15.4-inch Powerbooks Ramping Up?

[MacRumors]

Digitimes reports (http://www.digitimes.com/NewsShow/Article.asp?datePublish=2003/06/13&pages=04&seq=17) that Compal Electronics will be producing the first 15.4" wide-screen notebooks from Apple Computer.

According to sources, Compal will start shipping 15.4-inch wide-screen PowerBooks for Apple in the second half of this year, with initial monthly shipments estimated at 30,000-40,000 units.

No details regarding the processor utilized are provided in this report. Rumors of 15" PowerBook updates have been filtering in since January... with more reports emerging recently. MacRumors' Buyersguide (http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/) recommendation has been updated to reflect the expectations of imminent updates. A few reports have pointed (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2003/06/20030610191919.shtml) in the same direction. Again, one site (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2003/06/20030610012111.shtml) claims 970 PowerBooks in production at this time, but has had a poor reliability record and should be taken with an appropriate amount of skepticism.

[maradong]

yeah :D

[MacsRgr8]

Hmmmm PPC 970???? <wish>

[joed]

Arn, is this based on the story I submitted a few hours ago?

If the Powerbook 15.4" did sport a 970 chip, the sales for the 12" and 17" would drop off sharpley. Don't think Apple could afford to do this with two new products.

Time will tell, only just over a week to go :)

EDIT: Thanks Arn!

[maradong]

Originally posted by MacsRgr8
Hmmmm PPC 970???? <wish>

well.. perhaps.
the site says that compal will only start shipping the displays in second half of the year.
By there, perhaps the 970 is ready...
*Wishing, Hoping, Dreaming, Praying* :D


added the quote...

[astray]

Is it me or is the second half the year July onwards, so it should hopefully not be too far away.

[richard5mith]

The second half of the year does indeed start in just a few weeks time.

But if the 970's are in the 15", they have to be in the 12" and 17" too.

[djtet]

We'll have to just wait and see...

Plus, if apple doesn't make any announcements of a 970 chip, everyone will be very dissappointed and just in shock...

if apple makes an announcement about the 970 in any of their machines, but does not say when it will be available then everyone will wait for the new 970 machines (and nobody will buy a g4 system)...

even if apple only announces the 970 powermac, people will feel that the powerbooks are not too far off and wait for the 970 powerbook (and nobody will buy a g4 powerbook)...

the only way apple can win is if they announce immediate availability of ALL apple systems with the new 970 chip!:D

[kwameaj]

I've often wondered why Apple slashed the price on the 12in model. I can understand it in the case of the 15.2in one - it's been a while since they modified it so MAYBE an update is in the pipeline.

Are the 12in ones also going to get speed bumps - let's say to 1Ghz? Or they reduced the prices just to boost sales? I hear they are selling really well despite the heat issue.

[dietsoda]

there's no reason that the 12" PB needs to be updated to a 970 (G5), just the 17". The 12" PB will always have it's VERY small form factor to sell it, and with pricing not much higher than the iBook, it fits more as a top of the line ibook than a bottom of line powerbook.

The 12" and the 17" are kinda speciality products anyway. The 12" has a poor resolution, so is really best suited to web, email and office type usage. The 17" has a good resolution for design, video and audio, but it's HUGE and heavy.

So I see no problem with...

G3 iBooks
G4 Mini PowerBook (12")
G5 Powerbooks (15.4", 17")

But then this is Apple, so who knows.

[MetallicPenguin]

Is Compal producing the first 15.4" notebooks from Apple, or producing the first 15.4" screens for notebooks from Apple? Anyway I agree with the person above me.

[centauratlas]

To me it makes no sense for Apple to have waited between Jan and the end of June (6 months) just to update it to the equivalent to the 12 and 17 in terms of features (eg. AirPort Extreme etc).

1. 6 months is WAY to long to wait merely to clear out the channel.
2. The engineering work crosses over from the 12 and 17 so I doubt that is the issue.
3. Apple has to know that plenty of people would want to have at least AP Extreme on it among other things. When the 12 and 17 sport better features than the 15, Apple knows people compare.

