Macworld.Ars: First impressions of unibody 17" MacBook Pro

Ars Technica ^ | 01/06/2008

[Swordmaker]

We stormed the Macworld Expo '09 showroom floor immediately after the Philnote to get our hands on the only tangible product Apple announced today: the new unibody 17-inch MacBook Pro. Clearly, the built-in, longer-lasting battery technology that Apple designed for its largest notebook was the cause of its delayed release, as the rest of the notebook line was revamped in October. The new unibody structure and aesthetic that the 15-inch MacBook Pro and 13-inch MacBook gained a few months ago looks great on the 17-inch, so check out a few photos and some brief first impressions.

Strangely, the 17-inch MacBook Pro almost didn't look like it was 17 inches, so we tossed an iPhone in for size comparison. Perhaps the size of the Macworld Expo hall was dwarfing the machine a bit, but the trademark wider speaker grills are still the best indicator that this is indeed Apple's largest notebook.

A side view of the 17-inch MacBook Pro, which maintains one more USB port than its smaller brethren and completes Apple's abolishment of FireWire 400 from its portables.

The 17-inch's display is thinner than ever now that the machine lost .02" in thickness overall.

The 17-inch MacBook Pro's right side almost seems barren, sporting nothing but a DVD/CD slot and a notebook locking connector.

Update: The bottom of the 17-inch MacBook Pro, sans the removable panel on the 13-inch MacBook and 15-inch MacBook Pro.

A comparison next to the latest 15-inch MacBook Pro, on the right, helps to put the 17-inch model into context.

One final comparison that gets down low to the bodies of both machines.

After playing with the 17-inch MacBook Pro for a couple of minutes, it pretty much feels like one would expect. Apple's new unibody construction makes the machine feel even sturdier, and its slight loss in weight is an appreciated, though hardly noticeable, bonus. Look for a much more thorough Ars review with performance tests in the near future.

[Per-Ling]

That’s not the point. For the money I paid for both items back then, I should not have had to purchase any “accessories” to get more than 18 months use out of them. And self-replacement batteries for iPods back in the mid 90’s were unheard of. Shoddy workmanship, bait-and-switch like sales philosophy, and the birkenstock/granola eating/latte sipping culture they promote is not for me.

[IncPen]

That’s not the point. For the money I paid for both items back then, I should not have had to purchase any “accessories” to get more than 18 months use out of them.

Agreed. I got about 6 years of life out of my Gen2 6GB iPod. I beat that thing mercilessly, and the only thing that killed it was when I lent it to a buddy and he plugged it into a dodgy Firewire port.

And self-replacement batteries for iPods back in the mid 90’s were unheard of.

You're absolutely right. Unheard of. Because The iPod was introduced in 2001.

Shoddy workmanship, bait-and-switch like sales philosophy, and the birkenstock/granola eating/latte sipping culture they promote is not for me.

I feel the same way about the US Auto industry. Clearly you're more of a man than me. I salute you.

[MediaMole]

What happens if you need several batteries for extended use away from AC power? Apple still doesn’t produce a car cord for the current Macbooks, IIRC.

An AC inverter is a sloppy solution.

[BlazingArizona]

Why would one have to add RAM? It does not run Windows.

But you might well want to run Photoshop.

[Swordmaker]

I notice how you added the word extended in there - I am talking about the standard warranty. For reliable produces it should be at least 3 years.

No, a warranty covering a period beyond the average offered by the competition is an extended warranty. All warranties are have a price which is included in the cost of the item. If you have a three year warranty, it is not free... the price of the item has to reflect that cost. Not everyone wants or needs a three year warranty.

Or are you saying that Apple really isn’t a premium product - that their laptops really aren’t any more reliable then the other laptops made by the 3rd party contractors who make all of apples computers?

No, don't put words in my mouth—or in Apple's pricing. That is YOUR interpretation and your theory of determining quality by length of warranty, which ignores numerous customer surveys and reports in the industry that place Apple's reliability and customer service at the top of the competition... sometimes several percentage points above.

[DevNet]

“warranty covering a period beyond the average offered by the competition is an extended warranty”

No.

