15inch PowerBook update at MWCP (Macworld Creative Pro)

[MacRumors]

PowerPage (http://www.powerpage.org/cgi-bin/WebObjects/powerpage.woa/wa/story?newsID=11209) indicates that according to one of their sources, the 15" Aluminum PowerBook may make an appearance during the Apple's Feature Presentation at MacworldExpo (http://www.macworldexpo.com) (New York City, NY).

Greg Joswiak, Apple's VP of Hardware and Product Marketing, will be giving a speech on Wednesday, July 16 between 9:30am-10:30am EST.

If you are in the area, MacBytes (http://www.macbytes.com) has a link to get free Macworld Passes.

[excalibur313]

Well I definitely hope this information is accurate. What do you guys think the specs of it will be?
-Steve

[iJon]

its about time. i had a feeling this would be coming, they havent been updated in so long. i hope they throw the backlit keyboard in there as well.

iJon

[Steamboatwillie]

I'm hoping for the backit keyboard and a 1.25gHz chip, maybe speed bump the 17" too?

One can wish...

[herocero]

i think powerpage has been predicting new Al 15" for the last 3 months. i would rate their "sources" as about on par with macwhispers. why is this a page one rumor?
now if our french friends made the prediction, i might be inclined to be a bit more optimistic.
i'll believe it when i see it (which also equals buy when i see it).

[plutnicki]

God I hope this is true. I'll have my brower fired up and ready to order.

Personally, I don't have a real wish list, because I would buy the existing TiBook, loaded up, as is. But, a new case, speed bump, bigger drive and Airport Extreme at the same price point would be nice additions IMHO.

...Jim

[RHutch]

I have been waiting to buy my first PB; seems like it might be time soon. YES!

[DakotaGuy]

I think you will see 2 processor choices like they have now. It would be nice to see a 1Ghz base model and a 1.33Ghz (from the xServe) in the high end model. The rest of the specs should read much like the 17" The 17" should be bumped to 1.33Ghz.

[dongmin]

Originally posted by herocero
why is this a page one rumor?
because a lot of people really really really really want one.

it may also be because Arn thinks it's realistic.

[morlium]

i keep reading these rumors circulating ....

but how do we even know for sure that there will be an updated 15"?

don't three flavors of iBook and five types of PowerBook seem a bit excessive to anyone but me?

maybe they'll just kill it?

[Macmaniac]

Well if it comes out I will film it when I visit MWCE, I hope to bring some quality footage of all the new products.

[CheekyGit]

Someone throw some cold water on me because I'm getting frisky.

WOOOOHOOOOOOOO :D :cool: :D

[MacManDan]

Hopefully this will re-spark some interest in the 15". I think a lot of people loved the form factor but didn't like the fact that the 15" was "behind" in technology from the 17" and 12" models. I think this revision is loonnnngg overdue .. but I'm still gonna keep saving my pennies and pesos until the G5 Powerbook (hopefully) comes out next year (or whenever).

[Makosuke]

Well, I can't say I remember any hardware announcements that weren't made by Steve (as opposed to new hardware that wasn't announced in a presentation, but just showed up on Apple's site), but I suppose it could happen, especially if it's not a major change.

Time for all the folks jonesin' for a new 15" to start the flurry of speculation. I can't believe there are still a handful of people holding out hope for a G5 Powerbook in the near future, though...

[Rx7 Fan]

I know you guys really want the new 15" Powerbook, but shouldn't we all just wait till Panther comes out so we can get it for free with the purchase of a new Powerbook? :D

[gopher]

Unlikely but not impossible. iBooks were speed bumped with Steve's announcement, and so were eMacs. Powerbooks may be next. I strongly suspect the reason Apple didn't want to go to Boston and caused the fuss before about the movement to Boston was that Apple wanted to be able to make announcements off the Expo schedual. I'd be pleasantly surprised to see Powerbooks at New York and even before October. Give Apple a chance to fix up Panther so it will be ready by December. Then we could see new machines.

[MacFan25]

Well, a lot of people are expecting them sometime soon. It seem logical for them to be updated at creative pro. If they give the 15" a speed bump, then I think the 17" will get one too.

[Fender2112]

I'm Not sure why this is news. Many of us have been expecting 15" PB's at MacWorld since they didn't show up at WWDC.

Just for the record, many of us also expect new displays to be presented.

I think making such generic announcements are just a way to generate web traffic.

[moosecat]

Originally posted by Fender2112
I'm Not sure why this is news. Many of us have been expecting 15" PB's at MacWorld since they didn't show up at WWDC.

Just for the record, many of us also expect new displays to be presented.

I think making such generic announcements are just a way to generate web traffic.

It's news because the fact that others "expect" something is not much evidence that it will actually happen. This is evidence. (Not exactly conclusive, but evidence nonetheless.)

Anyway, please speed-bump the 12"er, or at least give it a price drop, or my head is going to explode.

[MacManDan]

Originally posted by Makosuke
Time for all the folks jonesin' for a new 15" to start the flurry of speculation. I can't believe there are still a handful of people holding out hope for a G5 Powerbook in the near future, though...

I am holding out for a G5 PowerBook, but I certainly don't want it to be released in the "near" future. I realize the engineering that needs to go into the new 'book, and all of the various evidence that disproves the G5 in a Powerbook anytime soon. Besides, I need to have time to save up some money! ;)

I do think, however, that if they speed bump the 15" (regardless of a body style change or not) that they should bump the rest of the line as well. It seems unfair to the high-end 17" if the 15" is faster, and just as unfair to the 12" if it doesn't even have a prayer against either machine.

[sonofslim]

i don't know... even powerpage takes this with a grain of NaCl:

a surprise announcement of the new Aluminum PowerBook 15-inch. It is unconfirmed and frankly, a long shot, but stranger things have happened.

i haven't seen any PB rumors any more solid than the ones that preceded the WWDC, except for the fact that the more time passes, the more out-of-date the 15" gets.

of course, i could be wrong, and there might be some new info out there... if so, bring it on! i'm as anxious for the new 15s as anyone else. i mean, i'd love to see them, but after so many false starts, it's hard to get excited about yet another unconfirmed longshot.

[vannote]

Originally posted by Makosuke
Time for all the folks jonesin' for a new 15" to start the flurry of speculation. I can't believe there are still a handful of people holding out hope for a G5 Powerbook in the near future, though...

I wish. I am currently content to stick with my 800MHz. TiBook until it happens.

After seeing the performance potential represented by the G5 demos, I am afraid I would be disappointed with a speed-bumped G4.

Although, if the aluminum case makes it cool enough to handle after working the machine for a while, it may be a selling point. :D Do the aluminum cased models run cooler?

[tdewey]

This is in line with the new 7-10 day shipping on the 15" at the Apple Store, drops in price and extras eleswhere.

Im going to go a centimetre or so out on a limb and predict...no speed bump and no improvements to the 12" or 17"...just upgrade from 15.2" to 15.4", Alum look+usuals (FW800, Airport Extreme, DDR memory, ATA100 HD, etc)

Ill go a little further and predict an Nvidia 460Go or (unlikely given the move to Nvidia) an ATI MR 9200 as the new GPU and the backlit keyboard (as suggested first by MasterX in an alternate thread).


My thinking:
This is strictly a staunch the bleeding, get the kids student loans, holding pattern introduction until new 1Ghz 12" and 1.3Ghz 15 and 17" G4 PBs (w/Panther??) are introduced in Paris by Jobs.

[windwaves]

wrong discussion - can't delete.

[windwaves]

YES YES YES
This is why I subscribed to .Mac the first day it was available even though then I thought it had nothing to offer - now the good things keep coming. First the addresses now bookmarks, really useful stuff ....

ADMIN: wrong discussion - can't delete. Could you move to the .Mac Bookmarks discussion ? thx

[Trimix]

LOL - and I just ordered my 12' PB today for delivery next week.
Just did not want to wait any longer. I will still cherish it - (I hope)

[jettredmont]

Originally posted by Makosuke
Well, I can't say I remember any hardware announcements that weren't made by Steve (as opposed to new hardware that wasn't announced in a presentation, but just showed up on Apple's site), but I suppose it could happen, especially if it's not a major change.


Joz: "And that's it. You'll all get a chance to lick the G5 PowerMacs in the lobby on your way out ..."

[some commotion backstage ... Joz walks over and looks behind the curtain]

Joz (muffled): "Oh. I see. Okay. Sure!"

Joz turns back to crowd: "Everyone please sit back down. Steve Jobs wants to say something."

Jobs (walking on stage): "Well, we've got this one more thing to show you today ..."

[MhzDoesMatter]

wouldn't that just suck for Joz?

But it's clearly in the realm of plausibility knowing how stingy Jobs is with product announcements. Though I think if (BIG BOLD IF) there was a PB announcement made, then it would probably be Jobs via satellite like he did last time he was in Paris.

Either that, or whatever Joz has been using to blackmail Jobs to get all the press coverage he's had in the last month or two is big enough to even wrangle a powerbook announcement as well.

-Hertz

[Squire]

Originally posted by morlium
i keep reading these rumors circulating ....

but how do we even know for sure that there will be an updated 15"?

don't three flavors of iBook and five types of PowerBook seem a bit excessive to anyone but me?

maybe they'll just kill it?

No. It's the Year of the Laptop. Plus, it's the perfect size.

