Why I'm waiting until Q2 2007 to buy a MacBook Pro

[verb]

It appears that unfortunately the Merom processor that many are claiming to be the next big thing will still use the same chipset as Yonah. Around March of 2007 the Crestline chipset (part of the "Santa Rosa" platform) will be unleashed on the world that will give, amongst other things, a 800Mhz front side bus and 802.11n support. A 27% boost in front side bus speed is going to be a huge deal as it directly effects the speed the processor can address memory.

News.com reporting on the PCWatch post: http://news.com.com/Intel+notebook+tech+to+head+to+Santa+Rosa/2100-1006_3-6032965.html

Obviously this post was made with my tongue firmly planted in my cheek, but it is very interesting how much information we're getting now about the chips Apple is probably going to be using. Before Intel, the Apple faithful had to use the "rythm method" (a-la MacRumor's Buyer's Guide) to determine when to buy. Now we know what new tech is coming down the pipe from Intel and that Apple will probably HAVE to use it in order to avoid being crushed by competitors. While I do think an informed consumer is a good thing, there is something attractive about the mystery that existed prior.

 

[cnakeitaro]

So which laptop are you using now that allows you to wait that long? I'm extremely curious. I'm using an iBook G3, and I am finding it extremely difficult to wait for Merom, but I hope I can. I mean....something better is always coming out. 1 year after Santa Rosa it'll be a 1 ghz FSB. The only reason I'm waiting is for the 64-bit upgrade.

 

[matperk]

and in Q1 2007 the "superduperom" processor will be out in 9 months!

Welcome to the world of tech--you wait, and no matter how long you wait, there will always be something new right around the corner.

That's why I bought my MacBook already.

 

[Play Ultimate]

Likewise

So which laptop are you using now that allows you to wait that long? I'm extremely curious. I'm using an iBook G3, and I am finding it extremely difficult to wait for Merom, but I hope I can. I mean....something better is always coming out. 1 year after Santa Rosa it'll be a 1 ghz FSB. The only reason I'm waiting is for the 64-bit upgrade.

My wife and I each have iBooks( 900 MHz G3, and 1 GHz G4). Our plan is to what and see what comes out later this year (migrate to Intel) and hand the iBooks off to my 9 & 11 year old daughters.

 

[cnakeitaro]

My wife and I each have iBooks( 900 MHz G3, and 1 GHz G4). Our plan is to what and see what comes out later this year (migrate to Intel) and hand the iBooks off to my 9 & 11 year old daughters.

Sounds like a great plan to me. By then, the Merom MacBook Pro's should be out, like I said, my main thing is making sure I get a 64-bit processor so in 3 or 4 years I might still be able to run some of the new apps that are 64-bit only, which I believe is a much better reason for waiting than minor speed increases. I mean the 667 mhz to 800 mhz is nothing conpared to the 167 mhz to 667 mhz that we just moved to.

 

[savar]

Before Intel, the Apple faithful had to use the "rythm method" (a-la MacRumor's Buyer's Guide) to determine when to buy. Now we know what new tech is coming down the pipe from Intel and that Apple will probably HAVE to use it in order to avoid being crushed by competitors.

Rhythym is still important for most users...Unless you always need the newest stuff, stick to a buying cycle that fits your budget and needs, e.g. 2-4 years average between major purchases.

Knowing a chip is coming out in, say, Q1 2007 is great because Apple has to make a comment about it in Q1 2007 or prior, or risk speculation that they're behind. Of course, as you point out, the rumor mill used to serve for this function, so that you wouldn't buy a brand new machine and then have it be outdated the next week.

For the general, non-geek population, I don't know if it makes much difference.

 

[Daedalus256]

Sounds like a great plan to me. By then, the Merom MacBook Pro's should be out, like I said, my main thing is making sure I get a 64-bit processor so in 3 or 4 years I might still be able to run some of the new apps that are 64-bit only, which I believe is a much better reason for waiting than minor speed increases. I mean the 667 mhz to 800 mhz is nothing conpared to the 167 mhz to 667 mhz that we just moved to.

167 to 667? I was fairly sure that the Pbooks use PC2700 RAM. In which case the clock would be 333mhz would it not?

 

[howesey]

Moore's Law, every 18 months, density and processing speed will double.

 

[cnakeitaro]

167 to 667? I was fairly sure that the Pbooks use PC2700 RAM. In which case the clock would be 333mhz would it not?

I could be wrong, but I don't think RAM really increases your system bus. On Apple's Developers Website, there is a page showing the features of the 15 inch 1.67 G4 Powerbook and it lists a 167 mhz system bus. It can be found here. And the new processors have a 667 mhz system bus which can be seen in hardware overview screenshots here, and this macworld article here under the "So whats new in the MacBook Pro?" speaks of the 167 to 667 mhz change.

 

[stoid]

Moore's Law, every 18 months, density and processing speed will double.

It's really more of a speculation/theory than law. Furthermore, I don't think that Moore was referring to speed or density at all. I think all he suggested was that because of advances in microchip development the number of transistors on a chip would double about every 18 - 24 months. Now, if the number of transistors double, that generally has about the equivalent effect on processor speed, and if the size of the chip stays the same, then density will double as well.

I'm not certain of the numbers, but I think that the recent switch to the 90 nm process came with heavy roadblocks that for the first time put a dent in Moore's Hypothesis.

 

[Daedalus256]

I could be wrong, but I don't think RAM really increases your system bus. On Apple's Developers Website, there is a page showing the features of the 15 inch 1.67 G4 Powerbook and it lists a 167 mhz system bus. It can be found here. And the new processors have a 667 mhz system bus which can be seen in hardware overview screenshots here, and this macworld article here under the "So whats new in the MacBook Pro?" speaks of the 167 to 667 mhz change.

Interesting. I guess macs handle DDR ram differently than PCs.

 

[DeepIn2U]

Moore's Law, every 18 months, density and processing speed will double.

Can be found here.
http://www.intel.com/technology/silicon/mooreslaw/

In 1965, Intel co-founder Gordon Moore saw the future. His prediction, popularly known as Moore's Law, states that the number of transistors on a chip doubles about every two years. This observation about silicon integration, made a reality by Intel, has fueled the worldwide technology revolution.

A major reason why Apple could no longer resist using Intel chips!