RSSNew MacBook Pros look a lot like the early pictures
By Tim Conneally | Published October 14, 2008, 2:21 PM
Apple's spotlight on notebooks this morning in Cupertino unveiled the company's newest line of MacBook and MacBook Pro notebooks, proving once again that there is nothing that Apple can make that the blogs can't leak.
The leaked images that have been circulating on Engadget and elsewhere for the last two weeks have been of the new MacBook Pro, which was announced today; likewise, the "brick" term that was thrown around in rumors referred to Apple's new manufacturing process of this chassis, also announced today.
The chassis has received outwardly minor, but innately important upgrades based upon innovations in the MacBook Air. Instead of a constructive process of thin layers of aluminum, Apple took a 2.5 pound "brick" of aluminum and worked through a process of removal, taking away material that wasn't needed.
Also just as rumored, the new MacBooks have a redesigned trackpad. It is now a pressure-sensitive glass surface with no accompanying mouse buttons. Instead, the entire surface is the button, and the multi-touch features now support four-finger gestures. All those who shunned Mac for its one-button mouse will surely take note of its new "no button/all button" interface.
While no dramatic overhauls have been made to the MacBook Pro's CPU, they now come standard with dual GPUs, an integrated NVIDIA 9400M GT which can be relied upon for battery conservation, and an additional 9600M GT for graphics-intensive applications (games, perhaps?).
![Apple's New 15" MacBook Pro](http://images.betanews.com/media/2096.jpg "Apple's New 15" MacBook Pro")
The $1,999 15-inch MacBook Pro configuration includes a 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 3 MB L2 cache, 2 GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 Memory, the aforementioned dual GPUs, and a 250 GB hard drive.
For $2,499, the 15" MacBook Pro can be upgraded to include a 2.53 GHz Core 2 Duo with 6 MB of L2 cache, 4 GB of DDR3 memory, and a 320 GB HDD.
A couple of new MacBook Airs were unveiled today as well, expected to reach retail outlets in early November. The $1,799 13-inch model has a 1.6 GHz Core 2 Duo with 6 MB L2, 2 GB of DDR3 memory, a 120 GB SATA HDD, and a single Nvidia GeForce 9400M. The $2,499 version has a 1.86 Core 2 Duo, and a 128 GB SSD. The big addition to these is the Mini DisplayPort, allowing the MacBook Air to attach simply to an external monitor.
And for those who were expecting Apple to "shatter" the $1,000 barrier, it did happen today, although not with the model some pundits were anticipating. ![Apple's New 13" MacBook](http://images.betanews.com/media/2095.jpg "Apple's New 13" MacBook")
The most popular notebook from Apple, the 13" MacBook -- which typically sells for $1,099 -- got a price reduction to $999.
A new addition was also made to the MacBook family. The newest MacBook looks to be another move in Apple's continuing quest to avoid the environmentally un-friendly badge.
The "greenest MacBook ever" comes in a 13-inch profile, has a 2 GHz Core 2 Duo/3 MB L2, 2 GB DDR3 memory, a single Nvidia GeForce 9400M, and 160 GB HDD for $1,299. A $1,599 version ups the CPU clock to 2.4 GHz and the HDD size to 250 GB, and also adds a backlit keyboard. These similarly offer the new glass trackpad and re-designed chassis. Upgrades include 4 GB DDR3, 320 GB HDD or 128 GB solid-state drive, and DVI, Dual-DVI and VGA output adaptors. These outputs are presented as options because a Mini DisplayPort has become the standard video out on all the new models.
Though there were some minor surprises, the leaks proved to be mostly accurate.
Wow these are nice. I have been thinking about getting another laptop for a while and a new MacBook Pro looks pretty damn good.
For the money, you just can not beat an Apple laptop. Sure, you can buy some super low performance cheapo Dell for like $499, but if you want a real workstation class laptop, you can not beat an Apple running OSX.
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|I wished you weren't full of bull but so far one can get a ThinkPad T series at a higher spec than any Apple available for a fraction of the price.
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|what are the specs? post a link.
I can get any Apple for a _fraction_ of the price of _any_ PC clone makers computer
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|You are not worth my while - just correcting bull for the greater audience.
Check it yourself.
Actually - even take a hint from the stuff TexasFox is posting further down (and up...).
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|How exactly are you "correcting" me? You offer nothing but baseless rants. Prove me wrong. I am giving you the opportunity...
BTW - there is no "TexasFox" posting in this forum. Get your multiple user names mixed up?
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|A workstation class laptop huh?
Well it ain't the MacBook Pro!
Not with a max 4GB RAM maximum expansion capacity!
So, you want to run VMWare Fusion and a number of VMs? After all, this is a workstation class machine isn't it? Great! You could almost do it if the machine were not critically constrained by RAM!
