Powerbook G4 - 3rd Week of Oct?

[arn]

Kodawarisan (http://www.kodawarisan.com/ug/index.html) posts some more information about upcoming PowerBook G4 upgrades (Excite Translation (http://www.excite.co.jp/world/url/?wb_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kodawarisan.com%2Fug%2Findex.html&wb_lp=JAEN&wb_dis=2&wb_co=excitejapan))

Most significantly -- the Superdrive is not expected to be an internal option.

[King Cobra]

Less crappy Babelfish translation, anyone? :rolleyes:

"September 15 of 2002 day
As for new PowerBook G4 in next month 3rd week announcement

According to information, that as for the new PowerBook G4 of rumor there is no substantial frame modification with the clock of the 1ghz/800Mhz, the Superdrive of expectation regrettable does not become with built-in, is announced with option of outside attaching type it seems."

Speeds: 800 to 1000MHz, as rumored countless time before
Drive: Probably Combo internal, attachable DVD-Burner (probably via Firewire, add maybe $500)

I most likely think it will come with 10.2.1 and iDVD, but I'm pondering whether or not PC2100/PC2700 will make its way into the Ti enclousre.

[djniche]

just got the 667 about two months ago and as always the new models come out 6 months later. I might upgrade in about 6 months. But i'm very happy with how my 667 performs.

[cjerens]

I knew the "slim Superdrive" rumors for the PBG4 sounded too good to be true. This sounds a lot more realistic. I would be VERY happy if Apple finally does have the sense to give Powerbook users the option of using an external DVD-RW drive (legally even!) and iDVD. Maybe that's just wishful thinking though...I guess we'll see what happens...

[formasfunction]

how reliable is that site? anyone know? None the less I was hoping that the update would come in a little over 2 weeks. Instead it seems we have over a month to twiddle our thumbs.

Someone mentioned that they should start making the Powerbooks out of Magnesium (lighter, stronger, etc.). Weren't the NeXT Cubes made out of magnesium? Any good reasons not to switch?

[Choppaface]

magnesium? you mean magnesium paint? I thought the current PB didn't have any titanium parts on it, it was just the paint? at least that's what the rusting pictures seem to integrate


I think it's actually a good idea for the DVD-RW to be external, assuming that it's much less than what it would cost to just buy one third party. on one hand it's not so super portable, but on the other hand 1) can you even burn an entire DVD with a full battery and 2) why would you want to waist all your battery power burning a DVD when you could do something else and just burn it later?

[pretentious]

Someone mentioned that they should start making the Powerbooks out of Magnesium (lighter, stronger, etc.). Weren't the NeXT Cubes made out of magnesium? Any good reasons not to switch?
Hey that is an idea, 'MagBook'.
Would Magnesium work better on the Airport? I can see them done in a cool black metal industrial design, think the Maglight, gone laptop w/ a hearty little Apple in the middle.
Although I doubt that it would come out in this update, but probably done when Apple flips over to it next incarnation next year.

[alex_ant]

Originally posted by formasfunction
how reliable is that site? anyone know? None the less I was hoping that the update would come in a little over 2 weeks. Instead it seems we have over a month to twiddle our thumbs.

Someone mentioned that they should start making the Powerbooks out of Magnesium (lighter, stronger, etc.). Weren't the NeXT Cubes made out of magnesium? Any good reasons not to switch?
The only reason I can think of that Apple isn't switching the TiBooks to MgBooks is that "magnesium" doesn't conjure up the same images as "titanium" in the minds of uninformed consumers.

[alex_ant]

Originally posted by Choppaface
magnesium? you mean magnesium paint? I thought the current PB didn't have any titanium parts on it, it was just the paint? at least that's what the rusting pictures seem to integrate
Do you have a link to those rusting pictures? I've never heard of a TiBook rusting... Do you mean the edges, around the palm rest? If so, that part of the TiBook is actually black carbon fiber painted light gray.

I always thought the metal part of the TiBook was extremely thin titanium, with a coat of matte silver paint on top to make it uglier and more prone to scratching.

