Official Merom (Core 2 Duo) Launch on Monday?

[jaynano]

Maybe Apple, in anticipation of the Merom release, ordered a smaller supply of Yonahs than they would have otherwise. They probably ordered enough to last them until now. The push back of ship dates and what not may be due to a short in the supply of apple's Yonahs.

If Apple put Merom into MB it would sell like crazy, why wouldn't they? Not only that, but those people who first get the Merom MBs would serve as a great advertisement campaign. So when Intel comes around to dropping the prices of the Merom chips, the MBs will be extremely popular amongst the not so savvy shoppers who don't do their research, and won't know that Santa Rosa is around the corner. Frankly, if apple waits too long to release a Merom MB, they will lose profit in the long run. What is someone who wants a 64 bit laptop supposed to do? I'm not gonna buy a MBP just cause apple is being cheap.

 

[Machead III]

Agreed. If Apple really want their two laptop lines to fit together, they need to release C2D versions of both at the same time and use speeds and other features, not processor type, to distinguish between Pro and consumer, to keep the lines synced over a longer period of time.

Just think of the crap the introduction of a C2D MB mid way through a Merom MBP cycle would cause. That's confusing enough for the Mac literate, let alone the average member of the public who knows little about core types.

I'd rather they showed their hand all at once so I can decide which is best for me, rather than relying on predictions of time and spec.

 

[Multimedia]

Merom MBP Will Be An All New Design • Not Just A Chip Drop In

I see no point in delaying a MacBook upgrade. All you need to do is drop in the new chips, prices don't even need to change, it would be completely pointless to let the line fall behind competitors.

1. It's not a drop in situation. It's a total MBP redesign featuring the easy access HD Bay.
2. Supply of Meroms is limited until a few months out.
3. Apple hasn't even received their shipment of them yet.
4. When they do, then they have to build up a launch quantity so they are for sale when announced.

Mostly because they want to have difference between the Pro line and the others. Thats what I think at least, and I know some others agree.

Nope. It's completely due to LIMITED SUPPLY of C2D processors for the first few months. There's plenty of differentiation between MB and MBP including speeds.

The point is that there are still plenty of Yonah MBPs sitting around waiting to be dispatched. Once the backstock will be limited, Apple is going to announce the Meroms and start stocking those.

Maybe Apple, in anticipation of the Merom release, ordered a smaller supply of Yonahs than they would have otherwise. They probably ordered enough to last them until now. The push back of ship dates and what not may be due to a short in the supply of apple's Yonahs.

Yes. And I'm sure Apple is retarding production as much as possible to minimize that supply of old models in the pipeline so when Meroms arrive they can inject the all new designed models into the assembly lines ASAP.

If Apple put Merom into MB it would sell like crazy, why wouldn't they? Not only that, but those people who first get the Merom MBs would serve as a great advertisement campaign. So when Intel comes around to dropping the prices of the Merom chips, the MBs will be extremely popular amongst the not so savvy shoppers who don't do their research, and won't know that Santa Rosa is around the corner. Frankly, if apple waits too long to release a Merom MB, they will lose profit in the long run. What is someone who wants a 64 bit laptop supposed to do? I'm not gonna buy a MBP just cause apple is being cheap.

Agreed. If Apple really want their two laptop lines to fit together, they need to release C2D versions of both at the same time and use speeds and other features, not processor type, to distinguish between Pro and consumer, to keep the lines synced over a longer period of time.

Just think of the crap the introduction of a C2D MB mid way through a Merom MBP cycle would cause. That's confusing enough for the Mac literate, let alone the average member of the public who knows little about core types.

I'd rather they showed their hand all at once so I can decide which is best for me, rather than relying on predictions of time and spec.

This point of view ignores the LIMITED SUPPLY of Meroms that all manufacturers have to cope with for the first few months of production. MacBooks will get Merom after MBP lines are fully ramped up followed by the iMac lines. Remember iMacs are oldest since they have had their original introduction on January 10. So they deserve to be in the Merom queue before MacBooks.

