Loading Profile...
MacBook Pro updates?
Does anyone know about future MacBook Pro updates? I'm curious as to the when and what. I am thinking of buying one in the next couple of months, but can wait if an update is coming soon.
4
people have this question
I have this question, too!
Tell me when someone answers.
The more people who ask this question, the more it gets noticed.
The more people who ask this question, the more it gets noticed.
The best answers from everyone
-
First, the short version. Right now is a really good time to buy the MacBook Pro (get 4G, 15.4in version) since it just got a serious refresh in June. That's one of the reasons Apple's most recent quarter sported excellent sales numbers for laptops. However, if you were planning on waiting a "couple of months" for other reasons, then it gets a little tricky, since over the next 3-9 months we can expect some serious upgrades.
So, now, for the long ("Peter-is-avoiding-real-work") version...
In general the thing to watch for with computer updates is to see what Intel is up to, and this is especially important for laptops. Packaging matters as well, but less so. In the case of the MacBook Pro, three things in particular matter: Intel's upcoming 45 nm processors, Intel's upcoming new mobile chipsets, and the rumored "ultra-portable" edition of the MacBook Pro. Let's have a look at each one of those "rumor tracks" in turn.
Firstly, 45nm. "nm" means "nanometer" and (to make a long story short) is shorthand for the overall generation of semiconductor technology. Roughly, new generations are rolled out by companies like Intel approximately every two years. Intel is (supposedly) on track to begin migration from the current 65nm parts towards the end of this year. (Blatant self promotion: check out "The New Era of Scaling" at http://petersmagnusson.com for more details.) New generation usually means a whole slew of improvements: performance, features, power usage, cost, etc.
Now, there are several markets of processors for each generation of technology - typically server, desktop, and laptop, though Intel has said that with 45nm they will also specifically target ultraportable devices (e.g. they would really like to be competitive with ARM for products like the iPhone).
Today, Intel Core 2 Duos power *all* the laptops from Apple. The MacBooks are either 2.0 or 2.16 GHz versions, and the MacBook Pros are 2.2 or 2.4 GHz. From a semi point of view, the other family differences are graphics (Intel GMA 950 with shared video memory vs NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with dedicated memory) and amount of memory (both DRAM and graphics memory matter a lot).
Personally, the Core 2 Duo version of MacBook Pros was the reason I switched from Windows (returning to Macs after having left with NT 3.51, which kicked System 7 butt back in 1995); as opposed to the very first generation of Intel-based MacBook Pro which were based on the Core Duo.
To add to the confusion, Intel uses the "Core 2 Duo" name for a family of very different products. Specifically, the one used in the Apple laptops are based on the "Merom" processor core, and are labeled by Intel as the T5000/T7000 products. Thus, for example, the current 2.2GHz MacBook Pros use the T7500 processor, and the 2.4GHz one uses the T7700.
Looking back, the June refresh (of the 15.4in model) upgraded the processor to 2.2/2.4 vs 2.16/2.33 (and notched up the so-called front-side bus), upgraded graphics from ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 to nVidia Geforce 8600M GT, increased max memory to 4G, added LED backlighting, and lowered the weight.
The upcoming mobile 45nm parts will be based on a new processor core that is code-named "Penryn". Now, Penryn will be a big upgrade. Huge. Lots of new features, better performance, etc. It's expected to be available in single core, dual core, and quad core versions. It will also support DDR3 memory, which is the next generation of (90nm) DRAM technology; DDR3 will not only be faster but more energy efficient (but see chipset comment below).
So that sets the stage for the really big question: when will Penryn-based chips be available in volume from Intel? Well, they may be available as early as late this year. So who knows how fast Apple is planning to adapt them. Most likely is this will all happen in the first half of 2008.
Processors are not the whole story, however. The other part is the chip set technology. These are the supporting electronics around the processor that provide a number of other functions (like USB, sometimes some graphics, Firewire, WiFi, etc). The current MacBook Pros just got the most recent mobile chip set with Santa Rosa in their June refresh. With Penryn, there will be a refreshed version of Santa Rosa in Q1 2008, but it's not until the fifth-generation of Centrino technology around Q2 (2008) that the 45nm processor will get to flex it's muscles fully. That product is code-named Montevina, and will be needed for things like DDR3 (and less importantly, WiMax).
From the chip set perspective, the current 15.4in MacBook Pro is at it's pinnacle of 65nm technology. Especially once Leopard ships (since it's not until 10.5 that we get a true 64-bit OS).
