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Steve's Sanity · Mar 1, 2006, 06:21 PM

I think it may be a good idea to rethink the structure of the hardware forums. For example, while I understand the reasoning for having the two high end laptop lines share a forum, the Macbook is a much different species than the Powerbook. The MacBook has not only an Intel processor but also an Intel motherboard. The issues and problems MacBook owners face will be completely different from those of the PowerBooks. In addition, the MacBook naturally elicits greater discussion and support requests, so those threads will overwhelm PowerBook threads. The same reasoning applies to the Intel Mini, Intel iMac and any forthcoming Mactels.

As we know, the Apple Store currently splits hardware between Intel and PowerPC. Apple clearly recognizes it's selling a new breed of computer. If such a distinction makes sense for Apple, surely its worth consideration for MacNN.

jwoods · Mar 1, 2006, 07:34 PM

I think that would make sense. Even to the point of having sub-forums for each specific type (PPC Ibooks, PPC Powerbooks, Intel MBP's and whatever they call the other [IF there is another]).

Good idea!

mrmister · Mar 1, 2006, 07:40 PM

This is a terrible idea--as each forum splits off, there will be less readership for each, and it will take twice as long to scan each forum to see what's going on.

Further, all PowerPC products are deprecated and eventually will be replaced by an all Intel lineup...so this division is just a temporary state of affairs, that will grow less and less of an issue as time goes on.

Macs are in a minority in the computing world--dividing them apart by processor type seems unnecessary. After all, they run the same OS and the same apps--I think they belong in the forum arrangements they are in now.

John123 · Mar 1, 2006, 07:52 PM

I agree with mrmister, his musical tastes notwithstanding. The forum divisions really represent theoretical user types, embodied by the machines that they own. PB/MBP represents the "pro" laptop series, while the iBook section represents the consumer series. (And before someone objects and says that they are a pro and use an iBook...yes, yes, I know.)

The same holds true of desktops: There is a Power Mac forum (for "pro" users, including server users), and an everything else forum for iMacs and eMacs. I don't think it's really about the nomenclature of the models but rather about the intended functionality and application of those models.

Frankly, I think that if the rumor mill is true and the iBook/PB 12" become just the "MacBook," this all becomes more confusing. But for now, the PB and the MBP belong together.

mduell · Mar 1, 2006, 08:13 PM

I think they should stay together. The chips and chipsets change, but everything else stays the same.

Would you advocate different forums for G4 PowerMacs and G4 PowerMacs?

Enigmaaron · Mar 1, 2006, 08:54 PM

Originally Posted by mduell

Would you advocate different forums for G4 PowerMacs and G4 PowerMacs?

Errr, no? Haha, I'm going to assume you meant G4/G5 there.

But I agree, essentially it's just a new processor, doesn't matter who's name is on it. No reason to change.

Chuckit · Mar 1, 2006, 09:30 PM

It's a lot more than a new processor. The entire board is new (from what I can tell), the screen is new, the battery is new, the iSight is new, the IR sensor is new, even the freakin' battery connector is new. The only thing that's stayed the same is the basic case design.

However, this thread should go in Feedback.

Enigmaaron · Mar 2, 2006, 07:01 AM

Originally Posted by Chuckit

It's a lot more than a new processor. The entire board is new (from what I can tell), the screen is new, the battery is new, the iSight is new, the IR sensor is new, even the freakin' battery connector is new. The only thing that's stayed the same is the basic case design.

Sure other things have changed, but how is that different from any other time a new model came out. I haven't been on these boards that long, but did people want a new forum for titanium powerbooks when those came out? Maybe they should just rename it to "Apple Laptops that were the top of the line when they came out", that way it's always covered.

Skeptik · Mar 2, 2006, 07:42 AM

I would say separate them. I'm tired of G5 people saying things work for them and they have the same OS number. The build actually running is different, the hardware is different so different issues arise. The Apple site support forum is full of people cross-posting problems and is a major irritant!

tooki · Mar 2, 2006, 08:10 AM

Forum feedback belongs in the Feedback forum.

Anyway, making another set of forums for the Intel Macs isn't gonna happen. The need for it is minimal at most -- people tend to exaggerate the differences between them.

Remember that most of the differences are in software, so those topics don't belong in the hardware forums either way. We have a Mac OS X forum for discussing the OS itself, and the Applications forum for discussing everything that runs on it.

tooki