This is assuming the iMac does not get a Conroe redesign-makeover which is a clear possability. I personally think iMacs are due for a total redesign. It's gotta happen sometime in the next 12 months for sure. It's not like Apple to leave the iMac looking the same for more than a few years. Redesigns encourage more repeat buyers to upgrade.

Moreover, the all new since May 16 MacBooks are not going to get a speed bump - only same speed Meroms which to 99.44% of consumers will mean NOTHING. Only fanatical FREAKS like us who are here right now give a rat's rear about Merom in their MacBooks.

Only the mini will get Merom LAST after MacBooks. Apple has brilliantly-wisely chosen to immediately put same-as they-will-be-when-switched-to-Merom speed/L2 cache Yonahs into the mini now so they can put Meroms into minis once the other three lines have been saturated with Meroms almost invisibly at the same new 1.66GHz dual & 1.83GHz dual 2MB L2 cache spec.

 

[HecubusPro]

Well, unless they're updated before September 30th, when my NUS membership expires and I lose the 15% discount, I'm screwed.

Dammit! Let's get Steve on the phone right now and get those merom MB's out stat!

I feel your pain (well, not really since I'm getting a MBP, but I thought I would try to be sympathetic), but I think those who have said MB will be updated later with Core 2 Duo are correct. And as one poster commented, this is probably true especially considering that lower end laptops from other manufacturers have not been updated with the C2D yet. MBP will probably be first, then MB later on.

Also, with the limited availability of the C2D chips initially, Apple's going to probably need to be selective as to what product lines they're going to update with the merom.

It sucks, but maybe we're wrong. Maybe Apple will "Think Different" on this issue and drop meroms into MBP's and MB's at the same time. They've certainly surprised us in the past.

 

[shecky]

ok ill be the first to say it...


september 12???????????????????

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/229463/

 

[elsiedee]

A couple of days ago I looked at some of the PC laptop web pages and only the top of the line offerings are going C2D, the lower end laptops are CD, or Pentium M, or Celeron duo/Celeron.

Not true. Dell has an Inspiron E1405 with a Core 2 Duo starting at $1149. This has integrated graphics and a 14.1" display. While it is not a low-end model, it's obviously not a top-of-the-line model either. This stuff is changing daily.

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellst...cs=19&fb=1&l=en&oc=e1405rfc1&s=dhs&vw=classic

 

[backdraft]

This is interesting. And I would agree to a large degree. Developers could have done a lot to make more/better use of the Altivec processor.

But.

There is a lot more sample code out there for writing x86 assembly code.

The blog also totally misses the boat in that this shows how dicky IBM was being. Why in the hell didn't they optimize the GCC compiler for Altivec BEFORE Apple switched? Until Apple said, "dude, this just isn't working out," IBM was happy to sell them processors and provide little information or manpower for doing this kind of sweet stuff.

So while there is some cool a** stuff that can be done on the G4/G5's that developers were missing out on, part of the fault lies not just with Apple, but with Motorola and IBM who were supposed to provide the tools for developers.

You'll notice that Intel is really good about this. While I'm still making optimized code for G4/G5's, I've always felt like it's a more sanctioned activity on the x86 side.

Well the problem with Apple is that they never really made a long term contract with IBM. There's no doubt in my mind that PPC is the better architecture; and as of today I dont see why has to go the X86 route ONLY when they could offer both architectures. PPC based macs are just higher quality, I have tried the Intel based Mac's and have found them to be flaky more prone to stalls/crashes, not to mention the recent hardware problems Apple has been having with them.

I really wish Apple would give IBM another go with the PPC chip.

 

[33scottie33]

You go THROUGH Ramseeker.com to get the lowest price from Omni Technologies. Optival is their bargain ram. Current price is $86.89 per 1GB Stick you can click here to get that price. I've provided you with a link from this post to Omni as if you went through Ramseeker.com.

Omni Optival RAM is excellent reliable quality. I have bought many siticks from them with never a problem.

Thanks Multimedia! Omni ram arrived today, I installed it and I notice the speed difference. I did not think it could get much faster. The current MBP is some machine! I am very happy with it.

