Posts: 37,101
Threads: 2,599
Joined: May 2025
Reputation:
0
>>I managed to snag one,
yeah, its now reporting that they're out of inventory for that model. oh well. i'm sure it will be canceled to but its fun to play.
Posts: 33,936
Threads: 1,272
Joined: May 2025
didnt you just sell your ibook for a new macbook chip?
Posts: 52,253
Threads: 2,802
Joined: May 2025
Reputation:
2
And yet they still have the GMA950 'Video Card'
Well, it's still the entry level 'Book.
I don't think we'll see better graphics until the MBPs' graphics are upgraded. Or maybe after the UltraLight is introduced.
And I have to think Apple will be saving *something* for WWDC.
Posts: 5,650
Threads: 189
Joined: Dec 2020
Reputation:
0
And yet they still have the GMA950 'Video Card'
The thing is, the Santa Rosa platform has much improved integrated graphics available, though there was much debate here as to whether Apple would actually use them or not in the MacBook line. Entry level or not, it would be nice to get as much bang for the buck out of your $1,100+ purchase as you can -- and the MacBook is really more of a midrange laptop when compared to Windows machines.
I also find it kind of weird that Superdrives are not standard equipment yet. AFAIK the price difference between combo drives and DVD burners has evaporated, so that little feature differentiation has got to be great for Apple's bottom line.
I guess WWDC is just around the corner and all, but I'm a bit disappointed that Apple isn't willing or able to as aggressively roll out some of Intel's new platforms as the other PC makers out there. Maybe they are holding out on revving the MacBook Pro until the LCD backlit displays are ready, but their $2,000+ line of laptops is falling pretty significantly behind the state of the art right now.
Posts: 8,608
Threads: 63
Joined: May 2025
Reputation:
0
I'm glad they doubled the memory/cache on the entry-level model.
It will be a very good value when it hits the refurb store (hopefully @$899, more likely $949)
MacBooks are very usable even with "only" 1GB RAM, though the 2GB kits are fast closing in on $99 delivered (before any rebates)
And replacing the hard drive is literally a 5 minute operation (Hitachi 200GB, 7200RPM, coming this summer, $250)
Posts: 52,253
Threads: 2,802
Joined: May 2025
Reputation:
2
I also find it kind of weird that Superdrives are not standard equipment yet.
DL Superdrives are standard on the 2.16MHz MacBooks. I think Superdrives were standard on the 2.0 MBs.
Again, Entery Level means a leaner feature set. It gives the appearance of keeping the price down, whether or not that's the case, and gives the MacBook Pro a richer feature set.
Were that not the case, I think we'd see some erosion of the MBP market.
I'd like better graphics, and a 4G RAM ceiling, myself.
Posts: 2,657
Threads: 56
Joined: Sep 2007
Reputation:
0
The GMA graphics setup has worked JUST FINE for me in Photoshop, InDesign, all the games I play (I don't play 3D games for the most part), iMovie and everything else I use.
People make SUCH a big deal out of the shared chipset for graphics, and while I acknowledge it's inferior to a separate video card, for MOST users it makes ABSOLUTELY NO DIFFERENCE WHATSOEVER and remains an improvement on most people "old" video cards (all those 8-32MB VRAM iMacs out there ...).
Just a little reality check for the gamers, who seem to need one more and more often.
Posts: 5,650
Threads: 189
Joined: Dec 2020
Reputation:
0
Seeing as how Core Image and Core Animation make such heavy use of the GPU to do a lot of their dirty work, I think the quality, performance, and capabilities of the video chipset is a valid concern even for the non-gamer. Having a better video chipset means the machine will age much more gracefully as system hardware requirements go up and up and up -- especially on a laptop where you can't upgrade the GPU later on.
Posts: 1,702
Threads: 126
Joined: Nov 2011
Reputation:
0
[quote Silencio]I guess WWDC is just around the corner and all, but I'm a bit disappointed that Apple isn't willing or able to as aggressively roll out some of Intel's new platforms as the other PC makers out there. Maybe they are holding out on revving the MacBook Pro until the LCD backlit displays are ready, but their $2,000+ line of laptops is falling pretty significantly behind the state of the art right now.
Yeah WWDC is just around the corner, but this is it for the Macbooks. Don't expect the next Macbook update until January. IMHO.
Posts: 2,581
Threads: 453
Joined: Jan 2022
Reputation:
0
Thing is, I want a good graphics card. I plan on doing quite a bit of gaming over on the windows side and running quite a bit of 3D stuff, thus a GMA950 won't work for me.
I'm waiting for WWDC and the MBPs so I can snag a refurb for cheap.
|