Who's waiting on the next MBP?

[azzurri000]

I'm hoping that the graphics card will be updated, but I'm not holding my breath.

I don't know if I'd want to see the formfactor change (I know it probably wouldn't happen in the next revision,) but if it's as surprisingly amazing as the MacBook revision, then I'd be cool with it.

 

[poppe]

I'm hoping that the graphics card will be updated, but I'm not holding my breath.

I don't know if I'd want to see the formfactor change (I know it probably wouldn't happen in the next revision,) but if it's as surprisingly amazing as the MacBook revision, then I'd be cool with it.

I'm dreaming for a better MBP graphics card...

 

[tekmoe]

I'm dreaming for a better MBP graphics card...

not sure about better but i am 99% sure it can't get any worse.

 

[Apple Corps]

I think you guys are setting yourself up for disappointment. Merom won't be a huge improvement over Yonah. It's a stopgap until next year. Then there should be some more substantial upgrades (I think)

viccles - reading your posts it sounds - at least to me - as if you are questioning enthusiasm towards the new Merom based MBPs. The shipping Meroms (not the first shipped and tested engineering samples) are showing 8% - 15% performance gains with equal battery life and running cooler to no hotter. To many of us that sounds positive. The constantly talked about Santa Rosa FSB improvement (667 MHz to 800 MHz) is NOT going to boost observed performance by much (3% or so). 802.11n will not be operational until late 2007 / early 2008.

You have recently decided (after much deliberation) on the current Yonah based MBP - congratrulations and enjoy.

With the new Merom based MBP we may also see a better graphics card, magnetic latching, fast swap hard drive, improved case structure and wider angle screen opening and other assembly / cosmetic improvements.

I do not agree that Merom is a stopgap nor that we are setting ourselves up for disappointment - if we can wait, I think we are setting ourselves up for an informed decision.

 

[budugu]

If not for the Merom update ... wait till they actually get the design right for the macbook pro. There is seems to be a lot of problems with the macbook pro than the macbook (which in part was the reason for me not to choose the macbook pro). I would wait if i were you.

 

[bluetorch18]

I do not agree that Merom is a stopgap nor that we are setting ourselves up for disappointment - if we can wait, I think we are setting ourselves up for an informed decision.

Exactly.

 

[pianodude123]

I have been waiting since the macbooks came out. I do not want to buy a first gen laptop, but I really need one. They need to lower the price if they want to compete and in the 17 inch they should have an absolute killer GPU. I want a case update, processor update, price drop, GPU update, speed increase, increased battery life and maybe something that can do my laundry as well!

 

[poppe]

not sure about better but i am 99% sure it can't get any worse.

So how come Apple is so innovative in every other department except for graphics?

They are always adding new things like Express34 and doing stuff like that. Having expensive quality products yet then throws in a x1600 mobile... Since I came to Mac's I haven't been able to figure out why this is?

 

[azzurri000]

not sure about better but i am 99% sure it can't get any worse.

hahaha probably not, but let's not forget about the inferior superdrive that the MacBook Pro was left with when the PowerBook line was discontinued.

 

[budugu]

hahaha probably not, but let's not forget about the inferior superdrive that the MacBook Pro was left with when the PowerBook line was discontinued.

NOt to mention the totally underclocked x1600 on the planet + the loss of battery life! (they will not change the graphics yet - generally it happens only after a year .... there are no new ATI/nVidia graphics that are for the main stream performance). I wonder if Apple will ever put FireGL 5200 in 17" MBP?

 

[gadgetgirl85]

viccles - reading your posts it sounds - at least to me - as if you are questioning enthusiasm towards the new Merom based MBPs. The shipping Meroms (not the first shipped and tested engineering samples) are showing 8% - 15% performance gains with equal battery life and running cooler to no hotter. To many of us that sounds positive. The constantly talked about Santa Rosa FSB improvement (667 MHz to 800 MHz) is NOT going to boost observed performance by much (3% or so). 802.11n will not be operational until late 2007 / early 2008.

You have recently decided (after much deliberation) on the current Yonah based MBP - congratrulations and enjoy.

With the new Merom based MBP we may also see a better graphics card, magnetic latching, fast swap hard drive, improved case structure and wider angle screen opening and other assembly / cosmetic improvements.

I do not agree that Merom is a stopgap nor that we are setting ourselves up for disappointment - if we can wait, I think we are setting ourselves up for an informed decision.

I'm not saying its necessarily everyone I'm just seeing a few people around who think that merom is the next thing since sliced bread. Sure I'm sure it will bring a few great updates and we don't know what else might be included with the update but just I think some (not all) are expecting more than it (will/might) do

 

[Apple Corps]

I'm not saying its necessarily everyone I'm just seeing a few people around who think that merom is the next thing since sliced bread. Sure I'm sure it will bring a few great updates and we don't know what else might be included with the update but just I think some (not all) are expecting more than it (will/might) do

viccles - most conventional wisdom is that the current Yonah based MBPs were the stopgaps - rushed to market due to the never ending G4 saga. This view has traction due to all of the problems with the current crop of MBPs. I do not understand how you could consider Apple releasing a revised MBP based on Intel's latest mobile cpu a stopgap. Santa Rosa will not offer much in early 2007.

I guess we will all see within 12 hours to 7 days (no longer I hope). Let's compare notes once we learn whatever is announced - we will both have a better informed opinion

 

[gadgetgirl85]

I guess we will all see within 12 hours to 7 days (no longer I hope). Let's compare notes once we learn whatever is announced - we will both have a better informed opinion

Yes I think we all will!