[uhlawboi80]

well the speed bump to 1ghz i could see happening...but the internal superdrive? i think they are right. after reading comments all over from the engineers saying what a pain it was to even get the combo drive into this case and how tough it is to make these suckers i can see no internal superdrive and no bid desire on apples part to alter the case.

thats just what i think

[pretentious]

magnesium? you mean magnesium paint? I thought the current PB didn't have any titanium parts on it, it was just the paint? at least that's what the rusting pictures seem to integrate

All I found is couple of sites saying that it is a carbon/ titanium hybrid, Apple them selves saying just titanium here:
http://www.apple.com/powerbook/
http://www.lowendmac.com/pb2/pbg4.html

[Billicus]

Just a thought: Would titanium paint affect (or is it effect - i can never remember) airport signals? Wouldn't it have to be actual titanium used in the construction? :confused:

[daRAT]

Could this new drive be a bluetooth device?

[Dunepilot]

Originally posted by daRAT
Could this new drive be a bluetooth device?

No chance! Bluetooth is to USB what Airport is to Ethernet.

Bluetooth is good for short-range wireless transmission of small amounts of data, not high-bandwith (which is what you need for optical drives that burn fast). The external drive will be firewire. Maybe even Firewire 2. That would make the new TiBook a more significant upgrade.

[shadowfax]

boy, these October PB rumors are coming in full strength, aren't they? don't you think that's a good sign we'll get them in october? i mean, they can't really skip out and wait till january... that'd be so tacky.

[nickmcghie]

Originally posted by Choppaface
magnesium? you mean magnesium paint? I thought the current PB didn't have any titanium parts on it, it was just the paint? at least that's what the rusting pictures seem to integrate


umm.. i don't think so.. i'm sure the current powerbook has a titanium frame, hence the name Titanium PowerBook G4. The paint is just that.. PAINT.

Its like that one IBM ThinkPad that also has a titanium frame.. except that Apple choose to make a big deal of the titanium by making almost the entire case titanium and painting it a silver metallic color, while IBM just encased it in ugly black plastic.

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by arn
Kodawarisan (http://www.kodawarisan.com/ug/index.html) posts some more information about upcoming PowerBook G4 upgrades (Excite Translation (http://www.excite.co.jp/world/url/?wb_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kodawarisan.com%2Fug%2Findex.html&wb_lp=JAEN&wb_dis=2&wb_co=excitejapan))

Most significantly -- the Superdrive is not expected to be an internal option.

unfortunately, that is possibly what apple will have to do if they can't fit the superdrive into it's ultra thin form factor

but finally, an apple laptop will clock to 1 ghz and this will indeed spur sales

i wonder if that means ibook will follow with a much slower G4 processor in it?

[jg3]

Mmmmmmm... computers made of magnesium (http://www.simson.net/photos/hacks/cubefire.html)!

[alex_ant]

Originally posted by nickmcghie
umm.. i don't think so.. i'm sure the current powerbook has a titanium frame, hence the name Titanium PowerBook G4. The paint is just that.. PAINT.

Its like that one IBM ThinkPad that also has a titanium frame.. except that Apple choose to make a big deal of the titanium by making almost the entire case titanium and painting it a silver metallic color, while IBM just encased it in ugly black plastic.
Actually the TiBook has a plastic-like carbon fiber frame... that's why the rev As had a tendency to flex when you picked them up. The only titanium parts are the silver parts (lid, bottom shell, palm rest & surrounding keyboard areas). Which leads one to wonder why Apple chose titanium at all when, the way they used it, it offers no structural or durability benefits whatsoever...

[Nebrie]

Originally posted by alex_ant

Actually the TiBook has a plastic-like carbon fiber frame... that's why the rev As had a tendency to flex when you picked them up. The only titanium parts are the silver parts (lid, bottom shell, palm rest & surrounding keyboard areas). Which leads one to wonder why Apple chose titanium at all when, the way they used it, it offers no structural or durability benefits whatsoever...

Well, first of all, it's really thin titanium. I thought my titanium glasses were already razor thin... also for marketing purposes, they used CP1 titanium rather than titanium alloy which is stronger.

[oldMac]

Titanium is great stuff. It really is stronger than just about anything else and it looks great when finished. It's also very flexible. (A good thing in some applications, not in others.)

