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May 20, 2006

More On MacBooks ... And Intel Core2

I've had a pretty busy mailbox since my post earlier this week about the MacBook; opinion on the new machine is overwhelmingly positive, and is summed up by this wonderful snippet from the folks at ArsTechnica:

I found it very hard to come up with a list of negatives about the MacBook—while I am usually pretty fond of Apple stuff, I am still usually able to cobble together a list of annoyances I encounter during my use and from around the web. In contrast, I've developed a high opinion of this machine and my anecdotal research for this review seems to indicate that many others are of a like mind. With that in mind, I am giving the Apple MacBook a solid nine.

However, one reader did send me a small nugget of info that I'd previously overlooked: release and performance characteristics for the new Intel Core2 processor.

The current Intel Macs use Intel Core ("Core1") processors. Core2 is the second generation of Core, and it's got a few key attributes:

• 20% more performance than the current Core, but with the same battery life;
• Drop-in compatibility with the current Core socket;
• The same "thermal envelope" as the current Core.

In other words, Apple (and others) can simply deploy this new processor and get faster performance without a lick of redesign or engineering on their machines. Oh, and these new Core2 chips? Coming in August.

Given that Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference is August 7, I think there's a very high probability that we'll see an announcement of new, Core2-equipped laptops (in addition to the already-expected, ho-hum announcements about Leopard and the new Intel-based Power Macs).

So, much as I want a MacBook, I can hold off for another few months.

I think.

Posted by Gavin Shearer at May 20, 2006 9:14 AM. Posted to Apple.

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