Full Laptop Refresh By Holidays?

[Machead III]

There's so much I can't do until I've secured the purchase of a new computer, for personal, financial, work and sure, leisure reasons - but I'm not buying a MacBook at the death bed of the current cycle.

GAAAAH!

 

[ergle2]

Lenovo is currently not yet offering any Core 2 Duo notebooks. Shipping times for Core 2 Duo notebooks at Dell are only a few days later than those for non-Core 2 Duo notebooks (e.g., 9/29 instead of 9/27).

As some else pointed out Lenovo are selling Core 2 Duo powered N100, tho it's just the 1.6GHz model.

Under IBM, the ThinkPad tended to suffer a more conservative update cycle -- it could be Lenovo are doing the same. Corporate clients care about reliability, and that's a huge market for the ThinkPad, so perhaps they're paranoid to test it more, see how it fares in other systems -- or perhaps they just want to give that appearance...

Having said that, ThinkPads I've had dealings with in the past have been incredibly reliable machines.

The Dell site, when I looked it up yesterday, was showing Oct 2 as the ship date for the C2D E1505, vs about 7 days for an upgraded Core Duo model. Only a few days later, but enough for them to be awaiting a shipment.

I chose the low-end model because I figured that'd be the one more likely to show any real delays.

 

[nodabs]

One of my co-workers got his Dell E1505 C2D 2.00 GHz yesterday...

 

[deputy_doofy]

The 17" Dell (E1705) laptop has a preliminary ship date of 9-28 (with Core 2 Duo). If I ordered a MBP now and hate to wait another 8 days just for it to ship, that might be MORE torturous than it is now (simply waiting for Apple to say something.... ANYTHING).

 

[Pressure]

One of my co-workers got his Dell E1505 C2D 2.00 GHz yesterday...

He got a Dell? I already feel sorry for him, Core 2 Duo or not heh.

 

[HecubusPro]

I've been checking every rumors site i know, apple's site about 50 times a day, ... it's just not healthy. Tell me i'm not alone here.

You are alone, you sick person, you! Go back to where you came from and never bother us again! jk

You are not alone. Those of us who are waiting for the MBP (and the MB) core 2 duo update, have been obsessing for hours, days, weeks, and months. We hope it will be the next Tuesday, but that Tuesday has come and gone many times, and possibly many Tuesdays of disappointment are yet to come.

[I'm jut trying to keep things reasonably dire so we're all pleasantly surprised when new MBP's with C2D are announced at Photokina next week. ]

 

[sp44]

So I keep seeing MBP for C2D but not MB. I take it the idea of both is probably too much if announced next Tuesday.

 

[generik]

Hello, all. I don't profess to know secret knowledge, but here's some telling news IMO. I'm at college and a hallmate just ordered a 15" MBP. The salesman she was talking to told her that refreshes are coming next week and she might possibly get one of the new MBPs when her order arrived. He told her that the way to check to see if it's a NEW macbook pro is if the logo on the bottom of the LCD is shiny, not matte. Sure enough, it is! Potential indicator? I've been out of the loop on specs, but in the minute I looked at her System Profiler she had 1GB of memory and a 2.16GHz processor, which is currently the middle of the lineup. She told me she had ordered the BASE model, indicating that they had indeed upped her order to the newer models. Therefore...I'm more excited now.

The new logo is shiny not matt? Eeew, quite a distraction! And no HD panel?

 

[ergle2]

So I keep seeing MBP for C2D but not MB. I take it the idea of both is probably too much if announced next Tuesday.

This has been discussed a fair bit.

General conclusions vary. Some - including myself - figure that Merom supplies are not yet plentiful, so MBP will get it soon-ish and the MacBook will be updated by early December at latest.

Some figure Apple will keep the two updates at least a couple of weeks apart for commercial reasons -- keeps the pro buyers happy.

Some insist there's absolutely no reason not to update it at the same time and it'll happen that way.

It could happen on the same day, it could be a few months -- none of us really knows, it's just fun to surmise

 

[damienvfx]

Hello everyone

I'm a sometime poster, but I always follow everyone to the new threads whenever Macrumors has a new topic on new laptops.

My co-worker got a new laptop today that she ordered online. I told her to wait, but she couldn't wait any longer.

Anyhow, I just wanted to confirm that what she got was a mid-spec 15". Core Duo, no C2D. Everything is what you would expect.


Now my NEW dilema:

I leave for Australia a week from Friday. Say they come out with the Merom MBP on Monday, and I could actually get my hands on one. Should I wait until I return from vacation to pick one up? I am a little worried that if something were to go wrong I would not be able to return it within the 14 day return period.

