Apple Launches MacBook Pros with Thunderbolt, Quad Core CPUs, AMD GPUs

[Steve121178]

My Dell XPS WIPS the MPB!!!!! and its almost two years old LOL

N11X6501 1 £1,086.76
Studio XPS 16 : Intel Core i7 Processor 720QM(1.60GHz,6MB cache) 1
Display : 16in RGBLED Black Leather Edge to Edge Full HD1080p with TrueLife 1
Camera : Integrated Camera with Facial Recognition Software 1
Resource DVD : Studio XPS 1645 Diagnostics and Drivers 1
Ship Accessory : English Docs 1
Memory : 4096MB (2x2048) 1333MHz DDR3 Dual Channel 1
Hard Drive : 500GB Free Fall Sensor (7200RPM) 1
Optical Drive : Blu-Ray ROM (Blu-Ray,DVD and CD read & write) Slot Load Combo Drive 1
Power Supply : XPS 90W AC Adapter 1
Power Cord : UK 1M 1
Battery : Primary 9-cell 85W/HR LI-ION 1
Not Included Carry Case 1
Graphics : 1GB ATI Radeon HD 4670 graphics card 1
TV tuner : No Integrated TV tuner 1
Wireless : Europe Dell Bluetooth 370 Card 1
Wireless : Dell Wireless 1397 (802.11 b/g) Mini Card European 1
Keyboard : Internal UK/Irish Qwerty Keyboard 1
Operating System : English Genuine Windows 7 Professional (64 BIT) 1
English Microsoft Works 9.0 (Word Processor, Database) with Recovery CD 1
Software : Datasafe Local 2.0 Basic 1
Software : Napster for Win 7 (60 Free Songs and 1 year Free Music Streaming) 1
Dell Dock 1.0 1
English McAfee Security Centre 10.0 - 15 Month Subscription 1
Advanced Service - 2 year Collect & Return Service within 6 days + 2 years Accidental Damage Support 1
Standard Service - 1 year of coverage included with your PC 1
2 years Accidental Damage Support 1
DataSafe Online Backup 2GB 1
DataSafe Online size - 2GB Trial 1
I have already selected the Services promotion. 1
Studio XPS 1645 Order - UK 1
Studio NB - System Only 1
Subtotal: £1,086.76
Freight: £0.00

Total Net: £1,086.76
VAT( 15%): £153.69
Total: £1,240.45

But it's a Dell.

 

[Fly Rodder]

You can't think like that ... if you have an Apple product, you're luckier because they tend to retain the futuristic look years from now.

I have a 15" AL powerbook from 2003 that still looks just as good as anything that's new. In fact, the graphics card finally bit it last year and as soon as I get some free time, I'm swapping out the logic board to see if I can get another year or two out of it.

 

[tjcampbell]

I dig the name Thunderbolt! But really, for someone that uses an external display and a large back up HD, it kinda doesn't work for me.

EDIT:
Okay, after reading up on it it looks like I can connect multiples. Hooray.

http://www.apple.com/thunderbolt

 

[sishaw]

Shhhh... can you hear that? That's the sound of all the people who screamed 'fake' yesterday with absolute certainty. Quiet isn't it?

Oh snap!! I was one of them!! (Just in case anyone finds my old message). I was WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!!!

Having said that, the 15" looks pretty nice to me. If I didn't already have a fairly new iMac.

 

[onlymiah]

Your English teacher can help.

They are referring to the USB 2.0 ports, there. The combination of ports let you connect all those devices.

I realized I read it wrong. Too little sleep. Up too early. lol

 

[jumanji]

It's a good update but they didn't go far enough on the 13" and the prices are ridiculous.

Take $200 off the base and $400 off the 15" and 17" and now we're talking

 

[MacSA]

You have to remember taxes for us and VAT for you. Remember, in the states, taxes aren't factored into the price. So that $1199 laptop is really a $1300 laptop after taxes, unless you live in a state which has lower taxes/no sales tax. With the VAT added in, that's almost 900 quid. Factor in shipment charges to get the product there, and demand rates (mac sells a lot more in the US than in the UK), and you have your 999 quid.

