Poll: What do you think is coming at WWDC w/ respect to PowerMacs?

[MacRumors]

Vote: Poll: What do you think is coming at WWDC w/ respect to PowerMacs? (http://www.macpolls.com/?poll_id=204&ref=forums.macrumors.com)

[job]

Announcement during the summer.

Shipping fall. Large price drops on current towers to clear out whatever is left.

[Nermal]

As much as I'd like to see them shipping for WWDC, I don't see it happening. I do expect an announcement, but don't expect immediate shipping. I heard that 10.2.7 was a month or so away, so I doubt they'll be shipping before that.

[dswoodley]

I don't see them shipping at WWDC, that would just be too...unlike Apple. I do think there will be a demonstration, with shipping following within4-6 weeks.

[daveg5]

single processor 970 powermacs with 3 pci 33MHZ slots shipping right away
1.4GHZ $1599
1.6GHZ $1999
$200 more with superdrive.
Dual processor with 5 pci-x slots in sep.
dual 1.6 $2799
dual 1.8 $3499
with superdrives
left-over dual 1.25 GHZ G4 for $1499(this will be cleared out at cost for months)

Powerbook 15.4" 1.2 970 (or 1.25 G4)the top of the line $$2599
july-sep
Powerbook 17" 1.25 G4 july
Powerbook 12" 1GHZ G4 july

Imac 15" 1GHZ G4 $1199 1MB L3 cache
Imac G4 17" 1.25 GHZ 1699 1MB L3 cache
july-sep
no emac or ibook updates
no xserve updates

possible 2MegaPixal video/pic/camera for ichat and pictures-firewire. $149
avail july
and panther avail sep
upgrade from jag $49
full install $99

[macdong]

if a demo of Panther does show up in WWDC, Apple will try to ship the new PowerMacs with Panther. i'd say around september.

[trebblekicked]

i'm an optomist. i'll say we'll see the single proc 970's ready to go, with a dual config shipping in the typical 4-6 weeks. then again, i have no purchases hanging in the balance, which means i can expect whatever and not really be disapointed.

[gerror]

no new iPod I hope. I just ordered one

[iGav]

Originally posted by macdong
if a demo of Panther does show up in WWDC, Apple will try to ship the new PowerMacs with Panther. i'd say around september.

That's my thoughts...

[Freg3000]

Originally posted by gerror
no new iPod I hope. I just ordered one

There won't be an update to the iPods.

[frozenstar]

Originally posted by macdong
if a demo of Panther does show up in WWDC, Apple will try to ship the new PowerMacs with Panther. i'd say around september.

There's no question that Panther will be previewed. Apple already announced that.

As for the new Power Macs...

Why would Apple broadcast WWDC to Apple Stores all over the country just to tell people that there are new Power Macs, but they won't be available for another three months? In addition, there are fairly reliable reports that the new Power Macs are already in production. I just don't see Apple waiting three months to get these things out the door. My guess is that we'll see them 4-6 weeks after WWDC.

[hvfsl]

If Apple update the PowerMacs, they will have to update the Xserves. I also think Apple will update all the powerbooks because the 15in and 12in models are down in price. The ibook probably wont get updated until October.

Also more evidence that WWDC is going to be big is that Macworld is going to be a low key even with no Apple keynote. I except all the good stuff would have been demo'ed/released by then.

Judging by the rumors it looks like we are getting 1.4Ghz, 1.6Ghz and 1.8Ghz PMs. Although no duals at the moment. Dual PPC970 would totally wipe the floor with anything from the Windows world.

Also some people are saying we are going to see a PPC970 on a modified G4 Motherboard. I dont think this is going to happen since it would be easier to have the same motherboard accross the range. A hypertransport motherboard would have to have the following features.

- DDR 400
- PCI-X (no need for AGP) ATI is the only company that does PCI-X cards at the moment
- USB 2
- Firewire 800

If slower componants like old PCI were used, the motherboard would no longer be HyperTransport since HT is about getting rid of bottle necks and PCI would creates some.

[richie]

The whole 10.2.7/Smeagol thing has confused me about this - there can't be too long a lead-time on 970 PowerMacs actually shipping for 10.2.7 to be useful for any significant length of time. Obviously we're not sure of Panther's ship date, but it can't be *too* far away. So, Powermac 970s shipping 4-6 weeks after WWDC, I think. But only the Glorious Leader Jobs knows! ;)

[frozenstar]

Originally posted by hvfsl
If slower componants like old PCI were used, the motherboard would no longer be HyperTransport since HT is about getting rid of bottle necks and PCI would creates some.

Not true. HyperTransport is just the communications bakbone. You can tack on whatever components you want.
It is true that in some cases the PCI bus is a bottleneck, but 32-bit wide slots running at 33MHz provides enough bandwidth for the vast majority of expansion cards.
That being said, I'm all for getting rid of legacy components.

[hvfsl]

Originally posted by frozenstar

It is true that in some cases the PCI bus is a bottleneck, but 32-bit wide slots running at 33MHz provides enough bandwidth for the vast majority of expansion cards.
That being said, I'm all for getting rid of legacy components.

