Apple Prepping for Notebook Refresh?

[ZeelessOne]

I wonder if NVIDIA's Core Image performance is due to software or hardware... It'd be interesting if there were something similar to Core Image in Windows to make a comparison.

An ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3870 in a new Macbook Pro would be the thing that'd push me over the edge into getting my first Mac (that and having money).

 

[Stately]

Hmmm...

I just remembered I graduate in August with my B.S. Maaaybe just maaaybe I could coax grandmama or mom dukes into gettin' me a new shiny MBP. Hmm.

 

[Lesser Evets]

These screens and boards are for the new NOTE PAD Mac....

in your dreams.

 

[McBeats]

And what are you going to do with that Blu-ray player. Back up data? Blu-ray is slowly disappearing. Between Apple TV, xBox supporting NetFlix, upscaling technology of DVDs equaling Blu-Ray and price of storage dropping, the need for Blu-Ray is disappearing.

sorry, but I too HAVE to roll my eyes at this.

 

[powermac_daddy]

Sorry, gotta throw this out there... The average is wrong. The Buyer's Guide counts the ADDITION of the Octore option as an update. The last update took 518 days to happen.

And while it may be "due", it can't and won't be updated until at least January.

you just have your mind set about the 518 days. come on bro... take it easy and leave it to bed. they did a small update within the 518 days. so, sure. the next update Jan 2009.

 

[gtg738w]

Surprising how many people are upset at apple about hardware. Apple is a software company. That is their focus and they want to change the way people live. Steve sees mobile devices as being the future and wants to mature that technology. Look at the newest products, a "phone" that can do nearly anything and software directed at multicore devices, compact installations and efficiency. Apple is setting up things for the future and isn't really obsessed with bleeding edge hardware. They also have nearly twenty billion in cash floating around... who knows what project that is being saved for. The bottom line is, think about why you want this product. If you just want the latest greatest storage and gpu, shop around, this product is not directed at you. No one is making you buy a mac.

And that being said, I am buying a mbp as soon as the new ones are out...

 

[mosx]

So why not buy one of them? Vista kinda looks like OS X.

You can't just put in any old Blu-Ray reader or writer in a MacBook (Pro). The Windows laptops that have it are mostly thicker and often wider and deeper then the MacBook (Pro) so they have extra room. Also, most of them use tray-load drives while the MacBook (Pro) uses slot-drive. Slot-drive is less common so the component costs are higher.

I checked a few weeks back and a slot-load Blu-Ray reader that would fit in at least some of the MacBook (Pro)s retails for around $300 and a burner retails for around $1000. Assuming Apple might save $50 or so buying it direct, it's still going to be an expensive thing to put in. If Apple adds it as standard, they have to raise the price. If they add it as a BTO option, they have to way how many people will actually spend $300 or $1000 for it (as opposed to carping about how expensive it is on internet forums) and then factor in the cost to warehouse that product and such.

The MacBook Pro's (and MacBook) design is also one of its greatest flaws.

It doesn't need to be that thin. Go with a "wedge" design that is more common with PCs. Have it 1" at the front and 1.75" at the back like most consumer and true professional notebooks. That way you can have a proper cooling system and use standardized parts.

Apple should release a MacBook with that size, 15.4" screen and price it at $1299. Give it the same features a PC notebook would have in that price range. That means a 2.4GHz C2D, 3GB of RAM, 250GB HDD, full size ExpressCard, memory card reader, fingerprint reader, GeForce 8800M GTS, user replaceable tray loading (sorry, but tray loading is better than slot loading, ever had to get a stuck disc out of a slot loader?) optical drive, etc. The system would run significantly cooler than the MacBook and MacBook Pro does now, it would be priced in line with standard PCs while still having roughly a $200 premium. It would fly of shelves.

I want to go back to that design for a second. Thats how my HP is. My MacBook has a 2.16GHz C2D in it and my HP has a 2GHz C2D. Both are Merom based, but the HP runs on the Santa Rosa platform (with dedicated graphics) while my MacBook runs on the Napa platform.

The difference in temperatures is staggering thanks to the proper cooling system on the HP. While encoding video with a multi-threaded encoder, my Mac's C2D can cook! It regularly peaks at 85c but usually hovers around 82c while encoding. My HP? It peaks at about 62c. The HP sure blows hot air out of the back, but the overall case temperature stays A LOT cooler and I can actually pick up the system and move it and use it as a portable after encoding video. With the Mac I'd have to let it cool for a good 30-45 minutes.

 

[Digital Skunk]

...

Agreed, but the iPhone can't do everything.

Also, why not just by the MBP now since Apple fans aren't interested in the latest bleeding edge hardware?

MOSX, just stop it before someone gets hurt.

 

[whatever]

sorry, but I too HAVE to roll my eyes at this.

Go right ahead.

In case you haven't noticed the major movie studios aren't putting all of their eggs into the Blu-Ray basket either.

Ever you noticed commercials for new releases are also promoting "OnDemand".

DVD's and Blu-Ray discs are competing for shelf space against the ever growing game market. Both Best Buy and Walmart are carrying fewer titles than they have in the past (remember when the CD started to get pushed off the shelves for DVDs).

I really want to see the numbers for a new title being released in iTunes vs DVD vs Blu-Ray. That would be interesting.

 

[Digital Skunk]

(remember when the CD started to get pushed off the shelves for DVDs).

When was that? And with what industry?

 

[BullMooseFilms]

No one is making you buy a mac.

Actually... yes they are. My school requires one. So I feel free to bitch about what I want in the hardware

 

[Stang68]

Actually... yes they are. My school requires one. So I feel free to bitch about what I want in the hardware

Well no one is forcing you to go to that school. And thats dumb for them to force you to get a Mac. Who cares whether its Avid or Final Cut? As long as it plays on a projector.

