New MacBook Pros Launched

Art Vanderlay writes "Apple's new MacBook lineup has launched with a refresh to the MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air models. As expected, the MacBook and MacBook Air both feature Core 2 Duo processors, as does the 13. The 15 and 17 models come with a choice of i5 or i7. Memory is 4GB across the board, with an optional upgrade. Additionally, the new line may include three different types of screen options: Glossy, High Resolution Glossy, and High Resolution Glossy with Anti-Glare. A second person familiar with the matter adds that at least some models will support 512GB of Solid State Drive (Flash) storage."

Comments

As a current generation macbook pro owner...

[Em Emalb]

Oh pretty! fwap fwap fwap fwap.

(What? That's the response this "article" was looking for, wasn't it? Just doing my part)

Re:As a current generation macbook pro owner...

[Anonymous Coward]

Whoa, when I saw those I spilled my half-caf double-decaf grande mocha-latte-chino all over my goatee and black turtleneck. The shock caused me to drop my thick black-rimmed glasses into the cup!

Oh well, it's all good. My hipster friends and I are meeting up to chill in the Apple store this afternoon. Maybe I'll take a look, maybe I won't, or maybe I'll work on my english literature paper due tomorrow. Sooooo hard.

Re:As a current generation macbook pro owner...

[Anonymous Coward]

Wouldn't a hipster be using some sort of Tandy portable with a 386 processor in some sort of display of self-declared "irony"?

Re:As a current generation macbook pro owner...

[Low Ranked Craig]

I like my processors like I like my cartridges: overkill.

Still Overpriced?

[gladish]

I would seriously like a serious opinion from other people. Are apple's machines, in particluar their notebooks overpriced?

Re:Still Overpriced?

[LBArrettAnderson]

Yes.

And what's the deal with the price of the upgrades?

  8GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x4GB [Add $400.00]
 
Really? and $900 for a 24" monitor?

Re:Still Overpriced?

[Pojut]

In my opinion? Yes. They are very well built, there is no denying that...but the Apple logo demands quite a premium. When you consider that there isn't anything you can do on a Mac that can't be done on a PC, the price gap becomes more noticable.

If absolutely have to have OSX, I would recommend putting together a hackintosh. You get all the functionality of OSX but at a MUCH reduced price compared to Apple-branded hardware.

This is just my opinion, I don't speak for anyone else, etc.

Re:Still Overpriced?

[Anonymous Coward]

I don't think they're overpriced as much as they are over-spec'd. The problem is that they just don't have any mid-range offerings; it's top-of-the-line or nothing. I don't know about you, but I never buy top-of-the-line; I'm usually a generation or two behind, which is where the sweet spot (in terms of price vs performance) usually lies. I guess I will never own a Mac for the same reason I will never own a Porsche.

Re:Still Overpriced?

[Nichotin]

I would seriously like a serious opinion from other people. Are apple's machines, in particluar their notebooks overpriced?

Depends on how you are looking at it. If you do comparisons based on hardware alone, you can always find a cheaper PC from Acer or other brands. I write for a local computer magazine, and review a good amount of laptops every year. My conclusion is that Apple is pretty much top of the line when it comes to construction and finish. Magnetic cord for the charger, very thin design (even for 15 and 17 inch), not particularily noisy, a multitouch trackpad that actually works without being a nuisance, resumes almost instantly and a unibody chassis (the aluminium one is really great, it really does not wear down in the same way that other laptops tend to do). There are of course some flaws as well (like not having SD reader on the MacBook 13), but they are generally worth the extra $$$ for the extra quality on the build. If you are just after the fastest hardware for your money, you can always find something from a manufacturer that does have the same priority list.

Re:Still Overpriced?

[jjohnson]

They're overpriced in the sense that an Audi is overpriced. On paper, the quality of some components is better, the overall design is better, and you're paying a bit more for a level of quality that you can't directly point to and say "that piece there is why it's $300 more." A Ford Escort will get you to and from work just like an Audi will.

