Re: New Macbook - Deliberately hobbled?

[walter biscardi] "It can't be that expensive."

You are forgetting Apple's markup. So the cost of a BluRay burner for a Mac right now is $540 and then $99 for Toast? Even if it was that much, imagine the throwback you'd get from raising the cost of every Apple computer by that much, or more.


[walter biscardi] "They really don't even need to do that. Roxio Toast has been able to burn to BluRay disc for two years now. It just shows up as a 25 or 50GB BluRay disc and you can burn data to it just like you do any CD or DVD. "

Any do you really think Apple would sell a computer and tell you to go buy Toast to increase its functionality? No way. People are going to want to burn BluRays of their kids soccer games from IMovie without buying an extra add on.

[walter biscardi] "The licensing is not complex. The actual authoring software is complex."

And when you go to replicate, it's a $4,500 licensing fee just to get started. At least it was last time I called around.

[walter biscardi] "It's now quite easy to find BluRay replication houses. Certainly much easier than it was 14 months ago when we started authoring BluRay discs here. "

Oh yeah? Where? I am curious as I have not been successful in my area (Chicago). If anyone knows of one in the area, I am all ears.

[walter biscardi] "A 16 year old can write DVD authoring software. BluRay is incredibly complicated." "

And that, I'm sure, is what is holding Mac development back and what Jobs is referring to.

[walter biscardi] "Not sure if we'll see anything in 2009, but I would suspect by 2010 Apple would have something out unless BluRay has already been replaced by something else. "

And that's the waiting period I mentioned earlier. I guess I am just tired of all the complaining is all. I also think the argument about Apple wanting to protect its download service is invalid. I don't know if anyone remembers, but it took a VERY long time until the Mac was able to basically incorporate DVD into it's OS in a way that was available to every person that picked up a Mac. They aren't going to go backwards at this point and release hardware without software. It's not their way. Also, once Bluray player reach $150, then we will see a huge demand for BluRay.

BluRay is not an option on the Mac right now. Walter, you seemed to have found a decently priced solution on the PC. As of today, that's what people need to know. Apple will get around to it when they feel like it.

Just curious, how many people on this thread have had their clients actually ask for BluRay? In my 5 years of HD production, I have had exactly 2. Also, if you don't own a Sony PS3, how many of you own BluRay players? Walter, I know your answers already.

Jeremy