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Apple Releases Penryn-Based MacBook Pros with Multitouch

jviphone said:
So I am torn
SNIP
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Other factors you should consider:
- Added cost of antivirus and spamware software on PC
- Cost of PC software to replace what comes packaged on OS X (ie iLife)
- How computer will be used (if largely for gaming, perhaps PC is the way to go)
- Necessary software; are there PC programs you HAVE to run that are not available on the Mac? If so, you have the choice of installing Windows on the MBP (need for a Windows install disk) or sticking with the PC

Personally, as a recent switch-backer to Mac, I would not go back to a Windows PC unless I absolutely had to. For me and my needs, the MBP would be the better value. It is your money, however and I do not fully know your needs for the computer, so....
 
BongoBanger said:
*Looks at specs*

How... disappointing.
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Umm, why? What were you expecting, a death ray?

The HDD has been bumped up, the new CPU is somewhat faster and should give a decent boost to battery performance (note that their site now gives 'wireless productivity' battery life; as well, previous tests of penryn laptops gave them around 19% better battery life). It's also got more VRAM, an optional LED backlight on the 17", and it has a spiffy new trackpad.

Achiever said:
Other factors you should consider:
- Added cost of antivirus and spamware software on PC
Click to expand...

I've used Windows for years, and haven't spent a dime on security software. And there you go mixing 'PC' and 'Windows' up again.
 
jviphone said:
So I am torn, I bought one of the new iMac's and absolutely fell in love with Mac, I was thinking about replacing my 4 year old laptop from HP with the new mac book pro when it was released.. now I am skeptical as awesome as a system it is, I can get this system with an HP employee discount

Components
• Genuine Windows Vista Ultimate
• Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo Processor T7500 (2.20 GHz, 4 MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
• 17.0" WSXGA+ High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1680 x 1050)
• 2GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
• 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GS
• HP Imprint (Radiance) + Fingerprint Reader + Webcam + Microphone
• Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Network Connection and Bluetooth(TM)
• FREE Upgrade to 320GB 5400RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (160GB x 2) from 250GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive!!
• Blu-Ray ROM with SuperMulti DVD+/-R/RW Double Layer
• No TV Tuner w/remote control
• 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
• Microsoft(R) Works 9.0
• 1-year HP Accidental Damage Protection with Pick Up and Return

for under $1500

The Mac book pro with a 15" low level model is $1700 with education discount..

MacBook Pro 15-inch Glossy Widescreen Display
2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
200GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm
Backlit Keyboard/Mac OS - U.S. English
SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
2GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM - 2x1GB

now I like the backlit keyboard, multitouch and OS of the Mac, but it seems like I can get a lot more computer for my money with the HP..

Help me out here cause you guys know your macs..
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Well the HP is bigger (I personally don't see that as an advantage in a laptop) and also slower. It has a slower cpu and there will probably be noticible difference between the graphics chips used (HP's G8600GS is slower than the G8600GT in the Mac).
 
- Added cost of antivirus and spamware software on PC

It is not strictly necessary and there are good free antivirus packages - AVG, Avast Home and Vista comes with Windows defender.

- Cost of PC software to replace what comes packaged on OS X (ie iLife)

Not sure how much the OP needs iLife type programs - If I am not mistaken software for editing photos, making movies and playing media all come free with Vista ultimate edition.

- Necessary software; are there PC programs you HAVE to run that are not available on the Mac? If so, you have the choice of installing Windows on the MBP (need for a Windows install disk) or sticking with the PC

The cost of additional copy of Windows Vista / XP should be considered in addition to the cost of the MBP itself. On top of that if he is a HP employee I think he will get MS Office for free under the home use program that many companies have.

It's simple - if you require Windows/Vista for your daily needs and do not need OSX - by all means the laptop you listed sounds too good. But if you want a decent looking laptop that can run both Windows and OSX and you are willing to pay the premium - go for Macbook Pro. (I did).
 
