New Macbook...

... want list

(Q4 2008)

• Keep current clean look (no tapered edges like Air - maintain square-ish shaped design & avoid transitioning into the Air)

• Intel C2D P8400, P8600 & P9500 processor options (cheaper & more efficient)
• Intel PM45 chipset (for MBP, MB - either NVidia or ATI) w/ SATA-II controller
• 15" WXGA+ (1440x900) LED screen
• Quality backlit keyboard & a much larger/wider trackpad with multi-touch
• 256MB NVIDIA 9650M GT or ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3670 dedicated GPU
• DDR3 Memory Modules
• Optional Intel X25-M Solid State Drive
• Optional Panasonic ultra slim slot-loading Blu-ray writer drive

So what do you guys think? Is this asking for too much?

 

I don't think even the next Pro will go that far, let alone the Macbook.

Remember the pricing is likely to stay the same so look at what the premium PC makers are offering in those price ranges to get an idea of the best you can expect.

 

That's why the last three are labeled " Optional". Dell's M.1330 was around the same price range last year with an LED screen and discrete GPU option. Why can't Apple offer the same sort of options from last gen? It is a more expensive alternative to a PC anyway so the targeted audience should be able to afford it (^). Things are cheaper this coming year.

I heard that Apple may use a different motherboard manufacturer as they won't use Intel's Montevina (Centrino 2) platform.

I would like to see NVIDIA step up and accompany Intel's processors. I would atleast like to see that seeing as how they're practically partners. As mentioned above, their IGP is more powerful than either Intel's or AMD's/ATI's offerings.

Here's wishing...........no.1 on the list................

EDIT: Please don't let the new feature turn out to be simply 3G.

 

I can see some of these things.

But they have a lot less production than someone like Dell so will tand to offer fewer options. They also need to differentiate bwtween thier pro and mainstream lines and I expect dedicated graphics and the top end CPU's will only be offered in the Pro.

They also like to keep a thin and elegant profile that makes heat management and battery life a challenge so things like "dual" GPU's unlikely. If it helps I had a wonderful Sony once with integrated AND dedicated GPU's. If found I seldom used the dedicated GPU as it was not much faster than the integrated one for most business programs, and its heat and battery drain was just not worth the bump in speed. Switching also required a reboot. If you need a dedicated GPU, go with a machine with only that.

 

Apple already sells fewer notebook models. How about some hardware options?

CPUs aren't of the "Extreme" kind (not even the third one):

Core 2 Duo P8400: 2.26GHz, 3MB L2 Cache, 1066MT/s FSB, 25W TDP*
Core 2 Duo P8600: 2.40GHz, 3MB L2 Cache, 1066MT/s FSB, 25W TDP*
Core 2 Duo P9500: 2.53GHz, 6MB L2 Cache, 1066MT/s FSB, 25W TDP**

* Aside from a slight increase in the FSB speed, they are pretty much the same but drain almost 1/3 less power and are located on a smaller die-size saving space. And although performance has definitely increased per watt, the price has come down since initial release so the cost should be about the same as the components they will replace
** Premium option?

The discrete GPU's i'm talking about are low end (just reaching entry level) compared to what you would expect to be in the Pro. Graphics don't really run in full SLI mode as one is only a low power sipping IGP and the other produced on a smaller manufacturing process (based on the least powerful dedicated GPUs available this, or last, gen). Which means they require even less power this gen and since they are not exactly identical, therefore do not require twice the power. Coupled with new CPU power savings, this would translate into even less heat. And mostly you switch between them during use anyway.

I have seen several 13" notebooks with this functionaility implemented under various names such as BinaryGFX, which required no reboot, and use more powerful cards (8600M) in the past few months. Dell's XPS Studio 13 is going to have Blu-ray and SLI!

Implementing other power/heat-saving features such as an LED screen and SSDs should help even more to lessen your worries. Regardless of this though, all I really want to see is a switch in motherboard. I'm sure NVIDIA's integrated graphics would be of more welcome than anything from Intel/AMD, whom specialise in making CPUs rather than GPUs.

Phew... Now if only someone had the guts to start a petition or something. lol

 

Interesting want list, I like it!

Although my personal opinion is we won't be seeing Blu Ray at all, or just for the Mac Pro and 17-inch MBP for those in production...LED-backlit display, almost for sure I'd say. If there are going to be low-end dedicated graphics, I support ATI .

 

Thanks.

Yeah, maybe. Sucks NVIDIA ain't using GDDR4/5. But in terms of mobile IGPs, NVIDIA surprisingly beats all (including ATIs HD3200).

Although I would loved to have seen their XGP implemented into the Macbook (& Pro). But it seems unlikely if Intel are providing the processors (Intel > AMD though).

 

I got myself a bunch of see-thru covers (top and bottom, orange, green, blue, black, red, purple and pink) and currently enjoy swapping/snapping them around and combine the colours

cheers ...

 

i just want a decent graphics card (nvidia 8400gs & above) and a good screen plus a fresh design. that is all i am asking for and i hope apple will not disappoint me for waiting so long and buying other windows laptops because i want to play decent games - can live without os x and besides, there is hackintosh.

