Macbook Pro - its tempting

I have been wanting a t510 for a month now with a FHD screen. As you all know its unobtainable. Now i see the new Mac Pros have been released.

Core i7 2.66
15 inch 1680 by 1050 matte screen - perfect res for a 15" imho
Optimus switched nvidia GT330M - around 6k 3dmark6
Unibody Alu Shell
8-9 hours battery life

Available in 2-4 days built to order!!

Damm its tempting. If lenovo had decent supply chain mangement I would be enjoying a Thinkpad for over a month now. Why can apple have no screen shortages and no cpu supply issues?

 

Have a read of my response to the another poster regarding why this is the case for the screen.

http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/T400-T500-and-newer-T-series/16x10-is-back/m-p/222790#M24927

Regarding, CPU... with Intel everything needs to be pre-ordered, and Apple makes computer on a forecast demand system, so they pre-order all the parts. Whereas, the direct sale models that Lenovo sells Thinkpads on, use a JIT system for many of its parts. Furthermore, Apple has less CPU options across their Macbook/pro ranges than Lenovo with their Thinkpads. So it is difficult for Lenovo to pre-order the CPU without knowing if the future demand may require it, and the money that Lenovo spends on buying expensive (and quickly deprecating asset) CPU that may not be needed could be spent on other things that is more worthwhile.

This is the same reason that you don't see much CPU shortages with the Lenovo Ideapad, because they are produced by ODM/JDM using demand forecast systems that ships to resellers/computer retailers.

 

If you run Windows most of the time and have little desire to use OSX, then the Macbooks are just not the right laptops because they are optimised for OSX and Windows will not run very well, even on Boot Camp. They will still run too hot, have way too short battery life, limited hotkeys and keyboard backlighting support and limited GPU switching capabilities on Windows. It's just a poor choice if you're not going to use OSX much.

 

This might be irrelevant but to my surprise my order for a elite like configuration T410s has just shipped as I placed my order april 10. The estimated shipping date was may 12.

 

IT is indeed tempting, mainly for the screen (the WSXGA+ is a led one right?).
Is it possible to put the LED WXGA+ or LED WSXGA+ panels in a W500 or T500 with LED screens. That would be awesome. A friend of mine has a XPS 1530 (barely surviving you damn G84) with a WXGA+ LEd screen ant it is marvelous with the only caveat of it being glossy, I belive precisons could have this screen too. Now the WSXGA+ LED MATTE panel seems to fix the only caveat of the mod ( besides price of the screen itself). Maybe apple got a good supplier for that screen coz it seems its unique in the market. Why did thinkpad never came with such a screen?!!

Note: Grammar nazi corrections accepted and correct me if this new WSXGA+ matte panel is not LED (I am not sure)

 

I thought about waiting for these new Macbook Pros, but decided not to. I can't imagine myself spending nearly twice the money for the same specs. Granted, Macs are built amazing well, but is it worth that much more?

 

I agree. I salivated when I saw those specs.

 

A consultant we have working at our office has one of the previous-gen Core 2 Duo MBP in the 15" size and to be honest, I don't think the usability is there for Windows users, as chrixx said.

When you're in Win 7 you get about 1/2 to 2/3 of the battery life you get in OSX, the machine runs noticeably hot to the touch even when under light to modest load, and the keyboard, frankly, sucks. Okay this is my opinion, but I think the ThinkPad keyboards are far superior. But even ignoring the chicklet vs traditional keyboard debate, which is largely preference, you have to do weird key combinations to hit the function keys (F1, F2, F3, etc). This may only be a mild inconvenience to casual users but for a developer this is really annoying. I wanted to pull my hair out after 10 mins of using his computer to step through some code running in debug in Visual Studio. There were other things too like having to configure a weird Ctrl-click combination to get right-click context menus since the trackpad has only one button, etc.

I've heard a lot of people say they're the best Windows PCs they've ever had, but I'm definitely in the camp that think you should avoid them if you're running Windows, unless you only need to run Windows very occasionally.

 

Many people pay more money for Starbucks coffee

 

Mmmmmm starrrrbuuuuuccccks..... hmm I may have to make a quick road trip!

 

Road trip? You mean there isn't at least 3 in walking distance like there is down here? On many occasions I've found myself walking out of a starbucks only to see another one right across the street!

 

LOL yes in downtown Vancouver that's certainly the case. In the 'burbs where I am, there are still plenty, but not quite as many. Where I am now it would be an 8 block walk to get to a Starbucks (actually 8 blocks in either direction, my office is right in the middle of the two closest) and I'm far too lazy for that.

