Macbook Released

[MacTablet]

I loaded Call of Duty and played in 1024x768 in a window with NO PROBLEM.

You guys that are slamming these out to take another look, it is perfect.

that got my attention - i want to believe you

can you expand on that a little...

could you scroll around smoothly?
what about when there is a fair bit of action going on ?
any idea of what frame rates you're getting?
do you have all the settings on lowest at 1024 X 768
are you running a mac version or a windows/bootcamp version.

thanks!

just for the record - i'm not slamming them - if you're not into games they sound like great specs for a great price.

 

[Evangelion]

Features found in iBook not found in the MacBook:

-Dedicated video-card

Which was a lot slower than the vid-card found on the new MacBooks, dedicated or not.

Matte (non-glossy) screen

It's a tradeoff. With glossy screen you get sharper colors, but you also get "mirroring".

-Built in mic

Uh, the MacBook most certainly has a Mic. read the specs before commenting.

 

[50548]

Uh, the MacBook most certainly has a Mic. read the specs before commenting.

Amazing...people are still believing the stupid "no-mic" hoax...of course it does have one..! How could someone offer you an iSight without voice capability? Go figure, guys...could you just SHUT UP?

MacBook Computers

This section provides audio-specific information for MacBook computers. Refer to the specific MacBook developer note for additional information.

MacBook Computers (May 2006)
The MacBook computers announced in May 2006, incorporating the Intel Core Duo, include a built-in audio system providing the developer with a set of hardware resources that can be used to record or play audio.

Input Ports
The MacBook computer includes two audio input ports that can be used for recording: an internal mic and a combination line input and optical digital input port.

Internal Microphone

The internal microphone operates independently from all other audio input ports and is always available. The internal microphone supports recording at bit depths of 16, 20, or 24 bits per sample and at sample rates of 44.100 kHz, 48.000 kHz, or 96.000 kHz. Audio recorded from the microphone is presented as a stereo data stream with the same data appearing on both the left and right channels. The microphone gain can be adjusted from 0.0 dB to +22.5 dB.

Line Input

The line input operates independently from all other audio input ports and is always available. The line input supports recording at bit depths of 16, 20, or 24 bits per sample and at sample rates of 44.100 kHz, 48.000 kHz, or 96.000 kHz. Audio recorded from the line input is presented as a stereo data stream. The line input gain can be adjusted from 0.0 dB to +22.5 dB.

During input of a 1 kHz, full-scale 1VRMS sine wave (44.1 kHz input sample rate, 24-bit sample depth, 0.0 dB input gain, no weighting) the audio line input has the following nominal specifications:

Jack Type: 3.5 mm stereo
Maximum Input Voltage: 1VRMS (+2.22 dBu)
Minimum Voltage Input for Full Scale Output: 75 mV VRMS (-20.28 dBu) at Input Gain = +22.5 dB
Input Impedance: > 20 kOhms
Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz, +0.5 dB/-3 dB
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR): >90 dB
Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise (THD+N): <-80 dB (0.007%)
Channel Separation: > 80 dB

Source: Apple's Audio Developer Note, DAMNED!

http://developer.apple.com/document.../Conceptual/HWTech_Audio/RevisionHistory.html

 

[sunfast]

Arghhhhh
You are hurting my eyes
Apple dont make one that will fit my use - or lots of other people no doubt.
want small MBP.
MB with non integrated graphics would have done the job.
MacBook with crap integrated graphics does not do the job.
15.4 " MBP does not - too big.
note to apple - build me a portable MBP, and i will pay for it.

edit : dont worry about the design, just stick it in a 12" PB case

I see where you are coming from - I'd like an MB with discrete graphics too but I'm still impressed with the machine as many specs are better than I expected. I'd be prepared to pay a decent amount extra for a better GPU in an MB (I don't see how it would compete too much with an MBP due to the size differences). But I don't think we're going to get one. I think I'd be pretty happy with an MB - it's still the closest machine to my needs - and I'll probably buy one.

