MacBook Pro rumored to be getting multi-touch trackpad, sun also rumored to rise tomorrow
By Donald Melanson 
posted Jan 21st 2008 3:02PM
posted Jan 21st 2008 3:02PM
While you'd be hard pressed to come up with a safer Apple rumor to predict, it seems that AppleInsider has it on supposedly reliable word that the company will in fact be extending multi-touch trackpads to its top-end MacBook Pro line, and in the "next several weeks," no less. What's more, those same sources say that the new MacBook Pros (both 15-inch and 17-inch models) were originally supposed to make their debut "at or around Macworld Expo," but they got pushed back after Apple was forced to put additional resources and personnel on the MacBook Air in order to get it out in time. No firm word on what other specs we can look forward to, unfortunately although AppleInsider speculates that the laptops could be standardized around Intel's 2.5GHz and 2.6GHz mobile Penryn processors, which should offer some slight battery improvements in addition to a boost in performance.
[Thanks, Mark]
[Thanks, Mark]
Hi,
some one please help me to enable tapping in windows xp,my mac is mac book pro 895
thanks
and the upgrade is only $20.
in other news, the earth revolves around the sun, gravity was just founded my sir isaac newton, and the beta version of the wheel was presented at macworld last week
founded?
wow how did i miss that error?
my?
Time to check my savings
Yeah, hopefully we will see Air-like redesigns for both of the Pro machines and the consumer MacBook when they add those giant M.T. trackpads. I'm talking black keyboards, mag-latch across the board, and tapered outer case design. Doubt we'll see a back-lit keyboard on the MacBook, but I hope they make them in aluminum, and possibly colors too.
Man, I had already checked mine and was ready to buy one when the Apple Store went live after the keynote... then I got served the huge plate of disappointment that is the MacBook Air.
Seriously, yo. this engadget post just saved me two thousand dollars. I was a week away from buying a MBP. now i'll wait.
I want to buy one so that I can put windows on it.
ooo. The fanbois won't like that !
Are you suggesting someone would like that?
Heck no, I sure don't mind. As long as you buy the Mac hardware, I don't care what OS you put on it. I have one OSX Tiger and two Windows XP Pro installs on my MacBook Pro (one for Fusion and one for BootCamp).
Only some MS fanboy would think so narrow-mindedly. WinXP Pro is fine, it's Vista I wasn't too happy using (on account of it's resource hogging).
Apart from the above nonsense, I wish it was just a hardware upgrade to turn the current MacBook Pro pad into a multitouch pad. It's not ultra-great, but it does seem pretty slick to use some of those gestures.
@jordn: The AAPL stockholders will! myself included.
Apple seriously need to considering hiring a bit of additional manpower! Every major project recently appears to have been set back because they've had to move staff around to work on another, more important product. I know that Apple seems to like to work with small groups, partially to minimise early exposure of a product; but with the market appeal being much bigger now, they really need to do some hiring!!
You need to get out more. Companies hate employees. They cost money and create risk (of losing more money to lawsuits and such.) Hiring more people is that last thing a "major corporation" ever wants to do.
Apple loves it's employees (I used to be one)! Beer Blasts every second Friday? Sushi Chef on campus every day? The problem isn't that they hate employees, they only hire the best. Most companies only hire the cheapest most passible person they can squeek by on. Not Apple, that why you pay $3K a laptop. Keeping the best on call isn't cheap.
We have an immigration problem. Tech companies find there aren't enough good technical types graduating from US universities and foreigners can't get the visas. (Political admonition omitted.)
@Scooby
Out of curiosity... Do they really ask the "virginity" question?
very well said !! I got so sick of waiting for the new OS.
i think its unfair to upgrade macbook pros trackpad and leave macbooks as it is ....im planning to buy a macbook and i d like to have this multitouch trackpad...
I have an iBook G4 and I think it's unfair that Apple has upgraded their notebooks all the time. I want the newer ones because I think the magsafe looks purdy.
I laughed at the OP's comment. It's unfair? Seriously? They should just give me the laptops for free, that way everyone is happy (well at least me).
