Do you think the new MacBook Pro is Overpriced?

I'm just taking a poll to see what people think about the MB Pro. In my opinion, its overpriced for what you get. However, there are advantages to it, such as it being able to run Windows and such.

 

I think it's priced perfectly....after all it does have an x1600 in it...which is comparable to a 6800..the windows 15.4 inch notebook with that card is the TM8200 and it's $2500 (though it does have a lot of other features)...Plus I think having OSX and dual core is worth the extra price...

 

The X1600 is more comparable to the X700, not the 6800.

 

No, the X1600 replaces the X700 in the midrange. It performs about the same as the older 6800go (~4000 3DMark05).

Looking just at performance specs it's overpriced, but as the lightest and thinnest notebook in the screen size category I think it's priced right.

 

Well, I've been looking at this: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/230/10

From this site, I've been able to gather that the X1600 performs better on higher-end resolutions than the 6800 Go does. Other than that, the GeForce 6800 still kicks butt.

 

I think it's not overpriced if you think about what it comes with. Bluetooth, Dual Core Intel Processor, Slot loading DVD writer, Terrific LCD, Ambient Light sensor, newest Video card that performs great, excellent build quality, great OS, around 5.5 lbs for a 15.4 " Widescreen, lightest in its catergory of my notebook, PC or Mac. If you think about it, the only other think and light around 5 lbs with similar features is the ASUS V6Va and that's $2 grand and comes with an older Pentium M, and slower Hard drive, no ambient light sensor, and doesn't have a slot loading DVD writer, and has an older bluetooth card, I believe it's 1.2. So, if you think about it, its price isn't half bad. Plus some people, if they are students, get a student discount, which shaves off around $200 from the price, so after that buying the lower end model will only cost someone, $1800 and not $2000.

 

If you look at similar quality and speced notebooks, it all seems about right. The Thinkpad T60, arguably one of the few with superior quality to an Apple laptop, is priced quite a bit higher - and that's with integrated graphics!

Of course, I am looking at it from the terms of a student discount - which brings the entry-level MacBook down to $2,099 CAD, less than quite a few ASUS and IBM laptops.

 

ALL Macs are overpriced. Nice, and they get the best customer service ratings, but overpriced.

 

Except for the fact that Apple tends to give far better student discounts than anyone else.

But, yeah, and regular price they're kind of expensive. I think you get good value for your money, from what I've seen of them, though.

 

By Apple standards, it's about on par, but if you have to compare it to Windows-based notebooks, it's a bit pricey, but that's not a fair and not a logical comparison. Why must we suddenly jump to these conclusions now that it's Intel inside? Like Sony, there's an "Apple" premium to pay, and there's nothing wrong with paying up for the brand name and great design (and the OS).

 

The only reason WHY you'd get an Apple is for the OS - nothing else (well maybe the looks, but that's a bit extreme). I still think that OS X is superior to XP, except for the fact that XP has better compatability than OS X does.

 

Really? I dunno, the Apple hardware is pretty **** sweet. If I had the money to get both a new desktop and a laptop, I'd be getting the Yonah iMac as a desktop.

Alas, I don't.

 

We have a detailed preview of the MacBook Pro coming up in the next few days.

 

I'll be looking foreward to that - I want to see exactly what features the MB Pro has over Windows notebooks in the price range

 

I think the macbookpro price is fine, but the price on the still remaining powerbooks is too high for sure. It's the same cost as the new macbooks! So if someone thinks the new laptops are too pricey, they'll surely think the older ones still for sale are.

 

It's way overpriced. Note the missing features:

1. Standard PC Card Slot
2. Multi-format Card Reader
3. Dual-layer DVD+-RW
4. TV tuner
5. Dual boot (Windows and Mac) -- subjective, but I think this is critical if they want a successful product

6. Two mouse buttons

 

Apple will never support MS Windows (or the two mousepad buttons for that matter either) unless they're forced to work together, and even then... Apple and MS are rivals, and unfortunately they're not ready to turn around and support each other openly. It'd be nice if they did, but probably won't happen anytime soon.

