CES 2010: Intel Officially Announces Core i7, i5, and i3 Chips Suitable for Apple Notebooks

[Rocketman]

The 17" MacBook Pro that I want:

• i7-820QM CPU
• 16 GiB RAM (DDR3 1333MHz)
• ATI Mobility Radeon 5870 1 GiB
• 64 GiB boot SSD with separate bay for 500 GiB standard drive
• 4 USB 3.0 ports, 1 eSATA, 1 FW1600 and 1 FW3200 port, ExpressCard 32/54
• Built-in 3G modem (Gobi chipset)
• Intel WiFi card, with antenna inside the screen bezel along the top
• Battery that will last over 9,000 hours on one single charge

It could be done, but will it? I hope so.

Modifying this list for what Apple might actually do:
20% underclocked CPU
8 Gib RAM (64 Gib low power ramdisc option)
Replace crippled video for dual GPU daughtercard and co-processor (Amiga is back!)
1 USB3, 2 USB2, LightPeak (dongles for FW, eSATA, iSCSI, Ethernet, MDP, PCIe)
ExpressCard 32, SD card slot
3G/LTE modem, Dual channel 802.11n (LTE enabled with 2 year exclusive carrier contract, roaming extra)
Battery that lasts 14 minutes, not replaceable
Your drive call-out (HD sleeps 90% of the time)

Apple TV like base station with optical drive, broadband connection (LTE enabled with 2 year exclusive carrier contract), printer connection, internal drive, dual channel 802.11n (+a/b/g), TV out, dual FW800/USB3. External stackable dual drive enclosures, dual FW800/USB3.

 

[Storm23]

Hey guys. Finally making the jump from the crappy PCs I have had for the longest time and I have decided to spend the money and get a macbook pro.

I know the 27th is probably going to be the release of the updated versions. What do you guys think is the best thing for me to do? Should I buy now or wait to see what comes on the 27th? I use my computer for internet and basic college stuff. I don't do anything too hardcore.

Will the price points on the new pros be same/similar to what they are now? I guess I am just looking for advice because I have never owned a Mac and you guys know what you are talking about.

(Just fro reference, I was planning on getting the 13" at the 2.53 GHz, 4GB, 320GB HD, remote, and Apple Care Protection Plan. I will be buying the Microsoft Office from Amazon for cheaper. Also, is there any advantage to the 15" over the 13" besides the bigger size?)

Thanks guys, lots of questions. I really appreciate it.

Storm

 

[martint84]

Hey guys. Finally making the jump from the crappy PCs I have had for the longest time and I have decided to spend the money and get a macbook pro.

This buyer's guide is always the best place to go when deciding on whether to wait or buy now: https://buyersguide.macrumors.com//

I would definitely wait. Check out the benchmarks and then decide. Worst case scenario is that you save several hundred dollars and buy the current gen in a few weeks when they are replaced (assuming they get replaced as the buyer's guide suggests). Good luck with your new Mac.

 

[Storm23]

Thanks for the reply, I have been looking at the buyers guide for months now.

Besides the stuff on the first post, do you guys like the new touchpad with out any buttons? Does it function well?

 

[martint84]

Besides the stuff on the first post, do you guys like the new touchpad with out any buttons? Does it function well?

Absolutely love it. I would definitely recommend changing the trackpad setting to "tap to click." Makes no noise and makes things much easier and faster.

 

[LagunaSol]

I know the 27th is probably going to be the release of the updated versions. What do you guys think is the best thing for me to do? Should I buy now or wait to see what comes on the 27th?

Absolutely, positively, undoubtably, unquestionably, certainly wait until the 27th.

There may not be any laptop updates at that time, but odds are good there will be.

Buyer's remorse is a terrible thing. Trust me.

 

[LastZion]

You are protected by the 14 day return policy, so wait until January 13th/14th and purchase what you want, then you can return it/exchange it for the updated one. Correct me if I'm wrong...

 

[LagunaSol]

You are protected by the 14 day return policy, so wait until January 13th/14th and purchase what you want, then you can return it/exchange it for the updated one. Correct me if I'm wrong...

You're right if you're willing to pay a restocking fee (10% I believe). The best move is to hold out until the 27th if at all possible.

 

[twoodcc]

maybe new mbps at the end of the month?

