iPhone,
iPhone,
iPhone... wait, what's that? You're still pining for those refreshed, possibly
Core i5- /
i7-equipped MacBook Pros that
have been long rumored? If a source close to
Australian MacWorld has any merit, we'll finally be seeing updates to the laptop line -- Pro and Air, allegedly -- this Tuesday, April 13th. No word on what the new models would feature if true, but without an event all its own, the best we can expect is probably a spec boost. Best Buy seems to be adding some fuel to the fire, first by showing a proverbial
mark of death in its database last month, and now by making the 15-inch model unavailable on BestBuy.com. Undoubtedly the retailer's waiting for a new shipment of potent portables, but the question remains, what will they run under the hood?
[Thanks, Ryan]
Update: UK retailer John Lewis is also
showing its MacBook Pro and MacBook Air options as out of stock, though it suffers no such shortages with MacBooks. Draw your own conclusions [Thanks, Ben].
posted April 9th 2010 1:54AM
Thank you!
@adokimus , I doubt it. Apple could not keep silent for such a major change in spec.
@mianmian *facepalm*
NP.
If there hadn't been rumors like this every Tuesday for the past year, maybe I would be excited right now.
@adokimus Word.
But seriously (for the first time) I bought a 15mbp last week for my cousin. I hope it's eligable for this refresh. As long as I get the 10% restocking deal.
@Spiraling Shape Nevermind the rumors... the fact that there are so many excellent i7 competitors at grace prices already on the market. Why wait for the Apple branded one that'll likely be marked up?
Thank them when they fix the glaring deficiencies that have plagued their laptops for years.
1. Idiotic glossy screens, without even the option for matte on the two smaller models (the ones most likely to actually leave the house)
2. No Delete keys. Seriously, WTF, Apple? Putting the word Delete on your Backspace key is just piling insult on idiocy. By your own admission, physical media are dying, so move the Eject key to a dual-function key at put a goddamned Delete key in its place!
3. No ExpressCard slot on, again, the models most likely to be taken somewhere.
@Ducman69
Because these other laptops don't run OS X, and are either made from crappy creeking plastic and drop 80% in value within a year or 2, or otherwise are almost as expensive as an MBP?
Can I ask, why do you have this unstoppable drive to try convince people that they would be better off buying a different product?
@drange because all others at least have i5 or i7 based laptops since months. and you get much more options. you can go cheap till expensive, plastic till rugged, 11" till 18" (or more?), different gpu's, different battery lifes, different screen versions, different guarantees etc..
maybe people want more than 3 different options? esp. if they are not the best in what you get per $ (except if you drank the cool aid of steve, that is).
and osx is no magic thing btw, either.
@Information Central
I agree with your first point but not your second and third. I have never found a use for the delete key and have been wondering what people use it and the insert key for apart from gaming. The express card seems to be essential for 3G/4G wireless but I thought they have them on the Pros.
@onlymyrailgun to delete stuff?
backspace deletes text towards the left, delete towards the right. very useful if you're writing lots of stuff, editing etc.. (in my case, mostly programming).
@davepermen
Agreed.
That's a very USEFUL key apple owners have yet to find out.
@davepermen You can use the backspace as a delete key if you hold down fb or ctrl while pressing it. I'm not totally sure but I know for sure you can.
@davepermen
So what you're basically saying is that I should not buy something, just because other manufacturers have other options? So next time I go shopping for that frozen pizza I like to eat, because there's also other pizza's availble that are larger, or smaller, have different toppings, whatever?
You don't get my point: yes there are really nice Windows laptops that you can buy, but the ones that compare well against the MBP are *just as expensive*. My brother in law bought a Vaio for $1200, which is a nice machine, but now he regrets he bought it, because it runs hot, it is noisy and the build quality already starts to show. We're talking about a high-end laptop with a full magnesium-alloy case here, core i5, Blu-Ray drive, the lot, and still he envies my aluminium MBP. All of the sub-$800 laptops are the same: they are crap. Yes they might have pretty good specifications, but on all other aspects (ergonomics, value retention, esthetics, durability) they suck, plain and simple. You know why? Because you cannot polish a turd, and building high-quality from low-cost, low-quality parts and materials, it doesn't work. See also: Dell Adamo.
