Apple Intros a 17-Inch MacBook Pro

beautiful.

I love Apple, don't get me wrong. But to say "Just $2799" makes me feel super poor! I'm sure it's worth it. I just don't like the way it's worded.

All that real estate and still NO numeric keypad. Rediculous.

i'm waiting for the 12". hopefully it will be within my budget of $1500.

The real question is: can you grill hamburgers on the backside like you can with the 15" ?

Paying extra for the name IMO is just cheesy.

Nothing really special about it and like dima said where is the numeric keypad?

For the cost it needs more features to seduce me to fork over that kind of cash.

So, has anyone else noticed this?

Pricing for the MacBook pro:

17", 2.16GHz, 1GB, 100GB 7200RPM (not to mention 8x superdrive and firewire 800): $2799

15.4", 2.16GHz, 1GB, 100GB 7200RPM (4x superdrive, firewire 400): $2899

Certainly makes me want to buy the 15.4" model now, let me tell you. Oh, wait...

Rumor has it that the new macbook will only be available in a 13.3" model. Has anyone heard whether the macbook pro will be available in that size??

I'm with you Adam. I've been saving for one since they were announced. Hopefully by the time the 12" is released I'll be able to afford one.

Why would a Mac user, who avoided Microsoft for 15 years, want this infestation, "(And with Boot Camp, this system, like all Intel Macs, can become a Windows PC.)" in their system?

Apple's ipod gets it right. Worth a little extra $ in comparison to the competition.
Apple notebooks get it wrong - price/spec ratio is i-diotic compared to the competition.
Can you say economy of scale?

I think it's a fairly decent price when you compare it to other 17" notebooks. And as far as the lack of a numeric keypad you all keep complaining about, It's the norm not the exception.

Go to Dell's or Gateway's web sites and look at for a similiar 17" notebook with 2.16 GHz core duo CPU, 1GB Ram and 100 GB 7200 Rpm HDD. See the prices so you can come here and write about "expensive" Apple macbookpro after having the facts. Apple is not that expensive. Actually, with build in camera and light weight and extra features it is a better deal.

Dell E1705
2.16 Ghz T2600
256 Ati x1400
100GB 7200rpm
17" 1900x1200
bluetooth
8x cd/dvd rw
1GB 667 ddr2
$1904

HP dv8000t
2.16 T2600
256 Nvidia 7400 go
100GB 7200rpm
17" 1680x1050
8x cd/dvd
$1865
1gb 533

Questions?

Those Dell and HP models u mention have different graphic cards and trust me, the difference in price is huge....

ps:i m not sure the 7400 go is any good, anyone interested should check the toms hardware first for the relevant benchmarks...

Hey we all know that Apple are by no means the cheapest kids on the block. It's a luxury machine. Sure you can get a PC with comparable specs for half the price, but do you really want a PC? Chances are if you're looking at this article probably not.

I just bought an 20" iMac Intel. My fisrt Apple computer. Ever. After two weeks, I'm in love.

To H. A. Eddington,

The world is changing. You've done something 15 years doesn't mean you must do it in another 15 years. Of course you could. Maybe some one else just wants to have a change.

Sorry, for the bad news.
But I just bought a new G4 12'' Powerbook two months ago and they still have not fixed the problem with the units over heating problem.

If they have not fixed this problem what makes you think they even consider solving problems with their new products.

They are just another poster child of the problems with corporate company's.

They can only see the green dollar bills for a fast buck and never the quality that will continue to sell their product.

I looked at the new G5 and decided to go with an older unit thinking they would have fixed any problems with the older unit.

Guess again!

I configured the Dell notebook by looking at the exact specs on the Apple website and it did NOT come out to that price. Somewhat strange, are there some major coupons are something included in that price??

I have a Dell Dimension System with the same exact specs, probably more and i paid $ 1400 which is a fraction compared to most fully loaded Macs . The Mac has become too overrated, promising a lot, but delivering a whole lot of nothing. Many friends and associates of mine have gone broke trying to keep up with Apple. It's not worth it.

