Soon to be a MBP Owner - Concerns

Hello Everyone!
I left the following in another thread. Thank you to those that responded, however I feel it may not be seen by everyone who might have some responses not reading the thread.
Life long PC User, Soon to be 17" MacBook Pro owner. Here is my questions. I am not buying the MBP to run all my Windows stuff LOL!if I don't have to install XP would be great! With excpetion of Windows Photoshop CS2, however I have read all these slowness issues (Bootcamp/Rosetta) etc. I am not a Professional PS Power User I do not live in PS, I do use it quite a bit. I really do not want to have to load XP on my MBP if I don't have to.
I am very happy with the speed I am getting with PS CS2 on a Dell P4 3.06 GHz with 1.5 GB RAM. My thought is based on most of what I am reading going to the MBP (2.16GHz Dual Core) will be an increase in my speed even running through Rosetta etc?
Another question I have I am running Cox High Speed off of a LinkSys Cable Modem (BEFCMU10) and LinkSys Wireless G Router (WRT54GS) should I expect any complications with my MBP wireless capabilities?
Thanks in advance for your answers to my questions.
Successfully yours,
George

For the wireless question, no, at least for me, since I just got this MBP on the 29th, and moved into where I am now where I live with a few other guys, and they use a linksys, i believe wireless G and so on, but if its not completely the same as yours, its gotta be similar, and it works for me.. so i bet it will work for you as well, I expected to when I got here have to set it up, but no, my MBP imediately regonized it and asked if I wanted to connect to it and voila, it connected so.. I don't think you need to worry..

Similar Messages

Happy MBP owners - please post!

Hi all! I've been away from Apple Discussions forum for a while, but am intrigued by the MacBook Pro. It is disconcerting to see all the issues regarding whining and heat - I know there have to be lots of happy owners out there, so would really appreciate hearing from some of you.
Thanks.

Hi Shazza,
I've got a MBP that arrived in early March. And I've got the CPU whine and, since the latest firmware update, heat issues. Yet I'll still post as a happy MBP owner! The machine ROCKS...I've used XP on other laptops, mostly IBM ThinkPads, which are also nice machines, and also Linux. My other laptop is currently an IBM T43 ThinkPad with Fedora Core 5. None of them hold a candle to the Mac's stability, performance (hello, I can listen to iTunes and NOT have it stutter or hiccup when I try to do other things), and overall jam-packed-full-of-features OS and hardware.
I'm currently writing this on my defective MBP in Safari, while checking corp. e-mail in Lotus Notes on Windows XP SP2 using Parallels Workstation beta2, listening to music on iTunes, and I have my password manager (Password Gorilla), a terminal, iCal, MSN, Yahoo! Messenger, iChat AV and Mail all running as well. Bluetooth syncs now with my Nokia 9300 Communicator, and I'm working out the modem scripts to use the EDGE capabilities as well for when I can't find WiFi. Keynote and Pages are AWESOME; forget M$ Office.
Go ahead and make your order. You will be pleased.
PS - Apple is sending me a brand new replacement MacBook for this one.
MacBook Pro 1.83 Mac OS X (10.4.5) 1 GB/100 GB HDD 7200 RPM

Yet Another Soon to be MBP Owner in Need of Guidence

Hello all,
Believe it or not this is yet another post from a college student in the process of purchasing a new MBP who's appealing to the venerable Apple discussion board community for guidance. My dilemma is not that I can't decide on what MBP I want or what features I need, I've already decided on a top of the line model with the 7200 RPM hard drive and a Crucial ram upgrade, it's that I can't decide when would be the best time to make the purchase given the WWDC keynote on the 7th of August. I would like to get the most bang for my three grand but I need have the computer up and running by the twenty-first with Windows installed to run AutoCad. Would you recommend waiting until the 7th to order the computer and see it the MBP's are updated with the hope an updated MBP would be able to get to me in time or should I buy now with the knowledge that I'll be buying a computer that will be updated, but not outdated, soon?
Thanks for your time,
Eric
PowerBook 12-inch 867