Squire

[Squire]

Originally posted by MhzDoesMatter
wouldn't that just suck for Joz?

But it's clearly in the realm of plausibility knowing how stingy Jobs is with product announcements. Though I think if (BIG BOLD IF) there was a PB announcement made, then it would probably be Jobs via satellite like he did last time he was in Paris.

By SATELLITE?! He'd just use the public Beta version of iChat AV. ;)

Squire

[Lord Bodak]

If they upgrade the 15" they really have to bump the 12" and 17" as well. A 17" 1GHz won't sell if there is a 15" 1.3 or 1.4, same for the 867MHz 12".

Personally, I'm hoping for a 15" Aluminum, speed bumps for the 12" and 17", and some L3 cache on the 12" (maybe a higher built-in RAM chip too).

[JeffRutan]

That would be Steve's style - The First Ever Apple Product Announcement via iSight/iChat AV. A good marketing opportunity to sell more iSight cameras!

[AppleMatt]

I can still definately see this happening, but it seems a bit of a safe rumor to me.

Anyone could say "Yep 15" PowerBooks really soon", simply because they are so overdue and simply because another big event is looming.

Poor attempt to improve credibility?

AppleMatt

[holy MAC!]

just out of curiousity, since i've only started following Apple releases since the Ipods:

has there ever been a (moderately) big revamp of a product without being introduced from Steve Jobs?

i am waiting for this 15 inch pbook.... but i must say: the knowledge that a G5 exists will slightly stain the glory of my powerbook... even though it would be brand new.

[centauratlas]

I still want to know why the delay between intro-ing the 12" and 17" with AP Extreme in Jan and the 15" in July. That is a HUGE amount of time to have the 15" so far behind the other two.

I don't think it will be a G5, by the way, but I'd love to be surprised as would lots of other people, I bet. :-)

[AppleMatt]

Originally posted by holy MAC!
has there ever been a (moderately) big revamp of a product without being introduced from Steve Jobs?

Not that I remember, I've been following Mac rumors for a few years now, but you can forget a lot in a few years.

Originally posted by holy MAC!
i am waiting for this 15 inch pbook.... but i must say: the knowledge that a G5 exists will slightly stain the glory of my powerbook... even though it would be brand new.

The G5 isn't going into a PowerBook soon, as confirmed by Apple. You'll have the fastest PowerBook if not the fastest Mac :)

AppleMatt

[DrGonzo]

Originally posted by Lord Bodak
If they upgrade the 15" they really have to bump the 12" and 17" as well. A 17" 1GHz won't sell if there is a 15" 1.3 or 1.4, same for the 867MHz 12".

Personally, I'm hoping for a 15" Aluminum, speed bumps for the 12" and 17", and some L3 cache on the 12" (maybe a higher built-in RAM chip too).

That's sad that all you're hoping for is the update to Aluminum. I definately think they'll have a faster processor in the 15", along with the FW800/BT/AE. I'm sure the processor speed will match the 17" book. 17" really isn't about speed, more about screen real estate, though having the top-of-the-line processor in the 17" doesn't hurt as it is the top-of-the-line laptop (though i don't see it that way).

I think i might just buy this PB update and then upgrade when the G5 comes out in a laptop.

[AppleMatt]

Originally posted by centauratlas
I still want to know why the delay between intro-ing the 12" and 17" with AP Extreme in Jan and the 15" in July. That is a HUGE amount of time to have the 15" so far behind the other two.

Because the 15" was updated in November last year, if I remember correctly, how would you feel if after just 2 months your PowerBook is very obselete?

Originally posted by centauratlas
I don't think it will be a G5, by the way, but I'd love to be surprised as would lots of other people, I bet. :-)

IT WON'T BE G5!

AppleMatt

[bbanzai]

I'm waiting by my iMac, waiting for Steve to personally initiate a video iChat with me to tell me about the new lineup.

[Awimoway]

Originally posted by Squire
No. It's the Year of the Laptop.

Time to let go of that notion. It was just a smokescreen until the G5 was announced. It's the year of the desktop if ever there was one.

I don't think Jobs would let Jos announce an updated PowerBook, but updated monitors, mice and keyboards to match the G5 are a good possibility.

[Kwyjibo]

I think MWCP will be a dud in terms of new products....its still in he g5 shadow even a few weeks after the announcement

[edenwaith]

Originally posted by morlium

but how do we even know for sure that there will be an updated 15"?

maybe they'll just kill it?

Ech! Don't suggest such an evil thing! Eventually when I get a PB someday, it will be a 15" one. 17" is just a little larger than what I'd want to tote around with me. Even my 12" iBook gets heavy after awhile (plus all of its accessories). To me, 15" is about perfect. Nice screen size without being too obscene or bulky.

[hvfsl]

The graphics should be the new Radeon 9600M, since Apple used the Radeon 9000 only a month after it came out, for the current 15in PBs. Although if the 15ins are updated, the 12in and 17in will also have to be updated all everyone will go for the 15in.

[Billicus]

I don't think they'll release 15" AluBooks without updating 17" Alubooks and maybe the 12" models too. Otherwise the 15" sales are going to canibalize the others. I've been thinking about getting a 17" but if they release a 15" with higher specs, I'd definitely go with that over the 17" any day. Or would I?:confused:

[hvfsl]

Originally posted by Trimix
LOL - and I just ordered my 12' PB today for delivery next week.
Just did not want to wait any longer. I will still cherish it - (I hope)

I hope you got it from Fance or Germany since they are a lot cheaper there.

[luke_s]

my bet is there will be no pb upgrade until the moto 7457 cpus are available.......... due to heat issues
sorry guys, my source is absolutely reliable........

[ddtlm]

luke_s:

Is that source named "Common Sense" by chance? ;) Heh, just imagine a 1.42ghz 7455 in a 15" CopperBook. :D

[Abstract]

Wow, if this is true, then it looks like someone finally hit Steve with a bout of common sense. :p

http://www.smiliegenerator.de/s17/smilies-21341.png


It never made much sense anyway. They had a 15" PB update in November, made the 12" and 17" announcements in January, and only started shipping them around March or April or so. It would have fit the timeline perfectly if he just sneaked a 15" into the lineup or something. All this time just to do something they should have done months ago. *sigh*

And for the people hoping for a 1.3GHz and 1.33GHz G4 in the 15" and 17" PB's, I think they would just go with a 1.25GHz G4 like they have with everything else they have made thus far. ;) I hope they update everything to 1.25GHz, and the 12" should go to 1GHz. It already has heat problems at 867MHz, so I'm not sure about putting a 1.25GHz G4 in there.

[chazmox]

Get rid of the 15 inch?!? That would be like Goldilocks throwing out the "just right" porridge!!! I don't think that will happen and if it does I'll have to repair my walls where I pounded my head into them!!!

Also, alot of people are talking about the 15.4 inch PB. I don't know if that will be the case. The 15.4 inch LCD rumor originated with MacWhispers ( or was it from the Digitimes article ). Whichever it was, both sources said that the new 15 inch would be shipping in Feb 03. Since they were wrong about that, then I would think they are wrong about the screen size.

Could see Jos doing the announcement - more likely that Jobs will do it remotely. The case for Jos doing it is that he may be going to Jobs saying, "Hey, throw me a bone now and then!" And so Jobs gives him this announcement. Maybe they're grooming him for something...

God I hope this is true. I'll have my brower fired up and ready to order

What's a "brower???"

[chetwilliams]

I think everybody tends to overlook what I consider the real reason that the 15" PBs have not been updated -- it is the only PowerBook that still boots OS 9. Now with QuarkXpress 6 shipping, they can finally update it to an AluBook and get rid of OS 9 booting.

[Pancake]

Originally posted by chazmox

What's a "brower???"


Duh! No one cool uses the 3rd letter from the last in a tech term anymore. It's so "Jaguar"

I'm gonna flip on my compuer, fire up my brower, downlad my emil, check out the iTues Muic Stre, then open my CD drve and pop in Dialo 2

Man I need sleep

[DHagan4755]

Since we have had plenty of time to ponder when they will update the PowerBooks, I have come up with some scenarios into what may happen with the Apple portables. There are many possibilities.

One such possibility is that Apple will kill the 15-inch PB all together. In so doing, they move the 17-inch model into the price space once occupied by the 15-inch; one model 17-inch $1,999, and the other 17-inch model $2,599. I could see Jos announcing this - "Dramatic price cuts for the 17-inch" - with cheers from the crowd. It could be when Apple devised the 17-inch PB it was extremely costly to do a portable 17-inch panel, which may explain why Apple stayed with the Titanium for this time (aside from the Ti's ability to still boot OS 9). As more and more computer manufacturers have adopted the 17-inch screen for their notebooks, it has driven down the cost to manufacture. If you follow the trend with Apple's PowerBooks over the years, when a larger top-end panel was available, the smaller screen would disappear from the product line all together. First, we had the PowerBook G3 series with a 12-inch screen. Soon after, you'll recall they came out with the 14-inch screen (optional, top of the line). When the 14-inch was mainstream, it took over in the PowerBook G3 line for a couple of revs (Lombard, Pismo). The 12-inch model - gone. Then the 15-inch TiBook came out when the PB went to G4. 14-inch model - gone. Now that we have an iBook series, these lower-end panels have found a home because they are cheap. Perhaps the 15.4-inch panel is actually slated for an iBook rev later this year.

