MacBook Pro Update Due for Launch as Soon as Tomorrow?

[heyho]

Hello everyone,

Good news! For the first time in months the supplies of the whole macbook pro line in official Danish apple store are dwindling. Currently the shipping time of all macbook pro models is 2 days. See for yourself at: http://apple.dk/store.

This is very unusual and has not happened before. Keep your fingers crossed!

Update:

Sorry guys, it seems that all stock in Danish apple store is set for at least 2 days shipping time. It's most probably due to Easter holidays.

 

[Richard Kimball]

I've been dropping by the local Best Buy (no Apple Store within a hundred miles) and the guys there keep insisting that the next upgrade to the MBP will simply be faster processors, bigger HD, and possibly higher base memory, and that the major upgrade was the change last June.
So I checked the Dell site for a comparably specced Windows machine in their Latitude series, and found that the MBP wasn't that far out of line, especially considering that you had to add blue tooth, camera, and get the highest end to get the Core 2 Duo in a comparable speed.
In addition to this, the casing and build quality on the Mac, well everyone knows the difference.
So, I'm wondering two things. First, are we setting ourselves up for a fall, with speculations of 3D, Blu-Ray, I-5 or I-7 chips, and all the other stuff? Are the newer processors going to provide that much of a speed boost when there are concerns about the built in graphics processors, power consumption, etc.?
Second, on the Mac Rumors site, the buying guide is based on previous cycles. Is Apple looking at their computer lineup as being a more mature product line now, that doesn't need to be refreshed twice a year?
The displays and Tower Pro systems are a different situation, as they're getting really long in the tooth.
I know they're Best Buy guys, but do they have a valid point that this will be an incremental upgrade to the MBP line rather than a major overhaul?

 

[kolax]

I've been dropping by the local Best Buy (no Apple Store within a hundred miles) and the guys there keep insisting that the next upgrade to the MBP will simply be faster processors, bigger HD, and possibly higher base memory, and that the major upgrade was the change last June.
So I checked the Dell site for a comparably specced Windows machine in their Latitude series, and found that the MBP wasn't that far out of line, especially considering that you had to add blue tooth, camera, and get the highest end to get the Core 2 Duo in a comparable speed.
In addition to this, the casing and build quality on the Mac, well everyone knows the difference.
So, I'm wondering two things. First, are we setting ourselves up for a fall, with speculations of 3D, Blu-Ray, I-5 or I-7 chips, and all the other stuff? Are the newer processors going to provide that much of a speed boost when there are concerns about the built in graphics processors, power consumption, etc.?
Second, on the Mac Rumors site, the buying guide is based on previous cycles. Is Apple looking at their computer lineup as being a more mature product line now, that doesn't need to be refreshed twice a year?
The displays and Tower Pro systems are a different situation, as they're getting really long in the tooth.
I know they're Best Buy guys, but do they have a valid point that this will be an incremental upgrade to the MBP line rather than a major overhaul?

We'll most likely see Core i5 and Core i7 chips, nVidia Optimus, higher spec SSD's as BTO, 4GB and 8GB RAM.

I doubt we'll see any improvements to the screen (same resolution), and we'll still have USB 2.0.

 

[echosystm]

I've been dropping by the local Best Buy (no Apple Store within a hundred miles) and the guys there keep insisting that the next upgrade to the MBP will simply be faster processors, bigger HD, and possibly higher base memory, and that the major upgrade was the change last June.

"The next upgrade to the MBP will simply be faster processors, bigger HD, and possible higher base memory". SIMPLY? What else were you expecting? Most people would be satisfied with just updated processors.

So I checked the Dell site for a comparably specced Windows machine in their Latitude series, and found that the MBP wasn't that far out of line, especially considering that you had to add blue tooth, camera, and get the highest end to get the Core 2 Duo in a comparable speed.

Dude... Are you living on the same planet as the rest of us?

Apple 15" MacBook Pro @ $1,699.00
15" screen
2.53GHz Core2Duo CPU
4GB DDR2 memory
250GB 5,400RPM hard drive
256MB GeForce 9400 video card
Bluetooth and webcam built in

Dell Vostro 3500 @ $968.00
15" screen
2.40-2.93GHz i5 CPU
4GB DDR3 memory
500GB 7,200RPM hard drive
512MB GeForce 310M video card
Bluetooth and webcam built in

The Dell is ~45% cheaper than the MacBook and would absolutely wipe the floor with it. It seems like you are just looking to hear what you want to hear. The current line of MacBooks are terrible value, there is absolutely no doubt about it.

