I do have a Mac, but I try to target trends in technology that make upgrading worth the cost. For me, quad-core is the next logical step, as are a few other technological improvements, e.g., 6GB/sec SATA, Zero Power ODD, Wireless Display, Hydrive, SSDs, USB 3, LightPeak. I don't need everything, but the only real compelling upgrade since the purchase of my BlackBook 2.4GHz C2D has been better battery life (not worth an upgrade IMO because the 4hrs I get is currently sufficient) and better screens, but I need to purchase the MBP 15" for the matte. Thus I am waiting for a technological jump before upgrading and the Huron River platform offers a number of new features in which I am interested.
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MacBook Pro Targeted 2.8GHz Core i7 Processors Due Later This Year
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I do have a Mac, but I try to target trends in technology that make upgrading worth the cost. For me, quad-core is the next logical step, as are a few other technological improvements, e.g., 6GB/sec SATA, Zero Power ODD, Wireless Display, Hydrive, SSDs, USB 3, LightPeak. I don't need everything, but the only real compelling upgrade since the purchase of my BlackBook 2.4GHz C2D has been better battery life (not worth an upgrade IMO because the 4hrs I get is currently sufficient) and better screens, but I need to purchase the MBP 15" for the matte. Thus I am waiting for a technological jump before upgrading and the Huron River platform offers a number of new features in which I am interested.
I highly doubt this. With all of the focus on the new iPhone, OS 4, and possibly (hopefully) a Mac Pro and Air update, there is little room for yet another update. Not to mention the fact that the MBP update was less than 2 months ago.
I doubt we'll see anything anytime soon. The iX series is pretty much a stop gap measure until Sandy Bridge comes out which is a more important refresh than what we've seen so far - I'd say hang in there with the MacBook Pro you have and wait till there is a refresh at the end of this year when Sandy Bridge is released and nVidia refresh their chipset to include Fermi based GPU's which are OpenGL 4.0 compatible.
Apple could always leave the ODD in the 13" Macbook and remove it for the 13" Macbook Pro while upping the specs. That way it will keep the handfull of ODD fans happy while at the same time allowing the 13" MBP to move forward.
I have a Unibody 13" Macbook and I'm looking to replace it with a new 13" MBP but after nearly two years the machine i have and the machine i want are almost identical with only the GPU making any real difference which is ridiculous for a forward thinking company such as Apple.
Drop the ODD and push the MBP forward i say.
I have a Unibody 13" Macbook and I'm looking to replace it with a new 13" MBP but after nearly two years the machine i have and the machine i want are almost identical with only the GPU making any real difference which is ridiculous for a forward thinking company such as Apple.
Drop the ODD and push the MBP forward i say.
How often do they take that laptop anywhere? Just curious. I know my mother is considering a laptop for her next machine but I'm pretty sure she'd just keep it on the desk at home and never take it anywhere if she got it. Buy a portable and leave it stationary - seems ironic, huh?!
There is a great solution - a docking station with an external drive attached. I'm sure older people would appreciate a lighter, smaller unit to lug around (if they do indeed lug it around ever).
The MBA and iPad are showing us that lots of us can get by without those drives in every unit. Leave them in some, but provide more options without. It's time.
Maybe mid 2011 if we're lucky but more likely for the fall 2011 or June 2012 update. Apple has been slow in adopting new HW.
http://www.electronista.com/articles/10/02/12/huron.river.to.replace.calpella.next.year/
Again, why not purchase the MBAir if you want a 13" form factor without the ODD?
This is why I think waiting for the Huron River platform makes sense unless you really need a laptop.
Keep the ODD and push the MBP forward, I say. If Sony can do it, then so can Apple.
That is fine with me. I was figuring a Fall 2011 release anyway. Since that is when my AppleCare expires, it works out just fine for me.
That is interesting. I thought that the quad-core Core i7 720QM would be faster thanks to the 4 cores, even though their clock speed is slower than the dual core Core i7 620M.
The revised Core i7 x40QM is going to have much more aggressive Turbo Boost speeds to reduce the disparity between Clarksfield and Arrandale in single/dual core operations.
My dad takes his MBP to the office and on business trips. My mom would like one to use around the house, e.g., in the living room. Since they do not even have access to high-speed (1.5 miles out of town), it is easier to update my dad's MBP than my mom's HP tower at my apartment.
My parents do want an ODD built-in. They do not want to lug around an external ODD and do not want to plug it in while on their laps. I often work with my dad and his MBP in the living room and we have at times used the ODD there.
The iPad does not run the same software as Apple's computers, so it is not an option for my parents who need to run business software programs. The iPad is still an accessory/peripheral computing device, IMO, not a full-blown primary computer.
I would rather see Apple revise and expand the MBA line than remove ODDs from the MBP line.
