Montevina MBP WWDC Release After All?

[kingshrubb]

http://forums.appleinsider.com/showthread.php?t=87341

Read post #20 of the link above.

Apple uses the core Centrino platform plus a number of its own components including the GPU and wireless chip. What is not clear is whether Apple had planned to transition to Intel's own wi-fi chips or what the exact problem with Montevina / Centrino 2 is causing the delay.

Piecing together various bits of intel about the likely configuration of the new MBP, I am pretty certain that it will feature, among other processors options, Intel's T9600 Penryn chip running at 2.8 Mhz on the new Montevina board but with Atheros/ Broadcom wi-fi chips and a suitable Nvidia / ATI GPU. This essentially gives Apple a custom chipset that reduces its dependency on Intel. I suspect Apple has been working on this for some time and so, actually, I do expect the new MBP to arrive in time for WWDC. So, everyone, take a deep breath and relax.

Add 4 Gb of RAM and 256 Gb SSDs as BTOs, and you have the recipe for one neat machine. My understanding is that the basic board unit design enables Apple to design a smaller form factor. I expect a thickness of about 20 mm-22mm versus current 25mm. Not much thinner, but it will provide a worthwhile reduction in weight.

Overall benefits are a reduced power consumption for longer battery life, slightly faster processing speeds, (helped noticeably by 4 GBs of RAM), better video streaming capabilities for all you budding editors out there, thinner/ lighter enclosure in a machine that runs less hot than existing MBPs. A new tapered enclosure design, new keyboard and gesture trackpad will all enhance the overall package. It won't eat the MBA's lunch, but will be a pleasantly streamlined version of existing MBP. As I've said before, think evolution, not revolution.

In summary, therefore I believe that the new MBP is STILL ON TRACK FOR A WWDC RELEASE unless there is a fundamental problem with the primary Centrino 2 board, which seems not to be the case. (The culprit is intel's own GPU chip which I imagine is causing much derision at Nvidia.) Assuming that the basic Montevina board is on track, Apple will have already successfully integrated the other components giving it the jump on regular Centrino 2 customers.

What the delay does mean however is that new MacBooks are unlikely to arrive before August and probably in September.

Is this true? I'm entering college and have been wanting to get rid of my TANK of a Dell XPS asap. I was really looking forward to a MBP release soon.

 

[sbf74]

I guess we'll just have to wait and see....
I'd love an updated MBP too

 

[CWallace]

I'd be happy with the current stuff in a new package, if that package is better.

 

[lazydesi]

I will totally agree with him, because we are talking about MBP not MB.

if, it is MB case it will be different as MB uses X3100 (intel GPU) and the current had problem with GPU, seems some delay in MB's not MBP

 

[Rivix]

Make it so, number one.

I always expected that Apple would have some sort of special deal with Intel.

 

[skinaked2]

i hope that happens in june, i would love it, i am sick of waiting for my pro for college, but if they do switch platforms, does anyone know what the 15" processor speed would be? would it be 2.66? like the imacs, or what?

 

[masse]

It's not that the chipset won't be ready for release, its that the centrino 2 platform won't be...but Apple doesn't use the centrino platform so booyeah.

But as long as I have it by august I'm good.

 

[valdore]

Hot damn, a form factor evolution! w00t! I'll be whippin' out the credit card sometime in the next year.

 

[raymondu999]

I like your thinking. WWDC is only a couple of weeks away.

 

[Tunez]

This looks promising, one thing i dont fully understand is 'The other was a clerical error on Intel's part when filing certification paperwork for the chipset's wi-fi component, which has delayed FCC approval.'

Does the whole montevina platform need fcc ( whatever that is lol) approval (therefore delaying the whole thing) or just the wi-fi chipset?

Also, is it likely that intel would release montevina to just apple and not the other competitors? Companies like Dell would surely cause a fuss over this...

But... i am new to this and am just as keen to get a MPB asap ass everyone else.

 

[wgilles]

I dunno, to me it seems like Apple is content with the silver aluminum look for now. I mean, the MBA looks just like a MBP but thinner...the only difference is the keyboard really.

 

[MattZani]

Damn! Looks like i will be waiting for WWDC after all! Iwas all ready to go and pick one up on Saturday too.

Ohwell, 2 weeks is nothing....

 

[m1stake]

I dunno, to me it seems like Apple is content with the silver aluminum look for now. I mean, the MBA looks just like a MBP but thinner...the only difference is the keyboard really.

I heard one of them is faster, but which one??

 

[Mackan]

Like others have pointed out, the MBP doesn't use integrated graphics, and Apple so far uses non intel wi-fi cards. So there is a chance they aren't directly affected by this delay from Intel. We may see new MBP's with updated CPU's and a new GPU at early June (June 3 maybe) if we are lucky. I am assuming the new CPU's are available without problems though.