Apple's new MacBook family: non-removable batteries, lower prices

Apple just let loose a new 15-inch MacBook Pro at WWDC 2009, with what appears to be the same built-in, non-removable battery (or, non-user serviceable, if we're being proper) as in the current unibody 17-incher. Phil asserts that the cell will last the average user around five years (1,000 recharges), and could last around seven hours under ideal conditions. There's also an SD card reader rather than an ExpressCard slot (seriously Apple -- replaced? -- why not just add it like every other Wintel laptop available today?). Oh, and the starting tag just dropped to $1,699.

• 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

Not enough for you? The 13-inch unibody MacBook has been beefed up and revised, and it's now part of the MacBook Pro line as well. Yep, all the aluminum machines are now Pros, with the same built-in battery promising seven hours of life. The littlest Pro also gets the SD card slot, a FireWire 800 port, up to 8GB of RAM, upwards of 500GB of storage and a backlit keyboard as standard. You just knew Apple couldn't let its remaining white MacBook outperform its more expensive unibody for long, right? It'll be available (today, we expect) in two configurations.

• $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

Wilder still? A new MacBook Air, which starts at $1,499 (while the SSD unit gets going at $1,799). Yeah, that's $700 less than before.

• $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

Apple's new MacBook family at WWDC 2009

Apple's new MacBook family

[pascualcm Posted Jun 23rd 2009 5:44PM]

Hi, @Rob Cameron, the whole point of apple making this new, (non easily removable batteries), basically with no lid etc, is to use all of the space lost from making the lid mechanisms to fit bigger batteries, which deliver more hours of usage in this case 7 & 8 hours. in other words you cant replace your old battery by the new ones.

Hope it Helps,


PCM

[Candywrappa Posted Jun 16th 2009 3:16PM]

i never got a mac but with these prices i can see why...

[Zedd Posted Jun 17th 2009 5:42AM]

Good lord at the angst.

First, I am a Flight Attendant, traveling is what I do. Second, I've owned two "gaming PC laptops", the first was a custom built Sager that was as heavy as my mother's minivan that was really only portable in that you could close the lid on the damned thing and pick it up (suffer a hernia and then be on your way) It shat itself after being dragged around for awhile. The second is a flimsy Gateway FX6860. While I've been happy with Vista 64, the screen is bad, the thing crashes more lately and the keyboard is wonky.

I want a MacBook Pro (probably the 17").

SHOULD I buy it?

I am a gamer (Eve Online mostly, and probably will go back to WoW at some point, blah) primarily.
I watch Movies, either DVD or streaming stuff from Netflix or Hulu.
I do web browsing and other stuff.

Someone linked the new Alienware M17 laptop. That thing starts at 11lbs. STARTS! Is there no love for the portable gamer? Is not a Macbook Pro in all it's seemingly sexorness the answer to my techno~dreams? If you prick me, will I not pwn you in space?

Help me grumpy ppl, you are my only hope... :)

[pascualcm Posted Jun 24th 2009 6:21PM]

Hi @Zedd,

In response to your question, MacBook Pro's are "in my opinion" great gamer laptops, I previously owned a Macbook 13.3" 2.4Ghz Which had a 256 Mb NVidia GeForce 9400M, I was amazed at the response to games from this Computer, it flawlessly ran WoW and some other Games which do require Better Graphic Cards, I was able to play (Call of Duty 4 The Sims 3, GTA: San Andreas, UrbanTerror, MTX MotorTrax and many others which I cant remember right now. The New Macbook Pro's and the previous ones can be used for gaming with no problems, and I think that it's safe to say that From the 1999$ 15" Pro, Up (Obviously including the 17") you should have absolutely no problem with those games. Remeber this ones come with NVidia 9400M (256 Shared) + 9600GT (256)

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 19th 2009 12:24AM]

I see Steve Jobs is using his jedi trick on weak minded folks again. People, they are computers!! One is slick, one is ugly. One is expensive, one is cheap. One gets less for your money, one gets more for your money. But they are just computers!! Buy Apple if you have the money, buy PC if you want to save money. They are do the same things!!

The whole battery claim from the Apple site (battery life will be at 80% at the end of those 1000 recharge cycles) smells like a marketing BS. There should be a class action lawsuit if it's true.

To Steve Jobs, stop producing disposable craps !! We have enough disposable craps to deal with already, last thing we need to more craps with toxic stuff in them. If you care about the environment, stop buying apple products. here's why http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123066532721343231.html

[JayXL14 Posted Jun 22nd 2009 6:53PM]

Macs will never do it for me. OS is complicated & computers are way too overpriced. Not saying Windows ftw but Mac FTL.

[Dresden Posted Jun 23rd 2009 5:41PM]

I love Apple--my hackintosh performs beautifully.

;P

[Dresden Posted Jun 23rd 2009 5:42PM]

I love Apple--my hackintosh performs beautifully.
;P

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 24th 2009 7:54PM]

Great, how does someone use garageband on their new MacBook Pro 13. Like most people I leverage the input jack to plug in my mic while listening to my guitar track on the headphones. I just bought the new macbook pro (cough) 13 and well now what? Garageband is for beginners like me.

Thanks