Apple Releases 17'' MacBook Pro

[eVolcre]

You don't pay Apple $240 for a 1 GB ram stick wihen you can buy it from Omni Tech for $73 via Ramseeker.com. Are you daft? Looks to me like you're the st*pid one Josias. Anybody that would buy extra RAM from Apple is bordering on the INSANE.

I did. I just didn't want to deal with Apple if anything went wrong. BTW, You're calling him stupid for calling US stupid, and then you say that anyone who buys extra RAM from Apple is insane ...

 

[weldon]

Keeping the same cases for the intels was a big mistake in my opinion.

I used to agree, but now I think that keeping the same case was a good decision for two reasons...

1) people don't perceive as big a difference between the PPC-based systems and the Intel-based systems. This had to be one of their biggest concerns going into the transition; that people would accept that the Intel Macs would work just like regular Macs. By having them look the same, people's perceptions were influenced to accept them as "regular" Macs.

2) It was quicker and cheaper to go to market with a similar case design. Apple is going to benefit from having these systems out early in 2006. There will be time to release new designs later that reflect new capabilities, maybe in conjunction with OS X v10.5.

 

[twoodcc]

I used to agree, but now I think that keeping the same case was a good decision for two reasons...

1) people don't perceive as big a difference between the PPC-based systems and the Intel-based systems. This had to be one of their biggest concerns going into the transition; that people would accept that the Intel Macs would work just like regular Macs. By having them look the same, people's perceptions were influenced to accept them as "regular" Macs.

2) It was quicker and cheaper to go to market with a similar case design. Apple is going to benefit from having these systems out early in 2006. There will be time to release new designs later that reflect new capabilities, maybe in conjunction with OS X v10.5.

those are good points. but i still hope that the Macbook has a new look

 

[x86isslow]

Already ordered mine...now I just gotta get rid of my 15".

I'm waiting with open arms… unless its a 400mhz TiBook!

 

[Multimedia]

Apple Store Says 7-10 Days for Web Orders So That Figures, Specialy Not Apple Stores

I just spoke to my local Apple Store and the guy told me it would be at least 2 weeks before they get any in.... Anyone else getting this response?

Apple Store Says 7-10 Days for Web Orders So That Figures, Specialy Not Apple Stores. That is optimistic considering all the Apple Stores need product first.

 

[KindredMAC]

Holy Schnikies!

I finally got a chance to take a detailed look at all the specs on this new 17" and I gotta say "WOW"....
I am seriously impressed with EVERYTHING about this new MacBook Pro.

1 Gig of RAM to start off with??? FW 800 and an extra USB 2.0???? DL SuperDrive???? All this for $2799???

What a frickin deal!

I wonder if we are going to start to see 1 gig of ram become standard on Pro models perhaps???? That would rock!

Here's my bet; when the MacBooks come out in July, we will see a price restructuring of the laptops across the board something like this:

13.1" Widescreen MacBook
1.66GHz Core Duo
Combo Drive
512 MB Ram
40GB HD
Wireless
Remote
iSight built in
$999

13.1" Widescreen MacBook
1.83GHz Core Duo
SuperDrive
512 MB Ram
60GB HD
Wireless
Remote
iSight built in
$1299

15.4" Widescreen MacBook Pro
2.0 GHz Core Duo
SuperDrive
1 GB Ram
80GB HD
Wireless
Remote
iSight built in
$1599

15.4" Widescreen MacBook Pro
2.16 GHz Core Duo
SuperDrive
1 GB Ram
100GB HD
Wireless
Remote
iSight built in
$1999

17" Widescreen MacBook Pro
2.16 GHz Core Duo
SuperDrive
1GB Ram
120GB HD
Wireless
Remote
iSight built in
$2599

I wouldn't even doubt if we see a 2.3GHz chip put in the 17" and kept at $2799 by then also...

Just my bet... But what a good day for the MacBook Pro today.

 

[galstaph]

nice.... but where are the macbooks?