 

[Evangelion]

well - the actual difference between MBP and MB does not really reflect itself in the price. MB is really cheap if you compare with what U get out of a MBP. I just bought myself a 15.4" MBP and it super nice - but...MB is almost half the price - at least here in Sweden - and you get a quicker CPU

MBP has as fast or faster CPU's than the MB's do. The primary feature MBP has over MB is the dedicated vid-card IMO. for some, it's no big deal (homeusers), for others, it is a big deal (professional, hi-end users).

When you really look at the two portable, you notice that the features found in MBP are targetted towards professionals. While everyday-users might not find those features particularly compelling, professionals would. Hence the "Pro" in MacBook pro .

 

[Cybergypsy]

Dang,,,,,,my macbook shipped today!!!!!! YA WHOOOOOOO

 

[sunfast]

But i was wondering... Does the x-rays have any effect on the laptops hardware etc?

Wow - a question I can be an expert on!

No - X-rays will have no effect on your hardware. Airport scanners use very small amounts of radiation too compared to medical equipment and I have regularly X-rayed electrical equipment with medical scanners.

My hospital dose meter didn't even register a dose when I accidently put it through a baggage scanner.

 

[Evangelion]

Not impressed at all. Integrated graphics? 512mb Memory and a combo drive on a £750 machine and a £130 premium for a different colour? Apple are really taking the piss now. For those prices they should have some hardcore specs. Maybe Apple are finding it a bit difficult engineering a small intel based laptop?

I'm so glad I've got my 12 inch PB.

The MacBook is faster at just about everything when compared to your PB . And that includes the graphics. And don't want to pay extra for black MacBook? Then don't, problem solved.

 

[emotion]

One thing I haven't seen mentioned is the size of the power supply with the new Intel machines. One feature that I like about my g4 12" is the small size of the "brick".

Also why are all the accessories that ship with the black model not black? Especially when it costs extra?

Minor gripes I know

 

[deadpoet]

Not to sound uppity or anything (I have an iBook myself, not a PowerBook), arent Intel Integrated Graphics what you'd *expect* on the MacBook?

On the low-end MacBook, yes. On the high-end MacBook, which ostensibly replaces the old 12" Powerbook, hell no. The MacBooks are *perfect* except for the fact that they don't offer dedicated, decent performance video acceleration -- not even as an option.

BTW anyone hoping to play BF2 on the MacBook has got to be delusional!

 

[sunfast]

Damn man, I've played some really fun games on that machine...good times when we had to rewind the cassette to make software run...

Been able to play fun games? Well - it must have an awesome GPU then if the comments in this thread are true.

 

[matticus008]

Rendering 3D models you can manipulate on-screen most certainly DOES have something to do with the available video memory.

First, it was my mistake to say CAD (and not 3D modeling) in a blanket fashion when I was thinking primarily about 2D work. But beyond that, you've hit the nail on the head. It's memory that constrains rendering capabilities, and you'd likely see better performance gains by increasing system memory by $200 rather than dropping in that card on a modern integrated graphics-equipped machine. The GMA900 family and 950 in particular are far more robust than the "integrated graphics" of 2003 and earlier, and are capable of handling OpenGL rendering adequately for light use.

Maybe you can run SolidWorks on a MacBook satisfactorily, depending upon the application you're using it for. But I wouldn't expect it to work as well as it does with a high-end video card.

Be reasonable. The MacBook is a great machine, but it is not ideal for every application.

Exactly! People expecting a MacBook to run Solidworks are pushing the limits of reasonable expectation. The GMA950 is not the only obstacle to overcome, and of course it's not going to work as well as with a high-end card. But the bulk of Solidworks is GPU-independent, and the bulk of time spent drafting in it is GPU-independent. The issue is that Solidworks works best on a high-end system, and the MacBook is not that computer.

 

[Project]

I dont mind the GMA950 as it represents a pretty decent improvement over the 9550 in my iBook.

What gets me though is people acting like only pro's want to play games. Id say an awful lot of students would want to play games on their machines. Sure they would have to go with the MBP, but lets not fall into the trap of only pro's need the graphics card.

Its almost as ludicrous as Apple thinking Pro's want a bigger screen

 

[pmanija]

Someone mentioned that reinstall is recuired for saving some space

There is a tool called Monolingual http://monolingual.sourceforge.net/ that deletes all unused/unwanted language files.

