Back to School Promo, and MacBook Pro Specs

[MacRumors]

With updates likely only hours away, a few final tidbits prior to the launch...

The iTunes Store reveals an image promoting the expected Back to School Promo:

The promo which launches on Tuesday, allows college students to get a free iPod Nano with any Mac purchase (excluding the Mac mini). Students may opt to take a $199 credit against a more expensive iPod if desired. Unfortunately the iPhone seems to be excluded from this promo.

Some Page 2 MacBook Pro specs were posted earlier, pointing towards 2.2GHz / 2.4GHz MacBook Pro updates with GeForce 8600M GT video. Appleinsider has updated with comparable specs of the rumored 15" notebooks.

 

[arn]

hardly worth posting at this late hour, but this thread can serve as the playground for the last minute discussion/waiting.

arn

 

[Aniej]

thanks buddy. any last minute guesses on the MBP update?

 

[Music_Producer]

hardly worth posting at this late hour, but this thread can serve as the playground for the last minute discussion/waiting.

arn

Every minute counts, and how!

 

[iToaster]

Why am I still awake? I dunno, but this is definitely keeping me awake, or maybe it's the excitment of the possible new MBPs.

 

[asrmatt]

Joy of waiting!

Waiting for our new MBP may i sing a perfect Arctic Monkeys song?

Anticipation has a habit to set you up
For disappointment in evening entertainment but
Tonight there’ll be some love
Tonight there'll be a rawkus, regardless of what's gone before

 

[Anawrahta]

If they release as the same specs as AI showed, all I can say is HO HUM update. It's nice that its santa rosa, and new graphics, but honestly no backlit LED? Also 256 and 512MB graphics woulda been nicer for flagship notebooks dontchathink?

If this is it for the notebooks for another 6 months, I sure hope they have some killer iMacs being unleashed next week as hinted by Steve, or this is going to be a boring summer for Mac computers.

 

[nagromme]

And 2.2/2.4 GHz would mean Santa Rosa?

How does the GeForce 8600M GT stack up against other GPUs suitable for inch-thin laptops? (I know those thick and heavy Windows luggables can fit higher-end GPUs than that.)

If they release as the same specs as AI showed, all I can say is HO HUM update. It's nice that its santa rosa, and new graphics, but honestly no backlit LED? Also 256 and 512MB graphics woulda been nicer for flagship notebooks dontchathink?

15" LED displays will come sometime--Apple has said LED is their future. Are we certain they are not coming today? The rumored specs I've seen don't mention the backlight used.

If this is it for the notebooks for another 6 months, I sure hope they have some killer iMacs being unleashed next week as hinted by Steve, or this is going to be a boring summer for Mac computers.

LED backlight aside, what features were you hoping for? These are the fastest mobile chips out there, in an already great laptop design. Santa Rosa and a GPU boost is all I personally was hoping to see.

 

[arn]

And 2.2/2.4 GHz would mean Santa Rosa?

How does the GeForce 8600M GT stack up against other GPUs suitable for inch-thin laptops? (I know those thick and heavy Windows luggables can fit higher-end GPUs than that.)

I think 2.2/2.4 does indicate Santa Rosa from my understanding. I don't necessarily think TFT excludes LED, but don't take my word for it.

arn

 

[mikeinternet]

i'd prefer a ultra-portable over a MBP upgrade. but that's just me.

 

[xfusejc]

I was waiting for this before buying my MacBook, but I don't see any discount when I add the iPod to the MacBook on the cart. How does the discount on the iPod work?

 

[kainjow]

Why am I still awake? I dunno, but this is definitely keeping me awake, or maybe it's the excitment of the possible new MBPs.

Not sure about you, but college procrastination is keeping me up

 

[CHROMEDOME]

I was waiting for this before buying my MacBook, but I don't see any discount when I add the iPod to the MacBook on the cart. How does the discount on the iPod work?

You gotta buy both the macbook and the ipod...then print out the mail in rebate thing, then cut out the UPC of both products then like mail all that stuff in. Then wait 6-8 weeks for the money...ITS GREAT FUN!

I like how "back to school" is already starting, a lot of people are still in school.

 

[nagromme]

I think 2.2/2.4 does indicate Santa Rosa from my understanding. I don't necessarily think TFT excludes LED, but don't take my word for it.

arn

You're right - Googling for LED backlit TFT turns up lots of hits.

i'd prefer a ultra-portable over a MBP upgrade. but that's just me.

Now you're talking 9"-13", with 64GB+ flash and no HD, 128 VRAM, and external optical please I know it would cost more than the 15" and I still am ready to pay for that power in an ultraportable.

But whatever the details, I do think a smaller laptop is coming (probably not today). Probably using the MacBook Pro name--just a new smaller size in the lineup

 

[brandon6684]

You're right - Googling for LED backlit TFT turns up lots of hits.



Now you're talking 9"-13", with all flash and no HD, 128 VRAM, and external optical please

But whatever the details, I do think a smaller laptop is coming (probably not today). Probably using the MacBook Pro name--just a new smaller size in the lineup

A 10" or so solid state ultraportable would be nice, but I'm guessing expensive from Apple. I think I'll wait and see how hackable the Linux on the Palm Foleo is.

 

[samh004]

And all I've done all day is read up on what's coming, instead of doing my work. Perhaps now that there's some hours to kill before the update I'll do some work. I hope it's not another major disappointment though, ala MacBook.

 

[Object-X]

Impeccable timing

Wow, I just sold my first gen MacBook Pro today! What timing. I sure hope they come with new enclosures, though admittedly I have no idea how they could make them better - only that they always do.

 

[Smurfed]

I'm still hoping the 17" has a 1920 x 1200 Resolution

 

[nagromme]

I'm still hoping the 17" has a 1920 x 1200 Resolution

Count on it coming sooner or later, since Leopard will support a true res-independent UI. However, I believe developers have been told to be ready for res-independence in 2008? I hope that gets moved sooner (October?) but if it's a feature we don't see enabled (or widely used by apps) until 2008, then I expect the 1920x1200 MacBook Pro will wait a while as well. Tiny pixels are terrible for readability otherwise. (I'm imagining this 24" iMac screen shrunk to 17"--ugh!) Still, you can always hold out hope for a BTO option--as long as the demand for that res is great enough.

 

[ricgnzlzcr]

I really can't see any extraordinary changes occuring. Actually, I hope not or else I'll be spending yet again.

 

[ibinco]

I am an apple lover/user since the past half year...Do you guys have any idea wether the back to school promo starts around the same time in Europe?! Looking to buy a new macbook pro and give my macbook to the girlfriend!

 

[kungming2]

I was wondering - I'm going to start college this fall (at Princeton), and I really need a new MacBook Pro and an iPod. Would I be able to utilize the back-to-school discount?

 

[murfle]

For my friends sake, hope this offer is gonna be good in Canada.

 

[Sbrocket]

I was wondering - I'm going to start college this fall (at Princeton), and I really need a new MacBook Pro and an iPod. Would I be able to utilize the back-to-school discount?

Yes, you can use the discount. Just go to http://store.apple.com tomorrow sometime after the official release and go to Princeton's education store.



P.S. @Kingofkolt ~ Command-R!

 

[kingofkolt]

I was wondering - I'm going to start college this fall (at Princeton), and I really need a new MacBook Pro and an iPod. Would I be able to utilize the back-to-school discount?

I'm wondering this too... It says "college students". Does that include people just accepted into a college (and can prove it with an acceptance letter)?

Congrats on getting into Princeton, by the way!