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

djharris said:
Mine, ordered 6/9 7:22AM, says this (same as you)

Ships: 1 - 3 business days
Delivers: Jun 11 - Jun 17

Mine had 4GB RAM and a 500 gig HD. Hey, at least we didn't want a solid state drive, those are taking waaay longer!

Return policy shouldn't be that big a deal. Assume you want to keep it, they have to provide warranty service anyway. Adding RAM is easy, adding a HD takes more time as you have to backup/restore data and the OS and so forth. (Yes, time machine should make it easy tho if you have a spare drive!)

Besides, replacing the HD and RAM doesn't void your warranty, and crucial.com has a free lifetime warranty on their RAM anyway and have competitive prices. (You can't get your RAM/HD serviced under Applecare if you didn't buy it from them, of course, but if you did, you can)

What if your RAM or HD fails a week after your 3-year applecare expires? buy another one for peanuts, or spring for a solid state if you want, restore backups if necessary, and you've still got a nice solid 3-year old computer. (Regardless of whether or not you would actually want to use a 3-year old computer, you can let someone else use it, sell it, or whatever. :) )

All around, good choice!
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Thanks, I feel better. Still kind of wish I would have gone to the store though since it hasn't shipped yet! I want it RIGHT NOW!:) My iPod touch just shipped though! :):)
 
rfb said:
So, to edit my footage in iMovie, you're saying that I don't need an external BD drive, just Toast?
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I stopped using iMovie after 06, therefore I'm not 100% sure if this will work. But if you can export your iMovie HD content as H.264 this should work. Perhaps you will be needing QuickTime Pro to do that.
To burn short (not feature length) Blu-Ray movies to a normal DVD you can use Toast 10 Pro or Toast 10 with the HD plug-in. These discs will play on most BD standalone players.
Although the authoring is very rudimentary with simple buttons, not even close to what's possible in iDVD for standard dvd's. And progressive stuff seems to produce lesser quality...

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/709228/

after you have the video all edited click the Share button on top then select export using quicktime ( assuming you have quicktime pro ) then you should export it in h.264 set the resolution to 1920x1080 and the bit rate to 20Mbits/s ( 20,000Kbits/s) and set the sound to pcm or some other high quality format and wait.... and wait... lol then you will be left with a very very large file. then open up toast and go to the BD mode and drag and drop the files into the toast program and click burn it will automatically re encode the video again for BD players and burn it in full 1080p at the best bit rate bluray supports
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cheesymogul said:
I stopped using iMovie after 06, therefore I'm not 100% sure if this will work. But if you can export your iMovie HD content as H.264 this should work. Perhaps you will be needing QuickTime Pro to do that.
To burn short (not feature length) Blu-Ray movies to a normal DVD you can use Toast 10 Pro or Toast 10 with the HD plug-in. These discs will play on most BD standalone players.
Although the authoring is very rudimentary with simple buttons, not even close to what's possible in iDVD for standard dvd's. And progressive stuff seems to produce lesser quality...

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/709228/
Click to expand...

Wow, thanks for all of that information! This forum is amazing! Can I mix the 1080 footage with a normal HD format? (I wanted to do an iMovie of his first year, but I used the AVCHD for the first 2 months and a Sony HDR-HC5 for the remainder of the year.) Could I mix the two and then just burn it as a regular DVD instead of BD? Or would that result in poor quality of the 1080i footage? Also, my cousin does have a laptop that plays BD, would it be easier to just use the Movie Maker on hers? Could I play it on hers and burn it in a different format that would work with iMovie??
 
I had been waiting for a similar price cut. My next computer will be a mac. That doesn't mean that I will hate anything non-Apple. I think somebody heard the latest Microsoft ads.
 
organerito said:
I had been waiting for a similar price cut. My next computer will be a mac. That doesn't mean that I will hate anything non-Apple. I think somebody heard the latest Microsoft ads.
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you say now that you won't start hating non-apple stuff.... ;) jk

anyway I can't wait to use OS X, Windows Vista in a regular configuration takes up LOTS of RAM, OS X takes up a LOT less, which means that more of your RAM is available to use for opening tabs in web browsers, playing with virtualization (can't wait to use VMWare Fusion), playing a game, or whatever you want to use it for. Linux didn't use much RAM if you didn't use gnome or KDE, but back when I used it I was annoyed that everything didn't "just work" .. particularly wireless. Using a mac should be really fun. :)
 
Thinking about a MBP 13"

I have the original Macbook Rev A from 3 years ago. It is still as fast as hell. The warranty has just ran out on it. Obviously just about to finish Uni means grabbing one of these babies and taking advantage of the HE discount together with an iPod and Printer is a godsend (although I don't need the iPod or the printer as I have both, but I am considering selling the iPod to get some money back...)

