual "sit on the couch and surf for a few hours" full size readable tablet.
That's like saying that movies are just as good on an iPod as on a television.
Just.........don't.
- duccodude, on 01/17/2008, -3/+16Hell, with $1800, why not go buy a fully loaded laptop with all the bells and whistles? I don't get why people are flipping out about this thing. It is WAY too overpriced. Just my opinion...
- xtc46, on 01/17/2008, -9/+4becasue all the bells and wistles usually dont give you a 5 hour battery life and weigh 3 lbs. Their are other options for the target audiance of the air, but not in the apple world. People who use a Mac pro at home and want something portable, would find a macbook air great. The LED backlite and tiny form factor are also very nice, as is the horse power of the device. not to mention the solid state harddrive. It is a great product, and it will sell very well.
- PathDaemon, on 01/17/2008, -2/+2People digging xtc46 down, remember that more compact hardware is more expensive. This thing has a newly-released small Core 2 Duo, among who-knows-what-else. I'm sure not buying one, but it's at least kinda hot.
- suprememilo, on 01/17/2008, -2/+4cause the bells and whistles to some people is a beautiful design. . .
- Tippis, on 01/17/2008, -2/+1Because in this segment, weight, size and battery life are THE bells and whistles that determine worth. Performance and storage is secondary, because in this day and age, it's almost impossible to make those two go so low that the computer can't do its job.
- Acolyte357, on 01/18/2008, -1/+1"Because in this segment, weight, size and battery life are THE bells and whistles that determine worth."
Then buy an eeePC smaller, lighter, and you can carry and buy 3 more just in case you are worried about the battery life, for the same price as the Air
- xtc46, on 01/17/2008, -9/+4becasue all the bells and wistles usually dont give you a 5 hour battery life and weigh 3 lbs. Their are other options for the target audiance of the air, but not in the apple world. People who use a Mac pro at home and want something portable, would find a macbook air great. The LED backlite and tiny form factor are also very nice, as is the horse power of the device. not to mention the solid state harddrive. It is a great product, and it will sell very well.
- Urusai, on 01/17/2008, -5/+29So, basically it's for wireless web browsing. Why do you need a full computer for something like that? Somebody should make a $200 wireless web browser tablet. Heck, even Apple.
- TeatherWind, on 01/17/2008, -33/+28Where's the issue? When I travel, I normally don't carry DVDs with me anyways.. Miro does most of my heavy lifting. So you are saying that this doesn't have an ethernet port either? Hell.. I can't remember the last time my lappy was plugged in to an ethernet port.
- MacEnvy, on 01/17/2008, -16/+5I recently discovered that the Ethernet port on my MacBook had stopped working (removed from available ports and everything). I have no idea how long it's been broken, as it's been at least a year since I tried to use it.
In other words, an Ethernet port is largely superfluous for people like me, who have wireless (or at least EDGE/3G via Bluetooth tethering) available everywhere they go.- Protoss, on 01/17/2008, -6/+4Exactly. I have used the ethernet on my Macbook maybe 3 or 4 times total, and that was just because I didn't have an external hard drive to transfer movies over. People are just nitpicking because its an Apple product.
- Ocelot13, on 01/17/2008, -4/+25you people do realize that not everyone has wireless right? some people use their network port and prefer it.
- MacEnvy, on 01/17/2008, -7/+13Then they shouldn't buy a MacBook Air. However, that doesn't mean there isn't a market for it.
- trvr, on 01/17/2008, -3/+8And if there isn't a market for it, they will just deny it for a year and then update it; finally acknowledging that the first version was sub-par (Apple TV, anyone?)
- enicholas, on 01/17/2008, -5/+5Great. Those people probably shouldn't get a MacBook Air. Did you have a point other than that?
- MacEnvy, on 01/17/2008, -7/+13Then they shouldn't buy a MacBook Air. However, that doesn't mean there isn't a market for it.
- Hickeroar, on 01/17/2008, -2/+7Ever attempted to set up a new router without wired ethernet? :-)
- bjornski, on 01/17/2008, -1/+2This is a secondary computer.
This is a status symbol. Expect to pay a "Porsche" tax. Want it "fully loaded"? Expect to pay out the ass.
You want custom? You got custom.
- bjornski, on 01/17/2008, -1/+2This is a secondary computer.
- Twenty5, on 01/17/2008, -1/+7you are spoiled thats why....
ohh i forgot, apple fanboys are generally spoiled anyways..... so yea, you can get an Air.
- MacEnvy, on 01/17/2008, -16/+5I recently discovered that the Ethernet port on my MacBook had stopped working (removed from available ports and everything). I have no idea how long it's been broken, as it's been at least a year since I tried to use it.
- omaryak, on 01/17/2008, -5/+137You know what's really missing is the floppy drive.
- arch3r, on 01/17/2008, -2/+37Exactly. Why Apple would not include a 5 1/4" floppy is beyond me.
- GregR, on 01/17/2008, -13/+2your forgot the /sarcasm tag
- DephexTwin, on 01/17/2008, -0/+9But then the sarcasm tag would have to be encased in an obvious tag.
- FallenWings, on 01/17/2008, -1/+16***** your ancient floppy *****, I want my Iomega 100 MB Zip Drive.
- bjornski, on 01/17/2008, -1/+10...click....click.....click....
- cawpin, on 01/17/2008, -0/+1My SCSI zip drive still works perfectly.
- TennisElbow, on 01/17/2008, -0/+5How is this macbook supposed to be useful without a floppy drive? This machine makes too many compromises.
- almostadesigner, on 01/17/2008, -15/+4Seriously how many people do you see using a ethernet port on a laptop? Not many!
Optical drive would be nice. But I store my music and movies on my hard drive. Easier, saves battery life, etc.
Plus if you want all that. Buy a Macbook which cost less and capable of more. Problem solved.- fkr3, on 01/17/2008, -1/+16Given the choice between 54 megabit wireless or gigabit ethernet......... just saying if the option's available. Like it is where I'm sitting and in a whole lot of offices I've been in. Plenty of hotels have much better internet on ethernet rather than crap-signal wifi.
