Apple Notebook Event Rumor Roundup

[TheSVD]

(...) Nothing crazy and out of the ordinary.

I reckon thats for MWSF. I think that alot will be announced tommorow, leaving plenty of room for mystery for MWSF.
Think, if they did cinema displays, maybe even mac minis, whatever, perhaps evn more on snow leopard, ilife/work 09 - what could come for MWSF?
Very unlikely though

 

[Beric]

I thought they removed it from the Air because it was an ultra portable. The Macbook is not an ultra portable...

Exactly. And yet another member was suggesting the optical drive be removed from the Macbook. A no-go.

 

[twilsonchicago]

Applecare

I do plan to get applecare but my fear is having to ship off my computer for long periods of time, or will they just take my old one and give me a new one without the problems? I have applecare on my current MB but never had to use it so far for anything major so I am unsure of what to expect. Thanks.

I'm a principal in a small design firm and the resident tech head. I've managed more than 30 macs over the last dozen years or so and I cannot remember more than two or three out-of-warranty component failures on anything less than about 5 years old (beyond Applecare's coverage period, yes?). And if the cause was a known defect, Apple replaced it free anyway. I've never bought Applecare, even on servers, and I've saved thousands of dollars.

Try this: Take the money you'd spend on Applecare and every other extended warranty someone tries to sell you, and put it all in a savings account. When something breaks out of warranty, pay for it from the account. I guarantee you'll come out ahead.

-T

 

[Wierd Fishes]

I'm a principal in a small design firm and the resident tech head. I've managed more than 30 macs over the last dozen years or so and I cannot remember more than two or three out-of-warranty component failures on anything less than about 5 years old (beyond Applecare's coverage period, yes?). And if the cause was a known defect, Apple replaced it free anyway. I've never bought Applecare, even on servers, and I've saved thousands of dollars.

Try this: Take the money you'd spend on Applecare and every other extended warranty someone tries to sell you, and put it all in a savings account. When something breaks out of warranty, pay for it from the account. I guarantee you'll come out ahead.

-T

Savings account eh... never thought of that, but always knew those were a crock.

Hey, its getting dark in here, could sure use a black backlit keyboard on my MB... lol

 

[wx4svr]

Has this happened to anyone else...

You are SOOO happy that there is a Keynote, and you tell yourself that you are NOT going to look at this website until the Keynote steam is up so you can be sooo surprised when Steve shows off the new goodies. However, you make it until 2:30 when you can't take it anymore. You end up spoiling it for yourself and clicking over to MacRumors.com Has anyone else gone through this fight with your mind?

 

[puffnstuff]

I love how people keep asking about mac minis. The freakin' invite says NOTEBOOKS! Same thing happened with the "Lets Rock Event" it was clearly about ipods but people kept saying its going to be about the notebooks. Why are people slow?

I do think a surprise is coming. It is not often that they have a notebook event. So something huge may appear.

Macworld is for something brand spankin' new. Apple has three notebook lines who is to say they wont introduce something an slap an mba,mbp,or mb tag on it and release it on tuesday. The rumor is there are 12 new products to be released. Count how many there are now.

 

[Wierd Fishes]

Has this happened to anyone else...

You are SOOO happy that there is a Keynote, and you tell yourself that you are NOT going to look at this website until the Keynote steam is up so you can be sooo surprised when Steve shows off the new goodies. However, you make it until 2:30 when you can't take it anymore. You end up spoiling it for yourself and clicking over to MacRumors.com Has anyone else gone through this fight with your mind?

I always read the live feeds.

 

[TheSVD]

Has this happened to anyone else...

You are SOOO happy that there is a Keynote, and you tell yourself that you are NOT going to look at this website until the Keynote steam is up so you can be sooo surprised when Steve shows off the new goodies. However, you make it until 2:30 when you can't take it anymore. You end up spoiling it for yourself and clicking over to MacRumors.com Has anyone else gone through this fight with your mind?

Ditto
But i really have to go now, its 12:00am here in England, goodbye all, and have fun with tommorow

 

[bektravels]

Perhaps tomorrow will finally bring a Mac notebook worthy of replacing my 12" PB.. 4+ years old and still going strong. IMO, the best little notebook Apple has produced.

Heh, that's exactly how I feel too

 

[chickenninja]

all i see in these rumors are a folding silver rectangle, how many years have we had that design..... it could at least become a solar powered kite that could charge itself. Then in a few years they could make it wireless. he he but seriously back when the ibook came out it shattered the mold of laptops, and we havent seen anything close to as cool since. i hope all these rumors are bunk so that theres still a chance for some real case redigns that will sing my soul to sleep.

