I DON'T LIKE the new UNIBODY MBP

Is that really true? I'm not trying to say that in a confrontational way, it's just that I've Googled for comparisons on the two, and I always seem to find articles and forum topics that say that the 9600M isn't that much of an improvement. However, if what you say is true, that'd be reason enough for me to upgrade (especially with Snow Leopard's CoreCL).

EDIT: Oh, wait a minute though. Are you saying it's 2x faster in general, or just with Crysis specifically (then again, not that you'd really want to play Crysis on either of these cards ).

 

thx for kind words man!

yes,blindness is one of the things that should be corrected I have 9 PCs btw(no bragging involved ) ! and there are things that I don't like in macbooks- low screen resolution,small amount of ports,price,etc.

 

yes,but it ll cost $ for apple to offer 2 options also,I think that they gave matte up bc orders were insignificant.

9600gt scores ~6k in 3d marks 06,whether 8600gt scored ~4k!

 

1) They are among the first to use mini-display port *but theirs is proprietary* and its pretty good to me for now

2) Glass is the highest quality material you can use!!! Plastic will just ruin it by distorting pixels, and scratches easier etc...

3) It is not a gimmick, have some common sense, its stronger than your old MBP

4) Yes... so? They will most likely step up Q4 with i7 mobile maybe, GT 280 something? I dont know...

5) Are you sure its heavier? I thought it was lighter... my bad?

6) No gain = no loss... why cry?

7) Firewire is starting to get old... seriously, I have NEVER owned a firewire device... ever... Apple likes to start new trends so theyre killing firewire...
But you still have one, live with it...


You just got a new MBP and you make it sound like you dont want it...
PM me and I will send you a two way pre-paid shipping box with a cookie inside and you can send me your MBP

 

I agree.

The glass screen is superb. I work as a designer and I'm very fussy about my screen. I haven't used a glass/glossy screen before and was worried after reading the scare stories about glare. I needn't have worried as the colours and sharpness are incredible. I've got a Dell 24" external monitor that I was going to hook it up to, but to be honest apart from doing big print jobs I don't think I'll bother.

 

Wicked!

Who do you work for etc... ?

The glass is unsurpassed, nothing is better than glass, and if you really are going to cry about a couple ounces extra... the macbook is perfectly balanced in weight


Even though glass is reflective, up until now ive never been bothered by it, use an alcohol wipe to clean the screan in a second and its done since the screen is one glass panel, so theres no creases or cracks that dust gets into etc...

 

That you are. Good job.

 

mini display port is part of the display port standard. what people don't realize is that display port (and mini display port) supports higher resolution then HDMI is capable of.

also the dropping of firewire 400 for 800 is for the better. Having a 800 port doesn't mean that you can't use 400 devices, you just need a different cable that has a 400 port on one end and 800 port on the other.

 

Did nVidia say that? I'm pretty sure nVidia said that the version of the chipset used for the MacBook Pro was custom designed for Apple so you shouldn't associate stock 9400M features with it allowing nVidia to wash their hands of Hybrid SLI.

In any case SLI support for Apple computers is a waste of time. In the MacBook Pro, the 9400M and 9600M GT perform markedly different, which means you are wasting a lot of performance on synchronization overhead compared to pure SLI. And the key problem with SLI is that it requires very good driver support and someone to write custom SLI profiles for each game. Without SLI profiles, you'll either get no performance benefit or even performance loss. Apple's graphics drivers already aren't as optimized for games as in Windows. What are the chances that Apple is going to devote an entire driver team to writing SLI profiles for past, present, and future OS X games? SLI's benefit is only seen in games which are looking for a single rendering target and given Apple's lack of support for OS X games, is hardly a priority area.

In contrast, with Grand Central and OpenCL, the 9400M and 9600M GT could theoretically both be used. While SLI is basically trying to join 2 GPUs into one with all the associated overhead and waste, Grand Central will treat each GPU as a separate processing unit. Just like each CPU core is assigned individual threads, rather than trying to get all the cores to process from the same thread. For example, you could be doing video encoding on 1 GPU and HD acceleration on the other. This more independent approach to GPU management can benefit any OpenCL application rather than primarily games like SLI. This won't directly improve fps in games, but you can have more realistic games by doing the graphics on the 9600M GT as now, but also accelerate a more advanced physics engine on the 9400M.

