Now pointlessly enhanced with AI
Perian 1.1.2 is released today.
Perian QuickTime Component is handy for decoding different video format on Mac OS X (1.4.7 and above). Perian QuickTime Component adds support for some AVCHD camcorder like Panasonic HDC-SD9.
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A lot of the questions I’ve been getting since August 2008 from friends and clients are about buying a MacBook or a Macbook Pro. Now that Apple has refreshed their notebooks line, I can now give them better answers.
All prices are in U.S. dollars and for U.S. stores. More disclaimers at the bottom of this post.
Buying MacBook
If you are new to the Macintosh, and wants to get a MacBook, the new Unibody Aluminum MacBook is a no brainer. The downside is that base prices for MacBook are $1,299 and $1,599. The $1,599 model has one thing that any other MacBooks don’t have, and that is the backlit-keyboard. The first complaint about the Unibody MacBook is the lack of FireWire port.
MacBook @ Apple Store (Retail and Online)
MacBook 2.0GHz $1,299 | with Educational Discount $1,249
MacBook 2.4GHz $1,599 | with Educational Discount $1,499
Macbook 2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo – plastic White $999
MacBook @ Amazon.com (as of 2008.10.18)
MacBook 2.0GHz $1,294
MacBook 2.4GHz $1,594
Macbook 2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo – plastic White $944 and $75 rebate
Usually Amazon adds $75-$100 rebates on each MacBook. Since the Unibody MacBook is just released, there is no rebates added yet as of October 18th, 2008.
Buying MacBook Pro
The Unibody MacBook Pro comes in two 15-inch models. One for $1,999 and the other is for $2,4999. The first one comes with Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz with 3MB L2Cache, 2GB of RAM, 250GB 5400RPM hard drive and 256MB video RAM. The second model comes with Intel Core 2 Duo 2.53GHz with 6MB L2 Cache, 4GB RAM, 320GB 5400RPM hard drive and 512MB video RAM.
If you see the need for better performance, the $2,499 model does have double the L2 Cache and video RAM.
MacBook Pro @ Apple Store (Retail and Online)
MacBook 2.4GHz $1,999 | with Educational Discount $1,899
MacBook 2.53GHz $2,499 | with Educational Discount $2,299
MacBook Pro @ Amazon.com (as of 2008.10.18)
MacBook 2.4GHz $1,994
MacBook 2.53GHz $2,494
Usually Amazon adds $150 rebates on each MacBook Pro. Since the Unibody MacBook Pro is just released, there is no rebates added yet as of October 18th, 2008.
Previous MacBook and MacBook Pro
If you still want to buy Apple notebook but don’t want to spend as much, consider buying the previous MacBook and MacBook Pro models.
@ Apple Store
MacBook 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo – White $1,249
MacBook 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo – Black $1,299
MacBook Pro 15-inch 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo $1,599
MacBook Pro 15-inch 2.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo $1,799
@ Amazon.com
MacBook 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo – White $1,234.23 and $75 rebate
MacBook 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo – Black $1,294 with $100 rebate
MacBook Pro 15-inch 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo $1,594 and $150 rebate
MacBook Pro 15-inch 2.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo $1,779
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NEXT: Upgrading the MacBook and MacBook Pro
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Disclaimer
If you bought anything through Amazon link above, and I get some kickbacks.
“If you buy Apple notebooks, I can buy a MacBook Pro” to paraphrase the great Robert Schimmel.
Let’s recap what went on Apple’s “The spotlight turns to notebooks” event. Steve Jobs unveiled new 15-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook, dubbed as “Late 2008” model. They are also described as Aluminum and Glass MacBook and MacBook Pro. Some would call em as “the brick” MacBook Pro; well that sounds stupid, but this whole “brick” thing went out of control. Apple never once mention anything about “brick” or implying anything. The new MacBook and MacBook Pro can now have “unibody” designation, as Apple uses the word over and over.
MacBook is significantly updated , but missing one important feature: FireWire Port. The 15-inch MacBook Pro is also missing one FireWire 400 port, while retaining the FireWire 800 port. Both MacBook and 15-inch MacBook Pro gains new glass screen with LED-backlit display, and large multi-touch glass trackpad.