[ZildjianKX]

Why can't they update the 15" and not the 12" and 17"? The 15" went without updating for 8+ months... the 12" and 17" can lag behind too.

[jbomber]

Originally posted by DHagan4755
[B]Since we have had plenty of time to ponder when they will update the PowerBooks, I have come up with some scenarios into what may happen with the Apple portables. There are many possibilities.

One such possibility is that Apple will kill the 15-inch PB all together. B]

Might Apple kill the 15-inch? Only if they want to take the rest of the line with it and get out of the laptop game altogether.

The 15 is the bread and butter. the 12 and the 17 are practically specialty items. I, for one, could never do design work on a 12, and i REALLY don't want to lug around a giant 17" machine. why not just put an iMac on roller skates?

The market is full of people looking for that 'just right' sized machine. it's far more likely that they'd deep-six the 12 or tack it onto the ibook lineup. the 15 is here to stay.

[DHagan4755]

You never know with Apple, their marketing and RDF...the 15-inch could be relegated to the iBook line and possibly a tablet. The rumors of a 15-inch Apple tablet have been circulating on the Asian tech newsites.

Ready for another scenario?

Apple retains the TiBook and upgrades the processor, upgrades Airport to Airport Extreme, and adds internal bluetooth support, keyboard used in the 12-inch. Recall months ago, pictures of Apple patents for internal Bluetooth on MacRumors (sorry I don't have the links off hand). Those pictures showed TiBooks. Also recall Steve Jobs said at MacWorld S.F. that the "titanium isn't going away anytime soon." What is the definition of soon?

[herocero]

Originally posted by holy MAC!
just out of curiousity, since i've only started following Apple releases since the Ipods:

has there ever been a (moderately) big revamp of a product without being introduced from Steve Jobs?

i am waiting for this 15 inch pbook.... but i must say: the knowledge that a G5 exists will slightly stain the glory of my powerbook... even though it would be brand new.

weren't the speed bumped iMac, iBook and the whole xserve line (RAID as well) introduced with not so much as a press release?

[michael666]

Originally posted by DHagan4755

Now that we have an iBook series, these lower-end panels have found a home because they are cheap. Perhaps the 15.4-inch panel is actually slated for an iBook rev later this year.

This is EXACTLY what I'm waiting for: a 15" iBook with Superdrive! I think there are a lot of people out there with a limited budget and no need for FW800, G4 processing power, L3 cache and so on. A white plastic 15" iBook with Superdrive would look very nice and enable me to burn DVDs whenever I want!

[shecky]

no way in hell apple will kill the 15" - its a bread&butter product. it is also long overdue and will surely be announced next week. i do not look at a 15" AlBook as a "major release," more of a revision, so i see no reason why we will not see a release next week. i think all the PB line will get a speedbump to make it more consistent across the line. this seems to me to be not so much rumor as near-fact. the 15 WILL get updated, its just a matter of how soon - seems to me next week makes sense.

[pbreit]

Getting rid of the 15" is by far the least likely scenario. If you've used a 17", you know that it is entirely inadequate for mainstream portable computing. The 15" form factor is really the optimal size for the vast majority of usage.

I would expect the 15" AlBook sooner than later. I would expect it to be > 1ghz so that it seems an upgrade. If the 15" goes > 1 ghz, the 17" would have to do so as well.

I don't see any reason why Jos cannot announce this. Steve doesn't announce every single product enhancement. It might actually be good precedent to have another executive make a decent product announcement.

[macnews]

I just want a back lite keyboard - in case any Apple techs are reading this. If they get rid of the 15" (I highly doubt) they had better drop the price on the 17" and/or put the back light in the 12".

[MacCoaster]

I've been waiting for new PowerBooks. I want a 1 GHz 12 inch PowerBook for school, the AlBooks are already way outdated and even worse, the 15".

[jbomber]

Originally posted by DHagan4755
You never know with Apple, their marketing and RDF...the 15-inch could be relegated to the iBook line and possibly a tablet. The rumors of a 15-inch Apple tablet have been circulating on the Asian tech newsites.

Ready for another scenario?

Apple retains the TiBook and upgrades the processor, upgrades Airport to Airport Extreme, and adds internal bluetooth support, keyboard used in the 12-inch. Recall months ago, pictures of Apple patents for internal Bluetooth on MacRumors (sorry I don't have the links off hand). Those pictures showed TiBooks. Also recall Steve Jobs said at MacWorld S.F. that the "titanium isn't going away anytime soon." What is the definition of soon?

Sorry to put holes in these ones too, but a tablet is no where near ready for the general public. tablets are awkward, and i can't imagine more than a few dozen people wanting or needing one.

The powerbook pics from months ago showed Titaniums because there's no way apple would release pics of a machine that hadn't even been released yet. Remember the recent rash of fake G5 postings? Apple likes playing it close to the vest.

Titanium, is nice, but the flavor of the month is Aluminum. If for no other reason than consistency, Apple would bring the 15" in line with the other 2. The titanium has served apple well, but it's time to retire it.

[moby1]

I'm pretty darn happy with my 1 GHz Ti with SuperDrive. A speed bump wouldn'y make me jump so...

The big question is: backit keyboard or no?

[chazmox]

Actually, when you speak of consistency, they not only need to bring the Titanium up the other two notebooks - aluminum is now the choice for ALL of the Pro series, including the desktop series.

Hadn't thought of it before, but now the only Pro non-aluminum computer that Apple has is the 15 inch titanium!

[Abstract]

Originally posted by DHagan4755
Also recall Steve Jobs said at MacWorld S.F. that the "titanium isn't going away anytime soon." What is the definition of soon?

Maybe Steve meant that he has no plans of updating the 15" Powerbook anytime soon. :cool:

Okay, I'll shut up now.

[jbomber]

Originally posted by Abstract
Maybe Steve meant that he has no plans of updating the 15" Powerbook anytime soon. :cool:

Okay, I'll shut up now.

I think 7 months covers the statue of limitations on 'anytime soon' in this context.

I came for a 15" Aluminum Powerbook and I'm not leaving til i get one.

[GordonLA]

It would make much more sense to announce a G4 iBook -- just in time for school. In fact, do you remember when Berklee School of Music told students to NOT buy their required Macs until summer?

[macman13]

well, i hope they come out with something. I cant wait to go to MWNY!!!

[Chilton]

If it has pen input, I'll buy one. That's all I want in a PowerBook. Otherwise I'm content to stick with my Ti 800.

-Chilton

[excalibur313]

Okay first of all when did Steve ever say that the titanium wasn't going away soon. I thought it was some other apple guy saying that "obviously the g4s won't be going away any time soon." It doesn't seem to make sense that Steve would say anything about that since he didn't talk about the laptops at all and I feel like it's only a matter of time before the 15 gets converted to al. Additionally as to the people putting down the 15.4 i definitely think its feasible b/c if i remember correctly the guy said that he knew a guy who worked for a company who manufactured the screens and he said they were 15.4. Currently they are 15.2 so its not that big of a jump i think its being done to be on par with all of those wintel machines which are 15.4 inches across. I guess my point is that maybe that rumor site found out about the screens being made and falsely speculated about how fast apple would get them into their computers. Additionally I'm sure plans change so just b/c a rumor site is wrong doesn't mean they were completely wrong...since apple didn't announce anything official they can change plans on a whim whenever they want.
-Steve

[chazmox]

Plans can't change at a whim... they change through product design...

whim=fast
product design = longer than a whim...

Really, all I'm saying is the 15.4 inch number is uncertain due to uncertain sources... I could be 15.4... or 15.2... or some other 15 number...

[excalibur313]

I'm just suggesting that originally they could have aimed for Feb but due to deals with ibm and other setbacks they haven't released it yet.

[pbreit]

Is there a chance that the G5's came earlier than expected and are lower priced than the G4 so they just decided to wait? And that the G4 doesn't work so well in a laptop at > 1ghz? From a purely product marketing standpoint, they should definitely have refreshed the 15" to match the 12/17 by now. The 12/17's have had a chance to sell in with limited competition from the 15, which is somewhat outdated now.

[Trimix]

Originally posted by hvfsl
I hope you got it from Fance or Germany since they are a lot cheaper there.

I was shocked by your observation but then I looked in the Apple store and doing the math with an exchange rate of 1.53 swissies to euro I noticed buying in Switzerland was the cheaper alternative of the three.
Phew, you got me worried :)

[JayLucky]

It seems most people are in agreement that the new 15" PowerBook will up the screen size slightly...and people have also mentioned a possible change in GPU..

I'm really hoping that these put together mean a change in resolution, the current 15.4" Dell model does 1920 x 1200, a little excessive maybe, but an increase of some sort would be very welcome for the designers, video editors, etc out here..

Comments?

[centauratlas]

Originally posted by AppleMatt
Because the 15" was updated in November last year, if I remember correctly, how would you feel if after just 2 months your PowerBook is very obselete?

IT WON'T BE G5!

AppleMatt

1. Calm down. I did NOT say it would be a G5, in fact I said I didn't think it would be a G5.

2. Regarding "how would you feel...?" Apple won't hold up a product to protect someones "feelings." Thinking that is very naive. They want to sell products and have to *know* that people who are buying an Airport Extreme base station will be reluctant to buy a 15" without Airport Extreme when the 12" and 17" don't have it, meaning lost sales. Apple doesn't want that. There is another reason, besides "protecting feelings" that cause the delay, and I am curious as to what it is.