So, the ultimate question is how much more of an advantage is the current MacBook Pro over my current machine.

I am thinking of toying with Logic, the full version not Express so I am considering the entry level model but I want to change the HD to a 7200rpm.

Is a 2.26GHz C2D good enough for Logic? I can upgrade the RAM myself that is not an issue.

Thanks everyone
 
Legacy said:
I am thinking of toying with Logic, the full version not Express so I am considering the entry level model but I want to change the HD to a 7200rpm.
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it is my understanding that this (the seagate) is the only 7200RPM 500gig laptop hard drive in existence. As far as upgrades go, it's pretty cheap. My co-worker's suspicion is, and I think I agree with him, that this (500 gigs) is the end of the line as far as true laptop hard drives go, and that the future will be in solid state. Solid state disks already exceed 500 gigs anyway, and word on the street has it that this guy sold out on newegg less than 4 hours after it became available. Look for prices to drop in the future, of course!
 
In my opinion, the 13" MBP is the best thing Apple has done in years.

I must have one.

If only money grew on trees... :eek:
 
jwocky said:
Anyone have any solid info on what screen panel is in the new 13" macbook pro? It's been confirmed that it's an upgraded panel, but I'd like to know what panel it's been upgraded to (IPS?). Thanks!
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I don't know what's in it, but there's not a chance in hell it's IPS. There were, last time I checked, absolutely no laptops currently being made with IPS, or indeed anything other than various qualities of TN (though some TN panels have improved hugely). IBM T60s used to have a non-TN option, but even they don't any more. I'm not sure a 13" TN panel even exists (I haven't checked!) - and if it does it would be very expensive. Also, if it were, Apple would be trumpeting it loud and clear (rightly) as a totally unique feature.

I'd still personally be more bothered about the mirror they insist on sticking in front of the panel.
 
Re iTunes Movies vs Blue Ray.


The reasons I would buy blu-ray over iTunes (yes I know iTunes is cheaper) are twofold and simple:

iTunes has just as nasty DRM imo for movies, and I can actually rip blu-rays relatively easily thus removing the DRM, whereas I cannot do this with iTunes.

Quality. There is no comparison whatsoever.

By the way I have 100 megabit down and up connection with no limits, so bandwidth is not an issue - I could stream 2 blurays simultaneously and have bandwidth left over. But most people are not in this position, nor will they be for quite a while in this country at least. I *would* like the convenience of downloads, but *not* at the cost of substantially poorer quality and not knowing I will be able to use it and play it on any device I choose. And yes, I can see the quality difference - it's not numbers I'm interested in - the difference is huge even viewed on a 13 inch screen (and don't forget the sound either) but for me the point is that if I buy some content I want to be able to use it to the best quality on other devices in future too, including the 24" 1080p LCD I plan to buy in July :) and who knows what else in future). Also, with bluray you get a backup, effectively. I would never have bought bluray before the encryption was cracked and ripping became relatively easy (at least with Windows).

I totally get why Apple is presumably not going with bluray, and that's absolutely their right to do so, and in the long run they may be right. But choice would be nice, particularly given Mac's association with video production. Lack of bluray will lose them some sales - they've just obviously decided it's the best option on balance and that their sales figures will do nicely just the same. It was not a factor in *my* decision to switch away from Apple (primarily it was their utterly infuriating customer 'service' (this is not a general claim, just a description of my experience)). But it is a bonus having been able to add it to a £550 laptop that may be not be aluminium but is generally very nice and lighter than a 13" alumacbook (though granted its touchpad is not a patch on Apple's, but nothing is imo) and would not bend if dropped 1.5feet onto a soft surface in a protective case. It also has a beautifully white screen that I can actually see (as opposed to a mirror or an off-white lined image) and HDMI port, VGA and DVI-D ports, eSATA, firewire, 3 USB, 7.1 sound etc . It has its quirks, but they are hugely outweighed by the advantages, and I can't see me going back unless Apple were to change a great deal. Of course, I doubt they care much!
 
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.
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Not that I necessarily disagree that the general trend is away from physical media (though I think reports of its death are somewhat premature when it comes to video, rather than music), but this trend in store closures proves very little about physical vs downloadable. You could just as easily read it as proof that high street stores can't compete with online stores pricewise, and everyone goes to Amazon instead of the high street. Highstreet stores of all sorts are closing down in current economic climate. I imagine it might be a bit of both, but it's not the concrete and absolute proof you claim it is.
 
