Describe/build your perfect Mac

[csclifford]

Hey all,

I've always been a PC user, but being in college about 90% of my friends have Macbook Pros. In a year or two I'm interested in getting a 15" Macbook Pro/MBA or whatever down the road it is.

So what would be your perfect Macbook? Specs, design, features, etc.?

Mine would be a 15" MBP without Optical drive and:

-More rugged exterior. I have always had Thinkpads and would love a black macbook pro that was something other than Aluminum
-Intel Quad Core processor
-Mid-High Range GPU (something like what a 6770 or GT 555 is today)
-16:10 High Resolution Screen (higher than 1680x1050 or whatever it is now for MBPs)
-8GB RAM
-160GB SSD drive with a 500GB HDD for other storage
-Same trackpad and keyboard as current MBP, including a number pad (Accounting student)
-1080p webcam
-No Optical drive, would love it to be around .8-.9 inches thick, with around 7 hours of battery life
-Removable battery and easier access to components
-Ability to dock

Main thing would be another line of Macbooks that were more business oriented. With more easily upgraded components and a different sort of shell.

So what about you guys?

[masterchef341]

I want the original macbook pro keyboard back, as well as some of the original design choices, mixed with modern hardware

[S.SubZero]

Originally Posted by csclifford

-More rugged exterior. I have always had Thinkpads and would love a black macbook pro that was something other than Aluminum

ZAGG Incipio Feather for MacBook 38.1 cm (15") Black: Ultra Thin Protection Cover - Laptop and Tablet Accessories - Product Reviews and Prices - Shopping.com

Originally Posted by csclifford

-Intel Quad Core processor

Already standard on 15" MacBook Pro

Originally Posted by csclifford

-Mid-High Range GPU (something like what a 6770 or GT 555 is today)

Already optional on 15" MacBook Pro

Originally Posted by csclifford

-16:10 High Resolution Screen (higher than 1680x1050 or whatever it is now for MBPs)

If you want 1920x1200 you get the 17".

Originally Posted by csclifford

-8GB RAM

Optional on every MacBook Pro

Originally Posted by csclifford

-160GB SSD drive with a 500GB HDD for other storage

Would make the MacBook Pro too heavy/run too hot, though the rumor mill likes to say there is a plan to dump optical drives.

Originally Posted by csclifford

-Same trackpad and keyboard as current MBP, including a number pad (Accounting student)

You take those speakers over my dead body.
LMP Bluetooth Keypad - Apple Store (U.S.)

Originally Posted by csclifford

-1080p webcam

Apple likes to be gradual. They didn't go 1080 there must be some reason.

Originally Posted by csclifford

-No Optical drive, would love it to be around .8-.9 inches thick, with around 7 hours of battery life

I'd like mine to be .00001mm thick and have 14,000 hours of battery life. (also, the MacBook Pros have "7" hours of battery.)

Originally Posted by csclifford

-Removable battery and easier access to components

The battery will last five years and last several hours on a charge. If you live in a first world country and can't find power in several hours, then, well, I dunno.

Originally Posted by csclifford

-Ability to dock

Hi. Henge Docks

Originally Posted by csclifford

Main thing would be another line of Macbooks that were more business oriented. With more easily upgraded components and a different sort of shell.

One of my clients is moving their entire employee workforce to MacBook Pros (I have been authorized to snag all the stickers). They have no cares about upgrading components and anything they could want to do, they can. The users don't care about that stuff, they just want light, thin, very portable, looks good in front of a potential customer.

[diggy]

Originally Posted by masterchef341

I want the original macbook pro keyboard back, as well as some of the original design choices, mixed with modern hardware

Heck YES to having the original keyboard back!!!

[doh123]

Originally Posted by S.SubZero

Would make the MacBook Pro too heavy/run too hot, though the rumor mill likes to say there is a plan to dump optical drives.

how would that make it hot or heavy? People already do this by replacing the optical bay and it doesn't have any bad effect.