I'd give Arrandale a little over a year compared to the 7 months Core Duo had.
http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/column/kaigai/20100428_364200.html
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I love the idea of the MBA, but RAM, disk, chip speed, battery life, etc. all pale in comparison to the MBP 13" which is only 1.5lbs heavier. I bought a MacBook 13" (before they offered the Pro and before the MBA) because of the form factor - it's a nice form factor, though, would be made much nicer if they just removed the optical drive. Why not do that, and offer it as MBA?? I'd go for that one!
If we could have our cake and eat it too, that would be great. I suppose we are close in our ideas. I like the 13" MBP with the ODD and you like it without the ODD. In my world, I would like to see Apple add discrete graphics to the 13" MBP (like Sony models) and then if the MBA was given the specs of the current MBP, I guess we would both get our wish.
Very generous
What good is the speed, if you only have the interface of a camping chair, combined with the looks of an HP laptop.
No simcard slot, no DVI, no eSATA, no Xpresscard slot.
Why is this thing called Pro ?
I guess, it is good enough for brokers...
What good is the speed, if you only have the interface of a camping chair, combined with the looks of an HP laptop.
No simcard slot, no DVI, no eSATA, no Xpresscard slot.
Why is this thing called Pro ?
I guess, it is good enough for brokers...
New update rumor again
What the heck?!?! new update rumor again >_> I was getting prepared to buy the Macbook Pro 15" Core i7, now I don't know what to do. Buy it now or wait?
// It's true that there will always be a new Macbook Pro which will be better, but what do you think? Is it a good time to buy now or wait?
What the heck?!?! new update rumor again >_> I was getting prepared to buy the Macbook Pro 15" Core i7, now I don't know what to do. Buy it now or wait?// It's true that there will always be a new Macbook Pro which will be better, but what do you think? Is it a good time to buy now or wait?
// It's true that there will always be a new Macbook Pro which will be better, but what do you think? Is it a good time to buy now or wait?
You may want to check out the problems with the new MBPs freezing. Personally, I would give Apple some time to work out their graphic switching function, though there is software that lets you decide whether to use the integrated or discrete graphics only.
love this, but.... they need to add Blu-Ray to the MBP line as an option!! and build in BD reading for base models. there are BD capable superdrives, and even cheap ones that dont burn discs.
time for apple to support Blu-Ray
time for apple to support Blu-Ray
I think you can do that right now without depending on Apple to do it for you. Look up OptiBay.
One thing I'm surprised Apple hasn't done is start selling their software on SD cards or USB dongles. Their way of loading software across a network from a computer with an ODD seems a little hokey. And Apple's software on flash memory would be cheaper than buying an external ODD unless you buy a lot of software.
I think Apple's solution is the iPad. If my remaining grandparents needed a computer, that's what I would buy them. My grandparents just don't use anything other than email and web. But I think Apple should offer a built-in 3G modem on their notebooks, I think they missed the boat on the Air when they didn't offer it with one.
You can remove the optical drive yourself if you don't want it. An ODD-less 13" MBP wouldn't be anything like an Air. The Air is the way it is because of the lower power, smaller parts, using bigger batter & bigger hard drive means that it has to be considerably thicker.
Netbooks are also 'quite' popular with the mum/dad/kid sector, most owners seem to be happy with a USB stick instead of an ODD.
13"?
Oh wow then what about the 13"? Crap, i bought it on saturday and now its gonna get updated.... =( is it? or is the so-called "love" only going to the 15" and 17" MBPs?
Oh wow then what about the 13"? Crap, i bought it on saturday and now its gonna get updated.... =( is it? or is the so-called "love" only going to the 15" and 17" MBPs?
For those complaining of the weight of the ODD
For those complaining about the weight of their unused ODDs open your case, remove the power, data cables and mounting screws, then pull out the drive and seal everything back up. Seriously. While this isn't the ideal solution (voided warranty, imbalances weight) it will make it lighter, costs nothing and can is more effective than waiting for apple to offer this.
For those complaining about the weight of their unused ODDs open your case, remove the power, data cables and mounting screws, then pull out the drive and seal everything back up. Seriously. While this isn't the ideal solution (voided warranty, imbalances weight) it will make it lighter, costs nothing and can is more effective than waiting for apple to offer this.
The Mac mini still has an optical drive by default. You need to order the special server model if you want it replaced with a second hard drive.
But yeah, get rid of the optical drives in the notebooks.
Even if I could remove it myself, it'd have a great big gaping space in it - what a waste, and all the circuitry to support it would be in it still. Why not design it without one? That's a more elegant solution.
And then it'd certainly be a lot closer to what the MBA is today, but with more power, better battery life, better graphics, more RAM. It could be scaled back to fit the Air form, but I'd like to see what they can do without compromising all of the extra stuff the MBP offers.
Just because the Air is this way today, doesn't mean it has to stay that way for its entire life (however long or short that may be). Might be nice to see two models of the MBA. Or a 13" MBP-Air edition. I'd buy that one.