 

[digitalbiker]

Me too.
I actually hope the "real" MacBook Pros were not leaked yet, if Apple did make them.

What's with you two? (kabunaru & beric)

Apple is definitely not dropping the MBP, MB division. The leaked Apple service document proves that. Plus, there is no reason why Apple would want to merge the lines.

Apple is steering the laptop lines to different markets.

The MacBook line is for the general consumer/student who wants a small portable for medium duty computer needs.

The MacBook Pro is for the Power User or Professional who wants a portable with multiple connectivity options, better displays, more storage and RAM capacity, and more computational power.

The MacBook Air is for the frequent business traveler who wants an ultra-light portable capable of light to medium duty computer tasks.

Apple uses whatever technology is available to satisfy those markets while offering award winning designs and a unique computing experience.

Apple does not make Alienware bricks with desktop components crammed into large heavy shells to win performance bragging rights. However the MBP is still a decent workhorse and a nice piece of hardware for most video, audio, graphic artist, scientific, or business professional.

 

[schneb]

I'm really excited, but also extremely nervous. If Apple does drop Firewire from the 13" Macbook and/or doesn't offer Firewire in a small enclosure < $1500 I'll have to look at other options... like I did for my Desktop when Apple continued to ignore the users who need a true Desktop (not a mini using notebook parts, an all-in-one using notebook parts, or a > $2300 workstation) and I couldn't wait any longer.

I love the OS and have owned about two dozen different Macs over the years, but their hardware lately has been extremely disappointing to me.

I agree completely. If Apple has dropped the ball anywhere, it is in not creating a half-height Mac Pro. Its either Moped or a Harley with them.

 

[wx4svr]

Ditto
But i really have to go now, its 12:00am here in England, goodbye all, and have fun with tommorow

Have a good one! I'm thinking about turning off my fios router until 5 or 6 PM when I know the stream may be up. This Mac Rumors link on my Safari bar is just a ticking time bomb.

 

[Beric]

What's with you two? (kabunaru & beric)

Apple is definitely not dropping the MBP, MB division. The leaked Apple service document proves that. Plus, there is no reason why Apple would want to merge the lines.

Apple is steering the laptop lines to different markets.

The MacBook line is for the general consumer/student who wants a small portable for medium duty computer needs.

The MacBook Pro is for the Power User or Professional who wants a portable with multiple connectivity options, better displays, more storage and RAM capacity, and more computational power.

The MacBook Air is for the frequent business traveler who wants an ultra-light portable capable of light to medium duty computer tasks.

Apple uses whatever technology is available to satisfy those markets while offering award winning designs and a unique computing experience.

Apple does not make Alienware bricks with desktop components crammed into large heavy shells to win performance bragging rights. However the MBP is still a decent workhorse and a nice piece of hardware for most video, audio, graphic artist, scientific, or business professional.

Perhaps we see two very distinct and major holes in that lineup, and want them filled?

The Macbook powerhouse, and the 13" Macbook that actually performs.

 

[commander.data]

I posted my comparisons on some of the perceived advantages of going with nVidia chipsets in another forum and I thought I might as well posted them here. I'm not saying that going with nVidia chipsets is unlikely or bad, it's just that it isn't some huge saving grace. And I'd thought I'd get this out before whatever comes tomorrow.

1. MCP79 is physically smaller than the Centrino 2 Montevina.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/mobile/print/20070907170824.html

Size is not a big factor. Intel has the GS45 available for small-form factor applications. A regular GM45 is 34x34mm while a GS45 is 27x25mm. The GS45 can operate in high-powered mode for the MB and MBP, offering the exact same functionality as the GM45, only being physically smaller. The GS45 can also operate in low-powered mode for tighter thermal requirements such as the MBA. Similarly, the ICH9M southbridge is also available in small-form factor form. The total surface-area of a regular GM45 and ICH9M is 3342mm² while the small form factor version is 1415mm² with no loss in functionality.

2. Hybrid SLI or Power to switch between integrated and discrete graphics and/or for performance boost.

http://www.nvidia.com/object/hybridsli_notebook.html

Being able to switch between integrated and discrete graphics is a feature of the GM45 and Montevina. Intel's implementation has the advantage of being GPU agnostic working with nVidia or ATI GPUs, while nVidia's chipset forces you to use nVidia GPUs.

