Next generation MacBook Pro specs. Have your say

Seth Weintraub
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September 17, 2008
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I am trying to start up a little conversation about the new MacBook Pro specs over at my Computerworld Blog.  We have heard very little over here except that it will be released soon - possibly sooner than October 14.  Terms like "Big MacBook Air",  "Black and Aluminum beauty" and "Stunning - makes current line look like eyesore" have been thrown around.  What features do you think it will have?  Chime in and be heard. Or comment on Digg.

Comments (16)

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | September 17, 2008 - 2:37pm

built-in starbucks coffee maker!!!!!!YES!!!!!!!!

Incognito (not verified) | September 17, 2008 - 3:15pm

Operating System installed on an onboard 8GB or 16GB flash drive (Hard Drive used to install programs)

Blu-Ray reader
Nvidia 9600
4GB upgradable to 8GB
Built-In GPS
LED Backlight
Individual LCD buttons (switching language on the fly)
WiMAX

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | September 17, 2008 - 3:18pm

8 MB L2 Cache

Jorge (not verified) | September 17, 2008 - 3:38pm

With OS X 10.6 Pussy?

Mr. Harris (not verified) | September 17, 2008 - 5:16pm

I'd like an ATI GPU instead of NVIDIA - BluRay reader would be nice along with HDMI out. That glass trackpad thing would be cool as long as it has some kind of functionality and not JUST a glass trackpad (like some kind of mini iPhone/iPod Touch screen where certain things could be lauched). Other than that...a solid processor and good RAM and I'm straight. I would love a slightly darker finish to the case...but don't make it look too
"Dell-ish". The aluminum with a Black finish would be cool. I've seen MBPs powder coated in Black and its looked TERRIBLE but I'm sure Apple could get it right.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | September 17, 2008 - 5:25pm

Human molecular transport protocol (HMTP) over ethernet

Shawn (not verified) | September 17, 2008 - 5:49pm

"The MacBook Pro isn't an area where Apple is selling to the everyman...that is later this week."

Is this a reference to the new Macbooks? Should we expect them soon?

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | September 17, 2008 - 8:29pm

hdmi out

4 gb ram standard

glass track pad with ipod touch like functions

that starbucks coffee maker sounds nice (maybe frapuccino maker with firmware update?)

Bluray RW

WiMax

Operating System installed on an onboard 8GB or 16GB flash drive (7200 rpm Hard Drive used to install programs)

6 hr battery life with heavy use(like mixing with lots of plug ins in logic pro, rendering video, etc)

imat (not verified) | September 17, 2008 - 11:37pm

4GB RAM
option to go 2xDualCore
Above 3Ghz Clock speed

Video card more powerful (don't care who makes it)
TouchPad with screen to be used for specific software with "iPhone icons" style keys that perform certain operation (for Aperture for example).

FAR GREATER HDD... 500GB up to 1TB would be finally nice.

Better cooling (or worse "right there" heating if you wish to put it that way).

New design. Nothing like the Air or the new MacBook (that will look like the Air). Something truly distinctive and truly professional. A new design trend!!! Which is, in my opinion, due now and can start with the MacBook Pro followed by the MacPro and retain a distinctive design of Apple's Pro line.

I don't want every Mac computer to look exactly the same!!!

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | September 18, 2008 - 3:08am

hmmm... I would have to say
-sleeker, thinner design (maybe black and aluminum like in mock ups)
-4 GB RAM standard up to 8 GB.
-3.0 GHz Processor
-320 GB HDD standard up to 500 GB or 1 TB
-Optional Blue Ray Support
-Glass Track pad (not to keen on the onscreen button idea but maybe if they just mad a way to turn it off i could live with it)
-Better standard video card
-Silver-Zinc battery

Also I would love it if Apple made it so the upgrades were all available on the smaller 15" model. I love the 17" but its just too big for me and would love to be able to have the bigger HDD and faster processor in the 15".

waybacmac (not verified) | September 18, 2008 - 3:14am

I'm betting on a MacBook Air-like form factor only a bit thicker to allow for an optical drive, 2.5 HD, and more ports. Same keyboard and screen/lid style. I expect SSD will be an option. I would not be surprised if low end models, maybe for the MacBook line, come without an optical drive a la MBA. I also fear the new MBP line will have a non-removable internal battery a la MBA.

Watcher (not verified) | September 18, 2008 - 4:51am

If the leaked case photos are right, yes, you'll have removable battery and possibly better access to remove the hard drive too...

for the specs:
- Blu-ray would be nice but the OS will only support it on 1.5.6 update (maybe it will be out by launch time)
- 9600M GT
- 4GB RAM
- At least 250GB Hard disk

i'm not that picky with the other specs

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | September 18, 2008 - 8:27am

> 4GB ram
user replaceable battery, RAM and HD
blu-ray option
1920x1200 on 15"
3GHz CPU
MBA styling on steroids
glass mouse pad
esata

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | September 18, 2008 - 11:45am

how about a 15" Macbook? Those 13 inchers are way too small.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | September 18, 2008 - 11:46am

sorry forgot i was reading a macbook PRO thread

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | September 18, 2008 - 7:35pm

I know I'm gonna regret saying this, but I think apple should kill the macbook pro. If the rumors for the next macbook line are even somewhat true, there is simply no reason for the macbook pro to exist. just put faster components in the same chassis as the lower-end ones! no need to have two seperate lines when they use basically the same power envolope, have the same aesthetic, ETC.

Does anyone else see a place for a macbook pro in a world of aluminum macbooks? Don't even say graphics card; absolutely no reason why they can't put them into a macbook, which they should have done a long time ago. And don't say screen size, since again there is no reason why we can't have 15 and 17 inch macbooks, and again they should have done that a long time ago.