Apple's new MacBook family: non-removable batteries, lower prices
By Darren Murph 
posted Jun 8th 2009 12:30PM
posted Jun 8th 2009 12:30PM
- Starting at $1,699 (down from $1,999 in prior lineups)
- $1,699: 2.53GHz Core 2 Duo, 4GB DDR3 RAM, GeForce 9400M graphics, 250GB HDD, SD card slot, no ExpressCard
- $1,999: 2.66GHz Core 2 Duo, 4GB DDR3 RAM, GeForce 9400M + 9600M GT graphics, 320GB HDD, SD card slot, no ExpressCard
- $2,299: 2.8GHz Core 2 Duo, 4GB DDR3 RAM, GeForce 9400M + 9600M GT graphics, 500GB HDD, SD card slot, no ExpressCard
- 17-inch unibody MacBook Pro remains the same specs-wise (it's the only Apple laptop left with an ExpressCard slot), but it's getting a price cut to $2,499.
- Shipping today
- $1,199: 2.26GHz Core 2 Duo, 2GB DDR3 RAM, GeForce 9400M graphics, 160GB HDD, SD card slot, no ExpressCard
- $1,499: 2.53GHz Core 2 Duo, 4GB DDR3 RAM, GeForce 9400M graphics, 250GB HDD, SD card slot, no ExpressCard
- $1,499: 1.86GHz Core 2 Duo, 2GB DDR3 RAM, GeForce 9400M graphics, 120GB HDD
- $1,799: 2.13GHz Core 2 Duo, 2GB DDR3 RAM, GeForce 9400M graphics, 128GB SSD
Really? ANOTHER MacBook Pro refresh? It seems like Apple enjoys bleeding us dry of our hard earned dollars.
Where do I signup for 16gb of RAM goodness?
At PC World.
You know, you don't HAVE to buy every new laptop that comes out.. hell, I'm still using my (company-provided) OSx86 Thinkpad 'cause I'm too cheap to lay out the cash for a personal laptop, as much as I may lust after one...
ahahaha another refresh.... they all missed out on a SD slot and better battery life!
@Soulsaber You know they took our expresscard to add SD cards right?
One thing that I think interests many people is if the MacBook still has the same crappy old screen.
Non removable battery and SD card slot....... revolutionary features for $1700
I know. You could buy 2 Windows laptops with good specs with $1700.
My hp laptop from 2001 has an SD slot, am I supposed to be impressed?
My Acer One netbook has TWO SD card slots!!
and the prices are lower simply because the hardware is pretty outdated .... (becoming obsolete)
Apple drop the prices of there macbooks? HUH? i see no price drop
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220499
A Better laptop for half the price plus it got more stuff than macbook pro like HDMI,Better GPU (9650GT 1GB DDR3 instead of the macbook 9600GT 512MB),Esata(Who the hell Use Slow USB2 for there external HD anymore?) and many extra stuff
Macbook = still a rip off
They just try to respond to microsoft's "MAC expensive" AD. without really reduce there "extra profit"
Non-removable battery and no expresscard slot and they're calling this an upgrade ... are they serious?
Oh, wait! You get an SD card slot. Wow!
I think even the blindest of fanboys might begin to question the cult of Mac on this one.
What a joke.
"B3astofthe3ast @ Jun 8th 2009 1:13PM I know. You could buy 2 Windows laptops with good specs with $1700."
Or you could buy 8 used ThinkPad's. How about 34 original Xbox's. Now who's laughing?
"I think even the blindest of fanboys might begin to question the cult of Mac on this one."
I have a MBP I got late '08 and I would gladly return it for this new one (even MacBook) since I only have an SD slot in my express slot and I highly prefer the built in battery.
Yep, but the Macbook Pro 13" is sweet. It doesn't have an expresscard, but thankfully has FW800 now and $300 cheaper
Jamma @ Jun 8th 2009 1:10PM
Non removable battery and SD card slot....... revolutionary features for $1700
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
if you think thats bad, check out the UK pricing;
$1,699: 2.53GHz Core 2 Duo, 4GB DDR3 RAM, GeForce 9400M graphics, 250GB HDD, SD card slot, no ExpressCard
$1699 = £1057 (according to checking conversion rates 5 mins ago)
however the price for the exact same unit in UK is ............£1299
£1299 = $2087......
no I know there is normally a hike we get screwed on when living in UK....... but that nearly $400
....seriously WTF?
Firewire? What peripherals even use Firewire anymore?
Hell, Apple even phased FW support out of their own products, much to the chagrin of users and accessory makers alike.
Just put an eSata port on the bastard and call it a day Jobs.
Plenty of hard-drives use Firewire. My Canon HV30 uses Firewire to capture video and I'd still take it over any newer, pain-in-the-ass, AVCHD-based camcorders.