Hybrid SLI for performance boost is irrelevent since it only works for low-end GPUs 9500M G and below. A 9500M GS or above can't operate in SLI with the IGP so it's no help to the MBP. It'll only help the MB if the MB also had a low-end GPU in addition to an IGP which is unlikely.

3. nVidia DriveCache for faster booting and response times.

This technically was really pioneered by Intel in their previous Santa Rosa chipset and is called Turbo Memory or Robson Technology while in development. I believe Intel has also implemented it on their desktop chipsets now too. Montevina of course supports it.

4. nVidia's superior IGP and the possibility of dedicated VRAM

nVidia's IGP is really the only advantage they have over Intel chipsets.

http://www.notebookjournal.de/praxis/79/3

The GMA X4500MHD already performs somewhere between a discrete 8400M G and discrete 8400M GS. The 8400M GS has since been renamed a 9300M G.

http://www.vr-zone.com/articles/Intel_GM47_Mobile_Chipset_Delivers_2X_Graphics_Performance/5592.html

Intel also has a GM47 on their roadmaps which has the GMA X4500MHD overclocked from 533MHz to 640MHz. This'll probably come close to 8400M GS/9300M G performance if Intel gets their drivers together.

So nVidia's IGP solution really needs to be 9400M class to solidly differentiate itself from the GMA X4500MHD and Intel's possible overclocked response. Hopefully, nVidia will deliver and Apple helps by using dedicated VRAM.

The other issue is power consumption. nVidia's chipsets generally aren't known to be the lowest power solutions compared to ATI or Intel. Intel's Montevina has also moved to a 65nm process compared to 90nm in Santa Rosa so power consumption is down despite the faster IGP.

Really, the advantages of going nVidia over Intel aren't quite as clear cut as some of the rumours or nVidia's marketing would make it seem.

 

[digitalbiker]

I do plan to get applecare but my fear is having to ship off my computer for long periods of time, or will they just take my old one and give me a new one without the problems? I have applecare on my current MB but never had to use it so far for anything major so I am unsure of what to expect. Thanks.

I never buy extended warranties on any consumer product except Apple portables.

Since 1991 I have bought AppleCare on every portable I have ever owned and I am way ahead on savings. I have sent many Apple laptops in for repairs and it has saved me thousands. AppleCare is fast. Many times I have had turnaround on my repairs in less than 4 days.

I report the problem. Receive the shipping carton from Apple via overnight shipping. Return the laptop. Then 2 - 3 days later receive the repaired laptop. Sometimes I have even had Apple bump my laptop to a newer GPU or better cpu.

Don't buy a laptop without AppleCare. It is just too good of a deal not to take advantage of.

 

[ezekielrage_99]

I wonder if a $USD800 Macbook with nVidia graphics, 2GB RAM and 200+GB HDD is too much to ask for

 

[digitalbiker]

Perhaps we see two very distinct and major holes in that lineup, and want them filled?

The Macbook powerhouse, and the 13" Macbook that actually performs.

Those holes are already filled they just need to be updated.

The MBP is powerhouse enough for most professionals, it is just in need of a recent update.

The 13" MB did perform well it is just in need of an update.

Hence the reason for the updates tomorrow.

 

[B. Hunter]

"Mac Soda has heard that iLife ’09 and iWork ’09 are going to be announced this Tuesday at the MacBook event. Similar to last year, when Steve introduced the iMac, and then branched off into the iLife and iWork updates, Steve is expected to do the same thing this year, announcing the iLife/iWork update with the introduction of the new laptops."

This is complete ********. No new versions of iLife or iWork tomorrow. -- John Gruber

And what if it turns out to be true? We don't really know.
I tend to save the bold face type for things I know to be true.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

I

I distinctly remember seeing 'iLife '09' in our distributors listings of Apple products. It was there and now it's gone. At the time I saw it, I didn't think to get the SKU. I should have gotten it then.

I'll check now and see if anything has changed...

 

[Lo Aul]

i love how you push what you think is going to happen. lets see what they come with. Though I disagree on some stuff, i find it utterly amusing that you post this after all the other posts talking about the coming new products.

personally I think that there will be a Macbook Mini introduced, also i genuinely hope Blu-Ray comes finally, though it would be weird if they didn't update the desktop line for it also.

MacBook Mini would compete too much with the Air. No way it happens.

