Back to School Promo, and MacBook Pro Specs

[MacRumors]

With updates likely only hours away, a few final tidbits prior to the launch...

The iTunes Store reveals an image promoting the expected Back to School Promo:


The promo which launches on Tuesday, allows college students to get a free iPod Nano with any Mac purchase (excluding the Mac mini). Students may opt to take a $199 credit against a more expensive iPod if desired. Unfortunately the iPhone seems to be excluded from this promo.

Some Page 2 MacBook Pro specs were posted earlier, pointing towards 2.2GHz / 2.4GHz MacBook Pro updates with GeForce 8600M GT video. Appleinsider has updated with comparable specs of the rumored 15" notebooks.

[arn]

hardly worth posting at this late hour, but this thread can serve as the playground for the last minute discussion/waiting.

arn

[Aniej]

thanks buddy. any last minute guesses on the MBP update?

[Music_Producer]

Originally Posted by arn

hardly worth posting at this late hour, but this thread can serve as the playground for the last minute discussion/waiting.

arn

Every minute counts, and how!

[iToaster]

Why am I still awake? I dunno, but this is definitely keeping me awake, or maybe it's the excitment of the possible new MBPs.

[kainjow]

Originally Posted by iToaster

Why am I still awake? I dunno, but this is definitely keeping me awake, or maybe it's the excitment of the possible new MBPs.

Not sure about you, but college procrastination is keeping me up

[asrmatt]

Waiting for our new MBP may i sing a perfect Arctic Monkeys song?

Anticipation has a habit to set you up
For disappointment in evening entertainment but
Tonight there’ll be some love
Tonight there'll be a rawkus, regardless of what's gone before

[Anawrahta]

If they release as the same specs as AI showed, all I can say is HO HUM update. It's nice that its santa rosa, and new graphics, but honestly no backlit LED? Also 256 and 512MB graphics woulda been nicer for flagship notebooks dontchathink?

If this is it for the notebooks for another 6 months, I sure hope they have some killer iMacs being unleashed next week as hinted by Steve, or this is going to be a boring summer for Mac computers.

[nagromme]

And 2.2/2.4 GHz would mean Santa Rosa?

How does the GeForce 8600M GT stack up against other GPUs suitable for inch-thin laptops? (I know those thick and heavy Windows luggables can fit higher-end GPUs than that.)

Originally Posted by Anawrahta

If they release as the same specs as AI showed, all I can say is HO HUM update. It's nice that its santa rosa, and new graphics, but honestly no backlit LED? Also 256 and 512MB graphics woulda been nicer for flagship notebooks dontchathink?

15" LED displays will come sometime--Apple has said LED is their future. Are we certain they are not coming today? The rumored specs I've seen don't mention the backlight used.

Originally Posted by Anawrahta

If this is it for the notebooks for another 6 months, I sure hope they have some killer iMacs being unleashed next week as hinted by Steve, or this is going to be a boring summer for Mac computers.

LED backlight aside, what features were you hoping for? These are the fastest mobile chips out there, in an already great laptop design. Santa Rosa and a GPU boost is all I personally was hoping to see.

[arn]

Originally Posted by nagromme

And 2.2/2.4 GHz would mean Santa Rosa?

How does the GeForce 8600M GT stack up against other GPUs suitable for inch-thin laptops? (I know those thick and heavy Windows luggables can fit higher-end GPUs than that.)

I think 2.2/2.4 does indicate Santa Rosa from my understanding. I don't necessarily think TFT excludes LED, but don't take my word for it.

arn

[nagromme]

Originally Posted by arn

I think 2.2/2.4 does indicate Santa Rosa from my understanding. I don't necessarily think TFT excludes LED, but don't take my word for it.

arn

You're right - Googling for LED backlit TFT turns up lots of hits.

Originally Posted by mikeinternet

i'd prefer a ultra-portable over a MBP upgrade. but that's just me.

Now you're talking 9"-13", with 64GB+ flash and no HD, 128 VRAM, and external optical please I know it would cost more than the 15" and I still am ready to pay for that power in an ultraportable.

But whatever the details, I do think a smaller laptop is coming (probably not today). Probably using the MacBook Pro name--just a new smaller size in the lineup

[xfusejc]

I was waiting for this before buying my MacBook, but I don't see any discount when I add the iPod to the MacBook on the cart. How does the discount on the iPod work?

[CHROMEDOME]

Originally Posted by xfusejc

I was waiting for this before buying my MacBook, but I don't see any discount when I add the iPod to the MacBook on the cart. How does the discount on the iPod work?

