id say within the next coupla days.
the australia store still hasnt updated it. because its not official yet. (isnt it?)
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Apple Updates MacBooks to Santa Rosa, GMA X3100
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id say within the next coupla days.
the australia store still hasnt updated it. because its not official yet. (isnt it?)
Thats not true at all. The X3100 finally has full MPEG-2 decoding capabilities. But it has no deblocking capabilities for any form of video, no hardware acceleration or decoding of H.264/WMV/DivX/XviD.
In regards to video, the X3100 is only slightly better than the GMA950 in that it will lower CPU use SLIGHTLY because it can do more of the decoding work. But when you take overhead and bandwidth into account, because it is a shared/integrated GPU, that point becomes null and void.
The current crop of nVidia and ATI integrated GPUs DO have advanced video features, like video deblocking. Just about every dedicated GPU available, including the ones designed for systems like the MacBook such as the GeForce 8400M GS, offer deblocking, H.264 decoding, acceleration, and deblocking, etc.
That list is based on synthetic benchmarks and paper specs listed on another website. Not exactly what I would call accurate. Intel themselves have put the performance at about on par with the GeForce4 Ti 4200. Basically, a low-end desktop GPU from 2002.
You can also look at that list referred to in that thread, which is the basis of that threads list, and see that the Intel GMA950 places higher thanks to those synthetic benchmarks than the ATI Radeon Xpress 200M.
I had a Radeon Xpress 200M (with 128MB of dedicated memory) powered by a Turion64 ML-37 (2GHz). Compared to the GMA 950 in my MacBook (backed by a Core 2 Duo 2.16GHz), the ATI card mops the floor with the GMA 950 in real world situations. There were several instances where the Radeon Xpress 200M could push 60fps in UT2k4 with everything set to full running at 1280x800. While the GMA 950 on my MacBook can barely choke out 30fps with everything set to medium at 800x600.
If you browse around notebookreview, you'll find that the X3100 drivers are still very immature and most games do not even function properly yet. Some play, but the majority wont. And you won't get newer games like UT3 or Gears of War. Which the GeForce 8400M GS (that Apple should offer in the MacBook) can play.
It really is sad that Apple is using the worst of the worst GPUs and still charging a premium for it.
Cool that the upgrade is finally there.
Anyways is there any difference between 2.16GHz and 2.2Ghz C2D processor?
Also if I'm right, the new MacBooks now support a higher resolution?!
oh only of about 0.04ghz lol
useless crowd
why are the first 30-40 comments so mind numbingly useless?!
every comment is either:
- there not being aluminum case mods
- yawn for the boring update
- some stupid shout for joy by some idiot that's been holding out for the *next* update cycle before he buys.
how about some real comments, how about what the performance comparison is between x3100 and gma 950?! how about battery performance difference? how about resolutions, x264 native decoders, etc?
why are the first 30-40 comments so mind numbingly useless?!
every comment is either:
- there not being aluminum case mods
- yawn for the boring update
- some stupid shout for joy by some idiot that's been holding out for the *next* update cycle before he buys.
how about some real comments, how about what the performance comparison is between x3100 and gma 950?! how about battery performance difference? how about resolutions, x264 native decoders, etc?
This is a good link. The x3100 is still a class 5 graphics card but it is a bit better and ranked higher than the GMA 950 card.
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Graphics-Media-Accelerator-X3100.2176.0.html
The graphics card on the last iBook and PowerBook's are still better than the x3100 card though.
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Graphics-Media-Accelerator-X3100.2176.0.html
The graphics card on the last iBook and PowerBook's are still better than the x3100 card though.
If the display spec was upped, you'd be on par with a much more expensive machine, so it's staying where it is. Also appears as though you still wont be able to connect to a 30" display.
40MHz sounds better, and don't forget 133MHz bus speed increase
That last bit of information is useful to know, however I still will eagerly wait a head-to-head comparison between the old and new. That'll really show the difference.
No aluminum, no need to buy.
That's a good thing if you like a smooth, ding-free surface and good wireless capabilities... oh, that's right, I forgot, no one here likes those two features. They like the surface of the moon, wires, and of course, style from 4 years ago...
