New iBooks soon?

[crazydreaming]

So what's happening with iBooks? The time between updates bar is the longest it's ever been in the Buyers Guide. Could this mean we are in for (finally) a big iBook change? My dad is biting the bullet to buy now.

I hope sometime this week...

What do you guys think the next iBook will be? I'm thinking they may do something that's going to really set it apart from the 12" Powerbook.

What are you dreaming of?

[intrepkid21]

I have the latest gen ibook..it's a great machine and I definately recommend it..but I'm sure the iBook updates will come soon..if its just a speed bump. Perhaps they are waiting til WWDC to unveil something special. I have been wanting colored ibooks to come back for the longest time. I think that after the iPod mini's success..these machines would sell like mad. Picture it, "from the makers of ipod mini, re-introducing the ibook g4"..same colors as ipod mini and maybe made of the same material?? I would buy a new one just for that!

[crazydreaming]

That would be awesome. Just for the aluminum alone. At first I thought they would never make an aluminum iBook, because of the Powerbook, but maybe, just maybe if it was colored. Heck, if the iPod mini gets the aluminum treatment, why can't the iBook?!

Now, I just don't know what to tell my dad. He wants a iBook or powerbook, but doesn't want to spend more than $1,000. So we were going to buy a powerbook from Microcenter, until they ran out...

So I told him iBooks should be updated very soon, to hold on just a little more... little more... What to do?

My dad's not very good at patience and waiting...

[crazydreaming]

Who else is waiting for new iBooks?

[chelseasian]

Me! I am waiting for a new iBook. Though that would make the total number of Macs in my apt. 4!

I have an old G4 500mhz which is collecting dust at the moment. :p

[bbarnhart]

I am waiting for new iBooks. I'll probably buy whatever comes out next and be disappointed it's not more. There are PowerBooks, but I don't need that type of machine.

[crazydreaming]

If you are going to use your portable a lot, like at least few hours a day... Go with a Powerbook. I went with an iBook and am regretting it. I use it all the time, school, work, after school, work.. lol.

I thought I would get a desktop, but I really don't need a desktop in addition, I only need 1 machine.

anyways..

[mahashel]

Who else is waiting for new iBooks?
I'm waiting as well. I have a graphite G4 tower, which is still more than adequate for my desktop, but am impatiently awaiting the next iBook revision since my portable mac is a 233MHz Wallstreet powerbook.
Could definately use some more beef for my portable system. :p

[bbarnhart]

If you are going to use your portable a lot, like at least few hours a day... Go with a Powerbook. I went with an iBook and am regretting it. I use it all the time, school, work, after school, work.. lol.

I thought I would get a desktop, but I really don't need a desktop in addition, I only need 1 machine.

anyways..

I'm only considering the $999 iBook and the 12" PowerBook is an amazing 50% more at $1499. Besides, it's just for my wife and kids to use. If it was for me, I'd get the 17" PowerBook :D

[johnCornelius]

Who else is waiting for new iBooks?

Definitely decided I want a 12" iBook or might just stretch to a PB but I'd rather not - and I just can't buy until Apple gives some kind of sign... though I guess it might all be held up by the wait for and problems with the PB jump to G5.

At the very least I'll be buying extra RAM to get it to 512Mb, and that could so easily be part of a minimal "bump" to the range that I can't bear to pay extra for it right now!

I really want one my iBook! Pain, pain, pain... :(

[guichard]

I too am waiting for the ibook update. It has been amusing reading the posts and what various members are stating as likely amendments. I am just waiting so that I do not purchase something that is replaced in a couple of weeks - months. I will be buying a 12" ibook as I already have a desktop (XP, not Mac OS).

Come on apple, I know you want my £700.

Rob

P.s. to all the members in my situation, enjoy the wait. I think it is part of the purchasing fun! :rolleyes:

[Aeronautical]

I'm waiting for a new ibook as well!!!! I keep reading every rumour and every thread on them. I've deceided on the ibook against the powerbook becos' of the sturdiness of the plastic case and its price, and also I don't really like that metallicy silver finish that the powerbook and nearly every dvd player, stereo, video and tv has now. It's just too everywhere. Evryone acts like the looks of the powerbook are a real selling point, but having silver everything is no choice at all.

