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Intel iBook (MacBook) Arriving in May? and 17'' MacBook Pro?

RollTide said:
I think that using some of the macmini parts was a good idea, I mean if you have to make all new parts, your price goes up, this will help the new ibook appeal to more people, makes since from an engineering standpoint
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Great point. The more they buy, the cheaper it gets (for Apple anyway). :)
 
Ant590 said:
Woo!

Almost time for me to get my first mac :)
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I felt the same antipication right before the 15" Alu PBs were released. I think I'll wait till 2007/Leopard to get a new Mac whatever it may be.
 
BlizzardBomb said:
Integrated graphics has come a long way. Intel are supposed to be releasing a another chipset soon called the G965, which is highly likely to find its way into the new Mini and MacBook (if the MB does have Integrated Graphics). It supports DDR 800 and Shader Model 3.0 (Pixel + Vertex!). So it should perform much better.



Last time I checked, 1440x900 is 16:10.
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Integrated esp Intel ones are a little tricky ... on paper GM900/950 have better (twice the pipelines etc) than x200 (IGP) or heck even x300 (lowend, almost the same as x200 just not IGP). But you can play all games with x300 and x200 but most of the new games will not be playable on intel IGPs. So you might want to watch out! I think the IGP/Dedicated graphics is going to be the way to up-sell more 'pro' stuff.
 
boncellis said:
I think the pricepoint is really the critical issue here. I don't see a big problem with Apple slimming down their line of notebooks because they should all be very capable machines, but it will be interesting to see how the "low end" iBook replacement is received--it all depends on the price. At $1299 the Core Duo would be fantastic, I think. Somehow I see it higher though.
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I hope not. That magic sub $1000 price is something they really need to keep. That said, I thought the same (and still do) about the mini.
 
swingerofbirch said:
I think it's because iMac has "mac" in the name, whereas iBook does not. iMac probably has more brand recognition too.
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I see, makes sense I guess.

Does this mean no smaller MacBook Pro also?
 
nagromme said:
FWIW, AppleInsider today doesn't expect a Core Solo laptop, only Duos. (I'm skeptical--having an offering on the low-end makes sense to me.)

http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1659
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Oh, thank the Lord! :) Thinksecret has been waaaay off base in their rumors this past year. Appleinsider has been right on the nose. I'd put my money on Appleinsider.

I would be willing to go for the low end at $999 if it is a core duo with combo drive. (I have an external FW 400 16x DL burner.) But only if the entire Macbook line has integrated graphics. If the high end Macbook has a 128MB X1300 or something in it plus Superdrive and larger hard drive, then I'd pony up the extra $$$ for the more expensive one vs. integrated graphics.
 
BlizzardBomb said:
Integrated graphics have come a long way. Intel are supposed to be releasing another chipset soon called the G965, which is highly likely to find its way into the next Mini and MacBook (if the MB does have Integrated Graphics). It supports DDR 800 and Shader Model 3.0 (Pixel + Vertex!), so it should perform much better.
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It looks yummy but I want to see it in action. I've seen X300's and 6200's beat the GMA950. :rolleyes:
 
zen said:
The MacBook Pro is 16:9 - the space at the top of the screen is occupied by the built-in camera. If the MacBook (iBook) is also 16:9, this suggests it will also have a camera.

And yes, 16:9 is a much more sensible ratio.
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The MacBook Pro is not 16:9. It is 1440x900 which translates to 1.6:1 whereas 16:9 is 1.78:1. Even if it did, it wouldn't have a native HD resolution (either 720p or 1080p). I think this is important since it allows full-screen, non-scaled HD content to be displayed. Less heavy-lifting involved. :)
 
"The iBook is not a games machine. Its a student level laptop for doing word processing/internet etc. The GMA 950 is fine for this, and will more than adequately power a 1280x720 screen (hell it beautifully runs my 1680x1050 screen)."

Because college students only do word processing? Last time i checked, college students A) are on a budget and B) play video games more than any other group of people out there.

I have an iBook and push the graphics card as far as it will go to play games, photoshop, and whatever else. You cannot say it wasn't made for gaming when every version before it had a 32MB card. That is a decent amount for certain types of games especially for a person on a budget. Until someone can prove that the Integrated Graphics are equivalent to the 32MB card before it, IT IS A STEP DOWN. Period. And a bad move. I, and I think most people, would trade that little extra size for a dedicated graphics card. It may be a cost issue, but haven't Apples historically been a little more expensive?

For me at least, I'm willing to earn that extra $100 to spend on something with a 32MB card.
 
dr_lha said:
I hope not. That magic sub $1000 price is something they really need to keep. That said, I thought the same (and still do) about the mini.
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You're absolutely right (call me a cynic, I guess). Maybe Apple will lower the price on the G4 iBook to fill the void for that "cheap" Macintosh notebook. When will it be EOL'd?
 
iDrinkKoolAid said:
With Boot Camp now available, a 13.3-inch Core Duo laptop looks appealing!

I'm assuming though that being a consumer model, it won't have DVI out and (out of the box) monitor spanning?

(am I the first post?)
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Yup, I have been waiting for this. Now I can laugh at my friend you just bought a sony SZ series notebook.
 