- sirmasterboy, on 01/17/2008, -11/+4The Air uses 802.11n ~ 300Mbit wireless so its faster than most peoples 100mbit cat5.
- fkr3, on 01/17/2008, -2/+16Yeah... all you've got to do is happen upon someone with an n-flavoured wireless network. Let me know when you find one.
- bjornski, on 01/17/2008, -0/+1@fkr3
As long as Starbucks puts them in, 95% of MBA owners will be fine.
- libradragon, on 01/17/2008, -1/+7The MBA is definitely not for the consultant. In my job, I can forget about using wifi in an office. I work with network gear, so I need ethernet. I also need serial. Ooops, now I need a USB hub --three port at least, so I can burn a CD too. Got spotty wifi/ethernet access in hotels and airports, I'll just plug in my broadband modem into the nonexistent cardslot... Hey, I can just get one of those USB broadband modems.
Now what was the point of getting a slimmed down laptop???- afx1, on 01/17/2008, -1/+6coz u can balance it on your finger, and in the process impress and win over new clients
- davepascoe, on 01/17/2008, -3/+1when was the last time you burned a CD?
oh right, you got to invent obscure conditions with multiple conditions and then ignore the very simple solutions just to make some sort of argument.
ultimately, the worst case scenario is that this is not the best laptop for your needs and you buy a macbook, macbook pro, or some other laptop.
if you need serial then why are you looking at apple laptops in the first place? just here to bitch? what's your REAL problem? - bjornski, on 01/17/2008, -0/+2@afx1
Impress them how? By showing that you can spend $800 more of your clients money on a shiny vanity piece which doesn't do as much as a more practical unit?
If you want me as a client, I don't want you to be flaunting your expensive toys to justify your fee.
- skidooer, on 01/17/2008, -1/+3Considering the purpose of this device, how often would you really need Gigabit ethernet? It's not like it's trying to take the place of the Mac(book) Pro.
- fkr3, on 01/17/2008, -0/+3I'm not arguing the necessity of gigabit ethernet, rather the obvious advantage of a gigabit port vs. a massively unsupported 300 megabit wifi connection that's going to fall back to 54 megabit anyway (for 1.5+ years). You only "need" 100/1000 megabit ethernet if you need to do stuff across a network.
- skidooer, on 01/17/2008, -0/+1"I'm not arguing the necessity of gigabit ethernet, rather the obvious advantage of a gigabit port"
My point still stands that no task that this machine is geared towards will really take advantage of even 100Mbps ethernet. You'll be lucky if you're working over a 5Mbps connection the majority of the time.
That's not to say you can't take advantage of a Gigabit ethernet connection, but if that's what you, do you're going to buy a Pro model instead.
- sirmasterboy, on 01/17/2008, -11/+4The Air uses 802.11n ~ 300Mbit wireless so its faster than most peoples 100mbit cat5.
- doctordbx, on 01/17/2008, -0/+4Well, my office is a secure environment (because they're paranoid, but that's Dubai govt. for you) and you cannot access the main network through the wireless (only internet), so YES, when in the office my notebook is plugged into the ethernet.
So you say 'well don't buy one' and I say... absolutely-dicking-right I won't.
- fkr3, on 01/17/2008, -1/+16Given the choice between 54 megabit wireless or gigabit ethernet......... just saying if the option's available. Like it is where I'm sitting and in a whole lot of offices I've been in. Plenty of hotels have much better internet on ethernet rather than crap-signal wifi.
- superkendall, on 01/17/2008, -9/+11I don't use my DVD drive when traveling either - who wants to bring discs with them that can get scratched, or lost? And of course the DVD drive is a huge power hog. That's why I simply use Handbrake to rip DVD's I would like to take along.
I don't really see compromise in anything Apple took out, they are exactly the things I just do not need when traveling.- cardboardbox, on 01/17/2008, -3/+10like a user replaceable battery?
- barnett25, on 01/17/2008, -1/+2By the time my laptop batteries die I need a new laptop anyway.
Or you could just pay $129 for a new battery and free installation.- cardboardbox, on 01/17/2008, -1/+4That's not what I meant. I meant changing the battery on the fly... and $129 isn't cheap
- davewashere, on 01/17/2008, -1/+2But when are you ever going to be without a power connection for 4 or 5 hours while using your laptop? Oh right, when traveling.
- barnett25, on 01/17/2008, -1/+2By the time my laptop batteries die I need a new laptop anyway.
- bobbyi, on 01/17/2008, -0/+4Ethernet is crucial for travel in case you end up at a hotel where you need it to access the internet. There are good hotels that don't have wirelss (e.g., the Bellagio) and even at places that have wireless, the connection can be crappy depending on where your room is.
- cardboardbox, on 01/17/2008, -3/+10like a user replaceable battery?
- TheCount, on 01/17/2008, -4/+9@TeatherWind: What funny is that some people think the way they use a computer is how everyone does (or should) use a computer. I've got a Macbook Pro I take to work sometimes, and I have to plug it into the ethernet everytime I do so to be able to get on the network and have access to the shared drives. So let's not pretend it's crazy that anyone would need an ethernet port.
- kazamx, on 01/17/2008, -2/+8As many many hotels still don't have wireless Internet, it just means that anyone who travels and has to stay in hotels won't be wanting a Macbook air,
- etandrib, on 01/17/2008, -2/+2There are adaptors that give you wireless access in those hotels such as the AirPort Express. :)
- cawpin, on 01/17/2008, -0/+4Yes, because I'll be happy to buy an overpriced router because Apple refuses to think about function before form.
- babakshirazi, on 01/17/2008, -1/+2And for many people plugging in a personal laptop at work is forbidden anyway.
- kazamx, on 01/17/2008, -2/+8As many many hotels still don't have wireless Internet, it just means that anyone who travels and has to stay in hotels won't be wanting a Macbook air,
- TechCF, on 01/17/2008, -5/+2Well, cheaper than many HP ultra portables... and they have also been known to ship without optical. Thin or ultra portable machines are never equally in performance and features as regular full size laptops.
