They're here, they're here!

[Peachy]

Apple announced the new MacBook Pro with Intel Core Duo processor and a new iMac with Intel Core Duo. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1909593,00.aspThis is really no surprise as the rumour mills were pointing to a January MacWorld release.BTW, the specs on the MacBook look sweet:15.4" widescreenIntel Duo Core 1.67 or 1.83 GHz 667MHz FSBATI Mobility Radeon X1600 videoweighing 5.6 lbs80 or 100GB 5400rpm SATA drive512MB or 1GB DDR2 SDRAM

[zox]

What happened to an Ibook?ALl the rumours were pointing to Ibook and Mac mini Intel upgrade but none of these two got mentioned

[Neil P]

I'm very interested in this new iMac. What a beautiful piece of equipment.I'm a little behind with this hardware stuff. What's the "Intel Core Duo"? I've heard a lot about Dual Core processors and such, but I don't know much about them at all

[Peachy]

from November 11, 2005: http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1368

Although Apple has only committed to introducing the first Intel-based Macintosh systems by mid-2006, extremely reliable sources and a several-month-long investigation have revealed that January's Macworld Expo in San Francisco is being primed as the launch-pad for at least one of the Mac maker's next-generation Intel systems.Surprisingly, the most reliable information indicates that the iMac and PowerBook -- two of the company's most recently revised Mac offerings -- are targeted to be the first two Mac models to receive Intel processors in January. The iMac and PowerBook are also believed to be Apple's best-selling Mac models, which explains why the company will be upgrading them with Intel processors first and refreshing their associated product lines for the second time in as little as four months.While it's too early to be certain if the Intel-based 15-inch PowerBook will be completed for its targeted introduction during the second week of January, a company roadmap described to AppleInsider lists both a 17- and 20-inch Intel-based iMac as being "on track" to debut at the annual Macworld Expo conference planned for the same week.

The MacBook Pro is really the new marketing name for the iBook. They didn't want to call it the iBook because Apple wants to keep "Mac" in the product name.

I'm very interested in this new iMac. What a beautiful piece of equipment.I'm a little behind with this hardware stuff. What's the "Intel Core Duo"? I've heard a lot about Dual Core processors and such, but I don't know much about them at all

Neil, the Intel Core Duo is the marketing name for Intel's mobile Yonah dual core processor that was officially unveiled last week. It's the replacment for the Pentium M. The single core processor will be called just Intel Core. Anandtech has a nice review of these notebooks containg the Intel Core Duo.

[Neil P]

I don't really "get it", I guess. Dual Core means there are two processors on the chip? My terms are probably wrong, but it's a "two in one" deal? Is this the same as/better than/worse than having two actual processors, or a different idea entirely?

[Peachy]

It's the same as having two separate physical processors. However, in this case the two cores are in one package. The advantage is that you only require one cpu connector. Because the die is now smaller, Intel and AMD can fit two on the same physical area as previous single cores. The only other thing is you need an operating system and software to take advantage of the second core. Windows XP/Server 2003, Linux, and MacOS 10 will do. Photoshop can use it. I believe Quake 4 can, too. You'd hope Apple will have multi-threaded applications to take advantage of two cores.

[zox]

from November 11, 2005: http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1368The MacBook Pro is really the new marketing name for the iBook. They didn't want to call it the iBook because Apple wants to keep "Mac" in the product name.

I believe that's not the case.They are indeed using "Mac" instead of "Power" in their name, to reflect change of CPU architecture, but it is clearly stated that Powerbook is replaced with Macbook Pro, not Ibook.It doesn't make sense with a screen size either, as they released 15.4" widesreen Macbook Pro and Ibook will probably be something like 12"-14", possibly widesreen too.I certainly hope that they release small ibook and not 15" or higher

[bjf123]

If you want to watch Steve Jobs' Keynote Address, you can see it here. That might give everyone a better understanding of just what Apple is doing. I haven't tried to view it on my XP system (shows great on my Mac), but I'm guessing you'll need to have Quicktime installed to watch it.

[Peachy]

zox, you are correct. The MacBook is the replacement for the PowerBook.

[Marsden11]

The latest SUN Sparc CPU has 8 cores! Next year we will see Intel and AMD ship Quad (4) core CPUs. Each separate core has its own L2 cache.When looking under Task Manager in windows you will see two separate CPU performance screens.Imagine a dual CPU motherboard with 2 dual core CPUs. That's 4 CPUs in a single box.Imagine a dual CPU motherboard with 2 quad core CPUs. That's 8 CPUs in a single box! So that 2-way box just became an 8-way machine. (MS plans to only charge for CPU sockets and not cores.)Imagine an 8-way system with all quad cores... That hefty box just became a 32 CPU behemoth...This will save customers tons of money!

[DeafBug]

Is this for real? Dual booting with Windows? Or just that you can run Windows on its hardware? If so, I might consider getting an MacBook.