If I bought a 15" in November 2002 and then saw a 12" and 17" intro'd with those specs, I'd feel mine was obsolete. BUT the point is, Apple doesn't care about whether people "feel" their machine is obsolete. At some point people will have bought PBs (and most people don't follow the rumor sites) so they won't know new ones are coming, hence they'll feel obsolete.

[plutnicki]

Something has to be going on with the 15" doesn't it? Why the 7 - 10 day lead times on the 15"?

If we were betting... I'd say the 12" stays pretty much the same, maybe with the 1Ghz processor, but gets another price cut. The 15" gets the Al case, and all of the new upgrades to put it in line with the 12" and 17". I bet we'll see a 1Gig at the low, and 1.25 at the high. The 17" will stay pretty much the same and get the 1.25 as well.

That would put everything in line with each other (most companies like a consistant product line). It probably didn't cost that much or take that much investment to implement since they're probably running full bore on the G5, G5 Xserve and I'd bet they've at least started a G5 powerbook program ( 12 - 18 months development time).

I'd guess, before a "back to school rush", they'd be concerned more with getting prices down than upgrades/performance.

Guess we'll all find out pretty soon.

Either way, I suspect I order a new PB next week...

...Jim

[geephore]

I think that whatever happens, Apple needs to replace the 15-inch. Almost all the other models support Airport Extreme (except perhaps the iBooks), so it looks likely there will at least be an update for that.

Unfortunately, the PBG5 looks a loooong way off from what I've seen of the PowerMac. Those G5s are slick and powerful, but nine fans in the desktop make me somewhat wary of the heat problem. But perhaps IBM will help out with that and create a low-power G5 to stick in those aluminum cases.

Just my two cents.

[GrizzlyHippo]

Originally posted by centauratlas
At some point people will have bought PBs (and most people don't follow the rumor sites) so they won't know new ones are coming, hence they'll feel obsolete.

Hee hee hee... look at us, we all read the rumor sites and have all put off buying 15" PB's since January - who is smarter, the ones who don't read these sites, bought in January, and have been enjoying their PB's for about 7 months, or us...

P.S. Why are most posters to this thread newbies???

Grizzly

[millarj]

Ok, I've heard a lot of people decide that the G5 must be an egg skillet in terms of heat. The evidence cited? The G5 tower has 9 fans.

Ok, for heat dissipation, Apple has two choices

1. Put in a few high air volume, but noisy fans in the case

2. Put more (say nine) lower air volume, but whisper quiet, fans in the case.

In light of the older MDD's fiasco, I'd bet on option 2. Could the heat generated by a Dual G5 be about the same as older Pmacs but with a more precise, and quieter cooling system? If so, couldn't a lower clocked G5 be ok in a powerbook chassis?

Personally, I'm not buyin' until the G5 get's into a thin, 15in alubook. Until then, my money keeps earning 1/4 of a percent. :(

[plutnicki]

If I'd had the money in Jan, I would have bought a TiBook, for sure, and enjoyed it for the past 6 months.

When I buy any tech "thing" I know the price will either go down, or the product will get enhanced in the next 6 months. Guaranteed. If you find something you like, at the price you're willing to pay, then just go for it...

In this case, I really only got the cash to buy in the last few weeks, and with a potential announcement only a week away or so, I might as well just wait. If, by the end of July, there's nothing confirmed, then I'll just pop for the best 15" I can configure and know that sometime they'll upgrade it...

I don't think people with a current 15" TiBook are going to end up all that envious of the next upgrade...

[jxyama]

um... multiple fans in a pb? how will that affect the battery life?

i have a feeling that you'll be holding on to your money for a long time if you are going to wait for a g5 pb. just my feeling. if you need a laptop, i'd just get one. processor isn't the only thing that matters.

i hope a revamped 15" gets released... a friend of mine is dying to buy one but knows enough to avoid the ti just because of the "imminent" release of al 15".

[tdewey]

and i´ll repeat since i have nothing better to do...computers are like cars, only more so, they are obsolete and lose 50% of their value as soon as you walk the box out of the store. No matter how long you wait, there will always be something better.

I was all set to buy the 15" Ti last month until it became clear that new laptop would likely be introduced this month, which means that if I waited a month I had a very good chance of buying that selfsame Ti for $200, 300...or whatever less.

While a 1.25Ghz 15.4" AlPB with backlit keyboard and etc would be supercool, I would only buy it over a cheap Ti in the highly unlikely event that Apple has changed the GPU to the ATI 9600MR and put the GPU on an upgradable daughterboard. Which I think we would have heard about. Otherwise a 15" Ti for 1899 or whatever is super cool enough for me.

cheers,

T

[Ikash]

i've wated so long for the new powerbooks im hoping they release them next week, im also hoping that we will be able to buy them witin that week cuz i don't see why thed wait so long unless they were stocking up on the new ones. im going to a convention on the 26th so im hoping to have one by then, i don't think my chanses are that good.

[AppleMatt]

Originally posted by centauratlas
2. Regarding "how would you feel...?" Apple won't hold up a product to protect someones "feelings." Thinking that is very naive. They want to sell products and have to *know* that people who are buying an Airport Extreme base station will be reluctant to buy a 15" without Airport Extreme when the 12" and 17" don't have it, meaning lost sales. Apple doesn't want that. There is another reason, besides "protecting feelings" that cause the delay, and I am curious as to what it is.

If I bought a 15" in November 2002 and then saw a 12" and 17" intro'd with those specs, I'd feel mine was obsolete. BUT the point is, Apple doesn't care about whether people "feel" their machine is obsolete. At some point people will have bought PBs (and most people don't follow the rumor sites) so they won't know new ones are coming, hence they'll feel obsolete.

It's not about feeling, it's about company image. When I said feeling, I meant just that, do you think the people who felt that would shrug their shoulders and walk on? Apple would get torn to pieces if they updated their PowerBooks (supposedly the Pro line) within 2 months of each other, thinking anything else is naive.

Something, yes, has held up the 15". But there is no way Apple would have updated the 15" in November if they were going to re-update in January.

If you bought a 15" in Novemeber I do not see why you would think you were obselete, the 12", 15" and 17" PowerBooks are different machines for different purposes.

Also don't tell me what to do. Free speech remember?

AppleMatt

[Lord Bodak]

Originally posted by DrGonzo
That's sad that all you're hoping for is the update to Aluminum. I definately think they'll have a faster processor in the 15", along with the FW800/BT/AE. I'm sure the processor speed will match the 17" book. 17" really isn't about speed, more about screen real estate, though having the top-of-the-line processor in the 17" doesn't hurt as it is the top-of-the-line laptop (though i don't see it that way).

I think i might just buy this PB update and then upgrade when the G5 comes out in a laptop.

I should have been clearer. When I said "update to aluminum" I meant the aluminum case as well as the other upgrades that have come with the Aluminum PowerBooks (AE, Bluetooth, etc.)

[rueyeet]

I do think that an update to be current with the rest of the Aluminum line--Bluetooth, FW 800, AirPort Extreme, etc--is coming for the TiBook line. It's just a matter of when.

And I can't see the chief hardware person giving the keynote without something more to say about hardware than going over what's already known and announced. Conversely, it's not a Stevenote, so any hardware announcements won't pack quite the whizz-bang that Steve's usually do.

Updating the TiBook with the new enclosure and other AlBook goodies, but not with a new processor, would certainly fall in line with those expectations.

But I'm going to swallow the lust I'll inevitably feel when they do release the 15-ish" AlBook, until it has the G5, or whatever they come up with next. I like my TiBook to much to trade it in without the upgrade being an almost wholly different computer.

[freundt]

Originally posted by GrizzlyHippo
Hee hee hee... look at us, we all read the rumor sites and have all put off buying 15" PB's since January - who is smarter, the ones who don't read these sites, bought in January, and have been enjoying their PB's for about 7 months, or us...



My feelings exactly.. I feel like I've been in computer limbo since jan.

[jbomber]

Here I thought i was being all slick by selling my Tibook 667 a week before WWDC.

They gotta update the line right? I definitely sold at the right time, right? C'mon new Albook!

And instead, I got PLAYED. :p

Yeah, i got more for it than i would get now, but being sans-laptop for weeks (feels like years) has been a real pain.

I really hope apple doesn't sell me out again.

[Abstract]

You sold Apple out. You sold APPLE OUT!!! :p

I think you'll get your new 15" incher sooner than later. ;)

[sacrilicious]

I'm being optimistic. 1ghz with Superdrive wasn't what anybody was expecting initially, either. Besides, this'll be my first Apple machine--it must be glorious.

[jbomber]

honestly i'm just hoping for an aluminum something-or-other at this point.

You win Apple.

You've broken my spirit and bent my will.

Just promise me that there'll be something laptop-like presented on Wednesday and the money's yours.

Deal?

[herocero]

http://e-www.motorola.com/webapp/sps/site/prod_summary.jsp?code=MPC7457&nodeId=03C1TR046708718653

i've dumped this in a couple other threads before, and i'm surprised the old moto g4 story hasn't popped up here yet.

this new moto g4 chip is due out q3 2003 (that's july-sept . . .). runs at 1.3GHz, low power 1.3V, and is pin compatible with the 7455/45 (think easy for apple to swap on the 17" and 15"). l2 cache is increased to 512kb. a lower core voltage at 1.1V runs at 1GHz (think 12" upgrade). add support for 2MB l3.

if moto for once is on the ball on this, wednesday might not be so bad after all . . . here's to the new 15" (god forbid i buy another damn dell)
-cero

[urbanist]

im looking forward to owning one!!