BUT... I think if you by from somewhere like Amazon, you don't pay sales tax, however there are a few states that they ship to that do.

 

[iZac]

I'm genuinely excited about the number of legacy ports that the new *ugh* Thunderbolt port can replace. I know they all require adapters, but every port on that laptop could conceivably be replaced with it. Firewire and Ethernet ports (sorry guys!) will undoubtedly be the first to go in a generation or two, if only because how deep they are compared to the Thunderbus and USB ports.

Apple has an enviable position that as soon as they implement them into the iOS device line, (for instance TB cables with a USB adaptor cap) manufacturers will be falling over themselves to stick them on their machines / devices.

 

[jessea]

The 13" display is still at 1280x800. The 13" Macbook Air has a 1440x900. I am finding this really hard to understand. This is the only thing keeping me from my first Mac laptop purchase. The 15" is a little to big for my taste. Oh well, maybe next year...

I'm right there with you. If they would've upped the screen res, I'd be filling out my order. Very disappointed.

 

[KPOM]

how mucht will a BTO base 13 inch mbp with 128 gb SSD cost? bacause I think I am going for a mba now :S

If history is any guide the 128GB will run $300 and the 256GB will be $600. Hopefully they have lowered those prices (the store still isn't up yet). If that's the case, you are better off buying the base and installing your own third-party SSD, since you can get a 128GB model for about $250 and 256GB for $500.

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

It says "up to 7 hours wireless web" whereas before it said "up to 10 hours battery life." I think this is likely an improvement, note that most "battery life estimates" are with most features turned off such as wireless.

Yeah. Every Mac computer magazine found that wireless access/web surfing reduces the battery life of previous generation MBPs to 5 or 6 hours. So 7 hours is definitely an improvement.

Overall a very nice spec increase, I'm wondering why they went from NVidia to AMD graphics (although they do use AMD in iMacs) on the laptops.

Short answer:
AMD/ATI provides more power for less money. They have the most efficient GPUs and some nice CPUs.

 

[bobjob186]

more than a good update from Apple, not revolutionary but still very good. I mean quad core in a 15" for 1799 is a very good deal.

 

[tdream]

While not all the rumors leading up to the launch were true, many of the last minute leaks were accurate, and Apple still managed to sneak in a few surprises.

All the good ones were not true.

 

[Steve121178]

No resolution bump on the 13'? What an absolute joke!

Looks like i'll just be getting the 13" Air. Why on earth would Apple not even give us the option to BTO the 1440x900 panel?

So people buy the real refreshed models in the summer when Lion launches.

Unless people are desperate for a new Mac, I'd say people would have to be insane to upgrade now when a major design refresh is only 5-6 months away...

 

[Yin]

False. Nothing became worse.
Graphics are better.
Default screen is the same
Default drive is same or bigger
and on
and on

the graphics on the 13" became worse... the screen, the drive, etc stayed the same

 

[yegon]

Assuming gaming or gpu intensive apps aren't important to you, a maxed 13" with an SSD would've been awesome...if it had a 1440x900 display. Too many flaws as it is.

 

[orfeas0]

The GPU used on the 13", the Intel HD Graphics 3000 with 384MB DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory, is roughly comparable to the previously used 320M isn't it? Is that because it uses 384MB? The 320M used 256MB didn't it? The new Intel one has to sap another bunch of memory to get similar performance? How irritating. Had the battery remained at 10 hours I wouldn't be fussed, but sheesh. Unfortunate. Still, lovely computers indeed.

it's the same battery, they just took other tests.

No. Nothing is underclocked. You are looking only at Intel's retail chips. Intel also sells a line of chips only available to OEMs. That is what Apple is using.

So can't I find those only-for-OEMs chips in intel's site? I was searching for this "2,3ghz core i5" 's model name to compare it in anandtech benchmarks with the old c2d 2,4ghz.

