More Core 2 Duo MacBook Rumblings

[steve_hill4]

Yes but it does clearly state Core 2 Duo in the product name and the release date of 13th November, they could have just copied the spec of the existing one as they are unsure of the new spec. What is telling is the date, they obviously expect it to happen on the 13th

As i pointed out on digg, they do appear to have cmd-c, cmd-v'd the specs and then added a speculative date to a slightly changed title. However, also note that their new MacBook Pros, (that have already been shipping remember), are also stating a 13/11/2006 shipping date as a pre-order.

This is far from confirmed and we may even see them appear this week rather than next.

 

[szsiddiq]

This thread has, to the best of my knowledge, managed to stay tablet free up until now...thanks for contaminating a great thread with pie in the sky.

hehe, i just want a tablet, with translusant ipod like edges...lemme dream a little bit, ok?

in all seriousness though, they've 2 notebook lines, and 3 screen sizes. in order to continue their growth, they've to get into even more niche markets, while expanding their mainstream markets.

 

[danvdr]

in order to continue their growth, they're have to get into even more niche markets, while expanding their mainstream markets.

SZ--please explain. It seems that even a small increase in the mainstream would overshadow a large gain in niche markets. If Apple increases mainstream market share why do they need the niche markets?

 

[stefan15]

I really hope they choose to upgrade the default amount of RAM. 512mb is simply not enough. Sure some of you will argue, but I've tried a Macbook with 512 and one with 1gb and the latter is far better. To me it seems like 1gb is OSX's sweet spot, and 512mb is just barely lacking. I was pretty surprised when they decided to go with 512mb stock in the first place.

 

[h00ligan]

And don't have a single 12/13in model in existence? I don't think so.

Some people want small form factors. It's a shame Apple thinks form factors and power are in a 1-to-1 relationship. Some people want powerful laptops with smaller displays (12in PB is no more) or less powerful laptops with larger displays (15in iBook is no more). Hopefully Apple learns to stop limiting themselves in this way. Think differently differently.

wow , talk about completely missing a joke... wow.

 

[junkster]

Safe predictions for the MB C2D:

2.16 GHz for the upper two models, 2.0 for the cheapest
~20MB larger hard drive
no difference in GPU
runs significantly cooler overall

Riskier bets:

1GB standard (but as two 512MB cards, unlike the MBP)
Price premium for black reduced to $100

 

[szsiddiq]

SZ--please explain. It seems that even a small increase in the mainstream would overshadow a large gain in niche markets. If Apple increases mainstream market share why do they need the niche markets?

I guess i was wrong with said niche markets.
what i mean is that as they expand their market share, they'll need to expand their product line, in order to entice customers toward their products. basically, if they have a product for every corner of their market, they'll likely increase their market share.

 

[danvdr]

I guess i was wrong with said niche markets.
what i mean is that as they expand their market share, they'll need to expand their product line, in order to entice customers toward their products. basically, if they have a product for every corner of their market, they'll likely increase their market share.

Good point.

 

[szsiddiq]

Good point.

altho, if they over inflate themselves, they could always pop.

maybe one reason they havent had a tablet...their market analysis must have concluded that people arent interested in the current offerings of tablets, either due to interface awkwardness, or high prices, etc

 

[hulugu]

Frankly I don't know if Bluetooth would solve the wire problem. But your point is well taken a wireless drive would have its own advantages. Something would be needed of course as I'm not dismissing the need for an optical drive from time to time. My big problem with optical hardware is that it increases weight and decreases reliability...

I agree, but wireless doesn't nearly have the bandwidth necessary.

Think about it, Bluetooth is up to 3Mbps, Wireless is at 54Mbps, and your Firewire drive is 400Mbps.
And, while BT and WiFi can fluxuate, the data for hard-drives and optical drives must be constant in order to be useful. As cool as it would be streaming huge amounts of data is still beyond the current technology, even the WiMax standard is limited to around 100Mbps.

Apple's making a gamble with 802.11n, but they did the same thing with 802.11g and it worked rather well, some have stated that Apple's inclusion of 802.11g gear actually helped to force the issue.

 

[szsiddiq]

Good point.

I agree, but wireless doesn't nearly have the bandwidth necessary.

Think about it, Bluetooth is up to 3Mbps, Wireless is at 54Mbps, and your Firewire drive is 400Mbps.
And, while BT and WiFi can fluxuate, the data for hard-drives and optical drives must be constant in order to be useful. As cool as it would be streaming huge amounts of data is still beyond the current technology, even the WiMax standard is limited to around 100Mbps.

Apple's making a gamble with 802.11n, but they did the same thing with 802.11g and it worked rather well, some have stated that Apple's inclusion of 802.11g gear actually helped to force the issue.

as u say, wireless drives that are running a whole OS arent too useful yet (based on current tech). but if they're storing data that only needs to be retrieved every so often, itd be well worth it.

