MacBook Pro Supplies Constrained, Steve Jobs Says 'Not to Worry'

[dwd3885]

Thanks for that registering to apple forums to post this hilarious comment. Wow you said apple is a cult? No, that's something that I 've not heard before, how original.

The funny bit is that Balmer has no windows phone and no windows tablet/reader to speak of, as well as failing miserably to sell any zunes, and neither has Michael Dell, nor are they showing record breaking sales like apple.

Apple though has both the products and the sales to show.

wait did i miss something? apple has 90% of the pc market?

 

[Ava's Meeshee]

Tell me how on earth a glass trackpad matters.

It feels great to use? Quite easily one of the many selling points of Apple's current notebook line.

 

[Val-kyrie]

Fear Not!

I'm interpreting this as not to worry, we're not going to be in that business much longer, get an iPad instead, and it scares me .

Fear not - such a thought is FUD. Apple is simply expanding its ecosystem while transforming the concept of computers and computer applications. For now, the iPad complements Macs. I see it as a peripheral device targeted at specific niches of people (e.g., students, teachers, lawyers, doctors), much like the MBA is meant to function as a peripheral device (IMO). Eventually, a tablet might replace a laptop in functionality and power, but that day is a long ways off.

 

[john123]

Oh it's characterisation, how droll. So is "zombies" not an insult either that you are conveniently omitting? I 'd like someone to come up to you and call you a zombie... that would be very polite.

2x the integrated graphics from intel to the 3 year old nvidia igfx? That has got to be the most misinformed comment I 've read here in a long time, forgetting the fact that intel igfx is not open cl enabled which is partly the whole point of snow leopard, they are worse than even the 3 year old nvidia gfx, with some dubious marketing studies trying to make them look at least even in some respects. But 2X, that hilarious...

I've been called worse. I'm not going to whine like a child, though.

Graphics: http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Graphics-Cards-Benchmark-List.844.0.html
Check out specifically the Intel offerings versus the still-current GeForce 9400M (ION). Now rewind the clock 3 years.

Damn those facts!

I should also point out that I'm not claiming those cards are great, good for gaming, etc. Merely that they represent a large improvement over previous much older architecture -- both Intel's and, compared to 3 years ago, anyone's.

It feels great to use? Quite easily one of the many selling points of Apple's current notebook line.

I'm glad you liked it. For the 10 days I owned a unibody, I didn't feel like it made an ounce of difference. I personally prefer the older form factor for a host of reasons that I've discussed in other threads. But to each his own.

 

[Scottsdale]

The "five separate models" argument is kind of silly (it's marketing),



These are mostly cosmetic, not functionality, with the exception of SSD, which you can get elsewhere. Gone are the days of really jet-setting innovation.


Low-rez was obviously a reference to the laptops, and other manufacturers have had Core iX on the market for months now.

He's right -- people will buy it because it has an Apple on the back, and people will wait for the same reason.


He was expressing an opinion about the Apple fan base.


This is an opinion, not a fact. There are threads here where this is debated ad nauseum. Many users, myself included, find the 15" resolution to be paltry for what you spend.


Another way to put it is that Apple insisted on playing hardball and for the sake of pride wouldn't accepted the integrated GPU, which is why we don't have new models right now.

Very nice post, John123. Excellent arguments with all of your points in multiple replies to AppleSuperGeek. I believe it's 100% fair to criticize Apple, and people are here to SHARE their opinions whether everyone likes them or not.

No he wasn't. With the moderators tolerance, once again he was making ad hominems to apple users-fans calling them cultists and zombies and trolling the forums. As an apple user I take offence, and I won' have no petty person under the anononimity and cover that the web affords come here and call me a zombie, because he happens to disagree with my buying decisions.

Like I said, this parody in the moderating here has to stop at some point.

As for the rest of the points I have mostly replied. It's not a silly argument about how many models there are because the original point was that apple doesn't have enough options, and they have ample.

Technology is reaching it's limits, you can't have "jet setting innovation" very often, that said, multi touch glass trackpads and a cutting edge construction plus industry leading battery life (which I forgot in my original post) are pretty advanced, the fact that some may have caught on in a few features (but no one in everything) doesn't say much. And of course they are not merely cosmetic.

You might find the 15" resolution paltry, but there are a lot of users such as myself who find it more than adequate, and would actually not want more ppi. It's a matter of opinion. Apple can't offer all the options. I don't see why when apple offer the highest res, much higher than hd, 27" imac, a best in class and cheapest in class machine, you must complain about the res. of 15" notebook, if you are doing work that requires such high res get the imac, or get the 17" which has very high res. Apple can't be everything to everyone.

