Specs/Prices for new Macs?

[MacRumors]

An optimistic view of the upcoming iMacs and G4's was provided by reader Kung Pow Chicken reporting he can not confirm the source... however, the specs are identical to ones posted by SpyMac today (http://www.spymac.com). It's unclear which came first... but the specs include:

1200 mhz, 1400 mhz, 1400x2 mhz G4 PowerMacs; $1699, $2499, $3499
1 ghz G3 LCD iMacs; $1299, $1299, $1499
750mhz CRT iMac; $799

As I said... an optimistic view, as this would bring the G4's Mhz up by 533nmhz in 6 months.

[mcbane]

because I know g5's will not be announced at MWSF'02, the dual g4 1.4ghz would be a dream come true, at least for me. I truly hope this is more than a rumor, the price is very reasonable too.

one thing I was wondering about, in spymac.com's news post about this it also said:
"It has also come to our attention that organizers have been placing a strip of double-sided tape underneath every tenth chair in the area where Jobs' will be presenting his key note. "Look under your seat"? It has happened before... all we can say is: take the time to becareful where you sit."

im wondering wtf this means and has to do with anything. seems kinda random to me.

[udannlin]

my source close to one of the recording studios in LA mentioned that the musician Seal was in the studio shooting some video for Apple. Must be one of the following things:

1. iPod Update
2. iBook update
3. Professional Audio Mixing App

[cryptochrome]

an optimistic view, as this would bring the G4's Mhz up by 533nmhz in 6 months

Well the Mhz speeds have been lagging waaaaay behind not only their intel counterparts but also apple's, motorola's, and everybody's expectations for how quickly speed should improve. They had 300mhz laptops four years ago, and they've barely doubled it since then. There's no sense in holding back clock speeds just because it's a large jump, and we know they've finally gotten them past the ghz mark.

[ThomasB]

If this were what was to be I'd take a 750 MHz iMac for $799.

[raferx]

1.2, 1.4 and DUAL 1.4 ghz G4's? Sounds very close to what I would expect after reading ALL the different bits floating around over the past 2 months. TheReg said that there might not be high enough yields of 1.6 Ghz chips to make MWSF... and wrote that the way the chips were designed, anything over 1.6 was up-clocking by 400mhz. So at MWNY we would see 1.6, 2.0 and 2.4 Ghz chips. Amen brothers...
Cheers,

[menoinjun]

the speeds themselves seem alright, but the 3499 model wouldn't just be an added chip to the 2499. It will probably be like it is now, 2 slower chips in the higher end unit.

-Pete

No big deal, just a note.

[samy85114]

Your post make me feel a little bit angry. I,M just disapointed by the way the speculations going on. I was hoping so much for the G5... unfortunatly, you all seem to be right... but could be possible that Steve might decide to release it after all.. on the last minutes before presenting.... I admit that's virtually impossible. Then i'll try to satisfy myself in buying the next G4. I bet, i shouldn't be able to wait until the next keynote.

at the beginning, It sounded like the G5 was near and at least ready, and after all, the Apple sayings make me feel confident so i can't believe that the G5 doesn't take part in the next keynote... well, i mean, when we're looking to apple.com, we already think about G5, not a new G4, at least for me.

[Durandal7]

I hope so. Even though it would be nice I think that they will be more around 867mhz,1.2ghz and dual 1ghz. I am still hoping for that 70ghz chip motorola was rumored to be making.

[Cyprinus]

Has anyone opened the door of an 800DP G4? You'll see that there is barely any room for faster chips. The space both 800's and their cooling-block takes up is like 4 times more than a single 400Mhz G4 did. Very curious how they gonna fix that. Are the fans gonna blow even harder?

The HD sizes announced by Spymac and others are way too small. I work for a large Apple dealer and our stock of HD's starts with the 40Gb (untill we're out of last supplie then it will be the 60, the 80 and the 120).