I am also a college student... and I was going to wait for the new merom, but I decided against it... I just think the likelyhood of them released before september is unlikely in my head... but you never know... But I looked at it this way... I wanted a MBP bad, despite all the problems I heard about them (my mbp has no problems to this day).... I figured if I waited for the new releases, the only thing that would change is the fact that it's basically a new computer, and with new computers come with new problems... I also figured, the likelyhood of the computers being released before my school started was slim, so I bought it now. I am very happy with my MBP right now, and you have to think of it this way, there will always be upgrades, whos to say that after the merom has been released, something new will becoming after that... I find it less painful to buy a MBP in july, and have the meroms be released months later, then purchasing it in september, and having them be released a possible weeks later... a little less painful, but that's my input, do what you want, I have a 17" MBP , week 26, and I am a happy camper!

Concerned new MBP owner

WOW. I thought that I had done a fairly thorough job of researching the MBP before buying one for my son a couple of weeks ago; however, after stumbling on this site, I am now questioning my decision to buy one. The number of problems posted here is staggering. Also, I am afraid that I have already seen several of them with our MBP (i.e. beachball from ****, cursor freezing etc). After paying such a premium for this product, I sure hope that I don't come to regret the purchase. Over the years, I have heard nothing but good things from Mac users.
I can see that this forum is going to be a great source of information.
Jim

Hey Jim:
I, like you, have been meticulously scouring the 'net for info about these computers. I am a college student, and in need of a new laptop. I love the MacBook Pros, but these posts make me question a lot as well. The only advice I can give you is to go to an Apple Store or Best Buy and try these computers out for yourself. That is what I have done. My conclusions are that the problems don't seem to be as wide spread as reported, at least with the 500GB 5400RPM 15" 2.8 GHZ model. I have messed around on them extensively, opened up multiple applications at once, etc, and have found the MacBook Pros to my liking and needs. Also remember, a 500GB 5400RPM HDD is not at all that slow, or unusable. Especially for students. Have you compared the MacBook Pros to other laptops out there? It's like a night and day difference. I am new to MACS, but the OS and aps that come stock are well ahead of Windows and the "Bloatware" that comes on those OS's. Then take into consideration the build quality, and the Mac wins, hands down. I am sure the issues will be resolved soon. Apple can't let this go, they WILL LOSE BUSINESS if they do. You can fault them though for not being more forthcoming.
One thing I have found true about the 15" MacBook Pros, are the terrible speaker layouts. The right side is louder than the left, and the bass comes out more on the right side. That is a definite negative that I have found. Good luck in your search. Another comparable laptop is the Dell XPS 13" and 16", but again, the build quality on those doesn't seem as sturdy or reliable.

MBP owners who converted from iMac - thoughts?

Hi - I just sold my 24" Core 2 Duo iMac and I'm either going to replace with one of the 27" iMacs or I may go portable. I don't think anything I use is going to bring the variables of desktop vs. laptop power into concern - it is more portability vs. screen real-estate + the financials. I'm typing this on one of the latest macbooks (with a 5400 drive) and I've been using this for the past couple of days and enjoy elements of it but not sure its what I really want. So, the big question for the community here that I have is: are any of you happy MBP users who switched from using an iMac? Any major regrets? As a huge mac fan, I know neither are really BAD choices but I do need to make a decision and I'm really indecisive. Thanks.
Steve

The "screen real estate" issue is easy to take out of the equation , Steven. The MBP (even the 13" model) can support DVI external monitors up to 30" if you want it to, and a good quality third party 24" screen can be added for just a couple of hundred dollars these days. This gives you the advantage of both portability when needed with screen space when required (though unless you buy an expensive high quality monitor it won't be quite as glorious as the 27" iMac screen, perhaps). I spend a lot of my time with my 13" model hooked up to a 24" Benq screen , which does what I need perfectly. (In my case, though, my iMac was a 20" model, so for me the MBP with external offers more room, not less, when I'm "at the desk").
That said, the performance advantage of the 27" i7 iMac over the MBP is very substantial, and even the base model 27" offers a decent lift, so don't dismiss it too quickly. You get more storage with the iMac, too.
I'd say the real equation is portability versus performance, with the price equation varying depending on which particular models you are considering, how much you wish to spend on an external screen for the MBP etc, etc.
Cheers
Rod

Future MBP owner with questions...please help!

