“We’ve developed new battery technology that is better for the user and better for the environment,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO, in the press release. “Apple’s advanced chemistry and innovative technology deliver up to eight hours of use on a full charge cycle and up to 1,000 recharges.”
Apple uses advanced chemistry, intelligent monitoring of the system and battery, and Adaptive Charging technology to create a revolutionary new notebook battery that delivers up to eight hours of wireless productivity on a single charge and up to 1,000 recharges without adding thickness, weight or cost to the MacBook Pro’s incredible design.* The longer battery lifespan equals fewer depleted batteries and less waste, which is better for the environment.
The new 17-inch MacBook Pro includes an ultra-thin, widescreen glossy 1920 x 1200 display with 78 percent more pixels than the 15-inch MacBook Pro and a 60 percent greater color gamut that delivers desktop-quality color in a notebook. The LED-backlit display has brilliant instant-on performance, uses up to 30 percent less energy and eliminates the mercury found in industry standard fluorescent tube backlights.
Measuring just 0.98-inches thin and weighing 6.6 pounds, the 17-inch MacBook Pro is the world’s thinnest and lightest 17-inch notebook. The 17-inch MacBook Pro is the most powerful Mac notebook yet with the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors available up to 2.93 GHz, up to 8GB DDR3 main memory and a graphics architecture that allows users to switch between the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics processor for better battery life and the powerful NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT discrete graphics processor for higher performance. The new 17-inch MacBook Pro includes a 320GB 5400 rpm hard drive standard with a 320GB 7200 rpm hard drive and 128GB and 256GB solid state drives as options. As with the rest of the new MacBook family, the 17-inch MacBook Pro includes a next generation, industry-standard Mini DisplayPort to connect with the new Apple LED Cinema Display featuring a 24-inch LED-backlit widescreen display with a built-in iSight® video camera, mic and speakers.
The new 17-inch MacBook Pro joins the aluminum unibody MacBook family in setting new standards for environmentally friendly notebooks with every model achieving EPEAT Gold status.** Each MacBook unibody enclosure is made of highly recyclable aluminum and comes standard with energy efficient LED-backlit displays that are mercury-free and made with arsenic-free glass. The new MacBook family meets stringent Energy Star 4.0 requirements, contains no brominated flame retardants and uses internal cables and components that are PVC-free. The battery in the new 17-inch MacBook Pro provides additional environmental benefit because its extended lifespan means fewer depleted batteries resulting in less waste. Depleted batteries can be replaced for $179 which includes installation and disposal of your old battery in an environmentally responsible manner.
The new 17-inch MacBook Pro will be shipping at the end of January and will be available through the Apple Store® (http://www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of US$2,799, and includes:
• 17-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1920 x 1200, glossy display;
• 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 6MB shared L2 cache;
• 1066 MHz front-side bus;
• 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM;
• NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics;
• NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT discrete graphics with 512MB GDDR3 video memory;
• 320GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;
• a slot-load 8X SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
• Mini DisplayPort for video output (adapters sold separately);
• built-in AirPort Extreme® 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
• Gigabit Ethernet port;
• built-in iSight video camera;
• three USB 2.0 ports;
• one FireWire® 800 port (FireWire 400 compatible);
• ExpressCard/34 expansion card slot;
• one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog;
• glass Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard;
• built-in, 95WHr lithium polymer battery; and
• 85 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.
Build-to-order options for the 17-inch MacBook Pro include a 2.93 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 8GB 1066 MHz DDR 3 memory, 320GB 7200 rpm hard drive, a 128GB or 256GB solid state drive, anti-glare display for $50 (US), Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter, Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (for 30-inch DVI display), Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter, Apple Remote, Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter and the AppleCare Protection Plan.
A properly maintained Apple 17-inch MacBook Pro battery is designed to retain 80 percent or more of its original capacity during a lifespan of up to 1,000 recharge cycles. Battery life and charge cycles vary by use and settings.
More info: 17-inch MacBook Pro
Yep. I’m disappointed that I’m going to buy an old iMac today.
A battery that lasts almost twice as long is better than hauling a second battery around.
I’m sure it can be changed out – by Apple.
But, where the FSCK is the new Mac Pro and Mac Mini?