Combodrives are gonna be a standard issue thing.

[Glenn]

Think about it...all of these price lists showing a G4 with bumped up MHZ. What's the big deal about that. Do you really think Apple would make such a big deal about the same machines they are making now (basically), but just faster.

Keep hope...it's got to be bigger than a 1.4ghz G4.

[samy85114]

iT,S gonna take a while until we see a 70Ghz processor, i expect his release in 5 years, at least. i hope i,M wrong!!!!!

[spuncan]

Yeah this all looks good the prices may go up or down a little and i think the 1.2 will be dp not the 1.4 and i also think ther will be 2-3 flat panel imacs 1ghz,800mz,700mhz maybe and a 800mhz crt fo edu but only for edu. Also ther will be a buch of software including:
iPhoto
OSX Intel (no amd)
10.1.3 (Mac) Universal CD support
3rd party Software lots
And last another digital hub peice one of these: (iCam (Digi Cam and Video),iPDA,iLaserwriter)

[applesurferrr]

i feel really stupid becuase i just paid 1500 for my dvd ibook and now i hear that its gona come standard with cd-r and dvd!! crap and there proboly gona be faster and different colors!!!!
-cody

[sparkleytone]

dont feel bad i did too...tho my $1478 bought one with 30GB/Airport included

i could give a shizz about the combo drive tho...al i need is dvd, i have a 24x burner at home, and i burned at 4x for three yrs and GOOD RIDDANCE

[dricci]

Charging $1299 for an entry level computer would surley greaten Apple's success for bankruptcy. I personally want to see some flat screen iMacs for $799. If Gateway can do it, why can't Apple? I'm sick of these high prices, and if Apple wants market share they have to face the fact that they won't be gaining any by charging $1000+ for a computer.

[MacNut]

I would be happy with a 1.4 ghz G4 but would be thrilled with a 1.4 G5 my only question is what will be inside the machines will we see ddr ram?? or a higher bus speed or cache

[BurntCalc]

I find the idea of a 1.4ghz G4 entirely feasable. It makes sense. 1ghz doesn't merit the type of hype apple is creating. 1.2ghz would keep us from rioting, but not from grumbling. 1.4 would be more than we expected.

Apollo G4, by all accounts, is practically a new chip. It's shed all of the former problems of the legacy G4, and is quite capable of the speeds mentioned. Tests of the chip have even gone so high as 2.4ghz, but only a very few chips can scale this high at this point (read as: maybe 1 in 100 chips could be overclocked to this speed without becoming schizophrenic. Impressive, but hardly economical.)

I would guess that we'll see 1ghz, 1.2 ghz shipping the day of the Expo, and 1.4 ghz shipping 2 weeks from then (which means you'll get yours in about a month).

There's no way Apple would introduce a G5 now, not with Motorola having spent so much time & money on Apollo. Apollo works, and works very well.

As for the processor speed jumps that people point to as a sign that we won't see higher speed chips, remember that the only thing that's kept the G4 back was design. Moto is quite capable of making their chips go faster. They just needed the right chip first. Apollo fixes the bugs, and is ready for the jump. It's simply catching up to where it should be.

Then again, I could be wrong. Anyone?

[MacNut]

Originally posted by Cyprinus
Has anyone opened the door of an 800DP G4? You'll see that there is barely any room for faster chips. The space both 800's and their cooling-block takes up is like 4 times more than a single 400Mhz G4 did. Very curious how they gonna fix that. Are the fans gonna blow even harder?

The HD sizes announced by Spymac and others are way too small. I work for a large Apple dealer and our stock of HD's starts with the 40Gb (untill we're out of last supplie then it will be the 60, the 80 and the 120).

Combodrives are gonna be a standard issue thing.