I use firewire 800, I don't use eSATA. Maybe in the future but right now Apple's made a huge move by putting the 800 back on.
@Cash,
Are you serious?
Lots of external drive options are out there that use Firewire. As no Mac, save for those with the expanded Express slot, even use eSATA, needless to say any site or B&M store that caters to the Mac crowd will continue to distribute FW400/800 drives on machines with 2-4 interfaces.
nothing under $1000?
I know I have bought a Apple Computer from every generation, but I also own tons of PC computers as well. The newest Apple products are starting to sway away from the revolution they had before, now you're just paying for the software really. However, I must say one thing about the MacBooks that is worth paying the price for, this would be of course the display. The displays in the Apple products are simply amazing, and the colors are extremely vibrant. Something I think and photographer on the go would use (I would need it if I used a digital medium, but I stick it old school and continue to use film).
In the end, I would still rather buy a sleek MacBook in the laptop market then a PC. You cannot beat the software, the display, the the support. I really would not mind dishing out the extra money for it.
For desktops, I still am in the build your own market with Linux and Windows
For netbooks, Acer Aspire One all the way.
On the final note, I don't even see the need for SD slots, ExpressCard slot devices are now very prevalent on the USB format, and if you really need a card reader they are $10 for a half decent one at Fry's, or on NewEgg.com.
Once again, budget PC shoppers spewing hateful envy in a Mac post. I think everyone knows where to go if they want an unstable piece of unsightful plastic stuffed full of the cheapest hardware you can find.
Bryan Ledford @ Jun 11th 2009 11:18AM
"Once again, budget PC shoppers spewing hateful envy in a Mac post. I think everyone knows where to go if they want an unstable piece of unsightful plastic stuffed full of the cheapest hardware you can find."
This is funny to me. I don't hate Mac, but I don't see myself purchasing one anytime soon. Especially after sinking $2700+ into my PC that would walk all over any Mac in the lineup. In fact, for even one of those to match the specs of my system you would have to pay well over what I did. I built one on their site with 8gbs of ram...the option alone added $900 to the bottom line. I'm an animation student who needs power, resources, and flexibility. The day that I could rip out the guts of a mac, go to ANY computer hardware store, and buy new, more powerful, parts for it will be the day that I put the PC to rest. But I don't see that happening. And my argument is justified by Mac building their batteries in.
Long story short, when I'm sitting here taking care of business on my "unstable piece of unsightful plastic stuffed full of the cheapest hardware that can be found", and Mac users are fretting over every scratch they get in their system, I'm going to laugh.
So have fun! Whether you're a Mac or a PC.
System Name: "Quad-Damage"
Operating System(s): Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium x64 / Ubuntu Studio 8.10
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 @ 2.50GHz
GPU: nVidia 8800GT 512 (soon to be replaced with 2x nVidia 295GTX 1792MB)
RAM: 8GBs DDR2 800 4x2GB
HDD: 2x250GB Seagate Barracuda 7500rpm
@ theory28: i guess there is sumthing wrong with Apple pricing system, same unit: 2.53GHz Core 2 Duo, 4GB DDR3 RAM, GeForce 9400M graphics, 250GB HDD, SD card slot, no ExpressCard, in Australia, its $AU 2699 ........roughly $US 2200
thats total bs i swear
The most bs thing is the Macbook Air, only $1499 in the US, but again in Aus, its starting at $A 2399 = $2000 >.< damn
Built in battery...thanks Apple!
Yeah - strangely, battery life never reaches advertised levels, drops over time, and no way are these going to last 5 years (do they have 5 years of testing?) - I LIKE being able to bring two charged batteries and switch when needed. . .
They still just don't get it, do they?
Seriously if you like swapping your batteries that last for 2 to 3 hour, you must bring 3 of those to equal 7 hours of liberty. I don't know why people complain, if it breaks they'll charge around 100$ for repair, which is affordable for another 5 years of 7 hours battery life. People complains just to complain. Greener, cheaper, 7 hours batteries, SD slot (better having one than none) and Firewire, I call it an evolution, no recession there.
First of all, battery-life claims are always horseshit.
More importantly, people complain FOR GOOD REASON: If your battery dies on the go, your computer is useless. Do you think that battery is going to last through a flight across the U.S., let alone for a flight from L.A. to London? And don't even bother bringing up plane adapters, because most seats don't have power ports.
Apple's excuses for the built-in battery are simply lame. Their vaunted design department couldn't design space-efficient retention mechanisms for a battery? And nobody was bitching about Apples being TOO THICK, so why not stop making them thinner and instead increase battery life by using that extra space for more battery cells?
Not to mention that all of this space-saving didn't give them room to have an ExpressCard slot.
At least Apple wised up and restored FireWire to the whole line, but the built-in battery, the idiotic glossy screens, and the lack of card slots serve as an embarrassment.
