What the big deal? It's just another MacBook, right?

The new MacBook and MacBook Pro is now more than 2 weeks old. With the introduction of the aluminum MacBook the Apple laptop family is look more and more like the other Mac. The only Mac that doesn't have the Glass X Aluminum treatment will be the MacBook White (999USD), and that I think might be entering its final year.

So what's the big deal about about this new MacBook. Is it the beautifully design "Unibody" design that reduce almost 1/2 the parts needed to put together the laptop? Or is it the new "No Button Trackpad with Multi-touch Gestures? I think those are important touches but I think the biggest and most important improvements lie inside the unibody and those improvement will be the most important factors in choosing your next Mac notebook.

The first major improvement goes to the GPU (Graphic  Process Unit). Last look at the MacBook Al first. With the new NVIDIA GeForce 9400M the MacBook can now not just about to run fancy 3D games. It now can handle consumer level HD video editing (1080i) and hight quality photos with ease. So if you just bought a Full-HD video cam the new MacBook Al will be a great match. If you are still using stander miniDV or 720P HD cam the basic white MacBook will do if you have a tight budget (999USD/7800HKD).

For the new Unibody MacBook Pro. The GPU improvement is event more crazy.

Yes crazy, why? Cause this Notebook I think is the first laptop that uses 2 GPU. You might wonder why the need of 2 GPU, just because you pay more for the Pro so they give you more? The reason is simple for the Pro laptop the balance between processing power and battery life has always been a reason why laptop never gets desktop level GPU power. Some PC laptop has try but it end up to be a huge laptop with very limited battery hours. Sometime the industry call those "Desktop replacement", for people that can't leave the desktop power, but wanted something that is more portable. With 2 GPU Apple has manage to let the user to have a choose in running their MacBook Pro in a more power saving mode or screaming graphic mode that rival the Mac Pro performance. For pro user that work on 3D, video editing and design the new MacBook Pro is a must have if you are looking to replace your notebook.

The 2nd most important improvement goes to the new system design that can 

now handle DDR3 (very fast memory) and 1066MHz frontside bus. What those combination means is that program that process a lot of memory will run much faster. Like iMove, Final Cut Express, Photoshop, Final Cut Studio etc... So if you run a lot of memory intensive program, the new MacBook or MacBook Pro 15"will be your best choose even over the upgraded MacBook Pro 17".

With those major improvements the MacBook can really replace a lot of desktop system, specially combine with Apple new 24" LED Cinema Display. It might cost more then any iMac with similar power, but now you can have desktop grade power everywhere you go. For Pro user the new MacBook Pro might not be as speedy as a Mac Pro workstation, but it come very close to be the Mac Pro on the go.

Link to MacBook reviews:

gizmodo.com

macnn.com

macworld.com

Who's going to the moon? A country or a company?

China, India and the US are racing to the moon and it is possible that any one of them will return a human to the moon. But who will stay and have a long term effect in the human space development? I think it would not be a county or a group of countries, it will be a company that will finally make human space fight a regular affair and a viable business for mankind.

X Prize Foundation

More Rumors Photos and Info on MacBook.

More photos and info has been flowing around the net, below are links to those Mac news site. Well the announcement is lest then 12 hours from this post at Apple head quarter. Also another important announcement on the same day will be "US investing $250 Billion in Banks".

macnn.com

engadget.com

The Spotlight is on.

Is official. Apple has confirm a Oct. 14th event for their notebooks. For all of you that is waiting to get a new MacBook just holdout for a few more days.

So what can we expect on the new MacBook line? My guess it will be a overall revision of the complete MacBook line with new looks and more power. The white looks is out and the hold line is going to look more like the iMac "Aluminum X Glass" and MacBook Air design theme. The most important change will the architecture change to keep it up with other PC notebook (Montevina). Basically more powerful CPU and the possibility of using DDR3 (Fast memory speed similar to desktop) memory in the MacBook Pro. Another important improvement might not come from the hardware side, it will come from the pricing and packaging department where it will matter a lot in the coming economy situation. A possibility of a MacBook in the low 800USD range (6,200HKD). What ever happen I think for those that are waiting to upgrade their Mac notebook Oct. 14th will be a good day.

The New Green.

Just came across this "GreenWorks" event page that was post on brandrepublic.asia this morning. Once again reminding us that "Green" is no longer a fee good subject. Below is the lead in header from their webpage:

"The environment is now at the forefront of business, consumers and political agendas. How do corporations keep up with the world going green?"

Many green policy really started out to be a "good citizen" or "good corporate citizen" concept, but as the issue in energy and global warming beginning to affect our daily live and corporate bottom line. I think the old Green now becoming the new Green (money talks) that no longer a matter of good karma, just common business sense.

Take a look at what happen to the auto industry, specially in the US. When Toyota introduced the Prius to the market it was sold as technical wonder car that is good for the environment with it's ultra low emission. An iconic car that  can balance both utility and feed good factor. The benefice of fuel efficiency was really a byproduct in the process of creating an ultra low emission vehicle.

Toyota wasn't the first in bringing a mass product hybrid vehicle to the market it was the Honda Insight it has the same mission as the Prius but it success was limited due to its design and utility. The Insight was discontinued in 2006.

