More Apple Notebook Details: Clickable Glass Trackpad, GPUs, Pricing

[jObooW]

Is there somehwhere to get live info once the conference starts? I am getting ready to purchase my first MacBook and I really want to see the real info, not all the rumors and speculation I've been reading over the past few days. While it's fun to speculate, why cry in your beer before you know the complete truth?

http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/14/live-from-apples-spotlight-turns-to-notebooks-event/

For $899.00... plus $199 for AppleCare

And an apple remote to make him say momma

 

[Keeval]

Looking at those pictures something looks really "off" to me. It looks like a 17" keyboard mockup positioned in front of a 20" imac screen, and set up so that when the picture was taken that it looks as if it is one machine.

Also the side view seems to disagree with the supposed legit pictures of the aluminuim casing.

I think it's a fake and someone at Apple has just won the "most plausible fake photo submitted to media" prize.

Not long now until we find out the truth.

 

[Chrispy]

I sure hope the rumors are wrong. If $1299 is going to get me the same amount of RAM and hard disk space, but 400Mhz less processor speed - I'm going to be extremely disappointed.

Apple is going to completely miss out on a huge buyer pool by keeping the pricing at $1299. Like it or not, you can configure a very nice PC laptop for about half that price. Hell, these days you can get a nice Lenovo Thinkpad for that price that will be far more durable. Apple really needed to get a decent machine out there for under 1K in order to grab the entry level market share. Also, 2GB of ram is kind of a joke these days at that price point.

They have to remember - while they are still increasing their market share with the current systems - you can't keep relying on dedicated Apple users forever. The common person is going to be looking out for the best deal. People may be willing to spend a few extra hundred bucks for OS X but they are not going to spend an extra $600.

 

[kampret77]

I am totally new with MBP, but fallen in love with MBP 17'' in the first touch.

I have waited almost 4 months for MBP 17'' and just realize that I must wait for the next 2 months.

It looks expensive for the first time but when you compare other notebook with the same configuration and or the same "thickness", you will find that MBP is better or maybe best.

Still can't find notebook with high res 1920x1600, VGA card, and once again its thickness with the same price.

I am a linux user and a little bit afraid to move to MacOS, I hope fink will be as I expected.

So still 3hours, I hope it is going to be in Germany in the next 2 weeks (15'').

 

[shoebobs]

I'm pretty disappointed. I've been waiting for this update since at least March, but now I see there is going to be no Matte option? I should have just bought the current MBP back in March since I will be buying an old model now and not the new one. Could have been enjoying my first ever Mac for a while.

Those of you who are upset about the glossy only option don't buy the new MBPs. Maybe Apple will get the message

 

[Adjei]

I hate to be the voice of reason here, but how exactly does Gruber confirm or deny anything involving the new MBPs? He's reading the Engadget article and giving his take on their statements in a detailed fashion. This same Engadget article, has the exact same photos as people here were claiming to be fakes not even three hours ago. I actually read that DF piece before it showed up here, and it was just like any other DF article where Gruber speculates on something -- just that, speculation.

Just because he didn't write "I think" before every sentence doesn't mean he has one of the new machines on his desk and can confirm anything he's saying as true. He's just giving his opinion. When writing in an active tone of voice stating opinions as though they are facts is entirely normal. Especially when you're writing about somehthing rather sensational or trying to really grab your reader's attention. His opinions are well based in the way things have been heading, but let's remember John Gruber is a blog writer, a professional blog writer, but still a journalist who is really in the same position as the rest of us when it comes to information. If he was one of those priviaged few journalists who actually gets new hardware pre-release (like David Pogue or Mossburg) he would be under an NDA, just like they always are, and unable to actually give any info as fact before launch.

John Gruber's opinions are very good, and often times correct, but he holds no special source that gives him the ability to actually state whether a rumor is true or not anymore than Kevin Rose or 9to5 Mac can. All that is happening right now is a bunch of Blog writers are posting the same photos and roughly the same rumors, and then pointing at each other as their source of "confirmation". For all you guys know the same "source" is going to every rumor website under a differnet name and telling a slightly different story. This is the internet after all. Is that "worker in an obscure Pacific Rim component supplier" or "inside source in Cupertino" really in the Orient or California as they claim?

Finally a voice of reason.

 

[lftrghtparadigm]

Is there really such a perceived gap between the current MacBook and MacBook Pro???

I find it simple having 2 models, with few variations within the models.

keeping the old white macbook as the bottom end, and the current 17" pro as the top end, seems like a terrible idea from every marketing and sales angle that I can imagine.

 

[chaosconan]

Well technically the update hasn't happened yet. So don't get pissy just yet. We don't know for sure what is true and what is not. Edit: didn't see the last part until just now. I'm sure the Apple people would appreciate you sexing up the machines in the store. "Just let me sniff her one more time before I decide, Sir!"

Actually I have done that. Thats how I choose my mac.
I eat with my mac, I play with my mac, My mac goes with me wherever I go, I even sleep with my mac. My mac is closer to me than my girlfriend.
You bet I'll smell it at the store.

 

[mekohler]

 

[angemon89]

WORST. UPDATE. EVER. If all this is true I will be so disappointed. This seems very unlike Apple to do.

No button trackpad, matte finish, or firewire on the MB is very disappointing. Oh and 2.0 GHz for $1299?

 

[Beric]

Unless every rumor is wrong (which could be possible), this will be the worst update ever.

