Clearing up specifics on the MacBook Pro

Has *ANYONE* seen *ANYTHING* about battery life? It seems suspiciously absent!

--Steve

ExpressCard Memory Card Reader - someone will have to make one.
Or people will have to unplug their mouse and use the trackpad after they plug in their external USB reader. I've never (yet) had the necessity of accessing more than 2 USB devices simultaneoulsy, but obviously I'm not everyone.

A fundamental premise behind USB is being able to easily unplug and switch devices. It might be less convenient than having more USB ports to use simultaneously, but its less expensive from Apple's perspective and these are *portable* machines which would be encumbered with more than a couple wires connected.

I seriously didn't realize that swapping USB devices was that cumbersome. (no flame intended, just curious as to what devices you're using that people wouldn't want to disconnect?)

So MacBook Pro users won't be able to use a PCMCIA memory card reader which means they'll need an external one and with only two USB ports, they'll probably end up having ot carry a USB hub too. Not a good trend.

The dual-latches appears to be for symmetry as much as security.
Placing the "iSight" in the middle of the screen is obvious, but that space was previously taken by the latch. Move the latch to one side, and the lid of the 'Book won't be uniformly held down (a larger gap on one corner than the other).
The only option is dual latches!

Just called the Apple Store and asked "Can I put Windows on the MacBook Pro" just to see what kind of response I would get. I was told that the Intel Core Duo chip "was made especially for Apple" and that "Intel did not include certain features that would allow a Windows installation." Now, whether this is entirely true or not is up for debate...but that's what the horse's mouth had to say!

The ExpressCard/34 width is smaller than a CF card

PLUS
CF Cards are essentially 16-Bit PC Cards (16 bit parallel interface, separate address and data busses), while ExpressCard is USB/PCI Express

ie. Even if it COULD fit, it still couldn't communicate. Bring on a CF/USB ExpressCard adapter!

The displays have always used magnetic latches on the AlBooks. This is nothing new, unless you're being nitpicky by noticing that there are now two on the MacBook instead of one on the 15-inch PowerBook.

Only two USB ports? Yet again another beautiful Apple Design can have an ugly USB hub sat next to it.
No FW800?
Single Layer Optical drive - Does anyone actually still make these!!! Apple must have put in a special order to obtain these drives. Just buy dual layer in bulk!!
Ports still exposed
One mouse button! The functionality for two mouse buttons has bene in OS X since day one. WHY!
Sensible 15.4" LCD to reduce cost versus odd 15.2" - but where's the saving to the buyer?
Memory Card Slots? - I doubt that ExpressCard/34 would even fit a Compact Flash Adaptor

Will the Apple remote fit inside the ExpressCard/34 slot? What dimensions is the Apple remote?

I just noticed something interesting...on the aluminum PowerBooks, there were plastic AirPort antenna windows on either side of the display. On the MacBook Pro (what a horrble name, shoulda named it the PowerBook Core Duo), I see no such windows. So, this means that either the new Book will 1) sport some special antennas-can-work-well-through-metal technology, or 2) the AirPort (and possibly Bluetooth) reception on this thing's gonna suck.