A few quick comments are in order, post-Macworld keynote.
The new Macbook Air represents what Apple is best at - cramming a decent (but not earth-shattering) amount of technology into a very desirable package. Looks very interesting for folks who write and browse on the road. It's not a computer I envision many using for editing, given the lack of firewire ports, modest CPU capabilities and lack of a card slot. But that's what this little gem's about, now, is it?
Apple TV gets a lot more interesting with HD capabilities, topping out with 720p images at 24p. The $229 price makes it easier justify as an add-on gadget. Could make for a compelling way to rent HD movies, if they can get the quality high enough. Not something I'm running out to purchase, but I'll be keeping my eye on it for the Bittner HD Home Theater.
I have an iPhone, so I'm looking forward to playing with the new mapping functions.
Oh, one more thing...if you've never watched a Steve Jobs keynote, do yourself a favor and watch the video from Apple. Steve is a really good presenter, and his supporting graphics are always clear and uncluttered. (There's a lot more about Steve's presentation skills at Presentation Zen, my favorite web site for presenters. Tons of good content there.)
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Macbook Air
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Mac (Pro) Daddy
Alrighty, dear readers. Today we're going to be quick, because I seem to have picked up a bit of a stomach bug that's making its way through the Bittner family. It's either that or the raw oysters I was eating at the Baltimore Rotary Club's annual Bull and Oyster Roast fundraiser. Consuming uncooked, filter-feeding, bottom dwelling shellfish may not be on the list of recommended practices from the fine folks at the FDA, but they sure are yummy. Once you get past the snot-like consistancy, of course. But that goes without saying.
At any rate, Apple caused a bit of a stir today by releasing a new batch of Mac Pros. As is their custom, the announcement comes a week before Macworld expo, which creates the sub-stir that Apple must have a fine selection of other announcements for the expo if these systems are being given a quiet launch. Let's not forget that the Macworld is considered a consumer show, and the Mac Pros are considered, er, pro machines, so they're not typically updated at Macworld.
Improvements in this latest round of heavy-computing-iron from Apple include 8-cores across the line, and the option for much improved graphics capabilities via the NVIDIA Quadro FX 5600 with 1.5 gigabytes of onboard RAM. It will be interesting to see what's to come at NAB this year, and what Apple will bring to the Final Cut Studio suite to make use of so much graphics horsepower. Motion should see a nice speed boost, methinks. Of course, the top-of-the-line card costs as much as the base CPU, and is probably overkill for most users. Still, nice to see a truly high-end graphics option from Apple, and area where they've lagged behind.
With eight cores I have to wonder how much performace inprovement you'll see with the faster speed versions. All of these machines are blazingly fast, and After Effects CS3 tears through renders on these Intel machines like my son ripping the wrapping paper off his Nintendo DS on Christmas morn. Extemely fast, with singular determination.
Now pardon me while I help those oysters complete their circle of life...
