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Apple Releases the MacBook Pro
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Exact Speed!
Slot-loading SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Maximum Write: 4x DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD+RW, and DVD-RW; 24x CD-R; 10x CD-RW
Maximum Read: 8x DVD-ROM (single layer); 6x DVD (double layered), DVD-9, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW; 24x CD
http://www.smalldog.com/wag16334/
Slot-loading SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Maximum Write: 4x DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD+RW, and DVD-RW; 24x CD-R; 10x CD-RW
Maximum Read: 8x DVD-ROM (single layer); 6x DVD (double layered), DVD-9, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW; 24x CD
http://www.smalldog.com/wag16334/
I'm not so upset with the fact that Apple has placed a non-DL SD in the MBP, only that the speeds in the SD are not at all stellar. PC notebooks can write at double the given SD speeds, why can't the SD?
What TRULY comparable laptop packages are you looking at that make you think the MacBook Pro is priced high? People generally have to carefully ignore a lot of what you get with a Mac before they can find name-brand PCs they can pretend are cheaper. That seems to be true with the MacBook as well.PowerbookG31991 said:
Are there better slot-load SuperDrive units that would be both compatible and physically as slim as the unit Apple is using in the MacBook? Many PC laptops are thicker and this can choose from more drives. (I don't know the answer--I'm wondering. It could be a clue to future revisions.)PowerbookG31991 said:
nagromme said:
None, but still, with how much you pay for, you would expect the latest generation hardware, not something from earlier.
Konradx said:
From the website:
"When Apple tried to prove that G5 was better than Intel, they used a generic non-optimised GCC compiler for the Intel machine. This time, they used an optimised Intel compiler to prove that Intel is better than the G5. How quickly we forget!"
I remember in a apple catalog, saying that their G3 was better than Intel's Pentium II, how interesting it is that apple is resorting to Intel.
Thanks Konradx!
About Battery Life
Everyone seems concerned about battery life. My guess is that Apple is still working on optimizing the power management.
With a dual-core, they have new methods to extend battery life. They could shut down one core or throttle down clock speed or do both at the same time. Also, the number of active threads gains more importance as having both cores on would might enhance power performance when dealing with a larger number of them. While, a smaller number of cycle-hungry threads would best be dealt with only one core. In any case the complexity is greater.
My prediction is that the new MacBooks will have a better battery life, around a maximum of 6 hours. However, I also predict that the variation in actual use will be substantial.
Everyone seems concerned about battery life. My guess is that Apple is still working on optimizing the power management.
With a dual-core, they have new methods to extend battery life. They could shut down one core or throttle down clock speed or do both at the same time. Also, the number of active threads gains more importance as having both cores on would might enhance power performance when dealing with a larger number of them. While, a smaller number of cycle-hungry threads would best be dealt with only one core. In any case the complexity is greater.
My prediction is that the new MacBooks will have a better battery life, around a maximum of 6 hours. However, I also predict that the variation in actual use will be substantial.
I'm completely new to Macs and I'm very seriously considering buying the MacBook Pro.
What I don't understand is why everyone is calling this a transitional machine? I did some research and spoke with some friends of mine who are Mac users and it appears that typically Apple revises their laptops once a year. If this is the case then we can expect the MacBook Pro to revised in Jan'ish '07. So why is the current 15" MacBook Pro being labeled transitional? I'm betting it's the first in a line of MacBook Pros to be rolled out. The next MacBook Pro models will be the 17" and 13" (widescreen) I'm betting.
Thanks,
Jake
What I don't understand is why everyone is calling this a transitional machine? I did some research and spoke with some friends of mine who are Mac users and it appears that typically Apple revises their laptops once a year. If this is the case then we can expect the MacBook Pro to revised in Jan'ish '07. So why is the current 15" MacBook Pro being labeled transitional? I'm betting it's the first in a line of MacBook Pros to be rolled out. The next MacBook Pro models will be the 17" and 13" (widescreen) I'm betting.
Thanks,
Jake
.jacob said:
Your technically right. Apple's probally releasing these MacBook Pros as the standard 15 and 17" without widescreen and the other features because this is a first for them and the public, this is mainly a tester to make sure that the public likes it.
.jacob said:
I think you have a really good question. The main reasons why Apple has been speedbumping the g4 once a year is because of the following: 1. R&D, time spent without the materialization of the mythical G5 PowerBook. 2. Apple was stuck with the 744x line, which had really slow and irratic development "old" tech and then there's the 167MHz FSB. 3. Moto/Freescale did a horrible job sticking to their dual-core roadmap. On the other hand, Intel has a far superior roadmap, supply chain management, and a better history of sticking to it... Apple will definitely be updating their mobile line up more frequently than in the not so distant PPC past. 1.8GHz Core Duo Feb but i bet the 15" will get or have a 2.0 GHz option in four or five months. Expect shorter intervals between speedbumps.