That said, I've switched over to MacBooks from Dells and been totally happy with the change. There are ways to avoid that "premium product" price tag--buy a model behind from Apple's refurb store, for example. My Macbook is a bit lighter and thinner than a comparable Toshiba, it has OSX instead of Windows, and the keyboard and screen are superior. The magnetic power cord has saved me a couple times from yanking it off the coffee table. I'm happy to pay a couple hundred dollars more for those things, just like I paid a couple thousand more to buy a Honda Accord instead of a Civic.

Re:Still Overpriced?

[TheRaven64]

Actually, for once the RAM isn't that much overpriced. Buying two 4GB DDR2 SO-DIMMs from crucial.com costs $380 more than buying two 2GB ones. That's a pretty small difference. It's a far cry from when I bought my last MBP and it was cheaper to buy it with the minimal RAM configuration, buy new RAM, and throw the RAM it came with in the bin.

Charging $30 each for adaptors to plug in a VGA or DVI monitor is just cheap though - they should be included as standard, and were on older Mac laptops. Same with charging $20 for the remote. Part of the Just Works(tm) thing you get with a Mac is that it comes with everything you need in the box - making half of the things you need into 'optional' extras detracts from this. They've done the same with the iPod, removing things like the dock, mains charger, belt clip, and so on that used to come in the box.

Charging $150 extra for the non-rubbish display option is also a bit irritating.

Re:Still Overpriced?

[Pojut]

I would suggest either eBay or Craigslist. If you time it right, you MIGHT get lucky and find discounted models at Best Buy...they tend to lower prices on models shortly before the new ones come out (this applies to all electronics there)

Re:Still Overpriced?

[frinkster]

I would seriously like a serious opinion from other people. Are apple's machines, in particluar their notebooks overpriced?

I have owned 3 Apple computers and my experience has been that the resale value more than makes up for any initial price differential. I have never had a problem finding people willing to pay hundreds (in one case $1500) for a 4 to 5 year old Apple computer. Sometimes I have trouble getting people to follow through when I put an old PC on craigslist for FREE.

My other experience has been that build quality is generally very good and that commands a bit of a premium, much like a good Thinkpad will generally cost a bit more than an equivalent Dell.

Re:Still Overpriced?

[LBArrettAnderson]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010170000%201309139890%201309239101&ShowDeactivatedMark=False

That's the total cost of 2x4GB at their specified speed. It's still cheaper to get third party RAM and tossing out the old stuff.

Re:Still Overpriced?

[ari{Dal}]

Try their refurb store: http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac?mco=OTY2ODY3Nw

You can get applecare for the refurbs too, which is nice.

Re:Still Overpriced?

[TheRaven64]

That's surprising. Buying directly from Crucial is $500. The part numbers match, so NewEgg must have some extra discount. Looking at suppliers in the UK, I can't find anyone who sells it for less than Apple charges for the upgrade, although it still works out slightly cheaper if you sell the old modules afterwards.

Re:Still Overpriced?

[mdarksbane]

This gets so ridiculous.

No, they aren't overpriced *if* you need their specific combination of features and you're willing to pay a (at this point, small) premium for the case and OS.

If however, your needs don't neatly align with Apple's designs (say you only need the minimal processing requirements of a netbook, or you don't care if the battery in your desktop replacement only lasts 2 1/2 hours because you'll just carry a spare or two) then they're overpriced.

Why is it so terribly hard for slashdot groupthink to realize that different computing users have different requirements in their computer?

Personally, given my general need for a desktop-replacement level portable system that *doesn't* weigh a ton and still had good battery life, the low end macbook pro's definitly have a price premium, but it's nowhere close to 2x.

Cognitivie dissonance alone can't account for the fact that despite being so "overpriced" Apple consistently has the highest user satisfaction rating.

Re:Still Overpriced?

[SydShamino]

There are ways to avoid that "premium product" price tag--buy a model behind from Apple's refurb store, for example.

Alternatively, you can replicate the car model and buy new, then resell, providing the product for those who want to buy used at a discount.

