How would you change Apple's Penryn-based MacBook Pro?
By Darren Murph 
posted February 29th 2008 7:37PM
posted February 29th 2008 7:37PM
Nevertheless, the time came and went, and the re-opening of the online Apple store brought a whole heap of disappointment to many. Sure, folks still (somehow) enamored with the aging MBP design were thrilled to have access to a more potent, less scalding iteration of their favorite machine, but honestly, we're still using the GeForce 8600M GT? Really, Apple? Needless to say, this refresh likely did little to satisfy your desire for a revamped MacBook Pro, but we're interested in finding out exactly what it is you really wanted. An option for an SSD? What about a built-in Blu-ray drive? Would integrated HDMI make things more appealing? Or is a top-down case redesign the only thing stopping you from abusing your credit card in the name of Steve Jobs? Go on, we know you folks are chock full of good ideas, so let's hear 'em, shall we?
Change the design completely...
So, how? What are your brilliant plans?
Like that 'I R SO EXPENSIVE' macbook pro design... that thing was BRILLIANT.
We must have something that looks new every 6 months, or we will become de-hypnotized and stop buying these shinny object that master illusionist Jobs tells us too.
we get it Nabil, you hate apple; this is your 6th post trolling. nosotros comprendemos, el douchebago
Lets see...
To change it completely:
it must accept waffles for the disk
Forget changing the design. Drop a real graphics card in the MacBook and it's better than the MBP. The weaksauce integrated graphics is the only real drawback to the MacBook.
Give it a magnetic latch, get rid of the speaker grill (yuck), change the keyboard to a MacBook Air style one, switch the ports around to match the MacBook.
That would improve the appearance of it dramatically IMO.
Have you ever actually used a Macbook Air or Macbook keyboard? They absolutely suck for any kind of extended usage. I wrote a 5 page paper on one once at my local bookstore (college bookstore that is also an Authorized Apple reseller), and my fingers were numb after 15 minutes. Literally, the keys were worse than the absolutely atrocious keyboards on Dells a couple years ago.
What Apple needed to do is make a 13.3 or 12.1 inch version of the current design, pretty much copying the 12 inch Powerbook design, except with modern components (including a modern low-end GPU, like a 128 meg 8400). This is what people want, not the POS Air.
I would actually love to own a silver MacBook. Apple come on introduce a new colour to the MacBook.
"How so?"
Why is it that the fanbois always require an answer from the people looking for a new design. Clue: Apple is the supposed design genius....let them fucking figure it out, meanwhile I'm sitting here with a C2D that looks pretty damn similar to a laptop introduced in 2001/2002. Same can be said of the iPod until they grew a set and released the neutered iPod Touch...same damn interface, same damn design rehashed over and over and over and over again.
so you ask what would I do? Answer: take a damn chance with a new design. something bold, not just slim, which by the way != revolutionary. Apple has crawled into a hole scared to try something really new for fear that it could break sales? Apple TV? iPhone? Those are side projects for Jobs pure and simple. They refuse to really try really revolutionary (Both in their OS and their hardware...*looks at his watch* still waiting on Piles Apple...anyday now.) for fear of killing those sales and that is where they fail.
still bitter i see jon? jeez i guess the MBP design stole your girlfriend
No just my enthusiasm for the platform. I want to like Apple. I really do. They need to try harder then these minor design bumps every 6 months. At least Dell is trying something...
phanbouy
Wow, just because we have a difference in opinion, you feel it necessary to call me a douchbag?
Plus, it is clear from your tone that my remarks aggravated you.
I hope I never live a pathetic life, where I would get insulted when someone doesn't like my favorite brand of consumer goods.
I guess I can't blame you because you are a fanboy (remove brain, insert propaganda).
Um, sorry, but I actually heavily prefer the macbook keyboard. It *did* take a while to stop hitting CapsLock, which i then totally disabled anyways.
Something has to be done about the heat. More air vents. Jesus! We have to be working in an igloo in order to work with MBP on our laps, the most ergonomic position for a laptop. Come on Apple, design a better ventilation system or innovate to cool down your notebooks.
Wow Nabil, them's be fighting words.. all over being called a douche bag? You must get that often, being a pathetic little troll who's so insecure about others using macbook that he has to constantly tear everyone down and then go ballistic when someone calls him on it. talk about "pathetic life"!
