If Apple can keep their inventory in check it could happen. And that is highly possible. They are always short on products, and it could be on purpose, but they can not go short when they go intel because new (new to Mac) customers will buy something else rather than wait for an iPod. If they would have had more iPods ready again at XMAS this season they would have had much higher sales. Not that sales were bad, but that is not the point. You are not going to gain ground in market share if they are short, and if their market share in consumer, and business computers doesn't suffice they'll have inventory overflow. I'll let them worry about it. Chances are they will update more often within the next few years, but I wouldn't expect it to happen overnight, or even immediately after the whole line is on intel. But then again; Apple may see that as a reasonable, and acceptable inventory management strategy through a transitional period to gain ground in new markets. Like I said anything is possible / "it could happen". But they wont ever update 4 product lines every three months.
When Apple decided to transition to Intel it meant that they are now beholden to Intel's schedule for chip upgrades and price decreases.
Intel routinely has quarterly price cuts and Apple will indeed have to respond quicker than once every 9 months because there isn't the illusion of PPC anymore. If you know that an Intel microprocessor was just lowered by %30 and Apple is still selling it at full boat then you certainly aren't going to buy.
Inventory isn't an issue because like Dell Apple won't purchase certain items that fluctuate in price in quantity. They'll look for the best deals and those deals will be the price discounts from Intel.
I look for routine speed bumps every 6-8 months and microprocessor changes every couple of years. The speed bumps will be small but with such frequent updates consumers will be less inclined to hold off purchases.
That's a far cry from 4 product lines every three months.
Apple used to update the PowerMac every 8 months or so back when processors were readily available so that's not too far of a stretch either for being in total disagreement.
These things have low multipliers, the fastest Conroe is only 10x.. even the G4 can improve on that... and the Athlon64 is up to what, 14x? Not really that impressive.
You do realise that a low multiplier is a good thing?
my macbook pro better not be outdated that quickly
Welcome to the fast moving world of x86 processors where only weeks after buying your computer a faster machine will be available for the same price. Or you could have saved a lot of money by just holding off on your purchase for a few weeks.
Once Apple have gone entirely Intel, I'd expect Macs to be updated to the latest processors as they become available from Intel. Many have said the iBook and Mini would use previous generation processors i.e. when Merom comes they'll still use Yonah but I expect them to move over to low end Merom CPU's soon after the iMac and Pros move over i.e within a month/6 weeks.
Intel routinely has quarterly price cuts and Apple will indeed have to respond quicker than once every 9 months because there isn't the illusion of PPC anymore. If you know that an Intel microprocessor was just lowered by %30 and Apple is still selling it at full boat then you certainly aren't going to buy.
Completely agree. I don't see Apple dropping prices but popping in a faster CPU. If a faster CPU isn't available, I'd expect then maybe we'd see a price drop but perhaps Apple would add other value to the package to keep the price higher.
Too late. WHen he signed the dotted lne with Intel he sealed their fate.
This is one of the most ignorant statements I have read in these forums. Intel's "fate" is to manufacture chips for both sides and continue to battle with AMD to be the biggest chip manufacturer in the world.
That's...reassuring to my desire to buy a MacBook Pro. It sounds like Merom isn't going to be a huge step up, aside from 64 bit-ness. I think 2 GB (practically) to 8 GB (theoretically) of RAM ought to hold me for a few years. I guess the smallish clock boost makes sense, seeing as how Yonah isn't even shipping at 2.16/2.33 yet.
Now when are those damn MacBooks gonna start appearing already?
That's...reassuring to my desire to buy a MacBook Pro. It sounds like Merom isn't going to be a huge step up, aside from 64 bit-ness. I think 2 GB (practically) to 8 GB (theoretically) of RAM ought to hold me for a few years. I guess the smallish clock boost makes sense, seeing as how Yonah isn't even shipping at 2.16/2.33 yet.
Now when are those damn MacBooks gonna start appearing already?
buuuuuuuuuuuuuttt..... if Intels yakking about 30% increase in performance for the same clock speed is genuine then merom should be quite a deal better for a small increase in effective clock over yonah. October(ish) 2006 should be a nice time for MBP's.
Sorry, Anders. Got a little carried away. I'm not used to having people talk about Apple and processors without making dumb comments(i.e. my PC loving friends).
Welcome to the fast moving world of x86 processors where only weeks after buying your computer a faster machine will be available for the same price. Or you could have saved a lot of money by just holding off on your purchase for a few weeks.
The problem is that, in the slow-moving world of G4s and G5s, a faster machine was always available for the same price weeks after you bought yours. It just wasn't a Mac.
Comments
When Apple decided to transition to Intel it meant that they are now beholden to Intel's schedule for chip upgrades and price decreases.
Intel routinely has quarterly price cuts and Apple will indeed have to respond quicker than once every 9 months because there isn't the illusion of PPC anymore. If you know that an Intel microprocessor was just lowered by %30 and Apple is still selling it at full boat then you certainly aren't going to buy.
Inventory isn't an issue because like Dell Apple won't purchase certain items that fluctuate in price in quantity. They'll look for the best deals and those deals will be the price discounts from Intel.
I look for routine speed bumps every 6-8 months and microprocessor changes every couple of years. The speed bumps will be small but with such frequent updates consumers will be less inclined to hold off purchases.
Originally posted by hmurchison
I totally disagree.