Finally, there's system packaging. If size matters to you, then you might want to pay some extra attention to the various rumors that have been circulating about a 12in "ultra portable" version of the MacBook Pro. Latest rumor is that it will be launched in late 2007. Personally I wouldn't pay too much attention to this, since for me it simply doesn't make much sense. MacBook Pros are the high-end versions, and MacBooks are the smaller brethren. There is little market demand in the US (and Apple market share is mostly a US thing) for high-performance ultra-portable laptops, notwithstanding the fact that it's an oxymoron. Personally I want more disk space, more memory, and higher performance; but I'm happy with the size and weight of the 15in model. I don't see the need of a high-end 12in laptop.
That said, there is an alluring possibility here that makes a good sign-off to this brief reply. Intel has announced their intention to expand into ultra portable, specifically with the Menlow UMP (Ultra Mobile Platform), all based on 45nm technology. This might be the basis of an ultra portable MacBook - though if Menlow is 32-bit rather than 64-bit, it would seem unlikely, but one can hope.
I’m confident
6 people say
this answers the question
-
The MacRumors Buyer's Guide is, in the absence of any other information, usually pretty spot on. Right now they're rating MacBook Pro's a buy based on historical data.
I’m ready to replace my own Macbook Pro
6 people say
this answers the question
Create a customer community for your own organization
Plans starting at $19/month
-
Inappropriate?With Apple, no-one knows anything for *sure* until Steve Jobs is up on stage announcing it.
That said, it's only been a two months since the MacBookPro was updated (http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2007/...), so it'll probably be another six months before anything changes. -
Inappropriate?The MacRumors Buyer's Guide is, in the absence of any other information, usually pretty spot on. Right now they're rating MacBook Pro's a buy based on historical data.
I’m ready to replace my own Macbook Pro
6 people say
this answers the question
-
Inappropriate?Thanks for that link! Pretty helpful. I'm going to wait until Leopard ships on the MacBook Pros (late October I'm told) and then buy one.
I’m impatient about Leopard.
-
Inappropriate?First, the short version. Right now is a really good time to buy the MacBook Pro (get 4G, 15.4in version) since it just got a serious refresh in June. That's one of the reasons Apple's most recent quarter sported excellent sales numbers for laptops. However, if you were planning on waiting a "couple of months" for other reasons, then it gets a little tricky, since over the next 3-9 months we can expect some serious upgrades.
So, now, for the long ("Peter-is-avoiding-real-work") version...
In general the thing to watch for with computer updates is to see what Intel is up to, and this is especially important for laptops. Packaging matters as well, but less so. In the case of the MacBook Pro, three things in particular matter: Intel's upcoming 45 nm processors, Intel's upcoming new mobile chipsets, and the rumored "ultra-portable" edition of the MacBook Pro. Let's have a look at each one of those "rumor tracks" in turn.
Firstly, 45nm. "nm" means "nanometer" and (to make a long story short) is shorthand for the overall generation of semiconductor technology. Roughly, new generations are rolled out by companies like Intel approximately every two years. Intel is (supposedly) on track to begin migration from the current 65nm parts towards the end of this year. (Blatant self promotion: check out "The New Era of Scaling" at http://petersmagnusson.com for more details.) New generation usually means a whole slew of improvements: performance, features, power usage, cost, etc.
Now, there are several markets of processors for each generation of technology - typically server, desktop, and laptop, though Intel has said that with 45nm they will also specifically target ultraportable devices (e.g. they would really like to be competitive with ARM for products like the iPhone).
Today, Intel Core 2 Duos power *all* the laptops from Apple. The MacBooks are either 2.0 or 2.16 GHz versions, and the MacBook Pros are 2.2 or 2.4 GHz. From a semi point of view, the other family differences are graphics (Intel GMA 950 with shared video memory vs NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with dedicated memory) and amount of memory (both DRAM and graphics memory matter a lot).
Personally, the Core 2 Duo version of MacBook Pros was the reason I switched from Windows (returning to Macs after having left with NT 3.51, which kicked System 7 butt back in 1995); as opposed to the very first generation of Intel-based MacBook Pro which were based on the Core Duo.
To add to the confusion, Intel uses the "Core 2 Duo" name for a family of very different products. Specifically, the one used in the Apple laptops are based on the "Merom" processor core, and are labeled by Intel as the T5000/T7000 products. Thus, for example, the current 2.2GHz MacBook Pros use the T7500 processor, and the 2.4GHz one uses the T7700.
Looking back, the June refresh (of the 15.4in model) upgraded the processor to 2.2/2.4 vs 2.16/2.33 (and notched up the so-called front-side bus), upgraded graphics from ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 to nVidia Geforce 8600M GT, increased max memory to 4G, added LED backlighting, and lowered the weight.
