Yes, I’m jumping straight to this and saying, this one in my opinion, is the most likely solution. The higher models of the MacBook Pro work with the ability to switch between integrated and discreet graphics, which is like switching from a power-saving to a performance graphics scheme.
Possibility 2: Suffer the crappier graphics on lower end models.
Something’s got to give, really. I believe there is no way that Apple’s going to jump from the 9400M to the integrated graphics which is in the processor itself, in the new Arrandale line. One of the underlying technologies in Snow Leopard is Open CL which utilizes the graphics cards to boost processing performance. This would beat the point of their future plans altogether.
Possibility 3: A customized set of hardware of some kind from Intel, either on the processor or chipset level that would let the next MacBooks match the power consumption and graphics capabilities of current models.
The key word to note here is ‘current models’. This solution would imply something along the lines of an Arrandale + Nvidia 9400M combo. Which would, don’t get me wrong, work. But it isn’t practical when you look at your competitors. Dell and the others would laugh themselves sore if it came to this. But recent history is on Apple’s side, as Intel have favoured Apple with their new line of releases – the MacBook Air’s ultra-portable processor is proof of the same.
Possibility 4: Apple’s gonna wait on something else before upgrading from Core 2 Duos.
I wonder how long Apple would wait, but again this seems a bit unlikely. As I mentioned in the previous point, recent history is on Apple’s side and we probably won’t have to go here. In the event that we do, then I’d say Apple’s probably willing to take the hits as they would know what they’re doing. Still seems too unconventional if you ask me. Then again, stranger things have happened.
Possibility 5 (bonus!): Apple is going to make their own hardware in the near future (thanks to Kaiser-Machead).
This one wasn’t part of the original Gizmodo article, but browsing through the comments brought up this idea as well. Apple acquired PA Semi who were low-powered chip designers back in 2008 for $278 million. Interestingly, they are based on Apple’s former Power architecture. There’s certainly something brewing there, but thats for another day. The emphasis, if put on ‘low-power’ could mean something for its mobile platform through the iPhone or the mobile computing platform through the MacBook and MacBook Pro line. The iPhone, I must point out uses a Samsung chip based on ARM’s instruction set.
Or for that matter, and I didn’t think I was going to bring this up in this article at all, for the upcoming tablet platform, which I might add this point is widely up for speculation when it comes to actual naming it. So will Possibility 5 happen? Unless Apple’s got something in its magic hat for us that it still hasn’t pulled out, or for that matter, the press hasn’t managed to pull out early enough, its unlikely to happen in the immediate future. But, its something we can really look forward to, especially if Apple decides to forge itself into a self-sufficient enterprise in computing in the future.
With Apple reportedly scheduled to host a media event on January 26, 2010, the focus now seems to be on the upcoming Tablet, which as many will point out, Steve Jobs is really happy with. Of course, he’s happy, he is the frigging genius behind it. I’m not going to dive into the speculation about whether its going to be a 7″ or 10″ tablet or both, or whether its going to be an ebook reader or not. If we’re lucky, we’ll get a mini Reality Distortion Field when Steve takes the stage for the event.
Also, there is CES to look forward to soon and Apple will be there as well. Its frustrating that I know who to get party invites from but I just can’t make the travel at this point of time. But a day will come when I will be there, and boy am I looking forward to that!
