Apple Releases 17'' MacBook Pro

[Wender]

It is possible. It is not good for long battery life. But if you're running off AC and you want a less complicated hook up, The WiebeTech SuperDrive Dock Runs 3.5" HDs Off The FW800 or FW400 Bus. $249 NO AC needed, although an AC Power adapter is included. matticus008 explains the downside below. WiebeTech explains the upside at their site when you use the link above.

That dock thing sure is ugly

I'm opting for this one instead:

http://www.wiebetech.com/products/ultragbplus.php

Ships as a 500GB drive and priced at 746.95 US isn't that bad really. It's a great drive:

http://www.maccompanion.com/archives/april2005/Hardware/UltraGB.htm

 

[eVolcre]

There are plenty of locations that don't have open monitors handy where laptops are used. Who the hell do you people think you are, telling other people what they don't need?

Amen. Well said Milo. I'm not even going to go into the reasons why I think this is perfect ... for me ...

eV

 

[slffl]

Mac Fly, did you happen to notice how wide the screen could open? Was it like the old G4 PBs or more like the 15" MBP?

The thickness/thinness is the same as the 15" MacBook Pro, which is basically as thin as I think you would want a 17" portable. Any thinner and it probably wouldn't be structurally as stable as it is, because your still dealing with the properties of aluminium. Besides it feels like the perfect thickness!

I'm not sure if it's soldered or not, but at 2.16 Core Duo not many would care either way!


Here's some more snaps, they give you a look at ports/thinness.

 

[ImAlwaysRight]

Omni Technologies' OPTIVAL CAS 3 via Ramseeker is the only way to go. Omni will let you upgrade your sticks from 1GB to 2GB each for only the difference in price for the life of your RAM. Two 1GB sticks are only $146. Discount your order to TWO 512 sticks, save $100 then order two sticks from Omni via ramseeker for $146. You are out a total of $46 for a total of 2 GB of lifetime upgradable ram until you can graduate to 4GB when the price gets right.

No, it's not the only way to go. In fact, it is a way I WOULD NOT GO. Are you sure about being able to trade in your year-old RAM modules for current market price (which will be much lower) for higher capacity? Many of the links on their website are dead/have no information. Their "trade up" policy is not listed, that I could see. In their ebay ads, they state 15% restocking fee for non-defective returns. Well, a trade up would be a non-defective return, so would you pay the 15% restocking fee? Plus, what is current market price? You claim $73 for 1GB module for the MacBook Pro, yet they have ads for $189.99 on ebay for a 1GB module for the MacBook Pro. If you buy from elsewhere, like the Mushkin for $69.99 AR, then when you want 2GB modules you can resell the 1GB on eBay probably for higher than the trade price of the Omni modules, so you still come out ahead AND have better memory to boot.

Go read one of Omni's eBay ads. Pretty scary stuff. They claim to be a "certified OEM memory manufacturer for ALL major brands of computers." When is the last time you opened a Mac, Dell, HP, Sony, etc and found Omni Technologies memory installed? NEVER. They are not the OEM memory supplier for ANY computer manufacturer. That would be Samsung, Micron, Hynix, Infineon, and a few others, but NOT Omni Technologies. I love the warning near the beginning of their ads about legitimate sounding memory sellers, and then they sound just like what they are warning against! And what is Hypervelocity memory anyway? Whatever it is, boy, it sure sounds fast, so it must be fast! And look at the building they show. I'd be curious to know if they even rent a small suite in that building or if they are still doing most of their business out of their basement.

Omni Technologies is big on marketing and self-promotion, but take away the fluff and you are basically sticking the cheapest generic memory in your Mac if you go with Omni Tech. Sure, it probably will work today, as other generic memory will, but do you want the hassle of downtime if you have problems down the road? And although they have a lifetime warranty, will the company be around for the life of your memory? All things to keep in mind when shopping for memory for your Mac.

 

[sunfast]

Does anyone else find the gray on black of Apple's MacBook Pro web pages virtually unreadable?

I do. A really bad bit of web design.

 

[bob_hearn]

I do. A really bad bit of web design.

You people who find that webpage hard to read obviously need a new MacBook Pro with a brighter screen.

 

[MacinDoc]

So it looks like the 12" is history then, to be replaced by the 13.3" Macbook, which, it appears will also be in only one size.

I agree with previous posters who have noted that the price or specs of the 15" will have to be adjusted.

 

[Multimedia]

My Apology For The Snarky Post

now, i WAS quite frustrated with Multimedia before this baby was announced, partially because i was frustrated that this baby hadnt been announced, sso i know he can get annoying, but not so bad that name calling is necessary.

vikas said it was not possible at all, and it is possible. maybe multi could have been a LITTLE "nicer" but...

I recognized my rudeness right away and eleminated it from my post within about 10 minutes. But while I was doing that, I was quoted from the original post before my edit and the next poster's non-refresh and the damage was done. Please forgive my rudeness. Had been posting for about 19 hours at that point and let a snarky one slip out. My bad.