[MhzDoesMatter]

Originally posted by AppleMatt
It's not about feeling, it's about company image. When I said feeling, I meant just that, do you think the people who felt that would shrug their shoulders and walk on? Apple would get torn to pieces if they updated their PowerBooks (supposedly the Pro line) within 2 months of each other, thinking anything else is naive.

Something, yes, has held up the 15". But there is no way Apple would have updated the 15" in November if they were going to re-update in January.

If you bought a 15" in Novemeber I do not see why you would think you were obselete, the 12", 15" and 17" PowerBooks are different machines for different purposes.

Also don't tell me what to do. Free speech remember?

AppleMatt


Sorry pal, this is still a consumer's prospective, not a company's. Advancements and upgrades are the basis of technology. You buy your computer with obsolescence in mind.

It's very unintelligent to consider the "relative" newness of your technology purchase as a part of the computers value. Yet when most people purchase Mac's and bleeding edge Wintels, they're really purchasing status.

However, that status means very little to a for-profit corporation. It's about sales. And if with more and more product releases and upgrades they can bring in more sales for a greater profit, that's what they're primarily concerned with because that's the primary basis of their company image.

Frankly, I think that the current time of about 6-months is too long a time between regular upgrades. I think it should be quarterly, even without them increasing their pace of advancement. If they released models twice as often with half of the upgrades, they'd be better off.

At least then, people would be so used to having their computer become obsolete faster and it wouldn't matter as much. And we could knock off all this fasting for 6 months because something better is coming and just buy a new computer the next time we need it.

-Hertz

[jxyama]

Originally posted by MhzDoesMatter
Frankly, I think that the current time of about 6-months is too long a time between regular upgrades. I think it should be quarterly, even without them increasing their pace of advancement. If they released models twice as often with half of the upgrades, they'd be better off. At least then, people would be so used to having their computer become obsolete faster and it wouldn't matter as much. And we could knock all this fasting for 6 months because something better is coming and just by a new computer the next time we need it.

good call. i agree with this. there's this misconception that because you spend thousands of dollars (generally) that the technology is expected to be the top of the line for a certain amount of time, which does not make any sense for a fast advancing field. it is more about the status, as you put it. we should always remember that newer technology does not make the old one immediately obsolete...

i'm all for buying what you need when needed...

[kiwi_the_iwik]

There I was, checking my emails, when I saw the Apple eNews update...

The usual stuff - all about Shake, the G5 and its infinite ports, yadda-yadda-yadda...

And then...

at the end of the G5 blurb, along came this:


One more thing...

If you’re in New York for next week’s Macworld CreativePro conference, you’ll want to be among those who get to see the new Power Mac G5 during its first public display.

And don’t miss Greg Joswiak’s feature presentation. "Joz," Apple’s VP of Hardware Product Marketing, addresses the CreativePro crowd on Wednesday, July 16, from 9:30 to 10:30 am.


Now - is it JUST ME?!? or does the quote "...One more thing..." conjure up Steve Jobs-like images of new gizmos and gadgets? They WANT us to see, because SOMETHING is going to be released - and it HAS to be the new 15"...

Otherwise, why watch a non-event?

Food for thought... Opinions?

;)

[Hummercash]

Hey everyone, I’m new here... actually, I’m only new to posting here, I’ve been lurking for about a year or so ;)

Anyway, I signed up for the free MacWorld pass provided in the link posted at the bottom of story, unfortunately they ran out... I'm in need of at least 5 of these free passes, if anyone knows another site to get them from or if anyone has extras I'd love to take them off your hands... im trying to convert a few of my friends from PC to mac ;)

Oh, and sorry my first post is a request... kinda lame on my part :(

TIA.


.//chris

[jbomber]

Originally posted by kiwi_the_iwik
There I was, checking my emails, when I saw the Apple eNews update...

The usual stuff - all about Shake, the G5 and its infinite ports, yadda-yadda-yadda...

And then...

at the end of the G5 blurb, along came this:



Now - is it JUST ME?!? or does the quote "...One more thing..." conjure up Steve Jobs-like images of new gizmos and gadgets? They WANT us to see, because SOMETHING is going to be released - and it HAS to be the new 15"...

Otherwise, why watch a non-event?

Food for thought... Opinions?

;)

Well I'm sure it's not a big secret code or anything, but yeah it seems like they kinda want us to go. Apple's not too tight with IDG at this point which accounts for the low-key announcement and the visible lack o' Steve. "One more thing" certainly adds credence to the notion that they're showing something, I can only hope it's a new 15".

[Lyle]

Originally posted by kiwi_the_iwik
... SOMETHING is going to be released - and it HAS to be the new 15"...Don't know the significance of this, if any, but the estimated shipping time for the 15" PowerBook (at the Apple Store) just moved up to "1-3 days". Esimated shipping time had been listed as "7-10 days" for the past week or so.

[Potus]

I can't take the suspense. Was going to buy a 12" PB but decided to wait until next generation 15" PBs are announced and then make my decision. Although I vacillate so much you could use me as a Grandfather clock.

[DHagan4755]

Originally posted by jbomber
Well I'm sure it's not a big secret code or anything, but yeah it seems like they kinda want us to go. Apple's not too tight with IDG at this point which accounts for the low-key announcement and the visible lack o' Steve. "One more thing" certainly adds credence to the notion that they're showing something, I can only hope it's a new 15". Just for context, everyone can check out it out for themselves here (http://www.apple.com/enews/2003/07/10enews1.html). It's under the new G5 section at the end.

[Golem]

Originally posted by MhzDoesMatter

Frankly, I think that the current time of about 6-months is too long a time between regular upgrades. I think it should be quarterly, even without them increasing their pace of advancement. If they released models twice as often with half of the upgrades, they'd be better off. At least then, people would be so used to having their computer become obsolete faster and it wouldn't matter as much. And we could knock all this fasting for 6 months because something better is coming and just by a new computer the next time we need it.

-Hertz

They can only work with what they have.

SO last december the 7455 G4 was appropriate at 1ghz for the 15'' pbook.

If they wanted to go faster using the same chip it would also mean hotter/more power.

At some point soon they may upgrade to the rumored 7457 chip at 1.3 Ghz @ presumably same heat and power as 1 Ghz 7455 .

What would be the point of only releasing at say 1.15 Ghz when they could release at 1.3 just so it would allow them to bring out a 1.3Ghz 6 months later.

[MhzDoesMatter]

Originally posted by Golem
They can only work with what they have.

SO last december the 7455 G4 was appropriate at 1ghz for the 15'' pbook.

If they wanted to go faster using the same chip it would also mean hotter/more power.

At some point soon they may upgrade to the rumored 7457 chip at 1.3 Ghz @ presumably same heat and power as 1 Ghz 7455 .

What would be the point of only releasing at say 1.15 Ghz when they could release at 1.3 just so it would allow them to bring out a 1.3Ghz 6 months later.


Because :
[list=1]
MacUsers only buy new products.
MacUsers buy new products.
[/list=1]
The first one: Apple's sales always trickle to a stop after a few months because once a computer system gets old, interest drops. No one who wants to buy a brand new system wants to buy a brand new old system. It's obsolescence is rarely sufficiently offset by discounts, so the value isn't there. But by constantly having new products released, Apple could keep their shelves and inventories fresh.

The Second one: There's something fundamentally primal about the effect new hardware releases from Apple has on the Mac user-base. There is no other sensible explanation for why a press release, keynote stream, or update web page can cause normally sensible people who are perfectly satisfied with their current computer to become possessed with an instinctive imperative to purchase a newly released piece of hardware. These people are just compelled to do so. By constantly releasing new computers, no matter how incremental the technological advancement, Apple the spur purchases even among their current installed base.


Here's hoping Apple stops playing softball with the market, grows a pair, and institutes the Up-To-Date Hardware Subscription Program.

Official Apple Press release:
"So basically, forget all this waiting for random upgrades crap. Just give us 10 grand now and for a one year you'll get what ever hardware we release with trade in."

-Apple Marketing Guy

Now who doubts that Apple would be rolling in a couple of hard mill in after about a month?

-Hertz

[jbomber]

Originally posted by MhzDoesMatter
Because :
[list=1]
MacUsers only buy new products.
MacUsers buy new products.
[/list=1]
The first one: Apple's sales always trickle to a stop after a few months because once a computer system gets old, interest drops. No one who wants to buy a brand new system wants to buy a brand new old system. It's obsolescence is rarely sufficiently offset by discounts, so the value isn't there. But by constantly having new products released, Apple could keep their shelves and inventories fresh.


Actually, of the 5 apple computers i've owned, only 1 of them was a brand spanking newly announced system. I'd bought each of the others as a discounted item in some way, shape or form. Usually it was the system that had been at the top of the heap up until the announcement of something new. They were all very capable pieces of hardware, and i can assure you they didn't perform like obsolete machines.

[pbreit]

Just for context, everyone can check out it out for themselves here. It's under the new G5 section at the end

What are we supposed to be checking out?

[Ikash]

i just want them to come out already how long do you think it will take them to ship out cuz i want one asap cuz im going to a NYLF convention in cali and it would be cool if i had a lappy by then im goning on the 26th of this month, i know its not doutful that i'll have on by then unless they do the same thing they did with the new ipods like shipping real quick.

