Apple Releases 17'' MacBook Pro

[iGary]

NEW YORK, April 24 (Reuters) - Apple Computer Inc. on Monday said a new 17-inch version of its MacBook Pro laptop computer would begin shipping to stores next week.

The MacBook Pro, first introduced in January with a 15-inch display, replaces Apple's PowerBook line of laptops and uses Intel Corp.'s Core Duo computer chip for a processing speed three to four times faster than the PowerBook.

Apple said the new version weighs 6.8 pounds and will sell at a retail price of about $2,799.

 

[mlrproducts]

SO I guess up 15" Macbook Pro'ers aren't really all that Pro, are we?

We don't get FW800 or DL Burner. Now what was all that BS about the burner? Isn't the 17" supposed to be a thinner laptop?

 

[1984]

is the 17" thicker than the 15" ??
Cause the reason why they didn't put double layer into the 15" was thickness issues, right?
Anyone know ?

The 15" MacBook Pro is something like .1mm thinner.

 

[milo]

Wow, that's a KILLER machine. I'm sure some people will whine about the price, but they're really just releasing a "best" version with no "good" or "better" ones available. This is definitely a machine for someone who wants top of the line and is willing to pay for it. Pretty good deal for what you get, it's actually cheaper than buying the 15" with the 2.16 (unless they just haven't changed that price yet).

And I'm shocked they put in FW800, I was convinced that we'd never see it again in a mac laptop.

I wonder when if ever we'll see a laptop with 1080 resolution for native HD? This looks like a great mobile FCS station.

So when do the markets open? Curious what my AAPL does today.

 

[MrCrowbar]

The 15" MacBook Pro is something like .1mm thinner.

Well you all agree that having a .1mm thinner case is TOTALLY worth sacrificing a DL drive.




Just kidding.

 

[Cinematographer]

One question

Magnificent!

Just one question. The MacBook Pro comes with a "lithium-polymer battery (with integrated charge indicator LEDs) providing up to 5.5 hours of battery life".

How does the faster but smaller hard drive affect battery life? Does anyone know that?

100GB Serial ATA-Laufwerk (7200U/Min.)
120GB Serial ATA-Laufwerk (5400U/Min.)

 

[Chundles]

The 15" MacBook Pro is something like .1mm thinner.

The specs page lists them both as the same thickness. I think the extra space gave them more room to route connections and stuff so the thicker drive fits in the 17" whereas in the 15" there is more stuff around the drive meaning only the thinner drive would fit.

 

[Bern]

17" ??? Get an external monitor for goodness sake.

 

[Demon Hunter]

I really hope that the real reason is that they had less internal space on the 15". otherwise i'd be pissed.

Dude, I just noticed it's 8x. That's sad.

 

[1984]

Your statement just proves his point. If Powerbooks would not have gotten DL-drives in their last iteration (and FW800 earlier), the fact that these features were not present in the MBP 15" would by far not have been critisised to the same extent.

Most PC laptops have dual-layer drives. It's a very basic specification these days. To leave it off on a $2000+ laptop is just embarrassing, especially when done for the sake of vanity... in this case an enclosure that is imperceptibly thinner than before.

 

[EGT]

Very, very nice specs. When we get the next big processor boost, I'm ditching the G4 powerbook for one of these mobile power houses.

Can't wait to see the Macbooks.

 

[MrCrowbar]

Magnificent!

Just one question. The MacBook Pro comes with a "lithium-polymer battery (with integrated charge indicator LEDs) providing up to 5.5 hours of battery life".

How does the faster but smaller hard drive affect battery life? Does anyone know that?

100GB Serial ATA-Laufwerk (7200U/Min.)
120GB Serial ATA-Laufwerk (5400U/Min.)

Hard Drives draw a lot of power, bit I guess the battery in the 17" is hugt as the space is there. I think it will run cooler than the 15" because of better ventilation. 5.5 hours sounds awesome. I want one. Can't take it anywhere because it's an aircraft carrier but I want to have it to impress people in airplanes playing HL2 in full res, full details.

 

[milo]

17" ??? Get an external monitor for goodness sake.

And how exactly is that portable?

 

[Photorun]

I'm eating crow, I said there was no way these would be under $2999.

With my edu discount it's under $2500... so tempting.

 

[generik]

is the 17" thicker than the 15" ??
Cause the reason why they didn't put double layer into the 15" was thickness issues, right?
Anyone know ?

They lied mkay? The real reason is market segmentation

In other news corporations lie all the time.

 

[Mac_Freak]

Let's just hope the MacBook isn't too far behind...
.....

I think Apple is waiting for Intel to drop their prices of Core processors which would translate for lower priced MacBook/Pro small portables. Although, it look like Apple has already got those chips for less than others if you look at the price of the new 17" MBP

 

[milo]

Most PC laptops have dual-layer drives. It's a very basic specification these days. To leave it off on a $2000+ laptop is just embarrassing, especially when done for the sake of vanity... in this case an enclosure that is imperceptibly thinner than before.

It's not vanity, customers WANT these to be as thin as possible. It's a tradeoff, we all know that if they went DL on the 15 and made it thicker, people would complain that it wasn't thin enough.

 

[p0intblank]

Awesome! And it has FireWire 800 too. I won't be getting one, but I know this is a big deal to a lot of people since the 15.4" model didn't have FW800. And three USB ports = finally!

 

[Leoff]

Geeze, some of you people are never, ever going to be satisfied.

Apple comes out with a new product, and I see a large number of you screaming because there's no 13.3" MacBook out yet. Would you rather they release it now with all sorts of bugs and a massive backorder? Or would you like them to take their time, do it right, and then release it?

You're probably the same people who will complain when the MacBook DOES come out and it has crappy video card, as it's expected to have.

Kudos to Apple for the 17" sleek machine. Now I just have to debate between which screen size would be good.

 

[toolhouse]

MBP Battery Time

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?

I average 5 - 6 hours on my 15" MBP. Purchased a second battery but rarely use it!

 

[bgd78]

The bad:

* No WUXGA (1920x1200) resolution, can't say I expected it though
* Still only ExpressCard/34, I was expecting a full-size ExpressCard/54 for a 17" laptop
* No 64-bit Merom CPU, it would have been a really nice surprise though

 

[mark88]

That price seems low when you compare it to the 15". Upgrade the 15" to match the 2.16Ghz and 120Gb HDD of the 17" and it comes out £60 more (UK pricing) and you then get the extra ports, screen and DL 8xSuperdrive on top. I hope this means the 15" is due a price drop.

I noticed that straight away, It's bizarre!!!

If I was buying a new MacBook Pro the middle of the range 15" pretty much doesn't site
well at all.

 

[maverick808]

I average 5 - 6 hours on my 15" MBP. Purchased a sdecond battery but rarely use it!

Sorry but I just don't believe that. Apple claims 4.5 max and out of the thousands of users on this site not a single one has yet claimed more than 3.5 hours on average use and the vast majority say 2.5 to 3. I don't see how you could be getting more than double what everyone else is.

 

[pincho]

lol the 12" Power Book looks lonely on the Store page, and i think they will have to update or get rid of that before the MacBooks come, as its 'wasting' space by itself in the Hardware section of the website

 

[Demon Hunter]

Where do they get off charging the same price for the 12"???

No DL, not even a 120GB option?