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MacBook, MacBook Pro To See Merom Upgrade Next Month?
- Thread starter MacRumors
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jholzner said:
Remember, we're almost at 6 months with the Mac Mini, and it's seen neither a chip upgrade nor a speed bump.
21stcenturykid said:
Yes, it does take some getting used to. I have always loved my PB keyboards and when I first tried my wife's MB it was a little weird. But then as I got used to it, I realized that I hit the keys much more acurately and the keyboard was much more tactile and comfortable to use over a long period of time.
I think the metal look is outdated. I loved the look when the original Ti 500 came out and snatched one up. But now, I think they look like every other piece of silver shiny electronic gadget, and somehow it looks cheap.
I also am sick of dealing with finger prints, smears, scratches, etc. etc. that show up like a sore thumb on the case and wrist rest. Also airport reception is still more limited in the metal cases. My wifes Airport gets out much better than my 17 inch G4 1.66 PB.
Plus you can actually survive a drop with a plastic case. The metal case bends or dents. The plastic flexes and comes back.
milo said:
I wouldn't say it would be anything noticable!
Probably make the low end one a 1.66 Duo and the top one a 1.8 or 2.0 Duo
roland.g said:
Not true. From Wikipedia:
A common misconception is that 64-bit architectures are no better than 32-bit architectures unless the computer has more than 4 GB of memory. This is not entirely true:
* Some operating systems reserve portions of process address space for OS use, effectively reducing the total address space available for mapping memory for user programs. For instance, Windows XP DLLs and userland OS components are mapped into each process's address space, leaving only 2 to 3.8 GB (depending on the settings) address space available, even if the computer has 4 GB of RAM. This restriction is not present in 64-bit Windows.
* Memory mapping of files is becoming less useful with 32-bit architectures, especially with the introduction of relatively cheap recordable DVD technology. A 4 GB file is no longer uncommon, and such large files cannot be memory mapped easily to 32-bit architectures; only a region of the file can be mapped into the address space, and to access such a file by memory mapping, those regions will have to be mapped into and out of the address space as needed. This is an issue, as memory mapping remains one of the most efficient disk-to-memory methods, when properly implemented by the OS.
eenu said:
I think it would be cool if Apple came out with a Mac Mini Pro.
Merom core 2 duo, X1900 GPU, slightly enlarged case, Sata 500GB HD, FW 800, SuperDrive. All for under $1250.00
Eidorian said:
interesting article. thanks. I kinda feel better now (just bought a macbook). From what i'm reading you won't be able to take full advantage of the processing power til santa rosa comes out (early 2007). And at that point it will use more power reducing the hight bat. life expectations. And the low voltage chips aren't due out til that time too. So after reading this, i say if you really want a good merom working computer, get one in jan. Or forget the wait and get one now. But sept doesn't look like a good time to buy then.
ChickenSwartz said:
I wouldn't hold my breath, the Back to School iPod promo has always been a bait to help clear out old inventory. They won't make it available to buy, online or off, until after the promo ends.
eenu said:
Doubling the cores would certianly be noticable on the low end! And even a modest bump is better than no bump for a year. But I still think a bigger bump than that is likely, chances of something like a merom on the high end are pretty good.
I find it incredibly hard to believe that Apple intends to maintain the closeness in specs that are currently present between the MacBook Pro and MacBook. It makes more sense for Apple to move the MBP to the Core2 Duo and leave the MacBook to the Yonah. This leaves two more speed bumps for the MacBook. First 10 2.16, then to 2.33, all the while leaving the MBP time to advance with the Merom so it can gain momentum against the MacBook.
spencecb said:
I also think Apple will leave the MB with Yonah. They will want product differentiation and price differentiation.
So I think they will drop the price to <$1000.00 for MB and re-design MBP to provide enhancements similar to MB but with faster Merom CPU's and higher price than MB.
So what is there to expect before MWSF?
Well, new iPods, for one:
Full Screen Video iPod, possibly with accompanying new iTunes service.
Redesigned-nano + upgraded
Updated shuffle (finally)
Also, new hardware:
New chips for MBP + possible case redesign
New chips for iMac too
---
Does anyone think that this is a bit much to announce at Paris?
