Anyone like the older MBP's more than the unibody

[darwinian]

On the classic, I think I prefer the keyboard, the FW400 port, the power button (aesthetics!), and the RAM accessibility (though the new one isn't bad). Otherwise, the new ones are faster and sturdier. Again and again, I think SL is the ticket for these new ones to shine.

 

[kobefan234]

i like my unibody

 

[HLdan]

That's why I started this thread. I'm a PC user now but will be switching platforms in a few months. I want the same 17" MBP you bought (MBP 17" 4GB RAM Matte Hi-Res 320GB 7200rpm) and was sooo glad to see that the 17" is the old style still and you can get a matte screen.

I called apple and they basically told me not to hold my breath waiting for a 17" unibody. I guess there are some kinks there working out.

You're not switching until a few months from now?? I say, don't hold your breath for the existing 17" MBP to be available when your ready to switch. There's already been some speculation that Apple is discontinuing the 17" altogether and if they decide to keep it you can count on a unibody design to come very soon and the old style will be gone. Apple is going "Green" and the current 17" is the last of their Macs (with a display) that don't meet the "Green" criteria so don't wait to long or you'll be searching for refurbs only.

 

[jrrdnx]

I like the new unibody's much better.

I was actually planning on getting a 17" and was disappointed when they weren't updated in October. I decided to go ahead and get the new 15" MBP, saving myself $900, and justifying getting the new 24" LED-backlit Cinema Display

 

[darwinian]

That's why I started this thread. I'm a PC user now but will be switching platforms in a few months. I want the same 17" MBP you bought (MBP 17" 4GB RAM Matte Hi-Res 320GB 7200rpm) and was sooo glad to see that the 17" is the old style still and you can get a matte screen.

I called apple and they basically told me not to hold my breath waiting for a 17" unibody. I guess there are some kinks there working out.

I don't know who you talked to at Apple, but doesn't past experience tell us that anyone you might get on the phone through any routine calls (service, retail, etc.) would not have any knowledge on the future of the 17" and the status of the unibody?

You're not switching until a few months from now?? I say, don't hold your breath for the existing 17" MBP to be available when your ready to switch. There's already been some speculation that Apple is discontinuing the 17" altogether and if they decide to keep it you can count on a unibody design to come very soon and the old style will be gone. Apple is going "Green" and the current 17" is the last of their Macs (with a display) that don't meet the "Green" criteria so don't wait to long or you'll be searching for refurbs only.

I'd personally gamble on MWSF on unibody 17". If it doesn't get announced or gets axed, then they'll still be available for a short time after. But if you were to buy now, and they do get released, then you'll be cursing yourself, along with HLdan. Just kiddin'.

 

[jackfrost123]

I rather appreciated that my MBP didn't look like a garden variety Macbook. The new laptops are definitely better hardware-wise, and the design is consistent across the line now, which is better for brand identity, but not so great for individual unit identity. A Macbook Air looks like a Macbook looks like a Macbook Pro looks like an iMac looks like a Cinema Display. Its all assimilated, and even more sterile than before. But its still good design, excellent design, even though individual products have lost their distinctiveness. I would rather see the pedestrian Macbook produced in iPod Nano colors, and leave silver to the Pro's and the iMac. Letting Macbook buyers choose their color on the 13in model would add identity to that line, attract even more customers, and add a parallel to the iPod Nano line's fun-hip-you mentality they market toward. Apple could do some good things if they put just a little more into it...

yeah that's a great idea I ve though of it too.

And since they dropped the dvd drive with the air HOW ABOUT OFFERING AN OPTION OF SSD/HD OR DUAL HD INSTEAD OF FRIGGING DVD DRIVE THAT I NEVER USE ANYMORE SINCE HIGH BANDWITH/USB FLASH STICKS/CARDS HAVE REPLACED EVERYTHING. COME ON APPLE BE A LITTLE MORE CREATIVE. you are turning the whole brand into pretty much one product with huge black bezel and glass on top, soon the classic ipod might be out the door, and then it will only be the time capsules and the air without the bezel glass thing...

Plus I would like to side with everyone saying that the black bezel glass thing isn't any good.

For me the ideal computer would be, hold your breath, you are gonna love it.

Slick unibody 15 inch mbp, fast ssd for os, 500gb hd for the rest, no silly opening on the right for the dvd PLUS even more ports on the right, NO silly iphone/imac black bezel glass thingy at all, but almost invinsible bezel and the whole thing shrunk a 5% say, glossy screen but a la macbook air, that is niche and shinny but readable and not too reflective, how about that, are you guys drooling over it, i know i am ....