Can anyone say anti-glare display option ??? It cost $50 but its an option
@Gary
“But, where the FSCK is the new Mac Pro and Mac Mini?”
They weren’t announced Gary, I thought that was fairly obvious.
I want that amazing battery in my 13″ Macbook. I mean, 98% of users never swap out batteries. I bought a replacement battery once for my TiPB, but that’s it.
But I thought Steve said nobody wanted anti-glare display, and that glossy was if going forward.
The Processor option if unforgivable at this point, where is the quad core?
Swapping out batteries is only good if 1 your internal battery is weak, or 2 you have heavy usage that cannot be accomodated by any internal battery.
For 1, the internal integrated battery has advantages in that it can more efficiently use available space and not waste space for the rarely used option of replacing the battery.
For 2, you’re out of luck other than having a better internal battery to start out with. Other Than lugging around a bulky external power source of scamming for a wall outlet.
Being portable means making compromises, for most people the advantages of the integrated but more powerful battery will far outweigh the disadvantages. I’ve never been a fan of replaceable batteries on portable gear, I’ve always felt that integrated batteries were superior and am glad that Apple is leading the way with them.
2 years and 2 months on my 2.33 17″ mbp, never taken out battery, 89% health remaining
Even if we only get 5 to 6 hours of real world use out of the new battery, its still 2 times better than what we get now. Making the battery larger instead of removable makes a lot of sense to me.
I wish they do this for all macbooks.
You know good and well that the battery won’t last for 8 hours under real world conditions. It’s 8 hours with integrated graphics, WiFi off, screen brightness at the lowest level and all that other bullshit.
They said the MacBook Air battery would last 5 hours and look how accurate that turned out to be.
gobsmackingly disappointing keynote. the latest macbooks dont have this new tech battery ? that was a kick in the nuts
“But, where the FSCK is the new Mac Pro and Mac Mini?”
I’d expect an update posted when they are ready with a press release. The mini might have been demoed if it was ready but really with the new iLife and iWork and new 17″ there was plenty of stuff to demo without including either of those 2 items.
As I suspected, the real reason why Steve didn’t present this, the last keynote, is not because of health or wanting to spend time with family over the holidays. He wanted to protect his legacy and image by preserving the last image of him presenting the iPhone, for the second time (3G), after the first gen was so wildly popular. He quit when he was on top. Today’s subpar offerings would have tainted that perception that while he presented, Apple, and Steve, was king.
@mac
You’re sourpuss reaction is just one more reason we won’t ever see any more Macworld keynotes.
Thanks for nothin’ pal, now go crawl back under your rock and don’t come back out again, you troglodyte.
And that goes for you too, Maconymous..
sheesh, buncha crybabies.
It was a fine demo, with solid products many of which will be getting my money, at least the new iLife and iWork if not the 17″
I thought todays offerings were great. I mean, they just came out with all kinds of good stuff in October. Everyday can’t be Christmas. I just hope I don’t have to listen to people drone on and on about the evils of non-replaceable batteries and how the 17″ Macbook pro will be a dismal failure because of it, just like the iPod, iPhone, and Macbook air were. Oh, wait a minute…
Never in Apples history have they announced 3 brand new lines of hardware products in one day..
The very reason they wont be participating in Macworld anymore is because the expectations have become so high, it’s unrealistic..
They will now announce new products on their own timeframe..
We got brand new iPods in September, brand new MacBooks in October, brand new 17″ MacBook pro today..
Brand new Mini’s and Mac Pro’s are likely just around the corner in Feb or March.. New iPhones will likely follow a few months later in June..
Get it? New products every couple of months.. Staggered releases throughout the year..
@ Twilightmoon
There’s nothing wrong with pointing out the facts. I know well that Apple cannot pull a rabbit out of its hat every three months. I’m just not buying the BS we’re fed by Apple’s PR department on this specific issue (Steve’s absence from the last show that HE made as popular as ever).
Some of you people really are are lemmings or paid by apple. This is NOT better for the environment. 8 hours probably means no more than 6. 1000 charges means no more than 700. Apple is just encouraging a throw away culture. A laptop should have a useful life of a good 3-6 years. Sure high end users replace it in 1-2 years and it will be fine, but what about passing in on to someone who does not need cutting edge? Should they just buy macbooks? (certainly soon to follow the same model no doubt) Just “recycle” it? Newsflash, manufacturing and recycling all use carbon, lots of it, ESPECIALLY ALUMINUM. The more stuff you buy the more carbon you piss into the air. Apple is supporting our vulgar lifestyle.
