Apple Releases New MacBooks

[CptnJustc]

Please show me a $1000 laptop from last year that had 2GHz C2D processor.

I don't think it can be done!

However, I'll bet you could be shown $1,000 laptops from last year with AMD / Core Duo processors and better GPUs that can outperform the MacBooks in some tasks.

I will say that they are still great bargains for many tasks, however. But hopefully this doesn't put off that SR update too long.

 

[JFreak]

Hey, an update is an update. Better than no news or updates at all. I agree with you though, some people want everything and more.

Yep; however, I'm still waiting for that MBP update. It was a very credible-sounding rumor about 5 new SKU's, which would mean 5 new models. So far only three have been released, so where's the rest?

2 new 15" MBP's with LED backlights, but when?

 

[-hh]

Egads, what whiners!

And you guys do realise that this update will be the MB for the next 6+ months?

Not necessarily. This was a relatively easy "drop in" upgrade on existing motherboards and cases - - the reasons to do it were to make sure that Leopard will run nicely (I noticed the 1GB RAM), and to remain competitive within their segment ... while still making money. Because it has lower fixed costs, Apple can afford to run it for a shorter period - it doesn't have to run for a 6 month cycle.

Do keep in mind that Apple's contracts with their suppliers will have certain minimum quantity requirements that they have to fulfill, which will influence various production decisions. Since this continues to use the MB product line, these quantities count towards those "tooling costs" amortization totals.

Not using SR may not seem too bad now, but in 3-4 months when EVERY other laptop will be shipping with it then it may be a big deal.

Not every laptop will be shipping with the SR in 3-4 months. In any event, it makes a lot more sense for Apple to have the "complete package" pulled together, including the LED illumination and whatever. Plus, they're going to prefer to first offer it in their flagship product, the MBP (more visibility, more profit, etc) before dispersing the technology out into the lower-tier products.

The thing to remember is that Apple works differently than the rest of the PC market: the rest of the market NEEDS to rush the SR into their product line because its effectively the only way that they can provide for some meaningful product differentiation vs. their competitors.

As such and personally, I'd be literally shocked if the SR or the new green display were to be rolled out in the MB before the MBP ... and yet that's pretty much what the whiners are complaining about here.

Sure, there's also some grumbling going on about the graphics board, but even a Student is supposed to be doing work...not playing games .


-hh

 

[Turkish]

the only difference between the top macbook and the superdrive 17 inch imac is a dedicated graphics card in the imac

And the 17" screen, and the 7200 RPM drive...

he top macbook actually now has a bigger hard drive and faster superdrive than the entry macbook pro, which again, only has a dedicated graphics card over the macbook.

The MBP has a full DVI out, backlit keyboard, better speakers, larger screen, aluminum case, Express Card 34 slot, FW800... etc., etc., etc.

i sell these for a living, and selling macbook pros got a whole lot harder with this update.

You're not a very good salesman and you don't know your product very well.

 

[daze]

That's it i'm buying a Sony. Farewell Macrumors.

Me too! Err. Wait -- I can't run Mac OS X on it... So err... Nevermind, I'll stick around till Santa Rosa... or maybe the ultra portables. On the pain of waiting!!! My 4 year old PowerBook 12" is getting painfully slow... Any kind of flash on a website causes the laptop to go full speed on the fans! Drives my wife nuts.

 

[Evangelion]

What I'm not willing to do though is pay a $1000 premium to be able to run X-plane when a wintel/AMD machine can do it (running Linux hopefully) for less.

Then don't. You have a specific need, and your need is better served by some other laptop. I'm not going to tell you to get a Mac, I would tell you to get a best tool for the job. And in your case, that tool might be something else than a Mac.

 

[xfiftyfour]

I am so sick of hearing this. Can we just assume people know what WWDC stands for and that they take that into consideration when making such a prediction?

Well, when someone predicts that the iMac is going to be a main update/announcement at WWDC, I think they NEED to be reminded what WWDC stands for. Clearly they haven't taken the venue into account when making their prediction.

 

[Evangelion]

Isn't that the point of a update?

Um, no? Point of an update is to improve the specs, features and/or price of the product. The point is not to get the best components possible. Mac Mini doesn't have best possible CPU's or vid-cards, never has. And after it's been updated, it still wont have top-of-the-line specs. It will have better specs than it has right now, but not top-of-the-line.

 

[shawnce]

Not necessarily. This was a relatively easy "drop in" upgrade on existing motherboards and cases...

You said it better then I could have.... you basically summed up my opinion on this.

 

[macjackpro]

The prices are more than competitive

Entry level macbook: $1100


Dell E1405 $1135


PROCESSOR Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7200 (2.00GHz, 4MB L2 Cache, 667 MHz FSB) edit
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Premium edit
LCD PANEL 14.1 inch Wide Screen XGA TFT Display with TrueLife™(glossy) edit
MEMORY 1GB DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz, 2 Dimm edit
HARD DRIVE 80GB Sata Hard Drive edit
OPTICAL DRIVE 24X CD Burner/DVD Combo Drive edit
VIDEO CARD Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950 edit
SOUND OPTIONS Integrated Audio edit
My Accessories
BATTERY OPTIONS 53 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery edit
WIRELESS CARDS Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N edit
BLUETOOTH OPTIONS Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Internal (2.0 + Enhanced Data Rate) edit
TV TUNER & REMOTE CONTROL Media Center Remote Control edit

 

[Willis]

I guess they didn't want to upstage the brand new MBPs (15 and new thin 13.3) due at wwdc.

Makes sense.

Im with you on that.