Another dream machine, even better for me would be to extend the air's screen almost end to end with about 14something inches to give you a really nice big screen real estate to read, while keeping the diminutive style.

 

[jackfrost123]

That would be beautiful, a 15 inch MBA with more power and 2 milimeters thicker, thinner bezel and matte glossy/option.

hadn't seen that one...yeah absolutely fabulous, fabulous staff, they 'd be growing 100% yearly with such a thing...

 

[orpheus1120]

You're not switching until a few months from now?? I say, don't hold your breath for the existing 17" MBP to be available when your ready to switch. There's already been some speculation that Apple is discontinuing the 17" altogether and if they decide to keep it you can count on a unibody design to come very soon and the old style will be gone. Apple is going "Green" and the current 17" is the last of their Macs (with a display) that don't meet the "Green" criteria so don't wait to long or you'll be searching for refurbs only.

Judging from Apple's trend, yes I'm quite sure the current 17" will be phased out soon. However there are plenty of avenues to buy them at a much discounted price then. I won't count on being able to get them still in "a few months", but a couple of months will still be ok to get it from other resellers before their existing stocks run out. BUT if you are getting a BTO 17", you better act now or it won't be offered anywhere when it's discontinued, except in the refurb. section.

Remember once a mac is phased out, it's a matter of time before current stocks depleted due to attractive pricing, and it will be gone forever.

 

[senorfrog97]

I like the older one better by a slim margin. I thought I'd like the new one but don't like the black keyboard after all in person. Also don't like the speaker holes on the new one for some reason.

 

[orpheus1120]

The speaker grills in the unibody are much smaller compared to the classic. TBH, the unibody's looks much nicer. However I don't really like the new placement for the power button.

I like most of the things in the unibody, and only if it has the matte screen option, I could be convinced to buy them. IF it doesn't have the black chicklet keyboard as well, I will get them in a heartbeat.

I just feel the current 17" is a classic, just like the white imac. It would be stupid of me not to own a piece of the classic when I still have the chance. I missed the boat once with the PB12, and I will not do it again.

Personal preference rules in the end.

 

[QuarterSwede]

I think the two toned look is tacky but after using one I've found the case is rock solid. I'd almost buy it for that reason alone.

 

[andrewdale]

I haven't quite gotten to make my decision. I have a "classic" MBP. I love it to death, but I will admit that sometimes the case just does seem a bit on the weak side. MUCH stronger than anything else I ever owned, but it's very apparent that the strength is in bracing, not the shell.

In 2009, I'll be buying the wife either a MacBook or a MBA, depending on what updates go through MWSF. Then I'll have to decide which I like better.

I won't gripe and moan about the lack of FW400 on the new unibody MBP as I only use FW800 now. Glossy screen is not my favorite, but I could probably get used to it.

 

[bcaslis]

I've had every model MacBook Pro, PowerBook G4, and earlier. The new unibody is my favorite with the Titanium PowerBook G4 a close second. Love the thinness, build quality, screen, keyboard, port arrangement. The 2.8GHz with an SSD is a deadly silent screamer. Absolutely no way I've ever go back to a "classic" MacBook Pro design.

I ordered one from Apple. It's almost certainly a Samsung which they don't sell in retail, only to OEMs.

 

[Thunder82]

I like the new unibodys a lot better than the older MBPs as well. They look nicer, they're certainly a lot more solid, and overall its just a nicer machine imo.

 

[dal20402]

For me, the better build quality makes the difference. The unibody machines feel SO solid, they don't have the awful gray plastic edging which makes the older machines look so dated, they have that nifty little power button, and they have the ports directly integrated into the case instead of surrounded by plastic.

I also think the glossy hysteria is seriously overdone. Yes, there are situations where glossy is harder to use -- but there are also situations (especially where light is behind the user at an angle) where matte is harder to use. People will be OK with glossy once they get used to it.

But I can appreciate the irritation over the $99 dual-link situation and the lack of high-speed ports. Apple is clearly at a transitional point with its lineup. In a few months, the whole lineup will have Mini DisplayPort, there will be Mini Displayport -> normal DisplayPort adapters, there will be more DisplayPort displays, and DisplayPort will not be a problem. In a few more months, we'll have either USB3, FW3200, or both, and high-speed connectivity will not be a problem.

