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Vintage Mac Living
MacBook Pro: What's Up with Bumping the Speed When Apple Can't Even Meet Demand?
- 2006.02.16
Five weeks after Apple announced the new Intel-based MacBook Pro, they've already upped the speed and introduced a new model.
The MacBook Pro has begun shipping in 1.83, 2.0, and 2.16 GHz configurations. The first two are the same price as the previously announced 1.67 and 1.83 GHz models. The 2.16 GHz model is a build-to-order upgrade for the 2.0 GHz model that costs a whopping $300 more!
I have two problems with the new models:
- Apple is having a hard enough time getting the models they had out the door because Intel can't supply CPUs quickly enough, yet they decide to drop the 1.67 GHz speed and introduce 2.0 GHz and 2.16 GHz speeds (that won't ship to new customers for 3 to 4 weeks).
- The 2.16 GHz model. Who in their right mind is going to pay $300 for 160 MHz of additional processing power in this day and age?
What is Apple thinking? They couldn't even get the ones they announced out the door and have a backlog of orders. Are the faster CPUs going to be more readily available than the slower ones? Why replace models you can't ship with models you're going to have an even harder time shipping?
It doesn't make sense.
Overpriced 2.16 GHz MacBook Pro
And what's with the 2.16 GHz model?
Some of you might recall the days of the Sawtooth G4. The 450 MHz model was released at US$2,499, and the 500 MHz model was announced at $3,499. That was 40% more money for 11% more speed.
But this is different. The only change is processor speed.
With the top-end Sawtooth you not only got an 11% power boost for your extra $1,000, you also got 128 MB of additional RAM (twice as much), 7 GB more hard drive space (35% more), and an upgrade from a DVD-ROM drive to a DVD-RAM drive.
Sure, the new 2.16 GHz MacBook Pro is a bit faster than the 2.0 GHz model, but is it really worth an extra $300?
A Better Way to Spend $300
I have a hard time giving away a 300 MHz machine these days, so why would anyone pay $300 extra to make their new laptop 160 MHz faster?
If you're thinking about buying the new top of the line 2.16 GHz MacBook Pro, don't. It's simply not worth it to get about 8% more processing power for 12% more dollars.
- If you think it is, email me at tedahodges (at) yahoo (dot) com and tell me why.
A better choice might be to take your hard earned $300, buy a
Blue & White G3 or
a Sawtooth G4, put Mac OS 9 and VNC on it, and run your
Classic apps remotely from your new MacBook Pro, since the Intel Macs
don't support Classic.
- Link: That Extra 10%, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 1998.10.24
Recent Vintage Mac Living articles
- If a Mac Plus can run System 7.5.5, why can't an 800 MHz G4 run Leopard?, 10.19. Apple supported the Mac Plus for over 10 years after its introduction. Why should Leopard cut off support for Macs released 4-6 years ago?
- 60 Mac models left behind: The ridiculously high cost of Leopard, 10.17. Mac OS X 10.5 officially doesn't support any G3 Macs, most G4 Power Macs, most titanium PowerBooks, half the G4 iMacs, early eMacs, or the first 12" G4 iBook.
- What a waste! Some schools would rather store old computers than put them to use, 09.12. Denver Public Schools is one example of a school district so ready to buy new computers that it has tens of thousands of old, usable computers sitting in storage.
- Why I don't want an iPhone - and really want an iPod touch, 09.06. The iPhone offers a lot of capabilities, but at too high a cost for someone who doesn't need a mobile phone or doesn't want to change carriers. The iPod touch is nearly perfect.
- More in the Vintage Mac Living index.
Links for the Day
- Mac of the Day: Mac mini Core Solo, Feb. 2006 - The only Mac to use a Core Solo CPU, this model ran at 1.5 GHz, has integrated graphics, and includes a Combo drive
- Group of the Day: SuperMacs is for those using Umax SuperMac clones.
- November 24 in LEM history: 98: Microsoft's heavy hand - 00: Looking at the iMac - 04: The best Mac for the holidays - Picking the right replacement for a dead mouse - Better battery for 15" AlBook
- Support Low End Mac
Recent Content on Low End Mac
- Pismo WiFi Networking Issue Finally Solved?, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 11.24. It turns out the problems wasn't the Pismo, the Buffalo WiFi card, or Mac OS X 10.4. It was the Wireless G router - Linksys to the rescue!