Maybe we will see a new case to go along with the faster chips wasnt their also talk of a brand new motherboard design

[j763]

Originally posted by applesurferrr
i feel really stupid becuase i just paid 1500 for my dvd ibook and now i hear that its gona come standard with cd-r and dvd!! crap and there proboly gona be faster and different colors!!!!
-cody

My iBook arrives on Sunday... oh well

[barkmonster]

I've not been able to find any info on the hard drive sizes but from one of the messages above It sounds like it's just gonna be 40,60 and 80Gb like last time.

Apart from Apple making ALL the drives in the new powermacs 7200rpm instead of leaving the entry level model with a 5400rpm drive, I can't see any problem with those sizes. I'd be using a second drive for audio in any new mac I buy anyway so even a 20Gb system drive is enough for me!

If these rumours turn out to be true (I remember this time last year this site was VERY close to the truth rightt before MWSF!), then I reckon the 3 year or so wait for a Ghz+ Powermac has been worth it!!

I can't wait to see how it smokes my 300Mhz Beige G3 at running RTAS plug-ins in Protools LE and my software synths. I don't think I'll need a new mac for years if I get one of the new models. Excellent!

[applesurferrr]

im not saying that the ibook is a bad machine its wonderful i love it!! but i just mite be a little gealous of the new ones that are comming out...o and i would get soud sticks for them thats what i have and i love them sound quility is amazing!
-cody

[MacNut]

from what ive seen on spymac.com the hard drives will be 60 80 and 120 gb

[eyelikeart]

I'd love to get my hands on a new 1.4 Ghz G4...but, unless they are really something newer from what we already have, I'll probably end up waiting it out for a G5.... :D

[Rocketman]

Originally posted by Macrumors
:

1200 mhz, 1400 mhz, 1400x2 mhz G4 PowerMacs; $1699, $2499, $3499
1 ghz G3 LCD iMacs; $1299, $1299, $1499
750mhz CRT iMac; $799

As I said... an optimistic view, as this would bring the G4's Mhz up by 533nmhz in 6 months.



The big news is likely to be a feature of al the machines such as WiFi and giganet and hardware raid and other features above the ghz rating itself, which is impressive.

Also the digital apliance is likely to be something like tivo or a consumer priced videocam.

I asked for a PowerPad 7 years ago and I was ignored :)

Rocketman

[iapplemac]

Here is what I think Apple needs to come out with. Steve is really pushing the digital hub concept. So why not built the Digital Hub. This unit would be pretty basic hardware wise, 700MHz G3 16MB video card DVD/CDRW Combo drive 256MB RAM and 60GB HD. I/O Ports would only be FirewireUSB, S-video, Airport,56k modem 10/100BT and RCA Video and Audio.(No internal upgrades to keep cost down)The Unit would come in the same for factor as a VCR or DVD player(you could get Harmon-Kardon to make speakers for it) Software wise it would run a customer verison of Mac OS X, iTunes, iMovie, iDVD(add VCD support to iDVD) Quicktime, iPhoto, Appleworks, Mail, and a Web browser. Now lets kick it up a level, it would also reun Mac Os X games. So what would this machine do,

1. Rip CDs into iTunes(no more CD rack, all in one neat place)
2. Burn CDs
3. Sync with iPod
4. Play Games (mor games for mac)
5. Edit video with iMovie( its got a firewire port)
6. save to a VCR or backto camcorder with firewire
7. Burn Video CD with iDVD
8. inport photo from digital camera thru USB
9. print photos (remember Mac OS X has printer andcamera drivers)
10. editphotos with iPhoto program
11. go online and email(airpot ethernet or 56k)
12. any thing Appleworks can do
13. watch Quicktime TV(which might get good soon)
14. with the usb and IR hook up joysticks printer ect.

What it will NOT do.

run Produtivity programs (word excel quicken photoshop ect)
this is to be a hub not a full Macintosh, it would add to the cost and take away from apples iMac sales.

This would Boldly bring the computer where it has not gone bfore- into the living room.

so what do you think? this would be somthind that the market has not seen before and would bring new users to apple.

