Mock-up source

While a huge 30-inch display would be a great addition, what’s actually expected is Intel’s latest Penryn chipset, with memory, storage and perhaps video card hardware all getting a nudge upwards too.  Aesthetically, the iMacs are expected to stay the same.  Similarly, functionality and, sadly, screen size are not predicted to change.

As was tipped, pricing for the new models has remained the same.  Retailers are reporting that same $1199, $1499 and $1799 pre-configurations.  Since we’ve not heard of any stock shortages for existing moels, look out for discounted end-of-line pre-built iMacs if you’re after a potential bargain.  After all, it’s been argued that Penryn’s energy efficiency, while useful for a notebook, has limited appeal in a desktop system.

There are also seven new, swappable covers available, one of which features a small puppy. I’m not sure why you’d want a puppy on your laptop, but then perhaps that just means I’m not the target audience. More to my tastes are the 2GB or 4GB of RAM, the fact that the screen is 1,280 x 800 resolution and the optional 7.2Mbps WWAN module (not specified, but presumably HSDPA).

There’s also a dual-layer DVD rewriter and WiFi in a/b/g/n flavors. No word on how the updated LOOX R compares to the old in terms of Fujitsu’s claimed 9.7hrs of battery life. Considering the current craze for compact ultraportables, pricing – similarly yet to be announced – will be key in whether the LOOX R is positioned as an Eee/Wind/2133 rival or a challenge to the VAIO TZ/Air/X300.

[via Akihabara]

First off, the full change sheet. Obviously the biggest difference is the processor, with the latest MacBook Pro switching from Intel’s 65nm Santa Rosa CPUs to its 45nm Penryn chips. Our last-gen comparison machine has a quarter of the video RAM, too; just 128MB versus the new model’s 512MB. Apple have also used LEDs to backlight the screen as in the MacBook Air, rather than the power-hungry CCFL used previously, and the ultraportable’s MultiTouch capabilities have been carried over too, albeit in a touchpad the same, smaller size as earlier Pros. Finally, the keyboard has been slightly re-fettled, with the F-keys as seen on the Air.

MultiTouch works, certainly, though the reduced size of the pad compared to the Air does force you to gesture slightly differently. Apple would still have it that they’ve put the same interface from the iPhone onto their notebook range, and while being able to rotate images, zoom and flick is all well and good, it’s certainly not as intuitive as it is with their cellphone’s touchscreen.

Earlier MacBooks couldn’t really be accused of having dim screens but, as with any LED-backlit model we’ve seen, the difference is always impressive. It’s difficult to do a direct comparison, but it was comfortable using the new MacBook Pro with the brightness turned down a few extra notches below the old model.

It’s Penryn that makes the biggest difference, though. Not so much in speed – although there was an 11-percent performance increase over the 2.2GHz Santa Rosa – but in how cool the notebook runs and how efficiently it manages power. On the lap, the new Pro felt more comfortable than the old, despite the Penryn CPU itself getting hotter than the Santa Rosa under load.

All that adds up to saved battery power, and this is where the Penryn-powered MacBook Pro really impresses. With light web browsing via WiFi, we managed 5.2hrs of use before the battery died – even the MacBook Air didn’t last that long, and it’s actually more than the 5hrs Apple quote in their own figures. Apple have toughened up their battery tests, but are claiming that generally you get an extra half-hour from the new CPU and the same again from the new backlight.

At the start, we asked whether the updates were enough to maintain the MacBook Pro’s admirable reputation, as well as whether it made a convincing argument for an upgrade. The former is certainly true: all the old MacBook Pro strengths are there unchanged, and the addition of Penryn, LEDs and MultiTouch only add to them. The latter, though, is harder to judge. An hour, at most, above an earlier Pro’s battery life is perhaps not quite strong enough a reason for someone with, say, a one-year-old MacBook Pro to upgrade; similarly, MultiTouch is nice but certainly doesn’t rank among must-have functionality. To such a buyer, we’d say wait until Apple’s fifth range refresh; to anyone else, we’d wholeheartedly recommend the Penryn MacBook Pro.

