Apple Releases Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro

[tekmoe]

i've decided to go with the 2.16. i can't really justify the extra cost for the vram as most of my work is done in audio, not video. i don't game on it and i won't have it hooked to an external monitor. i can pick up another 1GB stick of RAM for about $100. it's really a no brainer. if i were into video production and needed to hook to an external monitor i would definitely go with the 2.33.

point aside, one of the local apple stores has a 2.16 currently waiting for me to come pick up. matte screen.

 

[grum]

Anyone here know anything about VJing? I want to use a Macbook Pro with software like Arkaos as well as music apps like ableton. Will getting the extra video RAM in the mid range model make any practical difference? Is the video card going to be good enough anyway to run a projecter?

I am pushing my budget to go with the pro rather than the Macbook so I would like to only fork out for the low end one if possible.

 

[Bidochon]

Mine hasn't shipped either. Its estimated to ship by the 30th like everyone elses was. I also happened to use the education discount. Do you happen to be in Canada?

I am in Canada, Quebec, I ordered mine with the ADC discount tuesday morning 2.33 Ghz, 160 GB. Estimated shipping 31 oct, no update yet...

 

[jrawsterne]

Oct 24, 2006 at 01:15 PM GMT - Order number W805XXXXX
Shipped - Oct 25, 2006 via Merge in Transit GB
Product Estimated Delivered By
MBPRO 15/2.33/2G/120/256VRAM/SD-DL-GBR Nov 6, 2006


Yay 2.33 shipped to the uk

Been waiting so long for this im gonna pee!

 

[psychometry]

Keep in mind folks that a half full slower drive will blow the doors off an 80% full fast drive. Fragmentation is your greatest enemy. If you're like that guy who plans to get the 7500 drive and only put 50MB on it, fine get the fast drive. But if you plan on filling it up, you're wasting your money. Only plan to use 75% of the space, and consider the rest emergency space.

Fragmentation isn't really a problem in HFS(+) volumes. That's why it's not a feature of Disk Utility. Of course, if you're installing Windows then you'll need to defragment about once every two months.

I'd also recommend creating a FAT32 partition for documents and other files that you might need to share between the OSs, as an alternative to an external drive.

 

[daneoni]

lol. Safari now at 1.98GB of VRAM usage, thanks to MR. Good times.

 

[countach]

Fragmentation isn't really a problem in HFS(+) volumes. That's why it's not a feature of Disk Utility. Of course, if you're installing Windows then you'll need to defragment about once every two months.

HFS is better than most at avoiding fragmentation, but ONLY if you have a lot of free space. It can't work miracles. If there isn't a contiguous area on the disk to use, then you're out of luck, the file will be fragmented. By rights, HFS really ought to have a defragmenter. But if you want to keep HFS working optimally, give it lots of free space. It has always been the same for UNIX file systems (and all file systems for that matter).

 

[thenewguy]

can someone please speak to the advantages of the 256mb VRAM over the 128?

In terms of:

*Regular surfing/word/school applications

* "pro" apps like Photoshop / FCP / music editing

* video games in terms of FPS, features you can enable, etc. real world benches would be appreciated.

 

[countach]

Anyone here know anything about VJing? I want to use a Macbook Pro with software like Arkaos as well as music apps like ableton. Will getting the extra video RAM in the mid range model make any practical difference? Is the video card going to be good enough anyway to run a projecter?

extra video RAM is only useful for high end 3D grapics. I doubt music software would use ANY 3D rendering.

 

[clintob]

HFS is better than most at avoiding fragmentation, but ONLY if you have a lot of free space. It can't work miracles. If there isn't a contiguous area on the disk to use, then you're out of luck, the file will be fragmented. By rights, HFS really ought to have a defragmenter. But if you want to keep HFS working optimally, give it lots of free space. It has always been the same for UNIX file systems (and all file systems for that matter).

Someone should probably mention in this little discussion that OS X actually has built-in defragmentation...

Every time you install an App or an upgrade, the OS automatically moves files around to create the largest amount of free space and the lowest amount of fragmentation. Apple just calls it optimizing, but it's the same basic principle. HFS drives (at least those under OS X) have no use for traditional defragmenting tools because unless you pile data into your drive up to the gills, the OS takes care of all of that for you periodically.

As countach said, keep a chunk of free space on your drive, and it's never going to be an issue.

 

[klb028]

wow! this thread is growing fast!

I had a question that anyone can answer really.. actually, I'd prefer multiple answers! I was just wondering how you're going to go about paying for the MBP... I've been waiting for Merom since August as well, but yet.. I just can't let myself spent almost $2400 in one shot.

 

[adiosk8]

wow! this thread is growing fast!

I had a question that anyone can answer really.. actually, I'd prefer multiple answers! I was just wondering how you're going to go about paying for the MBP... I've been waiting for Merom since August as well, but yet.. I just can't let myself spent almost $2400 in one shot.

work? sell drugs? prostitution? free lance work? inherit a lot of money?

sleep with steve jobs?

the list could go on forever....