The *only* thing that makes sense is that it was held 6 months for some reason, whether for the 970 or something else, I don't know. But I would be really surprised if Apple merely speed-bumped the 12 and 17 and introduced the 15 somewhere in the middle.

[mcrain]

If they come out with a 970 powerbook, I'm going to have to sell my 1 ghz G4 15" Powerbook. Maybe I'll wait until the second generation... Ohhh, I'm salivating.

[chazmox]

I don't necessarily agree with the comment that Apple "can't afford to obsolete the 12 inch and 17 inch" by releasing a 970 15' PB. The increase in sales generated by the new architecture would more than offset the loss in sales in the 12 and 17. Most of Apple's sales in any product come in the first few months of introduction; therefore, staggered releases help smooth out the revenue spikes.

Also, it would seem to me that a 1 GHz G4 Al PB would almost be a let down in performance and, with the perceived heat issues of AL*, a 1.25 GHz G4 seems unlikely. If it is a 1 GHz G4, why'd they wait so long???

A technology company always wants to obsolete it's own products before the competition does!

There is some validity in the argument for the 17 inch model being upgraded; however, they may announce it soon after with a delayed release date.

Then again, I have some doubts on the 970 PB due to other reasons. Noteably, that it would seem that the PM series would be updated before the 15 PB and not at the same time.

* I say perceived because it seems that the computer does not run hotter - it just seems that way because AL is such an efficient conductor.

[The Shadow]

Originally posted by centauratlas
To me it makes no sense for Apple to have waited between Jan and the end of June (6 months) just to update it to the equivalent to the 12 and 17 in terms of features (eg. AirPort Extreme etc).

The *only* thing that makes sense is that it was held 6 months for some reason, whether for the 970 or something else, I don't know.

Totally agree.

That's not to say the PB 970 will happen soon, just that if it doesn't, it will be stupid of Apple to have waited so long to just update the 15"PB to the 12" and 17" specs etc.

BTW, how reliable is the Digiwhatever site? Anyone know?

[pbrennen]

Originally posted by joed
If the Powerbook 15.4" did sport a 970 chip, the sales for the 12" and 17" would drop off sharpley.

Why? What if the 970 powerbook were the same price, or more expensive than the 17"?

[Stella]

If the 15.4" doesn't have a 970 processor in it, then hopefully apple will introduce them 6 months down the line.

Assuming the next revision of PowerMacs sport a 970 processor, Apple cannot expect powerbooks to sell very well if the PBs still have a G4 in it. Just the 'mental' jump (i.e., people's perception) between a G4 and 970 - being faster and 64 bit is just too much to go out and spend $4K (canadian) on 'last' years technology, IMO.

Slightly off topic - but some people are claiming that 17" Powerbooks are selling poorly?

Are there any figures to back this up?
Or is this just ppl talking bollocks?!

[maradong]

Originally posted by maradong
well.. perhaps.
the site says that compal will only start shipping the displays in second half of the year.
By there, perhaps the 970 is ready...
*Wishing, Hoping, Dreaming, Praying* :D


added the quote...

what i mean is that second half of the year is starting next month,. but if the pb would be presented at the WWDC, they would probably already have begun with the assemblage of the pieces no ?

[dietsoda]

Slightly off topic - but some people are claiming that 17" Powerbooks are selling poorly?

Are there any figures to back this up?
Or is this just ppl talking bollocks?!

I thought that the 17" PBs were selling really well?

[maradong]

i also heart that they would sell really good. but who knows ?

[hvfsl]

If they update the 15in, they will also update the others as well. The 12in is down in price so it will be updated. The only reason the 17in has not been reduced in price is because Apple says it is still selling very well. Although if they put a PPC970 in the 15in, they will have to put one in the 17in, but they might just put a faster G4 in the 12in.

[areyouwishing]

Im starting to think that apple will kill the ibook line completely...at least its current form....the 12" powerbook will replace it...maybe under the ibook name, maybe not. They will come out with a 14" AiBook...and those will now make up the low end....and they will have G4's. The only problem I see with this is the bad power consumption of the G4...i think that is the one thing that could be a problem.

