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No effect of RAM

For anybody keeping track, that's a 6.6% improvement over the previous 2.2Ghz Santa Rosa MacBooks with the stock 1GB RAM. The 9% increase in processor frequency and doubling of RAM gives you a 6.6.% improvement in Geekbench. Right now you can buy a black Santa Rosa MB for $1049 refurb or $1099 on some college campuses. I would say that is the better deal.

I would doubt very much that going from 1 to 2GB of RAM would have any effect on Geekbench benchmarks, it doesn't appear to allocate much memory as far as I can see (at least, it doesn't cause any swapping before/after the test).
 
Intel is aggressively phasing out the older generation 65nm Merom chips over the coming months. As a result, Apple needed to upgrade the MacBooks in the interim to maintain a proper supply.

Does this mean the Mini will, too, get updated soon, or will it continue to languish in Merom-y neglect? If Apple doesn't sell many Minis (as some people claim) then I could see them dragging an upgrade all the way into May...

I'm glad, however, that at least Intel is forcing Apple to keep their technology current. I mean, if Apple's not going to do it, someone has to! ;)

*/me bunkers himself for the barrage of negative comments*

-Clive
 
New battery-techmollegy

Regarding the battery-life on the new MPB, you should notice that the technology has changed from LI-ion to LI-polymer. When compared to the lithium-ion battery, Li-poly has a greater life cycle degradation rate. So it isn't just about how many ours it can run the computer, but also about the lifespan of the battery before it needs to be changed.
 
I ordered a base 15" MBP 2.4Ghz/256M VRAM with 250GB HD and Apple Remote. It's going to be a massive step up from my PowerBook 12" 1GHz from 2003 (which is still working well in Leopard, the last OS it will ever be able to run).

I am fully aware that this is probably the last revision before some major upgrade but then I like this form factor and I can't see how it will massively change (the MBAir doesn't look that different). After 4.5 years, I can't wait to get a hold of the ambient light sensing keyboard too, since I was always denied it on my 12" little Al. But I am not prepared to wait further, nor do I particularly want a rev A product.

I don't get what all the bitching is about in this forum :eek:. Apple finally updated the MBP to pretty much everything we were expecting and you now get more computer for your money, plus newer technology. Nor do I get why people want to swap their MBP rev A or B from 2006 for the latest - no wonder you see little performance boost or worth in an upgrade.

I want my computer to last 5 years like my current 12" PB (which is still going strong). Upgrading now will give me another 5 years of pleasure and hopefully another enormous jump when that comes.

The 2GHz C2D MacBook Pro from late 2006 can't be that slow - like some people claim - and certainly so slow that it is worth upgrading. My G4 12" PB still copes with most tasks, including Photoshop [Elements] and I'm looking at upgrading to a computer that could be anywhere from 4-8 times more powerful.

Originally, when I chose the 12" PB, I couldn't afford to get the 15" PB at all. Now I'm getting the 15" for the same price or less than I paid for the 12" PB all those years ago. No complaints there either.

Compare the MBP and MBA and their specs/technology/price. The MBP is not bad value, and is a good computer. I don't see what most of the whining is for. :)
 
Good Design is Good Business

Good Design is Good Business is something my grandfather used to say and he was something of a retail genius in his day. He definitely wasn't wrong about this statement as shown with the sales of products he introduced over the course of his lifetime.

Anyway, I think I got to thinking after reading some of the complaints about the updated MBP posts here where members think the unit needs to be redesigned and I speak I think primarily about externally now more internally. Internally updates are going to happen according to the development of faster processors and motherboards, SSD's etc. no matter what, but externally,why throw the baby out with the bath water?

This will be my first Mac ever and I know that this particular design has been out for a while now, and everyone knows what it looks like. It is very identifiable as a Apple product as is the ipod. The reason it is identifiable as an Apple product is the inherent creative design of the product, which to me is hard to beat.

It is a very beautiful and very well designed machine in both form and function, and I say this not even owning one right now and still typing on my piece of junk gateway tablet, which I can't wait to sell on ebay!

It's not easy to design something like this, it takes a creative person, or a team a lot time, ingenuity and research to get to the finished product, and obviously it does not happen overnight.

So I guess what I am trying to say is one does not redesign a major work of art every 6 months, every year, a good design lasts a lifetime.

I think some might argue that this is not true in the computer world. I would disagree, the basic design probably can be improved here and there but when you have a winner, a Michelangelo, a da Vinci, a Caravaggio, a Cézanne or a Pollock, it will always be a beautifully well designed work of art, designed and crafted no matter how many years go by.

Personally along with the creative and innovative nature that Apple has always demonstrated, I also like their overall sense of consistency and branding.