 

just in crysis in fact
other case are about 25% faster =o

 

2) ok to that I will agree.
3) I am trying to say that unibody is being used as a main selling point for the macbook pro so strongly by the apple, It feels like a gimmick. Before this advertisement push, how many of you actually care how green and enviromentally friendly a computer has to be. I know that I don't give a crap. I believe so far, blabus is the only one that understand what I meant. Of course having unibody is an improvement, but to me it is hardly the strongest selling point, which apple made it to me.
4) This is a big upgrade for MBP, so of course I care, why can't they put something faster for this type of notebook after all, it is a PRO. If there is a thermal issue because it is so thin, I will take that as an answer.
5) It is about 0.1 lb heavier. You can just look at the spec on the apple website. it is not a big deal, but I thought that apple was touting that the unibody is lighter, therefore why use glass and other materials to make it heavier. Typically the company are heading toward lighter machine, not heavier.
6) No gain = no lost why cry, if you look at apple website, they are touting that the 9400m save battery life, etc So of course, I feel that it is slightly dishonest to be saying or these things and have the machine not gaining any battery life. If little thing is not a big deal, why did Apple touting that it is thinner than the old MBP and the fact that it is only 0.1 inch thinner.
7) Yes, I agree with you, ditch the old firewire, why not use the space for the third USB port. I believe that apple is the only company with the least USB port for this class of notebook. Typically, other company provide you with 3 USBs for this class of notebook.

These are my points. I do agree now that glass panel provide you with stronger screen and more robust infrastructure, but to me it is not worth it in a notebook. After all MBP is not a desktop replacement. I just think the gain in weight is not worth it. However that is just my opinion, but imagine this, the MBP could have less than 5 lbs without glass panel and that would have been a big deal. Apple would be the first to have (that I know of) a 15.4" machine that weigh less than 5 lbs and all of this possible because of the unibody technology.

 

I've been reading this whole thread and mostly every opinion here has been shared but I want to add a bit. It's interesting you care nothing about the environment because MANY people do, that's why recycling is very important in order to help save the environment. The rainforest is trying to be saved for endangered species. If we don't help to protect the environment there will be an increase of endangered species. People throw computers away everyday and they contain mercury and such which is bad for the environment. I think it's good that Apple sells their computers this way, no one else is doing it, it makes a difference for a lot of people, you SHOULD care about this.

At 2.66Ghz that's an extremely powerful processor, how much more do you need? You could go to 2.93 but what for? What programs couldn't it handle?

If you ever had kids in your home you might understand better why that glass panel is so invaluable. In real world kids are very touchy-feely and will poke at the screen unexpectedly and could cause damage to the LCD. The glass is nearly scratch proof and that makes a difference in a household.

And yes, a faster processor could cause excessive heat and because of the ultra thin design there's not enough room for good enough cooling to prevent core shutdown.

 

"Apple is the only one doing this." Really? Don't let your bias get in the way of the facts.

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/toxics/electronics/how-the-companies-line-up

Latest rankings from greenpeace shows that Toshiba, Samsung, Fujitsu, Sony, Acer, Dell, and HP are all ranked AHEAD of Apple.

Don't be confused. Apple doesn't give a crap about the environment. Apple gives a crap about what the environmentalist think about their company. Apple took a beating in the media in '06 and '07 because of how poorly greenpeace scored them.

 

Odd how Apple has only gone up like 2 and they have changed there products ALOT since 2006. I think they are still hating because of the power brick, I think that was mentioned before that they weren't happy about that.

 

http://www.greenpeace.org/raw/conte.../reports/greener-electronics-apple-rank-5.pdf

This was their justification:

It looks like they get major points taken off because of how secretive they do business. Of course they haven't announced timelines for phasing out chemicals when they are trying to keep their next great product on the hush-hush. Also think there might be some animosity between greenpeace and Apple because they had a very public PR battle.

 

Yeah I think they should be higher. There's defiantly something going on between them.

 

Alright girls, we can debate the finer points of the new Unibody MacBook Pros, even vigorously, without being discourteous, so play nice. If this thread devolves further, it will be closed. K?

 

i think you need to get your facts straight before you start spewing silly things about the chemical properties of aluminum and carbon fiber. calling people fanboys is only going to incite those who feel strongly against your "bashing." perhaps you are correct about looking at things from a different perspective, but you erred when you used the word "fanboy" and assumed that carbon fiber laptops are stronger and flexible. fyi, stronger and flexible rarely - if ever - go hand in hand. i dont feel like getting into the chemistry of aluminum and carbon fiber - i have two chemistry degrees - but for real... dont just give out false information.