Of couse they were playing hardball with the igpu, it's a move by intel that has the anti competitiveness authorities on the back, it's pimping a crappy gfx on systems that are 3 year old and have better igfx at the moment. Apple didn't spend all that time developing open gl to have graphics that don't support it because intel have figured out a nice sly way to sell graphics that no one would otherwise. So apple should have gone with the intel igfx and taken their machines 3 years back....

The poster you're referring to did NOT call you a name. He was simply stating his/her frustration. A lot of people are frustrated. I would be extremely frustrated if I were a MBP buyer too. As others have said, if Apple is going to charge premium prices, the components at least need to be current and relevant. Not many brands get away with calling a C2D CPU, 9400m GPU (a graphics card which was rebranded twice and is "current" since October 2008), and FireWire a "Professional" notebook. It is fair for any user/member here to state the way they think Apple looks at its buyers. And the poster didn't state that he/she isn't a part of this group, as they probably are just like the rest of us.

I make huge compromises to be an Apple product buyer. I am aware of those compromises, as I spend more money for "different" technology influences. I follow the trend and make excuses for Apple too. Oh, well it has a glass multi-touch buttonless trackpad... which costs like $0.10 for a piece of glass. Well it has an illuminated keyboard... which costs like $1 for some LED backlights. Well, it has an aluminum case that looks cool and is industrial... which costs $5 for 3 lb of raw aluminum. We add up all of these different factors and justify the costs to ourselves because a $399 to $699 laptop doesn't have some of these things. Yet the $699 laptop has the same CPU, better GPU w/dedicated graphics RAM, same hard drive, same display and resolution, a case that is more durable and protects the laptop more, and etc.

 

[tarcisiovas]

I bet S. Jobs sometimes reads this forum! Let's give him a scare!

I WILL NEVER BUY A MAC!! NEVA!!

 

[Val-kyrie]

I'm thinking the 2nd week of April at this rate - there is no way Apple will introduce the new MBP within 2 weeks after the end of the 'Back to School' programme, only to see masses of kids rushing to swap their machines. This date would also allow the iPad to gain full publicity prior to its launch. Wonder if there's any bookie to take on bets?

I would not expect an update before June. I don't think the updates will happen before WWDC unless 10.6.3 is linked to the hardware updates. Is this the reason for the constant emphasis on graphics drivers?

 

[ChrisNM]

Everything that has been going on financially for Apple the past few quarters just shows that what most of the whiners are saying here has no basis in reality.

Apple is having record sales. Like it or not, people are buying their "outdated" products in droves. The few disgruntled children on this forum, ready to up and jump ship to Windows 7 over a slow product refresh mean nothing, in the big picture.

Not necessarily ... Apple was in a similar position 30 years ago and then almost went out of business. A few "disgruntled children" can quickly grow to a significant portion of the user base.

I think the latest release of the MBP has taken too long. The current line of Apple MBP's are priced at a $800 to $1,200 premium - that is too much for a lot of people.

If this a one timer because of the iPad launch and some of the issues around graphics, no problem. But if it becomes the norm, there will be an impact.

 

[jnc]

I still consider Mac Book AIR to be a failure. At least in the sense of delivering what a road warrior needs. The missing Ethernet connector being a big part of that.

Because "road warriors" have constant wired access don't they. And lol, Ethernet adapter's in the box.

 

[applesupergeek]

It feels great to use? Quite easily one of the many selling points of Apple's current notebook line.

Buddy, no, you are wrong, it makes no difference, because they say so, and we have to agree with what they are saying otherwise they 'll call us zombies. Of course if Sony had said the glass trackpads before Apple, apple would be using obsolete hardware and would be mocked at, and Sony would be heralded as a great innovator. And if they had even come up with unibody construction and aluminum instead of the mess of screws and plastic that their laptops are, boy, oh boy, they would have tore these forums down.

 

[ts1973]

I would not expect an update before June. I don't think the updates will happen before WWDC unless 10.6.3 is linked to the hardware updates. Is this the reason for the constant emphasis on graphics drivers?

Well, nVidia is launching Fermi on Friday 26th, so there might be a (small) chance Apple will be offering Fermi based products in the Mac Pro lineup, which would require upgraded graphics drivers. Same goes for AMD's "5" series of course.

 

[Val-kyrie]

The next level could simply mean going to the Arradale platform. Or it could mean something more. More being just about anything. What is possible techology wise is pretty open these days.


