PLEASE NOTE: Current MBP is lightyears behind!

[Filipek]

The advantage of an Apple, what I have noticed, compared to other companies is the fact that Apple uses a lot more potential out of what they actually give.

For example (totally fictive)

'Windows laptop' 3 ghz CPU and only uses 1.8 ghz effectively
'Apple laptop' 2 ghz CPU and uses 2 ghz effectively


I think this has something to do with the 'structure' Apple is using, but I am not an expert on this.

So it doesn't matter if you have a high tech computer, if the specification aren't used how they are supposed to be used, then there no point in having one.

The easiest example: years ago when duo core was first introduced but no programs could make advantage of it. What's the point?

And honestly what percentage of the people buying a laptop actually needs 100% of the max performance which the laptop can give?? (I exclude all the people who play video games, because in my opinion you shouldn't buy a laptop when you want to play videogames, but a desktop pc/mac whatever)

 

[nwcs]

A lot of whining in this thread. Back in the 80s and 90s you might get a new Mac in 18 months to 24 months. So every year is pretty good to me. And there is always the mid-year bump they do.

There are multiple legitimate ways of evaluating value but to me the value of a MBP is not solely in the individual parts and how those parts compare with the parts in other laptops. To me the value is in how all those parts work together with the software. After many years as a software developer I've given up chasing specifications.

So the question is simple: what do you value and if Apple doesn't supply it, why not go somewhere else?

 

[Merkava_4]

I'm thinking the OS is more important than the latest and greatest hardware.

 

[ZilogZ80]

The advantage of an Apple, what I have noticed, compared to other companies is the fact that Apple uses a lot more potential out of what they actually give.

For example (totally fictive)

'Windows laptop' 3 ghz CPU and only uses 1.8 ghz effectively
'Apple laptop' 2 ghz CPU and uses 2 ghz effectively

Nonsense

And honestly what percentage of the people buying a laptop actually needs 100% of the max performance which the laptop can give?? (I exclude all the people who play video games, because in my opinion you shouldn't buy a laptop when you want to play videogames, but a desktop pc/mac whatever)

Good point

 

[grahamnp]

I'm thinking the OS is more important than the latest and greatest hardware.

+1

It's the only reason I still have a Mac. I just wish we could have hardware that was equal or better than the competition because we seem to be paying for it.

 

[bigjobby]

This thread holds no water. Is i5/i7 really 'lightyears behind'? The C2D on the 13" might be lagging but the OP's wording is highly exaggerated. Its as if the current MBPs are running 8-bit 6502 CPUs!

We all have choices. If you prefer what the Windoze units have to offer, nobody is stopping you... Just go for it. There are many, many factors why people buy Apple and likewise with a Win7 unit and it really is fruitless making comparisons based on specs alone.

From a business perspective, there is no point Apple trying to buy-in the new CPUs just yet when all the Windoze notebook manufacturers are scrapping amongst themselves within their directly competing markets. In a nutshell, high component demand equates to higher components prices and higher probability of shortages and these higher prices will cut into the bottom line. Likelihood of shortages and delays is also higher and leads to poor customer service and disgruntled customers which really isn't Applesque. So Apple waits a bit, gets better component prices and more reliable deliveries whilst maintaining margins. If you understand business, you will understand what I'm getting at.

If you do go for the Windoze counterparts, just be aware of vent locations:
RH vent = toasting hand (if right-handed)
LH vent = toasting books, peripherals etc
Underbelly vents = toasting lap/bed etc, higher CPU temps, roaring fans.

Lastly, the other day a went to the Apple Store with a small problem with my trackpad. 5 mins later, I was leaving with the part replaced and MBP running perfectly. Just can't see this kind of service happening when purchasing a Win notebook.

Whatever your choice, good luck either way and quit the whining... its not healthy.

 

[old-wiz]

This. If the OP really has a problem with Apple waiting for the Sandy Bridge chips to become widely available (2-3 months tops...) before updating the MBPs, then the OP should just get a PC and stop complaining. I, like many others, will be waiting for the Sandy Bridge MBPs patiently. It shouldn't be much longer.

Well spoken.

One thing that has not been touched on: The first iterations of new generation chipsets often have bugs and companies that simply rush to have the newest chipset (be it Sandy Bridge or whatever) deliver products that have glitches and do not perform as well as they should. I would much rather a company takes time to make sure the chipset is stable on their platform before starting to sell them. All of the current MBPs are perfectly decent machines that get the job done. There is nothing wrong with buying a Core2Duo if it provides the performance you need to do whatever you want to do with it.