 

[deadpoet]

I dont mind the GMA950 as it represents a pretty decent improvement over the 9550 in my iBook.

What gets me though is people acting like only pro's want to play games. Id say an awful lot of students would want to play games on their machines. Sure they would have to go with the MBP, but lets not fall into the trap of only pro's need the graphics card.

Its almost as ludicrous as Apple thinking Pro's want a bigger screen

Wouldn't the Radeon 9550 be superior to the GMA950? The previous iBooks had very decent accelerated video capabilities. The integrated graphics chipsets are a joke by comparison.

I agree with the rest of your comments.

When I look for a pro laptop, I don't want something big and unwieldy. To me, the whole point of a laptop is that it's portable and easy to carry around. I don't want to have to lug a 15" laptop around in order to get "pro" capabilities. Apple, you dropped the ball on this one, I hope you rectify this mistake in future revisions.

 

[MIDI_EVIL]

Someone mentioned that reinstall is recuired for saving some space

There is a tool called Monolingual http://monolingual.sourceforge.net/ that deletes all unused/unwanted language files.

You can definately save a few gigs of space by de-selecting many of the drivers for other printers you might not use, or the many languages that come pre-installed. It's worth it.

Monolingual is also pretty good, but it appears when you use it for the second time, the languages are still there, to be deleted again?

Rich.

 

[iEdd]

What a piece of crap. It doesn't have a dedicated sound card like most PCs do. Integrated sound will suck!
The graphics system is at least twice as good as the old iBook one from what I've heard and read + it has 64MB capabilities like the ol' PB. It's all good. As someone said earlier, for the best graphics, go outside. The map out there is at least 4 times the size of WoW.

 

[Evangelion]

Not true. No need for paired. Barefeats found only a 4% advantage in being pared. Although you can buy two 1 GB sticks from Omni via ramseeker for only $144.

You practically need paired RAM when you have integrated vid-card.

 

[MIDI_EVIL]

As someone said earlier, for the best graphics, go outside. The map out there is at least 4 times the size of WoW.

Hahaha.

Yes it was me, and i am a firm believer in appreciating the outdoors of reality over some fantasy landscape in WoW.

Rich.

 

[Sihr]

Hi, i've been waiting for this release since i've ever thought of buying an ibook, and i have a few questions:
I know everyone's pissy about the integrated card, but i just want to know one thing, is wow even playable with this one? i don't mean to judge the whole laptop based on this little fact since most of my laptop gaming will be through emulators of gba, ps1 and so on.
I've heard something about the magsafe connector getting too hot to the point of burning, is this true or just another baseless rumor?

 

[Evangelion]

I want a 13-inch with aluminium enclosure!

I refuse to get rid of my 12-inch Powerbook until this happens.

I would *love* to have ordered a new notebook today. However, I need it to be aluminium enclosure.

You _NEED_ the aluminium enclosure??

 

[DeVizardofOZ]

this is what PC World wrote about MB and MBP...

...quote
Apple's New Intel-Based MacBook Now Available

Narasu Rebbapragada, PC World
Tue May 16, 4:00 PM ET

Apple today announced immediate availability of its consumer Intel-based laptop, well in time for the back-to-school shopping season. Called the MacBook, this model equipped with a 13.3-inch wide screen and running on a Core Duo processor replaces the 12-inch G4 PowerBook and all iBooks.

The notebook also complements Apple's recently released MacBook Pro laptops, which reportedly have experienced overheating and other technical problems. (Some Mac enthusiast sites are posting links to software that monitors the temperature of MacBook Pros.)

The MacBook is slimmer and slightly heavier than the old 12-inch Apple laptops. It comes in black or white and with either a 1.83-GHz or a 2.0-GHz Core Duo processor. Like the MacBook Pro, the MacBook comes with a built-in Webcam, Front Row media software, and an infrared remote control. It also has DVI-out support, gigabit ethernet, Bluetooth 2.0, 802.11g Wi-Fi, and optical digital audio-in and-out.

