Claim of a March 17th MacBook Pro Release?

[Marion]

I don't understand

It might sounds weird, but I'll ask anyway. What will be the point of Apple to delay a technology that is better, faster than what they have at the moment (thinking of Penryn and Touchpad here). If the MBP is supposed to be the Apple Pro portable machine, why they would let other Windows based PC mark some points with better equipped machine (at cheaper price) ?

Also, if MBA and MBP compete one another, I think there is a lack of something somewhere. Apple should be trying to release new stuff to increase is market share in laptop (new customer or previous Windows user), not to compete against their own laptop. For me, the MBP sounds like a Porsche Cayenne and the MBA a Porsche Boxter... I've never seen anybody wondering which one he should get based on dilemma of similarity... they are just so different.

Bottom line, I don't think there is any gain for Apple to wait to release the new MBP (2-3 weeks after the release of MBA is fine, but not months)

It's my first post, so I expect any kind of reply...

 

[Glueeater]

Maybe they need time to test Penryn with software? Was it not just released a few weeks back? I don't know, I'm not too antsy to get my hands on a MBP.

 

[lexlix]

lol yes I do owe you and the other guy an apology. I'm sorry

imho, i think thebeat was just trying to be funny. but just didn't realize how his words came off when in writing. but i'm glad everyone has hugged and made up. now we can all play in the sandbox again.

in regard to the march 17th thing, maybe i don't want to believe it because I NEED A NEW COMPUTER LIKE 3 MONTHS AGO. but i have more faith in what arn said.

either way, i'm done with logic. i've been broken down and reduced to begging.

 

[Digital Skunk]

Likely

Bluetooth 2.1 Nope
increase in base config (e.g. 120->160GB hard disk)
Penryn mobile processors
touchpad gestures (like MBA)
MBA-like keyboard
64G SSD option

Wishlist

built-in (soldered) 2GB RAM (thus upgrade option to 6 or maybe even 10) Nope
128G SSD option Nope
320G hard disk option
hybrid hard disk (partial flash assist)
user-swappable hard disk
iSight resolution increase
BTO delete iSight Nope
BTO built-in WiMax/WWAN options Nope
higher resolution 15" option
13" model Nope
weight reduction Nope
Firewire 3200 port Nope
flexible optical bay (battery, extra hard disk, weight-saving blank bezel) Nope
Blue-Ray optical drive option Nope
2nd trackpad button Nope, why would we need that?
right angle Magsafe connector (like MBA)
wireless boot (like MBA)
standard 2 year warranty (Applecare extends to 4) Nope
reduced footprint Nope
built-in GPS receiver (BTO option?) Nope
USB target disk mode (also firmware upgrade for MBA) Nope

A lot of dreaming going on in there. Everyone at MacRumors dreams to, but it's best to keep it reasonable and realistic. A lot of the options just don't make sense.

 

[aiterum]

if this happens, I'm going to buy a vaio or an XPS, just out of spite

apple doesn't deserve my money if they pull a stunt like this

 

[Calsef]

You just broke my irony-o-meter.

ahahaha i love this. If Jobs could see what his delay of MBP update was doing to people here, he'd surely release it tomorrow

 

[BBCWatcher]

A lot of dreaming going on in there. Everyone at MacRumors dreams to, but it's best to keep it reasonable and realistic. A lot of the options just don't make sense.

Bluetooth 2.1 is on the MBA, so it would be near shocking if the MBP didn't get it at next refresh.

Every MacBook Pro already leaves the factory with at least 2 GB of RAM. Soldering 2 GB of RAM to the motherboard (like the MBA) would likely save Apple some manufacturing costs and allow Apple to increase its ARPU (average revenue per unit) because it could sell more overpriced memory upgrades via BTO. It would probably also reduce warranty claims -- a lot of owners wouldn't even know that their RAM was not properly seated in the slots, and every system would still boot. And having a notebook expandable to 6GB would establish more competitive advantage over Vista. Mac OS X can use 6 GB, while Microsoft is struggling with the 32-bit to 64-bit transition. And Apple is already soldering 2GB into the MBA, albeit for different reasons. They did for years in many other models, including the PowerBooks. It'd be much greener, too: fewer wasted 1GB modules. And it would streamline inventories, since they'd (eventually) only have to stock the 2GB modules.

The 128GB SSD option is coming, it's just a question of when.

The 2 year standard warranty would be a nice way to add some "Pro" back into the Pro line.

I'd also add another wishlist item (on the Mac OS X front): transparent file compression like NTFS's. With the lower capacity SSDs it'd be mighty useful.

 

[akadmon]

if this happens, I'm going to buy a vaio or an XPS, just out of spite

apple doesn't deserve my money if they pull a stunt like this

Can we get together and start a MBP bonfire?

 

[voyagerd]

*flails!* I need a laptop..

 

[D-Love]

Can we get together and start a MBP bonfire?