After being born and raised on Windows, I've decided to make the switch to Mac and I will be getting a MBP within the next month. Despite all the problems (heat, whine, etc.) that I've been reading about, I'll take my chances. I'm looking to get a 2.16 ghz model, with 2 gigs of RAM and the 100-gig 7200 rpm drive. I have a few questions:
1. I need to get Office 2004 for Mac, and I'm just wondering if there is a difference between the "Standard" version and the "Student/Teacher" version. I don't see any differences, but I just want to make sure. It's the same software, right? Just different prices?
2. I plan on getting Pro Care at my Apple store as soon as I get the MBP (I'll also get the Apple Protection Plan as well). Is Pro Care worth the $100 per year? It appears that if I become a member, I get priority status on my repairs, priority seating at workshops, etc. It seems like a good deal, but I'm wondering what other advantages there are.
Thanks in advance for any advice you guys can give me.

1. I need to get Office 2004 for Mac, and I'm just
wondering if there is a difference between the
"Standard" version and the "Student/Teacher" version.
I don't see any differences, but I just want to make
sure. It's the same software, right? Just different
prices?
There are two major differences the first being the price the second is it is not available to buy any future "Upgrade" versions. You would be required to purchase either a full version or another Student/Teacher version (which is typically the same price as the upgrades)
2. I plan on getting Pro Care at my Apple store as
soon as I get the MBP (I'll also get the Apple
Protection Plan as well). Is Pro Care worth the $100
per year? It appears that if I become a member, I get
priority status on my repairs, priority seating at
workshops, etc. It seems like a good deal, but I'm
wondering what other advantages there are.
Personally I would just go for AppleCare unless you frequent the genius bar and have to have repairs back ASAP those seem to be the only advantages IMHO

Question for MBP owners that span their desktop

I recently ran into the following bug with the latest beta of Parallels (http://www.parallels.com):
With the PW console window in my main iMac display, the mouse and keyboard work as expected (need to hit Cntl-Option to release keyboard and mouse from the console window). When I drag the window to my second monitor (I span displays with my iMac), any mouse click within the console window will release the keyboard and mouse (rendering the mouse useless within the Guest OS).
I'm wondering if a MBP user can duplicate the same issue I am experiencing on my iMac.

That's tempting, but without full-screen and without video acceleration, I'm leary of putting time into it. I perused the forums briefly and it seemed (subject to my vague recollection) that there were a lot of shortcomings that the developers plan to address before the final release.
Maybe if I get bored enough… Like that's going to happen…
Randall Schulz
iMac 20" Core Duo; MacBook Pro Mac OS X (10.4.6)

MacbookPro 2.0GHz Upgrade for MBP owners?

Hello, I was just wondering if it would not be an Idea to offer MBP customers of the 1.8GHz (and even old 1.6GHz) a free upgrade to 2.0 GHz?
It looks like Apple realizes that the dual 1.6 and 1.8 Intels are not pushing the performance one would expect. I have this idea because it has had 2 upgrades since the short launch of the MBP.
Most of my frustration commes from the fact, my 1.83GHz Macbook Pro has bin dropped to the same performance benchmarks as the plastic $1000 MacBook. (I know I pay extra for looks and bigger HD, Smart-DVD and such)...
It is good that you eliminate products from your program when you knowtice they are not what you want them to be, but don't forget about all the customer who already fell for the first 2 editions, which willl be the most hardcore Macintosh Freaks (like me)?
And what about the people who bought the 2.0GHz MBP for about $2400, and it is now not even $2000 !?
Or am I the only one bashing my head over this Upgrading of Apple?
I am supriced no topics have bin started on this issue already.
Apple is loosing it's key customers who will no longer buy freshly released products...

