More Core 2 Duo MacBook Rumblings

[sierra oscar]

Does anyone in Australia (or anywhere else similar) know exactly when your education discount no longer applies for uni? Your last day of classes? Your last exam? Graduation day 2-3 months later? Because I should be finishing in February and I wanted to know how long to hold out. Will Leopard be out by Jan/Feb? Or at least a free upgrade for laptops purchased late Jan/early Feb?

Your University ID would have an expiry date - that usually finishes long before Graduation - as you know Graduations are usually a few months after your last day of uni.

If your uni ID card has an electronic expiry date (and not visible to you) - then assume your status as a student ends when uni breaks up for the last semester, you are no longer enrolled so to speak. Just like using public transport and other such things with student discount - you can't use those just b/c you haven't been to a ceremony at a later date.

 

[Warbrain]

Where is my 2 lb Apple laptop? Sony has one. Panasonic has one.

Apple will never make a laptop that is that size because it would mean that they would have to take out the optical drive and make the computer ultimately worthless without a docking station. Apple will never make a computer that isn't fully capable from the start.

 

[Scarlet Fever]

Will Leopard be out by Jan/Feb? Or at least a free upgrade for laptops purchased late Jan/early Feb?

I seem to remember Jobs saying Leopard would ship in spring (our autumn).

 

[wildmac]

Would you buy a CD MB the day the C2D comes out for $700

a new black one?.. yeah.... 😎

 

[Warbrain]

a new black one?.. yeah.... 😎

I would too, but I'm just warning whoever posted the price that 700 bucks would be very low for the computer.

 

[lmalave]

Where is my 2 lb Apple laptop? Sony has one. Panasonic has one.

My prediction: Apple will eventually come out with a 10.6" widescreen "MacBook mini". I think it'll more like 3 lbs, not 2 lbs, though, since that Sony laptop does not have an optical drive. I hope Apple doesn't do away with the optical drive (and I don't think they will), since I think that being a portable DVD player is really a core function of laptops at this point, at least a multimedia and consumer centered laptop (which a MacBook mini would be).

I've seen the Fujitsu 10.6" LifeBook laptops with built-in optical drive and they are sweeeeeeeeeeeet!:

http://www.pcconnection.com/ProductDetail?sku=6170351&srccode=cii_5784816&cpncode=10-28291577-2

One thing about the Fujitsu computers though - they are *expensive* (about $2000). Since Apple is one of the best companies in the world at making very compact products, maybe they can release a game-changing computer in this category. I mean, what if Apple were to basically release the MacBook, just with a smaller screen - and for about the same price as the MacBook!! Apple would have a monster hit on its hands, IMHO. It would be extremely popular with a lot of customers, but especially with students that are already carrying already heavy books, etc. in their bookbags, and would love a lighter, more compact computer...

 

[twoodcc]

would love to see it happen this week, or even tomorrow. but i'll believe it when i see it. i know it's coming soon though.

 

[Warbrain]

My prediction: Apple will eventually come out with a 10.6" widescreen "MacBook mini". I think it'll more like 3 lbs, not 2 lbs, though, since that Sony laptop does not have an optical drive. I hope Apple doesn't do away with the optical drive (and I don't think they will), since I think that being a portable DVD player is really a core function of laptops at this point, at least a multimedia and consumer centered laptop (which a MacBook mini would be).

I've seen the Fujitsu 10.6" LifeBook laptops with built-in optical drive and they are sweeeeeeeeeeeet!:

http://www.pcconnection.com/ProductDetail?sku=6170351&srccode=cii_5784816&cpncode=10-28291577-2

One thing about the Fujitsu computers though - they are *expensive* (about $2000). Since Apple is one of the best companies in the world at making very compact products, maybe they can release a game-changing computer in this category. I mean, what if Apple were to basically release the MacBook, just with a smaller screen - and for about the same price as the MacBook!! Apple would have a monster hit on its hands, IMHO. It would be extremely popular with a lot of customers, but especially with students that are already carrying already heavy books, etc. in their bookbags, and would love a lighter, more compact computer...

I just don't see that happening, even if they have an optical drive in it. Apple is content with the portable line as it is, and the MacBook is pretty compact already. Plus, I don't see Apple using a smaller widescreen than 13.3".

 

[bwanac]

Still waiting to get one... needs 10.5 standard. Of course I could go splitsies with some friends on it.

 

[Ha ze]

Does anyone in Australia (or anywhere else similar) know exactly when your education discount no longer applies for uni? Your last day of classes? Your last exam? Graduation day 2-3 months later? Because I should be finishing in February and I wanted to know how long to hold out. Will Leopard be out by Jan/Feb? Or at least a free upgrade for laptops purchased late Jan/early Feb?

Well... I haven't gone to school in over a year and a half, but I still have my student ID so I keep it in my wallet and use it whenever I buy stuff at the Apple Store. No expiration date printed on the ID

 

[lmalave]

Apple will never make a laptop that is that size because it would mean that they would have to take out the optical drive and make the computer ultimately worthless without a docking station. Apple will never make a computer that isn't fully capable from the start.

I agree with you that a 2 lb. laptop isn't possible with an optical drive, but a 3 lb. laptop is still possible:

(see the Fujitsu LifeBook)
http://www.pcconnection.com/ProductDetail?sku=6170351&srccode=cii_5784816&cpncode=10-28291577-2

I really think this is a possibility. And it would play to one of Apple's core strengths of late, which is making the most compact product in their category. Think of the entire iPod line, the Mac mini, The MacBook Pros (thinnest laptops at their size, or at least the 17" is).

I really think this will happen within the next year. Maybe Summer 2007 after Santa Rosa comes out. It would be a great back-to-school product...