Reader,
Yes, I'm dead serious that I want Apple to give me extra laptops for free because I feel like it's unfair they upgrade to new ones.
Really? Ah-ha...uh, No.
The point of me saying OP (original poster) was to say that I'm not replying to you...
ok, so keno didn't respect the pecking order-- but he's right. updated macbooks will be very welcome, when they finally arrive. if somebody keeps his promise, they'll have LED screens, too. how long are we looking at, seers?
Do these multi-touch trackpads really make a difference? It's not that I'm against adding them but I honestly don't see that they'd be very useful considering the size of the trackpad - it just seems like there's not enough room there to really take advantage of multi-touch. Anybody can attest to the opposite?
The trackpad on the current MBPs is quite large. Definitely more than ample for two-finger scrolling, etc. IIRC, from the photos, the trackpad on the Macbook Air is even larger than the one on the current MBPs.
If this is the case, I'd imagine that the MBP would also get the larger trackpad along with the added functionality. Should be plenty big to perform pinching and the other new multitouch features.
Well tomorrow IS a Tuesday, after all...
Remember that odd-sounding comment at the end of the stevenote about there being 50 more weeks in the year? I'm expecting more than MBP updates in the coming months.
OOps - I was referring to the sun rise thing... Forgot to make that clear :P
Wow I'm glad I check my feeds. Was about to put down the cash for one of the current models.
I'm not one for rumors, but it seems plausible. A few weeks is manageable so I'll wait it out and see how it goes.
I just don't wanna get kicked in the balls. Again.
Man, I'm glad I check my feeds too. I just found out that the sun was going to rise tomorrow.
Man, I'm glad I check my feeds too. I just found out that the sun was going to rise tomorrow.
Um.... It was funny when someone else did it the first time...
honestly i hope its not in the next few weeks. I can live with months. I just ordered a macbook pro to replace a dying laptop and I don't want to have the older tech by only a couple weeks.
i just ordered a mb pro yesterday. got tired of waiting for an update that seemed like it wasnt gonna come.
GODDAMNIT.
I bought a MacBook Pro YESTERDAY since MacWorld didn't introduce a new one. D;
return it unopened!
I already opened it, and even cut out the UPC for a rebate. D;
man, you people really should keep up with the Apple Buyers Guide. It's there to help you out!
http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/
Excuse me, but it's said "Don't Buy" since last summer. After MacWorld, I decided not to wait another six months.
Lets hope they fix the real problem with the MBP, the screen resolution
If you consider that the MBP is more or less for photo/video editing, the screen resolution is fairly nice. A bit hard to read some text on, unless of course you were talking about it not being enough resolution for you, then I can only recommend getting the 17" MBP which has even more.
I'm picking one up for video production and some photo work, so I'm digging it, consider that comparing it to my 15" HP that only has 1280x920 (not exactly sure) it's much better.
Of course I mean it's too low, can you ever have too high resolution? Wouldn't adjusting the DPI fix too high resolution
Every other 15" notebook has 1680x1050, all the Macs have too low resolution
what are you smoking?
most major retailers (im talking HP, Dell, Gateway, sony, etc) use a 15.4" screen with a resolution of 1280x800, so apples 1440x900 is still HIGHER then most windows computers. though i would like to see an upgrade to a higher resolution as well.
The last 2 15" notebooks I've gotten through my job have had a 1680x1050 screen and my MacBook seems crippled at 1440x900. That is DEFINITELY something that Apple needs to get with.
I just wish that they would do something about the low end of their product line. I lost a possible convert to Mac yesterday because Apple simply does not offer a low price computer with the specs she needed. Seriously, when I cannot recommend a Mac over a computer from Dell which has a slower processor but four times the hard drive for a person who surfs the web, does email, writes the occasional letter, and looks at and prints digital photos because the Mac Mini is twice the price for components she doesn't need there is a problem.
More and more of the computer buying market is moving to the lower end processors with a lower price because it does everything that they need to do, and if Apple keeps up their pretentious better then that attitude they are going to have a hard time growing their market share.
As much as I love my Mac I cannot recommend spending twice as much money for components that are not needed. Even if it is a better OS.
but the OS is one of the components!
