Apple Releases Aluminum Unibody 17" MacBook Pro

[JoeDMD]

Battery needed?

I just need some proof for this one. A link a wiki page something.

In all my years working with computers and IT guys fixing my computers I have never heard of the computer needing the battery to run effectively even when plugged in and the AC adaptor not being able to supply enough juice.

I guess it could be accurate since there seems to be a draw from the batt when it's plugged in still, hence the reason to not keep it plugged in all the time.

I don't know, I just use them.

I have an old laptop that wouldn't boot at all because the battery was dead.
Pulled out the battery and the machine boots fine.
(I don't know if it is slower or not)

 

[chillywilly]

I spoke to an Apple Rep today on the online store, I asked if I could change the ram at a later date and (Kellie) told me that it's advised you take your laptop into an Apple store to have it done. I then asked if I could buy my ram from another source and I was told that this would be fine as long as it's compatible.

Food for thought

Food for thought, indeed.

Which sparks another thought. Since she confirmed that you can purchase your own RAM, I wonder what the procedure is for adding your own RAM, even though that rep advised taking it into the Apple store to have it done.

Would the Apple store mind if they did the swap, using RAM you already purchased? That seems questionable to them, especially for a MBP 17" that's under warranty.

 

[tritonus]

Who needs Blu-Ray?
It's based on old technology. I'm looking forward to never having to deal with plastic discs again...

Sure, the bulit-in SuperDrive is really cutting-edge in 2009...

 

[chillywilly]

You really don't have to take apart the 17", or the 15" to replace the RAM. You just take off the bottom cover and it's all right there.

It's not like replacing the hard disk in an old 15" MBP, where you have to actually disassemble significant pieces of the machine.

Having taken apart several older MBP 15" to do hard drive replacements, this new method on the newer models, including the new 17", seems a lot less tedious.

 

[.Chris]

numeric keypad on laptop = ewwwww

Seriously, I HATE off center keyboards.

The keyboard, is in fact centered, but its made to fit the entire lengh of the machine.

-Blueray....YAWN, I'm not going to be a pawn for the MPAA and buy $30-40 discs just to watch a movie. Plus I don't see the use for it, and loath supporting any Sony standards as they always keep the prices too high
.

You do realize that the movies are in fact going down in price. DVD's cost that much 10 year ago when the whole "DVD" thing was new. Same with VHS movies.

Err...um, you do know that if you plug the power cord into a Macbook ....

Yes, I do know that, everyone knows that. Remove the battery and go by AC power, thats what Iwas talking about.

 

[MagnusVonMagnum]

The only reason Apple haven't included BR is because they know movie buffs would rather buy a 1080p BR movie than download a crappy 720p one. That is their real 'bag of hurt'.

But you can't even do that. 720P movies are for rental only and ONLY on AppleTV. Until that changes, the arguments against Blu-Ray are moot. If Apple wants to SELL 720P movies, all they need to get a leg over Blu-Ray is to sell them at a lower price (say DVD price levels instead of $20-25 that BD movies cost).

No removable battery means that the new 17" MacBook Pro is a desktop computer, not a notebook (despite the technicality that it happens to have a clamshell design). However, based on my own experience with my 17" PowerBook G4 over the last four years, that's just about spot-on.

What "desktop" has the ability to run on its own power for up to 8 hours? Sorry, but no removable battery <> desktop no matter how much it sucks.

 

[.Chris]

But you can't even do that. 720P movies are for rental only and ONLY on AppleTV. Until that changes, the arguments against Blu-Ray are moot. If Apple wants to SELL 720P movies, all they need to get a leg over Blu-Ray is to sell them at a lower price (say DVD price levels instead of $20-25 that BD movies cost).

but apple wont do that. Steve is just to intrested in the iTunes store. He doesnt understand not everyone has a high speed internet connection, nor use iTunes/have an itunes account.


Blu-Ray on a mac will be an ideal choce. Windows + mac OSX + a mac = the ultimate machine.

 

[gibheid]

Can you show me where we can buy 8gb of DDR3 SODIMMS significantly cheaper then that?

http://www.crucial.com/store/partspecs.aspx?IMODULE=CT2KIT51264BC1067

Apple isnt gouging as much as they used to for RAM.

