We need a "Steve Jobs on Lack of Express Card in MacBook Pros" thread that goes on for months and months....
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Apple Releases New 15" MacBook Pro, Updates 17" MacBook Pro
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We need a "Steve Jobs on Lack of Express Card in MacBook Pros" thread that goes on for months and months....
He/she went there...i don't think that was necessary.
Whats so wrong with wanting pro features on Apple's top of the line notebooks? This is a fantastic update for the average consumer and most of Apple's consumer base. But for me, no thanks. I am simply stuck with whatever Apple thinks is the best looking or what works the best for the average consumer. And personally the unibody stuff isn't that cool, its machined aluminum...and I think they are ugly.
But side note...I'm sure someone pointed it out, but the whole presentation was done from a machine with an old 20" ACD. I wonder why?
Three Times a Charm?
Perhaps Apple will get Rev. C right?
Rev A - replace FW400 with FW800 but keep ExpressCard 34 slot
Rev B - Keep FW 800, but lose ExpressCard 34 slot
Rev C - keep FW800 or update to newer spec AND bring back EC 34 slot (I doubt there is any hope Apple will bring back FW400)
I could care less about the SD slot. Wal-Mart even sells an SD reader for $9.00 that plugs into the USB port on one end and the other end has a removable cap to reveal a slot for the SD(HC) card.
Unfortunately, I think others are correct. Apple is reserving one laptop for "pros" and otherwise has written off the community in favor of the younger generation.
Perhaps Apple will get Rev. C right?
Rev A - replace FW400 with FW800 but keep ExpressCard 34 slot
Rev B - Keep FW 800, but lose ExpressCard 34 slot
Rev C - keep FW800 or update to newer spec AND bring back EC 34 slot (I doubt there is any hope Apple will bring back FW400)
I could care less about the SD slot. Wal-Mart even sells an SD reader for $9.00 that plugs into the USB port on one end and the other end has a removable cap to reveal a slot for the SD(HC) card.
Unfortunately, I think others are correct. Apple is reserving one laptop for "pros" and otherwise has written off the community in favor of the younger generation.
Exactly!!! This is a bigger issue than the lack of firewire on the original unibody macbooks for sure! We've gone from two machines being limited/eliminated to FIVE!!! And only one true PRO version out of 6 (portables).
Professional audio/video users...
's own Final Cut and Logic user base is affected. No it isn't all about audio/video users but it IS about supporting their software's end users. Lack of SD never seriously affected the user base to warrant this change as there are a plethora of USB AND ExpressCard peripherals that inexpensively work for those users.
I too hung with Mac because it was better.. who cares what the stock price of the company is? I'm not buying a VW over a Honda because the stock price of VW might be higher. Pick your tools because they are good tools. Not because the company is printing money in the basement, it is "hot", or other non tool factors. If the company doesn't have enough money to keep the doors open perhaps.
That's not what the Microsoft commercials nor the industry is doing.
The commercials are about there are a number of vendors offering a wide variety of solutions into several demographics. If you only have one hardware vendor you aren't going to get that kind of breadth of offerings.
If anything this move just reinforces those commercials they are not aligned with that message at all.
Different people have different needs.
As for the industry... errr how about the economy? When even had cash to burn folks would pay for stuff they probably won't use. Now, things are a bit different. Apple cannot float above and diverge from the average selling price of the market.
The battery isn't field replaceable. Neither is the screen. I could see if they didn't take any measures to increase the number of cycles the battery useful over, but they did. They also increased the amount of "on battery" time you have, by making it bigger. Every significant design decision comes with a trade-off. Most people want longer portable time out of their battery than a desire to have to do maintenance on it.
Similarly the trackpad is now also a button. So it has more failure modes than just a simple trackpad. It is a trade-off.
The hard drive thing, no easy field replaceable drives is a bit of a pain because hard drives wear out faster than batteries ( if truly mobile and doing stuff while in motion.). However, back in Powerbook era ... just as non field replaceable with few tools by the average user. So while not better, that largely been the case for a long time.