@ twilightmoon – thank-you, couldn’t have put it better myself.
Great new Macbook, iTunes , iPhone announcements, iPhoto, etc.
What do you guys want? A new computer design every three weeks.
Get the f**k over yourselves, already.
And lets leave Steve Jobs alone for a few months, OK?
I am a bit confused. How much more room does a battery take up if its a removable one? I mean, can’t ya just use the same size battery that is built in, but just have it like the other old one, removable! Again, not a big computer tech guy, just thought it might be better than paying Apple to replace my battery. 1,000 charges. I want to see some real world test on that statement. I have gone thru two powerbook G4 batteries in four years!
And yea, I know, its a powerbook G4! Gesh, some of use are on a budget!
@ James:
They said that the battery will be good for FIVE, yes, 5, years. OK?
And to announce unilaterally that 1000 means 700 and 8 means 6 means you are somehow privy to mathematical knowledge that the rest of us simply dont have.
Battery life is all about management – good management = good battery life. The opposite is also true.
Gah! Some negative people on this page today…..
“There’s nothing wrong with pointing out the facts.”
There’s facts and then there’s facts.
Look, your opinion is just fine. It’s just that it happens EVERY year after a Keynote people whine and bellyache about every little nit picky detail, I’ve been guilty of it myself with the lack of FireWire on the new Macbooks as an example.
I won’t put this MW Keynote up there with the iPhone one, but it was hardly a dud, there was solid demos of stuff I’m actually going to buy. iLife and iWork are becoming significant points to help Apple sell computer hardware and are showing that they haven’t stopped working on improving the Mac beyond just the Mac OS and the hardware.
The innovations in the 17″ battery will trickle down across their laptop line and make all their portables better.
Phil isn’t as flashy as Steve Jobs, but he got the job done from what I can tell, still waiting to be able to download the video from iTunes.
I think this shows why this will be the last macworld for apple .
1) As Phil said , they get the same traffic as 100 macworlds every week to their stores . It’s not worth the cost to them, and believe me , it ain’t cheap .
2) Macworld hype has gotten a bit out of hand IMO . People have become so hard to please . There was a time when we were WOW’d by the iPhone . . . it’s just part of life now .
3) Getting 3 products ready to ship at one time is hard , let alone 5 as some here would demand . . . I mean really, the updates are coming , it can’t all be ready now , and apple can’t always afford to wait for a macworld release . iWork and iLife make sense , it’s a yearly thing at this point . The fact that the new 17 was ready at the same time is icing . Now that apple doesn’t have to launch everything at a macworld , it can launch stuff when ready .
@ James
Just because someone laid a turd in your Cheerios this morning does not mean you had to eat it, and then spew it back out at us.
@twighlightmoon
“Thanks for nothin’ pal, now go crawl back under your rock and don’t come back out again, you troglodyte.”
Troglodyte for feeling disappointed with a keynote ?
Crawl back under a rock for having an opinion on the lack of new battery tech in the latest macbooks ?
you, sunny jim, need to get some perspective.
The best is indeed yet to come.
There’s unfinished business to discuss, like the iMac, Mini, Snow Leopard, iPhone, etc. I’m quite confident Apple knew exactly how this Macworld would go down with everyone. And it was all carefully planned, and very deliberate.
I think that now, more than ever, the suspense is truly where Apple wants it to be, and where the competition hopes it wouldn’t be. Already we have a killer 17-inch monster notebook and beautifully updated software. And this isn’t even the REAL keynote. Which will be done by Jobs, since he wasn’t well enough to do this one. Which also goes some way to explaining why they gave all the so-called “filler” to Schiller, and partly why the Macworld became a place-holder for something else. Something much bigger.
Just listen to good old Tony B. Now is the time to really fear Apple.
@ James again:
WHY is this a ‘throw-away’ culture?
Laptops have batteries. All batteries are consumable items.
The best we can do is make them long-lasting and re-cycleable.