Rating:

4 out of 5 gears

Unboxing

So, chances are, when Apple upgrades their MBPs the iMacs will receive the Penryn upgrade as well. For the MBPs you’ll also be able to look for keyboard and trackpad updates allowing similar multi-touch functionality as the MacBook Air.

The only thing we aren’t sure of is whether we’ll see these upgrades at the rumored end-of-February thing or if we’ll see them at the Mid-March thing. If its at the end of February, you can probably only expect to see the processor, keyboard, and trackpad updates, if its Mid-March, the MBP might get a complete overhaul.

[via 9to5mac]

The 1720 will have the T8300 as well as the T9300 running at 2.5GHz both as options. The benefits of these processors, other than better performance, are that they have lower power consumption and lower heat output resulting in a longer battery life compared to their 65nm Core 2 Duo counterparts.

The older chips had the codename of Merom applied to them and used the larger 65nm process instead of the new 45nm process the Penryn chips apply. No word on what the premium is for a Penryn chip, but I assume that for the performance bump that goes with it, it isn’t much.

[via laptoping]

Dell replaces the Merom based T7700 and T7800 CPUs with T9300 and T9500 Penryn chips without any price changes.

Dell refreshed the XPS M1330 last week by replacing Merom based CPUs with Penryn. Dell will also refresh Latitude laptops this month.

[via crave]

Fujitsu LifeBook A6120 features Core 2 Duo “Penryn” based CPU (45nm) clocked at 2.1Ghz (T8100) up to 2.4Ghz (T8300), 3GB of DDR2 (4GB max), 15.4-inch screen with resolution of 1280×800. It has built-in 1.3 megapixel webcam, finger print reader, Bluetooth and Intel 4965AGN wireless. The system comes with both ExpressCard and PC card slot.

The A6120 uses integrated graphics card (GMA X3100). It weighs 6.6lbs with battery and battery life is up to 2.4 hours. The LifeBook A6120 starts at $1299 with $50 mail-in rebate.

[Fujitsu Store]

The standard 8-core Mac Pro, retailed at $2,799 (US), includes:

- 2 x 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon processors with dual-independent 1600 MHz front side buses;
- 2GB of 800 MHz DDR2 ECC fully-buffered DIMM memory, expandable up to 32GB;
- ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT with 256MB of GDDR3 memory;
- 320GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
- 16x SuperDrive(TM) with double-layer support (DVD+/-R DL/DVD+/-RW/CD-RW);
- 2 x PCI Express 2.0 slots and two PCI Express slots;
- Bluetooth 2.0+EDR; and
- ships with Apple Keyboard and Mighty Mouse.

Apple also revised the Xserve today with the same architecture. Xserve standard configuration, with a suggested retail price of $2,999 (US), includes:

- A single 64-bit 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Xeon processor with 12MB of L2 cache and a 1600 Mhz front side bus;
- 2GB of 800 MHz DDR2 ECC FB-DIMM RAM, expandable up to 32GB;
- A single 80GB SATA Apple Drive Module;
- 2 x Gigabit Ethernet on-board;
- Internal graphics;
- 2 x FireWire(R) 800 and three USB 2.0 ports; and
- An unlimited client license for Mac OS X Server version 10.5 Leopard.

[via macrumors]

I hate my Macbook pro, it’s powerful alright but the battery is rather pathetic. I can’t finish one good night of blogging if I left the power adapter at work. The Santa Rosa didn’t improve much but i hope the upcoming Penryn will. I was psyched to read the Fujitsu’s LOOX R70 with mobile penryn has an optimized battery life up to 9.7 hours with stock battery. That’s right, Fujitsu unveils the first Penryn notebook today. It has a compact size of 12.1” screen and weight only 2.8lb. The new LOOX will equip with 1GB of memory and 120GB of storage space in Windows Vista Business and has the schedule to release in Japan next month.

Fujitsu hints at first Penryn notebook [via electronista]

We can speculate that these new chips will be sold under the Core 2 and Xeon brand name. But expect them to be one-third smaller, and 15% faster, and expect to pay a little bit more for these chips.

The Penryn based processors will start appearing initially in servers and network solutions in Q1. Expect to see these processors as a new standard for mobile computing. Look for these chips taking over the industry in mid 2008.

Intel launches new chips with smaller circuits (Reuters)