Guys Upstairs - Tech

The MacBook Pro was released in the revolutionary 15 inch unibody design a few months ago. The 17 inch version was just announced at MacWorld earlier today and has much in common with the smaller MBP.

The specs are:

1920 x 1200 LED-backlit display
2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo/6 MB L2
4 GB 1066 MHz DDR3 memory
Nvidia GeForce 9400M + NVidia GeForce 9600M GT/512 MB
320 GB hard drive
Slot-loading SuperDrive

Claiming to be the thinnest and lightest 17″ notebook out, it is just under an inch thick and weighs less than 6 pounds. The screen looks impressive, with a 140×120 viewing angle, 700:1 contrast ratio, and 60% greater color gamut than the previous 17″.

The one noticeable difference over the 15″ MBP is the battery - it’s a non-removable lithium polymer battery. Apple justifies this by saying that it’s the longest lasting MacBook battery ever, lasting 7 hours with discrete graphics and 8 hours with integrated graphics. It should last 1000 cycles, which at roughly 200 cycles per year would be 5 years. The battery will cost $179 to replace.

There is only one base configuration available and it’ll cost you $2799.

[Gizmodo]

Press Release:

Apple Introduces 17-inch MacBook Pro With Revolutionary New Built-in Battery That Delivers Eight Hours of Use & 1,000 Recharges

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Apple(R) today unveiled the new 17-inch MacBook(R) Pro featuring a durable and beautiful precision aluminum unibody enclosure, and a revolutionary new built-in battery that delivers up to eight hours of use and up to 1,000 recharges for more than three times the lifespan of conventional notebook batteries. The new 17-inch MacBook Pro has a high resolution LED-backlit display and the same large glass Multi-Touch(TM) trackpad introduced with the new MacBook family in October. In addition, the new 17-inch MacBook Pro includes state of the art NVIDIA graphics and the latest generation Intel Core 2 Duo mobile processors. As part of the industry’s greenest notebook family, the new 17-inch MacBook Pro is made of highly recyclable materials, meets stringent energy efficiency standards and is made without many of the harmful toxins found in other computers.
“We’ve developed new battery technology that is better for the user and better for the environment,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Apple’s advanced chemistry and innovative technology deliver up to eight hours of use on a full charge cycle and up to 1,000 recharges.”

Apple uses advanced chemistry, intelligent monitoring of the system and battery, and Adaptive Charging technology to create a revolutionary new notebook battery that delivers up to eight hours of wireless productivity on a single charge and up to 1,000 recharges without adding thickness, weight or cost to the MacBook Pro’s incredible design.* The longer battery lifespan equals fewer depleted batteries and less waste, which is better for the environment.

The new 17-inch MacBook Pro includes an ultra-thin, widescreen glossy 1920 x 1200 display with 78 percent more pixels than the 15-inch MacBook Pro and a 60 percent greater color gamut that delivers desktop-quality color in a notebook. The LED-backlit display has brilliant instant-on performance, uses up to 30 percent less energy and eliminates the mercury found in industry standard fluorescent tube backlights.

Measuring just 0.98-inches thin and weighing 6.6 pounds, the 17-inch MacBook Pro is the world’s thinnest and lightest 17-inch notebook. The 17-inch MacBook Pro is the most powerful Mac(R) notebook yet with the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors available up to 2.93 GHz, up to 8GB DDR3 main memory and a graphics architecture that allows users to switch between the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics processor for better battery life and the powerful NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT discrete graphics processor for higher performance. The new 17-inch MacBook Pro includes a 320GB 5400 rpm hard drive standard with a 320GB 7200 rpm hard drive and 128GB and 256GB solid state drives as options. As with the rest of the new MacBook family, the 17-inch MacBook Pro includes a next generation, industry-standard Mini DisplayPort to connect with the new Apple LED Cinema Display featuring a 24-inch LED-backlit widescreen display with a built-in iSight(R) video camera, mic and speakers.