- digggggggggg, on 01/17/2008, -9/+3There's wireless practically everywhere I go. Remember how Apple stopped including a modem with their laptops, and made it available instead as an extra dongle? Yeah? Now let's have a lengthy discussion, followed by a 100 question multiple choice exam on how these situations are similar.
- TennisElbow, on 01/17/2008, -3/+1yeah people bitched when Apple was the first to drop modems from their computers, then very quickly the industry adapted and no one missed them. Same thing happened in 1997 when Apple dropped the floppy drive. People were like, "what the *****? how is this computer supposed to be useful without a floppy drive?" Then the industry adapted, and people never missed it. In a year, people will wonder what all this ethernet port fuss was about. Good riddance ethernet port. My office, my home, and everywhere I go has wireless. I can't remember the last time I used an ethernet cable. Anyone who's like, "but my office only has wired ethernet!", you need to realize that's about to change very soon.
- flux1, on 01/17/2008, -1/+4If you think Ethernet is going to vanish as fast as 56k did and the reason will be "Because Apple said so" you need to cut back on the drugs you are taking.
- TennisElbow, on 01/17/2008, -3/+1yeah people bitched when Apple was the first to drop modems from their computers, then very quickly the industry adapted and no one missed them. Same thing happened in 1997 when Apple dropped the floppy drive. People were like, "what the *****? how is this computer supposed to be useful without a floppy drive?" Then the industry adapted, and people never missed it. In a year, people will wonder what all this ethernet port fuss was about. Good riddance ethernet port. My office, my home, and everywhere I go has wireless. I can't remember the last time I used an ethernet cable. Anyone who's like, "but my office only has wired ethernet!", you need to realize that's about to change very soon.
- Kelmon, on 01/17/2008, -1/+3The lack of an ethernet port is an issue but the lack of an optical drive is not. Sure, the ethernet port can be added via a USB adaptor but then that's it for your sole USB port. Our office (and pretty much most that I have been to) run wired networks so wireless is only really useful when traveling or at home. I can't, however, remember the last time that I needed use my SuperDrive so that I could definitely live without.
- TennisElbow, on 01/17/2008, -0/+2Ever heard of a USB hub? Great newfangled gadgets they are...they can turn 1 USB port into 4 or even 8.
- AndrewDS, on 01/17/2008, -0/+1Or 127.
- TennisElbow, on 01/17/2008, -0/+2Ever heard of a USB hub? Great newfangled gadgets they are...they can turn 1 USB port into 4 or even 8.
- imthe1, on 01/17/2008, -4/+7If this laptop is not for you, then don't buy it.
- TennisElbow, on 01/17/2008, -7/+2No ethernet port?! How am I gonna connect to 1999??
- zweben, on 01/17/2008, -32/+15It's intended to be a secondary computer for people want something compact and don't care about it having all of the ports and expandability of a full sized laptop. If getting rid of the ethernet port or an optical drive is a compromise for you, you are simply not its target audience. They make their other computers for people who want that stuff.
- rabidmonkey1, on 01/17/2008, -37/+167Wait a sec, you mean a proprietary system RESTRICTS you into eventually BUYING MORE HARDWARE?!?
NOOOOOOOOOO!!! :O
/is the end sarcasm tag even necessary here?- deadbaby, on 01/17/2008, -10/+21That theory kinda falls apart though because you can use standard USB drives (providing you supply external power) on any Mac.
- Hickeroar, on 01/17/2008, -0/+5There are several models of external USB DVD burners (dual layer as well) that don't need anything but standard USB power. LG makes an 8xDVDRWDL 24xCDRW one and it costs less than the apple superdrive.
- barnett25, on 01/17/2008, -0/+1My guess (emphasis on "guess") is that they wanted to use the same model of drive as they use in thier current laptops. It probably draws too much power for USB.
The LG drive is probably designed from the ground up for USB use.
- barnett25, on 01/17/2008, -0/+1My guess (emphasis on "guess") is that they wanted to use the same model of drive as they use in thier current laptops. It probably draws too much power for USB.
- Hickeroar, on 01/17/2008, -0/+5There are several models of external USB DVD burners (dual layer as well) that don't need anything but standard USB power. LG makes an 8xDVDRWDL 24xCDRW one and it costs less than the apple superdrive.
- s0ny, on 01/17/2008, -10/+19Apple didnt hack this so it would only work with the MBA, it just needs twice as much power than a standard USB connector has.
- Hickeroar, on 01/17/2008, -1/+9Which is retarded.... There are several models of external USB DVD burners (dual layer as well) that don't need anything but standard USB power. LG makes an 8xDVDRWDL 24xCDRW one and it costs less than the apple superdrive.
- hockey, on 01/17/2008, -1/+7IMO people are missing that point. They keep saying "they did it this way because a standard USB doesn't produce as much power" to that I say WHY does the drive need that much power to begin with? What's it doing that's so special?
- barnett25, on 01/17/2008, -0/+4OMG HIDDEN BLURAY HAX FTW!!!!!!oneoneone
- hockey, on 01/17/2008, -1/+7IMO people are missing that point. They keep saying "they did it this way because a standard USB doesn't produce as much power" to that I say WHY does the drive need that much power to begin with? What's it doing that's so special?
- Hickeroar, on 01/17/2008, -1/+9Which is retarded.... There are several models of external USB DVD burners (dual layer as well) that don't need anything but standard USB power. LG makes an 8xDVDRWDL 24xCDRW one and it costs less than the apple superdrive.
- ptFoe, on 01/17/2008, -22/+22Haha you Mac *****, you deserve it.
Apple are bigger scums than MS.- ophello, on 01/17/2008, -13/+7who cares go away
- i208khonsu, on 01/17/2008, -0/+1Tomorrow's headline: MBA Super Drive hacked to work on any Mac or PC!
- deadbaby, on 01/17/2008, -10/+21That theory kinda falls apart though because you can use standard USB drives (providing you supply external power) on any Mac.
