New iMac, Macbook, Mac Mini

[supamonsta]

thanks for the simple answer. I'll check the "multicore threads" and "performance test thread" too for further info.

cheers

[ekwipt]

4 cores = 2x's the warmth, 2x's the analog and 2x's the pro-ness.

well, I'd rather save money, wait a bit ang get an octocore mac pro... 8x's PRO-NESS!!!! yeeeah.


without joking, does a quad core really matter, e.g., in terms of speed when rendering audio to disk?

does live really takes advantage of a multi-core (>2) ?

cheers

Not only that but the core i7 (the most expensive) has hyper threading, so you get 8 cores, not sure how Ableton handles multicore hyper threading though

[supamonsta]

found this useful and really documented thread about multi-core support:

http://forum.ableton.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=110780

I don't know a single word about hyper threading, but it looks cool is that the ability to "re-route" the processi on different cores in function of their present working charge? I have understood that SnowLeopard was able to do that.

cheers

[Earwax69]

Even more then... If you dont need graphic power, dont spend on the second option. There will be no difference except the +500gb which is worth 50$, not 300$.

My gadget envy desire the i7 27inch but I know I can build a better i7 comp for 600$ and I already have a 30inch monitor.

Like I said before, its a real nice computer.

[Hidden Driveways]

I recall reading posts by some of you hardcore Apple rumor followers - you guys knew that an iMac update was imminent. Tell me... how soon are the Core2 processors going to be updated in the MacBook Pros? It seems like it should be soon. Those things are getting pretty old. Are we going to get i7 thingies in the notebooks soon?

::sighs:: Quadcore 13" MacBook Pro with Expresscard...

[Tarekith]

I haven't heard anything about that yet to be honest. Anyone who's thinking about buying a new Apple computer would do well to keep an eye on sites like macrumors.com, appleinsider.com, and gizmodo.com for a couple weeks before they actually buy. While no one knows for sure when Apple will release new products or the exact specs, these sites are getting pretty good at predicting when and what they will release.

Makes no sense to spend the money on a new laptop when most of the Apple sites are predicting new versions are likely coming in a week or two.

[supamonsta]

Even more then... If you dont need graphic power, dont spend on the second option. There will be no difference except the +500gb which is worth 50$, not 300$.

are you speaking of the choice between the 2 new 27" imacs (i5 vs i7)? or between "old" core2duo VS new quadcore i5 / i7 ?


anyway it's soooo right that one shall buy the minimal setup at applestore, then upgrade with cheaper ram / hds purchased elsewhere.

cheers

[ekwipt]

I recall reading posts by some of you hardcore Apple rumor followers - you guys knew that an iMac update was imminent. Tell me... how soon are the Core2 processors going to be updated in the MacBook Pros? It seems like it should be soon. Those things are getting pretty old. Are we going to get i7 thingies in the notebooks soon?

::sighs:: Quadcore 13" MacBook Pro with Expresscard...

Early next year, most likely, they could do it now, but the current processors don't fit well with Apple Macbook Pro TDP requirements and they couldn't go from "longest battery life available" to "not as long as last time sorry guys"

[3osc]

you're kidding right? built in battery on a laptop is a really bad idea.
so let me get this strait...no firewire and no interchangeable battery...but I'm supposed to ignore this because "they just work"?? I think I'll stick with my "crap" pc and it's 9 cell interchangeable battery and firewire ports.

You do know that by "built-in" they just mean it's behind a few screws, right? I don't know why that gets people in such a fit. I'd rather have a long-lasting battery that's tucked away neatly than something that juts out another inch or two behind the screen hinge. But that's just me, I have to carry this around all day for school and work.

I'm looking forward to the next Mac Pro update. Dual Core i9s maybeohgodplz?!1

While you're rationalizing....go ahead and explain why "no firewire = not such a bad idea".

I don't think that's anything but suck, and never said anything to the contrary. And it's not rationalizing. Believe it or not, some of us actually travel with out laptops. After two years with a much larger battery that had a much shorter life, I'm happy to have a 7 hour charge tucked away neatly in a durable, aluminum case. You want to tell me why that is a "really bad idea"?

[Hidden Driveways]

I'm happy to have a 7 hour charge tucked away neatly in a durable, aluminum case. You want to tell me why that is a "really bad idea"?