Apple have done this. Big time.
@ Steven P:
This was surely explained today?
By not having to conform to a particular shape, Apple can make the battery fit in the inevitable nooks and crannies inside a Macbook.
If there is no need for latches and plastic or aluminum surrounds and a bay for the battery to go in, savings of space must be in the order of 10-20%, at a guess.
A battery that lasts 5 years and is then replaced is BETTER than your two year battery life, isnt it?
HEY everyone – ever considering THINKING?
Its the great new way to get the answers to life’s little problems.
Try it today – you wont be disappointed.
“you, sunny jim, need to get some perspective.”
Fair enough, but I’ve had it up to my eyeballs in people crying after a keynote after a dozen years of it. At least it’s over now thankfully.
I’m not saying having those new batteries across the line of laptops wouldn’t be nice, but that sort of thing takes time, have some patience (especially since you’re asking me to have some perspective!)
@Steven P:
Heres a video that will help explain:
http://i.gizmodo.com/5124705/the-story-behind-the-17-macbook-pros-amazing-long+lasting-battery
@R2
new built-in battery that delivers “UP TO” eight hours of use
To me it seems essential that the recent 13″ Macbooks also
come with a non glass $50 option going foward into 09′!
(not just the 17″ overly large Pro announed today)
if u compare it to a the higher end 13″ sony (sure it is a pc look at the the display quality) this unit has a unique matt anti glare coating (not GLASS) what was/IS Mac thinking.
It simply gets in the way if your viewing experience !
Images/text seems RECESSED within the glass screen and unlike the IMac glass it is real full og GLARE !
“The very reason they wont be participating in Macworld anymore is because the expectations have become so high, it’s unrealistic.. ” etc etc
1. Apple is not afraid of expectations. Do you really think Apple was like, “OMG! Too many expectations! Let’s not do the keynote!!”?
2. Fans saying they hoped to see something is not whining or bellyaching, it is simply enthusiastic demand for a product. The enthusiasm of Apple users is a result of Apple’s excellence and an important component of Apple’s success.
The mentality of protecting the mother ship is something best left for Microsoft fanboys. Trying to stifle the voice of Apple fans, whether they be positive or negative, is silly. Plenty of people were able to point out why, for example, we should not have expected three new pieces of hardware today. Great, keep it at that.
The best keynote news related to the integrated battery in the 17 inch MacBook Pro is that Apple has had people working on lithium polymer battery construction issues. This means that they can teach their subcontractors how to make decent batteries instead of relying on the crappy Sony-contract batteries that have given so many MacBook & MacBook Pro owners headaches for the last four years. Let’s hope in particular that the integrated batteries will solve the overheating and in-computer charging problems!
Go back to full ‘Matt ‘ Mac laptops or sony will be the superior company again. No reason for this with such a massively superior design from Mac !
Also not offering BluRay on these laptops 08-09 Macs seems a mistake. While it is known that full res on high def needs larger screens, people are now going to own these discs and not be able to play them.
If i am somewhere and want to watch david gilmores on an island
bluray I might as well not even own one of these Macs!
MATT option beyond the 17″ Pro & a BluRay option regardless of price.
OK, someone clarify. Maybe my headcold is making me a bit dense today but, how IS the battery replaced in this new 17″ MBP? You have to take it to an Apple Store? They can’t mean it isn’t replaceable at all. Did I miss something?
Anti-glare is NOT the same thing as a matte display as it does not employ the Fresnel lens technology that allows true wide-angle reflection-less viewing. Apple just killed off their last truly Pro product. For this reason alone Apple laptops and displays will be off my shopping list.
@James
You seem to think that the whole MacBook needs to be thrown out when the battery gets old. The battery can be replaced. It’s just no longer a simple process.
@ R2
You are talking nonsense. The Air battery is rated for five hours and everyone I read about who tested it got roughly four hours. The only guy who habitually gets way less on his tests than anyone else is Walt Mosberg who says up front that he turns the brightness up *higher* than recommended for his tests.
If Apple says it will get 8 hours, then it will probably get 7 but seven is huge. Also I have to point out that criticisms like this make no sense whatsoever anyway. If the tech is the same, or if everyone is “fudging” the numbers the same, then the percentages of extra time and power are just as valid because the same claims were made about the old batteries, right?