Those two links are going by synthetic benchmarks. Not real world performance. 3DMark is an absolutely terrible way to judge your system's performance. You can run the benchmark twice in a row and get two completely different scores.
And just look at that list. The ATI Xpress 200M scores LOWER than the Intel GMA 950. I can tell you from experience, having owned systems with both, that the real world performance is completely opposite. I ran UT2k4 on my Turion64 ML-37 (2GHz) system with 1GB of RAM, the Xpress 200M (had 128MB of dedicated memory, but was still an "integrated" card), and XP MCE. I ran it at 1280x800x32 with everything set to the highest, and some levels were able to run at 60fps. Most around 40. The GMA 950 in my MacBook, with 1GB of RAM, 2.16GHz Core 2 Duo, and XP Pro can barely choke out 30fps at 800x600 with everything set to medium.
Synthetic benchmarks mean absolutely nothing. Go read what the users with the card have posted and you'll find that the X3100 is extremely disappointing, if the drivers allow it to run at all.
Plus it still has no advanced video features, like H.264 decoding, deblocking, etc.
40MHz sounds better, and don't forget 133MHz bus speed increase
lol true. 40mhz tahts like 1/10th of a graphite imac!!! pretty crazy.
the bus speed increase it good ill admit that. quite nice
nummyNo update on the spanish site yet :-(
Have the prices remained the same? Or have they bumped them up? I don't remember the old prices.
But, untimely me, I just made an order yesterday for the 2,16 GHz. Hopefully as I ordered the laptop at a retail store and not online, and that I payed via bank transfer instead of credit card, I am hoping that when I go back to the store to pick the MacBook up I will be able to get the newer one. That is if the prices remain the same, of course.
Saludos.
Have the prices remained the same? Or have they bumped them up? I don't remember the old prices.
But, untimely me, I just made an order yesterday for the 2,16 GHz. Hopefully as I ordered the laptop at a retail store and not online, and that I payed via bank transfer instead of credit card, I am hoping that when I go back to the store to pick the MacBook up I will be able to get the newer one. That is if the prices remain the same, of course.
Saludos.
Rubbish
Absolute rubbish- not everyone needs a DVD burner. Actually not everyone needs an internal dvd drive. Some would be happy if it was external. If it keeps the price down, I'm happy.
Absolute rubbish- not everyone needs a DVD burner. Actually not everyone needs an internal dvd drive. Some would be happy if it was external. If it keeps the price down, I'm happy.
It's 2007, machines that cost less than HALF the £700 Apple charge for the low end Macbook include a DVD writer. They did away with the combo drive in the iMac...the time to do the same with the Macbook is long, long gone. The profit margin per unit is very healthy as it is - the issue of 'saving' money doesn't enter into it - it's piss poor marketting.
"Hmm - £700's not bad"
"It doesn't burn DVD's"
"WHAT? I'd have to get the £829 one to burn DVD's?"
Doug
"Hmm - £700's not bad"
"It doesn't burn DVD's"
"WHAT? I'd have to get the £829 one to burn DVD's?"
Doug
Prices have remained the same, seeing as you haven't even opened the new computer, haven't even picked it up, I'm sure you'll be able to upgrade at no additional cost.
There's normally a restocking fee for opened computers, but seeing as you've yet to even receive it, I can't imagine you'll have any issues. If there are, just return it and buy again.
Yet they'll still sell a bundle of them to many people that wont even care that they can't burn their home movies.
I wouln't expect too much at MacWorld Apple's sudden popularity has made them a bit more conservative in case redesigns. Even the lastest change of the Aluminum iMac is the same design but with new casing. I think long are the days of really interesting products like the G4 iMac (I sill love that design, even over the current one) They are going to stick with the designs that work. for much longer, Apple will probably make most of its invocation on new products and not as much on existing products.
No weird touchpad either. Why would they be made in aluminium?
Old ones here in Sweden aswell.
To fool people into buying/paying even more of course? Same thing as with 128MB vram. Apple suck.
I think macbook pro will update in jan and macbook way later, may?
It's still crap compared to a real GPU but supports more features and I've think I've read that it is around 2 times faster. There was also some talk about DX10 drivers, I have no idea how they would fix that but probably by using the CPU a lot I guess.
no?
