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General discussion

Should I wait for the Core 2 Duo in the MacBook/Pro?

Oct 5, 2006 12:03AM PDT

I currently have a PC laptop. It still serves me OK, but it is old, slow and locks up often. I am dying to get a MacBook and utilize some of the software available for the MacBook. There is no urgency, except the wait is becoming a distraction. I expect the MacBook to give me some real gains in productivity. I am not a gamer. I use office applications and research the net.

What benefits or advantage will there be for me if I wait for the supposed MacBook/Pro with the new core 2 duo processor? Will I notice it much to make a difference? Will the core 2 duo give me more flexibility in the future?

I'd appreciate your advice.

Thanks, Bill

Discussion is locked

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Core 2 Duo
Oct 5, 2006 12:21AM PDT

As there is no urgency, and you can afford to wait for the Core 2 Duo's to be part of the line up, you might as well.

However, there is no guarantee that Apple will put that processor into a laptop any time soon so your wait may be much longer than you anticipate.

The benefits and advantages of the Core 2 are primarily its speed and efficiency.

I'm not sure what you mean by flexibility but you will be getting the (current) latest processor in the machine.

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Core 2 Duo - 64 bit?
Oct 5, 2006 3:27AM PDT

Thanks for the reply. In terms of flexibility, I have heard that the Core 2 can run 64 bit programs. I am not sure what that ia all about, and how important that is.

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You are correct.
Oct 5, 2006 8:01AM PDT

All of the Core 2 Duo machines are 64 bit capable. OS X is also 64 bit capable. It has the 32 and 64 bit versions in the installer and whichever one you can handle, gets loaded.
OS X is also capable of running 64 and 32 bit applications and utilities.


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Way back when mrmacfixit
Oct 5, 2006 8:32AM PDT

Both of my computers are ''vintage machines'' by todays standards and my next system will be a state of the art Mac. Therefore it will be 64 bit.
I don't exactly recall when but anyways I think it was in the eighties when 32 came along and a lot of people were going off the deep end due to the change in technology. I recall many people asking ''how about us with the 16 bit systems?...The explanation I saw at that time was ''not to worry that the 16 bit machine would simply look at the 32 bit data twice to interpret data? Is that an over simplification of the situation or was there some truth to that?... At that time I had a Tandy, then followed by a x386 Just curious. I did note your comment on how Apple is handling the installer to accomodate both types of processors, just curious about the rest of us?

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Installers
Oct 5, 2006 10:50PM PDT

The "rest of us" will be fine. Just as we are now. Those with Intel Macs will get the Intel version of the OS and those with PPC will get the PPC version.
Likewise, those with 64 bit systems, Intel & G5, will get the correct system and us lesser mortals with ancient equipment will get the 32.

You can already see that in action with the Software Update program. Notice how you never get anything for the Intel Mac?

I'll leave the explanation of the 16/32/64 bit workings to Bob. (in layman's terms please)

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Fresh from the Rumor Sites
Oct 7, 2006 11:49PM PDT

"Apple Computer this month has begun to slow production of its existing Core Duo MacBook Pro professional notebooks ahead of refreshed models that will sport Intel Corp's higher-performance Core 2 Duo microprocessors, AppleInsider has learned,"

They are busy ramping up, just for you. Happy

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MacBook Pro
Oct 8, 2006 7:14AM PDT

You think so? Thanks!