MacBook, MacBook Pro To See Merom Upgrade Next Month?

[thogs_cave]

well, i know there was some marginal increase in processing speed but i'm talking about actually running 64bit programs. i thought you need alot more horsepower to run 64bit programs than whats currently offered... maybe i was just tired and totally misread an article a couple of weeks ago.

Actually, no. Remember, 64-bit is only new to the consumer stuff. I've been running 64-bit UNIX applications for over 8 years. 64-bit UNIX has been around even longer than that. It's not a matter of "horsepower" (by today's standards, a 167MHz UltraSPARC I is kinda slow...), but of the usefulness of a 64-bit address space, not only for real memory, but for virtual. As well as higher precision, etc. (Assuming the CPU is true 64-bit and not limited by a smaller external address bus.)

Hmmm... There's actually a good entry on it in Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/64-bit

That might help you some more.

 

[Jvhowube]

I'm sure many people have asked this throughout the thread already, but is it worth it for me, if I've been waiting all summer, to continue waiting possibly into the start of school (I'm a freshman entering college) for the release of Merom in MB/MBP? My classes start Sept. 11th, but I don't know how long I'd survive without a computer.

Do you guys foresee the release of Merom before that date?

 

[Multimedia]

Sept 12 Paris Apple Expo Keynote Merom MB-MBP Intro • Dual Clovertown Mac Pro 1.9.07

Oblivious to this thread all day long, I restate my previous predictions:

September 12 Paris Apple Expo Keynote Introduction Merom MacBooks - same speeds, MacBook Pros 2.33GHz top speed.

Dual Clovertown 8 Core Mac Pro January 9, 2007 San Francisco MacWorld Expo SteveNote

I'm sure many people have asked this throughout the thread already, but is it worth it for me, if I've been waiting all summer, to continue waiting possibly into the start of school (I'm a freshman entering college) for the release of Merom in MB/MBP? My classes start Sept. 11th, but I don't know how long I'd survive without a computer.

Do you guys foresee the release of Merom before that date?

No, a few hours later. You must wait for it because that Merom MacBook or MacBook Pro will take you all the way through your college years way better than the current Yonah models will. When Leopard ships next Spring, the 64-bit capabilities of Merom will blossom way more than than the 32-bit limit on the Yonah platforms will. So hang in there and know they are coming real soon after September 11 - like the next day.

When I was in college we used spiral notebooks and typewriters. Can you not take notes by hand for a few days? Spiral notebooks are very inexpensive - like 50¢. Will that be ok for a few days?

 

[Jvhowube]

my little brother has some crappy paper-thin sharp laptop that was given to him. like ten gigs, no cd drive, it gets the job done. i might use that until the release of Merom. its funny cause everyone has already bought their laptops for school. so oblivious, so sad. "good things come to those who wait."

 

[Multimedia]

iMac Is Due A Re-Design For Conroe Anticipating Kentsfield Heat In January

This is good news for future Macbook owners. I'm interested in when the iMac will get Conroe. A friend of mine is switching from Windows and wants the iMac but is waiting for Conroe in the iMac. I only hope they go with the desktop processor in the iMac and not Merom since he's not interested in the mobile processor in his desktop.

Why would they give the Macbook that but leave the iMac with the original Core Duo? Doesn't make sense. I would think all three would get it or just the Macbook Pro.

Well, hopefully the iMac will be updated sooner than the portables. Conroe is out and available in quantities now where as Merom won't be as available in quantities until the end of this month.

I believe there's a an entirely new iMac in the works. The current design can't handle the heat Conroe will want to throw at it. And the Kentsfield 4-core processor will want even better cooling. Currently the iMac looks like it has a G5 inside. Apple doesn't like their Macs to look the same over too long a time.

Here's the Conroe processors I hope Apple will use in the all new iMac:

Core 2 Duo E6700 - 2.67 GHz (4 MiB L2, 1066 MHz FSB) 20 $1699 & 23" $1999
Core 2 Duo E6600 - 2.40 GHz (4 MiB L2, 1066 MHz FSB) 17" $1299

In January I hope they will offer a Kentsfield 4 core option in the 20 & 23" models - cause they are bigger and can cool Kentsfield much better than in the 17" enclosure - for an additional $500-$800 - pure guessing cause I don't know Kentsfield pricing yet.