 

[KingYaba]

Technically I'm waiting for an upgrade. Though I may end up buying the 2.0ghz MBP with 256vram, add ram with extra money I save. Which is still a major upgrade compared to this Pismo I'm typing on. Seeing how tomorrow is yet another Tuesday I'll wait.

 

[dornoforpyros]

yeah I'm waiting, usually I just buy what I want/need, but since we seem to be within striking distance of an update I'm holding off for now. But if my current powerbook pukes out soon and we don't have an update by the end of September I'll just pull the trigger.

 

[Apple Corps]

Technically I'm waiting for an upgrade. Though I may end up buying the 2.0ghz MBP with 256vram, add ram with extra money I save. Which is still a major upgrade compared to this Pismo I'm typing on. Seeing how tomorrow is yet another Tuesday I'll wait.

I hate to admit how many "Tuesdays" I have gone through waiting for this decision. Sadly, I am already gearing up for another delay and thinking Mac Expo - Paris

Fingers crossed that we get an announcement tomorrow.

 

[ZildjianKX]

Think there is any chance of an X1800 in the new revision?

Merom will be a minor bump, but I think a lot of us are looking for other things to be upgraded with the next MBP revision, like graphics card, hard drive, and dual layer super drive.

 

[generik]

Think there is any chance of an X1800 in the new revision?

Merom will be a minor bump, but I think a lot of us are looking for other things to be upgraded with the next MBP revision, like graphics card, hard drive, and dual layer super drive.

Why even restrict yourself to ATi chips? Why not nVidia?

As much as I am hoping that the MBP will be refreshed tomorrow something tells me that I may not even see it until after the Expo in October

 

[master.cob]

I'm waiting. I've been waiting since February, since I first heard of the merom intel line. And the wait has been painful. Painful mostly because my current laptop (an averatec running linux) runs very hot, and it hurts my crotch. Which brings to mind another one of the reasons why I didn't switch immediately: back in february my laptop was barely over a year old, and upgrading to the first MBP wouldn't have supplied me with much more power -- plus there were all the reports of how hot and loud they were (two of my compaints with my current laptop), so it would have mostly been an os change. Not quite worth the money.

But the merom MBPs will supply me with a good deal more power, better battery life, and, of course, software that easily supports my scanner, dial-up modem, and synthesizer (oh, and supports pixen, the pixel animation program), etc. There are so many things I'm looking forward to with this switch. I can still barely afford it, but I consider it an investment toward my future endeavors. I mean, that's being grand and all, but my current laptop really bugs, trust me. And I've struggled with this wait, and I'm hoping it will be worth it. I think it will.

 

[FFTT]

The increased demand for all these desktop replacement components makes it difficult to control heat and fan noise.

Sometimes it's the operating temperature of these more advanced video cards
that makes them less than desirable if Apple wants to stay within certain heat and fan noise guidlines.

The Merom upgrades will be welcome, but I don't think well see any earth shattering thermal improvements until they upgrade to Santa Rosa and Leopard.

Developers are just now barely beginning to take advantage of all this new multi-core architecture, Universal Binary applications and PCI-e bandwith.

I'm much more conservative about what a notebook should be used for and feel that many people would be better served buying a MacBook for basic portable needs, then putting their major money into a desktop if they need serious
performance and storage capabilites.

 

[Apple Corps]

FFTT - why would think Santa Rosa would provide thermal improvements???

 

[heehee]

I'm waiting for it. My boss said he would buy me a Mac Pro, but I told him I rather wait and get the next MBP.

 

[deputy_doofy]

Just wondering if there are any other people here who really want a Macbook Pro but are waiting impatiently for the next iteration?

I was SO close to ordering one today but I had to restrain myself since next tuesday is only a week away. It cannot come soon enough!!

Hopefully the line will be updated then. Anyone else in the same predicament?

This describes me pretty well. I don't NEED a MBP, but I really want one. I'm buying as soon as the Core 2 version is released...

 

[Demon Hunter]

viccles - reading your posts it sounds - at least to me - as if you are questioning enthusiasm towards the new Merom based MBPs. The shipping Meroms (not the first shipped and tested engineering samples) are showing 8% - 15% performance gains with equal battery life and running cooler to no hotter. To many of us that sounds positive. The constantly talked about Santa Rosa FSB improvement (667 MHz to 800 MHz) is NOT going to boost observed performance by much (3% or so). 802.11n will not be operational until late 2007 / early 2008.

You have recently decided (after much deliberation) on the current Yonah based MBP - congratrulations and enjoy.

With the new Merom based MBP we may also see a better graphics card, magnetic latching, fast swap hard drive, improved case structure and wider angle screen opening and other assembly / cosmetic improvements.

I do not agree that Merom is a stopgap nor that we are setting ourselves up for disappointment - if we can wait, I think we are setting ourselves up for an informed decision.

Best damn post I read all day.

 

[displaced]

Ha ha ha ha, that's exactly the same thing people were saying about Yonah. I don't see what the big deal is over Santa Rosa. The NAND flash technology could be cool but who knows how and when that will be implemented.

The deal for me is that when I move to a new CPU, I want the underlying system to be fully capable of supporting everything the CPU's features. As I understand things, you only get the full power-saving performance of the Merom when coupled with Santa Rosa.