Top dog? Really? Then eat your heart out, While Apple is just introducing their new models as things to aspire to, competitors are already introducitn machines with announced enhanced offerings subject only to market availability!:
Guess who makes this machine with a portion of the resources and features listed below and an already announced upgrade path...
"In addition to the fastest available Intel
3.06GHz Core™2 Duo X9100 Penryn laptop processors (to be upgraded to the Intel low power Nehalem quad-core processors upon availability) and two SO-DIMM slots for 4GB of DDR3 (to be increased to 8GB with the Nehalem CPU), the laptop packs dual hard drive bays with RAID support and SSD options, a 17" screen (with a 1920*1200 option) in addition to auto-adjusting Pantone color calibration and brightness options. To power the screen, users will have the choice of a variety of NVIDIA Quadro mobile graphics chips. A DVD burner is standard, with a Blu-Ray burner option available.
Input devices and ports: full-sized kepboard with a numeric keypad, a full-sized trackpad, a trackpoint, and a WACOM tablet. The tablet, the first to be used on a shipping notebook, allows graphics and other content creators to draw shapes by hand on its pressure sensitive touch surface. Lining the sides of the device are 5 USB ports, VGA, DVI, Display Port, Ethernet, Audio, ExpressCard, and a multi-slot card reader. Users who opt to buy a dock will also get eSata, digital audio, and cabling for external monitors and speakers.
In the future, the new laptop will support Intel's upcoming Nehalem-derived quad-core laptop CPU when it launches next year, and up to 8GB of RAM." Gee, and you don't even have to pay extra for a modem. Go figure... And the Lenovo W700 is only one of several expanded capacity laptops already shipping that offer substantially greater resources as well as graphics capabilties.
Yeah, I want to spend $3K+ on a MacBookPro with a fancy mouse that does less than a Wacom tablet, and with no near term prospect of a quad core processor or enhanced RAM capacity...
The ONLY thing Apple has going for it, is OSX.
Unfortunately all Apple has done is to introduce another high priced mediocre performer with limited resouces good for playing YouTube videos.
When they decide to make a REAL desktop replacement/workstation caliber laptop, call. But the MacBook Pro ain't it by a longshot.
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|TexasFox=foxfyre.
Lenovo Thinkpad T series:
http://shop.lenovo.com/S...7EB421099C1676099E3EA34
Would you like fries with that? Want me to read it for you as well?
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|I run multiple VMs on my MacBook Pro today. Sounds like you might need some help getting it to work? I will help you.
Alls is see in your rant is "...upon availability)". So what do they ship _today_?
In the future Apple will have the same chips...more memory...more graphics...more sound...more display. That is true of all computers, not just laptops.
We all laugh at your rants. Keep them coming...
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|Wow, your trolls are getting weaker by the day. What happened PC_Tool? Ooops...you replied under the wrong username.
All you offer is a generic link to Lenovo's site? LOL. Spec me out a machine.
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|As said you are not worth my while but here is an idea:
Make a donation to WWF of $50 and post the proof somewhere. I'll match it 100% and throw in some of my time speccing a machine out for you.
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|*LAUGHS*
Apparently, I do need to read it for you...
Sorry, but those incapable of reading, much less researching to form their own opinions aren't worth *having* opinions to begin with.
Thanks for playing.
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|Generic? Did you even try? Clicking the link takes you to the t-500 in various styles ranging from lowend to high end complete with specs...
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|I was helping my sister yesterday set up her Dell laptop for Skype with an external camera/mic and was shocked again at just how stupid the whole PC experience is. You really can't compare Apple computers with PC's. Apple products are such a joy to work with! It is sort of like what the Japanese did with cars years ago that Detroit wasn't doing...they seriously thought about the driver/user. Finally, your not paying for the Apple name, your paying for the Apple experience, which is like nothing else on the market.
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|God, imbeciles have been at it again overnight!
So how exactly did Apple improve the user experience over simply plugging in the device and just using it?
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|Yawn.
Any real advances will be seen in the spring of 09 when the low power Nehalem quad core CPUs become available.
As far as the MacBook. Resources are still inadequate for running several real VMs and the Lenovo W700 still kicks it @ss as a performance desktop replacement laptop. And at this point, all the DDR3 Ram does is increase price as its performance is constrained by the remaider of the system. But it sure sounds cool. And that's what's important, right Steve?
And built in Biometrics or multifactor authentication? Yup, its Apple, so we know they haven't a clue.
FINALLY they upgrade the abysmally dated GPUs. To bad with their fruitfly lifespan they can't be upgraded in the future as the market advances.