MacBook with Integrated Graphics - Bad

Macrumors said:


The upcoming MacBook is said to share internal components with the recently released Mac mini which comes in both Core Solo and Core Duo configurations.
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I use a 12" Powerbook as my sole computer for Photoshop and significant design work - integrated graphics would be a no-go for me. I want a small but very powerful laptop. At the office I am always using an external monitor and my laptop screen for menus or other applications, not having this option would be a deal killer. I hope that thinksecert is wrong or that upgraded graphics are a BTO option in the 13.3-inch form factor. (Although upgraded graphics aren't a usual BTO options for Apple laptops.:( )
 
I Personally still think they should bring out a 12"/13.3" MacBook Pro. Because some people mite need a portable laptop and a good video card like a X1600 or a X1300 and a GMA950 wont cut it.
 
macridah said:
Yup, I have been waiting for this. Now I can laugh at my friend you just bought a sony SZ series notebook.
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I can see a 13.3" MacBook and 20" ACD (or Dell display if your really tight ;) ) making a great low-budget combo. :)
 
pkkrusty said:
Because college students only do word processing? Last time i checked, college students A) are on a budget and B) play video games more than any other group of people out there.
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On consoles. I know a lot of college students, and PC gaming is not a big thing with them. The nerds who are into PC gaming will buy PC gaming rigs, not iBooks to game on.
 
YES! i hav been waiting for these. as a student, one of these would be more practical than a macbook pro, plus i could max out the ram and up the hdd. It will be great when they finally come out hopefully soon, and hopefully widescreen.:D
 
boncellis said:
You're absolutely right (call me a cynic, I guess). Maybe Apple will lower the price on the G4 iBook to fill the void for that "cheap" Macintosh notebook. When will it be EOL'd?
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Almost immediately if you believe the reports. I imagine they may do a G5 iMac style price drop however.
 
Excerpts from the Appleinsider article...

Apple to ditch iBook brand alongside notebook launch

The good news for Mac enthusiasts and prospective MacBook buyers is that they'll soon be able to place orders for the new notebooks. People often familiar with the Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple's product roll-out plans say it is now up to company management to O.K. the MacBooks for manufacturing ramp.
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I think I just wet myself!

Reports that have suggested Apple would not unveil its new consumer notebooks until June appear to be inaccurate.
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Thank you, Think Secret! (turds) :p

Unlike Apple's entry-level Mac mini consumer desktops, which are available with either an Intel Core Solo or Core Duo processor, each MacBook is expected to pack at least a 1.67GHz Core Duo chip. The notebooks will be available in several configurations, each built around a vibrant 13-inch widescreen display.

Like Apple's MacBook Pro professional notebooks, the new consumer MacBooks are expected to sport a built-in iSight video camera, a MagSafe power adaptor and come bundled with Apple's Front Row and Photo Booth software applications.

Previous reports have also suggested the MacBook will boast some new proprietary Apple technology such as a completely magnetic latching system that will adhere the display module to the computer component without the need for a physical latching mechanism.
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I just wet myself again!!!
 
BlizzardBomb said:
1280x720 (16:9) is an odd resolution for Apple who prefers to use 16:10. I thought they'd go for 1280x800.
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1280x720p is HD... I have a 46" Samsung DLP that is the same resolution... when fed a HD signal it looks amazing...;) I think it displays and handles fast action sports better than 1080i... (1080p is a different story!)
 
dr_lha said:
Enough of this. Seriously - enough.

The GMA 950 is a fine GFX card for 2D and light 3D work. It handles video excellently, and Core Image stuff works great with it.

The iBook is not a games machine. Its a student level laptop for doing word processing/internet etc. The GMA 950 is fine for this, and will more than adequately power a 1280x720 screen (hell it beautifully runs my 1680x1050 screen).

Integrated graphics are hear to stay on the low end, live with it or spend the money on a "Pro" machine.
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In Windows, a Radeon 9200 can run Star Wars Battlefront. The current iBook has a Radeon 9550. It may not be the most modern card but it's enough to play many/most modern PC games on lower settings.

I'm sorry, but the GMA 950 is a *downgrade*. Consumers want to play casual games too. We're not talking Half-Life 2 at max settings here. Consumers will play at 640x480 if it just runs.

Maybe you're sick of people complaining about it, but I'm sick of the apologists that keep saying, "Oh, you want to play casual games? Go spend twice as much on a pro machine! I don't care if you don't have that much money!". I can build a $400 PC with a Geforce FX 5200 that can play games the Mac Mini won't run. I want the iBook to be able to because I can't upgrade it at a later point.
 
boncellis said:
You're absolutely right (call me a cynic, I guess). Maybe Apple will lower the price on the G4 iBook to fill the void for that "cheap" Macintosh notebook. When will it be EOL'd?
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I think Apple might want to get rid of G4s as soon as possible so I'd doubt they'd stay.

$949? - 13.3" MacBook Solo 1.5Ghz
$1249? - 13.3" MacBook Duo 1.66Ghz
 
I'd expect to see three iBook models.

- Solo Core, Combo Drive ($799)
- Solo Core, SuperDrive ($999)
- Duo Core, SuperDrive ($1199)
 
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