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Apple unveils new Macbook family

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Originally posted by: Gooberlx2
Originally posted by: Kaido
Apparently the new Audio Jack supports both digital input AND output, according to Engadget. They're reviewing it now and said they would post more details when they're done...

http://www.engadget.com/2009/0...unboxing-and-hands-on/

Also the SD card is bootable 🙂

http://i.gizmodo.com/5285969/n...-from-internal-sd-slot
Click to expand...

I'm eager for engadget to report on the screen quality of the 13" pro vs last gen's 13" unibody non-pro.
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Ditto!
 
Originally posted by: Gooberlx2

I'm eager for engadget to report on the screen quality of the 13" pro vs last gen's 13" unibody non-pro.
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A number of people in this thread have the new machines already, and have posted pics of the screen. It looks great. Sounds like they have gone with the screen from the MacBook Air.
 
Bootable SD is nice - no more need to burn and carry system install discs, just load them all up on a 8/16GB SDHC and be done with it. Although I'm still hoping that Apple would give a bigger boost in CPU than this current update. Would be nice to have 2.93GHz as the standard higher-up than the 2.53GHz. The Dell Latitude E6400 has had it for the longest time.

P.S. the 2.4GHz 13" unibody is available for $1099 on Apple refurb. Would be nice to get that one instead of the base model 2.26.
 
Originally posted by: Parasitic
Bootable SD is nice - no more need to burn and carry system install discs, just load them all up on a 8/16GB SDHC and be done with it. Although I'm still hoping that Apple would give a bigger boost in CPU than this current update. Would be nice to have 2.93GHz as the standard higher-up than the 2.53GHz. The Dell Latitude E6400 has had it for the longest time.

P.S. the 2.4GHz 13" unibody is available for $1099 on Apple refurb. Would be nice to get that one instead of the base model 2.26.
Click to expand...

Gotta wonder when OSX will be shipped on SD then. The packaging would be so much smaller.
 
Originally posted by: Parasitic
Bootable SD is nice - no more need to burn and carry system install discs, just load them all up on a 8/16GB SDHC and be done with it. Although I'm still hoping that Apple would give a bigger boost in CPU than this current update. Would be nice to have 2.93GHz as the standard higher-up than the 2.53GHz. The Dell Latitude E6400 has had it for the longest time.

P.S. the 2.4GHz 13" unibody is available for $1099 on Apple refurb. Would be nice to get that one instead of the base model 2.26.
Click to expand...

IMO the improvement in the screen is enough to make the 13" MBP preferable to the refurb MB. Obviously the firewire and SD card slot are nice as well, and the battery is a wash for me.
 
I was already planning on buying a new laptop later this summer, and was really torn between the Unibody MB and MBP. The larger, nicer screen and dedicated card were a big draw for me, but it was mostly the screen. The price drop, plus new features, and the drastically improved GPU (over my intel GMA950) means that I can now save quite a few bucks and just get the 13" MBP. Plus, from what I have seen, they dropped in the MacBook Air's LCD so the viewing angles are improved, as is the color.

I am already used to having a 13" screen, and if I were to get the 15" I would want the 9600m model, so it is now a choice between an incredibly powerful 13" MBP (compared to what I currently have) or a more powerful 15" for $800! more. Plus with Snow Leopard coming out not too long after I am planning on getting it (late summer, early fall. Hoping to score on the iPod Touch deal before it fades away) means that I will have a sweet little machine for the next 3 years or so.

Plus, 7:Q hours of battery life. Gizmodo's tests show 3.5 hours in their usage, but I get 2.5-3 hours on my existing battery, so I would probably be looking at something like 5 hours or more on the new one.
 
One bummer is now an express card slot is only available on the 17" MBP. If you want to use these for cutting video, you WILL want eSata for fast external storage performance, fw800 is not very universal and peaks at around 70-75mbs best case. Apple is all over the map on connectivity with its macbooks.
 
I went and checked out the new machines at the Apple store today (I have a 13" 2.53GHz MBP on order). They're about what you would expect based on the specs - solid as a rock. The new screen looks amazing, and was significantly better than the ones on the unibody MBs they had in the store.