 

[ValSalva]

The current line of MacBooks are terrible value, there is absolutely no doubt about it.

10 months into its lifecycle this is unfortunately true.

 

[Richard Kimball]

"The next upgrade to the MBP will simply be faster processors, bigger HD, and possible higher base memory". SIMPLY? What else were you expecting? Most people would be satisfied with just updated processors.



Dude... Are you living on the same planet as the rest of us?

Probably not, but that's never stopped me from posting before.

Apple 15" MacBook Pro @ $1,699.00
15" screen
2.53GHz Core2Duo CPU
4GB DDR2 memory
250GB 5,400RPM hard drive
256MB GeForce 9400 video card
Bluetooth and webcam built in

Dell Vostro 3500 @ $968.00
15" screen
2.40-2.93GHz i5 CPU
4GB DDR3 memory
500GB 7,200RPM hard drive
512MB GeForce 310M video card
Bluetooth and webcam built in

The Dell is ~45% cheaper than the MacBook and would absolutely wipe the floor with it. It seems like you are just looking to hear what you want to hear. The current line of MacBooks are terrible value, there is absolutely no doubt about it.

Yeah, and I've posted before that I'm waiting for the next iteration before pulling the trigger. I hadn't seen the one you posted, but was looking at a Latitude with a 13" screen. The Macbook Pro was still higher, but with comparable specs. My point is that I think this will be an incremental upgrade as opposed to a massive upgrade. Worth the wait? Yep. Expecting a massive change? Nope.

 

[kwikdeth]

the new macbook pros have to be i5/i7 models, unless apple plans on just adjusting pricing for particular speeds. there are simply no more core2 models to choose from anymore, the T9900 (3.06ghz) is the end of the line for core2 chips, there are no faster ones to use in the model line.

i just hope they dont get rid of the expresscard on the 17" model... then there really is no more basis to call them "pro" machines what so ever.

 

[AttilaTheHun]

the new macbook pros have to be i5/i7 models, unless apple plans on just adjusting pricing for particular speeds. there are simply no more core2 models to choose from anymore, the T9900 (3.06ghz) is the end of the line for core2 chips, there are no faster ones to use in the model line.

i just hope they dont get rid of the expresscard on the 17" model... then there really is no more basis to call them "pro" machines what so ever.

ya you are wright the duo 2 is more the 3 years history, I am saving the mony too for the MBP 17" has to be i7 (not going to pick up my reserved ipad)

 

[SuperCooper]

You wanna see something comparable to the MBP 13" @ $1,299 [CDN]

Check this out;

ASUS K42JR-A1
Intel Core i5-430M 2.26GHz
14" HD LED
4GB DDR3 1066MHz
500GB 7,200RPM HDD
ATI RADEON 5470 1GB [VGA+HDMI Out]
802.11bgn, Gb LAN, Webcam, Card Reader
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
$969.00 CDN [CanadaComputers.com]

I had to compare a dell to this at work, and could only select form their business models. It was $1,153 more. Why? Cause Dell charges loads when you configure past the base model. Everything you add is almost 2x what you could actually buy it for at a computer shop.

Apple really needs to get this refresh done. There are way too many viable alternatives as far as the performance vs the price.

 

[Richard Kimball]

You wanna see something comparable to the MBP 13" @ $1,299 [CDN]

Check this out;

ASUS K42JR-A1
Intel Core i5-430M 2.26GHz
14" HD LED
4GB DDR3 1066MHz
500GB 7,200RPM HDD
ATI RADEON 5470 1GB [VGA+HDMI Out]
802.11bgn, Gb LAN, Webcam, Card Reader
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
$969.00 CDN [CanadaComputers.com]

I had to compare a dell to this at work, and could only select form their business models. It was $1,153 more. Why? Cause Dell charges loads when you configure past the base model. Everything you add is almost 2x what you could actually buy it for at a computer shop.

Apple really needs to get this refresh done. There are way too many viable alternatives as far as the performance vs the price.

