MacBook Shipments Have Begun?

[Eidorian]

well, there are movies, and reinstall software.....

Oh wow, I can't tell you how many weeks I had my Macbook running Handbrake until I got my quad core.

I don't know what I'd do without my optical drive.

Look at this Dell in Canada. $799 with Blu-Ray. Sure it's a PC, but just to give you an idea on how far out of touch Apple is on their pricing if they want to be competitive.

The 690T chipset isn't a terrible IGP solution either. AVIVO and the option to have DDR2 dedicated RAM for the GPU.

 

[.Chris]

Blu-ray laptops aren't that much more nowadays.

thats still cheep compared to other ones. thats sony to. Sony (computers) are the apple of PCs in my opinion.

Oh wow, I can't tell you how many weeks I had my Macbook running Handbrake until I got my quad core.

I don't know what I'd do without my optical drive.

well thats you. not everyone is like you

 

[Eidorian]

well thats you. not everyone is like you

How would all these users benefit from Handbrake in these wonderful optical driveless Macs that are the RAGE?

 

[125037]

Ughh!

Am I the only one that cares about Blu Ray?! No one else seems to be mentioning it. I will be HIGHLY upset if this computer refresh does not include a blu ray option.

 

[.Chris]

may be not everyone wants them.

You people need to know just because you dont want something doesnt mean others do.

 

[blurredline]

may be not everyone wants them.

You people need to know just because you dont want something doesnt mean others do.

Hence at least including it as a BTO option...

 

[donga]

Am I the only one that cares about Blu Ray?! No one else seems to be mentioning it. I will be HIGHLY upset if this computer refresh does not include a blu ray option.

it would make more sense to have blu ray in the mbp before the mb, thus, the blu ray in the next mb refresh/redesign seems unlikely

 

[Tex-Twil]

http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/15/new-macbooks-already-shipping-hitting-stores-september-23rd/

Am i the only one whos seen this?! its saying they could be in stores by next tuesday!

But they also say

but that doesn't change the fact that all of this information is being reported by lone sources (Citigroup affiliation notwithstanding) with absolutely no evidence to back up their claims. We won't argue that it would be great to see a much-needed update to MacBooks and / or Pros in the very near future, but we don't recommend placing any bets..

By the way, the UK Back to school promo has just started so I doubt that we'could see the update soon.

 

[Eidorian]

By the way, the UK Back to school promo has just started so I doubt that we'could see the update soon.

I have to remind you that Apple has grandfathered in new Mac computer hardware into their Back to School promotions. New iPods are another story...

 

[gadgetgirl85]

This reminds me 06 when we were all waiting for merom and C2D MBPs. I'm not giving in this time!

 

[elmateo487]

Yeah, for $50, an external optical drive is pretty useful to some people. But do all those people use all those functions every time they take their laptop on the road?

Why not have your external optical when you need it, but have the freedom to have a thinner, lighter, more compact MacBook all the time?

I agree. Thats makes complete sense. I do not use the optical drive on the move. Ever. It is loud, and kills battery. When i do use it, it is to rip a cd/dvd/install at home, and that is it...

I HATE CDS. i think they were the worst idea, and now we are all locked into the CD world... and it sucks.

They scratch, break, melt.
They are cumbersome.
They take forever to write data to.
They need to be spun in a drive, drastically reducing battery, and cause a lot of ruckus.

I understand that when they came out, they were extremely useful. Now we are STUCK. APPLE, for heavens sake, kill the CD, but please do it tactfully.

Now, on the contrary. I do favor physical media. I still have yet to download my first song from iTunes. Buying the CD makes so much more sense, and down the road i will be glad I have bought all of my CDs.

 

[.Chris]

there is still backing up data to a CD as well as puting music on a cd and play it in your car...

but yeah the cd needs to go

 

[ecompuplus]

I think bluerays are a must since this will be the next generation of media.

 

[hellomoto4]

Please be true!
I can't wait!

 

[MacBook08]

Anyone else think the "future product transition" is actually the elimination of the "Pro" moniker?

With aluminum, LED, and (presumably) multitouch on the 13" Macbook there is very little difference between the 15" and 17" MBP except for a GPU. And the next iteration of Intel's integrated graphics are pretty good.

