In their usual Tuesday store update, Apple has added new MacBooks and MacBook Pros to the Apple store.

The new models have the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors, larger hard drives and 2GB of memory standard on most models.

The MacBook Pro also includes the latest NVIDIA graphics processors, up to 512MB of video memory, and a multi-touch trackpad.

If you just purchased a MacBook or MacBook Pro, now might be a good time to pick up the phone and call Apple (if you missed these lower prices/updates). We just picked up a new MacBook here at Mactropolis last week, and Apple generously rebated $200 to our credit card (We added roughly $150 of updates to the MacBook that are now included in the base price… plus, the same MacBook is now $50 cheaper in the store).

Good on Apple for doing this (as they should). Would be very interested to hear if anyone else out there has had a similar experience!

written by Mr. Mayor \\ tags: Apple Store, MacBook, MacBook Pro

You into the ‘bling’? Have a MacBook pro and want to show everyone else how much better you are than them? Or perhaps you’re just an attention seeker lookin’ for your fix? If so, this story is for you.

Turns out you can actually gold plate your MacBook Pro. But if that’s not enough for you…You can even specify a diamond studded logo of your own on the back of the display if you wish… Or simply have the Apple logo diamond studded. The choice is yours.

These are being sold through Powermax, an Apple authorized reseller.

Pricing starts at $5999 for gold-plating, and $8999 for gold-plating AND diamonds.

This is the perfect gift for….. Well, I don’t know who this is a perfect gift for… Perhaps Goldmember?

[Source]

written by Mr. Mayor \\ tags: MacBook Pro

Since installation of Leopard on my main system here at Mactropolis… Some funny things have happened.

First, on Halloween of all days, my system (15″ Macbook Pro / 2.33GHz) started ‘flickering’ and then a veil of horizontal lines draped down the screen like a curtain coming down at a broadway show. Sounds weird I know, but that’s exactly what happened. I attributed this to the fact that it was Halloween and Mr. Jobs was probably playing a cruel trick on me.

Well, a few days later I got an error I could understand. The mac stopped, I got the grey screen with Apple error message to restart the computer. Odd, I thought.. There must be some instability here perhaps with apps that aren’t suited to work well with Leopard? Anyways, I restarted the system and it has been fine since.

But this has still has raised my concern levels.

Has anyone else out there experienced similar things? I want to know if I’m all alone here. We have 5 systems here in the office and mine was the only one to have these problems occur.

Keeping my fingers crossed that it’s all smooth sailing from here.

written by Mr. Mayor

Reports from the Mac Observer tell us that there are possible design flaws in some Seagate hard drives found in MacBooks and MacBook Pros that could lead to huge data loss.

Model numbers affected include ST96812As and ST98823AS.

Our advice… Check your drive models against the numbers above, and make sure your daily Time Machine backup is in place

[Source]

written by Mr. Mayor

Looks like there’s been another minor update to the MacBook pro family.

Currently you can pick up a ’stock’ MacBook pro (15″ and 17″) with the 2.4 GHz processor. When ordering you can upgrade to the 2.6 GHz for another $250.

For kicks I just loaded up a 17″ with all of the goodies. 2.6 GHz, 4GB RAM, 200GB drive… and the total came to just over $3,000. This wasn’t including any other software (Aperture, iWork, etc..) or the Apple Care Protection Plan.

Would be a solid system, but I’m happy with my setup… For now

written by Mr. Mayor