Finally, regular PC manufacturers regularly lie through their teeth about battery life. Much worse than Apple. Generally speaking if Samsung says 4 hours, the battery will last two and if Apple say s4 hours the battery will last 3 in my experience.
“Anti-glare is NOT the same thing as a matte display as it does not employ the Fresnel lens technology that allows true wide-angle reflection-less viewing. Apple just killed off their last truly Pro product. For this reason alone Apple laptops and displays will be off my shopping list.”
Umm… I’m not sure I followed exactly how this matters, but congratulations on winning the KING OF WHINERS™ award!
Previously held by Cmdr Taco:
“No wireless. Less space than a nomad. Lame.”
Well, I’m just glad I bought my 17″ MBP a year ago instead of waiting another year. The non-replaceable battery would have been an absolute deal killer for me… as I’m certain it is today for a lot of others, particularly those of the power-user, road-warrior variety.
As for those parroting Apple’s claims of “up to 8 hours” and “1000 charges,” let’s just wait and see. Real world activity tends to poke holes in marketing claims.
MBP 17″ now more greener than before. What say you DELL?
If I use my new macbook 8 hours a day and recharge it, then the macbook is dead (via the battery) in 1,000 days. Less than 3 years.
Planned obsolescence.
@ James,
“Newsflash, manufacturing and recycling all use carbon, lots of it, ESPECIALLY ALUMINUM. ” Are you that stupid or that young???
The cost to “RECYCLE” aluminum is much lower than making it in the first place from tons of Boxite ore (sp). Aluminum can be used over and over and over again.
And we are not “Some of you people really are are lemmings or paid by apple.”, unlike you who is obviously paid for by Microsoft. 🙁 Its called industrial standards vs how long batteries last, etc. Google it.
Just a thoughts.
en
I’m sure the battery will fully charge 1000 times and at 1001 times, it’ll be completely dead
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Apple should stop mentioning how many charges a battery can be fully charged cause people are too stupid to understand what that actually means.
You’re not thinking about this right. I’m a “road warrior” and I see this as a positive. We no longer have to lug around a second battery and mess with recharging each one while on the road. Now, one longer-life battery is all you need. Even if the real duration is 7 or 6.5 hours instead of 8, that’s still pretty close to the “real” duration of two shorter-life batteries, without the weight!
Jake
High price, nothing exciting.
Re: I’m sure the battery will fully charge 1000 times and at 1001 times, it’ll be completely dead raspberry
I thought I read the battery would still have an 80% charge left after 1,000 charging cycles.
On another point, is it some time-honored tradition that every MacWorld keynote is followed by loud wails and angry screeching from Mac users as well as the regular Apple haters? Some of the comments on this blog reflect that trend, and the comments sections of Engadget, Gizmodo and others are full of it.
I suspect only a tiny fraction of notebook buyers actually swap out their batteries. No one I know does that. Lots of people are using laptops as desktops now, so they’re on AC power nearly all the time.
And since the MacBook Air’s battery is built in, too, perhaps this new battery tech will make its way into that model soon.
Not sure about this upgrade to the 17″. I’m surprised it made the keynote when they’d already had a laptop announcement late last year. Guess they were really trying to rub in the fact that they won’t be at Macworld anymore. No RDF for me, that’s for sure.
I already have the 17″ from two years ago (2.33Ghz model), so I wouldn’t upgrade yet, but I’m going to humor myself.
For the new models:
– there is 1 Firewire port less (and no additional USB ports to compensate.)
– still only 2.66Ghz.
– ability for lots of RAM.
– nicer looking I think, probably sturdier and the paint won’t peel I hope.
– better graphics (although it seems a pain to manage it.)
– HD resolution screen
– still only 5400 RPM drives as standard issue (vs 7200.)
Yes, it’ll be faster just how much will require benchmarks. You’d expect it to be a lot faster after 2 years (like either ~2x faster, or cost 1/2 as much, and since it doesn’t cost 1/2 as much…) I’d have liked a quad core CPU to compensate, but whatever.
I’d definitely spring for the 7200 RPM drive – the existing drive in my current lappy is really slow (then again, maybe that’s ‘coz I compare it to my Mac Pro running on raptors.) Plus it’s a bitch to swap out (which is why it’s still in there… for now.) But $50 seems steep.
