Apple Releases 17'' MacBook Pro

[Multimedia]

How To Buy Excellent RAM At Lowest Price From Omni Technologies

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.

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.

I did in the original post and again above. You simply go to ramseeker with the above link, choose your ram type at the top, press go, click on the price $72.99 across from Omni Technologies name, it takes you to their page with the discounted price and you order. Are you saying you didn't see the links I put in the original post?

You can ony get the lower price by going through Ramseeker. I thought everyone knew this by now.

 

[eVolcre]

To hang it on the wall.

That would have been funny if it was sarcasm, but YOU made the initial comment about wanting it to be opened all the way.

Unless you were being sarcastic to begin with and I totally didn't get the joke.

eV

 

[milo]

No, people will always whine...no matter what.

True. But in this case it's a legitimate issue, apple has even admitted it (at least one of the noises) and is taking back machines for the repair. If apple fixes their problems, it should at least eliminate *this* specific complaint.

 

[BladeAZ]

Finding a 1GB DDR2 SODIMM for under $140 is easy. Heck, I paid just over $100 retail, with a $20 rebate coming.

(By the way, I bought Mushkin and can confirm that it's had zero problems with my MacBook.)

 

[gman71882]

Everyone whined and whines about the (possible) loss of FW800 even though i dont know anyone that actually uses it. The FW800 products are just too expensive to purchase.

 

[ninethirty]

Ok... so I've been waiting since sometime last year to buy a 17" laptop. I of course was hoping the 17" would come out in January but it's so late in the year already.

Does anyone have an opinion about whether or not this purchase is worth it right now, or if I should hold off for Merom? Are we looking at a really long wait until merom is out and is the performance upgrade going to be that big? I only somewhat need a laptop, I would use it for freelance design which I don't really care if I am, or am not doing, but I wouldnt mind having a computer. That said, I like to have the best. Should I hang on for a bit, or is this it?

 

[risc]

HAHA Apple! The price of the MBP 17" in AUD$ is a complete rip off!

 

[ImAlwaysRight]

Which HD did you go with MovieCutter?

The Faster Smaller 100GB Battery Eater or the Slower Bigger 120GB Battery Conserver?

I think bigger slower battery conserver is my choice. I can remember when 5400 was the faster speed. I'm thinking 5400 is fast enough. What do you think? Anyone please.

I ... can't ... believe ... it. Power hungry whore like Multimedia considering a 5400rpm drive over a 7200rpm, even if it means 20GB storage space? If you need more storage, that's what external FW drives are for. You can even get one of the FW800 versions for this MBP.

The only 160GB 2.5-inch SATA drive I have seen is a 4200rpm Fujitsu model. So I don't think you'd want to go that route.

Finding a 1GB DDR2 SODIMM for under $140 is easy. Heck, I paid just over $100 retail, with a $20 rebate coming.

(By the way, I bought Mushkin and can confirm that it's had zero problems with my MacBook.)

Heh-heh, I've got two muskin 1GB modules waiting for my MacBook 13". I got in on the outpost.com/Fry's $89.99-$20 rebate = $69.99 price. Got the second on ebay for $60 from a dude who didn't list it properly. The base MacBook, which I may end up getting if they all have the same graphics chip, will probably come with 2 x 256MB, just like the Mini.

Also, why do people keep posting that the base MacBook will come with a 40GB hard drive? The $599 Mini comes with a 60GB HD. I can't see Apple putting a 40GB in a $1K+ laptop.

Ok... so I've been waiting since sometime last year to buy a 17" laptop. I of course was hoping the 17" would come out in January but it's so late in the year already.

Does anyone have an opinion about whether or not this purchase is worth it right now, or if I should hold off for Merom? Are we looking at a really long wait until merom is out and is the performance upgrade going to be that big? I only somewhat need a laptop, I would use it for freelance design which I don't really care if I am, or am not doing, but I wouldnt mind having a computer. That said, I like to have the best. Should I hang on for a bit, or is this it?

You don't sound to me like you really need one now. But if you play the waiting game, you may be waiting for a very long time (sounds like you already have). There's no guarantee when Merom is available Apple will immediately switch to using it, especially if the cost per processor is substantially higher than Yonah. Consider this: Macs have a pretty good resale value. You can always buy the 17" now, use it for a few months, and if Merom ships this winter and you decide that fits your needs better, then resell the Yonah at a small loss. Consider it a do-it-yourself lease program, paying maybe $40-50/month to use your laptop.

 

[Multimedia]

FW800 Cases Are $50 If You Shop Carefully

Everyone whined and whines about the (possible) loss of FW800 even though i dont know anyone that actually uses it. The FW800 products are just too expensive to purchase.