I'm with you guys...I've been going to Connecting Point(our local apple store) and fawning over the MB, MBP for a while now. I'm a little sick of windows and would like to make the jump to apple but Jobs is pissing me off right now. The MBA is a great looking, sexy product - but not what I'd like right now. Too many shortcomings as my laptop is likely to be my primary computer.

I want a blu-ray drive. I have a lot of blu-ray movies(over 50)and would love to play them on a portable player in HD. Apple refuses to give me the option to do that, instead forcing downloads down my throat and giving me a limited time to watch the movie - even if I already own it on blu-ray. That really rubs me the wrong way. Optical media is not going away anytime soon, no matter how much Mr. Jobs hopes it will and I am upset he isn't even giving me the option. The cost of the MBP compared to the MB is out of line as well, as mentioned above.

I patiently await 3G and 16GB for the iphone as well, even tho both are likely fairly soon so I can wait that out...however I need a new laptop NOW.

I don't want to buy a Vaio or XPS. I don't want windows. Unfortunately tho, thats the platform where I have the choices I want in hardware right now. I want to buy an Apple but right now I'm sorry but the credit card is firmly in my wallet.

 

[Ibjr]

Every MacBook Pro already leaves the factory with at least 2 GB of RAM. Soldering 2 GB of RAM to the motherboard (like the MBA) would likely save Apple some manufacturing costs and allow Apple to increase its ARPU (average revenue per unit) .......

Intel says parity in ram sticks is better for their arch Apple will make sure parity remains.

 

[Bearxor]

Likely
Bluetooth 2.1 Definitely
Increase in base config - T8300 (2.4/3MB) Base / T9300 (2.5/6MB) with BTO for 2.6 and 2.8 - if we're really unlucky we'll get the 2.1/3MB base. I think that even though the clockspeed is only 100mhz between the two processors, Apple will let the L2 Cache be the major difference and I believe they will want the proc speed faster than previous-gen MBP, thus I've decided on the 2.4/2.5 option. Hard Drive will probably be upped to 160/250 by default with BTO for 320.
Multi-Touch trackpad
Not a redesigned keyboard, but a relabeled keyboard like the new ones.

Maybe, but not likely
64GB/128GB SSD option
No firewire 400 port - Only FW800 and comes with a 800 to 400 adapter or you can purchase separately
right angle Magsafe connector (like MBA) - this is really more of a power supply feature and not a laptop feature. They could make these anytime in the MBP wattage it's just probably not likely

Not Likely
BTO Blu-Ray
iSight resolution increase - this is always possible but if it happens will definitely be a silent feature
higher resolution 15" option - this pains me to put this here but this is where it belongs

Never Happen so don't even think about it
built-in (soldered) 2GB RAM (thus upgrade option to 6 or maybe even 10)
hybrid hard disk (partial flash assist)
user-swappable hard disk
BTO delete iSight
BTO built-in WiMax/WWAN options
13" model - Nope - Apple is perfectly happy right now with the 13" MB and 15.4/17 MBP.
weight reduction
Firewire 3200 port - Firewire is on it's way out. USB 3 will effectively kill it.
flexible optical bay (battery, extra hard disk, weight-saving blank bezel)
2nd trackpad button - nope, sorry... They get along just fine with the one button and two-finger click option
standard 2 year warranty (Applecare extends to 4) - this one made me lol
reduced footprint
built-in GPS receiver (BTO option?)
USB target disk mode (also firmware upgrade for MBA) - this may be a future option when firewire is phased out.

The "new" MBP will be the same thing with updated processors and maybe a few more BTO options. The GF8600M-GT will continue to be used in 128MB/256MB configurations. The laptops will look, feel and sound the same. Anyone expecting a revolution in MBP's this year is going to be very disappointed.

 

[Stridder44]

Haha Bearxor, I like your "not likely to happen" list. GPS? Do people seriously request this kind of thing?

I highly doubt Blu-ray will becoming to the Apple lineup for a while, much less the MBP. The first to even get a BTO option would obviously be the MP (next update I'm guessing).

And if there's one thing I do want updated (hardware bumps aside) it's that damn latch. PLEASE magnetic latch.

 

[twoodcc]

If this is true, I will run around clucking like a chicken.

youtube?

but i hope this isn't true either. we'll see tomorrow and next week though

 

[aswitcher]

Likely
Bluetooth 2.1 Definitely
Increase in base config - T8300 (2.4/3MB) Base / T9300 (2.5/6MB) with BTO for 2.6 and 2.8 - if we're really unlucky we'll get the 2.1/3MB base. I think that even though the clockspeed is only 100mhz between the two processors, Apple will let the L2 Cache be the major difference and I believe they will want the proc speed faster than previous-gen MBP, thus I've decided on the 2.4/2.5 option. Hard Drive will probably be upped to 160/250 by default with BTO for 320.
Multi-Touch trackpad
Not a redesigned keyboard, but a relabeled keyboard like the new ones.

