Macbook Released

[iBorg20181]

They already do. What makes you think bottom of the line $1099 MacBook isn't more?

Except for a dedicated graphics chip - Dell offers a 256MB NVIDIA GeForce Go 7400 for $129 BTO cost. (Dell's only advantage, since the MB has similar specs, and is way cheaper than the Dell!) Given that option, I'd be all over the MacBook right now! I'd gladly pay Apple an extra BTO for this, but they don't offer it.

I think that I'm like a lot of potential buyers - I'm by no means a "hard core gamer," but do game periodically. I don't need a 512MB gaming monster chip, just a measly 128MB dedicated chip to use when I need a diversion into gaming. (And the old "well, why don't you buy an XBox!"doesn't work, because I travel, and use my laptop for portable gaming! I have an XBox at home!)

I need the smaller form-factor of the MacBook. As it is, I guess I'll wait for Merom this fall, and see what Apple has to offer - maybe by then, they'll reconsider, and offer a 13.3" MB or MBP with dedicated graphics.

 

[zack.williams]

i am considering getting a macbook 2.0ghz with 1GB RAM, when i order from apple.com do they install the 1GB of ram or is the laptop and 2 512 cards sent to me and i have to install them. a quick response would be appreciated thanks

 

[ictiosapiens]

Except for a dedicated graphics chip - Dell offers a 256MB NVIDIA GeForce Go 7400 for $129 BTO cost. (Dell's only advantage, since the MB has similar specs, and is way cheaper than the Dell!) Given that option, I'd be all over the MacBook right now!

Dedicated graphics, 12'' display(smaller albeit a bit thicker), 500 grams lighter, a cpu that is nor soldered, so upgradeable, and it runs about 20 degrees cooler.

Still, like you say, if apple offered the dedicated graphics I would have one... And please, don't give me the good value and how it wouldn't be a budget computer crap, because If I wanted a cheap computer, it wouldn't be an Apple. I'm happy to pay a bit more for more features...

And I find wrong that apple is trying to force customers to buy a 15'' laptop when there obviously is a market for a 12''-13'' laptop with dedicated graphics and a gap in their product line that didn't use to be there...

Apple customers are very loyal, but there's a limit, and if Vista turns out to be a decent OS, this group of customers, will opt to go for the manufacturers that are catering for them. ie Sony and Dell...

 

[gregorsamsa]

Also a market for a sub-£1,000 15.4" form Apple

Dedicated graphics, 12'' display(smaller albeit a bit thicker), 500 grams lighter, a cpu that is nor soldered, so upgradeable, and it runs about 20 degrees cooler.

Still, like you say, if apple offered the dedicated graphics I would have one... And please, don't give me the good value and how it wouldn't be a budget computer crap, because If I wanted a cheap computer, it wouldn't be an Apple. I'm happy to pay a bit more for more features...

And I find wrong that apple is trying to force customers to buy a 15'' laptop when there obviously is a market for a 12''-13'' laptop with dedicated graphics and a gap in their product line that didn't use to be there...

Apple customers are very loyal, but there's a limit, and if Vista turns out to be a decent OS, this group of customers, will opt to go for the manufacturers that a catering for them. ie Sony and Dell...

Agreed, there's a market for a 12"-13" laptop with dedicated graphics. But CERTAINLY there's also a market for a sub-£1,000 15.4" laptop with similar. I mean were not talking cheap here, just not as expensive as MBPs.

Fact is, some of us are happy to hang on to our 12" PBs/iBooks because of ultra-portability. If Vista delivers, those of us looking for a 15.4" laptop (as a second computer), with dedicated graphics, may well be forced to consider an Acer, Sony, etc. as an alternative. Thanks Apple!

 

[Multimedia]

Order Base 512MB MacBook Then Add 2GB From Omni For Only $152 More

i am considering getting a macbook 2.0ghz with 1GB RAM, when i order from apple.com do they install the 1GB of ram or is the laptop and 2 512 cards sent to me and i have to install them. a quick response would be appreciated thanks

It's preinstalled. But you're better off ordering it with the stock 512 and then ordering two 1GB sticks from Omni through Ramseeker.com for only $152 and putting those in yourself. It is extremely easy to do in 5 minutes. So the second GB of RAM cost you only $52 more than 1GB from Apple.

