Macworld 2K8 Predictions
Posted January 14th, 2008 @ 02:03pm by Erik J. Barzeski
Post them here (and before the keynote starts) if you want to take credit for them.
I don't have any predictions myself ((I've been happier to adopt a low-expecation-and-thus-I-am-never-let-down approach to Stevenotes.)), but I will say this: if there's a thin MacBook of some kind at about $1500 to $1700, I may just buy two (especially given Screen Sharing in Leopard). I have a 20% developer discount but it'd only apply to one. I need to replace the 12" PowerBook. We only use the 12" here for word processing, web surfing, email. I occasionally use it to grab photos from CF cards when I'm on the road, so the ability to run Photoshop would be a welcome feature.
Thinking of having essentially "interchangeable" computers in the house makes me wonder why in the hell .Mac is still required to do things like synchronize accounts. Macs set up with the same logins should sync via local network using built-in software. Sure, if they did that, one of the only two reasons I still use .Mac would be gone ((Email is the other. I like it, but probably not $100 worth.)), but so what?
P.S. For those stuck at home like me, here and here as well as Twitter and AIM will have to suffice.
Donate Life
Posted 14 Jan 2008 at 2:19pm #
Here are my predictions:
Gimme: Ultra-portable (aka MacBook Air)
Hopefully: MacBook Pro update: I'm really, really hoping for this, 'cause I need a new rig and an ultra-portable is probably not for me.
Mebbe: Early release of the iPhone SDK
Meh: Updated whatever TV with streaming movie rental
Too Pricey: Updated displays
Posted 14 Jan 2008 at 2:32pm #
I stand by my theory that Apple is going to kill the optical drive in favor of a 100% digital distribution system for software and multimedia.
Posted 14 Jan 2008 at 2:37pm #
[quote comment="45345"]I stand by my theory that Apple is going to kill the optical drive in favor of a 100% digital distribution system for software and multimedia.[/quote]
THIS year? And how will you install an OS if you can't get online?
Posted 14 Jan 2008 at 3:55pm #
[quote comment="45346"]THIS year? And how will you install an OS if you can't get online?[/quote]
And will you install an OS if you don't have a floppy drive???
I'm not sure I agree with the original post, but I can imagine them starting to push OS sales on thumbdrive. Plug it in, boot and install.
Posted 14 Jan 2008 at 5:43pm #
I would appreciate an easy as heck home server/data/tv/backup/storage via air solution. Like an upside down aluminium ash tray which is the ultimate digital hub thingie. Streaming everything that moves (ha!) and plugin what's legend stuff.
Thanks in advance. 🙂
Posted 15 Jan 2008 at 9:16am #
[quote comment="45347"]I'm not sure I agree with the original post, but I can imagine them starting to push OS sales on thumbdrive. Plug it in, boot and install.[/quote]
A thumb drive may work, sure. I still don't know about the optical drive thing - I still put pictures on CDs to take them to be printed. People still make audio CDs and DVDs. Apple has disc burning built into the Finder and iTunes and other places. How will someone get audio off audio CDs they own if there's no optical drive? Hmmm.
Makes you wonder about this light MacBook with no optical drive, too. Will it require a host computer to install the OS? Or another flash drive like you've suggested?
Posted 15 Jan 2008 at 10:48am #
1) Multiseat support
2) Sloppy Cursor Control
3) Single-System Image
May I quote John Gruber: "If I keep predicting it, eventually I'll be right."
Posted 15 Jan 2008 at 4:50pm #
[quote comment="45356"]Makes you wonder about this light MacBook with no optical drive, too. Will it require a host computer to install the OS? Or another flash drive like you've suggested?[/quote]
Well, you can just order one and let me know how it turns out. 🙂