Apple updates MacBook Pro with industry's first LED-backlit displays, faster processors, more

Mac Daily News ^ | 06/05/2007

[George W. Bush]

They are sweet little laptops. I was so disgusted with my Dell 17" that I just sold it and used the money to defray my Mac Pro and 24" display. And, yet, having sold a Dell laptop because I just didn't like using it, I find myself so-o-o-o-o tempted to buy a Mac lappie now.

Apple has a remarkably insidious product line, dangerous to the wallet. It's hard to remain a jaded user that's owned computers since the old Apple II days, then done Amiga, then done Windows PC for ten years and now, finally, go to Mac with OS X (OS 9 was repellent). And yet Apple keeps me wanting more. That's some great marketing and product design.

[PA Engineer]

more overprice macbooks that no one will by PING.

I am going to buy one next week (newbie troll).

[SunkenCiv]

Of course, Greenpeace will now claim that Apple succumbed to their pressure regarding the displays...

[SunkenCiv]

I’ve never done Amiga, and am using 9.2.2 right now and have no trouble, but otherwise, I wholeheartedly agree. I won’t be getting a new computer for at least a couple more years (I popped in a ghz Sonnet accelerator into the old PM 7600, and will migrate over there, then probably pull this one apart for a while), and will likely time that to match up with the end of the analog TV signal.

[Rev DMV]

I’m looking at getting a Mac Book for the kids laptop. Anyone here have kids using them. My main concern is the ability to run windows software.

I’m a windows developer myself, haven’t had any Mac experience since the Apple II days.

[George W. Bush]

aaaah, no, not a newbie troll, just a windows fan, under an assumed identity...

In his own words.

A heads up, for your info.

[George W. Bush]

I’m looking at getting a Mac Book for the kids laptop. Anyone here have kids using them. My main concern is the ability to run windows software.

VMWare, currently in free beta, can run some DirectX 7 and 8 game titles. Parallels will start testing their full DirectX 9 virtualization in about two weeks.

If possible, I'd wait to see how they report the compatibility. Your kids will want games. And some of the educational titles require DirectX too.

If you're talking about just productivity software or simple educational software for young kids or encyclopedia software, those will nearly all run already. Pretty flawless too.

Using Coherence mode in Parallels, it mixes the Windows and Mac apps on the same screen, unified clipboard, etc. Using the upcoming SmartSelect feature in Parallels, you can set filetypes so that launching a .DOC or a .HTML file on either machine will invoke the appropriate app on either Mac or PC, system-wide. Very cool.

A lot of us thought we had to have Windows when we switched. What you find is that you need it a lot less than you think. But it's nice to keep your current software investment and then, as you please, upgrade to Mac versions of Office or to stay with your Windows versions.

It's software nirvana basically. Toss in running Sun's Solaris and Linux just for fun. And Boot Camp for any of the Windows DirectX games for free. With enough RAM, it's a do-anything kind of machine.

I feel sorry for your kids though. Once you buy it and try it out, they might never get another chance to use it.

["Honey, we bought that Mac for the kids. Now you just let them use it for once!"]

[dighton]

more overprice macbooks that no one will by

Come on, let’s not be hard on this all-American atriot.

[martin_fierro]

The 2.4 GHz, 17-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $2,799, includes

** sniff **

[js1138]

I’m looking at getting a Mac Book for the kids laptop. Anyone here have kids using them. My main concern is the ability to run windows software.

My boss got a powerbook for his kid about eight months ago. So far he's on his third DVD drive and second hard drive. But if it's an Intel Mac it should run Windows fine. Just get an OEM version of XP Pro (about $140) and you're set.

[George W. Bush]

BTW, as usual, when Apple updates it's lines, there are good purchases on older models in a lot of places.

And the refurbs can be very good.

Also, Apple just started a Back To School promotion with a $200 coupon to apply to an iPod for every new Mac sold. You have to qualify for the education discount (helps with buying the computer too.) Have to be a currently enrolled college student. Maybe you or the wife are taking classes or have a current student ID?

[ears_to_hear]

I’m looking at getting a Mac Book for the kids laptop. Anyone here have kids using them. My main concern is the ability to run windows software.

Would you adopt me ? :)

[dighton]

Selfishly coddle your wallet, with callous disregard for my stock.

[George W. Bush]

Hey, someone makes remarks that indicate they're a retread or using a second FReeper ID, I call the mods.

I don't care what, if anything, they do about it but I always report it.

[George W. Bush]

Would you adopt me ?

You might be a little too old to be successfully adopted. Very few agencies have ever succeeded in such placements. LOL.

You're just waiting for Leopard, credit card in hand.

[Rev DMV]

Thanks for the feedback and information.

No student ID’s here, but I’ll fish around and see what I can dig up on the rebates.

I had heard of Bootcamp, but the ability to run windows applications from the MAC side would be great. I’ll check into the product you mentioned, and confirm the DirectX support.

Fortunately for the kids, I have my development laptop, and the wife has her system. So they’ll not have to fight us to use their new toy.

[aculeus]

You want backlit?

How about Saturn backlit by the Sun?