- Mini VGA to S-video Adapter a No Go for eMacs, Dan Bashur, Apple, Tech, and Gaming, 11.24. You might think that Apple's Mini VGA S-video adapter is a cheap way to connect your eMac or G4 iMac to your TV. You would be wrong.
- Google Calendar with iPhone or iTouch Is Great for Scheduling, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 11.24. Web-based Google Calendar allows access and updates from any computing platform, including Mac, Windows, Linux, and iPhone OS.
- Why Spaces is My Favorite Leopard (and Snow Leopard) Feature, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 11.23. Spaces, a feature introduced with OS X 10.5, is like having several monitors on your Mac without the cost and space of using multiple displays.
- i5 iMac Benchmarked, Mac mini 'Shouldn't Be Overlooked', Twitter Client for Classic Mac OS, and More, Mac News Review, 11.20. Also why Apple leaves the low end to others, 10.6.2 fixes video playback problem in 27" iMac, 3D Leopard and Snow Leopard performance, and more.
- Apple's Tablet an End Run Beyond Netbooks, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 11.20. Whatever Apple has planned will leverage existing technologies while going beyond what its competitors can offer.
- Apple #4 in Reliability, Apple Tablet a Gadget for All?, HP's i7 Notebook Outdoes Mac Rivals, and More, The 'Book Review, 11.20. Also Flash 10.1 improves video on Hackintosh netbooks, thin-and-light notebooks impress, Windows XP finally on the way out, and more.
- NASA Chemical Sensor for iPhone, Smartphone Death Match, iPhone Earrings, and More, Ian R Campbell, 11.20. Also mobile phone dangers, new apps, GPS solution for iPod touch, new iPod and iPhone cases, and more.
- More links in our archive.
Recent Deals
- Best G4 iMac Deals, 11.24. Used 15" 700 MHz CD-RW, $150; 800 MHz Combo, $229; 1 GHz, $289; 17" 1.25 GHz, $200; 20" 1.25 GHz, $509.
- Best MacBook Air Deals, 11.24. Used from $899; refurb from $1,099; new 1.6 GHz/120 HD, $1,150 after rebate; 1.8/64 SSD, $1,150 a/r; 1.86/128 SSD, $1,350 a/r; 2.13/128 SSD, $1,694 a/r.
- Best PowerBook G3 Deals, 11.24. Used 233 MHz WallStreet, $75; 266 MHz, $160; 400 MHz Lombard, $199; 400 MHz Pismo, $289; 500 MHz, $350.
- Best 12" PowerBook G4 Deals, 11.23. Used 867 MHz SuperDrive, $348; 1 GHz Combo, $379; SD, $519; 1.33 GHz, $529; 1.5 GHz Combo, $549; SuperDrive, $609.
- Best Mac Pro Deals, 11.23. Used 2.66 GHz 4-core, $1,300; 3.0 4-core. $1,919; refurb 2.66 4-core Nehalem, $2,149; 2.93, $2,549; 2.93 8-core, $4,999; new 2.26 8-core, $2,290.
- Best Time Capsule and AirPort Deals, 11.23. Used 802.11g AirPort Extreme, $49; 500 GB Time Capsule, $150; new, $190; 1 TB dual-band, $280; 2 TB, $469; 802.11n AirPort Extreme, $170.
- Best eMac Deals, 11.18. Used 1 GHz Combo, $100; SuperDrive, $269; 1.25 GHz Combo, $119; SD, $319; 1.42 GHz Combo, $289; SD, $498.
- Best Mac OS X 10.6 and Mac Box Set Deals, 11.18. "Snow Leopard", single user, $25; 5 users, $45; Mac Box Set, single user, $139; 5 users, $180; Server, $414. Shipping included.
- Best Xserve Deals, 11.18. Used 1 GHz dual G4, $649; 2.3 dual G5, $795; 3.0 4-core Xeon, $1,899; refurb 2.26 4-core, $2,499; new, $2,888; refurb 8-core, $2,999; new, $3,449; more.
- More deals in our archive.
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