MacBook Pro New Features
there is a thread to show what features are missing from macbook pro
this thread discuss the new features
1. iSight
2. SATA Hard Drives
3. Higher Better graphics now upto 256 MB
4. DDR 2 667 MHz (faster RAM)
5. Dual DVI (supporting 30" ACD)
6. Express Card
7. Apple Remote
and of course
8. Dual/Better processor
9. Faster Front Side Bus
10. Slightly thinner
11. Support for Wirlesss a/b/g (though b n g become standard)
we will know the performace once released ...
it will be screamer if one has 7.2k RPM hard drive and faster processor and the overall faster architecture
this thread discuss the new features
1. iSight
2. SATA Hard Drives
3. Higher Better graphics now upto 256 MB
4. DDR 2 667 MHz (faster RAM)
5. Dual DVI (supporting 30" ACD)
6. Express Card
7. Apple Remote
and of course
8. Dual/Better processor
9. Faster Front Side Bus
10. Slightly thinner
11. Support for Wirlesss a/b/g (though b n g become standard)
we will know the performace once released ...
it will be screamer if one has 7.2k RPM hard drive and faster processor and the overall faster architecture
Comments
iSight; one less thing to carry around.
SATA hard drives; speed and forward looking technology.
PCI Express graphics; desktop grade praphic power (especially with the dual link DVI).
Faster FSB and RAM; a first for an Apple laptop.
Express Card; Expect some company to come out with "The Missing PowerBook" card that includes FW800 and a dongle-less modem.
I don't think we're going to see FW800. Intel doesn't have any plans to add it to their controllers. I'd rather see eSATA
I'm looking forward to getting a MBP, it should be a good boost over my PB G4 1.25, even in Rosetta.
Originally posted by Blackcat
ExpressCard looks interesting. It promises lots, even graphics cards for laptops.
I'm looking forward to getting a MBP, it should be a good boost over my PB G4 1.25, even in Rosetta.
250MBps bidrectional serial transfer. It's a no brainer that Expresscard is the way to go. I had to laught when people say "They don't even have PCMCIA anymore" I understand legacy support is important but laptop real estate is premium. Put on the fast stuff and the market will work itself out.
Bring on the HDTV tuners in Expresscard/34!!
Originally posted by hmurchison
250MBps bidrectional serial transfer. It's a no brainer that Expresscard is the way to go. I had to laught when people say "They don't even have PCMCIA anymore" I understand legacy support is important but laptop real estate is premium. Put on the fast stuff and the market will work itself out.
Bring on the HDTV tuners in Expresscard/34!!
Indeed!
I quite like the idea of hardware MPEG encoders, take some pressure of the CPU.
The Apple discussion board is full of people bitching about the lack of Cardbus, it's quite amusing.
though I'm amazed what a work horse the little ibook has been. I use it for work, and that means lots of coding, trips to Europe, and its also the AVI player at home. The only thing that ever failed was the HD. And I was able to take it apart myself and put in a 60GB drive to replace it.
But with a current battery life of 15 minutes, and no WiFi, this is not really useable for travel anymore.
Oh and my cat chewed through the power cord a few years ago, so that is patched up with black electrical tape.
poor little iBook. I guess I'll just make it an mp3 player in the loft.
sorry to get off topic . . .
Bring on the MBP . . . !
Originally posted by Blackcat
I'm looking forward to getting a MBP, it should be a good boost over my PB G4 1.25, even in Rosetta.
I doubt you'll get a boost over a G4 1.25 in Rosetta.
i love it, it really is nice to have.
i never thouht about video chats or even purchasing an isight for that matter.
150 for that big thin hanging on my laptop? no way.
but now this thing is sweet.
i have friends i never see and it would be great if we could all video conference.
fun stuff
Originally posted by BRussell
I doubt you'll get a boost over a G4 1.25 in Rosetta.
I'm not expecting much, but it shouldn't be slower judging by the (frankly pathetic) tests so far.
Rosetta seems to run about 40-50% of native apps running on a 2GHz G5. Likewise a 2GHz G5 runs about 300% faster than a G4 1.25 according to XBench.
So! The MBP is roughly the same speed (or faster) than a 2GHz G5 which makes me think I won't see a slowdown.
Obviously we need to see some proper real world tests, not throwing 1 minute video files at iMovie, but I think I'll be okay.
Originally posted by Outsider
Despite all that it lacks, they seem trivial (modem, firewire 800), the overall benefits are great. The only thing I think is odd is the lack of DL DVD-R but it'll eventually be reintroduced back to the line, most likely in a silent update.
I read that the reason for this is that the MacBook Pro is thinner than the PowerBooks, and a smaller form-factor optical drive was necessary. It might not be as simple as just throwing the old drive in there, anyway.
Originally posted by Duckspeak
I read that the reason for this is that the MacBook Pro is thinner than the PowerBooks, and a smaller form-factor optical drive was necessary. It might not be as simple as just throwing the old drive in there, anyway.
