Early 2008 MacBook Pro Whispers

[jackinlost]

Always nice to know!

My PC is about to die and then I'll have to look into doing the same! This will be my first Mac at home. The PC death or MBP release will be the trigger for me to buy.

Was hoping to get one before it bites the dust though so I can transfer stuff easier.

UK apple's customer's service is the best. they do not care whether you have opened the box or not, and as long as the stuff you return to them do not have any damage and within 14 days, they will refund you

 

[Vokteren]

UK apple's customer's service is the best. they do not care whether you have opened the box or not, and as long as the stuff you return to them do not have any damage and within 14 days, they will refund you

Same thing in Norway. Although Apple uses the rest of the Norwegian consumer-protection laws as toilet paper, they don't charge us for returning products within 14 days. Wondering of doing the same and just ordering a current MBP, but I'm afraid I wouldn't return it even if they updated it within 14 days just because I can't part with it when I first get it. :|

 

[fretlesswonder]

UK apple's customer's service is the best. they do not care whether you have opened the box or not, and as long as the stuff you return to them do not have any damage and within 14 days, they will refund you

wow nice to hear that! UK is the best, i wish my country could do that.

Anyway still waiting for the new mbp 2008

Let us pray ..hopefully next week they will announce the newest penryn chips mbp yayyyy

May lord hear us! AMIEN! everyone say amien ...

Keep us update guyss

 

[seantyas]

Sh*t, my desktop PC was dead yesterday, HDD failure, completely dead.

so, I had to place the order for MBP.

I called the sales team of apple, one sale man placed that order for me.

before I gave him my credit card number, I asked him whether there would be a upgrade version coming out soon. he said he doesn't know and he personally doesn't think so. However, he said as well that he heard of the rumor too!!! finally, he gave me a suggestions:

if I order now, then it will take 7-10 days for me to get it. and after I get it, i have 14 days peace of mind. so totally, 20ish days and I can get refund for it in 20ish days. even if the mbp gets upgraded next week, i still have plenty of chances to get the newest model.


I asked him, is that 14 days refund policy still remain valid if I open the box and use it for a while? he smiled and said again:"you can have the refund"!!!


then I placed the order after the conversation.


by the way, I am in UK

how do you know he smiled?

 

[Fuzzbear]

Sh*t, my desktop PC was dead yesterday, HDD failure, completely dead.

so, I had to place the order for MBP.

Why not just replace the ol HDD for far cheaper than the MBP... when and if the MBP gets updated throw the new HDD in an exteral enclosure and use it for Time Machine on your new Laptop.

 

[DocSmitty]

It's funny that every gets so upset about being locked into Apple, but doesn't give it a second thought if they're locked into Windows.

They're locked into Apple Hardware because they want to run OS X. They can use any PC brand to run Windows, but you can also run it on a Mac... so you can have your OS X and.. um.. eat it too? Anyway the point is you aren't locked into any particular hardware vendor when you run Windows, and can shop around for the lowest price / best quality. Personally, if I could get away with OS X on a thinkpad I would.

 

[DanD81]

I have a similar problem! I am also living in the UK and would like to order an MBP... However, I always thought that you have to pay 60 pounds for returning an Apple product in the UK when you just 'don't want it'... isn't that correct?

Also, I was wondering if any of you used the student finance promotion Apple UK is offering... I tried it today on the phone but the guy mentioned that I have to work and be a UK citizen. Well, I am an EU student and got a UK studenship... Shouldn't it work with that?

Best,
Daniel

Sh*t, my desktop PC was dead yesterday, HDD failure, completely dead.

so, I had to place the order for MBP.

I called the sales team of apple, one sale man placed that order for me.

before I gave him my credit card number, I asked him whether there would be a upgrade version coming out soon. he said he doesn't know and he personally doesn't think so. However, he said as well that he heard of the rumor too!!! finally, he gave me a suggestions:

if I order now, then it will take 7-10 days for me to get it. and after I get it, i have 14 days peace of mind. so totally, 20ish days and I can get refund for it in 20ish days. even if the mbp gets upgraded next week, i still have plenty of chances to get the newest model.


I asked him, is that 14 days refund policy still remain valid if I open the box and use it for a while? he smiled and said again:"you can have the refund"!!!


then I placed the order after the conversation.


by the way, I am in UK

 

[djellison]

What do you guys want to see in the new MacBook Pros?

Penryn CPU ( better battery, significant performance boost for SSE4 enabled apps ), User replaceable HDD, magnetic latch, higher res ( 1680 ) LED screen on 15", BluRay BTO option.

All these would render the MacBook a very expensive laptop. Currently it's very expensive AND outdated.

Doug

 

[tbeahrs]

The wait continues...