OSX is a super operating system, and that alone justifies my owning a Mac. Macs are computers that just work - simply put - with a minimum of hassles and maintenance when compared to Windows.

I have the first G4 laptop and it is great only problem the battery design ;if you want to move the laptop dies and you have to restart all over same problem with all new apple laptops.I will not buy a new one until they change the design;remember 540c powerbook that was a laptop!

i JUST GOT A GATEWAYY FOR A THIRD OF THAT PRICE AND INSTALLOSX ON IT... AND IT FLIES FASTER THAN ANY MAC...

People looking for a budget laptop will not purchase a Mac. People looking for a high quality piece of hardware that can withstand the environment on the road will purchase a Mac. Mac is not desined as a budget machine. Personally I will wait for the Intel technology to mature in the marketplace before I invest in one (And I am looking forward to replacing my 12" PB with a MacBook.

From experience I know that this new mac is probably overrated just like the older versions. ***APPLE SHOULD STICK WITH THE iPODS!***

Whoa! do macs really have those problems- i was thinkin about one but it doesn't sound like apple's worth my time or money(not including Ipod)

If you want a numeric keypad, plug one in to the USB port, fuckhead.

I've had a 17" G4 book since they came out, it has served me well, and I think the price of these is totally reasonable. Much better deal than the 15.4" ones. I'm going to order one just as Verizon offers a new Aircard that fits it--I can't give up my EVDO. You could not pay me enough to be seen sitting on a plane in first class with a Dell or an HP. Yuk! I do understand that these machines are not really marketed for students (though my 14 year old has been saving up and nearly has enough for one now). They are sold mainly for people with good jobs who could easily afford whatever laptop we want, but wat a good one. And they are the best that's available.

"***APPLE SHOULD STICK WITH THE iPODS!***"
errr...... you do know that they made computers 25 years before ipods?

macs cost more than pc's, why? because they are classy. its the difference between a rolex and a fake, both probably tell the time pretty well, but if you can afford it.....

ive always thought laptops to be over-rated anyway, lots of money into making something almost as good as a destop for 3x the price. if you need it mobile, cheapish mac mini all the way, if not, buy a powerpc for the same price and it will go a lot faster.
if you really need to do that much work while travelling, get a more relaxed job, (you can afford it if you dont buy laptops)

When was the last time you went to use your toaster and it crashed, failed work or needed to be upgraded, unplugged or restarted? For years I have been using a G3 laptop strapped to a music stand to run Finale and I still use it everyday. Like a toaster, it starts up every time I want to use it and has rarely crashed or frozen. I recently purchased a Dell laptop to run a new Pro Tools 002 setup and the Microsoft Media Center software that it ships with conflicted and crashed the entire music application. Tech support advised me to go to Best Buy, purchase more Microsoft software and initiate an uninstall/install process. I will tell you, Dell is great about taking back their stuff; maybe they have had a lot of practice. I am currently rocking out on a new G5 and loving every minute of it.

NewMac,

Sorry to hear you're having problems with your 12" Powerbook. I too purchased one of these recently and have had zero problems with it, mine doesn't overheat at all, even when doing processor intensive work, and the fans kick in regularly to keep things cool. Maybe worth having your machine checked out in case something is wrong with the cooling mechanism?

Ditto on the 12". I even dropped it - twice (I really wish it had the Maglock power cord like these ones) and it still works. And the only time I reboot is with a system upgrade, each of which has improved the performance. It gets warm, but not hot, and works with all wireless networks I've tried.

Configured April 25, 9:30 EST
Dell Precision M90
Intel Core Duo T2600 @2.16 GHz
17" WUXGA LCD
Windows XP with Media
RAM:1 GB DDR2
File System:NTFS
HD: 100GB 7200RPM
Optical: 8xDVD+/- w/Sonic Digital Media
Wireless Lan Intel 3945 802.11 a/g
English Keyboard
Bluetooth
No Resource CD
NNIDIA 1500M 256MB
McAfee 15 Month Subscription

$3,680

Macbook Pro 17"
$2799

About a year ago, I switched from Apple to Dell. In my experience most of the above statements have some truth to them, but most are overblown.

