Hello There,
I want to go buy an Macbook Pro today or tomorrow. But first I wanted to ask everyones opinion if there will be any Macbook pro updates/refresh at the Macworld in January. I can care less about small tablets, I am only interested in Macbook Pros.
Thanks,
Eagle101
Comments
Hello There,
I want to go buy an Macbook Pro today or tomorrow. But first I wanted to ask everyones opinion if there will be any Macbook pro updates/refresh at the Macworld in January. I can care less about small tablets, I am only interested in Macbook Pros.
Thanks,
Eagle101
If you need it today, get it today, and you'll have the pleasure of using it right now (and if it's for work, there's no excuse for waiting). You could always then sell the old one when the new ones come out and get the new one. Eventually, there will be an update, but no one here really knows if it'll be January or beyond. Don't go by people's guesses: you need it now, get it now. If you can wait, wait... but it could be awhile, or it could be tomorrow (though I doubt that).
I wouldn't get it now. There is definitely going to be a new MacBook Pro for January (MACWORLD). It will have the Penryn processors that's for sure. And I doubt you want to get into a hassle of trying to sell your MacBook Pro (if you get it now) when the new one comes out. Don't rush, only a month and a bit to go. Don't be stupid like the guy who just posted.
Aside from the aspersions you're attempting to fling in my direction for no reason, how do you know "definitely" there's going to be a new MBP? If I knew that someone on these boards absolutely "knew" there was "definitely" going to be a new MBP in January, then I would have told the original poster to wait, obviously. But, usually the rule-of-thumb is "if you need it now, get it now; if you can wait, wait."
Don't rush, only a month and a bit to go.
I'm not even sure about laptop updates then. I could see the Mac Pro being rolled out but mobile Penryn will have just been released by Intel and as we've seen from Santa Rosa, Apple don't necessarily jump on things quickly.
I could see them announcing the Penryn laptop updates later on in the year, maybe even when Montevina is out in Q2.
A Santa Rosa based ultra-mobile would seem a bit odd though with Montevina just round the corner and yet that's been rumored to arrive at MW.
If they went quad core, it would probably be worth waiting *if* you'd use 4 cores. If not, I'd suggest getting the current Macbook Pro as soon as possible. It's still probably the best value Mac model that is available and I doubt you'd regret purchasing it as you'll have had it at least 2 months before a new model arrives.
You might notice that all the MBPs around are still with Tiger preinstalled and come with Leopard upgrade disc ONLY. This is pretty much like an "evidence" to show that Apple will have the new MBP out really soon. It either could be in December or no later than mid January 2008.
http://www.macrumors.com/buyersguide/#MacBook_Pro
The estimated guess would be this:
- There's still a small chance to see an update before Christmas. But it would have to happen in November.
- If it doesn't happen until end of November MacWorld in mid January would be a second arrival point.
- If nothing is released there, April-May would be the next guess.
Depends how long you're willing to wait.
It is strange however that MacBooks are on the Santa Rosa platform already, which does put some pressure on MacBook Pros.
Apple did tell its developers that resolution independence will become very important in 2008. Personally I read this to mean that higher dpi MacBook Pros will arrive. Imagine a 15" MacBook Pro with an HD resolution display and an HD drive of some sort.
Yet the higher spec the laptop will be, the later I expect it.
Also Intel did say that their mobile Penryns are coming in January 2008.
http://www.macrumors.com/2007/09/20/...yn-processors/
http://www.macrumors.com/2007/10/15/...ile-processor/
Looking how long it's been since the last update, looking at the MacBook on Santa Rosa and looking at Intel's chip release schedule, mid January seems a likely point.
Do you want to wait 2 months?
Probably at least 2 1/2 until they ship...
Personally I would expect a Penryn update in January and quad-core Montevina update in September/October.
Whether HD res displays on 15" laptops will make it in January or wait until Montevina is harder to guess.
But assuming that higher bus speeds and quad-core mobile processors are compelling enough on their own, HD on 15" could make its debut in January.
I thank you Very much for these details.for the MACBook Pro
My HP 1.6GHz dual Core is getting kicked in the guts every time I render a video >.<
I have the time to wait and I Will..
~Regards
Name101
DON'T BUY IT NOW!
You might notice that all the MBPs around are still with Tiger preinstalled and come with Leopard upgrade disc ONLY. This is pretty much like an "evidence" to show that Apple will have the new MBP out really soon. It either could be in December or no later than mid January 2008.
It is strange however that MacBooks are on the Santa Rosa platform already, which does put some pressure on MacBook Pros.