But all of it, I think everyone would agree, has to come out before the Christmas shopping season.
So lets break it down into two events, presuming that its too much for Paris.
Paris will either see hardware (i hope) or iPod upgrades.
Then, in late October I'm guessing, in time for the holidays, the new iPods will be released. They will also therefore beat Zune to the market.
---
The reason I think hardware will come first is because its been almost 10 months since the MBP and iMac were revised/came out. (17" and iMac for education doesn't count). the iPods typically wait a whole year for a refresh, usually around September.
However, I think the hardware takes precedent, because that is what people want more overall. Plus, its 55% of Apple's income.
-=|Mgkwho
Well, new iPods, for one:
Full Screen Video iPod, possibly with accompanying new iTunes service.
Redesigned-nano + upgraded
Updated shuffle (finally)
Also, new hardware:
New chips for MBP + possible case redesign
New chips for iMac too
---
Does anyone think that this is a bit much to announce at Paris?
But all of it, I think everyone would agree, has to come out before the Christmas shopping season.
So lets break it down into two events, presuming that its too much for Paris.
Paris will either see hardware (i hope) or iPod upgrades.
Then, in late October I'm guessing, in time for the holidays, the new iPods will be released. They will also therefore beat Zune to the market.
---
The reason I think hardware will come first is because its been almost 10 months since the MBP and iMac were revised/came out. (17" and iMac for education doesn't count). the iPods typically wait a whole year for a refresh, usually around September.
However, I think the hardware takes precedent, because that is what people want more overall. Plus, its 55% of Apple's income.
-=|Mgkwho
digitalbiker said:
Jesus! How much more expensive do you want it to be! the price diff is already almost £500 from top whitebook to bottom MBP!
Mgkwho said:
The MBP will be done on a random day. Its a 'Pro' model andParis is more for the consumer goods like iMacs and iPods etc
Mgkwho said:
I think THAT'S when we might get the Core 2 Duo in the MacBook and Mac Mini.
Until then, it'll just be speed bumps of the existing chips.
And before then, we'll see the MacBook Pros and iMacs move to the Core 2 Duo.
eenu said:
You are quoting out of context. The original post was about lowering the MB cost and retaining the Yonah cpu.
The MBP would move to Merom and stay near the same price. Therefore the result would be a larger price differentiation and a larger performance differentiation.
Still waiting....
I would be happy with the *real* replacement for the 12" Powerbook. Can't work with that gloss screen, and can't bear the integrated graphics. Apple need to get real if they want professionals like photographers to buy a new laptop.
Macrumors said:
I would be happy with the *real* replacement for the 12" Powerbook. Can't work with that gloss screen, and can't bear the integrated graphics. Apple need to get real if they want professionals like photographers to buy a new laptop.
Mgkwho said:
I response to your question of if we think this is too much for Apple to announce at the Paris Expo, I think we have to keep the following in mind: Apple has entered an entirely new ballpark with the switch to Intel. No longer can our big gains in performance and new products only come to us at WWDC, MWSF, and MWParis.
I have said it before, and I will say it again. Apple will adopt a new strategy for advancing their hardware. We will start seeing speed bumps and other upgrades announced quietly on Apple's website. We have already seen this with the MBP.
If Apple wants to keep their rock-star like image of when they release new products or major upgrades to their product line, they will adopt more special events like we had this past year, and a couple in 2005. For example: The introduction of the iMac G5 w/Front Row and iSight or when the Mac Mini went Intel. I believe Apple will make better use of these types of events.
The big dogs (WWDC, MWSF, MWParis) will remain launch pads for new/updated products, but will not be the only source from now on.
With the switch to Intel, we have entered a very aggressive world, and a much larger range of dedicated processors for different product lines. It is quite exciting.
eenu said:
iPod announcements are out for Paris. There is no way Apple is going to announce anything related to itunes, ipods, or Apple Music Store in Paris, given all the law suits and Frances' stand on Apple's DRM.
PB have been updated at Paris Expo in the past.
Therefore I see MacPro, MacMini, and iMac announcements at Paris.
iPod, iTunes, iphone announcements at a special event in October.
MacBook, MacPro, Leopard preview and date, etc. at MW 2007.