• MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008): How to set graphics performance (switching from integrated to discrete GPU - requires logout/login after switching)
• OS X versions (builds) included with Intel-based Macs (notes new macbooks/pro/air ships with build 9F2088 of 10.5.5)
• MacBook Pro (Late 2008) models: SSD Media Capacity

BTW - Site sponsor OWC sent a note they've posted a section on October 2008 MacBook and MacBook Pro upgrades with DDR3 1066MHz memory upgrades (4GB (2x2GB) - $139.99) and hard drives (up to 500GB internal).

"About MacBook, MacBook Pro Software Update 1.2
This update contains software bug fixes for precision aluminum unibody enclosure MacBook and MacBook Pro notebook computers introduced in October 2008.

The update improves compatibility with external displays and includes a variety of software fixes. This update is recommended for all users of these systems."

• New MacBook Family Redefines Notebook Design (press release)
• New MacBook from $1,299 (2GHz/2.4GHz models, 9400M w/shared vram. No FW port.) Prev. White MacBook 2.1GHz $999
• New 15in MacBook Pros from $1999 (C2D 2.4GHz (3MB L2), 2.53GHz or 2.8GHz (both 6MB L2), 9400M 256MB shared vram + 9600M GT w/up to 512MB dedicated GDDR3 vram. Now has easy access to hard drive via removable bottom cover)
• New MacBook Air from $1799 (1.6GHz/1.83GHz, larger HDs, new chipset/9400M graphics - 45nm Penryn CPU and new chipset should result in bettery battery life than before.)
• New 24-inch LED Cinema Display w/LED backlighting designed for new MacBook family $899, shipping in Nov. Built-in iSight/mic and USB/Magsafe/mini-DisplayPort cables (i.e. power laptop from display cable)

The MacBook Pro graphics page has a link (popup window) with graphs of 3D gaming performance (2.53GHz pre-production model) using the integrated 9200M (w/better battery life setting) vs the (higher graphics setting) discrete 9600M GT (512MB). Resolution used wasn't mentioned, nor actual framerates but they show relative gain using the 9600M GT benchmarking these games:

• Call of Duty 4: 1.5x
• Quake 4: 1.9x
• Doom 3: 2.3x
• Unreal Tournament 2004: 1.5x

What's unusual also is no comparison to the previous 8600M GT MacBook Pros. (The integrated/9200M graphics was said in the keynote to be just over 1/2 (55%) of the 8600M MacBook Pro's graphics performance - so the above 9200M/9600M ratios aren't really impressive if that's true.) If the new MBP was significantly faster, I'd have expected concrete comparisons of new vs. previous model.

The new MacBook w/9200M was quoted as having up to 5x the graphics performance of the previous model with integrated Intel graphics. The new MacBook Air with lower clock speeds (for heat/power savings) was quoted up to 4x faster graphics than the original model. Here's some Nvidia site links for those that want to dig deeper:

• Nvidia Geforce 9M (Mobile) GPUs (entire series w/links to specifics)
• Nvidia motherboard mobile GPUs (now updated with Geforce 9400M Motherboard GPU info)
• Nvidia's GeForce 9600M GT info (specs page is thin)
• Nvidia's 8600M GT info (used in previous MacBook Pro)

Clock speeds noted on the Nvidia site are for reference as notebook mfrs can choose to use lower clock speeds (for thermal or power considerations).

The 17in MacBook Pro design is unchanged, although 4GB Ram/320GB Hard Drive are now standard. (I'm hoping for an updated 17in model eventually, perhaps with 9800M class graphics...) BTW - Already getting some mails lamenting the lack of Firewire port on the new MacBook, although otherwise the new model is clearly a step up.

"If you are after a SUPERB web cam with one of the best microphone setups I have seen (and heard), head to your gaming store and pickup a Sony PS3 eye. Install the latest version of Macam (from http://webcam-osx.sourceforge.net/-Mike) and enjoy! This camera has a wonderful picture, easily rivaling the Eyesight! It has an ajustable focal length (56-75 degrees FOV) and 60 frames per second at 640x480 resolution.
The microphone is made up of 4 separate mics! They work together to cancel out backgroud noise, in my case a noisy Quicksilver! The Mac will find the mic in your sound preferences pane with no drivers required! Nice.

This is a great Skype camera with good lowlight performace.

One thing to note, it is USB 2 only and is bandwidth hungery! In my G4 Qiucksilver (dual 1ghz) running OSX 10.4.11, I have a (NEC chipset) Belkin 5 port USB 2 pci card. This camera will not work if anything else is plugged into the card! This is no problem as I went to my computer store and bought another (NEC chipset) Belkin USB 2, 2 port pci card to plug the camera into for £5. Problem solved!
Oh did I mention the price? I paid only £25 on the high street!
-Will"

DVD+R/RW + DVD-R/RW Drives:
• USB LG GSA-E60N External Super Multi 20x used w/Intel-CPU Mac Mini (OS X 10.5.5)
  
  Hard Drives:
• USB Simple Technology "Espresso" portable 500GB used w/MacBook (OS X 10.5.x)
  (FYI it had a Hitachi 500GB drive inside (12.5mm high - too tall for internal MacBook/15in MacBook Pro or Mini use - was hoping it was the 9.5mm high Samsung M6 drive)

You can read full reports (latest shown first) by searching the database by drive/brand/interface/mac models (the latest reports are shown first in searches). The database includes reports on Optical Drives (Blu-Ray, DVD, CD/CDR, etc.), Hard Drives, Tape drives, Removable media (ORB, ZIP, MO drives), NAS (Network Attached Storage), in all interface types (IDE, SATA, Firewire, SCSI, USB, adapters).
If you've added/upgraded a drive in your Mac send me the details (drive info/speed rating/mac model/OS version used, etc.). Note: Please use the drive for at least a week before reporting on it and test for booting from Disc with Optical Drives (as well as burning discs). Thanks.