Exchange rates have little or nothing to do with retail pricing. Otherwise, retail prices would be in a constant state of flux. Import tariffs and other import costs have a much greater impact.
Exchange rates also have little to do with the buying power of given currencies in a local economy. The only time the exchange matters is if you are making a purchase in a foreign country.
The price of a MacBook in Ireland is 866.94 euro (ex VAT). The price of a MacBook in the US is 1099 (ex sales tax). Even using the current exchange rate, that's only a 150 dollar difference, which is easily accounted for by import/shipping costs. Sure, the Apple stores says "free shipping", but nothing is free..it's simply built into the price. Certainly, it costs Apple more to ship a MacBook to Ireland than to anywhere in the US.
Regardless, exchange rate conversion is not the proper way to compare those prices because the exchange rate has nothing to do with an Irish citizen making a purchase in his local economy.
On the other hand, the current weakness of the dollar against the euro could potentially result in savings if an Irish citizen were to do a currency exchange and purchase MacBook in dollars from the US. You would probably only see savings if you happened to be in the US, since shipping costs may cancel out any savings.
In the end, it's best to just not worry about what people are paying for goods in other countries because there is nothing you can do about it anyway.
Exchange rates also have little to do with the buying power of given currencies in a local economy. The only time the exchange matters is if you are making a purchase in a foreign country.
The price of a MacBook in Ireland is 866.94 euro (ex VAT). The price of a MacBook in the US is 1099 (ex sales tax). Even using the current exchange rate, that's only a 150 dollar difference, which is easily accounted for by import/shipping costs. Sure, the Apple stores says "free shipping", but nothing is free..it's simply built into the price. Certainly, it costs Apple more to ship a MacBook to Ireland than to anywhere in the US.
Regardless, exchange rate conversion is not the proper way to compare those prices because the exchange rate has nothing to do with an Irish citizen making a purchase in his local economy.
On the other hand, the current weakness of the dollar against the euro could potentially result in savings if an Irish citizen were to do a currency exchange and purchase MacBook in dollars from the US. You would probably only see savings if you happened to be in the US, since shipping costs may cancel out any savings.
In the end, it's best to just not worry about what people are paying for goods in other countries because there is nothing you can do about it anyway.
^ I guess you'd expect it from Hong Kong though, right?
Well I converted it by the current exchange rate, which admittedly is skewed by the tumbling value of the dollar as a result of the collapsing sup-prime mortgage market in the US. The GDP per capita in Ireland is only seven hundred dollars more then it is in the US ($43,800 to $44,500). That kind of difference doesn't warrant a 50% price hike, does it?
But then hey, you're right. What would I know about differing economies?
All the other products have some aluminium in them, so everyone assumes that the MB has to have some too, even if that sort of design is from 4+ years ago... although the point above about being a little more conservative with designs is a good point too, regarding this whole aluminium issue.
This is exactly what I was hoping would happen. Exactly what I wanted...SR, x3100, and being able to address 4GB of ram. The perfect MacBook update in my eyes.
yes 2nd that. rremembering that its only a MINOR update. its not like its june/july and theyr gonna re-do the whole computer. a nice small update to keep cutomers interested is good enuf for me
well it would be if they made one a little smaller. but it's still a good update. the 4GB of ram is a big deal in my eyes
Agreed, DVD burner needs to be standard. I wonder what will happen once there are Blue Ray/HD-DVD drives. Will they put the DVD burner in the base model then?
Reminds me of the final revision PowerBook
The PowerBook was last updated in October 2005, with Apple planning the transition to Intel starting in the new year. So, thinks myself, great time to invest in a Mac laptop, seeing as they won't be getting updated til the end of that transition...
I'm not saying the MacBook's on its way out, but the minimalist nature of this upgrade means I'll be sticking with my PowerBook for a few Next Tuesdays yet.
The PowerBook was last updated in October 2005, with Apple planning the transition to Intel starting in the new year. So, thinks myself, great time to invest in a Mac laptop, seeing as they won't be getting updated til the end of that transition...
I'm not saying the MacBook's on its way out, but the minimalist nature of this upgrade means I'll be sticking with my PowerBook for a few Next Tuesdays yet.