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New MBP, but now?

The sensible thing for me to do is wait.

I'm hoping that they increase the ram cap. (if my current mbp could handle 4gb of ram, then i could probably keep it for another year.) I'd like to see at least a 12gb cap on the next mbp. this is really the only significant change I'm hoping for.

And I agree with what most of you have been saying about sandy bridge. It is an upgrade, but probably not significant compared to the current i7. And I know that the i7 is a HUGE leap ahead of my current intel core duo 2.0. (lol)

Am I just being greedy in wanting so much more ram? :D
 
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I just got an iPad, I know its about to be "old" but I can deal with my 500.00 machine being a generation older four months from now.

I am waiting on the new MBP. I want a 17" or whatever equivalent comes out in the refresh. I plan to spend somewhere around 2,500-3,000 for a laptop. I want to be sure it’s the best I can get. If nothing else the lower end new ones will most likely be close to the high-end current offerings at a lower price point.

I am also using it as a carrot to force my self to pay off my very last debt (CC) before I can buy, I'm less than 2 months from that goal and then I will be 100% debt free including house and car. I also have to save up and pay cash so I'm looking at 3.5 months. Shirley we will know more by then.
 
mwhq said:
This SB nonsense shows how little people know. The Current i5/i7 processors are a massive step up in grade from the intel C2D processors, the next gen SB will be an improvement but to justify waiting 2/3 months? certainly not. If you believe that I want a list of significant improvements that you can tell me SB will bring at this moment in time.

My advice to the original poster is, buy now...I would. Unless Apple promise a black MBP in the next revamp that is the only reason I would wait.

I have the mid 2010 i5 MPB and it's the first one I can safely say it will perform outstandingly for 4-5 years. with the old C2D processors, it was more like 2-3 years.

This debate is far too frequent, walk yourself into Apple and buy one now.
Click to expand...

There're a lot of new features, which can justify waiting 2/3 month.
For example, new integrated GPU is not as crappy as it used to be;
in fact, it is more than 2x times better than the previous generation (performance is similar to Radeon HD5450)
so when you switch to integrated GPU to save power,
you will not notice any graphic lags when using dock.
 
The way I am seeing it now, this is today...RIGHT NOW...LOL...okay, well, I am waiting. The advances we will see with the new MacBook Pros are going to be numerous, and I will list them:

• New CPU Architecture (Sandy Bridge)
• Quad-Core options
• New Integrated Graphics GPU
• Better Discrete Graphics, first 1GB graphics option on MBP
• SSD Standard across ALL models
• New case design, thinner
• Deep-sleep with up to 30 day sleep mode, instant-on

I think these things alone probably justify the wait...I just have to keep telling myself it's really worth waiting. When I factor all this in, I do think it is.
 
WardC said:
• New CPU Architecture (Sandy Bridge)
• Quad-Core options
• New Integrated Graphics GPU
• Better Discrete Graphics, first 1GB graphics option on MBP
• SSD Standard across ALL models
• New case design, thinner
• Deep-sleep with up to 30 day sleep mode, instant-on
Click to expand...

No.
 
What do you mean, all of the things I mentioned are "in the works" and ARE going to happen. Just wait and see. Everything I listed there will come to fruition in the next MacBook Pro update, those will be the major new features. Please elaborate on what YOU think I got wrong there. Please.
 
WardC said:
• New CPU Architecture (Sandy Bridge)
• Quad-Core options
• New Integrated Graphics GPU
• Better Discrete Graphics, first 1GB graphics option on MBP
• SSD Standard across ALL models
• New case design, thinner
• Deep-sleep with up to 30 day sleep mode, instant-on
Click to expand...

Unless you know something we don't, that looks like a mighty fine wish list. If Santa worked at :apple: I think we would get all of that... ;)

Having said that, if those ARE the planned improvements, I would feel great waiting SIX months!
 
WardC said:
What do you mean, all of the things I mentioned are "in the works" and ARE going to happen. Just wait and see. Everything I listed there will come to fruition in the next MacBook Pro update, those will be the major new features. Please elaborate on what YOU think I got wrong there. Please.
Click to expand...

Source/Proof?
 
MagicBoy said:
Sandy Bridge components only started shipping a couple of days ago. They're a bit quicker per clock cycle but it's no great shakes.