[Beej]

Anyone noticed that on spymac's site, they have the new iMac specs saying 14.1" LCD. Further down, they say that the iMac will definitely have a 15" LCD...

[dantec]

I wouldn't believe Spymac on anything after the recent fiasco. iWalk, and now we have 2 different specs for LCD iMacs @ different parts of the page???

[IndyGopher]

A) If spymac reports the sky is blue.. go check. They're never right.
B) Apple bumps specs on machines at MacWorld. Buying a new Apple ANYthing within 6 weeks of MacWorld means you are in a crisis and need it this instant, or you're crazed. (Business purchases that have to beat year-end tax or budget deadlines get my sympathies here, no one else)
C) Steve Jobs could announce that Jesus Christ had come back just to get a close-up look at the newest Macs, bring Him on stage and lead a round of Irish drinking songs, and some of you would complain that this didn't live up to the hype... and some of the others would complain about the choice of songs.

[Beej]

What about the people who complain because they're not religious? :) Good to see a bit of humor... there are a lot of people taking this way too seriously!

[mr blur]

Originally posted by IndyGopher
A) If spymac reports the sky is blue.. go check. They're never right.
B) Apple bumps specs on machines at MacWorld. Buying a new Apple ANYthing within 6 weeks of MacWorld means you are in a crisis and need it this instant, or you're crazed. (Business purchases that have to beat year-end tax or budget deadlines get my sympathies here, no one else)
C) Steve Jobs could announce that Jesus Christ had come back just to get a close-up look at the newest Macs, bring Him on stage and lead a round of Irish drinking songs, and some of you would complain that this didn't live up to the hype... and some of the others would complain about the choice of songs.

now, that could be *the* most sane post i've seen on any of the message boards

[harley72]

flashback to MACWORLD NEW YORK... two years ago... Apple tape the then new LED buttonless mouse under the seats of some of the keynote attendees as a little thank you for attending.....

[harley72]

that last post was for mcbane's question on why the tape....

[Crotalus]

Got it first!

[tw9876z]

$1200 is too expensive your apples economy line computer, 800 or 900 for the low model is much better much like the current one, also that is not enough new releases from apple for all this hype, there is something to join the ipod in apples extra stuff line, i remember (think it was this site) that said that a report said jobs will release something new, powerful, and revolutionary, and i thing a new imac cannot hold up to that (the new, powerful,.... is just from memory i probably will get it wrong) i mean the new imac may be cool but the bottom line is its still a computer, a cool one but still just a computer, i think they will either release a new pda that it like those pocketpcs except for mac, the ipaq from compaq(wow, shows how everyone follows apple huh) is an example but their is nothing like that for the mac, i think they will release a portable ipad thing that is better then the rest, or the icam, i mean imovie and iphoto really point to a new device, so there must be somthing their. The last thing is something new thats unlike anything we have ever seen. but i have one idea about the new imac, the screen is portable, you pop the screen off and it switches to a new mac os x for a pad, i think that is they have an ipad come out it will a feature on the new imac. so now you have a potable tablet, it can open programs with a pen like those of the palm, and it will have an ok set of speakers in it, but the charging dock is when it becomes the imac, it has a main plug like those of the batteries on a laptop, plug it in and it switches to the regular os x, the plug connects you to the firewire, usb, and everything else. Now if you tkae the imac ipad along for a trip an adapter for one firewire and usb can be attached to the imac ipad but only works on things like ipod and zip drives, nothin big. also this adapter lets you charge it, and it comes standard with airport but you cant download stuff so easily without the docking station. this would put a ton of stuff in one peice (or two however you look at it). to back up this idea more the pictures of the screen with a pen on it in the macworld expo borcher (I CANT SPELL!!!!!)shows something like this. if the imac is not detachable, they should release an ipad, and if the imac is like this, i think we will see an icam, also i think the superdrive will become sold outside the g4 as an external drive.

but one makes me feel like a sucker is that i just got a new g4 powerbook,i feel dumb, but at least its still new. for now.

