No Mac for Me

Apple doesn't make a Mac for me. Seriously, there are aspects of each that I love, but also some that I hate. Here's what I want:

Screen Size

MBP is too big, yes, I enjoy compact. MB is actually not bad, I'll take a good 13.3 over a 15.4, but the problem with the MB is the screen actually sucks bad. We tried watching a movie on my sister's MB and only the person sitting directly in front of it could see it correctly.

I want: 14.1" WSXGA 1440 x 900 LED backlit screen. Quality of the MBP/MBA, not the crap MB screen.

Hard Drive

Is it impossible to put a 7200RPM drive in the MB? No, I could do it myself. But I'd rather not rip open my Mac the day I get it.

I want: 200GB+ 7200RPM drive.

CPU

I want: 2.6GHz Penryn. There's no reason Apple couldn't put it in the MB. Dell puts it in the M1330, which is similar in size.

Video

Honestly, I don't really care, as long as it runs OSX and related iLife/iWork stuff well, and Windows Vista Aero for the odd dual-boot .NET development. Whoops, I guess I suddenly care. :-) But I think even Vista Aero runs fine on a X3100, so that should be fine. It's not like I can play GAMES on a Mac or anything....

I want: X3100 will do if it means it can meet my price point

Memory

I WANT TO NOT BE RIPPED OFF!!!! WTF... seriously, there's a $400 difference between what Apple charges for a 4GB upgrade and what Dell charges. Both claim 667 MHz. Apple isn't the only one playing this game, Sony charges about $200 more than Dell. Seriously...these companies are on glue.

I want: 0GB. That's right. Send me the laptop I'll put my own memory in. I don't trust that these companies are capable of being fair about it. So much for not ripping it apart on day one!

Audio

I'm not sure it matters anymore. But I want hardware. Not software emulated crap. Just because I have a multicore CPU doesn't mean you get to use one to process audio. We're talking about $12 worth of chips. Come on.

I want: Hardware Audio, stereo speakers that don't suck.

Features

I want everything the MBP has. It's about time companies stop making me choose if I want wi-fi, bluetooth, USB ports, Firewire, multi-card readers, DVD+/-RW...etc. If the laptop doesn't have these things, why bother making it?

I want: It all.

Warranty

I want: A warranty that covers everything for 3 years other than my own negligence and all that act of god stuff. If you want to exclude the hard drive and the optical drive due to moving parts, fine (1 year). But if you're telling me I shouldn't expect more than a year out of the general circuitry and build quality of the chassis, then I don't want your product. How is it that my car - that has far more moving parts that are more likely to go wrong - has a longer warranty at no extra cost? Maybe they're lying to me and including it in the price. But fine, it makes me feel better. Include it in your price as long as it meets my next requirement...

Price

I want it for: $2000. If you're going to make it in China and pay workers $2 / hour. I want some of your savings forwarded on. Otherwise, pay them more or build it in the country you live in and I'd be happy to foot the bill for a $3000 laptop. But not to buy Jobs another Mercedes. The MB is actually pretty fairly priced. But the MBP is outrageous.

Summary

14.1" WSXGA 1440 x 900
200GB 7200RPM drive
Intel 2.6GHz Penryn
Intel X3100+
0GB (BYORAM) -- unless they can give me 4GB fairly
DVD+/-RW
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB, Firewire, multi-card reader
Hardware audio, stereo speakers
$2000

My credit card is waiting.