[tkulla]

Assuming for a moment that the 15.4" 970 PB is imminent...

1) 12" sales should not suffer, since it's main appeal is form factor and not power.

2) 17" sales would definitely suffer, as it would lose it's place atop the lineup and hence some of the "cool" factor. However, it should be fairly easy for Apple to quickly update the 17" by using the 15" motherboard, right? It has a larger case so there are no space issues, unlike with the 12".

Here's hoping!

Tony

[Sun Baked]

Hopefully the ramp-up will mean Steve will announce at WWDC that the PowerBooks should be available now, and at worst available for order now.

Would sort of suck if they got pushed til after for the speed bumps/upgrades with all the people foaming at the mouth waiting for them now.

[mactastic]

And the rumor roller coaster ride continues! :D

[pbrennen]

One thing I have -never- seen is confirmation that the PPC970 is in production. I've seen some pics on IBM's site of a chip that they claim is the 970 (kind of funny, the chip is posed with feathers), but no official press releases about mass production, or of others recieving even samples of the 970. Someone out there must know whether or not such an annoucement has been made by IBM.

[gezick]

so, i heard a crazy thing from a friend of mine that works for a distributor that works with a school system in a southern state and sells apples to that system.

he said that he was going to be getting a 17" ibook.

now, at first i thought that he was crazy.

or misunderstanding something.

or something.

but then again.

if apple updates all the powerbooks with 970s, why not just slap the current powerbook line in a white plastic case and sell it as an ibook?

why not make the current powerbook 17 into an ibook 17, and then have the powerbook 17 have a 970 processor.

then you update the educational line, and you give the ibook a huge new lease on life, all for free when you update the powerbook line.

probably unlikely, but then again, who knows?

[hvfsl]

Originally posted by pbrennen
One thing I have -never- seen is confirmation that the PPC970 is in production. I've seen some pics on IBM's site of a chip that they claim is the 970 (kind of funny, the chip is posed with feathers), but no official press releases about mass production, or of others recieving even samples of the 970. Someone out there must know whether or not such an annoucement has been made by IBM.

I have heard offical news from IBM that they have started production of the PPC970, you should be able to buy now or at least preorder the IBMs blade servers that have the chips in. IBMs site should have more info.

[pyrotoaster]

Originally posted by gezick
if apple updates all the powerbooks with 970s, why not just slap the current powerbook line in a white plastic case and sell it as an ibook?
Interesting, but I can tell you why not. The iBook (which is due for a major update soon) probably won't ever use the G4. Instead, the iBook will go to the G3-derivative GOBI chips. There also rumors of another G3-derivative called Mojave, but that may very well be a GOBI itself.

[Doraemon]

Originally posted by Stella
Assuming the next revision of PowerMacs sport a 970 processor, Apple cannot expect powerbooks to sell very well if the PBs still have a G4 in it.

The first PowerMac G4 was introduced on September 1st, 1999.
The first PowerBook G4 was introduced on January 9th, 2001.

It happend before and didn't ruin Apple.

And the current iBook line still has a G3 processor although the iMacs already have a G4.

I don't think people are expecting laptops to be equivalent to desktops regarding power.

[AidenShaw]

Originally posted by hvfsl
I have heard offical news from IBM that they have started production of the PPC970, you should be able to buy now or at least preorder the IBMs blade servers that have the chips in. IBMs site should have more info.

The PPC970 blades are still AWOE (absent with out explanation).

I've been trying to buy some, and my IBM salesman is advising me to put money in my cyQ4 budget - they won't be available until very late Q3 at the earliest.

It's odd - he's telling me when to expect Prescott chips in the x-series Intel servers, but not when to expect IBM chips in PPC servers. Doesn't fit into the "Fishkill's pumping out 970 right and left" scenarios.

[pbrennen]

Originally posted by hvfsl
I have heard offical news from IBM that they have started production of the PPC970, you should be able to buy now or at least preorder the IBMs blade servers that have the chips in. IBMs site should have more info.

