Apple Releases the MacBook Pro

[Evangelion]

Firewire HDs count a hell of a lot when you're trying to run files through FCP on it thank you very much.

I never said anything about FW-HD's sucking. What I said was about the bandwidth they require.

Also, considering that there are HD cameras that have FW800 interfaces it becomes really important to professionals in the field.

And what do you do with those interfaces? transfer data from the camera to the HD on the computer? Since the HD isn't fast enough for FW400, I fail to see the point in FW800.

We're not saying the computer sucks, we're saying it's LACKING. It's not lacking speed, it's lacking features we were used to having on "outdated" models.

Many of you ARE saying that the computer sucks. And like it or not, FW800 is a marginal feature with rather marginal uses. 98% of the time, FW400 can be used just fine instead of FW800.

 

[devman]

I love to read these forums right before a new announcement and right after. It is just so funny. A perfect example is that before the announcement when a new ibook was being predicted most people were complaining that having a new ibook more powerful then the powerbooks would kill powerbook sales. After the announcement of the new Macbook Pro folks are people happy. Nope! They are complaining that there was no new ibook. I get such a kick out of reading how hard to please everyone here *seems* to be. And what is up with the comparison to an Acer? How is that even a comparison???? Has anyone ever seen a good review of an Acer???

well said. I just read all 30+ pages of thus and it's depressing. Not because of what was announced, but because of so much of the absurd negative sentiment.

 

[Evangelion]

Actually most LaCies are cited as going over 64MB/s which is over even the rate of USB2 by 4MB/s.

Have they been benchmarked at those speeds? IIRC not even the WD Raptors transmit data that fast.

 

[devman]

This is the weirdest thread I've ever read.

I have to admit, I've read quite a number of "gee I'm disappointed that Apple is switching to Intel for <whatever reason>" threads, but now that's it's really happening it seems there are a huge number of Apple users finally sharing their true thoughts about the switch.

I guess when I decided to switch two years ago from windows because I liked the look / feel of the OS, and the usability / experience of the OS and key applications (and also, I guess, because I was bored with winxp), I did so for uncommon (in the Mac community) reasons?

Reading many of today's posts would leave one with the impression that Macs are great primarily because they are different! What a strange concept. I stopped doing things just to impress others with my differentness around the age of 14. Most of my adult decisions have based utility, and sometimes pure internal fun.

I enjoy the look / feel of the Mac, and the Mac OS. I like the fact that when I close the lid on the PB, and re-open it, it wakes in 2 seconds. I like widgets. I like how iPhoto, iMovie, FC Express, and Keynote work. I like the fact that the OS includes PHP, MySQL, and Apache, and that I can do webdev in a very unix-like environment without having to kludge together a bunch of questionable win32-builds of these tools. I like all the cool animations, the taskbar, everything about OSX (it's pretty, darnit).

I HATE the fact that what I do in PS CS on my PB takes me 100% longer and is 200% more frustrating than doing it on my (prety darn old 2GHZ Athlon) windows machine. I found the PB to be JUST BARELY acceptable as a desktop replacement, but once I was hooked, I couldn't give it up.

If the MacBook Pro has all the positive attributes listed above, and is 400% faster than my 1.25 AL PB, then it's a no-brainer that this is a GOOD THING as far as I'm concerned.

Surely the "I'm sad because it isn't different enough" crowd only represents a tiny minority of the ~15M mac purchasers from the last few years.

I bought a 1.83 at about 5PM Pacific. Apple store says it's shipping around Feb 15. Can't wait. Anyone who's bummed about not being different anymore can buy my 1.25 PB - I suppose 4x slower counts as "differentness". Though, you might have to put a sticker on it to that effect so others will continue to be impresseed with, if nothing else, your colossal patience.

EE

Brilliant post! Welcome to the MR community - more common sense is a good thing.

 

[ebunton]

It strikes me that Apple kept the design the same for the MacBook as the PowerBook to smooth the transition to Intel.

Most people on first glance will only recognise that it's an Apple, rather than it's an Intel-based Apple.

Does that make sense??

 

[Evangelion]

I take it you don't travel a lot through Europe, even though "currently located in Switzerland".
Next time you do, I strongly suggest you bring your shiny comfortable external modem togehter with your MBP.

Nonetheless, and apart from this, I love the MBP.