SD Slot! Take that PC.
Yeah take that PC, with your virtual standard equipment SD/MS/MMC/XD combo readers, PCMCIA/Express-Card slots, and lower prices. Apple really showed you!
/LMFAO
My HP Mini has OS X AND an SD card slot. But it still lacks that feature rich non-removable battery. A man can dream, a man can dream.
They're making a big deal out of this SD slot, my £200 Acer Aspire One has two of them
But they are not Apple SD Slots. Apple SD slots are way better.
can you believe this guy "' Apple SD slots are way better". SD slots are all the same
I think he forgot to add the /s tag there
/s tag not mandatory
bring your own sense of humor, please.
I don't think he forgot - isn't it obvious that was sarcasm?
@damiaking Apple web cams are better right? So are Apple batteries. Heck, Apple proves this by locking them away because you won't need to replace them or carry a spare! Of course the SD slot is going to be way better - how can it not? Just you wait - like the mouse, Apple will re-invent everything.
Actually, I hate Apple hype. Apple makes sometimes-prettier computers that are overpriced for the hardware they sit on. I appreciate the value of OS X and it's unix foundation (as an ex-unix admin) but the spin Apple puts on things are often just downright lies. I liked Apple better when they tried to "Think Different" and sold themselves on true innovations (which they have) instead of pimping existing technology as if it was never around before. Worse, the SD slot gets a cheer at WWDC. Fanboys feeding the fire. An announcement of an SD slot deserves a yawn. Same with Firewire 800 - fast tech that never seems to really ever catch on. The next cut of USB with flatten it just like before with wide adoption.
Apple does have their perks. As a Mac and PC owner and user, they are so similar it is pitiful that people make such a big deal about one sucking more than another. They both crash, they both have interesting ways to handle the same problems, and they both need improvements.
I will say that although I prefer unix to tinker with, Windows 7 is pretty cool. I can't deny having all my productivity software run fast and well and have entertainment ready without having to dual boot is compelling.
you kidding?
sometimes you just cant tell between an apple fanboy and a sarcastic person seriously
to: Brian!
well said mate.
Aw come on! I just bought a macbook pro two months ago! (slaps self on forehead)
You missed out on those SD slots!
The slots! The slooooootttttsssss!!!!!!!
hmm first thing I did was put a memory card reader in my express card slot on my MBP
niceeeee
I just got off the phone with Apple Customer Relations regarding a warranty claim. After several visits to the Apple Store and several conversations with Tech Support we have come to the conclusion that there is definitely something wrong with my MacBook yet they're not willing to replace it. Instead I should send it out for repair and be without a computer for a week. This is not why I paid $1600 for a 13" notebook computer. Not to have to spend countless hours on the phone and visits to the store for them to inevitably tell me to send it out for repair. This is what I was trying to avoid by purchasing an Apple product.
Everything you hear about Apple having good customer service is a lie. Sure, they're nice to you on the phone but when the issues don't get resolved the service is not good. The bottom line is resolution. It doesn't matter how nice they are and willing to transfer you to someone that can help. If the problem is not resolved in an acceptable fashion then all they did was waste time.
On a side note, my iPod is almost at the 2 year mark and all of a sudden has begun freezing on a regular basis. I wiped it clean, reformatted it and updated the software and it is still not working properly. Why do these have a shelf life of 2 years? There's not a scratch on the thing. I take good care of all my belongings and especially expensive electronics. I know many people who saw the sad face on their iPod when it died. They all died right around the same time too.
To hell with Apple and their computers, phones and media players. I'll go get a Windows 7 PC notebook for half the price of this piece of garbage and a Zune HD.
Buyer Beware. Don't believe the hype. Apple's products are overpriced, restrictive and built to fai
I've read a lot about these "support nightmares" with Apple, and dreaded taking my MacBook in to the store to ask about replacing it. I walked in to the store, and before I was 3 feet through the door, was greeted and asked what I could be helped with. I explained my problem, the girl took out her portable device and scanned my laptop box, within 5 minutes someone appeared from the back with a new MacBook box and she gave it to me and said "have a nice day". She didn't even open my old box. I asked if I could check it out before I left the store and she told me no problem. I opened it and booted it and it had a dead pixel, so she told me she would get another one. A few keypresses on her Symbol scanner and again 5 minutes later a new one appeared from the back and I checked it out and all was good. I'm typing on it now. This all happened at the very front table in the store, 10 feet from the door. That's as far in as I got that day.
When we left I mentioned to my girlfriend that the experience didn't seem so bad, I was expecting the worse after reading horror stories on the net. She said it must have something to do with the attitude which you approach the employees. I can see how that can be true in many cases (obviously not all).
Sorry to hear you had a bad experience. But everything bad you hear about Apple customer service MUST be a lie, since you had a bad experience.