Merom/Core 2 Duo (Mobile) Now Shipping?

[Plecky]

So how much did you sell it for and what technique did you use to sell it?

BYW I would advise against selling a G5 Quad no matter how much more powerful the Intel Quad is. The first and only PPC with 4 cores is a true collectors' item that I would encourage anyone to buy instead of a Conroe Core 2 Duo Mac Pro. 4 cores trumps 2 cores no matter what the processor.

Wonder if that's true or not.

Once again, for the price point (top-of-the-line) of the Quad-G5, it will be replaced with a Quad-core config. (Even if that means woodcrest). So it will have 4 cores, faster ones at that, and indeed be 4 cores that trump 4 cores. After having my MacBook Pro I don't live up to the G5 hype, at least with native programs. I agree with you only if you're still using non-native Rosetta-emulated applications. Otherwise, the top of the line Mac Pro WILL trump the current Quad-G5. I agree it is a great computer and collector's item and if you already have one, no need to sweat a upgrade yet. But I hope people who do have them are smart enough to not start selling them yet cause they'll still be plenty fast for probably a couple more years (no, not "obsolete"). But encouraging people to buy one over the new Mac Pro that will replace it at the top of the line and (probably) similar price point, I can't agree with that unless you use Adobe CS2, Classic, or anything non-Intel non-Universal. But if you need Windows through BootCamp/Parallels/Leopard, then the Mac Pro's better then VirtualPC. For Universal OSX, the Mac Pro will be better. In my opinion what replaces the Quad will be better in everything BUT non-native rosetta aps. If it's not, they'll wait and not replace it and have a mix of both Intel and G5 mac's for sale for a while longer until Kentfield or something. Even though I somehow doubt they'd mix and match the line like that. Regardless, I encourage keeping the Quad-G5 and not selling it regardless of what's announced unless you need the Windows-perks. I also encourage not buying one now and waiting to see what's released at WWDC and then making a informed decision based on you. Overall, do what YOU want, and what will make YOU happy, that's what I did and I'm not sweating the new MBP, like the 17" MBP owner said, Thank you apple!

 

[poppe]

I'm going to be using my laptop for teaching in the fall, which means some fairly strenuous 3D molecular rendering, large movies, wireless internet and standard keynote (all simultaneously, of course), as well as the standard day-to-day chores.

I could manage with my ageing G4 AlBook (it continues to run like a champ, but it's a bit slow for the 3D molecular rendering, and it staggers a little with the big animations) but it occurred to me that, even with daily backups, should I have a catastrophic system failure, I couldn't get a replacement in time for the next lecture. So I've decided to buy a new laptop, and keep my venerable G4 AlBook as a backup system.

But I want any new system to be 64-bit, and otherwise as 'future-proof' as possible, so I'm going to hold out for the new merom-based MBPs. I'm really excited about the possibility of going top-of-the-line for the first time ever. I'm hoping for a system that looks like this:

17" anodized black MBP, with 2.66 GHz Core 2 Duo CPU, 1 GB RAM, a 7200 rpm 120 GB HD, 802.11n, and a blu-ray Superdrive. Should be just over $3k with my educational discount, right?

Cheers

Sounds like a good deal to me, but I think you are a hugely optomistic... 2.16 now with 2 gigs of ram almost hits 3 grand now. With edu it hits starting 2800ish... I think if you said Just at 4k you'd be correct

 

[Multimedia]

Choose Quad G5 Over Core 2 Duo Conroe Mac Pro Not Over The Quad Woodcrest 2 Save $

Once again, for the price point (top-of-the-line) of the Quad-G5, it will be replaced with a Quad-core config. (Even if that means woodcrest). So it will have 4 cores, faster ones at that, and indeed be 4 cores that trump 4 cores. After having my MacBook Pro I don't live up to the G5 hype, at least with native programs. I agree with you only if you're still using non-native Rosetta-emulated applications. Otherwise, the top of the line Mac Pro WILL trump the current Quad-G5.

I completely agree with you. I was saying buy a G5 Quad if you are thinking of buying a Core 2 Duo Conroe Mac Pro not the Quad Woody. I meant the Quad G5 will cost a lot less than the new Quad Woody - and probably same as Core 2 Duo Conroe class Mac Pro - so this will likely be a more powerful option than a dual core Mac Pro. Still don't know for sure it that's true. But my experience is that when multitasking, 4 cores are better than 2 at any speed. Only two would have to be really cranking to top four G5s @ 2.5GHz wouldn't they? I'm imagining this. I could be wrong.

