Apple Releases 17'' MacBook Pro

[MrCrowbar]

So that's why I think my next external cases should be FW only, but have fans. And not be CompUSA's.

Any cheap USB2 or FW RAID cases out there? 250GB drives still have the best GB/$ ratio and I like the increased speed/redundance with RAID. Didn't really find such a thing though. I'd love to have an external case with two 3,5" slots (or more) that does basic RAID. Fans would be nice.

 

[matticus008]

Any cheap USB2 or FW RAID cases out there? 250GB drives still have the best GB/$ ratio and I like the increased speed/redundance with RAID. Didn't really find such a thing though. I'd love to have an external case with two 3,5" slots (or more) that does basic RAID. Fans would be nice.

This really should go in a separate thread, but cheap and RAID don't go together for external enclosures. I've seen some as low as $300 (case only), but I doubt that's what you mean by "cheap." Everything's relative, of course. Here's a fairly typical hardware RAID solution: http://www.firewiredirect.com/product/68/. You can do better on the price (theirs is roughly $450), but not too tremendously better.

Edit: Oops, missed the "basic" qualifier. Vaphoron listed a good part for basic RAID setups.

 

[Vaphoron]

I'd love to have an external case with two 3,5" slots (or more) that does basic RAID. Fans would be nice.

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/MEFW912AL2/

I have two of those and I love them. They were exactly what I was looking for and it sounds like they are exactly what you want also.

 

[generik]

Honestly, the media costs are substantially more than for single layer, so unless you're doing something very specifically requiring that much space per disk, there's probably not a big need for it on a laptop.

Needs.. Wants...

Being a wordsmith aren't you?

Strictly speaking nobody needs a machine beyond 600Mhz, heck, including the web designers and movie producers as well as the CGI "Pros"! And I make that claim with utmost confidence.

Why you may ask?

Because we already have web sites and digital photos and CGI effects in movies when computers were 600Mhz, sure it takes longer to render and produce them, well just make do with what you've got!

Likewise, back to this "nobody needs a DL drive" defence of Apple's stupid design decision, does anyone in this forum notice that 2mm reduction in thickness?

*Crickets chirp*

Will anyone notice that absense of a DL drive? Hell yes! I harbour to add that before your MBP goes obsolete DL disks will be like 50c each!

 

[artifex]

Needs.. Wants...

Being a wordsmith aren't you?

Strictly speaking nobody needs a machine beyond 600Mhz, heck, including the web designers and movie producers as well as the CGI "Pros"! And I make that claim with utmost confidence.

Why you may ask?

Because we already have web sites and digital photos and CGI effects in movies when computers were 600Mhz, sure it takes longer to render and produce them, well just make do with what you've got!

Likewise, back to this "nobody needs a DL drive" defence of Apple's stupid design decision, does anyone in this forum notice that 2mm reduction in thickness?

*Crickets chirp*

Will anyone notice that absense of a DL drive? Hell yes! I harbour to add that before your MBP goes obsolete DL disks will be like 50c each!

Well, I did specify "laptop." Most people don't edit 8 GB video files on their laptop, I'm guessing. Those people who do, know they need this. And, if you bothered to look at the context, the person I was replying to was trying to figure out why he would want one. If he's doing big editing projects, he'd probably already know why he'd want one.

But yes, you're right, I should have considered that the media will eventually get cheap. I've burned my way through 3 DL drives before this Plextor, though, thinking it was going to happen, and so I no longer rely on it

 

[MrCrowbar]

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/MEFW912AL2/

I have two of those and I love them. They were exactly what I was looking for and it sounds like they are exactly what you want also.

Thx for the info. Looks like only 1 drive is going into that box... the pne posted by matticus808 is more what I am looking for. You're right, that stuff really is too expensive for what it is. Think I'll get a Linux Box with RAID 5 and lots of drives in it and connect it to any Mac I will buy soon.

 

[Plecky]

Well, I did specify "laptop." Most people don't edit 8 GB video files on their laptop, I'm guessing. Those people who do, know they need this. And, if you bothered to look at the context, the person I was replying to was trying to figure out why he would want one. If he's doing big editing projects, he'd probably already know why he'd want one.

But yes, you're right, I should have considered that the media will eventually get cheap. I've burned my way through 3 DL drives before this Plextor, though, thinking it was going to happen, and so I no longer rely on it

I tend to agree on both sides of the issue. But what I really wanted to say was by the time that DL-DVD's hit the 20-50 cent price range currently found on regular DVD's, flash memory (thumb drives, SD/CF cards, etc.) will probably be becomming affordable for such a amount. Or they become that cheap by the time that HD-DVD/Blu-Ray are out and arguably any film-editors and the like will be investing in those new technologies, not saving a buck by using the old DL-DVD technology which will probably be considored inferior in the era of HD that's on the horizon. That being said, I wish I had a DL drive just for the longevity and the "security blanket" issue of just knowing it's there making me feel better. The one thing I will never understand and am steaming about though is why the 12" Powerbook's 8x single layer burner is superior. I mean, a 8x single layer burner would've been appreciated by me, rather then a 4x one... Only because I'm not willing to shell out the money or really need the space that's offered by DL-DVD's (and whatever happened to DL-DVD-R rather then DL-DVD+R that my DVD player can't play, grr argh). Anyways, that's my rant for the moment.