You gotta buy both the macbook and the ipod...then print out the mail in rebate thing, then cut out the UPC of both products then like mail all that stuff in. Then wait 6-8 weeks for the money...ITS GREAT FUN!

I like how "back to school" is already starting, a lot of people are still in school.

[Anawrahta]

Originally Posted by nagromme

LED backlight aside, what features were you hoping for? These are the fastest mobile chips out there, in an already great laptop design. Santa Rosa and a GPU boost is all I personally was hoping to see.

Yes it's true those are some fast graphics chips, but we haven't yet seen what's going to replace the 7900 series in the high end. Of course Apple can't sit and wait.

I would like to see a complete redesign of the case. Yes it's a beautiful industrial design, a true classic in terms of Apple's notebook history. I think it's time to put it out to pasture. I'd like to see composite materials being used, to make for a stronger/lighter case, ala Toughbook, or VAIO. I know it's been mentioned a hundred times before.

It's been a very long time since we've seen any revolutionary new designs in their computers. Everything in the past 5 years or so has just been bumps and of course the switch to Intel, but I'm talking case design.

[Aniej]

There is a chance we have it wrong... It would simply be Intel's release as reported in this CNET article: Intel is set to take the wraps off its latest chipsets and a new low-cost laptop.

[nagromme]

Originally Posted by Anawrahta

It's been a very long time since we've seen any revolutionary new designs in their computers. Everything in the past 5 years or so has just been bumps and of course the switch to Intel, but I'm talking case design.

Agreed. New case styling would be fun. The case WAS redesigned, with new dimensions and the camera, but the styling remained the same.

Still, I can't think what I'd want them to do differently. They're minimalist--as Apple likes (me too)--and I do like the aluminum material's scratch resistance a lot.

Maybe keep the Al outside, but the inner surfaces could become black. Might look cool.

I wonder if anyone in these forums will blame Apple if today's rumor turns out to be bad info?

[a456]

Originally Posted by nagromme

15" LED displays will come sometime--Apple has said LED is their future. Are we certain they are not coming today? The rumored specs I've seen don't mention the backlight used.

Good question. Here is what the "Greener Apple" statement said:

We plan to introduce our first Macs with LED backlight technology in 2007. Our ability to completely eliminate fluorescent lamps in all of our displays depends on how fast the LCD industry can transition to LED backlighting for larger displays.

Since the screens on the iMac (and of course Cinema Displays) are the largest we must presume this means the MacBook or MacBook Pro. Going on Apple's latest scheduling efforts "in 2007" most likely means the end of December. I wouldn't be surprised if the MacBook gets these first (unless there actually is an ultraportable in the pipeline) since they have the smallest screens and college students are the ones that need freedom to work whenever and wherever the most (the MacBook already lasts longer between charges than the MBP).

[pip11]

The iPhone could still be added to the rebate once it comes out; last summer, Apple changed the rebate at least 3 times to account for new products (like the Mac Pro). The last revision was only a few days before it ended, to reflect the changed iPod prices.
I would be kinda surprised if the rebate did include the iPhone though, since Apple really won't have trouble selling every one thats made.

[mikeinternet]

i'd prefer a ultra-portable over a MBP upgrade. but that's just me.

[imacdaddy]

Originally Posted by arn

hardly worth posting at this late hour, but this thread can serve as the playground for the last minute discussion/waiting.

arn

Sure it's worth posting. You can't forget there are readers from EU and Asia like myself.

[kungming2]

Originally Posted by imacdaddy

Sure it's worth posting. You can't forget there are readers from EU and Asia like myself.

Or students pulling all-nighters, like myself.

[Sbrocket]

Originally Posted by orphanjones

how soon after a typical release do apple stores get laptops in stock?

It all depends on the product.

Originally Posted by kungming2

Or students pulling all-nighters, like myself.

Hey, we've got nothing else important to do. It's summertime for us.

[Bonte]

A lot of updates so close at WWDC, its has to be huge next week.

[Smurfed]

I'm still hoping the 17" has a 1920 x 1200 Resolution

[nagromme]

Originally Posted by Smurfed

I'm still hoping the 17" has a 1920 x 1200 Resolution

Count on it coming sooner or later, since Leopard will support a true res-independent UI. However, I believe developers have been told to be ready for res-independence in 2008? I hope that gets moved sooner (October?) but if it's a feature we don't see enabled (or widely used by apps) until 2008, then I expect the 1920x1200 MacBook Pro will wait a while as well. Tiny pixels are terrible for readability otherwise. (I'm imagining this 24" iMac screen shrunk to 17"--ugh!) Still, you can always hold out hope for a BTO option--as long as the demand for that res is great enough.