Interesting observation danzzz. Trouble is, there's nothing to update them with for another 2 months. The CPUs are fine, the MBP is on Santa Rosa (hobbit, the MBP went Santa Rosa months before the MB) and the GPUs are fine.
I'm still not sure how an update would make them supply only upgrade discs though. Maybe they have extra Tiger discs they need to shift.
I have the time to wait and I Will..
You re-registered with a different name already?
Anyway, I wouldn't wait simply because as I say, there is nothing to update the MBP with. The only thing they can do is add an ultra-portable, which would kinda make sense before Christmas if they price it just right but that won't affect the other models. If you have the 2+ months to wait then I guess it's ok but if all they do in January is add a dual core Penryn, I think you'll be disappointed at waiting so long.
Personally, I'll continue using my 12" 1.5GHz PowerBook G4 until Apple introduce something lighter weight with higher resolution. If I wanted a MacBook Pro, I would buy one now.
Anyway, I wouldn't wait simply because as I say, there is nothing to update the MBP with. The only thing they can do is add an ultra-portable, which would kinda make sense before Christmas if they price it just right but that won't affect the other models. If you have the 2+ months to wait then I guess it's ok but if all they do in January is add a dual core Penryn, I think you'll be disappointed at waiting so long.
Well To be honest by the time I have the money to buy a Mac book it will be around Feb-March '08. At that time I’ll be at the estimated update time for the new Penryn so waiting a little while after that, doesn’t bother me.
------
You re-registered with a different name already?
Ah no “Eagle101” has nothing to do with me, just 2 similar aliases. He just asked a question like to what I wanted to know And you answered my question with that and I was expressing my thanks
instead of making a new thread. I didn’t need too because I don’t have the money. I’m just doing research on the Mac Book Pro laptop.
I might start asking questions when I have the money in my hot little hand.
~Regards
Name101
While i'm not an insane power user, i do use these applications pretty commonly
Logic Studio
Final Cut Express
all the iApps
and under Vista (just for games, of course):
Bioshock
the Orange Box
Gametap games
Should I ask to hold off... or are my applications just not power-hungry enough to warrant the necessity of a (potentially) minimal upgrade? My current computer is a 2.16GHz Intel Core Duo MBP with 2 Gb of RAM, and although it is definitely speedy, i still do experience many periods of watching the beachball spin. I definitely NEED an eventual upgrade given the fact that i usually run my computer with an external hard drive via firewire... but i can survive until January, IF it would be worth the wait.
Trouble is, there's nothing to update them with for another 2 months.
Oh yes, there is. Form factor. As I said in another thread, if Apple does not updates the MBP design by January, this will be the longest lived design in the recent (and probably whole) history of the company. 5 YEARS OLD. By the way, the iBook design before the Macbook lasted for 5 years.
But I guess Apple would probably wait to have other components too to update.
My girlfriend is considering buying me a new laptop for christmas (my current computer has a cracked motherboard and only works when the temperature's low enough
While i'm not an insane power user, i do use these applications pretty commonly
Logic Studio
Final Cut Express
all the iApps
and under Vista (just for games, of course):
Bioshock
the Orange Box
Gametap games
I remember seeing benchmarks showing the 8600M GT was around 3 times faster than the X1600 but there were some driver issues on the Mac side. Here's a video of the 8600M GT playing Bioshock:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwN6BlrTFs4
Should I ask to hold off... or are my applications just not power-hungry enough to warrant the necessity of a (potentially) minimal upgrade? My current computer is a 2.16GHz Intel Core Duo MBP with 2 Gb of RAM, and although it is definitely speedy, i still do experience many periods of watching the beachball spin. I definitely NEED an eventual upgrade given the fact that i usually run my computer with an external hard drive via firewire... but i can survive until January, IF it would be worth the wait.
If they go quad core then definitely but I doubt it. If they upgrade the GPU again though, it would also be worth waiting. The applications you're using should run fairly well under the current laptop and you can get a 7200 rpm drive but in your particular case, you might gain from waiting for the next model.
For new buyers, I'd say buy now for people upgrading it's probably 50/50.
I remember seeing benchmarks showing the 8600M GT was around 3 times faster than the X1600 but there were some driver issues on the Mac side. Here's a video of the 8600M GT playing Bioshock:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwN6BlrTFs4
If they go quad core then definitely but I doubt it. If they upgrade the GPU again though, it would also be worth waiting. The applications you're using should run fairly well under the current laptop and you can get a 7200 rpm drive but in your particular case, you might gain from waiting for the next model.