I agree it is a great computer and collector's item and if you already have one, no need to sweat an upgrade yet. But I hope people who do have them are smart enough to not start selling them yet cause they'll still be plenty fast for probably a couple more years (no, not "obsolete"). But encouraging people to buy one over the new Mac Pro that will replace it at the top of the line and (probably) similar price point, I can't agree with that unless you use Adobe CS2, Classic, or anything non-Intel non-Universal.

But if you need Windows through BootCamp/Parallels/Leopard, then the Mac Pro's better then VirtualPC. For Universal OSX, the Mac Pro will be better. In my opinion what replaces the Quad will be better in everything BUT non-native rosetta aps. If it's not, they'll wait and not replace it and have a mix of both Intel and G5 mac's for sale for a while longer until Kentfield or something. Even though I somehow doubt they'd mix and match the line like that.

Regardless, I encourage keeping the Quad-G5 and not selling it regardless of what's announced unless you need the Windows-perks. I also encourage not buying one now and waiting to see what's released at WWDC and then making a informed decision based on you. Overall, do what YOU want, and what will make YOU happy, that's what I did and I'm not sweating the new MBP, like the 17" MBP owner said, Thank you apple!

I'm thinking the G5 Quad will still be the second fastest Mac after the Mac Pros are announced. Can't wait to see a comparison set of benchmarks from Barefeats.com between Quad G5 and top of the line Core 2 Duo Conroe Mac Pro.

 

[Eidorian]

http://www.eetimes.com/news/semi/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=191000263

Monday? Thursday? When?

 

[Multimedia]

Core 2 Duo Graphics Set For Show & Tell

http://www.eetimes.com/news/semi/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=191000263

Monday? Thursday? When?

Thursday. And don't forget to collect your new set of Core 2 Duo Graphics so you can do Keynote and PowerPoints for all your friends and neighbors.

 

[THX1139]

If Apple doesn't put Core 2 Duo in MacBooks @ 1.83 & 2GHz by November, the competition on the PC front is going to make Apple look like they are selling outdated products as if they are current. This will not fly among savy buyers and MacBook sales might falter - perhaps even tank without such a switch.

Almost all mobile computers selling for more than $1k by November will be Core 2 Duo. So for the holiday shopping season, Apple has got to put them inside MacBooks by then.

The key to what you are saying is "savy buyers" but most people aren't too savy when it comes to computers. I was at Frys electronics a few weeks ago and noticed they are still selling G4 laptops. A lot of people don't have a clue nor do they want to invest in the time to research before buying. They go into the stores trusting that the sales people will help them with their purchase agony. The problem is that most of those sales people are biased towards platforms, on commission or haven't done their own homework. I overheard one sales guy tell an older couple (who were looking at an Apple notebook for their daughter) that they would be better off with a PC because "you get more for your money". The couple told the salesman that their daughter had specifically asked for a Mac. The salesman didn't listen... he just went on steering them towards the 12LB Acer laptop. They didn't bother to ask what processor came in either machine because they have no idea what they are buying.

The point is, most people don't have a clue and will buy whatever makes the most sense. Often the choice is driven by $$ or what a friend of a friend told them was the best thing to buy. They are not going to know a Merom from a hole in the ground unless "someone" tells them. Apple could continue with Yonah in the Macbook until they run out of chips and Joe Public is not going to know the difference.

 

[poppe]

The key to what you are saying is "savy buyers" but most people aren't too savy when it comes to computers. I was at Frys electronics a few weeks ago and noticed they are still selling G4 laptops. A lot of people don't have a clue nor do they want to invest in the time to research before buying. They go into the stores trusting that the sales people will help them with their purchase agony. The problem is that most of those sales people are biased towards platforms, on commission or haven't done their own homework. I overheard one sales guy tell an older couple (who were looking at an Apple notebook for their daughter) that they would be better off with a PC because "you get more for your money". The couple told the salesman that their daughter had specifically asked for a Mac. The salesman didn't listen... he just went on steering them towards the 12LB Acer laptop. They didn't bother to ask what processor came in either machine because they have no idea what they are buying.

The point is, most people don't have a clue and will buy whatever makes the most sense. Often the choice is driven by $$ or what a friend of a friend told them was the best thing to buy. They are not going to know a Merom from a hole in the ground unless "someone" tells them. Apple could continue with Yonah in the Macbook until they run out of chips and Joe Public is not going to know the difference.