My Apple never crashed. My Dell has crashed several times and only on highly specific programs related to my business. This is the reason I switched, as productivity software for my business works on Windows.

Apple looks cooler if you care about how your computer affects your social standing while crammed into first class with total strangers that you will never meet again going from Boise to Albany.

If you want to spend money to look cool and have a great computer that performs awesome for 95% of users, get an Apple.

If you want to make money by using software that has limited applications, crashes occasionally, but works for your business, get a Dell. In the last year with my Dell, I have made enough money (or saved enough time) to justify the Dell over my Apple twenty times over.

Zomby

Pish Posh wrote:
"If you want a numeric keypad, plug one in to the USB port, ****head."

That option, though viable, is a KLUDGE. I prefer a built-in keypad, real estate permitting, thank you very much.

$2799?! Holy shnickeys!!! That's absolute friggin highway robbery. A GOOD laptop can be had for $12 to $1,500. Never could I justify spending $2799 on a laptop.

I wonder how long these Dell laptops last by comparison to Apple's "highway robbery"? If you happen to purchase more than one Dell during the same time period, then which is more expensive?

Oh, and BTW, I can buy a GOOD laptop from Apple for $1200 to $1500, too. Like any computer manufacturer, it depends on what you want.

I purchased a dual-USB 500mhz iBook five years ago for $1800.

These days, the CD drive doesn't work, the display has a short, the "sleep" mode crashes the computer, and the latch that holds the computer shut mysteriously disappeared.

However, years ago, when I dropped it four feet, while open, onto a concrete floor, it restarted itself and ran perfectly. When the tip of my old power cord broke off inside the iBook, I took it apart -twice- to fix the problem, and it ran perfectly. Since upgrading to OSX, I have _never_ had a software problem with it. I still use it on a daily basis, and LOVE every minute of it.

My personal opinion is that Mac and PC hardware is about equal in price and quality, but that OSX blows XP out of the water (I program in XP with a PC I built two years ago). Dells, Gateways, etc. are great workhorses, but I prefer the seamlessness and reliability of my iBook, despite its current caducity.

In short, large businesses would benefit from using established hardware and software like Dell, while most individual computer users would benefit from the ease-of-use (few viruses, sturdy UNIX core, simple key commands, etc.) and longevity of Apple computers.

Chuck: I dunno, I figure they'll last 4-5 years, which is what i'd expect out of a computer. I still have a Dell laptop from '97 that still kicks.

My company switched to Apple in 2003 when the first 17" Powerbooks came out.. We've since purchased over 75 Apple machines, from Minis to X-Serves. I can tell you that reliability difference that we have experienced since the switch has been night and day. Our old Dell laptops were getting boxed up and shipped to Texas two or three times a year... per machine!!! Since the switch we've had two laptops require new logic boards, and two iMacs needed new video cards, and everything has run flawlessly. From a business perspective it was the best decision we ever made. I'm ordering my 17" MacBook Pro tonight.

yo stupid asses think that apple computers are too expensive think again. macs these days run OSX and windows plus linux not to mention look cool are fast with those intel proccesors.why dont you do your homework before actualy talking crap uh? with those kinds of specs plus intergrated camera and front row plus a one inch design that price is awesome considering the fact that apple uses high quality materials to build there systems take for example that aluminum casing beutiful .a dell on the other hand has a super heavy plasticy piece of junk running windows,ha! pathetic macs rule
p.s. macs are the only computers in the WORLD THAT CAN RUN OSX NOT SOME GATEWAY CRAP!