I’d also consider the anti-glare (have to see it first), and a DVI adaptor.
This brings the price up another $129 if I got all of them. This is now a $3K laptop, plus tax. Nice going, especially considering some of the options shouldn’t really cost any more.
I am not wanting to get into the politics of “Yes, but it costs Apple more”, which is true, but honestly, at $2799, you should expect a certain level of refinement and inclusions, esp. wrt to the HDD. It’s especially contradictory when they make everything else faster/better. Plus, the anti-glare was a free option before anyway. And the DVI is a port? Well, ports change, so you’d probably have to suck that up, but I’d love (hate?) to know the real cost of that $29 DVI adapter (or $99 for the dual-link one. That sounds like gouging to me. Seems as though it’s a “If you can afford the 30″ screen, you can afford this nice adapter” type mentality.)
This sort of pricing makes people whining over $2 apps on the App Store seem like tightwads (oh, that’s right, they are.)
While I don’t see the value right now, my wife has had her eye on a macbook of some sort since the last lot was released…
Wonder what I can get for my early ’08 17″ MacBook Pro
to narrow the gap to $4,599.00 .
8 Gigs of RAM?!!!
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YEEESSSS!!!!!
MDN word “terms”, as in the terms of my contract with the devil in order to trade up my MBP after less than a year.
ALL batteries have a life span at which point they quit holding a decent charge. This new battery method is no different and is no more “planned obsolescence” than any other battery operated device. In the world of consumer electronics MOST rechargeable devices do NOT have replaceable batteries. I don’t blame people for being wary of this new method, but if the performance claims are accurate AND if Apple provides an efficient replacement program, then I think you will see a new trend in portable PCs.
Oh, I left out the best news, the battery life extension. I only ever get a few hours out of my current battery (and I don’t have a spare anyway), so this is good news. 5 hours would do me most of the time, so “8” is even better.
I’m still pissed about the 5400RPM HDD and single Firewire port though
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Hmm; battery… Let’s see: when a removable battery dies, there will surely be a number of people who will just throw it away (i.e. in the garbage, ending up in an ordinary landfil) and buy a replacement one. When a built-in, non-removable battery dies, you HAVE to take it to Apple and have it RECYCLED by Apple. Again; removable battery: shorter lifecycle, more aluminium in it (for the casing), more other stuff (circuitry for the charge indicator, etc). Non-removable battery: double the life cycle, less aluminium (no special casing), no additional circuitry. Now remind me again, how is a non-removable battery WORSE for the environment…???
Another thing: 1,000 cycles, equaling 1,000 days. Now how is this less than 3 years??? How many days in a year does a normal person work? In a normal country, it cannot be more than 240 (five days per week, 49 weeks per year, excluding the bare minimum of 3 weeks of vacation / time off / holidays). So, even if you work the legal maximum of 240 days per year, it is still more than four years. And, as Sunlokyee said, on 1,001st cycle, the battery still won’t be dead.
I’m really curious to meet a person for whom 7-8 hours of battery life per day won’t be enough.
Not to mention that in more reasonable environment, the number of working days in a year is closer to 220 (two weeks worth of national holidays, 5-6 weeks worth of vacation/personal time off), giving us almost 5 years worth of reasonable battery life.
How do you pull the power on a laptop with a built-in battery?
you are a dick. global warming is BS.
Apple uses software to sell their hardware.
There were very nice/slick features added to the software that comes with each computer. Making the computer more useful.
Yes it is gorgeous hardware, but most people do not buy Apple hardware just to run windows.
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It’s the software, OS X, iLife, etc. that really counts.
“The non-replaceable battery would have been an absolute deal killer for me… as I’m certain it is today for a lot of others, particularly those of the power-user, road-warrior variety.”
Do you carry 2 or 3 batteries around with you? Is it a deal killer because you really literally chew through multiple batteries in one go, or are you just dubious of the claim “8 hours of life” and 3x longer battery recharge life?
In the world of consumer electronics MOST rechargeable devices do NOT have replaceable batteries.
In the world of consumer electronics most rechargeable devices do not cost $2800.