[buffsldr]

Apple... back away from the Star Trek references. We are mac addicts not Trekkies.

(Sorry.... Days of feaverish anticipation has made me bitter).

[razoné]

why did they not use "10" or "x"

[razoné]

i typed this in at "google": factor ten g5 motorola

first hit:

the new CPU will be offered at 800MHz, 1GHz, 1.2GHz, 1.4GHz and 1.6GHz, and while the first two are nominally aimed at the embedded space - the others are aimed straight at the desktop, we hear - we can see Apple using them as to transition over from the top end G4, the PowerPC 7450.

Getting to those clock speeds involved increasing the G5's pipeline from the 7450's seven stages to ten. The part is capable of exceeding 2GHz, we're told, but the initial batch of shipping clock speeds suggests that the either the yield or the stability of 2GHz parts isn't high enough to ship chips at that speed.

[razoné]

increasing the G5's pipeline from the 7450's seven stages toTEN.

NOT "X" NOT "10" BUT TEN!!!!!

[dantec]

we are getting a G5 or we aren't?

[MDOCOD]

I have been following the rumors surrounding the G5 for some time now, and most everything I have read (with the exception of very recent and overly optimistic rumors discussing upcoming expo) suggests that the G5 won't make it to a mac desktop untill at least this summer.

However, this is no reason to be sad. Lets look at the history of several chips that have been through the races and retired already. Take the 603/603e PPC, 604/604e set of chips. The 603 started at something like 60MHZ, and was tranformed and pushed to 300MHZ (gaining an "e") before retirement. 604 started at I believe 100 or 120, was pushed to 350MHZ (gaining the "e" again) before retirement. The G3, still in use today started around 200 and has already made it to 700. if trends continue, the G4 (started around 350MHZ, supposed to have been 400) still has a ways to go, I don't see the G5 being released untill the G4 starts running out of legs, probably around 1.4-1.6 GHZ, and with new chip enhancements/better catching (some of which has already been emplemented), it's nothing to sneez at.

The things that apple has been bloating about are things to be that excited about. A few updates have been long put off on the G4's motherboard. I will certainly be excited when they announce DDR board, AGP pro (not 4x) slot, and ata 100 or 133, these things WILL happen at the expo, no doubt. Gigawire shouldn't be too hard, they've already got NIC's capable of 1000Mbps, firewire lags at 400, especially with USB 2.0 already out and at 480Mbps. The apollo design won't be wasted or passed up, it will be on the new board boasting speeds in excess of a GHZ.

I read some others above talking about how the case won't fit enough cooling equipment for faster processors. Wrong. The cooling equipment in those things is stone-age. AMD athlons (i would know i have one) run between 60 and 80 watts (more than twice that of a G4), a lightbulb worth of heat energy concentrated into a square centemeter, better heat sink designs can cool these things no prob, including some that will fit in tiny rackmount cases 1 "U" size, about an inch thick and roughly the size of the ZIF socket A it fits over. So what I'm getting at with this one is that a new case design would only be for the perpose of a new look.

I think we all know that the flat screen iMacs are coming, apple already ordered 100,000 units (per month from here on out) separate from the tipical order for their other monitors. They won't have a CRT available after this expo, apple wouldn't split up a line of computers, and i am almost certain they are aiming for an entirely flat line of computers.

Anyways, enough of my gab and on to someone elses, sorry about all the spelling errors, I fail to spell well. And oh crap i have to be to work in like 5 hours and i better go to sleep now.

[Paul777]

Do you think we'll see a Superdrive configuration in the "new" iMac/consumer desktop?

I hope so.

[dantec]

If there is a G4 in the new iMacs I don't see a reason why not!

