Updated MacBook Pro info leaked

I saw this on Wikipedia, it sounds true to me and would be very smart choices for Apple. In case it gets deleted, here's what was originally there.

"An unknown source who goes by the name "TEHAPPLELEAKERZ", claims to have gotten info regarding the new MacBook Pro line from a very reliable source and has apparently released information of the new MacBook Pro models, which will be available starting January, 22, 2008. The base 15" model includes a 256MB DDR3 8600M GT and a 2.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Penryn processor. The high-end 15" model will include a 256MB DDR3 8700M GT, a 2.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Penryn processor (with a 2.8GHz Extreme BTO option), along with a BTO option of a 1680x1050 LED screen. The new 17" MacBook Pro will feature a 2.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Penryn processor (with a 2.8GHz Extreme BTO option), a 256MB 8700M GT (with a 8800M GTX BTO option), and an updated LED screen. The biggest part of this info is the new cooling system Apple is including, which will allow it to comfortably run even with an Intel Core 2 Duo Extreme processor and a 8800M GTX. Finally, Apple is planning to include a $200 price drop on every MacBook Pro model."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacBook_Pro

Thoughts? It sounds realistic to me, and I'm sure Apple was going to update the cooling system eventually because of the complaints since the MBP line started. I'd buy the 17" one with a 8800M GTX if it had MXM, which I'm sure it's not going to. I wonder if we could expect the multitouch pad like on the MB Air, but maybe the current MBP touchpad is capable of those things, it's already capable of two finger scrolling.

 

I think an 8800m GTX is pushing it in a 1-inch notebook. They thing gets hot enough with only an 8600m GT.

 

Its missing the keyboard update I'm looking for on the MBP, and that $300 price drop makes it sound extremely bogus, especially with that hardware. Guess we'll have to wait until Tuesday the 22nd to find out the "truth".

 

I don't believe the 17-inch MBP can fit an 8800 GTX and still work properly...and really, these types of info can be made up by anyone, and that's already a pretty popular prediction by many, so most likely not any leaked information from Apple...I'd say its not likely to happen.

I mean, look again, and that Wiki article might say "Insider information says Apple is shutting down tomorrow because of a lack of money" .

 

I know that anyone could've added that, but I wouldn't doubt it not being true. Look at how many things get leaked from Apple, and a lot of this stuff would be some great choices (including a much needed upgraded cooling system and true "professional" graphics, not to mention removing the huge premium on a MBP compared to other notebooks).

 

Well, if you look back, most Apple rumours don't end up being true...so its hard to say. Apple tends to keep its secrets well kept...I mean, iPhone and MacBook Air had no leaked images beforehand...so far, only 9to5 Mac recently has hit a lot of the correct rumours.

 

I agree with dbam987 that the Apple price drop sounds bogus, their MBP sales are going strong without the price drop, and if they are doing well without it, why such a big price drop?

As for the specs, the processors seem realistic (though the extreme might be pushing it), but those graphics cards don't. If there is any truth on this part, it may be that Apple has worked out a more effective cooling setup for the MBPs, which would be really exciting.

I would be interested to see what was meant by "updated LED" if it is true, what exactly would that entail?

 

That would add LED backlighting to the 17" MBP, which'll provide better and more power-effecient screen lighting, which is currently only on the 15" MBP.

 

Sounds very suspect; the biggest bogus part is definitely the $300 price drop bit; historically speaking, Apple hasn't done price drops, but rather has maintained specific price points throughout a specific products lifetime.

Granted, this isn't always true....... as the PowerBook G4 line evolved, the base prices for them did eventually come down, but Apple tries to shoot for specific price targets.

The other bits are probably what I would chalk up to as safe guesses; that is, it isn't going out on a limb to try and guess which Penryn-based processors the MBP update will have.

I would be pretty dubious of some magical new cooling system that allows them to use C2D Extremes and more powerful GPU's; even looking at the seeming engineering marvel of the new Alienware 15" model, those machines are still 1.3" thick and 7 pounds. The idea that Apple could fit something similar in the 1" thick 5.4 pound MBP chassis is pretty questionable.