Very good point because your qoute was qouted towards the MB. However your statment doesn't hold the gratest towards MBPs and Mac Pros. Most people buying the High price comps from apple are reasearching what best fits for their Pro needs.

But MB's and Mini's and even perhaps the iMac could be argued towards your point. I know my mother wants a MB and all she asks is try to get it cheap, white and with a DVD burner.

 

[THX1139]

... It was not accidental that Yonah debuted on MBP's before Dell, HP and Sony started selling them. No, Apple will have them out of the chute as soon as anyone else does (Intel probably won't give Apple first dibs this time - that was probably a Yonah bribe to get Apple to commit to Intel), which means there's no way we'll be waiting until Christmas (unless some production snafu makes EVERYONE wait that long...

Yeah, right. Then why can't we order a Woodcrest machine yet? Apple is the only major PC vendor that is not selling Woodcrest even though it was released last month. They really beat everyone to the line on that one!

 

[generik]

Yeah, right. Then why can't we order a Woodcrest machine yet? Apple is the only major PC vendor that is not selling Woodcrest even though it was released last month. They really beat everyone to the line on that one!

Cos Apple is all about smoke and mirrors?

Product launch with no funfare? Oh noes!

 

[penter]

damn, i just got my new mac a month ago
i knew there was gonna be an upgrade back then, but i wasnt as well informed as i am now.
oh well...

 

[THX1139]

All the eggs in one basket

Add my name to the list of people wanting a midrange tower.

Me too. Then I'll save money by investing in a render farm to go with it.

I'm starting to think that all of this talk about 4, 8, 32 ... cores is getting outta hand. It's not that I'm against having a fast computer. I'm just wondering if a person would be better off with investing in other solutions to offload major processing? Why tie all of your money on a monster machine if you can setup a render farm instead? Let's say you have a main machine with a measly Conroe running around 3GHZ, then have all yer heavy processing done in the background on another box that contains other cores. Maybe Apple will come out with something less costly (other than Xserve) that will allow you to rack multi processors and have them interface with the main machine as one unit? It would be scalable, so if you need more power just plug in another processor. I prefer this approach over having all that power and money tied up in one box. If your monster computer goes down, you lose a lot of money and your work comes to a stand-still as you are forced to replace or repair your single $5000++ machine. By the way, this is the approach that most major studios use. Places like Pixar have decent workstations, but the major crunching of data is handled by the servers. Most of the work is done offline, then loaded to the servers for processing. I'd like to see something similar come out, only on a smaller more affordable level than Xserve.

 

[THX1139]

Very good point because your qoute was qouted towards the MB. However your statment doesn't hold the gratest towards MBPs and Mac Pros. Most people buying the High price comps from apple are reasearching what best fits for their Pro needs.

Actually, the people I referred to in my post were looking at a Powerbook... not an iBook, so my comment still stands. They didn't know what they were buying other than what their daughter asked for. They wouldn't know if it had a G4, a Yonah or a Merom. The saleman sure wasn't going to help them either!

 

[Half Glass]

So how much did you sell it for and what technique did you use to sell it?

It was a Dual Processor 2.0GHz G5 with ATI 9600 and 160 GB, RAM upgraded to 2.5 GB.

Bought it for $1399 (originally 1899-499 discount for being a demo but it was recently put on display.) Also, it came with 1 GB where of course 512 is standard.

Put some crucial relatively cheap memory identical to Mac specs in it and it worked flawlessly, now at 2.5 GB. Listed it on Ebay as a 3 day auction and by the start of day 3 it had over 60 people watching it in their "my Ebay" and the listing page had 300+ hits!!

Starting bid was $1100, shipping was not included, and it was a no reserve b/c of the high starting bid. Sold for just less than $1600.00 + shipping. (I keep telling myself not to feel bad because that is still cheaper than a new machine of similar specs, minus the dual core vs dual processor would currently cost from the Apple Store.)

I was amazed when I searched on Ebay using "Completed Items." **That alone made my decision to sell final.** People are paying a lot for these cpus! I hoped for anything above $1200.00.

Now I am drooling over the thought of a new machine. The Power Mac was more than I needed and I could use a new display. Sure I upgraded the RAM and added a 2nd drive (which I removed for the sale) but I can do the same with any new machine, even if the drive is external.

Depending on what happens at WWDC, it'll either be an iMac 20inch, a Power Mac, or <dream>newly available midrange tower</dream>.

