Apple Secretly Updates MacBooks

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Apple users rejoice! The super-secret refresh of the Apple MacBook and MacBook Pro is (finally) here.

Many Apple MacBook and MacBook Pro users have eagerly awaited an update to the MacBook line since rumors started to spread like wildfire more than a month ago. The 13.3&quot; Apple MacBook now features the Intel Core 2 Duo Santa Rosa and the old GMA 950 integrated video architecture has been replaced by the newer GMA X3100 for superior video performance. Preconfigured models start at $1,099 for the white model with 80GB hard drive, 2.0GHz processor and top out at $1,499 for the black model with 160GB hard drive and 2.2GHz processor.

Click here to buy the Apple MacBook from Apple.com

 

The &quot;New&quot; MacBook Features:

• 13.3-inch glossy display
• 2.0GHz or 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
• Up to 4GB memory
• Up to 250GB hard drive
• Apple Remote with Front Row
• Built-in iSight camera
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
• Slot-loading optical drive
• Built-in AirPort Extreme
• FireWire 400 and two USB 2.0 ports
• Gigabit Ethernet
• Bluetooth 2.0+EDR

If news of the MacBook update isn't enough to get your blood pumping, the MacBook Pro can now be configured with an optional 2.6GHz Core 2 Duo for a modest $250 more than the previous high-end 2.4GHz MacBook Pro. Granted, this isn't as much of a &quot;refresh&quot; as it is just one more processor choice, but it is news.

The &quot;New&quot; MacBook Pro Features:

• 15.4-inch or 17-inch displays
• 2.2GHz, 2.4GHz or 2.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
• 5.4 pounds
• 8x double-layer-burning SuperDrive
• One FireWire 400
• One FireWire 800
• Two USB
• ExpressCard/34
• Up to 250GB hard drive
• Gigabit Ethernet
• NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT
• Built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n
• Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
• Illuminated keyboard
• Scrolling trackpad
• MagSafe Power Adapter

Bottom line, the updates to the MacBook and MacBook Pro are welcome news for Apple fans everywhere ... but the less-than overwhelming &quot;new features&quot; aren't nearly as impressive as we hoped. At least these new MacBooks and MacBook Pros come with Apple's new OS X Leopard.

 

Man, where's the rumored silver case for the MacBook? Not too much to get excited about here unless you were on the fence waiting for the update. Same price and better specs is always a better deal. Would like to see an ExpressCard put into the MacBook and of course still waiting on that more ultraportable form factor type Mac.

 

Probably still waiting on the chassis refresh, I would imagine. This update is more like the previous MacBook updates, just ensuring they don't fall too far behind in terms of basic specs

 

Well on the plus side, at least they didn't ruin the minimalistic design which attracts so many. But yes, very subtle and unspectacular changes.

Does anyone know when the ultraportable is going to be introduced? Or at least rumored to be introduced.

 

I heard November a while back, but nothing confirming that recently.

 

Well, if the Macbook still weights 5.1 lbs or more, who knows the X3100 is a heavy card, then I don't want to hear about this notebook at all.

 

The MacBook update has been a long time coming. $1099 for a laptop with a GMA950 was WAY overpriced.

 

It's something that's been rumored for a long time, so there's really no way to know.

It does seem like the rumors have been getting stronger though to point to something at least in the somewhat near future (i.e. sometime in the next 6 months, perhaps as soon as Macworld in January).

But the reality is, Apple has gotten much better at clamping down on details. I mean, heck, no-one knew for sure today exactly when these updated MacBooks were coming out, although Appleinsider at least pointed to November 6th, which looks to be right.

-Zadillo

 

there goes my theory about a new anodized aluminum macbook and black titanium .5inch thin macbook pros

 

I suggest this thread to be moved to off-topic, and JerryJ to be given infractions for this "newsflash"...

 

not that this will happen but if they reflected the entire surface of the screen onto where the keyboard is and made that into a completely adaptive interface..............That would be cool. imagine switching between keyboard and tablet/ipod touchesque interface with the touch of a button.

I dont touch type so i have no problems with going down the virtual keyboard path

I'm dying for gesture based controls in 3D max

 

I think it will take tactile feedback/etc. for this to really work properly and be comfortable.

This is where the stuff Apple got from FingerWorks will probably come in handy though (as they didn't do just multitouch stuff, but also did deal with some of these issues).

