Apple and Macs: New products, iMacs, iWork, iLife

[Murph]

Even the Pope uses an iPad.

[fanatic]

Would you guys recommend upgrading a 15" macbook pro to a high-res screen (glossy)?

I'm thinking the high-res could be nice for photo editing (which I'm not a pro at mind you). Otherwise, it's just going to be our main computer for normal stuff.

[dbdynsty25]

The MacBook pros are fantastic. I love Mac laptops. Little pricey, but they are legit for what they offer in terms of performance and usability. As long as you're not doing a ton of 3d gaming (OOTP works great, lol).

[fanatic]

The MacBook pros are fantastic. I love Mac laptops. Little pricey, but they are legit for what they offer in terms of performance and usability. As long as you're not doing a ton of 3d gaming (OOTP works great, lol).

Thanks db...did you upgrade to the high-res (1680 x 1050) screen? Does it make text too small for you?

I have a feeling I'll prefer the "pop" of a glossy screen - but I know a lot of people love the matte. I'll be using it mostly inside my house, so glare shouldn't be a huge problem.

[dbdynsty25]

The MacBook pros are fantastic. I love Mac laptops. Little pricey, but they are legit for what they offer in terms of performance and usability. As long as you're not doing a ton of 3d gaming (OOTP works great, lol).

Thanks db...did you upgrade to the high-res (1680 x 1050) screen? Does it make text too small for you?

I have a feeling I'll prefer the "pop" of a glossy screen - but I know a lot of people love the matte. I'll be using it mostly inside my house, so glare shouldn't be a huge problem.

No, I've only got the 13" for portability and they didn't offer the upgraded res at the time, or I'd have bought it...and its glossy as well. Back when I bought mine it was significantly more to get the matte screen and I didn't spring for that (was already 1700 bucks, w/ upgraded processor/memory). So I probably would go matte if I did it again, but most real photo editors prefer glossy. It doesn't degrade the picture as much, so if your main reason for going Apple is pictures, stick with glossy.

[fanatic]

So I probably would go matte if I did it again, but most real photo editors prefer glossy. It doesn't degrade the picture as much, so if your main reason for going Apple is pictures, stick with glossy.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking...thanks for the reassurance.

[wco81]

Other option would be an external monitor. You not only get a higher resolution display but you can span across for extended desktop.

Rumors of new MacBook Airs soon. The 13-inch one has the same resolution as the standard 15-inch MBP. Of course, it doesn't come with nearly as much storage but it's an SSD.

If you're using it mostly at home, then the Airs don't offer as much advantage. Otherwise, you wouldn't think a couple of pounds would make that big a difference but they do.

[fanatic]

Other option would be an external monitor. You not only get a higher resolution display but you can span across for extended desktop.

Rumors of new MacBook Airs soon. The 13-inch one has the same resolution as the standard 15-inch MBP. Of course, it doesn't come with nearly as much storage but it's an SSD.

If you're using it mostly at home, then the Airs don't offer as much advantage. Otherwise, you wouldn't think a couple of pounds would make that big a difference but they do.

The external monitor is a good option for sure....I figure I will give my photo editing a shot w/o it and then see how it goes.

[wco81]

Also, if you're mostly using it at a desk, an iMac will get you a lot more bang for the buck -- faster, bigger display, more storage, lower price.

The lower 27-inch iMac at $1799 is the same starting price as the 15-inch MBP.

[fanatic]

Also, if you're mostly using it at a desk, an iMac will get you a lot more bang for the buck -- faster, bigger display, more storage, lower price.

The lower 27-inch iMac at $1799 is the same starting price as the 15-inch MBP.

That's the dilemma at the moment! Trying to figure out work space options at home....

[dbdynsty25]

Also, if you're mostly using it at a desk, an iMac will get you a lot more bang for the buck -- faster, bigger display, more storage, lower price.

The lower 27-inch iMac at $1799 is the same starting price as the 15-inch MBP.

That's the dilemma at the moment! Trying to figure out work space options at home....

But if you're buying a desktop...get a PC. That iMac w/ the 27 is essentially $500 more than a comparable PC. That's where I disagree wholeheartedly with the Apple fan-boys.

[Rodster]

But if you're buying a desktop...get a PC. That iMac w/ the 27 is essentially $500 more than a comparable PC. That's where I disagree wholeheartedly with the Apple fan-boys.

[wco81]

Price a 27-inch screen with that kind of resolution and viewing angle quality.

Screens like that are about $1000 by themselves.

[Rodster]

Does the iMac use IPS screens? If so you're right that's a good deal if not you can find a better deal like db said. OTOH i've said it countless times, the iMac offers the better value when buying a Mac.

