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15.4" MacBook in 2nd Quarter 2007?
- Thread starter AndyR
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I'm looking for a black 13 or 15.4" MBP with possibly a faster processor...some have suggested 2.66ghz and led backlit displays....the whole point of the mbp isn't necessarily portability but pure processing power. It's meant to be a powerhouse. If they pack everything into something smaller, they will most likely have the heat issues again along with plenty of other problems. I bought a $2700 gift card to the apple store in hopes that I would have a better MBP by march or april and I'm definitely not wasting it on a 12" if I'm looking to do photo and movie editing. I'm a media major (photoshop, illustrator, final cut, after fx, dreamweaver, flash, maya) I use them all.
Exactly - while opinions on this board may be different, I think that quite a few customers who purchase the 15.4" MBP buy it because of its screen size, not because of its power advantages.
Case in point: my mom purchased an MBP because she couldn't read the screen on the MB and she wanted a larger screen. She has no use for its graphical abilities, though...
Which market do you think is larger? The professionals who need a small computer with graphics, or the consumers who want a consumer, affordable, 15" screen computer?
They'll buy them of course. I expect this to take the place of the old 14" iBook. The 15 Macbook Pro and Macbook of the same size are different segments. Making consumers spend $2000 on a Macbook Pro to get a 15" screen only helps HP sell more Pavillion DV6000s.
Considering that the majority of laptops sold are 15" consumer models one would think so. The ultraportable segment is a niche segment, even within the Mac community.
Why would you want a smaller screen on a more expensive machine? It doesn't make sense...
the problem is be that the 15.4" macbook will cost around $1700 (the estimate is based on the black MB). and for $2000 you'll get a lot more bang for your buck on a MBP. so the price difference is probably to small to make it a success.
Heaven forbid that Apple do BOTH.
I have in the past predicted (wrongly, BTW) that Apple would merge their MBP and MB lines into machines that are otherwise identical, but differentiated by processor, RAM, FSB, graphics cards, etc. I thought that the high-end 17" could be left to the MBP alone line, and likewise, the MB line could have an ultra-portable 11" low-end machine, but the 15" and 13" machines could physically merge. I still wish they would consider this, but it appears that I'm off on this one for some reason.
Anyway, it appears Apple feels that there are good reasons to have their two portable lines have complete different architecture and design. It escapes me as to why they would want this, but they apparently do. Still, they could produce a 13" MBP and a 15" MB (even with their differing design) and I don't think they'd cannibalize anything by doing that.
Having seen one for myself, the DV series HPs are very nice consumer laptops. the only major drawbacks I saw were the operating system and 4-pin unpowered firewire instead of the 6-pin powered kind.
Most when faced with the same situation won't be able to afford the Powerbook and will buy a windows laptop instead.
I think Apple will cannabalize the 15" MBP with the introduction of the 15" Macbook - clearly, there are customers wanting to switch to Macs that need a 15" screen, and right now, the MBP is their only option. Obviously, Apple believes that the increase in sales will offset this canabalization.
In the case of the 12" ultraportable, the 12" Powerbook was always crippled compared to its 15" and 17" counterparts. This could be because it wasn't selling well, so Apple stopped putting R and D into it, or it could be because updates were technically too difficult. I'm betting one of these two reasons is why we still don't have a 12" MBP.
A third tier of notebooks?
Sounds like there's thought being given to creating a third tier of notebooks, a placeholder between the current MacBook (what I call the "McBook") and the MBP. The time may be right for such a thing.
I tried the MBP. Returned it and got a 20" iMac. Love it. Now I'm looking for a laptop. Nothing fancy ---I'm a writer and only a sometimes-graphics type--- so functionality and portability (along with realiability) are my greatest concerns. That said, I don't want to fall behind the curve and wind up with yesterday's technology.
If (and that's a big word) Apple releases a 15.4" McBook, I'll take a look, but I won't be wetting my pants over it. (It's a computer, not Nicole Kidman!) My price point for a laptop is $1500, including tax and the whistles and bells. If a new, larger McBook fits, I'll likely spring for it. However, if they continue with a companion 13-incher at a lower price (than current), I'd go that route, especially if they upgrade the video and ramp up the size of the HD. Sufficient bang for fewer bucks works for me.
If Apple wanted to put a the marketplace in a spin, they'd come out with a MacBook II at today's McBook prices, then roll back the price on the McBook ("Son of MacBook?") to the sub-$1,000 range. At $999, a white McBook with an 120GB HD at 2.0 gHz with 1GB of RAM would fly off the shelves!
Sounds like there's thought being given to creating a third tier of notebooks, a placeholder between the current MacBook (what I call the "McBook") and the MBP. The time may be right for such a thing.
I tried the MBP. Returned it and got a 20" iMac. Love it. Now I'm looking for a laptop. Nothing fancy ---I'm a writer and only a sometimes-graphics type--- so functionality and portability (along with realiability) are my greatest concerns. That said, I don't want to fall behind the curve and wind up with yesterday's technology.