I'd still happily buy a current i5/i7 MBP at the current time.
Click to expand...

really???? i highly doubt what you said..


they say it is not just about Sandy Bridge which obviously beats the current i5 i7, and about a big step forward. the DVD drive, harddrive may be gone, instead larger room for battery, thinner, well, you can count on Apple about this big design change.
 
WardC said:
The way I am seeing it now, this is today...RIGHT NOW...LOL...okay, well, I am waiting. The advances we will see with the new MacBook Pros are going to be numerous, and I will list them:

• New CPU Architecture (Sandy Bridge)
• Quad-Core options
• New Integrated Graphics GPU
• Better Discrete Graphics, first 1GB graphics option on MBP
• SSD Standard across ALL models
• New case design, thinner
• Deep-sleep with up to 30 day sleep mode, instant-on

I think these things alone probably justify the wait...I just have to keep telling myself it's really worth waiting. When I factor all this in, I do think it is.
Click to expand...

all right, boy, that is what i am thinking.
oh, also, 14hrs battery life for 13''. 12-13 for larger models.
 
WardC said:
What do you mean, all of the things I mentioned are "in the works" and ARE going to happen. Just wait and see. Everything I listed there will come to fruition in the next MacBook Pro update, those will be the major new features. Please elaborate on what YOU think I got wrong there. Please.
Click to expand...

Well, first you provide no proof so...yeah...hopes + dreams don't count...

I have no doubt that all you claim is in the works. I'd bet money on it that, eventually, we will all have thinner, sexier, more powerful laptops that are powered on sorrow and joy, with an effective runtime of ∞, but it's not going to happen tomorrow. We've got too many intermediate steps to take before that happens.

Considering how Apple has historically done things, I have a hard time believing that Apple will, after all these years, throw everything including the kitchen sink into a brand new design to be shoved out the door rather than the incremental approach that's been the norm. It's not even about profit, more about, at this point in time, can Apple deliver (your list) Quad Core Processors AND new GPUs w/ 1 GB options, AND standard SSD AND, of all things, a thinner case? What about cost? What about thermal constraints? What about battery life? Are these things no longer a factor? Axing the optical drive and ancient spinning magnetic storage of doom take up a decent amount of space, but if you remove them and mess with the thickness then you introduce a whole new set of considerations. What about SSD cost? Apple charges about $200 to double the MBA flash air (but I don't know the cost of the base 64/128GB modules) and they charge $200, $650 and $1,300 for 2.5" 128 256 and 512 GB drives, respectively. Obviously we can get these aftermarket at much lower prices but that doesn't explain why they would make them standard and how they would deal with the customer having to pay a substantial percentage of the previous purchase price for seemingly the same or even reduced storage capacity (not understanding the differences between flash and mechanical).
 
Eddyisgreat said:
Well, first you provide no proof so...yeah...hopes + dreams don't count...

I have no doubt that all you claim is in the works. I'd bet money on it that, eventually, we will all have thinner, sexier, more powerful laptops that are powered on sorrow and joy, with an effective runtime of ∞, but it's not going to happen tomorrow. We've got too many intermediate steps to take before that happens.

Considering how Apple has historically done things, I have a hard time believing that Apple will, after all these years, throw everything including the kitchen sink into a brand new design to be shoved out the door rather than the incremental approach that's been the norm. It's not even about profit, more about, at this point in time, can Apple deliver (your list) Quad Core Processors AND new GPUs w/ 1 GB options, AND standard SSD AND, of all things, a thinner case? What about cost? What about thermal constraints? What about battery life? Are these things no longer a factor? Axing the optical drive and ancient spinning magnetic storage of doom take up a decent amount of space, but if you remove them and mess with the thickness then you introduce a whole new set of considerations. What about SSD cost? Apple charges about $200 to double the MBA flash air (but I don't know the cost of the base 64/128GB modules) and they charge $200, $650 and $1,300 for 2.5" 128 256 and 512 GB drives, respectively. Obviously we can get these aftermarket at much lower prices but that doesn't explain why they would make them standard and how they would deal with the customer having to pay a substantial percentage of the previous purchase price for seemingly the same or even reduced storage capacity (not understanding the differences between flash and mechanical).
Click to expand...