-Zadillo

 

well......one way could be to use electro statically controlled polymers that change shape, ie, between keyboard mode with contours keys and tablet mode for flat writing...........sweeeeet

 

I agree. I really like the MacBook design, but find them to be too heavy. The weight definitely doesn't match the design.

Now if they manage to introduce a 11" or 12" MacBook weighing 3 lbs or less, then we have a winner.

 

The weight isn't really that far off from similar plastic (or polycarbonate specifically with the MacBook) laptops. Sony's C series, for example, is 5.07 pounds. But the MacBook also at least has the advantage of being 1.08" thick compared to 1.45-.47" thick for the C series.

Toshiba's U305 series I think is listed at 4.6 pounds, but that goes up with a larger battery.

Overall travel weight is still something to consider too though......... the weights of some lighter laptops go up significantly when you factor in larger batteries to get comparable battery life that the MacBook offers.

Even something like the XPSm1330 is in the 4.5 to 4.75 pound category with the 6 or 9 cell batteries, and that is with considerably lighter weight materials all around.

The power adapter is also a factor to consider........ the MacBook power adapter is considerably smaller and lighter than some others.

The lighter weight will probably have to wait until a materials change, I think.

So yeah, certainly 5 pounds is still on the heavy side for a 13.3" notebook, but I'd argue that in comparison to other 13.3" notebooks with 6 or 9 cell batteries, it isn't really that much heavier.

-Zadillo

 

well. if anyone's going to start using antimatter in notebooks its Apple.

 

I can't believe they're still trying to peddle Combo drives. When a $450 Walmart laptop includes a DVD burner, that should be a clue that burning DVDs is not a premium feature. Even in 2006 those Combo drives were embarrassing in the price ranges that Apple sells in. To use DVD burning as an upsell feature now (and as it seems even going into 2008) is simply shameful.

 

wow what a rip off name from nintendo.

 

the new cr is a 14.1 though. and its still about a lb heavier than most other 13.3"s, like the dell and sony(those come with 6cell batteries) the most they weigh is 4.1-2 lbs

 

Well, again, see my post above. It's only a pound heavier than the XPSM1330, for example, with the stock 4 cell battery. With a 6 cell, the XPSM1330 is 4.5 pounds.

Still lighter, but not necessarily dramatically so.

The Sony SZ is a different matter, although the weight goes up on that too with the extended battery (not to mention the price differences).

-Zadillo

 

well you're right, the dell comes witha 4cell stock (how crappy)

but the sz's come with 6

 

Right. And again, as I said, the SZ is in a whole other price/materials class.

My main point was saying that although the MacBook is heavy at 5 pounds, compared to other 13.3" laptops, specifically the cheaper ones, those 13.3" laptops with comparable 6 cell batteries are not dramatically lighter.

The SZ is (I believe the SZ is still only 4 pounds with its 6 cell battery), but it is in a different price/materials class.

-Zadillo

 

The MacBookPro is looking better all the time, with the T7800 in the 15.4-inch. I'd like it for myself, other than the fact that it breaks the bank if anything more than it did before. I'll take slightly lower specs and lesser reputation for just over half the price. Apple makes great notebooks - but until they become more cost-competitive I can't see them gaining too much in the market. Even the Macbook is $1250 with 2 GB RAM.

 

yea the sz has a lot more features as well.

i have the regular one which is 4.1
but the premium used to be 3.7 but now its 3.85 i believe

 

haha, it ain't secret no more.

 

The MacBook Pro is still quite cost competitive with other similar 15" notebooks, especially factoring in the 1" thin chassis and 5.4 pound weight and LED-backlit screen.

The upcoming XPSM1530 would seem to be the closest thing I've seen to a directly comparable system, so that will be a good indicator of price differences (although for some reason the XPSM1530 will only have an 8600M GS).

As far as them gaining too much in the market; Apple's notebook sales have been skyrocketing....... back in August they represented 17% of notebook marketshare.

And for premium priced notebooks, Apple has been even more dominant:

http://apple20.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2007/10/11/report-apple-gains-29-share-of-notebooks/

Apple accounts for 29% of the market for premium notebooks, for example.

Not to say that Apple can't do a lot more, but the idea that they are being limited in gaining market right now does not seem to be supported by the evidence.

-Zadillo

 

That was Macpod's joke, roor. Its not real.

I've got to say, Apple went out of their way with this update. It was so quiet they didn't even put it on the front page at all (not even the lower four boxes).