Buying the latest and greatest just to have the latest and greatest is a waste of money.

 

[Aatos.1]

Well spoken. All that Apple seems to care about is the ultraportable iOS devices - along with the MBA.

Apple being a mass market (think WalMart) consumer electronics company is focused on mainstream products that take no technical knowledge to operate. Phones, music players, TV's and selling content.

The new MBA was / is nothing more than a token effort and a way to draw interest to the latest cash cow known as the Mac App Store.

 

[langis.elbasunu]

when did so many people become spec sluts?


I tried to use an audio production suite on a brand new dell with 2GB ram and a core i5 running windows 7 and it hung up constantly.

yet my 2.26 c2d mbp w/ 2gb never even hiccup'd.




specs schmecs



real world results please

 

[Apple OC]

we could use more people that think like you ... maybe you should go buy an Acer and stop crowding our Apple Stores.

 

[bpaluzzi]

you not getting the point. i think its the marketing - if you look at the specs, the stuff thats actually in the laptop. and you do a pricing of this. add in a labour component and a sales and distribution fee. then comapre this to the market and you will see that what is being sold is old technology. sandy bridge is the latest thing and the current price. there just is no logical business case for buying old, outdated stock at todays price.

thats if you understand the business sense behind it obviously

Others have tried to tell you this, I'll be more blunt:

The only people that care about specs AT ALL are geeks.

That's it.

If you know how fast your machine's processor is, you're a geek.

If you're on this site, you're a geek.

The VAST majority of the world are not geeks. They don't care about specs. It is, as someone else mentioned, a binary condition:
"Does" or "Does not".

Mac hardware hits the "Does" category more often than not.

 

[Hemingray]

For the vast majority of computer users these days the CPU in their computer is no more relevant than the CPU in their TV/Set top box/Fridge etc.
In fact I would say that 80% or more would be able to use a core 2 duo and not notice any difference from the i5/i7 in terms of their everyday requirements.

I would agree, however we are talking about MacBook Pro's, their professional/prosumer line. This isn't the MacBook. I can say with certainty that my i7 MBP blows a C2D out of the water, hands down. I may not be the majority of computer users, but I am the intended target for the MBP's market. (Edit: And I should mention that while the 13" MBP still uses a C2D, I don't think Apple can really be blamed for that one.)

That having been said, Apple has usually been a step behind in the PC performance wars. I think it's prudent on their part, because it allows them to take a step back and watch what is or isn't going to be profitable. The rest of the industry are the guinea pigs; Apple takes the successful and makes it more solid. (mp3 player, phone, laptop, etc.) Personally, I don't mind not having bleeding edge technology, as long as my solid aluminum MBP lasts me for years to come, which I am confident it will.

 

[Aatos.1]

If you do go for the Windoze counterparts, just be aware of vent locations:
RH vent = toasting hand (if right-handed)
LH vent = toasting books, peripherals etc
Underbelly vents = toasting lap/bed etc, higher CPU temps,

The nature of my work is such that I use both a ThinkPad & MacBook Pro. The ThinkPad is pushed hard via resource intense work. Heat is not an issue, but then again I'm using a new premium laptop, not some bargain basement brand x machine. It's a workstation class computer which is both fast & quiet. I find Windows 7 quite good for my needs. Thus as much as my personal preference is a Mac, it's advantages have been all but erased in recent times.

 

[S.B.G]

I am always confused why someone who starts a "let me enlighten you" thread doesn't just go buy the products they find to be superior

It is called choice, and we all have one

My sentiments exactly.

 

[Xil3]

The advantage of an Apple, what I have noticed, compared to other companies is the fact that Apple uses a lot more potential out of what they actually give.

For example (totally fictive)

'Windows laptop' 3 ghz CPU and only uses 1.8 ghz effectively
'Apple laptop' 2 ghz CPU and uses 2 ghz effectively


I think this has something to do with the 'structure' Apple is using, but I am not an expert on this.

Couldn't be further from the truth...

 

[S.B.G]

The advantage of an Apple, what I have noticed, compared to other companies is the fact that Apple uses a lot more potential out of what they actually give.

For example (totally fictive)

'Windows laptop' 3 ghz CPU and only uses 1.8 ghz effectively
'Apple laptop' 2 ghz CPU and uses 2 ghz effectively


I think this has something to do with the 'structure' Apple is using, but I am not an expert on this.