It looks like Apple realizes that the dual 1.6 and
1.8 Intels are not pushing the performance one would
expect. I have this idea because it has had 2
upgrades since the short launch of the MBP.
I really don't think that is the case at all. Dell, HP, Sony, Toshiba are all still using those processors, so those companies must feel something is right about the performance of those processors. I think if Apple is guilty of anything it is of taking advantage of price drops to offer the performance gains immediately. It is an interesting strategy because many manufacturers like Sony will sit on the same specs until they update model numbers. For example updating the SZ100's to SZ200's. As Apple lacks models numbers and probably had a desire to position themselves a little ahead of most of the current competition they apparently decided to make them immediately available.
Would you have felt better if that had waited until August or September to do it? What difference would it have made? What about those who would have maybe purchased in late August just to see them upgraded in early September? The point is your not going to make everyone happy. I think Apple did what they could to make people happy by passing on the price drops immediately. It seems it is a damned if you do, damned if you don't strategy.
Most of my frustration commes from the fact, my
1.83GHz Macbook Pro has bin dropped to the same
performance benchmarks as the plastic $1000 MacBook.
(I know I pay extra for looks and bigger HD,
Smart-DVD and such)...
Or am I the only one bashing my head over this
Upgrading of Apple?
I am supriced no topics have bin started on this
issue already.
Probably because for the majority of people it is a non-issue. It happens and most people realize and accept that it happens. I am still a big Canon fan despite the fact that they released the 30D not long after I purchased my 20D. Nikon did a quick model change from the D70 to D70s as well

Unibody MBP owners with *working* external displays, please chime in.

I'm trying to determine if there's any use at this time to try to exchange the MBP (unibody) I have now with another unit in the hopes of getting proper external display support. (To be clear, I'm referring to the external display problems many of us are having, like in this thread, and this one, and others.)
I'm sure there are others suffering from this problem who are simply seeking another datapoint in determining whether or not exchanging one's unibody MBP for another are of any use at this time. So the question here is:
If you have a unibody MBP, and you are successfully driving an external monitor without issue (using the Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter), can you kindly post the following information?
1) External display model (manufacturer and model)
2) External display screen resolution
3) Any information about DVI cable, length, brand if applicable, etc.
4) Have you confirmed proper operation in both 9400 and 9600 GPU modes?
5) If you know, is your MBP equipped with the 9c84 or 9c85 built-in display panel?
6) If your setup wasn't originally working, but now is working due to a unit swap or swapping out of the Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter with a new one, can you kindly note that?
Please do not consider yourself representative of a properly working external display setup if yours looks mostly good, with just minor artifacting--that is, for the purpose of this thread, please consider "working" to mean only perfectly normal operation of an external monitor from your unibody MBP.
Are all of the above points necessarily relevant? I don't know yet, but I figured it's best to try to get as much information from those who have working units, to try to determine what's relevant and what isn't.
Why am I asking this? Because I've already wasted enough time with this unibody MacBook Pro, now on my third unit, and I do not want to waste time making trips to the store to exchange units (and the time necessary for restoring to the new unit, etc.) if it's not going to help things. (The previous two replacements had nothing to do with this particular problem, and I didn't have my external display until the third unit, so have no idea if the previous two suffered from this particular problem or not.) If it seems that an exchange from one unibody MBP to another isn't going to help, then those of us who need to resolve this might learn more information with which to make a decision. Right now, I'm seriously considering exchanging for the current 17" MBP with matte display, even though it's not the new unibody design, and doesn't quite match up in the specifications with the new 15" MBP--I just need to get my setup working, and figure the older style of the 17" might be more tested and worked out.
Thanks in advance to those of you who fit the bill and answer these questions.
NOTE: If you have more relevant information to ask of those with working setups, please do; but please avoid the discussion of your problems if you're among the ones (like me) with external display issues, as there are other threads for the discussion of that (like the ones linked above). Ideally, I envision this thread as more populated by the responses of those with working setups.
Message was edited by: isonoise
Message was edited by: isonoise

Mine works perfect.. This is AFTER a logic board replacement for the 9600's BSOD problem
1) Dell 2007WMP
2) 1680x1050
3) Cable that came with monitor
4) Post repair only really using 9600, though 9400 seemed fine too
5) LG (9C84)
6) Logic board replaced last week for BSOD problem. (That board had external monitor refusing to wake problem as well).
Message was edited by: Robert Derelanko

GPU? Graphics drivers? Question for Penryn MBP owners.