Always remember Apple loves the we did this first sorta thing. So if they can incorporate Superdrives into their entire line, or at least both lines they will brag about it to PC developers who in turn will eventually copy it!

[Paul777]

I've just sold my G4 Cube to make way for the new "Whatever".

DVD burning would be revolutionary an a consumer mac.

[Mr_Mac_UK]

Apple may of placed a large order for LCD screens. But as far as I know it hasn't been said anywhere what size!!! It could be 15" of maybe 6" for the iWalk or for somthing tottally diffrent

[dantec]

They where 15" screens.

[Falleron]

A realistic expo will be:

imac - LCD or 17"CRT
PowerMac - 867Mhz, 933Mhz DP + 1Ghz G4 (Motorola said the appollo is not ready)
ibook - Minor speed bump (100Mhz)
PowerBook - Stays the same

+ Some sort of new device

I dont believe we shall see the major speed bumps everyone is talking about!

[Tommy!]

did anyone notice that the screen size on the CRT model is 14"? thats smaller than the current imac's 15 inches... that would blow

[Mr. Scott]

....baaaaah!

1) you won't see an iBook speed bump unless the PowerBook bumps too. Apple will not sell a 700MHz iBook and a 667MHz TiBook.

2) you will at least see Apollo. Motorola is known for keeping their trap shut until Apple announces new product. That is if Apple stays with the PowerPC.

3) iPod update is highly unlikely. Too new. Apple has a limited budget with sales falling so precipitously. $5.4b in sales is a huge drop.

4) the iMac will likely be transformed into something a little more than a rehashed 20th Anniv Mac.

The possibility of Apple trashing Motorola is getting closer with each passing day. Motorola is a sinking ship, Apple may have to cut bait.

Imagine if Apple could spend its advertising dollars on extolling the virtues of its machines without having to convince everyone they are FASTER with SLOWER processors (which they aren't).

And, fear not, those who will say "but Apple's a hardware company!" The software can be tied to the hardware. They just won't have to compete on the Hz factor- and right now, Apple Mega Hurts.


.....but all will be revealed come Monday. I just hope Apple wakes up and moves the platform to an X86 ISA and get out from under Motorola's leperish thumb before it destroys the company.


.....baaaah! I hate TrollaMotor!

[guest]

Originally posted by applesurferrr
im not saying that the ibook is a bad machine its wonderful i love it!! but i just mite be a little gealous of the new ones that are comming out...o and i would get soud sticks for them thats what i have and i love them sound quility is amazing!
-cody
Buy a dictionary numb nuts

[joey j]

The SpyMac report points to the inclusion of 10.2, which won't be released
until March, remember...?

[mzlin]

To the person who complained about the 14" LCD being smaller than the 15" CRT: There's nothing to worry about, because you're WRONG.

CRT sizes, for some reason surely thought up by the marketing department in some third-rate monitor company, are listed as picture tube diagonals, but what you usually see is about an inch less. That's why you often see descriptions like "15-inch monitor (14.1-inch visible)." It's completely misleading, confusing, unnecessary, and lame.

LCD sizes are actual visible sizes and represent a return to sanity. Hence a 14" LCD is as large as a 15" CRT. Of course, it's also flat, higher resolution, perfectly focussed, and not jittery. You can easily display XGA (1024x768) on a 14.1" LCD (as found in the G3 Powerbook), while it's a stretch for a 15" CRT. In fact the new iBook has demonstrated you can display XGA on a 12" screen fine, so it's too bad they don't make SXGA (1280x1024) 14" LCDs.

[PortrayMe]

Originally posted by Cyprinus
Has anyone opened the door of an 800DP G4? You'll see that there is barely any room for faster chips. The space both 800's and their cooling-block takes up is like 4 times more than a single 400Mhz G4 did. Very curious how they gonna fix that. Are the fans gonna blow even harder?


The new G4's are using the Apollo architecture, which is smaller, cooler, and uses less power.