Intel Inside Apple Outside – Processors in Macbook Pro
The 2011 new lineup of Apple macbook pro gets beefed up by leaving behind all the core2duo processors and jumping directly onto the Intel's 2nd generation of Core i processors, codenamed Sandy Bridge. Even though it is no secret that Apple is now using Intel processors, they still like to keep the exact processor a mystery.
Intel processor code is not mentioned on Apple site, unlike other manufacturers. I have compiled this list of processors that "I" believe Apple is using in their laptops. Of course I take no responsibility whatsoever on how accurate the following information is and my research is based on what was provided by Apple and the processor code that I found against that information on the Intel website .. but it should be pretty accurate.
Anyway, here it goes.
| Model | Code | Powered by | Believed to be using |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Macbook Pro 13" | MC700 | 2.3 Ghz dual core i5 with 3M Cache | i5-2410M |
| Apple Macbook Pro 13" | MC724 | 2.7 Ghz dual core i7 with 4M Cache | i7-2620M |
| Apple Macbook Pro 15" | MC721 | 2.0 Ghz quad core i7 with 6M Cache | i7-2635QM |
| Apple Macbook Pro 15" | MC723 | 2.2 Ghz quad core i7 with 6M Cache | i7-2720QM |
| Apple Macbook Pro 17" | MC725 | 2.2 Ghz quad core i7 with 6M Cache | i7-2720QM |
| Apple Macbook Air 11" | MC505/6 | 1.4 Core 2 Duo with 3M Cache | SU9400 |
| Apple Macbook Air 13" | MC503/4 | 1.86 Core 2 Duo with 6M Cache | SL9400 |
Appaholics probably wouldn't care about this table, but people who like to think outside the Apple world might find this information useful.
Sony Vaio – EA and EB Series
Sony Vaio is definitely a leader in style. They are always coming up with designs that beat others hands down.
Sony started out with giving colors long time ago .. but I have to say that they've really got it right this time with the new E series line up. For example take a close look at the Hibiscus Pink in Sony Vaio EA series. You also get choice of other stunning colors like Passion Purple, Iridescent Blue, Lava Black, Coconut White and others.
This is a beauty with brains. Sony Vaio is a solid performer with all the hardware options suitable for most but the power users.
Wireless the saviour? Internet Service Providers (ISP) in Lahore, Pakistan
Wireless Internet solutions are fast becoming more popular than DSL or other wired connections. You don't have to worry about any additional wiring for your new connection. They usually take less than 24 hours to activate your account (as apposed to DSL that takes a few days). They also allow you to recharge your account more conveniently, and in most cases, are even better in terms of speed and reliability.
Wateen Wimax was the first main stream wireless connection (omitting the PCMCIA based PTCL edge and V Wireless), that was soon followed by PTCL USB edge, Worldcall, Wi-Tribe, Qubee and others.
PTCL and Worldcall I didn't try, and Qubee failed to install on two of our machines so I didn't try further. I have extensively used Wateen and Wi-tribe though, and based on my personal experience, I have to say that Wi-tribe is much better than Wateen.
The challenge for wi-tribe would be to keep their service and speed intact, and not lose it by trying to get cheapest, like all the rest. Like I have said earlier, it is pointless to have a connection that is just good on paper but doesn't deliver. So if you are looking for reliable fast internet service, then wi-tribe is definitely worth a shot!
Wired or Weird?! Internet Service Providers (ISP) in Lahore, Pakistan
Now we know this might be a little off .. but it is just that we have had to go through so many ISPs in search of finding the 'right one', that writing this post became almost inevitable. This is going to be an unbiased review based on our experience of course. Please note that we gauge a connection on our normal day internet usage. That includes getting our emails, surfing and downloading once in a while. A connection that is frustrating in normal surfing, or fails to open pages promptly, but gives you say 200 kbps on download.com at a certain time, is no good in our opinion. So lets start our review.
PTCL DSL
It has been a few months now that we got our connection terminated. It worked really well in the beginning when we got it. Until PTCL decided to double their speed for free, which reduced their service to half. Filing a complaint gave new heights to the phrase 'fall on deaf ears'. Soon enough, the connection got so pathetic, that we were left with no other choice but to get it terminated. Which, of course was no easy chore. Unlike other ISPs, you can't just terminate your connection by not paying, since you're being charged through your telephone bill. So it is no surprise that we eventually had to pay for nothing for almost two months before our connection was eventually terminated.
Pros:
Inexpensive.
Great when it worked.
No hassle for recharge cards or bills as you're charged through your telephone bill.
Cons:
Inconsistent.
Bad customer service.
Hard to terminate.
Link.Net DSL
Like most, this worked ok for a while. And like most, they too got just too many people on sharing, resulting in really poor speed. Their connection would work ok in the evening but was almost not usable during daytime for most part. And this was just recently btw. At times you would be getting 1Kbps speed, which is bad for even a dial up connection. The only good thing was that even if it was crawling, it was hardly ever 'completely' down. But out the window it went.
Pros:
Wouldn't die on you.
Cons:
Would be so slow, you wish it was dead.
We have also tired NexLinx, Worldcall and Gerrys in the past. Somehow, most connections had the same problem. Their services are inconsistent. And at one time or another, they get so bad (and we're talking about bad service/speed for couple of weeks here!), that one has no other option but to switch to some other ISP.
The irony is that we all want good speed and we also want it cheap. Which probably doesn't happen in the real world. So unless you need to showoff "I downloaded a movie at ?00k last night" to your friends .. we think getting a consistent 'x' Mbps connection is better then a 'y' Mbps shooter for the same price.