[Beck446]

Besides, the longer the wait the better: Apple is more likely to do a major form redesign at WWDC than tomorrow. So no news is good news!

[kitsune^]

Hey everyone, my first post here.

Decided to sell my ThinkPad and get one of these new 12" iBooks once they are released. Can't wait.

I'm still a student finising my masters, so I'm going to use the iBook for maybe two years. Then when I'm working, I'll get a 15" G5 PowerBook and give the 12" to my parents.

Hoping for the colored iBooks too! I'd go for a red. :D

[timmyb]

I've been putting off buying the iBook till the next update since january. I only really need it for uni in september but it's so hard to hold out when you have to use a PC. My iBook of choice is the 12" model and although I'm not bothered by a RAM boost, (I'm going to upgrade to 768MB anyway,) I really want the 64MB VRAM for all the Tiger features. Apart from RAM and VRAM, does anyone think we are likely to get any other additions in the next rev?

[zach]

Maybe the harddrive protection. I doubt the iBooks will see the scrolling keypad enabled, however.

[jayscheuerle]

I'm sure the next revisions will support Core Image/Video, etc. and have the minimum of 512 MB of RAM. I'm not sure why they'd change the case. Its look is consistent with the iMac and iPod..

[An naoscaire]

Yer, I'm waiting for a new 12" iBook too.

I'll probably get a stern reality check for this but, I'd love if they offered a superdrive with the 12" as an optional. I wouldn't mind paying the extra cash for it. (coreimage capable GPU is a given, too)

My current mac is a black performa 5400/180 on system 7.5.3! I'm looking to get the iBook for, among other things, development and archiving. If my experience with Tiger is what I hope it will be I may just get a €500 Dell crap box for Windows and get a decent Powermac as my new main computer.

Here's hoping... :o

[Brandon Sharitt]

I was initially under the impression that the iBooks would be coming out along with the iMacs and eMacs, but now I'm told they won't be out until this summer(possibly WWDC?) along side updated Mac minis. The iBook will get minor speed bumps(possible scenarios I heard include 12" 1.33 and 14" at 1.42 or 1.5, or both at 1.42) and the mini is expected to be at 1.42GHz for both models, and the ram and vram is expected to be brought into sync with the eMac(64MB 9600). The iBooks should have 512 RAM across the whole line, while the mini may adopt the eMac aproach with the lowend still with 256 and the $599 with 512MB.

[Red Belly]

I'm a soon to be switcher. Initially decided to buy a Dell laptop to replace my 5-y-o Windows 98 desktop about 6 months ago, but I've decided to switch to OSX, and the ibook will be my gateway to apple. Assuming all goes well I'll probably buy the NEXT revision of the iMac in a year or so as my new home PC. I don't really NEED the laptop yet so I'm happy enough to wait for the next upgrade. The 12" ibook looks an excellent little portable as is. I'm budgeting for an airport express and a tucano second skin as well as BTO upgrades to 512RAM and a 60gig Hard drive. I'm kinda hoping the next upgrade will save me some money on those bto upgrades. Money which can go towards software or a shiny new ipod photo.

rb

[Deepdale]

I have been wanting colored ibooks to come back for the longest time. I think that after the iPod mini's success..these machines would sell like mad. Picture it, "from the makers of ipod mini, re-introducing the ibook g4"..same colors as ipod mini and maybe made of the same material?? I would buy a new one just for that!


Count me in on that ... I would snap up one in a cool color very quickly. I am not counting on that to materialize, but an occasional flight of fancy will do no harm.

[shane-o-mac]

I am jumping on the bandwagon as well.

Currently have a 15" powerbook I got a couple months ago I am tryin to sell on another thread(http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=123072).

It is an amazing machine, but really too much for my need since I seldom do more then check email and write papers. The ibook offers portability and battery life I would really like to have. But I am def not going to buy until the updates.

