Apple Updates 13" Aluminum MacBook, Rebranded as "MacBook Pro"

[MacRumors]

Apple today updated its 13" aluminum MacBook, rebranding the model as part of its MacBook Pro line. The new model offers the same non-user-replaceable battery found in the 17" MacBook Pro and adds a FireWire 800 port and an SD card slot. Pricing begins at $1199, a $100 drop over the previous entry-level price point, and all models include backlit keyboard.

The new 13-inch MacBook Pro is a significant upgrade at a lower price than the original aluminum MacBook it replaces. With the same sleek and durable design popular with consumers, students and professionals, all 13-inch MacBook Pro models now include a seven hour built-in battery, an SD card slot, a FireWire 800 port, an illuminated keyboard and an improved LED-backlit display with 60 percent greater color gamut.

Hard drive and RAM options for the 13" notebook are the same as in the new 15" MacBook Pro, topping out at 500 GB and 8 GB respectively. The new MacBook models offer the following price points and features:

- $1199. 13" MacBook Pro. 2.26GHz. 2GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce 9400. 160GB HD. Firewire
- $1499. 13" MacBook Pro. 2.53GHz. 4GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce 9400. 250GB HD. Firewire

Apple is now reserving the "MacBook" name for the white polycarbonate model. The new MacBook is available at immediately.

Article Link: Apple Updates 13" Aluminum MacBook, Rebranded as "MacBook Pro"

[Kilamite]

Was hoping for a 9600 in there, but too little room/too hot...? I was ready to buy (i.e. swap my 15") if it had a dedicated GPU and a higher res display. I guess I'm going to have to do a lot of thinking, as it is really quite cheap.

Also, I've got to check out the display, see if they are any better (I know about the silent upgrade in April). As long as it is on par with the Air, I'm interested.

As much as I love the Unibody design, I wish Apple would make the black bezel as thin as it is on the 17" MacBook Pro. It just looks much slicker.

[zw-gator]

What was the US price for the 13" 2.0 uMB prior to this?

Anyone know the Canadian prices?

[arcadeforest]

Originally Posted by zw-gator

What was the US price for the 13" 2.0 uMB prior to this?

Anyone know the Canadian prices?

$1299 I believe

[andrew upstairs]

Originally Posted by zw-gator

What was the US price for the 13" 2.0 uMB prior to this?

$1299

[flopticalcube]

Originally Posted by zw-gator

Anyone know the Canadian prices?

Starts at CAD$1399.

[zw-gator]

Oh wow, the apple store is updated already haha

[airlights]

This is definitely the happiest day of my life. This is such a deal. I just don't know what to do. Thank you, Apple. It's about time you gave this thing a price cut AND improved awesomeness.

[WhiteNoiseMaker]

I was so ready to replace my 2006 Core Duo MB with a new 15" MBP (mainly for the firewire), but now this update and price drop has got me thinking get the 13" MBP. I might wait a couple of weeks for the first reports/problems to come before ordering though.

[capoeirista]

Originally Posted by WhiteNoiseMaker

I was so ready to replace my 2006 Core Duo MB with a new 15" MBP (mainly for the firewire), but now this update and price drop has got me thinking get the 13" MBP. I might wait a couple of weeks for the first reports/problems to come before ordering though.

+1. Exactly the same situation for me. In the next few months my Core Duo Macbook is being retired. I was going to go 15" MBP but these new ones tick all the right boxes for me: firewire, GPU and an affordable price (with student discount).

Hopefully by the time I'm ready to buy all the kinks will have been ironed out.

[machomer]

Originally Posted by WhiteNoiseMaker

I was so ready to replace my 2006 Core Duo MB with a new 15" MBP (mainly for the firewire), but now this update and price drop has got me thinking get the 13" MBP. I might wait a couple of weeks for the first reports/problems to come before ordering though.

Interesting. There's articles on the lower priced iPhone stealing sales from the higher models. This could also be the case for the MBP.

[gilbert1020]

Originally Posted by airlights

This is definitely the happiest day of my life. This is such a deal. I just don't know what to do. Thank you, Apple. It's about time you gave this thing a price cut AND improved awesomeness.

happiest day of your life?
Thats pretty sadd,man.

[airlights]

Originally Posted by gilbert1020

happiest day of your life?
Thats pretty sadd,man.

Dude, it was a hyperbole.

[Hemingray]

Originally Posted by airlights

This is definitely the happiest day of my life. This is such a deal. I just don't know what to do. Thank you, Apple. It's about time you gave this thing a price cut AND improved awesomeness.

I have to agree! I was only asking for FireWire to make a comeback in the new MacBook, but they totally blew me away with adding all other MBP features STANDARD plus a price drop!