 

[DwightSchrute]

Originally ordered a MB on 8/17. Shipping was pushed back from 8/22 (arrival 8/29) to now saying that estimated ship date is 8/31 with an estimated arrival of 9/8. With a 2-day ship service. How does that work??

My thoughts exactly since I ordered mine on the 22nd and it said it would ship today (the 31st). Thing is, it didn't ship today. Did yours ship? I can see that his got delayed because of high demand but you'd think by the time I ordered mine they would have sorted out the ship date. Anyways if they haven't shipped mine by tomorrow afternoon I'm going to call them about it. O I forgot to mention that mine also has an estimated delivery date of sept. 8th.

 

[Zadillo]

Well the problem with Apple is that they never really made a long term contract with IBM. There's no doubt in my mind that PPC is the better architecture; and as of today I dont see why has to go the X86 route ONLY when they could offer both architectures. PPC based macs are just higher quality, I have tried the Intel based Mac's and have found them to be flaky more prone to stalls/crashes, not to mention the recent hardware problems Apple has been having with them.

I really wish Apple would give IBM another go with the PPC chip.

Whatever quality problems there are with Intel-based Macs, I wouldn't blame them on the processor (other than just the possible growing pains of such a major switch).

Either way, it seems pretty clear that a big factor in switching to X86 was on the mobile side of things. At the same time as Intel was making real headway with the Pentium M as a more efficient and cooler mobile chip, it seemed like there was no progress on further developments of a PowerPC succeessor for the aging PowerPC G4's in the PowerBook and iBook line.

Seriously, can you imagine if we were here in the middle of 2006 and Apple was still pushing old PowerPC G4-based laptops? Do you think we were ever going to see a PowerPC G5 laptop? And even if we did, would it have really competed with the Core 2 Duo based laptops?

Arguably you could make a switch to x86 on the mobile side and keep using G5's on the desktop side, but this would really seem kind of wishy-washy........ imagine if Apple only switched to PowerPC chips in the 90's but kept using 68k chips in PowerBooks or something?

And considering the performance improvements we're seeing on the desktop side, I don't think it was a mistake to being able to use those new processors there as well.

Really, I would not cite the current problems as a reason that it was a mistake to switch to Intel processors.

As it is, I don't know how much IBM compared about the desktop or mobile market for PowerPC chips anyway. And who even knows what the future has been; what have you heard about the Cell processors lately?

-Zadillo

 

[walshb6413]

I'm still waiting for the new MBP, but came into some cash yesterday and bought a MacBook for my fiance today, migrated everything from her G4 Mini and she couldn't be happier

I played with it the first 9 hours, she was at work. Seemed really sluggish, turns out it was spotlight indexing the 30+GB of migrated stuff Now it's quite snappy! Love it!

Oh and I got a black 2GB nano I am selling since i have too many ipods already, still in shrink wrap except for upc, $155 shipped if you're interested

Now she has hers.. it makes me want my Merom MBP now!!

 

[Kjes]

http://appleinsider.com/article.php?id=2010
Seems like the Mac Mini will be upgraded sooner than some (including me) thought.

 

[Multimedia]

mini Will Be Last To Get The Currently Limited Supply Of Meroms

Apple Store customer receives upgraded Mac mini Seems like the Mac Mini will be upgraded sooner than some (including me) thought.

Yes but... It's not to Merom. Due to the limited supply of Merom to begin with, Apple has brilliantly chosen to upgrade the mini specs with Yonahs that are the same spec as the bottom two Meroms. Get's rid of the lame Core Solo model while adding significant value to the mini line until they can get enough Meroms to make the mini the last recipient of the Merom upgrade. Very smart move on Apple's part I think.

1.66GHz 2MB L2 cache CD Yonah $599
1.83GHz 2MB L2 cache CD Yonah $799

Their contract with Intel probably automatically morphs the supply of Yonahs to Meroms ASAP. Meanwhile Apple also gets to pay less than ever for the Yonahs they have to keep receiving until Meroms go off allocation. Really smart production management.

We don't have substantiation this was not a goof up in fulfillment yet. But we did have Fry's dumping Core Solo mini's Wednesday for $499. So the writing is on the wall.

