Apple Releases the MacBook Pro

[sphereboy]

Also of note is that many Core Duo processors announced at CES were 2GHz, Apple tops out at 1.83GHz. Are they saving the 2GHz model for the 17" Macbook Pro, or will there be an update to the 15.4" a little later in the year.

I will put my money on Apple holding back on faster Core Duo processors until later this year. From my experience since converting to Mac, I have seen that Apple likes to milk their users for all they are worth by holding back as long as they can, only to make updates after 3-4 months of the product being out. I wouldn't be surprised to see an update to these new MacBooks to top out at 2GHz and maybe a top of the line at 2.33GHz.

With Apple having such a small market share, they have to try to make as much money as possible. So with everyone jumping on the bandwagon with this new MacBook, Apple is laughing all the way to the bank.

MBP is a great machine, but it could have been better. But if it were better then what would we be complaining about and waiting for the next update? .. Nothing.

So my point is, YES they are waiting to put a faster Core Duo on the next Book line.

 

[mpw]

...For the umpteenth time... ... The MacBook Pro Has S-Video Out. It is on a $20 adapter.... ...I bought a very similar adapter for my... ...3 year old iBook...

Now this almost certainly isn't the place but you seem to know your stuff (I guess sucking-up will not hurt) but I’ve got a question;
The S-video out on my iBook doesn’t handle the audio, as I understand it in the A/V world DVI is fairly standard and does carry audio. So will the DVI-out on a MacBook Pro carry audio and video to an external LCD?

I just spotted a 65” HDTV at lunchtime from Sharp’s ‘Aquos’ range that would look great next to a MacBook

 

[Peace]

Now this almost certainly isn't the place but you seem to know your stuff (I guess sucking-up will not hurt) but I’ve got a question;
The S-video out on my iBook doesn’t handle the audio, as I understand it in the A/V world DVI is fairly standard and does carry audio. So will the DVI-out on a MacBook Pro carry audio and video to an external LCD?

I just spotted a 65” HDTV at lunchtime from Sharp’s ‘Aquos’ range that would look great next to a MacBook

I may be wrong but I don't believe DVI carries an audio signal..

DVI--Digital Video Interface

 

[mpw]

I may be wrong but I don't believe DVI carries an audio signal..

DVI--Digital Video Interface

You could be right but S-Video leads can carry audio between compatible products eg. camcorder > TV

 

[jacobj]

Now this almost certainly isn't the place but you seem to know your stuff (I guess sucking-up will not hurt) but I’ve got a question;
The S-video out on my iBook doesn’t handle the audio, as I understand it in the A/V world DVI is fairly standard and does carry audio. So will the DVI-out on a MacBook Pro carry audio and video to an external LCD?

I just spotted a 65” HDTV at lunchtime from Sharp’s ‘Aquos’ range that would look great next to a MacBook

How much was it and where was it?

 

[jacobj]

I was just browsing through articles on the net re Intel processors.. I think I linked to this one from MacRumors.

Sometime in mid-2005 or later Intel is anticipated to add a processor with two cores in its Pentium M family intended for notebooks. Apparently, the code-named Jonah chip is projected to contain two Dothan cores and to be made using 65nm fabrication technology. The central processing unit is said to disable the second core when functioning on battery power and will enable both cores once the computer is plugged to power outlet.

Is that true? I seem to also remember that someone said that their iMac did not have an option to configure the processor speed in the power savings settings. Now I thought and still hope that it had been removed because the machine is always plugged in, but I am starting to worry that the option is no longer there, or even worse, it is automated depending on whether I am plugged in or not. If that is the case then I have an issue.

 

[Peace]

You could be right but S-Video leads can carry audio between compatible products eg. camcorder > TV

You might be confusing SPDIF with S-Video as I dont believe S-video carries audio either..
Spdif does..but it's audio only..

Sony/Phillips digital interface..

I could be wrong tho!

 

[jacobj]

LMAO I thought it was not tested with firefox, because it does look like ****. Looks like they slapped it together durning the keynote. I expect better quality control from Apple, let's hope that the MacBook Pros weren't slapped together so quickly.