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.
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I suspect your carefully worded statements will make no difference. In Apple land, it is (not always but still too often) the case that what you *do* want is irrelevant. It is what you *should* want that matters! Apple, and those of us who follow them, are not unique in this, but they do sometimes take it to a new level of smugness. Often they're right, but not always and screw everyone in the meantime!

I agree entirely that the question should be whether it's dying but "When is the funeral?" but don't you know it *should* have died, and everyone *should* have 34GBit internet connections! Therefore they do! and anyone who doesn't it's their fault! </Sarcasm>
 
mrmacmuscle said:
I understand your point clearly...Films on SD? No my friend. Most of my films are on DVD or have been downloaded onto the hard drive of my MacBook to then pass onto my iPhone if need be. I have many films such as Rain Man, 50 First Dates and Shawshank Redemption on standard DVD which I am happy to watch on my MacBook as they don't 1080p quality to appreciate. I bought a Bluray player and 42" LCD to recreate the cinema experience with surround sound etc. If I want to watch 1080p movies, I purchase Bluray DVD's worth purchasing and watching in 1080p on my 42" LCD eg. 300, Transformers etc.
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I don't think he meant films on SD cards. He meant Standard Definition.

And I think his point is that when you don't already have the DVD and you want to buy a film, you should have to buy it twice to watch it at best quality on two devices. I.e. it would be nice to buy the Bluray for the 42" LCD and then be able to play it (less well, but still better than DVD) on your really quite expensive laptop.
 
My new 13 inch MBP is in Alaska right now! It's slowly coming my way.

As for the comments about Apple Care above, I highly recommend it to anyone who is on-the-fence. The only other Mac I have is a PowerBook G4. I bought Apple Care for it and good thing I did; I had to replace the logic board twice and the HDD once. Thanks to Apple Care, these didn't cost me one cent (except for gas money!). And 4 years later, it's still running very well (knock on wood).
 
Unibody Macbook to Macbook Pro

:confused: Hey friends....I want someone(s) opinion if they think I should swap my 13" Unibody Macbook (2.4GHz, 2GB RAM, 250GB HD) for the new 13" Macbook Pro (2.26 GHz , 4 GB RAM, 320 GB HD) just a college student, but just have to have to new Macbook plus I really lovethe SD slot...finally! Please Help :eek:
 
Question is, can you afford to, and is it worth it, or just spend £5 on a card reader?
Only you can answer that...
 
I'm left in the dust with my Unibody MacBook (late 2008, I think, bought it i February). But I guess it doesn't matter. Some idiot will problaby point out that I'm not a "Pro"-user, since it doesn't say "Pro" on my machine, but then I'll point out that I'm still his boss and I'll fire his ass if he keeps on being stupid. Problem solved. :p

Anyway, I see no reason to upgrade. My current MacBook has a 2,4GHz CPU and 4GB RAM, on top of that I'm installing an SSD this summer. It's actually a wee bit better spec-wise than the current low-end MBP 13. ;) Although I'm missing out on that great new battery, it's not worth that much to me. Maybe in another two years I'll buy a new one, or maybe even more. I do like the fact that they've included an SD-card slot, although they problaby should have made it more friendly to other types as well. I guess FW800 is also a good thing, although I have yet to use anything with an FW-interface.

All in all, the next couple of years should be interesting laptop-wise, with better graphics (the 9400M is pure awesome), better CPUs, SSDs, enormous amounts of RAM and of course the capabilites LED technologies gives us.

January will problaby be quite interesting, not to mention the next WWDC. :)
 
Heilage said:
I'm left in the dust with my Unibody MacBook (late 2008, I think, bought it i February). But I guess it doesn't matter. Some idiot will problaby point out that I'm not a "Pro"-user, since it doesn't say "Pro" on my machine
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Look on the bright side though. Now you (and I) have a collector's item, limited edition aluminum unibody Macbook. ;)
 
Heilage said:
I'm left in the dust with my Unibody MacBook (late 2008, I think, bought it i February). But I guess it doesn't matter. Some idiot will problaby point out that I'm not a "Pro"-user, since it doesn't say "Pro" on my machine, but then I'll point out that I'm still his boss and I'll fire his ass if he keeps on being stupid. Problem solved. :p

Anyway, I see no reason to upgrade. My current MacBook has a 2,4GHz CPU and 4GB RAM, on top of that I'm installing an SSD this summer. It's actually a wee bit better spec-wise than the current low-end MBP 13. ;) Although I'm missing out on that great new battery, it's not worth that much to me. Maybe in another two years I'll buy a new one, or maybe even more. I do like the fact that they've included an SD-card slot, although they problaby should have made it more friendly to other types as well. I guess FW800 is also a good thing, although I have yet to use anything with an FW-interface.

