Previously speculated:
iMac at 1.83/2.0
"Mac" at 2.16/2.33 Conroe in July
wmmk said:
an iMac speed decrease and a computer just called "mac"?
i highly doubt it.🙄
The laptop, server, Mac mini and high end desktop configurations seem to be fairly easy to predict: Merom and Woodcrest.
The low-end desktop segment is where it's more interesting.
Apple has not bothered with low speed chips to date. I speculate this is to ensure that IntelMac computers bought now will be able to run Leopard when it comes out - making a good contrast with the upgrading that will be necessary to run Vista.
I do see an opening for a low-end desktop which is upgradeable. This would speak the language of PC switchers who tend to like more potential control over their boxes than the average MacHead. That calls for Conroe, but what minimum speed? What price point?
Apple wants its computers to be seen as fast. No Apple computer will be 'slow'. This supports its differentiation, and also higher margins.
I think it reasonable to see a marketing policy that all IntelMac chips will start from at least 2GHz. So the "Mac" computer would have choice of Conroe 2.13GHz or 2.4GHz as giving a sweetspot of price/performance.
I also see Mac mini moving to only dual core - timing depends on price drops for CPUs.
Having said that, once the minimum standards to run Leopard fast are met, there is scope for lower-end, lower priced systems for the education market. Sometime next year? The processor price wars might bring this about sooner rather than later!
😎