For that reason, I plan on keeping my Early 2008 MBP and my freshly refurbished (new screen, bezel, top case, keyboard, and logic board) Early 2006 MBP until the lineup is more settled. If I buy a new machine, it will be a Mac Pro, not a portable.

 

[MBPDiva]

I have to say, I like the look of the older MBP better than the unibody.?

Th unibodies look cheap and ugly with the black keys. Glad I got my aluminum on grey MBP in October. It's a right sexy looking beast.

 

[THX1139]

Th unibodies look cheap and ugly with the black keys. Glad I got my aluminum on grey MBP in October. It's a right sexy looking beast.

I suspect that you're saying that so that you can feel good about buying the older discontinued model. To say that the unibodies look cheap and ugly is a bit over the top and reveals your secret desire to have one.

 

[jackfrost123]

I suspect that you're saying that so that you can feel good about buying the older discontinued model. To say that the unibodies look cheap and ugly is a bit over the top and reveals your secret desire to have one.

hehehehe... but since she's a diva it's absolutely acceptable, we can humor her!

 

[MBPDiva]

I suspect that you're saying that so that you can feel good about buying the older discontinued model. To say that the unibodies look cheap and ugly is a bit over the top and reveals your secret desire to have one.

Ha ha ha! Your comment made me laugh out loud! I bought my laptop in October and, as I wrote in a separate thread, my sales rep asked me if I wanted to trade up to the new MBP. I took one look at those ugly things and passed.

 

[MBPDiva]

hehehehe... but since she's a diva it's absolutely acceptable, we can humor her!

Notice how he didn't challenge the guys who said the same thing I said.

 

[bcaslis]

Th unibodies look cheap and ugly with the black keys. Glad I got my aluminum on grey MBP in October. It's a right sexy looking beast.

Personally, I've always thought the silver keyboard was the ultimate in cheap and ugly. Silver plastic keys? Yeah, that quality alright. Light backlighting on light colored keys, yup real smart. Cheap plastic grey filler when the aluminum parts connect? Yup, quality through and through.

To each their own, but to put down the new model while holding up the previous one as some pinnacle of greatness with all it's clear areas for improvement is just not very intelligent. If you have had one of the many arguments about how the glass screen is a problem for you, then at least there's some reasoning there. Have fun with your MBP, I'm just glad to rid of such an antiquated design after 5 years of same old, same old.

 

[OmahaGTP]

Personally, I've always thought the silver keyboard was the ultimate in cheap and ugly. Silver plastic keys? Yeah, that quality alright. Light backlighting on light colored keys, yup real smart. Cheap plastic grey filler when the aluminum parts connect? Yup, quality through and through.

To each their own, but to put down the new model while holding up the previous one as some pinnacle of greatness with all it's clear areas for improvement is just not very intelligent. If you have had one of the many arguments about how the glass screen is a problem for you, then at least there's some reasoning there. Have fun with your MBP, I'm just glad to rid of such an antiquated design after 5 years of same old, same old.

Are you convincing us or yourself?

 

[MusicallySilent]

Unibody

Pros - Solid construction, easy hdd replacement, more powerful

Cons - Dual tone, lower battery life, glossy screen (afraid of breaking the glass, the gloss causes some issues with productivity), cost (initial price, and ram)

Personally I would gladly save 600 by buying a previous generation model

 

[Kronie]

You're not switching until a few months from now?? I say, don't hold your breath for the existing 17" MBP to be available when your ready to switch. There's already been some speculation that Apple is discontinuing the 17" altogether and if they decide to keep it you can count on a unibody design to come very soon and the old style will be gone. Apple is going "Green" and the current 17" is the last of their Macs (with a display) that don't meet the "Green" criteria so don't wait to long or you'll be searching for refurbs only.

Really? In three months? Gone? I highly doubt it.

Customers WANT a 17" MBP. So they will either announce a unibody, possibly in February, or they will keep the old style.
They have already "Greened" up the current 17" with an LED only display.

Either way in February there will still be old style MBP's out there.......I hope. Otherwise I will just get the unibody.

We can all agree though that no matter what style the MBP's are awesome machines.....Better than my XPS?

 

[bcaslis]

Are you convincing us or yourself?

I'm already convinced. I'm trying to say that it's fine to not like the new unibody, but it's not "cheap" by any means. Technically the older body is "cheap" since the unibody is using more expensive parts like the machined body and glass display.