It turns out that the 2.2Ghz model performs almost exactly like the 2.2 SRMBP. The only excepton is fps and, as expected, the dedicated 128MB Nvidia card slams the X3100 chipset. But for the non-gamer, it is pretty much the same across the board as far as performance goes (either ahead by a point or two, or behind by a point or two) and in some tests it outperforms the MBP.
[URL="http://www.macworld.com/2007/11/firstlooks/macbook_bench/index.php"]
Here's the link.
http://www.macworld.com/2007/11/firstlooks/macbook_bench/index.php[/URL]
Pretty cool, huh? I know it's not a huge surprise, but it's nice to get that performance upgrade and overhaul shoehorned into an MB. I think it's a quantum leap under the hood. They'll be able to use this chipset for a while. Intel's next-gen mobile platform is going to support 800Mhz RAM, so the entire system will run at 800Mhz (catching up w/ AMD who already have this feature), but I doubt the MB will see that chipset for quite some time. I do think they'll jack in into the MBP as soon as it's available.
Would I like a revamp of the MB? Sure!! Especially an LED screen w/ higher resolution (and possibly a full 14" - it looks like it would fit in the current, gigantic bezel). But overall, it's a great design as is and is relatively very new. They used the MB to try out a lot of new features before implementing them in other new product designs - flat keyboard, removeable HD, thinner construction, latch-less magnetic closure, etc.).
That is the great thing about the MB: it's a nicely executed departure from the iBook design. It's evolution at it's finest, keeping the aesthetic similar, but jacking the performance capabilities by a huge margin and redoing the enclosure entirely. It used to be a huge debate: settle for a much slower iBook or spend a ton more for the PowerBook. It's so cool that you can get a fast Intel C2D-based laptop (and at high speeds too. No more 1.6, 1.8... If you check intel's site, they go all the way down to 1.4, and that's not even the low voltage chips) that isn't some crappy, low speed, true entry-level PC. It's NOT a discount laptop, but it sure is priced close to one which is incredible considering the features. I went to Dell's site and configured their 13.3" notebook and it's way more expensive when you trick it out to try and match the MBs. It does have some great attributes (card slots, MMcard reader, etc.), but it's a hell of a lot more money.
I doubt Apple will do anything more than upgrade the MB guts until after they issue a MAJOR revamped MBP, which for all intents and purposes, is currently VERY much like the end-of-line PowerBook G4s in terms of construction.
I was waiting for quite a bit to get my hands on an SRMB, and I love it so far. Tiger doesn't work so hot on it (AppleCare has told me that with the upcoming 10.4.11 release, it will solve these issues, mostly hardware compatibility stuff), and I REALLY like Tiger. All of my utilities save Symantec AV (not the whole suite, just AV) won't work w/ Leopard yet, and some companies are providing free updates, some are charging. I wanted to wait several months before gong to Leopard (and hopefully a 10.5.1 or greater update as well), but once these became available a couple of weeks ago I had to do it. It will be salient for me and my needs (as far as I can tell now) for at least 2-3 years.
Not that I won't succumb to what will probably be the sexiest laptop ever when they redo the MBP case and design
[URL="http://www.macworld.com/2007/11/firstlooks/macbook_bench/index.php"]
Here's the link.
http://www.macworld.com/2007/11/firstlooks/macbook_bench/index.php[/URL]
Pretty cool, huh? I know it's not a huge surprise, but it's nice to get that performance upgrade and overhaul shoehorned into an MB. I think it's a quantum leap under the hood. They'll be able to use this chipset for a while. Intel's next-gen mobile platform is going to support 800Mhz RAM, so the entire system will run at 800Mhz (catching up w/ AMD who already have this feature), but I doubt the MB will see that chipset for quite some time. I do think they'll jack in into the MBP as soon as it's available.
Would I like a revamp of the MB? Sure!! Especially an LED screen w/ higher resolution (and possibly a full 14" - it looks like it would fit in the current, gigantic bezel). But overall, it's a great design as is and is relatively very new. They used the MB to try out a lot of new features before implementing them in other new product designs - flat keyboard, removeable HD, thinner construction, latch-less magnetic closure, etc.).
That is the great thing about the MB: it's a nicely executed departure from the iBook design. It's evolution at it's finest, keeping the aesthetic similar, but jacking the performance capabilities by a huge margin and redoing the enclosure entirely. It used to be a huge debate: settle for a much slower iBook or spend a ton more for the PowerBook. It's so cool that you can get a fast Intel C2D-based laptop (and at high speeds too. No more 1.6, 1.8... If you check intel's site, they go all the way down to 1.4, and that's not even the low voltage chips) that isn't some crappy, low speed, true entry-level PC. It's NOT a discount laptop, but it sure is priced close to one which is incredible considering the features. I went to Dell's site and configured their 13.3" notebook and it's way more expensive when you trick it out to try and match the MBs. It does have some great attributes (card slots, MMcard reader, etc.), but it's a hell of a lot more money.
I doubt Apple will do anything more than upgrade the MB guts until after they issue a MAJOR revamped MBP, which for all intents and purposes, is currently VERY much like the end-of-line PowerBook G4s in terms of construction.
I was waiting for quite a bit to get my hands on an SRMB, and I love it so far. Tiger doesn't work so hot on it (AppleCare has told me that with the upcoming 10.4.11 release, it will solve these issues, mostly hardware compatibility stuff), and I REALLY like Tiger. All of my utilities save Symantec AV (not the whole suite, just AV) won't work w/ Leopard yet, and some companies are providing free updates, some are charging. I wanted to wait several months before gong to Leopard (and hopefully a 10.5.1 or greater update as well), but once these became available a couple of weeks ago I had to do it. It will be salient for me and my needs (as far as I can tell now) for at least 2-3 years.
Not that I won't succumb to what will probably be the sexiest laptop ever when they redo the MBP case and design
