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MacBook Pro Updates Imminent (Really), Part Numbers Appear

I bought a MBP because I saw machines that had been through the wringer and were still working (probably had plenty of replacement parts and such but still hanging in there). The problem lies when the case craps out on you. You can get replacement parts (screens, motherboards, keyboards, etc.) but when the case cracks and the frame shifts, that means the whole thing is in the crapper.

It's a matter of use. I'm a power user who uses his computer 8+ hours a day and carries it with him everywhere. Yes, netbooks and other machines also see a lot of long-time mobile use, but they also aren't doing rendering, graphics, and serious mobile use with desktop equivalent hardware. (they also don't cost $2-$3K either) Heat is the enemy of plastic cases, and causes them to become more brittle over time. While this won't destroy a 10" netbook or 12-14" notebook, any 17" + computer will definitely feel the pain and start cracking in heavy mobile use after about 2 years. Once the case starts cracking the Motherboard gets deformed and there's no fixing that. Yes, you could replace the case and motherboard, but at that point its a new computer.

So I chose a 17" MBP. It has the display I want, dedicated (if somewhat aging) graphics, a decent (if somewhat aging) processor, DVD, and best of all an Aluminum Case that wont crack and disintegrate.

We'll see if this machine holds up for two years of use.

As for the new MBPs, I wish that Apple would put out a quad-core processor based MBP. There aren't any mobile QC i7 processors, though. And there won't be until late 2011/early 2012. Mostly because they are trying to grow their IGP and chipsets. On-die IGP has a significant performance boost over chipset based IGP. Intel's wagering that they'll be able to squeeze enough out of their current IGP architecture by moving it onto the processor that they'll be able to compete with IGP from Nvidia and AMD. AMD is planning on doing on-die IGP as well as a part of their Fusion system. However, the main difference is that AMD Fusion is designed to work with ATI dedicated graphics using cross-fire. Intel IGP does nothing in an environment with another vendor's dedicated graphics.

Personally I think Intel's trying to compete just enough with Nvidia and give them enough pain so that they're ripe for a take-over or buyout. Nvidia had a massive failure with their GTX 100 series in comparison to ATI's offerings. NVidia's stutter gave ATI enough time to ramp up the 4XXX series enough to compete directly with the top of the line Nvidia offerings. Then NVidia released their GTX 2XX series, and ATI countered with the 4XXX X2 cards and slapped them in the face with the 5XXX series while they were trying to develop Tesla into a viable gaming platform.

That's not to say ATI/AMD doesn't have problems. AMD processors run hot. Put three ATI high-end graphics cards into a PC and you have a substitute for a space heater. And a fully loaded ATI/AMD tower usually needs its own 15amp circuit in the house. Add a single 100 watt lightbulb to the equation and you'll be tripping your breaker.

Intel graphics just doesn't register with what AMD/ATI and NVidia are capable of. Intel knows it. So I'm thinking that Intel is going to try to buy out NVidia for their IGP and dedicated graphics. Then they'll be on a par with what AMD/ATI is trying to do. There's lots of regulatory red-tape standing in the way though - because NVidia and Intel have lots of overlap in the IGP and Chipset markets. ATI and AMD didn't have this problem. ATI made graphics cards and IGP components. AMD made processors and some chipsets.

So far my MBP has worked flawlessly. I can edit graphics, do renders, program, and basically do my job. It has wonderful battery life - 4-5 hours full out using the 9600GT, and it doesn't get too hot. (I don't know of any DTR notebook that has a battery life of over 2 hours.) The display is a work of art (bright and matte) and I have no problems doing complex work on the machine. Its half the weight of my previous notebooks (I did mention I use DTR/Workstation class notebooks right?) but still does the job. In short, it just works.

Things I do miss are the fact it doesn't have a blu-ray drive. (I don't believe in entrusting my data in somebody elses' cloud) No e-sata, and no usb3. Odds are this won't matter when lightpeak comes about, as I'm sure there will be plenty of companies producing backwards compatible products such as USB3 interfaces, e-sata/sata enclosures and other things, but these aren't killers, as my MBP has an express card slot, which can give me access to these things anyway.