Also, OS X *is* magical if you're used to it, or if you use programs that only run on OS X. I don't care what you think about OS X, but I think you can hardly find anyone who actually used it for a longer period, that thinks it's anything else than a magnificent OS. Even most Apple haters would love to be able to go into a store, buy OS X, and install it on generic hardware.
@Information Central That delete key thing is confusing... although on the large keyboards in the UK for example the backspace key just has a left pointing arrow on it and the delete key (in the block of six keys above the arrow keys) has "delete" written on it.
@onlymyrailgun I wonder how many MAC users thinks why I got so many keys on my windows keyboard.
Delete?
For what is that?
@drange
You did a great job in explaining why Apple/Mac users LOVE their machines in regards to the hardware AND software (blu-Ray notwithstanding). Respect! +1
@drange
i love this comment!!!! This is the reason why im makin the switch over to a MBP this year...i have a 3 year old laptop that cannot keep from creeking to save its life!! You just cant compare to the sleek aluminun body! plus if you really need windows you can just use boot camp.
@Information Central ummm...... that "delete" key will work as a real delete key if you hold the FN key while pressing the delete key. I get what you're sayin - you want a dedicated PC-style Delete key - but this ain't no PC. It's a Mac and you know how Apple is.
@onlymyrailgun "I have never found a use for the delete key and have been wondering what people use it and the insert key for apart from gaming."
That's how you enter the BIOS.. oh wait.. :)
Other then that, I've never used delete vs backspace myself. Going back to my original AT&T PC6300 running DOS 3.x in 1987! Definitely never missed having a delete vs backspace myself.
@drange
Totally agree with you.
It is impossible to discus this with people who never owned a macbook though. For these people its just the spec on paper that counts.
They don't really appreciate the quality and user experience (OSX).
Sure there are good laptops like you mention (Sony) but they are even more expensive here in Sweden and using them side by side the uni-body Macbook Pro is like comparing a Toyota (Sony) with a Ferrari (Macbook) in my opinion :D
@Ducman69 I don't design laptops for a living either, though I *have* built a couple of PCs from raw parts. So I do know that there's more to a good laptop than just slapping the latest chip into a box & wiring up a battery & screen.
The issue that seems to have delayed Apple is its insistence on a high power graphics processor that can be toggled on/off without a reboot. That's a big issue for users who need both a good battery life AND the power to do heavy-duty photo, video and audio processing: key applications for Apple's user base.
You may not care about this little detail, but that's the Apple Way. I still have some more life in this 4-year-old laptop so am willing to wait for one that makes things easier, not more complicated.
Dear Apple,
Our sales of adobe products are greater than our sales of apples. And Adobe are mad so we blew up your inventory.
sincerely,
Best Buy
Now to decide: sell current Macbook and buy this, or be happy with what I have now and at least wait one more generation?
@KupoCheer i say wait, because if this one isnt a major update, the next one will probably be
@KupoCheer
You forgot your 3rd / best option: Buy a Sony Z that will still be significantly faster than the next gen MacBook Pros and ( bonus! ) look a lot less like a toy, giving you an elevated appearance of maturity and grown uppedness.
@DavidMcGuigan
Or you could get a hp envy for cheaper and better specs with a similar feel than that mac
@Intel
The reason the Sony Z is way faster than other laptops is that it runs 4 SSD hard drives in a Raid 0. That's why it'll blow away even completely decked out MacBook Pros ( even if they get i7's, which they won't ).