[Rippalizer]

If the Powerbooks are not updated at MacWorld Creative Pro in New York next week, does anyone know when the next mac conference will be? Or at least when the next possible chance will be for Apple to publicly release an updated powerbook?

[jbomber]

Originally posted by Rippalizer
If the Powerbooks are not updated at MacWorld Creative Pro in New York next week, does anyone know when the next mac conference will be? Or at least when the next possible chance will be for Apple to publicly release an updated powerbook?

I don't even want to think about that. I've been waiting for so long....

Society and mac deprivation have destroyed my patience. I am a spoiled child tempted by the promise of candy, and by god, I WANT IT!

[Lyle]

Originally posted by Rippalizer
If the Powerbooks are not updated at MacWorld Creative Pro in New York next week, does anyone know when the next mac conference will be? Or at least when the next possible chance will be for Apple to publicly release an updated powerbook?If an updated PowerBook is not announced at MWNY, another scenario that's been floated is that they'll do it at Apple Expo 2003 (http://www.apple-expo.com/), which will be held in Paris, France in September. I don't think I'll be able to wait that long. :(

Of course, Apple may not feel the need to wait for a conference or other "event", especially if it's a relatively minor update. I think everyone is pretty well resigned to the idea that we're not going to see a G5-based PowerBook "anytime soon" (to use Greg Joswiak's words) and so it's likely that the next update will primarily serve to bring the 15" PowerBook more in line with the 12" and 17" PowerBooks' features (e.g. Aluminum case and AirPort Extreme instead of AirPort). If that's the case, it seems as though "any time now" would be a good time to make such an announcement. ;)

[rjwill246]

Time to weigh in!

Originally posted by MhzDoesMatter
Because :
[list=1]
MacUsers only buy new products.
MacUsers buy new products.
[/list=1]
The first one: Apple's sales always trickle to a stop after a few months because once a computer system gets old, interest drops. No one who wants to buy a brand new system wants to buy a brand new old system. It's obsolescence is rarely sufficiently offset by discounts, so the value isn't there.

There is NO bloody obsolesence when a new version comes out!!!!!
How loudly does this have to be shouted and how often repeated? OBSOLETE, in this case, means that it has no functional value in the current technological advances. But, holy merde, the computer you drooled over yesterday is the same bloody item after the next model comes out. Is this a Mac thing? I don't see the average Windoze user thinking like this.

"O, Lord, a new computer is coming out... the one I was going to order... well, how could I? It will be obsolete!" (hands are wrung, tears flow and the Kool-Aid is contemplated while the shroud is dusted off and ironed).
Man!!
And when the 15" comes out in a revamped form, it will have to be aluminium. There is no point keeping with painted Ti. from now on, with IBMs rapidly advancing chips, changes in the line should be more frequent. Will THAT stop the "obsolete" thing or make it worse?

[thebossisback]

Obsolete is only when your computer cant run normal software and when it cant run the newest os, not when it has an outdates case design

[Ikash]

if they release the laptops wensday how long do you think it will tke them to get a mass quantity to the public, the day they release im gona preorder mine but how long do you Mac Gurus think it will take to get in, i live in arkansas so there isn't like a mass need for macs or people to use them. so what you guys think

IKash

[Bruja]

:eek: Oh Pleeeeeese release the Al 15.4"!!!:eek:

[Ikash]

i know there taking there dang time, were mac junkies and we need another hit before we relaps

im not a druggie
REally

[jbomber]

Originally posted by Ikash
i know there taking there dang time, were mac junkies and we need another hit before we relaps

im not a druggie
REally


Right, And I'm not taking 4 hours off from work for the sole purpose of going to MacWorld and buying a new laptop.

Really

[thebossisback]

It probably wont take too long for the powerbooks to start shipping since it is not a huge update. When the new ipod came out it only took a week or so

[Roller]

The Berklee College of Music in Boston requires its students to buy Apple laptops, which the school purchases in bulk from Apple and then resells.

Until yesterday, their Web site said that the hardware details would be posted the week of July 7. They're now saying that the details will appear on July 14. This is the best indication I've seen that a new model will be announced on Monday.

[wizard]

Weigh in all you want but do realize that if one is in the market for a computer it does not make sense to invest in old technology if your buying new. This is even more so in the case of Apples especially at a time when they are introducing major new technologies. It isn't a question of buying obsolete computers as there is a market for them, it is a question of getting the best value for your money.

I really have no idea how much of a rev the new PowerBooks are going to have made to them. Considering recent events that are public, the performance and features advantages of the "to be released" Powerbooks could be significant. Or maybe not I don't know for sure, but everyone does realize the hardware release will be very soon now. The new Powerbooks could have a G4 running in the 1.6GHz range, with FW800 and USB2 and possibly a host of other features.

Does this make the current Powerbooks obsolete - Nope. It does however question the wisdom of somebody buying today hardware at list prices. A wise individual will wait for the new releases and either buy the new machines or search for a huge discount on the older hardware. This is just good sound money management.

As far as the average pc user goes I would have to disagree with your statement. An informed PC buyer will also make himself knowledgeable in the state of the market and plan purchases accordingly. On the other hand I do have to admit that there are a huge number of PC users that don't have a clue, but I'm not in the habit of supporting ignorance or justifying it.

Thanks
Dave


Originally posted by rjwill246
Time to weigh in!



There is NO bloody obsolesence when a new version comes out!!!!!
How loudly does this have to be shouted and how often repeated? OBSOLETE, in this case, means that it has no functional value in the current technological advances. But, holy merde, the computer you drooled over yesterday is the same bloody item after the next model comes out. Is this a Mac thing? I don't see the average Windoze user thinking like this.

"O, Lord, a new computer is coming out... the one I was going to order... well, how could I? It will be obsolete!" (hands are wrung, tears flow and the Kool-Aid is contemplated while the shroud is dusted off and ironed).
Man!!
And when the 15" comes out in a revamped form, it will have to be aluminium. There is no point keeping with painted Ti. from now on, with IBMs rapidly advancing chips, changes in the line should be more frequent. Will THAT stop the "obsolete" thing or make it worse?

[wizard]

A new ATI GPU is a good possibility as they are or have been working very hard on getting it finalized. It might even be the reason for the delay in the upgrade fo the 15 PowerBook. Being that I'm in NY this is just a guess based on info floating around.


You are also correct in your summation of the value of PCs. Even if somebody would be satisfied with the current PowerBook, it would be smart to wait for the new ones to come out and get that discount. You will also know exactly what you would be missing in the new machine.

I'm still thinking that we will see a significant boost in overall performance of the PowerBook. With the G5, and other processor announcements there really is no reason not to.

thanks
dave


Originally posted by tdewey
and i´ll repeat since i have nothing better to do...computers are like cars, only more so, they are obsolete and lose 50% of their value as soon as you walk the box out of the store. No matter how long you wait, there will always be something better.

I was all set to buy the 15" Ti last month until it became clear that new laptop would likely be introduced this month, which means that if I waited a month I had a very good chance of buying that selfsame Ti for $200, 300...or whatever less.

While a 1.25Ghz 15.4" AlPB with backlit keyboard and etc would be supercool, I would only buy it over a cheap Ti in the highly unlikely event that Apple has changed the GPU to the ATI 9600MR and put the GPU on an upgradable daughterboard. Which I think we would have heard about. Otherwise a 15" Ti for 1899 or whatever is super cool enough for me.

cheers,

T

[Douglas _Allan]

I was at an Apple store last night looking seriously at the 15".

They were offering lots of incentives.
-$100 for educational discount.
-$200 if I bought an iPod with it
6 mos free financing.

So I'm hanging tight untill monday to see what happens.

[Docrjm]

PB wish list
Airport extreme
15.4' screen
FW 800
USB 2
Bluetooth
Backlit keyboard
G5
I know everybody is going to jump up and down and say at no time soon will this happen.
Mac Office suite , developed by Apple, that kick's M$.:D

[Ikash]

The Berklee College of Music in Boston requires its students to buy Apple laptops, which the school purchases in bulk from Apple and then resells.

I hope your right man, but this makes me think what are they going to have at macworld, cuz they specified times and dates. the ipods did ship quick like they released i think it was tuesday and i had mine by friday, but that was alos great work by whatever company they used to ship it. im hoping the new 15" al PB will have audio in and out and a backlit keybord, mabe they even did something with the battery but who knows i guess we'll have to see. one other thing on the quote, someone told me that apple likes to release things on tuesdays the reason is unknown but why would they release on monday?

iKash

[Docrjm]

Originally posted by Ikash
I hope your right man, but this makes me think what are they going to have at macworld, cuz they specified times and dates. the ipods did ship quick like they released i think it was tuesday and i had mine by friday, but that was alos great work by whatever company they used to ship it. im hoping the new 15" al PB will have audio in and out and a backlit keybord, mabe they even did something with the battery but who knows i guess we'll have to see. one other thing on the quote, someone told me that apple likes to release things on tuesdays the reason is unknown but why would they release on monday?

iKash
Maybe they are Thinkin Different!:D

[Ikash]

mabe they are, the pain of waiting is just crazy like buying a aston martin and not being able to drive it

Analagy

Im a bad speller

[jbomber]

Originally posted by Ikash
mabe they are, the pain of waiting is just crazy like buying a aston martin and not being able to drive it

Analagy

Im a bad speller


Just two more days
Just two more days
Just two more days
Just two more days
Just two more days
Just two more days

My straight jacket is starting to chafe...

