mac. macbook

A MacBook with Apple inside? Intel begs to differ

Rumors about Apple developing a MacBook with one of its own chips--not Intel's--were advanced on Friday, based on a post at a Japanese-language Web site. An Intel executive had some thoughts on the subject.

Let's get right to the post on the Japanese Web site Macotakara Kanteidan about the rumored MacBook Air test vehicle packing a Thunderbolt port. In a Japanese-language post entitled "Is an A5-equipped MacBook Air being tested?" the site claims that "according to someone who has seen a model running with [Apple's] A5 processor, the performance is better than had been thought."

Assuming the report is credible, that's a pretty big leap from a frantic rumor about Apple "dumping Intel" to a real system running on the A5, the Apple-branded chip--based on an ARM design--that's used in the iPad 2.

To date, Apple's ultrathin MacBook Air has run exclusively on Intel processors. And that's expected to continue when Apple announces new Airs based on Intel's "Sandy Bridge" processors this summer, based on my own sources who are familiar with Apple's plans.

I asked Intel's marketing chief Tom Kilroy about this latest report early today.… Read more

Lenovo: USB 3.0 mainstream in 2012

Lenovo's top product manager for the popular ThinkPad line says USB 3.0 will go mainstream in 2012, while Intel sees the new Thunderbolt interface gravitating to some high-end nonmainstream laptop models.

This week, Lenovo began selling its ThinkPad X1, a 0.85-inch thick (thickest point), 3.8-pound design based on Intel's "Sandy Bridge" Core i5 and i7 processors.

Beyond the obvious attractions of a svelte, high-powered laptop, the X1 also sports an increasingly popular USB port based on the "SuperSpeed" 3.0 specification. USB is one of the most widely used connection technologies … Read more

5 Thunderbolt Mac peripherals we'd like to see

Speed matters. It's why faster 4G data networks are gaining in popularity; it's why we buy new computers with better processors. This is the appeal of Thunderbolt, the Intel-developed high-speed data port that's popping up on new Macs in 2011. So far, it's in 2011 MacBook Pros and iMacs.

Thunderbolt is lightning-quick, as the name suggests. Transfer speeds are 10Gbps--twice as fast as USB 3.0--and it works both ways, into and out of your computer. HD video and data can be carried back and forth over the same tiny cable, with a connection port that'… Read more

Apple issues several Thunderbolt-related updates

Apple has updated several machine models with Thunderbolt-related enhancements. Included are brand-new iMacs and MacBook Pro models, each with general Mac OS X fixes and improved stability and performance for the new Thunderbolt technology.

The updates can be downloaded via Software Update for qualifying machines.

MacBook Pro Software Update 1.4 This update fixes graphic stability and other issues relating to external displays and 3D performance. It also includes an update for Thunderbolt support.

MacBook Pro EFI Update 2.1 This update includes a fix for Turbo Mode in Boot Camp as well as the Thunderbolt update.

iMac EFI Update … Read more

Apple releases MacBook Pro and iMac EFI and software updates

Apple has released a few updates for the firmware and operating system software for the latest MacBook Pro and iMac models that address problems with Boot Camp, graphics stability and external display support, and also some bugs with the new Thunderbolt I/O connection technology.

These updates are specific to the new MacBook Pro and iMac models released this year that have the Thunderbolt technology, so if you have an older MacBook model then you do not need to download these updates. If you are unsure whether or not you need the update, just check Software Update on your system (… Read more

Macs that await refreshing: 2011

We're several days into May, and another Mac has gotten upgraded to 2011 Intel processors. MacBook Pros, check. iMacs, check. Now that two of Apple's most popular lines have gotten necessary upgrades, it's time to look at which Macs still haven't gotten updated...and wonder when those updates will occur.

In order of our best guess as to when they'll be refreshed, here are the Macs we're still expecting.

The white MacBook (last updated: mid-April 2010) Apple's lone white laptop has survived for years, and now that white's the new black in … Read more

Why doesn't my laptop have USB 3.0?

Why doesn't my laptop have USB 3.0?. I've been asking myself that question a lot lately.

None of my laptops has a USB 3.0 port. Not my 2010 MacBook Air, not my prior-generation Air, nor my Dell laptop. Nor do the laptops purchased recently by my business acquaintances, who typically buy earlier models that have been price-reduced.

Let me be clear, I've talked to Intel, folks at the USB Implementers Forum, PC makers, and analysts. And I've heard every reason under the sun as to why the Universal Serial Bus interface hasn't been upgraded in 10 years. (Intel: We'll get around to it in 2012.)

But those reasons (including: it won't make any material difference for things like printers...not supported in Intel silicon) don't change the fact that devices I use demand a faster USB interface. Now. Or I should say yesterday: I needed it a long time ago.

Thunderbolt, as promising as it sounds, does nothing for consumers today.

Here are just a couple of examples. The Seagate GoFlex external drive, which I purchased this week, prominently advertises USB 3.0 capability on its packaging. As it should. Doing regular transfers of 70 gigabytes (or more) of data demands more than USB 2.0. … Read more

Rumor: New MacBook Pro case design coming

A new rumor pegs Apple as preparing a new MacBook Pro case design to replace the current unibody aluminum case. The new case design should be present on the next revision of the MacBook Pro, which just saw an update back in February. According to the sources of the rumor, the early 2011 MacBook Pro update is the last with the current case design.

MacRumors claims that its source is reliably confirming the updated design, first leaked on iLounge just before February's MacBook Pro update.

As noted by MacRumors, the unibody design currently used for MacBook Pro models was … Read more

AMD to back USB 3.0 in its chips

Advanced Micro Devices will support USB 3.0 in its chips, marking the first instance of a major PC processor supplier getting behind the standard. Intel has yet to support the high-speed interface.

The USB Implementers Forum today announced that AMD will deliver the first chipsets to integrate support for USB 3.0, aka SuperSpeed USB. A chipset accompanies the main processor.

"With [today's] announcement AMD is...disclosing our support for SuperSpeed USB 3.0 in upcoming AMD A75 and A70M Fusion [chipsets]. Both chipsets are shipping today," said Phil Hughes, an AMD spokesman, responding to an … Read more

Early 2011 MacBook Pro starts to gray Apple logo, freezes

Some owners have noted an issue with Apple's latest MacBook Pro model (early 2011), where the machine will start up to the gray Apple logo screen without a progress indicator and freeze. Apple has also noted the issue, releasing a knowledge base article to help with the situation.

Apple Support Discussions forum user CoryCripita writes:

"So for the second time my Macbook Pro is stuck on the ****** gray screen and won't boot. The first time this happened 2 days ago I HAD TO resort to Archive and install. The only thing that I can even think caused … Read more