 

There is coopetition between MSFT and Apple. Microsoft respects Apple enough to have re-invested milions in the company and has just announced that it will support Mac Office for at least another 5 years. Why would MSFT give away a dedicated 5% of the Office Suite marketplace, with users that actually pay $450 for Mac Office Pro?

As for the Mac Book Pro, there is nothing else out there as far as design does (maybe the Acer Ferraris and not even). Features are great, case is gorgeous brushed real aluminum (who are we kidding?), screens are to die for, support is the best in the industry.

The moment they figure out how to run WinVista on a Mac Book, and I can do a dual boot with Mac OSX, Apple can have my $2500 and I'll give it readily.:apple2:

 

I am aware of limited cooperation between Apple and MS, but there isn't any major cooperation with their OSes (I don't think Apple is going to hand over OS X to MS anytime soon). However, hopefully Apple/MS relations can improve to the point where MB Pros can support dual-booting into both Windows and OS X and such.

 

Well, you'll see lots of newer IBM-clones dropping the standard pc card slot in the next few years, I bet.

The card reader would be nice, but frankly, not a big deal to me, but I can see how some owuld find it a nuisance.

I thought the new superdrives were Dual Layer compatible?

Not that many IBM-clones have TV Tuners built-in, especially in the $2000 range...mostly just larger 17" systems.

Dual boot is possible, when Vista comes out. Not that long now, so I don't see how that's a big deal.

Two mouse buttons isn't a cost issue though...that's a design feature of Mac's. It's that way for simplicity's sake. Their whole OS is designed around the idea of one mouse button...so they aren't missing out. But I don't think you can use that to address cost.

 

People keep comparing the cost of this product to the cost of Windows based notebooks.

Show me a Windows based notebook that is or will be on the market in the next month or two that has a Core Duo CPU from Intel with a 667MHz bus speed and an X1600 graphics card. Or a fully multi-threaded version of Windows for that matter.

Apple for some reason always offers hardware with cutting edge CPUs and other stuff with only mid range graphics. I think this is simply because folks don't buy Macs for gaming and mid range is more than adequate for video and graphics work but it would be nice if they at least offered high end graphics as a custom option.

Six years ago when I purchased my Pizmo with the 8MB ATi Rage mobility it was the fastest graphics chip available for a mobile PC at the time. In a couple months other manufacturers released notebooks with 16MB versions and eventually faster graphics altogether. This is just the nature of the business and as long as Apple has a new product that no one else can offer they can set the price and you can take it or leave it but in my opinion the prices are reasonable considering the hardware.

 

i9400 / E1705

not x1600 but Go 7800

 

Powerbooks, iBooks, and MacBooks have 2 finger scroll and click capabilities. If I want to scroll horizontally or vertically in a window, I just place my index finger on the touchpad with my middle finger and slide them around together. This also works as a 2nd mouse button. 2 fingers on the touchpad and a click on the mouse button IS the 2nd mouse button. I actually prefer it and find it more comfortable/natural than a 2nd button for my thumb.

 

O.K. - the Acer TM 8200 was released earlier than the Apple PB Pro with an Intel Core Duo 2.0GHz and 256MB of the ATI X1600 with Hypermemory to extend the total amount of VRAM to 512MB. It featues 6 hours of battery life and has an integrated 1.3MP Camera as well that can swivel 225 degrees. In addition, it also has a 120GB HD 5400 RPM Segate. Now as I've said before, I'm not try to bash the MB, but Windows notebooks are clearly on par with Apple in terms of technology, if not more advanced.

See the Acer TM 8200 Here: http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2697

 

How the hell do you get it to do that, I have two finger scrolling, but not clicking.

 

http://www-users.kawo2.rwth-aachen.de/~razzfazz/iscroll2/

I use it on my 12" Powerbook and it also works great on my brother's iBook. After re-reading that site, it looks like this doesn't work for the MacBooks, but then, it doesn't need to. Of course, you wouldn't have the right-click option on the MacBook either in that case.

 

Although its moot if there really is 2 button capability, the whole 1 button interface design notion has been compromised by apples own release of the Mighty Mouse...

No Dual Layer drive support is almost criminal...

I'm kinda curious if the WiFi is going to be as bad as the G4 Powerbooks.

Design wise Mac's are something special...

Also where is the Firewire 800?...