I look for routine speed bumps every 6-8 months
That's a far cry from 4 product lines every three months.
Apple used to update the PowerMac every 8 months or so back when processors were readily available so that's not too far of a stretch either for being in total disagreement.
Originally posted by Thereubster
These things have low multipliers, the fastest Conroe is only 10x.. even the G4 can improve on that... and the Athlon64 is up to what, 14x? Not really that impressive.
You do realise that a low multiplier is a good thing?
Originally posted by Elixir
i hope its not that soon. =(
my macbook pro better not be outdated that quickly
Welcome to the fast moving world of x86 processors where only weeks after buying your computer a faster machine will be available for the same price. Or you could have saved a lot of money by just holding off on your purchase for a few weeks.
Once Apple have gone entirely Intel, I'd expect Macs to be updated to the latest processors as they become available from Intel. Many have said the iBook and Mini would use previous generation processors i.e. when Merom comes they'll still use Yonah but I expect them to move over to low end Merom CPU's soon after the iMac and Pros move over i.e within a month/6 weeks.
Originally posted by hmurchison
Intel routinely has quarterly price cuts and Apple will indeed have to respond quicker than once every 9 months because there isn't the illusion of PPC anymore. If you know that an Intel microprocessor was just lowered by %30 and Apple is still selling it at full boat then you certainly aren't going to buy.
Completely agree. I don't see Apple dropping prices but popping in a faster CPU. If a faster CPU isn't available, I'd expect then maybe we'd see a price drop but perhaps Apple would add other value to the package to keep the price higher.
Originally posted by kim kap sol
Hopefully Steve won't make that promise (forever putting a curse on Intel.)
Too late. WHen he signed the dotted lne with Intel he sealed their fate.
Originally posted by Anders
Too late. WHen he signed the dotted lne with Intel he sealed their fate.
This is one of the most ignorant statements I have read in these forums. Intel's "fate" is to manufacture chips for both sides and continue to battle with AMD to be the biggest chip manufacturer in the world.
This relationship is in no way a bad thing.
Originally posted by Cosmos 1999
MEROM
- T5600 @ 1.83 GHz, FSB 667 MHz, 4 MB L2 (single-core)
- T7200 @ 2.00 GHz, FSB 667 MHz, 4 MB L2 (dual-core)
- T7400 @ 2.16 GHz, FSB 667 MHz, 4 MB L2 (dual-core)
- T7600 @ 2.33 GHz, FSB 667 MHz, 4 MB L2 (dual-core)
That's...reassuring to my desire to buy a MacBook Pro. It sounds like Merom isn't going to be a huge step up, aside from 64 bit-ness. I think 2 GB (practically) to 8 GB (theoretically) of RAM ought to hold me for a few years. I guess the smallish clock boost makes sense, seeing as how Yonah isn't even shipping at 2.16/2.33 yet.
Now when are those damn MacBooks gonna start appearing already?
Originally posted by Towel
That's...reassuring to my desire to buy a MacBook Pro. It sounds like Merom isn't going to be a huge step up, aside from 64 bit-ness. I think 2 GB (practically) to 8 GB (theoretically) of RAM ought to hold me for a few years. I guess the smallish clock boost makes sense, seeing as how Yonah isn't even shipping at 2.16/2.33 yet.
Now when are those damn MacBooks gonna start appearing already?
buuuuuuuuuuuuuttt..... if Intels yakking about 30% increase in performance for the same clock speed is genuine then merom should be quite a deal better for a small increase in effective clock over yonah. October(ish) 2006 should be a nice time for MBP's.
;^p
Originally posted by Anders
Read the post again (and notice the word "curse")
Sorry, Anders. Got a little carried away. I'm not used to having people talk about Apple and processors without making dumb comments(i.e. my PC loving friends).
Originally posted by Anders
Too late. WHen he signed the dotted lne with Intel he sealed their fate.
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02...oadmap_feb_06/
Opps !
and doh !!!
*wants merom powered MBP as soon as possible*
Originally posted by gsxrboy
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02...oadmap_feb_06/
Opps !
and doh !!!
*wants merom powered MBP as soon as possible*
I am not an expert on Intel radmaps, but I followed the link above, then the link to the original source (Chinese):
link (click on pictures on the site to enlarge)
The roadmaps start from Y2004 and end at Q1 Y2007. This seems like outdated roadmap to me.
Originally posted by mjteix
The information above was taken from the inquirer web site.
I found some details on Conroe as well:
CHIP GIANT Intel has told its server customers of a range of processors in Q3...
E6700 2.67GHz dual core, 1066 FSB, 4MB of cache, $529
E6600 2.40GHz dual core, 1066 FSB, 4MB of cache, $315
E6400 2.13GHz dual core, 1066 FSB, 2MB of cache, $240
E6300 1.86GHz dual core, 1066 FSB, 2MB of cache, $210
You could now add to Conroe Series upon initial launch:
- a top-of-the-line Conroe XE (Extreme Edition): specifications unknown yet
- a bottom-line E4200: 1.60 GHz, 800 FSB, 2 MB shared L2 cache
Originally posted by Jootec from Mars
Welcome to the fast moving world of x86 processors where only weeks after buying your computer a faster machine will be available for the same price. Or you could have saved a lot of money by just holding off on your purchase for a few weeks.
The problem is that, in the slow-moving world of G4s and G5s, a faster machine was always available for the same price weeks after you bought yours. It just wasn't a Mac.