Thanks for the positive feedback! I definitely agree with both points you made and have changed the mockup accordingly. New mockup:
Larger Image:
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii96/coryetzkorn/macbookpro_mockup_large-2.png
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Next MacBook and MacBook Pro Updates in June?
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Thanks for the positive feedback! I definitely agree with both points you made and have changed the mockup accordingly. New mockup:
Larger Image:
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii96/coryetzkorn/macbookpro_mockup_large-2.png
3rd issue - bezel way, way too large
With that huge bezel between the screen and the outside of the case, this would mean that a 15" is bigger than the current ironing board sized 17".
And the 17" - well, hang ten, let's go surfing on our longboard.
With that huge bezel between the screen and the outside of the case, this would mean that a 15" is bigger than the current ironing board sized 17".
And the 17" - well, hang ten, let's go surfing on our longboard.
I agree 100% with you.
People tend to forget that just a couple of years ago, the music industry tried to sell us DVD-Audio, which offered a higher fidelity than regular CD's. And guess what, it didn't catch on. Consumers were willing to trade in their records and cassettes which often failed for the "indestructible" Compact Disc, just as people were willing to trade in the VHS collections for the DVD. However, like the DVD-A, people aren't willing to re-purchase their movie collections.
The investment necessary to upgrade to Blu-Ray (I keep typing BlueTooth) and take advantage of 1080P is great (Blu-Ray player, 1080P TV) and that only allows you to play the disc on one TV. In order for it to work through out your house, every TV would need to be upgraded. It's a hefty investment, for a technology that may only have a ten year life span.
And I really have to agree with Steve Jobs on the fact that people only watch a bought DVD a few times and then they loan them out (never to see them again or is that just me!).
I know the Movie Studios don't want to hear this, but it's a bitter reality.
But it's "Blu-ray", not "Blu-Ray" - so keep trying.
Why do people who buy MACs have such problems with capitalization?
First blu-ray is here to stay.
Second, you make no sense when you say that the people that don't have adequate bandwidth also don't have blu-ray players. The two are not connected. It is a fact that most of the US is hindered by old telco lines and no cable access.
However blu-ray players are readily available and are only going to get cheaper.
I am one of those that can't get better than DSL and yet I have a 1080p Pioneer plasma, a sony 2nd gen blu-ray player, an octo mac pro with final cut pro. Just because I choose to live in the mountains and not waste my life
commuting in a polluted city everyday doesn't mean I am left out of the tech industry.
Like I said, high-def downloads are going to be a future happening but only 5 -10 years down the road when high speed internet and a high capacity delivery infrastructure is in place over most of the US.
Steve Jobs is a salesman. He would say his mother wore army boots if it would increase mac sales. He spouts off all the time and people think he is a visionary.
The man uses his words to make a living. He is a salesman. Say anything for a buck. Who the heck even knows what he actually believes.
I'm not denying he's a salesman and a dam good one at that.
But the thing is the average person who buys movies and has invested in a large DVD collection will be reluctant to re-buy movies a second or third time.
I know what you're thinking, people did it with DVDs and VHS, yes they did. However, there were several factors:
1. People saw the advantage of a DVD over a VHS tape (so that explains why older people, I feel odd calling that group older, were willing to buy into it)
2. It was a cheap investment, just had to buy a player, it worked perfectly with your TV.
3. The next wave of movie fans (first time movie buyers), were interested in technology similar to the CDs that they grew up on.
Now the disadvantage for blu-RAY is that older generation of movie buyers will be to concern with getting their TVs ready for 2009 and this generation's new movie buyers are online, downloading movies which are still in theaters on some illegal torrent and they really don't care about quality, just like they didn't care about the crappy quality of MP3s.
So bLu-rAy loses two key demographics right out of the gate. The smartest thing that Sony did was put it in the PS3, to bad they didn't beg Nintendo to put it in the Wii.
How do you propose to back up said downloads? A physical DVD is cheap, resistant to magnets, moderate environmental variations, and light mishandling, can't crash destroying your data, and can be easily and compactly stored offsite. Hard disks don't offer this comprehensive package of benefits. In addition, are you really going to front the expense of replicating the multi-disc raid you'll need to store a collection of Blu-Ray movies?
why do I want blu-ray in my MBP?
1.So I can stick to 1 movie format. Not have to purchase DVDs & BRDs if I want to watch it on my pute. (FYI - I did go with HD-DVD and do wish they put a combo player)
2. Because I shoot a lot of photos, Design a lot of brochures/flyers/posters/etc... and I want to make backups/archives of these files beyond my backup harddrive for safe keeping in my closet when i dont need to access it again anytime soon.
