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Apple, Intel Get Cozy Quickly
from the more-more-power dept
Steve Jobs today announced the first Apple computers to use Intel chips -- revamped iMacs and the MacBook Pro, a replacement for its line of PowerBook laptops. It was just last June that Apple announced it would switch to Intel processors, giving itself a year to deliver the first models, so they're running well ahead of schedule. The computers are fast, too, with Jobs saying they run two to five times faster than the PowerPC-based models they're replacing, with Apple claiming the MacBook Pro as the fastest laptop ever, though those figures are certain to be debated.
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"Twice as Fast"?
Makes you ponder ... iMacs are "twice as fast" and they're using Intel chips 1/2 the speed current PCs are using (only 1.8gz?). Definatly makes you ponder then just how "slow" these Macs ran initially? Per the numbers, they're 1/4th the speed of current Intel PCs. Just based on numbers (I am a mac fan, too).
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Re:
That's 1.8gz per core. The new Macs have duel core CPU's. So going from a 1.5gz PowerPC Powerbook to a Macbook with two 1.8gz cores on it's CPU would be a big improvement.
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Re: "Twice as Fast"
The "numbers" you're looking at must not be the ones I am. If you're measuring speed based off of GHz ratings or the like, then you're not really measuring the speed. It's like measuring the speed of a car based on the cubic inches the motor takes up.
The fact of the matter is that the GHz rating is entirely relative to the FSB and how it processes the data. According to this site ( http://www.systemshootouts.org/processors.html ) the Quad-Core G5 2.5 GHz outputs the equivalent of 6.5GHz Pentium 4. There's other deciding factors, but that's the jist of things.
They're not ¼ times the speed of intel's pentiums, if anything they're about 2.5 times the speed of intel's pentium linup. What does that mean based on your "numbers"? It means the mac uses less GHz to acheive the same results. Which is a good thing.
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Re: "Twice as Fast"
the Quad-Core G5 2.5 GHz outputs the equivalent of 6.5GHz Pentium 4.
I typoed here, I was looking at the shootout score and instead of typing 3.5GHz I typed 6.5GHz, so this is just a clarification.
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No Subject Given
Just last week I was looking at powerbooks and told myself to wait until the Intel switch. Good thing. These things look gorgeous.
Wanting to get some pictures, I visited http://www.apple.com/ and found this neat quote:
"What's an Intel chip doing in a Mac? A whole lot more than it's ever done in a PC."
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No Subject Given
I think everyone is missing the important issue here:
MacBook?
For the love of God... MacBook?
Steve needs to run that one past the marketing guys again.
They are giving up PowerBook for MacBook... how simply LAME.
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Where's the price drops?
I wanted a Powerbook for Xmas but told my wife to hold off until the new Mactel laptops came out, in the belief that the older PowerPC versions would drop in price.
If you check the Apple site, you'll see that both the 15" models are $1999. So much for the big discounts. But, now I know it's better for me to just get the latest and greatest.
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Re: No Subject Given
I agree "MacBook" is pretty lame. Usually Apple does a great job with names and designs. Mactel sounds better IMHO - I don't know why they cannot keep the Powerbook name unless Motorloa has partnership in that name.
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Re: No Subject Given
Having just 2 1/2 weeks ago purchased a "new" iMAC G5 as a family xmas gift...and just reading the latest from Macworld, my heart sank with thoughts of my beauty new machine being already outdated.
I gave Apple a call and the rep told me
"Don't be upset, there is a plan in place as we're one of the only companies that doesn't have pre-releases...call back with your order number from your receipt and we'll work with you on either a discount or an exchange".
We'll see...but feeling somewhat relieved.
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Re: No Subject Given
Well that's a long term solution for people that have *just* purchased Macs. I myself bought a Mini a couple of months ago and am wondering about the lifespan of PowerPC OSX apps.
OK, so while writing I found this description in Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_OS_X
"... Support for the PowerPC platform will remain in version 10.5, though it is unclear how long this dual-architecture support will be continued. Mac OS support for the original Motorola 68k architecture continued for about four years after the introduction of PowerPC systems. A new version of Xcode supports building "universal binaries" that will run on either architecture. PowerPC binaries will be supported on Intel-based Macs using an emulator called Rosetta..."
Paul
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No Subject Given
If Apple is willing to churn iPods every month or two, do you really think they care about making your laptop obsolete? Don't hold your breath waiting for that upgrade plan. And if you buy one of these bleeding edge units, please save me from complaints about software support, hardware problems, or how newer/better/cheaper versions are released every two weeks.
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Re: No Subject Given
Ah yes..that good old sinking feeling. It's part of being a Mac owner, so get used to it!
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Mac && ch33$3
Mac's are only good w/ kraft ch33$3...
Cheers!
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Re: No Subject Given
You're absolutely right.. they should call them "IntelliBook"... (tongue in cheek)
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