I bought my previous Mac Mini new for $850 or so and resold it for $600. Yeah my MacBook Pro cost like $2400 new but I could still get $1500 for it easy. Incrementally the costs aren't so bad, and my anecdotal evidence suggests that Macs have a lot higher resale value than generic PCs.

Re:Still Overpriced?

[jedidiah]

> Why is it so terribly hard for slashdot groupthink to realize that different computing users have different requirements in their computer?

Except THAT is exactly what the "slashdot groupthink" is realizing.

It's the mindless Apple fanboys that won't accept that.

They think that one size should fit everyone and just because it's in Apple's bundle it means that you need it and should pay the premium for the whole package.

Apple prices are something you TOLERATE if you want MacOS. Apple's hardware is just a part of the bargain.

Re:Still Overpriced?

[TheRaven64]

Because we all know that chips that deserialize a 5Gbps DisplayPort data stream and convert it to a totally different format (DVI-D) or analog RGB signals (VGA) are in fucking cereal boxes as prizes these days, right?

Nope, those chips come in MacBook Pros. The adaptor is trivial; the graphics hardware in the machine is capable of producing DP, DVI-D and VGA signals, the adaptor just alters the physical form factor of the plug. The graphics hardware detects the kind of monitor that is connected and automatically switches to the correct format.

The Dual-Link DVI adaptor is much more complex. Dual-Link DVI contains more pins than are available, and so the MBPs can't produce the correct signal. This adaptor contains a frame buffer, decodes the frame in one format, and then reencodes it in the other. It also costs significantly more ($99, versus $29 for the other two).

You'll note that you can buy third-party adaptors for VGA and DVI that cost half as much as the Apple ones, which just reinforces the fact that they should be bundled with the machine. It would add about $10 to the total materials cost (if that) and reduce the feeling of being ripped off significantly.

Where are the news for new HP, Lenovo, Compaq...??

[viraltus]

I mean it...

Low video ram 256m in a $1800 laptop? and a $400 r

[Joe The Dragon]

Low video ram 256m in a $1800 laptop? and a $400 ram upgrade?

NO E-sata NO firewire 1600 / 3200 NO USB 3.0?

NO ExpressCard/34 slot in the 15" system as well?

Screens...

[Joce640k]

We've gone full circle from matte to glossy to "glossy with anti glare"? Great!

(anti-glare comes at a premium I assume...)

Re:Screens...

[oDDmON oUT]

No, they implemented the "Hi-Res Antiglare Widescreen Display [Add $150.00]", which brought back what creatives bemoaned the loss of, in the prior rev. of the product line, at a premium price point as you surmised.

Re:I wonder

[willyd357]

I don't know about the batteries, but wallets will still be susceptible to the infamous shrinkage.

Re:EULA?

[biryokumaru]

Well, Jobs recently said that all Mac developers must now communicate only in Klingon. He said that people may see this as a risky move, but it'll be a better choice in the long haul.

buy' ngop!

Mac mini / Mac pro still NOT UPDATED and same pric

[Joe The Dragon]

Mac mini / Mac pro still NOT UPDATED and same price with the mac pro with it way out date and week video card. Also this makes the imacs prices look bad as most of them still have core2 and the lower systems did not get better video like the 13" mac pros did.

NOW apple where is the I5 / I7 desktop system (head less) with mid range with upgrades to better cards starting at $800 $1000 $1200? The Imacs at $1,499.00 with only core 2 and only 4670 graphics with 256MB is not cutting it for your new gaming push and the mini needs to be alot better at $800.

How many Slashdot article submitters does it take

[richdun]

A second person familiar with the mattered[sic] adds that at least some models will support 512GB of Solid State Drive (Flash) storage.

Er, so it took a second person to go to the Apple Online Store and find that out?

Oh, and for those without a second person around to check for them, the 512GB SSD comes up as a BTO option on all models (at the low low price of $1300 - $1450!).

This doesn't count as an iPad or iPhone article

[Culture20]

so we're still due two more Apple articles today. Unless these new MacBook Pros run iPhone OS, then I suppose it would count, sort of.

