New MacBook Pros Launched 411
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."
Re:Screens... (Score:5, Informative)
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:Still Overpriced? (Score:3, Informative)
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? (Score:3, Informative)
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? (Score:5, Informative)
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? (Score:5, Informative)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010170000%201309139890%201309239101&ShowDeactivatedMark=False [newegg.com]
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:Low video ram 256m in a $1800 laptop? and a $40 (Score:5, Informative)
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?
Re:Still Overpriced? (Score:3, Informative)
Try their refurb store: http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac?mco=OTY2ODY3Nw [apple.com]
You can get applecare for the refurbs too, which is nice.
Only MacBook Pro (Score:5, Informative)
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:Still Overpriced? (Score:3, Informative)
> 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:what are they thinking (Score:3, Informative)
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.
Re:Still Overpriced? (Score:5, Informative)
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.