I have a feeling that when it comes time to replace it, I'll be buying another mac.
 
MBPi7 said:
Anyone think Apple will reduce the cost of their BTO RAM at this refresh?
Click to expand...

*shakes magic eight ball* Um... No.

Accessories are huge margin items for Apple. And they are in the business to make money. They'll likely move their ram to a higher speed and keep or increase the current cost. 8gb will likely cost between $600-$800 even though you'll probably be able to find ram in the wild of similar specification at $400-$500. Just be careful with getting other ram - apple has been known to make their motherboards and firmware rather finicky.
 
price? meh

ouimetnick said:
Terrible response. Compaq is a cheap brand. With dell, they offer CHEAP $499-$699 plastic junk laptops with Celeron and Pentium chips. Apple's notebooks start ate $999. I can configure a dell at $999 with a Core i5 and its more powerful. I can get a Latitude E6410 with an i7 and other nice features for under $1499. Thats WAY more powerful than a MBP at $1499. It sounds like i'm trolling, but you can't compare a $600 laptop to a $999 one. The fanboys will tell me to get a dell then. But I think i want an iPad instead. I have a computer at home, and on the go, I could use iPad. I use a computer mainly for media (music, movies) web browsing (facebook macrumors and other sites) YouTube and iWork. An iPad can do all that on a nice display
Click to expand...

well, my comment was not intended to be a price comparison. personally i don't even look at price, but i suppose some do. the point was that Apple's product range does not span as "low end" as PC makers, so their processors serving the entry level are certainly adequate, even now. and of course you can configure a PC with much more power than a high-end mac, but i don't think Mac buyers really care about that.

That $1499 Dell you mention won't have a magsafe power connector, aluminum unibody, glass trackpad, etc etc. Not even in the same league.

computers are a commodity nowdays, just like a toaster or hair dryer - i get one when i need one. hair dryers can cost $10 or $100 - not always based on power, but on styling, build quality, etc. If you're really concerned about the fastest possible processor, memory, etc, you shouldn't get a Mac. And really, the i5/i7 is an incremental improvement, not a revolution - just really not that big of a deal.
 
Ok, let's not forget. The last update to the macbooks came on a Monday last year.

Here is looking at tomorrow!
 
Macbook Air

What about the Air? It is way overdue for an update, but apparently doesn't appear in the list.
 
Re the 13"

Logging in after ignoring "Waiting for Arrandale" for the last few months and managing to convince myself that it was impossible for Apple to release the new MBPs until April.

I stand by my prediction in Feb (CBA to find the thread) that the 13" will be delayed because of packaging issues. To summarize:
  1. Can't have an integrated GOOD GPU in the 13" due to intel/nvidia legal issue
  2. Can't package an extra GPU due to space
  3. iX chips have lame GFX abilities.

Apple are perfectionists, they'd rather drop the price of a C2D than create the wrong expectations around an underperforming i5/7 13" Macbook "Pro".

Don't expect a 13" any time soon - that's my opinion.

EDIT: I expect them to max out the C2D on the 13"... see later comment.
 
I will be beyond angry if they do not update or drop the 13" line. That is the price range which perfectly suits what I want to do, and what I need to do. The 15" is a few hundred dollars to high, and unless there is something spectacular about this update, they are not worth the extra money. The metal case is a major reason why I want the MBP over the MB just due to its overall strength compared to plastic. The C2D is outdated and needs to be updated in order for me to place an order though. I can't justify spending $1400 for a laptop when it still has the same processor as my current laptop which is 2 years old.
 
Jof said:
Logging in after ignoring "Waiting for Arrandale" for the last few months and managing to convince myself that it was impossible for Apple to release the new MBPs until April.

I stand by my prediction in Feb (CBA to find the thread) that the 13" will be delayed because of packaging issues. To summarize:
  1. Can't have an integrated GOOD GPU in the 13" due to intel/nvidia legal issue
  2. Can't package an extra GPU due to space
  3. iX chips have lame GFX abilities.

