So what did I think of the new announcements from Apple? Well I was pleased to see that my predictions of podcast support, both audio and video, in iLife ’06 were true. I also am very interested to give the new iWeb app a spin, but for me I am not so sure how useful I will find it. The first part of the Keynote moved terribly slowly. I was waiting in great anticipation for the “BIG” announcement. I can tell you that when Steve said new Intel Macs I was thrilled and then immediately crushed when he said they were new iMacs. No new features, just new processors. Didn’t they just put out new iMacs a few months ago? I think Apple is going to have some seriously pissed new iMac owners to deal with. Is this two revisions since May? Don’t get me wrong, Core Duo Intel based iMacs are a great thing, but I would have preferred a Mac Mini or better yet new Intel iBook. Of course at this point I knew it wasn’t over yet, since the fateful phrase we all know and love had not been uttered yet. And then it came…. “Oh, and one more thing”.
The MacBook Pro. YES. New Intel based Pro Mac laptops. SWEET! These things are seriously cool and have horsepower up the wazooo. Just check the specs page and you will see what I mean. I was getting a bit worried that this MacWorld was not going to live up to the hype and it almost didn’t. Now I only wish I had an extra $3,500 bucks lying around. Apple is ready to go with a new Intel native OS X update (10.4.4) and all iLife offerings in Universal Binaries. The Pro apps are getting updates soon and you can get a DVD with all the updates for $49.00 USD. Adobe and Microsoft say their updates are on the way and Steve claims the Rosetta performance on the new machines is “great”. I wonder if what he considers “great” is the same as what I consider “great”? I’ll let you know when I get may hands on a real system at the Apple Store.
Overall I would say this is nat as big a MacWorld as I thought it would be. I am still disappointed we didn’t see a Mac PVR system and the iWork ’06 update is pretty much a nothing update if you ask me. I know I won’t be upgrading. Personally iLife ’06 is the biggest news in my world. I can’t wait to try the new Podcasting features. I will try to get a post-MacWorld cast up soon. Stay subscribed.
Mac Geek out.
Yeah I am very suprised that the Powerbooks were the first to be replaced with Intel chips. Interesting though :)
I see that the new MacBook Pro’s don’t come with a PCMCIA slot but rather some other “ExpressCard/34” slot. Have you any idea what this?
Alistair
You echo my thoughts exactly. I was hoping for a Mac Mini PVR and also a new iPod shuffle. Oh well. I do have a feeling that both of those products will be coming soon.
I was a little confused about teh$49 update disk. Was that an update to iLife? Or did it just update Pro apps? I’m not too excited about paying $79 for an update to iLife ’05 if that is the case, not enough was added to make it worth it.
I’m all over the new iMac. That huge HD and blazing fast speeds will leave my current 800MHz iMac G4 in the dust big time! The new Mac Book looks real sweet too, but I’m not a notebook user. The name change is interesting. I wonder if it was the intel change that influenced them doing it. It will take some getting used to.
Software wise, I’m not that impressed. It seems like no real effort was put in to iWork ’06. And though iLife ’06 got a few enhancements, nothing about really excites me. Maybe I just have to read a bit more about it. iWeb sounds interesting, but I won’t really know how I feel about it until I try it out.
All in all, a good MacWorld. It didn’t rock my world, but it sure got me excited to buy a new Mac.
I have been reviewing the Quick Tours on the iLife 06 apple web site. There is some very very cool integration between the various individual applications. iPhoto looks especially interesting in that it has aspects of aperture, enhanced editin g features and supports 250,000 photos (well, it’s a goal). It also appears that the ability to create a podcast has been greatly eased and I await the full Mac Geek report on that. I agree with the assessment and disappointment regarding the lack of a mini-mac dvr. I was also surprised to see the Intel processor on the iMac as oppossed to an ibook or a new mini. I think I will wait a few months before dumping my Thinkpad and 15″ Powerbook. Once I see I can run both worlds on the Probook I will be posting my laptops on ebay.
As a new iMac G5 owner I am not at all annoyed. I made a decision to have the last G5 machine rather than the first Intel machine. I think that there may be teething troubles given the massive problem of migration from one architecture to another. The Intel iMac is seriously cool though – what a stylish way to introduce the new architecture!! Of course, it is eclipsed by the MacBook Pro which really is pretty amazing.