 

[tsakaloutis82]

heat issue

hi there from Greece!
about the heat issue of the macbook. Is it just annoying for the user or destroys the cpu?

 

[Cybergypsy]

It's preinstalled. But you're better off ordering it with the stock 512 and then ordering two 1GB sticks from Omni through Ramseeker.com for only $152 and putting those in yourself. It is extremely easy to do in 5 minutes. So the second GB of RAM cost you only $52 more than 1GB from Apple.

And My Ram will be here in a day!!!!Omni ships quick!
I am doing the happy dance...thanks Multimedia!!

Ps macbook running at a steady 52C

 

[mitsukai]

Dedicated graphics, 12'' display(smaller albeit a bit thicker), 500 grams lighter, a cpu that is nor soldered, so upgradeable, and it runs about 20 degrees cooler.

I remember reading somewhere (maybe in Macrumors?) that the new Merom chips will be socketed (as are most pc chips these days), so the next gen MBP, at least, will be CPU upgradeable. About bloody time, Apple!!!!! Dunno if the rumor mentioned new chips in MBs would be soldered or not...here's hoping!! &('.')&

(iMacs and Mac Minis already socketed so also upgradeable...good news especially for the Mac Minis which could do with some more power...)

 

[7on]

hi there from Greece!
about the heat issue of the macbook. Is it just annoying for the user or destroys the cpu?

just annoying. Doesn't get too much hotter than my titanium powerbook 1Ghz. Only that the ports are on the side and that gets hot rather than the back hinge on the old powerbook. So the left side rests on more leg than the back which is usually resting between gaping legs.

My only fear is that I keep forgetting the screen limit and keep pushing it back too far. Other than that I am 100% satisfied with my purchase. Well, I do wished it stayed 12" as one of my hopes for my next laptop was a smaller one. Oh well, it is just a hair smaller than the 15.

 

[metrocon]

I remember reading somewhere (maybe in Macrumors?) that the new Merom chips will be socketed, so the next gen MBP, at least, will be CPU upgradeable. About bloody time, Apple!!!!! Dunno if the rumor mentioned new chips in MBs would be soldered or not...here's hoping!! &('.')&

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the MacBook Pro's CPU is actually soldered on:

http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1549
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacBook_Pro

The iMac and Mac Mini have socketed CPUs, but the MacBook Pro's isn't. I don't know about the MacBook, but it's likely that it's also soldered on.

 

[mitsukai]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the MacBook Pro's CPU is actually soldered on:

http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1549
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacBook_Pro

The iMac and Mac Mini have socketed CPUs, but the MacBook Pro's isn't. I don't know about the MacBook, but it's likely that it's also soldered on.

Yeah I know it is now, I read somewhere (can't bloody find it now, can I ) that in the next gen MBPs, when they start putting Meroms in them, they would be socketing it...

 

[Multimedia]

Processors Will NEVER Be Socketed In Mac Mobiles. Why? Height.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the MacBook Pro's CPU is actually soldered on:

http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1549
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacBook_Pro

The iMac and Mac Mini have socketed CPUs, but the MacBook Pro's isn't. I don't know about the MacBook, but it's likely that it's also soldered on.

Yeah I know it is now, I read somewhere (can't bloody find it now, can I ) that in the next gen MBPs, when they start putting Meroms in them, they would be socketing it...

Sorry mitsukai, but Apple will never put sockets in mobile motherboards and will always solder them in directly. Why? So they can keep those ultra slim profiles, right Cybergypsy?

Putting in sockets would require mobile Macs to be significantly THICKER and we all know slim is in when it comes to Apple design. So you can forget about ever being able to manually upgrade a processor in any mobile Mac. Just sell what you have and buy the next one. And don't forget to breathe.

 

[Multimedia]

Not Too Hot

hi there from Greece!
about the heat issue of the macbook. Is it just annoying for the user or destroys the cpu?