Oh, take that back - 17" is cheaper? I don't want to know how expensive the 13.3" might be if they make one! Just kidding, but seriously odd. Also, why does the 17" get a hour more battery life according to apple's tech specs? It's got a bigger screen, and similar brightness I believe. Sure it has a bigger battery by 8-watt-hours to make up for this. But relatively speaking the 15" PowerBook had a 50 watt-hour li-ion battery that gave it 5.5 hours, the 17" PowerBook had a 60 watt-hour li-ion that gave it 5.5 hours of battery I believe. The 15" MBP battery is upped 10-watt-hours and battery life drops an hour while the 17" MBP battery is upped only 8-watt-hours and it gets the same battery life. What's the deal?

 

[swingerofbirch]

I don't like the way battery life is advertised in general. I think the industry should come to some ethical standards about what they mean when they mention battery life as an enticing feature.

It's pretty well known among us that 5.5 hours doesn't mean 5.5 hours unless you have every wireless feature turned off, have the screen dim, and don't use the hard disk much.

But, people that are buying laptops for the first time probably don't know that.

Plus, even for people who do realize this, you can't comparison shop well between companies since each company fudges their battery life numbers in a different way.

 

[Peyton]

I don't like the way battery life is advertised in general. I think the industry should come to some ethical standards about what they mean when they mention battery life as an enticing feature.

It's pretty well known among us that 5.5 hours doesn't mean 5.5 hours unless you have every wireless feature turned off, have the screen dim, and don't use the hard disk much.

But, people that are buying laptops for the first time probably don't know that.

Plus, even for people who do realize this, you can't comparison shop well between companies since each company fudges their battery life numbers in a different way.

Yep, its a lot like gas milage. Car companies turn off the A/C, put the windows down, and cruise the highway at 40mph (I'm serious) and the road must be a straight away. In order to get their numbers. I'm speculating that computer companies pay someone to look at the computer at the dimmest settings and just move the mouse around enough for the screen not to go to sleep. Not really 'fudging' but could come off like that... and hey, I think if we had a company and we could get those numbers, we would post the best possible too.

 

[trmptr4484]

Just got done reading all the specs in comparison to the 15" MBP the 17" is a great deal. That's assuming you want something that big and with the extra pound of wait. I could make a great replacement for my Dual G5 Tower though.

As for the MacBooks I was expecting those to be last and anyone who wasn't really has to think of the logistics of it. The 15" & 17" are basically the same as their comparable PowerBooks; but with new hardware inside. If the MacBooks are really what the rumors are stirring about then its a complete redesign. It also makes sense; since the 15" and 17" would have lesson to worry about in terms of heat.

Anyways, that my two cents worth. Not I just need to decide which MacBook or MacBook Pro to replace my (new ) 12" iBook with.

 

[mozmac]

Even if Apple did slap together the MacBook Pro just to get it out early, it's still a very nice computer and it's great to see a company that beats their estimates rather than delaying them...repeatedly. *cough* vista *cough*

 

[Vaphoron]

Thx for the info. Looks like only 1 drive is going into that box... the pne posted by matticus808 is more what I am looking for. You're right, that stuff really is too expensive for what it is. Think I'll get a Linux Box with RAID 5 and lots of drives in it and connect it to any Mac I will buy soon.

That OWC enclosure actually does take two 3.5" hard drives and by default uses RAID 0 but you can set it to RAID 1 if you want. I have two with 2 Seagate 200GB drives in each. Since they only run $120, hold 2 drives and they are both FW400 and FW800 compatible, they seem to easily the best buy around for massive storage and FW800 support.

 

[RyuMD]

i don't understand why some people would replace their 15" MBPs to get the 17", and not to mention, ultrafast dual G5's with new machines for which you won't even notice the difference in speed unless they held a stopwatch in their hands all the time. really. that money can be put to better use. hey it's not my money, but listen to yourselves. i'm kinda having a mental image of will smith's character in MIB being hailed as the king by those lemming-like creatures in the locker. my take on all of the present-day capitalist, mindless society.