Maybe it’ll prove to be a great design, but the idea of being completely at Apple’s mercy is a bit daunting. “We don’t service that model anymore, you’ll have to buy a new MacBook…”
When a built-in, non-removable battery dies, you HAVE to take it to Apple and have it RECYCLED by Apple.
There are ways of getting that battery out.
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My opinion of the new 17″?
“Anti-glare” is not the same as matte, it’s in-between matte and glossy. What it suggests to me is a anti-glare film has been applied by Apple to otherwise glossy screen computers, thus the $50 extra/BTO option. It remains to be seen if the anti-glare is enough or just bait to upgrade.
Apparrantly a lot of complaints to Apple about glossy screens has finally fallen upon someone’s ears, but of course it only applies to the 17″ MBP. The rest of Apple’s line-up is ignored, I suggest more outrage and complaints about glossy screens.
The sealed non-user replaceable battery seems to have a life of 1000 days, which equates to 3 years. Which so happens to be the end of a 3 year AppleCare warranty. So the suggestion to upgrade is there and of course one has to go to a Apple Store and pay a large fee to have their battery replaced. IMO Apple is trying hard to keep people coming into their stores, to keep the drool factor alive and get people to impulsive buy.
The fact of the matter is processors can’t be made to go any faster without incurring a huge amount of heat thus complicated cooling. We now have duo core processors with a shared bus which the speed of the bus restricts the performance of the processors.
So we now buy computers based upon how many CORES it has per processor and the bus speed. And for this 17″ MBP price, it should be at least a dual quad core with a 2000MHZ FSB per processor.
I don’t see many people dropping a huge wad on the new 17″ MBP, not in this economy.
one has to go to a Apple Store and pay a large fee to have their battery replaced. IMO Apple is trying hard to keep people coming into their stores, to keep the drool factor alive and get people to impulsive buy.
Certain automakers have tried this form of “secondary income” and “repeat business”. It doesn’t work.
Believe me, when you’re at the dealer having a costly repair done, the LAST thing you’re in the mood for is buying — from them, anyway.
It looks really nice but $2800 for it seems pretty expensive.
My $3000 2004 MBP has had a 7200 RPM 360 GB upgrade, that was $600.
More RAM to 4 GB, that was another $300.
A spare battery, forget how much. Aperture 1 and 2, $4000 worth of iTunes music.
Vista and XP installed under Fusion 2.0 for another $1000.
Anyway I’ve spent nearly $2000 more to max this puppy out, because I cherish the wonderful matte screen.
I’m not upgrading anytime soon, and unfortunatly if this machine bites it, it will have to be a sorry $600 vista laptop and transfer of itms/mp3ed files.
Still would be the same result I’m using the computer for now, except photo retouching…
just farting around but oh I got such a superior machine!
Hey all you “give me matte screens or give me death” guys:
You can all STFU now.
(but something tells me they won’t…)
You can all STFU now.
Which seems to be Apple’s take in charging for anti-glare film (versus a true matte screen).
OldMacHead:
Not quite correct. They say the battery has about 1,000 cycles, not days. This translates to at least 4 to 5 years of lifetime, before the capacity begins to noticeably drop (assuming you completely discharge the battery every single working day of battery’s life, and don’t discharge it on the weekends/ holidays/ vacation days).
And to the anonymous coward who signed his post with @james (you are a dick. global warming is BS.):
As everybody on this planet with a pulse and a brain knows today, global warming is a very real and acute problem. No amount of saying otherwise will change that.
I’m very much amused by the chatter of the ‘pro-matte’ crowd regarding the new anti-glare displays, before any of them ever had a chance to actually see one in person.
Do you think it might actually make sense to withhold your judgement until you had a chance to see it, or would it be too much to expect from someone as righteous as you?
Dude, the world is in a recession, possible a depression.
You intro a $3k (including tax) computer for almost that charges an extra $50 for the non glare screen that used to be a standard item, has no user swappable battery and lacks a DVI or FireWire port. Really nice. Don’t hold your breath waiting for me to order one of these turds.
Netbooks are the thing right now and as PC notebooks get cheaper and cheaper, you keep moving the Mac price point higher even as you cheapen the product with integrated graphics. This is not the way to make market share.