Same is true for the MacBook Pro. It needs to go Black Anodized Aluminum with an easy HD swap out capability like the MacBook which is a radical redesign of the iBook. I think that the new iMac will follow on the heels of the MacBooks intro in September as well. Might even happen in Paris same day as MacBooks - September 12.

I feel so strongly about that MacBook Easy Switch HD feature, that I will not buy a MacBook Pro without it and may resort to the MacBook if they don't put that capability in the Pro model. That's a Pro feature in the MacBook. Makes the MacBook sort of a MacBook Pro Jr. Also note that the next MacBook will have a much better Integrated Graphics chipset that goes with Merom that can handle 3-D very well.

 

[Multimedia]

Yonah entry MacBook Is Already Only $949 On The SAVE Page • Ain't Gonna Stay Inside

It would be cool for them to keep the yonah in the low-end MacBook. That way with the price drop they could get back to a $999 entry-level notebook.

Merom definitely in the Black Macbook though, if this is true.

Great News! Still hoping for a case redesign in the MBP for mine.

You can buy the Yonah entry MacBook on the SAVE page of the Apple online store for $949 already. Been so for months. They are not going to keep putting Yonah in anything. Merom cost them the same money. No incentive to keep putting 32-bit processors in anything any longer than they must because the future is Leopard and Leopard is all about full 64-bit support.

MacBook Pro is very likely redesigned for Merom including that easy HD swap out capability that's already in the MacBook Pro Jr. - I mean MacBook.

Here's how I see Apple using Merom:

MacBook Pro gets these two:

Core 2 Duo T7600 - 2.33 GHz (4 MiB L2, 667 MHz FSB) 15" Top $2499 & 17" $2799
Core 2 Duo T7400 - 2.16 GHz (4 MiB L2, 667 MHz FSB) 15" Bottom $1999

MacBook Gets these two:

Core 2 Duo T7200 - 2.00 GHz (4 MiB L2, 667 MHz FSB) Superdrive Black $1499 & White $1299
Core 2 Duo T5600 - 1.83 GHz (2 MiB L2, 667 MHz FSB) Combo White $1099

Mac mini gets these two:

Core 2 Duo T5600 - 1.83 GHz (2 MiB L2, 667 MHz FSB) Superdrive $799
Core 2 Duo T5500 - 1.66 GHz (2 MiB L2, 667 MHz FSB) Combo $599

I wish they would stop selling Combo Opticals. They could use Single Layer Superdrives as a differentiator instead.

 

[Chef Medeski]

I'm not interested in purchasing a laptop yet... I was waiting for merom to make its way into a MB.... but also for Leopard so I don't have to pay $100 to upgrade in 4 months.

But, I also think the real update is with the Santa Rosa chipset... faster FSB... more ram.... 802.11N!!!!

Thats a big update compared to this.

I'm watching this though to see how quickly they update their models after a new product is announced, I mean its no longer like PPC days when they would be sitting waiting for the chip to arrive ... late....delayed...and generally just missing.... now they have to keep their computer up to date with the chips.

A quicker roll-out really would ease my mind, since that hopefully shows that Santa Rosa will be equally swiftly doled out.

Merom
802.11n
Blu-ray
Leopard
HD screen
7 hr battery for bare min. use

Thats the sweet spot. The last two would be icing on the cake... that would be wonderfully sweet from the blu-ray...

but hey... I think that will really show that apple is on the forefront of technology ... the EXTREME EDGE...

 

[DHagan4755]

I believe there a an entirely new iMac in the works. The current design can't handle the heat Conroe will want to throw at it. And the Kentsfield 4-core processor will want even better cooling. Currently the iMac looks like it has a G5 inside. Apple doesn't like their Macs to look the same over too long a time.

I disagree with you on this. I agree with you on the MBP. Apple just revved the specs of their displays and they also released the education iMac. I think the iMac is a homerun for Apple on the desktop. Obviously the strongest Apple product right now is the MacBook. But while I think you're right on with the MBP, I think they will find a way to update the iMac for new, faster processors while retaining the current design/enclosure. Even if it has Merom inside. After all they could rev it to Merom 2.1 and 2.3 and some nice new features and I don't think many people will complain. (Alright some will complain, they always do, but that's beside the point).