Some here seem to like the idea of change for the sake of change. I myself think the current MacBook Pro design is approaching perfection as I write this on one. I'm all for gradual and tangible improvements though. The heat issues in the MacBook Pro are a manufacturing flaw, not a design flaw that still needs fixing. I know this because mine is cool running after fixing the thermal paste application. There are plenty of gradual improvements they could make. Better wifi strength, magnetic latch, better and louder speakers, etc. The idea of getting rid of the grills is stupid. They are needed for the speakers at the very least. Move them elsewhere and sound quality is diminished.
Magnetic Latch. Other than that, the current MBP design is perfectly fine.
if Apple really wants to get more buyers, copy dell and add colors to a new, low end MacBook
Now that Hd DVD is gone, a blu-ray drive in the Pro would be nice
I agree change the design completely; the same should go for the bright spark who came up with 4 legged chair and a shower where the water runs down. What's wrong with these people, it's about time chairs had 5 legs and the water in my shower went up instead of down, now that would make things better!
WUXGA standard on 15.4" already. I'm sick of having to hack my macbook with non-apple screens to get a minimally acceptable DPI.
Make it Black!
Yeah, black would be awesome! Also, toss in Blu-Ray, SSD, and HDMI. Would be nice to round out the edges on the thing just like MBA.
yea, if they could make the already anodized aluminum colored, that would be awesome. Also, maybe slightly cheaper.
Black would be amazing! Also, bright white lights around the slot drive, trackpad, power button, and "MacBook Pro" branding in addition to the Apple logo and keyboard. Also, optional laser-drilled hole designs for ventilation and style!
Make it go faster!
Make it right click! I think that's been suggested for...8 years now?
Know what you are talking about before saying something dumb. Apple has a right click and scrolling via the mousepad / touchpad. The mouse pad is smart enough to know if you are using one finger or two and can react differently.
Apple doesn't need to need to do much to improve their products so long as Windows Vista keeps sucking up the PC market.
- from someone who has used PCs and Macs for the past 20 years, Mac is on its way up.
Right click? Put two fingers on the trackpad and click. Boom! yer done. Wow, that was hard.
Man, if everyone likes using the two finger click why doesn't apple get rid of the click button all together. Put one finger on the trackpad and click. boom your done. The could even tout it as a "revolutionary interface" that doesn't require any buttons to navigate.
you know you can click via the touchpad. No it's not revolutionary but it works.
1. 23" screen
2. 7.1 channel surround sound
3. available in brown
4. replace Apple logo with portrait of Steve Jobs
5. circular touchpad
6. get rid of lowercase letters
7. preinstall Vista Ultimate and Kubuntu
8. 5.25" floppy drive
9. HD-DVD/Betamax combo drive
10. cupholder
11. complimentary black turtleneck
12. 32 GB RAM
13. Pentium III processor
14. ?????
15. Profit!
Can it play Doom?
No it can't....we all know that macs can't play any games.
What a waste of money on something that can't even play doom.
yes, anything and everything that doesn't play doom should be incinerated. life is doom.
Macs can in fact play Doom. Well, I don't know about Doom 3 but they will play Doom 1 and 2 for certain.
http://sourceforge.net/projects/doomlegacy
yup. I first played doom 3 on my G5 when it came out. Also, with intel macs, I can play whatever windows game I want via bootcamp. Runs just fine. =D I kept my old PC for games, but don't even need that any more.
Make it foldable, so I can put it in my pocket when it's sleeping/hibernating !
Put a "works with Zune" sticker on it so fanboys stop trolling posts for Apple gadgets.
...but it doesn't
it's still locked to windows? ah well. must be apple's fault somehow i'm just sure of it. burrrrn them!!!
bluray drive, intel extreme, and thinner design
would you like fries with that?
yes i would, and a shake too please
Oh sirnoobius are you taking orders? /pizza work for you?
Im not sure about you but I dont really have a problem carry around something thinner then the Sunday newspaper. Really, 1 inch isnt that much.
Mmmm. Not a bad idea at all. Add in a built-in scanner, and there you go.
Same thing I'd do with the previous model, more usb ports or a base station.
I cannot express how much I agree with you in words. It's simply ridiculous that my $2,000 computer has two USB ports. The sub-$1000 Dell comes with at least 4, usually more. I'd be willing to sacrifice a little thinness/sexyness/sleekness for more USB ports!