 

[Multimedia]

Buying Extra Ram From Apple Is An Unwise Waste Of Money

I did. I just didn't want to deal with Apple if anything went wrong. BTW, You're calling him stupid for calling US stupid, and then you say that anyone who buys extra RAM from Apple is insane ...

Buying Third Party Ram from a Certified Apple Developer that is guaranteed for Life is hardly a problem waiting to happen. I said "bordering on" insane - not insane. I really have a problem with people wasting money on Apple ram. Sorry if I hurt anyone's feelings. I guess you have money to burn.

 

[rockthecasbah]

i'm really glad to see the new MBP 17'', especially with the additional ports and dual layer to calm the cries after the introduction of the 15'' lacked those features.

 

[Multimedia]

Gigabit Ethernet Is An Essential Feature For All Computers

It's a nice machince. But how would one be "screwed" by not having a Gig E port. 100 Base T is all one will need.

You obviously have never had to transfer huge video files across a network from one Mac to another or needed to interact with a hard drive on another Mac on the network as if it was local.

Without GB Ethernet it takes TEN TIMES as long and other computers on the net will NEVER feel local. If you don't need it fine. But I have needed it for years and would NEVER consider buying a computer without GB Ethernet. Even the lowly Mac mini has GB Ethernet now. It's really the only way to go if you use a network or even heve to hook up to a network for file sharing and transfers.

The difference between 100 Base T and 1000 Base T Ethernet is RADICAL. This is my view in a wired world. If you never connect to another computer, then you are right.

 

[Pistol Pete]

Poor 12". You deserved a 120GB option and DL a long time ago.

But now, at least you are the master of your domain.

haha way to make it feel a little better haha

 

[milatchi]

All I have yto say is, excellent. Keep rolling it out Apple.

 

[twoodcc]

You obviously have never had to transfer huge video files across a network form one Mac to another. Without GB Ethernet it takes TEN TIMES as slow. If you don't need it fine. But I have needed it for years and would NEVER consider buying a computer without GB Ethernet. Even the lowly Mac mini has GB Ethernet now. It's really the only way to go if you use a network or even heve to hook up to a network for file sharing and transfers. The difference between 100 Base T and 1000 Base T Ethernet is RADICAL. This is my view in a wired world. If you never connect to another computer, then you are right.

i will agree with you on this. except most cheap routers are only 100

 

[BornAgainMac]

So if it gets too hot the CPU will slow down.

On the flipside, if it gets to cold then it will speed up.

 

[milo]

It's a nice machince. But how would one be "screwed" by not having a Gig E port. 100 Base T is all one will need.

No way. Gigabit makes a *huge* difference, and is absolutely necessary for things like distributed processing (like nodes in Logic).

 

[jaxstate]

Transferring large files over the LAN with just a 100base T connection is plenty fast for most people, I do it everyday. But you seemed to be someone important, so maybe you do need this . But to bash another laptop for not including this Gig E connection is darn near insane.

You obviously have never had to transfer huge video files across a network from one Mac to another or needed to interact with a hard drive on another Mac on the network as if it was local.

Without GB Ethernet it takes TEN TIMES as long and other computers on teh net will NEVER feel local. If you don't need it fine. But I have needed it for years and would NEVER consider buying a computer without GB Ethernet. Even the lowly Mac mini has GB Ethernet now. It's really the only way to go if you use a network or even heve to hook up to a network for file sharing and transfers.

The difference between 100 Base T and 1000 Base T Ethernet is RADICAL. This is my view in a wired world. If you never connect to another computer, then you are right.

 

[AndrewMT]

The X1600? Are you kidding me, Apple?? The 17" is supposed to be their top-of-the-line, professional laptop that all other laptop manufacturers try to emulate. Add some thickness to the notebook for a 7800 or 7900 GTX. This is ridiculous.

 

[Some_Big_Spoon]

From /.

Comprehensive explanation of the DL drive in 17", and not in 15" Hope they can overcome this:

http://hardware.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=183906&threshold=1&commentsort=0&mode=thread&cid=15189632

 

[progect]

The tech specs page has been updated and claims 5.5 hours battery for the 17". The 15" info has also been entered and claims 4.5 hours. I get 2.5 hours max on my 15" MBP... anyone get better than that?

yeah I can only really get 2.5hours on my 15" MBP if I take the resolution down from 1440x900. If you really want to save on battery life I'd suggest trying to do that.


