Post purchase questions on the new MacBook Pro

supanatral

supanatral

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I went out the other day and bought the new macbook pro with the 2.8GHz processor and the solid state upgrade :D but now I have questions about it.

On the keynote address, steve said that there will be two graphics cards in it. How do I know which one I'm using?

Also what is the difference between the macbook and the macbook pro?

One last question-Why didn't Apple update the 17" macbook pro?



On a different note, I hate how the Macbook looks like the macbook pro. I know why apple did that-its because they sell more macbooks then pro's so they like care about the regular macbook owners being happy much more then the macbook pro owners but for someone like me who can pay the extra money, it does suck because I don't feel anymore special.
 
You can control whether you use one graphics core or two graphics cores in the System Preferences. When you use one graphics core, you always use the same one. When you use two cores, both cores are active. You cannot control which core you use when you're only using one core... you will always use the same, single one (which I believe is the 9400M).

http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/graphics.html

The new MacBook Pro combines the efficiency of an integrated graphics processor with the desktop-class performance of a discrete graphics processor. That’s because it has both. Out of the box, it runs the integrated NVIDIA GeForce 9400M processor, which provides plenty of performance for everyday use with up to 5 hours of battery life.* But when you need turbocharged performance for the most graphically intensive tasks, the discrete NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT processor delivers. And thanks to a new graphics architecture, it’s easy to switch between these two processors.
Click to expand...

The differences between the MacBook and the MacBook Pro are many:
- Bigger screen on the Pro
- FireWire ports on the Pro
- Graphics cores on the Pro
- CPU speed on the Pro
- Backlit keyboard on all Pro models
- etc.

You can do your own comparisons by going to both these pages and reading about the features of both computers, then seeing for yourself what is different:

http://www.apple.com/macbook/
http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/

...or did you want someone to do all that for you? :)

Apple did not update the 17" MacBook Pro probably because of manufacturing troubles with the 17" LED screen or something. Rest assured, the 17" will be updated in due time.

On a different note, I hate how the Macbook looks like the macbook pro. I know why apple did that-its because they sell more macbooks then pro's so they like care about the regular macbook owners being happy much more then the macbook pro owners but for someone like me who can pay the extra money, it does suck because I don't feel anymore special.
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That's one opinion -- but I highly doubt that Apple cares about MacBook owners more than MacBook Pro owners. If the CEO of Apple were 12 years old, I could understand that, but these are grown men and women we're talking about. They have more business expertise than you or I have, and even when a decision looks "stupid" or "ridiculous" to us, most of the time it's because we don't know what we're talking about. The MacBook owners were perfectly happy when they had white and black models instead of aluminum colored models. I highly doubt Apple changed them from white/black to aluminum in order to make the Macbook owners "happier."

Case in point: pricing the original 5GB iPod at close to $500. "No one will buy it!" "There are plenty of MP3 players out there already!" "It's doomed to fail!" "Apple doesn't know the first thing about music!"

I sure hope the nay-sayers were wearing tasty shoes that day because I highly suspect that a lot of market researchers and reviewers had their feet in their mouth shortly after the iPod introduction.

The same goes for the iPhone. Now it commands over 30% of the smartphone market. Not such a bad product after all, huh?

You don't feel special because the new MacBook now resembles the MacBook Pro? How does that make you feel less special? Does it also make you mad that the MacBook's and MacBook Pro's screen now resembles a portable version of the iMac screen? Oh, no! Now you and your MacBook Pro are no better than an iMac! :O
 
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Haha-well its not that. when people look at the macbook and then look at the macbook pro, it looks the same. I know its stupid that I feel like that but you have to admit, looks are a huge part of it. You could buy a sunfire that has been modded so much that it could perform like a corvette but in the end, which one would you rather? the corvette, the looks of it commands respect.

I'm not saying that if I were Steve Jobs, I would have choosen any differently then he did because even in my limited opinion, I can foresee that boosting sales for Apple.

Also, thank you for your answers. That helps a lot
 
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I just found a great website that I thought I would share with everyone that explains an in depth difference: Click Here

-The keyboard in the MB is more softer like the old one but the MBP is is more "clicker"
-The LCD in the MBP is better quality. The blacks in the picture are true black and less glare
As ElDiabloConCaca said above:
- Bigger screen on the Pro
- FireWire ports on the Pro
- Graphics cores on the Pro
- CPU speed on the Pro
- Backlit keyboard on all Pro models
- etc.
Click to expand...

