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Apple Updates 13" Aluminum MacBook, Rebranded as "MacBook Pro"

This is really an amazing update. The old unibody macbooks pretty much have everything that people wanted from them. Plus they're cheaper. I've seen a few people complain about the difference in cost between Britain and the States, but once you factor in tax the difference is only about £30. That seems reasonable to me, I was actually expecting a cost increase. It also indicates that the white macbook, or the macbook as it will now be known, will be sticking around for a while. Which again I think is a good thing.
 
So, will the 13" MBP really support 8gb RAM?? So it looks like the 2.26ghz processor = 8gb compatible..I wonder if that holds true for the Mini as well??
 
rfb said:
So, you are saying it is better to get the 2.26 GHz for $300 less? How much is RAM from a third party? What about other differences between the two?
Click to expand...

The RAM normally runs between $58 and $70 for 4GB. The only other difference is the CPU speed and standard HDD. If you are going to upgrade the HDD anyway and don't need the small CPU bump you might as well go with the lower end MBP. You can't go wrong either way. Both are priced competitively.

mac cow said:
So, will the 13" MBP really support 8gb RAM?? So it looks like the 2.26ghz processor = 8gb compatible..I wonder if that holds true for the Mini as well??
Click to expand...

Yes really. The Mac Mini supposedly doesn't work with 6 or 8.
 
Porco said:
Nice update generally. I'm very pleased that to all intents and purposes Firewire is back. Add Blu-ray and I'd buy now.



Patronising much?!!

The resolution is a non-point, even though you're wrong there too and 1080p is obviously better than 480p or 576p on a screen with a resolution that is higher than a DVD's, and one that which you are typically viewing much nearer than you are a TV.

The main point is that if I have a nice growing collection of BDs, as I do, I want to be able to play them on the next mac I buy. It doesn't matter you coming up with flawed academic reasons why I don't want to do that when I do want to do that!!

Do you expect me to buy every film I buy TWICE just so I can watch it on either my big HDTV or my laptop? If so, please excuse me while I laugh. I will happily accept I'm wrong if you promise to send me DVDs of every Blu-ray I buy from now on, but I warn you it'll cost you a lot because I like movies.

Downloads, meh, I'll not get past 2Mbps where I live in this decade. And even if everyone did get super-fast connections tomorrow, the quality is not as good and it's locked to Apple on iTunes - and that is why we don't have a Blu-ray option in macs yet IMHO, pure selfish self-interest from Apple. There are still people buying CDs, so it's not realistic to call time on physical media just yet, come back when all audio downloads are lossless / actual CD quality and then we might see downloads killing Blu-ray in another 3 or 4 years after that. Certainly long after these machines are well past being current.

It wouldn't kill apple to licence Blu-ray and offer it as an option to people who aren't so blinkered to its current advantages. It's pure politics, promoting their iTunes downloads to the small fraction of people who can or want to use it at the cost of providing their customers with the best mass-distributed option for movies currently out there.
Click to expand...



I don't think I can make it any clear to you... Physical media is dying. I know that and you know that; even though you seem to think it isn't. New York's Virgin Megastore has closed down as has all the branches in the UK. The company in the UK that bought out Virgin's retail branches were Zavvi... at the beginning of the year THEY closed down. The only retail stores that sell movies and music are surviving on the sales of their computer games departments.

Apple along with many media companies are looking towards downloadable media. Netflix, iTunes etc... It's not just Apple my friend... Microsoft are jumping on the bandwagon. Apple have Apple TV, the iPhone, iPods and iMac's to allow their users to download media once and allows them to watch them on all their devices. Microsoft have that with their XBox, Windows PC's and the Zune.

I may be patronizing but I am a realist. How many people actually use the Bluray drives on their Windows PC's? I'd like to obtain an honest answer from you here... how often have you thought to yourself... "I want to watch a film in HD. I'll watch it on my 13" screen rather than my 42" screen in the family room."? OK the quality isn't quite their with downloadable media but they have to start somewhere and as the internet speeds increase so will the quality of the movies that are downloaded.