 

[Clydefrog]

The new logo is shiny not matt? Eeew, quite a distraction! And no HD panel?

you mean the logo "Macbook Pro" or the apple logo

 

[AppleKrate]

I got a 404 error when I tried to view the site I guess they're trying to keep attention away from the issue.

http://discussions.apple.com
Macbook Random Shutdowns: Update
Posted: Sep 14, 2006 1:06 PM
Finally, after 3 weeks(sent in on the 25 of august), apple finally got in the new spec parts. it has been on hold until today. I will be getting it back tommorow or the day after. Ill be posting back if this fix dosent work. I pray to god that it does. Ill also be posting my log also.

Re: Macbook Random Shutdowns: Update
Posted: Sep 14, 2006 1:19 PM in response to: xsuite
mine's still on hold. i'm predicting a wait time about the same length of time as yours, so if it happens earlier than that, i may be pleasantly surprised, although ill have my fingers crossed and prepared for the worst.

etc...

So, Apple has shipped hundreds of thousands of Macbooks and MBPs, and 30 people have posted stating that they have had random shutdown and related problems, and now you are suggesting that Apple has a major QC problem? The repair rate for laptops made by all manufacturers is 15-20%, and Apple is among the more reliable laptop manufacturers, according to Consumer Reports.

yes I like macs too, but i believe there is some sticky problem with (more than 30) macbooks randomly shutting down, and that it's design-related not quality control, so i thought that maybe this could impact on availablity while they fix it? that sort of policy would keep them among the more reliable laptop manufacturers... as i thought i was suggesting in response to the original poster's moan about apple being slow compared to dell

ps others have speculated that such prudence could also explain the 'delayed' MBP upgrade.

have a nice day

 

[AaronPM]

MB vs MBP

Just a general question, from a long term INTEL user (Windows and Various Flavs of LINUX/UNIX) waiting to switch over to play with Apple (my wife likes the look of them, think they are pretty )

Why is there a need to have two labels? MB and MBP. Surely just having different specificatoins on varying sized laptops is that is needed? MBP's are not exclusively bought by Professionals and MB's are not just bought by Non-Professionals as such. Its all about what Specs suits the individual. So why the need for the differentating lables?

Just a thought is all.

 

[generik]

you mean the logo "Macbook Pro" or the apple logo

I have no idea, I was just quoting an earlier post. I'd prefer a matt Macbook Pro tho.

 

[HecubusPro]

I have no idea, I was just quoting an earlier post. I'd prefer a matt Macbook Pro tho.

Definitely matte. I tried out both at the apple store and I just do not dig the glossy screen at all. It's nice if the room you're in is fairly dark, but even dim light sources can cause severe glares, IMO.

 

[MacinDoc]

Or don't bother, because we know for sure that it's a Core Duo and not a Core 2 Duo.

You're probably right, I'm just describing how it could be checked. However keep in mind that Apple has previously shipped upgraded models silently before their announcement, as shipping channels were being cleared of the last of the old models. Remember the update of the Mac Mini to 1.5 GHz? Some ppl received 1.5 GHz models even though it said 1.42 GHz on the box. That was the first indication that new models were in the works.

I think this is Apple cleaning out the last of its 1st generation MBP inventory. Apple is giving some ppl machines with better specs because these are the only remaining machines. It might even discourage returns of the old machines (You'd like to return your 2.16 GHz Core Duo MacBook Pro to get one of the Core2 Duo models? That's no problem, but since you ordered the 2 GHz model originally, that's the model of Core2 that you will get. Oh, and that HD that we upgraded for you to 100 GB? Yes, that will go back to the one you ordered, the 80 GB. So, do you still want to return the MacBook Pro you already have for the slower model with the smaller HD that you originally ordered?).

yes I like macs too, but i believe there is some sticky problem with (more than 30) macbooks randomly shutting down, and that it's design-related not quality control, so i thought that maybe this could impact on availablity while they fix it? that sort of policy would keep them among the more reliable laptop manufacturers... as i thought i was suggesting in response to the original poster's moan about apple being slow compared to dell

ps others have speculated that such prudence could also explain the 'delayed' MBP upgrade.

have a nice day

Wasn't intending to flame you, my apologies if it came out that way. I'm sure it's quite a few more than 30, I'm just pointing out that whatever the number is, it is not enough to suggest a major QC problem. The number of MBs and MBPs with this problem is far less than the number without it, by several orders of magnitude. Ppl on these forums see a few posts about a problem, and before you know it, they're talking as if every single product made by Apple shares the same problem, and once again, Apple is "doomed".

I would be very pleased if Apple delayed the introduction of new models if it allowed the company to minimize any problems seen in the new models, rather than rush to market with an inferior product.

 

[Multimedia]

I'm With Imperium On Expecting Major Design Change In MacBook Pro

Or they're doing more to the MBP than just dropping merom chips into it. Why would they sex up the Macbook relative to the iBook, and leave the MBP permanently in a Powerbook case? The current MBP screams "transitional" to me. Or at least to my patient optimistic side that wants to see a broader upgrade.. on my desk.