 

you are going too far concerning the graphics and the colour....the colour will remain silver alimunium and there's no way we'll be seeing hybrid graphics due to the small form factor of the laptop

 

I don't think there will be a dedicated card, because that is one of the main things that set it apart from the pro.

 

The NVIDIA motherboard comes with an integrated chip (best in category). Only thing I really hope Apple considers. If they decide to build one in-house, they should follow NVIDIA's example and release proper drivers.

 

My realistic want list.

-nVidia chipset (integrated graphics)
-Aluminum Casing (black and regular)
-Backlit Keyboard
-multitouch trackpad (not glass)
-Led screen
-Intel processor (Montevina)
-tapered edges (MBA like)
-A steve jobs keynote for the new MB that comes preloaded on the computer to make you all excited and happy about/with your new MB.

 

well not the last one...

 

well not the last one...

 

sorry bout the double post.

 

multiple colours? Nah...leave it white/black/silver those are the only good ones anyways. (Red MB lol!)

 

red might work actually... like a product (RED) macbook.

 

Well, I believe if they are going to do a Product (RED) Mac, it'll be a MacBook, and not the MBP, because I think they're more willing to give some "difference" there than the professional line. I don't think a red MacBook would look nice though .

 

NO tapered edges please! Pretty much the same but your logic is wrong (nvidia chipset & montevina = motherboards).

 

Doesn't the Sony Z series have hybrid graphics? I know it has quite a small footprint as well.

 

Haha, a "Welcome to Mac!" video from Steve Jobs, that'd be hilarious!

 

Sorry I wasnt clear. I meant the intel processor and the Nvidia chipset (graphics) those two are compatible. I did mess up saying montevina because that is a chipset but i meant it as the faster processor that is used with montevina in notebooks.

Hope that explains it.

 

^ I was going for the same thing.

 

Been holding off my new laptop purchase for the new macbook soon to be release (Watching mac rumors closely)

Long time PC user here ready to join the darkside and I'm excited.

Can't wait.

 

ive also read that it might have nvidia latest intergrated gpu which would be nice.hope they go for it,but if not then i guess the x4500 will do lol.backlite keyboard would be great cause i find now with my pc laptop that i need a light on in the room at nite lol. for the numbers tho,cause i can type,honest.

 

Switching to a mac doesn't have to be the dark side.

If they do indeed go the nvidia route, I'll pass. Quite honestly, I don't see the logic behind it, as apple apparently has a close relationship with intel, and many new notebook models by various manufacturer's are offering ATI instead of nvidia, presumably because of the nvidia chip issues. So it just doesn't make sense, and I hope this rumor is just a rumor. If not, apple wont be my next purchase sad to say.

 

I think the nVidia thing has been blown way out of proportion. I still haven't seen too many (at all?) posts on NBR about the issue. None-the-less, by now nVidia has fixed the issue with their GPUs and there hasn't been reported issues with the 9xxx series, which is what I'm presuming the new Macbook Pros would use.

 

From the guy that has darth vader "mac-commercial style" in his sig

 

Oh apple should go with AMD for the new macbook (I'm not kidding). My friend has the HP with the 3200HD and honestly it is a VERY decent card and the performance is definitely on par with the 8400GS (as seen in the benchmarks). It is also an integrated GPU so that will help with the battery life.

 

0 chance of Matte screen. Just get a MBP.

 

As long as Apple put ANY AMD or nVidia chipset in there, I'm buying one. No Intel crap for me.

 

Yeah....so true . My sisters HP DV27xx with GF8400M score 17xx 3DMark06 & Mothers DV5 with ATI IGP 3200M score the same. Real world tests depend on drivers & game engine, some faver nVidia & some faver to ATI.

but I can say ATI is much much better than nVidia .It's lame to see people still think nVidia is best.

BTW back to topic

I want Apple notebooks with ATI cards this time.

 

Lol! That's not what I meant! I just meant that going to apple doesn't mean you're "turning to the darkside". There's nothing wrong with going apple if anyone chooses.
I just like the avy, it's not a statement of any kind.

 

Okay, after considerable thought I have decided to get a Macbook Pro instead of the Macbook I originally intended to buy.

The only thing I really ask is that they keep the current look as it is FINE the way it looks now, all neat and tidy, so please don't ruin it Apple.

First post updated to reflect changes.

 

The best thing about apple is that, you can expect the best in terms of appearance... that is one of their biggest selling points.

Then the specifications. Apple does not carry the best specs, but mac does not always need the same specs as windows ...

Every one forgets that mac and windows are very different in terms of hardware needs

 

True, but mac can now run windows. So they still need to keep up or risk losing a large consumer base.

 

So can PC users run Mac OS if they wanted. And Apple would need more lawsuits as Psystar can deliver Mac OS in cheap PCs.

I believe Apple will keep the MBP with a 1'' thick so there's some hardware restrictions.

 

I think you might be out of luck on the Blu-ray, even as an optional drive. It seems a bit 'high end' even for the MBP.