 

[50548]

I have the following cables hanging off my MBP

-DVI cable
-Power
-Audio
-USB hub
-scanner
-iPod (Using the sole FW port.)

I'd give up one of my pinky toes for a dock.

Sure...and when it breaks you are out in the blue, right? Or you mean duplicate ports (on both the notebook and the dock)? No thanks...

The Duo Dock is dead, and it should remain like that, unless you want the superslim and under-featured PowerBook Duos raised from the land of the dodo...

 

[jaydub]

I agree with previous posters who have noted that the price or specs of the 15" will have to be adjusted.

Which is the only element keeping me from making a purchase right now.

 

[iDrinkKoolAid]

$2799 is a great value.

 

[Multimedia]

I Think Omni Technologies Sells Excellent Ram

Omni Technologies' OPTIVAL CAS 3 via Ramseeker is the only way to go. Omni will let you upgrade your sticks from 1GB to 2GB each for only the difference in price for the life of your RAM. Two 1GB sticks are only $146. Discount your order to TWO 512 sticks, save $100 then order two sticks from Omni via ramseeker for $146. You are effectively out a total of $46 above Apple's one 1GB stick price for two matching 1GB sticks - total 2GB - of lifetime upgradable ram until you can graduate to two 2GB sticks - total 4GB - when the price gets right.

No, it's not the only way to go. In fact, it is a way I WOULD NOT GO. Are you sure about being able to trade in your year-old RAM modules for current market price (which will be much lower) for higher capacity?

Yes I am certain because they explained it to me in a personal email and I asked very pointedly exactly how that works which I explained above and in previous posts moreso. Of course you are only going to get credit for the selling price of your 1GB sticks when you upgrade to 2GB sticks. That is only fair.

Many of the links on their website are dead/have no information. Their "trade up" policy is not listed, that I could see. In their ebay ads, they state 15% restocking fee for non-defective returns. Well, a trade up would be a non-defective return, so would you pay the 15% restocking fee? Plus, what is current market price? You claim $73 for 1GB module for the MacBook Pro, yet they have ads for $189.99 on ebay for a 1GB module for the MacBook Pro. If you buy from elsewhere, like the Mushkin for $69.99 AR, then when you want 2GB modules you can resell the 1GB on eBay probably for higher than the trade price of the Omni modules, so you still come out ahead AND have better memory to boot.

Go read one of Omni's eBay ads. Pretty scary stuff. They claim to be a "certified OEM memory manufacturer for ALL major brands of computers." When is the last time you opened a Mac, Dell, HP, Sony, etc and found Omni Technologies memory installed? NEVER. They are not the OEM memory supplier for ANY computer manufacturer. That would be Samsung, Micron, Hynix, Infineon, and a few others, but NOT Omni Technologies. I love the warning near the beginning of their ads about legitimate sounding memory sellers, and then they sound just like what they are warning against! And what is Hypervelocity memory anyway? Whatever it is, boy, it sure sounds fast, so it must be fast! And look at the building they show. I'd be curious to know if they even rent a small suite in that building or if they are still doing most of their business out of their basement.

Omni Technologies is big on marketing and self-promotion, but take away the fluff and you are basically sticking the cheapest generic memory in your Mac if you go with Omni Tech. Sure, it probably will work today, as other generic memory will, but do you want the hassle of downtime if you have problems down the road? And although they have a lifetime warranty, will the company be around for the life of your memory? All things to keep in mind when shopping for memory for your Mac.

I guess you don't like them for some reason. I have been buying ram from Omni for a number of years and have never had a problem with any of the sicks I have used myself or have put in other's computers. Recently they sent me two sticks when I ordered two KITS (4 sticks). But they immediately sent the other two sticks priority mail when I called them. Sorry if you think they sell substandard ram. I don't. I've had their ram in my Quad and before that in a dual 2 and two dual 2.5 G5 PMs with no problems at all. I've had it in my PowerBook G4 with no problems. I don't know of anyone who has ever complained about the quality of what Omni sells. Do you?

Forgetabout Omni on eBay. Simply go through Ramseeker.com to get the $73 price per 1 GB Stick for the MBP. That is how you get the link to the lower price for 1 GB Optval CAS 3 ram sticks. You want CAS 2.5? Through ramseeker they coast $128 each. It isn't worth the difference in price to me to get CAS .5 faster ram. I am sorry for your pain "ImAlwaysRight". Perhaps this is one time when you aren't. . . .

 

[jaydub]

It looks like Gizmodo just posted about the oddity in pricing between the 15" & 17" models.

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/laptops/macbook-pro-pricing-is-seriously-messed-up-169422.php

 

[eVolcre]

Deleted for snarkiness.

Sorry jaydub

Too many papers, too little sleep, way too much caffeine. Nice find ...

eV

 

[jaydub]

Nothing earth shattering about that ... we've been discussing it here since the first page ...

eV

OMG are you sure?

edit: and i've been participating in this topic since early on as well. My point in posting it was merely that it's now being noticed on other venues than just this one.

 

[PlayUltimate]

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.