On occasion with my old PowerBook, an unforeseen error would come along that would put the computer in a deep sleep. Nothing you did to the computer would wake it up. The only thing I could do is to quickly remove the battery and press the power button to shut it off (even when you removed the battery it would remain asleep with its sleep light glowing - you had to push the power button to kill it completely). These new computers with the built-in battery will not have this quick work around. I think Apple is not making the batteries removable to keep costs down, and to improve aesthetics. Like it or not, having a built-in battery is a true burden, and makes the machine less functional.

Love is blind.

[3osc]

I'm happy to have a 7 hour charge tucked away neatly in a durable, aluminum case. You want to tell me why that is a "really bad idea"?

On occasion with my old PowerBook, an unforeseen error would come along that would put the computer in a deep sleep. Nothing you did to the computer would wake it up. The only thing I could do is to quickly remove the battery and press the power button to shut it off (even when you removed the battery it would remain asleep with its sleep light glowing - you had to push the power button to kill it completely). These new computers with the built-in battery will not have this quick work around. I think Apple is not making the batteries removable to keep costs down, and to improve aesthetics. Like it or not, having a built-in battery is a true burden, and makes the machine less functional.

Love is blind.

An interesting point, but does that bug even exist anymore? As a counterpoint, my last laptop had an external battery for which the lock broke soon after I bought it. This left it less secure, and would pop out very easily, shutting down the computer in the middle of some work. I've also found that having an external battery gets in the way physically, whether on my lap or in a bag, but that would depend heavily on the computer manufacturer. It's a give and a take, I suppose.

I want to point out that I'm no Mac fanboi. I regularly use, and like, XP, W7, OS X, Ubuntu, Puppy and occasionally Gentoo. I'm not arguing for the Macbook so much as I am saying that built in batteries aren't a really bad idea or a "true burden", just a matter of taste.

[Hidden Driveways]

[An interesting point, but does that bug even exist anymore? As a counterpoint, my last laptop had an external battery for which the lock broke soon after I bought it. This left it less secure, and would pop out very easily, shutting down the computer in the middle of some work. I've also found that having an external battery gets in the way physically, whether on my lap or in a bag, but that would depend heavily on the computer manufacturer. It's a give and a take, I suppose.

The bug was a conflict between a PCMCIA Internet connection card and the laptop. I stopped using the card a couple months ago, but I'm sure the bug is there. It's the kind of thing where neither the card manufacturer nor Apple would claim responsibility for the bug, so it never got fixed. My only recourse was to figure out how to remedy the situation myself. The only way I could fix the problem was to remove the battery.

Did the computer you had with the broken battery latch not have a warranty?

I don't think having a removable battery comes down to personal taste. Apple users are not given an option. If there was an option to pay a little more $ for a removable battery then I would do it. Until then it's just a forced inconvenience for people like myself. If my PowerBook didn't have a removable battery I would of had a much worse problem on my hands.

[mrvinyl]

they are only for posh people, I can only window shop

[logic_user99]

I am VERY tempted by the 21" iMac, purely as a family computer mind you. Have got my white MB for music-making which is tied up by other people's internet use, too.

Not sure if we really need £950-worth of new machine right now, though!

[rbmonosylabik]

I'm happy to have a 7 hour charge tucked away neatly in a durable, aluminum case. You want to tell me why that is a "really bad idea"?

On occasion with my old PowerBook, an unforeseen error would come along that would put the computer in a deep sleep. Nothing you did to the computer would wake it up. The only thing I could do is to quickly remove the battery and press the power button to shut it off (even when you removed the battery it would remain asleep with its sleep light glowing - you had to push the power button to kill it completely). These new computers with the built-in battery will not have this quick work around. I think Apple is not making the batteries removable to keep costs down, and to improve aesthetics. Like it or not, having a built-in battery is a true burden, and makes the machine less functional.

Love is blind.

I remember them mentioning somewhere (a keynote maybe) that the main reason they were moving to built-in batteries is because it saves a lot of space inside the computer, because they could remove the mechanism to hold it in place altogether. I think the figure was something crazy like 40% battery size reduction or so. To me, it's a good point, but I'm kind of torn between which way I like better.