I have a Penryn 2.4 MBP (current generation) and, after one graphics update and several os upgrades, I am still experiencing bad graphics.
Some times, very rarely, I still have corrupted text. It is self-healing, after a while it goes away. If I try and take a screenshot of the window with corrupted text, the screenshot is ok.
I have still flickering and big, white boxes in on-line videos, like the ones on youtube. Even in this case the problem appears to be self-healing. It goes away after a while and I do not think that it is heat-related, sometimes it happens when the components are not very hot.
Scrolling sometimes is bad. For example, in single-column Finder window, sometimes I cannot see the 1/3 bottom part of the column, which appears empty, when I scroll.
Frankly all these problems are absurd and I started thinking that they are hw-related. It's impossible apple is not able to offer stable and good graphics drivers/subsystem. Anyway, I have no problems when using non-apple applications, like firefox (but in Firefox I still see big white boxes in videos).
What is your experience?
mac.cardi

Post copied from previous discussion thread https://discussions.apple.com/message/17117482#17117482
This may be an old post, but for those still looking for an answer you can get the 13.12 (December 2013) AMD graphics driver from https://www.dropbox.com/sh/915fpdtgbgoksct/kOY7bKHgKq Select "Download->Download as .zip".
I only modded the driver for the windows 7 64-bit install, so if you using windows 8 under bootcamp you'll have to follow the included instructions yourself.
Please let me know/like this post if this works for you. (It would be great if you could report whether it worked based on using Win 7 or Win 8)

New MBP owner needs help with iTunes

I just bought a new MBP and I have all of my music (iTunes) on my old Windows XP PC. There is about 100mb of music and I'd like to keep it all on that hard drive as I don't want to load up my MBP HD.
I do want my MBP to be the main account for iTunes so I can make changes to tags and rating but I just want it to use the files on the networked HD. It is not necessary that I keep iTunes on the Win XP machine.
One more thing, if possible, I would like to keep a copy of only my 4 & 5 Star rated songs on my MBP (about 10GB) for when I am away. I cannot figure out how to do this. I can sort them in iTunes or create a playlist for these but I don't know how to export copies of only those files. Does anyone know how I can do this?
MacBook Pro 15" 2.33ghz 2GB RAM Mac OS X (10.4.8)

https://forums.adobe.com/search.jspa?q=D810

MBP Owners – Duration from CC Charge to "Can't Cancel" to Shipped Status?

For those of you who have your MBP's shipped as of now could you illuminate the rest of us to the duration of time you had between the 3 main status indicators apple has (Holding/Charging ones credit card, Orderee no longer able to cancel online, and Product shipped from Shanghai).
I see a few blurb here and there in the forums but nothing too informative. As for shipping times it seems all the MBP's come from China and take on average 3-4 business days to major cities.
So again ...all I am looking for is: Once my CC hold/charge was posted: X days later I couldnt cancel, X days later it shipped (insert or rearrange to match your actuals).

