17" Macbook Pro now Available

PaulB · 24 Apr 2006 at 14:59

Love the spec on this - just hope they have solved some of the "issues" many people have been reporting with the other Macbook Pro's.

17" widescreen
2.16GHZ,
1Gb RAM,
120gb HDD,
8x double-layer Superdrive,
Firewire 800 + an extra USB port,

:cool:

Founder_film · 24 Apr 2006 at 16:16

Looks nice! But when is the 13" one coming out!

Spyhop · 24 Apr 2006 at 16:21

If you select the same CPU speed for the 15", the price is the same as the 17". Plus the 17" will have a better screen, hdd, optical drive and more ports.

Is a 15" price drop on the cards?

OllyM · 24 Apr 2006 at 17:01

It's more expensive like-for-like.

I suspect Apple will drop the price of the 15", a bit.

nomore · 24 Apr 2006 at 18:37

I've been waiting for this since June 2005. I placed my order this afternoon for the 17" Macbook Pro.

Delivery estimate is 8th May.

I'm going to get another 1GB stick of RAM for it.

Ghost in the Shell · 24 Apr 2006 at 20:05

will be ordering mine this week too

can anyone comment on the ram upgrade as i'd like 2GB but its a lot more expensive with apple then say ordering from an online manufacturer and adding yourself

id prefer to save the cash and do it that way but will it be any less performance??

nomore · 24 Apr 2006 at 20:08

Ghost in the Shell said:
will be ordering mine this week too

can anyone comment on the ram upgrade as i'd like 2GB but its a lot more expensive with apple then say ordering from an online manufacturer and adding yourself

id prefer to save the cash and do it that way but will it be any less performance??

Crucial make excellent RAM modules. You can get a 1GB stick for around £95 inc. VAT. Definately get 2GB as OS X loves large amounts of RAM.

PaulB · 24 Apr 2006 at 21:11

I'm really tempted by one - was looking at a 15" version, but this has put pay to that!

Just worried about the whinning/heat problems that have plagued the other versions so might hang on for a bit to get reactions once they start shipping.

punky_munky · 24 Apr 2006 at 22:36

Are laptops that big actually portable? Just curious really.

Ghost in the Shell · 24 Apr 2006 at 23:08

of course they are.... i have seen my old firms design team using them and they are very nice, not portable as in carrying all day but a bloody nice sized workstation that you can use anywhere.

i hate the 12" but for the very frequent traveller im sure they are invaluable

Spyhop · 24 Apr 2006 at 23:10

They're not that heavy. Get a suitable case or backpack and you're sorted.

punky_munky · 24 Apr 2006 at 23:17

Hmm. I'm going to need a laptop for next academic year as I'll be travelling between Exeter and Plymouth on the train everyday (1 hour each way) and I don't want to be wasting that time not working. I like high-res screens but perhaps this is a little impractical. Does it have a longer battery life than the 15" or future 13.3" machines due to it's physical size? Or is any advantage lost in powering the hardware and bigger screen?

nomore · 24 Apr 2006 at 23:48

punky_munky said:
Hmm. I'm going to need a laptop for next academic year as I'll be travelling between Exeter and Plymouth on the train everyday (1 hour each way) and I don't want to be wasting that time not working. I like high-res screens but perhaps this is a little impractical. Does it have a longer battery life than the 15" or future 13.3" machines due to it's physical size? Or is any advantage lost in powering the hardware and bigger screen?

According to Apple, the battery life is 5.5 hours.

triggerthat · 25 Apr 2006 at 00:00

hmm the new iBook will be replacing the 12" Powerbook.. interesting as I was going to get one. Does anyone know that the new iBook will look like?

Ghost in the Shell · 25 Apr 2006 at 08:56

triggerthat said:
hmm the new iBook will be replacing the 12" Powerbook.. interesting as I was going to get one. Does anyone know that the new iBook will look like?

possibly lots of solid colours and a wider choice so i hear

spirit · 25 Apr 2006 at 10:52

how easy is it to open up these laptops and install the ram?

riddlermarc · 25 Apr 2006 at 11:04

punky_munky said:
Are laptops that big actually portable? Just curious really.

I have a 17" widescreen Dell laptop, it's big but it is still portable and the widescreen is invaluable for coding purposes

It is, however, nearly twice as heavy as my T43 ThinkPad :eek:

Ghost in the Shell · 25 Apr 2006 at 11:50

well its 1lb heavier than my 15" powerbook 1.33 that i have been carrying for ages. yes this is heavyish and another lb wont be too welcome but its manageable with the right carrycase

triggerthat · 25 Apr 2006 at 13:52

Ghost in the Shell said:
possibly lots of solid colours and a wider choice so i hear

Do you happen to know if its going to be still made of plastic and whether its going to be thinner like the powerbooks?

Founder_film · 25 Apr 2006 at 14:05

triggerthat said:
Do you happen to know if its going to be still made of plastic and whether its going to be thinner like the powerbooks?

No one knows yet, there was talk that it will still be plastic but be similar to the iPod and come in white or black, speculation though. Another rumour suggested it was going to change completely which could mean its going to be made from aluminium like the MacBooks. Who knows!!!!