New 24" ACD, no $899 MacBook, "buttonless" trackpad
updated 04:10 am EDT, Tue October 14, 2008
More laptop details
Continuing the stream of last minute reports and confirming our earlier report, Apple will indeed introduce MacBook Pros as well as MacBooks at Tuesday morning's event: the new laptops will feature a single buttonless (but clickable) glass trackpad. According to Daring Fireball, the "new trackpad is similar to the Air’s, in that it is bigger and supports additional multi-touch gestures. But unlike the Air’s, the MacBook Pro’s new trackpad is made of glass, and is a button itself. You just press and it clicks." Confirming MacNN's report, Apple will not ship a 17-inch MacBook Pro model (due to the production issues reported earlier), but will bump the storage/RAM (and perhaps processor) to fill the high-end gap.
Apple will also only ship two MacBook models (2GB/160GB and 2GB/250GB for $1,299 and $1,499, respectively) and leave the current $1,099 2.1GHz MacBook to fill the $999 price point (without the updates featured in the new MacBooks).
In addition, the report says that Apple will MacBook Air with a larger 120GB hard drive and larger 128GB SSD option and confirms that the circulating $899 MacBook is false and the SKU reflects the price of a new DisplayPort-enabled $899 24-inch LED Apple Cinema Display.
The MacBook will reportedly feature an improved NVIDIA 9400M GPU, while the MacBook Pro will also have a dedicated 9600M GT GPU for even more performance.
TOO EXPENSIVE
10/14, 07:41am (1 reply) reply
$900.00 is a RIP-OFF for a 24" monitor.
WAKE UP, APPLE!!!
Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 1999
no 17"? dream on
10/14, 08:39am reply
No 17" MBP is the most retarded speculation I ever heard.
dliup
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2006
Cheaper laptops
10/14, 08:59am reply
Apple really needs a lower end model. It's already predicted this holiday season will be slow. With many cutting back, the constant ads from Dell/Gateway etc for $499 laptops will not help Apple pull in more converts. With many people only using a computer for web/email and other basic stuff, many won't justify trying a mac at double the price. For me, it's easily worth it. I prefer the OS and see where the others cut corners to get the price down. But many won't see this so Apple really needs a $799 laptop and a $499 mini to catch peoples eye.
simdude
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Joined: Jun 2004
dliup...
10/14, 09:38am reply
When Apple first introduced the Aluminum PowerBooks they only introduced the 12" and 17" models. They held off on the 15" in order to try to clear the inventory of Titanium 15" PowerBooks. So Apple had concurrently the 12" & 17" aluminum and 15" Titanium models.
gskibum3
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 2006
dumb.
10/14, 10:02am reply
A $999 laptop 13.1 laptop is a joke to most who have a choice in machines. Apple is going to continue to s**** graphic arts students by gouging them. Schools require a Mac- and Apple thinks their paltry discount makes a difference.
The 24" monitor we've been watching- a Dell, is $339 everyday. Apple is asking almost 3x more. Apple better hope iPods still sell- because with the tightening credit market- most people are going to put off a purchase- or buy cheaper.
David Esrati
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jun 1999
Color Correct?
10/14, 10:03am reply
While $899 is high for a consumer level display compared to prices for professional level, color correct displays.
If Apple's new display is indeed color correct, with LED backlighting and a high refresh rate, it's not a bad price.
Sorry to beat the proverbial dead horse, but if it's a GLOSSY display, then it's WAY over-priced. There's no way I'd ever use a glossy display. Hello NEC-Mitsubishi?
simdude...
Apple doesn't really need to sell cheap laptops. Apple's market is NOT the lowest-common-denominator $499 laptop crowd. If what I've read elsewhere is true, then Apple's already got around 20% of the domestic laptop market. Dell can keep the bottom feeders!
JeffHarris
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Joined: Oct 1999
huh?
10/14, 10:09am reply
"In addition, the report says that Apple will MacBook Air ..."
will .... ?
ebeyer
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jun 2004
i call BS
10/14, 10:30am reply
Seriously.. BS. lets just wait and see what happens.
zaghahzag
Dedicated MacNNer
Joined: Aug 2006
buttonless trackpad?
10/14, 10:50am reply
Say it isn't so! What is it with Apple always trying to re-invent the wheel. First its the buttonless mouse (which causes people to rework the way they use a mouse just to use it).
Yes, of all the things people have been complaining about the MacBooks, the fact that it has a separate mouse button from the trackpad is the most pressing issue. I guess when they insist on keeping the prices high and stay out of the cheap laptop market, you've got to start adding some "features".
And I can here it now. "Sure, you can get a Dell laptop for $500, but does it have a no-button glass mousepad? No! See, no comparison!"
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
and
10/14, 10:50am reply
How about something simple, like a 15"/16" MacBook, rather than make people spend $2000 to get that 'feature'.
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001