I didn't find any preorder info for the 970 blades. All of them still have Xeons. Also, I didn't find any announcements on the site about the start of production. Could you cite your source? A link or the body of an email would suffice.

[Freg3000]

Originally posted by Doraemon
The first PowerMac G4 was introduced on September 1st, 1999.
The first PowerBook G4 was introduced on January 9th, 2001.

It happend before and didn't ruin Apple.

And the current iBook line still has a G3 processor although the iMacs already have a G4.

I don't think people are expecting laptops to be equivalent to desktops regarding power.

I agree for the most part, but the difference between the G4 and the G5 is so much greater than the G3 and the G4.

[ssamani]

Originally posted by The Shadow
Totally agree.

That's not to say the PB 970 will happen soon, just that if it doesn't, it will be stupid of Apple to have waited so long to just update the 15"PB to the 12" and 17" specs etc.



I've just assumed the 15" PowerBook, like the 15" iMac and the relevant non-BlueTooth PowerMac model were just Mac OS 9 bootable place holder models. So I can see the 15" only getting updated to match the 17" and 12" models and still sport a G4. The reason it wasn't updated I reckoned was so that the professional users can still buy OS 9 laptops. With Quark 6 release, Apple can stop bothering.

Personally, pure guesswork, but I think we will end up with PowerBook 12" and 14" with IBM G3+AltiVec (Gobi / Mojave / whatever) processors and 15.4" and 17" with 970's but not necessarily soon. iBooks will disappear or end up at the very low end. On the other hand I think we'll see the iMac go to 970 much quicker than expected - the current iMac line up just seems to be too half arsed to me with only two models, one of which doesn't have BlueTooth / 802.11g.

Sanj

[FlamDrag]

As a PB17 owner, I will say that if I had to choose again b/w the 15" G4 and the 17" G4 I'd buy the 17 again.

However, if I were choosing between a 17" G4 and a 15" 970, I'd buy the 15".

The extra screen real-estate is wonderful and I absolutely love this machine - however, I'd sacrifice it for more power. My thoughts anyway.

However, the 12" market I think would be OK since many of those buyers want the super-portability factor (not ultra, just super) in their laptop. Many of these owners still crave more power (mainly RAM complaints from what I've heard.

I don't expect the 970 to make it's way into the 12" anytime soon, but a faster G4 and more RAM - sure.

17" iBooks - I consider that a crazy idea. it would confuse the Pro and Consumer lines IMHO. If you want the big screen, pony up the $$ for it. I wouldn't be shocked to see a 15.4" iBook, but a 17 is doubtful.

To weigh in for the first time on the 970 debuting at WWDC; I'm still doubtful that it will happen. Everyone that is "positive" is basing their bets on repetition of rumors rather than confirmation. Places like c|net who "confirm" stories are likely just submitting their obligatory Mac story and don't care much about where it came from or who wrote it.

From where I sit - the only (seemingly) different and new information points to a release later in the year, not sooner. I will concede that they COULD announce at WWDC but not ship until later. I'm not so sure though.

Just my thoughts for the fortnight.

[rjstanford]

Originally posted by Doraemon
I don't think people are expecting laptops to be equivalent to desktops regarding power. This was true (somewhat) back in '99. These days, people expect the gap to be significantly closer, if not equal. Many businesses aren't really buying desktops any more, for example, and if Apple wants to be competitive in the (non-niche) business world, they need a decently powerful laptop.

-Richard

[MrBongHits]

1) the span of the pwbk line will never use two sepearet chipsets.

2) if you read the apple insider article clearly, all the pwbks will be bumped

3) I'm getting angry cause you guys make no sense, so i went over to the thinkstupid forums over there and all they got is 12 highschoolers with 894598 thousand posts each, arguing with eachother.

There is no 970 in the new POwerBooks god damnit. You dont have to believe Teddy Ruxpin, but you just wait and feel stupuid. Maybe some of you should go hang out at the think secret board too and play with the 12 guys with 34898 posts.