The initial reviews are starting to trickle in and I am convinced that, for my specific needs, the new 13" MBP is the best laptop ever made. (This obviously does not imply that is true for everyone, but I really favor the 13" form factor, prefer OS X, and care a great deal about the feel of a machine.) I can't wait to get my computer next week!
 
So we can no longer remove the bottom with the switch like on the old MBP instead we have to remove all the screws now? Mmm...now I have to think again.
 
Originally posted by: IHAVEAQUESTION
So we can no longer remove the bottom with the switch like on the old MBP instead we have to remove all the screws now? Mmm...now I have to think again.
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That is correct. Frankly it hardly seems like a big deal - how often do you swap out your hard drive?
 
Just saw anand's article about the battery life numbers. 8.5 hours is very sweet. Compared to the Dell XPS 13, in terms of pure hardware, the cheapest Macbook Pro wins out. Now if only the battery life savings can be transferred over to windows.
 
Originally posted by: Hacp
Just saw anand's article about the battery life numbers. 8.5 hours is very sweet. Compared to the Dell XPS 13, in terms of pure hardware, the cheapest Macbook Pro wins out. Now if only the battery life savings can be transferred over to windows.
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Yeah, that is an amazingly glowing review. I can't wait to get my machine. Honestly I was initially skeptical of the non-user-replaceable battery, but it sounds like it has huge functional advantages, and since I live in a city with several Apple stores it's not materially less convenient than having a removable battery (assuming I even keep the laptop long enough to need a replacement battery - if it's really as long-lived as they say I probably won't).
 
Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone
Originally posted by: Hacp
Just saw anand's article about the battery life numbers. 8.5 hours is very sweet. Compared to the Dell XPS 13, in terms of pure hardware, the cheapest Macbook Pro wins out. Now if only the battery life savings can be transferred over to windows.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that is an amazingly glowing review. I can't wait to get my machine. Honestly I was initially skeptical of the non-user-replaceable battery, but it sounds like it has huge functional advantages, and since I live in a city with several Apple stores it's not materially less convenient than having a removable battery (assuming I even keep the laptop long enough to need a replacement battery - if it's really as long-lived as they say I probably won't).
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I don't really see the non hotswappable battery as a con. It is still user replaceable, as long as you're good with a screwdriver. There are two big benefits to this. One is more space to add a larger battery. The second is the elimination of latches, making the notebook feel sturdier.
 
Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone
Originally posted by: Hacp
Just saw anand's article about the battery life numbers. 8.5 hours is very sweet. Compared to the Dell XPS 13, in terms of pure hardware, the cheapest Macbook Pro wins out. Now if only the battery life savings can be transferred over to windows.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that is an amazingly glowing review. I can't wait to get my machine. Honestly I was initially skeptical of the non-user-replaceable battery, but it sounds like it has huge functional advantages, and since I live in a city with several Apple stores it's not materially less convenient than having a removable battery (assuming I even keep the laptop long enough to need a replacement battery - if it's really as long-lived as they say I probably won't).
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And even if you do. At that point it'll be out of both standard and apple care warranties. Just buy a replacement on ebay. While it's not "officially" user replaceable, enough dissection pictures have already shown it to be incredibly simple to remove/replace.
 
Originally posted by: Gooberlx2

And even if you do. At that point it'll be out of both standard and apple care warranties. Just buy a replacement on ebay. While it's not "officially" user replaceable, enough dissection pictures have already shown it to be incredibly simple to remove/replace.
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Good point.

I bought the 2.53GHz, 13" machine, but other things being equal I think the best deal would be to get the 2.26GHz with 4GB and a 500GB HD. I got it for $1399 shipped (AR) from MacConnection - between the sales tax and the reduced price I couldn't resist the ~$220 savings over buying it from Apple. I am really excited about this thing - it really does seem like the perfect laptop for me.
 
Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone
Originally posted by: IHAVEAQUESTION
So we can no longer remove the bottom with the switch like on the old MBP instead we have to remove all the screws now? Mmm...now I have to think again.
Click to expand...

