It would also be sort of cool to see an Nvidia card in the new MBP. the 7000 series is appearing more and more in Apple's desktop systems, maybe it'll come to the laptop platform also?
unless it's that Geforce 7300 crap. I dont want that.
realistically, it'll be an x1800 with 256mb of RAM. Which isn't too shoddy.
I'm glad you asked this b/c I am debating picking up a MBP (preferably a tablet) once they are updated. I was planning on a Mac Pro, but I didn't think to highly of the update.
I'd suspect that all Apple's machines using Intel's mobile platform will get an update within 2-3 months of Santa Rosa being released. Looking at that timeframe I'd suspect that using any ATi GPU other than a X1700 would be out of the picture.
To me a laptop with the 'Pro' moniker should have more than a mid-range GPU. With the 24" iMac Apple started offering people a choice of GPU in that machine - probably thanks to nVidia's MXM (Mobile PCI Express Module) technology. Apple should really offer that in the MBP. It defaults to a mid-range GPU but with options to go to high-end or even Quadro. Now even if Apple don't offer this, I would expect Apple to use a 'Go 8600' in the next MBP model simply because the 8600 is way ahead of the X1600/1700. But in the end it may come down to battery requirements and that may force Apple to use the X1700.
I'd suspect that all Apple's machines using Intel's mobile platform will get an update within 2-3 months of Santa Rosa being released. Looking at that timeframe I'd suspect that using any ATi GPU other than a X1700 would be out of the picture.
To me a laptop with the 'Pro' moniker should have more than a mid-range GPU. With the 24" iMac Apple started offering people a choice of GPU in that machine - probably thanks to nVidia's MXM (Mobile PCI Express Module) technology. Apple should really offer that in the MBP. It defaults to a mid-range GPU but with options to go to high-end or even Quadro. Now even if Apple don't offer this, I would expect Apple to use a 'Go 8600' in the next MBP model simply because the 8600 is way ahead of the X1600/1700. But in the end it may come down to battery requirements and that may force Apple to use the X1700.
I concur with the second paragraph wholeheartedly. Most every other laptop on the market in the $2000-$2700 range has a much nicer graphics platform than the MBP. But thats apple for ya, isn't it?
However, I don't understand why an x1800 is out of the picture with the santa rosa update. Aren't the x1800s already in a few notebooks?
A Mobility Radeon HD 2600 (since the desktop equivalent will be called the Radeon HD 2600, I suspect it'll apply to the mobile equivalent), or else a GeForce Go 8600.
We know the latter, at the very least, should be ready by May. And AMD (i.e. ATI) has already put out a one-off part called the X2300, so we know they've been readying their next-generation mobile chips for awhile.
Me? I'm just hoping they add a dedicated graphics option somewhere in the regular MacBook line, even if's something very basic (GeForce Go 8300, maybe).
It would also be sort of cool to see an Nvidia card in the new MBP. the 7000 series is appearing more and more in Apple's desktop systems, maybe it'll come to the laptop platform also?
unless it's that Geforce 7300 crap. I dont want that.
realistically, it'll be an x1800 with 256mb of RAM. Which isn't too shoddy.
If you're going to get the x1800 or x1900 (or their replacements) you're going to have live with it being a half an inch thicker for cooling purposes. Apple has to adhere to the laws of physics.
It'll be be a GeForce Go 8600 or a Radeon Mobility x2600HD.
Wouldnt it make the most sense to have a NVIDIA Quadro FX 3500 in the mbp since it is aimed at professionals. I dont know to much about this card but it looks good but will probably use battery really quickly and would need a bigger case. The way i see it is that they offer either:
NVIDIA Quadro FX 3500
1600
or the nvidia 7950
This would help both pros and the gamers who would want a mbp as well as having a low end model for those who want to save money. The next MBP should also feature a intel® Core?2 Duo 2.66Ghz and possibly a blue ray drive. Idealy it would have a multi touch display but this probably will not happen for a while.
Wouldnt it make the most sense to have a NVIDIA Quadro FX 3500 in the mbp since it is aimed at professionals. I dont know to much about this card but it looks good but will probably use battery really quickly and would need a bigger case. The way i see it is that they offer either:
NVIDIA Quadro FX 3500
1600
or the nvidia 7950
This would help both pros and the gamers who would want a mbp as well as having a low end model for those who want to save money. The next MBP should also feature a intel® Core?2 Duo 2.66Ghz and possibly a blue ray drive. Idealy it would have a multi touch display but this probably will not happen for a while.
You mean the NVIDIA Quadro FX 3500M right? M is for mobile, I think. I doubt you could fit a full size Quadro in a MBP.
