Intel Core 2 Duo Chips Announced

[Multimedia]

Beautiful Mock Up Snowy

Okay, I did some tinkering myself, just for kicks, and here's what I came up with. I thought that we were talking about a computer that was somewhere between a Mac Mini and a Mac Pro (Power Mac), so I thought, maybe the style should be a combination of the two. Let me know what you think.

It's not a Mac Plus... It's a Mac++!

That looks stunningly beautiful. wish there were 3 or 4 card slots though.

 

[merk850]

I respectfully disagree. I say take it back and be ready for a much faster iMac Core 2 Duo. You want the latest, take it back. It won't be the latest for many more weeks. Core 2 Duo will be the latest for two more years.

I appreciate the thoughts on my quandry whether or not to return my 20 " iMac and purchase after the WWDC. Of course my decision is not any easier with one vote for and one vote against.

Thanks Grokgod and Multimedia for the thoughts...

 

[Snowy_River]

I appreciate the thoughts on my quandry whether or not to return my 20 " iMac and purchase after the WWDC. Of course my decision is not any easier with one vote for and one vote against.

Thanks Grokgod and Multimedia for the thoughts...

I'll chime in and try to help alleviate your quandary. I would take it back. You've got a narrow window of opportunity to take it back, and we're just a few days away from an event that will likely harold the release of a new iMac. Even if you wanted to keep this model, if you take it back and then buy it after the release of the new one, you'll likely be able to get it at a fairly discounted price. So, that's what you have to weigh against having a computer to play with for the next couple of weeks...

 

[Snowy_River]

That looks stunningly beautiful. wish there were 3 or 4 card slots though.

Well, I was trying to hit the mid-point. The PM has four, and the Mini has none, so I put in two. If I had put in a third one, I would have had to make it taller.

(Of course, I realize that both the two and the four aren't quite accurate, as the PM has one slot taken up by the video card, so it's really three, as does my M++ so it's really only got one. But a strong argument can be made that people who need more than one expansion slot should really get a full sized system...)

 

[Willis]

I appreciate the thoughts on my quandry whether or not to return my 20 " iMac and purchase after the WWDC. Of course my decision is not any easier with one vote for and one vote against.

Thanks Grokgod and Multimedia for the thoughts...

bare in mind that iMacs might not even get updated at wwdc. it could be at the paris expo.

go with what you feel suits you best.

 

[Grokgod]

I certainly agree that the Core duo will be the lastest, latest.

yet what about it will be so valuable to the user, that has jsut purchased one.
That he should return her new unit.

Does it bake cookies, ? no.
Produce less heat? no , it wont really. and if it does it will be small differences in possible either direction. Cooler or hotter.

So, I see the only real difference with CPU changes as being limited to a small boost in hertz. Minor at best.

In the iMac realm there will be little other changes, most are limited to the Macpro area etc.

And returning it will cost time and effort waiting for the next iMac which may not appear for some time.

 

[Multimedia]

Returning The iMac You Bought Won't Really Cost You Anything

I'll chime in and try to help alleviate your quandary. I would take it back. You've got a narrow window of opportunity to take it back, and we're just a few days away from an event that will likely harold the release of a new iMac. Even if you wanted to keep this model, if you take it back and then buy it after the release of the new one, you'll likely be able to get it at a fairly discounted price. So, that's what you have to weigh against having a computer to play with for the next couple of weeks...

Point. You will be able to repurchase as refurbished - which you could have done already BTW - for the same as what you will get back. Refurbished is same as new with new warranty but lower price. Core 2 Duo iMac may be an entirely new design. It's not necessarily going to be just a tweak. I wouldn't risk keeping the one you bought.

We're not saying it will be out after WWDC. We're saying it is DUE by September.

 

[Grokgod]

Well we all know how Apple works with when things are due.

Look at the G5 laptop.

Tweak or no tweak, the return will cost money and getting a refurbished is not getting a new one.

CounterPoint: If he is just going to take it back to buy a refurbished one, why take it back.
He allready has it! Thats a roundabout way to work, isnt it?

If you take it back, you wait for the new one, why spend the money for restocking and not get the new one?

The question remains, what are you going to get with a new iMac that you dont have now?