[k2k koos]

Originally posted by Ikash
mabe they are, the pain of waiting is just crazy like buying a aston martin and not being able to drive it

Analagy

Im a bad speller

Driving an Aston Martin (a DB7 vantage with touchtronic gearbox)) during a once in a lifetime opportunity like I have done, knowing you will never be able to afford it, that's even more painful, knowing what you are missing...

As for macPB's, I have an upgraded (now 500Mhz) wallstreet PB,(the one with the passive 12" screen) I can't wait to see the new 15" I am seriously wanting a new one, the screen on my current one is seriously starting to p*ss me off!

:mad: :(

[WasteGate]

Originally posted by k2k koos
Driving an Aston Martin (a DB7 vantage with touchtronic gearbox)) during a once in a lifetime opportunity like I have done, knowing you will never be able to afford it, that's even more painful, knowing what you are missing...

:mad: :(

Everyone has one of those in Australia as well as Kangaroo's in the backyard... :D

I have been waiting for an updated 15" since they released the 12" and 17" Al books earlier this year, my advise is don't hold your breath.
Actually I think I might start up a new rumor that Apple is dumping the 15" all together. What's the bloody hold up?

[jzieske]

Originally posted by WasteGate
Actually I think I might start up a new rumor that Apple is dumping the 15" all together. What's the bloody hold up?

I think somebody beat you to that in another thread. Can't find that post right now though. sorry

[idea_hamster]

Really hope the update comes out on Wed. -- I have a friend whom I've (likely) convinced to switch. (Well, me and www.macvspc.info, that is.)

<sounds like an ad but it's true>
The thing that convinced him was when his Thinkpad wouldn't boot (IRQ error?) and I recovered all his documents by taking out his hard drive, dropping it in a firewire enclosure, and plugging it into my TiBook.

It was totally a Janie Porche moment.
</sounds like an ad but it's true>

However, he liked the Aluminum look but wants a mid-size PowerBook.

So as soon as they release the 15" AlBook, they'll have another switcher.

[Ikash]

NO new powerbooks today there toying with me i swear, they better release them soon or im gona have to commit apple suicide and buy a dell.

[sacrilicious]

I'm new to this whole Apple thing, but wouldn't we likely be hearing rumors and guesses if the new 15s were coming out in the short term?

I'd actually be happier if one came out in September, as I'm not buying until September or so, but I want to freakin' be sure that one will come out. :D

[tazo]

Any idea on if there wil be a 1ghz update to the 12'' pb? Maybe make the combo drive one 867 mhz and jthe superdrive 1 ghz, like with the 15'' pb models.

hmmm delicious. a 1ghz pb in 12'' formfactr :p yummy. hehe

[Ikash]

no clue and i want them to comeout soon i've wated long enough and there liek 42 days overdue from teh buyers guide. i hope tommow or wendsday they come out and they have enough to get out to the public soon like they did with the ipods.

Ikash

[Ikash]

im also hoping they put the newer video cards so i can use it for graphics

[MacCoaster]

Sigh, I'm tired of waiting 8 months for an updated PowerBook. I really want a 15.4" PowerBook with WUXGA (1920x1200 resolution--other laptop manufacturers are already making these laptops... Apple is getting abit behind).

Seriously hope they can release one before school starts for me, or I'll be getting a Toshiba or something. At least perhaps a 12 inch PB, I'm not sure what my needs are yet.

[NNO-Stephen]

if they would at least update the 15 inch with aluminum and airport extreme I'd be thrilled. come on Apple, get your stuff together on this one!!! :(

anyway, how bout them PowerBook G5s...

[thebossisback]

BTW, will there be a way to watch the keynote live?

[jbomber]

Originally posted by thebossisback
BTW, will there be a way to watch the keynote live?

i'm guessing no, since its not an actual Keynote and it'll probably just be Joz showing off the G5 to the public.

[Docrjm]

We WANT A NEW PB and we want it now!!!!:D

[Ikash]

i want the powerbook to come out oo

[tazo]

Originally posted by doc_mac
Maybe they are Thinkin Different!:D

lol. Apple dropped that ad campaign a few years ago :)

I am hoping for updates to the 12'' pb as well, then i can an 867mhz 12'' PB for even less :) Or a pre-MWCP 15'' pb for cheap(er).

*Me contemplates* :)

[Docrjm]

Originally posted by tazo
lol. Apple dropped that ad campaign a few years ago :)

I am hoping for updates to the 12'' pb as well, then i can an 867mhz 12'' PB for even less :) Or a pre-MWCP 15'' pb for cheap(er).

*Me contemplates* :)

Obviously I am caught in a time warp....Just like the 15" PB:)

[macphoria]

They just have to update 15" PowerBook. Maybe they won't introduce it at The Create just to rub it in. But they certainly should update it if not before at least after.

[Ikash]

no new powerbooks today whats apple thinking they release the amazing G5 and start slacking big time on the powerbooks, i know apple won't have fuel cells in there laptops so comon be realistic apple, and release them already or else tere gona lose all the new school year buisness

[BigJayhawk]

Oh please! Lose ALL the school year business? Not every PeeCee manufacturer renews every product line before every major portion of the year (New School-Year, Christmas Season, Summer Season, Every Press Conference, My Birthday, etc. etc.).

I've got a year-and-a-half-old Titanium Powerbook 800 that still turns heads like nobody's business. Maybe not in front of some of the folks here that have one of their own, but CERTAINLY for PeeCee users. Interestingly enough, a lot of the folks here that make statements about Apple models "needing to be refreshed every other week or we'll lose all of our customers" don't even have brand new computers every year THEMSELVES.

It's fine to get antsy about getting things quickly but with some perspective, please. In our "Rumor Time Warp" where we check the rumors several times a day (at least I do), every DAY can seem like FOREVER and every WEEK can seem like an ETERNITY but we should remember that people don't buy new computers EVERY YEAR (ok, few do) and computer makers do need some time to recoup their R&D before coming out with new products. (Especially Apple Computer who seems to do the lion's share of the R&D for the whole computing world.)

[ColdZero]

Besides design and software, most of Apple's technology is from the PC side. Serial ATA, the RAM techs, bus technologies, you name it, its pretty much a pc tech. When it comes to putting it into a pretty package or making a nice OS to run on it, thats where Apple's money goes. I really hope these 15" Albooks come out tomorrow or at least soon.

[BigJayhawk]

Show me ANYTHING that shows that Apple does less R&D AS A PERCENTAGE OF MARKETSHARE than any company you can pick and I'll be plenty surprised! Just read how many companies are "inventing" their own music distribution system once Apple shows that something old can actually be successful. Sure, Apple didn't invent the whole concept of downloadable music but they sure spent the bucks on putting it together in a usable package.

You are correct that Apple puts most of their R&D into bringing technology together so it is not just techie talk but it is AN ACTUAL USABLE PRODUCT.

[Ikash]

Mac Rumor Time Warp . . .

oh say your going to callage and your rents want to buy you a computer, and the laptop you want isn't out yet and your gona need one for school what do you do. buy another one. you say apple won't loose buisness well i've been reading these rumor sites and everyone pretty much has reasons why they want the new laptops out. if the reasons good enough where where they don't have time to wait then there gona lose buisness. you may be right people don't buy computers every year but this is the age of you buy a computer and in a few months it will be obsolite. i mean alot of people who don't use it for nothing more than word and aol but for people who need the newest good stuff like me time is an issue

[BigJayhawk]

If someone feels that the choice is between the NEXT GENERATION MAC and a CURRENT GENERATION PC then, by all means, buy the PC and get it over with. Apple does not lose huge amounts of sales over this type of thinking. I know people that think they'll wait until the computers get JUST A LITTLE better and they have never bought ANYTHING yet. How much money can you lose from not selling to someone like this?

If you can push the 17" Powerbook beyond it's capabilities then you should be buying a G5 PowerMac anyway. Then you would have nothing to worry about - power-wise.

Otherwise, when Apple gets is Return on Investment out of the 15" Powerbook then the new one will arrive.

[BigJayhawk]

FYI, I'll be at the MacCreate event (or whatever it's called now) on Friday and I would LOVE to see a new PowerMac (or ANYTHING ELSE that's new for that matter). So, don't get me wrong, I'd love for Apple to come out with new stuff EVERY DAY if possible (the multiple "Tuesday Updates" were a lot of fun).

However, from a BUSINESS STAND-POINT, I also know that if Apple did this all year long then they would stop making money and then we would not have ANY MORE Apple Computers. I would certainly not be happy about THAT!

[Lyle]

Originally posted by Ikash
oh say your going to callage and your rents want to buy you a computer, and the laptop you want isn't out yet and your gona need one for school what do you do. buy another one. you say apple won't loose buisness well i've been reading these rumor sites and everyone pretty much has reasons why they want the new laptops out. if the reasons good enough where where they don't have time to wait then there gona lose buisness. you may be right people don't buy computers every year but this is the age of you buy a computer and in a few months it will be obsolite. i mean alot of people who don't use it for nothing more than word and aol but for people who need the newest good stuff like me time is an issue And if your parents do buy you that computer for callage (sic), be sure that they spring for the word processor with spelling and grammar checks too. Those features can really come in handy.;)

[Ikash]

Apple does not lose huge amounts of sales over this type of thinking


in a buisness no matter how big or small your always wanting to make a profit say in small town buisness someone comes to you for something, your prob gona do all you can do to get that buisness. sam walton knew this and now hes company is the biggest in the world. as you say apple doesn't lose a huge amount well any loss is BAD. im a new apple and really like there products but i have to be realistic with what i have to accomplish and my timeline.

