Just ordered a MacBook Pro.

[underblu]

It will always be better.

If Apple ever takes a step backward then I'd say they're in trouble

Next gen MBPs will always be better in terms of raw performance. Whether that incremental performance boost is useful depends on what you are using your MBP for.

I think for 13" MBP users the coming upgrade will be more significant because the integrated graphics engine on ivybridge is a big step up and we will likely see a Quadcore 13" MBP.

The 15" and 17" quadcore MBP with their discrete graphics will only see a small boost in performance with IB.

And again, the current MBP are as good as it gets for laptop computers. For myself, I don't think there is anything the new 15" or 17" MBP could offer that would make me want to upgrade. Don't get me wrong, if the new MBPs come out with 15 hour battery life and reduced their current weight by 50% I would be tempted. But USB3, a slight performance boost from IB and a slightly more MBAish form factor is not enough to make me want to upgrade. YMMV

Enjoy your MBP and don't worry about the next upgrade because there will always be a next one,

 

[Nielsenius]

No the october update was not a "proper" one so to speak the real updates will most likely come out next week.

Why do you say next week? Just curious.

 

[macbook pro i5]

Why do you say next week? Just curious.

just trying to make the point that the real updates haven't come out yet

 

[BustedVisaCard]

What made you pick the Pro vs the Air?

I was looking at the Pro, and liked the size much better (Air seems too thin?) But what sold me was the SSD and higher res screen.

I know I could have got the SSD and all that, but in the end would have cost more, and I'd still be left with a screen that seemed to be quite dim compared.

 

[Southernboyj]

What made you pick the Pro vs the Air?

I was looking at the Pro, and liked the size much better (Air seems too thin?) But what sold me was the SSD and higher res screen.

I know I could have got the SSD and all that, but in the end would have cost more, and I'd still be left with a screen that seemed to be quite dim compared.

I honestly did a lot of debating on this, but what made me decide the MBP over MBA is the fact it is cheaper, and upgradeable.

The MBA is nice but everything is soldered onto the logic board so you can't even upgrade RAM.

I plan on upgrading my RAM to 8 Gigs, adding a 128Gig SSD, and moving the 500Gb HDD to the Optical drive. Since I bought a Late 2011 refurb. Everything should end up costing right about $1,300 including the SSD/Ram.

With MBP upgraded to SSD, it is faster than the MBA since it uses a low-voltage, and much lower clock speed CPU.

 

[sidney87crosby]

Just did the same upgrade to my MBP

I used a ocz vertex 4 128 gb ssd drive and installed it in the hdd location. I then move the hdd to the optical bay. It wasn't hard, but I almost stripped a screw which would not have been good, so be careful with that.

I would suggest vertex 4, it has improved my speed in my mbp an insane amount, it boots up within 5 seconds!!

I picked the vertex 4 up off tigerdirect for 139.99 - it was on sale.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2267400&CatId=5298


As for the optibay drive I used, I used OWC opti-bay data doubler. I purchased that off Amazon for 64.99.

http://www.amazon.com/Doubler-Optic...W0N2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337173579&sr=8-1

Everything works perfect. I did a clean install of lion on the ssd and transfered my movies/music/documents to the hdd. I also upgraded the RAM to 16gb. This is the new and improved mbp.

 

[Southernboyj]

I used a ocz vertex 4 128 gb ssd drive and installed it in the hdd location. I then move the hdd to the optical bay. It wasn't hard, but I almost stripped a screw which would not have been good, so be careful with that.

I would suggest vertex 4, it has improved my speed in my mbp an insane amount, it boots up within 5 seconds!!

I picked the vertex 4 up off tigerdirect for 139.99 - it was on sale.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2267400&CatId=5298


As for the optibay drive I used, I used OWC opti-bay data doubler. I purchased that off Amazon for 64.99.

http://www.amazon.com/Doubler-Optic...W0N2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337173579&sr=8-1

Everything works perfect. I did a clean install of lion on the ssd and transfered my movies/music/documents to the hdd. I also upgraded the RAM to 16gb. This is the new and improved mbp.

Thanks for the tips! What made you choose the Vertex 4 over the Crucial M4?
I haven't looked at benchmarks for it but I did look for Vertex 3 vs. Crucial M4 and the M4 was a bit higher.