If people want to judge sites harshly that only render correctly in IE (rightfully so to blast these sites) then Apple should be subject to the same criticism here. And here I was thinking that only Microsoft would be arrogent enough to make a website that only renders correctly with their propritary web browser...

Be fair.. Apple have ensured that their MBP site renders correctly in Safari and IE. Who cares about firefox and the fact that it is better and more secure than IE. Apple doesn't seem to care about the 10% market share that uses Firefox. I mean firefox users are not likely to ever buy a mac are they. Only the astute IE consumer would!

 

[mpw]

How much was it and where was it?

CO-OP Don Street and just under £12k!

Truely awesome picture, can you imagine larger than life porn on that thing!!

 

[jacobj]

CO-OP Don Street and just under £12k!

Truely awesome picture, can you imagine larger than life porn on that thing!!

LMAO... are they showing HD porn as a selling point?

 

[mpw]

You might be confusing SPDIF with S-Video as I dont believe S-video carries audio either..
Spdif does..but it's audio only..

Sony/Phillips digital interface..

I could be wrong tho!

My Canon camcorder has S-Video out and my TV S-Video in and that carry audio and video, I'm sure....I think I'm sure......I think....Hmmmm.

*will check tonight*

LMAO... are they showing HD porn as a selling point?

No, but that reminds me of a time about a year ago when the 2nd hand store in New Street had TV for sale in the window and left it tuned to a SKY porn channel over-night. I was wandering home after a curry and there was a crowd of drunks steaming up the window!

 

[jacobj]

My Canon camcorder has S-Video out and my TV S-Video in and that carry audio and video, I'm sure....I think I'm sure......I think....Hmmmm.

*will check tonight*

Standard s-video is 4 pins.. if you have a seven pin s-video cable then it is not an official standard, but it may well carry audio.

 

[~Shard~]

LMAO... are they showing HD porn as a selling point?

They sure were playing off that angle at the AVN in Vegas last week, especially since it shared the same conference center as the CES - the perfect combination!

 

[mark88]

Is it me, or has the image of the macBook on http://www.apple.com/ changed and it now appears much lighter in colour?

 

[grahamtriggs]

I was just browsing through articles on the net re Intel processors.. I think I linked to this one from MacRumors.



Is that true? I seem to also remember that someone said that their iMac did not have an option to configure the processor speed in the power savings settings. Now I thought and still hope that it had been removed because the machine is always plugged in, but I am starting to worry that the option is no longer there, or even worse, it is automated depending on whether I am plugged in or not. If that is the case then I have an issue.

It's Yonah, not Jonah - and that is the range of chips launched by Intel earlier this month as featured in the MBP and iMac.

Yonah does have power saving capabilities - quite a few states of operation in fact. I don't know if there is software control over them though - I haven't seen any user options on PCs. It may be that it is entirely hardware controlled, or else it is not needed for iMacs (the only reason you would lower the clock speed is for cooling purposes).

 

[cheekyspanky]

Is it me, or has the image of the macBook on http://www.apple.com/ changed and it now appears much lighter in colour?

Looks like it to me..

 

[~Shard~]

Is it me, or has the image of the macBook on http://www.apple.com/ changed and it now appears much lighter in colour?

Good call - perhaps my eyes have been influenced now, but I think you're right...

 

[jbouklas]

Now this almost certainly isn't the place but you seem to know your stuff (I guess sucking-up will not hurt) but I’ve got a question;
The S-video out on my iBook doesn’t handle the audio, as I understand it in the A/V world DVI is fairly standard and does carry audio. So will the DVI-out on a MacBook Pro carry audio and video to an external LCD?

I just spotted a 65” HDTV at lunchtime from Sharp’s ‘Aquos’ range that would look great next to a MacBook

Hmm. I don't think S-Video or DVI carry audio. They might, but I don't think so. I can go from my PC s-video out to my TV and there'll be no audio. The same goes with DVI. Plus, a lot of places sell combo cables that do S-video and RCA audio, so I'm inclined to think that s-video does not carry audio by itself.

