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Still love for the Core Duo Macbook?

M

Mpulsive81

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 7, 2006
401
0
McKinney, TX
I've been keeping up with these topics recently regarding if people should wait for SR or plunge into the C2D, but nowhere do I hear any love being thrown out for the original Core Duo. Granted, it runs hotter...but does anyone else (other than me) absolutely love their Macbook Core Duo? I've had mine for under a year, and I would say it'll be another good 2 years before I thought about upgrading. So who's willing to throw some love out for the OG Core Duo? :cool:
 
Well my 1.83 white macbook CD is a great machine and i love it (2gb ram), i don't see why i'd need more for most things.
 
Depends what you really are doing with your computer. For most home tasks the CD MB's are fine. The Merom chipset is really more about efficiency of processing which sees the biggest jump in more intensive gaming or rendering type tasks.
 
I didn't think there was much of anyplace that the C2D was more than 10-15% faster than an equally-clocked CD? Beside that, it does have the 64-bit advantage, but that is not going to do much on a Macbook, which can't even have 4 gigs of memory to begin with. It does have the 802.11n hardware. I think that's a fairly large deal, since upgrading things like that means going external, and that's a nuisance. But then, no one is going to post threads, "Why did Apple upgrade the Macbook when the Core Duo was fine as is?"
 
I ran programs smoothly on core duo even windows (parallel). I had issues with heat but only when the pc was on my lap. Most of the windows pc still sell core duo and they are very efficient. :)
 
I'm very happy with my MacBook 2GHz CD. I just wish I could have plunged for Black. It'd last longer.
 
Caitlyn said:
I'm very happy with my MacBook 2GHz CD. I just wish I could have plunged for Black. It'd last longer.
Click to expand...

What would make the Black one last longer? The only difference was more memory and 20G more space. Apple replaced my discoloring palm rests and i haven't had an issue since.
 
I've got a macbook pro core duo, and it works terrifically - including a lot of high-cpu consumption audio work that i do.
this upgrade "bleeding edge" fever is just a symptom of the way consumerism works at driving the capitalist economy.
 
mkrishnan said:
I didn't think there was much of anyplace that the C2D was more than 10-15% faster than an equally-clocked CD? Beside that, it does have the 64-bit advantage, but that is not going to do much on a Macbook, which can't even have 4 gigs of memory to begin with. It does have the 802.11n hardware. I think that's a fairly large deal, since upgrading things like that means going external, and that's a nuisance. But then, no one is going to post threads, "Why did Apple upgrade the Macbook when the Core Duo was fine as is?"
Click to expand...

SSE code can be up to twice as fast. Some data paths can be 30-40% faster. General code is around 8-15% faster.

64bit mode also doubles the number of general purpose registers and doubles their width to 64bit. Currently that doesn't matter as nothing uses it but in the future...
 
Cult Follower said:
I really love mine although I wish it had 802.11n built in.
Click to expand...

Technically it's possible to upgrade to 802.11n... though you'd be voiding the warranty. Feel free to correct me, but i believe the Mac Pro internal 802.11n airport card has the same connectors as the MacBook. Essentially, just slap one of those in and you're golden.
 
My CD does everything i need to do,and well. I have neverhad any problems with it, it is fricken awesome.
 
I too am very happy with my CD Macbook. Its screaming fast compared to other computers I have at home that are generally a few years old. Compressing a home video to DVD used to take all night, the 1.83ghz Macbook CD does it in about 90 minutes, about real time.

The mooing problem was annoying once I noticed it, glad they fixed that.
I had to sand down the edges by my wrist.
I've had to use silicone spray to keep my keys from squeaking.

The palm rests didn't discolor for months, but now that its almost a year old and after lots of heavy use, they are noticeably discolored. How do you clean these things? Is that still considered a defect? Would Apple replace it? I'd be nervous to try, I rely on the Macbook and need it every day for work.
 
I have the originial CD and I LOVE it. Sure, there is the wireless upgrade and cooler running, but I still love mine.
 
dmelgar said:
The palm rests didn't discolor for months, but now that its almost a year old and after lots of heavy use, they are noticeably discolored. How do you clean these things? Is that still considered a defect? Would Apple replace it? I'd be nervous to try, I rely on the Macbook and need it every day for work.
Click to expand...

I had that problem with my macbook. It got pretty discolored after a couple months. I took it to the apple store and they replaced it in the same day. They actually just replaced the entire front cover, keyboard, mouse click, and trackpad too. Do you have Apple Care? If you have Apple Care you should go do it. If not, I would still ask. The dude at the Genius Bar told me it was a known defect and it's impossible to clean.

Edit: ah, you still have that free year. Go take it in. If they have the parts in stock, they did at the one here in San Diego it will only take a couple hours.
 
epicwelshman said:
Technically it's possible to upgrade to 802.11n... though you'd be voiding the warranty. Feel free to correct me, but i believe the Mac Pro internal 802.11n airport card has the same connectors as the MacBook. Essentially, just slap one of those in and you're golden.
Click to expand...

You're absolutely right, there's a write up on this, http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/laptops/upgrade-your-core-duo-macbook-to-80211n-238247.php. It'll void your warrenty for sure, so ya need to evaluate how bad ya want it. But yes it can be done.
 
I'm still using the entry level CD Macbook, and see no point in upgrading any time soon. It's a great machine, aside from the cracks.

I will say, at this point, I wish that I had popped for the black model, though. Oh well, I'll know next time.
 
mick4394 said:
I will say, at this point, I wish that I had popped for the black model, though. Oh well, I'll know next time.
Click to expand...

You know, I didn't like the black macbooks that much. Sure they looked nice, but when I bought my macbook, the black ones were 1499, I think. Anyways, I bought a 2Ghz white model, Super Drive, 80 gig hard drive, and a gig of ram for 1499. That was actually a better computer for the same price. Black is cool, but this was the smarter buy.

That and it wouldn't be cool if my friend and I had the same color laptops. You have to have different colored MacSabers when you fight! Duh!
 
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