New MacBook Predications - Page 3

Well, I been sittin', waitin', wishin' for the MacBook to debut. Everyday I check Apple's website just in case they decided to release it on some ambiguous date. I hate Windows. Someone save me!

I don't check things here regularly so I may have missed something, but is it such a foregone conclusion that this new consumer laptop will be named "MacBook"?
Also, what is the difference between integrated and dedicated graphics?
Thanks,
Steve B.

1. It can only be assumed that that's what it will be called.

2. Integrated graphics share system memory [RAM] with the CPU of the computer. So while integrated GPUs can communicate with the CPU faster than a dedicated GPU, they typically use less RAM and can't access RAM for video processing as fast as a dedicated GPU with it's own memory.

There are more nuances, but those are the basics.

Thanks, ryan.
Steve

I like this prediction.. Just yesterday I finally had the chance to get the real feeling of a 13.3" (wide) VAIO and it's really nice, compared to the 12" not wide is not that big and it feels like a notebook, very light and I have to give it to SONY: it's beautiful.. I also had the chance to compare the 13.3 vs 14.1 wide and it's considerable smaller, we have a 15.4" wide Compaq & Toshiba @ work and they are not only heavy, they're also huge to carry around.

I'm decided for the 13.3" wide apple notebook if it comes out, not that small yet not that big.. For me is an excellent form factor for mobile users & if it come with the pro features, my bet is that is gonna make it to the "Best Seller" before they even start shipping it!

There are some features a smaller-than-15.4"-MacBook Pro-formfactor must have over a MacBook/iBook:
- aluminium casing
- dedicated GPU
- backlit keyboard
- at least same clockspeed as the low end 15.4"MBP

I also expect the price to return to $1,799

- optional BTO for HD, CPU and GPU upgrades would be great.

And based on the ramblings I've seen in the forums over integrated graphics people will pay that.

I've seen the Sony VAIO 13.3" displays at my local Staples and I think the form factor would be perfect for what I need.

In as much as I like the 13.3-inch widescreen concept, I would hope Apple would allow one to up the processor to a 1.83 or even 2.0GHz version, with the option of allowing one to choose a discreet graphics option, and a 7,200 rpm HD option as well. But alas, I don't think they will do that. Fuck.

I predict two colors!

The thought of a high gloss black, polycarbonate iBook/macBook is quite nice. It would be a nice birthday surprise, if nothing else.

I wish they'd just get on with the announcement already, the suspense is driving me nuts...

I think Cory's prediction is pretty realistic, though I think a few things would be different:

For the $999 model: a 60 GB drive. If the $599 Mac mini can have one, the $999 MacBook can too.

The mid-range model will be $1299. Apple likes that number and they'll price a model to match. An 80 GB drive is a logical choice for it, too.

As for the 13" MacBook Pro: I think the price is right, but the video chipset is probably too expensive for the price. Sony's SZ doesn't even have that at the high end. A GeForce Go 7300 or 7400 with 64 MB of RAM is more likely. Hopefully there's a place for an ExpressCard slot!

7200 RPM? Not gonna happen.


Windows XP x64 exists, and has for a while. No need to wait for Vista.


I assume you mean span, not mirror. In any case, the GPU should be capable of that, as the GPU in my 2002 iBook can do it, too.

The bigger questions are:
1) will there be mini-DVI, or will Apple still provide mini-VGA (boo)?
2) will there be official spanning support? The iMac now has it.
3) will there be optical audio? The Mac mini now has it.
4) will there be line in? The Mac mini now has it.

Sorry if this has been asked (I'm sure it has, but don't know how recently) what is the accepted wisdom for the release date of the MacBook? I now that there had been some talk of April, but now new releases seem to refer to the vaguer 'June quarter'. Any guesses?

Based on the previous spring/summer iBook releases:

July 26, 2005 - G4/1.33-1.42
April 19, 2004 - G4/1.0-1.2
April 22, 2003 - G3/800-900
May 20, 2002 - G3/600-700
May 1, 2001 - G3/500

(and ignoring the July release from last year) iBooks generally get bumped in late April/early-to-mid May. It's considered "school buying season."