I'm With you, Imperium, On Expecting Major Design Change In MacBook Pro. It needs to be cooler and it needs to have that fast swap HD bay like the MB has. I would like black anodized aluminum to be the new enclosure color. But I don't mind if they leave it the way it is on that front. I find it hard to believe we will have to wait beyond next Monday September 25th for this to happen with MBP. I think waiting until Halloween for MacBooks is fair as well.

Seems like Apple would get stretched too thin on the Merom supply line if they move any faster toward the full mobile C2D transition. I see mini by Thanksgiving as well albeit at the same speeds. But it would be very cool if Apple offered a 2GHz upgrade option on the mini then 'cause that's where the 4MB L2 cache kicks in.

One of my co-workers got his Dell E1505 C2D 2.00 GHz yesterday...

That's such a sad story. Please convey our sympathies and sadness to his crash filled future.

 

[treblah]

The new logo is shiny not matt? Eeew, quite a distraction! And no HD panel?

The only thing at the bottom of the LCD, are the words 'MacBook Pro'. And they have always been shiny.

Actually, "mirror finish" describes it better than shiny.

 

[nodabs]

That's such a sad story. Please convey our sympathies and sadness to his crash filled future.

Just a little fun story about his first day of C2D with Dell...

• Try to re-install Windows XP Pro to get rid of all the stupid pre-installed software that comes on the machine.
• After reformatting the harddrive and installing the OS...
• Find out Dell shipped the wrong CD to reinstall the drivers.
• Computer can't recognize the Ethernet port w/o the correct driver so can't get online to download the driver
• Speak with off-shore customer support until 2AM that will not listen to a word you have to say
• Finally get the computer running about 5 hours later

 

[toomuchstereo]

It's amazing how many people in this forum are complete retards.

 

[nevir]

It's amazing how many people in this forum are complete retards.

you probably shouldn't restrict that to any one forum. That's a pretty generalizable statement

 

[ToastCabbit]

apologies

I apologize, everyone. It seems my friend did get a Core Duo, not C2D. And apparently all the "MacBook Pro" logos are already mirror-like shiny. And upon further investigation, her sales representative was an ill-informed (aren't they always) CompUSA guy. Sorry to get everyone's hopes up. I really thought I was onto something! Alas!

 

[treblah]

I apologize, everyone. It seems my friend did get a Core Duo, not C2D. And apparently all the "MacBook Pro" logos are already mirror-like shiny. And upon further investigation, her sales representative was an ill-informed (aren't they always) CompUSA guy. Sorry to get everyone's hopes up. I really thought I was onto something! Alas!

That sounds about right. There's no way CompUSA would get one before any Apple Store.

 

[HecubusPro]

Just a little fun story about his first day of C2D with Dell...

• Try to re-install Windows XP Pro to get rid of all the stupid pre-installed software that comes on the machine.
• After reformatting the harddrive and installing the OS...
• Find out Dell shipped the wrong CD to reinstall the drivers.
• Computer can't recognize the Ethernet port w/o the correct driver so can't get online to download the driver
• Speak with off-shore customer support until 2AM that will not listen to a word you have to say
• Finally get the computer running about 5 hours later

Thank you for the rundown of your (your friends?) experience with the Dell. While I would personally never buy a Dell, not because I'm a PC hater but because the quality of Dells is seriously questionable, it's interesting to read a 1-2-3 of why so many people shouldn't have to deal with this kind of incompetence in typically awful customer support, mega-corporations gone amuck, and just plain bad overall design from hardware to software.

I have PC's, and I have enjoyed my PC's because I built them myself. I knew exactly what I was putting into it and what I was putting on it--and that goes for malicious code and malware. The reason most people experience so many problems with PC's is because they just don't know how to protect themselves. They allow virus's and spyware to take over their system with little defense because they don't know how to educate themselves on how to protect their computers, or they just don't care--probably a combination of both.

I've had PC's forever (as well as macs.) I've never had to take any of them in for service. If I had a problem I fixed it myself, but I rarely had serious issues because I knew how to take care of my systems.

When you buy pre-made PC's you just don't know what you're getting. The service you've described is just pathetic. Add to that all the problems that come easily to PC's and I just wonder why people don't switch to macs. The only thing I can figure is simple ignorance. For ease of use, you just can't beat apple computers. I just don't know why the average user hasn't picked up on this yet? Apple's lack of proper advertising? Microsofts enourmous marketing machine and cash? Status quo? What?

Anyway, got off target a little. Core 2 Duo MBP's Monday!!!!

 

[phebus]

I can't wait any longer!!!!

My old PB 550 is simply dying. The screen freezes or flickers every time the laptop moves (unsteady table). I really need a new PB as soons as possible for my work and school. I'm trying to hold on as much as I can for the C2D, but if APPLE doesn't upgrade on the 25th, I'll probably buy a used laptop in the meantime (waste of money). I can't wait any longer!!!!

I just had to share this little drama...