In an interesting turn of events, Apple updates its Macbook line without Intel's new Santa Rosa platform. This is unexpected because almost every single PC maker has announced a laptop bearing the new Intel chipset. This probably goes back to the theory that Apple wants to create more separation between the Macbook and Macbook Pro lines, which also explains why Apple hasn't announced any updates on the professional oriented Macbook Pros. Perhaps we'll see some Macbook Pro announcements during Apple's Worldwide Developer's Conference in June 2007, but for now, the ho hum updates to the consumer oriented Apple Macbooks are all you'll get.
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Starting with the base model, priced at $1,099, the Macbook 13-inch gets a faster Intel Core 2 Duo processor with the T7200(2.0Ghz), instead of the much anticipated T7300, with a 800Mhz support. The T7200(2.0Ghz) is part of the previous Intel Centrino Duo chipset, along with a 667Mhz FSB and Intel GMA 950 graphics. It does, however, have Draft 802.11n wireless support, but this old news given that the previous Macbook line had already enabled it with a firmware update. Storage capacity goes from 60GB to 80GB, spinning at 5400rpms, and Apple still chooses to integrate a standard DVD-Rom/CDRW drive, instead of a DVD burner. The rest of the features, including the iSight Camera, 1280x800 glossy screen, Bluetooth 2.0, and the comprehensive Apple iLife '06 suite, remain untouched.
Further up the ladder, the $1,299 Macbook 13-inch bumps its processor up to a Intel Core 2 Duo T7400(2.16Ghz). Again, Apple doesn't get the anticipated T7500(2.2Ghz), similar to the one found on the Gateway E-265M. It comes standard with 1GB of RAM, with 667Mhz support. Previously, Macbook memory modules were only rated at 533Mhz. With the ability to dual boot Windows Vista with Apple's Boot Camp, I really felt that the midrange Macbook should've announced with 2GBs-- standard. Hard drive size goes to 120GBs and it adds an 8X DVD burner. Aside from the performance upgardes, the rest of the features are consistent with the base model, as well as previous Macbooks.
All the way at the top is the Black Macbook 13-inch, which also gets an Intel Core 2 Duo T7400(2.16Ghz), priced at $1,499. It comes with a standard 1GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive. Additional build-to-order options for the MacBook include the ability to upgrade to 120GB or 160GB (5400 rpm) or a 200GB (4200 rpm) hard drive, up to 2GB DDR2 SDRAM, Apple USB Modem, Apple Mini-DVI to DVI adapter, Apple Mini-DVI to VGA adapter, Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter and the AppleCare Protection Plan. Additional build-to-order options also include pre-installed copies of iWork '06, Logic Express 7, Final Cut Express HD 3.5 and Aperture 1.5.
It goes without saying that Apple will be playing catch up to the rest of the world on the consumer side. Hopefully, by the time the Apple WWDC rolls by, the company will have something more to brag about.
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May 15, 2007 11:12 AM
Come on now Cisco - you know full well Apple wouldn't announce something like the Santa Rosa under the hood of its notebooks without a conference so Steve could say it himself. And besides, Apple has never let its consumer-end laptops get significant upgrades before its professional-end laptops, so their options would be to either upgrade the MacBook Pro with a press release, upgrade the MacBook with a press release, hold a special event just for the processor updates, or do nothing and wait for the WWDC.
You might be reading into this a bit much. The MacBook was due for a processor update anyway, and this probably came on cycle for Apple. The Santa Rosa announcement just happened sooner, so naturally everyone is going to be looking at Apple's moves in that context - something tells me that wasn't the plan, and these two events are coincidental. At the same time, I say the real newsworthy moment will come at the WWDC, whether they announce Santa Rosa upgrades or not. ;)
May 15, 2007 11:53 AM
Apple's been known to pull stuff out at the last minute, so why announce something now when the rest of the world has already moved to Santa Rosa. The new Intel platform has been in the news and Intel had reference designs as early as last year, so Apple knew Santa Rosa was coming. This update means that you won't see the Santa Rosa updates for a while on the Macbooks, since they just got them. This also means that they will be slightly behind in technology compared to the rest of the world. Don't get me wrong; It's still a great laptop, but does Apple really want to be a step behind? The Santa Rosa stuff will find itself in Macbook Pros come June, which goes back the my point about separation. Whether that's the big news or not is irrelevant :)
May 15, 2007 1:56 PM
That's true, Apple has been known to pull off stunts at the last minute, but they've also been known to cram together multiple upgrades into a short period of time. If anything, I think this would only hieghten the excitement for WWDC, and generate even more surprise if Apple pulled the trigger on some Santa Rosa chips in the MacBook come June (although I really don't think they will).
I just think that Apple doesn't want to jump the gun, and they probably had a regularly scheduled update to the MacBook line coming for a while now. Whether they were right to go ahead with it or whether they should have waited for the Santa Rosa is a different question though - I could lean towards waiting on that one.
I agree with you, it's definitely disappointing (although Apple's never been afraid of its machines being a processor gen or so behind their PC counterparts), but I just can't see Apple bringing the Santa Rosa under the hood of their MacBooks without doing the MBP, and I can't see them doing the MBP without a huge press event like the WWDC. But that does bring us back to the "why didn't they just wait?" question, which I think is the big one.
May 17, 2007 3:16 PM
hmmmm. I like that there seems to be a lack of understanding of the product company that is apple. The question is not of raw power and it never has been it is about stability. Upgrading with in the same processor family will help to maintain the stability of the OS. Apple also always releases one small upgrade before any big even because it help to maintain sales and prevent people from holding out.
May 18, 2007 7:52 PM
I bought my Macbook Pro in February this year and I am very happy with the machine, but it cost alot of dosh. It looks to me that the next MBPro will use the new Santa Rosa platform. I use MBPro mainly for Logic and I would have loved to get a Mac Book with a 15 inch screen. Will Apple release a MacBook in 15 inch size? I hope so for the general consumer. I will keep my machine at least for a year. If Apple wants a separation line for Macbook and Macbook Pro lines, the at least the 15" MacBook Pro should have 512 mb graphics card and at least 4 usb ports.2 ports is not enough on the Macbook and Macbook Pro.