After repeatedly hitting cmd + R my fingers were a bit tired so I decided to wait a day to write a post about the Apple event. What they announced in my eyes was some great products. I can’t wait to try them out in real life and the new track pads look especially interesting.

MacBook Pro

The new case design is extremely sleek and and aesthetically pleasing. The incorporation of the MBA’s (MacBook Air’s) keyboard is one of the best improvements in my opinion, not only does it look better but I also find it easier to type on. The glass display adds and air of profession that suits the laptop. The ability to add a SSD to the MBP (MacBook Pro) is great but the price you pay for it is still not optimal. The ports have been moved to one side and the slot loading drive to the other. There also appears to be a distinct lack of Firewire 400 ports.

MacBook

The new design makes the laptop seem too professional and grays the line between the MB (MacBook) and the MBP. The new design looses all the fun of the previous model. The design is still a step forward, but I am not sure in the right direction for the MB. I fear that the new aluminum case with its new production techniques have driven up the prices. Again you can add a SSD but in a consumer laptop such as the MB it is pointless offering it at this stage. The lack of any Firewire port officially sucks for anyone with a DV camcorder.

LED Display

Finally a new ACD (Apple Cinema Display) the most prominent feature is that it is now LED making it brighter and more energy efficient. The frame that it is placed in is great. The ability to plug in a MB/P while charging and adding extra USB ports is a great advantage. The downside is the use of a DisplayPort which is only used on the current MB and MBP limiting the people who can use it a (Apparently there will be an adapter for the port so it will be backwards compatible) another annoyance is the back being silver rather than black like the iMac’s, and the use of a similar charger to the MBA with the ridges cut into the head of the charger (shown right). The built in iSight and speakers are a huge relief as they have been on most people list for a display from Apple for a long time.

You may have guessed why the post is called Aluminum, but if not all the new products are all made of aluminum and Apple made a big deal about how they were made from a single block of it. I am desperate for a new MBP and the MB looks great too. One feature I neglected earlier that is cool is the battery meter now being on the side. What I am most excited and disappointed about is the ACD I love the design and the idea but get me is the lack of compatibility with previous laptops (until Apple release an adapter) and the price.