Just annoys a few not most. No dammage to CPU. You'll love it.

 

[bloodycape]

Man 4gigs or ram on a laptop with 256mb of video and dl-dvd-rw sounds pretty damn good can't wait till apple comes with specs like that.

 

[mitsukai]

Sorry mitsukai, but Apple will never put sockets in mobile motherboards and will always solder them in directly. Why? So they can keep those ultra slim profiles, right Cybergypsy?

Putting in sockets would require mobile Macs to be significantly FATTER and we all know slim is in when it comes to Apple design. So you can forget about ever being able to manually upgrade a processor in any mobile Mac. Just sell what you have and buy the next one. And don't forget to breathe.

Thanks Multimedia, I guess either I read it wrong or they were wrong? Still can't find where I read it darn it! Have read a LOT of Mac stuff in the last 2 weeks in the course of researching a poss new purchase!

But I would like to clarify, if someone knows about this in detail, many laptops have socketed motherboards allowing users to upgrade the CPU. From what I have read this doesn't make a laptop that much fatter...and it's not like the iBook, for example, could have ever been called thin. I'm not by any means advocating Toshiba-style monsters, but how many mm are we really talking here? I'd sacrifice a small amount of thinness for upgradeability in a heartbeat!

Business-wise, I can see where Apple wouldn't want to allow users to get even more life from their products before buying new gear, going by Multimedias claims (earlier for those who missed it), but c'mon, only the really small laptops and sub-notes in "PC Land" use soldered CPUs these days! What gives? Or am I just starting to be a spoilt, expectant Apple user now, what with Apple finally adding user-upgradeable HDDs and all? That kinda stuff has been in Win laptops for years!

 

[matticus008]

But I would like to clarify, if someone knows about this in detail, many laptops have socketed motherboards allowing users to upgrade the CPU. From what I have read this doesn't make a laptop that much fatter...and it's not like the iBook, for example, could have ever been called thin. I'm not by any means advocating Toshiba-style monsters, but how many mm are we really talking here? I'd sacrifice a small amount of thinness for upgradeability in a heartbeat!

Actually, the iBook at ~1.3 inches would indeed be considered among the "thin" notebooks (any below 1.4 inches, as 1.4-1.7 or so is "normal").

Abstracting away from the cooling system for a moment, a processor socket adds at least 3-4mm to the height of the mainboard as well as makes it less impact resistant (bent pins are no good) and increases assembly complexity and potentially cost as well. Cooling systems for socketed processors also have to be developed to take into account the socket and substrate rather than fitting snugly over the smaller, slimmer CPU core which can in turn also make the cooling units thicker (taller) by an additional millimeter or two. Because notebook computers are not considered by manufacturers to be user-serviceable internally, there's no point to a CPU socket.

but c'mon, only the really small laptops and sub-notes in "PC Land" use soldered CPUs these days!

For one, not true (what PC notebooks are socketed?), and additionally, all Apple notebooks are small in the only way that matters to CPU socketing: height. At 1-1.1," MacBooks (+Pro) are among the thinnest notebooks ever designed.

 

[ictiosapiens]

Actually, the iBook at ~1.3 inches would indeed be considered among the "thin" notebooks (any below 1.4 inches, as 1.4-1.7 or so is "normal").

Abstracting away from the cooling system for a moment, a processor socket adds at least 3-4mm to the height of the mainboard as well as makes it less impact resistant (bent pins are no good) and increases assembly complexity and potentially cost as well. Cooling systems for socketed processors also have to be developed to take into account the socket and substrate rather than fitting snugly over the smaller, slimmer CPU core which can in turn also make the cooling units thicker (taller) by an additional millimeter or two. Because notebook computers are not considered by manufacturers to be user-serviceable internally, there's no point to a CPU socket.


For one, not true (what PC notebooks are socketed?), and additionally, all Apple notebooks are small in the only way that matters to CPU socketing: height. At 1-1.1," MacBooks (+Pro) are among the thinnest notebooks ever designed.

