Anyone pre-ordering the new 17" Macbook Pro?

[photostein]

I just pre-ordered one and must say that with the NAPP discount, it is quite reasonable. I configured mine with the 2.93 Ghz dual core, and 4GB RAM with 320 GB 7200 hard drive.

I am looking forward to this as my second Mac and first Macbook machine (to accompany my 20 inch Nov. 2006 edition iMac).

...

[ggeen]

Let me know how it goes. My 17" PowerBook G4 is getting old.

[photostein]

You bet. I just cleared the way for my study area last night. My wife is going to use the iMac and we will be basically an Apple family.

[msp102]

Did you configure it with the optional anti-glare display? That's an impressive battery if it will really last for 7hrs when running the 9600m gt. I'm in the market for an MBP and this one is looking really tempting now.

[photostein]

No, I opted for the base configuration screen which is glossy. A couple things about why I didn't.

First, I don't think it wise they are selling for additional money the anti-glare when that is the way it came before. Sort of like you have to pay to have a phone plug dial up modem installed. I understand fully that they orient their assembly line a certain way for the most common configurations; however, they are proud of their machines no doubt.

Lastly, I have the iMac with all the LR and CS4 loaded which has the matte screen calibrated with Colormunki. That being the case, I won't use my laptop for finishing photos, but probably only doing LR work on them. I color correct by the numbers as Dan Margulis indicated long ago.

I will primarily use this machine for graduate school work which will include writing papers and such that isn't too RAM or processor intensive; however, I am one to think 5 years down the road and getting a super machine now will keep me from regretting going light at this point in a couple years.

[msp102]

I agree, I wish they still had the option to choose between a glossy and matte screen. I also agree with getting a fully loaded machine now instead of the base model so you won't regret it as much when newer models come out. I think I'll try my luck with trying to get one of these when they release them instead of pre-ordering. Are you expecting yours the first week of February?

[photostein]

They have shown a tentative ship date for me of 2/12, delivery 2/17. I think that is a worst case date because their original press release stated they would be shipping at the end of January. That was from a press release on 1/9, so that wasn't long ago. They would rather tell you later and ship earlier than the other way around for customer service relational purposes.

That being the case, they of course want to ship earlier so that they can get the money in the door since they do not bill you until they ship the product. When I talked to the business sales rep (I purchase through the NAPP discount and I get discounts off Apple stuff that way) she stated it right now could ship as early as 2/6.

Either way, I primarily (and Apple is good at this) would rather them take their time to get it all right vs release too early and have quality control problems.

I am curious why you would wait for the release vs. pre-ordering. Since they don't charge your card until it is shipped, there is not difference and as soon as they are ready for shipping it will be on its way.

[msp102]

I would probably be ordering through BHPhoto and they do not have an option to pre-order the 17" MBP. You can only sign up to receive a notification when they have them in stock.

[photostein]

Originally Posted by msp102

I would probably be ordering through BHPhoto and they do not have an option to pre-order the 17" MBP. You can only sign up to receive a notification when they have them in stock.

Do you have an Apple discount program through work, or do you have a NAPP membership? Are you a student somewhere? All these will get you around $200 off from Apple.

One advantage, however, through BH is that you can use Bill me later and pay after 6 months, same as cash.

[msp102]

I am a NAPP member and a student but when Apple adds tax, it's almost the same price as going through BH. I'm also wanting to get the antiglare screen so the price difference isn't much at all. The Bill me later is definitely a plus for me...

[LWimages]

I was going to get the new 17" MBP. The spec is very mouth watering.
However, after living with my current 17" MBP for almost 2 years, I am going to get the 15" MBP instead, and use the difference to get the new 24" Apple display that was specifically designed with the new MBPs in mind.

Check out the display: http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB...mco=Mjc5MTYwMQ

[maskale]

its tempting, and would be my first mac. Like Louis I would probably go with a 15 since I would get the 24" LED. Does the 24" LED come with the needed wires and connections, or do you have to buy the adapters seprate?

[LWimages]

I know I said I was going to wait till Friday, but they had a refurb 15" in the store @ the Memorial City Mall store so I splurged.

The monitor comes with all the necessary cables.

[msp102]

Originally Posted by louis24x7

I know I said I was going to wait till Friday, but they had a refurb 15" in the store @ the Memorial City Mall store so I splurged.

The monitor comes with all the necessary cables.

Congrats! Did you buy the 24" ACD as well? I'm still contemplating between getting the 15" or 17" but I would really like to get one soon. If I get a 15" with the 2.8GHz processor, it would end up costing almost as much as the 17" so that's why I'm leaning more towards the 17".

[LWimages]

Yep, I did buy the display as well. The only bad thing, but I don't really care, is that it only comes in glossy.
I bought the refurb 2.8 GHz for $2500.