However, we're seriously overdue for an iBook bump since the last one was way back in July and factoring in some optimism (Apple may want to move forward quickly to help sales) the release may happen as early as early April.

Arguing against such an early release is that Apple may want to keep folks shelling out the extra money for the current MacBook Pro, or at least wait until sales of that have cooled off considerably to release a Core Duo-equipped consumer portable.

I was thinking about the reported late-May future Core Duo price cuts as a factor but since Apple will likely use the lowest-end Core Duo chip in the non-Pro MacBook I doubt that'll have any impact on the release date (that chip isn't included in the price drop list). If anything that'll just factor into future MacBook Pro speed bumps.

Given that Apple did not release a MacBook April 1st and still hasn't, I now feel Apple will wait for the Intel price cuts and restructure their entire laptop line-up. The restructuring will reposition the 15" MacBook Pro's with the processor price cuts in place, fill in the bottom of the line with the MacBook (iBook replacement) and top the line off with a 17" MacBook Pro. My new predictions are as follows:

MACBOOK

$1099 MacBook
1.66Ghz Intel Core Duo
13" Widscreen display at 1280x800
512MB memory (667MHz DDR2 SDRAM)
60GB Serial ATA hard drive
Intel GMA950 graphics processor
Combo Drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW)
Built-in AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth 2.0
Apple Remote


$1,399 MacBook
1.83Ghz Intel Core Duo
13" Widscreen display at 1280x800
512MB memory (667MHz DDR2 SDRAM)
80GB Serial ATA hard drive
Intel GMA950 graphics processor
Slot-load SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Built-in AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth 2.0
Apple Remote


MACBOOK PRO

$1,899 MacBook Pro
2.0GHz Intel Core Duo
15.4-inch TFT display with 1440x900 resolution
667MHz frontside bus
512MB (single SO-DIMM) 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
100GB 5400rpm Serial ATA hard drive
Slot-load SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW)
ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 with 128MB GDDR3 memory

$2,299 MacBook Pro
2.16GHz Intel Core Duo
15.4-inch TFT display with 1440x900 resolution
667MHz frontside bus
512MB (single SO-DIMM) 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
120GB 5400rpm Serial ATA hard drive
Slot-load SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW)
ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 with 256MB GDDR3 memory

$2,499 MacBook Pro
2.16GHz Intel Core Duo
17-inch TFT widescreen display with 1680x1050 resolution
667MHz frontside bus
512MB (single SO-DIMM) 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
120GB 5400rpm Serial ATA hard drive
Slot-load SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW)
ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 with 256MB GDDR3 memory

$2,899 MacBook Pro
2.33GHz Intel Core Duo with 2MB shared L2 Cache
17-inch TFT widescreen display with 1680x1050 resolution
667MHz frontside bus
512MB (single SO-DIMM) 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
160GB 5400rpm Serial ATA hard drive
Slot-load SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Whatever the next-best Graphics Card is 256MB GDDR3 memory


My pricing for a cheaper 15" MacBook Pro may be wishful thinking, but with no talk of a 12-inch-ish MacBook Pro, the gap between MacBook/MacBook Pro has to be narrowed. Plus, there has to be room made for a 17" model to come in at the $2,499 price it does now. If AppleInsider is correct in predicting that "each MacBook will pack at least a 1.67Ghz Core Duo chip", I think this would be an ideal opportunity for Apple to offer a sub-$999 model MacBook with a 1.5Ghz Core Solo chip and a trimmed feature set.

Theoretically, the iMac models would also get processor increases or price cuts.

My predictions are that no matter what the eventual spec, somone here will take exception to something. That will then get Blown Out Of All Proportion, and repeated on other sites like Macrumors.com. Someone else will cry "wait for revision 2.0". Someone else will say they are never going to buy a Mac again, because Apple screwed them by not shipping an impossibly fantastic machine for an impossibly small price.

Everybody else will be happy enough, buy a new MacBook or not, and get on with their lives as before.

You heard it here first.

I bet they wait till merom to release the 17 incher.