I predict there will just be a 13", 15" and 17" Macbook. That simplifies things and makes room for a whole new line, say "Touch", for the new Macbook tablets.

I agree with you. This would simplify things quite a bit. If they keep them separate, the differences between the too wouldn't be that great. Let's hope those price cuts are substantial.

 

[MacBook08]

I think bluerays are a must since this will be the next generation of media.

The next generation is digital media, not optical media. As Apple expands their HD offerings in the iTunes Store, Blu-Ray doesn't sound too important in my opinion.

 

[.Chris]

I think bluerays are a must since this will be the next generation of media.

+1

The next generation is digital media, not optical media. As Apple expands their HD offerings in the iTunes Store, Blu-Ray doesn't sound too important in my opinion.

not everyone wants to buy from the itunes store. Some (and there many out there) want a PHYSICAL copy they can hold in their hands not just look at in the computer screen

if apple doesnt go blu-ray in 2009 they are screwed. Global market is what they need to think of not what they want

plus isnt blu-ray digital media? i mean 1080p = digital

 

[gadgetgirl85]

Please be true!
I can't wait!

Trust me I can't wait either. I can't wait too much longer either as I really need one for uni

 

[captnfun]

Am I the only one that cares about Blu Ray?! No one else seems to be mentioning it. I will be HIGHLY upset if this computer refresh does not include a blu ray option.

I am with you, personally I am hoping for a wide sweeping set of updates. If you look at the buyers guide ALL of the Macs are due for an update, except the iMac, and no data on the Macbook Air (but could be due based on other product update timelines).

I think they could update all of them to include Blu-Ray, and HDMI out, maybe even make a sweeping switch to 16x9 ratio screens. Of course they would bump processors and Hard drives, and hopefully GPU's in the Macbook Pro, Mac Pro, and iMacs.

Also this would be an opportunity to make the Mac Mini the best set top box ever. Blu-ray, maybe Apple buys Elegato and incorporates TV tuner and DVR functionality, and Apple TV rentals, how about a webcam on the top of your flat screen for video conferencing.

All purely speculation, but that's why we're here right?

 

[Clayne]

I expect:
13" Aluminium MacBook
Dual-Layer DVD Drive
ATI Radeon IGP
LED-display
Weighs less than the current MacBook
160GB HD
$999

13" Black Aluminium "High-end" MacBook
Dual-Layed DVD Drive
ATI Radeon IGP
LED-display
Weighs less than the current MacBook
320GB HD
$1299

This would be great. I'd buy the black one is a heartbeat.

 

[kitki83]

AHA So apple thought by having the iPod event people will not catch this little sneak release of the MB muahahahahahaha they have failed once again!!!

 

[gadgetgirl85]

If MBs are released tomorrow/today in how many hours time does the Apple store usually update? I know someone posted the times for me but I live in Australia

 

[Brien]

Maybe we'll luck out and the new MacBook will come in colors like the iPods. They have the market research to see what colors could sell. And like now black would be top of the line like the last post.

I think they'll keep the MacBook Pro. It just makes more sense for their bottom line. They might add another MacBook model but I think there's some things that they will probably want to save for the 'Pro' line (matte screens FW800, backlit keyboards (no, I don't think they'll put them in the MacBook), maybe even SATA and/or Blu-ray).

 

[sammich]

Digital Download Media...720p+...you need to consider the penetration of DSL/Cable/FiOS in the country, otherwise it'll you'll be downloading a movie in the morning to watch at night.

MB Blu-ray before MBP? Does it make much sense to watch Blu-ray video on a 13.3" screen? Cannibalise sales of the MBP? Think about it.

If MBs are released tomorrow/today in how many hours time does the Apple store usually update? I know someone posted the times for me but I live in Australia

If you live on the East Coast, Cupertino is 17 hours behind us.

 

[Bubba Satori]

Look at this Dell in Canada. $799 with Blu-Ray. Sure it's a PC, but just to give you an idea on how far out of touch Apple is on their pricing if they want to be competitive.

This is what Apple was refering to when they were discussing lower margins awhile back. Laptop price have declined about 40% over the last two years. Well, most laptop prices. The OSX tax on Apple laptops is running from about $500 on current Macbooks to around $900 on Macbook Pros compared to equivalently speced pc laptops.