I bought my iMac G5 for the great features – iSight and Front Row. The fact that it may not have the speed of the new Intel iMac is of little consequence right now – as the machine was amazingly quick compared to my older iMac G4 when I first got it. I will wait and buy an Intel Mac comes out with truly new and unique features – and when the technology has been tried and tested.
Or maybe I’m in denial?
OK, I’ve changed my mind, iLife ’06 is pretty awesome! I’m loving the many enhancements to iPhoto and iWeb is looking very impressive. It’s almost like a cross between .Mac and Pages.
Here is my thought on the keynote, Intel iMacs are cool however a Front Row Intel Mac Mini would have be truely awesome. I think that the new iLife apps are pretty cool, but I don’t think I’ll be upgrading from iLife ’05 until “Leopard” is released. As for the Ipod announcements, I’m kinda disappointed, Griffin Technology has an FM radio add-on (called iFM) for the same money as Apple’s creation, and it comes in black. I was really hoping for an 80Gb harddrive upgrade too. Toshiba has a 1.8″ drive with that capacity out now, I think they said it was the same size as the 60Gb drive that’s in the Ipod right now. I hoped that Apple was going to release some sort of wireless Ipod, but I can keep dreaming, for now. What happened to the Intel annoucements. What’s the role-out going to be like? What models will get updated first? This years keynote seemed to me to somewhat lack luster, hopefully Apple will have more “special events” planned for Spring ’06 before WWDC.
I’m wondering if the early pricing on the Intel chips is so high the new Intel notebook had to be a “Pro” version to cover the expense of the Intel CPU. I can imagine they do have an Intel Mac Mini designed and ready to go, but if they priced it under $1000 Apple would lose money on each one. Look for the promised Intel Mini with the iPod dock on top to be announced within 90 days. I think Apple does plan to make this new .mac space to place to hold the media files for the DVR functionality. Saying the space is for podcasts and pictures is Plan B because the Mini/DVR and/or Plasma screen/Mini/DVR aren’t ready to announce.
I would have to agree with most everybody that this was not a jawdropping Macworld by any measure but then again, I think that us Mac Geeks have become a little jaded over the past couple of years. At some point, the big announcements were going to plateau and I think thats what we have here.
With that being said, I am excited about iLife ’06 due to the new app iWeb. After just creating a personal site using a fine product called RapidWeaver, I must say that Apple appears to have created an even better product with iWeb. Additionally, I have always wanted to create a podcast and with the enhancements to GarageBand, it appears that this dream will finally become a reality
WOWZA! my dad wanted a iMac anyways and now intel!?! and the price didn’t go up either so if i get it soon i’ll tell how it is, and i fell bad for cfsporn, his powerPC chip world is slowly coming down, lol jk, dude the macbook pro is probably the first dual core laptop and front row and isight, geez Apple might as well put our house in there.
I was watching the Mac Rumors site throughout the keynote with baited breath. I was totally excited to hear about the new MacBook Pro (writing this on a 1 GHz PowerBook G4). This is probably my next computer – yeeha!
As for the rest of the keynote, I agree that it was pretty much a non-event.
Call me crazy, but I was really hoping for an iPod with a built-in Sirius satellite radio receiver. Oh well . . . I can dream, can’t I?
Me parece que la nueva MacBook Pro es una fantástica opción. Si miras sus caracterÃsticas de poder y velocidad es bastante sorprendente.
En cuanto a programas como el iLife, es buena la ventaja para publicar tus podcast.
El punto está en hacer el uso de la technologÃa muy accesible y fácil de manejarla, siempre con enfoque al consumidor ordinario (a las masas) más que para hacer un simple negocio.
Bien por Apple, y bien por Mac cast.
Excitement! Desire! and what??? No pod-cast of the event? I was just going to download a podcast of the keynote… and unless I have missed something… I can’t find it. Apple Apple Apple… with this last new release, it should have been the first thing out of the gate.
Well, all told, the event is still amazing.
Nice to see apple doing so well.
I really! wish they would have started selling mac minis today I need a new computer bad! and I want my first mac :D
Well I must say I was a bit disappointed that no Mactel iBook has been released.
Interesting the things which have been released were rumored on Appleinsider at the beginning of November.
I am also a bit disappointed in the features of the MacBook only 2 USB 2.0 and only 1 Firewire 400 seems to be a bit like nothing, a Firewire 800 and a third USB wouldn’t hurt at all.
