Aqua-Soft ForumsAll Macbooks now have @least a 2.0GHZ Core 2 Duo and 1 Gig of RAM, does anyone know if the Macbooks pros have an update soon?
New Macbooks
Most probably at WDDC which isnt that far away now!
True, but I've heard that the iPhone is the main concern at WWDC, so do you think apple would release so many products at once ?
Probably... for this time once... YAWN @ apple !!
Seriously... I was expecting apple to go Santa Rosa on hardware refresh... The only thing I see is 802.11-N here, faster processors.. fine, but these are not new revision C2D, no Intel X3000/X3100 graphic chip, still the old GMA950.
Then I think apple is reserving serious Santa-Rosa update for MBPs. Also since ATi launched their new Radeon HD (R600) lineup in both desktop as well as mobile, I think it's safe to expect new graphic chip in MBPs with official Wireless N, new revision C2Ds with upgraded intel mainboard.
That would be worth it, but still I think this macbook refresh is unfair to people who want to/only afford to buy macbooks.
Since most of ATI's Graphics are ported for Windows, wouldn't it be costly for Apple to put create them for the Mac, and what is a "C2D"
C2D stands for Core 2 Duo >.>
Apple has been using ATi graphic chipsets in notebooks for long now... even my iBook G4 has mobility radeon 9600. So I don't quite understand what you mean by cost factor. I don't remember seeing any nVidia graphics in any apple notebooks but only ATi, expect since macbook Apple used Intel GMA 950. Only Mac Pro (and former Powermac G5) gave you option to use nVidia cards.
In fact when Apple launched 30" Cinema Display, for some initial period only nVidia 6800 based card was used for it since ATi that time didn't have any Dual-Link DVI output.
C2D = Core 2 Duo processors.
oops.. looks like arcinthesky beat to me it... 
I mean that Apple seems (to me at least) to get Mac only Graphics cards from ATI, then they seem to be only be available for the Mac.
Thanks for the C2D thing too...
Yeh... you're correct, what I meant was that.. ATi announced Radeon HD lineup for Desktop as well as Notebook, so I'm hoping that this new line-up includes mac specific parts as well. Since MBP's are using X1600 Radeon for long time now (first as well as second rev.), it's safe to assume that newer macbook will use these new parts.
ok, but is there a windows version of the X1600, or is that a Windows Graphics chip/card that was modded for the Mac?
Yes. there is PC version available.
As for new (possible) graphic update in Apple products, here is little insight : http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/07/05...re_roundup.html
so, maybe you're right...
Yes... as per that article, I was really hoping apple to make transition to Santa-Rosa on it's macbook line up as X3100 is worthy replacement to current GMA 950. But current refresh is really a joke considering only wifi upgrade and faster but not second rev. processors. They can still keep macbook low-end compared to macbook pro by using integrated graphic and lower clock processors. But the power saving features with performance bump on new Santa-Rosa platform was deserved by macbook users.
So, now the dilemma starts, and I'd like some help here, if you wouldn't mind.
I've been saving for a MacBook Pro for a while now. Here's the thing: my parents say I need to save up double the amount I'd like to spend. For the $1999 MBP (Canadian $), I need to save up $4000 (thereabouts). I'm nearly there, but a couple of necessary purchases have come up to get my guitar fixed (again... they didn't quite fix it the first time). My reasons for going for the MBP were (and these are going by the base specs, not if I were to customize it):
- Faster processors
- More hard drive space, and more RAM
- Bigger screen
Now Apple has left me with a major dilemma. I still want to get the MBP, because then I'd be doing things properly. Plus, if WWDC stands correct, it will be worth the wait. However, the new MacBooks have solved the first 2 problems. The only hurdle left is the screen size.
Advice? I'm 60-40 split on what I should do. 60% of me is telling me to wait, 40% is saying that I should go for the MacBook now.
hmm...
it really all depends on what you plan to do with your MBP. If you're going to have more applications running that you need to monitor without having windows topple over each other then i guess MBP is your choice. Also with movies and the like. I plan to get a macbook for myself because i dont usually have a lot of applications i always need to see, and i find my desktop size (1024x768) is fine for me.
So...yea. it all depends on what you're gunna be running.
Nothing, nothing tops a 15in MBP with a 23in ACD.
On that note, however, I say wait on the MacBooks. I love them with a passion, but there's absolutely no reason to buy one until the next major revision, namely LCD displays if they come out.
Thanks for the feedback, guys.
I'm mainly going to be doing web/graphic design, watching movies, and browsing the internet.
However, I will also be getting a 24" (or a 23" ACD, depending on which I find more suitable to my budget) monitor eventually.
I think I'll hold off until WWDC, and if the MBPs will be the same price with the new features (LED screen, et al), then I'll get one of those. If they're more expensive (by a large amount; say $150 or so), then I'll get the MacBook.
Well... if you are going to do just Web Developement and related graphic design. There is major difference between doing graphic for web and graphic for print. So I would have said that if your majority works is going be web related, macbook's are just fine... but not after yesterday.