 

What do you mean by that? Mine is great.

 

The Dell is obviously a bigger and heavier 17" notebook, and not anything special with dual core or 7800 as something that size should be fine handling a powerhungry P4 and 7800GTX.

The 8204 is a 15.4", but it's bigger and heavier. Slightly wider, over an inch longer in depth, half an inch thicker at the rear and a pound heavier. The 6-hour battery life is also with the secondary battery that'll probably push the weight closer to 7lb. You can argue the better specs can win out over and smaller size and weight but it really falls down to personal preference.

In terms of performance and features relative to size/weight, the macbook definitely has PC manufacturers beat.

 

Well I stand corrected. I went on Dells website yesterday and searched for a core duo notebook and didn't find one. I even googled for one and didn't find any available yet or even announced other than Apple's.

The Dell looks impressive and so does the Acer. I would prefer Apple's quality over Dell's any day and Mac OSX over Windows. In fact, I wouldn't even consider Dell's top of the line XPS2 to be an equal to my own Sager gaming notebook (see my sig). I would, however, like to have one of those new Duos but I won't upgrade just yet since I'm primarily a gamer and don't have much use for dual cores just yet. I expect in a year I'm going to feeling the pain without it.

The price of the new Dell E1705 actually surprises me and I'm sure people who recently purchased the Inspiron 9300 are beating their heads against the wall.

People looking for a new Mac aren't likely to be interested in a Dell or Acer as a comparison since they won't run OSX. If you are interested in a high end Windows notebook, your best value is in the non mainstream brands such as Sager. My little toy cost about $2200 and is better than a Dell XPS2.

 

I encourage you to wait for the successor to the Asus V6va - it'll be lighter, just as powerful, if not more so, and be equally priced or cheaper than than Apple's notebook.

 

Apple may be a bit over-priced, but nothing major and it basically boils down to what you want. I am only dissapointed with their low CPU speeds, but they have loads of perks that more than makes up.

 

If you compare it to any wintel lappy of the same feature set, the price is absolutely on par. Keep in mind that we'll be able to dual boot XP/OS X in the near future, find me a wintel laptop that'll be able to do that.

 

i dont think its overpriced.. its the same as the pbook's price b4 (maybe im wrong).. but it saw major upgrades which i thought was excellent.. i mean some dells go for 2k and i'd buy the apple over a dell anyday.. apple laptop's hav generally been known for its quality and durability--not using cheap parts like some other companies.. so bottom line is u get what u pay for lol

 

Its a little, but its worth it.

 

The price is right, the MB has premium features and quality I hope. I like thin and light notebooks on the PC side and would probably pay somewhere between $1500 and $2000 anyway. My Acer 14 inch was $1500 for XGA with no DVD burner - (pricey for an Acer but it only ways 4.5 pounds and has good graphics) $500 more for a better screen, DVD burner, webcam, OSX and iLIfe. Why not?

My next computer will be a MB or Asus or Fujitsu - I expect the Apple to be mabye a $200 more max.

Worth it in my opinion.

 

I think it's overpriced a bit. Especially if you consider that on this point you can't even run Photoshop or Final Cut Pro on it because they don't work with the new combination of intel processor and OSX...

Still I'd love to have the new MacBook Pro. If I could afford it, I'd probably get it. The software will be tweaked right for it soon anyways

Well and there's also the huge difference. It costs the same in dollars as in euro's. And being based in the netherlands, I have to pay it in euro's, they're much more expensive that way.
Plus if I'd add all features I'd want, I'd be spending close to 3000 euro... I wish I had it!

 

As for the dual layer dvd burner, they don't yet exist for that level of thinness of the macbook. the macbook is so thin, that is the best drive that is available to fit in the notebook.

If you are that obsessed with two button mice, GET A TWO BUTTON MOUSE.

 

1. It is slightly overpriced 100-200USD. But Apple shoots for bigger margins.

For us university people, the book is priced just right.

2. No DL drive is criminal....saving .1 inch on a "pro" machine, which needs burning capabilities doesn't seem really wise.

3. Battery life, we'll see.

4. No windows, but you have OS X...iLife, eventually Darwine

5. No 2.0Ghz duo, well 1.67,1.83 are the pricing sweet spots for chips, you won't get that much more perfomance for the price.