I live in Europe, and I have even travelled in Europe. And it seems to me that just about all decent hotels have Wi-Fi these days. If not Wi-Fi, they have wired broadband. granted, I'm not talking about low-end hotels, but proper business-grade hotels. And since this laptop is meant for pro's and businesses, those are the hotels they would be staying at

 

[Cue]

About the old G4 models not getting a price drop...

Look at the bright side. Your old G4 hasn't lost its value although new intel notebooks are out! That means no loss of money for you to upgrade

 

[CreepyArcade]

Complaining?

The powerbooks were released earlier than expected and with some pretty good new features. Yes I would have liked to see an ibook but it will come. I think things will really get interesting in June or whenever Intel's Merom is released since that should be a nice improvement over the current mobile intel processor which was just released. That's when I think we'll see some interesting new case designs among other things.

 

[irrªtiºnal]

Have had a look but can't find any info for MacBook regarding user expandable RAM. Does anyone know what the maximum RAM is for this new laptop?

2GB both the 1.67GHz and 1.83GHz models.

 

[Synapple]

I live in Europe, and I have even travelled in Europe. And it seems to me that just about all decent hotels have Wi-Fi these days. If not Wi-Fi, they have wired broadband. granted, I'm not talking about low-end hotels, but proper business-grade hotels. And since this laptop is meant for pro's and businesses, those are the hotels they would be staying at

Don't take me wrong... I in principle agree with my previous quote from BRLawyer, as innovation means no modem in new portables and it's good Apple is pushing this (floppy disks come to mind).

Still, I believe this move would have made much more sense a little later down the road when:

a) a proper broadband wireless market is available mostly everywhere, which is currently not the case

b) the laptop line hold a clear distinction between what is consumer (and should IMO retain the modem at least in the beginning) and what is pro (where your statement makes a helluva lot of sense... but c'mon, how many non-pros actually own a powerbook and will move to a MBP? A lot, I bet).

P.S.
I'm just bitter 'cause I don't have wi-fi networks around here

 

[mpw]

Once again us Brits get screwed on the price conversion... $2,499 at the current exchange rate say $1.7 = £1,470... not £300 more at £1,779!!! Same applies to the lower spec model.

Post #286

 

[50548]

Evangelion and BRLawyer win the thread and all you whining little Nancy's complaining about modems and crap need to grow a pair.

Thanks, do I get a chocolate for that? Or is it a brand-spanking new MacBook?

 

[50548]

I take it you don't travel a lot through Europe, even though "currently located in Switzerland".
Next time you do, I strongly suggest you bring your shiny comfortable external modem togehter with your MBP.

Nonetheless, and apart from this, I love the MBP.

I have traveled a fairly lot around Europe, and no hotels have dialup access, I am sure...in fact I am Brazilian, and even there dialup is being quickly superseded by DSL and others...and if I ever need it, I don't think the weight of a cheapo white modem will bother me, honestly...

 

[Synapple]

I have traveled a fairly lot around Europe, and no hotels have dialup access, I am sure...in fact I am Brazilian, and even there dialup is being quickly superseded by DSL and others...and if I ever need it, I don't think the weight of a cheapo white modem will bother me, honestly...

My previous post:

Don't take me wrong... I in principle agree with my previous quote from BRLawyer, as innovation means no modem in new portables and it's good Apple is pushing this (floppy disks come to mind).

Still, I believe this move would have made much more sense a little later down the road when:

a) a proper broadband wireless market is available mostly everywhere, which is currently not the case

b) the laptop line hold a clear distinction between what is consumer (and should IMO retain the modem at least in the beginning) and what is pro (where your statement makes a helluva lot of sense... but c'mon, how many non-pros actually own a powerbook and will move to a MBP? A lot, I bet).

P.S.
I'm just bitter 'cause I don't have wi-fi networks around here

 

[dazzer21]

A few years ago, when my 300MHz G3 Powerbook died beyond economical repair, I was distraught. Although I managed to back everything up, once over the initial shock of it all, in retrospect I realised that I had lost a good 'friend' - sounds scary, I know, but it did everything I needed back then and with a flair that no other machine at the time, desktop or not, could touch. <stay with me!>

The upshot was that the house insurance paid for a new 400MHz G4 Powerbook and my sanity was restored - once again, I could tote my 'book around, making all those who saw it in action not only interested, but in many cases, amazed. To this day I still use it and it is once again my 'friend'. However...