[pyrotoaster]

Originally posted by Doraemon
I don't think people are expecting laptops to be equivalent to desktops regarding power.
Apple can't seriously expect laptops to make up 50 percent of their sales if they continue to leave them so weak.

The machines will be much closer in power. Something like a 1.2 GHz Powerbook and 1.4 GHz Powermac. Of course, the Powerbook will probably cost more than the Powermac, but how else does Apple expect to make money (with .mac?!)

[djtet]

From where I sit - the only (seemingly) different and new information points to a release later in the year, not sooner. I will concede that they COULD announce at WWDC but not ship until later. I'm not so sure though.

Just my thoughts for the fortnight.

As I stated earlier in this post...I think it will really hurt apple if they just announce something with a 970. IF they announce something they should have either an "order now - ship shortly" or "available immediately" kind of thing. If everyone knows they are coming, but just not for a couple of more months, most people will wait and the sales of the g4's will plummet!!!

[arn]

Originally posted by pbrennen
One thing I have -never- seen is confirmation that the PPC970 is in production. I've seen some pics on IBM's site of a chip that they claim is the 970 (kind of funny, the chip is posed with feathers), but no official press releases about mass production, or of others recieving even samples of the 970. Someone out there must know whether or not such an annoucement has been made by IBM.

as far as I know... there has been no confirmation of this.

arn

[pyrotoaster]

Also originally posted by MrBongHits
1) the span of the pwbk line will never use two sepearet chipsets.

2) if you read the apple insider article clearly, all the pwbks will be bumped

3) I'm getting angry cause you guys make no sense, so i went over to the thinkstupid forums over there and all they got is 12 highschoolers with 894598 thousand posts each, arguing with eachother.

There is no 970 in the new POwerBooks god damnit. You dont have to believe Teddy Ruxpin, but you just wait and feel stupuid. Maybe some of you should go hang out at the think secret board too and play with the 12 guys with 34898 posts.
Why can't the Powerbook line have two different chip sets? I'd like to see a reason to back up the claim. Also, why can't all the Powerbooks simply go to the 970 all at once (sure, I don't believe it myself, but it's a possibility).

When did Apple Insider become the all-knowing source of Apple rumors. Last I checked their accuracy record was only so-so. It's never a good idea to put all your yo-yos in one basket (sure, that didn't make sense, but what I'm saying is simply don't trust any one source 100 percent).

Think Stupid (I'm assuming you mean Think Secret) has a way better accuracy record than Apple Insider, although I don't know what they have to do with anything (they haven't made a single prediction about the WWDC yet).

Why aren't there going to be 970 Powerbooks, I'd love to see reason. :D

[Mr. MacPhisto]

I'm wondering if the new prices will stick for the 12" and 15" Powerbooks when updates come. It would certainly be nice as their prices are more competitive.

I could see Apple using a 1GHZ G4 in the 12", although they could also use the 1.2 GHZ 970 chip that has very low power consumption, although I'm not sure any of those have been shipped to Apple. The advantage of moving to the 970 would be that the 12" could have a faster bus-speed and full DDR implementation with DDR400. That alone should greatly improve performance when cooupled with the IBM chip, making it truly a POWERbook. It also would pave the way for a 200MHZ bus in the iBooks with DDR RAM, increasing their performance as well, especially under Gobi.

[MrBongHits]

WHY NOT? because YOU NEED A DIFFERENT LOGIC BOARD FOR THE 970 then you do for the G4, if you want to take advantage of it, and apple is in the business of saving money and making money, not wasting it to product two seperate logic boards and configs, with separete OEM components for each, for such a low yeild ****ing machine. they sell millions of i macs but then dont powerbooks

they JUST redesigned the pwbk with new logic boards for the g4... JANUARY! HEY ARE APPLE THEY KNEW AT THIS TIME APPROX WHEN THE 970 wqould be done. THE POWERBOOKS WITH WILL STAY G4

AND ApplEInsider, from the article i jujst read, is being chased by apple legal. look apple legal even threatened this site because they LINKed to the insider site. mac rumors took it down and barely link anymore. SO DO YOU THINK, IN THIS CASE, THAT THEIR RUMORS ARE NOT LIKE 90% right? I DO

[Sun Baked]

Originally posted by ssamani
I've just assumed the 15" PowerBook, like the 15" iMac and the relevant non-BlueTooth PowerMac model were just Mac OS 9 bootable place holder models. So I can see the 15" only getting updated to match the 17" and 12" models and still sport a G4. The reason it wasn't updated I reckoned was so that the professional users can still buy OS 9 laptops. With Quark 6 release, Apple can stop bothering.

