I want a Macbook Pro ... But I'm waiting cause there's supposedly a new release this month?

I am in the market for a new laptop, and while I don't fancy OSX over Windows Vista/7 I do acknowledge that Apple makes some solid laptops. It's the reason I'm considering buying a Macbook Pro.

However, I have been hearing that I should hold out and wait as there will be a refresh or a new line coming. What is the basis for this? I have not heard/read any official news concerning this.

Now I don't mind the current line, power isn't my priority when it comes to notebooks. About this new line coming out ... Will Apple still be able to achieve that amazing battery life if they choose to go with the new i series of processors from Intel?

Lastly, I don't like that there are 5400 rpm drives in the MBP ... I would like to upgrade by myself to SSD or 7200 rpm. How difficult is this to do on my own?

Lastly, I will be running Parallels almost always ... As I am used to the layout of Office 2007, the 2008 counterpart just seems like it'll take a while to get used to. How well does Parallels emulate Windows 7? I really want a seamless experience.

 

The rumor started when someone noticed a benchmark from a MacBook Pro that had an unreleased version # of OS X, and a new Core CPU.

Whether that benchmark is real or not . . . who knows. Obviously, Apple will phase out the C2D MBPs at some point. Since I have no idea what their inventory looks like, I won't speculate.

 

I see. Well what essentials are missing from the current MBP if all I want it for is streaming/playing HD content? (Seamlessly, no stutters whatsoever)

I'm not a power user, the most intensive thing I will be doing is running MATLAB/Simulink and Labview (Which I might just have to do in Parallels as I'm not sure DAQ equipment has drivers for OSX).

That being said, if Apple chooses to go with an i3 or i5 in the 13" model ... Do you think they will still be able to achieve the battery life the current model has? It's one of the reasons I'm so drawn to this model.

 

I think battery life will be essentially similar.

Even if you're not a power user, you might want to wait, anyway. There could be some good deals on leftover C2D stock in the Apple outlet.

 

Well I hope it is. I think I'll wait too ... I might even get a Vaio Z depending on how long I might have to wait.

 

Exactly the recommendation I was about to give you. The Sony Z is a great contender, especially if you're going to be running Windows daily. There's no reason to get a Apple notebook, in your case.

 

Yeah, it's a shame that they're much more expensive though. The HP Envy 13 would have been great had it had an optical disc drive and 1600 x 900 resolution. Picking a new laptop shouldn't be this difficult.

 

Don't get a Mac. If you don't need OSX you don't need a Mac.

 

I agree with him, reason I'm getting it. It's because of the OSX + folder structure and software. Having bootcamp to run Windows 7 on Mac is just a plus for me to test windows IE6-7-8 for web development.

So, if you want a mac just because it looks sexy and just for email, documents... then forget it then. Get PC laptop.

 

My reason for wanting a MBP is my first sentence in the thread. Whiile aesthetics are important, I don't even consider the MBP better looking than the Vaio Z or HP ENVY ... I just know that they're really reliable and well built. My current Dell is still going strong, but the texture on the keys/trackpad are starting to wear ... I don't think this should happen to any laptop.

 

Sorry for the double post but I think I'm making the switch, only question is how long to wait now. All the PC counter parts I'm considering have one or two things off the mark ... MBP is unfortunately the only machine I don't have an issue with.

Most commonly used applications on my current PC are.

Firefox
Safari
iTunes
Word 07
Visio 07 (Not on Mac)
Matlab r2008b
Skype
AIM
MSN

I think I should be fine ... I use Visio pretty often for schematics in drawings but there's always Parallels I guess.

I'm so used to keyboard shortcuts and getting around in Windows, it'll be annoying starting from scratch but we'll see. Are you guys positive about waiting? Wouldn't Apple announce a refresh if one was planned?

 

Apple almost never announces product updates or refreshes until the day they are ready to launch. Take a look at the hundreds of pages of speculation on websites like Macrumors.com and you'll understand that fact quickly. One of these Tuesdays we will just learn that a refresh has taken place and they will be available in Apple stores that day most likely.

 

Wow, I never really was a fan of waiting for the 'better' thing (with technology anyways) as I would just end up waiting forever.

But I guess I will hold out for another month or so, as people are saying it'll be a big jump from the current line. I really hope they're right.

 

I'd wait for the announcement so I could get a mad discount on the discontinued C2D MBP.

 

Discount from Apple or discount from 3rd party sellers? I'm not looking for a refurbished Laptop, I want a brand new one.

Also I don't know what improvements they'll be adding, but as it stands the 13" MBP fits my every need.

 

Discounts from the Apple Outlet. Apple will usually blow out the remaining inventory of their prior line at cheaper prices.

As a PC laptop user who has been where you are, I would say if the 13" MBP fits your need now, then buy it now. You can chase technology forever and will always come up losing.

 

How significant are these discounts? Examples?

As for the chasing technology thing, I understand completely. I usually do my research thoroughly prior to making significant tech purchases, and really all I want is the internet in my lap, alongside the weekly word processing.

I don't play video games, I don't do any heavy photo/video editing (MBP 13 can handle that regardless right?), all I do is IM, email, Matlab/Simulink and a lot of browsing.

As a result, I think the 'power' requirement has been satisfied and thus the other requirements such as battery life, durability, and all around comfort come into play.

Lastly, my only other concern is streaming HD content. My current Dell Vostro has trouble with that. I want a machine that streams HD content without stuttering ... I mean, flawlessly ... Will I be right in going with the 2.26 GHz MBP + 4 GB RAM configuration?

