As expected, Apple updated it's products today. Today Apple released the new MacBooks and MacBook Pros, featuring the newest Intel processors, LED displays, and more:

MacBooks:
$1099. Macbook 13" 2.1GHz / 1GB RAM / 120GB / Combo / White
$1299. Macbook 13" 2.4GHz / 2GB RAM / 160GB / Super / White
$1499. Macbook 13" 2.4GHz / 2GB RAM / 250GB / Super / Black

MacBook Pros:
$1999. Macbook Pro 15" 2.4GHz / 2GB RAM / 200GB 5400RPM / 256MB VRAM
$2499. Macbook Pro 15" 2.5GHz / 2GB RAM / 250GB 5400RPM / 512MB VRAM
$2799. Macbook Pro 17" 2.5GHz / 2GB RAM / 250GB 5400RPM / 512MB VRAM

The new MacBook Pros feature a MultiTouch trackpad, similar to the one on the new MacBook Air. I can't tell if the Trackpad on the new MacBook Pro is larger than the previous generation, but comparing it to mine, it does look a little wider.

MacBook
MacBook Pro

There's no real reason they can't implement MultiTouch on the old MBP's. The old MBP's already feature some form of MultiTouch with the two finger right clicking and scrolling. Anyone care to try to get it working on the old MBP's and MB's? There's an AppleUSBMultiTouch.kext in the Extensions folder... perhaps that can be played with to enable it?

Edit: They've also made the Apple Remote a $19 optional addon. Arrgggh.

Hmm. Is it me, or is the Macbook Pro refresh rather weak this time around?

It's disappointing that the speed bump was so tiny. I was expecting the 17" and the top 15" to get a 2.6ghz chip standard. Plus with the price of memory being as cheap as it is right now, there's no reason why Apple couldn't load them up with 4gb or at least 3gb standard. Considering the extra month of wait, I was expecting DDR3 or something.

I'm glad to see they didn't mess with the keyboard though, and the increased VRAM is nice if you're the gamer sort. I don't see many notebooks that can boast 512mb VRAM.

Sure, you can make a kext do something that the hardware isn't designed to do. [/sarcasm]

On a more serious note, the new MultiTouch trackpads are different hardware to the old ones - a software update can't enable extra features that aren't there in the first place.


Personally i'm pretty happy with the MBP update, 6MB L2 Cache on the (top of the range) CPUs, 512MB GDDR3 RAM on the graphics cards, High-Res LED backlit screen, and the MultiTouch trackpads. Just what I needed, and I didn't particularly want a re-design, personally I think they're nice as they are - cant wait to get mine now.

~mac.nub

Well, that was kinda unexpected?! Apple is using 45nm CPUs already.
They are also very moderately priced.

I'm really disappointed that they do not offer a 15" screen with higher resolution - even as an option. So I think again the MBP is a nogo for me...finally for me it is at least as important what fits on the screen (and which connectivity it has) as what is built around...

But I don't want to buy an Acer Travelmate

I guess you haven't been watching the Rumours for the last few weeks like me then

~mac.nub

I have the same thought on MBP screens. I won't update exactly because of that, I don't see the point. Multi-touch is just a toy, since I mostly use my Nano mouse anyway.

That 1440x900 on 15" is soooooo yesterday.

Any chance of buying just the multi-touch trackpad from Apple Parts to retrofit into a previous gen macbook pro? I have access to a parts guy that might be able to get it for me if it's available. That'd be a nice upgrade for my 2.33 15". I'd actually like to get a LED backlit screen and retro it as well, but that's a bit too pricey. As it is with the 250GB Western Digital HD I put in, I can get almost 5 hours of battery with wireless on and backlight at reasonable levels. Honestly, I would have expected those new processors and LED screens to be pushing 6 hours by now.

yay no black keyboard

for no LED screen on the 15"

Quite possibly, depending on if they are the same size or not.


Err what? The 15" model has had the LED screen for ages... the 17" model just hasn't had it til now.

~mac.nub

sorry, I meant no "new" LED with higher resolution...

so is it good to say that the multi-touch trackpad will never be able to be put on an old macbook pro?

Ahh okies, that makes sense - they should have made that the standard 17" size, then made the 17" standard the High-Res size, that'd have been good.

Then again one of the reasons i'm getting the MBP 17" is for the nice High-Res screen

~mac.nub

Ya, that is one of thing I like the new XPS M1530, multiple range of resolutions on the LED displays tho.

Alright, I have been waiting for an upgrade in order to see if its worth it. Now that the upgrades are out, I'm not sure what to get. I could get the new 2.4GHz one for $1799 from Apple Ed or I can get a refurb like this 2.2GHz for $1449 or the old 2.4GHz for $1649. Is there gonna be a real increase in speed? They both have the same screen, and the multitouch doesnt mean a thing since I normally use my USB Mouse. What are the real benefits of getting the new over the old? Ugh, decisions...decisions...

weak update IMO, no wonder they didn't hold any sort of event for it. Not a worthless update, just underwhelming for how long it has been. Would have expected to see some better hardware standard at the same price point. And an option for a Blu-Ray burner, SSD HDD, and some other options... I guess the big, "real" refresh will be after the Nehalem chips and the HD war has settled down a bit more, DDR3 is more mainstream, etc.

Hey could someone tell me - what the's difference between a glossy screen and a standard? They are the same price, so what are the pros/cons of each and why would someone prefer one over the other?

