New MacBooks by November?

[MagnusVonMagnum]

You can call BS all you want. I really dont give a crap. Im not citing any "study", and Im not saying people dont buy new computers. What I AM saying is that people buy new computers when they dont need to (due to spyware and the general slowdown of the Windows OS over time) and 99% of customers just believe what the guy at Best Buy tells them. Where do I get that 99% from? Everywhere. I work for a large bank (over 10,000 people in my building alone) and most of the people that I know there just know how to run a few programs, and on their home PC's they just surf the web, email, and so on. I also used to work at Costco in the electronics department (they referred to it as "Majors") and about 1 out of every 100 customers looking at new computers had a clue about the technical specs. The rest just asked questions like "whats the difference between this one for $987.00 and the one for $1299.00?"

In other words, you're just making up numbers as you go. Gotcha.

The fact your customers at Costco (is that a major computer retailer or a bulk goods store?) were ASKING about DIFFERENCES tells me that they care more about what's in the computer than you give them credit for. Tell someone this Mac can play Prey and this one can barely play Pac-man and I think they'll likely choose the one that can play the modern games unless it costs an arm and a leg more than the other one. Unlike you, I'm not citing any numbers. That is simply my opinion. Like I said, this old dual G4 can do the Net just fine, burn DVDs and CDs, etc. (and it IS expandable). But obviously, I want a faster computer because I want to do more than THAT. And an Intel GMA 950 isn't going to cut the mustard yet I don't believe I should have to pay almost twice as much for the MBP just because I want a somewhat better GPU. Maybe I like the smaller screen. Maybe I don't need Firewire 800, etc. etc. In other words, the problem with the choice of ONLY the Macbook and the Macbook Pro is that it DOES cost an arm and a leg mor than the Macbook. A "good" (not great) graphics card does NOT cost $800-1000, yet that's what I'd be looking at with a MBP over a MB.

I'm done trying to explain this, but the last thing I will say is this: If everyone is so damn tech savvy, why does "Geek Squad" and the like stay so busy? Why are tech consultants/support people in such high demand?

If you believe Geek Squad is knowledgeable, I've got some swamp land I coul sell you. I worked for Best Buy once upon a time (mid '90s). Education required to work there? Practically none. Pay? The same.

 

[gwangung]

In other words, you're just making up numbers as you go. Gotcha. .

You really don't know what you're talking about, do you? Let alone what the other poster is talking about.....

Sigh. So convinced of your knowledge....

 

[gwangung]

If you believe Geek Squad is knowledgeable, I've got some swamp land I coul sell you. I worked for Best Buy once upon a time (mid '90s). Education required to work there? Practically none. Pay? The same.

By the way, if you believe that he was saying "Geek Squad is knowledgeable", then you're not getting it. At all.

 

[stingandclear]

now that leopard is announced and no news of update macbooks, any chances there will be still one later on? I'm waiting to buy first laptop (MB) for university and i dont want to miss it if a new MB one is coming out.

 

[libraritine]

how much of difference would X3100 make?

 

[thereubster]

how much of difference would X3100 make?

Not a huge amount, it has hardware support for HD video decoding and some improvements in the number of hardware shaders and such, but probably not a gigantic difference. In windows land the x3100 was scoring LOWER than the GMA950 for a while but that turned out to be Micro$ofts rubbish drivers.

BTW, Apple has released updated iBooks/macbooks on the same day as both their previous OSX releases if my memory serves (it probably doesnt) so there is a precedent there. I predict a SR updated Macbook on or very soon after the 26th Oct.

 

[richardsim7]

re

What I don't understand is the image on
http://www.apple.com/macosx/

This has GOT to be a hint of some sort. Why are they displaying Leopard on macbooks and not their shiny new iMac's?

-Rich-

 

[juxtaposer]

Hopefully these pictures of the MacBook running Leopard are an indication that the update will just be the speed bump and introduction of Santa Rosa, without a change to the external design. I hope so, because the white MacBooks are beautiful machines. Alu is not the way to go!

 

[Eidorian]

Not a huge amount, it has hardware support for HD video decoding and some improvements in the number of hardware shaders and such, but probably not a gigantic difference. In windows land the x3100 was scoring LOWER than the GMA950 for a while but that turned out to be Micro$ofts rubbish drivers.

BTW, Apple has released updated iBooks/macbooks on the same day as both their previous OSX releases if my memory serves (it probably doesnt) so there is a precedent there. I predict a SR updated Macbook on or very soon after the 26th Oct.

You mean Intel's rubbish drivers, right?

 

[Absolutist]

What I don't understand is the image on
http://www.apple.com/macosx/

This has GOT to be a hint of some sort. Why are they displaying Leopard on macbooks and not their shiny new iMac's?

-Rich-

I'm starting to lose faith in that rumored update on Leopard's launch. Why would market their new operating system on a device that is about to be replaced within a month?

Maybe because they want to try to keep the sales drop as low as possible before leopard comes out. Most people expect a macbook update when Leopard is released so they wait with buying one. knows this and therefore they chose to promote the OS with the old macbooks to keep customers thinking they will not update them afterall.

