Comments on: Falling prices knock Mac pundit in the head

By: John M

John M — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 11:44:14 +0000

True, but the difference between the 17 and 12 is positively galactic!

By: Dennis

Dennis — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 19:52:58 +0000

I agree with the Macalope, the 15-inch MBP isn’t going anywhere. That said, it’s really the 17-inch MBP that’s getting the unfair treatment here.

When traveling (or commuting), the size difference between the 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pros is marginal. I think anyone claiming otherwise probably lacks personal experience with *both* of these machines.

By: travis

travis — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 15:40:58 +0000

Remy should read the conclusion of Harvard Med School CIO on what he’d like to see — a 2 1/2 lb, 12″ MacBook.
http://www.cio.com/advice_opinion/infrastructure/operating_systems/halamka_os_review_1.html

I agree that there are far, far more business users like him, than those who would want 7 lb 17″ MacBooks.

By: John Muir

John Muir — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 12:53:00 +0000

The 12″ PowerBook hasn’t materialised into a smaller MacBook Pro, in my guess, because:

1. Apple essentially transitioned to wide screen for all their displays and the old 4:3 12″ format doesn’t fit
2. The heat issues of Rev.A MacBooks±Pro made them think twice about putting a hot processor and hot GPU in a small form factor

I mean remember the downclocked graphics that all but the 17″ MacBook Pro has had (until Rev.B so I’ve heard).

The 12″ PowerBook did sell, far more of them are out there than the 17″ PowerBook from what I can tell. But the dreadfull squeeze Apple suffered with the stalled G4 and immobile G5 did put the squeeze on the 12″ PB/iBook gap and probably caused the aluminium model to suffer in its later years. My own 12″ is the 2003 original, and blew the G3 iBooks of the day away of course.

So: not only do I disagree with the quoted pundit, but I reckon there’s a chance for smaller Apple notebooks to come out next year. Especially a MacBook sized MacBook Pro, or indeed MacBooks with discrete graphics so long as other solid factors exist to differentiate the (larger) MacBook Pros, hint hint!

Core 2 seems to have sorted out the heat issues, so I say bring the smaller laptops on!

By: Cooner

Cooner — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 06:41:39 +0000

Ummmm … yeah. I know a few people who lurve the 17″ size laptop but I think they’re far outnumbered by people who don’t want to lug something that huge around. One friend was given a 17″ PowerBook by his employers, and he hated it, much preferring his personal 12″ iBook he could toss into his backpack and actually carry around with him.

“Falling component prices” aren’t the only thing that determines product features and availability. Hush puppies are dirt cheap, but I don’t foresee Apple including two USB-dongled Hush puppies on each laptop anytime soon.

By: mrtheplague

mrtheplague — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 05:43:06 +0000

And then when Apple release a 30″ Macbook they won’t be able to give those Mac Pros away!

By: Kordan Harvey

Kordan Harvey — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 04:16:31 +0000

I love my 12″ PowerBook and am holding off buying MBP for the very fact that hey don’t come small enough. Although 15″ isn’t that large the form factor on my PB is extremely portable. If anything I’d like to see Apple put in a 12″ MBP, what stupid unfounded speculation.

By: V-Train

V-Train — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 02:56:40 +0000

Drop the 15″ MBP? Give me a frakking break.

What moronic speculation.