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mac128k-1984 · May 7, 2007, 08:53 AM

With the probability of a new MacBook Pro coming shortly does anyone have any ideas what sort of upgrades, design changes will occur.

I'm toying with the idea of selling my MB and getting a MBP. While I don't use the laptop a lot, my main machine is a MacPro, I'm finding the 13" screen to be limiting for web design, and photoshop usage.

My MB isn't that old though its not a C2D I had been satisified by its performance until lately. Even using CS3 (over CS) has been a little demanding, but then I have Aperture Bridge, and PS open at the same time. I also have PS, Bridge and DW open and its a little a little frustating though adding another gig may help (I only have 1 gig of ram)

Any ideas of what may include will help me decide to put my MB on craigslist (or ebay) now while I wait for the impending release.

Simon · May 7, 2007, 09:47 AM

There are already quite a few threads on Santa Rosa and the new MBP.

Expect a faster FSB (800 MHz) with the new Santa Rosa chipset. Expect 2.4 GHz max CPU speed. Expect a 4 GB RAM option. Expect larger and faster HDD options. I wouldn't expect a big improvement over the current GPU/VRAM. I'm not expecting a major design revision although I would welcome a few changes.

Since you say you're pleased with your CD MB's performance and just want a larger screen, I'd consider getting a refurbished C2D MBP. They will come with a nice discount and beside the larger screen you'll get a performance bump. In any event I'd wait till the new MBPs come out and then check your options.

mduell · May 7, 2007, 05:50 PM

Also flash memory acceleration (improves OS/app launch/resume times, maybe battery life if the OS is designed for it) and maybe a WWAN (cellular data) option. Maybe LED-backlit displays (better color and uniformity), although those may not come out until later this year.

mac128k-1984 · May 8, 2007, 06:36 AM

Thanks guys.

Performance has not been satisfactory lately so I do need something with a little more horsepower. I've started using DW, Bridge and PS a little more indepth. The screen's a little a too small too.

Aron Peterson · May 9, 2007, 10:58 AM

I'm interested in the MBP having a top notch Direct X 10 supporting GPU (for Vista/Bootcamp gaming) and a HD optical drive (for movies and drag and drop data recording to disc ) before I purchase my next Mac. Those will make me a happy camper for a long time.

highstakes · May 9, 2007, 11:00 AM

Better battery life would be one of my top priority...I would love to see MBP's getting better battery life than 3 hours.

olePigeon · May 9, 2007, 11:58 AM

Rumors abound of LED backlighting in a update to the MacBook and MacBook Pro. Possibly as soon as WWDC. That should help out a lot with the battery.

Simon · May 9, 2007, 12:37 PM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

Rumors abound of LED backlighting in a update to the MacBook and MacBook Pro. Possibly as soon as WWDC. That should help out a lot with the battery.

I agree that putting LED backlit displays into the current MBP would increase battery life due to their decreased power draw compared to the present backlighting.

But I think the real question is if LED backlighting will be able to make up for the additional power draw of the Santa Rosa chipset (although SR has power saving measures like halving the FSB clock when idle, in normal operation it will have a higher wattage than the current Napa chipset), higher clocked CPUs, and possibly faster GPUs. Depending on how much the power draw of the components increases only part of those battery savings will be left.

mduell · May 9, 2007, 12:58 PM

In addition to the FSB reduction (which I believe is dynamic, just like the CPU clock, not a simple full or half), Crestline (northbridge for Santa Rosa) doesn't have to wake the CPU up to know whether data is in the CPU cache or only in main memory. Also, Robson and DPST will save about 0.4W each.

Simon · May 9, 2007, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

Rumors abound of LED backlighting in a update to the MacBook and MacBook Pro. Possibly as soon as WWDC.

ThinkSecret seem to be very certain about the LED backlight MBP being announced at WWDC. More importantly, they claim suppliers will already start shipping these components to the assembly lines in a few days from now. That indicates Apple should be able to start shipping right after the intro rather than having to wait for production to ramp up.

mduell · May 9, 2007, 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by Simon

ThinkSecret seem to be very certain about the LED backlight MBP being announced at WWDC. More importantly, they claim suppliers will already start shipping these components to the assembly lines in a few days from now. That indicates Apple should be able to start shipping right after the intro rather than having to wait for production to ramp up.

On the other hand, with most of the OEMs using the same suppliers and manufacturers, those parts could be for someone else.
IIRC a previous Apple hardware rumor ended up being hardware for someone else.

olePigeon · May 9, 2007, 03:15 PM

The switch to Intel was a really good move, but I do miss the 1:2 FSB per chip on the G5. None of that "quad pumped" stuff.

Think Secret isn't any more reliable than MacOS Rumors or any of the other rumor sites. I take it with a nice helping of NaCl.

mduell · May 9, 2007, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by Simon

But I think the real question is if LED backlighting will be able to make up for the additional power draw of the Santa Rosa chipset (although SR has power saving measures like halving the FSB clock when idle, in normal operation it will have a higher wattage than the current Napa chipset), higher clocked CPUs, and possibly faster GPUs. Depending on how much the power draw of the components increases only part of those battery savings will be left.

Good news, the first benchmarks show idle power consumption way down and loaded power consumption unchanged.

Originally Posted by olePigeon

The switch to Intel was a really good move, but I do miss the 1:2 FSB per chip on the G5. None of that "quad pumped" stuff.

FYI the G5 FSB (or 'interconnect' for all the whiners out there) was DDR ('double pumped'), so the actual frequency of the bus was half what was advertised, with 2 bits transfered on every clock cycle. Apple just did a very good job of obscuring this from the public; that's a compliment, not a jab at them, since all CPU and RAM producing companies try to do it.

NeutrinoMan · May 9, 2007, 07:17 PM

Originally Posted by Simon

There are already quite a few threads on Santa Rosa and the new MBP.

Expect a faster FSB (800 MHz) with the new Santa Rosa chipset. Expect 2.4 GHz max CPU speed.

More tidbits here:

Intel rolls out Santa Rosa, new mobile chips

SEkker · May 10, 2007, 09:18 AM

I think a MBP with backlit LEDs, a Santa Rosa chip, and BlueRay optional optical drives seem like obvious next gen updates. Would not require Apple to play around with the form factor, which is good - Jobs and Ives are busy with the iPhone (2) rollout for next year (Jobs is also worried about the iPhone next month, but from a company execution perspective).

suta · May 10, 2007, 11:22 AM

wondering about the gpu??
ati (2xxx) or
nvidia (8xxx) like in the pc platform (ASUS, HP)
or like apple traditions that used downgrade midrange gpu (a.k.a. 7xxx series) for the next MB and MBP line.