New MacBook Pro's on Tuesday, June 5th 2007?

[JFreak]

Really Want but probably wont get in this rev:
*S video out (useful for hotel rooms when I travel)

DVI port supports S-video output, so all you need is an adapter. I too was not happy about removal of the dedicated port, but once I realised I'm not using it every week and understood that the port was only collecting dust most of the time, I'm cool with having to use an adapter. After all, the DVI port is sturdy and a locking connector

 

[MyJelleo]

It's going to be a minor update if there is one next Tuesday. After the macbook update a few weeks ago, I'm keeping my expectations very low.

 

[kingofkolt]

It's going to be a minor update if there is one next Tuesday. After the macbook update a few weeks ago, I'm keeping my expectations very low.

Same here, unfortunately Even so, the current MBP is one helluva machine anyway... But I'd like to see a nicer GPU in it.

 

[Evangelion]

The aluminum/titanium/silver-like enclosures for the Powerbooks are dated. New cool stuff, Steve!

MBP's look "dated"? um, I beg to differ. Just because they haven't really changed the design does not mean that the current design is "dated".

 

[freddiecable]

agree with you! how much can they really do - but make it slimmer?

MBP's look "dated"? um, I beg to differ. Just because they haven't really changed the design does not mean that the current design is "dated".

 

[k2k koos]

The aluminum/titanium/silver-like enclosures for the Powerbooks are dated. New cool stuff, Steve!

They are not Dated, but Apple is Apple, and should push it self to a new beautiful case design, they owe that to them selves. The current line up still looks very modern and sleek compared to the majority of other new laptops being released. It's just that we are used seeing this case now for 4 years or so, imagine that! 4 years without a major revision on the case, in computer terms that is ground breaking I believe

Oh and as for the release date, I think it may be Wednesday

 

[JFreak]

agree with you! how much can they really do - but make it slimmer?

It does not have to be changed for the sake of having a change to it! If it's good, it can stay as it is. Internals will change over time, but if the case is good, why make a change?

Magnetic lid closing mechanism is pretty much only change that I can see. That way the case would be getting rid of few "unnecessary" holes thus making it even more streamlined. Another possible change would be to get rid of the mouse button, because the trackpad can be clicked anyway so the dedicated button is unnecessary — if they want to, they can use different finish on the "button" part of the trackpad and maybe make that area more sensitive to clicking action.

Then there is this "need" for user-replaceable hard drive. If they can do it, the feature will be in the case bottom thus hidden from eye anyway.

Those things aside, I think the case is pretty much perfect.

 

[RoDe]

Anybody remember the "power +sex" thing, from when they introduced the PB Ti.
I'm afraid the sex is getting kinda old and wrinkled and the power is fading.

I wish Apple would do something new with the case of MBP, carbon fibre would be nice. Since Aluminium is so yesterdays. But Alas I'm afraid my wishes will fall on deaf ears.

We'll I hope to see Santa Rossa stuff in the new MBP. Flash is still way to expensive for an all flash MBP (Prove me wrongle Apple!!!) . And prof. won't settle for a meagre 32GB.

HD LED displays are out of the question, since leopard isn't introduced yet, which is resolution independent. maybe later on we'll see that as an option.

Might see Bluray come in, since Disney said it adopted it as its preferred standard and guess who's on the board. And I hope they put one of those M.264, Mpeg2 and Mpeg4 encoders decoder chips in.

And OK this one is a little far fetched I know but a multitouch trackpad a bit like on the iPhone.

 

[jakk2809]

C'mon Mr. Jobs, I just graduated from High School and an updated MBP with the works would make a very good graduation gift from you...

Ditto! Well, not quite yet but on Sunday I will graduate. I have 2 jobs this summer all involving the use of a laptop. The problem is I don't have one yet so that makes doing work kinda hard. I am a 6-year Windows user about to switch to the Mac and I'm glad that my first Mac will be a MBP.

A few weeks ago my local college bookstore said they ran out of MBPs and are waiting for another order. The order didn't come in yet.....

 

[iMeowbot]

agree with you! how much can they really do - but make it slimmer?

A case material a little more resilient than tin foil would be nice. Denting, warping, etc. has been an ongoing issue with these machines, Apple can do better.

