Apple Releases Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro

[Zic]

I ordered mine for the UK HE Store and the ship date estimate is Oct 30th, we don't have an express delivery (that I saw anyway) so it might not make it to me till the following Monday 6th Nov. My order was a stock 15" 2.33Ghz. I guess the wait is relatively small in comparison to how long we had to wait for them to be updated

I placed an order for the stock 2.16GHz 15" model with HE discount over the phone, I also have the same shipping and delivery dates. I wasn't offered any delivery options but I was told that if I purchased over the phone (I mentioned I might buy via the Uni network tomorrow, I initially phoned just to check the prices) that it would be marked as a priority order (what this exactly entails I'm not sure) despite the 4 day lead time and this should reach me quicker. Perhaps this was just some kind of sales patter, I don't know...

 

[maverick808]

I got a week 34 17" last Friday. The LCD display is brighter at center and vignettes at corners. Apple Care couldn't guarantee a replacement wouldn't have the same characteristic.

Yeah, like I said, I don't know about the 17" and wouldn't be surprised if it did have the uneven backlighting. But the 15" I had was perfect.

 

[mac4evan]

Let's just say I am ready to give them hell. I work in PC Tech Support so I am ready to unleash all the pent up bitching I receive from my users on some poor unsuspecting apple employee.

The last time I had mine replaced because of a flickering backlight and a really noisey fan. They got me a new one from the back and it had huge scratch on the casing. They were really apologetic and gave me a further 10% discount.

I must admit even though they make such shoddy 1st release machines. Their customer care is very good.

Please don't vent on them! I hate it it when people come in yelling at us for stuff we have no control over We can't make everything better when Apple Corporate is in the way. You can be mad but just don't ruin their day.

 

[thunda32]

Well, I ordered one and just got a tracking number. Should be delivered tomorrow.

*fingers crossed*

Hey let me know how that works out for you if you don't mind. I may buy one later this week or next week at the latest. I figure the difference in ram alone justifies spending 150 bucks more!

 

[digitalbiker]

...or the 15" MBP GPU is always underclocked whilst the 17" GPU scales with demand?

This was the case, does anyone know if this might have changed.

After all something internal must have changed because now you get a DL drive. Previously it was stated that the DL drive was too big for the previous 15".

 

[bimboles]

Please don't went on them! I hate it it when people come in helling at us for stuff we have no control over We can't make everything better when Apple Corporate is in the way. You can be mad but just don't ruin their day.

To tell the truth with all the problems I have had. I have alway worked myself up for an argument, but everytime they have been really understanding and replaced/repaired it without any hassle. It really takes the wind out of my sails.

 

[eb6]

I just want an MBP which has an isight that doubles as an antitheft device. When an unauthorized user uses the MBP, either the trackpads or keys can detect the unfamiliar fingerprinting and the isight immediately fires a focused invisible microwave beam into the center of the user's brain, cooking his head from the inside out. is that so much to ask?

http://orbicule.com/theftsensor/

half way there.

 

[Maccus Aurelius]

Hi everyone,

I've lurked for years but decided to finally join and post.

I opted for the base model with 160 GB HD and 2 GB Ram. Do you think I will be sorry to have the 128 VRAM config. instead of the 256?

(I don't do gaming, although I will be using Photoshop and Aperture, but I figured if Aperture runs ok on a Macbook without a dedicated graphics processor, it should run fine on the new base MBP with 2 GB Ram.)

Not likely that you'd be sorry. A graphics card with 128MB of VRAM is more than enough to handle photoshop and aperture. I plan on using both on a macbook with no worries.

 

[iViking]

You really think Aperature runs ok on a MB? Not saying your wrong I mean it is your opinion but it seems odd.

Actually I haven't tried it yet. I'm using Nikon Capture. But I thought that was one of the benefits of the recent upgrade.

 

[AppliedVisual]

See, i still dont get that Yonah draws 31W whilst merom draws 35W. Sooo...am i missing something here?. Fact is this things are gonna run HOT!, we may no longer have whines or moos but HEAT is here to stay at least till penryn (45nm)...maybe

You're right Merom draws more power, but it is a more efficeint design. At the same clock speed vs. Yonah, it runs at about the same temp and it clicks along about 5% faster for general tasks. Unfortunately, Merom actually runs noticeably hotter under load. I hope Apple has addressed this in some way with better heatsinks, fans and/or software control. I guess I'll know in about a week when mine shows up.

 

[ccroo]

I thought Merom heat concerns virtually guaranteed a case redesign.

Is this new machine just gonna be hotter than the last? End of story?

Or did they do something new inside that 1" enclosure?

Would concerns over this prevent you from buying this machine?

 

[mac4evan]

Actually I haven't tried it yet. I'm using Nikon Capture. But I thought that was one of the benefits of the recent upgrade.

One of the new features was that you could run it on a MB or am I wrong? I very well could be. But the MB is poop when it comes to graphics, hence the on-ghip graphics.

 

[iViking]

Not likely that you'd be sorry. A graphics card with 128MB of VRAM is more than enough to handle photoshop and aperture. I plan on using both on a macbook with no worries.