[tdewey]

"If someone feels that the choice is between the NEXT GENERATION MAC and a CURRENT GENERATION PC then, by all means, buy the PC and get it over with. Apple does not lose huge amounts of sales over this type of thinking. I know people that think they'll wait until the computers get JUST A LITTLE better and they have never bought ANYTHING yet. How much money can you lose from not selling to someone like this?"

A lot. If this is Apple's thinking, then it is understandable why they have less than 2% of the market share.

People want and need stability. They need to know when they spend money that they wont wake up tomorrow to find out that something newer and better is available. They need to know when that newer and better thing will be availble so they can plan accordingly: spend for usable slower equipment now, or save for faster equipment later. Most people, given the choice, will spend for use now.

The best thing Apple could do for its user base is to lay out their hardware development roadmap at least a year in advance. A general level of detail is sufficient: powermac G5s in Q3, update to powerbooks in Q3. New powerbook G5s in Q2, 2004. New ibooks in Q1, 2004. Steve and rumor sites will still be able to introduce/speculate about specifics.

Take the current situation: I was all prepared to purchase a 15" Ti until I checked the rumor sites and saw that a new PB is expected realsoonnow. I have lost the use of that new PB for a 1 month, Apple has lost the use of my money for a month. A month isnt much, but others on this board appear to have been waiting longer than a month...who knows how much this adds up to in time/value of $$ terms.

As FUD is created by the various rumor sites about the possiblity of new PBs less people will buy. If you check the apple store, the 12" has been dropping down the best seller list.

What is this all called? Mindshare, and Apple is not very good at the game.

Cheers

[BigJayhawk]

OK, this may sound a bit harsh -- but get a life!

Let people know exactly what the roadmap is for the next year?!?!?

HAHAHAHAHA!

Show me ANY COMPUTER MANUFACTURER'S ROADMAP FOR THE NEXT YEAR!!! You are hilarious (and not very business minded).

Every computer product will "slip down the popularity list" as time progresses. IN FACT, what you propose will GUARANTEE THAT IT WILL DO SO EVEN MORE! If you tell everyone the exact date that every new model will come out then NO-ONE WILL BUY your older stock and you will GO BANKRUPT! The only reason that we (as Rumors followers -- although some ARE still NEWBIES), can talk about our THEORIES about release dates is because we hang around UNOFFICIAL SITES.

If I had a dollar for every time that a NEWBIE criticised Steve Jobs and Apple's business plan, I would be as rich as Steve (and, in fact, that is the ONLY WAY that any of us here would ever get that rich!)

There are probably less than 100 people on the planet that have the business charisma for marketing an Apple-Type product that Steve Jobs has. When you succeed at your first MILLION DOLLAR business plan (much less a BILLION DOLLAR plan, for that matter), then you can criticise Apple's business plan all you want.

However, that said, post all you want about your REAL WORLD wishes, just keep in mind that Apple and Steve Jobs are not politicians. It does them NO GOOD to say that we will provide you with EVERYTHING YOU CAN DREAM UP and it WILL BE FREE TO THE WORLD! Saying "logical" things like this only gets you elected.

[Ikash]

did i mention in my postes that they need specific dates, i know if any company puts dates on when updates will happen not to good for buisness but after a while they need to release dates or put upcoming events not dates even sometimes so they public know that its comming soon so they may wait. just becasue im a newbee doesn't mean i don't know buisness.

im in charge of a Virtual Reality department at the UofA and i also run my own hotel buisness tech support company,

so don't you dare critisice me on someone else buisness plans

There are probably less than 100 people on the planet that have the business charisma for marketing an Apple-Type product that Steve Jobs has. When you succeed at your first MILLION DOLLAR business plan (much less a BILLION DOLLAR plan, for that matter), then you can criticise Apple's business plan all you want.

your right steve jobs is great at marketing and also has a great company but beacuse of my timeline were getting a grant for a 5 million dollar grant for my LAB so don't think you me

[Ikash]

not trying to be pissy but its also hard for me to imagine any reason why theyd have a hold up. im not saying i know everything but i do know some stuff in buisness and i guess were just gona have to wait and see what happens, i think that apple comes out with great products and waiting will be the best but people do have timelines they may not let you know but i bet they do hvae something up there sleves

[BigJayhawk]

Since nothing else constructive is coming of this thread, at least the multiple posts in this thread have moved you to 'member' status. Congratulations!

However, I'm actually the General Manager of a 250 room Full-Service Beachfront Hotel as well as a Certified Hotel Administrator. A word of advice, unless you want to combine the two positions you mentioned and do IT work in a Virtual Reality World, there'd be no need to send your Hotel IT business proposal my way if it's going to be written like your previous posts.

You've now hit right into the area that *I AM* an expert in so that's the end of the road for the posts in this thread for me. Otherwise, I won't be able to resist getting personal.

[jbomber]

hehehe. how long til you guys pull down your jockeys and whip out the yardstick?

it's all in good fun people.... don't take the boards too seriously :)

[jzieske]

Originally posted by BigJayhawk
You've now hit right into the area that *I AM* an expert in so that's the end of the road for the posts in this thread for me. Otherwise, I won't be able to resist getting personal.

I got back up my fellow newbie. I think it may already b a little personal. We are here to follow rumors about what apple may or may not be doing, not to attack eachother.

edit: fixed spelling, need built in spell check for the web.

[jzieske]

I guess that last post made me a member I guess I am backing up my fellow new member.

[BigJayhawk]

Originally posted by jzieske
We are here tto follow rumors about what apple may or may not be doing, not to attack eachother.

I agree, exactly my point. Moving on . . .

[cubist]

Originally posted by Ikash
... they better release them soon or im gona have to commit apple suicide and buy a dell.

We could call this "going to dell" or maybe "dellicide".

[idea_hamster]

...or "juvenile dellinquency."

Ouch -- the pun -- "the death of wit"!

[Docrjm]

Originally posted by cubist
We could call this "going to dell" or maybe "dellicide".

Is there a coroner in the house?

[Docrjm]

Of course the dell dude can come North to get some of our stash. Now that JC is giving it away...ltd time offer.

Bring on the upgraded PB.:D

[Ikash]

You've now hit right into the area that *I AM* an expert in so that's the end of the road for the posts in this thread for me. Otherwise, I won't be able to resist getting personal.

bigjaywalk well i know im not a good speller but i can't help that i speek 3 langues im having grant people. and for the getting personal part my family owns hotels so i think i know what im doing. we use the vr system to potentiolly teach and teaching over a NETWORK thats what i use my skills. im not puting the hotel thing in the proposal. but it does requre some network know how

[Docrjm]

ikash etc chill, this is a friendly banter about powerbooks, at least it was at the start.:p

[newpowerbooks]

What if Apple drops the 15"

I mean, maybe they have extended the update to oust inventory and make way for 17" and 12" updates since, perhaps they have been selling in good #'s.

Why do the R&D if there is no certainty that the G5's will be the same form-factor.....plus the 15.4" screens are actually less-expensive to produce now.

And even if they do update tomorrow, why put up the money if you have a 667 or 800, etc. Especially considering that they boot to 9.....

I would love to buy an updated 15 if it is available but I can't wait until Sept to get it. SO I MUST SUFFER THE WRATH OF GETTING A 1GHZ. ~BOO HOO~

then again, I have heard of customer loyalty...I mean, who in their right mind would get a Dell.. thats not even viable

[Rower_CPU]

I don't know how this has gone on this long without it coming to one of us moderators attention, but chill out guys.

Further OT discussion will be deleted...

[WasteGate]

Delete the whole thread...please.

The 15" powerbook update rumor is old and stale. Remember the iPod update way back when? This is the same.
Lets just say that they will be updated next Tuesday and if they don't someone else can post that they will be updated the following Tuesday and when the next show comes up someone will announce a new update then.
OMG I'm getting :mad:

Please the little voice in my head is telling me to keep going on and on and on and on.

[powerbook\g5]

Apple is selling the Powemac G4 only with 1,25 GHz now. In order to save on costs it would be easy to simply put the same processor into Powerbooks, instead of 1,3 GHz or whatever.

As for when, there is no answer...

[Golem]

[i] In order to save on costs it would be easy to simply put the same processor into Powerbooks, instead of 1,3 GHz or whatever.
[/B]

Unfortunately if it was as simple as that their would have been a update to 1.25 by now.

The 1.25 from the current g4's is likely to run hotter and use more power than the 1Ghz. Too much? who knows but probably a lot more difficult then a simple replacement. But the 1.3 by reputation should be something like the 1ghz in terms of power and heat and could be as simple as plugging it in.

[O.K.]

Moderators,
DELETE THIS THREAD !

There is no information nor intelligent speculation. Just emotions. This is not what we are here for.

Moderators,
DELETE THIS THREAD !

[nydoofus]

MWCP Feature Presentation over. Nothing new in hardware land. Everyone go back to sleep. Nothing to see here.