Also for business people there should be an option to remove the iSight. When you go threw security at Big Companies, they don’t let you take in any kind of camera for security reasons.
On the other side I guess all phones these days have cameras and some guy standing with his MacBook over some blueprints would look a bit strange and obvious? So maybe its not a problem.
I am very impressed by the “cinema display” and the graphics card on the new MacBook.
I love the new commercial its so coool.
Watching the Keynote felt a bit like, Steve did overtime last night and was not quite awake.
I expect that there will be several Special Events this spring.
I expect by June, we will have Mactels of MacMini and iBook.
And around August but definetly in Q3 we will have PowerMacs with Conroe Processors.
Lastly I would like to note that I missed some news about Leopard, but I guess we will hear all about it latest at the Developter Conference in June.
Oh forgot one more thing, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if some products would debut on April Fools Day Apple’s 30th Anniversary :)
Wow, you guys are like kids on Christmas – sure, the present you got was great but you have to whine because you didn’t get something even better.
These are incredible products. I’d say a great deal of work on iWork was behind the scenes – i.e. getting MS Office document support increased.
What do you guys think of the new timetable too – all Macs will be intel based by the end of this year! That’s incredible! Obviously, the transition is going very well.
More good news too – Microsoft said they will keep making Office for Mac for at least 5 more years. That opens Apple up to make some bold moves that may have otherwise caused MS to pull Office.
This is a great day for Apple!
In looking into the MacBook Pro, I am disappointed to see that it lacks a PCMCIA card slot. That alone would probably keep me from buying one. At least they kept FireWire, but I wonder why it’s only FW400.
The first half of that keynote was painfully slow.
The MacBook pro looks truly oustanding.
The thing is.. the iMac G5 is already VERY fast. (Tried it in an Apple store). The new INTEL G5 must be BLAZING! wow
hehe.. when Steve Jobs did his ‘Super secret Apple News’ I thought of Adam (mac geek adam) and thinksecret..
oooh.. and BRIGHTER powerbooks. the cinema displays are niiice.
this will be one stunning laptop.
Yeah it caught me I was thinking the Mac Mini would be the first one and it was just a couple of mothns the iMac was updated. And I am one that has the 20-inch iMac. And yeah I am notto happy abouit it as well. Now on the other hand the MacBook Pro I like and in Feb I think I will get one. Now I have not updated my Power Mac G5 I sill have The Dual 2.7 G5 Power Mac and was thinking about a dual core. If theu did the Pro line in laptops what is going to keep them from doing the Power Mac. And I what are they going to that MacPower Pro. And I thought the Pro apps were no where ready for the swich. I guess I am wrong. I just wish I would have known about how fast they were going to relaease the iMac with Intel. But you know whith the Power Books and iMac they are going to have to sell the dirt cheap. Since no one is going to pay full Price for a iMac or Power Book with the PPC in side when you can get a new Intel one for the same price.
Mike
I’m happy with the keynote and the new products. For many, I’m sure there is some disappointment with the number of new application features – but the one that are there are impressive enough.
I think too many of us get caught in the hype and speculation prior to the event that it taints our expectations. Also, considering how much of an effort Apple has made durring the past 6 to 9 months of the transition, I think it’s pretty understandable as to what was released today. Steve did say that by the end of the year everything will be moved over to intel. I’m looking forward to not only seeing what will become of the PowerMac, but new surprises too.
What made the most impact to me was the end of the address – Apple is turning 30 this year. I got a little yeary eyed seeing the photo of Jobs and Woz. I’ll be reflecting on how Apple changed the world and my role in it. I would not have become a software developer if it wasn’t for Jobs and Woz. I’m thinking that this aniversary will be a hoemcoming for many of us that started with the Apple ][ and moved on to the PC. I know I’ll be purchasing a new iMac and MacBook Pro in the coming weeks.
Woz’ autobiography will be published later this summer – I can’t wait to get my hands on it – more than the new MacBook Pro.
i’m so happy that the firewire 400 ports are still on the iBOOKS and Powerbooks.. i really need those port. APPLE – please do not TAKE it OFF..
and yes we are so used to the BIG news during the expo.. these are small good news and thats okey..
APPLE – thanks.
one more thing….
Roz Ho’s speech on Microsoft’s 5 year commitment was laughable. I just kept saying – ‘except for IE’ everytime she opened her mouth.
