Core2Duo for all
13th Nov 2006, 22:03 GMT
Last Wednesday, Apple released the second revision of their popular Macbook line by adding the Core2Duo chip and dual layer superdrives only six months after the initial release of the Macbook. I just posted an article a few weeks ago with purchasing advice for the new Macbook Pro powered by the Core2 chip. If you’re looking for huge performance gains, a vastly different subsystem or cosmetic changes, you’ve got a while to wait. Apple’s current notebook line consists of notebooks ranging from 13 to 17 inches and processor speeds from 1.83 to 2.33 gigahertz. Also, the maximum hard drive storage has gone up to 200gbs as an optional configure to order item. I noted in my last article that a Macbook revision was just around the corner and only two weeks later we received updated products with new chips. I recommend never buy revision one any tech product because there are always small issues. With the Macbook, we had issues with discoloration of the plastics, random shutdowns and heat issues as well as other various issues with video and optical drives. Not everyone was affected by those issues and Apple’s Macbook firmware update released last month addressed the issues with Random shutdowns although there are still users experiencing problems after applying the update. Revision two of any product is great because many small and common issues have been resolved. If Apple received many complaints of airport signal strength, trackpad failures or speaker quality then those issues would be investigated and resolved in a second revision. The new Macbooks have the 64bit Core2Duo chip which should yield a 5-15% increase in processor performance due to the larger amount of L2 cache and better memory management. You’ll also get Dual layer DVD burners (a first in Apple’s consumer desktop line) and some cool configure to order options like Aperture 1.5, a huge hard drive and more. I am dissapoitned that Apple has chosen to continue using the Intel GMA950 graphics processor with shared memory. I’m not a gamer but adding a mobile Radeon X1000 with just 64 megabytes of ram would be ok with me. I was really hoping for Apple to move out of the shared video ram space with revision two but for this price, it’s still a great deal. If are not desperate for a new computer, I would suggest waiting until after Macworld. Apple, on more than one occasion, has released a product in October / November and completely redesigned that product at January’s Macworld expo. This happened with the TiBook, iBook, iMac G5 and Powerbook G4 where a speed bump will occur just before holiday season to squeeze in some more sales and January greets you with a brand new model with cool new features. Although the two Macbook product lines are relatively new so personally I feel safe in recommending these notebooks won’t be seeing anything breakthrough at this year’s conference. Let’s go over the nitty gritty of the two new models. The Macbook Pro can be configured with a 2.33GHz Core2Duo processor, 200Gb hard drive and 3Gbs of ram. The Macbook starts at 1,099 and has a Core2Duo 2GHz processor, 200gb hard drive and 2gbs of ram. Both systems are immediately available and are perfect surprise gifts for your student, spouse or traveling journalist like myself. On a personal note, I purchased a Macbook 2Ghz w/ 2gbs of ram, an Apple USB modem and a DVI adapter for my 24” Dell LCD display. The Macbook does support screen spanning so I can use this with my Dell monitor as a second monitor. Firewire 800 would be nice but it is a consumer machine. I feel the new Macbooks and Macbook Pros are awesome computers and the added benefit of built in webcams, great battery life, Intel’s latest chips and the fact that you can play in the Mac OS and do your corporate things in the Windows xp or Vista. Starting at $1,009, get two and let the Mac fun begin!
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