macbook core 2 duo.. anynone?

[lurk]

Originally Posted by Ifrit

How about a GPU which isn't Intel Graphics with dedicated RAM? (doesn't need to be the latest and greatest) This is the feature I am looking for and which is keeping me from buying a Macbook right now

This is an interesting position, I have a new MacBook (well my wife does) and it has a better graphics that the seperate chip on my Powerbook. So you would rather have the subpar seperate chip (not the latest and greatest) than the integrated graphics?

Why? That does not sound rational as I am parsing it...

[Captain Code]

Well how about one that's at least as good as the integrated one but doesn't use your system RAM. That'd still be better. Faster access to it's own RAM and it doesn't take away from system RAM.

[Ifrit]

This is an interesting position, I have a new MacBook (well my wife does) and it has a better graphics that the seperate chip on my Powerbook. So you would rather have the subpar seperate chip (not the latest and greatest) than the integrated graphics?

Intel integrated graphics is the bottom of the GPUs right now. Even the low end nvidia and ATI (ok ATI has been eaten by AMD - it still is a own brand) offerings outperform the Intel IG. (and I hate GPUs which use system RAM with a passion)

Concerning your Powerbook. The G4 architecture is how old? Yes, its outdated. I am sorry to say this (but this doesn't mean it isn't up to the tasks you throw at it). Of course after a certain time even the low end current GPUs outperform the middle class GPus from the last generation. But this doesn't mean that the low end GPU solution in current macbooks is the best one IMO.

[fryke]

We've had that GPU question again and again. Basically, it doesn't matter much whether Apple chooses a very low-end dedicated chip or the integrated solution. You won't get top gaming performance out of it. I guess it's better this way (integrated), because gamers wouldn't _expect_ any performance from it. If you _do_ have a dedicated chip, you might be surprised to find it inadequate. Keep in mind that the MacBook's the _cheap_ notebook as well. The integrated GPU certainly behaves well for all *I* throw at it.
For Apple it has several advantages. They can adopt a whole platform and spend more time developing the rest of the MacBook. It saves time and money, because it's cheaper as well.

[Lt Major Burns]

and the option is always there to get a decent gpu, along with a 15" screen, expansion slots, FW800, backlit keys....

the macbook is the low end notebook.

[fryke]

I guess _customers_ would like Apple to open things up a little and offer true build-to-order here, so you could mix and match any features available to the whole MacBook line. It's not like intel only offers 2.16 and 2.33 GHz Core 2 Duo notebook processors, for example. There are variants that maybe would better fit a customer. Some care about decent gaming graphics - others don't. Most creative pros don't really _need_ a 256 MB VRAM highend graphics chip: They would do _well_ with the integrated stuff (and could save some money). Others might want all the pro features in a notebook that's actually _portable_. But then Apple would have a lot more to do for, I guess, not soooooo many more sales.

I personally still want the Apple subnotebook with 10" widescreen display, no optical drive and 8-10 hours of battery life, for example. If anyone could do it, it'd be Apple. But they won't, because they probably just wouldn't sell enough of those to make sense for them. So: Tough luck.

What I want to say is: It's not _totally_ un-understandable that they're using the integrated graphics with the MacBook. It makes sense from almost every perspective. The one perspective from which it doesn't make sense is the customer who wants all the highend features in the least expensive package.

[Ifrit]

I understand your point fryke - and i won't discuss it any further.

You are right, I want to play some games. But I am not into the "high end graphic titles". So I guess the macbook pro is the better choise then for this purpose.

[Lt Major Burns]

MacBook Core 2 Duo on sale now.

£749 1.83ghz
£879 2.0ghz
£999 2.0ghz Black

still the £120 'black tax', then. no other changes to the harware seem to be apparent in this speed bump, but the UK apple site hasn't been updated yet, only the store.