AppleInsider StaffIntel this spring will launch its next-generation Centrino notebook platform alongside a half dozen new 45 nanometer mobile chips that will eventually make their way into Apple's MacBook and MacBook Pro offerings.
Although Intel has used the Centrino brand name for four generations of its notebook platforms — Carmel, Sonoma, Napa and Santa Rosa — the unchanging brand name has reportedly resulted in lower market recognition, as consumers are sometimes unable to identify the differences.
The Santa Clara, Calif.-based chip maker hopes the new marketing strategy will "give consumers the feeling of a tangible upgrade and will hopefully spur replacement demand," according to the report.
It will simultaneously deliver six new 45-nanometer notebook processors, running at speeds between 2.26GHz - 3.06GHz, all of which will sport a 1066MHz front-side bus, compared to today's models which scale up to 2.6GHz and operate on an 800MHz bus.
In addition, DigiTimes reports that Intel will then launch seven new 45-nm small form factor processors, like those used in Apple's new MacBook Air, sometime during the third quarter of the year.
The introductions should provide Apple with a means to refresh its mainstream MacBook and MacBook Pro family of notebook systems sometime during the summer educational buying season, and its MacBook Air sub-notebook line in time for the holidays.
Meanwhile, MacBook Pro models including Intel's just-released 45-nanometer Penryn processors — the last of the Santa Rosa generation — remain on tap for a release anytime in the next few weeks.
Malcolm Owen
William Gallagher
90 Comments
The 3.06Ghz will more than likely be in the iMac refresh this year and in the MBP sometime in 2009.
Are they going to update MacBook alongside MacBook Pro?
What is up with 3GHz being a barrier in chip production? I know clock speed is not as important as it was 10 years ago, but it just seems that Intel is having problems similar to what IBM had several years ago.
Should be expect only a processor upgrade with the Penryn's with a major overhaul when the Montevina's come out or will the overhaul come with the Penryn update? The powerbook will chug until we find out I guess.
That Montevina announcement is pretty close to when WWDC will be...
What is up with 3GHz being a barrier in chip production? I know clock speed is not as important as it was 10 years ago, but it just seems that Intel is having problems similar to what IBM had several years ago.
It's not a barrier. Intel have no one pushing them. Intel's desktop chips easily overclock to 3.6 ghz. With no additional cooling.
When the core 2s were first released they hit 3 ghz. Intel needed a competitive product then to win back market share from AMD. Since then AMD have had nothing to challenge Intel and advances have slowed. Although in all fairness Intel have increased the number of cores to 4 per chip on the desktop and work station.