Posted on 01/06/2009 8:37:04 PM PST by 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.
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The left out the minor issue of it not having a user replaceable batter.
Funny that.
A non-user-replaceable battery on a laptop.
Hmm...
Left out? LOL!
It has to be a mistake. I mean no one would write - or post - a story about a major product with out mentioning it.
Right?
With 17 inches (sreen), there was enough room for numeric keys on the right. I don’t see them in the pictures. Maybe next time.
I’m a Macbook Pro user and fan and I’m not thrilled with the battery issue. What they could do to make that palatable, in my opinion, is offer to replace it for free once within the first three years, even if you don’t have AppleCare and even if it’s not entirely dead. They also better hope those puppies don’t have problems like some batteries have had in the past because they are no longer separated from the rest of the laptop by a separate case.
Left out?
"Clearly, the built-in, longer-lasting battery technology..."
It’s a designed feature for iDiots.
Can the user replace the batter - yes or no?
How do you add RAM to one of these? Or do you have to order the machine with all the RAM you’re going to need?
“The left out the minor issue of it not having a user replaceable batter.”
That is what they said about the MBA but it is not true. It takes about six little screws and it unplugs and you can easily replace it.
Why would one have to add RAM? It does not run Windows.
We aren’t talking about the mac book air - can the same be done of this one?
Because some use their computers for real work.
“We arent talking about the mac book air - can the same be done of this one?”
Why not. Conventional wisdom is you cannot do it on an MBA. Why go with conventional wisdom on Pros. You should listen to Rush from time to time.
Why do the Mac threads attract so many jerks? Envy? Kind of like the FR-economy threads where the lowlifes attack people with money.
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