Why do people bring screen res into it? It isn't about that, it is about convenience and backups/archives.
1.So I can stick to 1 movie format. Not have to purchase DVDs & BRDs if I want to watch it on my pute. (FYI - I did go with HD-DVD and do wish they put a combo player)
2. Because I shoot a lot of photos, Design a lot of brochures/flyers/posters/etc... and I want to make backups/archives of these files beyond my backup harddrive for safe keeping in my closet when i dont need to access it again anytime soon.
Why do people bring screen res into it? It isn't about that, it is about convenience and backups/archives.
While I don't really get the whole Blu-ray on a laptop thing (I've never watched a movie on a laptop and don't plan to) I think it makes sense to look at using it for the near future until downloads are more reliable.
I'd say the majority of users are perfectly happy with regular DVDs though. I know I am. I couldn't care less about high definition.
I'd say the majority of users are perfectly happy with regular DVDs though. I know I am. I couldn't care less about high definition.
Why not compare Apple HD 720p download to a 1080p blue ray on a 17" laptop? You probably won't be able to tell the difference anyways since the screen is so small. Yes, when you blow up to 50" and beyond (I personally have a 720p projector with a 112" screen) you can easily tell the difference. High definition is made for home theaters, not 15" or 17" laptops. 1080p on a laptop? Hell, why not 1080p on my iPhone? Yes, blue ray is nice, but not necessary. a Blue-ray burner would be sweet, but if you're authoring blue ray movies or really need that much storage, get a Mac Pro and be a REAL professional.
Thank You Everyone!
I would just like to thank everyone for their posts. After switching from the Windows/PC world almost two years ago to my very first iMac, I was ready to invest once again and buy a laptop. After reading through everyone's comments, I realized that this was the right time for me to buy a Macbook Pro and I am so glad I did. I'm typing on it right now. Yea, I could have wait until June, and then be disappointed that they didn't change the casing or something, and then I would have waited until November, and it goes on and on. You need to decided what's important - this laptop is powerful - it's running Aperture and I'm loading & processing 12MB raw images with no problems at all.
Go buy a laptop now, and don't wait to see what tomorrow brings.
I would just like to thank everyone for their posts. After switching from the Windows/PC world almost two years ago to my very first iMac, I was ready to invest once again and buy a laptop. After reading through everyone's comments, I realized that this was the right time for me to buy a Macbook Pro and I am so glad I did. I'm typing on it right now. Yea, I could have wait until June, and then be disappointed that they didn't change the casing or something, and then I would have waited until November, and it goes on and on. You need to decided what's important - this laptop is powerful - it's running Aperture and I'm loading & processing 12MB raw images with no problems at all.
Go buy a laptop now, and don't wait to see what tomorrow brings.
I never said anything about 15" or 17" screen sizes. I agree that you need a 50" screen or better to really enjoy highdef.
By the way Apple's 720p is so compressed that it is loaded with artifacts when displayed on a 50" screen. It isn't even close to broadcast 720p or 720p from aan uncompressed source. It is comparable to DVD quality which seems good enough for most until they actually buy a 50" or greater high-def tv. Then even a caveman can see the difference.
I never said blu-ray was necessary on a laptop. I would get one if it were offered, primarily for archives and high-def blu-ray rendering on the go.
I agree that the mac pro would benefit more from a blu-ray device.
My argument was that blu-ray is here to stay (at least for the next ten years). Beyond that who knows? Microchip delivery, flash downloads at kiosks, nation-wide wifi, your guess is as good as mine. But I guarantee you that Apple TV is not holding back Apple from providing blu-ray drives for the mac pro and mbp.
Welcome to the other world. I hope you enjoy your purchase for many years. You definitely made the right choice for you. I wouldn't be waiting either if I was switching.
But ...
I'll still hold out till late summer only because my current 17" PB G4 still has legs and it is my second machine anyway. If Apple had re-designed the mbp to include many of the features of the mb and mba I might have jumped to purchase. But since they didn't, I don't mind waiting until they do.
i have the exact same position. the only catch is that i need to have one before college in early september. boy i hope this june date is right, because in my knower i just know that seems early. i would love for apple to prove me wrong though. realistically i would expect july/august. not a big difference but thats what im thinking.
also, do you think that apple will drop the plastic casing in the redesign and switch to aluminum (fingers crossed but im not holding my breath). theoretically, just because its fun, lets say they do switch materials. you think they will keep the white macbook or will apple white plastic become a thing of the past?