Sanj Don't forget the education market, who are dragging their feet on the move from OS 9 and are also suffering a bunch of budget problems right now.

Blame Quark, pat the educators on the head and give them a treat.

Should be interesting to see how Apple handles the education market. ;)

[yzedf]

The real question is what resolution will this new screen be? Maybe 10.3 will include better support for hi-res systems, and we can get something approaching the resolution on the Dell with the 15.4" screen (choice of 1280*800 or 1680*1050 or 1920*1200 - all are 16:10).

To anyone that says high-res is not needed, I disagree. All I want is the choice. Not everyone has to use it, but it's about time that it's available to those of us who have good vision... :rolleyes:

[maradong]

Originally posted by yzedf
Maybe 10.3 will include better support for hi-res systems,

the resolution depends on the monitor not on the os...

[dietsoda]

I couldn't agree more! For me the resolution of the current PowerBook 15" isn't good enough. I'd be sorely tempted by the 12" (even without FW800 etc.) if it only had a decent res. AND, I've always thought it shoddy that the 14" iBook only has 0124x768, no better than the 12" ibook!

[dietsoda]

I couldn't agree more! For me the resolution of the current PowerBook 15" isn't good enough. I'd be sorely tempted by the 12" (even without FW800 etc.) if it only had a decent res. AND, I've always thought it shoddy that the 14" iBook only has 0124x768, no better than the 12" ibook!

[rmac]

Originally posted by yzedf
The real question is what resolution will this new screen be? Maybe 10.3 will include better support for hi-res systems, and we can get something approaching the resolution on the Dell with the 15.4 screen (choice of 1280*800 or 1680*1050 or 1920*1200 - all are 16:10).

To anyone that says high-res is not needed, I disagree. All I want is the choice. Not everyone has to use it, but its about time that it's available to those of us who have good vision... :rolleyes:

Even if Panther doesn't have better high-res support, 1680 x 1050 would be quite nice. 1600 x 1200 on a 19" CRT is great on Jaguar now, IMHO. 1680 x 1050 would have a little higher ppi, but still quite reasonable, especially considering LCDs are supposed to be sharper.

A higher res screen is second on my wishlist for the new Powerbook...970 of course being first. :)

[macnews]

The price drops on the 12" and 15" powerbooks would seem to indicate upgrades are coming. I have heard reports about 15" supplies running low, but has anyone heard about the 12" and 17"? I would have a hard time believing the 17" supply channel is almost dry. I would think the 12" would be about the same. To me this alone would indicate 970's will not be put in the powerbooks right away. I would not be suprised to see speed bumps, but doubt we will see a new processor. :(

[bertagert]

As for me, i don't care what processor is in the powerbook as long as its faster than the last one. And I don't mean going from a 1 ghz to a 1 ghz with XServe technology. I need 1.2 G4 or 970. Either will do.

[edenwaith]

Originally posted by Macrumors
Again, one site (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2003/06/20030610012111.shtml) claims 970 PowerBooks in production at this time, but has had a poor reliability record and should be taken with an appropriate amount of skepticism.

...and again, I'm getting quite tired of seeing the mud slinging and libel. It is getting quite ridiculous watching MacRumors to be continually discrediting other rumors sites.

[Rower_CPU]

Folks let's keep things on-topic and insult free.

First warning, MrBongHits.

[freundt]

Originally posted by bertagert
As for me, i don't care what processor is in the powerbook as long as its faster than the last one. And I don't mean going from a 1 ghz to a 1 ghz with XServe technology. I need 1.2 G4 or 970. Either will do.

