PowerBook is dead; MacBook Pro is here (Intel-based)

[Asher]

Yep.

[KrazyHorse]

Fascinating business model.

[Asher]

Core Duos look pretty sweet. Would be great if I was in the market for a laptop right now.

They're also on the 65nm manufacturing process (from 90nm of current-gen chips), so they're smaller and cooler...and faster.

I want one.

[Gatekeeper]

I was a bit surprised to see an Intel-based iMac ... thought those wouldn't be coming until autumn at the earliest. Heh. Boy, am I glad I *didn't* buy a new iMac at anytime over the last two years. Nothing like skipping a generation ...

Gatekeeper

[Asher]

There will likely be a lower-end iMac with 1 core and a new iBook with 1 core ("Core Solo") once those are out.

Dunno what they're going to do with the PowerMac G5s -- maybe Extreme Edition processors or Xeons?

[monolith94]

I'm probably going to be getting another mac in approximately two years, I think. Ever since I added some more ram to my old imac, it's been running good as new. I will be getting one of these new intel macs, but I'm not sure I want one from the very first generation.

[Gatekeeper]

I'm not a good prognosticator when it comes to Apple — after all, I didn't foresee the iMac announcement! (Although, admittedly, it was one of my fondest hopes that they would be revealed ... and they were.)

As for single-core iMacs/iBooks (or whatever the heck they're called now), I imagine those would be somewhat cheaper than the dual-cores? Heh. That would position Apple even better in the "ultra-cheap" computer market, if that's a demographic they're aiming for in the long run.

Gatekeeper

[Gatekeeper]

Originally posted by monolith94
I'm probably going to be getting another mac in approximately two years, I think. Ever since I added some more ram to my old imac, it's been running good as new. I will be getting one of these new intel macs, but I'm not sure I want one from the very first generation.

But can your current Mac play Civ IV? Heh. Mine sure as hell can't! It has circa 1999 technology in it!

Gatekeeper

[Asher]

I wouldn't say they'd compete in the "ultra cheap" market. Even the Core Solo chips are expensive compared to Semprons or Celeron Ms.

[Verto]

ONWARD, BRAVE COMRADES, TO THE FINAL BATTLE OF THE iREVOLUTION!

Nice to see the price tags of the (now replaced) PowerBook now more closely reflect what you actually get. I think the name replacement is silly, as PowerBook to me didn't necessarily reflect on the PPC, rather that the laptop was for "Power users".

And the iMac, well, I'm perfectly content with my Rev.B iMac G5 (I swear ) but these performance increases make it an even sweeter deal.

[Gatekeeper]

Originally posted by Asher
I wouldn't say they'd compete in the "ultra cheap" market. Even the Core Solo chips are expensive compared to Semprons or Celeron Ms.

Heh. Well, the ins-and-outs of chips aren't my speciality, but it's nice to see that the prices didn't go up for the Intel-powered iMacs. Hmm. That'd sort of defeat the purpose of going to Intel anyway, at least partially, aside from chip supply concerns Apple had with its previous suppliers.

Gatekeeper

[Asher]

Intel's volumes are much higher than Motorola or IBM, the chips will be cheaper in general.

It's a smart move by Apple to switch.

[Gatekeeper]

I had my concerns at first, especially when it was aimed at being a "phased" roll-out — i.e., laptops first, iMacs and then the towers. I'm a happy camper now, though, since when I do upgrade, it will be to the Intel iMac, most likely the 20-inch model. Heh. Damn thing will be bigger than my TV by an inch!

Gatekeeper

[Asher]

Probably two...CRT measurements are usually 1" larger than the visible image.

A 19" CRT has a viewable image of about 18".

[monolith94]

Originally posted by Gatekeeper


But can your current Mac play Civ IV? Heh. Mine sure as hell can't! It has circa 1999 technology in it!

Gatekeeper

Nope. That's what my dad's pc is for!