Anyways, I suggest reading that page because its really well written. I'm much happier that I picked the MBP now because since I did spend the extra money, I want to see as well as feel the better quality. As for what I said above, I never meant that they should make MB users second class, just that they should go one step even farther for the MBP users. After reading that article above though, I feel like Apple has done that.

P.S. I hope I didn't offend you ElDiabloConCaca
 
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No offense taken at all, and I didn't mean any offense to you, either. We're all good! :)

I remember in the past when Apple "simplified" its computer lineup. Before, we had all different models of iMac, PowerMacs, eMacs, PowerBooks and iBooks and the lines between "consumer models" and "pro models" was a bit blurry. Apple soon shifted to a distinct "consumer: desktop/laptop" and "pro: desktop/laptop" offering. One desktop each for the consumer and the professional, and one laptop each for the consumer and the professional. Easy.

But they've always been differentiated in either looks, shape or coloring (white plastic G5 iMacs vs. metal PowerMac G5s... white iBooks vs. titanium PowerBooks), and now it seems like Apple's blurring that line a tad. The consumer models now look similar to the pro models -- so, perhaps, at first glance across a room, someone may mistake your 15" MacBook Pro for a MacBook... and I understand that that could garner less "awe" and "respect."

But I also do know professionals that, when upgrading, opted for the more inexpensive MacBook over a new MacBook Pro simply because there's so much more with the MacBook now.

I'd like to get my hands on either -- preferably, the Pro, but the MacBook's still a great computer in my opinion.
 
EDCC - Not quite accurate on the video chips in the MacBookPro
You have the NVidia GForce 9400M, used in low power mode for better battery life.
AND, the NVidia GeForce 9600M GT, used when battery life is not a concern, or simply for higher performance.
You have to logout to switch between the two modes.
OS X does not yet allow using both at the same time.
 
But I can manually select which one I want right?

Also, Steve talked about the "Instant on LCD monitor" as if it was new. Is there a difference between the LCD monitors in the old macbooks and the new ones?
 
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DeltaMac said:
You have to logout to switch between the two modes.
OS X does not yet allow using both at the same time.
Click to expand...

Ah, thanks for the correction.

But I can manually select which one I want right?
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You can use one or the other, as DeltaMac said. To switch between them, you must change the setting, then log out and back in.

So yes, you can "manually" select which one you want to use. The preference probably won't be worded like "Use 9400M" and "Use 9600M" -- it would be worded in some other way.

Hey, you're the one with the brand-spankin' new MacBook Pro -- you tell us what it says! :)

Also, Steve talked about the "Instant on LCD monitor" as if it was new. Is there a difference between the LCD monitors in the old macbooks and the new ones?
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LED-backlighting. As opposed to fluorescent tube backlighting, which was used in the older MacBooks and some MacBook Pros. LCD displays, without backlighting, would be completely dark (like turning the brightness all the way down on your laptop). They require a light source to shine through them in order to light up. Fluorescent tube lighting was used up until semi-recently -- now, LEDs are used in place of them because they're brighter, quicker to light, and save energy.

LEDs don't require the "warn up" period that fluorescent tubes do (you know -- like long, skinny kind found in offices that don't turn on immediately when you flick the switch) -- they just light up instantaneously: hence, "instant-on LCDs."
 
Alright, cool!

I guess I forgot to mention, I don't actually have my new notebook yet ;( I wanted it immediately, but I didn't want to make the same mistake as I did with the Macbook pro that I have now which is going to best buy and buying the one off the shelf so I ordered it with the upgraded processor (2.8GHz) and hard drive (128GB solid state).
 
The video switch is in your Energy Saver pref pane. The choices are worded exactly as I listed.
Graphics/Better Battery life
or
Graphics/Higher Performance
Higher graphics performance shortens battery life because higher graphics performance uses more power. Selecting "Better battery life" uses the integrated NVIDIA GeForce 9400M (MCP79) graphics controller, and gives the computer up to five hours of battery life. Selecting "Higher performance" uses the discrete NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT graphics with its dedicated GDDR3 video memory. This selection gives the computer up to four hours of battery life
Click to expand...
How's that?
 
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