Actually I think the statement is carefully crafted to fan that speculation.

Steve can mean just about anything with that statement. It is however the perfect time for Apple to take a bigger step and offer up functionality not found on competeing machines. Like it or not Arrandale isn't all that great of a bump, but the right combination of components could be assembled into something impressive.

Oh and hopefully they ditch the opitcal drive on the 13 & 15 inch models.



Dave

Why is everyone so quick to ditch the optical drive? I use mine all the time (rips of my media, backup, etc.) and have no desire to carry around a portable drive. In fact, most troubleshooting software (TTP, DriveGenius, et. al.) must be run from an optical drive.

 

[Shintocam]

Exactly my thought. BR is so dead. It seems that everything is focused on streaming HD content over internet plus flash drives getting cheaper. It is no brainer here

Ach no please.

BR looks much much better than streamed HD - even with a relatively fast connection. I agree that eventually it will come to this - but it is just not ready yet - not to mention - it is a LOT easier for people to pick up a $100 BR drive than to pay $50+ per month for a decent broadband connection. Plus the fact that some areas simply have crappy access to broadband.

No - I think BR will last for a while still.

Oh - and as for BR on computers - for me it is not really about watching movies - my stand alone BR is fine for that. For me it is about being able to archive huge amounts of data. Now watching movies would be nice - as sometimes I want to watch a movie on the road - in a hotel room, a 17 MBP makes a decent sized screen to watch on.

 

[ChrisNM]

The premium only exists for those holding out for an imagined release, every day letting what's available drop in speculative value and footing the opportunity costs of not owning a Macbook Pro as desired (hence the misdirected resentment). The AFAWK speed bump of an Arrandale upgrade is virtually meaningless to those who don't "know" to wait for them.

No, the premium exists between the MBP and the competing products in the marketplace. There are plenty of buyers that have a preference for Apple but are not wed to the idea of absolutely having to have one. if you need a new PC now and you can get a similar model for $1,000 less, some of those people are going to decide not to buy a MBP.

 

[Ava's Meeshee]

Not necessarily ... Apple was in a similar position 30 years ago and then almost went out of business. A few "disgruntled children" can quickly grow to a significant portion of the user base.

I think the latest release of the MBP has taken too long. The current line of Apple MBP's are priced at a $800 to $1,200 premium - that is too much for a lot of people.

If this a one timer because of the iPad launch and some of the issues around graphics, no problem. But if it becomes the norm, there will be an impact.

What do you think Apple owes you in this situation? What authority does anyone have to be disgruntled except at themselves for gambling on holding out for something never promised?

No, the premium exists between the MBP and the competing products in the marketplace. There are plenty of buyers that have a preference for Apple but are not wed to the idea of absolutely having to have one. if you need a new PC now and you can get a similar model for $1,000 less, some of those people are going to decide not to buy a MBP.

By stating it this way you lay out the complete lack of any problem for anyone.

 

[tarcisiovas]

Dude, even Toshiba has released its i7 chips to is laptops. Not that I have something against those, but they aren't cutting edge as Apple's notebooks. If it's really a issue related to lack of chips, let's go to china and help them produce some more.
WHO'S WITH ME?!

 

[Val-kyrie]

The more I read on MacRumors the more I'm inclined to believe new releases could come on the day the iPad is released or a few days ahead of that. It would get more people to come into the stores and look at the iPad hopefully attracting customers who didn't think they'd be interested in it.

It would also say to Mac customers: "We haven't forgotten you." And to the computing world at large it would say: "We have enough resources to do everything."

Wishful thinking.

Very wishful.

 

[azazel-]

No, the premium exists between the MBP and the competing products in the marketplace. There are plenty of buyers that have a preference for Apple but are not wed to the idea of absolutely having to have one. if you need a new PC now and you can get a similar model for $1,000 less, some of those people are going to decide not to buy a MBP.

Quick show of hands; how many people on this forum NEED a new MBP right now? As in, it's absolutely vital they get the uttermost bleeding-edge hardware possible, in a Macbook Pro, otherwise their workflow will come grinding to a halt? This is opposed to...say...a bunch of late teens/early 20-somethings that jerk off to tomshwardware and just want a pretty shiny laptop they can play Crysis on, and have all the time in the world to cry on forums about it.

Lets be honest here. If a person can up and jump platforms that easily...give up a complete software platform, because the processors in a portable notebook line haven't marginally sped up in the past 6 months...they weren't doing anything important. They couldn't be. Or they must just have money and free time falling out their ass.