The new 17-inch MacBook Pro joins the aluminum unibody MacBook family in setting new standards for environmentally friendly notebooks with every model achieving EPEAT Gold status.** Each MacBook unibody enclosure is made of highly recyclable aluminum and comes standard with energy efficient LED-backlit displays that are mercury-free and made with arsenic-free glass. The new MacBook family meets stringent Energy Star 4.0 requirements, contains no brominated flame retardants and uses internal cables and components that are PVC-free. The battery in the new 17-inch MacBook Pro provides additional environmental benefit because its extended lifespan means fewer depleted batteries resulting in less waste. Depleted batteries can be replaced for $179 which includes installation and disposal of your old battery in an environmentally responsible manner.

Pricing & Availability
The new 17-inch MacBook Pro will be shipping at the end of January and will be available through the Apple Store(R) (http://www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $2,799 (US), and includes:

— 17-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1920 x 1200, glossy display;
— 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 6MB shared L2 cache;
— 1066 MHz front-side bus;
— 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM;
— NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics;
— NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT discrete graphics with 512MB GDDR3 video
memory;
— 320GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion
Sensor;
— a slot-load 8X SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+/-R
DL/DVD+/-RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
— Mini DisplayPort for video output (adapters sold separately);
— built-in AirPort Extreme(R) 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth
2.1+EDR;
— Gigabit Ethernet port;
— built-in iSight video camera;
— three USB 2.0 ports;
— one FireWire(R) 800 port (FireWire 400 compatible);
— ExpressCard/34 expansion card slot;
— one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both
optical digital and analog;
— glass Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard;
— built-in, 95WHr lithium polymer battery; and
— 85 Watt MagSafe(R) Power Adapter.

Build-to-order options for the 17-inch MacBook Pro include a 2.93 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 8GB 1066 MHz DDR 3 memory, 320GB 7200 rpm hard drive, a 128GB or 256GB solid state drive, anti-glare display for $50 (US), Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter, Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (for 30-inch DVI display), Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter, Apple Remote, Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter and the AppleCare Protection Plan.

*A properly maintained Apple 17-inch MacBook Pro battery is designed to retain 80 percent or more of its original capacity during a lifespan of up to 1,000 recharge cycles. Battery life and charge cycles vary by use and settings. For more information visit
http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/17inch-battery.

**EPEAT is an independent organization that helps customers compare the environmental performance of notebooks and desktops. Products meeting all of the 23 required criteria and at least 75 percent of the optional criteria are recognized as EPEAT Gold products. The EPEAT program was conceived by the US EPA and is based on IEEE 1680 standard for Environmental Assessment of Personal Computer Products. For more information visit http://www.epeat.net.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.

(C) 2009 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS, Macintosh, MacBook, Multi-Touch, iSight, Apple Store, AirPort Extreme, FireWire and MagSafe are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Happy Thanksgiving! With that said, we all know that the day after is one of the most awaited days for gadget shoppers since it’s Black Friday. Usually associated with ridiculously cheap and possibly even free items, how does this year’s Black Friday size up?

There are several resources for a complete list of Black Friday deals. Some stores are offering sales prior to Friday and most places have the same prices online so you can shop from the comfort of your room.

A quick list of some deals courtesy of Gizmodo:

Cameras and Camcorders
Walmart
Samsung 10.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Zoom
Price: $69
Savings: $100

Sears
Samsung 8.2MP I85 Digital Camera
Price: $129.99
Savings: $311

Sam’s Club
Samsung SC-DX103 DVD Camcorder
Price: $179.92
Savings: $120

Computer Peripherals/Monitors
Best Buy
Western Digital 1TB My Book Home Edition External Hard Drive
Price: $150
Savings: $100

Amazon
Logitech MX Revolution Cordless Laser Mouse
Price: $46.99
Savings: $53

Samsung 2233BW 22-Inch LCD Monitor
Price: $214.31 (w/ $30 mail-in rebate)
Savings: $230

Western Digital Velociraptor 300GB 10,000RPM SATA Hard Drive
Price: $199.99 (w/ $30 mail-in rebate)
Savings: $150

Newegg
ASUS 22” Widescreen LCD Monitor
Price: $129.99
Savings: $90

Gaming
CompUSA (part of Pink Friday)
Xbox 360 Halo 3 Special Edition
Price: $99.99
Savings: $200