Software is just as much worthy of paying for as hardware.
Hell yes! This is what I've been waiting. Not necessarily the whole multi-touch update on the MacBook Pro. But just an update in general, so that when I do purchase mine within the next few months, I won't feel like shit for having bought one, then have it updated a week or two after.
Once this happens, I will feel more confident in my purchase that it will last longer than usual.
how do u know that the sun will rise tomarrow? Anyway, if there will be a tomarrow, this will happen
there is no a in tomorrow. you'll give other mac fanboys a bad name with that spelling
Hopefully they still make some minor updates to the baseline MacBook. SuperDrive standard is really all I'm waiting for.
props for your title engadget, ever since your crap gadgets you have made your titles pretty funny. i now enjoy reading the articles i dont even care about
Hi
I hope they ( or someone else) bring out a USB multi touch pad for PC, that would be cool.
Maybe they could just partner with Dell... Apple comes up with how to use the multi-touch touchpad (for both companies), Dell hands over the multi-touch pad they already have on the XT tablet.
Apple won't have to worry about Dell under-cutting Apple on prices... have you spec'd out an XT tablet?
They need a 15 inch MacBook (not pro at reasonable price like )
Engadget, are you going to be live blogging the unveiling of the sun?
Rumors on the internets tell me this new iSun will be insanely hot!
I hear the battery life is going to be abysmal though, and you can't swap it! Only several billion years or something!
i actually heard there was going to be some sort of new renewable power source in the works...or even possibly a "cold fusion" source of power!? that would be neat...
Gee! Oh my, oh my; did anyone see that coming?! I guess not. Not.
God, Engadget rocks so hard.
wow I feel bad for the people who just bought a Macbook Pro or received one for Christmas.
I don't.... if people did their research they would have saw that Macworld happens a couple weeks after Christmas every year, and every year they release something new. It doesn't take a genius or inside source to tell you this. I can't say I like it, but it is just the way it is. Shit happens!
yea but you have to take into consideration the fact the a lot of consumers aren't as knowledgeable in gadgets as you and I or other Engadget readers. Also there's the simple fact that in order to make wise Apple product purchases you kind of have to rely on rumors and speculation for what might be unveiled at the next Macworld inorder to avoid being screwed. And I pretty sure that some kids parents aren't going to be turning in to Mac rumors daily before they buy their kid a Macbook.
I dont like the design of the macbook air. and it doesnt even have an optical drive. wtf?
i'm wading through so much research trying to work out which Macbook is the optimum to buy...Obviously the Macbook 13" (fully optioned) is the best size for portability with a 20" video display on my desk -(I DON'T RATE THE AIR AS IT ISN'T POWERFUL ENOUGH TO BE YOUR MAIN COMPUTER) ... but I'm wondering about how long before Apple will decide to upgrade the Macbook with all the new cool stuff...touch pad, Penryn chip, backlit keyboard, LCD...should I buy the current Macbook or wait who knows how long????? can anyone help with advice on this. If they could put all these features onto Macbook, it would be a corker!!
If you just got a new Mac, don't forget MacHeist has a great bundle of shareware apps for $49 thru Wednesday. https://www.macheist.com/buy/invite/4085
With these updates to the mbp, the macbook air really is a piece of junk. Doesn't the macbook pro already fit in that parcel envelope thing?
if this is true, then i hope they'll also put a multi-touch pad on the macbook, not just the pro. i wonder how much more expensive it'll be when and if they do?
i don't plan on changing my macbook just yet till the end of the year anyway but if they do put a multi-touch pad on the macbook, then i'll be changing notebooks earlier then.
just some wishful thinking.
How does this work on your OS? I'm trying to understand what use this has on anything but an iphone or PDA. If I'm moving the cursor with one finger on the pad, and I touch the pad with another finger and move it around, what happens? Obviously OSX has firmware on the OS so it's able to utilize this, hopefully PC-based laptops will adopt this technology soon.
That's all well and good--and as you say, obvious, but Apple also needs to bring that same technology to the desktop.
See: http://www.iSights.org/2008/01/i-want-multi-to.html