Just notice the new keyboards as well. There's an media controller on the F7, F8, and F9 buttons.

still expensive as all hell

I'm pissed. I want an LED screen on my MB....Not so much the 2.4, but I wouldn't mind.

very strange is that in the apple store in belgium, the new macbook pros don't have the video ram upgrade. it's still 128 or 256 mb

I'm pumped! My new 15" MBP should be here by the end of the week!!! I ordered 4GB of ram off of Newegg for 110.00 (saves me about 300.00) along with a 7200 RPM drive which I'll be popping into the new system asap! I plan on using the 250 I'll remove as an external USB drive. Thanks Apple!!!

Now if only the 8800GT card would become available for my 1st gen Mac Pro, all would be right with my happy little Apple addicted world!!!

Couldn't they do a firmware update for the MBP trackpad?

NO, from what I've read it requires different hardware.

Ahh, ok.

Anyone notice on the MBP keyboard, the apple button is gone and replaced with the word command?

No, how would they get money?

That's true. I forgot after that iPod Touch update they seem to be running oh so sort of cash. ha

Doesn't upgrading the HDD in a Macbook Pro void the warranty?

Most definitely does not.

I'm pretty sure you're wrong.. Taking apart the MPB and putting in a new HD? Yeah, sounds warranty voiding to me.

Well, I'll let you know what I find out once I give it a look see.

I definitely read that you could.

in the 2.4 refurb model, you'll have double the vga memory as the 2.2, plus 200mhz increase in processing speed. that's about it. oh, and 40 more gigs of HDD space. the newest models have those sweet 45nm processors. 45nm = cooler operating temp, less power consumption. but you won't see a huge speed difference among the 3.

This update makes the Macbook and Macbook Pro a good bit more competitive in terms of price to performance. I was kind of hoping for the GMA X3500 or X4500 in the Macbook, but Apple will be Apple (no graphics updates).

Is the Mini ever going to get the love it deserves?

Apple needs to drop the combo drive already..


Yeah, that's what I've been holding out for before I buy a new Mac. The mini is in desperate need of an update.

Matte, err. Is your typical (business range) laptop screen. Glossy, provides enhanced colour vibrance, etc. though you can get some reflection occasionally... personally I think glossy is well worth it (hence the specs of the one I'm getting - hell, it even means I have to wait 2-3 weeks because I want that screen...), as it allows you to use your laptop on a train, with sunlight beaming through the window... if I tried doing that on my Dell i'd have quite a hard time even seeing the screen. Hence the difference between Matte and Glossy. People have their preferences, some like one better than the other.


Don't worry about that, I spoke to an Apple Rep (it said that in the UK too origionally, still does on the Business Store etc.), it's just the site hasn't been updated throughout all the languages properly. It *will* ship with the new graphics card and screen options if you buy it.

~mac.nub

A genius at the mac store told me once that I was not allowed to replace the hard drive it voided the warranty. The only thing you can really upgrade without voiding the warranty is the RAM.

I'm pretty sure I've heard that as well (upgrading the HDD in the MB/MBP voids warranty) - it certainly did on my Dell then again the warranty on that had been voided well before then... when I get my new one I won't even have to upgrade the RAM... all I can say is it's just as well I'm not paying for it... £240.01 for an extra 2GB RAM? - You can get it from crucial for £72.84... Talk about daylight robbery

~mac.nub

I had to show my mini some love this weekend by upgrading the RAM and adding a wireless 'N' 5ghz band card to it. Now I'm waiting on a 4x DL superdrive and the antennas for reception. Maybe I'll upgrade the processor while I have it open... But it's a shame that the options for the wireless are so limited.

Anyway, I'm still saving up for a Macbook Pro... waiting until I get back from Europe, so maybe they'll add some other things to it. But I'm excited about the mulit-touch capability.

lets make a list of whats missing from this hardware refresher:

1. new keyboard on the mbp (yes, i really hate the pillowy smushy crap they have had for years now, makes me puke, literally!)
2. 8800m gtx option for the mbp
3. 15" 1920x1600 screen option for the mbp
4. multitouch on the mb
5. anything else you were dissappointed about.
6. cheaper ssd's for all models?

-D-


*Note*
It looks like i'm getting another alienware to replace the poor macbook/macbookpro update. (an area-51 m15x)
Sorry apple, better hardware makes better laptops.

Well gloss looks nice and glossy, very nice, but can reflect light annoyingly making everything hard to see.
So most pick the 'boring' standard screen. which is none- or less reflective.

quite an important choice, can't just go change it

Whine whine whine...

Cheese cheese cheese!!!

1. Srsly? I hate the new MacBook keyboard. I'm glad they stuck with the old design.
2. I'm sure having a 8600GT completely horrible next to the 8800m, right?
3. That would be gross. You'd need a magnifying glass to read the screen.
4. Yeah, that should've been there.
5. Hrmm...
6. SSD isn't exactly cheap and isn't selling like hotcakes yet. Maybe once the prices go down Apple will start to throw 'em in the other notebooks..

1. Yes it really does make me puke every time i have to touch a mbp to fix it.
2. a choice of 8700m gt and a 8800m gtx would be great, in addition the the 8600m gt.
3. my current Alienware is 15.4" 1920x1200 i can read fine off it. even from more than 5ft away.
...
6. if they were made in 2.5" instead of 1.8" they would possibly be cheaper

i also am glad they kept the old keyboard, i cant stand the macbooks.

i am selling my current one to help cover the cost of this, anyone wanna buy?

Dude, you should be glad you even have a MacBook Pro. What's wrong with your current one?

my relatives wont help pay for another one, and i probably never will have the money to buy a new one, and the ethernet and firewire 800 are unacsessable. im going to sell this one while i can

My point is.. why do you need another one when the one you have now is perfectly good..

Well, I decided to buy a new 2.4GHz Penyrn-based Macbook Pro and I gotta say... I LOVE IT!!!!