Intel Core 2 Duo ships, what happens with your MacBook

Stan Beer
Tuesday, 29 August 2006 10:32

Opinion and Analysis

The announcement that the new Intel Core 2 Duo processors for notebooks has the industry buzzing. However, the big question for Apple consumers who have recently purchased or are about to purchase a MacBook or MacBook Pro with the now superseded Core Duo chip is what do they do now?

Looking first at the case of recent purchasers of the new Intel Mac notebooks - and they're all recent since the notebooks have only been available for a few months. The superseded Core Duo chip sitting in their notebooks is 32-bit, at least 20% less powerful and uses significantly more energy than its 64-bit replacement, the Core 2 Duo.

That may not mean much to most users if they're happy with their MacBooks - and there are plenty of reports to suggest that most users are. However, knowing that the engine of your machine will soon be superseded by superior new generation 64-bit technology for which applications are already being built (HD DVD and Blue-ray?) is a blow not only to your pride, it also hurts the resale value of your recent purchase.

I can remember making the mistake of buying a new iMac with a 15 inch monitor. A couple of months later 17 inch monitors became the base standard and I couldn't get so much as a single enquiry from eBay or anywhere else when I wanted to sell my perfectly good machine.

And what of intending MacBook purchasers? We know that the Core 2 Duo chip is socket compatible with the Core Duo so for Apple there will be no problem churning out new MacBooks with Core 2 Duo chips as the company is expected to do before years end. So should buyers hold off until Apple announces shipping of the Core 2 Duo MacBooks?

I called Apple and got the response I expected from their PR department which is no announcement has been made by Apple so they can't say anything.

OK then, given socket compatibility, is it possible for MacBooks with Core Duo chips to be upgraded to Core 2 Duo machines? If so, what would it be likely to cost? That's a question I put to Intel.

The bad news is that if you buy a Core Duo box that's basically what you're stuck with. Graham Tucker, Intel's technical manager for Australia and New Zealand says: "I can't comment on Apple's plans to migrate to Core 2 Duo but notebooks are well plumbed in terms have complexity and there are warranty issues that customers wouldn't want to void."

Three questions thus remain. When is Apple going to make an announcement on its Core 2 Duo plans? What should intending MacBook and MacBook Pro buyers do in the meantime? Will Apple drop prices on its Core Duo notebooks in the meantime as an inducement to keep notebook sales ticking over? I know more than a few prospective purchasers who intend to hold off until they get the answers.