As if there was any doubt, BF is a go at the apple store (1 Viewer)

[Sam Posten]

Black Friday Deals - Apple Store (U.S.)

And they are price matching their 3rd party vendors:
ifoAppleStore: news and information about Apple Inc.’s retail stores

 

[Ronald Epstein]

The prices on the Macbook Pros are unbelievable.

I would love to go buy one today but everyone is anticipating
that new chips will be introduced soon.

 

[Michael_K_Sr]

Well I'm not. Intel's Nehalem chips aren't due out until late next year. Sure the current chipset may get a minor speed bump beforehand, but it won't be the big jump in performance and efficiency that Nehalem will be.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

In another thread I am being told to wait.

 

[Sam Posten]

Seriously Ron, they just updated them last month, I don't expect Nehalem macbook/pros until mid next year. I am hopeful but not optimistic for bluray capabilities for the lappys at MWSF but I've been disappointed for so long its not funny.

 

[DaveF]

Don't forget your edu or corporate discounts on Apple BF! Last year my corp discount stacked on the sale price for iWork, for nearly 40% off.

Also, all sales were available through the website, with free shipping.

So I got iWork for $50, shipped (I was in TN, and shipped it home to NY).

But this year, there's nothing for me to buy, since there's no new iLife or iWork. Now, if they a blow out on nanos...

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Wish I was applicable

 

[Ronald Epstein]

I'm sitting here frothing.

Should I buy a new MBP or wait for the new chips?

Not sure if this is the new Macbook Pro. Hope it is:

This is what I am looking at

Also a question...

Can I back up my current MBP using SuperDuper and simply restore
that backup on my new MBP (if I buy it) and expect it to work exactly
the same? Any problems doing that?

 

[DaveF]

I don't have the answers, especially regarding the prospect of Nehalem chips in laptops, but here are some thoughts.

* That's a pretty good price for an Apple product, at 10% off. And if you do mail in rebates, you can get Parallels 4.0 for free.

* I would think that it wouldn't be good do a complete clone of your current install to a new computer. Doesn't the new MBP have a special build of 10.5 to support the multi-touch trackpad? Wouldn't doing that use the wrong video drivers for your new laptop, with its new GPU?


Some questions from an impartial observer

* Are you limited by your current MBP? Are you regularly feeling slowdowns from using it? Do benchmarks indicate that you'll get a substantial performance boost from new hardware, enough to justify the price?

* An October rumor says Intel will refresh laptop CPUs Intel in April. Speculating that MBPs get updated with Nehalem next Spring to Summer, how much would that annoy you or screw up your computer buying/budgeting if you buy now and a significant CPU upgrade comes in six months?

* Can you sell your current MBP to defray the cost?

* Have you already made up your mind and just want outside approval to buy the new computer? If so, then go for it! And write us a good review on the new systems!

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Dependable Dave,


How much of a significant CPU upgrade will this be knowing
I am going for a 2.5 processor at this time? Will the new CPU
chips show substantial performance?

(edit: reading your link it looks like this may be a remarkable
improvement since it involves totally new architecture).

Anything else Apple may change in their Notebooks besides the
CPU? I know it's only speculation.


Really, I have no issues with my current MBP that is almost two
years old. Runs great. I could sell it for $500 easy, perhaps more.

What entices me about the new MBP is the nicer display screen
and the track pad which I really loved.

Am I seeking approval? No. Actually, I am just on the fence whether
it is worth grabbing on to these really good prices while they last.

Thanks as always!

PS: Apple removed their firewire 400 port and kept the 800 on these
new notebooks. I have been using firewire in connecting my camcorder.
Have no idea if it is 400 or 800. Is it really a big deal? Will my firewire
connection still work nonetheless?

 

[Darren Lewis]

Ron, FW800 will work with FW400 - you will need a special cable to go from 9-pin FW800 to either 6-pin or 4-pin (probably 4-pin on your camcorder). These cables are readily available (I've got one for my iMac).

You might want to look at this article from MacUser magazine here in the UK. There seems to be reports of some graphics problems on the new laptops.

This month's MacUser magazine had an article on their predictions for Apple hardware in 2009. Not much mention about the laptops, especially as they've only just been updated. They seemed to be confident that there'd be changes to the iMac (backlit LED, DDR3 etc similar to the new MacBooks), also new Apple Cinema Displays (probably a phase out of the 23"), and some tweaks to the Mac Pro (DDR3 mainly). They thought it unlikely Apple would introduce Blu-Ray.

 

[DaveF]

If you were a "normal" shopper who buys computers every 3-5 years, I'd say to wait, without doubt. But you appear to a real computer enthusiast, like having top end computers, replaced frequently (and can afford it).

I think this would be a sooner-than-normal upgrade, even for you, but these new designs are sweet. And that new 24" LCD would go so well with this new laptop for the best Mac portable desk system yet.

The big uncertainty is whether major upgrades are coming soon... Snow Leopard is speculated to be out early next year. Nehalem is speculated to be coming sooner than later. And there are scattered reports of trackpad problems (1st rev problems).

I suggest that if you're going to buy, start budgeting for another upgrade in 12 months. These are great new MBPs, but I think that there will be revisions in the next year that you will want.

[p.s. You might talk with your accountant. You have at least HTF as a side business, which your computers would be, in some portion, tax deductible. Depending on your depreciation schedule, this may or may not be the financially optimum time to upgrade.]

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Dave,

You know what?

What you say makes a lot of sense and I am glad you took the
time to post it as it helped me to come to the decision that I am
going to wait till next year.

 

[DaveF]

Always a pleasure. I've got a long weekend to relax, and talk to the other dogs on the internet

 

[Sam Posten]

Anyone else feel like Dave and I are the Good (him) and Evil (me) angels on Ron's shoulders whispering in his ears? =p

Oh, so it's my turn now. Ron, I bet you'd get a lot more than $500 for your current MBP =p

Seriously tho, if you can afford to wait till spring it's a smart bet. Yu really don't sound like you NEED it so much as want it. And BluRay and more will be available as soon as THE STEVE deems fit =p And not before.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

You guys absolutely are the little angels who speak in my ear.

I do seek approval when making large purchases like this because,
as wonderfully demonstrated in this thread, there are many points
others bring out that directly affect the purchase decision. I did not
know that there was changes on the horizon to the MBP line and you
guys effectively presented the situation at hand.

No, I don't necessarily need to upgrade yet, and yes, my business allows
me to buy a new computer every year should I want to do that. On
average I upgrade my desktop and laptop every two years. Is it necessary?
No. But it is one of the luxuries that a write-off allows.

I will certainly wait for news on the new MBP line. And, yes, I also
know I could sell my MBP for more than $500 but I usually end up
making a very fair sale for family and close friends.

Thanks so much guys for the whispers to my ears. Most appreciated.
I am so grateful that we have such a strong Mac community on this
forum. When we downsized the forum areas a year ago I fought to
keep this area from being merged with the PC forum. There were
some who argued heavily that we did not need a separate Mac area,
but the wealth of information here is incredible.

 

[JaguarPaw]

Bought the new MacBook Pro when they were released, kinda pissed the discount came out shortly after my purchase.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

I think the secret is like everything else --- almost.

If Mac announced the new MBP lineup tomorrow I would not
go out and buy it immediately as within a few months there are
going to be price reductions.

Wish the same thing happened in the Home Theater world but
technology changes at a much slower pace so it takes much longer
for pricing to come down. With computers it's rather quick.