Its a nice update for those still looking at buying a MB. Ok, it doesnt have SR (I bet it will come around august/september) but the lower price points are usually a nice welcome with better specs.

MBP's are Apples 'Flagship' in notebooks so have to set the bar. We know that theres a speed update on the way, and probably, SR will appear there at WWDC

 

[DaveTheGrey]

A MBP update would have only been necessary, if the MB would have been updated with SR or LEDs. I think new technology will always arrive in the pro series first.

This update was quiet and unannounced so nobody can say it was that bad, but in fact it was not a big deal. Nice and welcome but not a "WOW" or "Finally!!!".

I'm waiting with my order for a MBP, because of the MacBuyer's guide. In fact I don't NEED that update but if SR with Robson or LEDs improve it, so I can use it longer, it's worth the waiting. (using a G4 1GHz PB 15" Titanium and except of the fans which spin a little too often it's all good)

See you guys next tuesday

dave

 

[BigPrince]

To get all that in one? Impossible. But thats what is wanted.

So we got the opposite...we don't have the latest chipset, the prices did not go down(did one increase or did they stay the same), nothing changed in the monitors, nothing changed in the thickness, we still have combo drives lingering around and a small ram upgrade for the base model...

I would argue that this is not an impressive update given the fact what they could of done and what is available on the market thus contributing to the negative feelings currently.

 

[yagran]

why is this titled "Apple releases new MacBooks", i dont see any new macbooks anywhere. its an UPDATE not a NEW product. plase dont be inaccurate in every post, if you cant get news right? wheres the hope for rumours.

and im not happy because although they adjusted prices alittle or the uk, we are still paying £100 ($200) more essentially

 

[georgeoommen]

Price drop in Apple UK Store

Has anyone else noticed the 50 quid price drop for all the MB's in the Apple UK Store? this combined with a student discount puts the MB base model at under 700 quid... What a bargain!! Also, I'm from outside the EU, so I can buy it here and claim VAT back on it when i go back home. woohoo... Thank you .. This is an awesome update!!!

 

[leekohler]

I just want a matte screen. Oh well. Still no MB for me yet. I can keep waiting. My iBook G4 is doing just fine for now anyway.

 

[Telp]

What i dont get is, why now is Apple allowing the mid priced macbook to be almost better (except for screen size, graphics card). It just makes no sense to me, and the combo drive in the base model does do DVD.

 

[Ayolt de Roos]

Apple can not expect people to be satisfied with an update that only makes the MacBook (or MacBook Pro/iMac/iPod/whatever) only a bit better! It was half a year ago that Apple updated the MacBook, obviously people want more than some second-hand MacBook Pro pieces. An update needs to be big and has to make us cheer...!

 

[BigPrince]

Um, no? Point of an update is to improve the specs, features and/or price of the product. The point is not to get the best components possible. Mac Mini doesn't have best possible CPU's or vid-cards, never has. And after it's been updated, it still wont have top-of-the-line specs. It will have better specs than it has right now, but not top-of-the-line.

Well this was definitely a small update and disappointing update then.

 

[2tallyAwesome]

It's funny that people still complain about the combo drive.

As someone with a base macbook, I don't miss the superdrive at all. If I need to watch a movie I just use VCDs.

But that isn't the point.

After using Vista on my friends Sony Vaio, I was reminded of exactly why i have an apple. OSX, the user friendly UI, and the superior trackpad with multi finger tracking, are all FAR more useful and worthwhile than a Super Drive. You people just seem to want everything, without having to pay for it.

It's pretty sad IMO.

 

[jrober]

mmmm - will my in transit order be a 2 or 2.13 Ghz Mac Book

All,

Bummer, I ordered a 2.0 Ghz 80Gb 2M RAM White 13.1" MacBook last week for my better half and now I see either a big price drop c. £200 or an upgrade. My Laptop was built Friday last week and shipped over the weekend. It is sitting in Arnhem NL on its way to the UK.

I await with baited breath, is it the new model? Build was delayed.

Is it the last of the old models - :-(

If it is not the upgraded one (Faster proccessor bigger HD) what should I do. it was a business purchase from the Apple store. Do I ask for a refund if so are there any tips on being successful? Do I ask for a Voucher to spend (New iPod?)

Thoughts?

John

 

[suneohair]

You people are pathetic. 45nm isn't hitting til the end of the year, so no new processor.

Santa Rosa is a minimal update. Most people want the Robson caching but it is smarted for Apple to wait for NAND to plummet as more companies start using it.

This is a nice bump, those who were waiting have no reason not to buy. The graphics are fine, I run Aperture just fine. Quite your whining you babies.

 

[Evangelion]

Well, when someone predicts that the iMac is going to be a main update/announcement at WWDC, I think they NEED to be reminded what WWDC stands for. Clearly they haven't taken the venue into account when making their prediction.

Developers don't use iMacs? I remember few years ago SJ spent quite a bit of time talking about .Mac during the WWDC-keynote. He also always talks about the iPod. In the past Apple introduced iSight in WWDC.

I really don't see why Apple couldn't introduce a new iMac at WWDC. Because it's a consumer-machine, and the venue is a developer-conference?

 

[markfc]

Well **** it, I just ordered mine!
I've waited long enough....

 

[xJulianx]

Has anyone else noticed the 50 quid price drop for all the MB's in the Apple UK Store? this combined with a student discount puts the MB base model at under 700 quid... What a bargain!! Also, I'm from outside the EU, so I can buy it here and claim VAT back on it when i go back home. woohoo... Thank you .. This is an awesome update!!!

The base MacBooks only £601.60 with HE discount!