Apple Releases Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro

[Kelmon]

Will buy the 17" version just as soon as the store will take my order...

Anyway, at least this wait is now over!

[reflex]

In case it wasn't posted yet: the 15" superdrive now does dual layer again. And FW800 is back.

[CPTMONK]

why doiesnt the 15ich have 7200 hard drrivew?

[aristobrat]

Originally Posted by Am3822

Any news about the latch/hd?

Looks like the same ole latch on the pictures...

[ipodrocker]

wow! im so happy apple does it again fresh updates and now the superdrive supports DL burning!! and speed is up to 6x not bad, 1gb ram as standard is good too ** and FW 800

[peeInMyPantz]

what happened to radical new design?

[Chimera]

I think it is £50 cheaper for the base model in the UK

[tny]

Originally Posted by uv23

Slightly off-topic: does anyone have an opinion on getting software (in this case logic express) preinstalled? Is there any benefit or would it be better to just buy the app seperately?

The only benefit it gets you is the time savings of not having to install it yourself - and of being able to jump right in and use it when you get the machine.

[aly]

I'm about to get my card out and spend spend spend!!! I was going to get the 17" due to the fw800, DL superdrive and screen space of course. Now I wonder, the 15" is attractive being that bit smaller. Anyone got any comments on either? Still like the screen on the 17" but I'm thinking 15" would be a bit more portable.

[Fearless Leader]

finally apple makes 1gig a standard basic option. 512mb just doesn't make the cut.

[tmphoto]

Apple's headline: "...Seatbelts Sold Separately."
Bad marketing, seatbelts suggests crashing.

[Squonk]

Although I'd love a new enclosure with the HD swapability of the MB, I didn't think this round of updates would include that. Besides, I'm thinking that when the MBP form factor changes significantly with new latch, HD swapping, etc, we'll see Steve on stage for that one!

I'm pleased with this update - more RAM (lot's more than expected, thanks apple!!!), decent HD options (for my needs - only $100 more to upgrade to the 160GB/5400 - I'm good with that), and FW800 returns to the 15".

Thanks Apple. Now I'll patiently wait for refurbs of these (6-8 weeks) and I'm ordering. Or, should I finally join ADC and get the faster 15" with discount basically gives me one year of ADC for free....

[prady16]

Told ya!
More RAM, faster and newer processor, FW800 port all at the same price!
The wait was worth it!

[shecky]

Originally Posted by peeInMyPantz

what happened to radical new design?

not until Santa Rosa - summer 2007.

im happy with this though, a proven design that has the bugs worked out. as far as i am concerned this is not a new Rev A which i would be wary of buying.

i was tottally sold on the 17" before this update, but now that the 15" has nearly identical specs OTHER than an extra FW port and the bigger screen i am debating getting the 15 and using the extra $ to a 23" external display. hmmmmmmmmmmm

[Squonk]

Originally Posted by tmphoto

Apple's headline: "...Seatbelts Sold Separately."
Bad marketing, seatbelts suggests crashing.

I hear you. Maybe, this means installing Windoze is optional... he he he

[petemitchell2k4]

What about those of us that bought MBP's in August? The upgrades weren't in the forcast! Ugh, I really hate it when this happens!

[freeny]

Originally Posted by dornoforpyros

haha, of course, and I bought on saturday
I'll decide what to do later, I'm well within the 14 day return obviously, but I'm also not too keen on returning the laptop and waiting a few more weeks for a new one to arrive in Canada.

Id return and get the faster one. It will suck until it arrives but once you got it youll be thanking yourself.

I am 5 days out of the exchange after grabbing one a few weeks ago.... Oh well.

[zenvision]

FINALLY!

ordering a 2.33ghz/2gb ram/160gb hd/matte 15.4"

been waiting since july for this

[peeInMyPantz]

is the applecare more expensive now? or is it the same? I didn't take notice previously.. but it looks really expensive now

[thereubster]

Originally Posted by Chimera

I think it is £50 cheaper for the base model in the UK

yep nice little price drop and spec bump combo
old >> New
Core Duo 2.0 >> Core 2 Duo 2.16
512Mb >> 1GB
80Gb HD >> 120Gb HD
4xDVD-R >> 8xDVD-R
>> FW800
and £50 cheaper, very tempted

[MacVault]

Originally Posted by Southernboy

Here comes the moaning..........

Yea... WHERE THE [censored] ARE THE MACBOOKS?! I want a Core 2 Duo MacBook, not MacBook Pro

[Dont Hurt Me]

Apples moving forward, kind of neat after all the years of stagnation. 2 Big updates in 1 year vs a minor hiccup after 1 year. This is good stuff.

[lmalave]

Originally Posted by DWKlink

against other manufacturer's offerings both spec and pricewise?

In terms of specs, here's what you can get in an HP Pavilion dv6000t for $1263:

Windows XP Media Center
Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo processor T7200 (2.00 GHz)
15.4" WXGA BrightView Widescreen!!
256MB NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) Go 7400
Built-in Microphone + Webcam
1.0GB DDR2 SDRAM (2x512MB)
120 GB 5400 RPM SATA Hard Drive
8X DVD+/-R/RW w/Double Layer Support

But the HPs are definitely NOT slim computers like the MBPs (you can go check them out at Best Buy). I don't know of any PC makers that are producing anything as slim as the MBPs, so it makes comparisons hard. But in terms of "specs", there you have it. Interestingly, the HPs even offer integrated webcams now, so I was actually able to spec the above computer to something very, very close to the MBPs. I couldn't find an option for integrated Bluetooth, though...

[johngordon]

I'm probably not as hard core as a lot of you guys, but it seems a pretty good update to me.

The low end MBP is now £1349 in the UK, that's a better spec than what £1699 would have got me yesterday. 1GB RAM finally as a starting point, HD up from 80 to 120 - things that I would have tried to stretch to the £1699 model until now.

I'm probably not looking to replace my trusty G4PB until next year anyway - but I'm happy enough to see those pennies going further with each revision.

The G4PB cost me £1999 back in Jan 04.

Iain

[Chundles]

Originally Posted by MacVault

Yea... WHERE THE [censored] ARE THE MACBOOKS?! I want a Core 2 Duo MacBook, not MacBook Pro

Probably next week, Apple like to get as much press as they can. This way they can stretch out the news reports.