“Apple Computer Inc.’s newest MacBook pro is one cool customer,” Ken Mingis reports for Computerworld. “Literally.”
“Sure it’s got the new Core 2 Duo processor, which offers a speed bump from 2.16GHz to 2.33GHz. (The first-generation MacBook Pros topped out at 2.16GHz and used Intel’s Core Duo chip.) But what a difference that ‘2’ in the processor name makes,” Mingis reports.
“For speed demons, this is the fastest laptop Apple has yet offered. Aside from the fact that it’s about 8% faster in terms of clock speed, underlying changes to the processor design — especially a doubling of the Level 2 cache memory from 2MB to 4MB — mean the uptick in speed is noticeable,” Mingis reports. “The 15-in. versions of the new MacBook Pro — unveiled just last week — are already getting into buyers’ waiting hands, and the 17-in. versions are set to ship next week.”
“Unlike most incremental upgrades between models, I’d say the shift from the Core Duo to the Core 2 Duo — in tandem with some strategic moves by Apple to make the new laptops even more of a value — is a bigger deal than usual,” Mingis reports.
“pple seems to have tackled that issue head on: Heat is significantly reduced in the new models,” Mingis reports.
“I asked [Apple Product Manager for Portables Todd Benjamin] about reports from other new MacBook Pro owners that the wireless card inside is designed to work with the upcoming 802.11n wireless standard in addition to the now-popular 802.11g and 802.11b standards,” Mingis reports. “Benjamin declined to talk about 802.11n compatibility. ‘The integrated solution is fully backward compatible, but I can’t speculate [on future capabilities],’ he said.”
Full article here.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Apple MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo dissection photos – October 30, 2006
Why MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo units are limited to 3 GB RAM – October 30, 2006
Apple redesigns, hides iSight indicator on MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo models – October 28, 2006
Apple does it again: New Macbook Pros much cheaper than Dell – October 25, 2006
Yager: New Apple MacBook Pro is ‘mobile landing pad for Leopard in plenty of time for Macworld Expo’ – October 24, 2006
Apple MacBook Pro notebooks go Intel Core 2 Duo; up to 39-percent faster – October 24, 2006
The new Airport cards are problematic for many people:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=3463897
Oh boy. Peterson, MacBill. MacBill, Peterson.
“Benjamin declined to talk about 802.11n compatibility. ‘The integrated solution is fully backward compatible, but I can’t speculate [on future capabilities],’ he said.”
iTV and Leopard need this.
Rock on Steve!
Reality is problematic for many people:
MacMania says “iTV and Leopard need this.”
—————–
If iTv requires 802.11 to stream video, then Apple is going to have a very small customer base to sell this device to.
Oh, Allen… How insightful.
I’ll ignore your original post and assume you mean 802.11n since we already use 802.11something… This is an example of moving the market forward. Being first. Taking risks. Making others make decisions because they have to react.
In case you’re new, welcome to the light side.
I had a stream I tried to ignore once.
This is worrisome. Just ordered a Core 2 Duo MB Pro today. Hopefully, Apple will straighten it out with a firmware or software update ASAP.
🙁
I got the new MacBook Pro 15.4″ Core 2 Duo 2.33GHz model last Monday at my local Apple Store. No problems with wireless, and I can concurr that the running temperature is significantly lower. I’m upgrading from the old 2.0GHz Core Duo model that I purchased when they were first announced, and I’ve noticed a big difference in how much cooler the new model runs. Kudos Apple and Intel for solving the heat issues. It’s nice to have an Apple notebook I can comfortably use on my lap again.
I’m a mac fiend — but the line
“THE FASTEST MAC EVER.”
— When speaking about the latest model — is ummm, stupidly obvious.
I’m the LATEST poster… EVER!
Good luck with that Spark.
to Spark: No you’re not. I am.
Off topic slightly: what are the rumours on the timing of the next Mac Mini upgrade? I have an old PC which is basically just used as a print server and occasional web-browsing machine when the iMac is in use by someone else. The PC is on its last legs and needs replacing. I’d like to replace with a MacMini, but they don’t seem particularly good value compared with the rest of the Apple line up at the moment. When’s the next Mini update due?
Talk about stating the obvious!
fastest mac ever…
well it’s not going to be slower than previous models is it!
I have a MacBook Pro purchased in July. I have had no Airport problems with it. The Airport Base Station was purchased in Nov. of 2005 to go with an iMac.
Whenever my RoadRunner cuts out, it goes completely out, not just weakens. So I go to the basement turn both basestation and RR modem off (because I’m a thorough kind of person) and restart. Then all works well for months again.