 

[hulugu]

as u say, wireless drives that are running a whole OS arent too useful yet (based on current tech). but if they're storing data that only needs to be retrieved every so often, itd be well worth it.

For network storage applications it might be useful, but I think you'd really want a hard-drive and a optical drive you could plug-in even if it's a separate part.

Ideally, something like a tablet PC (iPad) that would use NAND-flash for low voltage OS applications and a hard-drive for more robust applications. The optical drive isn't as necessary for loading data (such as ripping DVDs, music, etc.)

The Tablet PC is a nice idea, but until they're small and light they will remain a niche product. I think something akin to Sony's e-book reader, but with some tablet capabilities that can be seamlessly linked into a larger system would make a real change in the market.
The machines are still used as laptop replacements, and frankly they have a different application.

 

[Apoptosis]

How long has the shipping wait been 3-5 days on the Black MacBooks on the Australian store? Every time I have looked they've all been "within 24hrs"?

 

[ijakk]

Safe predictions for the MB C2D:

2.16 GHz for the upper two models, 2.0 for the cheapest
~20MB larger hard drive
no difference in GPU
runs significantly cooler overall

Riskier bets:

1GB standard (but as two 512MB cards, unlike the MBP)
Price premium for black reduced to $100

godly.....20MB increase in hd! thats like 4 mp3s?

 

[mautal]

elections are over

now that the democrats have taken control of the house, and will likely take the senate too... Jobs will celebrate by releasing MMB tomorrow! or will be next week to steal thunda from the ZUNE... i don't care either way, as long as it comes soooooon!!

 

[steelfist]

i don't mind an integrated graphics card, all I want is a better integrated graphics card, the best that intel can offer.

 

[AppliedVisual]

i don't mind an integrated graphics card, all I want is a better integrated graphics card, the best that intel can offer.

Unfortunately, that's currently the GMA950 that's already in the Macbook.

 

[Loyalizer]

Yeng - Yang

I just want the graphics card to be more than a lame 64MB. Every other manufacturer on the planet has at least 128 in their notebooks shared or otherwise.

I would buy a Macbook in a heart beat if they did that. Hell... With the money I'll save from buying a Macbook pro I might get two one black and one white.

 

[Chosenbydestiny]

I just want the graphics card to be more than a lame 64MB. Every other manufacturer on the planet has at least 128 in their notebooks shared or otherwise.

I would buy a Macbook in a heart beat if they did that. Hell... With the money I'll save from buying a Macbook pro I might get two one black and one white.

I would actually take that kind of change over an HD or RAM boost since that's
one of the components you can't upgrade.

 

[grumps]

You can already get a MB with more RAM and larger HDD so what would be the point of that? A 13 inch MBP would make more sense.

Because you can't get a MacBook with a core 2 duo. Doh!

That's the whole point (of the thread actually)

 

[grumps]

How long has the shipping wait been 3-5 days on the Black MacBooks on the Australian store? Every time I have looked they've all been "within 24hrs"?

Only a few days I think. I've been watching it for a while.

The same guy I was talking too (at NextByte) told me that they had no Macbook deliveries for over a week, which they had never seen.

He also told me he'd heard that there will be a 15 inch MacBook Pro!!!

He's been working there for a while. Actually spent time talking me out of buying a MacBook the other day?!

 

[grumps]

Now here's an interesting thing...

If I go to the Australian Apple Store the delivery time for a Black MacBook is 3-5 days.

If I go to configure and upgrade it to 1Gb RAM the delivery time falls to 2-4 days!!!

Explain that to me all you rumo(u)r experts

 

[Apoptosis]

If I go to the Australain Apple Store the delivery time for a Black MacBook is 3-5 days.

If I go to configure and upgrade it to 1Gb RAM the delivery time falls to 2-4 days!!!

Ecplain that to me all you rumo(u)r experts

Looks like someone at apple didn't think things all the way through correctly

 

[steve_hill4]

If I go to the Australian Apple Store the delivery time for a Black MacBook is 3-5 days.

If I go to configure and upgrade it to 1Gb RAM the delivery time falls to 2-4 days!!!

Explain that to me all you rumo(u)r experts

Don't know, but assuming you ordered that and the BlackBook was upgraded before dispatch, you would possibly get 2GB for the same price, or the option to go down to standard 1GB config and money back. That's assuming Apple sees sense and ups it to 1GB as well as C2D.

 

[steve_hill4]

The same guy I was talking too (at NextByte) told me that they had no Macbook deliveries for over a week, which they had never seen.

He also told me he'd heard that there will be a 15 inch MacBook Pro!!!

Well, don't believe him. The fact that there already is a 15" MBP should be evidence that Apple will never release a 15" MBP.