Yeah. What he said.
 
WardC said:
• New CPU Architecture (Sandy Bridge) Obvious :p
• Quad-Core options Extremely likely, but not certain.
• New Integrated Graphics GPU See SB comment :p
• Better Discrete Graphics, first 1GB graphics option on MBP Extremely likely
• SSD Standard across ALL models Only as hybrid HDD/SSD, keeping the present HDD and adding a small-medium blade SSD.
• New case design, thinner Unlikely. New innards design, but minimal external changes. And it doesn't need to be thinner or lighter. Just more powerful
• Deep-sleep with up to 30 day sleep mode, instant-on Almost certain
Click to expand...

See above quote :)
 
As to the response above, nowhere did I say that Apple would not be offering $3000 - $4000 BTO options for their new laptops. They currently DO offer that, if you are looking at 8GB of RAM, 2.8GHz i7, and a 512GB SSD.

Also to mention better battery life and higher RAM expandability, which I did not mention earlier. I would not be surprised if the new MacBook Pros will support 8GB 1333MHz DIMMs for a max RAM capacity of 16GB.

We are looking at a top-line MacBook Pro that could be well around $5500. Entry level models will be around $1500 and they will be dual-core only with small SSD capacities, 4GB of RAM standard. Sandy Bridge i5/i7 across the entire MacBook Pro lineup (including the 13" model). The 13" model will receive a 1440x900 display.

You can count my words on these things. You ask for proof. You are talking to someone who has followed the Mac since he was 10 years old, eyeing every product release since 1992. I do know a bit or two about these things.

When Apple introduced the new MacBook Airs and Steve Jobs said "This is the first in our next generation of MacBooks. This is just a glimpse of things to come," he was not kidding. They are taking the core new technologies introduced with the MacBook Air line and will be employing these new technologies across the entire MacBook Pro line (thinner, more battery life, instant-on, 30-day sleep, blade SSD, 13" 1440x900 standard resolution). The only thing I am unsure about is the optical drive. I have no earthly idea whether Apple will keep it or get rid of it entirely. The Mac App store seems to be the "new way" to get software, but you still need a DVD-ROM drive to install Adobe software, to watch DVD movies from disc, and to rip CDs. It seems likely, and unlikely both at the same time, that Apple would nix the optical disc drive completely.
 
WardC said:
As to the response above, nowhere did I say that Apple would not be offering $3000 - $4000 BTO options for their new laptops. They currently DO offer that, if you are looking at 8GB of RAM, 2.8GHz i7, and a 512GB SSD.

Also to mention better battery life and higher RAM expandability, which I did not mention earlier. I would not be surprised if the new MacBook Pros will support 8GB 1333MHz DIMMs for a max RAM capacity of 16GB.

We are looking at a top-line MacBook Pro that could be well around $5500. Entry level models will be around $1500 and they will be dual-core only with small SSD capacities, 4GB of RAM standard. Sandy Bridge i5/i7 across the entire MacBook Pro lineup (including the 13" model). The 13" model will receive a 1440x900 display.

You can count my words on these things. You ask for proof. You are talking to someone who has followed the Mac since he was 10 years old, eyeing every product release since 1992. I do know a bit or two about these things.

When Apple introduced the new MacBook Airs and Steve Jobs said "This is the first in our next generation of MacBooks. This is just a glimpse of things to come," he was not kidding. They are taking the core new technologies introduced with the MacBook Air line and will be employing these new technologies across the entire MacBook Pro line (thinner, more battery life, instant-on, 30-day sleep, blade SSD, 13" 1440x900 standard resolution). The only thing I am unsure about is the optical drive. I have no earthly idea whether Apple will keep it or get rid of it entirely. The Mac App store seems to be the "new way" to get software, but you still need a DVD-ROM drive to install Adobe software, to watch DVD movies from disc, and to rip CDs. It seems likely, and unlikely both at the same time, that Apple would nix the optical disc drive completely.
Click to expand...

The only time I use the dvd drive is to watch a dvd. I occassionly get dvd software when I buy some new piece of equipment like a digital camera but most of those can be downloaded from the manufacture website.

Point is cd's are used so little that I would prefer to have mine external and available to me at home, freeing up space for more useful upgrades in the laptop.