Apple are on to a format that can only grow and that is quickly purchased portable media... media that can be passed from one screen to the next whether it be a 42" LCD, 13" MacBook or the 3". Bluray just can't do that. Yes it's for their own market gain but tell me a company that doesn't think the same?
 
Just ordered the new 13" MacBook Pro 2.53Ghz model.

Replacing my 3 year old MacBook Pro 15" 2.0Ghz which has found a new home with a buddy who just switched to the Mac.
 
Quillz said:
"Pro" is just a term. It implies that it's better than just a "MacBook."

It would have the exact same effect as calling it a "MacBook ][" or "MacBook Awesome" or "MacBook+" or anything like that.
Click to expand...

I wasn't implying anything or something like that. 🙂 I know it's just a term. I am merely observing that the "only" difference between the old macbooks and the new low end macbook pros is the "pro" term. That's why I was wondering whether a new product bearing the "macbook" term might be on its way.

The white macbook is now the outcast actually (though it already was before this refresh, but now it has a reason to be one, and to be replaced; or maybe we will see a return of the plasticbooks? Anyone?)
Anyway, it takes some time to get used to 🙂 They first made the macbook similar in appearance to the mbp, and now the "macbook" is back where it started (i.e. looks ofc).

Not that I really care tbh, you only need to buy the one you need so it doesnt matter how it looks or what it's called, but I was just saying...
 
Went with the lowend 2.26.

Just clicked buy on a MBP 13" 2.26 Processor (I felt 270mhz were not worth $200)

4gb of Apple ram for $90 was only $25 over Newegg so I upgraded there
I will deal with a small hard drive for a few months and when the 7200 500gbs drop another 50 bucks Ill upgrade the hard drive.

Great we get 10.6 Snow Leopard for $10 bucks, doesn't matter though since it was only $30 anyway.

I read all the BD / Bluray arguments, but I still wish Apple offered it, even if it is a dying breed.

7hr battery will be perfect for my upcoming overseas traveling.

Educational Discount is stellar.

1099+125tax+90ram (and free touch) = $1314

Now I just need to sell my Blackbook for 700-800 and I got a sweet upgrade.
 
Lower-end coming

I think the differentiation between the white and the pro models sets up a new pricing structure on the low end that will allow Apple to enter the netbook market with a $699 and/or $799 10-inch model without an optical drive. The $999 model will represent the high-end of the non-Pro portables.

These new Macbooks will be billed as a true Mac, not some stripped down, slow computer like the typical $299 model. Apple will get ripped for this, but sell a lot of machines by staking out a middle ground.

That's my prediction, anyway.
 
I'm paying three times the money, $500(PC) vs $1500 for today's new 13" Macbook Pro with 4 gigs and 320HD and I am bird happy. -- I got a Mac and everything that goes with it including the software and groups and support. -- I am state of the art and just proud as punch to be here!
_________________
 
Solid Raven said:
I wasn't implying anything or something like that. 🙂 I know it's just a term. I am merely observing that the "only" difference between the old macbooks and the new low end macbook pros is the "pro" term. That's why I was wondering whether a new product bearing the "macbook" term might be on its way.

The white macbook is now the outcast actually (though it already was before this refresh, but now it has a reason to be one, and to be replaced; or maybe we will see a return of the plasticbooks? Anyone?)
Anyway, it takes some time to get used to 🙂 They first made the macbook similar in appearance to the mbp, and now the "macbook" is back where it started (i.e. looks ofc).

Not that I really care tbh, you only need to buy the one you need so it doesnt matter how it looks or what it's called, but I was just saying...
Click to expand...