 

[Tears Apart]

anyone know how long it usually takes for the store to come back online (after the main page already changed since almost an hour)?

Normally the store would be up and running by now. This is taking longer. Might they really be waiting for Intel announcement?

 

[aCondor]

Overall, a really great update.

 

[acidfast7]

Way to jump to conclusions. If you need to label me, try going more down the libertarian route, or maybe even just economist. Does that explain complaining about high governmental taxation?

And with regard to so much fail, perhaps you'd like to explain what was wrong about my statement. VAT + tariffs equals higher cost to the consumer, disregarding shipping costs. I'll admit that the NHS joke was a low blow, but what other explanation do you have for this year's 3% VAT increase?

Note: I tried to find a solid number on the UK's import tariff, but it's actually kind of hard, other than finding that there is one for import form non-EU countries. Most of the sites direct to small business stuff and how you can pay the VAT you owe on extranational purchases.

I actually like VAT (MwSt in Germany.)

It keeps the costs of living relatively low and provides a useful social system. Sure, it means that I consume roughly 20% less on a item-per-item basis, but it means that I get 8 weeks paid vacation per year and retirement that equals roughly 70% of my post-tax income (as does almost everyone else.)

I'll gladly pay 20% "extra" for a MBP any day.

 

[Jiten]

Oh well, I knew the rumors were too good to be true. All those new features like liquid metal, SSDs, standard higher res etc are probably all true but it won't be given to us in just one update. Apple has always a way to give you just enough to make you want to buy their gear but not too much that it leaves you totally satisfied. All the stuff in the rumors will probably trickle down in the line the next few updates.

 

[troller]

Why making such a huge deal about it? Just buy a 7200rpm or SSD, that it has 5400 as standard doesnt mean ****.

Man, with a i7, a 7200rpm drive should be standard!!! And...what about the price? I should pay extra money for a overpriced system just that it runs as it should?

Sorry Apple, but I think the whole community should start to kick your fast ass!

 

[arkmannj]

Looks good, but I think to help thunderbolt to catch on better they should have included two Thunderbolt/Display ports.

 

[Steve121178]

What absolute *******s.

They really screwed the UK over with this.

USD Price for the LOWEST spec one: $1199

This converts to GBP at £740 (todays rate)

Apple are selling it for £999!

You'd have to be a complete moron to be willing to pay that for such a poor spec 13" model!

They really are taking the piss big time with those prices. For another £300 you can buy a Mac Pro for goodness sake!

When compared to the MBP13, the MBA13 represents better value for money...

 

[Val-kyrie]

They couldn't have offered 512MB of GDDR5 on the entry level 15"?

We go from 256MB to 1GB?

I agree. At that price point, 512MB VRAM should be the minimum; unless, of course, the GPU won't benefit from the additional VRAM because it is too slow.

Used to be 10 hours for the 13-inch and 8-hours for the 15-inch.

Unless the 6490M turns out to benchmark much higher than the 330M GT I'm keeping my 15" for now...

I posted in another thread but will repeat the relevant part here:

According to NotebookCheck.net, the Radeon HD 6490M is ranked at #117, below the current 330M (#93), and the Radeon HD 6750M is ranked at #60. This will be even worse if Apple underclocks these. Check out these links: benchmarks, info on 6490M, and info on 6750M.

So, no, the Radeon HD 6490 does not perform better than the/your current NVidia 330M.

Ew.

WAY.

WAYYYYYYY too expensive.

$1799 for the 15"?

I would have been tempted for the 13" but the fact it's lacking
- At least the same screen resolution as the Air doesn't even make sense
- What happened to the "Instant On" 16GB SSD rumors?
- No graphics card? Even the MAC BOOK has a graphics card.

Try again please apple =).

Why can't Dell or HP make decent laptops to compete?

I am going to wager that the "Instant On" rumor will come to fruition with OS X Lion and the next update/redesign of the MBPs. Too bad, because Lenovo is already releasing ThinkPads with a 64GB SSD for "Instant On" and "Instant Apps."