If they are so desirable why would people sell them?
Perhaps it retains its initial selling price longer than many other Macs... but sell fast?
SxS Cards: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XDCAM#Recording_media
There is no reason Apple should not be upgrading these laptops. I don't know if they are willing to price match, but they should absolutely exchange the computer for the newer, faster model. I purchased a Santa Rosa MBP 3 days before the Penryn MBP, and the Apple Store exchanged it for the equivalent (ie, entry level) model no questions asked. If the Apple Store won't exchange it definitely call customer service. Especially since the 17" is actually an upgrade.
It is not a Pro
How can the baseline 15" be a considered a Pro?
I mean integrated graphics? Do I have that right?
What is going on with the Pro models?
For the evolution of Pro models - Do I have this right...
***We lost 1 FireWire port (We had a Firewire 400 and 800)
***We lost the option of a Matte screen
***We lost the express card capability and replaced it with a SD card reader?
***We lost the ability to carry/use an extra battery
***and for some models - we lost dedicated graphic cards
I like that there are new faster processors and they support up to 8 GB of ram, but why does Apple always seem to take a step forward and backward at the same time all the time?
***And where is blu-ray?!?!? When will I have the option?
***What ever happened to the year of HD that Steve Jobs promised?
!!We should expect Pro features for a Pro model? Especially, if we are paying the premium.!!
How can the baseline 15" be a considered a Pro?
I mean integrated graphics? Do I have that right?
What is going on with the Pro models?
For the evolution of Pro models - Do I have this right...
***We lost 1 FireWire port (We had a Firewire 400 and 800)
***We lost the option of a Matte screen
***We lost the express card capability and replaced it with a SD card reader?
***We lost the ability to carry/use an extra battery
***and for some models - we lost dedicated graphic cards
I like that there are new faster processors and they support up to 8 GB of ram, but why does Apple always seem to take a step forward and backward at the same time all the time?
***And where is blu-ray?!?!? When will I have the option?
***What ever happened to the year of HD that Steve Jobs promised?
!!We should expect Pro features for a Pro model? Especially, if we are paying the premium.!!
Ugh, what to do
I just ordered my 2.4ghz refurb MBP this week and still haven't received it in the mail. Now this messes with me. As a student, should I save an extra $170 (100 for the laptop, 70 for the RAM upgrade I bought), get the iPod that I didn't get before because I got a refurb, and opt for the updated baseline model (and just sacrifice dedicated graphics, as far as I can tell)? I don't know how important that extra two hours of battery is, and I don't really game so I don't think I'll need the dedicated graphics (though I'll be an engineer so I don't know if any professional apps will need dedicated?)... I haven't gotten the beast yet so I won't be charged restocking. Insights?
I just ordered my 2.4ghz refurb MBP this week and still haven't received it in the mail. Now this messes with me. As a student, should I save an extra $170 (100 for the laptop, 70 for the RAM upgrade I bought), get the iPod that I didn't get before because I got a refurb, and opt for the updated baseline model (and just sacrifice dedicated graphics, as far as I can tell)? I don't know how important that extra two hours of battery is, and I don't really game so I don't think I'll need the dedicated graphics (though I'll be an engineer so I don't know if any professional apps will need dedicated?)... I haven't gotten the beast yet so I won't be charged restocking. Insights?
And it costs $7,000. You think you might just be able to afford an Apple 17" alternative at that price? You can put the HDDs on the outside (where if you are going to subject them to tons of heavy workload they should be anyway.)
The mobile version of i7 class CPUs will be out late this year. The 17" Macbook will get one of those on the next revisions probably. And most intel desktops don't have i7 chips because most folks don't need one. They can get what they need cheaper.
The Apple store called me back. As I posted earlier today we bought my wife a 17" MBP on Saturday (just TWO days ago) and felt safe doing it because the 17" Unibody MBP JUST CAME OUT a few months ago and it seemed that there was no way it would get an update.