“sometimes several percentage points above.”

An entire several? Man that is something

[Swordmaker]

An entire several? Man that is something

It is significant. The iPhone for example in its first year had a 91% customer satisfaction rating... it's nearest competitor was somewhere in the mid 50% range. Macs are often in the high 80s to low 90s while the Windows based competition is usually six or seven points below. Some high end PCs have been equal with the Mac... and even, occasionally a point higher but not often.

[Swordmaker]

You might be interested in this report from the American Customer Satisfaction Index for the Second Quarter of 2008:

Personal Computers: Apple skyrockets

Customer satisfaction with PCs retreats for a second year, falling 1.3% to 74 to match the level of 2004-2005. Except for Dell (up 1%), the drop is connected with the Windows-based machines - Hewlett-Packard, Gateway, and Compaq are all down by 4%. Not only is Apple bucking the slide, it registers its greatest ACSI increase ever (up 8% to 85) to lead the industry by a wide margin. The satisfaction of Apple PC customers is 13% higher than Dell in second place and 21% higher than Compaq. This is one of the largest gaps in customer satisfaction in any industry covered by ACSI. It is also a record high for Apple.

A year ago, Apple's ACSI score fell by 5%. This type of volatility is unusual in customer satisfaction, but it is also reflected in Apple's share price, which has been a roller coaster ride for much of the past year. While its ACSI remained at the top of PC makers, it seemed then that the company might have given more attention to its phone business at the expense of its computers. Regardless of the extent that this was the case, now there appears to be synergy in that the integration of phone, music and computer products is leading to more iPhone and iPod users converting to Apple computer products. Sales of Apple products are up almost 25% and net income is up nearly 75% from a year ago.

Unlike Hewlett-Packard, Compaq, Gateway and Dell, Apple uses its own operating system and has therefore avoided the issues associated with the 2007 launch of Windows Vista. The release of this new operating system, itself the subject of criticism, may have contributed to the drop of Hewlett-Packard, Compaq, and Gateway. Customers have complained about usability of the new system, sluggish processing speeds and problems of software compatibility, while hardware requirements have led to complaints about price. Another problem has been that many owners of older machines have felt compelled to purchase the Vista upgrade in order to stay current. Even though Vista is just one (albeit very prominent) piece of software in the Microsoft catalog, the ACSI score for Microsoft (released in quarter 1) is showing a development similar to the Windows-based PCs makers.

"Apple is 13% higher in customer satisfaction than Dell, and 21% higher than Compaq"!!! That IS significantly more.

[DevNet]

That is a consumer study - it ignores the vast number of system that are used in businesses.

[Swordmaker]

That is a consumer study - it ignores the vast number of system that are used in businesses.

And Apple does not pursue the enterprise markets... although their share in that market has grown as well. That is why the US Apple market share, while 21% among consumers, is only 10% when all computer sales are considered... but it is climbing rapidly. Third quarter of 2008, Apple sales increased 22% year-over-year compared to only 3.5% year-over-year for the entire computer market in the US. it was even more than that for the rest of the year—around 30% while the rest of the PC market was declining by 1%.

[DevNet]

Perhaps you should tell that to Apple - they seam to be targeting the enterprise content creation markets with some of their high end kit and the what is lights out management market with their xserve and OSX server.

[Swordmaker]

That is a consumer study - it ignores the vast number of system that are used in businesses.

In addition, study after study, show that Macs in business have a greater Return on Investment, a Lower Overall Cost of Ownership, and far lower requirements for IT intervention.

[Swordmaker]

Perhaps you should tell that to Apple - they seam to be targeting the enterprise content creation markets with some of their high end kit and the what is lights out management market with their xserve and OSX server.

They do not "pursue" it, but they do not ignore it. Last I heard, though, they only have 11 sales people concentrating on enterprise. As I said, the enterprise portion of Apple's business is growing as well... faster than the PC market in general.

[DevNet]

You have some of the most unique definitions for words. I mean you tell me my hand held can opener has an extended warranty because the warranty last for 10 years and now you tell me that, despite having an enterprise sales division, that apple isn’t pursing enterprise sales.