If you were going to get a MacPro, then I would say, my god, return that iMac and get a new MacPro, if not then keep what you got and use it for the next 2 months and enjoy it,, cheers!

 

[merk850]

Well we all know how Apple works with when things are due.

Look at the G5 laptop.

Tweak or no tweak, the return will cost money and getting a refurbished is not getting a new one.

CounterPoint: If he is just going to take it back to buy a refurbished one, why take it back.
He allready has it! Thats a roundabout way to work, isnt it?

If you take it back, you wait for the new one, why spend the money for restocking and not get the new one?

The question remains, what are you going to get with a new iMac that you dont have now?

If you were going to get a MacPro, then I would say, my god, return that iMac and get a new MacPro, if not then keep what you got and use it for the next 2 months and enjoy it,, cheers!

Multimedia, Snowy and Grokgod,

Thanks for the continued thoughts. A store manager said she would be flexible with the 14 day return date, as lnog as I understand that I would pay the restock fee of 10%. What that means to me is I will hold on to this machine until the WWDC and if new model is announced I will return and repurchase, eating the restock fee.( Kind of a pay for usage plan I look at it as.) If no new enhancements are announced with the iMac i guess I will keep mine.

However, there is the thought as one of you have brought up to just reetuen and wait until Sept. when it may be more likely to arrive. A slippery slop0e I know but I am leaning mroe toward a return and repurchase, as a sort of insruance policy of sorts.

I know I can't have my cake and eat it...., but I was looking for insight into how likely an improvement in the iMac is this August.

Thanks again!

Merk850

 

[Willis]

Multimedia, Snowy and Grokgod,

Thanks for the continued thoughts. A store manager said she would be flexible with the 14 day return date, as lnog as I understand that I would pay the restock fee of 10%. What that means to me is I will hold on to this machine until the WWDC and if new model is announced I will return and repurchase, eating the restock fee.( Kind of a pay for usage plan I look at it as.) If no new enhancements are announced with the iMac i guess I will keep mine.

However, there is the thought as one of you have brought up to just reetuen and wait until Sept. when it may be more likely to arrive. A slippery slop0e I know but I am leaning mroe toward a return and repurchase, as a sort of insruance policy of sorts.

I know I can't have my cake and eat it...., but I was looking for insight into how likely an improvement in the iMac is this August.

Thanks again!

Merk850

Update this august... not likely. It will be all pro. Any consumer will be Paris Expo. The imac G5 was launched there. why not a Core 2 Duo iMac?

 

[Multimedia]

Merom Core 2 Duo Delivers Much Longer Battery Life

I recall someone here recently reiterating the point that Merom should not use less power than Yonah, but accomplish 20% more work. That was my understanding.

Now the claim is being made that a Core 2 Duo Notebook can get longer battery life than a "previous model" notebook, up to 5 hours.

Video: Long-lasting Intel Core 2 Duo notebooks

Love this news. Just what I was expecting and one of the main reasons to have waited for Core 2 Duo mobile Macs. 🙂

 

[Kane.Elson]

Love this news. Just what I was expecting and one of the main reasons to have waited for Core 2 Duo mobile Macs. 🙂

Ahh the rewards of waiting.
The performance increase and the 64-bit sounded good but this just makes me grin about the fact that I waited. I can never get enough battery life.

 

[MacinDoc]

Update this august... not likely. It will be all pro. Any consumer will be Paris Expo. The imac G5 was launched there. why not a Core 2 Duo iMac?

Of course, the problem with waiting until Paris for consumer upgrades like MacBook is that Apple will entirely miss the educational buying season, losing one of the largest markets for its consumer products...

 

[Willis]

Of course, the problem with waiting until Paris for consumer upgrades like MacBook is that Apple will entirely miss the educational buying season, losing one of the largest markets for its consumer products...

apples education buying season is now.... in fact, theyve already had a 33K notebook order from one school that i read on.

 

[Willis]

Does anyone else find the UK store Shipping times a bit long all of a sudden. theyve been like this since monday i think.

white Macbooks 3 days, iMac 20" 5-7 days?

 

[generik]

this would be smart because as of right now the mac book pro doesnt WOW me over the macbook. Do you think the "core 3" will also have the same pin structure as the 2's?

Not a chance in hell, give up the idea of upgrading your Mac already 🙄

The newer Meroms that are to come out Q2 2007 will be based off a completely new socket.