Exactly.. And you know, I gotta say, it'll be kind of pitiful if it is a 1.2 G4, considering 7 months have passed since the 1 ghz.

[dguisinger]

Originally posted by freundt
Exactly.. And you know, I gotta say, it'll be kind of pitiful if it is a 1.2 G4, considering 7 months have passed since the 1 ghz.

Exactly, and look at Intel. They just announced the Pentium 4 3.06GHz for high-end notebooks.

You know, not all notebooks need to push 4-5 hours of battery life. Many people are just fine with a slightly thicker notebook and shorter battery life for extra speed.

The Intel world has both thin low powered books and thicker high-powered ones.

Why can't Apple do this? Releasing 970 powerbooks would bring back the meaning of the word PowerBook.

You can't have your top notebook at 1GHz when the competition is 3GHz ....... I mean what a joke.

And second: You can't have these crap-ass pidly resolution screens when Dell provides an option for 3 different LCD resolutions when you purchase a notebook. Come on Apple, give us some choice.

[EponymousCow]

Originally posted by Doraemon
The first PowerMac G4 was introduced on September 1st, 1999.
The first PowerBook G4 was introduced on January 9th, 2001.

It happend before and didn't ruin Apple.

And the current iBook line still has a G3 processor although the iMacs already have a G4.

I don't think people are expecting laptops to be equivalent to desktops regarding power.

The counterexample to that is the Powermac G3 and Powerbook G3 were both introduced in November 1997. Admittedly, the original Powerbook G3 was really just a 3400 with a G3 upgrade and the fully redesigned Powerbook G3 (WallStreet) didn't come out until May of 1998, about 6 months later.

[dguisinger]

Originally posted by EponymousCow
The counterexample to that is the Powermac G3 and Powerbook G3 were both introduced in November 1997. Admittedly, the original Powerbook G3 was really just a 3400 with a G3 upgrade and the fully redesigned Powerbook G3 (WallStreet) didn't come out until May of 1998, about 6 months later.

And its not like there isn't plenty of help on making the chipsets for notebooks out there.

AMD, IBM, and NVidia have all made chipsets and have experience with low power designs, DDR, ethernet, and hypertransport. With the way many fabs work now, where if you need a DDR memory controller, they can add it to your chip design automatically (got to love CAD libraries), or USB2, or SATA, most parts of chip design only goes to specialized components and the final chip layout.

I bet they could easily turn out a 970 notebook.

[mania]

The argument that apple won't want to hurt the 17 by putting a 970 in a 15 is sort of been disproven by apple itself. isnt the 15 hut by the 12 with aluminum case and airport extreme? isn't the 12 hurt by the ibook? isn't the desktop hurt by the 17? the answer is yes to all - but isn't it nice to have lots of choices and have apple release things when they are ready instead of waiting for some magic moment when the product line up is perfect.

now if you argue that the 970 is too hot or some other technical reason then I would believe that more than the 'hurting sales' argument. SALES are already hurting due to perceived (or real) lack of speed. Apple knows this. They really want to drop moto and move on. They wont wait one more day than they have to.

[mkaake]

oh, and did they mention that they'll be available THIS TUESDAY!!!

GUARANTEED!! THIS TUESDAY!!!

i'm sure they just forgot to put that in the report...

matt

[Rocketman]

Originally posted by MacsRgr8
Hmmmm PPC 970???? <wish>

I hope so. If so we will be buying 4 Rev A Al970's. We got a RevA Ti400 and no regrets. In fact it even has a reset key which is occasionally handy if running pure 9.2 and Internet Explorer.

