MacBook Pros get processor bump, tops at 2.16GHz
By Ryan Block 
posted Feb 14th 2006 9:12AM
posted Feb 14th 2006 9:12AM
posted Feb 14th 2006 9:12AM
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The upgrade is free to those who preordered! Check the press release http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2006/feb/14macbookpro.html
I, for one, am quite interested in the deets. I ordered my MacBook Pro first from Apple, then when Amazon offered a $150 rebate (and no tax) I cancelled my order with Apple and went with Amazon to get the top of the line 1.83 ghz model for about the same out-of-pocket coin. Now...who know what I'll get when. But it will be sweet.
That was unexpected... but nicely done! Anything to keep the Macs competitive.
Hmm. I think them there iBooks (MacBook) will be gettin' that 1.67GHz Dual Core, eh?
Haha! Its like the iPod Pequeno video!
Obsolete! Ladies and Gentlemen... I'm really excited about this... Introducing the new faster MacBook Pro!
Wow... Apple really has changed. I remember the good old days where literally you would buy say an LCIII or a 6200 and by the time you got it home a new model had come out.
:)
The future iBooks will be getting an Intel Core Single CPU (or Uno, or whatever the heck they want to call the one without two cores). This is according to some Apple magazine article I read.
no 6, No one knew about this update - there were no rumours, nothing, so the rumours about the iBook are likely to change over the next few weeks, as an iBook could be given an 'ultra-low power' 1.5 ghz Core Duo, which would give the iBook (macbook) some serious speed compared to its G4 it has now, but yet would not be to powerful to reduce sales of the MacBook Pro.
Too bad they didin't also upgrade the ExpressCard/34 slot to the /54 standard. Those of us who use Compact Flash memory cards in our DSLRs will likely pass on a 'Book that requires either a USB card reader or a device that sticks out from the side, waiting to be broken off.
Added to the other known issues with Intel Macs (No booting from external FireWire drives prepared on a non-Intel Mac, no Virtual PC), I'm underwhelmed.
I'm also wondering if this was sort of a "The lower speed processors are low in supply, but the faster ones aren't, so let's use the faster ones to get them out the door quicker". Type of... thing.
#10. I love these comments. I swear, Apple could cure cancer, aging, and erectile disfunction and some loony out on the edges would say 'folks won't buy it cause it causes halitosis.'
finally! the "pro" line of notebooks is faster (or can be) than the "i" line of desktops.
i see there is an option for 100 or 120 gb 5400RPM disk and an option for a 100GB 7200RPM disk. Ignoring the size and cost tradeoffs for a minute, anyone have a good sense of whether or not the faster disk is worth while in terms of performance vs. battery life? Just how much extra battery is a 7200 RPM disk going to suck? The extra performace would be nice, but not at the expense of LOTS of battery life. Anyone have any realworld experience on this issue?
any one what to buy my Fullly loaded iMac G5 for $2,000 so i can get one of these badboys...
12, I understand where you're coming from. The VPC thing will resolve itself, and the boot block issue is just another learning curve.
The ExprressCard/34, on the other hand, was a stupid choice by Apple.
10, 17: According to the ExpressCard group, the /34 standard is meant for laptops, and /54 standard is actually meant for desktops.
Now, the fact that you're using some device from a few years ago that still uses CompactFlash, well, sorry. The rest of the world moved on to SD and its variants (of which there are FAR too many).
12: Agreed, totally.
Meanwhile, I've placed my delayed order - that was enough to kick me into gear. :)
"Now, the fact that you're using some device from a few years ago that still uses CompactFlash, well, sorry. The rest of the world moved on to SD and its variants (of which there are FAR too many)."
Umm you do realize that CF is in the VAST VAST VAST majority of professional digital cameras right? CF isn't going anywhere while it kicks the snot out of SD in speed and storage size.
I bet the 1.67 Ghz Processor will be put into a smaller version of the MacBook Pro. But I'm ecstatic now since I preordered that version and am getting a free upgrade. YES!!!
