Posted on 04/24/2006 10:15:11 AM PDT by Panerai
Apple on Monday introduced the 17-inch version of its Intel-powered MacBook Pro. The new laptop computer will start shipping next week for $2,799.
The 17-inch MacBook Pro features a 2.16GHz Intel Core Duo processor. It has a 667MHz front side bus (FSB) and 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM expandable to 2GB.
The new large screen-equipped MacBook Pro makes its debut during this week’s National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) trade show in Las Vegas, Nevada. David Moody, Apple’s vice president of worldwide Mac product marketing, told Macworld that the 17-inch laptop is a good fit for the pro video market.
Like the 15-inch MacBook Pro, the 17-inch model features a built-in iSight video camera and Apple’s vaunted MagSafe Power Adapter, which disconnects from the notebook when there is strain on the power cord. It also includes Apple’s Sudden Motion Sensor, which protects the hard drive in case the laptop is dropped.
The 17-inch MacBook Pro features a display that’s 36 percent brighter than before — 300 cd/m2 brightness, according to Apple. It uses ATI’s Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics chip with 256MB of dedicated GDDR3 graphics memory. The laptop also includes an illuminated keyboard with ambient light sensor.
The MacBook Pro weighs 6.8 pounds and is one inch tall when the screen is closed. Apple claims the MacBook Pro is up to five times as fast as its PowerBook G4 predecessor, and uses RAM that’s twice as fast as the PowerBook G4.
With 15 and 17-inch MacBook Pros replacing their PowerBook equivalents, Mac users have begun to wonder about the fate of the 12-inch PowerBook G4. Moody would not comment, citing Apple’s policy to not discuss unannounced products.
(Excerpt) Read more at macworld.com ...
New 17 inch MacBook Pro ping !
Sweet.
My 1GHz G4 17-inch becomes more of an antique every month.
How do you think I feel about my 700Mhz G4 ;)
I just got a new 17" Dell Core Duo laptop for $1000 less than the Apple laptop...
Make that $1300 less than the Apple 17" Core Duo...
I never thought I'd say this about an other computer but I don't want to discard my old Mac.
Yours, too? LOL. I can't wait to upgrade mine. I'll wait a bit since I'm getting a new quad G-5 and 30" display for work. wooohooo! I can't wait.
You may have started with an Inspiron 9400 at $1,639. Now upgrade to the Mac's processor speed, upgrade your RAM, get the faster 100GB HDD, get a real install CD, get the video to just under what the Mac has, get Bluetooth, split the difference on the battery capacity, and the Dell costs almost $2,700 vs. the $2,800 Mac.
And that ignores that the Mac is smaller and lighter, and all the software and features that come with the Mac and not the Dell.
I have to balance what I get, since my wife's is the oldest in the house - a 533 MHz G4 desktop (which still suits her fine, so I'm not rocking the boat there). I may set her up with a mini next.
Don't forget that he needs to fork out additional $$$ for an antivirus/antispam/antispyware/firewall suite and maintain current subscription(s).
If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.
So I assume then that you can dual boot into either XP or OSX... ooopsss... nope you can't.
And I assume that your Dell has as good a video card (not - Dell doesn't even offer anything better than Intel Extreme except in it's higest in XPS system. The MacBook has the ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 with 256MB memory on 16-lane PCI Express....a far superior DEDICATED video card. So that's not a help.
Dual-display support?
I assume your Dell has a double layer DVD burner?
And yours has a built in camera?
And your Dell has Optical Digital audio input?
And optical Digital audio output?
FireWire 800 in addition to USB 2?
And I have never seen a display on ANY brand computer that even comes close to the brightness and clarity of an Apple display.
If you really want a good comparison - price the Dell that comes closest to matching these features (I don't think you will be able to for one....) and then compare the price.
I don't know if "only" is the word I would use, but I'm sure I'll buy one before the year is out. I'm really looking forward to having dual processors, and being able to use Parallels so I don't need to lug a PC around when I want to test my software in a Windows environment.
That machine should be faster than my dual processor G5! That makes it a true desktop replacement.
It sure would be nice to be able to install more than two gigabytes of RAM, though, considering the memory needs when running more than one OS on the same machine.
D
Enjoy your new Dell. I hope it does everything you ask of it.
As for me, I prefer the Apple laptops.
I did some lifestyle analysis with the wife about where she would use the system, what she would do with it, and genuinely gave her the option of Windows or Mac. When she was working, she used Macs and Windows Pee-Cees, so she had prior experience with Apple.
We took 2 visits to the local Apple store, she got the whole spiel from 2 Apple sales reps, before and after the Intel systems were available, nearly free printer w/purchase.
She picked the Windows system because she couldn't (in her mind) justify the cost of the Apple system because it didn't offer her anything she couldn't live without as compared to a Windows system.
I even encouraged her to get the Apple iMac, and she turned it down.
So... If cost had not been a barrier, the features in a 17" MacBook would be welcome additions to her computing experience?
I can certainly understand that. It is like buying a car. If cost were not a barrier, definitely get the car with the automatic windows and locks, and built-in alarm system, and GPS. Else, buy the car without and just work around the little inconveniences of having to lock the doors you unlock manually and pump the window lever. And always having to park in the places and pay a little extra for car insurance.
Not everybody can afford a Mac, but I've known people who saved up for years in order to buy a new Mac. They may go 4-5 years without a new computer, but they consider the upgrade worth the extra cost and time, and meanwhile they work around the little inconveniences of running a dated system.
The Dell does offer decent video on its mid-level notebooks, and at least my Latitude will do dual display, and the one I looked at came with a dual-layer DVD burner (although not slot-loading like the Mac).
But it's still pretty obvious the Mac is the better deal.
My iBook is still an 800MhZ G3 - with maxed out ram and Tiger and it'll do me just fine for another year.
I'm going to wait for the second or third generation MacBook (regular) to upgrade. Basically, I'll go for it when the lower-end MacBook (which is what I assume the iBook replacement is going to be called) ships standard with a gig of ram.
It was my Dell laptop, which I named Mr. Freeze, that turned me into a Machead. 18 months of "Tech Support" agony before I finally gave up and switched. That was three years ago and I've never been happier. The value of the time I spent trying to get that piece of junk to work was worth a whole lot more than $1000.
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