 

[thenewguy]

if you can't buy it all right now then I wouldn't buy it. save. dont start using credit, its a nasty habit.

 

[iBorg20181]

wow! this thread is growing fast!

I had a question that anyone can answer really.. actually, I'd prefer multiple answers! I was just wondering how you're going to go about paying for the MBP... I've been waiting for Merom since August as well, but yet.. I just can't let myself spent almost $2400 in one shot.

Well, for me, I've been putting $1 in a jar, every time I've cussed my 1 GHz TiBook, for seizing with the "spinning beachball of death," to save for my new lappie.

The first 3 years, I only put away about $100, but this past year, I've been saving like a mutha!!!

Over the past 3 months, I've been able to also fund a new Harley, and a Beamer!

Happy Day!

iBorg

 

[JackSYi]

i ordered at 6:02am pdt on the 24th.
stock 15 2.33
upgraded shipping

and somehow i am the only person remaining who's order hasn't shipped.
could ed discount be slowing me down?

woe is me

Hmmm.. my order was through the educational store (with the expedited shipping). You can definitely get that shipping cost refunded.

 

[adrianblaine]

wow! this thread is growing fast!

I had a question that anyone can answer really.. actually, I'd prefer multiple answers! I was just wondering how you're going to go about paying for the MBP... I've been waiting for Merom since August as well, but yet.. I just can't let myself spent almost $2400 in one shot.

The price is the only thing stopping me right now from getting one. I will be paying for a MPB mostly with student loans (better interest than a credit card at least). I'm determined to get it soon since I am finishing up my masters this year so last chance for the student discount.

 

[cecildk9999]

wow! this thread is growing fast!

I had a question that anyone can answer really.. actually, I'd prefer multiple answers! I was just wondering how you're going to go about paying for the MBP... I've been waiting for Merom since August as well, but yet.. I just can't let myself spent almost $2400 in one shot.

If you can figure out how to pay for it in 3 months, apply for the apple credit account; there's no interest on the purchase for those 90 days (although after that, it bites you hard), and it takes some pressure off of you getting all of the money immediately up front. I had a coworker who did that with the last gen iBook, and it worked out well for her (although that $1500 price difference isn't chump change )

 

[exoriare]

And it's not THAT slow a drive, it's actually quite a fast drive, just not the speed demon that the 7500 is.

OK thanks countach. So this means if I get the 160Gb it's effectively 120Gb, whereas the 200Gb is effectively 120Gb if they are not going to slow down significantly.

But sorry to be dense but I've no real idea in practical terms how slow the 200Gb drive is going to be compared with the 160Gb. Obviously it's going to take a bit longer to do certain things, but what are these certain things and how noticeable would the difference be? Any examples anyone who knows?

 

[thenewguy]

can someone please speak to the advantages of the 256mb VRAM over the 128?

In terms of:

*Regular surfing/word/school applications

* "pro" apps like Photoshop / FCP / music editing

* video games in terms of FPS, features you can enable, etc. real world benches would be appreciated.

anyone?

 

[xPismo]

can someone please speak to the advantages of the 256mb VRAM over the 128?

You may want to check out this thread and join the discussion there.

Nice tip on the three months interest free on the Apple card, nice tip. I wish I never read it. Must be strong, only a few weeks more.

 

[barkins]

Finally got my C2D MacBook Pro

Well guys, I just got my C2D MBP today from the Apple store. It runs super fast, noticeably faster than my friend's CD MBP and it even runs slighty cooler.

Although it's still new, it doesn't have any random sleep shutdowns and odd noises. So far so good!

I'll post some photos later today.

 

[cecildk9999]

I'm determined to get it soon since I am finishing up my masters this year so last chance for the student discount.

This is one of the few times I can tout the advantages of becoming a teacher; I may not get paid much, but I can always buy Apple products at a discount!

 

[ChickenSwartz]

This is one of the few times I can tout the advantages of becoming a teacher; I may not get paid much, but I can always buy Apple products at a discount!

So 10% on Apple products make up for getting under paid?

 

[famusc]

Well guys, I just got my C2D MBP today from the Apple store. It runs super fast, noticeably faster than my friend's CD MBP and it even runs slighty cooler.

Although it's still new, it doesn't have any random sleep shutdowns and odd noises. So far so good!

I'll post some photos later today.

Did you order it online or managed to find it in a shop?

 

[countach]

Well, for me, I've been putting $1 in a jar, every time I've cussed my 1 GHz TiBook, for seizing with the "spinning beachball of death," to save for my new lappie.

The first 3 years, I only put away about $100, but this past year, I've been saving like a mutha!!!

Over the past 3 months, I've been able to also fund a new Harley, and a Beamer!

Better hang onto that TiBook, it's a real money spinner!