Re:Where are the news for new HP, Lenovo, Compaq..

[oldhack]

Also, I'm in the market for a new toaster. Can a nerd get some info, eh?

Are they really that great?

[Xoltri]

I've had a MacBook Pro for a couple of years now and overall I'm not impressed. The aluminum case dents super easily, there are only two USB ports, I am on my second power adaptor and second battery, and my DVD drive no longer burns DVD's. Furthermore, it gets so hot you cannot have it on your lap without a layer of asbestos between it and your legs.

Re:Low video ram 256m in a $1800 laptop? and a $40

[pushing-robot]

1. Yeah, it's silly to only have 512mb on the high-end models. But most non-gamers won't care.
2. 4GB DDR3 SO-DIMMs are still expensive. Other PC manufacturers charge about the same.
3. eSATA isn't "sleek" enough for Apple; it needs a second power cable, has a relatively flimsy plug, has hot-plugging/compatibility issues, etc, etc. They'd much rather people use Firewire.
4. Firewire 1600/3200 won't exist on consumer gear until at least late 2010.
5. Intel is dragging their feet on USB 3.0, which means most computers and peripherals won't see it for at least another year.
6. Most people don't use ExpressCards; they'd rather have a slightly larger battery or other features taking up the space.

If it's not what you're looking for in a notebook, last time I checked you're still allowed to not buy one. And if your primary considerations are how well it plays games and how many different things you can have plugged into it, might I suggest you look at desktops instead?

12 things likely to be overheard

[wiredog]

...if you have a Klingon Programmer.

12) "Specifications are for the weak and timid!"

11) "This machine is a piece of GAGH! I need quad i7 processors if I am to do battle with this code!"

10) "You cannot really appreciate Dilbert unless you've read it in the original Klingon."

9) "Indentation? I will show you how to indent when I indent your skull!"

8) "What is this talk of 'release'? Klingons do not make software 'releases'. Our software 'escapes', leaving a bloody trail of designers and quality assurance people in it's wake."

7) "Klingon function calls do not have 'parameters', they have 'arguments' - and they ALWAYS WIN THEM."

6) "Debugging? Klingons do not debug. Our software does not coddle the weak."

5) "I have challenged the entire SQA team to a Bat-Leth contest. They will not concern us again."

4) "A TRUE Klingon Warrior does not comment his code!"

3) "By filing this bug report you have challenged the honor of my family. Prepare to die!"

2) "You question the worthiness of my code? I should kill you where you stand!"

1) "Our users will know fear and cower before our software! Ship it! Ship it and let them flee like the dogs they are!"

Re:12 things likely to be overheard

[element-o.p.]

I think I used to work with you....

It doesn't matter

[copponex]

$2400 will get you the top of the line 15" MacBook Pro. A similarly specced Dell Precision Mobile Workstation will only have a superior video card (Quadro FX 1800M), and maybe a higher def screen, and certainly vastly superior docking options and ports. Battery life and portability are the big drawbacks to the PC side of the aisle.

At the high end of things, the computer you buy depends entirely on your main application. For anyone in digital content creation, you have to have OS X in order to have Logic and Final Cut. If you're making movies, music, or web pages, you're probably going to get a Mac. If you're mainly an engineer or business applications user or developer, you're going to get a PC. If all you do is check Facebook or troll slashdot, the Apple logo is a very expensive brand name, but the MacBook or a used MacBook Pro with the extended warranty is probably worth the money compared to trying to maintain a virus-free windows installation. If you don't need any commercial application support, dual monitor support, etc., a netbook or notebook preinstalled with Linux is a great option.

Personally, I usually have the latest gen MacBook Pro* triple booted with Windows 7 and Ubuntu, since I have clients all over the board. The new terabyte 2.5" 12mm drive from Western Digital fits in the unibody models, so I have a 500G data partition, 250 for OS X (Logic/Final Cut are huge), 150 for 7, and 100 for Ubuntu.

