New MacBook Pros in Stock Next Week, BestBuy Part Numbers

[MacRumors]

Old photo of sealed "Apple Confidential" palette from 2005
It should be very clear by now that Apple is launching the new MacBook Pros next Thursday, February 24th. Early part numbers were leaked and we heard confirmation that Thursday is the day.

AppleInsider now reports that resellers are being notified that they will start receiving sealed packages with the new hardware early next week. Resellers are prohibited from opening the packages until further instruction:

More specifically, the Mac maker this weekend began informing some of its larger European resellers that they could expect delivery of sealed product palettes to their brick-and-mortar stores as early as Monday, which coincides with one of ten federal holidays (President's Day) in the United States.

Both OS X Daily and Engadget are reporting that Best Buy's website inadvertently slipped the part numbers into their inventory this weekend:

While BestBuy lists prices alongside the new part numbers, we are certain that these are simply a placeholder prices (matching current MacBook Pro models) entered by Best Buy. Apple has not told resellers the prices of the new machines.

The other wildcard for next week is whether or not Apple plans on unveiling their Light Peak implementation. CNet believes it could happen soon, but isn't certain if it will be implemented in the new MacBook Pros.

Article Link: New MacBook Pros in Stock Next Week, BestBuy Part Numbers

 

[Stridder44]

Cue Europe's "The Final Countdown" song...

 

[Mattsasa]

slow news?

 

[jealousguy86]

i'd love this news a lot more if they were the ipad 2 shipments.

but i'm interested to see what the new macbook pro will be like.

 

[joskewarez]

like someone from apple will check if you opened the palette already

 

[ArchaicRevival]

So it's already shipped to retailers? Now I'm really curious about the refresh that's taken place!

 

[ECUpirate44]

Come on, somebody take a peak into those sealed packages If there is any black on the box at all, thats all I need to know.

 

[MurphyM]

If they actually shipped and arrived ahead of an announcement there can't be anything overly exciting about these Macbook Pros. Even if they looked like the black one in the Intel ad there would have been an event to intro them.

Spec bump.

 

[wordoflife]

Getting super excited! (even though I will not be buying one )
Oh come on, just open it!!

 

[ozred]

Apple continues to become more & more in love with best buy. Need a refrigerator? Apple will be releasing them soon. Only 99 cents each time you open it's doors.

 

[brock2621]

Black liquid metal Macbook Pros with Lightpeak?

Screw the credit card, just take my whole wallet.

 

[SlamJam12]

Interesting. There has been no sign of invitation to anybody for an event to introduce a potential update of new macbook pros. The new macbook pros may have a minor update.

 

[ls1dreams]

I hope the pricing changes a bit.

My biggest gripe right now is that for those of us that are very budget-minded, the base-line 13" is the only real option.

Coming from a PC, these are the things that piss me off apple:

1. We need a 14" or 15" model in an affordable price range. $1800 for a base 15" MBP vs $600 for a PC version makes this very tough to swallow. I'm willing to pay some premium for an apple tax, but this is just painful.

2. The upgraded 13" is too expensive. I'm going to be really pissed if the options are:

$1200 - 13", i3, w/ no SSD
$1500 - 13", i5, w/ SSD

I'd almost wager that this is exactly what we'll end up getting.

Basically, I've pretty much decided that the only way I make the switch at this refresh is if I see a machine with the following specs:

MBP 13-14"
i5 sandybridge
128gb SSD
4gb ram
a reasonable video card that can power dual monitors
$1200

Give me that, apple, and I'll convert.

 

[trekkie604]

Bestbuy should revamp their backend so that they can enter the SKU's internally and NOT publish it online or at the retail POS terminals...

 

[ThaDoggg]

Someone better open the sealed packages ahead of time so that we know what to expect.

 

[ECUpirate44]

Bestbuy should revamp their backend so that they can enter the SKU's internally and NOT publish it online or at the retail POS terminals...

+1. What do you think Apple's take on all this is?

 

[Mailia]

Bestbuy should revamp their backend so that they can enter the SKU's internally and NOT publish it online or at the retail POS terminals...

Don't they have an internal system? Or at least I think those March 1st SKUs were screens of internal systems.

 

[skier777]

+1. What do you think Apple's take on all this is?

Its free advertising for them, they couldn't care less how people get rumors of the new releases, the lack of detail allows a lot of conversation around the release, so especially for a minor update like this one, they are sitting back and enjoying the conversation thats going on around the release.

Apple is hoping that someone opens those pallets early. Theres nothing that gets people excited like rumor/secret combinations.

 

[notabadname]

I agree with the idea that, if this were something really major, wouldn't there have been a press event?

 

[ECUpirate44]

They are hoping that someone opens those pallets early. Theres nothing that gets people excited like rumor/secret combinations.

I guess your right. Sometimes I think Apple lets things slide because its great advertisement and publicity.

 

[wordoflife]

I agree with the idea that, if this were something really major, wouldn't there have been a press event?

They didn't do it when they launched the ix MBP's.

 

[dagamer34]

I guess your right. Sometimes I think Apple lets things slide because its great advertisement and publicity.

Especially considering they'll be announcing the product via a press release, it's not like we're waiting for some event to pop up where they'll unveil their products.

 

[Kalach]

5 more days!

 

[jbyun04]

I agree with the idea that, if this were something really major, wouldn't there have been a press event?

No? Mac Minis were redesigned and updated without any event

 

[Richard1028]

My biggest gripe right now is that for those of us that are very budget-minded, the base-line 13" is the only real option.

Budget whiners shouldn't even be looking at macs - it doesn't make sense. I just diagnosed a friend's 5 year old Dell Inspiron. It's hosed. He's getting a cheap-assed Dell or Acer as a replacement. Says he can get 3 or 4 of the damned things over the years for the cost of a macbook. Has no desire to cross over to OSX.

No argument from me.

1. We need a 14" or 15" model in an affordable price range. $1800 for a base 15" MBP vs $600 for a PC version makes this very tough to swallow.

What you *need* and what Apple is willing to sell it for are 2 different things.

Basically, I've pretty much decided that the only way I make the switch at this refresh is if I see a machine with the following specs:

MBP 13-14"
i5 sandybridge
128gb SSD
4gb ram
a reasonable video card that can power dual monitors
$1200

I'm thinking you won't be switching then.

A maxed out Air similar to this will go for $1799 (w/256gb SSD)

And I never understood why people expect a mobile device to power multiple monitors.