This should quell virtually all of the MacBook complaints out there!

I'm not crazy about the non-user-replaceable battery, but if it really improves battery life the way they say it does, I'm willing to give it a shot.

[Quillz]

Originally Posted by Hemingray

I have to agree! I was only asking for FireWire to make a comeback in the new MacBook, but they totally blew me away with adding all other MBP features STANDARD plus a price drop!

This should quell virtually all of the MacBook complaints out there!

I'm not crazy about the non-user-replaceable battery, but if it really improves battery life the way they say it does, I'm willing to give it a shot.

And what you're not crazy about will now replace FireWire as the #1 complaint of the new MacBook Pro (all models): the non-replaceable battery.

Some will prefer having longer battery life, others will dislike that now they have to pay Apple even more money for its battery replacement service.

As usual, there are many new things to like about the 13-inch MacBook Pro, and some new things to hate.

[Coleco]

Can these boot from SD?

[BRLawyer]

Originally Posted by airlights

This is definitely the happiest day of my life. This is such a deal. I just don't know what to do. Thank you, Apple. It's about time you gave this thing a price cut AND improved awesomeness.

This is probably one of the most advantageous offers ever to grace Apple's current lineup, which is simply THE BEST of the whole industry; the revamped MBP 13" is unbeatable in its segment, and the perfect replacement for those G4 12" worshipers.

In fact, there is simply no comparison with the "competition", given the absolutely superior OS, the lower prices, the return of FW and the best screens of the market.

GO APPLE! MS IS DEAD. AND BURIED.

[Macrimonious]

so when are they in stores? tomorrow?

[spyderracer393]

Originally Posted by BRLawyer

This is probably one of the most advantageous offers ever to grace Apple's current lineup, which is simply THE BEST of the whole industry; the revamped MBP 13" is unbeatable in its segment, and the perfect replacement for those G4 12" worshipers.

^this

Today is the day I will replace my 5 year old 12" G4. It has been a great 5 years.

[APPLENEWBIE]

Originally Posted by BRLawyer

GO APPLE! MS IS DEAD. AND BURIED.

Oddly, MS's website is still operating...

[Quillz]

Originally Posted by BRLawyer

This is probably one of the most advantageous offers ever to grace Apple's current lineup, which is simply THE BEST of the whole industry; the revamped MBP 13" is unbeatable in its segment, and the perfect replacement for those G4 12" worshipers.

In fact, there is simply no comparison with the "competition", given the absolutely superior OS, the lower prices, the return of FW and the best screens of the market.

GO APPLE! MS IS DEAD. AND BURIED.

Again, I quote for the hilarity.

I'm also waiting for your researched evidence proving beyond doubt that these are the "best screens of the market." And lower prices in comparison to what? Yesterday's models? They are still far more expensive than comparable or superior PC offerings.

But I guess you worship Steve Jobs every night, right?

[koobcamuk]

The new MacBook Pro 13" model is pretty nice. I am liking the SD card reader, but my camera takes CF cards, so it's still not helping me really My own fault though.

Originally Posted by airlights

This is definitely the happiest day of my life. This is such a deal. I just don't know what to do....

get a girlfriend.

[John Jacob]

There was a thread and a lot of discussion about how the old 13" Aluminium Macbooks would only work with 6 GB RAM. Apple only supports 4 GB, but 1x2 GB and 1x4 GB work, for a total of 6 GB. 2x4 GB is detected by Mac OS X, but the system slows to a crawl once the actual memory in use crosses 4 GB or so.

Now that the new 13" Macbook Pros officially support 8GB, won't it be possible to:

1. Dump the EFI firmware on a 13" unibody Macbook
2. Disassemble the firmware
3. Dump the firmware on a new 13" Macbook Pro
4. Disassemble the firmware
5. Diff the results of [2] and [4] and we should be able to figure out why the unibody Macbook doesn't work with 8GB. And maybe even make a new firmware that DOES work with 8GB.

Can anybody tell me why this wouldn't be possible? I'd be willing to help on this if it is.

[LAS.mac]

Originally Posted by koobcamuk

The new MacBook Pro 13" model is pretty nice. I am liking the SD card reader, but my camera takes CF cards, so it's still not helping me really My own fault though.



get a girlfriend.

I agree about the girlfriend.

Oh, about the CF vs. SD cards: there are cheap adaptor that allow you to use an SD card into a CF slot (sort of enclosure). They work fine, no difference to me in my Olympus C-5050

[PCMacUser]

Originally Posted by airlights

This is definitely the happiest day of my life. This is such a deal. I just don't know what to do.

I'm not sure what to say... I'm so sorry.