What evidence do you have to support this claim in a technical sense?

 

[BornAgainMac]

Windows got along fine all these years being "good enough". Apple can do the same thing with hardware. I do notice that my iMac with the i5 CPU feels much faster than my Dell i7 ever did. Sandy Bridge is just going to get wasted on a Windows PC that doesn't even know how to efficiently use the extra power.

Give the MBP refresh another 90 days and then complain. Apple is probably going to take out the DVD drive and figure out what to do with all that extra space.

 

[Fubar1977]

This thread holds no water. Is i5/i7 really 'lightyears behind'? The C2D on the 13" might be lagging but the OP's wording is highly exaggerated. Its as if the current MBPs are running 8-bit 6502 CPUs!

We all have choices. If you prefer what the Windoze units have to offer, nobody is stopping you... Just go for it. There are many, many factors why people buy Apple and likewise with a Win7 unit and it really is fruitless making comparisons based on specs alone.

From a business perspective, there is no point Apple trying to buy-in the new CPUs just yet when all the Windoze notebook manufacturers are scrapping amongst themselves within their directly competing markets. In a nutshell, high component demand equates to higher components prices and higher probability of shortages and these higher prices will cut into the bottom line. Likelihood of shortages and delays is also higher and leads to poor customer service and disgruntled customers which really isn't Applesque. So Apple waits a bit, gets better component prices and more reliable deliveries whilst maintaining margins. If you understand business, you will understand what I'm getting at.

If you do go for the Windoze counterparts, just be aware of vent locations:
RH vent = toasting hand (if right-handed)
LH vent = toasting books, peripherals etc
Underbelly vents = toasting lap/bed etc, higher CPU temps, roaring fans.

Lastly, the other day a went to the Apple Store with a small problem with my trackpad. 5 mins later, I was leaving with the part replaced and MBP running perfectly. Just can't see this kind of service happening when purchasing a Win notebook.

Whatever your choice, good luck either way and quit the whining... its not healthy.

Well said, totally agree.
The OP has "flame bait" written all over it, why post on MR in the first place? Just buy what suits you and if you feel a Win laptop is better for you then just do it and enjoy your quad core portable stove and its 1.5 hour battery life.

 

[iPhysicist]

...zip...light years behind the competition

You know it and I know it. The lightyear is a distance. My MBP sits right here on my desk. I can see its competitors from my chair but clearly the distance between them is less than 5 Meters. Who is wrong?

Who is wrong? kamil.amersi or the iPhysicist?

 

[Zmmyt]

it all comes down to how much you can spend on a computer and what your needs are.

if i couldn't afford a mac i would need to put up with windows. but since i can afford an Apple i rather get that and enjoy worry free computing. i couldn't care less about specs as long as the screen is nice. i wonder who really needs such fast computers at home. what is average joe doing with their super fast HPs and Dells?

I rather have a nice screen, keyboard and trackpad than the latest proc and gfx. maybe some companies should focus on these things too.

 

[Looon]

I am always confused why someone who starts a "let me enlighten you" thread doesn't just go buy the products they find to be superior

It is called choice, and we all have one

Some people want to educate those who might otherwise be taken in by the flashy Apple advertising only to realize they bought an inferior product

 

[nep61]

Simple solution get a windows pc , me no thanks I will stick to Mac I will never go back to
unreliable windows

Agreed - 100% --- However, I've NEVER been a PC owner... Mac since 1992.

Anyway....as MOST people who read this forum know... Apple releases new products every year at about the same time for the same product lines. March = iPad / June or July = iPhone / April = Macbooks etc.
They're not going to cannibalize sales of last year's model just so they'd be the first on the block to integrate new hardware into their line.

Now, I hope someone posts a new Thread asking which external hard drive to buy... those make for exciting reading !!!

 

[Hellhammer]

Some people want to educate those who might otherwise be taken in by the flashy Apple advertising only to realize they bought an inferior product

CPU performance isn't the only thing that affects the quality and value of the product...

 

[langis.elbasunu]

PEOPLE!!!!

SPECS ARE EVERYTHING!

 

[vant]

Apple doesn't cater to spec whores.

It's a widely known fact.

They aren't going to change their 6-10 month update schedule to get the latest and greatest.

In return, your resale value doesn't plummet. MacBooks are very easy to buy new, PCs are not.

On top if that, why would you compare a MacBooks on CPU alone? If we all did that wouldn't we all be driving corvettes? Who cares about battery life and portability, it's all engine baby!