I think most companies cater to the whims and desires of a fickle consumer who for the most part, wouldn't know a good design if it bit them in the ass. And Please I'm not talking about those reading this post, anyone who has been with Apple for a while obviously knows a well designed product so please don't be offended by that statement, I am talking about the overall general American public, here, I have to make that distinction here in terms of the overall sense of design.

I'm not saying this particular MBP or for that matter MB design will be here till judgment day, probably they will in a museum of design somewhere, only that whatever design introduced next will probably take some time for the creative team to come up with another Matisse or Picasso and then the other sadly takes the back seat. Perhaps something more along the lines of the Air with a huge SSD, thin, sleek, well designed and also have all the power the current line of laptops have. In time, In time.

Personally I think we live in a far too disposable world that wastes and throws away too much. I'm not going to get into the facts around this, its pointless, its a fact and we need to start doing something about it.

What would be truly innovative of Apple would be to recognize this fact, and start doing something about it. Like making a great looking product in the form of a laptop & desktop model that will be around for a long long time by making it completely upgradeable by the end user, everything from the processor to hard drives. In addition require consumers to return the old parts of the unit as part of a sales incentive for the new component which would then be properly recycled. This would obviously also retain their customer base by giving them this incentive discount.

What a practical idea that would be, just a thought, and I'm really sure there will be those out there that will even find fault with that,
oh well,
can't please everyone,
right?
:cool:
 
I would doubt very much that going from 1 to 2GB of RAM would have any effect on Geekbench benchmarks, it doesn't appear to allocate much memory as far as I can see (at least, it doesn't cause any swapping before/after the test).

But the OS benefits a lot from the extra gig. I'd say it's definitely snappier than the 1GB one I exchanged for it and I'm sure it's not the +200Mhz or the +90GB HDD. :cool:
 
I ordered mine yesterday MBP 15" 2.4 200gig 7200rpm and this morning says shipped. Also I read yesterday people were picking them up at Apple stores already. Thats why I was wondering if anyone knew if the temps went down.

I'm not sure if it makes a difference but it was an Apple Canada rep that I spoke to. I'm now wondering if he was either misinformed or was trying to convince me to buy present MBP inventory.

Joe
 
Are you proposing a thicker MBP with that?

:) Yep, the PS3 certainly is a beast. I hide mine behind my TV...

...but, yes - there are slot loading laptop style drives out there - even writable blu-ray ones, as my link proves (although v-expensive).
 
Who says you're paying for it? They could've afforded to throw it in without increasing the price. I'm still completely happy with my 2.2 Ghz WhiteBook. I use my remote all the time.

ROTFLMAO. Apple's not going to throw it in for free. You're paying for it eventually - it's just a matter of where the cost is hidden.
 
I think the SR models came with 1X1GB. But you might be correct.

My SR BlackBook came with 2x512MB from Apple.


ROTFLMAO. Apple's not going to throw it in for free. You're paying for it eventually - it's just a matter of where the cost is hidden.

The world seems to be keen on cost-cutting now, cutting out the frills and the perks. Just look at those low-cost/no-frills airlines. Though it does seem petty of Apple with it's premium image to leave things out.
 
I ordered a base 15" MBP 2.4Ghz/256M VRAM with 250GB HD and Apple Remote. It's going to be a massive step up from my PowerBook 12" 1GHz from 2003 (which is still working well in Leopard, the last OS it will ever be able to run).

I am fully aware that this is probably the last revision before some major upgrade but then I like this form factor and I can't see how it will massively change (the MBAir doesn't look that different). After 4.5 years, I can't wait to get a hold of the ambient light sensing keyboard too, since I was always denied it on my 12" little Al. But I am not prepared to wait further, nor do I particularly want a rev A product.


The 2GHz C2D MacBook Pro from late 2006 can't be that slow - like some people claim - and certainly so slow that it is worth upgrading. My G4 12" PB still copes with most tasks, including Photoshop [Elements] and I'm looking at upgrading to a computer that could be anywhere from 4-8 times more powerful.

Originally, when I chose the 12" PB, I couldn't afford to get the 15" PB at all. Now I'm getting the 15" for the same price or less than I paid for the 12" PB all those years ago. No complaints there either.

Compare the MBP and MBA and their specs/technology/price. The MBP is not bad value, and is a good computer. I don't see what most of the whining is for. :)

I agree that now is an excellent time to buy -- stable platform, late revision highly-tuned machine. Bear in mind, however, the original MBPs (I own one) tap out at 2 GB RAM max -- that is a limitation, especially for large files in either PS3 or Aperture. So I don't necessarily agree that there is little point in upgrading from a Rev A MBP.

JT
 
Future update.