In 2008 hybrid car will began its path to become a mainstream format with model range from luxury SUV to entry family car like the return of the Honda Insight. Why all the sudden everyone are getting on the hybrid development, surely is not a sudden increase in the marketability of be "Green", is basically driven by increase in gasoline cost and now a possible slowing of economy around the world. With an unstable and limited energy solution without a clear winner in renewable energy solution the only action is to maximize the current solution. Does "GreenWorks" really means that being green really can make people turn to your product? I don't think acting or doing the "old green" will do it. I think you don't have to say anything about "Green" anymore, cause the "new green" has nothing to do with tree hugging or save the Panda it has more to due with economy and the people's bottom line.

From 2008 onward it's going to be an interesting time. A time where efficiency is going to be a key factor in development on all kinds of products and it just so happen that those solution also will be more beneficial to our mother earth. So, I guess it doesn't hurt for Google to design more energy efficiency server farm or user more renewable energy to lower its energy cost and look good in front of the public at the same time.

Look at the US auto industry. GM planting to introduce electrical car call the Volt in 2010, Tesla Motor gearing up for the delivery of its all electrical roadster in 2009, Chrysler out of the blue now has an program focusing on alternative energy motors, almost all auto company has an active program that is going to put new alternative vehicle on the road around 2010 to 2012. 

I hope the US and the develop nation will really look at this as an economical opportunity more then a political issue. I sure who ever can crack the problem on capture and storing sustainable energy will sure be a economic power house, putting a new definition on word "Green" in green tech.

Man or Unman?

MESSENGER is the first mission sent to orbit Mercury the closest planet to the sun. On Oct. 6, 2008, at roughly 4:40 a.m. ET, MESSENGER flew by Mercury for the second time this year... more

A lot of attention has been place on China maned space mission in the reason years with it's latest successful space walk. At the opposite end US is going to end it's Space Shuttle program in 2010 without any maned program to space until the "Constellation Program" which will happen around 2015. The only way for the American to go up to space after 2010 is though the Russia space program. (One Way Up nytimes.com)

I can see the value of a maned mission, but I don't think enough attention was place on all those unmanned space program that I think has done lot more discover then any maned space program. Sometime I think our ability to overcome our physical limitation through our invention are as important as our direct physical association.

The Touch Screen Party.

October is shaping up to be like a "Touch Screen Party" for smartphone market. After the launch announcement of the HTC G1 (Android) and the Nokia 5800 Xpress Music, here comes the first official webpage on the BlackBerry Storm from Vodafone. BlackBerry first touch screen phone without any keypad.

So you ask why suddenly everyone is fighting to get a space in the touch screen party? Well since Apple Inc. launched the first iPhone in US with a all touch screen input system, everyone is watching closely on how consumer will respond to a touch screen smartphone without any traditional keypad. Now the iPhone 3G has become an international product, other phone market no longer can wait in the sideline. But is all those touch base smartphone really playing the same game? Not really if you look closely at each device they might all base on the touch screen concept but their approach vary. 

I think you can basically divide them into 3 different camps. Finger only (iPhone), Stylus + Finger (HTC Diamond, Nokia 5800 etc.), and Finger + Keypad (HTC G1). For the Blackberry Storm is not clear what kind of input combination is it going to include, but it is likely to be a touch with stylus system. (BB Storm hands On from GIZMODO)

So which format works better? It really depended on the user. So I will say don't buy one until you really touch one first.

To Sign or not to Sign a iPhone Contract.

In the past months since iPhone 3G is available in Hong Kong I have been thinking about getting one but a 2 years contract has made me think twice before signing up. Like other iPhone 3G around the world signing up for a contract is the only way to get one (without the trouble of hacking). I don't mind signing up for a deal, but 24 months is just too long for me, so I waited and waited cause I know 3HK did not say anything about exclusive when they launch the iPhone 3G. The possibility of the different carrier or a contract less iPhone is very possible for the Hong Kong market as most mobile phone is sold contract less.

Finally it happen in Oct. 2008 Apple online store Hong Kong started to sale iPhone 3G without contract. The price is not cheap (5,400 8G/ 6200 16G) but well within the range of high-end smartphone pricing (Nokia N96 / 6,588 - HTC touch Pro / 6,380).

Now the wall of a lock in contract is down, what's left is shopping for a data plant that will fit my needs. Once again I'm back in the world of contract shopping again.

Note: So far Hong Kong is the only Apple online store that carry contact free iPhone 3G. Not sure will this version of iPhone will work in other counties carrier, but technically speaking it should.

Waiting for the new MacBook?

A lot of talks and a lot of rumors about the new MacBook and MacBook Pro has been posted online in the pass weeks. Many of my friends has been asking about when the new Mac will arrive. It is not easy to pick a day as the Apple Inc. doesn't talk about unannounced product. Anyway, my guess will it should happen any day within Oct. but If I have to pick a day my guess will be Oct 14th as many source has point to that day also and Apple has been announcing product on Tuesday a lot in the past years.

I think new MacBook is not going to be a big surprise. More importantly is what product range will the MacBook line become as laptop is now account for 50% of all new PC sales. Surly, the laptop has become the people choose for their new PC, but will Apple move to a UMPC (ultra mobile Personal Computer) like many PC vendor in the past months? I believe Apple iPhone will continue to be Apple answer to the mobile computing for the near terms. A UMPC Mac is unlikely, but a updated version of the MacBook Air is for sure.

I think more importantly is will Apple lower it's entry level laptop price to continue to attract more non Mac buyer will be interesting to see as the US economy will surely slow in the coming months.

MacBook Touch! Will you want a Macbook in touch format? My guess is unlikely... what's yours?