macnn/electronista
10/15/2008, 10:35am, EDT
Wednesday, October 15thNew-look 17in MacBook Pro due early 2009?
The 17-inch model conspicuously absent from Apple's MacBook Pro redesign has only been delayed, AppleInsider claims. Referring to sources it says have now been proven accurate by Apple's announcements on Tuesday, the rumor site now believes a larger pro system virtually identical in style to the unibody 15-inch model is due in "several months." The report corroborates MacNN's own sources which have indicated an unexpected delay preventing a simultaneous launch and are believed to include display and DVD drive problems.
No details have been provided regarding the upgrade, though it's expected to carry the same NVIDIA platform.
Such delays aren't unprecedented for Apple's 17-inch notebooks. The original PowerBook G4 model was originally poised to launch in February 2003 but only began shipping in earnest by April of that year. The first 17-inch MacBook Pro also launched three months after its 15-inch counterpart, though this is generally understood to have been staggered to let those needing PowerPC-based Macs buy a large notebook before the end of the transition to Intel.
Filed under: computers, Apple
Other story tags: Intel, MacBook, NVIDIA
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Quad core & RAM...
...might be the two best items for a 'pro' wishlist for without these the macbook pro is lagging behind in multicore speed for vertical apps that can use such - this applies to the current 15" offering as well...
Glass Screen
If you, Apple, make that glossy screen the only option for the 17", I will not buy it. Simple as that. You say it's "beautiful", fine. Try telling that to a group of graphics pros who rely on color accuracy.
Exactly...
A "Pro" machine should be competing with the likes of the Lenovo W700, which fully kitted out has 3.0 GHz Core 2 Extreme quad core processor, up to 8GB DDR3 RAM, 1GB NVIDIA Quadro FX 3700M graphics, dual HDD Bays configurable in RAID 0 or RAID 1 (SSDs are an option), 7-in-1 card reader, five USB Ports, and the option for a BD-RE Drive and Compact Flash reader. Plus Built-in Wacom tablet, self calibrating screen etc. Never thought I'd be lusting over an ugly windows laptop, and if it was a snap to install Mac OS X on it, it would be game over for me, and I am on my 5th Mac laptop. Very disappointed with these new models.
Hopefully..
Apple is adding something to the 17" to take advantage of the increased size. My hopes would be for one or more of the following:
- much bigger battery than 15"
- 4 SODIMM slots
- dual harddrive bays
- dual ExpressCard slots
- dual processors
Screens
As long as there is an option for a matte screen, I'm good.
Regarding the glossy-only option: to have Phil Schiller yesterday answer "You offset the reflection by the brightness, and consumers love it. One of the great things about a notebook is you can turn it however you want!"
Um...rather un-Apple like, wouldn't you say? (In other words, I have to change position/screen tilt so that I can use it?? Why am I being forced to adapt to the computer?!?)
Just Hold Out
For those of you who "won't" buy.. you could just hold out until yours dies and then buy a PC. Let me know how FinalCut and Aperture works on those.
Won't Buy
Yup, I am one who will keep my existing 17" MBP matte display as long as possible.
Color accuracy requires a standalone display anyway. However pros use MBPs in the field, and glossy is just unacceptable for field pro graphics usage. A matte display option is needed for mobile graphics professionals, especially photogs.