MacBook Pros Updated

[FanIn80]

Before this goes any further...

- We know MacBooks are expensive.
- We know Mac OS X is different than Windows.
- We know Apple does... whatever the topic du jour is.

Moving on...

Apple today updated the MacBook Pro line with faster processors, powerful next-generation NVIDIA graphics and even longer battery life. The popular 13-inch MacBook Pro features the new NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics processor for up to 80 percent faster graphics and a groundbreaking 10-hour built-in battery. The new 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pro models feature Intel Core i5 and i7 processors and Apple's new automatic graphics switching technology that toggles seamlessly between powerful NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M and energy efficient Intel HD Graphics processors.

Some positives:

- Core i procesors.
- Love that you don't have to relog to switch graphics cards now.
- 512MB SSDs
- 10, 9 and 8 hour batteries.
- Inertial scrolling, though I don't know what it is yet. Sounds cool though

Some negatives:

- Only one drive bay in the 17".
- Max 512MB graphics memory.
- Nvidia instead of ATI.

[Hack&Lube]

I think it's time that Apple gets it's own forum inside the tech forum

[BlackEleven]

Core i7? Nice.

Do you have a link to this? I'm curious about the price tag.

[photon]

\o/

[llama64]

If you have a Magic Mouse - I'm pretty sure you already have inertial scrolling (flick finger, scrolling continues for a bit based on an inertial value).

You can hack that ability into existing Macbook trackpads I think.

Unless I'm missing something.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by BlackEleven

Core i7? Nice.

Do you have a link to this? I'm curious about the price tag.

http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/

http://www.apple.com/ca/macbookpro/

[FanIn80]

Oh hey... Optional 1680x1050 res on the 15s too.

[MickMcGeough]

Pretty good update - and really not all that far out of line from PC prices on comparable hardware.

Glad Optimus made it in - transparent video chip switching should be the standard on any laptop with discrete video.

Wish there was an anti-glare option for the 1440x900 screens though - I really don't want 1680x1050 on a 15" but I hate glossy screens...

$50 extra for a 7200rpm HDD is awesome.

The price points sure make it hard to get anything but the upper-end machines at each size.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by BlackEleven

Core i7? Nice.

Do you have a link to this? I'm curious about the price tag.

Whoops. I knew I forgot something. Looks like Burninator got it though.

[Burninator]

You can get the bottom end MacBook Pro for less than a 500GB SSD upgrade. Blargh.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by Burninator

You can get the bottom end MacBook Pro for less than a 500GB SSD upgrade. Blargh.

Yeah, and that's were I would have liked to have two drive bays in the 17. 160GB Intel SSDs are (relatively) inexpensive and perfect for system drives, but not so good as both system and storage.

[MickMcGeough]

Too bad about the 330GT though. That chip will not stand up long.

[FanIn80]

Yeah I would've been happier with an ATI chip.

[mykalberta]

512MB SSD?

Arent SSD's hard drives? I assume its a typo.

I would click on the link except there was no link given.

[Regorium]

Originally Posted by MickMcGeough

Pretty good update - and really not all that far out of line from PC prices on comparable hardware.

Glad Optimus made it in - transparent video chip switching should be the standard on any laptop with discrete video.

Wish there was an anti-glare option for the 1440x900 screens though - I really don't want 1680x1050 on a 15" but I hate glossy screens...

$50 extra for a 7200rpm HDD is awesome.

The price points sure make it hard to get anything but the upper-end machines at each size.

Yeah this is huge. However Optimus is an NVIDIA technology while the press conference says Apple is using some seamless switching. Perhaps Apple tweaked it a bit?

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

512MB SSD?

Arent SSD's hard drives? I assume its a typo.

I would click on the link except there was no link given.

Should say 512 GB.

[Regorium]

Originally Posted by MickMcGeough

Pretty good update - and really not all that far out of line from PC prices on comparable hardware.

Just don't get started here because it's not true. Lest it be the same as every apple thread. FanIn80 already conceded that they're expensive as hell (which they are). Don't open this can of worms.

[Russic]

A friend of mine was going to buy a Macbook Pro about a month ago, i recommended she not because the line is due for an upgrade. She went ahead and bought one anyway ... anybody care to weigh in on how badly she got screwed? All I really am able to understand is really basic stuff like speeds. Once it gets into the different chips I'm lost.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by Russic

A friend of mine was going to buy a Macbook Pro about a month ago, i recommended she not because the line is due for an upgrade. She went ahead and bought one anyway ... anybody care to weigh in on how badly she got screwed? All I really am able to understand is really basic stuff like speeds. Once it gets into the different chips I'm lost.

So you mange to save people from buying a 3 dollar twitter client for the iPhone but not MacBook Pros? For Shame sir.

[Regorium]

Originally Posted by Russic

A friend of mine was going to buy a Macbook Pro about a month ago, i recommended she not because the line is due for an upgrade. She went ahead and bought one anyway ... anybody care to weigh in on how badly she got screwed? All I really am able to understand is really basic stuff like speeds. Once it gets into the different chips I'm lost.

Pretty badly. This update is pretty slick compared to the old ones.