Apple are perfectionists, they'd rather drop the price of a C2D than create the wrong expectations around an underperforming i5/7 13" Macbook "Pro".

Don't expect a 13" any time soon - that's my opinion.
Click to expand...

IF they do infact drop the price on the MBP 13" with the C2D then I may still purchase it. The price drop would need to be fairly decent sized though
 
freeflow47 said:
I will be beyond angry if they do not update or drop the 13" line.
Click to expand...

Drop it? Absolutely not. But move to Arrandale? I can't see it happening before summer. It's not really Apple's "fault" in the sense they didn't want this to happen, but it's my expectation that they will deal with it by upping the C2D base CPUs for the 13" as high as possible (e.g. to 3Ghz if poss).

I've not checked my facts on that - i.e. I didn't double-check what the existing specs are on Apple.

I share your frustration though; I need to buy a couple of 13" for my company :/
 
neilp4453 said:
Why update a line that no one wants?
Click to expand...

Ouch, what a provocative comment. Thanks for calling me "no one". Are you basing this statement on evidence or is it pure speculation? About 20-30% of my colleagues use Air's. I know many people including myself and family who never use an optical drive outside home, where an external drive might as well be connected. Without the need for a mobile optical drive, there's no need for a Macbook Pro (apart from the slightly better specs).

But really, if you can provide me with data showing that nobody wants the Air, i.e. that less than, say, 5-10% of Apple laptops sold are Airs, that would be greatly appreciated...:)
 
macbook123 said:
Ouch, what a provocative comment. Thanks for calling me "no one". Are you basing this statement on evidence or is it pure speculation? About 20-30% of my colleagues use Air's. I know many people including myself and family who never use an optical drive outside home, where an external drive might as well be connected. Without the need for a mobile optical drive, there's no need for a Macbook Pro (apart from the slightly better specs).

But really, if you can provide me with data showing that nobody wants the Air, i.e. that less than, say, 5-10% of Apple laptops sold are Airs, that would be greatly appreciated...:)
Click to expand...

Macbook Airs are the lowest selling Macbooks, I wouldn't be surprised if they end up discontinuing them.

They've moved onto the Ipad for serious portability.
 
I missed a few pages of replies, so may have missed this discussion...

Will this be an "announcement" or just a quiet "the store goes down, comes up with new MBPs" type event? What do you think? There's been no press release, no "gather for big news" type invite, so it would almost have to be a simple refresh, right? If it were bigger (new case design, huge leap in specs, touch screen (yeah, right, but just borrowing from another poster), etc.), then Jobs would almost have to make an announcement.

So my bet is on a quiet bump in the processor and maybe some other specs, but nothing spectacular.
 
macbook123 said:
Ouch, what a provocative comment. Thanks for calling me "no one". Are you basing this statement on evidence or is it pure speculation? About 20-30% of my colleagues use Air's.
Click to expand...

I think the need for an Air will disappear, but not this year and not with iX about. Hard to second-guess Apple here, but it wouldn't be beyond them to make a iPad-like play in the mobile professional market. There have been rumours about Apple looking at very large touch screens, and we've already heard about smaller iPads. I bet they are at least looking at the options.
 
MrCrowbar said:
Discontinued and replaced by the iPad pro?
Who wants a 13" laptop anyway. :rolleyes:

I'm kinda happy that my 13" MPB (bought in Jun2 2009) is still the current model. 2 more months and it's a year old, yet still not obsolete. :p
Click to expand...

I could not agree more.
 
Tommy Wasabi said:
And so does my wife. She uses it often.

But - going to a 15" - him - might be a bit too big. I have an SSD - and won't have another MBP without one. The 17" is way to big - it would totally freak my wife out.

15" thoughts?

Tommy
Click to expand...

I had a 17, then moved to 13 because I travel often but I am starting to think the 15 is the sweet spot in terms of physical size.
 
So when ever it comes out it'll be available online right away but how long is it usually till its available in stores?
 
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