As for the other, again that would be the GeForce Go 7950 GTX. The "GO" is what tells you it's a notebook card.
I think they both should be an option. Apple has never given us those options before, but it would be a great one. ideally the default card would be a GeForce Go 7800, and the other two could be optional. As much as I would love to have a mobile Quadro in a Mac laptop I doubt they will do it. But that card, with your usual basic updates (Santa Rosa) , would solidify my decision to buy a MBP.
The next MBP should also feature a intel® Core™2 Duo 2.66Ghz
The 2.66GHz chip is the highest end Core 2 Duo, and it's part of the E-series (read: only for desktops). Intel's gotta actually release a T-series chip at that speed before you can get it. So far, the Core 2 Duo in the MacBook Pro's are the T7400 (low-end 15") and the T7600 (high end 15" and 17"), and those are the best mobile Duos that Intel offers.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrpiddly
...and possibly a blue ray drive.
Blu-ray is far too expensive and overrated. If you want the 17" MBP to top out at $4000, Blu-Ray is the way to go. Otherwise, for the miniscule DVD performance increase, there's no reason. If external storage is the point, get an external HDD.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrpiddly
Idealy it would have a multi touch display but this probably will not happen for a while.
...or ever. Considering the replacement displays on PowerBooks/MacBook Pros are about $700, neither I, nor anyone else, will ever be laying a finger on my display. Multi-touch is fine for a 3" screen that is hard to break, but the large LCD's are much more fragile. It's just not feasible.
Well, there is going to be Merom XE in 2.6 and 2.8ghz forms, but like the higher end graphics cards they are likely to be too hot for Apple's designs.
Agreed. I already get lots of complaints at the store from people saying the MacBook Pros are too hot on their lap. Well, with a dual-core CPU in an aluminum case, what do you expect? When you think about it, that 300-500MHz increase is not going to make much difference. Chances are that anyone on this board that already has an MBP doesn't even push their CPU to the limit anyway. 2x2.33GHz is more than enough to run all but the most sophisticated scientific calculation. All you'd be doing is paying a premium for another 500MHz you won't use.
Agreed. I already get lots of complaints at the store from people saying the MacBook Pros are too hot on their lap. Well, with a dual-core CPU in an aluminum case, what do you expect? When you think about it, that 300-500MHz increase is not going to make much difference. Chances are that anyone on this board that already has an MBP doesn't even push their CPU to the limit anyway. 2x2.33GHz is more than enough to run all but the most sophisticated scientific calculation. All you'd be doing is paying a premium for another 500MHz you won't use.
I hope they have the option of size of memory on every model. I see no reason to upgrade from the low end to mid MBP for that extra 128 mb
Comments
or perhaps i'm just dreaming again...
http://ati.amd.com/products/mobilityradeonx1900/
It would also be sort of cool to see an Nvidia card in the new MBP. the 7000 series is appearing more and more in Apple's desktop systems, maybe it'll come to the laptop platform also?
unless it's that Geforce 7300 crap. I dont want that.
realistically, it'll be an x1800 with 256mb of RAM. Which isn't too shoddy.
To me a laptop with the 'Pro' moniker should have more than a mid-range GPU. With the 24" iMac Apple started offering people a choice of GPU in that machine - probably thanks to nVidia's MXM (Mobile PCI Express Module) technology. Apple should really offer that in the MBP. It defaults to a mid-range GPU but with options to go to high-end or even Quadro. Now even if Apple don't offer this, I would expect Apple to use a 'Go 8600' in the next MBP model simply because the 8600 is way ahead of the X1600/1700. But in the end it may come down to battery requirements and that may force Apple to use the X1700.
I'd suspect that all Apple's machines using Intel's mobile platform will get an update within 2-3 months of Santa Rosa being released. Looking at that timeframe I'd suspect that using any ATi GPU other than a X1700 would be out of the picture.
To me a laptop with the 'Pro' moniker should have more than a mid-range GPU. With the 24" iMac Apple started offering people a choice of GPU in that machine - probably thanks to nVidia's MXM (Mobile PCI Express Module) technology. Apple should really offer that in the MBP. It defaults to a mid-range GPU but with options to go to high-end or even Quadro. Now even if Apple don't offer this, I would expect Apple to use a 'Go 8600' in the next MBP model simply because the 8600 is way ahead of the X1600/1700. But in the end it may come down to battery requirements and that may force Apple to use the X1700.
I concur with the second paragraph wholeheartedly. Most every other laptop on the market in the $2000-$2700 range has a much nicer graphics platform than the MBP. But thats apple for ya, isn't it?
However, I don't understand why an x1800 is out of the picture with the santa rosa update. Aren't the x1800s already in a few notebooks?