- Scyth3, on 01/17/2008, -28/+22It works with my Asus U3S. It's a heavy powered usb port -- therefore it's a custom port.
- djsim, on 01/17/2008, -4/+45The superdrive's not even out yet. How do you have it?
- 10001110101, on 01/17/2008, -4/+12M A G I C!
- Scyth3, on 01/17/2008, -3/+18http://www.excaliberpc.com/images/582222_8/huge.jp ...
It's the same internals. Asus makes all the components (heh, don't believe me -- check out google) for the Apple laptops, and that is the same "SuperDrive" I purchased for my ultralight, is called a superdrive, and the apple version just features no indention. It also cost me same price, and has a custom USB port for it.- 0ceanic, on 01/17/2008, -0/+4i take that digg down back.
- Scyth3, on 01/17/2008, -1/+4Here's how it hooks in, with no extra cables: http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1272/1462368025_fc8 ...
- slashbot, on 01/17/2008, -7/+8I call shenanigans on that claim
- djsim, on 01/17/2008, -4/+45The superdrive's not even out yet. How do you have it?
- deadbaby, on 01/17/2008, -22/+309There may be a good reason for it. We'll have to wait and see. The most obvious reason is it may not be a standard USB device due to power requirements. I'm not sure how they can spin a disk at 24X and power a laser off 5V. All the slim DVD burners I see on newegg use two USB connectors (2x5V) If Apple had to jigger with USB power specs to make it run off one port then obviously it's not going to work in a standard USB port. That being said, you are the consumer... if you don't like it, don't buy it. There are alternatives.
- TremorX, on 01/17/2008, -22/+35Digg, much like any other Protestant church, doesn't want to hear your logic and reason, instead opting to keep on raging against the Demon of the Week. But, yes, you're absolutely right.
- bigsteve, on 01/17/2008, -6/+14Um, NO TremorX. It's obvious that Apple are either idiots, or are greedy. Us diggers are so smart, we know all kinds of stuff that the successful Fortune 500 Apple doesn't. We gotta let them know.
- TxAggie08, on 01/17/2008, -15/+11The militant anti-christian ***** on digg is getting a little old.
- playaj20008, on 01/17/2008, -8/+3Christianity, and all religion for that matter, is getting a little old.
- mypreciousss, on 01/17/2008, -7/+2Your face is getting a little old.
- arbulus, on 01/17/2008, -5/+10furthermore, it probably has a keyed connector, like the Apple keyboard's USB extension - it can ONLY work with Apple keyboards.
- barnett25, on 01/17/2008, -0/+2I hope so. I wouldn't want people hooking it up to regular USB ports that are not designed to provide the required power output.
- kent1146, on 01/17/2008, -20/+9Deadbaby-
I am sorry, but your comments ring of unpragmatic, unreasonable Apple fanboy-ism. XYZ that sucks? Wait and see! There may be a good reason for it!!! If you don't like Apple's thinking, then don't buy it!
You fanboys can't ever just come out and say that an idea sucks. No optical drive... sucks. Limited 3rd party support for your hardware... sucks...
If this was ANY other company.... Logitech, Creative, Microsoft... you guys would have (and have) torn these people apart. But once you mention Apple, you start waving the white flag of "Oh, wait.. give these guys a chance."
That's right.... /diggmedown for speaking the truth.- gmprunner, on 01/17/2008, -2/+6It's funny how everyone is now saying that having no optical drive sucks, when just like a month ago, amidst rumors of an optical-drive-less Apple notebook, everyone was saying how they never use it and don't want it anyway.
- TheFinaleofSeem, on 01/17/2008, -3/+8Or maybe, just maybe, his words are making sense, and you choose to ignore them because you're too busy ranting about "fanboys".
- ophello, on 01/17/2008, -2/+4when i read your post i imagined a retarted 13 year old screaming it. was i close?
- shaka999, on 01/17/2008, -0/+28Give me enough current and I'll move the world with one 5V.
- adventuresof, on 01/17/2008, -5/+7USB connectors only give you 500ma.
- TheUngod, on 01/17/2008, -0/+5I think you missed his point...
- adventuresof, on 01/17/2008, -5/+7USB connectors only give you 500ma.
- AnotherBrian, on 01/17/2008, -3/+2You're right about the power requirements here. Apple's drive could potentially burn out a cheaply engineered USB port if it attempted to draw more than 500mA and they would be rightly blamed and could be held accountable for it.
What they should have done is put a small switch on the drive that would put it in low power mode (perhaps restricted to 4x or less speed) so it could play nice with other laptops. - Icetype, on 01/17/2008, -0/+1Somebody with a MacBook Air (or nearby Apple store) tell me the mA rating of the USB on there.
Apple --> About this Mac --> More Info --> USB
My G4 Tower has 500 mA per port.- bigsteve, on 01/17/2008, -0/+1They aren't out yet.
- gmprunner, on 01/18/2008, -1/+1That's probably why he mentioned the Apple Store.
- bigsteve, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1They aren't there either.
- gmprunner, on 01/18/2008, -1/+1That's probably why he mentioned the Apple Store.
- bigsteve, on 01/17/2008, -0/+1They aren't out yet.
- mrferg, on 01/17/2008, -0/+1Well my Latitude D400 has an external optical drive with a special USB connector which only works on this particular system. So as much as I like to rail on Apple this design is perfectly acceptable.
- HarleyQuinn, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1The drive will most likely WORK with any device using a 2 USB to to 1 adapter or powered USB hub. Hell, I can not even use my WD Portable HDD with my older Powerbook, not enough power to spin-up the drive. Worse case you can probably fabricate an external in-line power source.
It is all about the power with this.
- TremorX, on 01/17/2008, -22/+35Digg, much like any other Protestant church, doesn't want to hear your logic and reason, instead opting to keep on raging against the Demon of the Week. But, yes, you're absolutely right.
- slashbot, on 01/17/2008, -18/+9The answer is simple.
More money for Apple!- rooskie, on 01/17/2008, -2/+2Less people can use it. Less money for Apple. Seems like there's a good reason behind this.