 

[pincho]

i don't understand why some people would replace their 15" MBPs to get the 17", and not to mention, ultrafast dual G5's with new machines for which you won't even notice the difference in speed unless they held a stopwatch in their hands all the time. really. that money can be put to better use. hey it's not my money, but listen to yourselves. i'm kinda having a mental image of will smith's character in MIB being hailed as the king by those lemming-like creatures in the locker. my take on all of the present-day capitalist, mindless society.

come on man, Photoshop editing at 3.4545 seconds faster, encoding 25 seconds faster and Core Duo being completely slow and useless when Merom comes around. Itll be worth it

 

[50548]

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.

What the hell are ya taking about? There is not a single PC notebook that is more powerful AND thin as the MBP.

1) The 15" didn't take a DL drive for design/compactness issues; the 17" has one (and how many times have we burned DL discs anyway?).

2) For the same reasons, the 15" didn't take a FW 800; the 17" has one. Who on this earth REALLY needs FW 800? Besides, you can have one via the EC34 slot.

3) And yeah, BOTH have Express34 slots...

So what gives? Stop whining, please. You're not gonna find ONE notebook in the market that is as powerful in such form factor. Only ugly, unreliable behemoths.

 

[iwamas]

Hdd

Can't decide wether I am willing to forgo 20GB for an RPM increase... is it worth having the faster RPM or is having a bigger harddrive yltimately worth it... My 80GB 15" Powerbook, is completely used up... any advise would be very appreciated it...

 

[50548]

Thanks for the Firewire info ... I guess it's not that important if I don't use it . I have the Powerbook G4 15" and I am so tempted by the new 17", it's so dreamy, but I have to admit it's a matter of aesthetics for me

Don't worry, only some bleeding-edge users and spec-freaks need FW800...and most whine about it just because they want another port. FW400, USB2 and EC34 are more than enough for any normal user out there...

 

[50548]

When is Apple going to have docking stations again? What a mess of cables....

Please Aiden, spare us from this kind of criticism...PCs have always used A LOT more cables than Macs...while you guys were playing with your Dell and a fugly external card, my old iBook G3 already had internal Airport...besides, the Duo Dock was a good idea...10 years ago. Let it rest in peace.

 

[odedia]

I'm sure this was posted before, but I'm not in the mood of goign through all these posts: Can a firewire 800 external drive get its power from the laptop, or do i have to connect it to the power outlet as well?

Thanks.

Oded S.

 

[pjo]

I'm sure this was posted before, but I'm not in the mood of goign through all these posts: Can a firewire 800 external drive get its power from the laptop, or do i have to connect it to the power outlet as well?

Thanks.

Oded S.

Yes it has been posted before; These forums have a link that allows you to search this thread. Use it please.

 

[Infinity]

The irony is just too much...

haha! you guys just crack me up!

Regarding the 17 inch, Couldn't have come sooner and w00t! for FW800 and DL Superdrive! I'm happy, now just gonna wait on first buyers opinions before I lay down the dough for one of these beauties.

 

[uaaerospace]

...put the windows down...

Oh, no! They wouldn't dare put the windows down. That could potentially cause worse gas mileage than the a/c. They just sit in the vehicle and sweat...

 

[matticus008]

Oh, no! They wouldn't dare put the windows down. That could potentially cause worse gas mileage than the a/c. They just sit in the vehicle and sweat...

And the highway mileage is calculated at 55mph, not 40. But it's the thought that counts, and he's right.

Problem is, what IS "normal" usage for a computer? The DOE isn't interested in power efficiency like the EPA is in gas efficiency, so there's been no effort for central standards (companies would fight regulation with all their might, too). At least with current quotes, we know that they've dimmed the displays, minimized hard drive access, and turned off wireless, with no peripherals attached. We know that the figure is a best-case scenario. There are plenty of competent reviews of notebooks outside of the manufacturer which report more accurate and typical numbers. I think that system works best. No regulation, no attempts to deceive, everyone wins. You just have to read a few reviews to get the numbers .

 

[Multimedia]

Welcome To The New 600's - Bigger Slower Longer Battery Life Is Better

Can't decide wether I am willing to forgo 20GB for an RPM increase... is it worth having the faster RPM or is having a bigger harddrive yltimately worth it... My 80GB 15" Powerbook, is completely used up... any advise would be very appreciated it...

Welcome to the 600's. We are now almost 22 hours since the announcement.

This has been discussed in depth earlier in this thread. Most of us agree that Bigger Slower Longer Battery Life Is Better. What with a possible Windows XP partition and all the application and system files that one can easily accumulate, word from those with experience on both drives is that the 5400 rpm 120 GB - net 110 - drive is not noticeably slower. We're opting for the 120.

 

[Multimedia]

Yes FW800 Drives Can Get Power From The Laptop

I'm sure this was posted before, but I'm not in the mood of goign through all these posts: Can a firewire 800 external drive get its power from the laptop, or do i have to connect it to the power outlet as well?

Yes, if designed to do so, FW800 Drives Can Get Power From The Laptop.