 

In general I agree. The exception being when technology has made an interesting leap and you know there are still some manufacturers who are going to update their product line-ups with this new technology soon.

 

you guys don't consider the new i5's and i7's to be a "significant leap"? he mentioned "streaming/playing HD content" as one of his core uses. the new i5's and i7's can stream directly to a television with that little Netgear WiDi box and some free intel software. only works with i3/5/7 processors.

http://nexus404.com/Blog/2010/01/30...s-notebook-tv-video-adapter-uses-intels-widi/

sorry, Atom. sorry, C2D. sorry, C2Quad.

that alone is worth waiting for, IMO.

the i5's and i7's are also more powerful and flexible processors thanks to turbo boost and hyperthreading. and while he might not appreciate all of that TODAY...I bet he will when the next iterations of his favorite programs come out.

wait until March, dude. especially considering your current machine isn't broken.

best advice in the laptop world: don't replace what you have unless it's not serving your purposes fast enough anymore...or unless a new technology leap is at hand.

 

I can hardly consider macbook/macbook pro as a reliable laptop.
I can for sure argue prev. generation (before unibody era) is big lottery and short term laptop (never buy second hand macbook/pro laptops).

First of all prev. generation of macbook pro has terrible weak construction, unibody was not improvement, this is what apple did to fix the silly construction.

Secondly after approx 1-1.5 years most of apple laptops get heating issue (sometimes it is vent mechanical problem, sometimes paste is evaporated).

Battery dies extremely fast, motherboard issues are not occasional cases. Due to heating problem hdd can stop standing "tropical mode".

Body of aluminum laptop is easily dented/scratched and even can be bended. It is a pity to see old macbook pro either like yellowed, scratched with deformed palm rest macbook 13.

If you carry your laptop often your screen for sure will be scratched by keyboard.

DVD can stop reading/writing some CDs after half of year.

Still not clear how good the new unibody is. It can have heating problem after a while, and mechanical problem with your vent.

It is funny but I practically have not seen apple laptop which didn't pass through guarantee department. Even right now I am writing the message from Macbook Pro 15 unibody, 3 moths old which already has to be brought to apple because of vent problem (mechanical noise)

Good luck

 

Next up: the flood of posts in which perfect-for-years MBPs are mentioned.

 

And yet...after all of these supposed problems that you went through, you still decided to buy a new unibody mbp. I call BS on your whole story.

 

sometimes employer buys it, since mac osx is the only *nix like stable desktop environment.

I like matte screen very much, this is the best screen I have ever seen in laptop. But still cannot trust this toy.

 

"perfect" is just a word. even $hit can be perfect

of course apple laptops are noticeable and interested products, thanks to apple others vendors have to move ahead, but apple quality is overpriced.

 

either you're fibbing or you don't get out much with regard to computers.

pick one. in the long MBP speculation thread, we just got through talking about how bad the matte screen really is.

and boy, is it unimpressive. you should check out a RGB LED matte screen from Sony, Asus, or Dell. then let us know what you think

 

obviously high.

osx>>>>>>>>windows.
i could never use windows primarily again

 

you must be a mongoloid then. He never said one was better than the other, great job, moron.

 

I still call BS.

 

Yo guys... going off topic... i guess...

 

finding windows 7 difficult are we?

 

Well Windows isn't hard to use but it's more complicated for installation, searching through folders for files and organizing files around.

 

Stream to a TV for an extra $90??

Fail.

 

Avg users probably wouldn't gain much from an already fast C2D. For those who work with video would see big gains switching to core i series.

 

Seriously, if your going to be running Windows anyway through the mac, why not just get a PC. Like honestly if your not into OS X, you will get fed up with it very quickly.

And nice job starting a flame war in here guys, nice job

 

only one failing is you, my good man.

http://ces.cnet.com/8301-31045_1-10424576-269.html?tag=mncol

it was rated one of the very best techs at CES 2010. whether you see the vision or not because you don't want to is immaterial.

your statement, better said would have been "wirelessly stream my desktop to my TV at 1080p flawlessly with no lag from any 2010 i5/i7-equipped laptop computer in the home or office for $90. no more HDMI/VGA cables required."

being here in the Apple forum, I'd think a measly $90 isn't something people cry about. would be kind of dishonest for Apple fans to complain about spending a few extra dollars...and especially for something as useful as this. it's connecting to your TV at its highest resolutions without wires. for only $90.

Unless people have no idea how they'd benefit from being able to project their computer desktop onto their home/work televisions (hint: movie watching, presentations, bigger screen for work, gaming, from any i5/i7 computer in the place), I don't see how anyone would NOT like this, provided the final version works as advertised (with no lag).


ready to revise that "Fail" comment yet, or are we going to focus on pride and maintain the ignorant position just because?

 

oh? I haven't used either's search systems enough to know.

I make my own file systems by personally naming every folder and putting files inside of them.

in this way, I never have to search, because I know where everything is.

no matter what platform I'm using, I can't imagine getting away from that practice. and when I've had to use it, I can't say I've ever had a problem finding files in Win7.

have you? really?


also, Windows installations are "more complicated"? you run the executable, click the confirmations (just as you do on a mac with most serious apps like Logic, Final Cut, or anything Adobe) and it does the rest. I understand with some Mac programs, you just click and drag...but I don't know if it's more "complicated" to click "next" 3 times, then "finish". just more of a chore?

anyway, why are we talking about this? you weren't the guy that made the initial comment.