- bjornski, on 01/17/2008, -0/+1Mac users keep comparing their computers to Porsches.
The analogy fits here also. There aren't as many Porsches on the road either, but they make it up by being expensive.
- bjornski, on 01/17/2008, -0/+1Mac users keep comparing their computers to Porsches.
- rooskie, on 01/17/2008, -2/+2Less people can use it. Less money for Apple. Seems like there's a good reason behind this.
- streetlamp, on 01/17/2008, -46/+240Why would you want to use it anyway if you dont have a macbook air?
God damn you people like to whine.- saucedmike, on 01/17/2008, -5/+37touche salesman
- WhiteIce89, on 01/17/2008, -13/+7It's not about that. If you're paying $100 for an external DVD drive you should be able to use it with any device you like. There are way cheaper solutions out there that aren't selective as to what system they're used with.
- Devrdander, on 01/17/2008, -0/+16Then buy the cheaper solution!
- streetlamp, on 01/17/2008, -3/+9Yea, so go buy one of those. WHY IS THIS A BIG DEAL!? Apple made a accessory for a specific product, they obviously never intended for it to be used with anything else. Go buy another external dvd drive that fits your needs, dont go around complaining that every single thing wont work for you. Boo hoo.
- WhiteIce89, on 01/17/2008, -9/+6Just because it doesn't affect you or me doesn't mean it isn't a shoddy business practice. Apple needs to cut this exclusivity bullsh*t out.
- Protoss, on 01/17/2008, -3/+6It's not exclusivity ***** (you can cuss here!), its a simple matter that they cannot power the device off a regular USB port, so they had to give the MBA USB port more juice to power this, therefore, it will only work out-of-box on the MBA.
- bjornski, on 01/17/2008, -0/+2@Protoss
So they make it non-standard, and expensive.
I guess you're right.
But their NEW machines will have that option! Come to your Apple store today!
- bjornski, on 01/17/2008, -0/+3"Hi guys, sorry I'm late for the meeting. I've got the data here on my MBA, but I had to leave in a hurry. Anyone got a DVD burner? No, Bob, I mean an APPLE DVD burner....."
- WhiteIce89, on 01/17/2008, -9/+6Just because it doesn't affect you or me doesn't mean it isn't a shoddy business practice. Apple needs to cut this exclusivity bullsh*t out.
- brian1442, on 01/17/2008, -1/+5If there are way cheaper solutions that aren't selective as to what system they're used with, then why don't you just vote with your wallet and buy one of those way cheaper solutions?
- pfranz, on 01/17/2008, -8/+3Steve Jobs mentioned CDrom sharing over a network (for installing apps and such). What if I bought an AirPort Extreme and wanted to plug it in there so I don't need a desktop computer (or something similar)? Then I could just grab the cdrom drive if I needed it for a trip or something. Things change, and adaptability is nice. Especially if you're going to pay $100 for something that's hot swappable.
- superkendall, on 01/17/2008, -2/+5What are you talking about. The original point was - who needs this external DVD drive besides Air users? All other Macbooks come with DVD drives after all, as do pretty all Windows laptops I know of. So why do you need it? An Air user can buy one, other laptop users have no reason to own one.
- 74YLOR3k, on 01/17/2008, -1/+1do you mean share the external superdrive in a fashion similiar to how the new basestations share printers, storage etc.?
I think that is probably the best idea i have heard in a while. I would imagine the capability is there since you are basically doing the same thing with remote disc.- xtc46, on 01/17/2008, -0/+2but why would you want to? you need to walk over to the drive to put a cd in, why not just plug the damn thing into your laptop while you are there. Printers and storage are a different story. Storage usually doesn't need to move, and printers typically stay in one place due to size, and are used by multiple computers and users. this thing is tine so it can stay in the bag with your laptop. so unless you have 2 or more people with the macbook air it being able to attach to airport would be pointless
- 74YLOR3k, on 01/19/2008, -0/+1I was definitely speaking of a situation where you would have multiple air users, should have clarified
- xtc46, on 01/17/2008, -0/+2but why would you want to? you need to walk over to the drive to put a cd in, why not just plug the damn thing into your laptop while you are there. Printers and storage are a different story. Storage usually doesn't need to move, and printers typically stay in one place due to size, and are used by multiple computers and users. this thing is tine so it can stay in the bag with your laptop. so unless you have 2 or more people with the macbook air it being able to attach to airport would be pointless
- nekaidesigns, on 01/17/2008, -0/+1The problem is that the AE just doesn't put enough power to the USB port. it doesn't matter whose external optical drive you use, it's just never going to work.
- dcmjzero, on 01/17/2008, -0/+8my notebook (fujitsu p1610) doesn't have an optical drive either. i was thinking about picking one of these up.
- Urkel, on 01/17/2008, -2/+6How about plugging it into the AppleTV so you can play upconverted DVD's? (or adding in "Remote Disk" technology to AppleTV?)
Obviously Apple won't allow either of those options just yet. But the point is that we're consumers and not Apple employees. So if we want something to change then we have to "whine" so that we get heard. So why tell fellow consumers to shut up just for wanting to see products reach their full potential?- CalgaryTechGuy, on 01/17/2008, -2/+1I'm sorry but I'm not sure that Steve monitors these comments. Sure we would like products to be better, but a lot of the "whining" on here is just whining. As soon as Apple or Linux is mentioned here, the microsofties are all over it. As far as not telling "fellow consumers to shut up for wanting to see products reach their full potential", I agree. With that in mind, I would like to see a version of windows that is secure, doesn't have more bugs than the previous release, and does not pander to the MPAA and RIAA interests.
- Chirp08, on 01/17/2008, -0/+2that would defeat the purpose of renting dvd releases via itunes, that would kill their initiative, why would you even suggest that?
- Urkel, on 01/17/2008, -0/+0I dared to "suggest that" because as consumers we're supposed to worry about our own needs. Not the needs of a billion dollar companies rising profits. Your response is EXACTLY what's wrong with consumers today. Why would I suggest that? More like, why would you take the side of a corporation over the customer?