I think the safe bet is the Penryn CPU updates, and to expect them soon (not announced at MBP for the same reason the Mac Pro updates were announced before Macworld, because they aren't that big a deaL), but I think any significant hardware enhancements (new cooling design, MacBook Air-like multitouch trackpad, etc.) would more likely come with a more significant hardware update, like Montevina.

 

I find the poster's allege claims of an 8800 card dubious, I'll follow with an 8700 and a CPU upgrade but the overall suggestions sounds suspect.

 

I really wonder about that too though; is there any evidence of 17" LED backlit displays becoming available? As it is, even 15.4" LED-backlit displays seem pretty rare - it seems like Apple is still one of the few companies using it...... actually, are any other makers offering 15.4" LED-backlit displays now? I was expecting the XPSM1530 to use one, for example, but I don't think I saw that as an option.

 

Well, Dell XPS M1530, is supposed to have more screen options later on, so maybe they will have LED-backlighting then.

And yeah, I don't think 17-inch LED-backlit displays are ready yet...

 

Yeah; I know Dell was saying at least that other screen res's would be available (when people complained about the initial option only being 1280x800), but I didn't heard if they mentioned LED-backlighting.

It seems like a no-brainer though; I was pretty sure when the updated MBP's came out with a 15.4" LED-backlit screen that at least some other laptop makers would follow suit very quickly; at the very least companies like Dell and Sony, both of whom were already using smaller LED-backlit displays (or Sony at least, I guess the XPSM1330 came out afterwards), and had 15" machines that would make obvious sense to use them in as well.

I'm hoping we're not too far away from LED-backlit screens becoming just a standard across the board on most laptops.

 

MBP wont get a price drop, and most certainly will not include two different video card versions in the 15 vs the 17.

now, 256 VC ram vs 512 VC ram is probably more likely. SEeing a 256 8700 in the 15, and a 512 8700 in the 17" is most likely from what i can see.

 

I wonder if they will add a blu-ray drive option when the update comes out?

 

Anything's possible; although since they didn't add a blu-ray option to the Mac Pro, it might reflect that they're still holding off on adding this as an option to any Macs just yet.

 

Why would Apple waste time on an 8700m GT when it's nothing more than over clocked 8600m GT?

Considering that there's also an 8800m GTS and GT, I doubt Apple would go for a GTX when the system can barely handle the heat generated from an 8600m GT that's under clocked.

Anyways, it'd be nice if they were upgrading to even an 8800m GT, but I don't think it'll happen. Not without a notebook redesign.

 

Maybe, but I wouldn't expect it. I'd expect the Mac Pro to have it first. And with iTunes Movie Rentals, although I've heard the HD is only 720P, Apple may ditch the format war altogether.

 

I wouldn't be surprised by this at all.

I suspect both Microsoft and Apple actually might only half-heartedly support the actual optical drive formats they have sided with.

I think it's interesting, for example, that Microsoft never took the opportunity to add an internal HD-DVD drive to, say, the Xbox 360 Elite.

I recall reading one opinion piece speculating that MS's main interest in supporting HD-DVD was more about encouraging the continuation of the format-way, with the ultimate goal of seeing both HD-DVD and Blu-ray fail.

I think in both cases they probably see the future as really being in things like the Xbox Marketplace and iTunes; downloadable and streamed HD content, etc.

-Zadillo

 

Well with a name like that, it must be true.

Random rumors like that really don't belong in an encyclopedia. But I guess that's what happens when you make your 'pedia editable by anybody.

 

Considering it isn't even in final spec, Apple won't touch it. They don't want to risk putting their customers in the same position early adopters of blu-ray will be in. Nothing like saying "sorry, can't use special features on future discs" to early adopters (if their devices are not upgradeable, which most haven't been).

I believe Sony will be finalizing the spec soon though. I'd give it 6 months after final spec is out before Apple has it in their products. So... Maybe late '08.

