Filed under: Macworld, Hardware, Macbook Pro
TUAW Macworld Video: MacBook Pro 17" hands-on
Yesterday, as soon as the Expo doors opened, I bum-rushed the Apple booth, trying to get access to the new 17" unibody MacBook Pros.The decision to have a non-user replaceable battery is sure to be unpopular with some users -- at least in theory. Aside from the whole international flight issue, what effect does an 8 hour built-in battery have on heat? Having spent a few minutes with the new 17", I can say it is the coolest 17" notebook I have ever felt.
The 8 hour battery life is impressive. Obviously, we'll have to wait for the reviews to see how accurate that lifespan actually is, but it certainly sounds impressive. The touted 1000 cycle lifespan of the battery is significantly longer than any other laptop battery on the market. Even excessive recharging would yield 5 years of life (if you do 200 cycles a year).
I was most impressed with the screen. It's huge, it's gorgeous, and it has 1920 x 1200 resolution. I use my MacBook with an external monitor, but I could see using the 17" as just a main computer. Which is pretty much the point.
Check out the video:
Brett apologizes for the delay and wants everyone to know that the purple bumpers are NOT his fault. Blame blip.tv. Don't blame Brett.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Woz said 5:23PM on 1-07-2009
What is all the fuss with the 1920*1200 resolution? It's been available as an option on the 17" MacBook Pro since around March 2008 - I typing this on a March 2008 LED backlit 1920*1200 17" MBP right now. Wake up people.
OK, maybe the colour gamut has improved, but the hi-res LED backlit option is nearly a year old.
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Christina Warren said 5:48PM on 1-07-2009
But this is a standard option. I realize it has been an option and with LED for the past year, but this is standard, meaning you can buy it in the store. That's cool.
I can't directly compare the last LED 1920x1200 with the new screen, but I can say this screen is far superior to the 17" 2008 MacBook Pro my colleague is using this week.
Woz said 6:28PM on 1-07-2009
OK point about it now being available as standard in store taken. I had to wait weeks to get this laptop built to order.
Obviously I haven't seen the new screen yet, but I can say that the previous hi-res one is amazing - best screen I've ever used. I've had a 30" Cinema display for the last few years which I've used with my previous 17" MacBook Pro and Powerbook, but I don't think I've even turned it on in the last few months. That's how good the hi-res screens are, and if the new ones are even better...
Tom said 8:54PM on 1-07-2009
Actually, on the same day the unibody MacBook and 15 inch MBPro were introduced, the 17 inch MBP gained both the 1920 x 1200 display and 4GB of RAM as standard features.
Raghu said 5:25PM on 1-07-2009
What about the hard drive... is that user replaceable?
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Tony C said 5:52PM on 1-07-2009
No, hard drive is not user accessible. It's under the wrist rest next to the batteries.
Here's an inside shot of the 17 from the bottom, screen grabbed from the battery video.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/karrock/3178278214/
KA said 6:36PM on 1-07-2009
http://www.macworld.com/article/138010/2009/01/expo_first_impressions_of_the_17inch_macbook_pro.html?lsrc=rss_weblogs_macuser
Tony C said 6:52PM on 1-07-2009
Not sure I'd say "you’ll have to unscrew eight screws and remove the entire [bottom] panel before you can get to the hard drive and memory" makes it "user replaceable" by just anyone, but that sure wouldn't stop me. Thanks for the scoop KA!
Dogcowsaysmoof said 8:09PM on 1-07-2009
Yes, I spoke with an Apple employee, and, while the battery is not even removable (and even if you did remove it, it uses a new propietary Apple technology, so you could not replace it), the RAM and HD are user replaceable and will not void the warranty!
beans said 5:26PM on 1-07-2009
so...here I thought they were taking a step forward when they announced the unibody with an easy to replace hdd, and now, they announce this computer and it seems like two huge steps backwards. No replaceable battery, no replaceable hdd? I upgraded my last gen MBP hdd and I nearly shat some bricks doing it. I felt like I was dismantling a bomb. I'm surprised no one has brought this up (then again, I haven't been reading through posts).
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Paul said 6:48PM on 1-07-2009
According to Macworld.com - who asked Apple about it - the hard drive and RAM are both user-replaceable.
beans said 7:05PM on 1-07-2009
wha!? how is this possible?
Joseph said 7:08PM on 1-07-2009
wait for the ifixit article before you pass judgement.
by the looks of it, you can open the bottom with just some screws.
This is because the unibody will not require you to remove the keyboard to access. no frame work, means no tricky re-entry.
Simon Arch said 8:50PM on 1-07-2009
Read the comment thread above this one. Apparently you remove eight screws on the bottom panel and it pops off. You can then access the RAM and HD.
beans said 9:28PM on 1-07-2009
that's still a bit of work compared to the other unibodies...they should have made a door or panel to make it a bit easier. whatever though, not like I have the computer.
Doug McIntosh said 9:38PM on 1-07-2009
This is not the "Tiffany Egg" version of construction like you've seen in past Apple portables. The screen-grab that Tony C linked-to above clearly shows that everything is accessible after just taking the bottom plate off. Eight screws, and you're basically "there". No "bomb-defusing" skills required, LOL!
Just remember to cut the Red wire... Or was it the Blue?
Shaun said 3:20AM on 1-08-2009
No joke. That's probably the most accurate description of hdd replacement on the 1st gen MBP.
I figure if all you have to do with the new model is remove the bottom panel and the hard drive and memory are right there, that makes it pretty user friendly in the replacement department.
NutMac said 5:29PM on 1-07-2009
New 17-inch MBP is no doubt a cool desktop replacement, but even at comparatively svelte size and weight, it is still heavy and large for lap-bound users. iMac, particularly when the replacement comes out, packs much better value. Heck, you can almost get 2 iMacs, one for the office and one for your home.
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Darren said 5:41PM on 1-07-2009
I've owned an iBook and a MacBook. I've never purchased an extra battery, but each laptop came with faulty batteries that were the subject of recalls. (My iBook battery was recalled twice.)
I like battery recalls because it means I get a brand new battery for free years after I purchased the laptop, but if you have to send the whole laptop in to get the battery replaced then that's an issue.
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timejumperone said 1:29AM on 1-08-2009
I think Apple is initiating a new way of selling Laptops.
If the battery performance is truly 5 yrs before replacement; the cost of a new battery plus installation, tax etc. will probably be more expensive than people expect; and who really wants to send their laptops (that have a lot of personal info on their drives) to a stranger for battery replacement?
After 5 yrs the new laptop technology will make the current 17 inch Macbook Pro kind of old to waste money into replacing batteries. Now, what if Apple makes a trade-in offer for a "New Laptop" of 2014? Maybe a discount for upgrading? I think people will be more willing to trade-up and Apple will be selling more new Laptops every year. I think this is Apple's strategy to increase market share.
One additional note, what if Apple makes all future Laptops 13", 15" and MacBook Air with nonreplaceable batteries? Yet truly have an 8 hour+ charge capacity; lighter weight etc? Who really wants to use a 2009 Laptop in 2014?