They are building a new retail center across the street from our building--I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we get one... afterall, 16 blocks between Starbucks locations is crazy, right????

 

When I saw the MacBook specs I laughed my off at them, then got pissed when I saw the 13in specs.

 

I am tempted to get the macbook pro too, however the price is more than what I wanted to pay. It not as durable as the t510, but is tempting. I primarity work on Window 7, the extra cost of license will add to the price. In addition to the price the battery and trackpad not being optimized for the Window, it miss the red nub.

I am just trying to convince myself not to buy something that cost way too much.

The 13" is trash. An outdated processor on a pro laptop.

 

In Australia the macbook pro with similar specs would be at most $300 dollars more. Apple and Dell have good pricing in Australia relative to the US. Lenovo do not

 

That depends on when you buy, whom you buy it from and what sort of spec you are after.

 

Very true. however even if i use a 30% coupon and an affinity membership (similar to EPP) on the Australian order site a thinkpad vs macbook pro comparison still doesnt differ much price wise. Honestly I would still rather have a Thinkpad but with these short lead times and new revised macbook specs it isnt an easy decision.

 

But build quality wise, how do MBPs compare with ThinkPads? From some of the posts here, it would seem that they are comparable and in some cases the MBP build is very good. I have never used a MBP and have only seen one at a distance. Isn't there also a heat problem with MBPs? Or, is that specific to only some models?

 

Just buy the laptop you like the most, don't have to wait.

 

I'm a graduate sutdent being SW developer as well. So, I can get the Macbook Pro 15 with i7-620 Model only $1,759 (Retail $2199)

 

Both have very good build quality, alot of mac zealot argue that macbook pro are better build, same as thinkpad fans.

The macbook pro feel more premium because of the aluminum. Macbook pro seem to be winning in the battery department, but the battery is not removable.

The thinkpad are more durable due to the rollcage, better keyboard and the nipple.

If the price is the similar, I would get a macbook pro, which has a better graphic card.

 

And now I'll argue that unless you are a gamer or 3D artist, the Intel HD graphics are more than enough for the T510. If the price is similar, I'd go for the T510.

 

And if you are going to use photoshop cs5

 

I don't know about CS5, but CS4 runs perfect.

 

I wonder how hot they will run. Their temps were not even close to be perfect with C2Ds and given that i5/i7s run warmer....dunno. Not even tempting for me.

 

I am refering to the newer photoshop utilized the the gpu more. So when you are using the content adware function on cs5, it will be faster.

http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/404/kb404898.html

 

Please, LeMarcus, for the love of Pete, trim the amount of text you quote in your response. It makes other people's reading experience more pleasant, and I believe it is the law (of this forum).

 

This is a good analogy, because Dunkin' Donuts beat Starbucks in a national taste test (supposedly). Is "premium" always better?

 

My two cents because I was on the fence as well (even before the recent CPU and screen update). In the end I decided for the T510 (big surprise...)

I like the MBP for the said reasons as well, but can't accept the keyboard layout. I need Home and End on dedicated keys, and I heard from a friend who has a similar user profile like me (applications and field of work) and uses Win7 on the MBP, he says many special characters used in programming (ActionScript) are cumbersome to input.

Of course the price is very important as well. Lenovo has several (student) models in Germany and one with 1600x900 and Nvidia starts at 1011 Euro. With SSD and Ultrabay I'm still under 1300. Pretty sweet deal to me.

Plus the port selection on the T is definitely more versatile. VGA for most presentation projectors, DisplayPort for the proper working monitor at my home office, eSATA for backup (> USB 2.0) are some other points that strengthens my choice for the T510. The LCD isn't even as bad as I expected.

I think the high price of MBPs is not entirely unjustified, but I simply don't want spend that much on computing - even as a heavy user. Maybe because I'm one and thus not content with the typical Apple "stay in the frame we intended and you'll be happy enough to become an evangelist, but anything beyond that will be cumbersome and/or (even more) expensive".

 

Because, some parts are not always deliverable as JIT by the parts manufacturers due to production shortage or limited production run, in which case it maybe necessary to actually stock the part in inventory for future use. This is why you get a 2 years old screen.

 

Did you receive it? Funny, I placed my order for a T410s the same day but I have not received a shipment notice. I ordered the "Elite" model which at this point should be a pretty well known config. I hope the estimated 5/13 ship date isn't real. Not sure I can hold out that long.