6. Still for the Pros the old PB is a better choice because of all the software, and more res. better connectivity, and great battery life for such a beast.

 

Doesn't that prove that Apple's overcharging customers?

 

i just checked it out today at the Apple store and it is very nice, the camera is fantastic, best webcam i have seen. and the Touchpad is rediculously oversized which is very very nice.

I'm not a huge apple fan but if that thing can run windows i might have to think about it

and the design is nice but it is boring, design something new apple!!!!!

 

hm
was wondering
if an macbook pro is priced about the same as a w3j,
do you think it'll draw more people to go n buy it?

 

I just got the one I bought my daughter for her graduation. It's not overpriced. It reeks of quallity and solidity, the OS is nice, and it's snappy. I paid a touch more for my Acer 8204 and there's no comparison except that the Acer meets my need for a windows development machine and is perhaps a little quicker. Has more different kinds of connections too, but that's only come in handy so far while trying to install linux on it.

- Ed

 

wow

your acer is more expensive than your mbp?

hm. anybody knows whether linux is hard to pick up?

 

The Acer is a faster machine (got the less expensive of the MacBooks, and upgraded the memory and disk).

Linux: hard to pick up in the sense of obtaining it, or in the sense of learning to use it?

There are downloads of Linux distributions all over the net. Search Ubuntu, Gentoo, SimplyMepis, Debian. Ubuntu and SimplyMepis will be easier to install if you don't know much about Linux. Ubuntu has a live CD so you can check compatibility without changing anything on your machine. An interesting alternative to Linux is Zeta ( www.yellowtab.com) which is actually BeOS. Very elegant UI and very fast, no viruses or spyware, but you may have hardware compatibility problems, and there aren't a lot of custom apps available for it. Still, I use it for my main day-to-day communications, email, web and so on.

Also, from the little experience I've had with it so far, Mac OSX is also very elegant and nice.

- Ed

 

Oh thanks Ed!
Zeta looks good..
hmm..

 

Come on, that is hardly fair. As a long time (since the XT days) PC user, I'm finally going to get a mac. And it isn't just because of OSX, actually that was the one thing holding me back, since I was worried about the relative lack of apps on it. The macbook is one of the nicest designed laptops out there -- speaking of pure aesthetics the only others that come close (and no the travelmate 8204 is NOT one of them) are the ASUS V6J (no wide-screen though) and the ASUS w3j (just as heavy but only 14" wide). And these, though possessing the same brushed aluminum look, don't have it all over (the underside is still black plastic).

As far as components go, they are all top notch as well (though the lack of firewire 800 *is* a bit disappointing). All in all, 2000 for the laptop is a **** good deal -- compare it with any sony of comparable price and you'll see what i mean.

 

Except the TM is $2500 and speaking personally (i'm on a new acer duo core, which is being returned for a MBP) -- acer's claims of battery life are way overstated. No way does a Duo Core w/ x1600 get anywhere near 6 hours of life... unless the lcd is off, and it's doing NOTHING. I thnk both machines are comparable in terms of features, but I'd give the style pts to MBP over the TM's carbon fibre LID and PLASTIC BODY anyday.

Btw, I'm pretty sure the limitations on the MBP's dvd burner (another minus) are a result of the small form factor (ASUS has the same issue w/ the V6J model)

 

I've had my hands on the Acer 8204 (bought it) and the MB Pro (bought it as a present for someone).

I'll definitely give the style and solidity points to the MB, as well as a positive nod to OS X. If I didn't need Windows for work, I'd have bought it.

On the other hand, the Acer also has pleasant aethetics, is (subjectively speaking anyway) faster, and has a lot more connectivity options. The battery life seems to be about 3.5 hours (can't remember whether I was using full brightness and full speed when I checked). Also I have more options for trying out alternative OS's like Linux and Zeta due to its having a standard BIOS instead of EFI. And it has a higher res screen.

Certainly comparable machines though making different design tradeoffs.

- Ed

 

Kinda..I mean they sell 1.83 Core Duos for like $1,300 if I wanted... but the graphics is nice and stuff and the design...but i think mac overprices a lot of their stufff just a litttle too much.