 

[DavidLeblond]

We don't have substantiation this was not a goof up in fulfillment yet.

Pretty sure it was a goof up.

 

[Apple Corps]

Multimedia,

Regarding Merom, one of your earlier posts stated:

" 3. Apple hasn't even received their shipment of them yet."

Where are you getting such specific information?

Thanks

 

[matttrick]

ive been configuring things on the apple store lately, and added a macbook pro to my cart to save for later. i have also since logged on a few times since that just to check things out.

never asked for any followup call or anything. now today i got a call. very friendly but VEEERY persuasive in trying to get me to buy today. do they normally do this, or could this be them really pushing the old stock out to make way for whatever update?

 

[jaynano]

Why doesn't someone call apple, ask them when the MeromBook is coming out, and let us all know?

 

[deepy]

Why doesn't someone call apple, ask them when the MeromBook is coming out, and let us all know?

Lol. If only that could work. The person you'll get on the other end of the phone probably wont know.

 

[fastlane1588]

actually now that u mentioned that, while the website was down durring wwdc i called asking bout the mpb, but all they say is that they dont know

 

[Multimedia]

Massive Air-Freight Shipments From The Far East Due To Drop In US September 5th

Multimedia, Regarding Merom, one of your earlier posts stated: "3. Apple hasn't even received their shipment of them yet." Where are you getting such specific information?

We had a specific AppleInsider report on August 14th that Apple would receive their first large shipment of Meroms on September 5th. Looks like I misread it. Looks like MacBook Pros will be flying in next Tuesday.

High-Security Freight Shipments​

"In particular, the company this week is said to be preparing for massive air-freight shipments from the Far East that are due to drop in the United States around the 5th of September.

Although sources were not specific as to what product(s) Apple is planning to move, the timeframe of the shipments coincides nicely with dates in which the Mac maker is believed to be ready to roll with its first Core 2 Duo-based MacBook Pro notebook systems."

After reading that again, perhaps they have already received their first large shipment of Meroms and are in process of completing production for their first shipment of the all new easy access HD Merom MacBook Pros.

so when does that mean they will be avalible and ready to ship to customers???

Probably about September 12th. They will need a week to distribute them to all the Apple Stores so Steve can say "Available Today".

When apple releases the MBP with the merom (notice "when", not "if", I'm crossing my fingers for sept 5th) the 64 bit arch lends itself to a higher memory limit, do you forsee the BTO options for memory going up? do they even make 2gb so-dimm cards? more slots?

Maybe. But 2GB Sticks are gonna cost you an arm and two legs. I doubt there will be more than two ram slots.

 

[fastlane1588]

so when does that mean they will be avalible and ready to ship to customers???

 

[mightymike107]

When apple releases the MBP with the merom (notice "when", not "if", I'm crossing my fingers for sept 5th) the 64 bit arch lends itself to a higher memory limit, do you forsee the BTO options for memory going up? do they even make 2gb so-dimm cards? more slots?

 

[Apple Corps]

Multimedia - thanks - your re-read is in line with what I had been reading.

Sooner or later one of these predictions will be the correct guess - a broken clock shows the correct time twice a day

I just so so so hope that we don't see things go from the latest September 5 estimate to the Mac Expo Paris wait to the next week - ughhhhh

 

[Multimedia]

Dell Core 2 Duo Ad Aired On FOX Tonight During Vanished Pilot Re-Run

Multimedia - thanks - your re-read is in line with what I had been reading.

Sooner or later one of these predictions will be the correct guess - a broken clock shows the correct time twice a day

I just so so so hope that we see things go from the latest September 5 estimate to the Mac Expo Paris wait to the next week - ughhhhh

Just saw the first Dell Core 2 Duo Ad on the re-run of the Vanished Pilot on FOX a couple of minutes ago 8:32 PM PDT. Will add images of it to this post soon.

 

[vrocko]

whats the guesstimate on the price of a fully loaded merom MBP

I went on dells website out of curiosity and configured a laptop as close as I could (spec wise) to the mbp I will be getting and it was near $6000 its $3000 to max out the memory http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&oc=M1710B2&s=dhs