Having run Windows machines for years, I have bought Dell, HP, Gateway, and even build a few of my own. Last year I bought a Mac Mini and found out why people who own Macs are fanatics. Since my Mac Mini, I bought my wife a 12" G4 iBook, and I just recently ditched my Fujitsu Lifebook for a 15" MacBook Pro. I will never buy a Windows machine again...at least not until MS can make their OS as stable and hassle free as OS X. The truth of the matter is Macs don't have all the hassles you get with Windows.

oh man ...i have a old g3 i book ..and that was first mac i bought and i cant tell how good was that ..but due to business i had to come back to pcs..but i had been waiting for 12 inc mac book pro and once its out bye bye pcs.
windows vista is just a illusion they are trying to create to beat macs but world aint stupid to know who are copy cats and who are orignal designers. PPl who copy will always copy ppl who create are the leaders who make a difference.
Mac Rules !

- PC users complain about price - Mac users laud the exceptional software reliability of OSX.
- You get what you pay for -- and you pay for what you get.
- PC users, just focus on this for a moment -- multi years running OSX -- NEVER a system crash - NEVER a problem installing software -- and NEVER the need to read a software manual.

Can't beat it -- I suspect that a lot of the PCers attitude, is just rage and frustration redirected from their operating system.

This thread's gone seriously OT!

Why are so many of you bothered about what the next guy uses?

You all currently use computers that aren't 17" MacBook Pros.

You'd all feel pretty damn cool if you walked into work tomorrow with one of these beasties.

Regardless of which OS you use!

Has anyone out there something pertinent to post?

anybody tried XP on one?

When will the 15" with this machine's improvements be available?

Why are Adobe so typically lazy about their commitment to Apple's strategies again?

How's Logic 7.2 working out on the Intel machines?

Is Apple's integral software suite harnessing the (apparently)potential "5X" speed bump?

Do you know of a charitable org that would (regardless of any of the issues discussed so far in this forum) be prepared to donate me one?

If you really don't want one of these but had/have the money to spend on a laptop, what's it called and why's it your choice?

Can we try to stay on course with this thread?

Do you own or wish you owned an iPod?

Life is for the taking.

iLoveLife.

peace & love x

I choose Mac but love the fact that our world provides us all so many options!

I agree with the above poster; this thread's gone overboard. I have a 17" PowerBook G4, and actually do plan to get the 17" MacBook Pro. I'm neutral when it comes to Apple hardware; some of it's good, some of it's problematic. It's as simple as that. I have two PC desktops, a PowerMac G4, and a PC notebook. I personally will stick to Apple because the hardware now runs BOTH Windows and Mac OS X, and the unit should last for a few years (competitively). Past that, it's your choice, depending upon what OS you wish to use, what applications you like (or must have), and ultimately, what type of computing experience you want and/or can afford to enjoy. Apple users for the most part also have used Windows PCs, and have switched for a reason. Despite some problems with Apple hardware, it's still innovative, fun, and an excellent 'all-in-one' package for users who not only need to run productivity software, but also for people who work in music and art.

It is true that an Apple computer can do a LOT. Just listen to people that have actually USED one for more than Web surfing and you may find out something. Just so that a potential reader may know, I use my 17" PowerBook for screenwriting, MS Office, 3D modeling and animation, 2D graphics work, Web surfing, movie editing (iMovie), Web design (iWeb), watching movies (17" screen, remember?), and a host of other miscellaneous activities. I personally don't care what anyone thinks of me because I use an Apple. I also run Windows on my Mac with Virtual PC. I do know this: people do drop their jaws when they see the Mac, and I do grin when that happens. It's nice to not only to be able to use a computer for practical purposes, but also have people actually take note at the hardware I'm using. That's fun.

But, my Mac is just another computer. That's all.

Approach the concept with an unbiased mind, and remember that there are other platforms out there besides Windows, and, more than likely, no one on this thread has launched their own computer engineering R&D establishement, or has designed their own OS. Calm down, please.

I had a 15" MBP for a whole day! I loved the software. It was entirely intuitive and a delight to use. Unfortunately the hardware made a horrible whistle from the processor every time I stopped typing/working. It got REALLY hot at the back too. The Apple store in Chapel-Hill, US, took it back no problem and tried to find one in the store that worked properly. Not a single on in the stock worked without whistling (loudly). They gave me my money back with arguing.