I agree. That's why I'm waiting until the update, even if it's still a couple of months out.
There are two reasons I haven't pulled the trigger on a Windows laptop. First, all my software is Mac now, and second, I've used Windows and Windows machines before, and don't trust the build quality. If my daughter's iMac (G4) goes out, I'm handing my current desktop down to her and getting the MBP with a second monitor whether there's an update or not.
As it stands, I'll wait until the update unless I'm forced into a decision.

 

[Jamuke]

I decided a about a month ago that my next laptop was going to be a mac but this wait is really making me reconsider. My laptops on its last legs and if there not updated by the time it dies I'm probably going to go for a laptop from Sony.

I can't believe apple can get away with treating its customers this way and yet people will defend it to the death, so I guess they must be doing something right.

 

[bjewett]

First, to the issue the MBP is overpriced - yes, no doubt.

That the new ones should have i* chips - I certainly hope so. That said, for most of what I need to do, the GPU is more important (discrete graphics please!).

Personally, I want anti-glare glass in a 13" ... asking too much? (if so, I'll keep waiting) Apple ... there is no try!

I'd argue further that the Mac/PC competition is even tougher on Apple now, because Windows 7 doesn't suck (or does so less than Vista). It looks (from brief experience with it) to be decent. So now that the iPad has hit the floor, let's have some new MBPs worthy of the name - but I'd still rather call them Powerbooks.

 

[Jamuke]

they really shouldn't be allowed to call it the 'new' macbook pro family!

 

[merc2605]

Sorry, but nobody will believe you. The timeframe makes a little sense but only a little and NO RESELLER would be told in advance. NONE, NADA, ZILCH!

That's not technically true, I work for an Apple reseller and, for example, I know the exact date the iPad will be released around Europe. They do occasionally tell us stuff

I haven't heard anything about a Macbook Pro update. What I can tell you is that we have absolutely no 15" MBPs or 17" MBPs in stock at the reseller I work for, and there are only a handful of 13" MBPs in stock. That only ever happens when an update is due very soon. I would guess before the end of April....

 

[Gan.CH]

That's not technically true, I work for an Apple reseller and, for example, I know the exact date the iPad will be released around Europe. They do occasionally tell us stuff

I haven't heard anything about a Macbook Pro update. What I can tell you is that we have absolutely no 15" MBPs or 17" MBPs in stock at the reseller I work for, and there are only a handful of 13" MBPs in stock. That only ever happens when an update is due very soon. I would guess before the end of April....

I totally agree. I'm also in the Apple business and have the release date for my country which has to be confirmed by London....but clearly nothing about MacBook Pro and the stock is very low.

As I'm not in the US I wonder if the "Backordered" and "Not Available for Shipping" status (for both MBP 15" & 17") I found on bestbuy indicate something...

Can the US guys give me their opinion about these facts?

 

[9mmCensor]

Could the update spell incoming ssd drives. The X25-V series is offering great performance at a price point where a secondary internal drive would be great.

 

[peepboon]

That's not technically true, I work for an Apple reseller and, for example, I know the exact date the iPad will be released around Europe. They do occasionally tell us stuff

I haven't heard anything about a Macbook Pro update. What I can tell you is that we have absolutely no 15" MBPs or 17" MBPs in stock at the reseller I work for, and there are only a handful of 13" MBPs in stock. That only ever happens when an update is due very soon. I would guess before the end of April....

Hope your right buddy!

 

[GTWH]

That's not technically true, I work for an Apple reseller and, for example, I know the exact date the iPad will be released around Europe. They do occasionally tell us stuff

I haven't heard anything about a Macbook Pro update. What I can tell you is that we have absolutely no 15" MBPs or 17" MBPs in stock at the reseller I work for, and there are only a handful of 13" MBPs in stock. That only ever happens when an update is due very soon. I would guess before the end of April....

An update sometime in the 4 weeks makes sense, unless there is a technical issue with new models. There are a number of resellers in the UK who have none or hardly any MBPs in stock. The Apple store still seems to have stock but then I think if there is a shortage they will keep the stock for themselves at the expense of fulfilling reseller orders.

 

[Eric S.]

Actually, even though I agree that it's a tech nightmare, I suspect this is precisely what we've been waiting on and is the reason we don't have Arrandale laptops right now. The first rumor stories of this nature started coming out in January, and the fact that we're now in April without a refresh is about the most compelling indicator to me that it probably had some validity to it. Contrary to what I'd think reading through people's bitching on the forums, Apple isn't sitting with stock of Arrandale MBPs in boxes with their thumbs up their asses. There's a good reason for the delay, and since they could have shipped Arrandale machines *before* the iPad announcement, I suspect the holdup is indeed technological.

