Apple certainly made a splash back in January when it . And while we appreciate the ultra-thin laptop's portability, we couldn't ignore that the redesigned MacBook is just a pound-and-a-half heavier while also offering better performance at a lower price. As for the new MacBooks, they stirred some passionate debate around the Macworld offices, but in the end we found ourselves divided over the notable improvements in the remodeled laptops versus the trade-offs like the lack of a FireWire port and the lower battery life.

In short, we found plenty to like about Apple's products in 2008. But we also found hardware and software that seemed like better choices for our annual awards for delivering quality, innovation, and value to Mac users. As noted in our introduction to this year's Eddy Awards, that speaks volumes about the overall strength of the Mac market and the hardware and software makers that serve it. And hopefully, it might also inspire Apple to push us to even greater heights in 2009.