Project Gotham: Racing (Xbox 360)
Price: FREE
Savings: $50

Dell
XBOX 360 Arcade With 7 Games Including Rock Band 2
Price: $199
Savings: $200

GPS Systems
Best Buy
Garmin Nuvi 260W GPS System
Price: $190
Savings: $110

Amazon
Garmin Nuvi 350 GPS Navigator
Price: $150
Savings $180

Walmart
Garmin Nuvi 200 3.5” GPS Navigation System
Price: $97
Savings: $323

K-Mart
Nextar X3-03 Text-To-Speech GPS System
Price: $79.99
Savings: $190

HDTVs
Best Buy
Samsung 40″ Class 1080P LCD HDTV
Price: $799.99
Savings: $800

NewEgg
Toshiba 32” 1080p HDTV
Price: $579.99
Savings: $320

Target
Westinghouse 26” 720p HDTV
Price: $300
Savings: $700

HDTVs: Big (42” and up)
Best Buy
Samsung 42″ 720P Plasma HDTV
Price: $699.99
Savings: $300

Samsung 46″ Class 1080P LCD HDTV
Price: $1,099.99
Savings: $1,200

Panasonic Viera 50″ 720p Plasma HDTV
Price: $900
Savings: $500

Circuit City
Samsung 46″ 1080p LCD HDTV (Doorbuster)
Price: $1099.99
Savings: $500

Samsung 50-inch Plasma
Price: $899.99
Savings: $500

Sharp Aquos 52″ 1080p LCD HDTV
Price: $1499.99
Savings: $800

NewEgg
Sharp Aquos 46” 1080p HDTV
Price: $999.99
Savings: $1,300

Walmart
Samsung 46” 1080p HDTV
Price: $1,098
Savings: $800

Samsung 50” Widescreen 720p Plasma HDTV
Price: $798
Savings: $1,200

Amazon
Pioneer PDP-5020FD 50-Inch 1080p KURO Plasma HDTV
Price: $2,382.06
Savings: $1,618

Pioneer PDP-6020FD 60-Inch Class KURO Plasma HDTV
Price: $3899.93
Savings: $1600

 

Home Entertainment
Best Buy
Samsung BD-P1500 Blu-ray player
Price: $200
Savings: $99

CompUSA
NEC NP200 Projector
Price: $299.99
Savings: $350

NewEgg
Onkyo 7.1-Channel A/V Receiver with HDMI 1.3
Price: $149.99
Savings: $150

Sears
Sony BDP-S350 Blu-Ray Disc Player (doorbuster)
Price: $179.99
Savings: $120

Office Max
Epson PowerLite SF SVGA Projector
Price: $399.99
Savings: $200

Walmart
Magnavox Blu-ray Player
Price: $128
Savings: $107

Laptops
CompUSA
Sony Vaio TT, 256GB SSD, 11.1”, Blu-ray
Price: $999.99
Savings: $6,000

NewEgg
Acer Aspire One 8.9” Laptop
Price: $249.99
Savings: $50

Staples
HP Pavilion 15.4″ Dual-Core 2GB RAM 120GB HD Notebook (Free HP Printer included)
Price: $399.98

Office Depot
HP G50-112NR 15.4″ 3 GB RAM 160 GB HD Notebook
Price: $349.99

Circuit City
HP Pavilion 15.4″ Laptop (Intel Dual Core T3200, 2GB, 160GB HD, Vista Home)
Price: $399.99

Macs
MacMall
Macbook 13”, 2GHZ
Price: $1,180
Savings: $119

Macbook Pro 15”, 2.4GHz
Price: $1,799
Savings: $200

Macbook Pro 15”, 2.5GHz
Price: $2,249
Savings: $250

Macbook Pro 17”, 2.5GHz
Price: $2,549
Savings: $250

Macbook Air, 1.8GHz SSD
Price: $2,320
Savings: $179

iMac 20”, 2.6GHz
Price: $1,370
Savings: $129

Memory (Flash Drives/Memory Cards)
CompUSA
Transcend V20 USB Flash Drive (64GB)
Price: $79.99
Savings: $100

