Thoughts on the Macworld Expo Keynote

Allow me to preface this as with every keynote blog, the opinions and views of the writer are not naysaying upon Steve Jobs, the company Apple or the Macintosh computer lineup. Please don't flame me.

There were four "announcements" today at Moscone Center. A new Time Machine router with hard drive for wireless backing up, iP**** updates, a major improvement to Apple TV with movie rentals (in HD) and most interestingly new super-duper-duper thin Mac laptops.

Time capsule

John Gruber may not have invented the rumor but he certainly called it last night when he posted his predictions; a wireless solution for Time Machine. The moment I received my Leopard Install disc I fell in love with this wonderful piece of technology. As a laptop user it's mildly irksome, having to plug the backup drive via USB runs the risk of me absent-mindedly disconnecting while transferring files. Thanks be to Apple for improving an already awesome utility.

Firmware 1.1.3 updates

As for the iPhone and iPod Touch update, the 20 dollar fee for the iPod Touch shouldn't be a surprise. An old Macalope article concerning the 802.11N debacle says it succinctly.

If Apple had given the enhancement away free, Apple’s auditors could have required it to restate revenue for that period and could possibly have required Apple to start in the future to defer all the revenue from computer sales until all such enhancements are shipped, this person said. That would have had a devastating impact on Apple.

Whether or not it's worth twenty dollars instead of two, that's what we should discuss. Personally it's a question of worth; are the apps worth the cash? As a gentle person who jail broke my iPod Touch to get my Gmail account while at school, it could be worth the cost. I just would be happier to spend ten dollars instead. Wishes and dreams.

Apple TV (take 2)

When Apple released the original Apple TV I said it would be a great device some day. It works out rather well that today is the day. If I were Netflix I'd be slightly worried. If I were Hastings/Blockbuster, I'd crap my pants. In a day where technology is expected to be complicated and kludgy, or worse has an ugly interface, Apple makes it look nice, be affordable, and simple enough my mother could use it.

The MacBook Air

I'm the first to admit being wrong. Humility gets a beleaguered writer many accolades, thrown flowers, and maybe the occasional marriage proposal. The "Ultra portable mobile laptop from Apple (the makes of iPod)" would never have happened in a million years, at least that was so yesterday. I also nay-sayed the iPod photo, video, iPhone, Mac mini. Needless to say I should never bet on the horses.

That said, I absolutely love the idea of a tiny portable mac. For a set of users it's quite nice, small light device to write papers, articles, blog & forum posts without a need for graphic powerhouses. The Air also looks incredible compared to the MacBook, exactly the difference the iBook had with the 12 inch PowerBook. Sleek lines and its aluminum case will look nice in lectures and business meetings.

All in all, I'm pleased with how the festivities went.