They are not expensive. FW800 Cases Are $50 If You Shop Carefully. Photo and Video pros use them all the time. You just don't hang with that crowd. Moreover, it's not just about having FW800. It's about having TWO FW ports vs. only one. Big difference to video pros. We use the FW400 for the camera and the FW800 for the external storage drive - again any 7200rpm PATA drive in a $50 case.

 

[bretm]

If you need more storage, that's what external FW drives are for. You can even get one of the FW800 versions for this MBP.

No. If you need more speed that's what an exteral drive is for. You shouldn't be placing any media that requires speed on your internal hard drive. Final Cut Pro media for example. Needs to be on a separate drive other than the app and the OS. No need for a 7200 for that. I'd go the slower route just for the battery conservancy for sure.

 

[weg]

I don't care what specs these MacBook Pros have or what they cost. I just want to see the stupid hinge on the screen change to a normal one. FOR GOD SAKES PLEASE!

Huh? The hinge was one of the reasons why I bought my Powerbook.. looks much more stable than what I've seen from other manufacturers. Apple, don't you dare change the hinge!

 

[ImAlwaysRight]

No. If you need more speed that's what an exteral drive is for. You shouldn't be placing any media that requires speed on your internal hard drive. Final Cut Pro media for example. Needs to be on a separate drive other than the app and the OS. No need for a 7200 for that. I'd go the slower route just for the battery conservancy for sure.

I can't imagine any pro who would choose to operate off of a 5400rpm drive instead of a 7200rpm drive. Heck, I'm no pro, and I won't even operate off a 5400rpm drive. Noticable speed difference.

And odds are when connected to external FW drives they are also connected to power, so is battery life that much of an issue? I imagine it is pretty marginal anyway, 5400 vs. 7200rpm battery life. But what do I know. I'm just an amateur. I could see where 20GB more storage could make a difference, tho.

 

[Multimedia]

Bigger Slower Longer Battery Life Is Better

No. If you need more speed that's what an exteral drive is for. You shouldn't be placing any media that requires speed on your internal hard drive. Final Cut Pro media for example. Needs to be on a separate drive other than the app and the OS. No need for a 7200 for that. I'd go the slower route just for the battery conservancy for sure.

Exactly Bret. That's why we need two FW Ports as well - the slow one for the camera and the fast one for the high speed storage drive. Bigger Slower Longer Battery Life Is Better. 5400 is fast enough for the application-system part of doing stuff. Everything else is happening outboard on faster media.

 

[zap2]

nice, a Pro Mac to go!


Now get your 12'' PowerBook while your can

 

[ninethirty]

Ok, so maybe I'll go ahead and pick one up. That said, what's better then? the 120 gig at 5400, or the 100 at 7200? I saw the argument that the 7200 would eat up more battery but is the 5400 gonna be too slow?

Thanks for the advice!

You don't sound to me like you really need one now. But if you play the waiting game, you may be waiting for a very long time (sounds like you already have). There's no guarantee when Merom is available Apple will immediately switch to using it, especially if the cost per processor is substantially higher than Yonah. Consider this: Macs have a pretty good resale value. You can always buy the 17" now, use it for a few months, and if Merom ships this winter and you decide that fits your needs better, then resell the Yonah at a small loss. Consider it a do-it-yourself lease program, paying maybe $40-50/month to use your laptop.

 

[blueimac'00]

I dont see why people would by a 17'' laptop, they are supposed to be small, and its extremely expensive. I would rather go with a desktop.

 

[swingerofbirch]

I wonder if the Macbook Pro 15 will get a better optical drive, Firewire 800, and price drop to stay competitive? Do you think we'll be having more frequent updates now that all of Apple's components are off the shelf PC components (the last one that wasn't being the processor). Does Intel come out with chips more often than IBM did? I imagine they must!

 

[slffl]

Ok, so maybe I'll go ahead and pick one up. That said, what's better then? the 120 gig at 5400, or the 100 at 7200? I saw the argument that the 7200 would eat up more battery but is the 5400 gonna be too slow?

Thanks for the advice!

I think I'm going with the 5400 next time. I tried the 7200 in the 15" MBP. It seemed to be loud and caused a noticable vibration under the palmrest.

 

[Multimedia]

MovieCutter Recommends The 5400rpm 120 For Longer Battery & Win XP Partition

Ok, so maybe I'll go ahead and pick one up. That said, what's better then? the 120 gig at 5400, or the 100 at 7200? I saw the argument that the 7200 would eat up more battery but is the 5400 gonna be too slow?

Thanks for the advice!