Circuit City
SanDisk 4GB SDHC Memory Card
Price: $12.99
Savings: $18

SanDisk 8GB SDHC Memory Card
Price: $19.99
Savings: $25

Office Max
SanDisk 4GB Cruzer Micro USB Readyboost
Price: $9.99
Savings: $70

SanDisk 16GB Cruzer Micro Jump Drive
Price: $39.99
Savings: $70

Networking
Amazon
Ooma Core VoIP Phone System with No Monthly Phone Service Bills
Price: $198
Savings: $52

Staples
Netgear Wireless-N Router
Price: $49.98
Savings: $58

Sears
Nextar 7″ Digital Photo Frame (doorbuster)
Price: $37.99
Savings: $62

Miscellaneous Goodies
NewEgg
Computer Tool Kit (90 pieces)
Price: $24.99
Savings: $25

Sony Wireless Stereo Headphones with Transmitter (doorbuster)
Price: $29.99
Savings: $30

PCs
Best Buy
Toshiba AMD Turion 64 X2 Dual-Core Notebook Computer (3GB Memory, 160GB Hard Drive)
Price: $380
Savings: $200

CompUSA
Allio 32” All-in-One HDTV PC
Price: FREE
Savings: $1,424

iBUYPOWER 524GT A64×2 Gaming Computer
Price: FREE
Savings: $659

iBUYPOWER 908TB C2B Gaming Computer
Price: FREE
Savings: $705

Walmart
HP Pavilion Desktop w/ 2GB RAM, 160GB HD, 19″ LCD Monitor
Price: $398
Savings: $692

Portable Players
Amazon
SanDisk Sansa View 32GB
Price: $199.99
Savings: $150

CompUSA
Microsoft Zune (4GB) MP3 Player
Price: $49.99
Savings: $150

Circuit City
Samsung 8GB MP3 Player
Price: $79.99
Savings: $80

Sony Walkman 8GB MP3 Player
Price: $79.99
Savings: $90

Belkin Tune Cast FM Transmitter for iPod
Price: $25
Savings: $25

Walmart
RCA 8GB MP3 Player
Price: $49.99
Savings: $70

Venturer 8” Portable DVD Player
Price: $49
Savings: $40

Printers
CompUSA
HP OfficeJet Bluetooth All-In-One
Price: $59.99
Savings: $90

Office Max
Samsung CLP315 Laser Printer
Price: $99.99
Savings: $250

Staples
Brother MFC3360C All-In-One Printer (requires rebate)
Price: $29.98
Savings: $100

Software
Office Depot
Microsoft Office Home & Student 2007
Price: $69.99
Savings: $80

Staples
Microsoft Office Home & Student 2007 (requires rebate)
Price: $59.99
Savings: $90

Dell
Norton 360 2.0 All-In-One Security Software
Price: $9.99
Savings: $60

Office Max
Dragon Naturally Speaking
Price: $39.99
Savings: $60

 

BFAds.net offers a nice list of ads from all the stores that are offering deals and includes a search feature as well as a section that compares online deals that the stores are offering to what you can get by going to a brick and mortar store. Slickdeals has a dedicated section of their forum specifically for Black Friday, including a spreadsheet that has a list of items for sale so you can easily cross reference multiple stores for a line of items (it’s really well put together - you should download it).

I already purchased a 1TB Samsung Spinpoint 32MB cache SATA hard drive from Newegg for 94.99 with free shipping. It’s not listed as a Black Friday deal for Newegg, but it’s currently one of the best prices for one of the best 1TB hard drives out there.

[Gizmodo]

ESA just announced today that the 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E³) will be held June 2-4, 2009 at the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC). It will be open to “international and U.S.-based media, analysts, retailers, developers and business partners,” meaning that it will be returning to the way it was pre-2007. The last two years have had significantly less attendance and the spectacle of the event was mostly absent.

While the event still will not be open to the public, the policies will remain as relaxed as it was before when you could gain entrance just by having a gaming blog. The event will be open to both ESA and non-ESA members (Activision-Blizzard, LucasArts, id) to exhibit their newest and upcoming releases. In response to concerns that the extravagance expected will lead back to the trimmed down E³ of the past two years, ESA president and CEO Mike Gallagher said that they will be keeping many of the improvements such as the suites format.

[Joystiq]