If MacBook Pros are ready, why aren't the Pro apps?

yeesh. All the sensitivity about Quark. OK, OK, FIVE users. Heh. C'mon. We pros only use Quark when FORCED to use it. Insensitivity my behind. My peers, and every other agency I work with uses, guess what? InDesign! Only Intel forces everyone to use Quark, and who cares about their mediocre tech doc crap anyway? Design-wise?

So, yeah. I want some benchmarks. Like, PSD and Illustrator, Flash and DW; how do they run in emu (yes, to me it's still emulation) under Rosetta vs. the current G4. Because I would be tempted

Hrm.

Think different about the MacBook name. I'm betting that Apple is betting that most people will affectionately shorten MacBook to Mac.

Then again, many people call their PowerBook their 'Book; maybe these people will also call the new MacBook their 'Book.

As a Pro user, Im a little at odds with the MacBook specs. The removal of things on the MacBook Pro such as S-video out, FireWire 800, modem (though not drastic) and a downgraded Superdrive doesnt seem particularly Pro. Theres also no mention of battery life and no 17 model.

While the future Intel architecture is a performance plus, I thought the MacBook Pro was an odd sort of announcment at the end. Nothing like putting the pressure on your developers eh? Anyway, Im steering clear of Rosetta for the time being.

I would argue that the vast majority of people using the pro apps, in an environment where speed is really the issue will be doing so on a powermac. Far more people use powerbooks just because they want more than an iBook but have no use for the pro apps. Me included. In my opinion the macBook (looks better than MacBook to me?) is really for those people who must have more speed than the g4 but don't need pro apps, hence only the one size at this stage, they'e just getting something out as a stop gap for those who are desperate.

It's unfortunate, but necessary. Intel Macs in the marketplace is much stronger motivation for developers to universalize their apps than Intel Macs on the horizon. True pros will know to wait until their apps are updated, while developers will see Apple's unit sales as directly affecting their own need to update. Me like it.

It's also important to note that even though the iMac is out and the intel MacBook Pro's are announced, they will not ship until mid-February so people won't start to have their hands on these things until the end of February. If Apple is releasing their universal versions in March there will most likely be a very small gap between when people get their hands on the MacBook Pro's and when a lot of new software will be released.

Developers still have 1.5-2 months until they really do need to start kicking these things out. I agree the MacBook Pro was pushed out early, but it needed to be done. I'm wondering if they will announce the iBooks in the next few months after they see people testing out these new intel notebooks.

If I buy Final Cut Studio today, can I get the Universal version when its available?
Yes. All owners of Final Cut Studio can purchase the Universal version for $49.

What products qualify for an upgrade to Final Cut Studio?
Apple will be offering affordable upgrades to Final Cut Studio from retail versions of the following products: from Final Cut Pro 5 for $99; from Final Cut Pro 4 or 4.5 (HD), DVD Studio Pro 4, Motion 2, Soundtrack Pro, or Production Suite for $199; from Final Cut Pro 1, 2, or 3 for $699. If you upgrade to Final Cut Studio through this program, you will receive the Universal version after it becomes available. Information about the upgrade process will be available on or before February 1, 2006.

http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/topquestions.html

and

"A Universal version of Aperture, which will run natively on both PowerPC- and Intel-based Mac computers, will be available before the end of March 2006. Buy Aperture today and get the Universal version for $49."

http://www.apple.com/aperture/

All straight from Apple.

I think that, until the hype got out of hand, Stevie J wasn't planning on unveiling the intel macs at macworld at all. Then there was so much speculation (plasma tv, anyone), that Apple rushed to make an announcement that the intel macs are indeed coming. Of course, they're not dropping until February, mind.

More arrogance from the TUAW crowd with "all 3 of Quark's users." Will you guys ever learn that you are not an accurate sampling of Mac users and that such generalizations just demonstrate how little we readers should value your opinions? Seriously, that comment has me thinking that I'll be looking elsewhere for my Mac news in the future.

I see more people with PowerBook's than iBooks. While the numbers seem to be in iBook's favor in terms of sales, professional people who use a Mac (not necessarily people who professionaly use the Mac applications) want the top of the line notebook. I have a 15" powerbook, and don't use FinalCut or Adobe or any of the heavy lifting apps (well, i dabble but not really use). However, I do use Safari, Mail, Pages, Excel, iPhoto, iTunes, Quicktime, etc... every day. And I'm putting my order in for the next 3 grand notebook right now.

Having thousands upon thousands of pre-orders for an Intel Mac will certainly be incentive for all the third party people to move faster. There might have been worried speculation that a company would commit all of these resources to get out a new version of their software, only to see their investment falter because of Apple. Apple is leading the way and taking the first risk, allowing others to have a lesser risk.

Sean