I'll tell you why... The processors are faster, HDD got bigger... but still it's not serious update like I said earlier in my post. So rather hold your money than spending on MB. I'm sure the next MBP update is at least going to include second rev. C2D, Official WiFi N (no separate purchase for update), LED backlist display (and probably graphic chip update). So that makes it worthwhile putting your money for.. rather than spending over new MB which I feel not that great bang-for-buck.
Makes me laugh all this moaning about the MB update.
Your getting more for your money and thats a bad thing???
Faster Processor...
Double the RAM
Bigger HD
And the base model is cheaper than last one here in the UK....
The Wi-Fi isn't an update that was available in previous versions as far as I was aware.
Do you honestly think we are gonna see any major updates before June??
Its a bit like the MacPro 8-Core Update although more useful.... its an inbetweener.
Sure the on board graphics chip isn't anything special but the Macbook has never been a gaming rig or high end Pro App facilitator (We have Pro Machines for that)... it will run your main stream apps with no problems though.
Yes, but imagine if Apple upgrades macbook some time after they update macbook pro with santa-rosa platform. How would you feel about getting a laptop with one rev. down processor, two generation down graphic chip and slightly upgraded LCD. Because reports are that, apple is already testing LED backlit displays (15" and 13" sizes) which means that new macbooks are in pipe. Maybe not as soon as WWDC but sooner than last quarter '07. And all these are not performance only upgrades, but give you better battery life more more performance.
The Wifi-N is the only thing that can be considered as Serious upgrade in this macbook. Oh, by the way, I was talking about MBP when I said about "separate update purchase". 
Faster processors... sure, it's welcome.. but it's only higher clock variant of same processor.
Double Ram... that is also welcome, but it's more like "option upgrade" than "part upgrade".
Bigger HDD... I agree, much required.
For current price macbook is still a good deal, but I think It should have been more for an upgrade.
I still think its a moot point, its an upgrade, anybody who really cares about the upgrades and what you are talking about wouldn't have purchased one yet and will hold out for the possible LED and Santa Rosa platform changes. Although I see these being upgraded in MBP first not the MB.
Yeh... you are right. Those who want will definitely go for it. In fact, as you said.. these new platform upgrade are expected in MBP first, them MB. That's why this MB upgrade comes as surprise. Those who are looking for immediate purchase of new macbook, for them this comes as good deal.
At least to me this upgrade comes as disappointment, because I looking forward to a macbook purchase for my girlfriend but I think I'll do that only after platform upgrade. Besides, I'm also guessing that Apple is reserving platform upgrade along with leopard launch.
I think that Apple is Going to definetly roll out some new stuff this year, I think that the iPod is going to have a Touch UI much like the iPhone (but should not roll out until september as all iPod updates) and Leopard is going to release in October now, but developer pre-releases are rolling out at WWDC, my argument is that the Current Macbook pros will have a hard time running Leopard and Pro apps at the Same speed, especially with things like Core animation and time Machine, then the 64-bit support and revisions to spotlight, which should all take up a decent bit of processor through-put. Thing is, if Apple is going to release a fully functional version of Leopard to the higher end customers, which use number crunching Pro Apps, they have to have systems that will run them hence, the already released 8 Core Mac Pro, now we need either a Santa Rosa, or an 8-Core chipset in the Macbook Pro. All of this should release right before, or during the WWDC event, Probably during WWDC as a famous Apple "there is one more thing...". All I'm saying is, I'm waiting for a Macbook Pro, and I think WWDC is going to be it, Maybe, we will just have to watch and see...
Also I wanted to highlight that Apple usually does their bigger product updates/introductions at Business quarter changes:
iPod- 3rd in 4thQ
iPhone- introduced 1stQ, released begining 3rdQ
Actual Mac Computers- During WWDC - around 2nd - 3rdQ
I was wondering if anyone else noticed this, or am I just blonde?
First of all.... there is not going be any 8-core mobile processor in near time and most definitely not by the timeframe you're saying. Intel's Quad-Core mobile processor is still under heavy cover, and Intel had made it clear that this thing is mainly targeted at workstation class/desktop replacement class laptops. Where user is ready to sacrifice battery life for performance. I don't think apple with go that path even on 17" MBP (unless they manage to get decent battery life on such processor)
Secondly, Leapord doesn't seem to be that much taxing on CPU. 64-bit will offer rather better memory management. Core Animation and Effects can be easily taken care by better graphic chipset (apple has currently good options to go for like Radeon HD and GeForce 8M). With second revision C2D on Santa Rosa platform (800MHz FSB compare to current 667MHz) things look good and ready for leapord. But I'm sure, leapord will have any noticable hard time on current hardware of MB/MBP.
Unless you want to do heavyass crunching on Pro App.... but then, if you really want to do very heavy Crunching on Pro Apps... I doubt you would be solely dependent on MBP. For such heavy task Mac Pro is there.
Besides other upgrades... this I just came across : http://www.wi-fi.org/pressroom_overview.php?newsid=545
Though the final 802.11-N isn't going to be before 2008, it doesn't hurt to hope that we might see some Draft-N 2.0 goodness in new MBPs.
Speaking of Macbooks, what happend to the Apple Thread? It got removed from the forums :slant: