New MacBook/MacBook Pros are UGLY?

IMHO, Apple could have done a better job with the new MacBooks/MacBook Pros. Sure, the unibody aluminum might sound cool, but it looks very plain and uninspiring. It is a blank, boring mundane "modern" design. The black keys and black border surrounding the screen does not match the aluminum casing.

The older MBP looked like the older PowerBooks as well. It looks like Apple borrowed an IKEA catalogue and ran with it. Is Apple not even trying in their design?

To noobs, this look is exciting and fresh. Frankly, I am tired of this lackluster "modern" design.

My desktop PC has had this "MacBook Pro look" for over 5-10 years already. Brushed aluminum case, etc.

What are your thoughts on Apple's current and future design direction?

 

I personally find it very beautiful. It's the best looking laptop at the moment in my opinion. I had to buy one right away when I saw it. I can understand some find it blend and plain though, but I consider that beautiful.

Compared to the current MBA design the MB and MBP look much better in my opinion.

 

I would trade my boyfriend for one (or two or more!) MBPs!! - Any takers?

 

they looks awesome!minimalism FTW!!!!

 

It looks awesome. It's too bad when I see someone on a new macbook all I think about is how ignorant they are for feeding the Apple marketing machine by overpaying for technology that is half price in other manufacturers notebooks.

 

Apple had such a good thing going with the previous gen (Early 2008) MacBook Pros....they were definitely gorgeous all around.

Now though, I think they dropped the ball......HP's HDX > MBP. Same with the MB.....these new iterations make it look like Apple is moving further and further away from the 'unique' or 'quirky' design aesthetic which many loved and more towards the mainstream PC aesthetic that has become so common (about the only thing that keeps it truly unique is it's aluminum shell).

I'm looking to dive into the world of Macs after I get my HP here (the best of both worlds!) but Apple's design direction may give me pause....

 

I really like the outside/shell of it, but the inside... not so much.

One thing that I really dislike though, is the speaker grilles. I liked the old ones so much better.

 

You are paying for the ambiance and air that is known as 'coolness' my friend. And in the apple world, that costs a lot. You need to justify that higher level of purchase for no physical apparent reason and all that is left is the essential of the intangible 'coolness' factor.

 

Meh, looks over rated to me. Especially with all the reported not waking up from sleep, crashing, etc. Kinda defeats the purpose of OSX always bagging on Windows considering I've never had my Windows crash yet. The outside's alright, but that minimalist design always reminds me of uneducated people getting ripped off of their money. I mean, I visited the apple store before, and the person was explaining that imacs aren't like computers, that they're all in one, and that no other computer besides imacs are all in one except laptops....misinformation. To me, the minimalist design is pretty boring. I still appreciate slick design, just get over the no button fetish please. My new Ipod is screaming for dedicated volume buttons. That air of coolness is well, over rated. No backlit keyboad and no firewire at that price point for the regular macbook? And for the macbook pro's pricing, I want an espresso maker built into the back!

 

C'on,it is about design...BTW,
1)it is very subjective
2)if everybody like something,that would never change...

Also,IMO,iMacs are best AIO out.Sony and dell have something like it,but
1)Sony costs 2x
3)Dell is also expensive and UGLY as hell!

 

Blah blah blah.

 

Personally, I was tired of the old design. For someone who has been using one revision or another since the PB/MBP was released years ago I was ready for a change. The old design was bland and past due for an overhaul. It would have been nice if Apple had released a matte version so I wouldn't have to hear all the b!tching and moaning.

{sarcarsm}

You hit it right on the head! I feel like an ignorant moron. I have several things working against me...it's not only the MBP. I really, really, really feel like a complete idiot for driving a Porsche. I could have been so much smarter if I had not fallen for the Porsche marketing machine. Just think I could be driving a Mustang for less than half the money! I need to think this over.....

{/sarcasm}

 

Good grief -- a harmless, if not silly discussion about *subjective* impressions of design, and yet it still MUST devolve into this.

As for people paying extra for Mac hardware, or the OS X experience, or whatever, while not knowing about other options, consider that their purchases just might be based on solid, personal reasoning -- even if it differs from yours.

 

I think they are cool looking. I still want one

Lynn

 

I am on both sides of the fence on this one. At the same time I can understand why people are saying that Macs are overpriced, but I also understand those who think it's worth it.

For me, I just like using OSX over windows and I like the design. Whatever makes me happy and works well, while looking good at the same time is worth the $2k for me. Everyone else can use their HPs and Dells, I'll use my Mac.

 

I love the new design.
And I have both models...

 

Dell's aren't all ugly. At the time the XPS M1330 was realeased it was much better looking that a similarly equipped Macbook.

 

1)I didn't say Dell "in general",I quite like their m/e line.I was referring their XPS-ONE
2)Well,I can't agree with you on that,tho I respect your opinion

 

The design is cool and all, but it lacks a certain aspect that many other manufacturers are doing now: giving their products a little color. The aluminum casing is nice and all, but it gets boring super quickly.

Also, a matte screen option would be very nice. Apple must think people leave their laptops in one place, out of the direct sunlight all the time...