Normal PCI is no longer fast enough for anything. It is too slow for firewire 800 and USB2 to run at full speed. It is also too slow to serial ATA, SCSI and 1000Mbit netoworking. The only thing PCI is still good for is sound cards. PCI has a maxium bandwidth of 480Mbits per second. USB2 is 480Mbits, Firewire 2 is 800Mbits and when you have a lot of devices on a PCI bus they dont each use 480Mbits, but share the 480Mbits between them. So while Apple could use normal PCI, they would be slowing down the system too much if they did.

[frozenstar]

Originally posted by hvfsl
Normal PCI is no longer fast enough for anything. It is too slow for firewire 800 and USB2 to run at full speed. It is also too slow to serial ATA, SCSI and 1000Mbit netoworking. The only thing PCI is still good for is sound cards. PCI has a maxium bandwidth of 480Mbits per second. USB2 is 480Mbits, Firewire 2 is 800Mbits and when you have a lot of devices on a PCI bus they dont each use 480Mbits, but share the 480Mbits between them. So while Apple could use normal PCI, they would be slowing down the system too much if they did.

Serial ATA, SCSI, Gigabit Ethernet, Firewire 800, and USB2 don't hang off the PCI bus in most implementations nowadays anyway. They connect via some kind of perhipherals component on the south bridge. So, it is important to remember that your argument only applies in situations where the system needs to be upgraded with some type of expansion card after it was originally purchased.

By the way... where did you come up with 480mbits/sec for PCI? A standard PCI slot is 32 bits wide and runs at 33MHz. That translates to 1056mbits/sec.

[macnews]

Originally posted by frozenstar
There's no question that Panther will be previewed. Apple already announced that.

As for the new Power Macs...

Why would Apple broadcast WWDC to Apple Stores all over the country just to tell people that there are new Power Macs, but they won't be available for another three months? In addition, there are fairly reliable reports that the new Power Macs are already in production. I just don't see Apple waiting three months to get these things out the door. My guess is that we'll see them 4-6 weeks after WWDC.

Can you say 17" powerbook? Apple knew in January they were not ready to ship 17" powerbooks for at least 8 weeks. Apple is well known for introducing and not shipping till later - although some might say this was more Moto's fault then Apple's. I hope I am wrong about this one and you are right!

[frozenstar]

Originally posted by macnews
Can you say 17" powerbook? Apple knew in January they were not ready to ship 17" powerbooks for at least 8 weeks. Apple is well known for introducing and not shipping till later - although some might say this was more Moto's fault then Apple's. I hope I am wrong about this one and you are right!

You have a valid point, but I think there is an important difference. A couple of months before the 17" was announced, Apple made some serious upgrades to the 15". Those sold pretty well until MWSF when the 17" was announced. And at that point, the 17" just became an addition to the PowerBook line. It didn't replace anything that came before it.
The Power Mac G5, however, will be a replacement for the existing G4. That means that whatever measly sales Apple is getting from the current Power Macs will drop to zero. I find it difficult to believe that Apple will let an entire calendar quarter go by with no sales of its Power Mac line.
And just to reiterate from a previous post of mine.... This isn't just any normal WWDC. It is being broadcasted to Apple Stores around the country. So, in contrast to previous WWDCs, the viewer base on this one is going to be much, much higher.

[hvfsl]

Originally posted by frozenstar

By the way... where did you come up with 480mbits/sec for PCI? A standard PCI slot is 32 bits wide and runs at 33MHz. That translates to 1056mbits/sec.

My PC mag, PCW UK. Maybe it is just on the PC then where most things are connected through the PCI bus.

[jethroted]

All I hope is that panther comes out. My Jaguar has gotten buggy since the last update, and I want to start fresh. Hopefully Panther will solve that.

[wdlove]

It seems that the majority agree with my view point 65.83%. I think Steve with announce the Power Mac G5 PPC 970 at his WWDC Keynote, But with a later shipping date. Most likely August or September.

[Fender2112]

I feel pretty strongly that the 970 will debute in th 15" Power Book and the Power Mac at WWDC. The iMacs and iBooks should get 970's later in the year ... around October.

Once the 970 is introduced, Apple will have to add it across their product line. A computer with anything less will not sell well at current price points.

[Carbon]

Whatever shows up, shows up. I'm just gonna sit back and watch the new Power Mac G5s come rolling on in! (And in an awesome freak of nature, I'll be doing so at an Apple Store at International Plaza, Tampa, FL from 1 to 3 PM!)
My fellow Floridians, I'll see you there!

The future's so bright, you'll have to wear shades! :D

[mactastic]

Something big is coming. Everything points to that. Whether it is several small things, one or two big things, or some combination of the two we have yet to see. Won't be long now till we find out though. I sure hope I have the time to read this site and catch some of the news as it breaks! Looking forward to it very much though.

[DeusOmnis]

Apple never ships right away.

[wdlove]

I think that everyone will be patient as long as the wait is no more than 1 - 3 months!