"Meet The Next Generation Of Notebooks" - Apple

If you go to Apple's website right now, you're greeted in large letters with "Meet The Next Generation Of Notebooks". How exciting is that? I have been psyched up for a while knowing that Apple had plans of re-fitting their notebook line and also doing a little price update, which they did both.

They took a chunk of time this morning talking about the base that their laptops are built on. Jonathan Ive went into detail about how they are forging a frame out of a solid piece of aluminum instead of piecing together frame. This is really meant to beef up the machine and make it feel more rigid and robust.

Also updated are the graphics in the new units by switching to an Nvidia solution. Depending on what model Macbook Pro you purchase you will see either the 9400M or the 9600M GT. Both these solutions are a combined GPU and chipset on the same chip, thus saving room.

The trackpad of all things has been changed. This to me is one of those features that needed updating but no one knew we needed the changes they came up with. I rarely hear anyone complain about trackpads unless they don't like to use them all together, but these guys have made it larger, out of glass and the entire thing is the button. And to top that off, they have made it multi-touch (4 touch).

The pricing (source: www.arstechnica.com) comes in lower as well. More features and a lower tag is good in my books!

$1999 for 15.4" LED-backlit display, 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo/3MB L2, 2GB 1066MHz DDR3 memory, both NVIDIA chips, 250GB hard drive and a slot-loading superdrive.
$2499 for the same but upgraded CPU to 2.53GHz, 6MB L2
both are upgradeable to 2.8Ghz

Steve Jobs saved the Macbook to the last because it seemed like the most exciting. I believe it's because most people would be in that market if they were looking at a mobile Mac solution. The Macbook as it is now will keep selling but at $100 less, so now $999.

The new Macbook will have some cross over features from the Pro that people have been asking for. The main 4 points are the size and it will be thinner, it will now have the Pro's metal enclosure, have a glass screen (glossy), the same faster graphics and an LED-blacklit display. They have answered and still kept the price somewhat reasonable at $1299 for the base unit. I still believe that Mac's pricing needs to come down a little more to compete head on with the HPs and Dells of the world, but that's another post.

So it's time to go check out the new line at www.apple.com. I am excited to see them in the stores (apparently we should see them as early as tomorrow) so that I can play with one. I want to see how the trackpad is better and if the display really is better being glossy.

Tags: apple, mac, macbook, news, notebook, press, price, update

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Permalink Reply by Mad Max on October 14, 2008 at 1:53pm: Only the top end Pro can be configured with 2.8GHz and both of the Pro range come with the 9400 AND the 9600. You can choose which one you want to use at any given time depending on how much power you need, so you can save battery life using the 9400, but then use the 9600 if you need the extra power for gaming or whatever.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by The Sleepy Geek on October 14, 2008 at 7:24pm: That's awesome. I was just reading that and it's much clearer now. I was watching the update from a website that updated via text. It was quick but hard to decipher.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Erick on October 14, 2008 at 2:47pm: good thing they lowered the price on the White MacBook...
i like that one better anyways; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by The Sleepy Geek on October 14, 2008 at 7:25pm: Really? You don't find it too plasticy? (new word)
I like the idea of the metal, sometimes the old units felt like they would break easily.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mateus Augusto Lopes on October 14, 2008 at 2:59pm: Macs are overpriced, thanks to Apple.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by The Sleepy Geek on October 14, 2008 at 7:28pm: Hard to prove this one. I was actually looking to do an article on Apple/PC price comparison and if you look at the hardware that Apple is putting in the Macs, it actually works out for the most part. They are not the cheapest, but they are not exorbitant in their pricing. Many times when we see prices at Best Buy or another competitor they are lessor machines. If you look at upgrading those to a comparable Mac then the prices are much closer. Apple seems to not want a barn burner unit.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by TyphoidKitten on October 14, 2008 at 8:11pm: I like my desktop just fine. It was way cheaper then any new laptop i've ever seen.
But if i had the money and was looking for a laptop I'd probably get one of the pro's.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by The Sleepy Geek on October 15, 2008 at 11:36am: Desktops weren't even part of the discussion... but I am glad you bring them up. I wonder when Apple will do the same sort of update with their desktop line.... ooo... exciting :); ▶ Reply to This