-Jim

 

[jacobj]

It's Yonah, not Jonah - and that is the range of chips launched by Intel earlier this month as featured in the MBP and iMac.

Yonah does have power saving capabilities - quite a few states of operation in fact. I don't know if there is software control over them though - I haven't seen any user options on PCs. It may be that it is entirely hardware controlled, or else it is not needed for iMacs (the only reason you would lower the clock speed is for cooling purposes).

There is good news and bad in what you say. You are right that it shouldn't be an issue for the iMac if it is hardware controlled, but it is a concern if it is hardware controlled on the MBP. If I cannot run my machine at full speed because I do not have a power outlet near by then I am concerned.

 

[macidiot]

You could be right but S-Video leads can carry audio between compatible products eg. camcorder > TV

afaik this is not true. The same goes for dvi. And if it is true, I've never heard of it being used.

afaik all dvi displays (televisions, projectors) are designed to use separate rca audio inputs, assuming they even have speakers. Since basically all dvi/hdmi equipped televisions are hdtv capable, and generally expensive, the assumption is that one would be using optical or coax to a surround receiver anyway.

Regarding s-video and the modem on the laptop, this seems to be fairly standard practice from Apple. S-video and modems are state of the art. For 1993. Both are legacy technologies. Apple almost always abandons legacy stuff fairly quickly(not that 10+ years is all that quick), at least compared to the pc world. Apple, and the rest of the world, is moving on from these ancient techologies. Get over it. And for the last time, if you have a need for them, buy the accessories. The whining over these 2 "features" is bordering on ridiculous. I'm waiting to hear someone bitch that it doesn't have a floppy drive, rf adapter for tv, or ADB ports... what, I can't hook up my Imagewriter II dot matrix printer? This update sucks!

 

[devman]

Now this almost certainly isn't the place but you seem to know your stuff (I guess sucking-up will not hurt) but I’ve got a question;
The S-video out on my iBook doesn’t handle the audio, as I understand it in the A/V world DVI is fairly standard and does carry audio. So will the DVI-out on a MacBook Pro carry audio and video to an external LCD?

I just spotted a 65” HDTV at lunchtime from Sharp’s ‘Aquos’ range that would look great next to a MacBook

Neither S-video or DVI carry audio. The point of HDMI over DVI was that it also carries audio.

 

[Randall]

Be fair.. Apple have ensured that their MBP site renders correctly in Safari and IE. Who cares about firefox and the fact that it is better and more secure than IE. Apple doesn't seem to care about the 10% market share that uses Firefox. I mean firefox users are not likely to ever buy a mac are they. Only the astute IE consumer would!

Your logic is flawless

 

[jacobj]

Your logic is flawless

I thought so too

 

[zync]

Basic economics works because people buy the product they like. And a company that produces a bad product doesn't survive. In theory.

It is obvious that more and more people believe the way to get more is to complain louder. It's an unfortunate belief. Personally I prefer the friendly approach, and do my best to use it and to help people who use it.

Anyway, I'd guess that as long as you're buying the product, the bean-counters don't care if you smile or complain.

Complaining and not buying the product are one in the same, unless you complain AND buy the product. But in that case, what would be the point of complaining unless you complain after you buy the product, which also affects the market.

 

[mdavey]

Complaining and not buying the product are one in the same, unless you complain AND buy the product. But in that case, what would be the point of complaining unless you complain after you buy the product, which also affects the market.

Hmm, getting very philosophical now, but if complaining after you buy the product affects the market, then surely complaining before you buy the product also affects the market?

So extrapolate and assuming that everyone inherrently has a selfish motivation*, surely the best course of action is to complain, wait for the market to be adversely affected, then buy the product? Just before you come to sell the product, wax lyrical about how great the product is.

In this increasingly hypothetical (and somewhat cynical) situation, one could therefore suggest that it is Apple execs (who want to maximise shareholder profit) and poor Mac owners (who begrudge others getting nicer machines) that are talking up the product, while potential purchassers are dissing the same .

*Let's not get into that debate.