Dual core MacBookPro. I've wet myself over it so much in the last few hours since it was announced, I'm afraid there is no alternative. Once again, my insurance premium will take a pounding as I urgently feel the need to drop by G4 into the bath!!!

I'll wait until March to see what the announcements bring forth then. If the 17" is out (I'll bet it's called the 'Extreme' - will seem to mirror what the apps are starting to be called), I'll push for that (the need for the best available, yadda yadda...).

<excited>

 

[Platform]

Have had a look but can't find any info for MacBook regarding user expandable RAM. Does anyone know what the maximum RAM is for this new laptop?

Apple.com really has a lot of info on Apple computer you know

 

[generik]

Come now, we do not call these people S*k3r5, we call them wealthy.

Well, you know what they say about a fool and his money

Fast forward 40 years and you will be driving by in your Bentley while they are begging in the streets.. oh, and maybe using Microsoft Excel on there "Macbook Pros" to calculate their earnings

 

[generik]

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.

Huh? What extra features?

MBP, now with Firewire 400! With lesser USB ports! With no S-Video outputs! With no optical audio jacks! With no DL burner! Because you have no other options!

 

[Charlesb1]

Macbook and S-video/Composite Video

For those concerned about the lack of an s-video port on the new Macbooks, I would like to point out the DVI to S-Video/Composite Video adapter Apple sells at the online store. See:
http://http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore?productLearnMore=M9267G/A
It works with DVI ports on the Powermac G5 and Mac Mini so I would imagine it will work with the Macbook DVI too.

 

[Piarco]

I never thought I'd say this as I'm always a first adopter but... I'm going to wait on the MacBook Pro. There is so much that is improved in the new model, but its the silence on certain fronts which concerns me.. that and the fact that I was wanting to move to a more compact model.

In the interim (as I've sold my 15" PB) I'll need to get some sort of computer for home as I'm without for the first time in years and its killing me!! The iMac is so tempting (can't see any weak point on it TBH) but I'm prepared to wait for the Mac mini.
So looks like I'll either pick up a second hand 12" PB or even something along the Sony TR3A lines to tide me over until March - when I imagine the next wave of releases will be....

 

[iJaz]

Surely the "I'm sad because it isn't different enough" crowd only represents a tiny minority of the ~15M mac purchasers from the last few years.

Maybe it represents the majority of the people at MacRumors? If you don't like the people here, why hang around here?

 

[nomad01]

i would take 100GB @ 7200

in my experience, hd drive speed in laptops make for a large part of "snappiness" factor to the end user experience...

They do but I've not yet seen anything that says 5400 to 7200 will see a noticeable difference.

4200 to 5400 seems to offer a big advantage but 5400 to 7200 seems to offer only a marginal advantage in the tests I've seen so far.

Look forward to seeing the comparisons for the new machines though.

 

[generik]

If you want more hardware per dollar don't buy an Apple. Go get your mp3 player from Samsung, and your PC from Dell. And when it starts to fall apart, and look like ***** don't complain, just remember how much you saved.

Please refrain from making such lame arguments.. so what are you gonna do when your battery catches on fire and burns your "Macbook Pro" to a crisp?

Not like it is so durable or looks so good either, a year down the road your palm rests will start pitting! Meanwhile on an Acer's carbon fibre(tm) chasis it will probably still look like new.. more style, more speed, and CHEAP!

 

[mark88]

I can't wait until we can boot up Windows on our Macs. For those of us who HAVE TO use windows on a daily basis it will be awesome to have 1 machine instead of 2.

 

[50548]

Please refrain from making such lame arguments.. so what are you gonna do when your battery catches on fire and burns your "Macbook Pro" to a crisp?

Not like it is so durable or looks so good either, a year down the road your palm rests will start pitting! Meanwhile on an Acer's carbon fibre(tm) chasis it will probably still look like new.. more style, more speed, and CHEAP!

Sorry, on what grounds you think that MB batteries are gonna "catch fire"? You should refrain from making such insubstantial comments. Besides, Apple has a record of great overall quality...

And don't remind of the CRAPPY Acer notebook I had to use at work...it was simply unbearable.