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Macbook Update in progress (2.4Ghz)

I'm still baffled by the pricing and specs of the macbook, and this update does little to change that.

But my current macbook that's nearly three years old still feels like a bargain, apart from a slight CPU and (bigger) GPU bump plus the better battery life they're basically the same machine, but mine was £150 cheaper when I got it, granted after sticking a new 500GB 7200RPM drive in there recently and the 4GB I got after buying it the price difference is negligible.

Also mine has firewire :)

They really should drop the price of the macbook, and give the MBP 13" an i3/i5 and dedicated GPU to really have a proper difference between their consumer and *cough* "Pro" line entry notebooks.
 
niuniu said:
Macbook Pro base model doesn't really deserve it's 'Pro' name anymore imo
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Agreed. It should be an "Aluminum MB" vs. the white "Plastic MB." Apple really overhypes the capability of the 13" MBP as a "PRO" Mac. I think it's a ridiculous joke. What sort of "Pro" computer is labeled "Pro" simply for its aluminum case and single FireWire port?

At a minimum, I would label the 13" MBP over the WhiteBook a "Pro" if the display on the 13" MBP went to 1440x900 over the MB 1280x800, the GPU was discrete ATI/Nvidia over the MB integrated GPU, and there was a significant performance boost from a higher quality CPU in this case 13" MBP should have Core i3 while MB has C2D. All of that would make a "fair" upgrade of the 13" MBP's title to a "PRO" Mac. I believe Pros would need this and I believe it would really make the consumer WhiteBook feel like a consumer Mac in comparison... right now there's no point in comparing as they're damned near identical.

I guess any way we look at it, the new MB is a much nicer computer than the MB from yesterday. Just the 80% GPU performance bump seems worthy of the update, but to add a 10-hour battery really makes the new WhiteBook a nice deal. For $999 or $899 education pricing, the white MB is a pretty good deal for someone who wants a Mac but is on a low budget.
 
This is nice. You can save some $$$ compared to cheapest MPB with similar specs.
But, its about time :apple: to upgrade MacBook Air, it seems even worse now that the cheapest MacBook has more GPU power.
 
BlizzardBomb said:
Just as I thought.



You mean £150?
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Oh ya! Sorry, my brain froze. That’s a case in point of the psychology of a £999 figure, if you're an idiot like me, you can end up committing it to memory as 'about £900'
 
I suppose it's a decent machine with a (slight) CPU, GPU and battery upgrade. A price drop would have been nice, though. Now the easy upgrades in line with these would be bumping the Mac mini to 320m and 2.4/2.66 GHz, giving the Air the 320m, possibly CPU speed increase, and the low-end iMac could do with a 320m too.

The Mac Pro is in dire need of a major refresh, though.
 
At the end of the day, you will get those who complain about the release and you will get those that complain about the release and buy one anyway.

I have to say though that the MB and 13" MBP seem to be getting a lot closer in price.
 
miicah said:
$1326 for the 13inch macbook upgraded to 4gb
$1399 for the base macbook pro.

$70 gets you firewire 800 and an aluminium case. Ridiculous.
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-and backlit keyboard (actually, a really nice feature)
-and SD car slot

...still ridiculous.

As has been already mentioned, I can't imagine that nearly as many people will be buying the whitebook when you can spend a tad more for a nicer machine.
 
If I am not mistaken, I believe the education price for the MacBook has increased by $50.00. I was looking just last night and I am nearly positive the previous model was $899... Now it is $949. Aw well, hopefully the free iPod deal will start up soon!
 
Regardless of what anyone says I think this is a very smart update by apple. The specs of the 13" MBP are set already and with that in mind this update is the most apple could do without stepping on the toes of the MBP 13. I am personally glad I got the MBP because if you make the ram the same and have the education discount of both of them there is only a $50 difference for the backlit keyboard, sd card slot(I really needed this), firewire port, aluminum case and for some who like it battery indicator on the side. For me the choice is a no brainer.

However, if someone just wanted something more entry level and didn't care about the 2gb ram I would definitely recommend the white macbook because it does everything a basic computer user needs and I do like how the white looks. Of course every time I look at my new MBP case I love it more and more. I think these are two good options based on the type of user a person is.
 