I discussed this with MovieCutter off list this morning and he says the 5400 is not noticeably slower and that we will miss the extra 20 GB soon enough anyway with Win XP installed. I agree with him. 110 GB net is just barely if not enough space for only the system and all the applications you may want to add over time. I know for me 110 GB net is a very small amount of system-application space. I may be a power hog, but space trumps speed for me when it comes to the portable. As soon as I can get a Seagate 160GB inside, I will probably make that swap.

 

[nagromme]

Please NO NO NO NO NO NO.

The recessed hinge is one of the best things about Apple laptops.

I like the hinge too, and have no desire to see it changed. I have occasionally wished it opened a few degrees further, but not flat and not often.

However, the often-repeated airplane thing makes no sense so just to set the record straight...

The screen is set slightly lower than normal, and also slightly further back. To avoid hitting a seatback, the horizontal (how far back) is more important than the vertical. So the Apple hinge is actually worse than a top-mounted hinge--unless the seatback is inclined lower than 45 degrees, which I don't think can happen.

Of course, we're talking about half an inch here

 

[boncellis]

I love my Firewire 800, although I only happened upon it because my father bought it by mistake. I'm starting to wish it were available on the Mac Mini for the external HDD. I hear the 400 drives work well enough--what is the possibility that Firewire 400 gets upgraded like USB did? Why is one serial bus different from another, can someone explain it?

 

[ImAlwaysRight]

I discussed this with MovieCutter off list this morning and he says the 5400 is not noticeably slower and that we will miss the extra 20 GB soon enough anyway with Win XP installed. I agree with him. 110 GB net is just barely if not enough space for only the system and all the applications you may want to add over time. I know for me 110 GB net is a very small amount of system-application space. I may be a power hog, but space trumps speed for me when it comes to the portable. As soon as I can get a Seagate 160GB inside, I will probably make the switch.

Fujitsu's 160GB SATA (first to market) is model MHV2160BT. Search on that on ebay and you'll find someone selling it for $279 + $13 ground shipping. But again, that's 4200rpm.

I've really been tossing around 5400rpm vs. 7200rpm for the MacBook. I think I'm just going to buy both and try both out for myself and then ebay the one I don't use. I've had 7200rpm in an iBook before and didn't think it too loud, and I'm quite sensitive to noise since my home and work environments are rather quiet. But 100GB is all I need. The 5400rpm drive will save me about $70 as well.

 

[Amuraivel]

Lame.

That sums it up.


The MBP should have the DL anyway.
The MBP should have FW800 anyway.
Both should have Express/54 anyway.

Screen is cool.

Hardware lame.


What is the added value with the same specs just because they neutered the MBP?

Just say no.

 

[projectle]

I dont think that I am going to be upgrading this system until Leopard comes out...

Right now, I have a Powerbook 17" 5,9 (the last 17" Powerbook), 2GB DDR2, the rest is standard.

While I have had this machine since August, and the new one looks pretty appealing (and god knows I really need another notebook [really, I do. Believe me.]), the whole concept of having most of my needed applications running in emulation sounds a bit hokey.

I mean thing about it, running a dev box when half the stuff is native, the other stuff isn't... There is no way to guarantee that when I migrate my work to production that everything will still work perfectly.

Sure, this seems unreasonable that PHP, Ruby, Javascript, MySQL and XML would work differently, but I have no way of knowing how a native Javascript engine with a native version of Tomcat with an emulated version of MySQL will function.

Plus, I would feel so much better if the powers that be release a Server version of OS X for the new Intel-based systems (as that is what I am using on my tursty Powerbook).

 

[MovieCutter]

OK kids, in regards to the 100GB 7200 RPM drive vs. the 120 GB 5400RPM drive...here's my conclusion (having used both for extended periods of time.

I use the entire Final Cut Studio. This takes up a massive 35-40GB. That doesn't leave me much space on my internal drive. Also take into consideration I'm going to give another 10-20GB to my Windows partition for my games. You MIGHT notice more speed on the 7200RPM, but personally I'd rather have more space for my media, apps, etc. than a little faster drive. If it were between a 120GB 7200RPM and a 120GB 5400RPM, I'd go for the faster one for sure...but we have to trade space for speed here. Especially now with the FW800 (THANK YOU APPLE) on the 17" I can use a portable external drive (bus powered Wiebetech with a Hitachi 7200RPM 60GB Drive...BUS POWERED) for footage and media I don't need to access 24 hours a day. That being said...from the tests I've seen, there is no significant difference in battery life between the 5400RPM and the 7200RPM. Think of it this way, the slower drive spins slower and the faste drive spins for less time, but it's negligable anyway. Cheers.