Either way, I am happy with how I fared. YMMV. Good luck! And I agree again with Multimedia--selling a used quad is a different story. That is a lot of horsepower for any new machine to live up to!

 

[poppe]

Actually, the people I referred to in my post were looking at a Powerbook... not an iBook, so my comment still stands. They didn't know what they were buying other than what their daughter asked for. They wouldn't know if it had a G4, a Yonah or a Merom. The saleman sure wasn't going to help them either!

I understand that you in your story were talking about a Powerbook, but as I said, the qoute you qouted was talking about a MB.

All I meant was people buying MB's and mac Mini's and sometimes iMacs will usually not be researching the product of interest.

Again you're story is correct about the parents not doing research and most don't. (heck my Dad just learned how to turn on the computer a year and half ago). But your story doesn't hold to what I was saying, because the girl most likely did do research and found she liked the Mac the best. The parents were just told what to get and failed at doing so because they were sold by a salesman.

People that are buying the high end Apple's are of two forms. One they are spoiled/feel like burning money, or they think/know they need a high end computer for what they are doing. On the second situation, they would have done research to know what will best suit them.

 

[Willis]

Cos Apple is all about smoke and mirrors?

Product launch with no funfare? Oh noes!

Macbook was without fanfare and the 17" MBP was (kinda).

 

[generik]

IBarefeats.com between Quad G5 and top of the line Core 2 Duo Conroe Mac Pro.

You meant Woodcrest

There is nothing "Pro" about a Conroe PC.

 

[generik]

Macbook was without fanfare and the 17" MBP was (kinda).

Hmm.. you got a point there.

 

[Multimedia]

Conroe Is Plenty "Pro" For Many - Not Any Slower Than Single Woodcrests

I'm thinking the G5 Quad will still be the second fastest Mac after the Mac Pros are announced. Can't wait to see a comparison set of benchmarks from Barefeats.com between Quad G5 and top of the line Core 2 Duo Conroe Mac Pro.

You meant Woodcrest

There is nothing "Pro" about a Conroe PC.

No I mean Conroe. And your opinion about Conroe not be "Pro" enough is not mine. They run every bit as fast as Woodcrests do in single Core 2 Duo configs. I am interested in how well the 2 core Conroe @ 2.67 GHz stacks up against the G5 Quad not how well the Quad Intel Woody Mac stacks up against the G5 Quad.

 

[macman4291]

Will the next macbook pro with merom chip running at 2.33 be worth the hassle of selling a current 17 inch macbook pro that has yonah that runs at 2.16? How much better would the one with the merom chip be than the yonah chip?

 

[Multimedia]

Next MBP 64-bit Black Anodized Aluminum Body • Cooler • Faster • Longer Battery Life

Will the next macbook pro with merom chip running at 2.33 be worth the hassle of selling a current 17 inch macbook pro that has yonah that runs at 2.16? How much better would the one with the merom chip be than the yonah chip?

Perhaps. 64-bit • Black Anodized Aluminum • Cooler • Faster • Longer Battery Life. If you can sell your current model for only $200-$300 less than the new one, that might be worth it. Or give yours to your wife or girlfriend as an early Christmas present.

 

[fastlane1588]

im really getting antsy wondering when apple will release the new mbp! i kno everyone keeps saying wwdc, but wwdc is a designers conference, why would they release new machines there? expecially if the mac pro is going to be released there.....i dont kno, im kinda hoping theyll do it the tues before wwdc

 

[macman4291]

update

Perhaps. 64-bit • Black Anodized Aluminum • Cooler • Faster • Longer Battery Life. If you can sell your current model for only $200-$300 less than the new one, that might be worth it. Or give yours to your wife or girlfriend as an early Christmas present.

but what if you have a registered applecare protection plan and you wanna sell?

 

[Multimedia]

Applecare Is Transferable To The New Owner

but what if you have a registered applecare protection plan and you wanna sell?

Applecare is transferable to the new owner. A bonus selling feature that should get you an extra $100-$200 more.

 

[macman4291]

Applecare is transferable to the new owner. A bonus selling feature that should get you an extra $100-$200 more.

But the applecare protection plan is registered under my name, how would you get the name registration switched?

 

[Multimedia]

Applecare Is Transferable To The New Owner

But the applecare protection plan is registered under my name, how would you get the name registration switched?

Apple has a standard procedure for this. Call 1-800-MyApple extension AppleCare for the details.