 

[Adjei]

Why in 200+ post has nobody talked about the weight issue? A mbp already has some heft to it when carrying it around for long periods of time, but a mbp with a big sheet of glass in it will be VERY heavy... and the glass has to be fairly thick to keep from being too delicate...
Apple needs a surprise event since the last few have been lackluster, so maybe this is a case of them just pouring out false rumors except for a few select bits of true info (multiple gpu sounds promising) as a way to wow everyone today...
but let's talk about this weight issue... and this rumored huge battery... once again HEAVY!!!

Lackluster because they didn't annouce what you want, judging by this forum, every event has been lackluster.

 

[Peace]

WORST. UPDATE. EVER. If all this is true I will be so disappointed. This seems very unlike Apple to do.

No button trackpad, matte finish, or firewire on the MB is very disappointing. Oh and 2.0 GHz for $1299?

I wouldn't worry. Apple is not going to introduce a Macbook with lower specs for a higher price in this time of economic turmoil. That's corporate suicide.

 

[dcdude]

now if only people would actually, you know, NOT BUY THINGS made by Apple they don't like, Apple might get the picture.

what a complete failure of an update

 

[mike12806]

Happened before. Apple released the 12" Powerbook and 17" powerbook and kept the 15" Titanium book.

Okay, but look at Apple's current product line, do you see any design differentiation between different spec'd machines of the same product line?

 

[Breegy]

Actually I have done that. Thats how I choose my mac.
I eat with my mac, I play with my mac, My mac goes with me wherever I go, I even sleep with my mac. My mac is closer to me than my girlfriend.
You bet I'll smell it at the store.

Hah, thanks for the laugh. I can understand how you can do everything with your computer and take it everywhere, but being that close is still funny. Happy sniffing.

 

[darwinian]

I am sure this has been mentioned, but I think that the significant under the hood stuff (the stuff that matters most, right guys? Guys?) is the hybrid SLI type rumors and the GPGPU possibilities.

If the quad core laptop heat and energy problem isn't solved satisfactorily or cheaply enough yet, and the processor speeds aren't going up dramatically, then this is a phenomenal solution to increasing processing power for people who need it.

The thing I want most in this is a faster memory bus and more memory capacity. But the DIMMS need to be available at a cheaper price, so I'm not sure if any major strides will be taken in this dir. today.

 

[7on]

I don't know the up in arms against Glossy. In fact, when LCDs were coming on board many Graphic pros stuck with their glossy CRTs for the longest time. And I think glossy can be more accurate with color, just takes a little calibration like any display.

If Apple goes back to matte in like 5 years, it'll be the same users bitching about losing their glossy screens as they are whining about losing their matte screens now.

And you seriously can't tell me you notice a glare - I've been using a Macbook since 06 and never notice a glare while using it. Even in the florescent lit office at work.

 

[philbeeney]

I've been reading all these rumour threads and am laughing to myself.

Apple has gone into overdrive creating so much mis-information and leaks regarding the new notebooks. Steve Jobs must be laughing in his cornflakes (or whatever he has for breakfast).

I'm ready to replace my 4 year old PowerBook, but I can wait a little bit longer to really see what Apple is unleashing on the general public.

 

[g4cubed]

Dude the so called professionals are becoming a minority in Apple's world now. Get used to it.

How true, but what most of you forget is it was us professionals that helped keep Apple a float during those bad times to help make them what they are today. And to not offer a choice for those long term users is a damn shame.

 

[angemon89]

You know what would make me happy? 13 inch MacBook, 2.4 Ghz, FIREWIRE, Matte LED screen, Air-like design, trackpad button, new NVIDIA integrated chip. $1299. I don't think I'm asking for much. C'MON APPLE.

 

[dwd3885]

Clear example of why you NEVER sell something you already have because of something you 'think' will come out. The product that comes out could be nothing what you thought and then you're screwed.

 

[Breegy]

I don't know the up in arms against Glossy. In fact, when LCDs were coming on board many Graphic pros stuck with their glossy CRTs for the longest time. And I think glossy can be more accurate with color, just takes a little calibration like any display.

If Apple goes back to matte in like 5 years, it'll be the same users bitching about losing their glossy screens as they are whining about losing their matte screens now.

And you seriously can't tell me you notice a glare - I've been using a Macbook since 06 and never notice a glare while using it. Even in the florescent lit office at work.

I think the glare sucks, but I agree, the color seems more vibrant and "accurate." I personally don't mind and wouldn't know what to choose if I had the option. I think people complain about it a little TOO much, but I understand where they want choices.

I read the first page of a story and at least 70% of it is complaining about glossy. Seriously, I don't want to read 11+ pages of that.

 

[Masklinn]

Huh? I said "ever since SJ took over, it's been all about form over function".

Before Jobs came back, apple had neither form nor function so...

Happened before. Apple released the 12" Powerbook and 17" powerbook and kept the 15" Titanium book.

Apple initially released the Intel MBP in 15" only (Feb 14, 2006) and the 17" came more than a month later AFAIK (April 24, 2006).

The 13" macbook was released even later (May 16, 2006)

WORST. UPDATE. EVER.

this will be the worst update ever.

I'm pretty damn sure we can find much, much worse in recent years.

And I think glossy can be more accurate with color

Unless your matte display is completely ****ed up, no.

I think the glare sucks, but I agree, the color seems more vibrant and "accurate."

More vibrant yes, that's the whole point of glossy LCDs, having vibrant colors that jump out of the screen. More accurate, no, exactly the opposite.

 

[mike12806]

I agree, this means that surely SOME of the information is false. Like new 2.0 GHz MBs, but 2.1 GHz OLD MBs for less? Oh please... Someone failed at trying to think up a rumor. Either that or never corrected their typo.

Well now that Apple has become such a hip and cool addiction, everyone and their mother *cough* and their chinese component manufacturer seem to know "exactly" what the next macbook will look like.