So, I’ve had the new 17″ MacBook Pro for a couple of days now, using it enough to form more than just the cursory first impressions ( pretty, big, fast, cool, etc… ). Here’s a quick rundown on what’s struck me as the most significant & impressive elements of this beast so far.

The Screen: It’s not just that it’s big (which it is), it’s also that it’s so clear & bright. Frankly, the reason I pushed to make the jump from the 15″ to the 17″ was in the hopes that the extra workspace on 17′s 1900×1200 display (as compared to the the 15′s 1440×900) would be more than worth the extra 1.1 lbs. It is. It would be worth another pound. The extra screen real estate is useful, empowering, and gorgeous. WIN

The Body: I’ve watched the videos on the new MBP unibody design. I’ve even handled my mom & dad’s 13″ & 15″ MBP’s a few times. I knew they were solid. But I didn’t know just how solid, and now (and I use this word advisedly) sensual, the unibody design was until I got the chance to live with this 17″ MBP. It’s solid, supple, and just plain nice to touch. It feels good, and that translates into a computer that’s nicer & easier to use. The tolerances to which it is engineered are simply amazing. Everything fits. Everything works. My old 15″ MBP was solid, but this one makes it look/feel creaky & flimsy by comparison. WIN

The Keyboard: I’ve long been a fan of the new style (sleek, low-profile) Mac keyboards. I use one on my PC at work, and have one as the external keyboard for when I have the MBP “docked” & connected to a second monitor at my desk. The 17″ MBP has one of these keyboards (the old 15″ MBP didn’t), and in combination with the unibody engineering, typing on this is simply a joy. No stress, no strain, & great tactile feedback. Granted, it’s no IBM Model M – but what has ever matched that? No, pair the MBP keyboard with the fabulous multi-touch trackpad, and you’ve got a big WIN

The Battery: This MBP has one of the new Apple-designed, lithium-polymer, long-life batteries that is hardwired into the laptop. I.e., you can’t swap it out on the fly. I don’t care, as it doesn’t really impact me. I never had that come up with the old MBP, as I’m not a road-warrior type user. This new battery is rated for 1000 full discharge/recharge cycles, and up to 8 hrs of (theoretical) life per charge. Thus far, out of curiosity, I’ve done two cycles just to see what I could get using as I normally would if I had it plugged into the power. And I’ve gotten right at 4 hours each time. WIN

The other stuff is expected, really, in that it’s not surprising that a C2D 3.06 is fast, that 4GB of RAM is roomy & fast, that a 500GB 7200RPM HD is big & fast, and that the whole package is perfectly integrated with Snow Leopard.

All in all, I’m pleased as punch, and about as happy as a Mac fanboy can be…

-ghp

(click on the image, then just enter in your zipcode & Staples will let you see it at their site…)

I just picked one up for $20 (on sale – reg. price is $30), and it’s been outstanding. It fits my 15″ MacBookPro like a glove, leaving plenty of room for the wireless Logitech mouse that I use. It’s made it much easier for me to do my computing while staying more visible & available to the family, and it’s been a Godsend this past week, what with having to keep tabs on the new puppy!

-ghp

I’ve fallen woefully behind in my reporting on the materials that I’ve received by being a delegate to the upcoming LCMS national convention. I apologize to any/all who have missed my commentary.

Frankly, I’ve gotten a bit beaten down & discouraged by the barrage of materials, particularly those coming from the left (i.e., TBNJFPAC). I can sort of accept their blatant politicking when it’s issues-based. I don’t agree with their take on the issues, or with their recommendations for voting, but good on them for being organized enough to get their message out in such an organized way to take advantage of our synodical polity. What I don’t like is the ugly turn that several TBNJFPAC newsletters have taken in specifically running down good, faithful men & organizations by name. Talk up your own side. Let the reader read between the lines (without telling them to do so!). But there’s no need to go negative & explicit against the other side..

Rev. Paul Beisel has written two good postings dealing with his thoughts & feelings on being a delegate. His words & thoughts echo my own, and he expresses them better than I might. So I’ll just direct you to post#1 & post#2…

I’m still watching realitytv. So You Think You Can Dance is, I think, both my favorite AND the best realitytv show out there. American Idol’s younger sibling has better contestants, better judges, a better host, and a much better format than does the 800lb AI behemoth. It is, for me, clearly superior on every level. Last Comic Standing is ok, and it looks to be better than last summer’s installment. America’s Got Talent is a train wreck that I just cannot turn my eyes from, despite the fact that it’s a chore to watch, and that I feel vaguely ashamed after I’ve watched it.

After some time to process it, I think that the final episode of The Sopranos was actually pretty good, and did the job that it was supposed to do. As long as Tony is dead, that is. If there ends up being a movie at some point, and that Tony is alive… well, then, I will have to go on record as stating that the finale sucked, and that David Chase was/is/will be a sell-out hack.

The MacBook Pro is running great, and is just a treat to use, and the family is adjusting nicely to the iMac. Apple is cool. Read FSJ.

I’m still fully in the throes of blog software angst. WordPress just released another upgrade made mandatory by a security flaw bust. I’m bored with WordPress even as I’m seduced by all of the things that it can easily do (either stock or via it’s easy to use plugins & theme designs). Plus, I’ve been using it for almost 4 years, so I pretty much “get” how it works. But it just doesn’t “grab” me anymore. That it’s a largely subjective thing (with some objective stuff like security & “under-the-hood” design thrown in), I’m more than willing to admit. Even so, I’m still feeling compelled to seek out an alternative. I just don’t yet know what it could/should/might be…

Plus, there’s also work/resume stuff going on, and I’m just not going to get into that in any type of detail. Suffice it to say that it’s adding to the volatile mix that’s swirling in my mind.

Enough.

That’s the current status.

If you have any questions that you care to ask, please do so. I’ll most likely answer them…

-ghp

A brand spanking new 15″ MacBook Pro!

Side benefit #1: It’s coming with a free 4gb iPod Nano (silver, natch…)

Side benefit #2: Schloß TB will now officially be an all-Mac shop, as the orneriness & age of the last Windows box prompted this upgrade.

I’m giddy with excitement…

-ghp