The TiBook has a titanium skin and some other kind of frame (plastic?). The iBook has magnesium frame with a plastic outer body.

People have mentioned that the TiBook has some kind of carbon-fiber frame? I suspect that it's just plastic (polycarbonate) which I guess technically is a carbon compound, but not any sort of "carbon-fiber" as has been implied. Of course, I could be wrong. I really don't know.

Magnesium is also very strong, though not as strong as titanium. Magnesium behaves a lot more like cast alumninum. It casts into a very strong and lightweight form which makes it excellent for things like internal frames and lawnmower decks. It finishes about as well as cast iron does. i.e, it tends to be a bit ugly, which is another reason it's often chosen for internal laptop frames rather than an external product.

Of course, people always like to point out the fact that magnesium burns very brilliantly. This is true, though it requires a good amount of direct flame to get a good burn going. Once it starts, shield your eyes. It's quite a thing to see.

[mrwalker]

Originally posted by oldMac
People have mentioned that the TiBook has some kind of carbon-fiber frame? I suspect that it's just plastic (polycarbonate) which I guess technically is a carbon compound, but not any sort of "carbon-fiber" as has been implied. Of course, I could be wrong. I really don't know.


The iBook has a magnesium frame with a polycarbonate shell, but I thought the TiBook did not have this kind of extra shell around it??? I mean, titanium should be strong enough...

[iGav]

Why the concern about the TiBooks construction???

It's solid enough, and unless you treat it like a tw*t then it can handle day to day life just fine...... I think the problem of perceived weakness is more to do with the slimness rather than anything else.....

Mine's over a year and half old now, and looks almost as good as new....., no scratches or dents...... Beautiful..... :)

Now with regards to why Apple painted the TiBook silver....... Titanium in it's natural finish marks incredibly easily even with just finger prints...... if you take the TiBooks battery out...... as far as I'm aware the metal inside there is un-painted Titanium.... touch it a few times with your fingers, and then try to ploish out the marks.... Bingo... there you have your problem.... it looks mucky and messy......

[aasmund]

1. Bluetooth - Apple want's to have sexy computers wireless is sexy.
2. No more paint. It should be unpaintet titanium, why they ever painted it is beyond me!
3. Better graphics, sorry but for a graphics targeted computer 32 mb 7500 is just not up to scratch.
4. Bigger keyboard - why on earch does not the keyboard use the full width of the machine???
5. Lighted keyboard. Usefull when it's dark + looks cool
6. USB 2.0 everyone else is getting it, so why shouldn't we (stop being so stubborn!)
7. 802.11g or b or something it's just too slow today..
8. No more fan (I know this is difficult to implement with today's cooling requirements, but at least it should have a quiet mode where it slows down the optical drive and the CPU so that it is all quiet.
9. 16:9 instead of 16:10 - would make it smaller, yet you could keep same keyboard size + truly widescreen.
10. Trackpoint!

a dvd burner would be usefull but I don't really care.

gigawire is utterly useless. what on earth would I use it for??

[aasmund]

Maybe natural titanium leaves fingerprints, but at least i would not have to call my computer itchy and scratchy..

[Rocketman]

Originally posted by aasmund
1. Bluetooth - Apple want's to have sexy computers wireless is sexy.
2. No more paint. It should be unpaintet titanium, why they ever painted it is beyond me!
3. Better graphics, sorry but for a graphics targeted computer 32 mb 7500 is just not up to scratch.
4. Bigger keyboard - why on earch does not the keyboard use the full width of the machine???
5. Lighted keyboard. Usefull when it's dark + looks cool
6. USB 2.0 everyone else is getting it, so why shouldn't we (stop being so stubborn!)
7. 802.11g or b or something it's just too slow today..
8. No more fan (I know this is difficult to implement with today's cooling requirements, but at least it should have a quiet mode where it slows down the optical drive and the CPU so that it is all quiet.
9. 16:9 instead of 16:10 - would make it smaller, yet you could keep same keyboard size + truly widescreen.
10. Trackpoint!

a dvd burner would be usefull but I don't really care.

gigawire is utterly useless. what on earth would I use it for??

As a Ti user I have a differing view. The following mentioned issues need to be addressed.