So looks like we cross our fingers for next tuesday. Long time lurker first time poster here. Thought I would pose a question while we wait and sulk. If they ever update I will be buying shelling the $$ for either a 15'' w/ upgraded Ram and Hard Drive... or the base 17" model (should be ~ the same $$). I'm currently wearing down my 5 yr old 12" powerbook G4 so either would be a significant update in both screen real estate and performance. But what about portability?? It will be with me pretty much everyday and I'm worried about the 17" being too cumbersome, it's pretty heavy. So 15" or 17"... Please give me you $0.02.

I realize everything is speculation because we don't KNOW the specs of the new models, but, speculation is our past time.

-TB
GOING CRAZY FOR A MBP!!!

 

[jragosta]

I'd be happy with a processor switch. I want the top of the range model, but not if its about to be superseded with a new line of processors.

This is something that always amazes me about computer buyers. Unless you're into very heavy graphics rendering, you're not going to see any difference between the current generation MBP and one with slightly faster processors.

It just doesn't matter for most people any more. Whining endlessly because Apple hasn't yet released a computer with a 10% faster processor is silly. IMHO.

 

[Wolfpup]

This is something that always amazes me about computer buyers. Unless you're into very heavy graphics rendering, you're not going to see any difference between the current generation MBP and one with slightly faster processors.

It just doesn't matter for most people any more. Whining endlessly because Apple hasn't yet released a computer with a 10% faster processor is silly. IMHO.

It might end up more than 10%, depending on the clock speeds they pick. Like if they go from 2.2 to 2.5Ghz would be at least 25% faster, and even better than that in some applications.

And if they throw in a better GPU on top of that...

 

[freitas]

This is something that always amazes me about computer buyers. Unless you're into very heavy graphics rendering, you're not going to see any difference between the current generation MBP and one with slightly faster processors.

It just doesn't matter for most people any more. Whining endlessly because Apple hasn't yet released a computer with a 10% faster processor is silly. IMHO.

My reason for wanting for the upgrade is the potential for better battery life. The penryn has already been shown to give you more mileage than the merom on the santa rosa chipset (http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=3195). I am holding out for the better battery life and the 6M cache.

 

[Koolio27]

This is something that always amazes me about computer buyers. Unless you're into very heavy graphics rendering, you're not going to see any difference between the current generation MBP and one with slightly faster processors.

Penryn does provide better battery life...at least according to the benchmark testing done by AnandTech (which I've linked to in one of my posts from yesterday).

EDIT: looks like freitas also linked to it.

 

[jameskohn]

15" v. 17"

If you're really carrying this thing around all the time, 15" is the way to go, no question about it. Nice sized screen and way more convenient. 17" is a magnificent machine, but you don't want to lug it around very much. Even the 15" is 5.6 lbs, which gets tiring after a while.

I'm looking to replace my 12" G4 PowerBook. I want a little more screen real estate and the Intel processor (for iMovie 08). It weighs 4.6 lbs, so I'd love to shed some weight as well. A 13" MBP has been my dream, but that's not looking very likely any time soon. MacBook, at 5 lbs gives me the screen I need and the Intel processor but it weighs (just a little) more, not less. It's really the right machine for me, but I just have a hard time with the plastic enclosure. I'm considering a MBA, and will decide on it when it's in the store and I can put it through it's paces first hand. If I can download AVCHD (HiDef) video from an SD card via USB reasonably well, the MBA might be the way to go for me. My laptop is a secondary computer to the MacPro on my desk that does all the heavy lifting.

All of that having been said, a new 15" MBP would get my attention in a big way, especially if by using some of the MBA technology it sheds a pound or so!

 

[Koolio27]

So looks like we cross our fingers for next tuesday. Long time lurker first time poster here. Thought I would pose a question while we wait and sulk. If they ever update I will be buying shelling the $$ for either a 15'' w/ upgraded Ram and Hard Drive... or the base 17" model (should be ~ the same $$). I'm currently wearing down my 5 yr old 12" powerbook G4 so either would be a significant update in both screen real estate and performance. But what about portability?? It will be with me pretty much everyday and I'm worried about the 17" being too cumbersome, it's pretty heavy. So 15" or 17"... Please give me you $0.02.

I realize everything is speculation because we don't KNOW the specs of the new models, but, speculation is our past time.

-TB
GOING CRAZY FOR A MBP!!!

IMO, the 17" is going to be too big and cumbersome to carry around everyday. A friend of mine had the 17" G4 back in 2002/3 and, IMO, it was just too big & heavy to lug around everyday. I'd go with the 15" if I were you.

 

[IEatApples]

This is something that always amazes me about computer buyers. Unless you're into very heavy graphics rendering, you're not going to see any difference between the current generation MBP and one with slightly faster processors.

It just doesn't matter for most people any more. Whining endlessly because Apple hasn't yet released a computer with a 10% faster processor is silly. IMHO.

