Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware, Macbook Pro, MacBook
Re-defining "Pro": The 13" MacBook Pro
Once again, Gruber called it (aside, I wish I had his sources); the naming distinctions between the unibody 13" MacBook and the 15" MacBook Pro are now gone: say hello to the 13" MacBook Pro. Complete with a lower price (starts at $1199 and goes to $1499 in stock configurations), and more features (SD card slot, FireWire 800, 7-hour battery), the 13" MacBook Pro will likely continue to be Apple's best selling laptop.This is an interesting reversal of branding. When the unibody MacBooks were released last fall, they appeared nearly identical to the larger, "Pro" labeled companion. The two big differences (aside from screen size) were the video card configurations (integrated for the MacBook, as opposed to integrated and discrete in the MBP) and the lack of a FireWire on the "amateur" edition. Many of us speculated that the removal of FireWire was done primarily to distinguish between the two lines and try to move consumers up to a pricier model.
There was a lively debate in the posts about FireWire's exodus from the unibody MacBook about what constitutes a "pro" machine from something that shares the same design but is smaller in size. Without rehashing the whole debate, it pretty much mirrored those "my dad is richer than your dad" fights that always seemed to break out at high school parties in my district. In my experience, when arguments essentially become "you're only a pro if the label says so," the real-world distinction is gone.
Although the lack of FireWire raised the ire of quite a few Mac fans, it clearly didn't affect sales. As Phil noted in the keynote, the 13" unibody MacBook is the best selling Apple notebook. If anything, I imagine the distinction between the two lines has only blurred further, leading to even more users going MacBook rather than MacBook Pro. Couple that with the economy and the advertising attacks aimed at price, and well, unifying the MacBook line makes a lot of sense.
It used to make sense to differentiate between a consumer-focused laptop and a laptop aimed at professionals. However, as time has elapsed, not only is raw performance between the two lines pretty much at parity (excluding 3D graphics tests), the needs of the consumer much more closely align with the needs of the professional. Continuing to brand nearly-identical products differently doesn't make a lot of sense.
Continuing to use the MacBook name on the old white plastic design still makes sense. The 13" white MacBook offers a terrific value (and great performance). Now there actually seems to be a distinction to stepping up $200 to go "Pro" -- the 7-hour integrated battery, the SD-card slot, FireWire 800 and the option of a SSD drive.
In an interesting move, the new lower-priced MacBook Pro 15" is what would have been considered a MacBook just yesterday. The $1699 US model lacks the dual video card option, and instead has the same integrated 9400M chipset as the 13" models.
So, what are your thoughts on the new unification in the Mac line-up. Does the name (or the features) change your decision about getting a 13" or 15" Mac laptop? Let us know in the comments!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
b said 4:13PM on 6-08-2009
Any details whether or not the hard drive is still easily user-replaceable now that the battery is no longer removable on the 13" Pro?
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matt.hellinghausen said 4:37PM on 6-08-2009
The hard drive and RAM is still most likely user-replaceable. You have to take the battery to the Apple Store to recycle it. It wouldn't make sense for Apple to make either of those non-user replaceable.
Christina Warren said 4:48PM on 6-08-2009
If it is like the 17" MBP, then yes, the hard drive and RAM are easily accessible and user replaceable.
vlad said 5:57PM on 6-08-2009
is replacing the sealed in battery as simple as taking it to an apple store and having them install a new one? i'm considering picking one up but wasn't entirely sure.
Andrew said 4:13PM on 6-08-2009
I think I'll get the 15" now its only $250 more for the larger screen. A big difference for what the price gap used to be.
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Matt Hellinghausen said 4:29PM on 6-08-2009
The 13" will likely be a hit for students who are in need of the extra power, but in a smaller package. I already ordered mine!
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steve said 5:46AM on 6-09-2009
me too, as a civil engineering student the power to portability ratio is unmatched by anyone else, and at least in Australia a dell with the same system specs will set you back an extra $300
Dominic Cordisco said 4:16PM on 6-08-2009
Maybe the "MacBook" name is being repositioned for the upcoming tablet?
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David Hildreth said 4:32PM on 6-08-2009
no, it's not ever happening. get over it.
Cam said 5:15PM on 6-08-2009
No.
deadpillow343 said 3:34AM on 7-05-2009
sorry to break it to you man, but there is no upcoming tablet. in apple's mind, the ipod touch is the tablet. and that is how it will stay. its like the psp and the tablet of the apple world, so apple has resolved that they dont need a tablet computer as long as that is on the apple store list. besides, why would they call a tablet a BOOK? why not a MacBoard or something? apple is smarter than that!
obo said 4:18PM on 6-08-2009
So they're consolidating their portable computer branding to prepare for unveiling a new line. The market previously served by the MB line will either go iPhone or the $700-$1,000 tablet/MacBook mini/whatever that'll come out later.
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Caroline said 5:42AM on 6-09-2009
It makes me want to replace my April-2008 BlackBook even more. But I can't realistically justify spending that much money when my current one works just as well as when I got it!
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Simon Arch said 5:54PM on 6-08-2009
That's the dilemma, isn't it? Yes, the new shiny is somewhat faster and has some nice new features, but is it worth the cost? I've got a 3-year-old MacBook I've been thinking of replacing and *I'M* wibbling over this. It works fine right now. Yes, it's old, but the darn thing works too well to be able to justify a replacement. It's the first time I've actually wished for an expensive hardware failure. :)
meizlizard said 8:06PM on 6-14-2009
I'm in a similar situation. I bought the low-end aluminum macbook last November, but I'm annoyed that for $100 less than I paid, I could have had a backlit keyboard, firewire 800 port, SD card slot, 260 mhz faster processor, and a 7 hour battery, not to mention the newly improved screen. Damn progress! The thing you have to ask is whether the use you got into the computer in the intervening period was worth the features you didn't get.
Pelican said 9:50PM on 6-08-2009
Don't forget to factor how much you would get for your current MacBook if you sold it now, as opposed to if you sold it in a year. This was one of the ways I justified selling my 2007 Blackbook for one of the new 13" Pros.
(I also was able to factor in how much I get back in taxes by buying a comp, and the fact that the ram and battery performance had degraded a lot. And I wanted Leopard.)
If you're creative, I'm sure you can find some ways for you to justify it too. lol
Christina Warren said 8:57AM on 6-09-2009
Add me to that list -- just sub an August 2007 Black MacBook in for your newer model.
I'm tempted to look into selling my more than adequate system, but I hate thinking about giving up my baby.
Henke Blomqvist said 4:27PM on 6-08-2009
This is the move i have longed for Apple to make. A smaller Pro or just a MacBook with:
- great monitor
- great speeds
- Firewire (for my audio peripherals)
- SD slot for my cameras memory cards
I know I'm not alone using a Cinema Display at work (and at home) and only need a good portable computer to move around. I use Flash, Photoshop, Illustrator and Logic Pro in my work and I know that these machines can make it. I just want it to be easy to use my extra equipment and to move it around.
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Chad Sellers said 4:28PM on 6-08-2009
My big question is whether the 13" screen is the same as the previous model, or whether it is nicer now. The previous 15" pro had a much nicer screen than the 13" in terms of contrast and viewing angle (as Gizmodo talked about here - http://gizmodo.com/5063492/macbook-and-macbook-pro-dual-review ). Historically Pro models have had nicer screens. Has the 13" gotten a screen upgrade, or has this distinction gone away?
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matt.hellinghausen said 4:31PM on 6-08-2009
The 13" and 15" now have the same screens. This was addressed in the keyote.