3.
5.
7.
10. option would not be objectionable
11. An external DVD burner makes sense so it does not add extra weight and power consumprion during the rare publish stage. Also it would hook to ANY Firewire Mac!
12. Gigawire (fast firewire) is going to be really appreciated the day you have a home media server (external raid box) on your Ti. Sort of a Tivo and iTunes archive all in one.

Rev A perspective

Rocketman

[alex_ant]

Originally posted by oldMac
Magnesium is also very strong, though not as strong as titanium. Magnesium behaves a lot more like cast alumninum. It casts into a very strong and lightweight form which makes it excellent for things like internal frames and lawnmower decks. It finishes about as well as cast iron does. i.e, it tends to be a bit ugly, which is another reason it's often chosen for internal laptop frames rather than an external product.

Of course, people always like to point out the fact that magnesium burns very brilliantly. This is true, though it requires a good amount of direct flame to get a good burn going. Once it starts, shield your eyes. It's quite a thing to see.
There are various magnesium-bodied small electronics (digital cameras & phones are two that come to mind). I don't know if those use bare magnesium or if it's painted or anodized in some way, but they feel very solid and look very sharp.

[mcrain]

An external firewire DVD-r offered by Apple?

Ok, there have been external firewire DVD-r's, however, the main problem a lot of people have had was that to use it you had to buy third party software because iDVD didn't work, right?

Could this signal a new version of iDVD that supports external DVD-r drives?

If nothing else, that would be nice.

[alex_ant]

Originally posted by iGAV
Why the concern about the TiBooks construction???

It's solid enough, and unless you treat it like a tw*t then it can handle day to day life just fine...... I think the problem of perceived weakness is more to do with the slimness rather than anything else.....

Mine's over a year and half old now, and looks almost as good as new....., no scratches or dents...... Beautiful..... :)
Not concern over the construction, just concern over the body (specifically the paint). I have a few light scratches on the titanium panels of mine, which is fine, but the edge of my palmrests look like total ass. I must have gotten a bad batch of paint or something, because it's almost an embarassment to go out with this thing in public. It's happening on both sides - first the paint blisters, then it begins to slowly disappear over time leaving that ugly black plastic/carbon-fiber/whatever frame behind underneath. It's TERRIBLE!
Now with regards to why Apple painted the TiBook silver....... Titanium in it's natural finish marks incredibly easily even with just finger prints...... if you take the TiBooks battery out...... as far as I'm aware the metal inside there is un-painted Titanium.... touch it a few times with your fingers, and then try to ploish out the marks.... Bingo... there you have your problem.... it looks mucky and messy......
I didn't realize Ti absorbed fingerprints so well, but in that case, why not just use a clear coat finish? It would preserve the metallic luster of the Ti and it wouldn't be unsightly when scratched.

I still want my black anodized MgBook... :)

[Blackcat]

Originally posted by mcrain
An external firewire DVD-r offered by Apple?

Ok, there have been external firewire DVD-r's, however, the main problem a lot of people have had was that to use it you had to buy third party software because iDVD didn't work, right?

Could this signal a new version of iDVD that supports external DVD-r drives?

If nothing else, that would be nice.

It would be far more in character for Apple to make it only work with the Powerbook unless you buy DVD SP, that way it doesn't eat into LCD iMac sales :mad:

[vixapphire]

woo hoo! a 1GHz powerbook would be a long-overdue arrival to the 21st century. my wallet would lighten, certainly.

Couple of things: First, looking at the 166MHz-at-a-time upgrades over time and the huge profitability of the company (based perhaps too much upon milking the faithful by practicing this frustrating form of "upgrade incrementalism"), how many of you want to bet that the October upgrade only goes up to 933? No firewire 2, maybe bluetooth, depending on the motherboard gymnastics required, and definitely the new video chip since it's a pin-for-pin replacement of the current 7500 chip.

