MacBook Pro Specs Leaked, iPad Event March 2

Stoobalou updates us on the various Apple rumors, saying, "Snaps of Apple's imminent update to the MacBook Pro range have been leaked, confirming most of the rumors doing the rounds." Light Peak looks like it will be called Thunderbolt. The 13" will feature 2.3ghz Dual Core i5s and 4 gigs of RAM. In addition to the MacBook Pro rumors, the iPad update rumors have been confirmed, with invitations going out to the formal announcement on March 2.

Comments

Re:hmm

[vlm]

Isn't it odd how Japanese cars have just a few trim levels and no stand-alone options besides what you can get installed at the dealership? That /is/ very much like how Apple does things.

The "american car maker" way to sell electronics would be to sell the box for $100 and then mark up all the accessories, so the video cable and the gold plated cat seven ethernet cable each cost $75. Also they'd refuse to discuss prices and only talk how-much-a-month. And instead of spraying rustproofing they'd offer anti-virus installation. Actually that sounds very much like my last trip to Best Buy. Anyone know a good "Japanese style" place to buy electronics in the USA, other than apple?

Re:hmm

[guruevi]

If you want a decent computer that you don't have to assemble yourself, you pretty much only have Apple left these days - they're about the same price as counterpart Dell's a little more expensive than the others but less bulky (Toshiba's power supplies are about as large as the laptop for example) and you won't gore yourself when attempting to replace user-serviceable parts (HP, Gateway). I only buy Apple at work even if it's for a Windows computer because of the cheap 3 year on-site service (compared to Dell or HP) and the generally good quality of products. I made the mistake once buying HP for cheap and I had to buy my own video cards because they didn't come with one (why'd you sell a desktop without even an on-board video card is beyond me).

Re:hmm

[Samalie]

Actually, the comment by parent (somewhat) stands.

Yes, Apple will cost more than a similarly equipped PC.

On the ultra-low end...well, Apple doesn't have an "Ultra-low end" - so you can get a $400 PC vs a $1000 MacBook, and you scream "Look! CHEAPER!" - but the included parts in the PC are all, well, cheaper too. The plastic is cheaper, the screen is cheaper, just about everything is cheaper. THe PC will be loaded with bloatware and a ton of Intel Inside and other such design sticker bullshit. The body will be plastic, not Aluminum. The list goes on and on.

On the ultra-high end...without going to an OEM type build, I ran a fully equipped MBP vs everyone else's web stores when last year's MBP refresh hit. Apple came out $250 more than a similarly equipped Dell, and actually $23 LESS than a similarly equipped HP. (Granted, these are webstore prices and not Amazon/Newegg/etc which I know are better...but doing a direct-from-manufacturer compare here). Add in the fact that there is percisely NO bloatware on an Apple, no stickers, no other cost-cutting-for-PC-maker bullshit, and well...the Apple isn't that bloated price-wise. Throw in an Apple student discount (which is SO ungodly easy to get it may as well be available to everyone) and well...the build quality of the Apple makes up for the 10% or less increased cost.

Sure...you will ALWAYS be able to buy a cheapass PC, and said Cheapass PC will always be cheaper than the lowest of Apple's offerings. But for some of us quality is as important as the specifications, and no $400 Craptop will ever compare to the quality behind an Apple build. Period.