 

[mikeo007]

Next gen MBPs will always be better in terms of raw performance. Whether that incremental performance boost is useful depends on what you are using your MBP for.

I think for 13" MBP users the coming upgrade will be more significant because the integrated graphics engine on ivybridge is a big step up and we will likely see a Quadcore 13" MBP.

The 15" and 17" quadcore MBP with their discrete graphics will only see a small boost in performance with IB.

And again, the current MBP are as good as it gets for laptop computers. For myself, I don't think there is anything the new 15" or 17" MBP could offer that would make me want to upgrade. Don't get me wrong, if the new MBPs come out with 15 hour battery life and reduced their current weight by 50% I would be tempted. But USB3, a slight performance boost from IB and a slightly more MBAish form factor is not enough to make me want to upgrade. YMMV

Enjoy your MBP and don't worry about the next upgrade because there will always be a next one,

That's generally true when you're looking at the big picture. However, on the 13" models from the last 2 years, if you break down the specs, this doesn't hold true.

The GPU in The 2011 13" was actually a downgrade from the 2010 version. According to Apple's spiel from when they released the 2010 MacBook pro, graphics performance has a much larger impact on everyday computing than incremental CPU upgrades. Their hands were tied with the 2011 model though, so they basically had to eat their words.

 

[sidney87crosby]

Thanks for the tips! What made you choose the Vertex 4 over the Crucial M4?
I haven't looked at benchmarks for it but I did look for Vertex 3 vs. Crucial M4 and the M4 was a bit higher.

http://thessdreview.com/our-reviews...fw-comparison-ssd-steroids-for-your-vertex-4/

I just found this article, but I liked the 5 year warranty it comes with. Also, the vertex 3 was a solid SSD, and this being the upgrade for it was a good decision. The only thing I might of changed was going for the higher capacticty vertex, but that can be down the road. I don' think you can go wrong with either the M4 or Vertex 4 IMO.

 

[Queen6]

Congratulations, the Late 2011 machines are well proven, highly reliable well developed systems and the quad cores offer tremendous performance for a the physical size of the systems.

The new updated machines will come sooner or later and they will no doubt bring some teething problems, just search back through this very forum and you will see; from screen`s, GPU`s trackpad`s whining CPU`s, deforming chassis, and the list goes on. Of course Apple is much better at getting it right straight out the box these days, however I am sure we will see the usual early protests once the new MBP launches

I tend to go for the end line Mac`s especially the portables, Apple have in general four years or so to refine the machines and their production technique, coincidentally I have never had a Mac fail or let me down so there maybe some method in the madness.

Personally I will let Apple rid all the gremlins, then I will look again, unless I am forced due to work circumstance to move. As pricing in Malaysia for a Mac at present is very attractive, working out a little less than US pricing before tax, then I may pull the trigger earlier. Saving 1K$ over EU pricing would equally be well worth a quick trip back to KL for a long weekend too

PowerBook + Classic MBP + Unibody + 2012


The Apple PowerBook i7 doesn't that have a nice ring to it

 

[6-0 Prolene]

This talk of no ethernet port on the new models actually makes me WANT a 2011. Nothing like traveling and learning that the hotel has all wired internet access. I'm sure Apple will be more than happy to sell another thunderbolt dongle for that, though.

 

[khollister]

This talk of no ethernet port on the new models actually makes me WANT a 2011. Nothing like traveling and learning that the hotel has all wired internet access. I'm sure Apple will be more than happy to sell another thunderbolt dongle for that, though.

Yeah, I've actually been thinking about snagging a 15" refurb for a few reasons:

• Ethernet port
• Firewire port - I have several FW drives and a Apogee Duet FW-only audio interface
• option to replace the optical with a 2nd SSD
• Ability to use my own SSD (<$$) than having to go with a SSD-only model that may or may not be user upgradable
• I'm 57 and actually like the "low res" screens. My wife's 13" MBA is a little too cramped for me

Of course I could be missing out on retina screen, a bit better performance & lighter weight. I could be looking at a higher price too.

The weight should matter to me, but I don't carry my laptop around on my shoulder that much. It is more of a desktop substitute when I travel in the RV and for a few applications that I need portability for at home (Audyssey Pro audio room correction SW & ChromaPure TV calibration software).

I have a Core2Duo 13" now, and the i7 + 16 GB RAM would be a huge help for Photoshop.