Wake up. You aren't an Apple employee. That is why you don't get paid by them.
- Urkel, on 01/17/2008, -0/+0I dared to "suggest that" because as consumers we're supposed to worry about our own needs. Not the needs of a billion dollar companies rising profits. Your response is EXACTLY what's wrong with consumers today. Why would I suggest that? More like, why would you take the side of a corporation over the customer?
- TheCount, on 01/17/2008, -0/+4Because people are apparently hard pressed to find a dvd burner, for 99 bucks, that's so compact and thought Apple had slipped up enough only to find out Apple doesn't ***** around.
- kazamx, on 01/17/2008, -1/+4Your right they didn't. If they had produced this DVD drive and let it work rather than locking it down, they could have made a ***** load of extra cash for no effort. But I guess in your world making loads of extra money would be a ***** up.
- bjornski, on 01/17/2008, -1/+2Again, Mac owners compare their machines to Porsches.
They aren't designed to sell in mass numbers. They're designed to only sell a few, to the few devoted who will pay the iTax for them.
- bjornski, on 01/17/2008, -1/+2Again, Mac owners compare their machines to Porsches.
- Chirp08, on 01/17/2008, -1/+1Apple isn't in the business of selling optical drives, the "*****" of cash would probably be nonexistent. I'd actually think they are losing money on this, in fact I wouldn't be surprised if you pay money towards the drive when you buy the macbook air without knowing it. (charge 1800 vs. 1700 for hte macbook air, sell the drive for 100 instead off 200) = profit, since not everyone will get the drive.
- cawpin, on 01/17/2008, -0/+1Actually, Apple is in the business of selling ANY hardware and that include optical drives.
- TennisElbow, on 01/17/2008, -0/+2Apple's external superdrive gets all of its power from the USB port on the macbook air, no need to plug it into the wall. I'm sure that's why it doesn't work with anything other than the macbook air. The other macs probably don't have enough power running to the USB port to drive it.
- kazamx, on 01/17/2008, -1/+4Your right they didn't. If they had produced this DVD drive and let it work rather than locking it down, they could have made a ***** load of extra cash for no effort. But I guess in your world making loads of extra money would be a ***** up.
- Chirp08, on 01/17/2008, -2/+3yeah um, wtf is everyone complaining about. EVERY OTHER LAPTOP/PC THEY OFFER HAS AN OPTICAL DRIVE. thats why it "only" works with the macbook air, because they don't need it to work with anything else. They aren't trying to sell optical drives to pc users. get over yourselves, I swear you guys rip apple apart for every ***** decision they make without ever thinking about the marketing or business side of things. Microsoft might catch a lot of crap, but its never nit-pick ***** like this. Don't like it? Don't buy it, end of story, but nobody wants to hear you bitch about it.
- bjornski, on 01/17/2008, -1/+1You're right.
Once they've got you locked into your "must have" toy, they can charge you a premium on the extras.- MrMish, on 01/17/2008, -1/+0No one is forcing you to use Apple's burner, besides $99 is hardly a "premium"
- cawpin, on 01/17/2008, -0/+1Yeah, they don't need to so we shouldn't want to. That is the dumbest comment on this story.
- bjornski, on 01/17/2008, -1/+1You're right.
- SpiceWare, on 01/17/2008, -1/+1because my iMac G5's superdrive is slower and can only burn single layer media.
- magicaltrevor, on 01/17/2008, -1/+2It's a portable DL DVD burner for $99, that would look great sat next to my Macbook. That's why I want one...
- k3n5, on 01/21/2008, -0/+0duh, obviously because not all of us have macbooks with a superdrive. Such as with me, i bought the base model with a combo-drive.
Simple really.
- sdlvx, on 01/17/2008, -14/+8There is no good reason for this. Even if one USB port is not powerful enough to power an external optical drive, it's Apple's fault for only putting one on there. The Mac Book Air is just poorly designed, get over it. It's a 3,000 dollar secondary laptop, meaning, it doesn't even have the functionality of a normal laptop.
And does it really matter? Five years from now, they'll probably all be that small, and not be so feature deprived.- jptolife, on 01/17/2008, -4/+4Live in the present friend. The fact is that the Air is the thinnest one. If it is too overpriced for you then let it pass by but don't hate on it. just let it go.
- KaneElson, on 01/17/2008, -0/+4http://www.sizeasy.com/page/size_comparison/9296-M ...
Look how thin it is .. like litteraly crap all thinner than my x31. Then the footprint is so much bigger being a 13.3" rather than the 11" tz they where comparing it to. They skewed it so much.
The tz even comes with an optical drive and ethernet and everything. I know which one is more usefull for me.
- KaneElson, on 01/17/2008, -0/+4http://www.sizeasy.com/page/size_comparison/9296-M ...
- utahnkid, on 01/17/2008, -2/+2Considering you had absolutely NOTHING to do with the engineering of this computer or drive (or any computer product for that matter) you seem pretty confident about something you know NOTHING about. And if you really just tried to use the argument that a present day computer product is worthless because it will be outdated in 5 years... Then I don't know what to say because I just typed out like 7 insults and none of them came close to explaining how asinine I think your logic is.
- bjornski, on 01/17/2008, -0/+1Ad hominem, you didn't say a thing about what you find faulty with his logic.
"Use your anger.....Yes. Feel it flow through you......"- utahnkid, on 01/17/2008, -2/+1Sooo do you grow out of the Simpsons at 50? Cuz the passion is obviously still strong at 40. And I'm not going to waste everyones time with a twice as long comment about the details of whats wrong with that logic. I would assume anyone reading it would understand pretty well (probably why the guys comment is now -8) Tell mom hi for me when you go upstairs..
- bjornski, on 01/17/2008, -0/+1Ad hominem, you didn't say a thing about what you find faulty with his logic.
