Hello,
I'm thinking of getting a MacBook (Black). I'll be using it for doing a bit of student work and probably abit of gaming as well. Here is the question, should I wait for Leopard to be released? or should i get the macbook now? The reason i'm asking this is because i will be leaving my country around Aug/Sep for further studying and i need my own personal computer. Thanks in advance for the coming response.

If you were to get a Pro, then I would say to wait a bit, because they might be coming out with a newer design as the current one is coming to an end in the design cycle. But since your only getting the Macbook, I dont think its worth waiting 6 months. Either way, Leopard will run just fine on current hardware.

Thanks for the response.
No, im not getting the pro for financial reasons.but it sure looks sweet.

how much does a new OS usually cost? to be honest, the apple support in my country is abit crappy.

most likely $130.

I would hold off. Macrumors.com rates the macbook as a 'buy only if you need' as it's reaching the end of it's expected product cycle and updates are anticipated soon. From what i've read they are planning on upgrading from the GMA950 graphics in the macbook to the more powerful intel x3000. I think there is also might be an update in the core 2 duo processor to the penryn core with which comes a performance boost. I wouldn't expect this until june though as intel's release date for that core is may.


http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/

I don't know how accurate MacRumors is. For instance, they mark the video video iPod as 222 days old since they were refreshed in September 2006 with the 5.5 generation iPods. But on the other hand, the iPod shuffle, which was also refreshed in September 2006, is only marked as 82 days old and less likely to be updated because Apple released shuffles in colored aluminum finishes recently.

But in reality, if the video iPod line was refreshed, we'd probably also see a shuffle refresh. So in that sense, it's inaccurate.

None of Apple's computers have received cosmetic changes, other than possibly in the dimensions of the product, since their switch to Intel processors. There are tons of rumors of dramatic redesigns coming out, but it's really too hazy to tell. The most probable update is only going to deal with the internal hardware, like the CPU.

Cool.How vast will the improvements be?

Penryn shouldn't be a revolutionary improvement as Core 2 was over previous CPUs, but an interesting upgrade nonetheless.
For instance the 4 MB cache, where applicable, will be increased to 6 MB.

See for instance:

http://techreport.com/onearticle.x/12127

If you want to purchase it before you leave when Leopard is preloaded on it, forget it. Leopard will come out in October and may not appear preloaded until December or early next-year.

If you can wait a while longer until WWDC goes by, they may release a new consumer notebook. I'm not sure how likely it is but the possibility is always there.

MacBook is nevertheless a great choice for basic computing (school work, web browsing, etc.) and mild for gaming. For hard-core gaming and advance school work (Photoshop CS2, Final Cut, etc.), you may either wait for a better consumer notebook with a better graphics chip or get the MacBook Pro.

If you can wait, wait. If you can't, go ahead and buy it. There might be a price cut by the end of the year for the notebooks so I'd buy it right before you leave for studying. For me, I couldn't wait and bought an iMac because the MacBook Pros were not Core 2 Duo. Soon enough, they came out with it a month or two later. The computer market is always changing in models and prices so what may seem like an expensive buy now may be a cheaper buy within 6 months. You never know, just follow what you believe is the right choice.

I rarely post because my knowledge regarding OSX86 is far dwarfed by the majority of people on here but I think I can chime in on this. On May 9th Intel will release it's new Centrino platform. I'd be willing to bet that Apple will use this in the Macbooks and Macbook Pros. They're constantly pressing Intel for newer items faster so it only makes sense really for them to use this new platform. So if I were you, wait as long as you can before you leave because I really think they'll launch some new hardware. And an even better possibility is that they'll cut the prices on the Refurbished Macbooks too.

apple are going to use a updated core 2 duo not a centreno

...Good thing they're the same thing. There is no such thing as a Centrino chip. Centrino = Intel's current mobile chip (in this case, Core 2 Duo) + Integrated wireless + Low power consumption chipset.