Of course this is all speculation and I highly doubt would "mislead" their custormers like this. My hopes are on a speedbump and a new videocard (X3100) and I will most defenitly wait till december with buying my macbook. I don't really dig the whole aluminium look anyway. White macbook ftw!

 

[Dybbuk]

I have to ask, I have a current MacBook, aside from gaming and pro work does the GMA950 really hinder me at all? I think the most intensive thing I do is watch videos. :x Because all this talk is making me hate my machine.

 

[Eidorian]

I have to ask, I have a current MacBook, aside from gaming and pro work does the GMA950 really hinder me at all? I think the most intensive thing I do is watch videos. :x Because all this talk is making me hate my machine.

Once again you might run into bandwidth issues saturating the front side bus or the slow rendering of certain effects due to high CPU usage.

 

[lwcoffer2]

Once again you might run into bandwidth issues saturating the front side bus or the slow rendering of certain effects due to high CPU usage.

Which is why i'm hoping for the Intel T7500 in the new Macbook. What do you think about penryn chip being added in early 08 to the MBP? It seems like more of a speed bump the more I read. I'm not as enthused.

 

[Eidorian]

Which is why i'm hoping for the Intel T7500 in the new Macbook. What do you think about penryn chip being added in early 08 to the MBP? It seems like more of a speed bump the more I read. I'm not as enthused.

Having a faster processor won't be a very effective solution.

 

[lwcoffer2]

Having a faster processor won't be a very effective solution.

Aren't they supposed to increase the FSB to 800?

 

[Dybbuk]

Is there any truth to the argument that the GMA950 lowers power consumption?

 

[Eidorian]

Is there any truth to the argument that the GMA950 lowers power consumption?

The GMA 950 is built-in to the chipset so that an additional discrete GPU is not required.

Aren't they supposed to increase the FSB to 800?

That isn't an effective solution either.

 

[lwcoffer2]

That isn't an effective solution either.

Sorry I was assuming that it will have the x3100. From what I seen its a 30% increase over the 950.

 

[scientia]

http://www.thestreet.com/_txtmdb/vi...t+Strategy&cm_ven=&cm_cat=&cm_ite=#1254123949

Check this out!

 

[thedudeAbides]

AMD integrated graphics

Doesn't AMD have way better integrated graphics options than intel? i don't know if this requires an AMD cpu or not.

i understand why apple wants to use integrated graphics for the macbook:

1. Cheaper (of course, but what is another $75 really going to matter for massive improvements seen with even a cheap dedicated card?)

2. Size. I think this is the big draw right now. i think apple is looking into the future when integrated graphics might be a great compromise between battery life/size and graphics performance.

but that time is not now. and definitely not now from intel's integrated graphics. the update to X3100 will still leave the macbooks lacking in the graphics department.

if you want to see the difference between intel/amd integrated graphics and a dedicated graphics card (in a desktop...) read anandtech.

 

[Eidorian]

Sorry I was assuming that it will have the x3100. From what I seen its a 30% increase over the 950.

Take note that the GMA X3100 is still an integrated solution and very dependent on the system RAM.

Doesn't AMD have way better integrated graphics options than intel? i don't know if this requires an AMD cpu or not.

i understand why apple wants to use integrated graphics for the macbook:

1. Cheaper (of course, but what is another $75 really going to matter for massive improvements seen with even a cheap dedicated card?)

2. Size. I think this is the big draw right now. i think apple is looking into the future when integrated graphics might be a great compromise between battery life/size and graphics performance.

but that time is not now. and definitely not now from intel's integrated graphics. the update to X3100 will still leave the macbooks lacking in the graphics department.

if you want to see the difference between intel/amd integrated graphics and a dedicated graphics card (in a desktop...) read anandtech.

Intel, AMD, and nVidia all provide integrated solutions and chipsets. You could throw in VIA and SiS as well.

 

[Eidorian]

He did make a new thread about it, but people didn't like that either. I think he/she is just trying to be helpful

i wanted to make sure everyone saw it and i made a new thread for people who currently dont pay attention to this thread

It'd be nice if someone linked to it then.

 

[Loudwater]

Hmm... interesting... But I still want to see the white machine!!! Hopefully the date is as he says. That'll be so great.

 

[Fuzzy14]

http://www.thestreet.com/_txtmdb/vi...t+Strategy&cm_ven=&cm_cat=&cm_ite=#1254123949

Check this out!

Not into Newbie bashing, but when two newbies with under a month's membership post a link to a non-rumors website with the statement "Check this out!" then it looks a bit suspicious.
Please give a brief comment about what the link is about, because my first impression was to report the post as it looked like spam.

Jus tryin' to help...

 

[TheBendingUnit]

no!

http://www.thestreet.com/_txtmdb/vi...t+Strategy&cm_ven=&cm_cat=&cm_ite=#1254123949

Check this out!

OK... wait.. what does this mean? is this source reliable? Does this mean it's "sure" that we will see a ultraportable announced next week at Leopard's release ? (and no new MB like I was hoping for? )