It's very clear by the pricing strategy that Apple are trying to phase out the current White MacBook, being only £150 cheaper than the MacBook Pro 13". Who is going to purchase the White MacBook now? I see Apple bringing out something totally new. They have priced the 13" Macbook Pro similarly to the black and white MacBooks of 2008 (Their low end laptops). So if the 13" MacBook Pro is the low end laptop range I can only see Apple reducing the price of the White MacBook further this year (which is unlikely) or releasing a product smaller than 13". Apple need a product now to separate the MacBook Pros from the "consumer" products.

Netbook/Tablet?
 
WhiteNoiseMaker said:
I was so ready to replace my 2006 Core Duo MB with a new 15" MBP (mainly for the firewire), but now this update and price drop has got me thinking get the 13" MBP. I might wait a couple of weeks for the first reports/problems to come before ordering though.
Click to expand...

Interesting. There's articles on the lower priced iPhone stealing sales from the higher models. This could also be the case for the MBP.
 
mrmacmuscle said:
It's very clear by the pricing strategy that Apple are trying to phase out the current White MacBook, being only £150 cheaper than the MacBook Pro 13". Who is going to purchase the White MacBook now? I see Apple bringing out something totally new. They have priced the 13" Macbook Pro similarly to the black and white MacBooks of 2008 (Their low end laptops). So if the 13" MacBook Pro is the low end laptop range I can only see Apple reducing the price of the White MacBook further this year (which is unlikely) or releasing a product smaller than 13". Apple need a product now to separate the MacBook Pros from the "consumer" products.

Netbook/Tablet?
Click to expand...
They are going to lower the white Macbook to $899 and $849 Student. -- Then it all makes sense.
 
mrmacmuscle said:
I don't think I can make it any clear to you... Physical media is dying. I know that and you know that; even though you seem to think it isn't. New York's Virgin Megastore has closed down as has all the branches in the UK. The company in the UK that bought out Virgin's retail branches were Zavvi... at the beginning of the year THEY closed down. The only retail stores that sell movies and music are surviving on the sales of their computer games departments.

Apple along with many media companies are looking towards downloadable media. Netflix, iTunes etc... It's not just Apple my friend... Microsoft are jumping on the bandwagon. Apple have Apple TV, the iPhone, iPods and iMac's to allow their users to download media once and allows them to watch them on all their devices. Microsoft have that with their XBox, Windows PC's and the Zune.

I may be patronizing but I am a realist. How many people actually use the Bluray drives on their Windows PC's? I'd like to obtain an honest answer from you here... how often have you thought to yourself... "I want to watch a film in HD. I'll watch it on my 13" screen rather than my 42" screen in the family room."? OK the quality isn't quite their with downloadable media but they have to start somewhere and as the internet speeds increase so will the quality of the movies that are downloaded.

Apple are on to a format that can only grow and that is quickly purchased portable media... media that can be passed from one screen to the next whether it be a 42" LCD, 13" MacBook or the 3". Bluray just can't do that. Yes it's for their own market gain but tell me a company that doesn't think the same?
Click to expand...

Realist? Really? You and Steve Jobs seem to think everyone has super-fast connections and an Apple TV! Or else you don't care about anyone who doesn't.

Physical media 'dying' is such hyperbole. In a grand historical sense, yes of course it is, so is everything. The question is not 'is it dying?', but 'when is the funeral?' and 'is its successor mature enough to take over yet?' You seem to think it is, I disagree.

How often have I thought about watching a HD film on my 13 inch screen? Every time I can't actually do it! Has to be a few times a week. You seem to be expecting me to buy a SD copy of every HD film I buy, what is with that? I'm away from home right now, but I can't bring any of my BDs with me to watch though, because Apple doesn't like me not buying my media from iTunes, even though it's not feasible for me to do so. That sucks. So my remaining options are - not enjoy HD films and just stick to DVDs, buy a Windows laptop that has a BD drive, or pirate an extra SD copy. None of those other options appeal to me. What would you do in the same situation? Ignoring the fact my internet access is not good enough for HD downloads (and unlikely to be for some time) is not a good answer!