We know the latter, at the very least, should be ready by May. And AMD (i.e. ATI) has already put out a one-off part called the X2300, so we know they've been readying their next-generation mobile chips for awhile.
Me? I'm just hoping they add a dedicated graphics option somewhere in the regular MacBook line, even if's something very basic (GeForce Go 8300, maybe).
ATi's X1900 Mobility, maybe?
or perhaps i'm just dreaming again...
http://ati.amd.com/products/mobilityradeonx1900/
It would also be sort of cool to see an Nvidia card in the new MBP. the 7000 series is appearing more and more in Apple's desktop systems, maybe it'll come to the laptop platform also?
unless it's that Geforce 7300 crap. I dont want that.
realistically, it'll be an x1800 with 256mb of RAM. Which isn't too shoddy.
If you're going to get the x1800 or x1900 (or their replacements) you're going to have live with it being a half an inch thicker for cooling purposes. Apple has to adhere to the laws of physics.
It'll be be a GeForce Go 8600 or a Radeon Mobility x2600HD.
NVIDIA Quadro FX 3500
1600
or the nvidia 7950
This would help both pros and the gamers who would want a mbp as well as having a low end model for those who want to save money. The next MBP should also feature a intel® Core?2 Duo 2.66Ghz and possibly a blue ray drive. Idealy it would have a multi touch display but this probably will not happen for a while.
Wouldnt it make the most sense to have a NVIDIA Quadro FX 3500 in the mbp since it is aimed at professionals. I dont know to much about this card but it looks good but will probably use battery really quickly and would need a bigger case. The way i see it is that they offer either:
NVIDIA Quadro FX 3500
1600
or the nvidia 7950
This would help both pros and the gamers who would want a mbp as well as having a low end model for those who want to save money. The next MBP should also feature a intel® Core?2 Duo 2.66Ghz and possibly a blue ray drive. Idealy it would have a multi touch display but this probably will not happen for a while.
You mean the NVIDIA Quadro FX 3500M right? M is for mobile, I think. I doubt you could fit a full size Quadro in a MBP.
As for the other, again that would be the GeForce Go 7950 GTX. The "GO" is what tells you it's a notebook card.
I think they both should be an option. Apple has never given us those options before, but it would be a great one. ideally the default card would be a GeForce Go 7800, and the other two could be optional. As much as I would love to have a mobile Quadro in a Mac laptop I doubt they will do it. But that card, with your usual basic updates (Santa Rosa) , would solidify my decision to buy a MBP.
The next MBP should also feature a intel® Core™2 Duo 2.66Ghz
The 2.66GHz chip is the highest end Core 2 Duo, and it's part of the E-series (read: only for desktops). Intel's gotta actually release a T-series chip at that speed before you can get it. So far, the Core 2 Duo in the MacBook Pro's are the T7400 (low-end 15") and the T7600 (high end 15" and 17"), and those are the best mobile Duos that Intel offers.
...and possibly a blue ray drive.
Blu-ray is far too expensive and overrated. If you want the 17" MBP to top out at $4000, Blu-Ray is the way to go. Otherwise, for the miniscule DVD performance increase, there's no reason. If external storage is the point, get an external HDD.
Idealy it would have a multi touch display but this probably will not happen for a while.
...or ever. Considering the replacement displays on PowerBooks/MacBook Pros are about $700, neither I, nor anyone else, will ever be laying a finger on my display. Multi-touch is fine for a 3" screen that is hard to break, but the large LCD's are much more fragile. It's just not feasible.
Well, there is going to be Merom XE in 2.6 and 2.8ghz forms, but like the higher end graphics cards they are likely to be too hot for Apple's designs.
Agreed. I already get lots of complaints at the store from people saying the MacBook Pros are too hot on their lap. Well, with a dual-core CPU in an aluminum case, what do you expect? When you think about it, that 300-500MHz increase is not going to make much difference. Chances are that anyone on this board that already has an MBP doesn't even push their CPU to the limit anyway. 2x2.33GHz is more than enough to run all but the most sophisticated scientific calculation. All you'd be doing is paying a premium for another 500MHz you won't use.
Agreed. I already get lots of complaints at the store from people saying the MacBook Pros are too hot on their lap. Well, with a dual-core CPU in an aluminum case, what do you expect? When you think about it, that 300-500MHz increase is not going to make much difference. Chances are that anyone on this board that already has an MBP doesn't even push their CPU to the limit anyway. 2x2.33GHz is more than enough to run all but the most sophisticated scientific calculation. All you'd be doing is paying a premium for another 500MHz you won't use.
I hope they have the option of size of memory on every model. I see no reason to upgrade from the low end to mid MBP for that extra 128 mb