 

[offwidafairies]

maybe new mbps at the end of the month?

i sure hope so!

 

[Rocketman]

The expectation of the 1-27-10 event is a pre-announce of a tablet, SDK for it, not complete descriptions of the generalized services (.Mac plus, cloud apps, download apps of higher resolution and capability).

The chance of Macintosh hardware "delivery" announcements, besides the pre-announced MacPro 6-way is minimal.

The tablet (iSlate/ATNN) will be MARCH and the MacBook rev will be then or later. In the mean time can we at least rehash Safari being snappier, a G5 Powerbook, a quad core midi-tower Mini, and FW 1600/3200/6400, please?

I know you fellows can do it.

Steve will be meditating.

Rocketman

 

[LeoNobilis]

Steve Jobs is a perfectionist he has a vision of what he wants the next iteration of his products to be like. If it's good enough for Steve to release then it's going to be good. Apple has managed to pleasantly surprise me most times yet. How about some trust for Steve lolz

Believe me, I had it in excess once… before getting fed up with underpowered and in my experience remarkably unreliable hardware (spanning two PowerBooks, a MacBook, a PowerMac G5, one 1st generation iPod Nano, 1 AirPort Express); frequent, but uselessly inefficient hardware upgrades; great difficulties of my beloved OS X rendering flash, frequent Safari crashes, etc.; more or less complete lack of support for PPC hardware merely years after the transition to Intel architecture; clandestine recall or repair program announcements (to be missed most of the time, my timely product registrations notwithstanding!) and so forth, and finally the Apple hype (i.e., everybody posturing a fanatic Apple salesman/promoter)…

Understand me right: Apple and her products - both software and physical product exterior (I deliberately refrain from using the word "hardware" since the internals of most Macs are, unfortunately, rubbish - yet promoted as gold and sold accordingly) are, in my view, the pinnacle of technology and design, and it is with bitterness that I have to admit their insufferable shortcomings.


PS: Yes, Mr. Jobs is a perfectionist. Not a doubt about it. And one who demonstrates acute aesthetic sense. A very, very gifted man, rightfully revered. Vegetarian, to the best of my knowledge. A progressive soul. However, he's also a commercial glutton (in itself that's perfectly fine, even appreciable, but not so much - in the context in question), a populist, craving monopoly - and a strategic liar (there are better means of cementing one's relationship with consumers or fans than shameless bluffs, don't you think?).

If my love for everything Apple (including Apple's attitude and the quality of Apple hardware) was infinite once, then now (although in most respects I am as greatly fond of Apple as ever) - my judgement shows a perceptible level of liberation from the unsubstantiated idiosyncrasies of once. That's a strange feeling, a sort of bitter wisdom… I still hope that Apple responds with loyalty to her most devoted of supporters instead of hyping herself into a second Micro$oft, seeking ubiquitous acknowledgement, especially among those who care little for platform loyalty.

 

[Storm23]

Cool guys. Thanks for the advice/ Greatly appreciated!

Let's hope we are happy with what is revealed on the 27th. Can't wait.

 

[MattInOz]

The expectation of the 1-27-10 event is a pre-announce of a tablet, SDK for it, not complete descriptions of the generalized services (.Mac plus, cloud apps, download apps of higher resolution and capability).

The chance of Macintosh hardware "delivery" announcements, besides the pre-announced MacPro 6-way is minimal.

The tablet (iSlate/ATNN) will be MARCH and the MacBook rev will be then or later. In the mean time can we at least rehash Safari being snappier, a G5 Powerbook, a quad core midi-tower Mini, and FW 1600/3200/6400, please?

I know you fellows can do it.

Steve will be meditating.

Rocketman

I'd be waiting for 27th, but i could see Macbook updates coming a week before as just a front page website splash just to start the publicity machine "Officially" running.

 

[HaXoR7Om]

Awesome. So since it's so clear, when can I expect a MacBook/Pro update announcement so I can place an order for my mom? This week? Next? Jan. 27th?

Date please.

Well I am also waiting for the MBP update for me to buy, I think that since it's very likely the MBP will be updated on jan 27th it may be best to wait so you can get the best value for your money. But if you buy now then It's almost certainly going to be suitable for your mothers uses. The answer is buy now if you need it

 

[IVIission]

Anyone think its possible maybe we'll see new mbps on the 12th?