Overall, it is a significant upgrade for the MacBook and a nice incremental upgrade for the MacBook Pro. The inclusions of nVidia chipset is one of the biggest upgrade for the MacBook and MacBook Pro. The nVidia 9400M chipset adds h.264 support on the hardware level.
Now, whatever happened to the 17-inch MacBook Pro? For those who are complaining about the lack of 17-inch MacBook Pro update needs to take a big cup of “shut the hell up.” Apple is working on it, and it will be announced when it is ready for release. Apple engineers have been exploring different avenues in redesigning the MacBook Pro, and more often they stumbled upon some road blocks. The new unibody MacBook and MacBook Pro feature a reduced size logic-board similar to the one in MacBook Air. Apple engineers are working to find the balance between features and form factor in the notebook line. No coubt that Apple would like to include Intel QX9300 processor (or higher model) in the MacBook Pro. It is likely that the upcoming unibody 17-inch MacBook Pro would have this CPU in the BTO options. Even though the current MacBook and MacBook Pro seem to be running cooler compared to the previous models, there will be some thermal challenges with Intel QX9300 in the MacBook Pro form factor.
It is possible to have the Intel QX9300 in the 15-inch MacBook Pro, but it would make more sense to have it in the 17-in model. The 17-inch MacBook Pro would have some extra surface area to dissipate heat compared to the 15-inch model. Eventually Intel QX9300 or its successors would make their way to the 15-inch MacBook Pro, but we would see it on the 17-inch Model first.
Logically, January 2009 would be the next window for Apple to introduce the unibody 17-inch MacBook Pro. We all have to wait until then.
To quote Ice-T, “Shut up, be happy”
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Ice-T: The Iceberg/Freedom of Speech…Just Watch What You Say
If you bought it through Amazon link above, and I get some kickbacks.
“If you buy the CD, I can buy a MacBook Pro” to paraphrase the great Robert Schimmel.
So, I went to the Apple Store again earlier today. I get to play with the Unibody MacBook and MacBook Pro again. I was ready to get one, and even asked one of the Apple Store employee if they could bring me one. While waiting I was talking to a few people around the new MacBook Pro. For some reasons, I didn’t see the Apple Store employee I talked to earlier for a while. Almost an hour passed, and we all were going on tangents around the MacBook Pro. I decided to call Carrie, just to tell her that she wouldn’t be able to “Mac-block” me this time. Alas, her iPhone was turned off. I kept talking to the people there and for some reasons, we were walking out the store and realized it was closing time already.
Yeah, I “Mac-block” myself this time.
First, I’d like to thank Carrie for Mac-Blocking me last night. She just delayed the inevitable.
We headed to Apple Store at The Grove with the intention of me buying a new Unibody MacBook Pro. well, we decided to get something to drink at the Farmer’s Market first.
A few beers later and lots of debate about the debate, including Joe The Plumber, I realized it was already past 10:00 PM. Yep, the Apple Store closed an hour prior to that.
I could only blame you, Carrie. You just prevented me spending my money that night. But that doesn’t mean I can’t spend my money today!
UPDATE (2008.10.15):
Apple has corrected the BTO options on their Online Store.
Steve Jobs introduced the new Unibody Aluminum MacBook in two basic configurations. The 2.0 GHz and the 2.4 GHz model.
According to the announcement and the tech specs, the 2.4 GHz model has one feature the other doesn’t. It is the backlit keyboard.
Contrary to the announcement and the tech specs, Apple Store Online offers backlit keyboards on all Unibody Aluminum MacBook. Most likely this is a typo.
Apple has released the first software update for the newly anounced MacBook and MacBook Pro. It seems that we can now call the Late 2008 MacBook and MacBook Pro as “Unibody MacBook and MacBook Pro.”
MacBook, MacBook Pro Software Update 1.2 | 45MB (October 14, 2008)
About MacBook, MacBook Pro Software Update 1.2
This update contains software bug fixes for precision aluminum unibody enclosure MacBook and MacBook Pro notebook computers introduced in October 2008.The update improves compatibility with external displays and includes a variety of software fixes. This update is recommended for all users of these systems.
It seems that Apple has finaly released the upgrade to 12-inch PowerBook G4 sans the FireWire port, and call it MacBook. The 13-inch Unibody MacBook is more of a smaller version of the 15-inch MacBook Pro. Apple should have just called it MacBook Pro, and sell the Polycarbonate MacBook as MacBook as sub-$1,000 notebook.