If you ask me, I think this points to a more significant update afterwards. This update is just a minor one for the holiday season. The MBP and MacBook are due for redesigns, that should happen sometime next year, around the Intel releases.

 

I know Apple's market share has been skyrocketing - it's very evident on a college campus - but they still don't have a competitor in the low-cost or performance-per-dollar segments. It's exactly what the article you linked mentioned - Apple is targeting the most expensive segment. And ultimately that has to limit their growth - not everyone can afford to buy in that segment.

 

Apple doesn't really target the budget market...its Mac Mini is already the lowest priced Mac, and not that cheap.

And I don't think Apple ever wanted to dominate the market. Or even if they did want to, its not necessarily best for them to do so. Apple can manage to keep OS X secure and such, and part reason for that is its lower market share. With a higher market share, OS X will unfortunately start to see viruses and such targeted at it.

 

Probably the question with the macbook is that is looks a lot lighter than it is. You expect it to be lighter, due to the compact design.

 

Don't know if your joke is meant to be taken seriously. If it is, I don't get it.

It is not all that impossible to find a 11" or 12" ultraportable these days which weigh 3 lbs or less. Sony has the TZ and G series. Panasonic has the W7 series which weighs 2.6 lbs. Not bad for a 12.1" notebook with a built-in DVD. Heck even the Panasonic Y7 with its 14.1" screen and built-in DVD only weighs 3.3 lbs. Toshiba's RX1 is 12.1" and weighs less than 2 lbs. Asus, to name another Asian manufacturer has ultraportables in the 11/12 inch range which meet the "3 lbs or less" requirement as well.

So wishing for a sub 3 lbs ultraportable from Apple shouldn't be so unrealistic.

The fact of the matter is that US manufacturers can still not compete with Japanese/Asian manufacturers when it comes to lightweight/small form factor ultraportables. Whether they want to or not is a different discussion. Maybe Apple can/will change this.

Spot on. That's what I meant.

 

im looking at getting one of these and pricewise its almost spot on with a T61 and cheaper than a dell xps so if you compare to other premium laptops with similar specs you come out the same. i for one am perfectly happy with a combo drive everyone makes a big deal about this, i dont see any use for a dvd burner, all i use an optical drive for is to watch movies, rip cds and occasionally burn a cd for my car. I backup to an external hd and dont pirate or make home movies so why would i use a dvd burner optical drives are fast becoming obsolete technology

 

nah, i bet sony will beat them too it. lol

 

Completely agree.... I can't believe that it's 2008 and Apple is still starting their notebooks with a CD+RW burner only, with no option just to upgrade the drive.

Completely ridiculous though, there is no reason they should still be doing this. Makes me happy that I didn't pick up a Macbook after this. Good news that they've supplied a GMA x3100 driver..... wooo hooo....

 

I wonder how much extra battery life one can expect?

 

In my opinion, the problem here is that they use the DVD-burner as the main "feature" to get you to upgrade to a more expensive version of the MacBook, when it most likely only cost Apple a few dollars to use it instead of the Combo drive. Even if you don't use it, some people definately will, and if it's a feature that's essentially "free" to add, it's quite bad not to include it.

I personally didn't see any sensible reason to pay $200 extra to get a DVD-burner, which meant I went with the baseline model. The lack of a DVD-burner is still a minor annoyance, and Apple could have made their product more satisfying by not being silly about the drive. I personally think the MacBook is an excellent product to get people to try out a mac and OS X, which makes "artificial" handicaps like the Combo drive stand out more to first time consumers.

It might even be cheaper for them to use the same drives for all models, instead of having to keep stock of a separate model for the low-end MacBooks.

I hope a January update will make the Combo drive a thing of the past.

 

Asus W7S - 4.2lbs with a 6 cell battery and dedicated graphics. Granted, the battery life sucks, but that has more to do with the GPU than anything else. I'd still say the MB is too heavy, by at least a half pound. One does not expect a 1" thin, 13" notebook to weigh the same as the average 14" notebook. As far as I know, the MB weighs exactly the same as the 14" ThinkPad T61p, with an SXGA+ screen and a 128MB Quadro FX570M/8600GT. And its not that much cheaper either....

 

Time for me to buy an M1330 and install Leopard on it!

 

Shouldn't it be less since the GMA X3100 uses more power?

 

The MacBook update has been a long time coming. $1099 for a laptop with a GMA950 was WAY overpriced.

 

Naa, it should be about the same as before - theres no real meaningful difference in the amount of power used by GMA X3100 in comparison to GMA950.