MacBook Pro 2008 "What is next?"

[Digital Skunk]

That is just fanboi speak.

What product in the Apple line is currently exceptional?

Go on, I will wait.

*crickets chirp*

There's your answer.

MacBook Pro ~ Aged old design, impossible to replace hard drives CORRECT! But is there anything else wrong with it?
Mac Pro ~ Lol! Enough said! 2006 technology dude! VERY CORRECT! And can't wait for update.
Macbook ~ What so special about it? "Combo drive"? Huh? What is a combo drive? Do drives even come without "combo" these days? CORRECT! I don't know why Apple wouldn't just put the Super in their low end and stop kidding people.
iMac ~ Freeze of death, the new BSOD, but cooler. MEH Not too many cases where this has happened.
Mac Mini ~ For the same money you can get a PC that plays games better than a MAC PRO. CORRECT! I never really liked the Mac Mini and I honestly think Apple should kill it off and use the spare parts to put some fire in the Apple TV which is another item that should be on this list.

All in all, Apple hasn't been too innovative with their hardware since the iPhone was brought out, and even that device is easily beaten by the competition in most areas sans UI. I am hoping that Apple just gets back on the ball and fix their hardware issues.

 

[djellison]

I can't see Blu-Ray as early as January hitting the MBP but later.
Considering that the prices are rapidly dropping.

Why not - £1100 laptops have them -why shouldn't a £1600 Apple laptop have one?

The real reason is that Apple like to over price their hardware. Divide the price of a Mac laptop by two - and then look how much that would buy you in the PC world...then you hit comparable specs. The current MBP's have the same components, the same spec as a £750 PC laptop. The MB that of a £350 laptop. It's disgraceful to be honest, but we all seem to be happy to do it.

So - this is why I have my 'what apple SHOULD do' and 'what apple will probably do' lists for MacWorld '08. The 'probably do' lis t is a copy and paste from any PC laptop for £7-800, with an £85 OS, a £55 iLife suite...we're getting £950 worth of kit, for £650 more. That's sort of the Apple way.

The strange thing is that with the iPod Classic - they made a product that is genuinely competitive in the market. 80G for £159 is actually good value. Their laptop line, however, is increasingly the opposite, and it makes it impossible for me to recommend Apple to anyone anymore. When the MB and MBP first arrived, they were perhaps 30 - 50% over priced. Now it's more like 100%. That's not a position I feel comfortable trying to defend.

Doug

 

[thechidz]

Why not - £1100 laptops have them -why shouldn't a £1600 Apple laptop have one?

The real reason is that Apple like to over price their hardware. Divide the price of a Mac laptop by two - and then look how much that would buy you in the PC world...then you hit comparable specs. The current MBP's have the same components, the same spec as a £750 PC laptop. The MB that of a £350 laptop. It's disgraceful to be honest, but we all seem to be happy to do it.

So - this is why I have my 'what apple SHOULD do' and 'what apple will probably do' lists for MacWorld '08. The 'probably do' lis t is a copy and paste from any PC laptop for £7-800, with an £85 OS, a £55 iLife suite...we're getting £950 worth of kit, for £650 more. That's sort of the Apple way.


Doug

but.... its a mac

 

[kamiboy]

That is just fanboi speak.

What product in the Apple line is currently exceptional?

Go on, I will wait.

*crickets chirp*

There's your answer.

MacBook Pro ~ Aged old design, impossible to replace hard drives
Mac Pro ~ Lol! Enough said! 2006 technology dude!
Macbook ~ What so special about it? "Combo drive"? Huh? What is a combo drive? Do drives even come without "combo" these days?
iMac ~ Freeze of death, the new BSOD, but cooler.
Mac Mini ~ For the same money you can get a PC that plays games better than a MAC PRO.

#Brrrt!#

The correct answer was all of them. Why? Because they all sport exceptional industrial design. Nothing, nothing else comes even close to being as beautiful and aesthetically pleasing or as well thought through when it comes to every single aspect, from the box it comes in down to the design of the power cord.

When you buy a Mac you don't just pay for the hardware, you pay for the whole package, and what a beautiful package it is.

The reason I switched to a MacBook from a Dell was the design, the reason I stayed was OSX.