 

guys,please,listen to ZaZ and cool down,I really don't want this closed

 

I've got my own design agency, so I've got a whole range of machines here.

The best features of the screen for me is the depth of colour. The blacks are really black and the whites are pure white. This presents you with such a strong image that unless you're working on a very dark document, you're unlikely to notice reflections. I've got a couple of laptops here with standard matt screens and although they don't pick up reflections, they do become 'washed out' in bright lighting conditions, so I'm finding the MBP screen less distracting under harsh lighting. My main Dell 24" lcd also becomes washed out, so I have to keep the curtains closed when there's early morning sun.

I loaded Adobe CS3 onto the MBP last night, and have been running a few applications to see how it performs. I was able to run Photoshop, Dreamweaver and Safari at the same time at a comfortable speed. In fact Photoshop was performing faster than my Dell desktop which has almost identical specs to the MBP. I'm guessing not having to run a system drain such as McAfee is helping.

I'm happy with the MBP unibody, it works for me. Well, it will do when I've managed to connect it to Tiscali!

 

Sigh...I just wish that you are not taking me out of context. I don't feel personally offended by this. I am glad that you have two degrees in chemistry. It is quite rare. Might I ask which field? Do you have double masters or a master and a Ph.D. in inorganic, polymer chemistry, organometallics, biochemistry, etc? Typically as a bachelor degree there are two major disciplines, which are general chemistry and biochemistry. Chemistry begins to specialize into different discipline in the graduate degree level. It is quite unusual to have double chemistry degrees, unless you change your degree plan suddenly in the graduate level and take a master in one field and go to another as a Ph.D. or another master. This is unusual, but not unheard of.

If you feel that I am wrong in my explanation of the chemistry of carbon fiber and aluminum, please clarify. I have some background in the subject and I am more than willing to discuss with you in details and if I am wrong, it is cool. I am willing to learn new things everyday. The reason that I said carbon fiber is very strong and not as flexible because carbon fiber is made of out of graphite filament, which can be woven into materials or used as reinforcement to a polymer. Graphite fiber consisted of SP2 hybridized carbon-carbon bond which is one of the strongest bond in nature because of its equal sharing of electron. As you can see the graphic is not very flexible, but very tough and brittle, but when used as reinforcement to a special class of polymer, it is very strong. I don't know too much chemistry behind aluminum because it is not my specialty, but I know that aluminum alloy is much more malleable and they are more susceptible to distortions from thermally induced stress. It depends on which type of aluminum alloy Apple uses, but in the end, it is hard to believe that Apple came up with this magical aluminum alloy that doesn't warp. It is possible, but we will have to look at their patents or in this case more like a trade secret.

Please don't get angry, if you don't want to contribute, please leave this thread be. I really hate to see this thread close. I have tried my best not to incite troubles. After all, I am a mac user.

As tayb had clarified this point. Apple is hardly green, it was awful before and now it is barely acceptable. Obviously, nobody care about the fact that Apple was awful before, why start now? If Apple made its process completely green or became the best in the field, sure we should all support them, but they are not. So you probably didn't care before, but now you do because Apple said they are greener? I feel that it is somewhat of a false advertisement in the part of Apple.

You can call me a teenager, if you want. It doesn't bother me any. But if you read my post, you would see that I got this MBP from my employer. If you think that I am one of the few genius kids that can get a technical job and have an employer buy them a MBP for their job as a teenager, then thank you for the compliment.

So far I tried my best to keep the argument as civil as I can and please return the favor, not because it will hurt my feeling, but I am afraid that the thread will get closed.

I guess that you can call it bashing, but I call it positive criticism. I can think of many things that are both flexible and strong. Those things are Kevlar, which is used in a bullet resistant vest. The other is the commercial polycarbonate which derived from phosgene and bisphenol A, its property is flexible and strong. It is used as a bullet proof window materials because it is both strong and flexible. The other non organic example would spring steel, it is both strong and flexible. So these are three common things which we can see everyday that are both strong and flexible hand in hand. So the strong and flexible materials are not a rare thing. Most chemist don't typically deal with material strength, it is a job of an engineer or sometime a team of chemist and engineer. There are more things that go into treatment of materials to make it stronger. A lot of the knowledge is empirical or trade secret.