Well I agree that Apple isn't sitting on boxes of new MBPs; that would be nuts. But I think that Apple has demonstrated pretty well in the past that they have trouble delivering more than one major new product at the same time. Yes there are technical challenges with Arrandale as with any new processor rev, but nothing Apple couldn't have worked out in the months that Arrandale samples must have been available to them. I think the reason for the delay has more to do with iPad development. It isn't just that MBPs could have been released earlier; it's that substantial resources in development, testing, documentation, production and marketing have been consumed for months by the iPad.

Can you explain why Apple would not want this integrated GPU? I mean, why not use this and add a better GPU that you can switch to if desired?

No I can't. It seems to me that if they don't want to use the integrated GPU, they would include a dedicated GPU and just not use it. I don't see the point in thinking that Apple would want Intel to design a custom Arrandale for them. When Intel designed a custom C2D for the MBA it was because of case size limitations. I don't see a parallel here.

How bad is this integrated GPU?

Apparently worse than the Nvidia 9400.

If I'm on battery and mostly Keynote or Pages documents will I notice a difference?

Couldn't say.

 

[retroneo]

the new macbook pros have to be i5/i7 models, unless apple plans on just adjusting pricing for particular speeds. there are simply no more core2 models to choose from anymore

In the current design there isn't enough room to add a GPU in the 13 inch models. I'd expect Core 2 Duo to continue in these, boosting clock speed to 2.53GHz.

The 9400M + Core 2 Duo is a 2 chip solution.
Intel currently doesn't offer a 2 chip solution that doesn't seriously sacrifice graphics performance.

 

[Luv FL CA TX]

I need a MBP asap. I took back my hp laptop so I can buy one. When the new MBP comes out I'm heading to the mall in Delaware so i can get it tax free. I'm Canadian and well you know Canada, Overprice Central. Anybody have an idea when its coming out?

 

[thesasquatch]

Reading all of your posts on here makes me a little bit puzzled..

DO ANY OF YOU EVEN REALIZE THAT APPLE IS LARGELY SUCCESSFUL DUE TO IT'S MARKETING TACTICS?! (and very well-developed designs obviously)

Anyone who follows Apple (even on a loose basis) over the past several years knows that APPLE WOULD NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS RELEASE TWO DIFFERENT PRODUCTS SIMULTANEOUSLY!
Let me give you a quick scenario.. If Apple were to keep it's release date of April 3rd (today) for the iPad but two weeks ago or a month ago or even within the next few weeks announce a new MBP product line-up and announce that it would be released shortly, WHAT THE **** DO ALL OF YOU THINK WOULD HAPPEN TO THE SALES OF THE iPad? Are you up in the night? I, too, wish they would release a new MBP as I've decided for the first time to go with a MBP rather than [sub-par/poorly designed] Windows-based laptop by HP, Dell, Sony, Acer, etc.
But I'd put a hard amount of money on the fact that there is NO question in Steve Jobs / marketing teams minds that they'll wait for the iPad sales to escalate to a fairly healthy level before going ahead with an announcement like a new MBP.

...not bashing on any of you here because I understand the ants in the pants feeling you're having but let's be a bit realistic here.

-Cheers.

 

[wolololo]

What about the macbook pro and air, both launched in June 2009?

 

[BettBee]

So 9to5's retraction is because a bunch of you guys were giving him fraudulent tips?

That's shameful, I thought we were better than that.

Right, us merry band of fellow wayfarers, all following a common code of conduct . . . oops, I mean random band of strangers united only by an interest in a particular brand of equipment

I was just talking about this site with someone and speculating on what makes someone make up a rumor - about anybody or anything. Does it make them feel important or powerful? In some cases even help them financially in some odd way? It's weird.

 

[Blue Sun]

I need a MBP asap. I took back my hp laptop so I can buy one. When the new MBP comes out I'm heading to the mall in Delaware so i can get it tax free. I'm Canadian and well you know Canada, Overprice Central. Anybody have an idea when its coming out?

You think Canada is overpriced?

Have a look at the Aussie dollar compared to the US dollar, then look at the Apple store.

Aussies (and kiwi's for that matter) are being murdered.