[MW Forums]

Apple on Monday introduced the 17-inch version of its Intel-powered MacBook Pro. The new laptop computer will start shipping next week for $2,799 and feature a scrolling trackpad, FireWire 800 and FireWire 400 ports, three USB 2.0 ports, built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR and integrated AirPort Extreme 54 Mbps wireless networking. more

[d00d]

Ok, now where's the 12" Intel laptop?

[MacCheetah3]

Hi
Rumors claim there will be no such thing and the 13.3" MacBook ( formerly iBook ) will be "it." That would also correspond with why Apple didn't release a 12" version right now.

[griffman]

Lost in never-never land. I so wish they'd do a "pro" small notebook, but it seems it's not to be (if one believes the rumors). I love my 12" PowerBook, but have no interest in the rumored 12" iBook/MacBook. Sigh.
-rob.

[beneditor]

Hold your horses! They only just announced the 17" version.
The good news is - firewire 800 is BACK! I think if they'd introduced one to video professionals at NAB without it, they'd have been lynched... And a double layer Superdrive. Bliss.
Don't discount a 13.3" Macbook pro - user demand is high for the small laptops, and Apple will want to fill that demand amongst pro users. I would have thought by now we'd have stopped believing the rumour sites.
Ben

[Peter Cohen]

You kids with your tiny notebooks. At least now I have something that will ultimately replace my 17-inch PowerBook. Though I still hope it's got some life left in it (1.5GHz G4), Universal applications notwithstanding. I waited until the second generation to get this; don't see why I shouldn't do the same this time around. But the new 17-inch model does look like a sweet rig. And it even has FireWire 800.
One way or t'other, this is the computer I've been waiting for to make my daily driver. The 15-inch was nice, but as I've said to others, once you get used to driving a Mercedes sedan, a BMW coupe is a downgrade, even if it's faster off the line and better at cornering.

[jmincey]

It's interesting that Apple continues to price these units in direct proportion to their increasing size. I note this because it's quite the other way around in the Wintel world. For example, the typical 15" Wintel notebook computer is almost invariably LESS expensive than a 12" counterpart. The smaller you go, the higher the price. But with Apple it's the other way around.
I'm making no judgment on this; I'm just observing it.
On Derik's point, I do wonder if Apple intends to announce individual Intel models in dribs and drabs, one at a time. I can appreciate the migration takes time and can't be done all at once, but I should think Apple could have at least queued up the 17" and 12" (if indeed there is to be such a beast), and announced them together. Failing that, I'm surprised Apple couldn't also announce the consumer MacBook line.

[jwdsail]

Looks good!
FW 800! Hopefully the 15" will get it back in a rev b update..
DVD DL support, again hopefully the 15" will see this return as well!
Now, if they only give me back my built-in modem and the /54 Express Card format in the 15" MBP, and get rid of the God awful name and bring back PowerBook, I can forgive Jobs for his momentary laps of judgement and buy buy buy! (PowerBooks and more Apple stock)
:-)

jwd

[Peter Cohen]

In reply to:

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Hold your horses! They only just announced the 17" version.

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True. But considering that Apple introduced all three form factors of the PowerBook simultaneously when they made the change from titanium to aluminum, it's understandable that the 12-inch's absence from the current lineup is making a few of us scratch our heads.

[jwdsail]

I'd be shocked if Apple intro'd a consumer device, well besides perhaps an Apple HDTV Monitor/DVR combo, or a 1080i DV camera, at NAB.. Pro Video :-)
Now what I wish they'd intro at a show like this is a PPC 980 or core-duo based dedicated h.264 rendering box in a xserve form factor... Think 4 dual-core 980s.. or 4 core-duos.. I know, I know PPC is dead.. shrug.. I still think Jobs will find a way to keep "options" open, he's been quoted something along the way of they love "options"... So perhaps the xserve line retaining at least a bto PPC model isn't out of the question.
Some updated UB pro software would be nice too.. Have they updated Shake yet?

my $0.02
jwd

[Polly]

Re: It's interesting that Apple continues to price these units in direct proportion to their increasing size. I note this because it's quite the other way around in the Wintel world. For example, the typical 15" Wintel notebook computer will almost invariably LESS expensive than a 12" counterpart. The smaller you go, the higher the price. But with Apple it's the other way around
I notice that if you deck out the 15" & 17" books identically - i.e. same 2.16 processor & 100mb 7200rpm hard drive - the 17" is actually less expensive than the 15"

[leicaman]

Actually, the original 12" and 17" AL Powerbooks came out a little earlier in 2003 than the 15" PowerBook. I remember the anguish people had waiting for the 15" model to come out. I was (and still am) a Titanium 15" user. And I"m taking your advice to get the second generation model. Hopefully (he said) with a Merom chip! /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Remember the Mini Me/Yao Ming ad touting the 12" and 17" together?
From Wikipedia:

In reply to:

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In 2003, Apple Computer launched both the largest-screen laptop in the world and Apple's smallest full-featured notebook computer. Both machines are made of anodized aluminum (coining the new nickname AlBook), feature DVD-burning capabilities, AirPort Extreme networking, Bluetooth, and 12.1" or 17" LCD displays. The 17" model included a fiber optic-illuminated keyboard, which became standard on all 15" and 17" PowerBooks. Two ambient light sensors, located under each speaker grille, adjust the brightness of the backlit keyboard and the display according to the light level.
The 12" PowerBook's screen does not use the same panel as that used on the 12" iBook, while the 17" PowerBook uses the same screen as that used on the 17" flat-panel iMac, but with a thinner backlight.
Later in 2003, the 15" PowerBooks were redesigned and now feature the same aluminum body style as their smaller and larger siblings, with the same feature set as the 17" model (including the backlit keyboard).

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[pdrayton]

In reply to:

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True. But considering that Apple introduced all three form factors of the PowerBook simultaneously when they made the change from titanium to aluminum...

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Correct me if I'm wrong, but the 12" and 17" Aluminum PowerBooks were released about 8 months prior to the 15" Aluminum PowerBook.

[bigh]

Perhaps the 12" will get even smaller?