Mac Issue

[Man with the Plan]

It was just announced that the Leopard OS X would be delayed until spring 2007. I have just recived "sufficient funds" (5,000) to buy a macbook pro. SO, should I wait until 2007 and buy a macbook pro with an updated processor and leopard, or should I buy one now and risk it being not top of the line (i'm OCD about my stuff being outdated) and having to spend more money on leopard when it comes out?

Thanks guys,

-Man with the Plan

[Xevious]

It was just announced that the Leopard OS X would be delayed until spring 2007. I have just recived "sufficient funds" (5,000) to buy a macbook pro. SO, should I wait until 2007 and buy a macbook pro with an updated processor and leopard, or should I buy one now and risk it being not top of the line (i'm OCD about my stuff being outdated) and having to spend more money on leopard when it comes out?

Thanks guys,

-Man with the Plan

Are they making Macs with Intel chips yet? That would be the first thing I would worry about before anything...

[Moxio]

You're still in the wrong section, boyo.

[Man with the Plan]

Where Should I Go?

[Graystone]

Are they making Macs with Intel chips yet? That would be the first thing I would worry about before anything...

Yes for some time now. I would just wait Apple likes to update their computers every 6 months. So if you buy one now when Leopard comes out in March or April next year. You'll be two models behind and in Mac computers thats anicent. Just wait until it comes out.

[Moxio]

Just post in the PC section.

[epobirs]

There will always be a newer and better machine on the horizon. Perhaps you should consider medication.

How are you going to spend $5K on a Mac BookPro? A pretty maxxed out configuration on Apple's site only comes to $3100. Is this your first OS X system and you're loading up on pricey software?

[Man with the Plan]

I'm not speniding it ALL, I'm just saying that I have enough money to buy one. And I know that there's always going to be a better machine coming, and that if I buy one, it'll only be the best for a short time. But, It seems with apple, that once the lineup of computers is done, they don't touch them for a looong time. (see: Powerbook Series)

[keithp]

I would wait personally. There will definitely be an upgrade cycle for when Leopard comes out. That'll be the time to buy.

[shadylane]

wait till sept expo (the 12) thats when they will upgrade the pros for the year. thats what i'm doing

[Scobie]

Rumor has it they're going to massively update the chipset and jump to OS11 in early 2010, which will blow your mind with how cool the animation is for dropping items into the recycling bin. Plus, standard terrabyte HD in the MacBook Pro. Battery life will also be longer.

I'd wait till then for sure.... although that model will receive a pretty decent speedbump later in the year that you might want to hold out for.

[megashock5]

The Mac Pro (tower) was just announced with the Intel chipset, but the Macbook and Macbook Pro have had them for a little while now.

If you want the machine sooner, you could always buy Leopard when it comes out next spring - should be $100-$150 range based on prior OS releases.

[uli2000]

heck, for 5k you could get a top of the line dual xeon mac pro and either a top end mac book or lower end mac book pro.

[Man with the Plan]

Yeah, But I decided that I would get a laptop.

[Vinny]

I would wait a bit and hope that Apple at least makes use of something similar to Intels Core 2 Duo (just like the new Mac). BTW, have you ever used a MacBook? My brother has the newer ones with the Intel Core Duo and that things like a freakin oven. I don't see how anyone could actually use that on their lap.

[menikmati]

The MacBooks and MacBook Pro's are rumored to go from the Yonah to Merom cores next month in September:

http://hardware.slashdot.org/hardware/06/08/11/1657240.shtml

I wouldn't play the waiting game with any computer technology, if you want it, then get it. The Merom's aren't going to be a significant jump from the Yonah's, but if you want to wait for that, then go ahead.

Vinny:
I own a MacBook Pro and mine (Week 20) does not get very hot at all. It does produce a slight amount of heat on its' underside, but you can barely feel that through a pair of jeans. However, if you leave the laptop on continuously for over 7+ hours in one shot, it will get a little bit hotter, but still enough to be comfortable when placed on the lap.

[Vinny]

Vinny:
I own a MacBook Pro and mine (Week 20) does not get very hot at all. It does produce a slight amount of heat on its' underside, but you can barely feel that through a pair of jeans. However, if you leave the laptop on continuously for over 7+ hours in one shot, it will get a little bit hotter, but still enough to be comfortable when placed on the lap.

Well, it's not hot enough to be very uncomfortable or anything if you have something between the MacBook and your legs (like jeans, shorts become an issue if you're sitting on the ground or something. Otherwise, I think it's sort of uncomfortable. Hell, even my crappy ass Gateway is more comfortable on a lap than my bro's MacBook.

But then again, how many times do people use a laptop while it's on their lap?:lol:

If they do plan to put the new Meron in, then that'll be the MacBook to get. I don't think my brother will be happy though, this is the second time that Apple's released a more improved product after he buys one.

[Man with the Plan]

Once they update, I'll probably get the 15. Or the 17. It has more ports and a dual layer drive. 15 or 17?

[alongx]

I wouldn't play the waiting game with any computer technology, if you want it, then get it. The Merom's aren't going to be a significant jump from the Yonah's, but if you want to wait for that, then go ahead.


Meroms are supposed to be a pretty sizeable jump from Yonahs. First and foremost, they did increase the performance per watt, making the CPU less power hungry and able to run cooler, so the next generation of Apple portables may be more lap-friendly. Secondly, the Core Duo lineup was more of a stepping stone to Core 2 Duo; it's the Core 2 microarchitecture that will remain the baseline for Intel's future roadmap.

Also, there's the fact that the major hardware boost will be happening most likely within the next two months - Apple previously alluded to the fact that they will be one of the first manufacturer's to offer Core 2 architectures. Expect an updated MacBook Pro and iMac, at minimum, shortly; Conroe was released 2 weeks ago, and Merom's coming within the next few weeks, making the Sept. 12 date look like a plausible product upgrade time.

[menikmati]

Meroms are supposed to be a pretty sizeable jump from Yonahs. First and foremost, they did increase the performance per watt, making the CPU less power hungry and able to run cooler, so the next generation of Apple portables may be more lap-friendly. Secondly, the Core Duo lineup was more of a stepping stone to Core 2 Duo; it's the Core 2 microarchitecture that will remain the baseline for Intel's future roadmap.

Also, there's the fact that the major hardware boost will be happening most likely within the next two months - Apple previously alluded to the fact that they will be one of the first manufacturer's to offer Core 2 architectures. Expect an updated MacBook Pro and iMac, at minimum, shortly; Conroe was released 2 weeks ago, and Merom's coming within the next few weeks, making the Sept. 12 date look like a plausible product upgrade time.

Good point, another positive aspect of the Merom's is their 64-bit architecture. I was basing "significant" on my own opinion of 30%+ = significant.

[menikmati]

Here's a link to Anandtech's comparison of the Core Duo and Core 2 Duo processors, the performance increase from the Core 2 Duo and Core Duo's doesn't seem to be that large of a gap, and the more important upgrade in the future is the Santa Rosa platform, not the Merom's.

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2808&p=1

[Man with the Plan]

Well, I guess I'll have to wait.