“Some analysts are predicting that Apple Computer may announce a Mac desktop that sports eight processors at the Macworld Expo next week. Industry watchers say Apple is sure to update its line of desktops and laptops. Will the company go quad-core? Some analysts say it might even work in two quad-core processors to give a Mac desktop the power of eight processors,” Sharon Gaudin reports for TechWeb.
Gaudin reports, “Bob LeVitus, a tech columnist for the Houston Chronicle and a speaker at MacWorld Expo, also says he wouldn’t be surprised if the next generation of the Mac Pro had two quad-core processors. ‘It would make sense,’ says LeVitus, who also is the author of Mac OS X for Dummies. ‘They’ve already got the architecture. The chips are designed to go in those sockets. The design is the same.’ LeVitus, though, says that kind of power most likely would not come cheap. He would expect that kind of horsepower to come with a price tag of $4,000 to $5,000.”
Gaudin reports, “He also says there would be a solid market for it. ‘For the video jockeys and the Photoshop guys and the guys doing big editing jobs, eight processors would be way better than four,’ he points out.”
Gaudin reports, “Richard Shim, a senior research analyst at IDC, expects Apple to enhance its line of notebooks. ‘The notebooks have been doing very well,’ he says. ‘Their notebook shipments hit records in the last quarter. With that kind of momentum, there’s an argument to be made to take advantage of it and come up with systems with new screen sizes. There’s an appeal for smaller systems, but if I had to make a choice, I’d say bigger is better. I could see them going with a 20-inch notebook.'”
“LeVitus thinks the MacBook lineup will get speed enhancements, upgraded memory configurations, and possibly a new body design. He also says there’s a good chance that Apple will come out with a small notebook, maybe something even in the 10-inch display range and weighing in around 3 pounds,” Gaudin reports.
Full article here.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Octo-Core ‘Clovertown’ Apple Mac Pro units on the way? – December 26, 2006
Early debut for new Intel quad-core Xeon chip – December 12, 2006
Unofficial eight-core Apple Mac Pro benchmarks – November 15, 2006
Intel launches quad-core processors – November 15, 2006
RUMOR: Apple prepping monster eight-core Xeon ‘Clovertown’ Mac Pro – October 26, 2006
Intel pledges 80-core processor within five years – September 26, 2006
AnandTech upgrades and tests Octo-Core ‘Clovertown’ Apple Mac Pro – September 13, 2006
RUMOR: Ultra-thin, ultra-portable, 12-inch Apple MacBook Pro heading to market? – December 20, 2006
RUMOR: Apple plans lightweight, ultra-thin MacBook Pro with 12-inch widescreen – December 04, 2006
10″ and 3 lbs would get ordered on the spot….
If there is a 20-inch MacBook Pro, I hope it has wheels, because it will be too heavy to carry around.
a novelty size of 10″ would have to be marketed as PRO, not macbook. Consumer lines have to be more visually functional than a professional model.
A PRO will work on anyhting to get work done efficiently, a consumer model is just about doing a decent job and lookin good doing it.
MDN Word: present “the future will soon be the present and we can buy em all”
“10” and 3 lbs would get ordered on the spot….”
Yeah, that’s what my girlfriend wanted for Xmas.
I’d buy a 10″ in a New York minute.
At the end of the day, it’ll beat any PDA. Add an iPhone, and you’re “good to go.”
10 inch? Does it come with glasses and a telescope?
“10” and 3 lbs would get ordered on the spot….”
“Yeah, that’s what my girlfriend wanted for Xmas.”
But all she got was a little iPod Nano?
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Hey Howie, your girlfriend did get that for Christmas. She said she wishes she could get that all the time. Sorry dude, but she was AWSOME!!!
I am so happy the MacWorld forecasters have decided that it is okay for Apple to make computers again!
Yippie!
16 Core Desktop, 1 lb 8″ Notebook, Invisible iPod
Whatever it takes for you to be disappointed with what is actually announced.
Gemme my V-8 Mac.
Does this mean the laptop will be called the octopod?
20 inches? It better feature a foldup OLED display. Nobody wants to walk around with a freaking 20″ notebook. Nah, I don’t think so.
if that 10 inch were a Tablet, then I’d buy it right away (assuming the price is right of course lol)
Why mess with a good thing ? ……..
A 12″ MacBook Pro will sell by the boat load.
Moonie
An Octo-Mac would be nice, but since most programs don’t even take advantage of the current 4 processors, is it worth it?
I would love it if a new Octo came with FCP 6 which allows you to dedicate processors to background rendering. Imagine running FCP on 5 3Ghz processors, dedicating 2 3Ghz procs to background rendering and the last 3Ghz processor to running LiveType, iTunes OSX.
All you need is for CS3 and FCP enhanced for 8+ cores and they will sell, and quickly. Apple can take care of one of those Tuesday.
MDN word: yes, as in OH GOD YES!
I wnat a hemi-powered Shuffle with a 42″ add-on screen to watch movies – and if I don’ get it, I am going to sell all of my Apple stock!!!
Worst rumor of this year’s Macworld: 20in laptop. That’s just idiotic. Has this guy even seen a 20in display before?
Oh gosh… 10 inches and widescreen MacBook would be soooo sweet. Not in about 10 years though, when my eyesight ceases to be 20/20.
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Highly unlikely anyway, methinks.
20-inch notebook? Yeah, for sissys and little girls. The uber-Geek needs a 30-inch notebook to impress the ladies. Mine comes with a 20-pound battery pack, too. Very nice. You see all the looks I get! Eat yer hearts out.
At Starbucks today, I practically drooled over the 12in PowerBook the guy at the next table was using…I’m going to be doing a lot of traveling in the next couple of years and the 12in would be the perfect size for doing actual work (writing), keeping up with email and Web stuff on the road, a few casual games, and especially working/watching DVDs on long airline flights (with extra battery just in case).
Spouse has already promised we’ll get one if it comes out, and I promised him I’d reformat the iBook and it can be his personal laptop.
I’m transferring some money from savings to checking just in case we get “oh, and one more thing” next week…
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I run Mac OS 10.4.6 on my 3 pound 10″ display laptop with a built-in DVD-R and all the rest. And can boot into Windows XP when I want. Although my Sony T-series can do it, the wireless does not work in the Mac OS and the Mac OS is slow. I can hardly wait for Apple to introduce a similar product. Over a year ago there were reports that Apple was hiring Sony laptop engineers to work for Apple.
Maybe the ANALists think the 50″ is going to be a laptop?
My boss has been eyeing a 20″ dell laptop (no doubt an Alienware concepted laptop). The thing is huge and ugly. That being said, I’d still own a 20″ MacBook Pro and use it with glee.
Chris