 

[Val-kyrie]

Exactly my thought. BR is so dead. It seems that everything is focused on streaming HD content over internet plus flash drives getting cheaper. It is no brainer here

I am not a BR fan, and have very few BR movies, but you overstate the availability of access to high-speed internet, even in certain suburbs, and ignore the problems of bandwidth and caps. I don't think BR is dead, yet. Ten years from now, with a national broadband infrastructure, that may be a different story, but for now, BR has plenty of opportunity.

 

[ChrisNM]

What do you think Apple owes you in this situation? What authority does anyone have to be disgruntled except at themselves for gambling on holding out for something never promised?

By stating it this way you lay out the complete lack of any problem for anyone.

What does Apple owe me? Wow, what arrogance. You are the type of person that give Apple fans a bad name.

 

[john123]

This is opposed to...say...a bunch of late teens/early 20-somethings that jerk off to tomshwardware and just want a pretty shiny laptop they can play Crysis on, and have all the time in the world to cry on forums about it.

Hey, cmon.

I'm 30.

 

[applesupergeek]

Very nice post, John123. Excellent arguments with all of your points in multiple replies to AppleSuperGeek. I believe it's 100% fair to criticize Apple, and people are here to SHARE their opinions whether everyone likes them or not.

I never said it wasn't "100% fair to criticise Apple", what isn't fair is to troll the forums calling apple users who post favourable comments about apple's product development and marketing cultists and zombies, amongst other things. I think it's self evident what I am saying.

You are painting a picture that apple is hugely under powering their products wrt the competition. This is to say the least grossly skewed. They are not the average pc maker that wants to get an edge by maxing out on every imaginable spec, as an apple user you should be aware of that. Because their edge comes as much from the software as it does for the hardware. I would be buying macs and OS X had they still be running on G4s, because the software and the eco system is best in class. I don't really care if some other manufacturer outperforms them by 5-10% by running after all the latest tec or undercuts them in price.

There is another issue known as support and reliability, are consumer reports, forester research, and so many watchdogs and independent firms "fanboys" of apple as well that consistently rate them the best (double the points dell had for support) for reliability and customer support.

What about industrial design and style. Does apple have a match there?

Of course everyone can conveniently ignore all that and complain about how they don't X resolution or X% faster cpu or whatever gpu they had in mind, that's what the forums are mostly about anyway sadly, and of course everyone can selectively attack apple. The "disgruntled kids" and the whiners here have little time to say how the 27" imac is a best in class machine in terms of specs, screen resolution, etc. AND PRICE.

But because apple is a few weeks late to update the macbook pros, for good reasons I am sure, all hell breaks loose and we hear about cultists and zombies as if the upgrade would make a leap in quality that would make an unthinkable difference in the users lives, and apple is late to update this mission critical equipment...

I'll take Steve's word instead, "not to worry".

 

[Val-kyrie]

While I agree that the new hardware updates are probably not going to make that much of a difference to most users, I think the bigger issue is from a pricing perspective.

Apple rarely adjusts its prices on existing computers - it puts one release out at one price and the next release out at a new price. The longer the period between releases, the greater the price difference between Apple and competing products.

When the current MBP's were first released, there was a $200 to $400 premium over similarly configured PC's. Now that premium is around $800 to $1,200. So I think a lot of the current complaining is as much about price as it is about hardware.

If Apple is going to take this long between releases they should consider some type of price reductions on their current line as they get closer to the next release date.

If Apple followed your suggestion, you would know when the new models were due to be released. Apple does not want you to know this, so I don't think they will ever reduce their pricing at the end of a cycle. This is the reason for Apple's 14 day return policy.

 

[epo]

October 10, 2010? If we use roman numerals, that'd be all Xs.

Erm "XX-XX-XXXX" in Roman numerals would translate as 20-20-40, your Date would be X-X-MMX

 

[ChrisNM]

Quick show of hands; how many people on this forum NEED a new MBP right now? As in, it's absolutely vital they get the uttermost bleeding-edge hardware possible, in a Macbook Pro, otherwise their workflow will come grinding to a halt? This is opposed to...say...a bunch of late teens/early 20-somethings that jerk off to tomshwardware and just want a pretty shiny laptop they can play Crysis on, and have all the time in the world to cry on forums about it.

Lets be honest here. If a person can up and jump platforms that easily...give up a complete software platform, because the processors in a portable notebook line haven't marginally sped up in the past 6 months...they weren't doing anything important. They couldn't be. Or they must just have money and free time falling out their ass.

Oh look, another arrogant Apple user. What a surprise.