Apple priced its standard configurations of the MacBook at between $1099 and $1499. However, PC World's preferred configuration--with a 2.0-GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, and a 100GB hard drive--would cost $1699. Apple isn't offering a sub-$1000 configuration with an Intel Core Solo processor as it is with the $599 Mac Mini desktop PC.

IDC analyst Richard Shim says that the MacBook pricing makes sense given the more expensive, less common 13.3-inch wide-screen panel, whose resolution is 1280 by 800 pixels. "We're obviously not looking at a mass-market price point, and that's obviously by choice," says Shim. "But their challenge, of course, if you talk to Wall Street, is to increase their market share. This won't get them there."
What's Missing?

Like the feature set on the current MacBook Pro, this one doesn't include a modem (a $49 accessory) or an optical drive that writes to double-layer DVD media. When we reviewed the MacBook Pro, Apple said that its current optical drive supplier doesn't offer double-layer write support for drives that fit into the thinner laptop. Apple wasn't available for comment for this story.

The MacBook, which comes with an integrated Intel GMA 950 graphics processor, does not include an option for discreet graphics. This a sticking point for users such as "Mashugly," the founder of The OSx86 Project, a site focused on Mac OSX and Intel-based hardware. "The only thing that would keep me from [the MacBook] is the integrated graphics," asserts Mashugly, who says that otherwise the MacBook is "probably the best entry-level notebook that I've seen."

Mashugly also says that he hopes Apple has resolved reported technical problems with currently shipping MacBook Pros. These problems include faulty latches, uneven screen brightness, and heat issues that PC World reader Jim Kenton calls "egg-frying hot."

"I can't recommend to my friends to buy a Mac laptop right now because of the quality issues," Mashugly says. "That's really sad. I mean, I run a Mac forum. When you have the faithful telling their friends that you should wait until the next revision, that's not a good situation."
unquote.

Let us hope, that the quality issues are not carried over to the new MB...

 

[Evangelion]

I am absolutely shocked that Apple feel that a GMA950 is an adequate replacement for either the Radeon 9550 in the iBook or the FX5200 in the PowerBook. I think they've probably lost a lot of sales. As far as I can see, they no longer have a mid-range notebook, let alone a useful small one.

The dashboard ripple is not a valid benchmark of performance, for those who are impressed. Try any modern 3D or core-image reliant app.

click me

 

[MIDI_EVIL]

Hi, i've been waiting for this release since i've ever thought of buying an ibook, and i have a few questions:
I know everyone's pissy about the integrated card, but i just want to know one thing, is wow even playable with this one? i don't mean to judge the whole laptop based on this little fact since most of my laptop gaming will be through emulators of gba, ps1 and so on.
I've heard something about the magsafe connector getting too hot to the point of burning, is this true or just another baseless rumor?

Well, since it was only released yesterday, we still don't know the result of running WoW. Maybe if you search for benchmarks on the Intel Core Duo you will find it will be a similar result.

I don't think the magsafe is a danger, there was one incident whereby it turned out that the guys cat might have, urinated on it while it was charging.

Rich.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

It's good to hear that it's been finally confirmed and released. The machine itself looks and seems great. Black and white both look great.

However, I do personally do not use laptops, but have closley read on the MacBook Pro models closley (out of curiosity) and really, really hope that this one is not burdened with problems like the MBP. From what I know of the linksk posted that Apple had purposley applied the incorrect amount of thermal grease, I really hope that users find peace with this model. Really.

I'll go check one out soon at my local Apple store in about a week, just to see it.

Couly you point me to a link that contends that Apple is purposley over-applying the thermal grease as to overheat the machines? I've never even heard of this before.

firstly, apple do not produce a product that is small enough for many users anymore - ie they have left that market segment

secondly, if you want/need good graphics capabilities apple think you should get a 15.4" monster. this is simply wrong, (especially with the ability to use external monitors) many people will want a small laptop for WORK on the road, that is powerful enough that when they plug it into their external monitor to at home, they can PLAY more than tetris.

As for why i don't get a rip snorting XP box with SLI etc. - I'm not that into games, i just want to be able to play the odd one here and there.

I'm tempted to believe macOSrumors right now, when they say that Apple's yet to come out with a macbook thin or macbook gamer.