[MacSA]

They'll definatley upgrade the hardrive, 30gb is not that great. I'm not sure about the 512mb of memory though...It wouldn't surprise me if the more expensive 14" got 512 and the cheaper 12" stayed with 256. And they both need the 64mb 9600 card.

[Abstract]

TO ALL THE SWITCHERS OR SOON-TO-BE-SWITCHERS:

Don't buy your RAM from Apple. Go to NewEgg (http://www.newegg.com/ProductSort/SubCategory.asp?Subcategory=147&DEPA=1)
OWC (http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/)

if you want RAM.

I'm just concerned that if you're looking at prices for your laptops, you're getting your iBooks and PBs with Apple-installed RAM. Its piss easy to install your own RAM (a good 3-4 minutes), and it'll save you heaps of money.

[Lord ZipLoc]

i to haev been waiting over a month for the new 12" ibooks to coem out and will br buyign one when it comes out
i jsut have a question how will the preformance of this possible ibook upgrade
1.42ghz 64mb video card 768mb ram 60gb hard drive compare to my current laptop
sony vaio k13 p4 2.8ghz 448mb ram 64mbs shared video radeon igp345 4200rpm 40gb hard drive
will the ibook be faster? or is the vaio a better computer
thanks

[LGRW3919]

okay lately apple has been updating products on tuesdays and since this is a monday i wanted to check in w/ amazon. amazon is OUT of ibooks. i'm new at judging product upgrades by online resellers, but maybe this is a clue. sit tight (WAIT!!!) ibook-wanters, its a great machine and it looks promising that it will be updated soon.

[zflauaus]

Who else is waiting for new iBooks?

Well, I hope to get my iBook soon. The thing is: my parents. We set up this "point" system (1 point =$1), which in my 13-year-old opinion is a great way to reward your child(ren), and I think it's going to take a long time to get it. I am not fascinated with Windows anymore. It started when my computer started crashing randomly. :mad: I just hope the new iBooks are released when I buy my iBook. Wish me luck to a soon-to-be switcher.

[3lions]

okay lately apple has been updating products on tuesdays and since this is a monday i wanted to check in w/ amazon. amazon is OUT of ibooks. i'm new at judging product upgrades by online resellers, but maybe this is a clue. sit tight (WAIT!!!) ibook-wanters, its a great machine and it looks promising that it will be updated soon.

apple still says same buisness day shipping

[Palador]

Wishful thinking.

Ive said it before and I'll say it again, there is no way iBooks will be updated before the Powerbooks. Id probably say things are going in the way of dual update in a couple months.

If they updated the iBooks before the Powerbooks in any meaningful way, there wouldnt be enough of a difference to justify the purchase of a powerbook to most people.

[paperinacup]

I highly doubt anything will be released before WWDC (June 6). So thats at least a month before the iBook or Powerbook will be released.

[ctsport1234]

Wishful thinking.

Ive said it before and I'll say it again, there is no way iBooks will be updated before the Powerbooks. Id probably say things are going in the way of dual update in a couple months.

If they updated the iBooks before the Powerbooks in any meaningful way, there wouldnt be enough of a difference to justify the purchase of a powerbook to most people.

Am I missing something here? Didn't apple just update the powerbooks like a month or two ago? :confused:

[weg]

Hoping for the colored iBooks too! I'd go for a red. :D

No chance.. you'll have to get a pink one :D

[joey4127]

I' getting a ibook within the next 6 months. I'm waiting and hoping a new one will come out so I could get that, or if it's nothing special and the old ibooks will drop in price so I would get that :p

[weg]

TO ALL THE SWITCHERS OR SOON-TO-BE-SWITCHERS:

Don't buy your RAM from Apple. Go to NewEgg (http://www.newegg.com/ProductSort/SubCategory.asp?Subcategory=147&DEPA=1)
OWC (http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/)

if you want RAM.

I'm just concerned that if you're looking at prices for your laptops, you're getting your iBooks and PBs with Apple-installed RAM. Its piss easy to install your own RAM (a good 3-4 minutes), and it'll save you heaps of money.