At first I hated the idea of losing the drive but the more I think about it the more I like it.
 
Copied and pasted from another post of mine; sorry for the repetition guys :cool:

Is now the time to buy?
"Ooooooooohhhhh YEAAAH!"
----The Kool Aid Man

The only real thing is that everyone is getting worked up over waiting so much that I think it is a little silly. Really, these laptops will last and be modern for years and just because an update is coming doesn't mean that you should put yourself through agony waiting if you need a computer. The current Unibody MacBook Pro is one of the, possibly the, best rated premium laptop available. I would argue it is THE BEST based on consumer reviews. What has been the case thus far is that no current laptop family has anywhere near as consistently high reviews throughout the entire product line as the MacBook Pro. Check it out!

Over 250 reviews have the 13 inch MacBook Pro at 4.9 out of 5 average making it the highest rated 13 inch laptop that Best Buy sells and it is the BEST rated premium computer that Best Buy has in their entire system!!! Despite using the older Core 2 Duo processor, it is still rated higher than the iX series PC's...actually it is rated higher by a landslide!!!

The 15 inch MacBook Pro happens to be the highest rated 15 inch that Best Buy sells-all configurations have a 4.6 out of 5 or higher

I couldn't leave the 17 inch out; rest assured it is also a winner!


Actually, out of about 50 computers, only 1 PC happened to rank as high as the numerous MacBook Pros. Everything else has mixed to terrible ratings. The MacBook Pro isn't just rated better; it is rated better by a moderate landslide

This is where the proof is and given all of the MacBook Pros are rated substantially higher than all but 1 PC, you can rest assured that extra money you spent has been well worth it. If this doesn't make you want to purchase a MacBook Pro, nothing will.
 
NickZac said:
Copied and pasted from another post of mine; sorry for the repetition guys :cool:
Click to expand...

Copy and pasted from my comment of your other post :cool:

I'm sure it is the best consumer notebook available too. But I'm not interested in consumer reviews, as my needs, as are many people's on this forum, are somewhat higher than your normal consumer. Now, if some scientists and engineering professionals (which is who I am) were to do reviews, I expect the MBP wouldn't rank nearly as highly. It's a "fantastic" machine in everything but raw performance, where it only manages a solid "good". Oh, and price, where I can't help feeling at the moment (as it's so old tech) barely manages a "tolerable".

A nice quad core CPU, graphics card update and SSD would change that.
 
From the other one, I agree I want to see them push the limit, but for users like myself that do not use resource heavy program, the current one is fine. Obviously if someone can use more power, Blu Ray, USB3, etc, then I would hold out.
 
NickZac said:
Is now the time to buy?
"Ooooooooohhhhh YEAAAH!"
----The Kool Aid Man.
Click to expand...

I think that for most people, the time is now. Whether they buy the current version or the next, it will do them fine. It'll even do most of us fine, but... I realize now that had I paid attention to macrumors way back in the fall of 2006 and known that perhaps another revision was coming out. I would have bought myself at least an extra year today.

I would like to still be able to run CS6, 7, even 8, when it comes out on this next laptop.

Apple please give us much more RAM, a powerhouse GPU, and allow us to continue kicking butt with our sexy laptops!
 
ozreth said:
Theres supposed to be some definite new this month, if not a new one by feb.
Click to expand...

I don't think so. Apple takes it time when going to a new platform and intel has yet to release the lower powered sandy bridge chips.

I'm thinking between april and June for the next update
 
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maflynn said:
ozreth said:
Theres supposed to be some definite new this month, if not a new one by feb.
Click to expand...

I don't think so. Apple takes it time when going to a new platform and intel has yet to release the lower powered sandy bridge chips.

I'm thinking between april and June for the next update
Click to expand...

Why do you say that? I don't think that apple will want to make the update that long.

Apple would also want to release the MBP before lion so that they we will need to buy the update.
 
It doesn't really matter what Apple want if Intel can't make it in sufficient volume. Apple will have to compete with the other Tier 1 OEMs like Lenovo, HP , Dell etc for the supply.

We'll get a revised MBP when it's ready.
 
Don't get the outdated dual-core, quads are worth waiting and way more future-proof. Remember, hexa-cores have started coming to desktops and getting a dual-core now makes no sense especially in machine that costs over 1500$.
 
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