I had originally purchased the MBP for $2850 - 8% corporate discount. They told me that I only had two choices.
1. Return the one we bought for 10% restocking fee and buy the new one with the 8% discount from the $2499 price.
2. Take their "end of life" price on the one we bought but NO corporate discount. The end of life price was $2350.
Ultimately my wife decided to keep the one we bought but I'm pissed. I have bought end of life products from Apple before and my corp discount was still applied.
Does anyone have an exec email or contact number, because their going to get an ear full from me. If I had bought this MBP from Best Buy (where I also get a discount) they would have taken it back for a full refund with absolutely no questions, or, they gladly would have price matched me the full amount between the closeout price and still applied my discount.
I had originally purchased the MBP for $2850 - 8% corporate discount. They told me that I only had two choices.
1. Return the one we bought for 10% restocking fee and buy the new one with the 8% discount from the $2499 price.
2. Take their "end of life" price on the one we bought but NO corporate discount. The end of life price was $2350.
Ultimately my wife decided to keep the one we bought but I'm pissed. I have bought end of life products from Apple before and my corp discount was still applied.
Does anyone have an exec email or contact number, because their going to get an ear full from me. If I had bought this MBP from Best Buy (where I also get a discount) they would have taken it back for a full refund with absolutely no questions, or, they gladly would have price matched me the full amount between the closeout price and still applied my discount.
Re: blu-ray is not mainstream, its useless, I dont use it, etc
Professionals use large data files for massive amounts of information and images and DO need blu ray. Also, some people DO own blu ray discs and may want to watch them on their computer sometime in their life, or rip them to watch on their phone (I, at least, tend to only own one copy of my movies). Not to mention BR sound is higher quality than ripped, if you own nice headphones. Further, some people may burn large media presentations, or HD video they made on their mac, and need to play is somewhere where theres no blu-ray player or HD tv. Whats the point of editing HD movies? What do I do, burn it to 40 DVDs? Hook my mac up to a TV? Keep tons of 40 gig files in a hard drive? hope it doesnt break/get lost...
re: MBP not just for A/V pros, others use it too, etc...
I'm an A/V hobbyist, and I also am one of the "other" professionals. Other "professionals" DO NOT really need a MBP. A lawyer, a doctor, a scientist doesnt need a macbook pro A macbook would serve EVERY need, honestly. They work with text files, and do some image editing and MAYBE some computer modeling. And in any case, they don't need to do modeling in the field, usually. It waits till they get back to the lab.
MBP has always been aimed at A/V professionals: video, photo, architecht, computer modeling. Always. MBPs without discrete graphics, with SD card slots (cause DSLR's use SD?), and without Blu-ray, AND without matte screens, is, frankly, bull (stars). Thats not a macbook pro. That's not a powerbook. Its a really awesome Macbook, which is fine. But after today, their are "fake MBPs" on the production line, including the 15 inch one, and the 17 inch is the only "pro" model. But it doesnt have blu-ray. Apple is diluting their brand and neglecting their core customers. If they want to sell laptops to college kids and hipsters and rich people, that's fine, hell, most of the people I know fall into those categories. But they are screwing their power users. I hope someone from Apple is reading this, cause you guys just screwed up for the first time, in a LONG time.
I was ready to drop some K's on a 17 inch with a 256 SSD if blu-ray came out. Guess not. Read the boards, people are PISSED the new ones are a step backward.
Professionals use large data files for massive amounts of information and images and DO need blu ray. Also, some people DO own blu ray discs and may want to watch them on their computer sometime in their life, or rip them to watch on their phone (I, at least, tend to only own one copy of my movies). Not to mention BR sound is higher quality than ripped, if you own nice headphones. Further, some people may burn large media presentations, or HD video they made on their mac, and need to play is somewhere where theres no blu-ray player or HD tv. Whats the point of editing HD movies? What do I do, burn it to 40 DVDs? Hook my mac up to a TV? Keep tons of 40 gig files in a hard drive? hope it doesnt break/get lost...
re: MBP not just for A/V pros, others use it too, etc...