All in all, nothing much compelling. Time to wait for the new low power quad core CPUs and hope that someone other than Jobs has a clue as to how real people want to actually use their computers for production, rather than looking cool at a bored meeting. But then, Steve is all about looking cool. Now...if they can just get Bono to be seen with it...
Sorry.
OSX is great, but the real innovation in CAPABLE laptops is coming from the PC side. Just peruse the latest offerings by Samsung and Lenovo (W700).
And Apple totally blows it in the form of multifactor authentication, lifecycle, cost, and integrated resources.
And don't even get me going by mentioning the laughably obscene prices for memory upgrades on Apple's website!
Not to mention that anyone who upgrades to any of their obscenely priced memory upgrades (and doesn't simply go 3rd party and hang onto the originals in the event of warranty issues) is a complete and utter idiot.
Either come up with a real workstation class laptop or release unsupported OSX for Intel Roadmap compliant PCs.
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|foxfyre, you try to hard to make yourself sound smart and important. You're also trying to hard to make "friends" with the PC fanboys here but everybody that's been here long enough knows that underneath all of that double talk is just a Mac fanboy much like myself.
The steps that Apple has taken with the new MacBooks are hardly unimpressive as you put it. Not everybody is a technical geek like yourself who is worried about every little spec of a computer. Most will be quite pleased with an aluminum case, Nvidia GPU, backlit keyboard, bigger HD and overall better performance. To get that you would have had to get a MacBook Pro. Not anymore.
Calm down, take your meds and chill out.
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|Well, knowing yourself too well, you don't even try.
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|Isn't it fun to listen to the Apple fanboy cry "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!"?
Sorry to rain on your emotional hype there fanboy. But you are simply long on talk and low on substance.
I like OSX. I am NOT a fan of their overpriced hype short on deliverables - except for the dual quad core XEON MacPro.
The wacko PC fanboys are right in that the PCs offer much better performance for the buck. But its a shame one is stuck running and reinstalling and reinstalling and reinstalling.... Windows or fighting with Linux.
And Apple, being run by the same anal retentive image obsessed jerk who was kicked out the first time for not supporting opening up the Mac2s, sit on a real gem of an operating system that we cannot fully take advanage of due to underpowered, over-priced laptops long on style, yet low on substance.
Innovation? LOL! Like I really care about the new mousepad. Now there is a reason to buy a new computer! LOL! Especially when I would be stuck trying to see the screen through the glossy reflections that add so much style at the expence of functionality.
And yet Lenovo has a waterproof keyboard, real usable multi-factor authentication and biometrics, and equal or greater performance and reliability - for less money.
The fact is, if it weren't for OSX, the hardware wouldn't cut it at its price point.
But ol Steve knows that! And THAT is why he is scared sh!tless ( no small achievement with Steve!) to release OSX to the larger market.
I would love to like the Macs. But image over substance doesn't cut it. And the premium required to get OSX simply keeps people running to Windows, and fighting with Linux.
Bottomline: Apple does a lousy job of strategic marketing.
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|"Bottomline: Apple does a lousy job of strategic marketing."
LOL. You're clearly very emotional right now or even suicidal. With a statement like that, you just lost all credibility. Apple's strategic marketing IS the very reason Apple products sell so well compared to the competition!!!! You've clearly bumped your head on that one. But nice try at trolling though. Perhaps you'll be more successful in your next rant...
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|LOL!
Poor baby, in psychology that's called projection.
Yup, Apple dominates the market. LOL! They wish they had the market share of a Dell or an HP!
Not with their product mix and prices and utter lack of a viable lower price point market presence!
Hell, Apple even threw away the education market that they once owned outright as well as actively destroying the independent network of market VARs who were largely resposible for the initial early successes of the Mac.
The only thing Apple has in overabundance is arrogance...and the fear of having their hardware lunch eaten if they release OSX for the PC and their hardware has to stand on its own.
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|Just use a lot of big words it will scare away Internetworld7 - facts do not work so well with him, he's just following some weird blind, cult phenom.
I agree OSX is a great OS the problem is they are selling the OS not the hardware is how I see it...
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|If Apple had the cahones, or heck, just the integrity to walk its hype, they would release OSX to the broader Intel Roadmap compliant machine base in unsupported form (hey, its between you and the manufacturer of your machine if the machine is truly compliant - not Apple's problem - and let each manufacturer verify that it will support OSX) and let their hardware earn its keep on its own in the larger PC marketplace.
Then they would be forced to offer real and compelling advantages of substance in order to capture the market - be it in terms of design, features, resources and/or price.
The problem is that ol' anal control freak Steve has less faith in his pets than does the larger market.
OSX easily holds its own. The MacBook Pro, a 'putry' yet mediocre performer, does not.
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|I like them because they are "green" it will go very well with my iPhone and prius.