I don't have a clue what Apple will do? If I had to guess I would think that Apple would keep the mb plastic.
As for the mbp, I don't know. I personally never liked the aluminum case because it conducts the heat too well.
An aluminum MBP or PB will scorch your leg without some sort of pad to sit it on. The Aluminum case also dents and breaks when dropped rather than flexing like the plastic cases. It also requires more work to coat the aluminum case with a lasting color coat if Apple wants to offer more color than just silver.
If Apple does come out with a new case, say in flat black anodized aluminum. I hope they insulate the base and open up more side air vents so that you can sit it anywhere without causing a fire.
So people who have DSL are buying up Blu-Ray and have devices like an Apple TV?! LOL. I find that hard to believe. I guess your just the only person that believes that digital media over the internet isn't where this is all going. You must be a Best Buy employee trying to sell Blu-Ray to people who clearly can't tell the difference.
true the aluminum casing itself is basically a heat sink directly onto your lap. good thinking on the cost of coating aluminum i hadnt thought about that. i also agree with your flat black anodized aluminum theoryts really hard to predict what apple will do, but regardless of the switch or lack of switch to aluminum on the macbook and possible colored aluminum on the MBP. if they do make changes to the macbook, it will be interesting to see what they will do (on the exterior) to set the MBP apart from the MB
You really have no conception of the Intel/AMD world do you? Or the world outside of Apple might be a better way to put it. I come from the PC world. What I HATE most about Apple is that they are so SLOW about putting out hardware updates. It's NOT about YOU feeling good about YOUR purchase, but about having CHOICES and to get the latest hardware when you actually NEED or WANT it. That's the difference. I don't care if you feel ripped off that a newer/faster laptop comes out 4 months later. I don't want to have to buy OLD technology when I DO need it just so you can feel better about your purchase 6 months earlier! (i.e. the iPhone crying-fest all over again). I'm glad Apple is finally starting to come around a bit (even if being forced to by Intel). I'd rather KNOW an update is coming than play guessing games about when I might get the next new thing that I KNOW is about to come out (like the next Intel CPU update).
Just knowing I only have to wait until June to get an improved FSB means I may just hold out a little longer to get that MBP and work on my whole house audio system instead (plan to use my old PowerMac dual 553 with a Sata card I just ordered driving big storage and an iPod Touch and Remote Buddy to control either an airport express + AppleTV or two airport expresses... I just wish they had an 802.11n airport express since the bridge extender mode is nice and I don't want to slow my wireless network down for legacy devices that are attached all the time. At least the iPod Touch would only connect when turned on).
I really wish they would offer another case for the MBP either way, though. I want a mag-latch and frankly, I'd prefer a polycarbonate shell over aluminum that can scratch and dent easily. I agree with another thread where I'd rather see a slightly thicker laptop than have the drive slot compromised by being too thin at the bottom. I held off buying one last December soley because of the keyboard issue I read whereby so many MBS weren't registering keypresses (at least the first one). I'm STILL not convinced the keyboard on it is reliable since many have more problems than just the first keypress. There is NO excuse for a $2000+ laptop having a cheap/crap keyboard, IMO. It's STILL using that keyboard so maybe it'll be changed in June. At the very least it'll have a faster side bus.
Of course, if they just had a decent graphics card in the regular Macbook, I'd get one of those instead. It'd be nice if instead of two separate lines, you could just configure the shell/internals the way you want them (i.e. pick a black MB shell/keyboard with MBP internals and ports.)
I already passed up buying a new Mac desktop in favor of another PC in November because the iMac updates sucked (slower than previous ones!) and the MacPro at the time had a CRAP video card (7300GT) for the price point ($2300+ for a 7300GT system is ludicrous). I got sick of waiting (figures the MacPro would finally get a decent GPU option a couple of months later) and just bought an interim $700 PC I put together myself which will eventually be put in an arcade cabinet setup for a Mame system down the road. For $700, I got a 5600+ (2.8GHz Athlon64), 2Gigs of 800MHz DDR2, Nvidia 7900GS, 24x DVD-RW with lightscribe, 320Gig 7200RPM sata drive and Gigabit ethernet running XP. It can play any current game out there plus run all my old Windows software and latest browsers at smoking speeds, etc. But look at what my choices were in the $700 range from Apple.... 1.83Ghz Intel Core2 Duo with Intel GMA 950 crap-o-graphics, 80Gig Sata Drive and 667MHz ram with a COMBO drive (no DVD-RW in 2008!?? WTF!?). I hate to say it, but Apple is STILL shooting themselves in the foot for potential switcher sales. I'm already sold on the superiority of MacOSX over Windows, but I'm not buying CRAP hardware like Intel GMA 950 just to run OSX. And the iMacs are running laptop hardware. Apple NEEDS a true desktop system below their "Pro" level if they REALLY want to get serious about attracting large numbers of switchers from the PC world. Having the option to run Windows on the same machine is a great start, but they seriously need to start offering competitive MAINSTREAM hardware (iMac type setup is NOT a mainstream setup in the PC world and frankly, I don't like something that puts expansion on my desk instead of UNDER it in the case). Yes, I know some of you Apple fanboys think iMacs are the best thing since sliced bread, but I don't like it and I don't like having to buy some insanely expensive $2300-2700+ MacPro just to get a decent GPU on a desktop).