Originally Posted by diggy

Heck YES to having the original keyboard back!!!

uhhgg... the current ones are so much better... I hope y'all don't get your wish

[saturnotaku]

Originally Posted by S.SubZero

ZAGG Incipio Feather for MacBook 38.1 cm (15") Black: Ultra Thin Protection Cover - Laptop and Tablet Accessories - Product Reviews and Prices - Shopping.com

That's a horrible shell. It fits poorly and has no rubberized feet so it slides everywhere.

Already optional on 15" MacBook Pro

Not the case any more. The base 15" has a 6750M standard. Granted, it's only 512 MB, but even for moderate gaming, it's far better than the old 6490M.

If you want 1920x1200 you get the 17".

Agreed. Apple has it right on the 15" models. IMO, 1680x1050 is about the highest resolution you want on a notebook that size. 1920x1080 makes things way too small.

My wish would be for Apple to offer a matte version of the standard 1440x900 screen.

Optional on every MacBook Pro

At an exorbitant price. However, this job is easy enough for users to do themselves. Took me 15 minutes start to finish and only cost $30 for 8 GB.

Would make the MacBook Pro too heavy/run too hot, though the rumor mill likes to say there is a plan to dump optical drives.

As was pointed out, people are already doing this with no ill effects. OWC makes an optical bay caddy and has very clear instructional videos on how to fit it.

[Michel.K]

Originally Posted by S.SubZero

Would make the MacBook Pro too heavy/run too hot, though the rumor mill likes to say there is a plan to dump optical drives.

I can't feel any difference at all in weight in mine.
I mean the SSD weighs so little that it is practically the same weight as the optical drive..
But even if the SSD was as heavy as a HDD it would be something ridicolous as a 1-2% change in weight in total, which is next to nothing..

SSD's don't run that hot and isn't really any bother.. Loads of people are already running those setups today so that is definately not a problem

[csclifford]

Originally Posted by S.SubZero

ZAGG Incipio Feather for MacBook 38.1 cm (15") Black: Ultra Thin Protection Cover - Laptop and Tablet Accessories - Product Reviews and Prices - Shopping.com

Already standard on 15" MacBook Pro

Already optional on 15" MacBook Pro

If you want 1920x1200 you get the 17".

Optional on every MacBook Pro

Would make the MacBook Pro too heavy/run too hot, though the rumor mill likes to say there is a plan to dump optical drives.

You take those speakers over my dead body.
LMP Bluetooth Keypad - Apple Store (U.S.)

Apple likes to be gradual. They didn't go 1080 there must be some reason.

I'd like mine to be .00001mm thick and have 14,000 hours of battery life. (also, the MacBook Pros have "7" hours of battery.)

The battery will last five years and last several hours on a charge. If you live in a first world country and can't find power in several hours, then, well, I dunno.

Hi. Henge Docks


One of my clients is moving their entire employee workforce to MacBook Pros (I have been authorized to snag all the stickers). They have no cares about upgrading components and anything they could want to do, they can. The users don't care about that stuff, they just want light, thin, very portable, looks good in front of a potential customer.

I understand that current MBPs have most of these features, thus why I'm interested in one in the first place haha. I was just stating what else would make a current MBP perfect for me.

I'm aware of all of those "shells" for MBPs, but I don't want a snap on plastic covering for durability. I know it protects it from scratches but that isn't my main concern.

Like I said this is all just what I'd want if I bought one next week. The company I'm currently interning for just dumped PC's for all Mac products and it definitely adds some more professionalism to the business.

[Mitlov]

Bring back the MacBook (neither Pro nor Air)--an all-around affordable OSX laptop for those on a budget.

$900
1440x900 15.4" screen
i5 with integrated graphics
Optical drive
Cheaper case design than aluminum unibody if need be to make that price point.

Apple appeals to a lot of people who don't want extreme ultraportability (MBA) or high-performance hardware (MBP). Like my wife. She's absolutely loyal to OSX and Apple trackpads. She wants an optical drive to play movies on the laptop (we own dozens and dozens of movies on DVD), so MBA is out. She doesn't know what a quad-core processor is or what a dedicated GPU is, and she doesn't need either. But having something with a bigger screen than the MBP 13 would be nice. Yet she doesn't want to spend $2000 to replace the MBP 15 when it needs replacing. Apple doesn't make anything for people like her.

[Spydweb]

Make it Black