Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
amols said:
Don't worry, I say this now -NO MBP CPU UPDATE AT WWDC- or till December for that matter. MBP itself has its own issues to be fixed like overheating, battery life and slower superdrive. I would be happier if they fix these issues instead of putting slightly faster chip and producing more heat and moans. And even if they do, you won't see big difference in performance anyways. So just enjoy your MB while it lasts.

A chip update has NOTHING to do with any outstanding issues, sorry...Apple is fully capable of fixing those (if any) with a better design AND a better chip.
 
I don't see why Apple would put a mobile chip into the iMac. I bought one for my work around a month ago and yes, its portable but not that portable.

*begs for a Conroe iMac*
 
Chupa Chupa said:
I think that depends on what Dell, Sony, Toshiba, etc, come out with. No way is Apple going to still be selling a 2.16 Core Duo at it's top end laptop when the PC makers have Core 2 Duo chips.

Apple never was a part of Mhz rat-race. Look at its bestselling Powerbook. How fast was it compared to the then PC laptops. Anyways, WWDC is suppose to be developers conference, so we should speculate more about Leopard and hopefuly MacPros (because they are long due) insted of iPods and MBPs.
 
Same here

dernhelm said:
I'm waiting for the Core 2 processors to come out as well. I'm finally replacing my 664MHz P-III (you read that right) that I surf the web with at home. Got my better half to agree to an upgrade, and almost pulled the trigger about 3 weeks ago, but thought I'd wait for the Core 2 Duo iMac to be introduced. That should mean cheaper Core Duo iMacs for me...


I'm in the same boat (but upgrading from a 867MHz TiBook). I figure if there's no iMac introduced, I pull the trigger on getting a refurb iMac core duo. Same thing if there's a new iMac with minor improvements. I'm thinking that for my home office work that I am going to be using this for (heavy on managing large PDFs and Word files and needing Windows for some VPN stuff with an office database that won't work on Mac, but no graphic design stuff) a Merom core 2 duo would be nice but not necessarily worth the extra money. I figure I might as well wait though because (a) if there's a new iMac then the refurb price on the core duo will probably drop a little; and (b) though the chances are small, there may be a revamping of the entire Mac line, including the iMac, that would make me smack myself on the forehead for not waiting a week or 2.
 
BRLawyer said:
A chip update has NOTHING to do with any outstanding issues, sorry...Apple is fully capable of fixing those (if any) with a better design AND a better chip.

Really?? I thought heat and battery life issues are directly connected to cpu chips. I wonder why they didn't put G5 in Powerbook 😕
 
Mac Mini needs more bang for the buck,

noservice2001 said:
please let it be in the mac mini...

2nd that notion. I waited last summer for updated Ibooks and this summer for an updated mini.

At the very least, Apple is making my summers seem very very slow, and that I can't complain about.
 
amols said:
Don't worry, I say this now -NO MBP CPU UPDATE AT WWDC- or till December for that matter. MBP itself has its own issues to be fixed like overheating, battery life and slower superdrive. I would be happier if they fix these issues instead of putting slightly faster chip and producing more heat and moans. And even if they do, you won't see big difference in performance anyways. So just enjoy your MB while it lasts.

amols said:
Apple never was a part of Mhz rat-race. Look at its bestselling Powerbook. How fast was it compared to the then PC laptops. Anyways, WWDC is suppose to be developers conference, so we should speculate more about Leopard and hopefuly MacPros (because they are long due) insted of iPods and MBPs.

No no no no no. first of all. The meroms create less heat than the yonahs. by your logic, they shouldn't put a cooler chip in until they resolve their heat issues. 😕

secondly: Mac Pros and MBPs both belong at wwdc. PRO. for professional. I fail to see how desktop professional machines belong here and laptop professional machines do not.

thirdly: ... actually that's all i really need to say.
 
amols said:
Apple never was a part of Mhz rat-race. Look at its bestselling Powerbook. How fast was it compared to the then PC laptops. Anyways, WWDC is suppose to be developers conference, so we should speculate more about Leopard and hopefuly MacPros (because they are long due) insted of iPods and MBPs.