I had an HP 17" dv9200 laptop. It's a beast in size & weight. Certainly not a LAPtop.

One major item to consider is that the standard battery would only last about an hour on the HP.

I'm eyeing the new base pro for $1999. I may have to pimp my GF for the student discount (She's a teacher).
 
does anyone have any idea how Call of Duty 4 would play on the 2.4, w/ the 256mb 8600M GT via Bootcamp? would it be adequate?
 
Awwww yeah! Nothing like instant gratification boys and girls...

2vl4fg6.jpg
 
i3iz said:
I am surprised that this is such a big deal to people. It is cool, no moving parts, but is it as big of a deal as people make it? I would imagine
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It's not that big of a deal. It just baffles me that they didn't change anything but the processor and the graphics card.
 
why so happy everyone?

Im very unhappy with this update another intel chip update is not what i was looking for. I was looking for a new look to the macbook pro. What good is a new processor to me, half the apple customers cant tell the difference in speed between the old one and new one. Very disappointed, i guess from today on ill start another wait to see the new macbook pro.
 
hvfsl said:
Well the HP is bigger (I personally don't see that as an advantage in a laptop) and also slower. It has a slower cpu and there will probably be noticible difference between the graphics chips used (HP's G8600GS is slower than the G8600GT in the Mac).
Click to expand...

Keep saving.

You also get OS X.... and You get windows... the best of both worlds.
 
angemon89 said:
The refurbished MBP is tempting. I was waiting to buy a new low end 15" MBP, but at $1649 for the previous HIGH end 15" I'm tempted to buy it to save $350.

The only think I wouldn't be getting is the multi-touch trackpad and 40GB of extra HD space, right? They're both still at 2.4ghz, but one has penryn and the other santa rosa.
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Anyone? Is there anything I'm overlooking?
 
Sorry am not a computer savvy guy. But what does rpm do? Why should I go for the 7200 instead of the 5400 with 50 more GB?
 
Value of cache.

The value of cache varies greatly from program to program, sometimes it will give you a .0001% increase and sometimes it can give you 1000%.

Large images for example will not fit in cache, however the instructions that massage the image may fit and stay in cache.

Programs that perform small loops ussualy get to stay in cache as the same instructions get executed over and over and if small enough you get maximum benefit.

Programs doing varied things and that repeat very little had less chance of being cached.

Also since the cache is shared by all the cores it is also hard to predict what will stay around.

If you can afford it use CPU(s) with larger caches, but don't expect it to help a lot. Each program is different and it depends how is coded and what parts (routines) get executed over and over.

Cache is shared with data also so a small data block being iterated by a small set of instructions (say 10,000 bytes long) is probably going to fly while in cache as the system only need to get the program and the data once.

Your results will varry, there is no exact science, without a very time consuming study of the code and data it is not possible to predict the results you will get.
 
billysea said:
Sorry am not a computer savvy guy. But what does rpm do? Why should I go for the 7200 instead of the 5400 with 50 more GB?
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Its the rotation speed. The faster rpm the faster it takes the hard disk to access info on the hard disk. I guess it depends on if what your doing is disk intensive. For the most people, 5400 is fine and is better on battery life to boot.
 
Several stores in the DC area have then in stock, so I guess it depends on where you live.

Not much of an upgrade, I had a 2.0 ghz MBP but I'm one of those that needs to latest and greatest, plus I found money in my paypal account the other day and this seemed like as good a way to spend it as anything else!
 
JCT said:
Nope, it's the original Core duo version-- Maxed at 2 GB RAM and all. Great machine on all counts, but doing tons of PS3 and Aperture away from my desk these days...

And it's the opportunity to go to 4GB that finally has me close to pulling the trigger. My good old MBP may be headed to Craigslist.

JT
Click to expand...

I have the same machine, but thankfully it's still enough for me with an upgraded 250gb drive.
 
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