IMO, im not saying i can predict the future, neither am i saying im the all seeing and all mighty Steve Jobs (BTW it was his B-Day last week, hence the upgrades) all im saying is that apple always has a certain delay when it comes to latest tech. look at Penryn, look at the Sr update, look at the 2.6 bump.

Secondly who ever is saying they will update in june is a real noob, the chipset is coming out/being released in june (correct me if im wrong) hence it will take time to ship, time to assemble, time to advert.

Case Redisign: As some one has mentioned a smaller motherboard does not necesseraly mean a new design, even if it would i can put my hand on fire it will take more then half a year to redesign the MBP.

Conclusion, grab it, apple isn't stupid if they did upgrade and if they didnt skip out on it there has to be a reason, everytime they update the machines they lose some money, the wait will be long, remember all those posts about being waiting since November, well do you want to be part of the next gen of waiters?

Im currently trying to sell my 6 month old MBP for 2000 canadian and im having a hard time because of everyone else whos trying to sell them ><
 
The world seems to be keen on cost-cutting now, cutting out the frills and the perks. Just look at those low-cost/no-frills airlines. Though it does seem petty of Apple with it's premium image to leave things out.
Oh, I don't know... Remember when every iPod came with a dock? And a charger? I'm actually pretty glad I didn't have to pay for those items again when I bought a new unit. And I'm glad I didn't have to throw the old ones out...
 
Bear in mind, however, the original MBPs (I own one) tap out at 2 GB RAM max -- that is a limitation, especially for large files in either PS3 or Aperture. So I don't necessarily agree that there is little point in upgrading from a Rev A MBP.

JT

Exactly and add Parallels with XP or any other simultaneously running virtualized OS and you really need that 4GB memory in your MB, especially at these ridiculously low prices: I just bought 2x2GB DDR2-667 Crucial for ~$65 after $40MIR. :cool:
 
Oh, I don't know... Remember when every iPod came with a dock? And a charger? I'm actually pretty glad I didn't have to pay for those items again when I bought a new unit. And I'm glad I didn't have to throw the old ones out...

Or how about when every Mac came with an external microphone? I used to have a whole collection of those things.
 
Hello Im just a newbie here. Just like the others, Im also a victim of these updates. I got my Macbook last Sunday and 2 days after, they released these changes. Im thinking of having it replaced but Im quite worried about the restocking fee. Is it really that worth it or should I just buy an external drive instead? Please advice.
 
Briefly:These Penryn chips were late, which is why you see a shoddy MBA (not using a penryn), and just another "bump" so late. Santa rosa isn't penryn's true platform just as Merom was limited by Napa (before santa rosa finally replaced it). Montevina is where you will see the huge PERFORMANCE potential of penryn over merom which you all are complaining about a lack thereof today. 2nd round Penryns (remember 1st round was late and limited) will have a higher FSB of 1066 vs 800 combined with the support of DDR3800(vs DDR2-667 SODIMMS), will feed the already bandwidth starved mobile chip. Intel themselves are also using Montenvina as the hardware where they finally re-brand the platform from Centrino to Centrino 2. Centrino is huge and has been out since 01/02. Intel poors a lot of money into it and its marketing and certification. So logically all these notebooks based of this new platform will be special and newly redesigned. Just as how hugely special and different the first Centrino laptops were. This doesnt mean Apple WILL DO this in MBP, but just think logically here..

Also montenvina will support the quad-core penryn coming out, QX9300. Quadcore MBP this summer? If apple doesnt want to be left in the dust, then yes. Dell, hp, gateway, alienware etc. already have quadcore laptops lined up for when Montevina drops in Taipai at CEBit this summer. Hopefully steve isn't greedy!


I think we need to understand the bigger pattern and adjust our sights accordingly. We Mac people aren't used to the high turn-over of PC's. The real watershed-change will come with Nehalem. As with Penryn the processor will come first on the then old Montevina platform and could no doubt then be seen as a poor upgrade. It introduces point-to-point instead of FSB - just like the G5 - and compartmentalizes many CPU functions off chip for easy scalability. That's next year.

Not having an integrated graphics chipset buffers you from the full effects of a platform change, as does having a Mac. For us the twists and turns in the road are less noticeable, because the software has such a longer useful life.

Coming from a traditionally slow update cycle to the almost manic one of Intel, forces a rethink. To do it properly we need to step back, look at the roadmap and make our decisions accordingly. The with Intel's mobile platform, the hardware is refreshed every 6 months with January being the crossover update and June being the major refresh.
 
Hello Im just a newbie here. Just like the others, Im also a victim of these updates. I got my Macbook last Sunday and 2 days after, they released these changes. Im thinking of having it replaced but Im quite worried about the restocking fee. Is it really that worth it or should I just buy an external drive instead? Please advice.

Call the store and see what they say. But act quickly.
 
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