Not sure if this is still accurate, but there are still no BRD drives for PC's that both play movies (and BRD discs) as well as burn BRD.

 

I'd kill to see those updates come through (I'm really in it for the $200 price drop....) but its just so suspect....The 8800M GTX won't fit into a 1" thick notebook, and the 8700GT won't fit the thermal requirements of the MBP15. However, it'd still be nice if those were true.

 

How about a down clocked 256MB 8800M GT. Certainly better than the 8600 GT. the 8800M is also on a 65nm process rather than the 80nm process the 8600M is on.

Doesn't the 8800M GT have the same TDP as the 8600M GT anyway?

 

"SOMEONE EDITS WIKIPEDIA ARTICLE, NEWS AT 11"

Come on now.

 

For whatever it's worth; I've been following the prices in Canada for the MBP and just tonight BestBuy Canada started a sale - $200 off all MBP. As far as I can recall, they've never dropped the price any more than $50 except for boxing week which was $100 off for a limited time and quantity.

I asked when the sale ends and I was told "indefinitely" by a rep who works in the BB for Business department.

So, take the rumour with a grain of salt if you like but I think it is quite reasonable IMO.

 

Finally! Are they going to equalize the U.S.-Canadian exchange rate now?

 

True, only our dollar is sinking again. It hit 97c yesterday and today.

 

Yeah, that's true. I knew the CDN couldn't stay that high considering we're so dependent on the American economy...and when America sneezes, Canada catches a cold .

 

Hmmm... that "leak" information is not posted anymore on the Wikipedia page. Bummer. I would have loved seeing all that actually materialize.

 

Apple just announced today they're releasing thier Q1 2008 quarter results on January 22, 2008 along with a conference call. A great day to launch updated MacBook Pros? I'd say so .

http://www.macminute.com/2008/01/18/apple-q1-08-financials/

 

I'm interested to see how well the iPod Touch is selling...that's going to be a big one for the results.

 

We'll know if they'll be updating something if the Apple Store is mysteriously offline on Tuesday.

Hopefully it will mean Penyrn's across the board for MB/MBP and (more importantly) iMac's as I'm in the market for one of those now.

 

*Crosses fingers*

 

Usually those kind of price drops indicate a product has been End-of-Life'd (or at least the store has gotten some indication or at least suspects it will EOL'd soon), meaning they want to get rid of stock on hand so they don't have it left over after a new model comes out.

It doesn't necessarily even mean that Apple has told Best Buy anything, as much as that they would have a reason to believe the models will be getting refreshed soon.

For what it's worth though, the US Best Buy store hasn't dropped prices anyway, so who knows.

 

Without a doubt, the MB won't get Penryn. The chipset differences is one of the ways Apple sperates the gap between the MB and the MBP. The MBP got Santa Rosa processors in June, the MB got them in November (which is one the reasons an update is expected very soon). The iMac has a good chance to get it by the end of January/ February.

 

Well, nobody thought the new Macbook would be called the "Air", and it is.

And also, Apple just released the worlds thinnest notebook, why wouldn't they be able to find out a way to be able to fit a 8800 in an 1 inch notebook?

 

Well, do they have enough connections with NVIDIA for NVIDIA to make them a custom 8800, like Intel did for Apple?

 

Why does everyone want an 8700m or an 8800gtx. These are gaming gpus. Macs dont really excel in this market. Sorry.

 

The thing is, with Boot Camp, plenty of people can dual boot with a Mac with a good GPU and game just fine, so that is why you do see people with an interest in these kinds of GPU's on Macs as well (same reason you see a fair amount of interest in the 8800GT now available for Mac Pros).

The ability to actually dual boot with windows now has changed the game in terms of GPU usage.

And that isn't to mention that there are still some Mac native games that benefit as well (quakewars, ut3, the upcoming Spore, etc.).

 

^^ and a powerful gpu doesn't have to mean it's for gaming, there are other fields like 3d rendering

 

not to mention upcoming cod4 and gears of war for the mac, sooner or later...