 

[Josheua]

Ok guys, this is turning into an "Grrr Apple..." "Yay Apple..." thread. Why not keep it to thoughts about the future of the Macbook Pro line rather than a commentary on whether Apple is innovative enough for you. No need in arguing, we are here to think about what they might do, not argue about what they have been doing.

 

[djellison]

But that's the whole point - the chasm between what Apple could/should do with the MBP, and what they will - is down to Apple's penchant for profit over product.

Doug

 

[Josheua]

Well we all know it is about profit. Apple isn't some warm, huggy bear here to make us all happy. They are a company out to make a profit to boost their stocks for their shareholders.

+ $$$ = Shareholders

That's why I accept what they make as a balance between a good product and something that will still generate a healthy revenue. If they don't, they won't be around and then we really won't be happy.

 

[jameskohn]

Buy it now!

sell that hunk of junk on ebay and go get 'er done!

If you want a really terrific laptop, look at everything out there, decide which one best addresses your needs, and buy it.

If you wait until January, there are three possibilities: 1 - there is no MBP update whatsoever. This is unlikely, but still quite possible. Apple may just wait for the new technologies becoming available in spring/summer '08. In this case, you would be glad you went ahead and made your purchase. 2- small upgrade - speed bump, etc. Still, not enough to make you regret having bought, used, and enjoyed your machine for what will be several months by then. 3 - Major upgrade to MBP line. You'll definitely want this one, but will you want it right away? Or does it make sense to let them get the bugs out of a new product with new technologies before you buy it?

Current MBP's are wonderful machines. People who have them love them, and they are certainly available with all the power one might want. Keep in mind that the folks on these forums, myself included by the way, are somewhat "Apple obsessed". We over analyze all this stuff. Go buy the best machine you can afford and begin enjoying it right away, unless there is something that you want to do on your new machine that the current models can't support.

All that having been said, I think the really big overhaul of the line comes in spring/summer. That's plenty of time for you to enjoy using your new MBP. If you absolutely must have the latest & greatest, a year from now you put this machine on ebay (great resale historically) and buy the new(est) one. Enjoy!

 

[Josheua]

If you want a really terrific laptop, look at everything out there, decide which one best addresses your needs, and buy it.

If you wait until January, there are three possibilities: 1 - there is no MBP update whatsoever. This is unlikely, but still quite possible. Apple may just wait for the new technologies becoming available in spring/summer '08. In this case, you would be glad you went ahead and made your purchase. 2- small upgrade - speed bump, etc. Still, not enough to make you regret having bought, used, and enjoyed your machine for what will be several months by then. 3 - Major upgrade to MBP line. You'll definitely want this one, but will you want it right away? Or does it make sense to let them get the bugs out of a new product with new technologies before you buy it?

Current MBP's are wonderful machines. People who have them love them, and they are certainly available with all the power one might want. Keep in mind that the folks on these forums, myself included by the way, are somewhat "Apple obsessed". We over analyze all this stuff. Go buy the best machine you can afford and begin enjoying it right away, unless there is something that you want to do on your new machine that the current models can't support.

All that having been said, I think the really big overhaul of the line comes in spring/summer. That's plenty of time for you to enjoy using your new MBP. If you absolutely must have the latest & greatest, a year from now you put this machine on ebay (great resale historically) and buy the new(est) one. Enjoy!

Thats the thing though. I don't even own my Mac yet and I am Apple Obsessed. I love apple. Follow everything. Hell, I was advising people at the Apple store in September not to buy an iPod becuase new ones were on the way. I even told and Apple employee at the Apple Store that there were updated options to the MBP online.

Trust me, I am obsessed! Thats why I am worried about the mysterious updates in January despite wanting to get rid of my Vista PC.

 

[cmaier]

Thats the thing though. I don't even own my Mac yet and I am Apple Obsessed. I love apple. Follow everything. Hell, I was advising people at the Apple store in September not to buy an iPod becuase new ones were on the way. I even told and Apple employee at the Apple Store that there were updated options to the MBP online.

Trust me, I am obsessed! Thats why I am worried about the mysterious updates in January despite wanting to get rid of my Vista PC.

I'm a switcher and ordered my MBP a couple weeks ago when the 2.6's came out. Unless they're about to split the trackpad button in half to give us right-click, there's not much they could realistically add in January that I will miss.