 

[andiwm2003]

I posted my comparisons on some of the perceived advantages of going with nVidia chipsets in another forum and I thought I might as well posted them here. I'm not saying that going with nVidia chipsets is unlikely or bad, it's just that it isn't some huge saving grace. And I'd thought I'd get this out before whatever comes tomorrow.


http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/mobile/print/20070907170824.html

Size is not a big factor. Intel has the GS45 available for small-form factor applications. A regular GM45 is 34x34mm while a GS45 is 27x25mm. The GS45 can operate in high-powered mode for the MB and MBP, offering the exact same functionality as the GM45, only being physically smaller. The GS45 can also operate in low-powered mode for tighter thermal requirements such as the MBA. Similarly, the ICH9M southbridge is also available in small-form factor form. The total surface-area of a regular GM45 and ICH9M is 3342mm² while the small form factor version is 1415mm² with no loss in functionality.


http://www.nvidia.com/object/hybridsli_notebook.html

Being able to switch between integrated and discrete graphics is a feature of the GM45 and Montevina. Intel's implementation has the advantage of being GPU agnostic working with nVidia or ATI GPUs, while nVidia's chipset forces you to use nVidia GPUs.

Hybrid SLI for performance boost is irrelevent since it only works for low-end GPUs 9500M G and below. A 9500M GS or above can't operate in SLI with the IGP so it's no help to the MBP. It'll only help the MB if the MB also had a low-end GPU in addition to an IGP which is unlikely.


This technically was really pioneered by Intel in their previous Santa Rosa chipset and is called Turbo Memory or Robson Technology while in development. I believe Intel has also implemented it on their desktop chipsets now too. Montevina of course supports it.


nVidia's IGP is really the only advantage they have over Intel chipsets.

http://www.notebookjournal.de/praxis/79/3

The GMA X4500MHD already performs somewhere between a discrete 8400M G and discrete 8400M GS. The 8400M GS has since been renamed a 9300M G.

http://www.vr-zone.com/articles/Intel_GM47_Mobile_Chipset_Delivers_2X_Graphics_Performance/5592.html

Intel also has a GM47 on their roadmaps which has the GMA X4500MHD overclocked from 533MHz to 640MHz. This'll probably come close to 8400M GS/9300M G performance if Intel gets their drivers together.

So nVidia's IGP solution really needs to be 9400M class to solidly differentiate itself from the GMA X4500MHD and Intel's possible overclocked response. Hopefully, nVidia will deliver and Apple helps by using dedicated VRAM.

The other issue is power consumption. nVidia's chipsets generally aren't known to be the lowest power solutions compared to ATI or Intel. Intel's Montevina has also moved to a 65nm process compared to 90nm in Santa Rosa so power consumption is down despite the faster IGP.

Really, the advantages of going nVidia over Intel aren't quite as clear cut as some of the rumours or nVidia's marketing would make it seem.

well said. it seems a lot of people compare the intel IGP with the intel X3000. and then add some wishful thinking

 

[ellsworth]

These leakage photos that we see on these rumor boards... I'm pretty sure Apple is "meh" about them all because they probably have something AMAZING coming out that only Apple knows about... WATCH... amazingness = tomorrow

 

[MyMelange]

Hi,

I am new to your awesome mac forum and have a few questions.

I am converting from a PC to a Mac!!! Yeah!

I have been waiting patiently for the new macbooks to arrive so I can decide between purchasing the current macbook or the new one.

I have a few questions for all you knowledgeable Mac users.

1. How soon will the new models be available to test and buy in stores after the press release tomorrow?

2. What do they do with the old models? Do they still have them available at a discount? How much of a discount would you expect?

3. I am not a gamer and I don't use video- I will use this for blogging, writing, picture and file storage, photo editing and heavy internet usage. My current Dell desktop is 1.0Ghz/1GB/160GB and seems to work fine for what I need. I want speed, and the ability to have several applications open and running at once. Would you recommend that I stick to buying the current macbook version 2.4 Ghz/2GB/250GB at full price, waiting to see if I can buy said model at a discount after the new ones are released or is there something miraculous expected in the new upgrade that would affect me so that I should wait to buy the new model?

Sheesh. I know that is alot, but I'd appreciate any help!

And you can bet I'll be following you on twitter tomorrow to see all the fuss

 

[gifford]

What about DVD's on the go? Or ripping CD's? Or games that require a disk?

Removing the optical drive would be terrible.

Thats like so 20th century

I have barely used an optical drive, or floppy since a very long time. Wasted space for me.
All my tunes are either vinyl or mp3's, and I wouldnt dream of renting a DVD as the closest video rentals is Blockbuster, and they get on my nerves.
OSX updates are the only thing I occasionally use it for.