Yes, Apple is perfectly aware of that fact. That's why they are shipping the 12" powerbook with 512 MB RAM - 256 built in, 256MB blocking the extension slot. :mad:

[joey4127]

But if you install your ram yourself, doesn't that ruin your warranty??

[cooknwitha]

I too am waiting. Waiting for my first laptop!! I had a play around in a store yesterday and I think the 12" iBook will do beautifully. So please hurry up Apple!

[MacSA]

Well....it's looking more and more likely that an iBook update is a long way off. :(

[bbarnhart]

But if you install your ram yourself, doesn't that ruin your warranty??

I believe that for the iBook and PowerBook, the RAM modules are user servicable. It will not void your warrenty.

Exchanging the HD... that is a different story.

[bbarnhart]

i to haev been waiting over a month for the new 12" ibooks to coem out and will br buyign one when it comes out
i jsut have a question how will the preformance of this possible ibook upgrade
1.42ghz 64mb video card 768mb ram 60gb hard drive compare to my current laptop
sony vaio k13 p4 2.8ghz 448mb ram 64mbs shared video radeon igp345 4200rpm 40gb hard drive
will the ibook be faster? or is the vaio a better computer
thanks

In terms of CPU benchmarks, I would think that they would be close. But, you need to consider bus speed, shared video memory and real world tests. I don't know which would be faster, but I think they would be in the same class.

[WolfgangK]

I am seeing no signs that an update to the iBook is imminent. If there were to be an update, a speed bump type update, it would have happened when they began shipping with Tiger, or I would have expected it to happen with the other consumer machines(eMac/iMac).

I know in the past the iBook has seen pretty regular updates...but that was up until the point it started nipping at the Powerbook's heels. And an update to the powerbook would seem to be dependant on Apples ability to get a G5 chip in there. Just because the iBooks updated regularly in the past, doesn't mean it will in continue into infinity.

I don't know that WWDC is the magic answer either. Perhaps they're planning a big Powerbook/iBook revision to announce there...but there is really no recon to support that either.

If an update were so close, I'd expect lots more rumbling in the grapevine about it. I am getting closer and closer to buying one, and am really growing tired of this waiting game, which has gone on since Feb. now.

The other thing I've been thinking, is that if they do a major revise to the iBook...do I want to buy the first revision, or the last revision of the current model...which is a solid, solid piece of hardware in it's own right.

Live by the guide, die by the guide.

[joey4127]

On the main page of macrumors the price for ibook says $925...I WANT A NEW iBOOK!!!

[Rangerhall6]

I just noticed that shipping on ibooks from the apple web site has gone from same day to 1-3 day shipping... does this mean anything?

[guichard]

The US and UK stores still show same day / 24 hours. You got my hopes up there! :D

[Rangerhall6]

If you look on apple the low end ibook is shipping in 1-3 days as well as one of the powerbooks

[Rangerhall6]

its with the education discount so i think that changes your options

[joey4127]

Estimated Ship:
1-3 business days
Free Shipping

[joey4127]

I really really really really want new ibooks to come our :(

[WolfgangK]

I see same day shipping. Besides, a few weeks ago the ship times went up to 1-3 days, stayed that way a couple of days...and nothing. If they were prepared to update the iBook, why wouldn't they have included it with the other consumer machines, or followed up with another weekly update today. I wish we could will it to happen with speculation and hope, but I am running low on both of those at this point!

[Rangerhall6]

with the education discount the low end iBook is shipping in 1-3 business days... is it not that way for you?

[JonMaker]

Its Tuesday, and there are no updates. :mad: :(

Coloured iBooks would just be tacky, IMHO. Its okay for an iPod mini, but I would never buy a pink/purple/yellow/chartreuse iBook.

I, frankly, like the current form factor, and hope that we get:

• Higher res screen. 1024x768 would have been low-end in 1997.
• More standard RAM soldered on the MoBo.
• Bigger standard HD.
• Better video card.

et cetera.