@DavidMcGuigan
I totally disagree. Why does the MacBook Pro look like a toy? In my opinion it looks more mature than any other laptop out there. The aluminum and simplistic design simply looks and feels much more professional than the often-used cheap-ass plastic with an abundance of ports and logos. In fact, the primary reason for me to buy a MacBook is because of its beautiful appearance.
@Nick Meijer
I actually don't think it looks like a toy, I've just heard a lot of people say that and thought it would be funny to repeat ( someone said it to me again today ).
I think the MBPs are some of the most attractive laptops out there, the problem is the design is getting old and stale. It feels like it's been around for 3 years now.
Also, I would argue that the Z is a bit more industrial / masculine / powerful looking though. Have an eyeful: http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/11/sony-vaio-z-series-vpcz114gx-s-review/
@Nick Meijer I'll give you the benefit of the doubt on describing the mbp as most professional by assuming you have not seen the new elitebooks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2ZnxxKE6pc
Particularly the new 17" that is optioned with the dreamcolor 2 display.. an ips panel that can output up to a billion colors (and can actually be used for color critical work for images/video/animation) and has workstation graphics on top of the latest intel chips. Design looks conservative and classy too. That is a real professional machine. The mbps are fantastic machines, but lets give other companies their due, they are near the top in luxury consumer laptops, beyond that they have a LONG way to go.
@DavidMcGuigan
How can this BE downranked? (I am not asking, lol, just surprised);
Sony Vaio Z is probably the best 13". The only problem is its price and even that is less for comparable configuration (higher end). And performance? I bought one last week. Amazingly light!
With Apple's focus moving away from real computing and toward closed, gimmicky devices that Apple can reap 30% of developers' revenue on without any after-sales support... the days of the major computer update are over at Apple.
@krishansy
They juss jealous.
Hmm apple fancompany engadget .....................you will end up whole of the E3 conference news in one page, I am sure about it...........and when it comes to apple news so muchh of hype is created.........and all the kind and polite words are used for apple articles..........each and every details are given in separate article.......i cant remember that you have ever made fun of apple..............
you make stupid cartoons of steve balmer
You bash or give out negative comments on many sony products.......
But never on apple............
why not start a separate Engadget apple site..........
@XRX
Two quick things: I agree with most of what you said, but I still down-ranked you.
@jin and guice
And they do, it is called TUAW.com, but they obviously never use it.
@XRX what the hell is up with your ..............s? Very annoying.
@XRX LOL FAIL. Guinness world book of records "Worst use of Ellipses EVAR"
For the most part agree but shorten your comment man!
But will they have Optimus graphics? I kind of doubt it considering Apples close relationship with Intel.
@C433Z
Why would that matter? Optimus depends on drivers of the OS, and Apple writes both the Intel and nVidia driver. It shouldn't be a problem.
FINALLY! I don't own a laptop and have held off buying a new Macbook Pro 13" as my MBA program starts next month. I hope this turns out to be true as I will order one right away. If not, then I'll just find another laptop to buy as I sure as hell can't wait any longer and buying a core 2 equipped Macbook at this stage is foolish.
At $1700 that thing better be able to cook my f'ing breakfast. If not, gtfo.
@gearh34d2012
If it is anything like the older MBP's, you won't have any problem cooking an egg on it.
Let me begin and end this thread right now.
People that are interested : Cool maybe I'll finally pick up a macbook pro now. It's about time it got the new intel chips.
People that don't really care but feel like bashing the company even though they aren't interested in their products: core i7 and i5? We've had that in our laptops for a year already! Way to be innovative and "magical" apple. Apple sucks and so do the people that buy their products!
There, now please spare the rest of us of all the dumb shit and post something insightful or don't post at all.
@slick612nkz
WIN
@slick612nkz you think your so smart... you forgot to mention the people like me who will start bashing you for being a moron.
killjoy.
@eko2: normally I like your comments... but I couldn't help point out the irony of you calling into question the smarts of another when you used the wrong "your". (it's "you're" that you're looking for)
@Vaio hoping for i5 and a 330m on the 13 inch model, I'd buy one