Note to Steve:
You missed the FireWire port on this laptop – it’s there. DVI is a 90’s technology and, much like USB, will soon be everywhere. Too bad Apple always has to blaze the trail.
Reality Check:
Matt simply isn’t selling. Apple kept it on their pro line as long as they could, but it just isn’t profitable anymore. Since the numbers of matte displays sold is so minuscule, it’s just to expensive to make them in such small numbers, so they have to offset part of the cost by sharing it with the consumers. As for this anti-glare option, let’s just wait and see what they look like before passing definitive judgements.
Predrag “As everybody on this planet with a pulse and a brain knows today, global warming is a very real and acute problem. No amount of saying otherwise will change that.”
Since when did this thread about 17″ Mac Book become a platform for Environmentalist activism?
You want to have a discussion about this take it elsewhere.
As to your comments on the battery, I suspect that for most people this integrated battery will be amazing. Adaptive recharging and 40% more battery capacity just by making it integrated vs all the wasted space associated with a removable battery, is a huge win.
Even people that carry extra batteries around should consider this. Do you really want to give up 40% battery size and capacity just so you can carry around an extra expensive, heavy, and bulky battery?
As everybody on this planet with a pulse and a brain knows today, global warming is a very real and acute problem. No amount of saying otherwise will change that.
Of course no amount of saying will change anything. Just look outside!!
My region (upper Midwest, semi-Siberia) had near-record snowfall in December, and we’re expecting near-record cold next week. This is global warming?
As for the new MacBook, maybe I’ll buy one just to huddle around the heat. That eight hour runtime should produce some decent BTUs.
“Frostbite”, global warming is “global” so while you may be having a cold snap, statistically speaking the Midwest is on average about 6 degrees warmer than it was 30 years ago. Get your head out of your…
“@James”, I’ll bet you think the holocaust was a lie as well? Global warming is real and our behavior is to blame. Apple is acting just like any other corporation. “Reality Check” is dead on. they are cutting mfg costs, and locking in users, w/o care or concern for the envir impact. But they’ll continue to spin it to make themselves look like they care.
And for what its worth, rendering video or crunching big PS files drains the batteries much faster than surfing the web. You cannot always have a car with a power inverter or a generator when shooting and cutting video on site.
My estimates on how long the battery will likely last are certainly not based official lab tests. But since when does any Mfg, Apple included not inflate or embellish their marketing claims? You never get what they say you’ll get. And yes I cycle my batteries as Apple suggests. They’re still dying sooner than Apple claimed.
Milan, isn’t it better to recycle just a battery than a perfectly good computer? Certainly recycling aluminum uses less carbon than smelting new, but it still has to be recycled more frequently if the product strategy is to steer the customer into a new machine more frequently.
I knew some sad sack would call me a MS employee. So anyone that has the audacity to criticize what Apple does works for MS? We’re still on that? For the record, I have been a hard-core mac user for 15 years. At work my coworkers think of me as a Mac head. I am not, I am a realist, and I do not take things at face value, ever. My org buys well over 100k in Apple HW and software every year. I manage several dozen Macs and a handful of PCs. Yes the Macs are overall better machines and less trouble prone. But that is not to say Apple can do no wrong.
“Frostbite”, global warming is “global” so while you may be having a cold snap, statistically speaking the Midwest is on average about 6 degrees warmer than it was 30 years ago.
Which means it’ll be -24 instead of -30. A real heat wave.
The only folks with their heads in their nether regions are those who blindly accept global warming, blindly accept that it’s caused by CO2 emissions, and basically propose to shut down our civilization in the name of your 6 degrees of average warming.
30 years isn’t even a BLIP on the geological timetable. Our scientific knowledge is too primitive, and even a 100 year scale too short, to proceed with draconian changes in how we live. Imagine if we’ve would’ve pushed forward with changes based on global cooling theory from the 1970’s!!
Now, I’m not saying global warming shouldn’t be studied. It should. But we need to fully understand warming AND cooling if we’re to act effectively. Anything less is fear mongering and manipulation.
So how do you get inside this thing if something does go wrong. Which can happen, there will be part inside made by a variety of companies.
If you’re stupid enough to dispose of your batteries in a landfill, you’re stupid enough to by a Mac. Too stupid to know how to use a real computer – too stupid to know anything about the environment.