A Quad Core MBP at MacWorld?
Acer definitely wins the prize for being first out the gate with a machine running Intel’s latest mobile chip, the cheap quad core Q9000. However, now that it’s all official and out in the open, people are starting to wonder who’ll be next to launch a notebook with the Q9000.
The rumor doing the rounds at the moment is that Apple could be about ready to launch a 17-inch MacBook Pro running on the Q9000. Apple refreshed the MacBook line a couple of months back and the fact that there was a white space where there should have been a brand spanking new 17-inch MacBook Pro was a little overshadowed by the fancy new aluminum unibody design of the MacBook and the glass trackpad. 
However as the weeks go by we’re wondering where the updated "big" MacBook Pro has gone to. The folks over at apcmag seem to think we can expect the MBP update at next week's MacWorld Expo, despite the conference’s Jobsless status. While we’re not so sure about the timing, we're on board with the Q9000 MBP idea. The launch of the Q9000 was played down but a mobile quad core with a core clock speed of 2GHz for $348 is big news. So far Acer is the only company with a Q9000 machine on sale but it’s only a matter of time before the rest start coming out of the woodwork.
Steve Jobs won’t be at MacWorld next week and we doubt he’d miss a launch like this. The only reason we can think of would be he’s ill and not telling anyone but that’s a whole other kettle of is-he-isn’t-he fish. Fresh rumors this morning, by the way, dropped Apple stocks 2 percent.
WRONG!!!
Toshiba Qosmio X305-Q725. Look for it on newegg.
What i was saying was AMD claims to have the most power efficent quad - the X4 9100 rated at 65w for a poor excuse of a quad etc - this Intel fits in a laptop and owns AMD's ass, and shows how much work AMD needs to put in to compete.
Sorry to sound like a fanboy here but this processor is prolly as quick as a mid range AMD Phenom X4 if not quicker, if those AMD users are happy with that performance, this chip should give plenty of power.
Perhaps on the other hand a 4 threaded laptop chip would have been a wiser plan - 2 cores + 2 threads to initially boost the market...
And I hate USB hubs with a passion... 3 usb ports is pathetic on a 17" laptop.
USB port ammounts are insufficent even on the desktop front! Using a gigabyte with 2 front usb's, 2 for card reader (card + usb) plus 8 rear and just about all are used, plus a 4 port hub, something needs to be done here - perhaps smaller ports to pack more in or something or a port multiplier (or micro hub, or splitter cables or something....)
Some people have to demo stuff on the run and all sorts, or have little time to sit at home on a full system but need the power to get things done - it will come in handy for sure, i know it would come in handy in my line of work!
Why delay the future? The more performance the better.
Ummmm the website you quoted also mentions 45w desktop quads - whats your point? And besides, that 45w Athlon X4 you mentioned will perform even worse then the current Phenoms - its lacking the shared L3 cache! Makeing the already poorer clock for clock performer even worse?
And the age old BS of comparing tech and time eg 45nm vs 65nm etc - RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW is all that matters - Intel has the goods, and im sure by the time AMD has 45nm in full swing Intel would have 32nm out the door.
Im excited about the release of cheaper and power efficent quads in laptops etc cause they are the way of the future etc - performance is a good thing, and the more the better? or doesnt that apply for AMD and its fanboys when AMD is behind well over a year?
Alienware M17 laptop offers 2 Quads.... Q9100 and an Extreme version QX9300.... I wonder what Jane was thinking about when she wrote this article... I have a feeling that she meant to say "the first Mac Book Pro" instead of ""... Get your stories straight tom's....
Also, everyone who's such an Intel Fanboy, don't forget that Amd was whooping Intel's behind 2002-2006... Also Intel and AMD have an agreement to share intellectual property, that's why Intel is able to use technology for I7 that AMD came up with in 2002... don't get me wrong, I'm not an AMD fanboy, I love intel and AMD cpu's, but I prefer the best bang for the buck, and so far it has been Intel. Maybe AMD's Desktop version of Shanghai(Deneb) will change that, but that is something yet to be seen.
I'm gonna grab a beer and take a nap... I think i'm just way too shocked LOL
AMD in 2002-2006 had faster CPU's sure, but Intel sold more because of a cunning market strategy, the GHz simple sold more, but if you check out THG's review of the Pentium M vs Desktop chips Intel always had that ace up its sleeve - P6 tech was always king.