I currently have a, now aging, First Generation Style, Core 2 Duo, 15inch MacBook Pro, and expect my next laptop to be in that same area as far as size goes. I also use Boot Camp with Windows 7, lately, more often than OSX.<\/p>\n
I have been anxiously waiting to see what Apple was going to do with the move to Intel’s new Sandy Bridge mobile hardware.\u00a0 I was also hopeful for an NVIDIA GTX400M series GPU, preferably the GTX460M.\u00a0 At the time, I knew my GPU expectations were likely too high.<\/p>\n
Well the time is here, and Apple has updated the MacBook Pro product line…<\/p>\n
Having now looked over the specs of the latest refresh of the MacBook Pro for 2011, I have to say, it’s quite a disappointing sight to see!\u00a0 Now keep in mind, I only care about the 15 inch model.\u00a0 I was really hoping they would get with the times on some key issues.\u00a0 At least, they are key issues to me:<\/p>\n
Issue 1:\u00a0 Poor “High Res” Screen Resolution option of 1680×1050<\/p>\n
No 1920×1080 option?\u00a0 Any noteworthy 15inch laptop in the “PC” market for the same price, has a “Full HD” (1920×1080) screen as an option, or even standard.\u00a0 This is inexcusable!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Issue 2:\u00a0 Graphics Performance<\/p>\n
They switched to AMD; and I don’t buy anything with an AMD logo on it.\u00a0 It’s that simple, personal reasons.\u00a0 Every time I have ever bought an AMD product, it has failed me miserably.\u00a0 If it was still ATI branded, I would maybe consider it.\u00a0 I know it sounds stupid but hey, it’s my choice.\u00a0 Oh, and from what I’m seeing, the NVIDIA mobile GPU’s are still faster.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Issue 3:\u00a0 Blu-Ray, where is it?<\/p>\n
Again, any noteworthy “PC” laptop has a Blu-Ray option, even Blu-Ray WRITERS!\u00a0 This also ties into the 1920×1080 resolution requirement of mine.\u00a0 Remember, the native resolution of “Full HD” Blu-Ray content is 1920×1080.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Issue 4:\u00a0 The Mac Tax is bad this time around!<\/p>\n
I spec’ed out two laptops today:\u00a0 a 15inch MacBook Pro and a\u00a0 15.6inch laptop made by Sager (a leader in high-end “PC” laptops), the NP8150.\u00a0 See Below:<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\nApple 15″ MacBook Pro Specs<\/span>
\n2.3GHZ Core i7\u00a0 CPU 2nd Gen. “Sandy Bridge”
\n8gb RAM
\nAMD Radeon 6750M GPU
\n500GB 7200rpm unknown HDD
\n15 Inch Screen (1680×1050)
\nDVD,CD – Reader\/Writer <\/p>\nPrice: $2,749<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Sager 15.6″ NP8150 Specs<\/span>
\n2.3GHZ Core i7 CPU 2nd Gen. “Sandy Bridge”
\n16GB RAM
\nNVIDIA GTX485M GPU
\n500GB Seagate Momentus XT Hybrid HDD
\n15.6 Inch Screen (1920×1080)
\nBlu-Ray,DVD,CD – Reader\/Writer <\/p>\nPrice: $2,672<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Price and Specifications shown as listed on respective vendors on: 3\/2\/2011<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n
Seems pretty clear, for basically the same price, you get a lot more computer by going with the “PC” this time around.\u00a0 The GTX485M, Seagate’s Hybrid HDD, and Blu-Ray really make that machine the winner in the entertainment category.\u00a0 That’s a bit disappointing, because I have liked my MacBook Pro and OSX, but for this much performance difference (at least from my perspective) the Mac is just not worth the extra cash.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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