Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Any chance of a MacBook Extreme?

I just wanted to point out a thing or two here without bothering to read the entire thread.

When I bought my MBP it was probably the best gaming laptop out there (This was the moment they decided to introduce the 8600GT) under two inches thick.

I guess you could call me a "pro," I'm a PHP developer and I dabble into Web/Graphics Design (PS, CSS, XHTML) alongside other languages (JS unfortunately).

I think the graphics card on this is amazingly overpowered for what I need in terms of professional work. Gaming, that's another story but I haven't done that in a long time.

The reason I bought this thing over the MB was because of the larger display and then the MB looks like a toy unless you get black and then you might as well upgrade to the MBP. And yes, I have a white MB by my side as I'm writing this.
 
Yeah the 8600M GT was pretty good when first released, and Apple picked it up quite fast. The X1600 in the 2nd intel revision MacBook Pros were already completely outdated though, and what I'm worried about is that the next update will land us with something 8600/8700M based, which would likewise be a disappointment.
 
Apparently there are "as many as 20 SKUs" relevant to the October 14th event, does this mean we could see a MacBook Extreme at last? Something 1.4" or more thick with a high end GPU, big HDDs and better cooling?
 
kingshrubb said:
lol.

I agree with Yix; I'd like to see a better gfx card in the new MBPs but I do like the "thinness". It is a laptop after all.
Click to expand...

Besides being butt fugly it's just a rebadged Dell, after going through 4 Dell Laptops in 12 months I would NEVER consider a laptop with a Dell badge or association. Even if it is underspeced compared hardware wise to the Dell/Toshiba/HP/Asus equivalent I would choose the Macbook or Macbook Pro without a second doubt.

I do agree the Macbook and Macbook Pro does need more GPU power, more RAM and bigger HDD considering how much HDDs and RAM are at the moment. Also compared to other laptops out there Apple does need to lift the specs soon (and I am aware of 14OCT08).

So fingers crossed for a 320GB HDD, 4GB RAM standard and the newer 9600M GT on the 14th.
 
Digital Skunk said:
What other GFX cards are in the other books at half the price?

Trust me, I have been begging for Apple to make a Pro high end 17" book for a long time, but the GFX aren't that big of a deal, they give us what others are, and the only way up is SLI and a 2" thick machine with 8 lbs power adaptor.

I'd prefer dual HDDs and more FW800 ports. I'd sacrifice this useless 3rd USB port for another FW800 or eSATA. Screw BD-R drives for now since external options are much better price wise, but give me eSATA!!!

Most PC books online don't even give you the 512MB 8600GT as an option, just 256MB. Save for the few that skimp out on other areas like CPU and are only $500 less than the comparable MBP.

People keep saying that there are these amazing laptop machines for half the cost, but I can't find them unless they are in the super low-end, or have six different deals attached to them.
Click to expand...

You can get a very nice Sony FW292 w/4GB ram, 320GB 7200HD, Blu-ray, 1600x900 display, ATI HD3650 512MB GPU, HDMI @6.7lbs in a fairly stylish pacjage (for a PC) for $1550 delivered. Same one year warranty as Apple but for $1900 you can get 3 years with accidental damage coverage. No eSATA but pretty good.

Let's hope Apple starts offering some of these options.

Cheers,
 
panzer06 said:
You can get a very nice Sony FW292 w/4GB ram, 320GB 7200HD, Blu-ray, 1600x900 display, ATI HD3650 512MB GPU, HDMI @6.7lbs in a fairly stylish pacjage (for a PC) for $1550 delivered. Same one year warranty as Apple but for $1900 you can get 3 years with accidental damage coverage. No eSATA but pretty good.

Let's hope Apple starts offering some of these options.

Cheers,
Click to expand...

This isn't half price though.
 
You guys also have to realize that the MBP's build quality is a million times better than the **** plastic computers other companies put out. Apple is a quality company who make high end well made machines. They are beautiful machines and with new updates coming they will be better and have that signature Apple quality.
 
Wow, apparently I'm the only one here who agrees with the OP, but he and I are on the same page. I just read through the entire thread, and he and I agree perfectly.

I originally bought a Macbook. However, I've also gotten into some gaming, and want a LOT more performance, both in OS X and Windows. I do NOT wish to have any computers other than a single powerful Mac laptop. No separate PC laptop, and no gaming desktop. I seriously want a Macbook Pro that is 0.3 inches thicker, a top-of-the-line graphics card, and a cooling system that is actually decent. The current MBP is way expensive for its extremely limiting graphics card. As was said earlier, and I totally agree:

Scottsdale said:
Perhaps they will not call it the MacBook Pro anymore. We don't even know that. Maybe just maybe it's now called the MacBook Thin.

The new MacBook Thin. It never was a Professional computer; it's meant for the Professional that wants a "thin" MacBook.
Click to expand...

We want a Macbook Pro that actually performs. Neither a desktop or a PC laptop are an option. But the terrible graphics cards the "PRO" continues to have are very limiting and not worthy of that title. And the Apple obsession with thinness over features and power is the number one contributing factor to the low performance of its notebooks.

EDIT:
Digital Skunk said:
This isn't half price though.
Click to expand...

Here's half price. Just look at that graphics card. If Apple would make a computer like that, with OS X, I would be happy.
 
Beric said:
Wow, apparently I'm the only one here who agrees with the OP, but he and I are on the same page. I just read through the entire thread, and he and I agree perfectly.