The upcoming mobile 45nm parts will be based on a new processor core that is code-named "Penryn". Now, Penryn will be a big upgrade. Huge. Lots of new features, better performance, etc. It's expected to be available in single core, dual core, and quad core versions. It will also support DDR3 memory, which is the next generation of (90nm) DRAM technology; DDR3 will not only be faster but more energy efficient (but see chipset comment below).
So that sets the stage for the really big question: when will Penryn-based chips be available in volume from Intel? Well, they may be available as early as late this year. So who knows how fast Apple is planning to adapt them. Most likely is this will all happen in the first half of 2008.
Processors are not the whole story, however. The other part is the chip set technology. These are the supporting electronics around the processor that provide a number of other functions (like USB, sometimes some graphics, Firewire, WiFi, etc). The current MacBook Pros just got the most recent mobile chip set with Santa Rosa in their June refresh. With Penryn, there will be a refreshed version of Santa Rosa in Q1 2008, but it's not until the fifth-generation of Centrino technology around Q2 (2008) that the 45nm processor will get to flex it's muscles fully. That product is code-named Montevina, and will be needed for things like DDR3 (and less importantly, WiMax).
From the chip set perspective, the current 15.4in MacBook Pro is at it's pinnacle of 65nm technology. Especially once Leopard ships (since it's not until 10.5 that we get a true 64-bit OS).
Finally, there's system packaging. If size matters to you, then you might want to pay some extra attention to the various rumors that have been circulating about a 12in "ultra portable" version of the MacBook Pro. Latest rumor is that it will be launched in late 2007. Personally I wouldn't pay too much attention to this, since for me it simply doesn't make much sense. MacBook Pros are the high-end versions, and MacBooks are the smaller brethren. There is little market demand in the US (and Apple market share is mostly a US thing) for high-performance ultra-portable laptops, notwithstanding the fact that it's an oxymoron. Personally I want more disk space, more memory, and higher performance; but I'm happy with the size and weight of the 15in model. I don't see the need of a high-end 12in laptop.
That said, there is an alluring possibility here that makes a good sign-off to this brief reply. Intel has announced their intention to expand into ultra portable, specifically with the Menlow UMP (Ultra Mobile Platform), all based on 45nm technology. This might be the basis of an ultra portable MacBook - though if Menlow is 32-bit rather than 64-bit, it would seem unlikely, but one can hope.
I’m confident
6 people say
this answers the question
-
Inappropriate?Thank you for the very technical explanation. I'm not willing to wait until a few months into 2008, but am willing to late until October or November of 2007.
When Leopard starts shipping on new MacBook Pros, I am pretty sure I am going to get one unless I read something where someone reputable is pretty certain changes are coming (or they are announced as coming soon).
I always say that if you too long for the price to go down or for it to get better, you'll never get it. :D -
Inappropriate?That sounds like a wise strategy.
One small note: once Apple actually announces release date for Leopard, they will probably also announce the upgrade policy at the same time. That's typically such that if you buy a new Mac with 10.4 installed, you will get 10.5 DVDs for "free" in the mail or in a store (they're likely to charge you S&H, e.g. $15-30 or so vs $130). When they announced the delay, many pundits criticized them for not also rolling out something similar to the Vista upgrade program, but no such luck yet.
1 person says
this answers the question
-
Inappropriate?Good call. The other thing is that the obsolescence rate of Macs is way slower than Windows PCs. Apple support them way longer, so you can realistically go three years between upgrades without getting too much new-and-shiny-envy!
I’m a Mac fanboy
-
Inappropriate?Nice writeup! Very informative. I agree with your point about market demands for an ultraportable. But I still want one! Even though I love my Macbook Pro, I still keep an aging 12" (Rev. A) Powerbook around for its portability. -
Inappropriate?So apparently Apple updated the MacBook Pros a bit the other night. MacRumors covered it here. No processor updates to the MacBook Pro (only the MacBooks), but they did offer some additional upgrades.
I read somewhere that the MacBook Pros are going to get upgraded to the new processor type (the Santa Rosa and other processor upgrades that Peter discussed in great detail) in January 2008. I think I'm going to hold out until then.
I can't stand the waiting. I need to have to my MacBook Pro (but I can be patient).
I’m impatient!
-
Inappropriate?Back in november Apple added a new processor to the macbook pro, but i dont think this really sounds like an update to the macbook pro line.
I am also willing to buy a macbook pro, but I will wait at least two more months.
I’m indifferent with 2008 macworld
-
Inappropriate?I really want to get a macbook pro, i guess i will have to wait for the new line up of mbp, il be able to afford one in 2 months! hope its out by then!