That is correct. Frankly it hardly seems like a big deal - how often do you swap out your hard drive?
Click to expand...

Well, is hard drive the only thing to access with the switch bottom on the old MBP? I thought we could access battery and memory too.
 
Originally posted by: IHAVEAQUESTION

Well, is hard drive the only thing to access with the switch bottom on the old MBP? I thought we could access battery and memory too.
Click to expand...

I was just naming the thing that seemed like the most frequent replacement item. Most users will replace their RAM once if at all, whereas laptop hard drives do conk out from time to time. Anand's review makes it clear that the new batteries are a huge improvement, and they may never need to be replaced during the entire service life of the machine if Apple's claims are accurate (notably, the review demonstrates that Apple's other claims about the new batteries ARE true).

I just don't see removing ten screws as a huge hardship if I only have to do it once every few years.
 
Originally posted by: IHAVEAQUESTION
Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone
Originally posted by: IHAVEAQUESTION
So we can no longer remove the bottom with the switch like on the old MBP instead we have to remove all the screws now? Mmm...now I have to think again.
Click to expand...

That is correct. Frankly it hardly seems like a big deal - how often do you swap out your hard drive?
Click to expand...

Well, is hard drive the only thing to access with the switch bottom on the old MBP? I thought we could access battery and memory too.
Click to expand...

Just memory and HDD is accessible from the bottom compartment. I believe you can remove a few more screws to get to the battery, if needed... but it's not a swappable component like it was in the Aluminum Macbook Pros.
 
Originally posted by: IHAVEAQUESTION
Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone
Originally posted by: IHAVEAQUESTION
So we can no longer remove the bottom with the switch like on the old MBP instead we have to remove all the screws now? Mmm...now I have to think again.
Click to expand...

That is correct. Frankly it hardly seems like a big deal - how often do you swap out your hard drive?
Click to expand...

Well, is hard drive the only thing to access with the switch bottom on the old MBP? I thought we could access battery and memory too.
Click to expand...

Just the HDD and battery. You still had to remove the under-plate to access the RAM. Still, how often do you change any of those items?

One a side note: I dunno about you guys, but I think this guy has some serious confidence and snobbery problems to have such an emotional investment in the "image" of the Pro line.
 
Originally posted by: Gooberlx2

One a side note: I dunno about you guys, but I think this guy has some serious confidence and snobbery problems to have such an emotional investment in the "image" of the Pro line.
Click to expand...

the OP definitely sounds like an idiot in the first post in that thread, but I can see how some power users object to the state of the MBP line. I for one don't care about a matte screen, dedicated graphics, 3G, eSATA or an ExpressCard slot, but I can absolutely see how they are important features to some intensive users. It does seem reasonable to me to want pro features in a machine that calls itself a MacBook Pro. Maybe, since the MBP line now includes a 13", $1199 machine, Apple should consider making an "Elite" line that is visually distinctive (say, black anodized) that includes the full fat, professional feature set.

That being said, as I noted above, I think the 13" MBP is the closest thing to a perfect laptop that has ever hit the market for my specific needs, so I totally appreciate the changes to the MBP line.
 
That being said, as I noted above, I think the 13" MBP is the closest thing to a perfect laptop that has ever hit the market for my specific needs, so I totally appreciate the changes to the MBP line.
Click to expand...

I wholeheartedly agree. I so wish I had the money to get one.
 
Originally posted by: Excelsior
That being said, as I noted above, I think the 13" MBP is the closest thing to a perfect laptop that has ever hit the market for my specific needs, so I totally appreciate the changes to the MBP line.
Click to expand...

I wholeheartedly agree. I so wish I had the money to get one.
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Ya the price is just insane. I don't really want to spend 1200-1300 dollars on a new notebook, especially during the recession. Its really really tempting though.
 
I placed my order for the stock 13" (lower end one) last night, and it should be here by Monday. I am quite excited as this is my first upgrade since I got my Asus Z63A back in the fall of 2005...this seems like the perfect laptop for me: fast, light, and with great battery life.

 
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