If that is indeed true, Apple needs shooting. Nobody cares if the first Intel laptop is 1.1" or 1" - we care about it being 4x faster etc.
I wish they'd stop the thinness obsession, I really do.
Seriously, half the PowerBooks at our place have dents, bent cases, etc. The Dells of the same timeframe have some scratches and stuff but look a hell of a lot better than the AL books. It doesn't have to look like a Dell or even a PB 3400 but please, FTLOG, stop using AL.
edit: All the PBs I've ever had were always if excellent condition, because i was very careful with them. The same can't be said for others though.
Now, it could be argued that Apple should release a "desktop replacement" laptop, something big and chunky with all the bells and whistles you can think about. But that's a different discussion, and so far they have not done so. Maybe there isn't enough demand for one just yet, or maybe they're already working on it with Intel?
Originally posted by Robin Hood
Personally, and I realise I do not speak for everyone (though I hope I speak for the vast majority), the reason I buy a laptop is for portability. I want the thing to be as small and light as possible, and with that I accept that certain features might not be there. The difference between 1 inch and 1.1 inches may not sound that big, but it is a difference, and I would rather go with 1 inch thick. That's about 10% thinner.
Hear, hear! I think that if the "as much power as possible!" enthusiasts had their way, we wouldn't have laptops in the first place--everything would still be enormous and sound like a freight train. Sure, I'd rather have a dual-layer burner, but I had one in my old desktop and I used the dual-layer aspect of it exactly zero times in six months. I really don't think that it's a feature worth obsessing over, at least not when you can just pick up an external drive or just wait a few months--I'd bet they'll be upgradeable.
the idea of the laptop is portablity, and even i sometimes forget that. i have to remind myself that things like battery life and dimensions are important when considering purchasing a laptop.
the "enthusiasts" in here def warp things a bit
i start to forget the main reason i am buying a laptop and join the crazys in putting in "as much as possible"
1. Their capacity has not kept up with the rate of increase in capacity of the hard drive, so for backup even the DL DVDs require stacks of them to back up anything, and it's all obsolete the next day. A 250 GB OEM hard drive is now $79 after rebate, and that expenditure rapidly pays for itself if you save 100 DVDs or so.
2. Burning DVDs to watch or to mail to people will become less and less popular as ISP speeds continue to go past 20 Mbps bidirectional and media boxes are sitting next to the TV ready to receive the DVD over 54 Mbps wireless.
Apple partly justifies their premium pricing by making things slim and light.
Originally posted by lundy
Slim and light is the way to go - fewer and fewer DVDs are going to be burned as:
1. Their capacity has not kept up with the rate of increase in capacity of the hard drive, so for backup even the DL DVDs require stacks of them to back up anything, and it's all obsolete the next day. A 250 GB OEM hard drive is now $79 after rebate, and that expenditure rapidly pays for itself if you save 100 DVDs or so.
2. Burning DVDs to watch or to mail to people will become less and less popular as ISP speeds continue to go past 20 Mbps bidirectional and media boxes are sitting next to the TV ready to receive the DVD over 54 Mbps wireless.
1. I agree, most of my backup needs either fall within the limits a single layer DVD or require much more space than a dual-layer DVD can provide. It is a rare occurance that a backup would need to fit on a DL DVD.
2. Having a DL DVD burner would be nice for those needing to send DVD projects out for replication, instead of using an expensive DLT. However, when you really think about it, those people would 1) probably already have a desktop anyway 2) could always use an external burner or portable HD, both far less expensive than a DLT drive and tape.
Also, Blue-Ray and/or (a whole other topic) HD-DVD drives will likely be introduced in new MacBook iterations within the year, so the importance of DL DVD drives will begin to diminish. Its also a possibility that these drives will have DL DVD support.
2b. While I agree with you that physical media will one day become obsolete (not just outdated), I think this time is a ways off. Wireless transmission of multimedia has certainly improved, and what you are suggesting is now possible for the technically savy.
However, most people just want something that works while at the same time providing quality and ease of use. Eventually we will get there, but for now I am not ready to box up my DVD collection in lieu of a media center computer, so DVDs will continue to play a part in my media experience.
Yes, DL DVD would be nice, but is really no big deal when you really weigh the pluses and minuses.
P.S. lundy - I cant wait to see what Apple does with Front Row. I just might box up those DVDs if a Mac mini with Front Row could replace them with style : )
Originally posted by Robin Hood
Now, it could be argued that Apple should release a "desktop replacement" laptop, something big and chunky with all the bells and whistles you can think about.
Anyone else remember the Mac Duo?
I have not ordered one of these because I need to drive standard projectors out there in the classrooms and back offices/"seminar rooms" on campuses when I give talks. Nobody every has compatible hardware so you need everything, including S-Video.