SaudiMac Saudi Apple Macintosh Users
Last week at WWDC Apple renewed the whole line of MacBook Pro notebook computers. Now all aluminum unibody MacBooks are considered a MacBook Pro. With price ranging from $1,199 for 13-inch to $1,699 for 15-inch and finally up to $2,499 on the 17-inch model. These models are now available and I was told that itechia will have them in Saudi Arabia within a week.
Battery
The batteries on all the MacBook Pro models are now non-user-replaceable just like the 17-inch models. Supporting up to 7 hours for 13-inch, 7 hours for 15-inch, 6 hours for 15-inch with 9600M GT video card enabled, 8 hours for 17-inch and 7 hours for 17-inch with 9600M GT video card!
AnandTech, a well-known PC enthusiast website analyzed the MacBook Pro battery and the results were impressive:
Six and a half hours, out of a 5.5 lbs notebook. For comparison, the older MacBook Pro could only manage 3 hours and 17 minutes in the same test. The new notebook lasted almost twice as long. Mathematically, this doesn’t make sense. There’s only a 46% increase in battery capacity, there shouldn’t be a ~100% increase in battery life…ever.
SATA
MacRumors has discovered that the some of the new MacBook Pro machines are using the slower SATA 1 (1.5Gbit speed) unlike the previous unibody models which had SATA 2 (3Gbit speed). These will effect Solid State Drives (SSD) and not regular hard drives though.
CPU
The new MacBook Pros are equiped with Intel’s Core 2 Duo processors with 1066MHz frontside bus. The CPU models are: P8400 at 2.26GHz, P8700 at 2.53GHz, P8800 2.66GHz with 3MB L2 cache and T9600 2.8GHz, T9900 3.06GHz with 6MB L2 cache.
DDR3
The machines support 1066MHz DDR3 up to 8GB which is more than enough. The 8GB upgrade will cost $1,000 from Apple and OWC announced that they are selling 8GB DDR3 1066MHz memory upgrades for $640.
FireWire 800
FireWire returns to the 13-inch MacBook Pro. Apple has removed the FireWire port in the unibody MacBooks and now FireWire 800 (800 mbps) is in all models of the MacBook Pro.
More information
iFixit teared down the 13-inch MacBook Pro and took a look at the components.
TQB took unboxing pictures of a 13-inch MacBook Pro.
New Macbook Pros can boot from SD card.
New 13″ MacBook Pro drops digital audio input for FireWire and SD.
Apple has cut the prices of older MacBooks and MacBook Pros
Reviews and Benchmarks
PC Magazine reviewed the 13-inch MacBook Pro and gave it an Editor’s Choice award as well as “Greentech Approved”. They also reviewed the 15-inch MacBook Pro and gave it 4 stars (to be honest I didn’t like their reasons for not liking it, ExpressCard is used by a minor percent of people).
Macworld updated their benchmark results with the new MacBook Pro numbers.
nice collection….
but .. when we can see it here .. in saudia arabia stores??
I was told by itechia that they will have it next week…
Hi, i have only recently came to KSA, i want to buy a MB Pro, i have looked at some of the sites mentioned here, my concerns thus far are as follows, how would i know what model i am buying ( I am not a mac user at this stage) so i wont know one model from another based on features etc. what is good value for money in the 15″ pro range, i have looked at the spec on the Apple site, i see some people buy direct from Apple, is that advisable ? if so what is the import tax and does apple pay the shipping i see they say free shipping on their site but does it include to here, Thanks for a Great site, Keep On Maccing 🙂 Sorry could not resist that
unfortunately the online Apple store won’t ship to Saudi Arabia 🙁
I suggest checking out http://www.itechia.com/ or http://www.adamsa.com
any news about the new macbook pro …
is it arrived yet??
I visited itechia but they have not received the new ones yet. I was told the price would be same as the existing ones!!! Surprised although apple have reduced their price considerably. Anyone here gets discount from Itechia? We can visit and buy together. I am willing to buy the 15″ macbook pro either 2.53 or 2.66 on the day of its arrival.
I would assume the old $2000 will be replaced with the new $2000 model and so on.
The approx. price given to me by itechia salesman was Sr. 10,000/- for 2.66ghz. I believe the extra of Sr. 2500/- is really big, what do you think?
10,000? That’s too much for the $1999 model.
Usually the $1999 would be sold for 9000sr.
Did you call them or actually gone there?
I visited them at Tahlia street on 23/June to buy Two Mirror Screen Protectors for iphone 3g, which they are selling at 199Sr. Same time, I asked the salesman for the price of the new macbook pro 2.66 and he said, around 10,000sr. I understand that they are selling at the price from US plus Sr. 1500/- which is reasonable. I wish they keep this level of price for the new line of MBPs too. If so, the price for 2.53ghz, 15″ should be – $1700 x 3.75 + 1500 = 7875Sr. Since you will get pre-information from them, please do let comment.
did you ask them about 13″ new macbook pro sameer ?
No, since I was only keen to purchase the 15″ mbp, I didnt check anything else.
i got a call from itechia saying that the 2.53ghz mbp has arrived and the price has tagged at sr. 7999/-. i am going to buy it tomorrow!!!
UPDATE : just visited itechia now (28/june) at 10.30am and they only have 13inch mbp at 6999sr. they dont know when they will receive the 15-inch mbp. the price for 2.52 13-inch is $1499 x 3.75 = 5621sr in usa. so itechia is charging extra 2377sr. dont know whether its worth or not.
global store is selling 13inch macbook pro at 7500sr.
So global store is more expensive than expensive? interesting, which 13″ model?
Sorry, I did mistake. itechia is selling 13-inch macbook pro (inbuilt battery) at 7999sr while global store is selling 13-inch macbook pro (inbuilt battery) for 7500sr. none of the stores have 15-inch mbp (inbuilt battery) which i am looking for.
I need to fix the comments order :/ stupid theme …
which 13 model ? there are two.
2.53ghz 13-inch macbook pro. Itechia – 7999, global 7500
Itechia is selling Apple Macbook Pro MB471LL/A laptop (15″ MBP) Late 2008 model at 10500sr. I really dont understand this pricing strategy of itechia.
they will keep those prices until they get the new models. by the way I think they are willing to compete with the price, tell them that you found that model for 500sr cheaper
actually since im only interested in 15in mbp, i dont want to discuss price for 13inch mbp. since you link itechia site on your blog and they link ur blog on their site; do have any idea when the 15-mbp is arriving. Im in desparate need to buying one since im done with my dell xps and want to switch to mac
apparently those macbook pros are still at the airport.
so we can expect them next week? Strangle, Amazon is selling MB471LL/A at $2850!!! I wonder whats so special about this model which makes it so expensive? http://www.amazon.com/Apple-MB471LL-15-4-Inch-Processor-SuperDrive/dp/tech-data/B0017J7T7A
I purchased 2.80ghz, mbp from istyle at 9800sr…..
They reduced the 13″ Mbp from 7999 to 7449…
the price for 2.8ghz at apple store is $2299 x 3.75 = sr. 8621. so istyle selling at sr 9800 is very reasonable. so i grabbed it immediately. its really super fast.
Any idea how much the latest 15″ MBP would cost in Dubai.
I am new to all this so the more clear info the better.
Thanks