Apple Releases the MacBook Pro

[darwin022]

I think this would have to be the fastest growing thread ever on MR!

My initial reaction to the MBP was "I WANT ONE". However, after a bit of rational thinking I don't think I'll buy a new laptop this year. Along with being a Rev A, there are the many things which people have pointed that detract from this computer.

Loss of FW 800 doesn't bother me, loss of DL does. I don't really like the iSight, I think it's more of an iSore. If I wanted one I would be it as an accessory.

I think if I wait until 2007 the full range will be out and I can then make a more practical decision.

I think an iMac for the rest of the family is in order though.

And thus, you have just joined the "OMG I'll wait till the next rev!" crowd. Have fun with that

 

[Jschultz]

Anyone think that they'll make a single core powerbook? What about people like me who need a big widescreen, but not superpowerful other stuff?

 

[iQuit]

I am glad I held off for a year. Man it sure was worth it, this is the laptop that I have always dreamed of but hasen't ever came out. I am going to buy it. YAH! Steve Jobs is AMAZING!

 

[thes]

Does anybody else find the iSight ugly as sin?

I thought you could hardly notice it... although the extra space on top of the screen does seem a little 'empty'...

 

[thes]

Anyone think that they'll make a single core powerbook? What about people like me who need a big widescreen, but not superpowerful other stuff?

unlikely... the single core doesnt really cost much less than the dual core, so probably not worth the difference.

 

[boombashi]

Yeah you're right. But I still think they could have given us an extra USB slot and an extra FW400 slot to make up for it.

I'll give you that - I think more ports would be nice, but they do have some sexy bus powered hubs, but they don't work for everything. Also pick up a BT mouse for that bad boy, best investment you can make for your new lappy (3rd party 2 button scrollers work as well BTW). Personally I'd love a CompactFlash card slot in the side, but what can you do.

 

[Fabio_gsilva]

Man, this is a very good laptop, the best ever produced by Apple, and people still complaining, still not happy. What in the world will the nay sayers still barking at??

Give me a break. Please.

And, GO APPLE!!!

 

[kretzy]

And thus, you have just joined the "OMG I'll wait till the next rev!" crowd. Have fun with that

In a way I suppose. Though I'm quite content with my PB - it does what I need and will probably continue to do so for the next few years. I just like shiny new things that I can't really afford is all.

 

[mklos]

Its nice to see that the bitch and complainers are back! Can't you just accept the MacBook Pro as it is? Apple can't please everyone!

I think the MacBook Pro is great! Kept the same beautiful design, more than twice the power, extra features, etc for the same prices. How can anyone go wrong?

Sorry for being so blunt, but its really annoying to see the same people whining and complaining about this and that after every Mac announcement.

 

[darwin022]

In a way I suppose. Though I'm quite content with my PB - it does what I need and will probably continue to do so for the next few years. I just like shiny new things that I can't really afford is all.

rgr that. At the same time, we probably have the exact same powerbooks. The difference is: One of us realized that apples hold their resale value fairly well (at least in the states).

I have been skipping revs: every 2-3 revs I'll upgrade. It keeps me from being too far behind and keeps me happy with a new toy.

 

[Garissimo]

Here is why the single FireWire 400 port is a problem, for some users. If you want to use your Mac as a portable recording studio, you're going to need to do two things. One is connect to a pro-quality audio interface, which is typically a FireWire 400 connection. The other is to connect to a large fast external hard disk to avoid I/O contention on your internal boot drive. The best way to do this was to attach an external FireWire 800 disk and write your audio to that. With separate FireWire 400 and FireWire 800 buses, the digital audio streaming in from the audio interface had the whole 400Mbps bus to itself and didn't conflict with the disk I/O bandwidth being used on the FireWire 800 bus.

With only one FireWire 400 port, the MacBook Pro can't do that. Despite any likely performance boost from its dual-core Intel CPU, the MacBook Pro now has a pretty substantial disadvantage relative to the G4 PowerBook for those who work with audio on the Mac.

Deal-breaker? Maybe. Hopefully, Apple has some effective work-around for this.


Crikey

Interesting observation. Thes new MacBooks can be configured with 100Gig, 7200rpm drives which should make an external FW drive unneccessary. ProTools might still be a problem, though because they typically insist you have a dedicated audio drive.