For new buyers, I'd say buy now for people upgrading it's probably 50/50.
The GPU upgrade is definitely tempting, although i don't know what's down the timeline and if january could bring back an even better one...
I think that i will go ahead and get it now. I'm not in dire need of a huge power boost, the boost i'll get just from doing the current upgrade will be significant as is (core TWO duo, 460MHz increase, 2GB RAM increase, huge GPU increase)... the only things that will make me really regret the decision will either be a quad-core mbp or a complete redesign (a real redesign, not some BS "glass & aluminum" facelift... although it's hard to do something new when the current design is so close to perfect as is).
Not to mention it will be nice to be able to run my computer while desperately trying to keep the temperature below 45ºC. (On a Macbook Pro? Ha!)
I remember seeing benchmarks showing the 8600M GT was around 3 times faster than the X1600 but there were some driver issues on the Mac side. Here's a video of the 8600M GT playing Bioshock:
8600M GT is a big improvement, but it's starting to show its age already. The 8800M GTS and GTX just came out, and these are 2-3 times faster than the 8600M GT. The GTX draws 35W and runs hot, so may be unsuitable for a 1" thin laptop, but the GTS may be a contender for January's machines if it can match the current chip's power draw...
If you need it today, get it today... You could always then sell the old one when the new ones come out and get the new one.
I wouldn't get it now. There is definitely going to be a new MacBook Pro for January (MACWORLD). It will have the Penryn processors that's for sure. And I doubt you want to get into a hassle of trying to sell your MacBook Pro (if you get it now) when the new one comes out. Don't rush, only a month and a bit to go. Don't be stupid like the guy who just posted.
I agree with thebeat, but other's implicit suggestions that businesses just jump at the chance to say "Oh yeah, let's buy you a MacBook Pro now and when the new ones come out in January then we'll sell the current one just to buy you the newest technology." I don't think so; it simply makes no good business sense. Even if it's a personal purchase, you could never recoup the cost! I'm scheduled to get a new laptop and my tech director suggested we hold off until January. Do I want a replacement now? Sure, but knowing that there will most likely be a significant update to the MBP in six weeks makes me want to be prudent and wait patiently.
I agree with thebeat--and no offense, but suggestions like mzaslove's must think that businesses just jump at the chance to say "Oh yeah, let's buy you a MacBook Pro now and when the new ones come out in January then we'll sell the current one just to buy you the newest technology." I don't think so; it simply makes no good business sense. I'm scheduled to get a new laptop and my tech director suggested we hold off until January. Do I want a replacement now? Sure, but knowing that there will most likely be a significant update to the MBP in six weeks makes me want to be prudent and wait patiently.
As far as I know we were speaking of a single-user/owner wanting to buy, and in no way did I suggest anything about the purchase habits of businesses. For single-users who need to get work done, you buy if you need it now, you wait if you can (or it's not a work-related purchase).
Me, I've had my latest MBP for 4 months now (a PC laptop crapped out). In that time, I have written two feature scripts, two episodic series scripts, the first 5 chapters of a novel and the outline (which the publisher needed for buying purposes) and am in the middle of yet another feature (this one not live-action, 'cause we're on strike) and am starting five new animated series scripts. So, buying at the time I needed it made excellent financial sense to me. If one is at the mercy of a company buyer... hey, do what you have to do, I would never comment on that. Me, the MBP paid for itself, a car, and two years worth of mortgages in the 4 months I've had it.
As far as I know we were speaking of a single-user/owner wanting to buy, and in no way did I suggest anything about the purchase habits of businesses. For single-users who need to get work done, you buy if you need it now, you wait if you can (or it's not a work-related purchase)... If one is at the mercy of a company buyer... hey, do what you have to do, I would never comment on that. Me, the MBP paid for itself, a car, and two years worth of mortgages in the 4 months I've had it.
mzaslove, perhaps I misinterpreted your earlier post, but the reality is that most of us--whether we're making personal or business purchases--may not have the financial fluidity that you do. So if I misinterpreted, I'm sorry; I'm glad you're in the financial position that allows you that flexibility!
That said, I still stand by my suggestion that for most people it's probably in their best interest to wait the six weeks until MWSF. Buying now and trying to sell it on eBay once newer MBPs come out in January isn't sound financial advise because (a) of the difficulty in trying to recoup on purchase costs and (b) selling once new technology comes out becomes harder as more people tend to be interested in the newer products (i.e. why buy old technology when you can get newer tech for about the same price?).