Here is the general lowdown of what is going on in the Macbook Pro World as of Late:
In the past year, Intel finalized their plans to introduce their new Core 2 Duo Mobile Chips under the name Penryn. This essentially is a new chip built around the 45-nm process, first products of which were recently released in the form of the updated Penryn Xeon processors slated for insertion into Mac Pro. These new chips result in a boost in performance (though not extremely large), decreased power usage, decreased heat production, and increased maximum clock speed over their current generation 65-nm Core 2 Duo Mobile chips. Their release date was finalized for Q1 2008, expected to be January 2008. As such, many believe that due to the proximity of the new Chip’s official release date to that of Macworld 2008, Apple will use the keynote as a platform to introduce updated Macbook Pro’s.
However the issue/argument comes not over IF this will happen but the magnitude of the line’s overhaul as well as the time between announcement of this product and when it will be in consumers hand:
The Optimist
Some of the Macrumors readers believe that the January 2008 update will feature the first major overhaul of the Pro-series notebooks since the introduction of the aluminum Powerbooks. There are a few things that point to the possibility of this upgrade:
- “5-Year” anniversary of the Aluminum form factor
- Movement of entire Apple line to new style keyboard sans the Macbook Pro
- Introduction of a New Case design that will become the form factor for the Macbook Pro line as the launch of the new Intel chipset "eaglelake", set for release in Q2 2008, approaches (which has new features Apple would most likely include in their new notebooks)
- Rumored Ultraportable Macbook Pro would point toward a change in design across the line.
However, there are numerous reasons this might not occur:
- Tried and True Design does not need to be changed to include new Penryn Processors and true complete upgrade may wait until the updated Chipset in Q2
- Macbook Style keyboard (currently) features no backlight, a popular feature on current generation macbook pro’s and something that the company may wait to refine until the complete overhaul that may occur in Q2 (thought this isn't a strong rebutle as adding this feature would be quite easy)
The Speed-Addict
Other Macrumors readers believe January 2008 will be a speed bump in current generation Macbook Pro’s and nothing else. The reasons that lead to this opinion are similar to the reason Apple would not redesign the Macbook Pro, but here they are.
- Apple has a tendency to stay up to date with the latest intel technology (following the Intel Roadmap)
- The Tried and True design does not need to be changed to include the newer processors.
- Current technology is popular among consumers and does not need to be changed to maintain healthy sales of the Macbook Pro
However, there are rumors that vote against this opinion as well.
- If Apple does introduce the ultraportable macbook pro, it would most likely include the new Macbook style keyboard and new form factor. This would suggest, to keep consistency across the line, a complete redesign of the line to keep consistency (something Apple Likes, a lot)
- 5-years of few changes to the line lends readers to believe it is time for Apple to add something to the product.
Now that we have addressed the signs pointing towards the different magnitude of upgrades, its important to look at the time between announcement of the product and the time it will take to be in consumers hands.
“…and it is available on our online Store and in Apple Stores everywhere today (or within the week)…”
With Apple recent history of stocking products in stores the day they are announced, many people believe that the new Macbook Pro will be available for purchase and local Apple Stores the day of or by at least the end of the week. The reasons for:
- iMac Redesign was in Consumers Hands the day it was released
- iPod Classic and iPod Nano 3G available within a week of announcement
The Reasons Against
- Penryn Will only be available in January of 2008, meaning supplies could be limited and order times long for custom order mac's such as the one you currently have on order.
- Shipment times for updates to the Macbook Pro's have historically been some time after announcement, lending people to a late january early february arrival date.
All of this is meant as a summary of what all has been said on the forum about upcomming Macbook Pro's. I hope it helps. In general, it is expected Apple will preform some sort of update in 2008. However, you will have to use the above and your own judgement to determine if it is worth the wait and if you think the update will be something that truley makes your macbook pro "outdated." Just remember current generation macbook pro's are great machines that will last you a long time. On top of that, the 65nm chips are tried and true technology. The 45nm Penryn's are brand new and are bound to have some problems as they get off the ground. There are always risks with the latest and greatest, but the benefits may also outway them. Good luck and enjoy the mac you end up purchasing.
-Josh
(P.S. If anyone has anything to add or argue, feel free, I wrote this mostly from memory of what I have read)
We've come quite a way!
