MacBook Pro first hands-on!

Well you've heard the talk, now check out the pics in the gallery below. Believe it or not, that trackpad isn't as hard to use as you think. The new laptops are shockingly similar to current models, and in here those glossy displays don't seem too bad. Still, we're going to need to really road test these to figure out if we can live with that glare. We can definitely live with the new graphics chips, however.

Gallery: MacBook Pro first hands-on!

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[SteveJ @ Oct 14th 2008 2:13PM]

New MacBook non-Pro no longer has a firewire port.

[smak @ Oct 14th 2008 2:17PM]

Too bad they couldn't get the USB 3 spec done in time either. Maybe next year when they jack up the prices another $300.

[Precurse @ Oct 14th 2008 2:26PM]

@smak

That's what the express card is for. Although you'll be limited to 2.5gbit vs the 4.8gbit/sec in the USB3.0 spec..

[LondonConsultant @ Oct 14th 2008 2:27PM]

Nor proper keyboard, nor matte screen, nor mouse buttons! No thanks to this downgrade...

[PDubNYC @ Oct 14th 2008 3:21PM]

It has Firewire 800. Just need a different cable as it is backwards compatible. Still a shame though as I use multiple Firewire devices on a regular basis. So much better than USB

[napilopez @ Oct 14th 2008 3:30PM]

=/

I don't get some people's cynicism here, no offense to anyone. I for one, thnik the notebook looks absolutely stunning. Look at the close up pictures, the manufacturing process has made these a seemless(literally, lol) work of art. The lines are clean, and I for one like the contrast of the black keys on the aluminum shell.

As for glossy screens, whats the big deal? I do heavy photo editing, a significant amount of it outdoors, and I personally despise matte screens outdoors because the light becomes diffused around the screen, and just yields in worse coloration overall. Glossy screens on the other hand just reflect the light at a more concentrated angle. So if the screen is bright enough(which it sure will be with the LED backlighting), it would actually allowing for better visibility. Also, look at the iPhone/iTouch's displays. They have some of the most readable displays in direct sunlight, despite their glass screen. The LED lighting in this product will just ensure that the brightness is great without affecting battery life as significantly, aiding the visibility even more.

If you really really don't like glossy displays because of simple personal preferences, there are cheap ways around it. This glossy display won't kill anyone, although I understand your concern. To anyone who is worried about the display and bezel scratching: its glass. Glass doesn't exactly scratch easily.

And all this is coming from an avid Windows VISTA user, a Microsoft kid since forever, who has never owned a Mac, yet has quite a bit of knowledge and experience about them. This is just a good piece of hardware, and I'm very impressed by its eco-friendliness. If I could afford it, I would switch over to mac just to get this laptop, and dual boot with vista. Who knows, maybe I'll become a convert.

My only irk is that it only has 2 USB ports. Ouch.

[Talgat @ Oct 14th 2008 2:13PM]

Will it have a matte display option?

[Christian @ Oct 14th 2008 2:15PM]

No it won't

[Tom @ Oct 14th 2008 2:15PM]

Are you kidding?

[Anton @ Oct 14th 2008 2:15PM]

"11:01AM Q: Concern about the glossy screens. Are you going to offer another option?
A: Steve: We're going all glass -- we won't offer another version. Phil: You offset the reflection by the brightness, and consumers love it. One of the great things about a notebook is you can turn it however you want!

Yeah, nice try, but that's kind of a pain."

[Musouka @ Oct 14th 2008 2:16PM]

Nope, but you get to toy with the contrast level to offset any undesired illumination effects. "A Pain", said Engadget.

[nerdtalker @ Oct 14th 2008 2:17PM]

Have you just NOT been reading any of the other 5 posts with comments and endless notes about how no, the screen isn't coming in matte?

The glossy is going to be a major step backwards for people doing photo editing on these things. Those people loathe the glossy displays, which have been absent from apple products for a long time. Now, a lot of photo-types are going to really think hard about how much they want a glossy-screened MBP+MB+Cinema Display.

[CraigJ @ Oct 14th 2008 2:27PM]

I've been using a dell with a glossy display in a number of settings and I have has no issues with glare, but then again I used CRTs for 20 years and didn't have a problem then either.

[applgeek @ Oct 14th 2008 2:41PM]

Yes it will.

[Knives_Out @ Oct 14th 2008 3:01PM]

there goes any chance of buying a macbook pro for myself.

professionals demand matte screens ... what's wrong with all of these laptop manufacturers?

[Joe @ Oct 14th 2008 3:21PM]

To whoever down ranked me: Im right. Try to Configure a 17.

[phoomp @ Oct 14th 2008 3:34PM]

I love how Apple even *highlights* the glare in all their promo shots. It's a feature!

[JohnnyGTO @ Oct 14th 2008 3:48PM]

Easy fix, just have the screen soda blasted by your local autobody repair shop!

[Boards of Canada @ Oct 14th 2008 4:11PM]

I have both a glossy and a 30inch non glossy and its day and night difference. You dont get the real colors with glossy. Graphic designers and photo editor need non-glossy. If not, you are out of the game.

[Patriks7 @ Oct 14th 2008 2:14PM]

I don't know.. in the pictures it looks pretty cheaply made.. but that might just be the pictures..