If (and that's a big word) Apple releases a 15.4" McBook, I'll take a look, but I won't be wetting my pants over it. (It's a computer, not Nicole Kidman!) My price point for a laptop is $1500, including tax and the whistles and bells. If a new, larger McBook fits, I'll likely spring for it. However, if they continue with a companion 13-incher at a lower price (than current), I'd go that route, especially if they upgrade the video and ramp up the size of the HD. Sufficient bang for fewer bucks works for me.
If Apple wanted to put a the marketplace in a spin, they'd come out with a MacBook II at today's McBook prices, then roll back the price on the McBook ("Son of MacBook?") to the sub-$1,000 range. At $999, a white McBook with an 120GB HD at 2.0 gHz with 1GB of RAM would fly off the shelves!
Why would you want a smaller screen on a more expensive machine? It doesn't make sense...
There are many business people who prefer to have the smallest laptop available. The 12" dells fit well on folders, notepads, or other meeting documents. Plus they travel easier than the 15" laptops, which is a big advantage when traveling often by plane.
While the MacBook would probably be fine for most of these, many would prefer (and even need) the additional hardware found with the MBP. Any who fall into these 2 categories (travel + power) would want the smaller yet more expensive machine. While I find it hard to believe that they do much "heavy duty" work on the 12", I can see it being a necessity for professionals on the go.
That said, I agree with The Don Ditty. Apple is lacking in a few different places. I don't believe the addition of these "gap-fillers" will detract from the existing line, particularly if Apple updates the existing line with those "gap-fillers" in mind.
Don't be scared, there's room for everyone at Apple!
Me too. A 13.3" MBP would sell much better than a 15.4 MacBook (more people want one)
Exactly - let's talk about prices. Here's my guess...I guess,
13.3" MB (white) | $999 - $1099
13.3" MB (black) | $1199 - $1299
15" MB (white) | $1299-1399
15" MB (black) | $1499
12" MBP | $1699 (if it happened)
15" MBP | $1999
15" MBP | $2499
17" MBP | $2799
most ppl don't care about that. In lecture halls at school, everyone has big ass dells and HPs and Compaqs and Acer and blah blah, hard;y anyone has a smaller laptop. Even the 13.3" dells look huge compared to my Macbook so size isn't a factor.
If Apple wants more people to buy their laptops, make an even cheaper one. $1k is still a lot for most people to throw down on a laptop especially when you can get a (crappy) HP one for like $500 bucks...
How do you know more people want one? The consumer portables (Macbooks) outsell the hell out of the professional portables.
With 15" being the most popular laptop screen size, I have no idea how you could say this...
I would expect it at $1499 max. Possibly replacing the $1299 13" model. Because of volume, the consumer 1280x800 15.4" panel is pretty inexpensive. It might actually be cheaper to produce a 15" Macbook than the 13" model.
Exactly - let's talk about prices. Here's my guess...I guess,
13.3" MB (white) | $999 - $1099
13.3" MB (black) | $1199 - $1299
15" MB (white) | $1299-1399
15" MB (black) | $1499
12" MBP | $1699 (if it happened)
15" MBP | $1999
15" MBP | $2499
17" MBP | $2799
Works for me expect I would make black a standard option.
Why would you want a smaller screen on a more expensive machine? It doesn't make sense...
Because there are people who want pro-level features, while also having maximum portability?
The MacBook is great as a consumer machine, but it lacks dedicated graphics, an ExpressCard slot, etc. etc. But at the same time, some people want maximum portability, and a 15.4" laptop doesn't always fit that bill.
In some cases, people also want just maximum portability and premium materials; this is the idea behind something like the Sony Vaio TX series (which is under 3 pounds, features LED backlit screen and carbon fibre casing).
The Sony Vaio SZ is a good example though of what some people might be looking for. This is also a premium laptop featuring LED backlighting, a 13.3" screen, and only 3.7 pounds, while also offering dedicated graphics (and the ability to switch to integrated graphics to extend battery life).
The IBM ThinkPad X60 is another example of this. Plenty of other companies also have professional models that are ultrathin, light, etc.
Even Apple used to make the 12" PowerBook G4, which they don't have any equivalent to currently.
A larger screen isn't always what everyone needs. By that logic, one might ask why anyone settles for a 15.4" MBP when they could get a 17" one instead.
how about they sort out the many flaws with the current macbook before messing around with another model.
sort out the HDD's crapping out due to over heat,
sort out the poor ventilation resulting in the above,
sort out how horrid looking the black macbook becomes after a month of use by giving us better designed trackpad
get rid of the damned G950 and give us GMA3000 (minimum)
I'm already on my 2nd major fault with my macbook black, and i'm just waiting for a third so I can get a full refund and buy a macbook pro instead.
Worst apple laptop I've ever bought.
sort out the HDD's crapping out due to over heat,
sort out the poor ventilation resulting in the above,
sort out how horrid looking the black macbook becomes after a month of use by giving us better designed trackpad
get rid of the damned G950 and give us GMA3000 (minimum)
I'm already on my 2nd major fault with my macbook black, and i'm just waiting for a third so I can get a full refund and buy a macbook pro instead.Worst apple laptop I've ever bought.
I've never seen a $500 laptop that wasn't *****...I wouldn't like to see Apple make a $500 laptop.
I agree that a 12" MBP would be better.
Oh, and Apple, if you do come out with a 15" MacBook, put a Geforce 7300 or Radeon X1300 in it.