 

[Manfr3d]

If it's not Santa Rosa or LED backlit screens, then wtf will it be?

Little updates could be:

standard 256mb gfx
user replaceable hdd
cpu speed bump (to differentiate from macbooks)
price drop

so basicly the same as the macbook update from last month

 

[dernhelm]

Then there is this "need" for user-replaceable hard drive. If they can do it, the feature will be in the case bottom thus hidden from eye anyway.

Those things aside, I think the case is pretty much perfect.

I would expect a user-replacable graphics card before a user-replacable hard drive. Although I would happily take either or both.

 

[hvfsl]

If the update happens outside of WWDC, then there won't be any major changes to the case. But things like LED, santa rosa and faster graphics chip are not out of the question.

Apple has made similar updates to their laptops in the fast without a big event. They have even released things just before major events, to get them out of the way for bigger things that will be shown at those events.

Plus while WWDC isn't a consumer event (like MW) and so you wouldn't normally expect to see a new iMac being released there. If the new iMac includes new features like a multi-touch screen, then Apple could also use WWDC to show developers how to properly use those features.

Also I would just like to point out that if they are to increase the cpu speed at all, they need santa rosa, so that's basically a given. I am not sure ATI even do the X1600 anymore (ATI now has the HD2300 which is based on the X1600). So the chances of a new GPU are very high also. Plus LED is a backlight tec and there is no reason for Apple not to use it unless they have supply problems because there are many other companies that currently have LED laptops/PDAs on the market.

 

[4np]

I doubt it will have Robson in it. Dell had it in their D630 and D830 line for 1 day then it dropped after initial tests were negative on the gain for the price.

But is that due to Robson Caching or due the fact that the OS does nut fully utilize Robson?

I kind of hope they do wait until WWDC to unveil anything new. That way, it will mean new MBP's are a Big Deal (tm) and not just a speed bump.

I agree; a MBP is also the machine that is mostly used by developers. It would make sense to introduce it at WWDC.

However, while I expect Santa Rosa and Led Backlit displays (they did order a whole lot of 15.4" LED lit displays), I think the Real updates (Resolution Independance, Robson Caching?) are delayed along with the delay of Leopard. I hope I'm wrong though...

If they DO include Robson Caching now (disabled) and enable it when Leopard is installed it could perhaps be more of a speedbump. Which is nice for apple's marketing department Also, they have done similar things in the past by quietly including disabled 802.11n hardware which could be enabled with a driver update.

Also, pretty please include a newer/better/faster GPU that supports DX10 and HD decoding S-video would be nice but I can live with a DVI-S-video adapter...

What do you guys think about the apple developer program for a purchase? ... Have any of you used this?

Yes I did; I used it to buy my current PowerBook with a 20% discount and received a year of developer DVD's, including free Tiger DVD's. So if you get it now you will receive Leopard DVD's for free as well

 

[JFreak]

I would expect a user-replacable graphics card before a user-replacable hard drive. Although I would happily take either or both.

I wouldn't hold my breath on user-replaceable GPU, that's not going to happen. And I doubt they're going to change the hard drive either, because it's very silent as it is currently mounted. I bet it's going to be a whole lot harder to mount the user-replaceable hard drive as tightly.

 

[Manfr3d]

Also I'd like to see Apple incorporate some sort of fingerprint reader for security purposes. Most laptop manufacturers provide this feature on their business laptops, and it works brilliantly.

Fingerprint readers are a toy. They dont keep anyone out of your computer,
they only allow you not to have to type in your password every time u use
them. And if you dont use them properly someone can use the physical remains
from previous fingerprings on the sensor to fake the owners fingerprint.
These things make you feel secure but don't realy make it more secure.
If new apple laptops come with sth silly like this I'll buy a used one that
doesn't have it.

 

[JFreak]

I am not sure ATI even do the X1600 anymore (ATI now has the HD2300 which is based on the X1600).

Isn't 2300 a downgrade from 1600? I thought the "3" marked for entry-level chip and "6" for thin performance notebooks? I would expect them using 2600 chip if they put in a "2"-gen ATI.

 

[macslug]

Gee I hope its a new enclosure, looking at upgrading my MB to a 17" MPB.
The MBP looks old and dated its been too long since a change, time for a sleek new look.. thats what the MBP needs.