 

I think the new design is an nice small step forward looks wise. Its an improvement but not a radical new look... thus the reason for the disappointment amongst some users.
But I still like it and I will get one in the new year.
a

ps I guess that makes me a vacuous wh$ore... I mean who would pick Monica Bellucci over Rossane Barr... twice as much women for half the price!

 

Haha, That's a good analogy!

 

lol good one, +1

 

apple has been doing this before IKEA was even a fart in the wind. If there was an option in the poll that says the original poster has no taste, I would have checked it.

I am sure your desktop PC looks ridiculous next to any Apple machine of the last 5 years.

part of the beauty of the design is in the construction, which no other company would even think about due what must be a pretty high cost for construction.

 

I would've taken a new Macbook without the black screen and keyboard.

The black background increases reflection and glare like having a mirror.

The chicklet keys are not one of my favorite feature also, I like big keys.

 

I love my new MacBook. I think it's the best looking laptop that Apple has designed. The glass trackpad is absolutely beautiful.

 

I voted for "Its pretty cool" cause the super sexy option felt so extreme...I prefer the look of the new gen definitely.

 

I really like the new design myself. I do wish they offered a matte (I would probably get glossy, but I understand why some/many want matte), but I think the new design is great!

 

One vote for eye-gouging over here. I hated it from the second I saw the dreaded spy-shots the day before the release announcement, hated it when I saw them in person, hated it when I purchased one and returned it two days later, and still hate it.

Honestly, the exact same design but with matching silver keys and a matching silver screen bezel would have sent me into convulsions of drooling joy. That's all it would take. To me, these things look like Toshiba laptops, and that's not a good thing. I've been a long time mac user (fanboi even) and these new ones really really bother me. I suppose I have to wait 5 years before a redesign...sigh....

I'll probably pick up a 17" High-Res to replace the 15" MBP 2.2 I sold a while back sooner or later. Those are beautiful machines with amazing screens.

-Andrei

 

I would have thought "Meh" to be less negative than "It is junk and I want to gouge my eyes out!"

 

Why oh why would you buy/spend lots of your hard earned cash on something you hate so passionately ???
Are you a sadomasochist?
If so you need help...professional help
a

 

Really? I bought it because it looks nothing like your avg PC craptop.

 

Quoted for truth! They really look alike:

 

Oh please! You're those two look NOTHING like one another. You can't even properly compare one to another because they're completely different.

 

I was being sarcastic?

(I'm guessing the smilie at the end of my post didn't do it for you...)

 

Had I noticed it......it might have. Oops!

 

But they both have black keys... they must be the same !

 

Hi Underpantman! Well it seems you are in the cheerful holiday spirit. I purchased it to give it a fair chance at home, at work, and in my day-to-day activities in case somehow my mind would be changed.

When I took it back to the Apple store, and told the manager, "I can't deal with this new screen, I need to return it" he said, "oh no problem; yeah that new screen does stink...I think we'll be seeing a lot of returns on this" and proceeded to give me my full refund.

So no harm, no foul, and definitely no help is needed here. Better to try something thoroughly then just click a few buttons in the store and make a wild judgement.

 

Granted, it looks MUCH nicer than any PC laptop without a doubt, I suppose it just reminded me a little of these...

http://andreimatei.com/notebookreview/toshiba1.jpg
http://andreimatei.com/notebookreview/toshiba2.jpg

 

As designs go, the new unibodies are pretty good. They are strong, light, accessible, and look decent. But I still prefer my old design MBP over the unibody.

I agree the the black keys and black trim are questionable. I think they are trying too hard to match everything with the iMac design when it isn't necessary. Afterall they had 2 separate designs with the aluminum look and the white plastic look for the longest time. There doesn't need to be a grand unifying design. I wonder how it would have looked if all the black parts were made silver? Someone must have photoshopped a mockup.

 

Hi Andrei,
Well I was just going off your post, which mentioned hate about 5 or so times.
It seemed like you really really had it out for it before you even got the mac, which is fine, no problem with you disliking it, was just concerned that you would subject yourself to obvious pain !
glad to hear that its not so melodramatic.
a

 

C'om,you really think that they look like MBP?

 

No, those still have the PC-ness to them.

 

I agree that I felt it reminded me of the Toshibas, but I have to say Apple made their notebooks a lot more sleek. But yeah, HP and Toshiba, the new Macs reminded me of.

 

^have too agree with HP part-screen was "borrowed"...maybe...

 

Nope. People always say the edge-to-edge glass was copied from HP's DV-series laptops... those debuted in June '08 while the iMacs with the black bezel were released much earlier.

 

yeah,you are right!forgot about iMacs

 

I'm so ignorant indeed, you gave me a great idea, I'll sell my house, and I'll buy another one (same size) but in the worst zone possible.
BRAVO!!!

 

yeah, im ignorant too. i know how much i paid. and yet at the same time i dont. its a laptop.

 

the ignorance thing is always a funny one. the irony almost kills me inside.

what other company even offers a notebook with an Aluminum chassis? a fully developed custom UNIX based OS?

 

sounds like jb1007 lost his way from the HP forum. someone please help him back. at first I was going to write a really long post explaining why he is so completely off base and incorrect. then I realized its Christmas and I have better things to do and you all have better things to read.