Microsoft’s commitment is a joke, and Microsoft’s poor application devlepment is why many of us have switched back to Apple – why would I install anything Microsoft wrote on my iMac?
And yes, like Adam, I’m a .NET developer too.
I have been reading latell, i cant remember where, speculating whether apple was going to drop the bomb of using “darwine” (i think its called) and having windows apps run natively in os X and was this the reason apple has been building a collection of mac-only software, so that when the developers decide to not switch their apps from windows to mac, we will still have something. And i haven’t seen anyone post about this anywhere, but did anyone find it odd that microsoft practially signed a contract agreeing to still making software for mac for the next five years? I believe this might be a sign b/c microsoft would be the first developer to stop making software for the mac in my opinion, but now they can’t, they have to continue….
I guess they could just make the mac version so crappy we would use the windows one instead?
Just thinking aloud,
Jeff
“I have been reading latell, i cant remember where, speculating whether apple was going to drop the of using “darwine†(i think its called)”
You’ve never used wine or darwine, have you? It’s a long ways away from usable. Perhaps if Apple did some serious work on it, but I just don’t see it being profitable. That aside, Apple has pulled off some amazing things based on open source (Safari/KHTML).
“I guess they could just make the mac version so crappy we would use the windows one instead?”
Since MS only makes money on Windows and Office (look at their financial figures to see), they wouldn’t be doing that anytime soon.
“Now I have not updated my Power Mac G5 I sill have The Dual 2.7 G5 Power Mac and was thinking about a dual core. If theu did the Pro line in laptops what is going to keep them from doing the Power Mac. And I what are they going to that MacPower Pro. And I thought the Pro apps were no where ready for the swich.”
The name aside, there was a HUGE difference between the PowerBook and the PowerMac. The PowerBook had the same processor (basically) as the Mac mini. So just because the PowerBook was ready doesn’t mean the PowerMac is.
“The thing is.. the iMac G5 is already VERY fast. (Tried it in an Apple store). The new INTEL G5 must be BLAZING! wow”
That’s exactly what I was thinking when I saw the video of it!
Link to the video of the keynote:
http://stream.qtv.apple.com/events/jan/mw2006/m_mw_2006_650_ref.mov
I just bought my first Mac, a powerbook 1.5- I think this is a slick computer that will go a long way but now I see the new MacBooks Pro. Does anyone else feel sort of like a sucker? On the other hand, I think there is a lot of hype that just gives you the feeling of not keeping up with the Jones family down the street.
MacBook Pro. YES!!!!! I ordered my as soon as the store was back up. Got the 1.83 system with 120GB drive (wish I could order 1TB…).
The only bummer is, I’ve got to wait another month. It’s going to be a long month…:-(
Hey mac user X, the Mac Book Duo is not the first dual core laptop. AMD has been putting it’s X2s in laptops since the summer.
I’m one of the pissed off new iMac owners. Last weekend I traded my old G4 iMac 800 in for G5 17′ iMac. It is a lot faster. I agreed with you because Apple just upgraded it with the built in iSight, etc. I thought I would be OK. I’m hoping in some ways there are pros & cons by being on the “leading edge” of technology. What do you think?
Adam I love your podcasts…I look forward to hearing every one and I think you do a great job with it.
Anyone who uses Rapid Weaver isn’t going to see much point in iLife ’06, but it’s good that Apple finally has a web site tool in it’s arsenal.
Anybody know how I can buy “Country Song” by Icepaw. i am in the Navy and really fell in love with that song. I have googled it every which way but loose, but I have not been able to find a way to buy it. Any suggestions?
I just ordered iLife 06 – can’t wait to set up Photocasting between my macs and my mothers – it will be just really easy for her that way. Great way to share photos of the kids.
I’m hoping 10.4.4 fixes the iChat AV video problems we’ve been experiencing between my mom’s iBook and my PowerBook.
And guys, with a remote and DVI out of your MacBook Pro – you have a home theatre PowerBook. I already use my powerbook as just that hooked up to my 42 inch plasma. A remote would be really cool for controlling it from the sofa or hotel bed. Go Apple. Glad i bought shares as well as a PC from you :)
I don’t think a lot of people will be ‘pissed’ about there being a new iMac with Intel. Granted we are talking about people who purchased the iMac G5 and now feel perhaps sort of let down.
I would say there are two camps.