The most likely changes are probably penryn (incremental improvement), LED backlighting on the 17" (mixed bag based on quality issues so far), new keyboard style (whatever), slightly improved graphics (would be nice, but heat is already a problem, and I don't think there's much improvement to be had based on what nvidia has on the market right now).

Some people make a big deal about the hard drive maybe becoming accessible, but to me that's not a big deal - when my warranty expires, I may upgrade the hard drive ONCE. Having to spend an extra 20 minutes to remove and replace 30 screws once in the life of the computer doesn't trouble me, and I'm not likely (and few are) to replace their hard drive very often or during the first year or so of ownership.

The most extreme guesses have a complete redesign, possibly with some form of multitouch (which I still think is pretty useless in a notebook formfactor), and I like the look of the MBP just fine.

They may make other incremental improvements (improved cameras, speakers, whatever), but that's the nature of the industry, and something better is always just around the corner.

 

[Josheua]

I was wondering, does anyone know when the Penryn 45nm Core 2 Duo Notebook Processors (specfically the T9500) are planned to ship? I know the announcement date was suppose to be in January but when will these processors be in builder's (specifically Apple) hands. I am pretty sure that if they are in Apple's hands before January 14th (like lets say January 1st or late december) we could see macbook pro's in stors that day. Just wondering if anyone knew though.

 

[jameskohn]

If you're waiting for new MBP, put the $ in Apple stock!

If you are sitting on a few thousand dollars waiting until the Mac World announcements in January, and your are "Apple obsessed, why not consider putting the $$ in Apple stock. It could definitely be viewed as a great buying opportunity right now! Targets are over $200, currently at $162 per share! Just an idea if you can hack any risk involved.

 

[linshiwen]

I'll bite. These threads are fun. I considered starting a brand new one for this list, even though there are 1000 threads like it already. Anyway, the title of the thread is

MacWorld 08 MacBook Pros *Realistic* Fantasy Specs

Im all about the Apple speculation, but I prefer to avoid the completely outlandish and unrealistic predictions like "option for 8GB or memory" and "2x250GB hard drives" or "OLED" As nice as those things would be, they just arent going to happen. So here is my list of fantasies (realistic) for the new Macbook Pros, from likely to unlikely (but realistic!)

Penryn (Ok this one isnt just likely - its 100% The only question is if it will be available Jan. 15, or it will take a couple weeks to ship them in volume)

Higher Capacity HDs, probably something like 200GB on the low end and 320 on the high end

Graphics cards MAYBE 8700M GT, but Apple is rarely on the leading edge for graphics, so I wouldnt be surprised to see the 8600M GT stay for quite a while (unfortunately)

1680x1050 (option, at least) on the 15" This is the single largest reason I have held out upgrading from a first gen macbook to a macbook pro. 1400x900 on a 15" is just sad, and it will not be tolerated.

LED LCD in the 17"

Case redesign. The mechanical latches need to go. They needed to go years ago. The grey bezel that surrounds the whole thing looks outdated. I suspect some kind of move toward black and aluminum to unify the aesthetics of the whole line (as Apple likes to do), but I suspect there would be some kind of surprise associated with a redesign - perhaps completely different materials.

Solid State boot disk. These babies can be pretty small when they arent in an enclosure that forces them to fit in a 2.5" HD slot. I think a 16-32 GB disc for the OS would fit even without a major redesign, and it wouldnt be TOO expensive (like larger capacity SSDs)

Higher res. webcams (2MP) with decent optics

New keyboard (less likely, but still realistic) I love my macbook keyboard, and I would miss it dearly.

New Touch technology in the touchpad (unlikely to be a touchscreen)


What do you think? Ive thought about this way too much.

 

[thechidz]

If you are sitting on a few thousand dollars waiting until the Mac World announcements in January, and your are "Apple obsessed, why not consider putting the $$ in Apple stock. It could definitely be viewed as a great buying opportunity right now! Targets are over $200, currently at $162 per share! Just an idea if you can hack any risk involved.

where do you buy your stock? online?

 

[Oirectine]

What do you think? Ive thought about this way too much.

I find your enthusiasm about the chances for a complete overhaul comforting.