 

[Manfr3d]

Damn it here we go again, more rumors. I can't stop my legs from bouncing up and down. I have already bought all my accessories, now I'm just waiting for the Mac Book Pro.

And to think I just got my legs working properly again.

Same here! Does anyone know how long it usualy takes after an upgrade
for the machines to be available for shipping? I Mean since there are
obviously 1000 other geeks on this site alone with their credit card at
hand .. will there be a delay?

 

[Manfr3d]

The german apple store also cites delivery of the mbp within 5 days instead of 24h.

http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObjects/germanstore.woa/wa/RSLID?nnmm=browse&mco=D2D493CA&node=home/macbook/macbook_pro

... but only for the 2.16ghz 15" model.

 

[coogee]

Same here! Does anyone know how long it usualy takes after an upgrade
for the machines to be available for shipping? I Mean since there are
obviously 1000 other geeks on this site alone with their credit card at
hand .. will there be a delay?

You mean you haven't put your pre-pre-order in yet?

* ^ France has 5 days on both 15" MBP
http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObj...se&mco=D2D493CA&node=home/macbook/macbook_pro

and Norway all 5 days
http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObj...se&mco=D2D493CA&node=home/macbook/macbook_pro

 

[hvfsl]

Isn't 2300 a downgrade from 1600? I thought the "3" marked for entry-level chip and "6" for thin performance notebooks? I would expect them using 2600 chip if they put in a "2"-gen ATI.

When a new gen comes out, the old high end generally slips to the mid range and the old mid range slips to the lowend.

During the Radeon 9800 days, the 9600 was the mid range. When the X800 series came out, the 9600 was renamed the X300 (with a few other changes made to it) and became the lowend.

Sorry, I wasn't suggesting that Apple will use the HD2300, just that the GPU Apple currently uses is now a lowend GPU, so is unlikely to be using it in the updated MBPs.

 

[jellomizer]

The aluminum/titanium/silver-like enclosures for the Powerbooks are dated. New cool stuff, Steve!

MBP's look "dated"? um, I beg to differ. Just because they haven't really changed the design does not mean that the current design is "dated".

I don't see any reason for Apple to change a good thing. After a case redesign there is usually a group of problems with those models, Ranging from manufacturing problems (having to retrain the manufacturers for the new models), Heat Issues, Noise Issues, Paint chipping, ... Lets face it Mac Users are very picky on how their computers look. Redesigning the case majority would start the process over again. Right Now the MBP Core 2 Duo Cases are very nice, slim, light, quiet, disperse heat well... A major design could cause problems.

 

[eyvind]

You mean you haven't put your pre-pre-order in yet?

* ^ France has 5 days on both 15" MBP
http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObj...se&mco=D2D493CA&node=home/macbook/macbook_pro

and Norway all 5 days
http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObj...se&mco=D2D493CA&node=home/macbook/macbook_pro

Laptops sold in the French store are not the same as laptops sold in the Norwegian store are not the same as laptops sold in the German store. The manuals are different, the keyboards are different, and the packaging probably at least has different stickers.

Apple has one European warehouse that ships to all European customers, and Norway is a small market, so that warehouse probably has fewer Norwegian than French MBPs in stock at any given time. That explains why Norwegians have a 5-day wait for all MBPs while the French can get a 17" straight away; there are still some French 17" MBPs in stock, but no 15"ers and no Norwegian ones at all.

Seems very sloppy of Apple to let so many different national models of MBP sell out at the same time, though. And why the consistent 5-day wait for new shipments? It's almost as if... Nah.

 

[Erasmus]

The HD 2300 is shocking. It is a renamed X1450, and is much inferior to the X1600.
The HD 2400 should be OK, probably slight improvement on X1600. If a subnotebook comes around, that's what will be in it. It is described as a graphics card for "Thin and Light" computers.
The HD 2600 is described as for "Performance Thin" notebooks. As was the X1600.
The HD 2600 XT is for "Performance" notebooks, and as it is just an overclocked version, probably won't find its way into the MBP. The normal HD 2600 I believe is an excellent bet, assuming that AMD have given Apple sufficient numbers of these cards.