All in all, the next couple of years should be interesting laptop-wise, with better graphics (the 9400M is pure awesome), better CPUs, SSDs, enormous amounts of RAM and of course the capabilites LED technologies gives us.

January will problaby be quite interesting, not to mention the next WWDC. :)
Click to expand...

I wouldn't say you're left in the dust, you've got a perfectly capable machine. I've got the low-end 2.0 GHz Unibody, and it's fine. I don't have any FireWire devices and I have yet to find myself in a situation where I can't take my camera's USB cable to move photos. The HDD is super-easy to upgrade, so as SSD prices fall you'll be able to pop one in. Sure, we're missing out on 8GB of RAM - but that's currently running anywhere from $799 (from Crucial) to $1000 (from Apple) and, frankly, the "opportunity" to spend an extra $1000 is something I'll gladly pass on any day.

Pick up AppleCare (if you haven't) and should you find yourself with some money in the next 2-3 years you can sell your machine with a warranty attached.

Hey friends....I want someone(s) opinion if they think I should swap my 13" Unibody Macbook (2.4GHz, 2GB RAM, 250GB HD) for the new 13" Macbook Pro (2.26 GHz , 4 GB RAM, 320 GB HD) just a college student, but just have to have to new Macbook plus I really lovethe SD slot...finally! Please Help
Click to expand...

No, you shouldn't. Your machine has a faster processor and the same graphics capabilities (the 13" Pros and low-end, $1699 15" do not have the dedicated GPU), the only things you're missing are the SD card slot and FW800. My advice: find a retailer ala Fry's (one that sells parts as well as systems) or order a drive from New Egg. I bought a 320GB HDD for $60 and friend got a 500GB for $80. If this drive fails, I just contact Hitachi instead of Apple. Installation took 2 minutes; the longest bit was migrating my data via Time Machine. Seems to me that it's just too much hassle to unload my machine for 2 features.
 
drjuice said:
I wouldn't say you're left in the dust, you've got a perfectly capable machine. I've got the low-end 2.0 GHz Unibody, and it's fine. I don't have any FireWire devices and I have yet to find myself in a situation where I can't take my camera's USB cable to move photos. The HDD is super-easy to upgrade, so as SSD prices fall you'll be able to pop one in. Sure, we're missing out on 8GB of RAM - but that's currently running anywhere from $799 (from Crucial) to $1000 (from Apple) and, frankly, the "opportunity" to spend an extra $1000 is something I'll gladly pass on any day.

Pick up AppleCare (if you haven't) and should you find yourself with some money in the next 2-3 years you can sell your machine with a warranty attached.



No, you shouldn't. Your machine has a faster processor and the same graphics capabilities (the 13" Pros and low-end, $1699 15" do not have the dedicated GPU), the only things you're missing are the SD card slot and FW800. My advice: find a retailer ala Fry's (one that sells parts as well as systems) or order a drive from New Egg. I bought a 320GB HDD for $60 and friend got a 500GB for $80. If this drive fails, I just contact Hitachi instead of Apple. Installation took 2 minutes; the longest bit was migrating my data via Time Machine. Seems to me that it's just too much hassle to unload my machine for 2 features.
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Thats very true. I hated the switch between my iamc to this macbook. Took a while to move files. Oh well I guess Ill just upgrade my RAm to 4GB. Do they sell SD slot adapters?
 
Am i the only one who thinks the rebranding is crap? For all of us who bought the original al macbook?
 
MACdaddy859 said:
:confused: Hey friends....I want someone(s) opinion if they think I should swap my 13" Unibody Macbook (2.4GHz, 2GB RAM, 250GB HD) for the new 13" Macbook Pro (2.26 GHz , 4 GB RAM, 320 GB HD) just a college student, but just have to have to new Macbook plus I really love the SD slot...finally! Please Help :eek:
Click to expand...

The only advantage you'd have doing that would be gaining FireWire. And while FW is good, you'd be taking a slight hit in CPU speed.

Keep the one you have and upgrade to 4GB of RAM. You'll be fine. :cool:
 
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