MacBook Pros running dry in the channel ahead of refreshes
Inventory of MacBook Pros has become severely constrained over the past three weeks, with some reseller now reflecting backorder status on the soon-to-be refreshed Apple professional notebooks.
Apple retail partner and online reseller Best Buy has recently run out of 15-inch models, and lists on its online store wait times of one to two weeks for availability.
Meanwhile, other large Apple resellers have managed to maintain availability of the Intel-based Core 2 Duo notebooks, but have informed AppleInsider that their flow of incoming and forward looking orders has decreased significantly over the past month, ahead of a product refresh.
"With each passing week, [MacBook Pros] are becoming harder and harder to come by," said one source, who spoke under the condition of anonymity. "Orders are still trickling in, but in quantities half those of December."
AppleInsider reported last month that Apple had delayed the planned MacBook Pro refresh by approximately four weeks in the months and weeks approaching Macworld Expo, but that the new models were still due to arrive shortly.
Among the enhancements expected as part of the impending release are processor upgrades to Intel's recently introduced 45-nanometer "Penryn" Core 2 Duo processors at speeds of up to 2.6GHz and the addition of multi-touch trackpads across the entire product line.
Apple retail partner and online reseller Best Buy has recently run out of 15-inch models, and lists on its online store wait times of one to two weeks for availability.
Meanwhile, other large Apple resellers have managed to maintain availability of the Intel-based Core 2 Duo notebooks, but have informed AppleInsider that their flow of incoming and forward looking orders has decreased significantly over the past month, ahead of a product refresh.
"With each passing week, [MacBook Pros] are becoming harder and harder to come by," said one source, who spoke under the condition of anonymity. "Orders are still trickling in, but in quantities half those of December."
AppleInsider reported last month that Apple had delayed the planned MacBook Pro refresh by approximately four weeks in the months and weeks approaching Macworld Expo, but that the new models were still due to arrive shortly.
Among the enhancements expected as part of the impending release are processor upgrades to Intel's recently introduced 45-nanometer "Penryn" Core 2 Duo processors at speeds of up to 2.6GHz and the addition of multi-touch trackpads across the entire product line.
Comments
I always love a good refresh though, maybe I'll upgrade this time? Multitouch alone would be a nice upgrade.. SSD's would be nice too.
Meh.
Jimzip
What I'd really like to see is a slightly thinner, lighter MBP with styling along the lines of the MBA.
Whatever happened to the idea of a special event on Jan 26? Will that still happen? Any chance the new MBPs are a significant enough upgrade to be rolled out then?
Latchless?
New keyboard?
Although you can special order a 2.6 gig MBP now, it costs $250 more. The standard is 2.4 so with Penryn, the standard moves to 2.6 for the same price. Maybe a bit more efficiency for less heat and longer battery life? I wonder if the smaller package will be used for the CPU that's now used in the MBA? That was to be for the Montevina platform.
Oh yeah, that's true just checked the store. Wow I haven't been keeping up to date as much as I thought..
Still, an update like this will be nicely received.
Jimzip
I predict the new MacBook Pros will sport a new keyboard, possibly identical to the present Bluetooth keyboard, and a subtly new case that will have a family resemblance to the MacBook Air.
—Oh, yes, the magnetic latch and a new CPU, of course.
That's all straightforward extrapolation
This is surprisingly good news for those of surviving at a Tuesday-to-Tuesday existence level.
Which I have to say, as someone not waiting on a MBP, I find this very exciting! I mean, has there been a single Tuesday so far this year where Apple hasn't released ANYTHING! Like, the least climatic was the pink iPod nano!
As a guy really hoping for the tablet rumors to ring true, it kinda sucks cause I know that such a device will not be announced without an event. COMEON JOBS! DON'T MAKE ME BUY AN HP! I WILL CRY!
The MacBook Pro is the only computer in the line that does not have the new keyboard. It is also the only one in the line that has not been redesigned. It has the same case as the PowerBook.
Could you elaborate?
Will we see new models on the 19th or at the event on the 26th?
Could you elaborate?
I think he means as far as looks go, the MBP still very closely resembles the last line of powerbooks out there (PB G4). The only real difference is the I/O and the slightly less rounded corners on the MBP bezel and body.
Personally I love that design, it still looks as modern and impressive today as it did when I first bought one, but it would be nice to see an update in the form as well I suppose, possibly to tie it in some way to the direction of the air. No biggie really.
Correct me if I misunderstood you Panu!
Jimzip
Another interesting tidbit ... Amazon has rebates on current MBP's that in order to qualify, a purchase must be made by Monday February 18.
Will we see new models on the 19th or at the event on the 26th?
Oh now this is just SCREAMING it. That's it, I am taking bets. :-P
Yeah notice that "Want it delivered by Monday, February 18th?"
