MPB refresh

[kntgsp]

I'm just curious to see what everyone's opinion on the refresh date and feature list will be.

I realize there's already rampant speculation, but I'm curious to see opinions. Some say end of August, some Sept/Oct.

I'm guessing September, when the back to school "clear out the inventory" is done and that it'll be a mild clock boost to 2.6/2.8 respectively.

Also wanted to guage everyone's reaction as to the possibility of DDR3 replacing DDR2. Seeing as the chipsets are there and DDR3 has become quite affordable now.

In terms of GPU, whether you can see them going with the 9600GT or the stronger 4850 Mobility?

Not of any particular concern, just wanted to see casual opinions relating to it.

 

[J the Ninja]

My guesses:

CPU: 2.4, 2.53, and 2.8Ghz Core 2 Duos
RAM: 2GB DDR3 1066 (Gives Apple something more unique, plus it saves power)
GPU: Either an ATI 3850 or an Nvidia 9650. Slight chance of the 3870 on the 17in
HDD: 250GB 5400rpm, 320GB 5400rpm, and 250GB 7200rpm. Maybe a 500GB drive on the 17in
Either 8x or 16x Superdrives for all
Date: Around the last week in august. My bets are on the 26th, seeing how Apple said to load up for 3 weeks.

 

[kntgsp]

My guesses:

CPU: 2.4, 2.53, and 2.8Ghz Core 2 Duos
RAM: 2GB DDR3 1066 (Gives Apple something more unique, plus it saves power)
GPU: Either an ATI 3850 or an Nvidia 9650. Slight chance of the 3870 on the 17in
HDD: 250GB 5400rpm, 320GB 5400rpm, and 250GB 7200rpm. Maybe a 500GB drive on the 17in
Either 8x or 16x Superdrives for all
Date: Around the last week in august. My bets are on the 26th, seeing how Apple said to load up for 3 weeks.

Definitely agree on the DDR3 1066. That's my guess too. Even with the loose timings on the current DDR3, it'll still be faster than the DDR2-667 that they currently use.

On the HDD side, I wouldn't be surprised if they offer up an SSD option, considering how much prices have fallen.

When it comes to the video card, I can't imagine them choosing the 3850, when the 4850 has already been demoed. At least I really hope they'd choose the 4850 over the 3850. That and it blows all the current Nvidia offerings out of the water.

The CPUs are 2.4/2.5, 2.5/2.6 and 2.5/2.6 I can see it bumped to 2.5/2.6, 2.6/2.8 and 2.6/2.8

 

[SpookyLars]

I would like to see a built-in GSM modem in the new MBP. It would be great.

 

[kntgsp]

I would like to see a built-in GSM modem in the new MBP. It would be great.

As an extended partnership with AT&T? Yea I could see that.

 

[SpookyLars]

As an extended partnership with AT&T? Yea I could see that.

Not quite. Just a normal GSM modem, insert the SIM card and use with any operator. No binding to the chosen one. Full freedom.

 

[kntgsp]

Not quite. Just a normal GSM modem, insert the SIM card and use with any operator. No binding to the chosen one. Full freedom.

Yea but I'd imagine people wouldn't buy it with GSM only. It'd have to have 3G data, as most of the laptops with built in modems today do.

The problem with that is you're locked into one carrier. I think most people would rather stick to using the ExpressCard slot for a connection.

But if you mean GSM SIM card to use as a phone with your laptop. I dunno. Not sure how many people would find it all that useful. And it would take sales away from the iPhone, which I doubt Apple would want. They'd rather have you buy a Macbook Pro AND an iPhone.

 

[iMacmatician]

Release date: September
2.53/2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (1067 MHz FSB)
2 GB 1067 MHz DDR3 RAM (up to 8 GB)
250/300 GB 5400 RPM HDD
256/512 MB NVIDIA GeForce 9500M/9600M/9650M (not sure which one) or equivalent ATI
8x DVD+R DL, no Blu-ray
Similar prices to current MacBook Pros

When it comes to the video card, I can't imagine them choosing the 3850, when the 4850 has already been demoed. At least I really hope they'd choose the 4850 over the 3850.

The 4800 series aren't coming until late this year.

 

[kntgsp]

Release date: September
2.53/2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (1067 MHz FSB)
2 GB 1067 MHz DDR3 RAM (up to 8 GB)
250/300 GB 5400 RPM HDD
256/512 MB NVIDIA GeForce 9500M/9600M/9650M (not sure which one) or equivalent ATI
8x DVD+R DL, no Blu-ray
Similar prices to current MacBook Pros


The 4800 series aren't coming until late this year.

If you mean in general, it's already out on the desktop side. I have one.

If you mean laptop side (which I assume), the 4850 Mobility has already been demoed. And Apple is notorious for getting early access to hardware.

I'm not saying that it's likely they'll use the 4850. I'm just saying it's not beyond the realm of possibility. It is an option for them. I just really hope they don't use the 3850 cards, since those are on the way out the door. The 4850 Mobility would blow the 9600M out of the water, which is why I'm really hoping they wait a month or so to get ahold of it.

 

[AppleNewton]

i wonder if theyll offer some interesting upgrade/cto options for either the a high-end 15 or the 17" with a quad cpu.....probably not till "Nehalem" but with all these new portables being comparable to desktop machines, i can only imagine its only a short time from that.


an SSD option would be great a 128GB OCZ SSD would be amazing.

Im wondering if theyll fit inside a current MBP model? id love to get one myself for mine.

 

[iMacmatician]

If you mean laptop side (which I assume), the 4850 Mobility has already been demoed.

Intel demoed a quad-core mobile chip last year...

And Apple is notorious for getting early access to hardware.

What early access?

• The 3.0 GHz Clovertown was available to places other than Apple when Apple got it.
• Apple uses the latest chipsets usually a month or more after their release.
• Apple got the 2.8 GHz Core 2 Extreme two weeks early.
• The "Santa Rosa Special" chipset was an enhanced Santa Rosa chipset released 3 months after Penryn.

I'm not saying that it's likely they'll use the 4850. I'm just saying it's not beyond the realm of possibility. It is an option for them. I just really hope they don't use the 3850 cards, since those are on the way out the door. The 4850 Mobility would blow the 9600M out of the water, which is why I'm really hoping they wait a month or so to get ahold of it.

It's probably too hot for the MacBook Pro.

i wonder if theyll offer some interesting upgrade/cto options for either the a high-end 15 or the 17" with a quad cpu.....probably not till "Nehalem"

It's most likely not coming even with Nehalem. Westmere is another story.

but with all these new portables being comparable to desktop machines, i can only imagine its only a short time from that.

The gap will only increase.