[wco81]

Does the iMac use IPS screens? If so you're right that's a good deal if not you can find a better deal like db said. OTOH i've said it countless times, the iMac offers the better value when buying a Mac.

http://www.apple.com/imac/features.html

Now you can get an HP TouchSmart with same CPU (but not sure how the GPUs compare) for less money.

The HP only has a 23-inch 1080p screen, probably not IPS, compared to the 27-inch higher resolution screen. But you can get a TV tuner and Blu-Ray as well.

Obviously software differences. Besides the different OSes, iMac comes with iPhoto, which gets good reviews as a beginner photo editing and photo library program. Not sure what's bundled with Windows 7 for photo editing/management. Adobe Light Room, a more advanced photo editing program, is available for both Mac and Windows. There is also Aperture for Mac, which is $200 at retail (which is about what Light Room costs) or $80 through the Mac App. Store (download).

[greggsand]

Anyone upgrade to Lion yet?

[JRod]

Yes...

Here's my quick run down.

Full screen apps have their own desktop/spaces. So you can have safari full screen, mail full screen and not have 37 windows open. I think it only creates a space in full screen.

Mail has been enhanced and I like it for the most part.

Safari seems speedier.

Gestures - well they changed them and not it's really hard for me to move around. They also want you so scroll like you are moving around the screen in real orientation... that's going to take some getting used to.

I don't know about much more because I haven't dived into it. Working on other things.

[dbdynsty25]

Finally...easy networking with a windows 7 PC!!!!! It's always been a pain in the ass to share folders and stuff across multiple platforms. Finally, if you're on the same network, it just connects automatically! Muuuuuch better. Good job Lion.

[greggsand]

upgraded today, too. ok. the whole 'reverse scrolling' concept is a nice a mental exercise as I continually go the wrong way on first try. probably my first 'first day upgrade' of any OS where I didn't roll back about an hour later & wait a month for patches. the right price, too!!

[dbdynsty25]

upgraded today, too. ok. the whole 'reverse scrolling' concept is a nice a mental exercise as I continually go the wrong way on first try. probably my first 'first day upgrade' of any OS where I didn't roll back about an hour later & wait a month for patches. the right price, too!!

You can always just switch it back to the way it was...which is what I did. I liked how it worked before better. Or I'm too lazy to learn the opposite direction. One of the two.

[Darkbandit]

]You can always just switch it back to the way it was...which is what I did. I liked how it worked before better. Or I'm too lazy to learn the opposite direction. One of the two.

Can I go with lazy?

[JRod]

]You can always just switch it back to the way it was...which is what I did. I liked how it worked before better. Or I'm too lazy to learn the opposite direction. One of the two.

Can I go with lazy?

Took me all of a day. I seem to do it know in InDesign most often but no other program.

The full screen to new desktop idea is brilliant if you ask me. I can have mail, safari, iTunes open and not have them take up wasted space. It's such a little thing but really improves mail and web browsing.

[sportdan30]

I wasn't expecting the transition to Lion to be so "Meh". Unfortunately, I think I rather wished I had waited before making the decision to upgrade. Here are my main issues are this and hopefully they will soon be resolved:

When you have "full screen" utilized, I'm only sometimes able to pull up the dock (is that the list of programs at the bottom of the screen?). I'll move the mouse to the bottom of the screen and it's hit or miss whether or not the dock will appear. Is there anyway to keep the dock showing at the bottom of the screen even in full screen mode?

Where's the minimize button when you are in full screen mode? If I take it out of full screen mode, it'll shrink the web page to a quarter size of what it was. Then I have to drag it to open to the size I desire. ???????

It just seems very convoluted with how Safari keeps all these web pages open. It creates this chaotic mess in which I'm finding myself confused with where it's going to take me if I hit the back button. I never had these problems with Leopard.

Freezes and pauses are quite common place now. I almost feel sometimes as if I'm running an old Windows operating system.

Mission control, launch pad, seem like add-ons that don't necessarily have any rhyme or reason for being there other than it being another cool feature.

Dont' get me wrong. I absolutely love my new iMac. I even have found a lot to like about Lion, but whomever designed this OS sure seemed to throw a bunch of crap against the wall to see if it would stick.....and I suppose it did. I'm very much looking forward to future updates. I'm hopeful they'll rectify many of my problems.

[Rodster]

Looks like Lion is Apples, Windows Vista

[10spro]

The Lion's upgrade for me is more transitional than say revolutionary. There are some nice offerings, I like how the new address book is presented, iCal is improved, Airdrop alone is quite handy. The inverted scrolling may take some practice for users like myself but I found out that you can switch it off under preferences. Now I haven't scrolled through the 250 new features that Apple advertises but I like mission control and launchpad.

I haven't noticed any crashes so far and for only $29, I am satisfied with the upgrade.