Die hard Mac fans (maybe pissed)
Switchers
Lots of time to learn and play with their new machines – not pissed
Reasoning
Correct me if I am wrong but there are very few universal apps although Rosetta appears to do a good job. People still have time to get new iMacs and the iMac G5 still has a lot of juice in it for now.
I am still only fairly new having switched just 4 or 5 months ago. I was fairly impressed with the getting iMacs as Intel machines they should have put 1GB of ram in one of the machines. The macBooks are expensive though but must be very speedy.
I am trying to work out why you would photocast when you can just send the photos by email?
The iWeb thing is OK for the non techy sort of people but those of us that can set up websites already and know how easy it is to get a domain name will wonder why spend that much money on .Mac.
iSync is the main advantage I suppose but then I could just do a back up of iCal, and address book and send it to my gmail account and update my other computer in the other place from it. I know it is not as tidy and you would have to remember which backup is the latest.
Perhaps not as simple with the email situation in Apple Mail
I was hoping for the Mac Mini to be upgraded too- would have suited me better – BUT I don’t imagine that we will have to wait too long before getting the new Mac Mini. I want the Front Row thing on it and a remote control.
I wonder how many of the apps that I use and like will have trouble running with Rosetta? I would still be prepared to buy the iMac anyway and struggle a bit so long as I have my Mac Mini still to work with.
Has anyone else noticed that upgrading ram is not so ridiculously expensive as it used to be for the new iMac? 300$ for 2 gigs sounds about right.
J.
This was an awesome keynote, people. You need to stop reading so many rumor sites and getting your expectations way too high.
iLife has been on a trend of big updates one year and then smaller updates the next. iLife 05 was a big update and now we get iLife 06 which is almost big. iPhoto gets speed, 250,000 photos, full screen editing, calenders (!!!), cards, new UI like Apeture. This is a great iPhoto update. A good calendar/greeting card app is at least $30 alone.
I’m a big iMovie user so anything they do there is great. The new “themes” looks really cool. Now I can have motion graphics at the push of a button. Have to see how it runs on my 1Ghz G4 iMac though. iDVD’s 16:9 menus should have been there last year. Magic iDVD can be useful when converting VHS to DVD.
iWeb looks great. I use .mac to send pics and movies to family members in other states. I’ll now have a full site with pics, movies all in their proper place. Heck, maybe I’ll even get back into making web pages as a side business. (Nobody needs to know how easy it is with iWeb).
GB’s new podcasting features are going to be huge for the podcasting community. Just wait until you see the copy-cat apps released in the next few months.
I have 3 Tivos in my house so I don’t have a need for a Mac DVR. I also have a G4 Cube connected to my TV as a media center. I can view all our pics, movies and watch DVD rips.
I agree on the shock of the iMac. I wonder if we are going to move to an era of where we’ll get speed bumps much more rapidly than the 6 month cycle we’ve had for years with the PowerPC. I would be pissed if I just got an iMac but these are computers and as soon as you take it home consider it obsolete. (not that the iMac G5 will stop working or being a great machine)
Finally, I can’t believe you all thought the iBook would go first? Hun? Wouldn’t everyone then be complaining that the consumer laptop is better than the pro laptop? The new MacBook Pro is awesome and will be a huge success. Can’t wait to see if they do a sub-note with the non-dual core chip.
Therein lies the problem with a large, active “rumor” community: disappointment. No real set of announcements can ever match the maelstrom of rumors that precede a keynote.
The importance of yesterday’s keynote was on the order that when the iMac was introduced or when Mac OS X was revealed. I would assert that it even surpasses all of the previous processor changes (68k->PowerPC, Motorola->IBM).
1. Apple delivered a massively redesigned product WAY ahead of schedule. In a world of slipping deadlines, Apple’s achievement announced yesterday is resounding evidence of its skill and integrity.
2. Not only did the switch gave iMacs and MacBook Pros an immediate performance boost today, but it also put Apple on the roadmap providing a much more promising future than IBM could DELIVER (its ability to PROMISE exceeds or matches Motorola’s.)
Yesterday was the day of Intel-based Macs becoming a reality. Major announcements of software, services and music hardware would have just been overshadowed by the new Macs. Look at how much buzz surrounded the Moto Al ROKeR phone that was announced at the same event as the Nano!
Wall Street loves the news of the Intel-based Macs — let us hope that consumers love them as well.
