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Eug · 02:15 PM

Prototype Macbook Pro with 3G: In my shop now! - AnandTech Forums

More pix at that link. I personally have no interest in a 3G MacBook Pro since I can tether my iPhone 4 (without paying extra or jailbreaking). However, I could see some users wanting this, but I guess Apple didn't see a huge target market for this. Or maybe we'll see a 3G MacBook Pro (or Air) in the future.

Cold Warrior · May 16, 2011, 05:12 PM

That's neat. I'd like to see 3G options in Apple's notebooks, as long as they're month to month and reasonably priced. A world chip is a must.

Spheric Harlot · May 16, 2011, 05:18 PM

The month-to-month reasonable pricing is most certainly not up to Apple.

Fortunately, iPad has resulted in some interesting plans.

Of course, since that prototype is pre-unibody, this may be news, but unfortunately, it's extremely old news.

Eug · May 16, 2011, 05:20 PM

Well, new news of an old prototype.

Anyways, the guy has managed to power the thing up, so he's gonna try installing 10.5 on it.

At any rate, it looks like the machine is now functional after reflowing the nVidia GPU chip. Had to remove all the hand soldered vias first before putting it in the reflow oven, then resolder them back afterwards. Next up I'll run to Tigerdirect to grab a hard drive and try installing Leopard. From there, no idea what's going to happen!

Waragainstsleep · May 16, 2011, 05:56 PM

I wonder if the 3G drivers for it are built into retail OS builds.

Eug · May 16, 2011, 08:05 PM

Originally Posted by Waragainstsleep

I wonder if the 3G drivers for it are built into retail OS builds.

Nope.

Leopard is running. Big surprise, nothing happens when I insert a SIM card and it doesn't see any hardware different than normal.

According to the guy I got it from:

"Sorry! The Cell phone interface was never tested, I did not see working either while working with Apple and I did not receive any Module either which can be installed at J1300.

For you info it has cell Antenna also on right Edge of the Display edge."

ibook_steve · May 17, 2011, 01:30 AM

I don't know who this person is who brought this machine in to you, but they are asking for trouble. They are obviously not an engineer because for one thing, they'd probably have an idea on how to fix it themselves, and for another thing, they'd know that they could get into really big trouble for handing over a prototype model, even if it is 4 years old, to a non-Apple repair shop. Even if they no longer work at Apple, this was a bad idea on their part.

Steve

Eug · May 17, 2011, 10:45 AM

Not my shop. (I don't have a shop. It's the shop of the guy who posted the original thread in the other forum.)

I also wondered about that guy getting into trouble, but then again I sometimes see prototype machines on eBay, with the red logic boards and everything. I've probably seen 2 or 3 on eBay just in the last 2 years. I just never bother bidding on them because they're usually quite old and quite expensive.

Waragainstsleep · May 17, 2011, 11:43 AM

He's unlikely to get in any trouble this far down the line. If he took it to an Apple store they would probably assume it was some kind of knock off and refuse service on it. More than likely the serial number wouldn't come up on their system.

Spheric Harlot · May 17, 2011, 12:04 PM

If they had included 3G back then, would they have had to build a complete extra line to accommodate the carrier-locked CDMA variant...

Not feasible.

Eug · May 20, 2011, 07:01 AM

Originally Posted by Eug

I also wondered about that guy getting into trouble, but then again I sometimes see prototype machines on eBay, with the red logic boards and everything. I've probably seen 2 or 3 on eBay just in the last 2 years. I just never bother bidding on them because they're usually quite old and quite expensive.

Speaking of which. This just got posted and sold this week.

Apple TV Prototype Rare Collectible | eBay

olePigeon · May 20, 2011, 11:05 AM

I like the vintage Mac prototypes with the transparent plastics. Those are my favorite. I'd love to get one.

olePigeon · May 20, 2011, 11:20 AM

Found the thread I made about the Mac Pro prototype. This one is really cool because it has all the extra indicator LEDs for various functions. Must be pretty cool to watch with the side case off.

http://forums.macnn.com/89/macnn-lou...rototype-ebay/

ilovemymac · May 22, 2011, 02:39 PM

cant say im digging 3g on the laptops, was more hoping for a design overhaul for the macbooks man

Spheric Harlot · May 22, 2011, 02:49 PM

Originally Posted by ilovemymac

cant say im digging 3g on the laptops, was more hoping for a design overhaul for the macbooks man

Did you look at the image long enough to realize that it's the design that WAS completely overhauled in late 2008?

That book is pre-unibody.