[SunkenCiv]

I wasn’t thinking about it, but did see one at Best Buy last night. It was hooked to one of the cinema displays over to one side.

[SunkenCiv]

I think it’s actually part of a test of software simulating human activity, since it’s always the same small piles of garbage, over and over.

[Swordmaker]

I mean you tell me my hand held can opener has an extended warranty because the warranty last for 10 years and now you tell me that, despite having an enterprise sales division, that apple isn’t pursing enterprise sales.

OK, what maker of computers offers a three year warranty which includes any monitor you purchased with the computer and provides up to complete replacement at no charge? That's what AppleCare provides.

If Apple were really pursuing enterprise sales it would have a sales department with many more than 11 reps. The Computer punditry have been crying for years for Apple to become serious about seeking enterprise level customers... and providing the same level of hand-holding that PC IT buyers seem to think they need. Some of the PC companies have more than 11 reps just for one company. Apple, so far, is not targeting the enterprise market. If they were they would be offering iMacs without built-in iSight cameras.

Apple does target high end graphics users and makes some very good offerings in that area with the Mac Pro and the Cinema Displays. They are not consumer computers, but they are not designed for enterprise general use.

[DevNet]

I find it funny that you are defending Apple - a premium brand - by comparing it commodity computers. It sort of appears that they aren’t a premium brand - that their hardware is no different than all the other major computer brands.

You leave out a major issue with apple and the enterprise - that little issue of them not having a true server class operating system or any server class hardware.

[DevNet]

How is pointing out that a product that doesn’t have a replaceable battery doesn’t have a replaceable battery being a jerk?

We are talking about a computer mass produced by a third party - not a minor icon of a world religion.

[Swordmaker]

I find it funny that you are defending Apple - a premium brand - by comparing it commodity computers. It sort of appears that they aren’t a premium brand - that their hardware is no different than all the other major computer brands.

No, I have compared Apple's computers to Dell, HP, and Compaq mid-range to high end, premium computers, configured to match the hardware used by Apple, not to the commodity computers. I don't bother looking at their low end, bargain basement computers. When you compare like for like hardware, the Apple is always competitive in price and often less expensive than the offerings from those companies. In the Workstation class machines—those with Xeon® grade processors—the default configuration Apple Mac Pro is hundreds of dollars less expensive than equivalent Dell and HP machines.

You leave out a major issue with apple and the enterprise - that little issue of them not having a true server class operating system or any server class hardware.

Sorry, you really don't know what you are talking about. YOU are making claims that are simply not true. First of all, Apple Mac OSX is a fully certified, POSIX compliant UNIX™ with all of the server class software that implies... as well as offering xServe and OSX Server which is fully functional Server Operating System. UNIX powers some of the most largest and most secure networks in the world, and currently there are only four certified UNIXs to do that and Apple is one of them.

As to finding Macs in the offices of large enterprises, more and more of them are being installed. They are even being used in major database and server capacities. This xServe array is installed at eBureau, one of the largest credit card clearing companies in America:

Among businesses that are using Macs in the enterprise are:

• Xerox - Service Department and Field Repair agents.
  
• CISCO - xServes and xSans for its e-mail archival system.
  
• Oracle - Resilient Low-Cost Storage Initiative to promote the use of affordable hardware for data storage and recovery.
  
• MGM Grand Hotels and Mandalay Resorts - client and resident communications.
  
• US Army - www.usarmy.mil website and Frontline troop MAAJIC intelligence system driven by xServes and Macs.
  
• Matunaska Alaska Telephone - largest phone company in Alaska, billing and account management.
  
• Staples - inventory Database management with xServes.
  
• Macy's - inventory and ordering, shipping management for 141 department stores.
  
• J.C. Penney - central office.
  
• TAYCO - one of the US's leading Office Furniture manufacturer's entire operation.
  
• Indian Health Services - nation wide database and local health services
  
• Auto Warehouse Company - US's largest full-service auto processing company's entire operation at 23 locations except accounting and SQL database (which are now being converted to MySQL).

The cost per seat licensing to use OSX Server is far less than the cost per seat licensing for Windows' server software which is far more buggy.