 

[ariechel]

Of course, the problem with waiting until Paris for consumer upgrades like MacBook is that Apple will entirely miss the educational buying season, losing one of the largest markets for its consumer products...

If my memory serves me correctly, new models are hardly ever introduced in time for the educational buying season. Whether this is by design (Apple can probably make the highest profit margins off selling somewhat older products at the same price point) or by chance, I don't know.

There does seem to be a lot of wishful thinking about what Apple "has to do" because of educational buying season, competition with other PC manufacturers, whatever. From the business and engineering point of view, Apple may have very good reasons to delay releases beyond what we think is "reasonable."

 

[dhunt]

I know for a fact that the design college I go to just placed an order for MANY MANY MBP 17". Apple knows that students and schools need computers before school starts, and getting rid of some "old" products before you release your new ones, is a pretty good idea if you ask me.

 

[backdraft]

ppc

well I'd rather see a ppc update...

 

[boncellis]

Ok, here goes. (Quick pass)

Eeek. Not so sure I like that.

Hmmm... maybe with just one slot?

A little better. I personally prefer the taller narrower one, though.

It looks pretty good! The extra room would allow for the 3.5" HDD and a dedicated GPU--making it a "true" media center.

Not to nitpick, but maybe it would only have to be 1.5x wider rather than 2x wide. Either way, I think it's pretty cool. Thanks! 😉

 

[Multimedia]

Core 3 Is In 2009

this would be smart because as of right now the mac book pro doesnt WOW me over the macbook. Do you think the "core 3" will also have the same pin structure as the 2's?

Core 3 is in 2009. Many things will be very different by then. You wouldn't want to upgrade a 2006 Mac in 2009.

Not a chance in hell, give up the idea of upgrading your Mac already 🙄

The newer Meroms that are to come out Q2 2007 will be based off a completely new socket.

With Santa Rosa to boot!

 

[Snowy_River]

It looks pretty good! The extra room would allow for the 3.5" HDD and a dedicated GPU--making it a "true" media center.

Not to nitpick, but maybe it would only have to be 1.5x wider rather than 2x wide. Either way, I think it's pretty cool. Thanks! 😉

I think that the bigger issue with Dan=='s design (full credit and kudos for the idea!) is that the Mac Mini is so small that it only uses laptop components. If you want to have a full-size optical drive or a full-size hard drive, you need to use a larger form factor. This is part of the reason for the size of my design.

Here's a comparison in sizes (I've also changed the floor because my wife thought that the reflection was confusing...)

Cheers!

 

[Willis]

I think that the bigger issue with Dan=='s design (full credit and kudos for the idea!) is that the Mac Mini is so small that it only uses laptop components. If you want to have a full-size optical drive or a full-size hard drive, you need to use a larger form factor. This is part of the reason for the size of my design.

Here's a comparison in sizes (I've also changed the floor because my wife thought that the reflection was confusing...)

Cheers!

actually.... that looks really good. If apple were to incorperate that... man... it'll be a good seller

 

[spicyapple]

All of the reviews of the Core 2 Duo say that it crushes AMD in the desktop arena. This is good news, now we just need new iMacs, MacBook Pros, and Mac Pros.

Can't wait to hear Steve Jobs' spin on the Core 2 Duos at WWDC. He makes everything sound so good, and with the C2Ds really good, it should be fantastic! 🙂

 

[Val-kyrie]

So are we really going to get ALL of these new toys come WWDC? Leopard preview, Merom laptops, Core2/Woodcrest Mac Pros, Core2 Imacs (oh, and maybe a movie download add to iTunes) That sounds like an awful lot of stuff to cover in such a short period of time. What do people think about timelines for introduction here?

Doubtful. This would leave nothing for September. (I hope this hasn't already been said, but I want to post before reading the other 200+ via modem). My prediction is the debut of Mac Pros, a preview of Leopard and perhaps an iMac update. The Merom chips will not be shipped until the end of Aug., so expect the unveiling of the MBPs in a (slightly) new form factor with 64 bit Core 2 Duo in Sep., along with the silent update of MBs, and an iMac update if they are not updated in Aug. I have not a clue about movie updates or updates to the iPod lines, though by Sep. would be reasonable.