So the only difference between the MacBook and entry level MacBook Pro is aluminum body, firewire and more RAM. Is that correct? Although the aluminum is sexy... I'd go for the plastic myself. Much more rugged. I have a 17" MacBook Pro at work and it's nice... but you have to be so careful with it.

edit: Ah... full list of differences in the post above mine (posted at about the same time). I'd say that's a fair number of differences. Backlit keyboard is a big one I think. Don't care much about SD, battery indicator or Firewire.
 
miicah said:
$1326 for the 13inch macbook upgraded to 4gb
$1399 for the base macbook pro.

$70 gets you firewire 800 and an aluminium case. Ridiculous.
Click to expand...

Don't forget backlit keyboard as well. Now is the time to put AppleCare on the MBP 13" 2010 model, especially if the chipset has a significant change this fall/winter. Think replacements down the road.

drcru said:
The Product page is updated in Canada, well sorta.

It says [NEW]Hz : 250GB on the page and theres no "new" sticker over its picture.

Too bad I just ordered a new MBP on Sunday night :( Coulda saved $200.

edit: Price seems to be cheaper ($1049 from $1099) but education pricing is still $999.
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Wife is getting one for her birthday this July. Its my B day this weekend and I'm already thinking about hers. That is love boys & girls.
 
khunsanook said:
As has been already mentioned, I can't imagine that nearly as many people will be buying the whitebook when you can spend a tad more for a nicer machine.
Click to expand...

And so begins the genius that is the great apple upsell, example being if you want (or need) an apple notebook with a matte screen you'll be paying nearly twice the price of the base macbook.

Genius :rolleyes:

/OK I'm just p*ssed because I wouldn't mind a 13" apple notebook with a matte screen, core i5 and dedicated GPU, but I guess that's not going to happen any time soon.
 
Warbrain said:
It's not a bad update...but for 200 more you get a FireWire port, SD slot, and a nice unibody design.
Click to expand...

Wow, and you think that's important? Hmm, most people don't know how to use an SD SLOT and just plugin their cameras, firewire again what's that? :rolleyes:, and that leaves white versus aluminum. $200 for aluminum seems a bit nuts to me.
 
myca said:
I'm still baffled by the pricing and specs of the macbook, and this update does little to change that.

But my current macbook that's nearly three years old still feels like a bargain, apart from a slight CPU and (bigger) GPU bump plus the better battery life they're basically the same machine, but mine was £150 cheaper when I got it, granted after sticking a new 500GB 7200RPM drive in there recently and the 4GB I got after buying it the price difference is negligible.

Also mine has firewire :)

They really should drop the price of the macbook, and give the MBP 13" an i3/i5 and dedicated GPU to really have a proper difference between their consumer and *cough* "Pro" line entry notebooks.
Click to expand...

I've been saying the MBP lineup to ALL include dedicated GPU's for years now ... also the 13" should have a 256MB video card and the 15/17" should have 512MB minimum with 1GB option.
 
WannaGoMac said:
Wow, and you think that's important? Hmm, most people don't know how to use an SD SLOT and just plugin their cameras, firewire again what's that? :rolleyes:, and that leaves white versus aluminum. $200 for aluminum seems a bit nuts to me.
Click to expand...

Mainly it's about the RAM... MBP 4GB standard, 8GB possible.
 
WannaGoMac said:
Wow, and you think that's important? Hmm, most people don't know how to use an SD SLOT and just plugin their cameras, firewire again what's that? :rolleyes:, and that leaves white versus aluminum. $200 for aluminum seems a bit nuts to me.
Click to expand...

Stop making me feel bad, I bought a MBP a day or two before the refresh :mad:. It's a $200 aluminum case and 2GB more RAM lol. At least my friend let me use the "friends and family" thing to buy it.
 
leleframingham said:
a price reduction would be a good news!
upgrading RAM to 4 gb you have a macbook pro 13 entry level
the price difference between plastic and aluminium case is 50$
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Aluminum, backlit keyboard, SD card slot, Firewire 800, battery indicator. Honestly people, this is getting old. There are more than 2 differences....
 
Prom1 said:
I've been saying the MBP lineup to ALL include dedicated GPU's for years now ... also the 13" should have a 256MB video card and the 15/17" should have 512MB minimum with 1GB option.
Click to expand...

Hmm and maybe express card to return on the 15", not to mention a matte option on the 13" too.

Then the Pro lineup would feel a bit more like the old 12"/15"/17" powerbooks or lore. But it'll never happen, as the upsell just keeps the profit margins up. :(

I used to adore my friends 12" Powerbook, at the time it just felt so much better than my 12" G3 iBook, whereas the current 13" MBP really doesn't offer that much more, apart in my case firewire which is essential.
 
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