Next Rev MacBook Pro???

[manic]

The Meron will be out in August or September, so its kind of risky waiting. I assume you want a computer by the beginning of the school year.

However, one important thing - I predict that we will see many more speed bumps from Apple than previously, as it has to continue to maintain speed parity with the PC world. So even if the MBP isn't reved before August, it could definitely be bumped to, say, 2.33 or 2.5 ghz. Which means that you would still benefit by waiting.

I say, just wait until late July and the picture will be a little clearer hopefully.

I totally agree with your last remark. Wait until late july and, if anything, youll be able to make a more educated decision. Merom is not just a speed bump, though. Its more likely to fully support OSX 10.5.

I personally believe well be seeing Macbooks with merom in october, but thats still up in the air.

 

[JurgenWigg]

However, the one thing that I'm debating about waiting for is the 64 bit capabilities that Merom will bring us. I plan on keeping this laptop for 3 years - until Apple Care runs out - and don't want to be held back from certain future features of the OS or new (non-math & science related) applications just because I couldn't wait 1 more month to get a 64 bit processor. I know it's impossible to know for sure, but does anybody think something that significant will be offered exclusively to 64 bit users in a 3 year time frame?

I hear yah. After reading more things i'm stuck painfully going back and fourth about waiting for Merom or not.

On the one hand, Merom is 64-bit, is 20% faster/more energy efficient, and potentially cooler.

On the other hand, I want to be able to know the OS fairly well by the time classes start on August 29. I'm willing to push the limit, but at this point, my laptop-holdover solution won't work as said laptop just bit the dust. But then why would i need a 64 bit chip? It sounds as though it's doing more work for the same energy, not the same work for less energy, so no battery life improvements. And finally, as with any fast laptop, it's going to be hot, esp. in a metal case.

So, I guess when I add it all up, it's not worth cutting it too close. I'll see whats going on towards the end of july (perhaps jump the gun and pick up a 17" MBP at an Apple store when I go down for orientation mid july- University of Delaware by the way. Hopefully by that time the back to school sales will have gotten underway)

Earlier in the post I advocated for waiting, but i'm now really feeling the crunch more than before and really looking at the specs, i'm noticing that for my purposes, a Yonah MBP would be more than fine. While I'm very tempted to be greedy and go for the best of the best, now and in the future, the cons seem to outweigh the pros.

My revised advice: if you can wait for merom, go for it. If not, wait as long as possible - bugs get fixed, specs get tweaked, more apps become universal, prices drop - and then buy!

 

[ImNoSuperMan]

That's what I was wondering. Doesn't Apple read these forums? It seems to me, that would be the smart thing for them to do.

I dont remember exactly where I read it,may on MR it self, But someone tried to fix this problem by reapplying correct amount of thermal paste. It turned out that the difference in tempratures of the two MBP(ie one with lesser Paste and another with the same as shipping) was bout 2 degrees. Not too much IMO.

Apple might be wrong in applying extra Thermal Paste. But that doesnt really seem to be the actual cause of excessive heating up of MBP.

 

[eddx]

Remember I am not an Apple User, I am currently using a PC and although I have used eMacs and iMacs for the last two years almost daily I still havent switched. I was going to switch in September 2004 when the iMac G5s came out. I have waited for a long time and I think the 16th of June will be my "big switch" day...

unless anyone else can come up with more agruements for waiting and waiting....and waiting!

 

[ReanimationLP]

Remember I am not an Apple User, I am currently using a PC and although I have used eMacs and iMacs for the last two years almost daily I still havent switched. I was going to switch in September 2004 when the iMac G5s came out. I have waited for a long time and I think the 16th of June will be my "big switch" day...

unless anyone else can come up with more agruements for waiting and waiting....and waiting!

Well, if you always wanted to wait, you could pick up a G3 iBook/Powerbook/Powermac or G4 for cheap, and learn the OS, then sell it off.

 

[chillywilly]

eddx... I would go for it and make the switch. A good friend of mine just bought a MacBook Pro 15" and he's very happy he made the jump from the PC world. He's working to intregrate Macs at his place of work to help make workload more efficient and reduce the amount of spyware that gets loaded on the current Windows systems.

As a MacBook Pro 15" owner now for almost two months (and a long time Mac user who uses Windows on the day job), I'm glad I bought when I did. Do I have a wish list? Yep... pretty much an 8x DVD dual layer drive. When there is an aftermarket replacement, I'll be swapping out my 4x SuperDrive. That's pretty much the only option I wish the MacBook Pro 15" had. Other than that, everything else is minor.

 

[eddx]

Just thought I would say that I made the switch a month ago and it has been the best decision I have made. The computer is the best I have ever owned and I am very pleased that I waited 2 years to get this fantastic laptop, if a new macbook pro comes out next month then fair enuff but this is definately just what I needed. Thank you all for your wonderful advice and tips and I am proud to call myself a true mac user and macrumors forum member

 

[Uberglitch]

Another voice in the wind...

So yea, I am yet another buyer waiting precariously on the edge of ordering a new MBP. Thanks to several web sites and all of you message posters here, I feel comfortable (though tortured) waiting till sept. or so to order. Cause darn it, I want that 20%, and if it comes in a newly redesigned case, all the better! i work in a post house, but unfortunelty my work is done on a PC. I havent worked regularly on a mac for 5 years, so I'm really looking forward to having one at home again. Besides, without it, how am I ever supposed to become a FC editor? So yea. Really looking forward to it. Have been for 9 months, since I heard that the intels could run windows. As a gamer, that just made my year. *sigh* and now the wait continues. thanks all for the input.