OS X is a great operating system, it's just unfortunately in the hands of perhaps the biggest douchebag in the world. I hope after his reign has passed, the company falls apart and OS X is unshackled from Mac hardware and the black hole that is his ego.

*yes, I get it. It's supposed to be funny.

Only MacBook Pro

[Jonathan A]

Apple's new MacBook lineup has launched with a refresh to the MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air models.

I'm pretty sure that only the MacBook Pro models have been updated. The MacBook and MacBook Air seem the same.

Re:Apple Tax!

[99BottlesOfBeerInMyF]

But still, WHY would I pay $1,450 more for the MacBook Pro?

Screen resolution, quality and reliability of parts, decent touch pad, decent speakers, mag connect power, Firewire for video work, no driver issues with the video card and OS, faster hard drive, multiple non-mirrored video displays, 2 pounds lighter to carry around, DVI, backlit keyboard, more than twice the battery length, automatic graphic card switching, slightly better bluetooth... that's most of it. Well and it can run and comes with OS X, which means more to most of us than the rest of it.

You can make the same comparison though with a higher end Dell laptop. It has a lot more features than the Acer and it costs more. If you don't need a high end laptop, don't buy one. If you live you life in front of laptop, well you might want to spring for one that is higher quality, more reliable, and more featureful. A grand is what, a week or two of consulting for a professional. Hell adding the new Adobe CS Suite will bump up the price $2600 but if it's the best tool for the job, it pays for itself in short order.

Another depressing "refresh" to the MBP line

[cmattdetzel]

Still no eSATA. No USB 3. No SATA III (6GB/s). No Blu-ray. SSDs are still Samsung models which do not use any of the top 3 controller technologies (SandForce, Intel, Indilinx Barefoot). 1920 x 1080 or 1920 x 1200 resolution still not available on 15" models.

All the things I'd been hoping would make it to the next MBP didn't. Looks like I'll be sticking with my 2006 Core2Duo 15" MBP a while longer.

Apple swapped my old Macbook battery.

[rbphilip]

I recently took my old Core Duo macbook (not pro) in to the apple store with a swollen battery and they replaced the battery no charge in 5 minutes. And apologized for my trouble.

what are they thinking

[beattie]

Apple MacBook Pro
15-inch: 2.53GHz (1440x900 -- Optional 1680x1050 still not 1080p and costs $100)
Intel Core i5
4GB Memory
500GB hard drive
SD card slot
Built-in 8- to 9-hour battery
Intel HD Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M with 256MB
$1,999.00

Dell Studio 15
Intel Core i5-430m
4GB Memory
500GB 7200RPM HD
ATI Mobility Radeon 5470 1GB
15.6" HD 1080p High Brightness LED display
85 Whr 9-cell battery
$1,114.00

screen - winner Dell (even with the optional upgrade to the mac)
vid card - basically tie, slight edge to dell
memory - tie
cpu - tie
battery - tie
HD - tie
cost - Dell is still 965$ cheaper with the screen upgrade to the mac to make them as similar as possible.

I think it's clear which is better. You pay almost double for the mac and get less. I would like to switch but they just never make it viable. $100 premium is one thing. This is just insane.

Re:what are they thinking

[Algan]

The MBP is thinner, slightly lighter, comes in a unibody aluminum body, has longer battery life, magsafe, multitouch glass trackpad and better build quality. And OSX.
This may not make up for the price differential for some people, but others think it is worth it. It's just a matter of personal preference, really. And budget, of course.

The old overpriced arguments miss out . . .

[Monty_Lovering]

... That comparing Mac to PC prices on the basis that most computer buyers are not buying a specification. What most people use a computer for can be done on a netbook. Unless you will be using apps that require more horsepower, they're fine.

Many will choose between laptops on budget, screensize, appearance and intangibles.

Mac tend to win on appearance and intangibles, just like some car manufacturers do. If people can afford something the size they need they'll pay more for BMW than Ford; even if in someways the Ford is better.

Apple have built impressive brand values and get a higher margin for it.

Is that even news? Of something other than an acheivement?

Whaddaya want? Them to apologise for making more money selling essentially the samething?