I originally bought a Macbook. However, I've also gotten into some gaming, and want a LOT more performance, both in OS X and Windows. I do NOT wish to have any computers other than a single powerful Mac laptop. No separate PC laptop, and no gaming desktop. I seriously want a Macbook Pro that is 0.3 inches thicker, a top-of-the-line graphics card, and a cooling system that is actually decent. The current MBP is way expensive for its extremely limiting graphics card. As was said earlier, and I totally agree:



We want a Macbook Pro that actually performs. Neither a desktop or a PC laptop are an option. But the terrible graphics cards the "PRO" continues to have are very limiting and not worthy of that title. And the Apple obsession with thinness over features and power is the number one contributing factor to the low performance of its notebooks.

EDIT:


Here's half price. Just look at that graphics card. If Apple would make a computer like that, with OS X, I would be happy.
Click to expand...

1.7in thick, 17in display, 9.2lbs! :O

Dear God, who would carry that thing with them all the time? You guys all seem to be missing the point here: Apple doesn't cater to gamers. They figure either you want something that you can take with you everywhere, or you want a Mac Pro. Which for most PROFESSIONALS (not gamers), is true.

My whole issue with the "It's too thin" debate is that people seem to forget the whole point of a laptop is portability. Aka, you can throw the thing in a backpack or briefcase and easily carry it wherever you need to go that day, and it can run on battery for a good chunk of your day.
 
J the Ninja said:
My whole issue with the "It's too thin" debate is that people seem to forget the whole point of a laptop is portability. Aka, you can throw the thing in a backpack or briefcase and easily carry it wherever you need to go that day, and it can run on battery for a good chunk of your day.
Click to expand...

But a laptop that is 1.3 inches thick will fit in a bag just as well as one that is 1 inch thick.

That extra 0.3 inches is for style points only. And style points are last on my list, no matter what computer I'm looking for.
 
Digital Skunk said:
This isn't half price though.
Click to expand...

Perhaps not as configured but you must know the old Apple would charge double with 4GB RAM 320GB 7200 and Blu-ray. Perhaps the new Apple which will accept slightly less margin per unit will surprise us all.

Indeed it would be nice to get an OS X capable machine that can play games and perform the work everyone desires at no more than a 10-15% premium.

Even so, I like that Sony (especially the on with the splash of color). Most stylish PC laptop I've seen in awhile. Might have to get one just to add to my collection!

Cheers,
 
Yixian said:
Apparently I am unjustified being unhappy that for 2 to 3 thousand dollars, the most expensive laptop Apple will sell me only includes a mid/low end graphics card.

People keep telling me a 3800 is almost impossible so once again with the Montevina updates, I will be offered a GPU about 300% less powerful than those that can be found in PC laptops half the price of the MBP.

Why? Because the "Pro" in MacBook Pro actually means "thin". The MacBook Pro is actually a MacBook Air Pro.

Apple does not offer a high end laptop.

IMHO, if you are sacrificing performance for excessive thinness on your very highest end "performance" notebook, you shouldn't be calling it Pro anything.

So is there any chance we'll see a MacBook Extreme or something of the like? For .34 extra inches in thickness Apple could cram at least what other laptops have in them, and that's, GPU wise, cards over 3 times as powerful as the ones predicted for the Montevina MacBook (9700M GT or HD3600) - and they're out already.

Let's face it the MacBook Pro isn't even a portable iMac anymore, it's somewhere between the iMac and MacBook. It's a MacBook with a sliiiightly better GPU, clock speed and other bits and bobs.

I'm not saying it's not worth it's price tag, it is, it's just not worthy of it's name, it's not a pro computer.
Click to expand...

The cards you're mentioning aren't professional graphics cards. They're gaming/entertainment cards.

The MBP's IMO should be coming with Quadros or FireGL's.
 
J the Ninja said:
1.7in thick, 17in display, 9.2lbs! :O

Dear God, who would carry that thing with them all the time?
Click to expand...

I am not sure I follow?

I am in the Military, I have limited room and space. A Notebook is perfect. It leaves my desk 1 or 2 times a month. I dont carry it anywhere.

I dont care if the things is 20 lbs. I never move it. I have a notbook because its way smaller than a Tower and 23 inch monitor. And If I want to move it, its alot easier than moving a desktop.

Why Cant Apple have (1) ONE Notebook that is High End, Maybe a little thicker and a little heavier?

Im not saying all their MBPs should be 1.5 inches thick and 8lbs... but they can make one that is, and beef the specs up for those who want/need the extra graphics power.
 
panzer06 said:
I like that Sony (especially the on with the splash of color). Most stylish PC laptop I've seen in awhile. Might have to get one just to add to my collection!

Cheers,
Click to expand...

So far there isn't a Sony laptop that I don't like. The venerable TZ being my favorite ultra portable and the widescreen 18" being my favorite heavy lifter.

The premium that I usually see is about 25 - 30%. Never 50% though.
 
polaris20 said:
The cards you're mentioning aren't professional graphics cards. They're gaming/entertainment cards.

The MBP's IMO should be coming with Quadros or FireGL's.
Click to expand...

The only people who would benefit are those using bootcamp to run their 3D applications and I doubt Apple even give them a second thought.
 
iBunny said:
Why Cant Apple have (1) ONE Notebook that is High End, Maybe a little thicker and a little heavier?

Im not saying all their MBPs should be 1.5 inches thick and 8lbs... but they can make one that is, and beef the specs up for those who want/need the extra graphics power.
Click to expand...

Having a small range of products means higher profits.
 
polaris20 said:
The cards you're mentioning aren't professional graphics cards. They're gaming/entertainment cards.

The MBP's IMO should be coming with Quadros or FireGL's.
Click to expand...

Perhaps gamers who also like OS X, and want it all on one machine, would need a MBP?

We do exist, you know.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back