HD For Indies

Apple - MacBook Pro

Apple as expected has integrated the Core 2 Duo chip into the MacBook Pro laptops (but NOT, at this time, the MacBooks - this to maintain their consumer/pro split?) These are the same industrial design, just speed bump models. I'm guessing/hoping MWSF they'll announce a new case design for the laptops, shipping in Feb/March timeframe. I have no hard data on that, just a guess. Or perhaps that is too optimistic - MacWorld is only 2 1/2 months away, that's a pretty tight upgrade table. So maybe later in the spring then? All pure conjecture.

With the exception of adding FW800 to the 15", this was an easy upgrade for Apple - faster chips, different burners, maybe upgraded graphics.

New stuff:
-2.16 or 2.33 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processors "up to 39% faster than its predecessor"
-FW800 on BOTH the 15 and 17 inch models
-6x double layer DVD burner - can burn DVD-9s now onboard
-up to 200GB hard drives
-Mobility X1600 Radeon graphics (is this new or not?) with up to 256 MB VRAM

-2.16 or 2.33 GHz for the 15", 17's are all 256 MB VRAM
-2.33 15" comes with 256 MB VRAM
-all come with dual link DVI - can drive an Apple 30" with this laptop

Standard configs:

Base 15" MacBook Pro- $1999
2.16 GHz, 1GB RAM, 120 GB HD, 128 MB VRAM ATI Mobility Radeon X1600

Higher End 15" MacBook Pro- $2499
2.33 GHz, 2GB RAM, 120 GB HD, 128 MB VRAM ATI Mobility Radeon X1600

All 15" have:
-1440x900 pixel screens
-120 GB hard drive
-6x dual layer DVD burner
-FW400 & FW800
-USB 2.0 connectors
-Bluetooth & Wifi standard
-backlit keyboard standard

17" MacBook Pro - $2799
2.33 GHz, 1680x1050 res screen, 2GB RAM, 160GB HD, 8x dual layer burner, X1600 w/256 MB VRAM

Mike's Comments
Apple's gotten nicer about a few things - the 1GB config on the MacBook Pro is now a single 1GB stick, so you still have a free slot - cheaper to upgrade. The 2GB configs are 2x1GB - so you'd have to pull one and replace it with a 2GB for the max 3GB RAM. For some reason, 4GB is not an offered config, I have some vague ghostly recollection of there being problems trying to install 4GB in the MacBook Pros.

There is also a new airline power adaptor, but:

Using the MagSafe Airline Power Adapter provides power for your computer but does not charge the battery.
The MagSafe Airline Power Adapter is not compatible with automobile power ports.


So it doesn't charge the battery AND it doesn't work in cars. Bummer. I have a Kensington car charger that does both of those tasks for my 12" Powerbook G4, wish I had the equivalient for my MacBook.

As for buying advice -

If you are on a budget, the 15" base model is a helluva machine for the money. Get some more RAM, be it third party or Apple branded. Apple charges $175 for the bump from 1GB to 2GB, which is more than third party but not wretchedly so considering you don't have to install it yourself, and Apple can never play the "it's the RAM's fault, don't bug us" card if you are having problems with it. 2GB is really enough for a lot of tasks, the financial burden or jumping to 3GB (a $575 bump if you buy Apple's RAM) is of questionable value, depending on what you're doing with it.

If you think you ever might plug into a 30" monitor and want to drive it, either model will do. If you want to do some Motion, Aperture, or other heavy 3D/Open GL kind of stuff, the better model with 256 MB VRAM is worth considering...but I don't have hard stats on whether or how much of a difference that will make.

The 17" is a viable desktop replacement. If you have a dual 2.0 GHz G5, this laptop might well be faster. BUT...the 17" has always been dubbed the cafeteria tray - it is a beast to lug around on a daily basis. As much of a fan as I am for big screens (I've been 1600x1200 or greater resolution for perhaps 15 years on my workstations), I LOVE my little laptops for their lugability - I like the speed of my MacBook, but I like the size and tote-ability of my 12" Powerbook.

If you have a choice, the new 15" models are DEFINITELY preferable to the older 15's, if only because of the addition of FireWire 800 - a HUGE increase in throughput for certain applications.

The new 17" is definitely faster than the older one, but if you can get a stupendous deal on the last gen 17" that would be worth considering.

In general, I've come to the opinion that you either buy the next to fastest (best high bang/buck) or the top end (put off obsolesence as far as possible) depending on your comfort with the price, which is always a personal decision (and also how long this machine will have to last you, whether you can afford the rest of the ecology that goes with it - plenty of RAM, accessories, bags, FW drives, etc.).

It is a far far better thing to have a lesser box better equipped than top-of-the-line box with nothing else...same thing with camera equipment. Accessories and extras COUNT.

Note ALL of these will be JUST FINE for cutting native DV, DVCPRO HD, HDV, etc. Even my MacBook can do those tasks.

What each increase gets you:

$500 bumps you from 2.16 to 2.33 GHz (whoopee), gets you another GB of RAM (Apple charges $175 for this), an extra 128 MB of VRAM, and.....that's it.

$800 gets you the same speed, RAM, and VRAM bump, a slightly faster burner (8x not 6x), a bigger screen, and a bigger hard drive (160 not 120GB)

Starting from the better 15", $300 gets you the bigger screen, bigger hard drive, and the slightly faster burner

-mike

Update: MacinTouch's Amazon page lists out the current cost savings on older models - up to $400 off.