Any hope for a 13" MacBook Pro in the semi-near future? I've spoken to a couple different people at the Apple Store and they claim that this will "never" happen. I'm inclined to disbelieve them, because Apple always seems to come through with better models in smaller packages, however, the PowerBook G5 never materialized. Any thoughts?
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13" MacBook Pro?
- Thread starter Mindgame
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I'm thinking "not likely".
I suspect they will always point to the MB as the model to fit this niche.
I suspect they will always point to the MB as the model to fit this niche.
The difficulty is differentiating it from the MacBook, and making it all fit. Graphics card and expressCard slot are really the only big differences between the computers other than screen size, at this point.
Some have speculated that the black MacBook will evolve into the smaller pro laptop, having more extra to offer than just color.
Some have speculated that the black MacBook will evolve into the smaller pro laptop, having more extra to offer than just color.
F
freakonguitar
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i strongly doubt it! If anything their black macbook is supposed to be like the replacement for the 12" powerbook. So not gonna happen. I could possibly see them making the black macbook with dedicated graphics in the future.. 
miloblithe said:
And design - which is a huge deal to Apple buyers (remember, Apple charges a whopping 150 dollar premium on its black Macbook machine) - and, although not a huge feature, the backlit keyboard is nice as well
AvSRoCkCO1067 said:And design - which is a huge deal to Apple buyers (remember, Apple charges a whopping 150 dollar premium on its black Macbook machine) - and, although not a huge feature, the backlit keyboard is nice as well
Absolutely true. I suppose different case, 10% faster processor, and bigger HD would be enough for some people to shell out an extra $400 or so. I am not one of those people, but I do know a few.
Well, I have had a 12" Powerbook G4 (1GHZ, 1.25 GB) for the past 2 1/2 years and absolutely love the size. It has never given me any problems. However, I am working on a very big video project right now (lots of short 5 second clips, slo-mo, effects) and I keep dropping frames upon playback. I have tried all of the suggestions by people on Mac boards, DV editing boards, and the Apple Store and while some of the changes I have made have helped a little, I still can't watch the project all the way through. It will be impossible to have confidence in the final movie (or to dump it to tape) without the ability to do this. Most now think I need to get a faster computer. I, of course like the Pro (for the video card and sturdy case), but I don't know about the 15.4" body. I travel a lot and the 12" is perfect for airplane tray tables. And I'm not sure that the regular MacBook will be so much better than my current set-up that it's worth a $1500 investment...
Not sure, but if Apple values the opinions of the 12 of us who post every time a thread identical to this one gets started, maybe it will happen!
Mindgame said:
AFAIK, and I know very little on video editing, the only program that uses the graphics card is motion, so a Macbook should do fine. It should certainly be good enough for playback of the footage.
I'm also a Powerbook G4 12" user who has been waiting for either a more powerful Macbook with a *matte* screen or a small MacBook Pro. And its only an 867!
A couple of months ago I wrote a letter to Apple explaining why I won't buy either the MBP or the Black Book. They definetely care, because I got a personal phone call! I felt honoured. They asked me to explain exactly what I was looking for and told me that although they couldn't tell me what Apple's plans for the future were, they would create a case file with my comments.
I felt important.
A couple of months ago I wrote a letter to Apple explaining why I won't buy either the MBP or the Black Book. They definetely care, because I got a personal phone call! I felt honoured. They asked me to explain exactly what I was looking for and told me that although they couldn't tell me what Apple's plans for the future were, they would create a case file with my comments.
I felt important.
Wow, that's pretty cool of Apple. Usually you'd expect letters like yours to go unanswered/unacknowledged.. but it's pretty neat that yours wasn't. I'm sure it's some kind of self-serving market study to find out how people are receiving the new lines and what they could to sell more, but still.Inspace said:
miloblithe said:Absolutely true. I suppose different case, 10% faster processor, and bigger HD would be enough for some people to shell out an extra $400 or so. I am not one of those people, but I do know a few.
You are forgetting the dedicated graphics card - that's the biggest deal breaker.
Not to mention the possibility of offering either matte/glossy screens and even a higher-resolution display (even if it retained the 13.3" diagonal size).
Certainly not HUGE factors - but combined, they might push someone into paying an extra 300 bucks (a $1799 13.3" Macbook Pro)
AvSRoCkCO1067 said:
I'd seriously consider a Macbook if it had a matte screen. I'd be all over it if it had dedicated graphics!
I was hoping for a 13in MBP, but its not going to happen. I am probably going to get a MBP very soon
I'd also (eventually) pay the black tax for a matte Macbook (and I have looked at them both, even 'nicer' glossy is still glossy), but until then I'd have to look at the MBP. (Which is, presumably, the idea on Apple's part.)
Very unlikely.
The 12" Powerbook did not sell well, it was a very small market for that. Most professionals are going to need, or at least want a 15" screen or more. This is pretty clearly evidenced in Apple not having introduced a sub 15" MBP at this point, even after a 17". They wouldn't miss out on such a market for so long.
Anybody wanting such an "ultra portable" will be going for the Macbook. There's very little you could do to make a 13.3" MBP different from a MB: I doubt they could even cram in a backlit keyboard, Lord knows they couldn't on the 12". I also suspect they'd have trouble fitting in a half decent GPU, or anything to really give it "zip" over a MB.
The 12" Powerbook did not sell well, it was a very small market for that. Most professionals are going to need, or at least want a 15" screen or more. This is pretty clearly evidenced in Apple not having introduced a sub 15" MBP at this point, even after a 17". They wouldn't miss out on such a market for so long.
Anybody wanting such an "ultra portable" will be going for the Macbook. There's very little you could do to make a 13.3" MBP different from a MB: I doubt they could even cram in a backlit keyboard, Lord knows they couldn't on the 12". I also suspect they'd have trouble fitting in a half decent GPU, or anything to really give it "zip" over a MB.
Trippy Jr said:
Eh? I thought that it was one of the better selling Apple notebooks?
Yeah I've seen the glossy too. It just doesn't appeal to me. I'm old, stuck in my ways, that sort of thing.
Seriously though, I do quite a bit of photography/graphic design stuff, so I don't know if I'd want the extra color saturation of a glossy. (I don't feel like getting an external monitor) I'm also sloppy and my idea of cleaning a screen is licking my finger and smudging the dirt around. The glossy screen would be ruined in a day.
the 13 inch macbook is essentially a mbp. The only thing that's different is the lack of dedicated GPU and expresscard slot on the MB. The GMA 950 is better than what the 12 inch Powerbook offered and the 12 inch PB never offered an expresscard. The 13 inch macbook pro is already here!
Typically if you need the power of a macbook pro you are going to want to use a larger screen. I am on a macbook and I would not pay extra money for a graphics card and where would they put the express card slot?
It's here! The MB only lacks a dedicated GPU and ExpressCard slot. The 12" PB's GeForce Go5200FX 64 MB DRR is inferior to the GMA/950, and neither did the 12" PB offer an expansion slot. It'd be nice with a 13" alu. enclosure, but white/black is just as cool
BTW, there's been like 400 threads on this. Search the forums with MRoogle (see sig)
BTW, there's been like 400 threads on this. Search the forums with MRoogle (see sig)
With the C2D MacBooks and MacBook Pros released, I thought it was time to bring this thread back. I want a small, portable laptop without Intel dedicated graphics. I don't care if it's black, white, or aluminum; $1099 or $2500. I just wan't it to be 12-13" and relatively uncompromising on features. With the current MacBooks, one can't present a video clip on a second display Powerpoint demonstration without risking choppy video. Why should I have to lug around a 15" to get this ability?