 

[mxelre]

Yikes I'm buying my MBP on July 26th! Ahh what the hell, should I at least wait for July 29th?

 

[digitalbiker]

Apple is a software company.

Completely wrong!

Adobe is a software company.

Apple is a total solution company.
Hardware, software, content delivery system.

Apple needs to stay competitive and relevant in each sector. Their strength is their total vision and one stop solution.

If Apple drops the ball in staying competitive with hardware the entire apple cart is upset and Apple goes down the drain. Hardware sales are the principle money maker that drives the company. Not software.

 

[RoDe]

Blu-ray is important because it will become as mainstream as DVD's are today. Your arguments for why blu-ray is not necessary are almost identical to the arguments against DVD's when they first came out.
Face it: DVD's will become like VHS, and Blu-ray will dominate!

I'm afraid you're wrong on that one. Blu Ray isn't going anywhere. People are fed up with buying new hardware all the time. VHS and DVD saw a much faster adaptation than Blu-Ray. Don't forget. If you still have a old CRT TV, you'll have to buy a new TV as well. This wasn't the case with VHS or DVD. With Blu-Ray most people will have to buy two pieces of new hardware.

 

[mavfan11]

I checked a few weeks back and a slot-load Blu-Ray reader that would fit in at least some of the MacBook (Pro)s retails for around $300 and a burner retails for around $1000. Assuming Apple might save $50 or so buying it direct, it's still going to be an expensive thing to put in. If Apple adds it as standard, they have to raise the price. If they add it as a BTO option, they have to way how many people will actually spend $300 or $1000 for it (as opposed to carping about how expensive it is on internet forums) and then factor in the cost to warehouse that product and such.

Three months ago I bought a refurb Dell XPS 1530 with a (slot load) blu-ray burner, 2.4ghz, 160gb 7200rpm HDD, 3gb ram 256mb nvidia 8600m GT, and it cost me $1300, nice 1600x1050 screen too. HDMI out to my TV for movies looks great. Yeah, I know I got a deal with it being a refurb and a extra 15% off coupon I got but I can't get it out of my head that Apple would charge $2500 minimum for the same set up.

 

[RoDe]

I understand what you are saying but we are talking about a redesign here.

If Sony is offering a Blu-ray drive in the new Montevina Vaio Z which is 1 in. thin and weighs less than 3.4 lbs. for $1800.00.

Why can't Apple?

Apple doesn't want a drive. They want a burner. And there just isn't a slot road burner that is just as thin or thinner as the current optical drive.

 

[brendanspah764]

When did this thread start talking about Blu-ray?
If Apple thinks that the notebooks are not ready for Blu-ray, take their word for it.

 

[digitalbiker]

I really want to see the numbers for a new title being released in iTunes vs DVD vs Blu-Ray. That would be interesting.

Blu-ray titles are increasing exponentially. itunes HD content is stagnant. DVD is holding steady. Just go to blu-ray.com and see all of the thousands of new titles, the titles coming soon, and the titles that are being re-authored for blu-ray.

Go to itunes and try to find HD content, it is dismal.

DVD is the current standard and is released for everything.

When did this thread start talking about Blu-ray?
If Apple thinks that the notebooks are not ready for Blu-ray, take their word for it.

That's just it Apple hasn't said anything. Everyone here is just speculating on a rumor. For all we know Blu-ray burners will be standard equipment in all new macs. Apple and SJ have never made any public comments about Blu-ray one way or another.

 

[Bubba Satori]

Apple doesn't want a drive. They want a burner. And there just isn't a slot road burner that is just as thin or thinner as the current optical drive.

Apple isn't buying the computer, the customer is.

 

[Bubba Satori]

An OS isn't a religion, it's just part of a tool.

Really ?

 

[cromwell64]

I just can't get over all this talk about blue ray. I understand that some people want it, but I didn't buy my macbook pro to watch movies on. I bought it for work. Yes, you can get a laptop from Sony or some other company with blue ray. If you want a laptop with blue ray built in then buy something with blue ray built in and quit bitching about macbooks or macbook pros not having them. I don't see why it is so important. If I want to watch blue ray movies I will get a proper blue ray player and watch them on a proper television.

 

[drsmithy]

Anything else would be a bonus. Those are my main two issues with the designs.

The most glaringly obvious feature lacking from the MBP, IMHO, is a Docking Station option.

Hopefully Apple's recent inroads into the corporate markets will encourage them to bring their laptop lineup on par with those of other companies.

 

[AidenShaw]

Really ?

Show us the rest of naked Mac Man, please!

 

[digitalbiker]

I just can't get over all this talk about blue ray. I understand that some people want it, but I didn't buy my macbook pro to watch movies on. I bought it for work. Yes, you can get a laptop from Sony or some other company with blue ray. If you want a laptop with blue ray built in then buy something with blue ray built in and quit bitching about macbooks or macbook pros not having them. I don't see why it is so important. If I want to watch blue ray movies I will get a proper blue ray player and watch them on a proper television.

Calm down Cromwell. Nobody is bitching about MBs and MBPs not having them. We are discussing new MBs and MBPs and we hope that they offer blu-ray as BTO that's all.

The Sony Vaio Z was brought into the conversation because it has substantially raised the bar in portable pro laptops. It only weighs 3.4 lbs. (only 6 oz more than a MBA), yet it includes a standard 2.5" HDD, an option for SATA SSD in addition to the HDD, a high performance discrete GPU, HDMI output, blu-ray drive, and a high-res LED backlit display. All for only $1800 or $2300 for the 128GB SSD option.

We are just hoping that Apple steps up and meets or beats Sonys offering.