Apple Updates MacBooks With Intel Technology

By SHARA TIBKEN

Apple Inc. unveiled its new line of MacBook Pro notebooks with next-generation Intel Corp. processors and the chip giant's high-speed data-transfer technology.

The updated notebook line follows Apple's pattern of releasing new products annually. Intel's superfast PC connection technology allows users to transfer files at 10 gigabits per second. At that speed, Intel says a user could transfer a typical Blu-ray movie in less than 30 seconds.

Apple, with CEO Steve Jobs on medical leave, said its new MacBook Pro line will be the first computers on the market to include the technology, previously code-named Light Peak but now dubbed Thunderbolt. It said it expects Thunderbolt to be widely adopted as a new standard for high-performance input/output.

Intel, which has been working for years on laser-based communications, unveiled Light Peak in late 2009 and plans to hold an event about the technology Thursday. The company has predicted Light Peak could be upgraded to run at 100 gigabits within the decade.

In the meantime, Intel has also discussed a variant of Light Peak that uses copper wiring and electrical pulses rather than glass fibers and lasers--a technology more easily adapted for laptop computers.

Intel said several other companies, including hard drive makers Western Digital Corp. and LaCie SA, have announced Thunderbolt technology-based products or plan to support Thunderbolt in upcoming products.

Apple also said its new MacBook Pro line is up to twice as fast as the previous generation, using the latest Intel Core processors that combine graphics and computing on the same piece of silicon. The company pointed out on its website that all models use Intel's "recently refined chipsets."

Intel last month revealed a design error in its chipsets that could cause connectivity to items like disc drives to fail over time. The company has since fixed the problem and started shipments of the new support chips last week.

Apple's new computers will start at $1,199 for the 13-inch model and $2,499 for the 17-inch model.

Apple also released a developer version of Mac OS X Lion, its next operating system. Apple said the preview is available to Mac Developer Program members starting Thursday, and the final version will ship to customers this summer.

Write to Shara Tibken at shara.tibken@dowjones.com

Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703408604576164263268349444.html

Intel Celeron vs Pentium

The Celeron and Pentium Processors are two of Intel's best selling CPUs. They are found in a majority of home computer systems. When comparing the two processors it should be first understood that there are different types of Pentium processors - the original Pentium all the way to the Pentium 4 (the latest Pentium processor). The Celeron processors are more or less the same, although you will find them in a wide variety of speeds.
The Intel Celeron processor was always designed to be a low-cost alternative to the Pentium processor line. It is much like a car company that offers various priced cars from the luxury sedan to the economy compact. The Celeron is simply a downgraded Pentium, that almost anyone can afford (it is essentially the compact). To begin, Celeron chips have a smaller L2 cache 9128kb compared with 512kb in the Pentium 4 Northwood, which translates into slower processing speeds. In fact, current Celerons have a clock speed limit of about 2.0GHz, where as the Pentium for is capable of speed in excess of 3.0GHz. In addition, the Pentium runs at a lower core voltage because it is more energy effecient (1.75V vs. 1.5V).
In summary, the Pentium 4 is more powerful than the most advanced Celeron processor on the market. However, Intel has planned it to be this way. Many applications will work just great with a Celeron processor, despite a little less power than the Pentium 4. It is a way to save a little cash when buying a new pc - but don't forget the saying "you get what you pay for." Celeron processors are of good Intel quality, but they will never be as good as the Pentium.
This Celeron vs. Pentium review was brought to you by SciNet Science and Technology Search Engine. SciNet is not affiliated with or specifically endorses the Celeron or Pentium processors or the manufacturer, Intel Corp. Please consult the Celeron and Pentium product information and configuration before you purchase either processor. It is also a good idea to seek other up-to-date product reviews and information as necessary.

Bradley James is a senior editor at SciNet.cc, a website containing many helpful consumer electronics review articles. For more information on Celeron and Pentium processor technology, please visit our Celeron vs Pentium webpage.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bradley_James

Intel Socket 1155 Processor - What's New With The Latest Sandy Bridge Processor?

People are wondering why Intel was came up again into another different socket for the new Sandy Bridge processor. The released the new Intel socket 1155 processor leaving us many questions. Let me help you to answer some of these.
There's a big confusion between the previous Intel i3, i5 and i7 processors. In this way it's hard for them to identify which one is dual core and quad core except for the six core because i7 is the only one. One more thing is that they uses different socket that doesn't fit to each other making it harder for us to upgrade.
The Sandy Bridge
Finally, Intel releases the Sandy Bridge socket 1155 processors. Socket 1155 is totally different from socket 1156 although they differ in only one pin. Physically 1155 processors doesn't fit in the socket 1156 and also they have a complete different architecture. In short, they are not compatible to each other.
Intel does a great job here in making a standard socket for all i3, i5 and i7 processors which is the socket 1155. Good news for the consumers. Sandy bridge processors use a 4 digit number which is the 2000 series such as 2100, 2300, 2400, 2500 and so on.
The new architectural design for this type of processor is the integrated graphics processor (IGP). The inclusion of the IGP on the sandy bridge processor is their main advanced features just like what they did in socket 1156 architecture.
Intel has taken the integration of the IGP into the main processor giving them more advantage. Having the IGP enables the Quick Sync, an Intel features that provides a faster conversion of videos into a different a format. Despite of its fast performance it consumes relatively less power.
The inclusion of the IGP on the processor itself enables them to control the video display and the memory that makes it even faster considering the travel time. This eliminates the northbridge chipset that makes it less expensive in the production for its motherboard.
Conclusion
I agree that Intel does a great job here to came up in a one socket fits all just like the AMD. The integration of the IGP is a big factor for them thus, making it much cheaper for the manufacturing of motherboard that supports them. Unlike socket 1366 that uses a high price X58 chipset to support the graphics and memory. I think Intel came up with this kind of idea for them to answer the AMD lower price processors. This is good news for us consumer to have the freedom to choose the best price processor with more advanced in technology.

Read the full review of the New Intel Socket 1155 Processors and Discover the Best Motherboards for Intel Sandy Bridge Processors.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rey_Basti