Most dell notebooks if not all are socketed... I've upgraded my latitude D800's processor twice and have upgraded a few of my friends notebooks(different inspirons) The socket doesn't add 3mm, in notebooks its far thinner probably 1-1.5mm, and the cooling plate fits on it just as it would on a soldered chip. Notebook sockets don’t use a leaver but a tinny screw to release/clamp the processor, so they don’t need much space. It CAN be done, and if apple wanted to they could use them, but as someone else said, that wouldn't encourage you to buy a notebook every year. I'm not criticizing, if it was my business I would do the same thing, but let's not apologize for everything apple does even when it’s not in our very best interests...

Another thing, Notebooks are not serviciable internally by the user, but they are by the manufacturers, and believe me, its far easier for them to replace a socketed processor than a soldered one... So again, the only reason they aren't socketed is so you have to get yourself another macbook when merom comes out... This is so true, that even from a cost saving point of view, when merom comes out all apple would need to do if they used socketed processors would be, replace the yonahs(spelling?) with the meroms and send them back to intel without even slowiing down the production chain...

 

[rugonnaeatthat]

Hi guys,

Loving this Macbook at the moment. I just added 1GB of ram (borrowed from my brother whilst I wait for my 2gb to arrive) and I'm beginning to fall in love with my little white friend. There is no better way to frustrate yourself than to try run creative suite under rosetta with 512mb of ram!

+ I've spent the day with it plugged into my brother's 24inch Dell monitor

 

[Multimedia]

1920 x 1200 Extra Desktop Space Performance Report Please?

Loving this Macbook at the moment. I just added 1GB of ram (borrowed from my brother whilst I wait for my 2gb to arrive) and I'm beginning to fall in love with my little white friend. There is no better way to frustrate yourself than to try run creative suite under rosetta with 512mb of ram!

+ I've spent the day with it plugged into my brother's 24inch Dell monitor

You mean the 2405 wide - 1920 x 1200? How does it perform? Using what applications? You mean a total of 1.25 GB or only 1GB? Thanks.

 

[Multimedia]

Merom Can Replace Yonah On MacBook (Pro) Lines Just As Easily w/o Sockets

when merom comes out all apple would need to do if they used socketed processors would be, replace the yonahs(spelling?) with the meroms and send them back to intel without even slowiing down the production chain...

And why won't Apple be able to do the same on the machine soldered assembly line? I mean not remove and replace, but simply end Yonah production and continue with Merom as soon as they arrive.

 

[Cybergypsy]

I just got my 1G of ram from omni and it took 5 minutes to install(i have never installed before) I did see negitive post about Omni for them not shipping fast, I ordered the Ram Tue. and its installed now...The people at Omni are great! awesome !

 

[matticus008]

Most dell notebooks if not all are socketed... I've upgraded my latitude D800's processor twice and have upgraded a few of my friends notebooks(different inspirons) The socket doesn't add 3mm, in notebooks its far thinner probably 1-1.5mm, and the cooling plate fits on it just as it would on a soldered chip.

The packaged mobile processor is at least 3mm tall, so the socket must add at least slightly more than that, and the cooling plate cannot sit on it exactly as a soldered CPU, because the soldered CPU is both smaller and flatter. The lever was never a consideration.

DIY notebooks and some Pentium M (and 4-M and 4) notebooks use sockets, but it's not particularly common on notebooks 1.5" or thinner. So Apple can't really use them, especially on 1" notebooks, regardless of our personal interests, which also do not reflect the interests of most customers. The overwhelming majority of computer users wouldn't even touch the inside of their desktop.

Another thing, Notebooks are not serviciable internally by the user, but they are by the manufacturers, and believe me, its far easier for them to replace a socketed processor than a soldered one...

What's the frequency of a dead CPU for warranty repairs? It's not too common, and when it does happen, replacing the whole logic board is just as easy as replacing the processor. The broken one gets shipped back to Intel and replaced, just as a broken CPU module alone would be.