Lame, I know. But hey...just a suggestion.

 

[jaxstate]

It is much faster...but I don't think a person without it would be "screwed".

No way. Gigabit makes a *huge* difference, and is absolutely necessary for things like distributed processing (like nodes in Logic).

 

[gnasher729]

You don't pay Apple $240 for a 1 GB ram stick wihen you can buy it from Omni Tech for $73 via Ramseeker.com. Are you daft? Looks to me like you're the st*pid one Josias. Anybody that would buy extra RAM from Apple is bordering on the INSANE.

Please give us a link where you can order a 1 GB RAM chip for a MacBook Pro at Omni Tech for $73. Or give us a link where you can order _any_ RAM for a MacBook Pro at Omni Tech for any price. Or any link where you can buy 1 GB of DDR2 RAM for under $140.

 

[Some_Big_Spoon]

thinking it's the heat and powerdraw that makes them not put in the supah! GPU. I know it sucks, but you have to think about the Windoze "laptops" that have those cards. They're huge! thick, 2,3,4 fans. I know people don't want to hear it, but if you're doing "serious" gaming, get an xbox/PS, if you're doing serious Motion/Maya/Shake, get a desktop. The right tool for the job.

Disclaimer: I bitch constantly about Apple's offerings.. sometimes you have to be pragmatic though.

The X1600? Are you kidding me, Apple?? The 17" is supposed to be their top-of-the-line, professional laptop that all other laptop manufacturers try to emulate. Add some thickness to the notebook for a 7800 or 7900 GTX. This is ridiculous.

 

[Gatezone]

Small is beautiful

Where are the lightweight small laptops...

I just sold (whew) my 15 inch Powerbook still under warranty because it is bigger than I want to carry around. I understand that there are film makers and professional phtoographers who may find having a 17" semi-portable laptop on-site. The thing is I don't want to have to put up with having the "wings clipped" [lessor spec's] just because I want something in a more convenient form factor/size. I want small but powerful. As beautiful as my 15" PB was it was heavy and awkward much of the time I had it out and about with me.

I hate buying Apple products because faster, than virtually any other manufacturer (well, maybe Sony), they cut the prices, increase the power, and include better features. Maybe it's time to lease...

I could care less about colors (silver does just fine thank you) but I don't want a 'dumbed' down portable just because I want a small Mac

 

[gnasher729]

but his point is that it won't have to spin as long....

If the harddisk isn't turned off then a 7200 RPM harddisk spins exactly as long as a 5400 RPM harddisk: All the time. If it is turned off, then you spend a lot of energy to accelerate the harddisk to its speed. Energy is proportional to speed squared; so one third more speed means 77.77 percent more rotational energy.

 

[absurdio]

Funniest thing is the pricing.

A 15.4" with the 2.16 BTO and 120GB HD comes in at Eur 2,924.68

A 17" with same spec costs Eur 2,694.67

250 Euro cheaper than the 15" ??? That's fecked up. I suspect Apple are going to have to do some price re-structuring in its 15" range as it does not represent good value in its current form.

Absolutely, man.
15" w/ 2.16 Ghz processor, 2Gb ram, 120Gb HD = $2929 (w/ education discount)
17" w/ SAME stats, but also with bigger screen, (slightly) better performance (check the hardware section of Apple's site), 8X DL SuperDrive, better speakers, and FireWire 800 (FINALLY!) = $2869 (again w/ education discount)

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! The newer, and obviously more feature-crammed version is $60 LESS?! Hey, I'm not complaining. As far as I'm concerned they finally did it right. I've been b*tching since the MBPs came out that they needed fw800 and dl superdrive... this is what the 15" SHOULD have been. If they wanna make it cheaper, that's fiiiiiine with me. My only hope is that they now make the 15" ones cheaper, rather than upping the price on the 17" ones.