 

guys,please...

Actually,I think apple needs a "facepalm"

 

Ohh as a counter point to the argument of saving costs by producing only one screen option. The new 17" MBP has both matte and glass version. So why can't it be extended to the rest of MBP line? If it costs so much and Apple is willing to do it for 17", why not the 15.4" also? If they are going to do it, then why not before? Apple already has the highest margin of 35% already to their line. It is the highest of all computer manufacturers in the world. Every computer company want to have that kind of profit. Apple did a very good job of making something that people love to use and they marketed it well. I like Apple, I still like it more than PC, but the way they are heading, it won't be hard for me to switch back to PC, if window 7 is what vista supposes to be.

I also would like to apologize for using the world "fanboy". It didn't help my cause, but I just feel that sometime we are so blind to what Apple tell us what to believe and ignore everything else. Apple has one of the best marketing strategy and it has worked wonder in their favor.

 

Just quotes from respected sites about BQ and that unibody part

 

I bought one of the new unibody MB's a few weeks ago. It's my first Mac after having been a Windows users since Windows/386 back in '87. Since I have no other Mac to compare the unibody to, all I can say is that I appreciate:

1. Weight - it's significantly lighter than any laptop I've owned
2. Style - compared to my ThinkPads, this Mac is a centerfold
3. Touchpad - perhaps the single best component of the unibody. navigation is efficient and I don't even feel the need for a mouse
4. Display - fantastic color reproduction
5. Performance - boot up in about 25 seconds and shutdown in a few seconds. Are you kidding me? My Vista ThinkPad took over a minute to boot to a usable desktop. For someone with limited patience, the boot up, app start time, and shutdown is a small blessing for me.
6. Battery life - I'm getting on average about 4+ hours with WiFi. That's twice what I was able to get on any previous laptop.

It's a pity I waited this long to buy a Mac. To those with more Mac history than I, and are underwhelmed with the unibody MB, I say you are terribly spoiled.

 

Glad that you like it! BTW,how do you find Mac OS?

 

Hey Xirurg, thanks for the citation, I was afraid that I must be only crazy person to have a MBP with shorter wifi range than other notebook. This is the type of contribution that I love to see. I also love some positive comments about new MBP also.

 

I am glad that you like it. If the unibody Mac was the first Mac that I bought in the past 4 years, you and I would have the same opinion. I have been spoiled by the awesomeness of the last generation MBP before the unibody that I have higher expectation of Apple.

Keep in mind, I still like MBP best out of all notebook that I could buy within $2,200 range.

 

I agree with all of that.

I love the touchpad too, and I haven't even bothered to plug my mouse in yet. My favourite feature is the two fingered scrolling.

Only complaint so far is the lack of driver support for my USB modem. Just spoke to Apple and they recommended an ethernet or wireless modem as they didn't support USB modems on this model.

 

I like it. It's taking some getting used to after being mired in Windows for so many years. I miss the Home and End keys, but am learning the Mac keyboard shortcuts. It just takes some getting used to. However, it's really nice to be able to get just about anywhere in 1-2 clicks as opposed to 4-5 clicks in Windows (especially in anything Windows -configuration related). Big thumbs up from me!

There's another reason I've made the switch from Windows to Mac; I'm getting prepared to start some large video projects at work using Final Cut Pro (on one of the new new 8-core Mac Pro's, not the MB) and really looking forward to a new challenge and learning curve.

 

OS X is possibly the best thing that I love about my Mac.

 

thanks! yes,alu actually blocks wireless signals,thats why mac's antennas are where the screen is(black plastic thing)!also,thats why they switched to plastic with new iPhones,bc alu=no GPS

 

Soon I will start the thread, what I like about Mac.

 

Well, I certainly challenge you to find a post where I called you a teenager or a kid? Before I removed the comment I stated that you sounded like you were of a younger adolescent. I'm well over 30, to me anyone under 25 is considered a younger adolescent. The reason I said this is because you stated that you could give a crap about being environmentally safe and statements like that don't generally come from grown adults, especially if they cared anything about their kids future of living here.
TBH, I certainly hope the moderators close this thread. You get defensive anytime someone doesn't agree with things you say against Apple or the MBP in question.

 

I'm closing this thread...