I am sure we will get the new MB/Air keyboard if its a real redesign.

I also think we will get a new design to drop the plastic strip that is around the rim of the current MBPs.

Also mag latch.

Feet to go and get MBA bumps.

SSD option for sure.

 

[txhil]

I'm with you guys...I've been going to Connecting Point(our local apple store) and fawning over the MB, MBP for a while now. I'm a little sick of windows and would like to make the jump to apple but Jobs is pissing me off right now. The MBA is a great looking, sexy product - but not what I'd like right now. Too many shortcomings as my laptop is likely to be my primary computer.

I want a blu-ray drive. I have a lot of blu-ray movies(over 50)and would love to play them on a portable player in HD. Apple refuses to give me the option to do that, instead forcing downloads down my throat and giving me a limited time to watch the movie - even if I already own it on blu-ray. That really rubs me the wrong way. Optical media is not going away anytime soon, no matter how much Mr. Jobs hopes it will and I am upset he isn't even giving me the option. The cost of the MBP compared to the MB is out of line as well, as mentioned above.

I patiently await 3G and 16GB for the iphone as well, even tho both are likely fairly soon so I can wait that out...however I need a new laptop NOW.

I don't want to buy a Vaio or XPS. I don't want windows. Unfortunately tho, thats the platform where I have the choices I want in hardware right now. I want to buy an Apple but right now I'm sorry but the credit card is firmly in my wallet.

If you do break down and jump through the window you will be most sad when MBP is finally updated and there you sit with your Vaio or XPS, your fists banging on that now firmly shut window and your not so firmly shut ,now empty, wallet wilting in the darkness of the vicious vistas land......It's late, I think I might be tired.

 

[joelypolly]

That my Bday lol well would be a good bday present but i want them out now so i can enjoy an early bday present

 

[riscy]

The good news it only comes in Green ....

after all it is St Patrick's day

joking!!!

 

[djellison]

Maybe they need time to test Penryn with software? Was it not just released a few weeks back?

Yeah- because Intel wouldn't give pre-release testing hardware to it's big new friend Apple for the testing and verification of hardware and software would it?

There are hardware websites who've had Penryn hardware to play with for a few months - you can be sure hardware manufacturers have had hardware for a lot longer than that.

Intel

 

[ltldrummerboy]

Likely

Bluetooth 2.1
increase in base config (e.g. 120->160GB hard disk)
Penryn mobile processors
touchpad gestures (like MBA)
MBA-like keyboard
64G SSD option

Wishlist

built-in (soldered) 2GB RAM (thus upgrade option to 6 or maybe even 10)
128G SSD option
320G hard disk option
hybrid hard disk (partial flash assist)
user-swappable hard disk
iSight resolution increase
BTO delete iSight
BTO built-in WiMax/WWAN options
higher resolution 15" option
13" model
weight reduction
Firewire 3200 port
flexible optical bay (battery, extra hard disk, weight-saving blank bezel)
Blue-Ray optical drive option
2nd trackpad button
right angle Magsafe connector (like MBA)
wireless boot (like MBA)
standard 2 year warranty (Applecare extends to 4)
reduced footprint
built-in GPS receiver (BTO option?)
USB target disk mode (also firmware upgrade for MBA)

How much does this cost?

 

[emotion]

The March date is way off for a new design. Maybe a minor update around then but I anticipate the redesign to announced at NAB in April. That's late enough for Montevina then (just).

 

[SpiderDude]

yeah right

If this is true, I will run around clucking like a chicken.

I almost wish this was true just to see ya do that..

 

[cutenewt]

Need A Mpb for uni. March 17th is just too far away.

Also too far for me. I need it for school and classes started this week. I didn't get over the break because I had my ear to the rumors - guess I'm a risk taker. Two weeks is my drop date. Cmn Apple!!!
I'm almost tempted to snag the new tower but I really want that portability.
I don't see major competition between the MBA and the MBP. The MBA seems more for the business traveler who is interested in the lightweight feature and who can load everything at home. I'm not ready to dispose of my internal drive or my dvds just yet. We still use dvds quite a bit at school to exchange works in progress, etc. (film school). I'd never really even considered the MBA. I want MBP power. New power. But I'm not fond of the new keyboards.
I love my little G4 but she can't run Logic & related.
Go go!!

 

[Braz0s]

For those on the fence...

Trust me - there is nothing wrong with the current MBP especially if you upgrade to 4 gig (of non apple ram of course). If you're on the fence and can't wait then buy now without feeling like you're being ripped off (which has happened before)

 

[compuguy1088]

Can we get together and start a MBP bonfire?

Why? I got a MBP in August, and it is working quite well. The only real feature I would care for is the multi-touch touchpad. The problem is that it only works on Apple programs...