I'm an A/V hobbyist, and I also am one of the "other" professionals. Other "professionals" DO NOT really need a MBP. A lawyer, a doctor, a scientist doesnt need a macbook pro A macbook would serve EVERY need, honestly. They work with text files, and do some image editing and MAYBE some computer modeling. And in any case, they don't need to do modeling in the field, usually. It waits till they get back to the lab.
MBP has always been aimed at A/V professionals: video, photo, architecht, computer modeling. Always. MBPs without discrete graphics, with SD card slots (cause DSLR's use SD?), and without Blu-ray, AND without matte screens, is, frankly, bull (stars). Thats not a macbook pro. That's not a powerbook. Its a really awesome Macbook, which is fine. But after today, their are "fake MBPs" on the production line, including the 15 inch one, and the 17 inch is the only "pro" model. But it doesnt have blu-ray. Apple is diluting their brand and neglecting their core customers. If they want to sell laptops to college kids and hipsters and rich people, that's fine, hell, most of the people I know fall into those categories. But they are screwing their power users. I hope someone from Apple is reading this, cause you guys just screwed up for the first time, in a LONG time.
I was ready to drop some K's on a 17 inch with a 256 SSD if blu-ray came out. Guess not. Read the boards, people are PISSED the new ones are a step backward.
What about the old UMBP 17"?
Hi Fellow MacUsers,
I am a fairly new apple fanboy! I like, many of you, are dreading about the new uMBP 15" SD card slot.
I have waited a really long time to purchase my next MBP laptop (currently using MBA Rev A)
Because of the SD card slot on the new uMBP 15", I have decided to go with the uMBP 17". That being said, I wonder whether the new "upgrade" is worth the money. The Apple Store around my location told me today that they still have the old uMBP 17" and it is at a good price. I don't think the speed bump from 2.66 to 2.8 will change that much. I don't care much about the HDD from 320GB to 500GB because I can always put in a new one.
So my question is this,
1.Should I get the old uMBP 17" laptop? (that is, if they still have them left).
2. Matte or Glossy?
Thanks guys!
Hi Fellow MacUsers,
I am a fairly new apple fanboy! I like, many of you, are dreading about the new uMBP 15" SD card slot.
I have waited a really long time to purchase my next MBP laptop (currently using MBA Rev A)
Because of the SD card slot on the new uMBP 15", I have decided to go with the uMBP 17". That being said, I wonder whether the new "upgrade" is worth the money. The Apple Store around my location told me today that they still have the old uMBP 17" and it is at a good price. I don't think the speed bump from 2.66 to 2.8 will change that much. I don't care much about the HDD from 320GB to 500GB because I can always put in a new one.
So my question is this,
1.Should I get the old uMBP 17" laptop? (that is, if they still have them left).
2. Matte or Glossy?
Thanks guys!
Wow, the only thing Apple didn't seem to flop on was Snow Leopard.
Phil: And now the MBPs are $300 dollars less.
Me: Oh, pretty sweet!
Phil: Pretty nice, eh? How about that.
Me: *sees baseline specs*
Me: *figures*
(a little later)
Me: How are these Pro machines?
Scott: And now the iPhone 3G |S| supports tethering and MMS w/ video!
Me: Finally! And pretty impressive too boot.
Scott: And all these carriers...
Me: *sees no AT&T logo*
Me: LOL, AT&T suckzors! Total fail.
Phil: And now the MBPs are $300 dollars less.
Me: Oh, pretty sweet!
Phil: Pretty nice, eh? How about that.
Me: *sees baseline specs*
Me: *figures*
(a little later)
Me: How are these Pro machines?
Scott: And now the iPhone 3G |S| supports tethering and MMS w/ video!
Me: Finally! And pretty impressive too boot.
Scott: And all these carriers...
Me: *sees no AT&T logo*
Me: LOL, AT&T suckzors! Total fail.