So again, the only reason they aren't socketed is so you have to get yourself another macbook when merom comes out... This is so true, that even from a cost saving point of view, when merom comes out all apple would need to do if they used socketed processors would be, replace the yonahs(spelling?) with the meroms and send them back to intel without even slowiing down the production chain...

No, they're socketed because the ~0.72 inch MacBook Pro bottom shell won't fit them, and because they've never wanted most customers inside their computers (and most customers don't want to anyway). That's the only reason that Apple cares about. When Merom comes out, Intel will start supplying them with new mainboards with Merom--all they have to do is start soldering Meroms instead of Yonahs. There's no advantage to a socket in that regard because there aren't warehouses full of parts just sitting around--just firm orders of "virtual" stocks which Intel will update .

 

[ictiosapiens]

And why won't Apple be able to do the same on the machine soldered assembly line? I mean not remove and replace, but simply end Yonah production and continue with Merom as soon as they arrive.

Oh, i'm sure they'll do that, but when they announce the macbooks and macbooks pros with meroms, they'll have quite a few yonahs that nobody is going to want, as well as many recalls from stores that are going to be impossible to sale... Not that I'm a Dell fanboy, but is the only other brand that I have a little experience with, it works for them and they've been on the frequent upgrades intel horse for quite a while.

 

[Multimedia]

Apple Does Not Keep A Large Supply Of Processors In Stock

Oh, i'm sure they'll do that, but when they announce the macbooks and macbooks pros with meroms, they'll have quite a few yonahs that nobody is going to want, as well as many recalls from stores that are going to be impossible to sale... Not that I'm a Dell fanboy, but is the only other brand that I have a little experience with, it works for them and they've been on the frequent upgrades intel horse for quite a while.

No they won't. It's called "Just-In-Time" Logistics. Apple only receives more processors every 24-48 hours before they need them. As for inventory already produced, they will lower the price on those in the stores and put the returns on the refurb page. It will be a little sticky as Yonah buyers realize the error of their ways. But it's an inevitable ugly moment Apple will just have to grin and bear.

Those of us who waited will try and be as compassionate as possible and focus on not gloating. Those who didn't will continue to enjoy their Yonahs until the sky falls.

 

[ictiosapiens]

The packaged mobile processor is at least 3mm tall, so the socket must add at least slightly more than that, and the cooling plate cannot sit on it exactly as a soldered CPU, because the soldered CPU is both smaller and flatter. The lever was never a consideration.

DIY notebooks and some Pentium M (and 4-M and 4) notebooks use sockets, but it's not particularly common on notebooks 1.5" or thinner. So Apple can't really use them, especially on 1" notebooks, regardless of our personal interests, which also do not reflect the interests of most customers. The overwhelming majority of computer users wouldn't even touch the inside of their desktop.


What's the frequency of a dead CPU for warranty repairs? It's not too common, and when it does happen, replacing the whole logic board is just as easy as replacing the processor. The broken one gets shipped back to Intel and replaced, just as a broken CPU module alone would be.


No, they're socketed because the ~0.72 inch MacBook Pro bottom shell won't fit them, and because they've never wanted most customers inside their computers (and most customers don't want to anyway). That's the only reason that Apple cares about. When Merom comes out, Intel will start supplying them with new mainboards with Merom--all they have to do is start soldering Meroms instead of Yonahs. There's no advantage to a socket in that regard because there aren't warehouses full of parts just sitting around--just firm orders of "virtual" stocks which Intel will update .

Well, I understand that Love really blinds people, in all your posts that I've read, all you seem to do is defend apple and you never seem to find anything wrong with them... I'm sure you could take a slightly more realistic stand, and remember that as cool as they are as a company, they are in it to make money, and if they can make more money out of you, they will. Please, don’t be offended, its only an observation...

And from saying that no pc laptop processors were socketed to saying that is only the 1.5'' or thinner!!!, oh, come on... If they managed to put a socket on the mini, and the imac, where they were very space conscious, I'm sure they could adapt the shape of the heat sink to accommodate a processor sitting on a 1-1.5mm socket. Of course, I could be wrong, but in any case all this is, is speculation and its always interesting to hear what other people...
think