- utahnkid, on 01/17/2008, -2/+1And I just clicked on your name... The entire first page is comments from you bashing Apple products.. Get a life
- jptolife, on 01/17/2008, -4/+4Live in the present friend. The fact is that the Air is the thinnest one. If it is too overpriced for you then let it pass by but don't hate on it. just let it go.
- lukak, on 01/17/2008, -15/+7oh god. diggers be going crazy over this.
- bigsteve, on 01/17/2008, -3/+4Especially since there's an obvious and good explanation that only about 1 in 30 will read further into and then go "Oh. That's why. Moving right along..."
- theblt, on 01/17/2008, -1/+15 volts
- bigsteve, on 01/17/2008, -0/+1...right. Higher amperage, but yes, 5v.
- theblt, on 01/17/2008, -1/+15 volts
- bigsteve, on 01/17/2008, -3/+4Especially since there's an obvious and good explanation that only about 1 in 30 will read further into and then go "Oh. That's why. Moving right along..."
- Malchus89, on 01/17/2008, -19/+7It seems to me that Apple caught "The Microsoft"...
Is no-one Immune?
We need the antidote....- r3negadeX, on 08/11/2008, -0/+7You pathetic Apple scum...you couldn't *just* bash Apple without having to bash Microsoft too, could you?
- Malchus89, on 01/17/2008, -4/+1nope...cause I use Microsoft...exclusively....they made me that way.
- bjornski, on 01/17/2008, -0/+3What expensive, proprietary hardware has Microsoft forced you to buy to use their OS on their latest laptop?
Comparing Apple and Microsoft in this topic is absolutely apple and oranges. This is a hardware discussion, not operating system.
- r3negadeX, on 08/11/2008, -0/+7You pathetic Apple scum...you couldn't *just* bash Apple without having to bash Microsoft too, could you?
- darkphan, on 01/17/2008, -23/+41Why is this a big deal?
- digggggggggg, on 01/17/2008, -4/+14EXACTLY! I just can't believe how many of the posters on Digg have been acting lately. I mean, if you don't like their Superdrive, then get another USB DVD writer for less. It says that the MBA's superdrive can only be used with the MBA, not that the MBA can only use the one that Apple designed for it.
Every time I come on Digg it's more articles hating on the macbook air; about how it's expensive, worse than the Eeepc, or how Apple "fanbois" will buy it just because of its looks. I think it's time for all of us to just take a chill pill and leave it at this: If you don't like the MBA, don't buy it. Simple as that. Ugh.- timusca, on 01/17/2008, -0/+5lol, he said chill pill
- kazamx, on 01/17/2008, -3/+3Its just sad to see Apple going down this route. It just seems that Steve has now decided that unless he specificaly OKs every single function, it will not work. The more you look at Apple the more I just see a company that is only interested in total control.
- CNAIF, on 01/17/2008, -1/+1It's a big deal because Apple has gone from function to fashion, complete with expensive accessories.
- darkphan, on 01/17/2008, -0/+1It says that the macbook air superdrive only works with the macbook air... not that you can not use any other external usb drive with it. You people are making an issue out of nothing.
- Urkel, on 01/17/2008, -0/+1It's a big deal because Apple's troubles in the past were partially due to the fact that they've been so proprietary with their hardware. Things have changed and the success Apple has came after they decided to be compliant with the rest of the industry.
So to see them take a simple USB device and make it proprietary can be viewed as a shift in their mentality. These guys are doing incredible now so it wouldn't shock anyone to see them go back to their old ways.
- digggggggggg, on 01/17/2008, -4/+14EXACTLY! I just can't believe how many of the posters on Digg have been acting lately. I mean, if you don't like their Superdrive, then get another USB DVD writer for less. It says that the MBA's superdrive can only be used with the MBA, not that the MBA can only use the one that Apple designed for it.
- Crath, on 01/17/2008, -4/+91Answer. Buy another brand of external drive.
- smrekar, on 01/17/2008, -2/+8Third Party DVD Burners do not always play nice with apple iLife, however, they tend to work well with the pro apps.
One thought is the fact that most Mac Laptops to my knowledge cannot boot to USB, there is something on the software/EFI of the mac. I have an external drive at work for a backup and it is FW400, FW800 and USB2 and it boots fine in FireWire, but nothing else. I have tried it on my Mac Pro at work and My Powerbook at home. it doesnt even show up as a boot option when running USB.- jonahan52, on 01/17/2008, -0/+2Uhh Intel Macs do boot USB. I installed leopard from my iPod 5th gen.
- bjornski, on 01/17/2008, -1/+1"That's some good design work there, Lou...."
- gstep, on 01/17/2008, -0/+2Anyone sold out enough to buy the MacBook Air will have no problem dropping another 100 bucks for a pretty Apple designed drive.
- smrekar, on 01/17/2008, -2/+8Third Party DVD Burners do not always play nice with apple iLife, however, they tend to work well with the pro apps.
- benitojuarez, on 01/17/2008, -19/+14For some reason? It's Apple. They've always maintained iron fisted nazi like control over their hardware. I'm suprised that you're suprised.
- JoeDiggsIt, on 01/17/2008, -33/+47Apple has been sopping on the failsauce with the Air.
- Cybie, on 01/17/2008, -6/+42Someone explain to me why'd you WANT to use the MBA's drive on a PC when there are probably other USB burners available cheaper. That said, I agree w/deadbaby about the power issue.
- bigsteve, on 01/17/2008, -3/+10If I were to buy a MBAir and were then to additionally buy this drive, and then encountered while out in the field someone who needed data backed up but didn't have a DVD burner, this would come in very handy.
I'm just hoping it has a standard connector, like a USB type C, so that the dual-USB cable that came with my drive enclosure and provides double power works on it too. It'd be nice if it didn't perform any hard tests to make sure it's connecting to a MBAir, but if it did, I wouldn't be surprised. - MrFancy, on 01/17/2008, -1/+0Good point
- kazamx, on 01/17/2008, -0/+6I have an eeePC, If I bought a macbbok Air and this drive I would like it to work with my eeepc too. Buying 2 extrnal DVD drives seems silly.