[BKKloppenborg]

Its Tuesday, and there are no updates. :mad: :(

Coloured iBooks would just be tacky, IMHO. Its okay for an iPod mini, but I would never buy a pink/purple/yellow/chartreuse iBook.

I, frankly, like the current form factor, and hope that we get:

• Higher res screen. 1024x768 would have been low-end in 1997.
• More standard RAM soldered on the MoBo.
• Bigger standard HD.
• Better video card.

et cetera.

lol only one i would ever get coloered is Black or white, i would love all those updates i am hopeing for 512mb ram 64mb Video, and mabye a very slight CPU update from 1.33 to MABYE 1.4

[cube]

Who cares about colors? 512MiB on board, ATI 9600, standard Bluetooth, higher resolution, 5400RPM is what is needed.

Note to Apple: put CardBus slot in 12" PB, or I'll buy iBook.

[rblprd]

apple still says same buisness day shipping


My order said 1 - 3 days on 4-29 when I sent the order thru
I changed the HD and added Bluetooth.

initial ship date was on or before 5-04, then at 3:18 AM CST 05-05 I got an email stating the new on or before ship date was 5-10, it is drawing to a close in a matter of hours and the site still shows my iBook status as 'Sent to Manufacturing ' which is what it has been for well over a week now :|

< added 01:20 AM CST 05-11-05>
Well crap, just got pushed back to 05-16-05 now :-s

I really hope there is an update that is delaying my nice shiny new iBook goodness, I am testing the waters with the IB, I may be going with a G5 tower or possibility an older G4 tower with some upgrades. Micro$oft is really annoying me, and I want to branch out and away from them soon, and OS X I think will do it more easily than my Linux workhorses are doing now.

[Alasta]

lol only one i would ever get coloered is Black or white, i would love all those updates i am hopeing for 512mb ram 64mb Video, and mabye a very slight CPU update from 1.33 to MABYE 1.4

I tend to agree with this but everyone seems to be forgetting the feature that the iBook is most in need of : a price drop! This is what I'm hoping for more than anything else with respect to this particular product.

Anyway, you can add my name to the list of people eagerly awaiting iBook updates. I'm in no great hurry to buy, and my pockets aren't exactly overflowing with cash at the moment, so I'm prepared to wait another six months if I have to. However, my G3 800MHz iBook is starting to creak and groan a bit, so I'm looking forward to the next revision when I can finally get my hands on it.

[kitsune^]

Hoping for the colored iBooks too! I'd go for a red.

No chance.. you'll have to get a pink one :D

Yea thought so, but let me still hold on to my fantasy, mate ;)

[iPlm]

I think a realistic upgrade would include the following:

12.1" - 1.33GHz G4, 14.1" - 1.5GHz G4
12.1" - 256MB RAM, 14.1" - 512MB RAM
12.1" - 40GB HDD, 14.1" combo - 60GB HDD, 14.1" superdrive - 80GB HDD (or 60 as the combo model)
64MB Radeon 9600 for every model (they've put it in the new eMacs, so why not put it in the iBook)

It would be great if they made the displays support higher resolution. If they do, they'll need to upgrade the 12.1" Powerbook too. If they put Radeon 9600 64MB, they could upgrade only the 12.1" PB, adding a Radeon 9700.
I really think they will add the Radeon 9600, or at least a FX5200 64MB. Tiger's CoreImage doesn't the current Radeon 9200 and I don't believe Apple would upgade any hardware without making it fully compatible with Tiger.

[rblprd]

My order said 1 - 3 days on 4-29 when I sent the order thru
I changed the HD and added Bluetooth.

initial ship date was on or before 5-04, then at 3:18 AM CST 05-05 I got an email stating the new on or before ship date was 5-10, it is drawing to a close in a matter of hours and the site still shows my iBook status as 'Sent to Manufacturing ' which is what it has been for well over a week now :|

< added 01:20 AM CST 05-11-05>
Well crap, just got pushed back to 05-16-05 now :-s


WOOHOO status change to preparing to ship
and I am getting Free Overnight shipping to boot for teh long delay :)

OK, I am happy now