Asus's 13.3'' Core Duo Laptop

[gregorsamsa]

Hope there's 2 MacBooks

I remember last year loads of rumours about how the intel Macs would be cheaper with greater specs all round. Seems the new MacBook (IBooK) will be anything but. Not exactly earth-shattering announcement. Perhaps I was expecting too much. Hopefully there'll be 2 MacBooks, the 2nd with 15" screen & slightly bigger specs for about £799 (I'm assuming the 13.3" will retail for about £699). If not, my ever-reliable iBook G4 won't be replaced for a while to come (unless I go Apple desk-top). Decisions, decisions.

 

[MrCrowbar]

YES! (at least on the core duo...beg for that, it boosts the machine WAY more than a video card)

Yup. Decompressing video in general goes on the CPU. The graphics card merely does some scaling and hardware filtering to make a scaled video look less pixely. I doubt the entry level Macbook will handle 1080 despite the screen qould be too small for that anyway. But 720, no problemo. There were rumors about the screen having native 720 resolution anyway thus eliminating scaling (graphics card load) completely.

 

[MRU]

I remember last year loads of rumours about how the intel Macs would be cheaper with greater specs all round. Seems the new MacBook (IBooK) will be anything but. Not exactly earth-shattering announcement. Perhaps I was expecting too much. Hopefully there'll be 2 MacBooks, the 2nd with 15" screen & slightly bigger specs for about £799 (I'm assuming the 13.3" will retail for about £699). If not, my ever-reliable iBook G4 won't be replaced for a while to come (unless I go Apple desk-top). Decisions, decisions.

There will NOT be a 15" macbook If you want a macbook 15" get macbookpro.

£799 is the base price and £1099 for the advanced model.

Like it or not those are competative prices for a 'ultraportable' with a core duo processor.

So you best get saving...

 

[student_trap]

I doubt the entry level Macbook will handle 1080 despite the screen qould be too small for that anyway. But 720, no problemo. .

see this is the thing, i'd run it connected to a HD TV which can handle 1080. Also, my current powerbook handles 720. *keeps fingers crossed for 12/13" mbp with higher specs*

 

[Groovey]

That's not the case on the mini. Apps run just fine, the shared video ram doesn't slow down apps at all. Unless you're running a high end game, you'd never be able to tell what kind of video hardware you're using. Worse case, you upgrade the ram, which I'd recommend on any computer anyway.

Good post. Or I was happy to read just that. It's true I don't need impressive framerates on 3D games, just the speed in apps. Still it would be nice to have the BTO option.

 

[antonink2006]

One other point against the integrated GPUs is that they tend to be less capable for handling HD video, which might be a big deal for more people than the gaming issue.

As for me, I am only a casual gamer but care enough about 3D performance that I won't buy a new laptop that can barely play new games.

Agreed!
The following rant applies to the mac-mini and -potentially- the ibook.
Remember the RevA G5 imac and its $35 NVidia "graphics solution"? A bunch of mac faithful tried to convince everyone that this card was more than enough (same arguments: we don't all play games; the NVidia is enough for web browsing and email; we are all bonkers if we expect a GF7800 in an imac; etc, etc).
The truth of the matter is:
1) This POS card represented the only black mark in an otherwise excellent mid-range system and the issue was addressed in RevB (ie, Apple acknowledged this as the main weakness, to their credit)
2) We can do "web browsing and email" on a G3; what is the point of paying another $1000 for a core-duo? (long live my G3 ibook by the way - still going strong/still gorgeous)
3) To reiterate from a couple of years ago: no one expects a quad SLI 7900-based card in the ibook - however, an x1300/x1400 is very do-able and affordable (please visit Anandtech/Tom's Hardware/ Hard OCP for comparable slim-factor systems with Intel CPUs).
4) The argument that "if PC users put up with integrated solutions, then it's ok for us".... Since when has Apple become a follower as opposed to a trend setter?

Please stop defending bad decisions (for consumers) in terms of cost/engineering; this is clearly a market segmentation issue and it is safe to assume that the marketing monkeys are calling the shots.

 

[BornAgainMac]

I would like to see two Laptop lines for Apple. The Macbook Pro is for the professional that wants desktop power and speed. Another for battery life and lightweight and small. If you want to do gaming then go for the Macbook Pro line.

 

[gregorsamsa]

There will NOT be a 15" macbook If you want a macbook 15" get macbookpro.

