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The New MacBook Pro: Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable

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Re: The New MacBook Pro: Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable

#101

Post by pasbesoin »

wavephorm wrote: post #94
pasbesoin wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Off the top of my head (and so, perhaps wrong), I seem to recall the amount Apple is charging for going from 8 GB to 16 GB to be on the order of US$200. [1] For RAM that they are purchasing and installing in volume. That's a lot of net profit into their pocket, for each unit. And that's where I have one particular concern: Apple closing down and engorging itself on yet another market segment (upgrades). You can argue…

So $424 extra for the bigger drive, and $176 for the extra ram... that sounds almost reasonable.

Could someone speak to the RAM installation and the materials cost involved in the RAM upgrade? Would it be akin to going from two 4 GB "sticks" to two 8 GB sticks?

I'm seeing 4 GB DDR3 DIMM's at around $23, while 8 GB DIMM prices -- a bit scant in quantity -- appear to average in the low $50's.

So, say $46 versus $110, for a $64 difference? Very approximately. And I didn't look closely at bus speeds -- just very off-the-cuff.

Re: The New MacBook Pro: Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable

#102

Post by DennisP »

taude wrote: post #6

I agree with the article, it makes valid points. However, you're paying for a luxury item that's a powerful computer and something with an inherently short lifespan. Take it for what it is. You won't be upgrading this machine, but selling it and buying a better one in two or three years. If you're the type of person buying this MBPro now, you're surely going to want the latest and greatest sooner than later. Most peo…

It's going to be challenging to sell with a dead glued-in battery.

Re: The New MacBook Pro: Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable

#103

Post by user49598 »

archgrove wrote: post #7

The argument doesn't really hold up, as we're only given two choices: Upgradable, or amazing screen. If there was a third, "Upgradable and amazing screen" with the applicable price/weight tradeoffs, then the "we can choose" view would be more tenable. Regardless, the lack of upgradability isn't something that bugs me. My last two Apple laptops were "upgradable", but all I ever did was throw some RAM in there. The sub…

The problem isn't just for tinkerers who want to upgrade. It's also about repairs and recycling. We're voting with our wallets for hardware that can't be easily or cheaply repaired and is impossible to be recycled.

Re: The New MacBook Pro: Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable

#104

Post by Retric »

taligent wrote: post #98
padobson wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is the crux of the entire issue, crystalized perfectly. If you are going to carry multiple product lines, then why would their features converge? I see no reason to get into the closed vs open debate - this is Apple we're talking about. But why would they turn the Mac Book pro into a MacBook Air with higher specs? Why not get rid of all the branding distinctions and let the consumer spec out the machine, with a…

What you are talking about makes absolutely no sense. There are completely different chipsets, ports, batteries etc in a MacBook Air versus a MacBook Pro. Most of which have dependencies on each other. So a user can't just spec out a machine with the exception of very specific components. Hence why they are branded differently.

MBA is thin, has a SSD, integrated battery, an no disk drive.

The MB pro is almost as thin, has a SSD, integrated battery, an no disk drive and a better screen.

They killed the old Mack Book Line.

Re: The New MacBook Pro: Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable

#105

Post by user49598 »

generalk wrote: post #57

I'm on the fence. On the one hand, the new MBP is a fantastic machine and if I pay the premium for the 16GB of RAM, I'm probably going to be set for years. That said, I'm currently running the original Late 2008 Unibody Macbook Pro. It's survived for four years because I've been able to, over time, upgrade the RAM, replace the spinning disk with an SSD, and replace the aging battery. SSDs weren't available when I pur…

The most compelling aspect of that, if you ask me, is the battery. You're completely in the hands of apple when it comes to replacing it. If they decide in 4 years that your computers battery is now $400 then you have no choice. You can't buy one online, you can't go to any one but apple to take apart your machine and put a new battery in.

Re: The New MacBook Pro: Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable

#106

Post by gcb »

bnegreve wrote: post #87
Evbn wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's because the boards are getting more cycles in GPU and cache and things, which are more important than straightahead serial speed.

It's also because the power consumption is quadratic with the frequency. This is important if you agree that an additional hour on battery is worth much more than few cylces per sec.

That's why your cpu runs on different paths to save power when not needed. Using a lower cpu is just lazy and cheap.

Re: The New MacBook Pro: Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable

#107

Post by user49598 »

kenrikm wrote: post #90

Purchase New Apple Laptop -> Sell on Ebay after 12months having only lost $200(average) in depreciation -> Purchase New model. I have followed this cycle since 2004, It's kind of like leasing but on my own terms. I personally feel that $200/year is a very small price to pay for a machine that brings in the bacon. I spend a LOT MORE to keep my Adobe CS Master up to date.

Thats a lot of work most people aren't willing to do.

Re: The New MacBook Pro: Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable

#108

Post by jfoutz »

Evbn wrote: post #80
taligent wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I love the idea that upgrading RAM/Hard Disk somehow equates to hacking your machine. It's akin to someone thinking they are an F1 mechanic because they can replace the car battery.

How would you define hack, if not fiddling with hardware against the manufacturers intent?

Best example off the top of my head is a very old one, adding CD sound processing to a SPARCstation II

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/4.12/ffmassalin_pr.html

I don't have a super high succes rate with reflow soldering, but my hotplate isn't quite perfectly flat. I assume the mac boards are all double sided, so i'd be inclined work out a solder bath style solution. Maybe a friendly college student would give access to the EE department's stuff. Maybe there's a cheap benchtop solution. It can't be that bad

Re: The New MacBook Pro: Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable

#109

Post by tjoff »

archgrove wrote: post #7

The argument doesn't really hold up, as we're only given two choices: Upgradable, or amazing screen. If there was a third, "Upgradable and amazing screen" with the applicable price/weight tradeoffs, then the "we can choose" view would be more tenable. Regardless, the lack of upgradability isn't something that bugs me. My last two Apple laptops were "upgradable", but all I ever did was throw some RAM in there. The sub…

These days, the stock specs of the Macbook Retina will be fine for even power users for years; almost certainly the life of a laptop.

When the battery dies it will be worthless as a laptop. For a power user that means you are forced to buy a replacement way sooner than you'd want.

Just yet another reason for why it is so obvious that apple does mainstream hardware, the sad part is that people confuse it with quality hardware.

Re: The New MacBook Pro: Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable

#110

Post by rayiner »

raverbashing wrote: post #31
archgrove wrote: post #7

The argument doesn't really hold up, as we're only given two choices: Upgradable, or amazing screen. If there was a third, "Upgradable and amazing screen" with the applicable price/weight tradeoffs, then the "we can choose" view would be more tenable. Regardless, the lack of upgradability isn't something that bugs me. My last two Apple laptops were "upgradable", but all I ever did was throw some RAM in there. The sub…

Yeah, but really, the thing is, the growth curve is bending down Processors have barely became faster in the last couple of years. Even a 5 year computer (with some upgrades) is good for doing what 99% of the people do today (internet) So chances are upgrades today are moot. Unless you're hitting the limits constantly like video editing, compiling software, etc

I've got a '10 MacBook Pro, but it's got an ancient '08 Core 2 Duo. I can't imagine needing a faster machine, and I even do moderately CPU intensive stuff (compiling, etc).
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