So for those of you that are curious, all prior orders WILL have the upgraded processors. I called Apple to make sure, and they have a whole automated thing dedicated just to the MacBook Pro upgrade. =)
#9, Macdude, I saw that comment made in the last issue of MacWorld magazine. It's in their questions and answers section where they answer questions exclusively about the new Intel Macs. Somebody asked since the new CPU is called the coreduo if there is a coresolo. The magazine then went on to praise the reader for their astute observation and said that ther is a single core chip and that they believe it will be used in future Macs, i.e. iBook.
18 A brand-new Nikon D-200 hardly qualifies as a "device from a few years ago", and I know of no professional or prosumer DSLR that does not use CF.
OK?
Every month since november i have wanted to buy a apple top of the line laptop. (as i want to get away from microsoft and intel) so what happens when i go to buy the powerbook - ENGADGET HAPPENS - I hear the rumour about the intel switch, so i waited.
Then finaly it comes out, i go to buy then engadget fans say wait cos it only just been realeased. Then not only a weeks later they realease a more powerfull machine. - thanks to engadget i have not fallen into some game that apple are playing.
I really want this now just to stabilize so i can just go and buy one, and have no worries that it will be replace by something better -for a while anyway.
ENgadet is top bannana- keep it up guys.
14. here's an article on laptop HD power consumption:
http://barefeats.com/hard56.html
7200rpm should use a nominal amount of additional power over the 5400rpm drive.
21: I would say the D50 is prosumer. wouldn't you? Barely, but it is.
It's time for the big camera boys to get off CF. If for no other reason than that the other hardware gadgets have moved away from it.
Knocking a laptop for having a laptop-standard expansion slot? WTF? If this were a Windows machine we wouldn't be hearing these half-cocked gripes. Plus, I don't understand how having a different expansion slot will prevent you from having something stick out of the lappy. Are /54 slots recessed in to the machine or something?
Yep...just checked my online order and it shows the old model replaced with the new one. :)
However, the ship date has also slipped from tomorrow until the 24th. :(
Natiahs
Thank you thank you thank you Natiahs.
I had said like a 2 weeks ago that they were pushing the bloody freaking date back again, and all my friends are like nooo nooo they arent gonna do that...
Whats that I smell?
Thats vindication bi7ch!
:D
So... I think I'm going with the 2.16 ghZ chip because I'm just that hardcore. I got the free upgrade to the 2.0 ghZ chip... but I think I want more. Curse you Steve Jobs... you empty my wallet.
God uses an Apple... why shouldn't you?
I just talked to an Apple representive on the phone - and got my MacBook Pro updated. But, she said shipping will be 2-3 weeks longer... So what, I'm already waiting forever. Maybe if they keep updating the proc. speeds I might end up with a better computer anyway...
I am soo glad they woke up and changed CPU speeds. I guess the consumers spoke... I'm guessing no one bought 1.66GHz CPU MacBooks...
No mention of this on the UK site, the store still lists the old speeds...
OK, this is off topic but I have to chime in on this. Due to the fact that my camera has a CF slot, I was able to add a 4GB microdrive for only about $170. Let's see any other storage medium beat that on a cost/MB ratio. And with perpendicular recording coming to microdrives soon we can expect the cost/MB ratio to improve quite a bit more in comparison to solid state memory.
"It's time for the big camera boys to get off CF. If for no other reason than that the other hardware gadgets have moved away from it."
While everyone is bitching about the speeds and things the macbook pro can't do. I'm still not getting one of these badboys till they put a bloody Dual Layer burner in it! PLEASE APPLE A DL burner is the only thing the Macbook Pro is missing, cos i ain't settling for a stupid almost obselete Powerbook!!!!!!
HURRY AND PUT A DL BURNER IN THE MACBOOKS!
Still no word on this in the UK (no suprise there) - Grrr.
I'd just personally like to take this time to thank Apple for letting me know that my order wasn't shipping.
My original ship date was TODAY and I get an email THE DAY BEFORE saying my machine wasn't going to ship until the 28th.
This doesn't exactly put a good taste in my mouth. Yes they are upgrading the processor by a few Mhz... but they're moving my ship date with hardly any warning.
THANX A LOT APPLE! Let's see who pre-orders a machine next time.
"THANX A LOT APPLE! Let's see who pre-orders a machine next time."
Sorry for your experience, but for those of us who have been Apple customers for a while (pre-Mac), we know delays like this on new products is par for the course.