[The Godfather]

T minus 8 months, and I shall have an upgrade for this fancy computer.

Really, that 13" is going to scream compared to my 2GHz C1D MB.

I am sure it will have at least a 330 graphics chip , and more importantly iLife'11 and OS 10.7.

Perhaps it will even cost less than $1300.

No point in wishing for USB3.

[imitchellg5]

I think you're getting quite ahead of yourself.

[fisherKing]

fall, at best. (am waiting too, sigh...). it's a way off.

[Simon]

So with Ars' explanation in mind, how do you propose they fit the 330M in the 13" MBP? Obviously Apple will have to increase the size of the MLB to make that happen. So what do you suggest they drop or reduce to make that happen?

I'm curious, really. I too would like to see a 330M in there. But I'm not sure I'd like to sacrifice three hours of battery life to make that happen. I'd like to see the optical drive go. But is that enough?

Right now I'd say USB3 is probably more likely than the 330M for a new 13" MBP by the end of this year.

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally Posted by Simon 

new 12" MBP

Now *that* is wishful thinking.

[P]

The only way that happens is if nVidia gets a DMI license from Intel.

[Simon]

Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot 

Now *that* is wishful thinking.

Doh!

[fisherKing]

Originally Posted by Simon 

So with Ars' explanation in mind, how do you propose they fit the 330M in the 13" MBP? Obviously Apple will have to increase the size of the MLB to make that happen. So what do you suggest they drop or reduce to make that happen?

I'm curious, really. I too would like to see a 330M in there. But I'm not sure I'd like to sacrifice three hours of battery life to make that happen. I'd like to see the optical drive go. But is that enough?

Right now I'd say USB3 is probably more likely than the 330M for a new 13" MBP by the end of this year.

anything is possible; when the first 13" alubook came out sans firewire, the naysayers insisted the 13" could not fit a firewire port, then...the next 13" had one. ALL computers move forward (especially when apple does it's next true redesign), so will wait for now (and enjoy my current macbook)...

[Simon]

Nobody said it's impossible. The question I asked is what Apple should remove or reduce in order to make space for the 330M.

[The Godfather]

With Sandybridge, Intel integrates the GPU in the CPU, not in the northbridge. This is a chance for nvidia to make a 330+northbridge combo and still implement optimus, or equivalent.

[fisherKing]

whatever else is true...apple will do what they want. if THEY want to fit something in a small frame, they'll find a way to do it. either way, am waiting to see what fall brings, and am getting all my work (and play!) done on my current mac.
i just hope there's enough of a speed/power/SOMETHING boost to justify a new purchase (otherwise, i'll just pay my bills...).

[P]

Originally Posted by The Godfather 

With Sandybridge, Intel integrates the GPU in the CPU, not in the northbridge. This is a chance for nvidia to make a 330+northbridge combo and still implement optimus, or equivalent.

I don't get it. The GPU is in the Northbridge, always has been, but the Northbridge itself is moving onto the CPU die. The non-GPU version has already done this with Lynnfield (top iMacs), and what Sandybridge does is implement this change on the low-end model as well. From the outside looking in, nothing changes - the Northbridge is inside the CPU package, irreplaceable, and you still need a DMI license or you fit 3 chips to the motherboard.

[Phoible]

The only other option would be for Apple to go to AMD chips in the low-end MBPs. AMD's current mobile offerings aren't competitive with Intel's high-end, but the quad-core mobile Phenom II is supposed to come out soon (and could change that).

[Simon]

Originally Posted by The Godfather 

With Sandybridge, Intel integrates the GPU in the CPU, not in the northbridge. This is a chance for nvidia to make a 330+northbridge combo and still implement optimus, or equivalent.

It's my understanding that they actually will move the northbridge to the CPU with Sandybridge (like Lynnfield). The other difference will be that the GPU will move to the same die as the core, not just the same package as with Clarkdale.

[Jasoco]

There was no way I could have waited for an i5 MacBook Pro 13". My 2007 white MacBook could not wait any longer. I'm happy with my 2.4GHz C2D. By the time it comes to upgrade again in 2-4 years I'm sure we'll have it then.

I think the only way they'll get it in there though is if they took the plunge and removed the optical drive. Yes, I just said that. It would be bold. MacBook Air is one thing, but Apple would be saying "Optical is no longer as needed as it was before". They'd be able to make the 13" MBP lighter and less noisy and could still sell $100 external drives for people who still need them to upgrade OS X or install retail software. Because really, other than ripping DVD's, I don't use my DVD drive for anything. As I said, I rip my DVD's into portable video files that I can take anywhere in a much smaller space than a bunch of discs would take. Probably won't be for a few years, but it'll happen. With everyone moving to digital distribution, optical could be moved to external drives only and make the laptops much lighter and thinner. I truly believe the Air is kind of their test bed to see how the water is before they finally do it later on down the road.

Just watch. When they do it, it'll be the floppy drive all over again.

[Simon]

IMHO they can't drop the optical drive soon enough. USB sticks are faster and more convenient. And with all the space gained by getting rid of that huge optical drive there's loads of new goodies we can get in our MBPs.

[macaddict0001]

Not to mention, usb sticks are bigger(as in storage space), just not cheaper.

[AltecXP]

I'd like dual HDD options, you can fit 2 HDD's in a 13in macbook and still have room to have a bigger logic board.

[Jasoco]

I just want scientists to give us a 12mm 2TB laptop HD. We're up to 1TB right now. Just keep going!