On the other hand, if it's just another speed bump I will blame you for getting my hopes up.

 

[chrmjenkins]

How many times do we have to say it? The 8700M from Nvidia CAN'T be in the new macbook pro. Why? Because it makes so much heat that no one would be able to physically handle it on their lap, and the battery life would suck.

The 8700 is an overclocked 8600 in essence, but stock, Apple UNDERCLOCKS the 8600, so no way no how you're going to see the 8700. The only prayer we have is if Nvidia has some 65nm 25W TDP part ready in time for launch.

I was wondering, does anyone know when the Penryn 45nm Core 2 Duo Notebook Processors (specfically the T9500) are planned to ship? I know the announcement date was suppose to be in January but when will these processors be in builder's (specifically Apple) hands. I am pretty sure that if they are in Apple's hands before January 14th (like lets say January 1st or late december) we could see macbook pro's in stors that day. Just wondering if anyone knew though.

If they are serious about launching with Penryn in January, they already have test samples and are getting the design finalized right now. They may have a little delay or a slow start due to supply ramping up, but we'll likely see it in January.

 

[Josheua]

If they are serious about launching with Penryn in January, they already have test samples and are getting the design finalized right now. They may have a little delay or a slow start due to supply ramping up, but we'll likely see it in January.

So I guess the consensus is wait despite the fact I am ready to eat my dell notebook in order to take its evil from the world ::sigh:: I guess come january I will near sprint to the Apple store, burst through the doors and scream "MACBOOK PRO! NOW!" Thats what I get for trying to be patient.

 

[zioxide]

So I guess the consensus is wait despite the fact I am ready to eat my dell notebook in order to take its evil from the world ::sigh:: I guess come january I will near sprint to the Apple store, burst through the doors and scream "MACBOOK PRO! NOW!" Thats what I get for trying to be patient.

Just buy it. Waiting is stupid. Penryn is going to give only like a 5-10% performance boost.

 

[chrmjenkins]

Just buy it. Waiting is stupid. Penryn is going to give only like a 5-10% performance boost.

Right, but you're also going to get increased battery life all else constant. It's something worth waiting 2 months for IMO. You also get to see if they do anything new with the design and fix their LED screen supply issues.

 

[Squonk]

Right, but you're also going to get increased battery life all else constant. It's something worth waiting 2 months for IMO. You also get to see if they do anything new with the design and fix their LED screen supply issues.

And larger standard hard drive sizes are a good bet! I'm waiting!

 

[linshiwen]

A case redesign is DUE, though there is an excellent argument for the possibility that Apple would wait for the release of Nehelem processors (mid 08?) because it requires different architecture or something like that.

That would make me sad, since Im buying in Jan. no matter what.

 

[Squonk]

A case redesign is DUE, though there is an excellent argument for the possibility that Apple would wait for the release of Nehelem processors (mid 08?) because it requires different architecture or something like that.

That would make me sad, since Im buying in Jan. no matter what.

I hear you. I suspect that any case change would be with Nehelem mid 08. I'm tempted to upgrade my PB (RAM to 2GB, upgrade to Leopard and iLife08) and wait it out for mid 08. It depends how significant the changes are in January.

 

[chrmjenkins]

Mid 08 we will get the Montevina platform. This is basically what the Santa Rosa Refresh was to the MBP. It won't be until late 08 early 09 that you will see Nehalem.

 

[Josheua]

Does everyone expect the keyboard to change in January to the macbook keyboard or is everyone pretty much set that the macbook pro will just get internal updates and the case redesign will come in May-June-July timeframe?

 

[macbookprofan07]

I hear you. I suspect that any case change would be with Nehelem mid 08. I'm tempted to upgrade my PB (RAM to 2GB, upgrade to Leopard and iLife08) and wait it out for mid 08. It depends how significant the changes are in January.

Nehalem's design is similar to the current AMD Processors, with their memory controllers integrated intro the processor instead of the Northbridge, which means faster access to the RAM and eliminates the bottleneck. it will replace the system bus with something called "quickpath" (similar to AMD'S Hypertransport bus). Nehalem will require a totally new socket, motherboard, and chipset upfront at launch which mean "montevina" may not support Nehalem nor is Nehalem backward compatible with past chipsets.