So who does need the 256 VRAM then? Measurebators, hard-core gamers and Motion users?

 

[Westside guy]

Wow - I think this is a great update. I'm gonna buy the base model and just bump it up to 2GB of RAM. Apple's cost on the RAM is comparable to Crucials - seems like a good deal.

I don't think adding the extra video memory and the slight processor speed bump is worth another $300 to me. I don't really "game" much; and I'd think Aperture should run fine with the lower-end card (heck, I'm using it on a 1.25GHz Powerbook now).

 

[extraextra]

I thought Merom heat concerns virtually guaranteed a case redesign.

Is this new machine just gonna be hotter than the last? End of story?

Or did they do something new inside that 1" enclosure?

Would concerns over this prevent you from buying this machine?

I think it should run at the same temps or a little cooler.

 

[BWhaler]

I got a week 34 17" last Friday. The LCD display is brighter at center and vignettes at corners. Apple Care couldn't guarantee a replacement wouldn't have the same characteristic.

The crappy screens have been an issue since the last PowerBook revision.

It's infuriating that Apple clearly has made a change to a lower quality component or manufacturer.

I have purchased 3 PowerBooks (17'ers) and now the revised 17" MBP. I've watched the line change since I have owned most of the revisions.

Every change has been for the better. Except for the displays.

I really hope Apple fixes this. My current computer went back twice and a trip to the Apple store because of the screen. I was told 3 times the new, terrible screens with uneven backlighting was within specification. Pathetic.

I hope for the releases today--which I just bought--this has been fixed.

 

[AppliedVisual]

Yeah, like I said, I don't know about the 17" and wouldn't be surprised if it did have the uneven backlighting. But the 15" I had was perfect.

My current 15" is perfect and I hope the new one is as well... I've seen the uneven backlight issue on the 17" and it seems to vary from one model to the next - or at least it did with the three I've seen in the local Apple Store. One was pretty bad, one I couldn't see it and the other I really had to look to see it.

 

[mac4evan]

The crappy screens have been an issue since the last PowerBook revision.

It's infuriating that Apple clearly has made a change to a lower quality component or manufacturer.

I have purchased 3 PowerBooks (17'ers) and now the revised 17" MBP. I've watched the line change since I have owned most of the revisions.

Every change has been for the better. Except for the displays.

I really hope Apple fixes this. My current computer went back twice and a trip to the Apple store because of the screen. I was told 3 times the new, terrible screens with uneven backlighting was within specification. Pathetic.

I hope for the releases today--which I just bought--this has been fixed.

Now I can't speak for the MBPs screens but my Dad has a 17inch 1.67 last PBG4 revision and has never ever had a problem with his screen.

 

[dunnick]

A little disappointed with this release. I was hoping for a bump on graphics. In the end, I'm glad I waitied...placing the order in the morning.

Very disappointed that the 7200 HD is gone. Heat issues for loss of the 7200 AND no graphics bump?

Does anyone have a feel (I can do it, not sure if it's a good idea) for swapping out the HD with an aftermarket upgrade? I know there are programs for boosting the fan(s?)

Thx!

 

[DHagan4755]

The distorted right speaker was fixed in March. I can tell you both the 15" issues you mention were fixed over half a year ago.

Nope. My work bought a MacBook Pro a few weeks ago, and it has the right speaker distortion.

 

[ironjaw]

I sold it to my sister for a big loss, because I'm a nice brother (the only way she was ever going to afford one) and I made a good amount of money over the summer. Sold it to her for refurb price...so $1600 (Got it for $1800some)

Will have to steal the RAM and case back, now that I'm 'bout to get this new diddy

Many years ago I just "gave" my PowerBook G4 12" to my sister for the 15"... I'm a good brother

 

[tstoneblues]

This seems like a prettty cost efficient upgrade; even Apple's memory upgrade to 3GB (replacing one of the 1GB for a 2GB chip) is cheaper than going through OWC. I had two questions for anyone who knows, does the upcoming Santa Rosa platfrom include Flash memory to speed boot and application load times, and how much slower will the 4200 RPM drive be vs. a 7200 RPM?

 

[mac4evan]

I agree about the lack of a graphics boost but otherwise I am satisfied. I would ddefinitely agree that the 7200rpm model was tossed because of heat issues and my whole thing about the C2D being cooler... forget it I don't know what I am talking about.

 

[dunnick]

This seems like a prettty cost efficient upgrade; even Apple's memory upgrade to 3GB (replacing one of the 1GB for a 2GB chip) is cheaper than going through OWC. I had two questions for anyone who knows, does the upcoming Santa Rosa platfrom include Flash memory to speed boot and application load times, and how much slower will the 4200 RPM drive be vs. a 7200 RPM?

Check this:

http://www.barefeats.com/5472.html

 

[Chef Medeski]

Heres a pic if anyone has missed it.

Sorry guys. The mix-up on the MacBook pro doesn't foreshadow anything. Its actually the exact same description that is on the MacBook page, so it is referring to the current MacBook which is 5x faster than the iBook already. Sorry guys...

MacBook "Buy it Now" Page