Apple liked to downplay Mhz/Ghz because it knew there was no way the G3 and G4 PPCs could keep up with the P*. But when the G5 came along, what did Steve announce...that a 3Ghz chip would be ready in a year. Of course that never happened. The G5 never made it out of the high 2 GHz even three years after he made that statement. And THAT is the reason why we now have Intel Macs.

Moreover, now that PCs and Macs use the same chips Apple HAS to use the latest and greatest chips to keep up. It's not really a matter of playing the Ghz game. That game is over now that there is chip parity. But the first thing a company like Apple that basks in it's "cutting edge"/"trendy" glow must have is computers with the best chips.

Also, WWDC is about DEVELOPERS. Developers of software and hardware for all Apple products. So I think it's silly to limit speculation (especially since its all speculation) to only a few products. Theoretically every piece of Apple hardware is up for revision, not to mention possible new ones.
 
amols said:
Really?? I thought heat and battery life issues are directly connected to cpu chips. I wonder why they didn't put G5 in Powerbook 😕

1 - I don't know what overheating you talk about, apart from some cases that have been dealt with under AppleCare;

2 - Apple has probably the best battery life of the industry for such a notebook range...and no, don't tell me about 10" microbooks;

3 - the SD thing is due to the thin enclosure, a clear design paradigm at Apple...nothing else.
 
CJM said:
I don't see why Apple would put a mobile chip into the iMac. I bought one for my work around a month ago and yes, its portable but not that portable.

Don't look now but the current Intel iMac has a laptop/SFF chip and chipset in it it. 😱
 
amols said:
Apple never was a part of Mhz rat-race. Look at its bestselling Powerbook. How fast was it compared to the then PC laptops. Anyways, WWDC is suppose to be developers conference, so we should speculate more about Leopard and hopefuly MacPros (because they are long due) insted of iPods and MBPs.

It sure was! Anyone remember when the Pismo hit 400MHz, and Intel's best was still at 333MHz (or somethign to that effect)?
 
amols said:
Really?? I thought heat and battery life issues are directly connected to cpu chips. I wonder why they didn't put G5 in Powerbook 😕

It is one factor out of MANY that affects battery life of a laptop (in fact often the screen backlight and video chipset is the bigger battery killer).

Anyway you get more bang for your battery "buck" with Merom then with the current Yonah... in other words at the same clock rate (and chipset) you won't see a change in battery life (in fact it may improve slightly).
 
I don't get the point of this article. I mean, isn't it common knowledge that Apple is going to use the Merom processors in it's computers?
 
I hope we're all in for surprises at WWDC. Up until then, this is all speculation. It's fun to speculate and to try to be cool by being right, but I hope they knock everyone's socks off with the unexpected.
 
fowler. said:
I don't get the point of this article. I mean, isn't it common knowledge that Apple is going to use the Merom processors in it's computers?


Oh no doubt, it's when is what people are interested in............kind like me..........and the Merom-less MacBook Pro's I see when I go to Apple.com.....
 
BRLawyer said:
1 - I don't know what overheating you talk about, apart from some cases that have been dealt with under AppleCare;

2 - Apple has probably the best battery life of the industry for such a notebook range...and no, don't tell me about 10" microbooks;

3 - the SD thing is due to the thin enclosure, a clear design paradigm at Apple...nothing else.

1. If you check Apple's knowledge database or the manual that come with MBP, it actually says not to put this laptop on top of your lap, or it'll cause discomfort and potentially a burn with prolonged use. Now that's a new thing for a Powerbook or iBook user. Almost all the reviews of MBP state one con throughout, and thats the heat it dissipates. I own a MBP 2.16 Ghz and let me tell you it is very uncomforting to keep this on lap even through the clothing. Forget about using it in shorts unless you are in Alaska.

2. Less than three hours is not outstanding when you compare MBP to its predecessor and not PC notebooks.

3. The 17" MBP is as thin as 15.4". Why does it have faster D/L SD ??

Don't get me wrong. MBP is a facinating machine. I just hope Apple make it as perfect as PB was instead of running for every new chip like other PC vendors.
 
bendejo said:
I'm in the same boat (but upgrading from a 867MHz TiBook). I figure if there's no iMac introduced, I pull the trigger on getting a refurb iMac core duo.