For everything else, I'd have to beleive the new processing core, much faster FSB and faster drives would give enough bandwidth to record direct to the internal drive and leave your FW400 port free for your audio interface.

 

[uv23]

Lots of good comments here. Much of what I have to say has already been said but I'll reiterate.

Overall, it's a great machine with some great bits -- the CPU and the video card as the obvious two -- but there are some severe errors of judgement on Apple's part that reduce its viability as a truly portable and self-contained computer -- specifically, no modem and no S-video. Take a look at the side of this machine. There's tons of room for more ports. Even if they're working with new MBs, these items should have been design considerations right from the get go. Yes, you can dish out more cash for a USB modem and a DVI to S-video adapter, but the inconvenience of having to carry these accessories is pretty big.

From an evolutionary standpoint, I am not too taken aback by not seeing a change in form factor. The curent design is lovely. But, now that Apple has finally realized the glory of multi-button mousing -- though the mighty mouse is fundamentally flawed due to the lack of ability to right click while fingers are resting on the mouse -- there should have been two buttons on this MacBook. Period. I'm deeply dissapointed by this mistake.

All things beind said, I'm in need of a new laptop but I will wait. I still find the 15" too big and I'm hoping Apple will correct some of their errors as the new year progresses.

Cheers.

 

[boombashi]

Man, this is a very good laptop, the best ever produced by Apple, and people still complaining, still not happy. What in the world will the nay sayers still barking at??

Give me a break. Please.

And, GO APPLE!!!

They Always will - you can't please 100% of the worlds population so you try for 10%. although iPods they did a little better

This new MacBook is better than I hoped in most ways and lacking a few little things I was hoping for, but...read above. I still am geeked that they came out with this it is ALMOST EXACTLY what I was hoping for, but didn't think would ACTUAL happen. I placed my order at like 2:30 and it can't get here soon enough. I've been sans laptop since I sold my iBook 2 months ago

 

[Jschultz]

unlikely... the single core doesnt really cost much less than the dual core, so probably not worth the difference.

Meh. At least I can have a dual core, blazing fast macbook pro to use powerpoint and word!!

 

[~Shard~]

Comparing that to the new Acer I think it was at the same price with A LOT better specs kinda turns me off. I'll wait another year I guess.
Funny thing is though I was ready to buy a new one but this is definitely not it...

That's too bad to hear. I guess being a non-laptop owner, I saw this update as a really good one - however it is interesting and good to hear the opinion of someone like yourself who has been following the laptop market a lot more closely.

 

[ZorPrime]

the powermac will remain the powermac it has been so since the 80s. I dont know how long it will be before we see mac book standard instead of the macbook pro, or if we will ever see it.

If memory serves me correctly... the first powermac was the 6100 back in 1994.

 

[anastasis]

My two cents that may have been posted since I have not read the entire thread.

I think this is a buffer release. I think that they wanted to get something out to make the PowerBook (now MacBook) look better. It was struggling so, so, so bad. So I would be willing to bet that around summertime we see the real deal MacBooks released. Full line-up revision, new enclosure (maybe black aluminum?) for the 12", 15" and 17".

However, I think the iBooks (or MacBook Consumer) will be revised and redesigned first around springtime with the PowerMacs (ummm.. I am out of new names) chiming in around the fall.

 

[Val-kyrie]

Modem Issue

so take a modem with you. there's just not much point in having them built in these days. Apple's modem is hardly bulky.

The point with a laptop is an all-in-one portable computer. If Acer can make an equivalent laptop with a modem in it, so could Apple, and comparatively, the Acer puts Apple to shame. I need a laptop NOW and as primarily a PC user, the Acer may get my money until Apple is more solidified in its transition.

 

[Photorun]

WAAAAAYYY back there someone was ranting (or raving even) about the Acer peecee notebook. Admittedly it's a "WTF?!?" that Apple is using much slower Yonah chips, this entirely makes no sense... or maybe Apple just loves looking like dopes and/or enjoys having slower processor specs than it's peecee brethren. If this looked dumb before to the peecee crowd when we used different chips, now that we have the same chips, it looks EXTRA dumb! What the hell is Apple thinking?!? My thought is the slower chips like 1.83 or whatever are cheaper, Apple being a cheap company that puts cheap overpriced crap inside of the marchines way too often, the "lipstick on the pig" principle, it's just unacceptable. It's dumb, it's tired, Apple could capture serious market share but clearly just wants to look like elitist morons to anyone who does a side by side comparison. Yes OS X is great, iLife, etc., sure, "free" with new machine, but c'mon, not worth thousands more than an Acer with the same Yonah but at 2.0 GHz dual core that starts at $1200!!! Apple and it's buyers look like total DOPES!!!