Well kinda. If you upgrade you're paying $1200 for only an additional 4GB of RAM. You already get 4GB installed as standard included in the price of the new 17" laptop. Thus if you want a full 8GB, Apple reserve the original 4GB chips and stick them in their corporate pockets--and then charge you full price ($1200) for 2x4GB sticks. $600 clear profit for the Mac Men at your expense...

Sophisticated highway robbery!

 

[CrackedButter]

What "desktop" has the ability to run on its own power for up to 8 hours? Sorry, but no removable battery <> desktop no matter how much it sucks.

This put everything in perspective for me, well done. The 17" MBP is still the machine for me.

 

[farmboy]

Exactly...not

Exactly. It's just a bunch of scientists in a lab going: "oh, well, we estimate x number of charges for y number of years...."

Apple has been known to recall batteries before. Shipping your entire latop would just be stupid.

Just a bunch of scientists? Yeah, what would they know that you don't...just about everything regarding accelerated aging tests, that's all. Exceedingly rigorous, reliable and thoroughly documented tests use by everybody.

Regarding battery recalls, Apple buys---does not make---batteries.

Regarding replacing your battery: do you know how to use a phillips screwdriver?

 

[farmboy]

You sir, have just earned the Epic Fail Stamp, congratulations.

Next time try comparing 2 systems with ACTUAL similar specs. As is, the new 17" is very expansive.

Did you mean "expensive"? 17" is quite expansive, however, reaching from here all the way to here.

 

[farmboy]

So with the battery being integrated how hard is it going to be to replace ram on it... Since apple wants like $1200 for 8gig

Phillips screwdriver. Crucial.com

 

[rychencop]

i'm just wondering what kind of fool will buy this laptop? can't replace the battery yourself, can't easily get to the HDD or the RAM (unless i'm missing the "secret" door.) what a joke! good job Apple, you are pushing even more people away from your products. fire your chief designer and get a clue. hell i'm thinking right now about getting a Dell. Again!

 

[Quillz]

No removable battery means that the new 17" MacBook Pro is a desktop computer, not a notebook (despite the technicality that it happens to have a clamshell design).

Well, then, the MacBook Air is a desktop computer, too. As are the iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPod touch and my 4G iPod nano.

 

[jonahan]

i'm just wondering what kind of fool will buy this laptop? can't replace the battery yourself, can't easily get to the HDD or the RAM (unless i'm missing the "secret" door.) what a joke! good job Apple, you are pushing even more people away from your products. fire your chief designer and get a clue. hell i'm thinking right now about getting a Dell. Again!

God damn you people are making me crazy. I've read and read this thread and I just can't take it anymore. Go try to replace the god damn Hard Drive in the two day's ago model 17" MBP. Seriously go look at the pics of the bottom of the thing there are screws on the bottom use a ****ing screwdriver and replace the HD upgrade your RAM and change the battery. You whiney ****s you get a better laptop for the same price as TWO DAYS AGO. Shut your traps already.

 

[Detektiv-Pinky]

A 13' Keyboard on a 17' Computer

The one thing I really dislike about the unibody Macs is the use of the same crowded keyboard layout for their entire line of machines.

You have so much room on this machine to include at least the up-down / del keys and move the cursor keys to the right. I find the notebook keyboards a pain to write on compared to the full size keyboard from the iMac...

 

[HLdan]

This is true, but I also believe the economy played a huge roll. It comes down to people not wanting to spend money. The fear of losing their jobs and not being able to pay off debt. By keeping it simple they will still continue to sell in the current recession. I understand that to many $1,000 to $5,000 my not be too much, but if you are in an unstable job you're not going to take the risk.

Anyone with an unstable job DOESN'T need a laptop computer. You can go to the library and use a computer, you can use a school computer or a friend's computer. FYI, lappys used to cost upward of $4000 base price. It pains me how people bitch that $1000 is overpriced for a laptop.

The Macbook Pro 17" @ $2799 is NOT "overpriced" to the person that wants to buy it or sees a need for it. "Overpriced" is in the eye of the person who sees it that way. You don't have to be rich to buy a $2799 computer.

 

[HLdan]

People buying in the high street are probably far less educated about their purchases and (ignorantly) willing to pay more.

It's amazing how you can blatantly insult and stereotype people based on their wealth.
Here's a newsflash for ya, maybe the rich guys are rich because they are smart and they know where and how to spend their money. People that have plenty of money can be and are just as anal as the next guy about what their money is being spent on. People who buy in the "high street" are generally the most inquisitive in regards to what they are buying. This is just one of the few things I hate about this forum is how some of you stereotype people like you're so friggin perfect.

