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Apple cranked out some new products today, but unfortunately, they seem to have done it in a really shoddy way. Here, I outline what I think are the strong points and the weaknesses of Apple’s product announcements today.

Tim Cook came out on stage and said something about the current Mac lineup: “Very clean, very focused, and very successful.“ Before today, this was true of the line. Each computer segment, notebooks and desktops, each had three computers within. Though each had variations in tech specs and screen size, they all looked the same.

After today, Apple has done something extremely un-Apple. They have updated half of their product lines. The 15” MacBook Pros are all new, while the 17” computers remain with the old design and feature set. The MacBook is all new, but they are selling the white MacBook (now the only MacBook with FireWire) for $999. The new LED Cinema Display is great, but they continue to sell the old “regular” Cinema Displays right alongside.

Why did Apple do this? One simple reason. The new lines of notebooks and displays leave out many key features. First and foremost among these: matte screens. A Pro machine cannot come without a matte option. Apple opted to ignore that with the 15” MacBook Pro. Their solution for those photography pros that cannot use a glossy display? Buy an old 17” MacBook Pro at a price far higher than the 15” you would have bought otherwise. What about for the consumer who wants a MacBook but needs FireWire? Buy an old MacBook in cheap plastic white for only $100 less that has inferior graphics and inferior design.

In the case of the MacBook Pro, I can only hope this is a stopgap measure because they don’t have the 17” molds for the new models, or because they haven’t figured out the best way to design a matte laptop with the aluminum and glass theme. (Hint: glass bezel. It doesn’t need to cover the screen, Apple.) In the case of the MacBook, I’m just not sure why they are bothering to sell it, other than to clear inventory.

Finally, the LED Cinema Display. This one is slightly more excusable, as Apple is marketing it as a different line, but still, it continues to sell the old displays right alongside at no price drop. Why? Because they are matte, and offer far more options on the size spectrum. But what about the guy who needs a matte display, but wants an iSight built in? Or wants a 30” screen, with integrated MagSafe? Sorry, bud. Out of luck.

In addition, the LED Cinema Display offers only a Mini Display Port, meaning that the only people who can use it are those with the new MacBook or MacBook Pro. This leaves out everyone who spent $2,000 or more on a MacBook Pro as recently as yesterday, meaning they have to pay the same price for an old product – the old Cinema Display.

So Apple went from a product line of the Mac Mini, iMac, Mac Pro, MacBook Air, MacBook, MacBook Pro and Cinema Display, to one that now includes the Mac Mini, iMac, Mac Pro, MacBook Air, White MacBook, MacBook, 15” MacBook Pro, 17” Old MacBook Pro, Apple LED Cinema Display, and the Apple Cinema Displays. Way to simplify.

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