One exception that previous posters raving about the Acer did NOT mention, though with this big a price difference it isn't that big a deal (Apple still looks and is STUPID!) is Acer's entry notebook with the 2.0 is using shared graphics memory, 128 of it, so there's no true dedicated graphics. STUPID on Acer for this, what's a cheap 128 mobil card? $50 wholesale?

Anyways I'll buy a Macbook when they get over 2.0 GHz, not like the chips don't exist, just Apple is probably maximizing profit using cheaper chips and duping it's early adopters. Just once I'd love Apple to announce an incredible product and not shortchange everyone using stupid cheap-ass tactics. Guess Jobs needs a new coy pond.

 

[surroundfan]

I suspect the main reason that the iBooks didn't get updated is that the Core Solo processors are pretty expensive compared to the Core Duos ($209 vs $241 for 1.66 GHz models - see http://www.intel.com/intel/finance/pricelist/)

Anyway - whether to cancel my 17" G4 on order and plump for the MBP 15.4" is an agonising decision. I'm not too fussed about the Superdrive (provided it's not a Matshita, I'll be happy) nor FW800, and the performance boost is very worthwhile, but I'm giving away 1.6" of screen plus the associated resolution. Also, no S-Video out will mean either having to buy a media server or a DVD with DIVX out...

Oh well, I'll have to see if the store I ordered my 17" G4 will honour the 10% off deal they had on when I ordered it (in mid-November!; the saga is not for this thread) for the replacement order...

 

[mnstr_trd_sd]

okay i guess no one really know what the difference is with these new intel processors or what the advantages are and disadvantages are. it seem like everyone is either applauding apple or booing them without really knowing why.

someone please:

1) what are the advantages and disadvantages with these intel chips?

2)why are they so much better that is has everyone making a big deal about them.

3)and if they are so great, where is the speed test that prove the new macbooks and new intel processors have alot more power than the power pcs besides having the dual cores

 

[~Shard~]

Does anybody else find the iSight ugly as sin?

An integrated iSight looks far better than that the tube sticking on top of the display. A definite improvement.

 

[iQuit]

I want to see the performance against a G5 dual 2.0

 

[Randall]

WAAAAAYYY back there someone was ranting (or raving even) about the Acer peecee notebook. Admittedly it's a "WTF?!?" that Apple is using much slower Yonah chips, this entirely makes no sense... or maybe Apple just loves looking like dopes and/or enjoys having slower processor specs than it's peecee brethren. If this looked dumb before to the peecee crowd when we used different chips, now that we have the same chips, it looks EXTRA dumb! What the hell is Apple thinking?!? My thought is the slower chips like 1.83 or whatever are cheaper, Apple being a cheap company that puts cheap overpriced crap inside of the marchines way too often, the "lipstick on the pig" principle, it's just unacceptable. It's dumb, it's tired, Apple could capture serious market share but clearly just wants to look like elitist morons to anyone who does a side by side comparison. Yes OS X is great, iLife, etc., sure, "free" with new machine, but c'mon, not worth thousands more than an Acer with the same Yonah but at 2.0 GHz dual core that starts at $1200!!! Apple and it's buyers look like total DOPES!!!

One exception that previous posters raving about the Acer did NOT mention, though with this big a price difference it isn't that big a deal (Apple still looks and is STUPID!) is Acer's entry notebook with the 2.0 is using shared graphics memory, 128 of it, so there's no true dedicated graphics. STUPID on Acer for this, what's a cheap 128 mobil card? $50 wholesale?

Anyways I'll buy a Macbook when they get over 2.0 GHz, not like the chips don't exist, just Apple is probably maximizing profit using cheaper chips and duping it's early adopters. Just once I'd love Apple to announce an incredible product and not shortchange everyone using stupid cheap-ass tactics. Guess Jobs needs a new coy pond.

I agree. I think they could have gone with the higher speed yonahs. All I can think is that they will update them soon and hopefully often.

 

[Jay42]

Does anybody else find the iSight ugly as sin?

I didn't think the actual iSight was as bad as the uneven bezel that now boarders the screen.