Live data from Hacker News

New MacBook Pro series

apple.com

131–140 of 359 posts

Re: New MacBook Pro series

#131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

30 hours (claimed) battery life? That sounds ridiculous. How close (or far away) to the truth is that? Anybody know more?

That's for extended battery used together with the regular battery.

Ah, the fine print.

I just feel if this was just the actual battery, we would have heard a bigger announcement!

Re: New MacBook Pro series

#132
post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>>• 3 hours less battery life The old battery tests were unrealistic. They advertised 8 hours on the 17'', but who really got even close to that under normal use? I'm thankful they're taking the hit on pure battery life numbers to report an honest, realistic test.

I'd be surprised if that's what happened. I suspect this is just another unrealistic number that's the same proportion of reality as the previous numbers. That said, when I'm traveling and going for extended battery life (read: trans-atlantic flights) I get pretty close to the rated number by dimming my backlight and shutting off wifi and bluetooth.

Apple reported that they were changing the way they measured/reported battery life with the last MacBook air launch, and explained that it was less favorable, but more realistic.

Re: New MacBook Pro series

#133
post #123

I never understood why the 13" version is such a second class citizen? Is it that different of a footprint that Apple can't fit the same technology in it... or is this Apple's plan?

It's the entry level MBP, it's also by far the most popular model; Apple just wants to make sure that you have something to upgrade _to_ from the the 13" model.

I never plan to upgrade from 13" to 15"/17". For me the main feature of a laptop is the small form factor and the 13" is just really neat in that respect. I have my desktop for when I need more power.

Re: New MacBook Pro series

#134
post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple won't add a new technology to a product for no reason. I can't think of a reason why the mainstream users of MBP would be interested in BluRay. Moving forward, I hope Apple will get rid of the optical drive or offer an option to replace it with a 2nd HDD.

I can't think of a reason why the mainstream users of MBP would be interested in BluRay. For those of us without excellent internet connections, it's the only feasible way to get HD movies.

I suggest that you're therefore not a mainstream user.

Obviously circular reasoning aside, the other feasible way is to spend more time on a slower internet connection. Under 24 hours on a 2Mb/s connection for 20GB isn't prohibitive, unless you're looking to stock your hard-disk for a trans-Pacific flight.

Re: New MacBook Pro series

#136
post #35
post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was really hoping the stock models would ditch hard drives entirely (for SSDs) like the MB Air.

The only reason I wasn't hoping for that is because I intend to stuff a 512 GB aftermarket SSD into my next MBP and I'd rather not pay through the nose for Apple's upgrade option.

They are only charging $1100-$1200 for the upgrade. Where are you getting a high-quality aftermarket 512GB SSD for much less than that (forget that you have to install it yourself)?

edit: pricing differs slightly depending on model

Re: New MacBook Pro series

#137

hmm - you need to go to 1799$ before you end up with a half decent graphics card and 2199$ for a decent card. Compare it with a Dell XPS 15 Sandy Bridge - $1049 for i7 2620M, 1920X1080 display, nVidia GT525 Optimus card, HD Camera. For a first time possible mac buyer (me) - is it well justified ?

Have you used OS X before? I pay the Mac premium for two reasons: (1) my laptop is supported by tons of Apple Stores across the country, and (2) OS X is awesome (and since it's Unix-based, I can work in the terminal without a problem). There's also a great reselling market for Macs. If (1) and (2) don't really matter to you, go with the Dell. I'll pay the extra price to get exactly what I want in my computer.

This... the cost of my computer hardware is basically inconsequential given that these days I'll often get 3-4 years out of it. If I'm using it for work, that's like $2 a day total cost over its lifetime. I'll happily pay an incremental $1 a day for a system that saves me 10 minutes of dicking around and forgo starbucks if that's what it takes.

Justifying choice of your primary work system on the basis of even a $1,000 price difference is generally penny wise - pound foolish. I don't think that's a Mac/Win/Linux issue, just common sense when it comes to work tools.

Re: New MacBook Pro series

#138
post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think the laptop versions of the Core i* have 3 memory channels (neither do the Socket-1155/1156 desktop versions), so 3x4GB of RAM would be a strange/suboptimal configuration. There probably isn't enough physical space in a 13" laptop for more than 2 modules anyway (unless you sacrifice battery or optical drive space). Even soldering them to the motherboard wouldn't save much space - I think all current 4GB…

Yep, those CPUs only support 8GB max. See the Intel Core i7 2620M (the 2.7Ghz part in the high-end 13" model) spec sheet for example: http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=52231

Interesting, I didn't realise the mobile versions don't even support multiple memory modules per channel. (which would allow for 4 modules like on many desktop systems, including the iMacs)

Re: New MacBook Pro series

#139
post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Probably because of overlap between it and the MacBook and the MacBook Air? Frankly, I'm amazed they still offer a 13 inch MBP (which is not to say that it isn't a good little machine, but that Apple likes to segment their market clearly) I can't see the prices and options at the moment, but it may be that the MBP is just a couple of hundred bucks more than the top end MacBook, which means that some people might stre…

There is indeed this overlap and clutter on the 13". I think this is because much within the Air is still pretty new stuff for most people: SSD, ditching optical drives. So if people want to pay for performance as they now know it, they'll go for the Pro version. But I doubt there will be a next generation of 13 inch Pros.

More like, so much within the Air is still bloody expensive.

I'd rather have space than SSD speed for the associated price. I want to be able to watch DVDs or burn off a quick disk. I don't want to have to step up to a bulky 15" machine just to retain these features.

The Air is not, in my opinion, a really useful machine.

Re: New MacBook Pro series

#140
post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's the entry level MBP, it's also by far the most popular model; Apple just wants to make sure that you have something to upgrade _to_ from the the 13" model.

I never plan to upgrade from 13" to 15"/17". For me the main feature of a laptop is the small form factor and the 13" is just really neat in that respect. I have my desktop for when I need more power.

Why not get the Air then?
Post reply on HN