Back in September 1999 — ancient history in the computing cosmos , I know — Apple declare the AGP Graphics Power Mac G4 ( aka“Sawtooth ” ) . At the time it was an telling organization — in speed of 400MHz , 450MHz , and 500MHz . Since I happened to be in the food market for a new Mac back then , I decide to put down my hard - take in cash on the midrange model , placing an order .
Soon after , as thenMacworldeditor - in - chief Andy Gore chronicled in his Vision Thing pillar , Apple announced that , due to processor supply problem from chip maker Motorola , it would not be able deliver the system of rules it had assure . rather , the Sawtooth Power Mac ’s clock speeds would drop to 350MHz , 400MHz , and 450MHz contour — for the same cost as the faster system they were replacing . Apple was , in pith , promote its prices after denote ware . ( Because I place my order before Apple made the switch , I got the original 450MHz model at the original damage . )
In his column , Andy wrote , “ I can understand Apple receive stuck and not being capable to give birth 500MHz G4 Power Macs — they do n’t command the output of the silicon chip . ” True , Apple does n’t control the yield of the chips , but it does controlwhocontrols the production of its chips . Among other things , such an ancient solecism serves as a select example of why Apple switched to Intel . Since Intel is such a vast bit maker ( and a company that only focuses its attentions on making chip ) , supply should n’t be a problem . And because of that , Apple should never again have to make excuses for shipping something less than it promises .
Which brings me to Tuesday ’s news . Appleannouncedit was transport the firstMacBook Promodels — a exploit in itself , birth the first Apple laptop with more than one processor . But the grownup news was that the MacBook Pro was actually shipping withfasterprocessors than Apple originally assure . Instead of Intel Core Duo processor running at 1.67GHz for $ 1,999 or 1.83GHz for $ 2,499 , the models now admit 1.83GHz or 2.0GHz processors , but at the same several prices . you may even custom configure the top - of - the - line MacBook Pro with a 2.16GHz Core Duo processor for $ 300 more .
Gigahertz myth aside , I hope Tuesday ’s MacBook Pro word is just the jump of a whole new world for the Mac , one in which a partnership with a company that ’s in reality dedicated to making good nous keeps Apple move faster than any of us can fairly ask . And for all the nay - sayers out there who ’ve pooh - poohed Apple ’s Intel electric switch , this a la mode MacBook development takes a little bit more out of your contestation .