[Ray @ Oct 14th 2008 2:14PM]

boom chika wow wow

[MadMike @ Oct 14th 2008 2:14PM]

The guy said the 17" was being updated also, but it still shows the old 17" on the site.

[benderillo @ Oct 14th 2008 2:23PM]

brown chicken brown cow

[Abuzar Baloach @ Oct 14th 2008 2:47PM]

Don't try stealing my lines Caboose!

[Talgat @ Oct 14th 2008 2:15PM]

Store is being updated...

[prateeko @ Oct 14th 2008 2:15PM]

I think he said they were getting "refreshed" which apparently is a nice way of half-ass updating it but leaving the price the same...

[Nomi @ Oct 14th 2008 2:16PM]

Updates specs however....I am guessing they will update the 17in and the air with the new styling further down the road. Also the 17incher already has a better graphics chip so it wont be getting the new 9400 one.

[Josh @ Oct 14th 2008 2:42PM]

The 17" doesn't have better graphics 9600MGT > 8600MGT.

[Christian @ Oct 14th 2008 2:14PM]

I want it!!!!

[kv @ Oct 14th 2008 3:26PM]

me just ordered... :D

[Christian @ Oct 14th 2008 4:01PM]

Nice :) Once I get enough money I'm getting the $2500 Macbook Pro (need like $700 more). Gotta get some more clients to make websites for...

[Tom O @ Oct 14th 2008 2:15PM]

Very nice ^^

Still cant afford to replace my Powerbook G4 Titanium :p

[Adam @ Oct 14th 2008 2:22PM]

ditto

[NJA @ Oct 14th 2008 2:15PM]

is that a CS4 Photoshop icon on that macbook pro?

[Anton @ Oct 14th 2008 2:22PM]

Yes it is.

"Adobe announced that Creative Suite 4 will be released on October 14th, 2008." -wiki

So I guess it's expected.

[bolezhinkov @ Oct 14th 2008 2:23PM]

hopefully - cs4 is love incarnate

[NJA @ Oct 14th 2008 2:31PM]

it still says pre order on adobes site. i NEED CS4 encore!

[ZaxCG2 @ Oct 14th 2008 2:36PM]

HOLY CRAP. I just realized. Wikipedia says CS4 comes out today! :D

[R @ Oct 14th 2008 5:05PM]

CS4 may be good, but they still haven't fixed that case-sensitive file system issue. Funny too, because that is probably a half-hour fix.

[coffee @ Oct 14th 2008 2:15PM]

holy jeebus, that's a big trackpad.

[Jash Sayani @ Oct 14th 2008 3:08PM]

Yeah, I noticed the same thing. The Mb and MbP have larger touchpads... Looks a bit awkward.... But over-all I love the new ones!!!

[fevio @ Oct 14th 2008 2:16PM]

Does anyone know Apple's policy on switching out a newly-purchased MBP with this new iteration? (I'm a few days outside of the 14-day return policy...) Do they make any exceptions?

[Michael Zupcak @ Oct 14th 2008 7:00PM]

sorry your comment got so lowly ranked, people are dicks I guess

I think you have 30 days to return it if they update them, but I'm not positive, so don't quote me, but it's definitely calling the apple store or where ever you bought it from and asking.

[quasar @ Oct 15th 2008 12:10AM]

Yeah, technically, if your MBP was custom configured (i.e. with anything but the defaults) you can't return or exchange it after 14 days. That being said, I called today and successfully requested a free upgrade (I bought my current MBP on Sept 23).

Just call Apple, be patient, be polite, and then welcome your new MBP :)

P.S. - I will have to pay for shipping, for me it wil be $30 - $40. Worth it, I think.

[Vicada @ Oct 14th 2008 2:17PM]

Again no Blu-Ray? Damn! Loved the Vista joke, though. Would love to have one of these new MBPs but they just cost an arm and a leg, and all that for 4 hours of battery life? Don't think so.

[Shoeb Omar @ Oct 14th 2008 2:17PM]

What a disappointment. I expected a LOT more.

[sim-and-sim @ Oct 14th 2008 2:18PM]

I'm not sold... Its far to expensive for whats in it...

WHERES MY BLU RAY STEVE!!! I'll give you a damn bag of hurt....

[phillip @ Oct 14th 2008 2:18PM]

I was excited, but I always feel let down by apple.. looks like I will be keeping my ibook g4 and looking for a used 15-17" macbook pro with a matte finish and better looks all around..

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Oct 14th 2008 2:19PM]

Looks great. Too bad about the pricing; an $899 pricepoint could have driven an even greater boom in sales, but even at that price I think they'd have to be offering the 'new' Macbook, not just the old one at a lower price. Lowering the price $100 for the old unit just makes it feel like they're trying to clear out old stock even if that's not the case.

I guess the good news is I'm not tempted to buy a new laptop I don't need. I can just keep using my work thinkpad for casual on-the-couch websurfing and keep the money on my pocket.. or Apple stock :)

[titanium man @ Oct 14th 2008 2:51PM]

I predict the old macbook will be discontinued, leaving one unified design for the mac notebooks.
This means only one thing: a new mac product line is coming at macworld.
The mac touch :)