Totally agree Adam. I got my iMacG5 the day they came out in October. Do I feel a bit burned that 2 months later I could have had an Intel Dual Core?
You bet, but I’m also very happy with my iMac so I guess I’ll just wait an save my dollars for the new MacBook.
I liked the keynote. The MacBook Pro is great and I definitley want to get iLife06. I did not think they would start the intel migration with it’s chepeast computer (Mac Mini). I would do the high end products first then do the low end products.
My predictions for new iBooks (or MacBooks as I can see them being called) is March or April – they want to cash in on the school shopping season.
They have $1500-$2000 of my money for a new MacBook Pro or MacBook.
I would have been happy with a mac mini, but an iMac suits me fine too as I like the look of them. I was also pleased that Jobs came up with the goods early so I didn’t have to wait until june for a new computer as my powerbook G3 is getting long in the tooth – but I was holding out for the intels. I ordered an imac 20″ this afternoon – 10 to 15 day delivery. I have to admit I’m nervous to be breaking in such a new product line (total cost $3600 Apple France). So I got the Apple Care, which I’m hoping they’ll honour if stuff goes wrong. Kinda excited too – first new computer for five years :D
I love the new Intel iMac but as I only just bought the new iMac I do feel a little pissed that I missed the new Intel version.
I know how you feel. The last computer I bought – G3 OS9 Pismo – was just before OSX and G4s came out, which made software upgrades very expensive later on. Having said that, I’ve used it nearly every day since then (I’m typing this on it) so it can’t have been that bad a decision.
hey andrew-drop me an email at guy@h-pep.com and I’ll get you a copy of the icepaw song.
love the MacBook Pro (though i hope new ibook’s come in a black casing).
Apple is trying to convert the HUGE iPod sales last quarter into more Mac sales (halo effect) by fixing the only drawback in the Mac line (speed) and adding easy podcast/vidcast creation (iLife ’06 + built-in iSight) to an already amazing computer.
iMac upgrade was simple… they already designed for the Intel integration during their last redesign. Also, pro users will probably benefit more from the speed of the new MacBook (running Apple’s apps) rather than most iBook users.
I’m excited about the MacBook Pro, but am totally amazed that there is no mention anywhere about battery life, which is a key factor for many laptop purchasers. If the battery life is the same as the present PowerBook line, why didn’t they shout it from the rooftops: “Four to five times the speed, but no decrease if battery life!” If it’s actually BETTER than the present line, the lack of any mention of it is stupid. If it’s worse…well, we’ll see. Has anyone seen any specs on the Intel Core Duo that speak to battery life in laptops? (I visited the Intel site but didn’t see anything.)
I think that they put the intels in the wrong Macs. They should have done an intel MacMini and an intel iBook. These need updating most.
The pro laptop upgrade coming first was obvious. The PowerMacs were fine with dual G5s and the pro apps lagging in Intel conversion. Everyone seems to have fogotten the product pecking order: PowerMac, PowerBook, iMac, iBook, mini. The only exception to this was the recent bumping of the iMac to G5 ahead of the Powerbook, but they were forced to. I thought this was a good move.
They could not have updated the mini or iBooks without updating the others, or you would have had them faster than the iMacs and Powerbooks. They would have hunted Steve down. You have to start from the top, or nearly so since the Powermacs were fine as noted above. The only other option was to update them all at once, but probably lack of resources meant they could only get as far down the line as the iMac.
The iBook and mini should be next and soon because once people realize those are going to be at least twice as fast, they aren’t going to buy the current models. Also, do not look for these to be radically different designs other than including iSight and IR. The theme for the rapid transition is to not have too much engineering going on – just the main board and CPU. Next revisions may be more adventurous.
Powermacs should get it once Photoshop for Intel is announced. So, what will their name change to? They already have “mac” in the name and are not a “book”, so will they be “Mac Pro”?
I still would like to see a Powermac mini of sorts. A smaller case with just a few slots, one dual core CPU for a prosumer/gamer.
Regarding MagSafe:
it seems as if the plug itself is the magnet – quite cool. :)
And Adam: Magnets don’t wear out. How long have those sushi and enchilada magnets been on your fridge door? ;-)
If you want really “mean” magnets, have a look at http://www.supermagnete.de – unfortunately it’s only in German but you’ll get an idea how strong even the little ones can be. “Bad idea to use this one to stick shopping notes on the fridge door – you won’t be able to get off again”
Best,
Bernd