If you’ve been following this blog, you know I’m partial to the Apple MacBook Pro. If I knew it could run Vista, I’d put the MacBook Pro at the top of my list of computer’s to get. Unfortunately, it doesn’t; at least not yet. So for now I’m delegated to being a window shopper.
I’m also keenly monitoring the issues people are having with their MacBook Pros. There are some connection problems and most importantly to me, heat issues.
When I checked out the MacBook Pro at the local Apple store I noticed that the demo unit was running pretty hot. After several years of using a Tablet PC–which by the way are becoming some terrific notebook heat-managers from my experience–I can’t imagine stepping back to what might be a hotplate. I hope Apple can fix this problem, without just simply stepping down the processor’s speed.
Placement of heat sources, the direction of the ventilation, and so on are critical design issues–especially in devices that are moved around a lot.
These are particularly big issues with Tablets because you might be using them when you hold them in your hands, or on your lap, or on a crowded desktop or when sitting in bed. Each of these brings its own heat-management requirements.
For instance, for me, if the heat is being primarily pushed below the device I’m going to notice it a lot if the notebook is anywhere except on my desk. Likewise, if the heat is only pushed out let’s say to the back of the unit, I often detect the computer easily heating up if have the unit opened up on a small or crowded desk or up against a wall. I’m also not too keen on devices that have hotspots on the top of the unit–especially where my hands lie. Hotspots on the bottom, may or may not bother me depending on how I hold the unit in my hand or on my lap.
It sounds like the MacBook Pro has some more issues to be worked out. I hope they are. And in the meantime I hope someone is trying to get Vista to run on one. I’d love to own one.
You can put vista on it (at least for now you can put xp on it with boot camp) so i assume when vista comes out you’ll be able to put it on as well.
Things sure change fast. Since the time I posted this about the MacBook Pro, the Boot Camp beta was released and I now own an Intel-based iMac that dual boots with the Tablet PC OS.
A MacBook Pro would have been a terrific notebook, however, it didn’t work out this time. Who knows, maybe by the time I’m ready to replace my notebook/Tablet PC Apple will have a Tablet PC that I can dual boot into Vista. For now, I’m very happy with the iMac.