The adapter I normally use doesnt need a reboot (its the Dual Systems one), and only cost $110 bucks. I think the impossible to get p2 into a laptop argument is really one that should be I cant get p2 media into the laptop within the normal budget or at least as cost effectively (and light weight, those Panasonic readers do not fit into my laptop pack either). The way I see it, in these new updates Apple has made my (and many video production peoples) workflow harder, longer, and much more expensive.
The other Panasonic solution however arent really doing too much. They are just a different tool, for a different job. Theyre made more for large productions that need a client monitor, and on location storage without a computer set up (small crew for instance, or just a big budget). Panasonic will never release an adapter (I dont think) since they got burned on the whole PCMCIA mess (the cards where meant to fit right into the slot, then 6 month latter Apple went to express slots), and they can demand more money now.
I did mention the extra hop in workflow, but I think I got sidetracked with the budget. But yes, that is also a problem since now there is an extra copy step in the process and that can take too much time on a hurried shoot. If the crew is spitting out long takes, the card reading, and copying can take longer than the shoot itself.
But I think my main gripe is (well now it is) is that the last few MacBook Pro updates have basically caused more problems, and expenses, than solutions for many people to use. Not a good idea for a product. I havent gotten one in a while, since each new one seems to limit more of my solutions for my clients than it does help me solve their problems. If I get a new machine, I can no longer go into a shoot, or client meeting, and go O.K. P2, I got the adapter right here in my bag, or so the client showed up with esata drive, no problem, I got the adapter right here. Hell I have a shoot next week, that I need to take a DVCPRO50 HD signal fire wire from the camera, to a fire wire drive array (it may even be esata), and no matter what the specs say, you cant daisy chain the camera thru the drives into Final Cut. So the new machine cant do that job. My own camera (JVC-HD110) will not digitize if daisy chained thru the drive. But works just fine if the drives are on the express card.
Now I understand that most people are buying on the low end, but thats not the pro market. If they want to make a computer for their pro users (Final Cut, Logic, ect) then make a computer that we can use!
Don't call the store, call 1 800 APL CARE. They might reason something different.
you may have better luck at places like macmall or macconnection, or the education outlets like your local college. they would have the blowout units and refurbished models. which could be had at a much better of a price than the apple store.
Ok I went through as many pages as I could and didn't see anything, but this thread is huge. My question is:
If I am interested in the new 15" updated mbps, I would do the 2.86 ghz upgraded option, which comes with the 500 gb HD. How come they do not offer it in 7200 rpm? Does it make that much of a difference?" whats the best option, to get that and order the 7200 that is included in the 17" and swap it out? Seems expensive..
If I am interested in the new 15" updated mbps, I would do the 2.86 ghz upgraded option, which comes with the 500 gb HD. How come they do not offer it in 7200 rpm? Does it make that much of a difference?" whats the best option, to get that and order the 7200 that is included in the 17" and swap it out? Seems expensive..
Nice, the Apple remote is an extra $19! I guess I'll hold onto mine from my black Macbook whenever I upgrade.
That's been the case for over a year.
I did call them and after waiting eons to finally get through they insisted that there was absolutely nothing they could do for me, that I had to deal with the retail store.
Is 3.06GHz worth the upgrade ?
I've asked about the 3.06 processor and whether or not it's noticeably faster than the 2.8. No answer yet. I work on big RAW files in Photoshop.
The 500GHz drive IS available in 7200 rpm. in either processor.
I've asked about the 3.06 processor and whether or not it's noticeably faster than the 2.8. No answer yet. I work on big RAW files in Photoshop.
The 500GHz drive IS available in 7200 rpm. in either processor.
noticably?? no. faster? DEF! you would see anywhere from a 5sec-20sec increase in processing times (depending on what you do). startup-times & app startup times wouldnt really be any different.
there is a 500GB (GB not GHz lol) 7200RPM option.
the biggest upgrade you would need would be RAM, esp if you are working with large RAW files