Great now I'm not going to be able to sleep till Tuesday to find out this fishy business
The standard is 2.4 [MBP] so with [Merom], the standard moves to 2.6 {Penryn] for the same price. Maybe a bit more efficiency for less heat and longer battery life? I wonder if the smaller package will be used for the CPU that's now used in the MBA? That was to be for the Montevina platform.
What I'd really like to see is a slightly thinner, lighter MBP with styling along the lines of the MBA.
Whatever happened to the idea of a special event on Jan 26? Will that still happen? Any chance the new MBPs are a significant enough upgrade to be rolled out then?
Latchless?
New keyboard?
I would like to see a magnetic version and the longer multitouch trackepad. I think you are dead on balls about the CPU upgrade if I recall the pricing correctly, but these will not use the 22x22mm FSS chip/chipset packaging. The tradeoff for using that smaller footprint is apparently "a higher core voltage to ensure proper power delivery to the chip," according to AnandTech. There just isn't a need for it when you consider the oversize of a 15 and 17" notebook.
The rumoured event is slated for Feburary 26th. I think it will be the SDK and other things that compliment the iPhone. And I'm hoping that Apple will announce a 3G iPhone due out in 6-8 weeks. Remember, it has to get through the FCC so it's going to be known from one source or another, so it might as well be from Jobs.
PS: If you haven't checked out their in-depth, twenty-three page review I suggest you do.
The $3000 I have been saving for a MacBook Pro just got spent on replacing my car transmission. I hate Honda.
What!? Honda engines and transmissions are great. I am trying to get the the frm specs on the Ariel Atom's chassis and suspension so I can build my own with Honda Civic Type-R engine with Rotex supercharger. The Atom is virtually impossible to come by in the States with a Type-R engine. Sometimes it's better to be East of the pond.
Smart money is on MBP on Tuesday methinks, with the SDK on the 26th.
I would bet money that.
The MacBook Pro is the only computer in the line that does not have the new keyboard. It is also the only one in the line that has not been redesigned. It has the same case as the PowerBook.
I predict the new MacBook Pros will sport a new keyboard, possibly identical to the present Bluetooth keyboard, and a subtly new case that will have a family resemblance to the MacBook Air.
I think a new keyboard could be in order, but they were redesigned when they moved to Intel. Everything was new from top to bottom, though there are many similarities to it and the PowerBook.
Which I have to say, as someone not waiting on a MBP, I find this very exciting! I mean, has there been a single Tuesday so far this year where Apple hasn't released ANYTHING! Like, the least climatic was the pink iPod nano!
As a guy really hoping for the tablet rumors to ring true, it kinda sucks cause I know that such a device will not be announced without an event. COMEON JOBS! DON'T MAKE ME BUY AN HP! I WILL CRY!
Sorry, no tablet, especially when another highly portable niche device was just released from Apple.
2008 has already brought us: New Mac Pros, Time Capsule, AppleTV 2.0 w/ lowered prices, Movie rentals, Mac OS X 10.5.2, Mobile OS X 1.1.3, updates to most Apple-made apps, and larger capacity iPod Touch/iPhones. Did I leave something out?
Another interesting tidbit ... Amazon has rebates on current MBP's that in order to qualify, a purchase must be made by Monday February 18.
Will we see new models on the 19th or at the event on the 26th?
Perhaps they were told or deduced an answer based on supply information that we don't have, but I doubt it. Amazon seems to be getting it's advice from sites like Apple Insider. Last year they have iLife '07, iWork '07 and .Mac 5.0 webpages up weeks before the Keynote... these didn't come until several seasons later and were given the '08 epithet.
Please allow 8-10 weeks for processing
$150 Rebate
Promo ID: 08-102281
Valid Purchase Dates: 01/29/2008 to 02/18/2008
Last Submission Date: 03/18/2008
Rebate Rules and Conditions:
Limit 1 rebate per household.
To apply for your Amazon.com sponsored rebate online, you will need your Amazon Packing Slip. To apply for your rebate, simply go to www.rebateshq.com/amazon-rebates and complete the online rebate form. Here you will enter transaction information from your Amazon Packing Slip. After completing the online rebate form, you can return to
www.rebateshq.com/amazon-rebates in 24 hours to check your rebate status.
Image :: http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...013/amazon.jpg
Yeah notice that "Want it delivered by Monday, February 18th?"
Great now I'm not going to be able to sleep till Tuesday to find out this fishy business
Welcome to AI, damien0013. Don't get impatient and get one before the refresh, even if it doesn't come on Tuesday.
PS: Would you mind using a link to your screenshot instead of that large image. Small images are fine, but those large ones are visually distracting and make it difficult for those of slower connections to load the page.