£799 is the base price and £1099 for the advanced model.

Like it or not those are competative prices for a 'ultraportable' with a core duo processor.

So you best get saving...

Cheapest Macbook Pro (With VAT) is well over £1,400! There's certainly a market for a sub-£1,000 15.4" Macbook (iBook) with better graphics than the 13.3" model. But, sadly, you may be right; it may not happen. On the other hand, maybe a nice surprise awaits in about 12 months time. I'll keep hoping. Don"t fancy the 13.3" going by current speculation.

 

[student_trap]

I would like to see two Laptop lines for Apple. The Macbook Pro is for the professional that wants desktop power and speed. Another for battery life and lightweight and small. If you want to do gaming then go for the Macbook Pro line.

you put it so simply, yet so correctly

 

[Lord Blackadder]

I would like to see two Laptop lines for Apple. The Macbook Pro is for the professional that wants desktop power and speed. Another for battery life and lightweight and small. If you want to do gaming then go for the Macbook Pro line.

The problem is I'll bet that the new MacBooks won't be much lighter and won't get substantially better battery life than the MacBook Pro - just like the current iBooks.

 

[wyatt23]

specson the intel chipset

i don't really need an iBook for hardcore gaming, and if the intel 945GM makes this cheap enough for me to buy off the bat, i'd say bring it on.


heres the graphics: http://www.intel.com/products/chipsets/gma950/index.htm


here's the chipset: http://www.intel.com/products/chipsets/945gm/index.htm



though, i wouldn't be tooo upset if i had dedicated video

 

[netdog]

Personally, I am not thrilled about the prospect of a 1.5GB RAM cap, especially considering that some of my RAM will be allocated to the graphics. With Parallels a must run on my portable, this could create a problem, and I really don't like the sterile look of the MacBook Pro. 2GB on my Core Duo iMac is just right for OS X with an XP guest. I really hope that the iBook sports 2 dimm slots.

 

[Project]

Cheapest Macbook Pro (With VAT) is well over £1,400! There's certainly a market for a sub-£1,000 15.4" Macbook (iBook) with better graphics than the 13.3" model. But, sadly, you may be right; it may not happen. On the other hand, maybe a nice surprise awaits in about 12 months time. I'll keep hoping. Don"t fancy the 13.3" going by current speculation.

Exactly... im tired of people thinking that pro line = bigger screens and that if you want a big screen or you want to play a game you need to spend £1,400. Ridiculous.

 

[gregorsamsa]

The problem is I'll bet that the new MacBooks won't be much lighter and won't get substantially better battery life than the MacBook Pro - just like the current iBooks.

How much better battery life or lightness do we expect if going by the current iBooks. I'd score my 12'' iBook 100 out of 100 in both departments! The new MacBook is bound to be light (though not as light) & very good on battery life.

 

[netdog]

If true then I wonder if Asus will consider removing the "Asus recommends Microsoft Windows XP" statement from their web site. How anyone can say that and maintain a straight face is beyond. It's kinda like saying "Asus recommends a swift kick in the bollocks"...

Most people will never have any idea that the MacBooks are made by Asus. How many regular users can name the maker of the previous iBooks?

As for recommending Windows, yes, Asus isn't allowed to sell OS X with their machines, so it seems pretty logical that they recommend their OEM versions of Windows.

 

[dr_lha]

Why would you think integrated graphics would make it unable to run an external monitor? The minis can even play back HD, it should be able to drive a monitor without any stuttering.

That's not the case on the mini. Apps run just fine, the shared video ram doesn't slow down apps at all. Unless you're running a high end game, you'd never be able to tell what kind of video hardware you're using. Worse case, you upgrade the ram, which I'd recommend on any computer anyway.

1 simply isn't true, the minis run apps just as well as any other mac. If it were true, show us a benchmark where non-graphic performance suffers?
2 The mini runs "casual" games just fine. You just can't run hardcore games at high resolutions.

People need to stop making statements out of ignorance, it's obvious you've never used one of the minis.

Not the case with the mini. HD tends to be limited more by the CPU, the mini duo can play all sizes of HD with no problem. A core solo would be a WAY bigger limitation on one of these than integrated video would be.

The asus linked *in this very article* has integrated graphics. Some cheaper PC laptops have a video card. But generally, even on the PC side, cheaper laptops are more likely to have integrated, and as you get more expensive, you see more video cards. There are even cheap desktop PC's that use onboard video.