I'll buy the MBP laptop because I want to set up a portable music studio (i.e. LogicPro8) in the future and laptops with good GPUs aren't cheap to begin with (unlike desktops). So their laptop lines are a little more reasonable. But the desktop situation needs corrected, IMO. Something decent in the $1200-1500 range makes sense given what I got for a mere $700 or so above even with Apple taking more profit than a PC.
Without a doubt digital downloading is where things are headed. Realistically we're 10 years out at a minimum from this. I don't live in the woods, I live in a Suburb of Washington D.C./Baltimore Corridor and I can't get more than 2.0 mbps (via DSL) delivered to my house at the moment. And this corridor is one of the United States most populated areas. Verizon FIOS is 1 to almost 2 years away from my street according to Verizon. So I can only imagine how long it will be for the rest of the 85% to get realistic bandwidth to make digital downloads tolerable. So until then, my Blu-ray player is a beautiful thing but I'm not upset that Steve Jobs hasn't put it in my MBP. Would be nice in the Mac Pros though.
blu-ray burners will be too slow and too exspensive atm. ill just wait till 2011 when i get my next upgrade.
only thing i would i loved with next montevina update is the increase FSB, prob better graphics card and DDR3 ram which is currently a bit exspensive for my liking..
ill probably just pick up a PS3 if i want blu-ray movies. but i will first save for an updated cinema display.
only thing i would i loved with next montevina update is the increase FSB, prob better graphics card and DDR3 ram which is currently a bit exspensive for my liking..
ill probably just pick up a PS3 if i want blu-ray movies. but i will first save for an updated cinema display.
My apologies. Since the thread was about the Macbook Pro and Macbook updates, I assumed...well, you know the rest.
I agree that blu ray is the winner in the HD disc format war, but it's still new. I don't think blu ray will ever be as big DVD. I think that by the time the FCC finally switches all broadcast to digital, we'll see were blu ray sits. Hopefully by then, many more people will own HDTV and be able to appreciate 1080p in all it's glory. Whether that signal is from a blu ray player or comcast download is yet to be determined.
Both Bluray and the comcast on-demand/apple TV download thing are experience their growing pains. To me, both platforms are perfectly suitable and neither would suprise me to which one "wins", if you want to call it that.
I am just waiting till they
BRING BACK THE TITANIUM POWERBOOK G4
I want the nice thin lcd bezel and sweet three tone with the keys
Come on apple. That machine was gorgeous.... Bring it up to date.
-Matt
1.25 Ghz Aluminum PowerBook G4 (thin bezel stylee)
450mhz Powermac G4 Cube (It's Nice)
I have owned dozens of other macs
BRING BACK THE TITANIUM POWERBOOK G4
I want the nice thin lcd bezel and sweet three tone with the keys
Come on apple. That machine was gorgeous.... Bring it up to date.
-Matt
1.25 Ghz Aluminum PowerBook G4 (thin bezel stylee)
450mhz Powermac G4 Cube (It's Nice)
I have owned dozens of other macs
I don't want the crappy loosening hinges, flexing and peeling of the paint, though.
But I hear you: Black keyboard, please, and lose that damn webcam. If people want or use one, let them go get a third party-one instead.
Steve jobs a good salesperson indeed, he's been toying with us for so long, he can only stretch these designs for a short period of time. i really hope moteniva justifies a new case design.
i must admit i like to be seen with the latest and greatest, and seeing as how i want to keep this macbook/pro for a few years to come, i want the 'next design'
as steve would prob keep that for another 4 years or so
i must admit i like to be seen with the latest and greatest, and seeing as how i want to keep this macbook/pro for a few years to come, i want the 'next design'
as steve would prob keep that for another 4 years or so