Well, it's not just the processor that matters! I'm waiting for a 256MB GPU in the base model, and a larger HDD!

+ Better battery life like Koolio27 said!

 

[gazfocus]

I have a similar problem! I am also living in the UK and would like to order an MBP... However, I always thought that you have to pay 60 pounds for returning an Apple product in the UK when you just 'don't want it'... isn't that correct?

Also, I was wondering if any of you used the student finance promotion Apple UK is offering... I tried it today on the phone but the guy mentioned that I have to work and be a UK citizen. Well, I am an EU student and got a UK studenship... Shouldn't it work with that?

Best,
Daniel

The £60 fee is only if you order online. If you take the computer back to an Apple Store, you don't have to pay that £60 which is a 'shipping cost'.

 

[DanD81]

The £60 fee is only if you order online. If you take the computer back to an Apple Store, you don't have to pay that £60 which is a 'shipping cost'.

Ok, thanks! So that means I can order a MBP on the phone and when I am not satiesfied and can call Apple and pay the (really cheap) shipping costs of £60 or bring the MBP back by myself to any Applestore?
Thanks a lot!

 

[ewxlt]

My credit card is ready. I'm seriously doubting next Tuesday though.

 

[gazfocus]

Ok, thanks! So that means I can order a MBP on the phone and when I am not satiesfied and can call Apple and pay the (really cheap) shipping costs of £60 or bring the MBP back by myself to any Applestore?
Thanks a lot!

Yeah. I don't think the shipping costs are cheap though (considering when I sold my MBP it only cost £21 to send it recorded delivery insured for £2500). Hmm nevermind

 

[Digital Skunk]

The current design is still going strong IMHO. No other computer manufacturer has even come close to the minimalist sexiness of the Alu PB / MBP. And it just happens to be the only current Apple computer with a keyboard that doesn't look like a child's toy.

I agree with you on the look of Apple's new "universal" keyboard but the Mac Book Pro case is far too old, and limits the hardware that Apple could put in the machine. Apple needs to design a notebook that is a real performer, and is just as sturdy as the PC counterparts. I want a book that doesn't creak when I pick it up, and doesn't need to be babied when I carry it around.

I would like to have a 17" model that screams! I mean a real performer that comes close to what the Alienware machines can do. No more kiddy consumer, average Joe crap... a real desktop replacement.

Redesign the dag on case Apple

 

[DanD81]

Yeah. I don't think the shipping costs are cheap though (considering when I sold my MBP it only cost £21 to send it recorded delivery insured for £2500). Hmm nevermind

completely agree.. when I said cheap I meant 'cheap'

 

[pointycollars]

Apple needs to design a notebook that is a real performer, and is just as sturdy as the PC counterparts. I want a book that doesn't creak when I pick it up, and doesn't need to be babied when I carry it around.

Agreed. I've seen many MBP's owned by friends and colleagues that have serious dents or bulges in their sides because of the weak plastic joint around the edge of the case. Something sturdier would be welcomed.

 

[jaydub]

I think there's a wide gap between babying a computer, and normal everyday wear and tear, and straight up abuse.

I have carried my macbook pro with me every day for 18 months with no issues. I have traveled with it, used it in coffee shops, etc and it still has no physical flaws aside from a nick in the screen where my headphones smacked it.

I don't find the computer to be any weaker than the Dell I once carried. If anything, the fact that the chassis is metal has made me feel more comfortable than carrying a huge chunk of plastic. The hinges broke on my dell, and the plastic latch was barely hanging on.

It's not as if the MBP hasn't been tested for durability, but sometimes I think people want a military grade laptop that weighs 4lb and has 2GB of vram. For most people, I think the durability of the MBP is just fine.

 

[Digital Skunk]

It's not as if the MBP hasn't been tested for durability, but sometimes I think people want a military grade laptop that weighs 4lb and has 2GB of vram. For most people, I think the durability of the MBP is just fine.

It's funny that you should say this. I am asking for a 7 lbs. 15" notebook and a 9 lbs. 17" or even 19" MacBook Pro desktop replacement. Yes... would use that and yes I would pull that thing out in a coffee shop and take up my table and the table next to me and generate enough heat to keep my coffee warm. I just saw a guy with an old Dell XPS notebook and it was HUGE! From my quick glance I saw maybe 4 or 6 USB ports, I want that many FW 400 and 800 and eSATA ports. I want two hard drives inside the case. I want dual 2.8 GHz Intel processors... I want a man's computer!

I want the 15" MBP to be sexy small as well, but can we get that and a real screamer of a 17" too? It doesn't even have to be that large... just give me the current model redesigned to hold two HDDs and more professional ports, not USB ports, FW and eSATA.

The average person doesn't want a heavy laptop, but the average professional wants a machine that can crunch some uncompressed 1080i no problem.