lets hope not, because that'd be the day Apple's reputation starts tanking and looses it's flare a bit...
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MacBook Update to Be Released Alongside New iMacs?
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lets hope not, because that'd be the day Apple's reputation starts tanking and looses it's flare a bit...
Whatever features Apple chooses to omit from the MacBook to keep it at the cheaper end of the product line, people here will complain about it because it won't be the compromises that they would have chosen. I'll probably be one of those complainers!
Ha. Just as I've been contemplating a Dell/HP/asus netbook and jolicloud... when I really want an affordable Macbook. I don't need the latest and greatest. I just need to be able to run VMWare, and get on the internet with the Mac side.
I'll be a happy camper for $600-700 (what I paid for my white 17" iMac in the refurb store...)
I'll be a happy camper for $600-700 (what I paid for my white 17" iMac in the refurb store...)
but apple for most part dont use superior components, its the fact that they make skinny designs that require their vendors to make changes to their products that cost more.
The super drives are not the best.
The screens are not superior.
The hardrives are not the best.
the fact apple sell this
2.13GHz
Intel Core 2 Duo
2GB DDR2 Memory
160GB hard drive1
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics
Standard keyboard
White polycarbonate shell
For 750 uk pounds is one of the great scams of our time.
and please dont insult my intelligence by talking about exchange rates & duty's because Dell & Co never hiked their prices like this.
I can't believe they did away with the black. I can't be the only one who is sick and tired of white polycarbonate peripherals, white cables, white...
Hell, when I got a case for my MBP, guess what color it was?
Black. Black is good. Apple would do well to bring back more black.
If you are looking for those tech specs in a bargain model, no one is holding you back. By all means, go ahead and switch.
It's just the tech specs, right? If the design, the OS, the way everything works together isn't worth the extra cost to you, you're just a few short clicks away from eBay.
Really cant see this price point over here! BUT it would sell like hot cakes at that price!
AnDy
I'll be hoofin' it to decalgirl anyway, white/black/whatever.... unless they come out with colors that rival the nano.
I find this report somewhat surprising (mostly the bit about lower cost). In fact I can find no mobile Core 2 Duo processor that they could use that would be significantly cheaper than what they are currently using. I guess Intel could be doing a price drop now that the Core i7 Mobile processors are shipping. The only other big ticket item would be the NVIDIA 9400M, but whoa nellie if they are dropping that. I could see a case design tweak, but how would that save them money?
The real shocker would be if they came out with an Atom-based MacBook, but there is no way they could meet the performance of today's MacBook with that processor. Netbook like product? No, I don't think so.
I guess they could dumb down the current MacBook. Take out Firewire, switch to mini DisplayPort (that might actually be a win-win, potentially less costly and more consistent with the rest of the Mac product line), and then use an even cheaper display (would that even be possible?).
Given the above and a nice price drop from Intel, perhaps they could make a $899 (U.S.) price point without reducing margins. However, given that there is already not a big difference between the performance on the 13" MacBook Pro and the existing MacBook I think that would place some pressure on the MacBook Pro price structure (compare $899 to $1199).
And please, no one should suggest that this product could be based on Intel's Arrandale CPU. That processor will appear first on the MacBook Pro and probably not until early next year.
The real shocker would be if they came out with an Atom-based MacBook, but there is no way they could meet the performance of today's MacBook with that processor. Netbook like product? No, I don't think so.
I guess they could dumb down the current MacBook. Take out Firewire, switch to mini DisplayPort (that might actually be a win-win, potentially less costly and more consistent with the rest of the Mac product line), and then use an even cheaper display (would that even be possible?).
Given the above and a nice price drop from Intel, perhaps they could make a $899 (U.S.) price point without reducing margins. However, given that there is already not a big difference between the performance on the 13" MacBook Pro and the existing MacBook I think that would place some pressure on the MacBook Pro price structure (compare $899 to $1199).
And please, no one should suggest that this product could be based on Intel's Arrandale CPU. That processor will appear first on the MacBook Pro and probably not until early next year.
There are murmurs that Arrandale could be out in October for Windows 7 launch.
Even so you'd have to drop nVidia and the MCP99 doesn't look anywhere near ready unless Apple gets star treatment for the processor and PCH.
I do... Is that alright with you or should Apple base their hardware on what you think???
And how would Arrandale allow them to drop prices and why would anyone buy a 13" MacBook Pro with the existing Core 2 Duo when they could have a cheaper MacBook using Arrandale? I think these most recent rumors are getting way ahead of the possibilities. I could see a slight price drop and a mildly redesigned enclosure, but no significant changes in the CPU for any of Apple's MacBooks (both "white" and Pro) until early next year.
Just give me FW800 and an SD slot and I'll take the white one. I don't need to pay a premium for Alu.
Once again Funboy
Do not patronise me I spent 1150UK on my macbook and I am very pleased with it.
mkay
Intel maintains price parity on its replacement and drop-in hardware. Apple isn't going to drop margins either.
Not to mention the fact there are only 3 Arrandale options and 3 Clarkfield options right now. (You're not going to find a slower clocked Arrandale LV or ULV. They cost more!) You're not going to see 5-6 speed bumped models with nitpicking amounts of RAM or drive space.
Core 2 is the only option for a price drop and rightfully so if you're looking for a budget notebook. Once Arrandale is out it'll be tough to justify a ~$225 Core 2 Duo processor when a base Arrandale is the same price.
Apple is splitting hairs on half a clock speed multiplier as it is. Anyone looking at the hardware isn't going to bite.
Aluminum is so horribly ugly. Very sturdy enclosure but hard on the eyes.
I don't really care too much, though. I'm mostly interested on whats under the hood.
if they can figure out how to stop the MB from cracking then fine keep the plastic. If not move on to aluminum.
I always thought the MBA design would be perfect as a cheap MB. They need to make a cheap MBA happen and slap "Macbook" on it give it a price of $899.
I always thought the MBA design would be perfect as a cheap MB. They need to make a cheap MBA happen and slap "Macbook" on it give it a price of $899.