And Blu-ray sales are on an upward trend not the opposite, but anyway, well done for completely missing the point again. I have Blu-rays. I want to be able to play them on my mac. That is all. The resolution is irrelevant to that point. I'll see you in about 7 years when we will hopefully be able to agree that downloads have finally replaced Blu-ray and matched their quality and we'll all have replaced these macs, the ones I'd like Blu-ray as an option for, for newer ones, that maybe won't need it so much then.
 
PolySciSurfer said:
Wow, I am completely stunned. I thought this was going to be all about the iPhone and then Apple drops the bombshell. I can now get a macbook for 1099 on student discount with backlit keyboard, firewire 800, updated processor and 8gb of ram capacity. Unbelievable. I'll be purchasing as soon as the first reviews begin surfacing.

I do however, feel really bad for those folks who just bought a macbook. You paid more money for less. I know some friends that are going to be pissed. 😎
Click to expand...

No way in hell your going to pay $1099 for a macbook pro with 8 gigs of ram. Add another grand and then you get all of your aforementioned specs.
 
Coleco said:
I think the differentiation between the white and the pro models sets up a new pricing structure on the low end that will allow Apple to enter the netbook market with a $699 and/or $799 10-inch model without an optical drive. The $999 model will represent the high-end of the non-Pro portables.

These new Macbooks will be billed as a true Mac, not some stripped down, slow computer like the typical $299 model. Apple will get ripped for this, but sell a lot of machines by staking out a middle ground.

That's my prediction, anyway.
Click to expand...

A $699-$799 netbook ? 😱 I could see a $100-$150 premium over netbooks, but double ? That's a bit of reach, even for Apple.
 
Porco said:
Realist? Really? You and Steve Jobs seem to think everyone has super-fast connections and an Apple TV! Or else you don't care about anyone who doesn't.

Physical media 'dying' is such hyperbole. In a grand historical sense, yes of course it is, so is everything. The question is not 'is it dying?', but 'when is the funeral?' and 'is its successor mature enough to take over yet?' You seem to think it is, I disagree.

How often have I thought about watching a HD film on my 13 inch screen? Every time I can't actually do it! Has to be a few times a week. You seem to be expecting me to buy a SD copy of every HD film I buy, what is with that? I'm away from home right now, but I can't bring any of my BDs with me to watch though, because Apple doesn't like me not buying my media from iTunes, even though it's not feasible for me to do so. That sucks. So my remaining options are - not enjoy HD films and just stick to DVDs, buy a Windows laptop that has a BD drive, or pirate an extra SD copy. None of those other options appeal to me. What would you do in the same situation? Ignoring the fact my internet access is not good enough for HD downloads (and unlikely to be for some time) is not a good answer!

And Blu-ray sales are on an upward trend not the opposite, but anyway, well done for completely missing the point again. I have Blu-rays. I want to be able to play them on my mac. That is all. The resolution is irrelevant to that point. I'll see you in about 7 years when we will hopefully be able to agree that downloads have finally replaced Blu-ray and matched their quality and we'll all have replaced these macs, the ones I'd like Blu-ray as an option for, for newer ones, that maybe won't need it so much then.
Click to expand...

although i'm not really a person who needs a bluray drive i think i agree with your points. it should be an option even if it's expensive. i don't own a bluray movie but i remember numerous occasions where i wa visiting friends and wish i could borrow a bluray movie from them and watch it. for the next three years blu ray is going to be around. and three years is the lifetime of a notebook. so it would be nice to have and maybe worth $200. students in dorms surely would want one so they can share the hundreds of blurays they have around. and no, i wouldn't rip them. way too much work.
 
Good update I'm either getting the 13" 2.53 or the cheapest 15" not fussed about lack of blue ray, higher res screens would have been excellent.
 
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