- bjornski, on 01/17/2008, -3/+1If you have a MBA, it's pretty much assumed you have a home/office Mac also. It almost requires it.
- cawpin, on 01/17/2008, -0/+4.....and the drive won't work with those either.
- bjornski, on 01/17/2008, -3/+1If you have a MBA, it's pretty much assumed you have a home/office Mac also. It almost requires it.
- bigsteve, on 01/17/2008, -3/+10If I were to buy a MBAir and were then to additionally buy this drive, and then encountered while out in the field someone who needed data backed up but didn't have a DVD burner, this would come in very handy.
- ZeroOrDie, on 01/17/2008, -18/+96Really? I DON'T GIVE A *****.
- duccodude, on 01/17/2008, -11/+17I'm really getting tired of all this buzz about the MBA. Overpriced piece of *****, really.
- jptolife, on 01/17/2008, -12/+6Speak for yourself. If it is too overpriced for you just shut the ***** up and stop whining like a little bitch.
- agaudet, on 01/17/2008, -2/+11ok
overpriced for the hardware provided according to the industry standard prices
bitch
go suck on steve jobs dick - TheReport, on 01/17/2008, -2/+1I know how you feel jptolife all of these pansies are constantly told like 4 year olds to ignore or turn off the apple topic if they do not want to see this, yet like morons they continue to come here and whine like idiots that they are tired of seeing stories about the Macbook Air...At this point I think its safe to say they enjoy coming to apple threads and whining cause they just want to see their utter disbelief that something like the Macbook Air would still be hitting the front page.
Check your ego at the door or turn off the Apple topic, simple as that.
- agaudet, on 01/17/2008, -2/+11ok
- xtc46, on 01/17/2008, -6/+6@agaudet
can you find me another 3 lb notebook, with LED backlit LCD, 2 GB of RAM, dualcore processor, webcam, 802.11n, and a 5 hour battery life...oh and a multi touch touchpad...and solid state hard disk
I searched but couldn't find one at all, let alone for that price. 1800-3000 bucks is about right for this size/weight laptop and is on par with sony's. You can find cheaper, but they aren't as powerful (nor sleek looking)- Chakat, on 01/17/2008, -4/+5Can you find me a macbook tablet? Every company makes sacrifices for their product line. It's just that apple's sacrifices, such as a non-replaceable battery, and PATA, don't make much sense for most laptop users.
- repmekevets, on 01/17/2008, -1/+1can you learn how to use the reply button?
- jptolife, on 01/17/2008, -12/+6Speak for yourself. If it is too overpriced for you just shut the ***** up and stop whining like a little bitch.
- Dylson, on 01/17/2008, -2/+7Thank you for putting it perfectly for all of us.
- duccodude, on 01/17/2008, -11/+17I'm really getting tired of all this buzz about the MBA. Overpriced piece of *****, really.
- Skidmark66, on 01/17/2008, -11/+3was wonderin bout this, i would like one for my cd burn only macbook, but, meh, i guess being innovative does not incline one to be generous
- scottsolo, on 01/17/2008, -3/+14doi we heard about this from engadget a few hours after macworld
- nekaidesigns, on 01/17/2008, -0/+3dugg for using "doi"
- nshady, on 01/17/2008, -11/+14This is just stupid. How appropriate that the Air has turned out be a lightweight. I was holding off buying my new laptop until Macworld in case they redid all the lines, but now I find myself in the same place I was before the event - wanting a MacBook Pro.
- Vector713, on 01/17/2008, -0/+2I'd recommend it. I've had the Santa Rosa MBP since it came out in June, and I adore it.
I still have Tiger though.. at least now you'll get Leopard :) - eleven, on 01/17/2008, -0/+1Bought my MBP pro yesterday - was hoping for a refresh but I'm really happy with the 2.2GHz one that I got.
- Hickeroar, on 01/17/2008, -0/+1Sounds like a good reason to buy one. :)
- babakshirazi, on 01/17/2008, -1/+4well get a macbook pro skippy. what's the problem?
- nshady, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1Well, it's a little more complicated than I initially suggested, but with a change of lifestyle I'm now tossing up ditching the laptop in favour of a desktop machine, and I can't decide whether to pay the extra money - a lot of extra money, really - for the less powerful but more portable laptop, or just get an iMac.
- Vector713, on 01/17/2008, -0/+2I'd recommend it. I've had the Santa Rosa MBP since it came out in June, and I adore it.
- tsunami643, on 01/17/2008, -12/+9Thanks for telling me that this sucks in the description. I wouldn't have really known if it sucked or not otherwise.
- cledet, on 01/17/2008, -7/+3I think somone will find a way to use it on other machines.
- bigsteve, on 01/17/2008, -5/+4Yea if they graft a power adapter into it, or if it uses a standard USB connection and someone has a dual-headed USB cable from a 2.5" enclosure. Then yea. BECAUSE IT'S A POWER ISSUE.
- fejorca, on 01/17/2008, -14/+8I'm very tired of apple, every year they announce a new product that will be revolutionary and change the world as we know it (let's face it, the only revlution was the ipod, nothing more) and they show a few gadgets, I was a big mac fan but since a problem with my macbook I go back to my trusty custom build computer and the world runs windows, apple needs new fresh ideas, not stealing from others.
- glialisback, on 01/17/2008, -5/+6Yeah that whole iPhone thing didn't go over at all....
- CarzorStelatis, on 01/17/2008, -0/+3Erm... the iPhone has tanked everywhere that isn't the US.
- babakshirazi, on 01/17/2008, -5/+3Dude, I think you are in a parallel universe.
- glialisback, on 01/17/2008, -5/+6Yeah that whole iPhone thing didn't go over at all....
- kru1e, on 01/17/2008, -11/+3*****, apple also list the requirements for an apple keyboard as a mac, I am using it with my PC
- cohagen, on 01/17/2008, -1/+2you... you bastard!
- bjornski, on 01/17/2008, -1/+1Damn Windows will run anything you throw at it, won't it?
With as much as Microsoft hates Apple, shouldn't they be blocking it or something? /sarc (wonder if an
