DailyTech - Apple MacBook Pro Series Updates

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Gadgets Apple MacBook Pro Series Updates
Brandon Hill (Blog) - May 16, 2006 1:15 PM

19 comment(s) - last by vodkajello.. on May 17 at 2:00 PM

17" MacBook Pro, now with a glossy screen option

Apple does tinkering under the hood of its MacBook Pro line

The big news from Apple today is that the company announced new 13.3" MacBook laptops starting from $1,099. The new notebooks are available in black and white and feature Core Duo processors ranging in speed from 1.83GHz to 2.0GHz. However, there's also some news on the MacBook Pro side of things.

There is some shuffling going on with 15.4" and 17" MacBook Pro models. The 15.4" MacBook Pro series sees its 1.83GHz model dropped in favor of just 2.0GHz and 2.16GHz offerings. A glossy screen finish is now available as a free option on both 15.4" and 17" models. The newly announced MacBooks feature the glossy screen as standard fare.

Prices ring in at $1,999, $2,499 and $2,799 for 15.4"/2.0GHz, 15.4"/2.16GHz and 17"/2.16GHz models respectively.

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Still a bit overpriced

By InternetGeek on 5/16/2006 3:25:47 PM , Rating: 2

Compare these laptops to their 'PC' counter parts and they are still a bit overpriced. If apple is using similar hardware and cheaper software why is this so?

RE: Still a bit overpriced

By braytonak on 5/16/2006 3:53:59 PM , Rating: 2

Partly because it's tradition for Apple, partly because they seem to find people who are willing to pay for the techno elegance and partly because they're lower volume producers than, say, Dell, which means they don't get as sharp of a discount on the parts.

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RE: Still a bit overpriced

By JAS on 5/16/06, Rating: 0

RE: Still a bit overpriced

By braytonak on 5/16/2006 5:32:27 PM , Rating: 2

Does Apple have a choice in that matter? They have to spend money to make their products attractive, and you pay for it. Yes, Dells can dual boot OS X and Windows, but it's likely not worth it.

One other thing that raises the cost is that Apple does a lot of this in-house. Dell has the luxury of having other companies provide most software, as well as other companies that come up with the hardware. Apple does so much of that on its own that it raises the planning, development, testing and manufacturing costs. Dell may not create as seemless of an experience, but they sure do well with what they have.

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RE: Still a bit overpriced

By JAS on 5/16/2006 5:52:38 PM , Rating: 2

I will agree that the "average Joe" computer user knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.

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RE: Still a bit overpriced

By Wahsapa on 5/17/2006 4:19:13 AM , Rating: 2

i dont consider the trash dell ships as software a 'luxury'

i think they have done so well because standards are just so low....

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RE: Still a bit overpriced

By ergle on 5/16/2006 6:50:58 PM , Rating: 2

What part of the software is cheaper?

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Integrated Graphics

By BladeVenom on 5/16/2006 6:08:44 PM , Rating: 2

Need I say more.

RE: Integrated Graphics

By ergle on 5/16/2006 6:49:52 PM , Rating: 2

For most users, integrated graphics are fine. I suspect they're also better for battery life.

If all you're doing is surfing, dealing with email and Word/Excel/etc., you don't need a dedicated gfx chip, and if integrated grpahics do indeed use less power, you'd almost certainly prefer integrated graphics.

Of course, the majority of buyers probably don't know what the term "integrated graphics" means...

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RE: Integrated Graphics

By plinden on 5/17/2006 12:08:25 AM , Rating: 2

quote:
Need I say more.

Yes. You need to explain what integrated graphics has to do with this article. This is about the MacBook Pro, which ... surprise!.. doesn't use integrated graphics.

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RE: Integrated Graphics

By vortmax on 5/17/2006 9:12:54 AM , Rating: 2

That was his whole point. Macbooks use a dedicated chip whereas most Dells are using the super-duper powerful GMA950. Integrated graphics just blow...even if they are 'ok' for the average user.

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RE: Integrated Graphics

By vortmax on 5/17/2006 9:15:56 AM , Rating: 2

Just noticed that the 13" Macbook uses the dreaded GMA950 also! STINK!

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RE: Integrated Graphics

By vodkajello on 5/17/2006 2:00:05 PM , Rating: 2

OK guys. You're talking about 2 different computers.

MacBook Pro == discrete ATI graphics Radeon 1600 Mobility

MacBook == integrated Intel GMA950

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Black, huh?

By AstroCreep on 5/16/2006 1:31:56 PM , Rating: 2

Kinda cool that they have a black finish available now too.
So where's the black MacoBook Pro?
BlackBook Pro? :p

RE: Black, huh?

By phaxmohdem on 5/16/2006 1:35:56 PM , Rating: 2

So now Apple will use the song "Back in Black" for a commercial and be sued yet again by Motorola for stealing their idea in their black Razr commecials.

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RE: Black, huh?

By AMDZen on 5/17/2006 10:23:53 AM , Rating: 2

Got on to price the black version of the MacBook - they charge $200 more just for the black finish.

I hate apple

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A few corrections

By ninjit on 5/16/2006 2:01:38 PM , Rating: 2

The 17" model is unchanged (in specs and price).

The 15.4" model has dropped in price, and they dropped the 1.83 GHz processor option. Before you could get a 1.83GHz and a 2.0/2.16GHz option.

When they released the 17" model initially it was $100 cheaper than the equivalent 15.4", and still with a bigger screen, better DVD-burner, and Firewire-800 support!

Which was pretty ridiculous, they really should have done this price restructuring then, at the time of the 17" launch.

Not sure how I feel about the glossy screen option - I'm not sure how many people will actually go for it: glare is a pretty big issue especially for a mobile machine.
With a fixed desktop, you can arrange other things to take care of glare (desk position relative to windows, position of lights/floor lamps etc.)

RE: A few corrections

By bob5820 on 5/16/2006 3:55:34 PM , Rating: 2

quote:
Not sure how I feel about the glossy screen option - I'm not sure how many people will actually go for it: glare is a pretty big issue especially for a mobile machine.

My Dell 700 has a glossy screen, and I really haven't had any glare issues. Though to be honest I haven't really tried using it under high glare conditions, such as an office or coffee shop with large windows. Seems ok at home, no need to move any lights around. I've used it out side several times and glare doesn't seem to be any more of a problem then it would on any other laptop. I'm seriously considering making the jump to Apple next Fall, so I've been keeping my eye on the their lastest releases.

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