 

[coffey7]

The economy is just fine in NY state. Every single time I try to go near any of the malls the place is jam packed. I can't even find a spot to park. Don't listen to the media. I will help the economy by picking up one of these 17" bad boys right after I let others test it out for a few months and tell us what the battery life is like in the real world. The matte screen option was the best thing they ever did. Shiny screens are horrible unless you are in your parents basement with all the lights off. I'm not even a mac fanboy but I am stoked to get one of these new rigs.

 

[Shunnabunich]

Well, then, the MacBook Air is a desktop computer, too. As are the iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPod touch and my 4G iPod nano.

Hilarious. OK, I'm sorry I didn't word it correctly. Better? Frankly, I couldn't care less what the (patently unjustifiable) MBA is, and the iPods and iPhones you mentioned have enough battery life to let them do their jobs for a day's worth of use or so. The MBP is obviously not a desktop computer per se by those terms, but it's sure as heck not much good as a portable computer. It's a beautiful feat of engineering talent directed by misguided decisions, that's all.

For those who are saying that nobody, ever, under any possible circumstances, would be away from a power jack with their new 17" MBP for more than 8 hours: huh? Stuff like that is bound to happen. My guess is that most people either won't need to carry their laptop around for a full third of a day, in which case the extra life isn't called for and they could've stuck with a smaller, removable battery; or will need 8 hours and sometimes more, in which case they're SOL now that they don't have a smaller, removable battery to swap out for a charged spare.

Anyway, I'll be the first to admit that the above arguments are just flying off the top of my head with no evidence to support them, so I'll just skip the needless Internet Argument and say you guys are right. Now if Apple would just stop making mistake after boneheaded, easily avoidable mistake.

 

[coffey7]

It's amazing how you can blatantly insult and stereotype people based on their wealth.
Here's a newsflash for ya, maybe the rich guys are rich because they are smart and they know where and how to spend their money. People that have plenty of money can be and are just as anal as the next guy about what their money is being spent on. People who buy in the "high street" are generally the most inquisitive in regards to what they are buying. This is just one of the few things I hate about this forum is how some of you stereotype people like you're so friggin perfect.

Great post. I have a ton of money but you don't see me buying silly overpriced cars and spending $100 on a pair of socks. I spend the right way which affords me the option of getting a new $2000-3000 computer when I need one. The class warfare around here is nuts. Some people have a ton of money because they studied hard in school, started a business or found a great job. I don't waste my money on beer, drugs or silly things.

 

[VoR]

Yeah, great post...

Not sure what my comment had to do with being rich or not, but yeah I was stereotyping the average high street buyer.

Someone that's 'inquisitive in regards to what they are buying' may very well look in the high street, but if they're 'as anal as the next guy about what their money is being spent on', they most likely won't be buying there and then.

I wasn't 'insulting and stereotyping' someone because of their wealth, no idea where you got that from (interesting stereotype you made in the same sentence though) - but I am 'so friggin perfect' myself when it comes to spending my money.

 

[coffey7]

Yeah, great post...

Not sure what my comment had to do with being rich or not, but yeah I was stereotyping the average high street buyer.

Someone that's 'inquisitive in regards to what they are buying' may very well look in the high street, but if they're 'as anal as the next guy about what their money is being spent on', they most likely won't be buying there and then.

I wasn't 'insulting and stereotyping' someone because of their wealth, no idea where you got that from (interesting stereotype you made in the same sentence though) - but I am 'so friggin perfect' myself when it comes to spending my money.

I know I was just loving the post by the guy who quoted you. I agree with you.

 

[Shunnabunich]

Some people have a ton of money because they studied hard in school, started a business or found a great job. I don't waste my money on beer, drugs or silly things.

It's amazing how you can blatantly insult and stereotype people based on their wealth.

It's easy to go overboard and slip up, I know. I don't waste my money on beer, drugs or silly things, either (at least...er, not any silly things that I'm aware of), but darn it, that money just doesn't stretch.

 

[coffey7]

The price is outrageous! Why can't they offer the anti-glare option for the 15" MacBook Pro?

Anyway, while we're in the middle of a recession, and might be heading in to a depression, we don't need $3000 dollar computers in the market.

ciao.

Michael

I'm heading over to the soup lines right now with my $3000 toughbook to get some food for the poor.