Apple looks to expand desktop PC market with Intel under the hoodSAN FRANCISCO — With its decision to use Intel Corp. microprocessors, Apple Computer Inc. is poised for the first time in decades to boost its share of the desktop PC market. Apple is tapping not only the latest chip technologies that rival makers of Windows-based computers will use but also the vast marketing power that Intel, the world's largest semiconductor company, delivers. Apple unveiled its first two machines with Intel's Core Duo — an iMac and new laptop — on Tuesday and said it would not thwart users who would seek to run Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating system on the machines. With Intel processors inside the new Macs, their owners could run Microsoft Windows and software designed for it at full speed. The move to Intel chips will boost Apple's sales and erase the perception that Macintosh computers lag behind Windows-based PCs in performance, analysts said. "Now consumers can buy a Mac that is three times faster and for the same price," said Nathan Brookwood, an analyst with Insight 64 research firm. With the success of its iPod players and flashy retail stores, Apple has already begun siphoning customers from the Windows camp. After years of hovering around 3 percent, Apple last year cracked 4 percent of the U.S. PC market. Apple's historic shift to Intel microprocessors came months earlier than expected as CEO Steve Jobs debuted Tuesday an iMac desktop and a notebook based on the chip makers' new two-brained processor, the Intel Core Duo. When it first announced plans to switch in June, Apple said it expected to begin making the transition by mid-2006. On Tuesday, Jobs was joined at the Macworld Expo by Intel CEO Paul Otellini to unveil the new jointly designed computers. Jobs said its entire Mac line will be converted to Intel by the end of 2006. The shift comes as Apple's hugely popular iPods continue to enthrall the public. Apple brought in a record $5.7 billion in sales during the holiday quarter as it sold 14 million iPods — nearly three times as many units as it did in the same period a year ago, Jobs said. Meanwhile, Apple's online iTunes store has sold more than 850 million songs and 8 million videos to date, he said. The company's stock shot to a 52-week high on the news. But Tuesday's focus was on computers. For years, Apple shunned Intel, which has provided chips that power a majority of the world's PCs, along with Microsoft's Windows software. In the late 1990s, Apple even ran TV ads with a Pentium II glued to a snail. But Apple became increasingly frustrated in recent years as its chip suppliers, IBM Corp. and Motorola Corp.'s spinoff, Freescale Semiconductor Inc., failed to meet its needs for faster more energy efficient chips. Of particular concern was IBM's apparent inability to develop a G5 chip that would work well in notebook computers. Intel, on the other hand, has been focusing on developing chips specifically tailored for notebooks. During last week's International Consumer Electronics Show, Intel unveiled its latest, the Core Duo, which features two computing engines on a single piece of silicon. It was that chip that Apple decided to fit into the new iMacs and MacBooks. Though the change to Intel has occurred faster than expected, it still poses some risks. Besides potentially alienating a fan base that's accustomed to doing things differently, Apple's move opens up the issue of backward compatibility and the possibility that PC users might run pirated versions of Mac OS X, Apple's critically acclaimed operating system, on their generally cheaper non-Apple computers. Jobs demonstrated new software, called Rosetta, that will let owners of the new Intel-based Macs run older applications. Though Windows sales could benefit, Microsoft risks losing ground unless its operating systems keep up with the Mac OS X. Windows Vista, the next major update, won't be available until later this year — and its promised features copy many of those already in Mac OS X. The change does not appear to have alienated Microsoft, however, which offers a Mac version of its popular Office productivity suite. "We're formalizing our commitment to this platform," said Roz Ho, general manager of the Microsoft's Macintosh Business Unit. "We'll continue shipping Office (for the) Mac for a minimum of five years." The new iMacs will have the same all-in-one design and screen sizes as the previous models, with prices remaining steady at $1,299 for the 17-inch model and $1,699 for the 20-inch computer. Jobs claimed the new models are two to three times faster than the iMac G5, based on an IBM chip. The MacBook Pros — with 15.4-inch displays — start at $1,999. All the new computers will include Apple's Front Row software and a remote control, which lets users watch videos, listen to music or browse photos from across a room. The machines also will be bundled with Apple's newly announced iLife '06 suite of digital lifestyle programs. In one of the updates, the latest version of iPhoto will let Mac shutterbugs share pictures much like bloggers, and podcasters share content.

http://www.startribune.com/535/story/176465.html Edited January 12, 2006 by DeafBug

[zox]

You might be out of luck if you want to run WindowsXP.These new Intel Macs don't have BIOS and without BIOS, WIndowsXP can't run.New technology instead of BIOS is EFI (Extensible Firmware Interface) and I believe is being ported from Itanium.Vista when it comes out should theoretically be ok without BIOS and use EFI.On the other hand, if you want to use Linux now, there is no problem.

[Marsden11]

You bet, dual boot!Won't work with XP just yet. Apple is using EFI instead of your regular BIOS. MS Vista will natively support EFI for booting.