I now really hope these problems have been solved for the 17" MBP, as I am sick of my HP laptop from work (which is not coreduo, and whistles just the same, but crashes routinely and has had loads of hardware problems, a screen replacement and a motherboard replacement) and still feels cheap and nasty not to mention completely unreliable.

Especially now that Bootcamp is out there, I will get the 17" MBP ASAP as long as the whistle and overheating is solved.

Sorry... typo... They refunded me with no arguments at all!!!

i just got mine 17inch macbook pro and let me just say, it is way better than the 15inch mbp i had 3 weeks ago. No loud noises, no overheating (its actually a little too cool, i kind of like my laptops a little warm), and a lot more work space!!! And best of all I GOT IT FOR ONLY $1100!!!!!!!!!!!!

personally i have used windows based pcs evers since. with some luck(dadies financial support haha) that will change someday soon. i've been reading a lot about the 17" macbook pro lately and everyone who has actually used it would not ever want to give it away anymore...! the reviews i read all agree to some things:
1) best mac performance ever
2) compared to WinXP, OS X rocked the sh*t out of it
3) running XP with bootcamp on the macbook pro was an awesome experience. games at native high resolution, framerates and everything at top level.

As for me, I'll use winows via bootcamp to play some games(my desktop's pretty old), and i think there's no better os than X to do audio/video editing and stuff...!

Well, in germany the 17" is even more expensive at $3000 but that's not even unusual anymore for notebooks with these specs...the top notch acer ones are exactly the same and look like a flat dully black painted brickstone, they got some more connectivity but that said, there's nothing i'd prefer them for...! plus the displays really are a bummer...!

so I will hopefully get mine soon, just one more question to NEW MAC USER:
"And best of all I GOT IT FOR ONLY $1100!!!!!!!!!!!!"
How the heck did you do that...I wanne do that...tell me how :-D ;-)

cheers guys
windows is good, os x is better... :)

The last few posters are all correct. I changed to a mac when in the design field years ago before changing professions, and have never looked back ! Anyone who has difficultiy expressing the feeling they get when they open the box of a new mac for the first time is, well, hooked !
It is the polish, stability and ease of use of the Mac OS that quantifies the experience of a mac user, not to mention the design that just draws the attention of those sitting nearby. No wonder why Apple hardware shows up in virtually every blockbuster movie.
Apart from all of that, for those who whine about price, many of my PC using friends have spent lots of money just repairing and replacing components, fixing software issues, cleaning systems after virus attacks etc. The worst I ever endured was a hard drive crash in a G4 Cube I bought off eBay, then it worked flawlessly. I'm on my 8th Mac, a 20" Intel iMac, and have never had to spend a cent past the purchase price to keep them working.
I'd love the 17" MBP, but the 15" is much more practical for me. Just hope they solve the noise issues etc and upgrade the Superdrive soon.

Well here I am trying to decide if I should buy my first Mac and all i read are people bitching at one another. So far my experience has been that I should stick to an ASUS windows based pc. Ill tell you why: Ive done some researech on overheating issues with the Mac Book Pro's and it seams that many of them have issues. Ill wait for these issues to be resolved beacsue I cant spend a great ammount of moeny on something that is unreliable. I just bought and ASUS F3JP: 15.4 GLOSS SCREEN 1.83 CORE 2 DUO, 1GB RAM, 120GB DISK, DVDR-RW ETC., Windows Vista Premium, On board Cam and Mic, 2 year Warranty, DVI out, ATI RADEON X1700 256MB RAM AND MOST IMPORTANTLY 2YEARS GLOBAL WARRANTY---THATS A LAPTOP! It breaks down they come get it and fix it the price: 1700 USD! i LIKE THAT. I will accept Mac has been know for a very good stable OS however from what i read in the net these days, it aint worth it yet. Can anyone convince me theres no overheating problem-drop me a line at kiou_2@yahoo.com Thanx