I would bet Conroe is the single processor option for Mac Pros to fill out the mid-range desktop line. The Mac Pro starts at $2,499 and that's way too expensive. I'm thinking there's going to be something to fill the gap between $1,499 and $2,499. That's where Conroe comes in.

 

[mr.barkan]

i thought i read somewhere that you needed like 4 gazillion gigs of ram to actually run 64 bit programs... so wouldn't merom be more for bragging rights than actual usability?

i've been waiting since may for merom to come out so i can buy a mbp... but now i'm actually thinking of waiting til santa rosa comes out...

If you keep waiting next gens you'll wait your whole life!! =)
I know it sucks but I agree that this next MBP with Merom is a good buy for the next 3 months...

I guess it just varies on your needs... I mean, I have to buy a laptop from aug/27 till aug/31 for this work I'm doing.. if the rumors are strong, maybe I'll buy some compaq 64bit 600-700 laptop(amd), then sell it as soon as the new MBP comes out... i dunno... just speculating... It's going to be a hard week for me... hate when I need things that don't just depend on me... buying a 1st gen a week before 2nd gen comes out... the worst thing you can do in Computer market.... =PPP

 

[Multimedia]

Conroe Motherboard Down The Mac Pro Enclosure For $2k And Less

I disagree with you on this. I agree with you on the MBP. Apple just revved the specs of their displays and they also released the education iMac. I think the iMac is a homerun for Apple on the desktop. Obviously the strongest Apple product right now is the MacBook. But while I think you're right on with the MBP, I think they will find a way to update the iMac for new, faster processors while retaining the current design/enclosure. Even if it has Merom inside. After all they could rev it to Merom 2.1 and 2.3 and some nice new features and I don't think many people will complain. (Alright some will complain, they always do, but that's beside the point).

I would bet Conroe is the single processor option for Mac Pros to fill out the mid-range desktop line. The Mac Pro starts at $2,499 and that's way too expensive. I'm thinking there's going to be something to fill the gap between $1,499 and $2,499. That's where Conroe comes in.

I hope you're right. My scenario is excluding the idea Apple will fill in that sub $2k tower hole they seem to be neglecting a LOT. Would make a lot of sense for them to simply extend the Mac Pro enclosure down into that space with Conroes. Mac Pro expandability is really fantastic. A Conroe motherboard in that same case would be the ticket. Or a cheaper enclosure with the same expadability capacity would work. I would hate to see them offer a Conroe Mac with less expadability inside.

 

[Multimedia]

Minimum Refurbished Merom MacBook May Be The Bridge To Santa Rosa Merom Leopard MBP

I'm not interested in purchasing a laptop yet... I was waiting for merom to make its way into a MB.... but also for Leopard so I don't have to pay $100 to upgrade in 4 months.

But, I also think the real update is with the Santa Rosa chipset... faster FSB... more ram.... 802.11N!!!!

Thats a big update compared to this.

I'm watching this though to see how quickly they update their models after a new product is announced, I mean its no longer like PPC days when they would be sitting waiting for the chip to arrive ... late....delayed...and generally just missing.... now they have to keep their computer up to date with the chips.

A quicker roll-out really would ease my mind, since that hopefully shows that Santa Rosa will be equally swiftly doled out.

Merom
802.11n
Blu-ray
Leopard
HD screen
7 hr battery for bare min. use

Thats the sweet spot. The last two would be icing on the cake... that would be wonderfully sweet from the blu-ray...

but hey... I think that will really show that apple is on the forefront of technology ... the EXTREME EDGE...

Leopard is in 9 months not 4. And Santa Rosa is in the same 9 months. I like you would rather have Santa Rosa inside with Leopard. I may go minimum Merom MacBook Refurb meanwhile. I fugure they'll hit the SAVE page by November. I think Blu-Ray is way overrated and not likely to get inside for another year if ever.

 

[Anawrahta]

I'm sure at the very least the MBP will get the new chips soon (within a month or so). The question is, whether it will get a case redesign/new features. So let's make a list of things you'd like to see happen. Personally I'd like to see:

FW800
DL Superdrive
Swappable HD
Expresscard 54
Case dedesign or material change

I wouldn't be surprised if the engineers were too busy just getting it ready for MacWorld when it debuted to give it a full redesign. Also from what I've read they didn't want to change the appearance too much to make the transition to Intel seamless.