 

[JeromeOD]

True...and in fact I work in the sound arena...but not with ProTools...I use Acid and SoundForge among others.

Buttttttt...I do this all on a desktop. And, the soundcard is what really provides the bulk of the power of what your sound software can and cannot do.

Not true at all. In Pro Tools LE and Logic, all the power is in the native CPU. The soundcard provides ins & outs, nothing more. It is now possible to have more plugins and processes running on a Pro Tools LE on a Nehalem than Pro Tools HD8 with $20,000 worth of hardware cards. This is why the processor capacity is big news - you don't need $$$$$$ systems to do, for instance, very very large post-production projects. You can run hundreds of tracks, busses and plugins on these systems, totally outshining the capacity of the big HD systems.

 

[ZorPrime]

I think those of us with C2D macs will certainly feel the speed gains from this upgrade all over, not just with processor intensive tasks. There is so much different with this new upgrade coming from something like c2d that many will find the upgrade very much worth while

Those of us w/ PPC 17" Powerbooks will definitely see a pleasant boost. Too bad no word on quad core i7s but I guess dual cores with two threads per core is an "acceptable" workaround. Now if Apple will only integrate HDMI in their flagship laptops...

 

[arkmannj]

Now if Apple will only integrate HDMI in their flagship laptops...

I haven'\t looked but isn't there a displayport dongle/adaptor you can get that connects to HDMI ? or maybe I'm just thinking of the DVI one then using a DVI to HDMI cable ? but an all inclusive one that carries not just video, but also sound would be awesome.

 

[laelfrog]

Another waiting

I'm also waiting to hear some good news on the 27th or before. Going to buy a new one soon.

I'm rooting for a 17" refresh with i7s.

 

[babboxy]

Thanks for the reply, I have been looking at the buyers guide for months now.

I remember the last time when I was looking at the buyers guide for months ...waiting for a new mac pro (early2008). at the time there was talk about a 'redesign' today, 2010 they still look the same. and even the 30" cinema display is still the same. And I wouldn't hesitate to buy that again even now, terrific quality comparted to my more recent office iMac screen.

 

[AppleMacFinder]

New MBP

Please, Apple... Make your 15" MBP more powerful than
those crappy PC laptops, such as HP Envy 15" (with quad-core, 1300$)...
I don't want to suffer from the old-fashioned Core 2 Duo and/or snaily Intel IGP !

 

[Augure]

You know what, I think Apple are late on their MBP releases as I was expecting them for last winter. Plus, 2010 brings up a lot of refreshing of technology, so they better be good.

What I except:
ESATA
USB 3.0 (too soon for light peak)
Blue-Ray RWTR (not too soon)
i7 (And why not i5, as it is powerful enough)
Graphic Tablet-like pad (with a stylus you can hide somewhere under the MPB)

And I do not agree about what has been said about the useless i7 power: when you use specialized software like music production tools or 10,000$ semantic aggregators, you need a really powerful machine that can keep up with the updates during a reasonable period of time (at least three years for the price of a MBP)

PS: I've hear a lot of time about the "Tick-Tock" scheme from Intel, but never understood it (sorry i'm more a UI guy than a specs guy). Could someone with a clear idea of what it is explain it ?

 

[arkmannj]

PS: I've hear a lot of time about the "Tick-Tock" scheme from Intel, but never understood it (sorry i'm more a UI guy than a specs guy). Could someone with a clear idea of what it is explain it ?

My understanding is that rather than Intel try and push out all new processors and technology every year/cycle, they have a tick cycle which is a minor revision, basically taking the current market technology and refining it. The "Tock" cycle is when they do a "BIG/MAJOR" update. hope that makes sense. That's just how I understand it, someone else may be able to clarify better.

 

[benlee]

I'd be waiting for 27th, but i could see Macbook updates coming a week before as just a front page website splash just to start the publicity machine "Officially" running.

I think whether Apple updates a week before or not will depend on three things:

(1) if they are ready
(2) what else they are showing at the event. They don't want iPhone OS 4.0 and the tablet overshadowing the notebook refresh. They might do it a week before to get an eye on them for the week leading up to the event
(3) how much of an upgrade it is. (this is important. It seems if they are making the change to the i5 they will want to show it off).