Milo, you posted everything I was thinking. You're now my MacRumors best mate!

 

[Peace]

Most people will never have any idea that the MacBooks are made by Asus. How many regular users can name the maker of the previous iBooks?

As for recommending Windows, yes, Asus isn't allowed to sell OS X with their machines, so it seems pretty logical that they recommend their OEM versions of Windows.

AsusTek used to make the iBook

 

[BenRoethig]

Most people will never have any idea that the MacBooks are made by Asus. How many regular users can name the maker of the previous iBooks?

As for recommending Windows, yes, Asus isn't allowed to sell OS X with their machines, so it seems pretty logical that they recommend their OEM versions of Windows.

The ibooks are already manufactured by Asus. Besides, because of an upcoming Dell contract, they're in the process of spinning off their OEM manufacturing business from their retail line.

 

[Chrispy]

Integrated graphics - no thanks!

 

[dr_lha]

Integrated graphics - no thanks!

Lets make this the last "Integrated Graphics" comment shall we?

 

[mikea]

This is becoming a JOKE

What gives?
Does anybody realy know what they are talking about?
I had become SO interested in this "MacBook" in January. SO, I became hooked on all these rumor sites...What a joke..sorry. SOLO, DUO, Eyesight, No isight, spin wheel, 13.3, 15, black or white... but everyone is only guessing....No one has a clue...NO ONE...I'm off it..i'll just wait...for it and find out on CNN...ro something a little bit more reliable.....and yes I am aware that this is a rumor sight..OH CRAP wait a minute!!!!!....THEY JUST ANNOUNCED IT ON CNN..it think...my buddy told me his buddy read it on AI..or something like that..its a triple core chip with 2 isights (one for each eye), it has a 480 gig hard drive...and runs on solor power, or if you are in Europe it comes with a built in dual core wind mill.
see ya

 

[boncellis]

This isn't exactly a new thing.

No it isn't. In fact, many people would argue that it's better off this way. Just so long as the OS and iLife Suite don't get outsourced .

 

[pmanija]

Now look, whos the main audiance for the iBook/MacBook laptop?
Students, kids and thous who cant/dont wont to pay big money for the laptop.

Integraited graphics, well... its not so bad if you not in the games. Compare the current iBook - it has the same RAM sizes (512 + up to 1536) and... integraited graphics

Sure in the new one's it will be at least 128MB (maybe 256) and DDR2 667 MHz memory, SATA drives and that's it... Evolution.

What about the 13.3" display? It's the golden middle, on widescreen you get more space. but not all people like wide dispalys

So in the end you'l get a laptop thats in the middle of the current iBook machines (lets hope that is costs not much more and weights less that 2 kg)

So what do we got:

13.3" screen
512MB DDR2
60-80GB SATA HDD
WLAN + BT
DVD+/-RW DL drive
Intel Core Duo CPU (at least 1.66GHz)
iSight and Apple Remote
Wight ± 2kg

And the price: ~1199

 

[Barham]

What most of you guys are missing on the dedicated graphics front is that this is not "just" an ibook upgrade. Personally, I would guess that the target market for the ibook will be just fine (perhaps not even notice) with integrated graphics. Now for the problem that I have. This is also a replacement for the 12" PB, which is the option for people who want performance in a small package. I realize that they want to upsell to a MBP, but I DON'T WANT A 15" LAPTOP. I've had one and they're too big for my taste. I don't mind if I take a small performance hit, but dropping a dedicated graphics card all together is a GIANT hit.

Personally, I think that integrated/dedicated graphics is the perfect way to differentiate the 12" PB replacement from the 12" iBook replacement.

 

[BenRoethig]

What most of you guys are missing on the dedicated graphics front is that this is not "just" an ibook upgrade. Personally, I would guess that the target market for the ibook will be just fine (perhaps not even notice) with integrated graphics. Now for the problem that I have. This is also a replacement for the 12" PB, which is the option for people who want performance in a small package. I realize that they want to upsell to a MBP, but I DON'T WANT A 15" LAPTOP. I've had one and they're too big for my taste. I don't mind if I take a small performance hit, but dropping a dedicated graphics card all together is a GIANT hit.

Personally, I think that integrated/dedicated graphics is the perfect way to differentiate the 12" PB replacement from the 12" iBook replacement.

That's what the radeon x1300 is for. GMA950 should be reserved for $700 celeron machines.