No one sells more laptops, computers, PDA's or music players then apple.. right?
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|Right. :)
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|Wrong.
And more symbolism over substance.
Both Samsung and Lenovo's W700 kick these machines to the curb in terms of power, resources and price on both ends of the power/price spectrum.
And all glossy screens? Great if all you do is fard all day looking at your reflection in the screen. But hey, gotta keep ol creepy looking Steve happy now...
Unfortunately Jobs has made a business out of selling image over substance, rendering the Mac and OSX a boutique environment rather than the utilitarian environment where it would be better served.
But then, why would they want to actually walk their talk that OSX is a better environment for all, as they actively restrain its use as they fear their hardware will be marginalized if an unsupported version of OSX is released to the open market for Intel Roadmap compliant PCs... In other words, Apple is terrified its hardware can't cut it on its own without the support of OSX.
But hey, talk is cheap, isn't it fanboy7? But then Apple has always been about telling us what we want instead of entering into a dialogue with the marketplace and supplying what the market wants. Sort of like your rants.
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|OH MY GOD! I'M COMPLETELY FLOORED BY APPLE'S AWESOME NEW DESIGN AND BETTER PERFORMANCE IN THE NEW MACBOOKS!!!!!!!
I was getting ready to get a new 24" iMac but I just have to have this new gorgeous and mind blowing sexy MacBook first. Then I'll get the 24" iMac next.
Today is an incredible day for the Mac world. Now is the time to finally get that MacBook you have always secretly lusted after. Apple is Killing the competition. Dell, HP, Gateway, Sony, etc, none of them come even close to this type of breath taking innovation not to mention none of the clunky and ugly computers they make run Mac OS X, the most advanced operating system in the world.
Don't walk, run and get a Mac today guys and get out of the stone ages of computing. Come on board with the Mac, it's a fresh breath of air.
Oh and by the way, here is the stunning video directly from Apple showing off it's new MacBook. Viewer discretion is advised. This is not for the faint of heart:
http://www.apple.com/macbook/?sr=hotnews
Steve Jobs MacBook keynote: http://events.apple.com....dws876/event/index.html
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|internet,
You are not even convincing anymore.
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|Pookie put the pipe down
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|Ahaahahahahahahahahaa!
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|I'm glad to know I once WAS convincing to you. :)
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|So, Where are the $800 Macs ?
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|A hundred and ninety-nine dollars more. =P
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|No FW400 = Piss off a lot of Audio/Video professional.
A side from that not bad, I like the new look, with the black border.
DDR3 memory, neat... Nice to see it get to the notebook realm.
Though, I'm most interested to see what the reaction will be to the new trackpad. That to me seems like somewhat of gamble. I know Jobs doesn't like "lines" on his laptops, but this may annoy a lot of people who are used to scrolling with their fingers, and "clicking" with their thumbs.
Smaller MacBook Pro, nice touch. A lot of people wanted this.
Well, I guess we'll have to wait and see how they do.
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|"No FW400 = Piss off a lot of Audio/Video professional."
It has FW800, which I believe is backwards compatible, no?
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|It is... but having to carry around an adapter is counter the idea of getting a laptop. No? =)
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|DDR3 = a complete waste!
The unit lacks the bus speed to take advantage of the DDR3 capabilities - so all you get now is the buzz and the additional price!
Whoopee!
New 4GB DIMM capability and more RAM to support more VMs would make much more sense!
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|Really? I thought DDR3 even at the same bus speed would perform better?
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|At the same bus speed it's extremely marginal... not proportional to the exorbitant price premium over DDR2.
About the only benefit DDR3 memory has in a portable device is lower power consumption.
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|It'll look great alongside the Ethernet adapters and external DVD drives (with powered USB hub) for the MacBook Air.
http://regmedia.co.uk/20...ookcommodorecompare.jpg
With Apple, image is everything! They probably offer a snazzy little white fanny pack (with Apple logo, of course) for innovative little gadgets like that.
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|a shiney laptop. yey...
my PC has blue-ray
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|It helps if you can spell it correctly.
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|"my PC has Blu-ray"
There....Fixed it for ya.
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|Where are you Internetworld7?? This is your day! New Macbooks!! Yay. It's gay pride day!
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|The only greater retards than i7 are those insecure enough trying to offend others by calling them gay. Who cares!?
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|And what is wrong with being gay?
I am gay myself, and pretty much happy with it.
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|"pretty much"
Odd turn of phrase to use.
/am not having a go at you, just intrigued by the phrase
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|Just being funny, calm down, no harms done.
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|He's also not supposed to take your 'f** f** f**' commet further up negative, right?
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|"proving once again that there is nothing that Apple cannot make that cannot first be leaked to blogs."
What? Triple negative ahoy.
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|