Why doesn't Apple build a 13" MBP without the optical drive?

[Veinticinco]

Nope. Works with nothing else. Apple playing shenigans with the USB standard on the MBA.

Shame as it's one of the nicest external opticals on the market. Apple would really be onto something if they made it work with all USB standard laptops.

Recall it's more a firmware 'fix' than a bus-power issue - seems some people overcame it and got the SD to work on a MB.

I have a redundant SD left over from my THREE attempts at getting an acceptable MBA. Not sure I'm going for a fourth, so got a nice looking paperweight. Also annoying that it has a fixed and very short cable.

 

[RedTomato]

Recall it's more a firmware 'fix' than a bus-power issue - seems some people overcame it and got the SD to work on a MB.

I have a redundant SD left over from my THREE attempts at getting an acceptable MBA. Not sure I'm going for a fourth, so got a nice looking paperweight. Also annoying that it has a fixed and very short cable.

Does it not work with a USB extension cable? ISTR it will work through a USB hub.

 

[mcnallym]

There will be NO 9400m working with an Intel Nehalem CPU! Nvidia's license doesn't permit it according to Intel. Intel isn't stupid, and it's not going to let Nvidia steal its business. It definitely learned from this loophole!

When Apple switches to Nehalem in the Mac notebooks, we will see an Intel integrated graphics solution, OR Apple will completely have to remove the integrated graphics and just use a dedicated card. The problem with the newest Intel integrated graphics for Nehalem is they operate at around 55 to 60% of the power of the Nvidia 9400m!
QUOTE]

I can't see Apple going i7 with the laptops. What we are more likely to get is i5 in the iMac/mini and MB/MBPro. i5 is the mainstream chip and Nvidia does have a license to make chipsets for i5 as it doesn't use QPI bus, but uses a different bus that Intel have licensed to Nvidia.

i7 is for extreme/enthusiast market, and it will also help them differentiate between the Mac Pro and the other products. Mac Pro will take the Xeon 3500/5500 based on i7 with the other products using the mainstream i5.

Of course some of the i5 cpu's are supposed to have the gpu integrated as well so that may be an alternative.

 

[Scottsdale]

There will be NO 9400m working with an Intel Nehalem CPU! Nvidia's license doesn't permit it according to Intel. Intel isn't stupid, and it's not going to let Nvidia steal its business. It definitely learned from this loophole!

When Apple switches to Nehalem in the Mac notebooks, we will see an Intel integrated graphics solution, OR Apple will completely have to remove the integrated graphics and just use a dedicated card. The problem with the newest Intel integrated graphics for Nehalem is they operate at around 55 to 60% of the power of the Nvidia 9400m!
QUOTE]

I can't see Apple going i7 with the laptops. What we are more likely to get is i5 in the iMac/mini and MB/MBPro. i5 is the mainstream chip and Nvidia does have a license to make chipsets for i5 as it doesn't use QPI bus, but uses a different bus that Intel have licensed to Nvidia.

i7 is for extreme/enthusiast market, and it will also help them differentiate between the Mac Pro and the other products. Mac Pro will take the Xeon 3500/5500 based on i7 with the other products using the mainstream i5.

Of course some of the i5 cpu's are supposed to have the gpu integrated as well so that may be an alternative.

I didn't know there was a difference with licensing. One of the three sources I read about it specifically stated Macs were going to lose it when they move to "Arrandale???"

I hope, no I pray, you're 100% correct as the 9400m has changed the game for Macs. I love that little GPU that could!

 

[jf8]

I have a laptop without an internal CD or DVD drive. (It came with an external one)

I've used the external drive twice in two years.

Installing OS X (or Windows) is possible from a USB drive, and much faster.