Along the lines of the MacBook being last, the Pro laptops suffered the most with the G4. There was not enough differentiation between the consumer and pro lines to justify the cost. So, Pros come out first due to the pent up demand for a Pro laptop.

 

[Multimedia]

Gizmodo Is On The Case

It looks like Gizmodo just posted about the oddity in pricing between the 15" & 17" models.

Excellent post. Looks to me like someone in engineering screwed up and it was too late to make the change to add the FW800 port on the 15" model. I suppose the DVD drive may take up the space where it belongs. But then why is it in all the old 15" PB G4s? Apple has obviously overlooked their pricing structure. Or perhaps they are trying to steer us toward the larger MacBook Pros.

It's obviously something that will need to be addressed pretty soon. I wonder what the blowback is going to be from early buyers of the 15" model when they do lower the price. Note they did the right thing for all the early buyers of Aperature recently when they cut the price in half. I don't see how they can raise the announced price of this 17" model.

 

[dbassett]

Processor

What processor does it have?
Is pinned so that the memron will fit when it comes out?
Should one wait til Q3 to get one with the memron chip?

 

[slffl]

It looks like Gizmodo just posted about the oddity in pricing between the 15" & 17" models.

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/laptops/macbook-pro-pricing-is-seriously-messed-up-169422.php

It's called standard config vs custom config

 

[jaydub]

It's called standard config vs custom config

Still doesn't justify it, IMO.

 

[PlayUltimate]

Excellent post. Looks to me like someone in engineering screwed up and it was too late to make the change to add the FW800 port on the 15" model. I suppose the DVD drive may take up the space where it belongs. But then why is it in all the old 15" PB G4s? Apple has obviously overlooked their pricing structure. Or perhaps they are trying to steer us toward the larger MacBook Pros.

It's obviously something that will need to be addressed pretty soon. I wonder what the blowback is going to be from early buyers of the 15" model when they do lower the price. Note they did the right thing for all the early buyers of Aperature recently when they cut the price in half. I don't see how they can raise the announced price of this 17" model.

Rather than a price cut, Apple will probably just update the 15" and keep the same price.
However, with the current prices, there is lots of price space underneath the 15" for 13.3" books. It will be interesting to see how they fill the huge gap.

 

[jaydub]

Rather than a price cut, Apple will probably just update the 15" and keep the same price.
However, with the current prices, there is lots of price space underneath the 15" for 13.3" books. It will be interesting to see how they fill the huge gap.

I actually would be content with that strategy. I'm not necessarily looking to save money, as much as I'd just like to maximize what I'm getting.

 

[Multimedia]

17" Makes The 15" Look Sub-Standard

I actually would be content with that strategy. I'm not necessarily looking to save money, as much as I'd just like to maximize what I'm getting.

Me too. That's why the 17" model is so compelling. It makes the 15" look sub-standard.

 

[milo]

By Opening His Mouth And Expressing The Question to one of the Apple employees at the booth. Duh!

Doubt they'd tell you, if they even knew the answer. Apple has never released that info on any of the previous intel macs. The only way we've found out is from people taking the machines apart.

It is worth noting that each time Apple introduces a new intel line, that they upgrade the entire line. For example 17 and 20 inch iMacs, both cofigs of Mac Mini, and 15 and 17 inch powerbooks/macbook pros.

No. The 15 and 17 were released months apart, they didn't update the whole line. The 12 has yet to be updated.

Adapters and special cables, yes. But why replace the port that everyone uses when there's no need to change anything? Not that many people use FW800, and those who do have plenty of options for doing so. The Bonehead Decision of the Year goes to the Firewire team for creating an entirely new connector for FW800. You shouldn't force customers to buy an adapter or a new cable for no particular reason. Even if it's a $3 part--you want people who buy a Firewire device to be able to take it home and plug it in without any trouble.

EXACTLY. USB2 used the same port as USB1. FW800 used a different one than FW400. Guess which one caught on?

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.

I don't disagree with the notion of replacing a brand new 15...but I'm not sure why you seem to be ignoring the biggest market for the new 17. People with G4 powerbooks (or older). Or switchers. Or new computer users. Or new laptop users.

 

[Multimedia]

Apple "Botched" Not Including A FW800 Port On The 15" MBP, Not The Standard

Apple killed FW800 by not making it cable compatible with 400.

Apple had nothing to do with the FW800 standard other than being a member of the multi-corporation group that decided it. There are technical reasons the connector needs to be completely different to achieve the 2x bi-directional higher transfer speed.

I'd like to see even higher resolution available as an option.

Me too. 1920 x 1200 20" would be great.

Probably because 90% of FW in the field is 400, and it uses different cables (adapters). Sure, you could throw an adapter on every FW400 device you have, but that would be a pain considering how many more there are. Unfortunately, apple botched 800 and it's mostly a failure as a format, it just never really caught on to a large degree.

Apple did not "botch" much. FW800 devices have caught on big time among pro video and photo folks who deal with huge file sizes. The FW800 standard is not over and it is not dead. FW800 is not "a failure as a format". Apple engineering and/or marketing did "botch" not including a FW800 port on the 15" MBP big time.