 

[Warbrain]

I agree with you that a 2 lb. laptop isn't possible with an optical drive, but a 3 lb. laptop is still possible:

(see the Fujitsu LifeBook)
http://www.pcconnection.com/ProductDetail?sku=6170351&srccode=cii_5784816&cpncode=10-28291577-2

I really think this is a possibility. And it would play to one of Apple's core strengths of late, which is making the most compact product in their category. Think of the entire iPod line, the Mac mini, The MacBook Pros (thinnest laptops at their size, or at least the 17" is).

I really think this will happen within the next year. Maybe Summer 2007 after Santa Rosa comes out. It would be a great back-to-school product...

You have to consider the problems that Apple has had with heat and portables of late. There would likely be heat issues with such a portable, which makes it even more plausible that Apple won't make such a portable.

 

[mahonmeister]

If this is true then Apple has played their cards well. And if they were in place to release the iPhone and full screen iPod by Thanksgiving then they would really make a killing this holiday season. But getting the entire line-up refreshed is awesome.

I hope they eventually make a 15" MacBook and a 13" MacBook Pro. I think they are in a good spot to expand the line-up to cover a larger base of consumers. They're not dummies, the iBook/PowerBook line-up was great.

 

[exabytes18]

There are many possibilities for the graphics of the Macbook. The GMA950 is at about the end of the road. Maybe we'll see Intel's X3000. If not, one of Nvidia's or ATi's integrated solutions would be nice.

 

[Warbrain]

I hope they eventually make a 15" MacBook and a 13" MacBook Pro. I think they are in a good spot to expand the line-up to cover a larger base of consumers. They're not dummies, the iBook/PowerBook line-up was great.

And destroy the sales of the computers that they would be competing against in the line-up? Apple won't do it. That's why they're holding off as long on the MacBooks as possible.

 

[hooch]

I sure hope this is going to happen. I convinced my friend to buy a macbook and he just puchased one today. I have been trying to get him to hold off until the C2Ds were released. But, he desperately needs it for work since he is branching away from his current company. He needs one now. So, I hope he receives a C2D instead as a surprise.

 

[lmalave]

I just don't see that happening, even if they have an optical drive in it. Apple is content with the portable line as it is, and the MacBook is pretty compact already. Plus, I don't see Apple using a smaller widescreen than 13.3".

Apple content with portable line?!? I seriously doubt that - Jobs has repeatedly mentioned they have a *lot* of stuff in the pipeline.

And I don't see how you can say that Apple wouldn't go smaller than 13.3" widescreen. If Apple previously had a *non* widescreen 12" PowerBook, why on earth would they be opposed to having at least widescreen 12" laptop? I mean a 12" widescreen display is superior in almost every respect to a non-widescren 12" display. It's better not only for movie viewing but also in my experience for surfing the web, document, editing, etc. (can fit more text in one line, and scrolling vertically is more common/natural than scrolling horizontally).

So that's actually why I think a 10.6" widescreen is viable. Apple previously had a non-widescreen 12" PowerBook, and a 10.6" widescreen display is almost the same width...

 

[lmalave]

You have to consider the problems that Apple has had with heat and portables of late. There would likely be heat issues with such a portable, which makes it even more plausible that Apple won't make such a portable.

That's why I suggested sometime in 2007 after Santa Rosa.

 

[lmalave]

There are many possibilities for the graphics of the Macbook. The GMA950 is at about the end of the road. Maybe we'll see Intel's X3000. If not, one of Nvidia's or ATi's integrated solutions would be nice.

I doubt we will see a change in graphics. I mean, I still see Dell and the other computer makers offering the 950 for their "consumer" laptops. Apple is usually a few weeks behind Dell et. al. in offering the newer components, so I would be very pleasantly surprised if Apple actually changed the graphics.

 

[IlluminatedSage]

I really hope they put a graphics card in it (even 64MB) and an 802.11N capable wifi card.

keep wishing. for the graphics card. I wish apple would get a clue on this one, ie give a option of this for the higher end one.

but you will get the wifi card!! so.. 1/2 full, 1/2 empty.

i needed the graphics, so i got the MBP.

 

[justflie]

My Prediction:

I'm guessing on absoutely know actual knowledge that the new macbooks will appear either today (tuesday) or a week from today. Or the week after that. Or the week after that... 🙄

 

[IlluminatedSage]

You have to consider the problems that Apple has had with heat and portables of late. There would likely be heat issues with such a portable, which makes it even more plausible that Apple won't make such a portable.

The MBP core 2 duo, which just came out. has very good heat protection. it is nowhere as hot as the powerbook or version A, macbook pro.

I am sure that the macbook will also be a much better version of what is out now.

 

[pwfletcher]

Studio 60

Anyone watching Studio 60 on NBC tonight, Matthew Perry was using an aluminum 12" or 13" MacBook Pro. You could tell that it was a MacBook Pro and not a G4 because there was an iSight built in to the lid right above the screen. If you Tivo'd it, check it out! it was approximately 20 minutes in to the show.

 

[iBorg20181]

The other company's comparable machines to the MacBook Pro have C2D processors. The ones that compete against the MacBook don't for the most part. Apple didn't drop the ball.

Correct! The MB is an excellent value as-is. Of course we all want "more" for our money, and I expect Apple to drop the C2D into MBs soon - if not now, by MWSF at the latest. And if they offer a graphics chip as a BTO option, that's just icing on the cake - at their current price-point, I wouldn't be surprised if they keep integrated graphics, though (in part to push sales of MBPs for those needing a graphics chip.)

iBorg

 

[dtp]

I really hope the update is this Tuesday--I'll get out of lectures with my credit card in hand, ready to purchase. It can't come a minute too soon, as I really don't know how much longer my iBook has to last (bad noises, grinding, hanging, random shut downs...).