With a modern OS, processor, and most importantly of all a reasonable system bus for the very first time, this thing will be a pleasure to own and debug for Apple :)

Rocketman

http://v-serv.com/-upload/avatar.jpg

[pyrotoaster]

I just got confirmation that Apple will realease a 970 Powerbook. Mac OS Rumors says we won't see one, so obviously, we will! :D

[DaBeav]

OK... I just have a quick question.
When the new PB does start shipping, does "shipping" mean from the apple web site or to stores or both? What I am getting at is... what will be the best way to get one... ordering from apple or do you think the stores will have them in stock? So I can just drive down the street and pick one up :D

[pyrotoaster]

Originally posted by DaBeav
OK... I just have a quick question.
When the new PB does start shipping, does "shipping" mean from the apple web site or to stores or both? What I am getting at is... what will be the best way to get one... ordering from apple or do you think the stores will have them in stock? So I can just drive down the street and pick one up :D
"Shipping" usually means that Apple is just starting to fulfill preorders. My advice would be to per-order from an Apple Retail Store. It's almost the same as pre-ordering from the website, but you've got actual live people to deal with. Plus, with the 12" and 17" PBs were first being pre-ordered, in-store pre-orders got free shirts and some kind of deal that I can't remember now...

Anyhoo, that's my advice.
-Pyro

[Phinius]

Originally posted by chazmox
Also, it would seem to me that a 1 GHz G4 Al PB would almost be a let down in performance and, with the perceived heat issues of AL*, a 1.25 GHz G4 seems unlikely. If it is a 1 GHz G4, why'd they wait so long???

Motorola will be moving the G4 to a smaller process size in the 3rd quarter (Jul-Sept), which will increase the performance of the chip by about 40%, with no increase in average watts used. So, in other words, Apple will be able to use a 1.3GHz G4 in notebooks without increasing the watts used.

In fact, Apple would be able to increase the speed of the entire computer consumer line by at least 40% when Motorola starts manufacturing these new 7457 G4s. That's due to the top performing G4s moving down through the consumer line, with the top speed of the G4 topping out at about 1.8GHz on this smaller process size.

All of Apple's computers could get a major upgrade in performance in the next couple of months and expect to see some added products like a upgradeable G4 box for consumers, another server or two and perhaps a highend workstation.

[MetallicPenguin]

Here's a mock-up I made of the new 15":

[ColoJohnBoy]

Hmmmmm.... second half of this year, eh? July is in the second half of this year! ;)

[dongmin]

Originally posted by Phinius
Motorola will be moving the G4 to a smaller process size in the 3rd quarter (Jul-Sept), which will increase the performance of the chip by about 40%, with no increase in average watts used. So, in other words, Apple will be able to use a 1.3GHz G4 in notebooks without increasing the watts used.

Most recent reports (The Register (http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/39/31031.html)) point to Q4 delivery. But ship dates are highly unpredictable with Moto. I think they originally announced Q2 delivery.

In fact, Apple would be able to increase the speed of the entire computer consumer line by at least 40% when Motorola starts manufacturing these new 7457 G4s. That's due to the top performing G4s moving down through the consumer line, with the top speed of the G4 topping out at about 1.8GHz on this smaller process size.

Personally I think the 7457 (pin compatible with current mobos) will make it into the PBs before the 970s. But there seems to be a vocal contingent here who's sure of the 970. But the WWDC is only a week away so it seems rather pointless to argue. We'll know soon enough.

[Dragonneyes]

All this hype about the 970 15" PB seems a little extraneous...it won't happen in the mid-size one, for sure...but, to tell you the truth...

As a college student, and an avid Mac fan, iBooks just don't cut it for me. Neither does the 12" PB (though it is cute and compact), since it only runs the 867 processing speed. I am EAGERLY awaiting a 15" update - besides the 1gHz processor, it's lower price and smaller size makes it much more appealing to me than the gargatuan (yet drool-worthy) 17" monster.

In short -

If Apple would just update the 15" with the side ports (instead of that nasty back flap thing), give it the nice, soild keyboard, and maybe Firewire 800, I think I'd be just fine.

Is there any "solid" rumor that indicates the 15" update is forthcoming? How soon? Email me with responses.

[crees!]

My fault.. the new graphic on the Apple Store caught me off guard.

PowerBook prices just dropped on the 12" by $200 to $1,599 and the 15" by $300 to $1,999