So have you purchased refurbed from Apple previously? I've never done that, but I was wondering what your experience was like.
 
I think we're ready now to have a Merom mini at the house. It's the perfect machine for the townhome 'cuz it'll boot any OS we need and takes up absoultely bupkes for space. Whee!! And a 19" flatpanel. And a fat external HD.
 
amols said:
1. If you check Apple's knowledge database or the manual that come with MBP, it actually says not to put this laptop on top of your lap, ....

I have a 4 year old Toshiba that runs (under moderate load) fairly cool. It also warned against using in lap.

I think all "laptops" will come with that warning now. It is just an attempt to prevent lawsuits.

Plus, guys, it is bad for your...ummm....baby makers...they are on the outside for a reason.
 
New MacBook Pros Soon!

I think we will probably get an announcement about new designed MacBookPros at WWDC along with MacPro Desktops.

Rumor had it back in January that Apple wanted Intel to pre-release Merom chips to Apple for the MacBook Pro. Instead Apple was forced to rush to market a quick update to the PowerBook line using the Yonah processor.

My guess now is that Apple is going to finally get to roll out the new redsigned MacBook Pro for Merom. I bet that Apple gets away from the out-dated Aluminium/Titanium look and goes to the the smooth polished black, white, and silver look similar to the MacBook. I also bet it gets the updated keyboard, glossy display, etc like the MacBook.

My wife has the new MacBook and it is a really sweet machine to own. I think it is much better designed and easier to use than my PB G4 1.67 Mhz.

The easier HD, Battery/ memory access is well thought out. The screen is brilliant. The keyboard is much better than I expected. In addition the latchless closure works like a gem and is much more convenient than that crappy button latch on the MBPro. Also the metal look is getting ugly and outdated. It scratches easy, shows finger prints, and dust more. It is also not as forgiving of a short drop. Metal bends & breaks. Plastic absorbs and flexes.

Apple is ready to re-invent the MacBookPro and probably would have done it sooner except the chips weren't available.
 
mvc said:
Who voted negative????? You want it slower, eh? Give the man a G3! No, a 601!
They can have my 500MHz G3 iBook, I'm nearly done with it.

Ah, to be able to view movie trailers again.... siiigghhhh....
 
darrens said:
Yes - both AMD 64 and Intel EM64T are 64 bit extensions to the 32 bit x86 processor.

From what I understand the registers are still 32 bit, but the chips have a 64 bit address space and more registers.

No-one has the need for a truly 64 bit machine at this point - just machines that can address more RAM. The 4GB RAM limit on 32 bit processors is beginning to be an issue for pro users.

I think the vector extensions (AltiVec and SSE) have very large registers - 128 bit? This is what's used when there is a need for a specific optimisation.

Just my layman's understanding. Ready to be corrected!
Thanks. Anyone know what the advantage of having a 64-bit processor vs. a 32-bit (other than bigger address bus)? I know the CPU has 2 basic kinds of buses: the address bus (where it can see 4 GB of RAM in 32-bit, 16 ?(i don't know the prefix)bytes in 64-bit) and an instruction bus that actually computes.
 
dernhelm said:
So have you purchased refurbed from Apple previously? I've never done that, but I was wondering what your experience was like.


My TiBook is actually a refurb. I've had no problems at all with it. I've probably had it for about 3 1/2 years now and it still works great. Battery's getting a little wonky but that may be because I use a Sonnet PC card for my Airport Express WLAN (no built in airport card) and I get the impression that this is sucking a lot of power.

I'm looking to update just because I figure with a push in the Intel direction, Leopard would probably be pretty slow on a 867 G4 machine 🙂 Plus, being able to boot camp into windows will allow me some flexibility for doing some work-at-home stuff so I don't have to stay in the office until 10 p.m. So it's not that the refurb TiBook is failing or anything like that, just evolving needs.
 
guzhogi said:
Thanks. Anyone know what the advantage of having a 64-bit processor vs. a 32-bit (other than bigger address bus)? I know the CPU has 2 basic kinds of buses: the address bus (where it can see 4 GB of RAM in 32-bit, 16 ?(i don't know the prefix)bytes in 64-bit) and an instruction bus that actually computes.

without software, not much
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.