There is also talk of Merom (sp?) which is going to be available at the end of this year and is a superior chipset than Yonah/Core Duo(current)... so, i would agree with those who say that this rev A of the MacBook Pro would fit the classification of a transitionary machine.
Rollout similar to Al PB's?
Let's review some history...Apple releases an all new 15" (Al PB's) and then later rolls out 12" and 17" models later...Now Apple announces an all new 15" (MBP) and WILL release other (probably 13.3" and 17") models later this year. All models and possible new case will undoubtably be released when Merom enters these books, at the absolute latest...but hopefully sooner
Although the aluminum case is goregous and simple, a new look would be nice. The REAL MacBookPro's are the ones that will have Merom procs by the end of '06.
Let's review some history...Apple releases an all new 15" (Al PB's) and then later rolls out 12" and 17" models later...Now Apple announces an all new 15" (MBP) and WILL release other (probably 13.3" and 17") models later this year. All models and possible new case will undoubtably be released when Merom enters these books, at the absolute latest...but hopefully sooner
Although the aluminum case is goregous and simple, a new look would be nice. The REAL MacBookPro's are the ones that will have Merom procs by the end of '06.
Get a DellBook Pro
You want the Macbook to be cheaper than Powerbook? Duo Core compare to Single slow A$$ G4?
chatin said:Nothing revolutionary here, like the original mac or even lisa. To give this book a new name is pushing it, given that it uses the same case as a powerbook!
I was expecting to see something small and brilliant (maybe cheaper). I can't recommend these macbooks to cutting edge folks!
I did get macbook.name to add to my collection!
You want the Macbook to be cheaper than Powerbook? Duo Core compare to Single slow A$$ G4?
thes said:
Well, the G5 is available dual-core too, and from what I can see of the benchmarks, a single core of the new Intel chips seems to perform at about the same level as a single core of the G5 - clock speed for clock speed.
And it also seems that the power consumption is about the same for the Intel and the G5 too (although that may not be an exact clock speed comparison - and if it isn't, then it may be advantage G5).
kaneda said:
No - I want the MacBook to be comparable (or better) in price with 'premium' Windows laptops.
The Acer - with it's carbon fibre casing - sort of fits into the 'premium' end (although not quite the brand name), but packs a hell of a lot more hardware in for the same price.
I've said it before - Apple have got nowhere to hide with the Intel machines. The iMac aside (no-one is really producing anything comparable for Windows), you can get equally well designed and built PC laptops. If the PCs are also cheaper and/or better specced (which they currently are), the software has to be a huge draw to make up for it.
With the upgrades I would need to go Intel Mac, it's a lot cheaper for me to go back to Windows (most of my software is cross-platform, and would work on Windows without any upgrade).
maybe...
In Australia I received an advertisement for Dell which had $3600 Multimedia laptop and it still didn't have a dedicated video card!
As far as the carbon fibre casing - (and correct me if I'm wrong) I don't think that would work as a heat sink like the Aluminum does on the Apples. So it is not like it is in the same league. Whilst we are on teh topic of cooling - My brother needs to put a book under his generic PC laptop as they designed all the fans to blow out the bottom, so if it's on your lap you block the airflow!!
Anyways, enjoy your Acer.
In Australia I received an advertisement for Dell which had $3600 Multimedia laptop and it still didn't have a dedicated video card!
As far as the carbon fibre casing - (and correct me if I'm wrong) I don't think that would work as a heat sink like the Aluminum does on the Apples. So it is not like it is in the same league. Whilst we are on teh topic of cooling - My brother needs to put a book under his generic PC laptop as they designed all the fans to blow out the bottom, so if it's on your lap you block the airflow!!
Anyways, enjoy your Acer.
grahamtriggs said:
grahamtriggs said:
Again the same sort of BS around here...
Apple has NEVER had to differentiate from PCs in terms of hardware. In fact, Apple, with rare exceptions, was always behind one PC brand or another in terms of cutting-edge features or MOBOs. It's funny that now, when Apple has access to PCIe, latest GPUs and so on, you start bashing the company again.
The PowerPC chip was never the main factor behind the choice for Macs. It's about the software, DUDE. It's about having access to the best OS ever, Mac OS X. It's about having iLife. It's about having NO viruses and malware.
What did PB G4s had that no other PC had? OS X.
The fact that Apple uses Intel chips changes NOTHING in that paradigm; and the price of a single chip is just ONE component of the price charged for a product.
I have used Acers at work and they SUCK, SUCK HARD. You may mention a thousand specs (as any other PC user out there), and they will not surpass Mac hardware and OS X stability and reliability...regardless of Motorola, IBM or Intel chips.
Acer has Winblows. Acer has crappy quality. No way in hell you should be comparing Acer with Apple...that's heresy.
New petition online to ask for a Dual Layer Superdrive
Not sure if this is the right place to post, but please take a look at the new petition over at:
http://new.petitiononline.com/MacBook/petition.html
Many thanks
Not sure if this is the right place to post, but please take a look at the new petition over at:
http://new.petitiononline.com/MacBook/petition.html
Many thanks
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