MacBook Pros are now shipping, and the Apple Store in downtown San Francisco has a few tables' worth of the Intel-powered laptops on display. I was there last night and checked them out for awhile ... and, well, they look, feel, and function alot like PowerBook G4s. The staff at the store was suprisingly -- but logically -- low-key about pushing the new technology, reminding me that "the PowerBook G4 is far from obsolete" when I inquired about upgrade paths. That being said, the PB series is now discontinued.

Two of the guys there also mentioned that they'd be surprised to see a single-core iBook. "We've already committed to dual core in the MacBook, so I don't think we'd bring a single core machine out now," one of them said. Most of the Mac Web seems to disagree with that assessment and expects an iBook replacement powered by an Intel Solo Core processor running at 1.67 GHz to be released sometime this spring.

Genius Talks ProCare
To be honest, I haven't thought much about Apple's $99 ProCare option since they released, except that it's kind of a drag that the only way around big lines at the Genius Bars at Apple Stores is to spend a hundred bucks for VIP reservation privleges.

That is, until last night. I was up at the "Studio" section of the Apple Store in San Francisco talking to a few guys about buying a copy of Logic Express 7 for audio recording and mixing. One of the Genii helping me suggested ProCare because it's good for an hour of one-on-one training once a week for a year. That's not a bad deal at all, especially when looking into a complex, powerful application like Logic Express. Even if I only go for a handful of lessons here and a handful a few months from now when I'm deeper into the program - figure as few as six lessons for $99, that's less than twenty bucks each. Assuming the guys at the Apple Stores know what they're doing, where else am I going to find quality one-on-one training for under $20 an hour? Throw in a free yearly tuneup and priority status for repairs and tech support, and maybe it's worth ponying up for ProCare.

Fun New Products

First off, what other company can you think of whose PR machine better orchestrates buzz and share price spikes than Apple? Second off, I have no idea what they'll be unveiling, but the words "fun new products" make me think it's something more along the lines of a new iPod or iPod-related gadget than an Intel-based consumer laptop. Remember those pre-MacWorld rumors about an iPod Boom Box? Aiport Express with Video? Mac mini Media Center? I also am pulling for a non-Mac announcement since we all know new Intel machines are coming anyway -- I want more cool goodies to dream write about.

Rumors about a widescreen "true video iPod" have been running rampant over the past few weeks, particularly in light of Apple's touch screen patent filings and now this photo (mockup?) of the new (fake?) iPod to be unveiled next week. Looks like this is a Photoshop mockup job, but if you've got ten minutes to spend on some geeky humor, the arguments running in the comments section below the photo are pretty funny.

iPod Vending Machine in SF
These have been around for a little while now, but I think this is the first one I've seen. And it surprised me, being in the Men's Store at Macy's in downtown San Francisco and not, say, in an aiport. It's a vending machine that sells iPods, iPod accessories, and Sony PSPs. The picture here is not of the one I saw last night (the cameraphone snap I took came out all blurry), but it's basically the same machine. iPods, nanos, Apple accessories, and iTunes gift cards on your way out of Macy's; pick one up to match that Boss suit you just bought on the fourth floor...

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