 

[ntnwwnet]

If they made it a little taller it should be easy-peasy for Apple to fit the necessary cooling. Hey, if they're making it taller, they could add a 3.5" Hard Drive which is much cheaper than laptop hard drives and we could finally get a 500GB Mini.

But then it wouldn't be a Mac Mini, now would it?


(My first MR post. Ever.)

 

[~Shard~]

But then it wouldn't be a Mac Mini, now would it?


(My first MR post. Ever.)

It still would mini be if you were a giant. It all depends on your perspective.

(My 12,070th MR post. Ever.)

 

[SiliconAddict]

I haven't read through all tghe posts but just in case someone hasn't posted it yet...

WAH! My MBP is obsolete! How could Jobs do this to me! That being said bring on the quad cores in the MBP's in a couple years. Just when I will be getting ready to upgrade.

 

[~Shard~]

That being said bring on the quad cores in the MBP's in a couple years. Just when I will be getting ready to upgrade.

Sounds like you'll be getting a nice Penryn MBP then!

 

[Multimedia]

Penryn Pairs May Be The 4 Core Mobile Solution In 2008?

Sounds like you'll be getting a nice Penryn MBP then!

From the Intel Core Microarchitecture Wiki page:

Penryn, dual-core, 45 nm shrink of Merom, 3–6 MiB L2

So you think Penryn pairs may be the 4 core mobile solution in 2008?

 

[jibjab kalonji]

the name merom is fantastic. it automatically makes this processor cool. no not cool temperature-wise but cool as in, "that jerk over there is kind of cool."

 

[qwerto]

sorry if this is a stupid question, but i'm just asking. I just bought a mbp, and now that its too late, i was wondering if i could just pop in a merom processor into my mbp and upgrade the bios? Or is that not possible?

 

[jibjab kalonji]

i don't think so. i'm sure apple put some sticky stuff on the processor and the motherboard so that it'll stay there basically forever.

 

[qwerto]

i don't think so. i'm sure apple put some sticky stuff on the processor and the motherboard so that it'll stay there basically forever.

dang, i knew it was a long shot. Oh well, time to buy some more ram for my mbp... that will suffice for now

 

[Multimedia]

MB & MBP Processors Are Soldered To The Motherboard Making Upgrades Not Possible

sorry if this is a stupid question, but i'm just asking. I just bought a mbp, and now that its too late, i was wondering if i could just pop in a merom processor into my mbp and upgrade the bios? Or is that not possible?

No the processor is soldered to the motherboard directly not in a socket. You have up to 10 days to return it for refund minus a restocking fee. Or sell it right away for even less difference. You can also call Apple and beg a supervisor to let you return it if you're past 10 days. That's how all those refurbs wind up on the SAVE page.

 

[gnasher729]

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.

To be honest, I bought a MacBook and I am happy with it; it has best price/performance ratio of all the Mac notebooks and I didn't want to spend too much money (just bought it for fun). But if Apple tried to sell a MacBook with Yonah while selling MacBook Pro with Merom, where I know exactly that they could get Merom chips at the same price as Yonahs, just for "product differentiation", I would tell them to stuff it.

 

[gnasher729]

If they made it a little taller it should be easy-peasy for Apple to fit the necessary cooling. Hey, if they're making it taller, they could add a 3.5" Hard Drive which is much cheaper than laptop hard drives and we could finally get a 500GB Mini.

When you look at all those manufacturers selling harddisks in a case that fits on top of a MacMini, making it twice as high, Apple might as well sell the whole thing in one case. Call it the "Mac SuperMini".

 

[ChickenSwartz]

I think Paris would be a logical time to unveil a new product. That being said, this is "just an upgrade", not a new product (it's not like the MacBooks are moving to Intel for the first time), so perhaps they will receive an update on "any given Tuesday" instead, and Paris will be reserved for something new, for instance a new full-screen touchless iPod.

I think we will see the upgrade the Tuesday after they have enough supply to meet the demand. These laptops are selling great and they don't want to have to interrupt the supply. I think this is especially true at the stores.