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New Macbook Pro
- Thread starter erickg
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Proud early 2011 owner. What a meaningless upgrade for the smallest MacBook. I wouldn't even notice the hard drive difference since I'm running an SSD. Even Apple is hesitant to call it an upgrade, the little "new" tag is not covering the MacBook Pro on the website.
However, there was a shakeup with the larger models. It appears to be the base 15 is now the one to get, unless half a gig of VRAM is worth hundreds of dollars. I know it's been standard operating procedure at Apple to have refreshes suddenly and one has to sleuth to find clues, but isn't a bit unethical? Shouldn't the soon-to-be-replaced models go on sale before a refresh? It must really suck to throw down 2500 dollars on a machine only to have a similarly equipped machine sell for 1800 the following day.
However, there was a shakeup with the larger models. It appears to be the base 15 is now the one to get, unless half a gig of VRAM is worth hundreds of dollars. I know it's been standard operating procedure at Apple to have refreshes suddenly and one has to sleuth to find clues, but isn't a bit unethical? Shouldn't the soon-to-be-replaced models go on sale before a refresh? It must really suck to throw down 2500 dollars on a machine only to have a similarly equipped machine sell for 1800 the following day.
Wow! That was a better refresh than I was expecting - I really didn't think they would improve the GPUs, nice! The hard drive upgrade options (although still too expensive) are also welcome.
I was a little disappointed, though, to see that Bluetooth is still 2.1 + EDR, not 4.0 like the MBAs and iPhones, hardly a show-stopper, though.
I was a little disappointed, though, to see that Bluetooth is still 2.1 + EDR, not 4.0 like the MBAs and iPhones, hardly a show-stopper, though.
Instead of starting another thread, I'll ask my advice question here.
My 4 year old 15" HP laptop died a few weeks back. I've been holding off on buying a new laptop until the MacBook Pro refresh.
My needs are pretty simple. The only CPU intensive things I do are very occasional audio transcoding and very seldom video work. I'm not a gamer.
I'm interested in a Mac because of the build quality. I'd like a laptop that will last awhile, as opposed to my previous HP which had me re-soldering the power jack every few months.
I don't need an ultra portable.
Which would you purchase, at the following "friend" prices:
- MacBook Air 13" = $974
- MacBook Pro 13" i5 = $899
- MacBook Pro 13" i7 = $1,124
- MacBook Pro 15" i7 = $1,349
As I said, build quality is my primary concern. If the prices were the same I'd be looking at Thinkpad T420s, but my friend gets a pretty good discount on Apple products. For me, they're cheaper than the Lenovos.
My 4 year old 15" HP laptop died a few weeks back. I've been holding off on buying a new laptop until the MacBook Pro refresh.
My needs are pretty simple. The only CPU intensive things I do are very occasional audio transcoding and very seldom video work. I'm not a gamer.
I'm interested in a Mac because of the build quality. I'd like a laptop that will last awhile, as opposed to my previous HP which had me re-soldering the power jack every few months.
I don't need an ultra portable.
Which would you purchase, at the following "friend" prices:
- MacBook Air 13" = $974
- MacBook Pro 13" i5 = $899
- MacBook Pro 13" i7 = $1,124
- MacBook Pro 15" i7 = $1,349
As I said, build quality is my primary concern. If the prices were the same I'd be looking at Thinkpad T420s, but my friend gets a pretty good discount on Apple products. For me, they're cheaper than the Lenovos.
It's Just That I Missed
The boat! But having calmed down, you are of course right, and with the discount, I'm sticking with my new (no old) MBP
The boat! But having calmed down, you are of course right, and with the discount, I'm sticking with my new (no old) MBP
This update....
I have a 5-6 y/o low-end Macbook.... it can't run OS Lion, and the wireless only works if I am 5m away for the wireless station (since I dropped it last year).
I thought the new MBP was going to be the computer for me... it'd be faster all-round, and maybe I could play some games that didn't require awesome specs (e.g. Civ 5, Heroes of Newerth, maybe Diablo 3 ^_^).
This update is welcomed, for sure, but I guess this is not the big MacBook Pro update that I was looking for. I was hoping this update would be a game-breaking, as opposed to slight tweaks.
The fact that no official announcement was made leads me to worry that this is not really an update, but something to keep sales ticking over until the BIG update that's just around the corner....
I guess my question is: do I have any reason to bide my time, putting up with a ****** computer, in hopes of upcoming updates?
I have a 5-6 y/o low-end Macbook.... it can't run OS Lion, and the wireless only works if I am 5m away for the wireless station (since I dropped it last year).
I thought the new MBP was going to be the computer for me... it'd be faster all-round, and maybe I could play some games that didn't require awesome specs (e.g. Civ 5, Heroes of Newerth, maybe Diablo 3 ^_^).
This update is welcomed, for sure, but I guess this is not the big MacBook Pro update that I was looking for. I was hoping this update would be a game-breaking, as opposed to slight tweaks.
The fact that no official announcement was made leads me to worry that this is not really an update, but something to keep sales ticking over until the BIG update that's just around the corner....
I guess my question is: do I have any reason to bide my time, putting up with a ****** computer, in hopes of upcoming updates?
Just bought my 17" REALLY mad, as I was told "No updates soon"
And I thought I was irritated. lol. But I've had my 13 inch one for about a month. And to be honest I don't really care about a 0.1 GHz upgrade. I do regret not having a 500 GB HDD though.
But I've got an external hard drive so it's all good. You've still got a really good laptop though. Look at it that way...
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Next update will probably be about February/March time. But, unlike a fair number, I'm not convinced that'll be a massive upgrade either. Ivy bridge in March is unlikely I think.
On my 13 inch Pro I can easily play Civ 5 for instance. So it is powerful-no doubt about that. And compared with your current machine, I'd say it's a sound upgrade. I'd get one-but that's just my view.
Just seems a bit strange to me - that it's generally been 8-11 months between the last 5 MBP updates.... why would it change to 4-5 for this one?
Wondering why you though Feb/March was likely?
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How often the updates are is based on when Intel/AMD/Nvidia release new products. Therefore you only need to look at them to figure out when updates will take place. Too many people here think its up to Apple for the timing when its clearly not.
They never do a big announcement when it comes to an internal refresh with faster components. They only change the design every few years similar to automobiles.
Sure you can wait, but what if the next refresh isn't a redesign either? Then you just wasted a few more months using a broken down computer.
The best mentality to have is to buy a computer when you need one, and wait if you don't.
My bad.
You're right of course. I just counted back to the last release for some reason (which was in February/March this year).Now I would really have liked to make some witty remark about how I have inside knowledge on that one. ^ But unfortunately I can't pull anything so dramatic out of the hat and must settle for saying I made a mistake.
Had A Call Today
Offered me the a free upgrade, but decide in favour of more discount on my 4S Too much stuff on my Pro already..
Offered me the a free upgrade, but decide in favour of more discount on my 4S Too much stuff on my Pro already..
My bad.
Now I would really have liked to make some witty remark about how I have inside knowledge on that one. ^ But unfortunately I can't pull anything so dramatic out of the hat and must settle for saying I made a mistake.
"Intel plans to begin sale of the processors to its customers in Q4 of 2011, with actual retail availability from March 2012 onwards"
-Wikipedia
You might be close to the truth.... anyone care to make any predictions - Q1 2012 iMac and MBP update????
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I must admit, I am guilty as charged: I have the wrong mentality.... but in my defence, the current computer has lasted me so long, that I want to have the best - something that'll last me a long time. I guess I don't really need a new computer, until Diablo 3 comes out in Q1 2012 at least (^_^)...
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