I couldnt cancel mine as of 3/4 and it shipped on 3/5 and i ordered it on 2/8. As of right now its in transit from indianapolis. I didnt pay for second day and its a 2ghz 120hd 2gb ram. Hope that helps answer your q. Peace out!
Powerbook Mac OS X (10.4.4)
Powerbook Mac OS X (10.4.4)

New MBP owner

Hi, I just recieved my macbook pro and am very happy with it.
Not bragging but people have been questioning how the machines run.
So here is my data:
its a week 27
2.16ghz
CTO with 2 gigs of ram
120 gig hard drive
matte screen
no whine
no moo
Display is evenly illuminated
Finish is great
Been running temperature monitor and while the machine does get hot along the function keys (mostly at F5-F7) and on the left back side by the ac plug.
Temperatures state about 40 C for the hard drive and up to almost 60 C for the processors. Though the housing feels much warmer than that.
My question is that I cannot tell if the fans are coming on or not. I have been using an old notebook cooling pad that keeps all temperatures under 40 C during my uses, so far iDVD, iMovie, surfing, and some chess.
I do not feel any kind of breeze coming from the vents and the only noise I hear is the hard drive. Any way of me finding out. With the exception of opening my machine and looking while its turned on.
On a side note and probably just one more observation to chuck into the whine bucket but here goes:
I have a DVR that uses a SATA drive and it has a really annoying whine. Just wondering if there might be a link between the drive and whine issues. Granted I am a total newbie to any of this but just thought I throw it in to the more experienced members of this forum.
Thank you in advance for any replies.
iMac G4, MBP 2.17 Mac OS X (10.4.6)
iMac G4 Mac OS X (10.4.6)
Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Hello,
Congratulate on new MBP... but be aware!
I had the same configuration as yours, but 1GB RAM and 100GB HDD. 1st and 2nd day it was OK, very silent and I even posted about this out there. But on the 3rd day, the whine cropped up and I am in the process of sending it in, to exchange for a new one, hopefully week 28 whine-free and hotless one.
And don't forget to check the temperature, I used CoreDuo Temp and although I got 65C at peak time running Pro App. like FCS, burning some DVD, it actually got really really hot and somehow, as hot as 80C at the bottom of the case.
Anyway, keep checking on everything within your first 15 days as you can exchange it for the new one (hope the better one)
Cheers,
James

MBP owners: Recommend an external HD?

So I've been convinced that an external HD, combined with my occasional CD-R burnings, is the best way to go for backups. What brand would you recommend? I'm looking for the best balance I can between cost and dependability/longevity. I have extremely few music files, so I can ALMOST (but not quite) fit all the files I want to backup on a single CD-R. However, I would like to clone the whole thing if I can, and it's not too expensive to "upgrade" to do so.
So what brands would you recommend? Size?
Thanks in advance!

G'day LeaperBP,
have a look at the thread at http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2389419&tstart=0
Probably the greatest number of problems identified with any brand of external drive discussed here relate to Western Digital externals.
The most regularly recommended are from OWC, followed by LaCie , and , to a lesser extent , Seagate.
It sounds as if you won't need a particularly large drive, but it is always better to err on the side of "too big" rather than "too small".
You also need to work out whether you want a "bus powered" portable drive (slower and smaller, but convenient at times) or a larger "Desktop" drive (faster and with more capacity for the same dollars, but can only be used when a mains power source is within reach).
If I were you, despite your comparatively light demands, I'd be looking at a drive in the 320 to 500 GB range if you are wanting a portable one, and in the 500GB to 1 TB range, if you would prefer a desktop.
For speedy use with a Mac ideally look for a drive with FW800 capabilities, though if you only want to use it for a small amount of back-up work you could probably make do with a cheaper, slower, USB2 version, much as I hate to suggest it.
Cheers
Rod

New MBP owner with a question about OS disks.

Just got a new mac book pro, I didn't get the OS disks in the box with the computer. Did I get short changed? A lot of the what I've read, there seems to be a need to use the OS disks, specially when partitioning the drive.
Is it normal for the Macs to come without OS disks in the package or am I missing them?
Thanks

Just got a new MacBook Pro. I didn't get the OS disks in the box with the computer. Did I get short changed?
Yes. Where did you buy it?
A lot of the what I've read, there seems to be a need to use the OS disks, specially when partitioning the drive.
Correct.
Is it normal for the Macs to come without OS disks in the package
No.
or am I missing them?
Yes.

Soon to be a MBP Owner - Concerns

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