However, if they make consumers wait until at least January 2003 for 1GHz powerbooks, apple can forget ever seeing a dime of my cash (except for emagic hardware and software :-) - I'll only ever buy an apple on the used market from here on out. Yeah, maybe it's a bit petty or whatever, but there's little worse than being taken advantage of, and if your choices are to pay $3200 now for something that'll be worth $2400 in 6 months but won't be replaced with anything significantly faster (even if it's only significant b/c it's an on-paper number like "1GHz"), why spend the money? Especially when the latest models are available used and/or refurb'd for a few hundred less than apple's prices?

[Over Achiever]

3:2!!!

The aspect ratio of the tibook is not 16:10, but 15:10!:rolleyes:

Its a minor thing...I'm just tired of everyone saying the tibook is 16:10...thats for the new iMac and cinema displays...not the tibook. Ya'll hear?:p

:D :D :D

[mcrain]

Originally posted by Over Achiever
3:2!!!

The aspect ratio of the tibook is not 16:10, but 15:10!:rolleyes:

Its a minor thing...I'm just tired of everyone saying the tibook is 16:10...thats for the new iMac and cinema displays...not the tibook. Ya'll hear?:p

:D :D :D

Since you're being picky...

Actually, you're wrong too. It's resolution is 1280-by-854-pixels. 15/10 is 1.5. 1280/854 is 1.4988290398126463700234192037471.

:rolleyes:

underachievers... sigh

[Over Achiever]

Originally posted by mcrain


Since you're being picky...

Actually, you're wrong too. It's resolution is 1280-by-854-pixels. 15/10 is 1.5. 1280/854 is 1.4988290398126463700234192037471.

Bah...I kept seeing people saying 3:2. I'd prefer 5:3 or 16:9, but prob won't happen anytime soon. Apple's website (http://www.apple.com/powerbook) explicitly states the screen is 3:2...the previous resolution 1152:768 was a perfect 3:2...I don't care about pixels...remember, the 17" cinema display is "4:3 aspect ratio", but its resolution is 1280:1024 (i think) :p

Anyway, i'm off topic. External superdrive is very reasonable. ! GHz powerbooks are nice, but sadly 933 MHz might be more realistic. :( Expect new powerbooks at the end of October if they go on the 6 month cycle, end of september if they're on the 5 month cycle. But more realsitically, they'll randomly release the pb when we least expected it :eek: :rolleyes:

Ok, I think the frame is carbon fiber, the hinges are aluminium, the top cover on the display is thin titanium metal, the bottom is also titanium except for a plastic "heat pad", the keyboard is plastic...:p :rolleyes:

Magnesium is the alloy in the "ultralight", ultrathin PC laptops such as the Dell Latitude C400 and X200, and the Gateway 200. If you want to know that magnesium feels like, look at those computers at your local gateway store.:eek: I personally prefer the titanium...each to their own opinion.;)

Can't wait for 'em new tibooks!

[shadowfax]

more precisely, 1280/854 is 640/427. what an odd choice of numbers, esp when the 1152/768 divides right. but it probably has something to do with that "768" shows up in 1024x768, "854" in 1152x854, and "1280" in 1280x960, or, more popularly but out of proper ratio, 1280x1024 (which i run at). of course, 640/427 is a horribly obnoxious proper fraction.. maybe the powerbook has 1280x853 1/3 pixels, just to satisfy you nitpicks and they aren't saying anything. yeah. rock on posters.

[Over Achiever]

Originally posted by Shadowfax
more precisely, 1280/854 is 640/427. what an odd choice of numbers, esp when the 1152/768 divides right. but it probably has something to do with that "768" shows up in 1024x768, "854" in 1152x854, and "1280" in 1280x960, or, more popularly but out of proper ratio, 1280x1024 (which i run at). of course, 640/427 is a horribly obnoxious proper fraction.. maybe the powerbook has 1280x853 1/3 pixels, just to satisfy you nitpicks and they aren't saying anything. yeah. rock on posters.

huh? sorry, i'm terribly tired.:o *yawn* huh?

This is getting out of hand...i just pointed out that apple describes the pb as having a 3:2 ratio...i don't care what the resolution is.

This is getting off topic...:D:D:D

I shoulda kept my mouth shut :eek: ;) :rolleyes:

[King Cobra]

C'mon, guys. Give Under Achiever some slack here, especially among others, and when mcrain has to make that his 1000th post! :D

http://raw.wwe.com/results/051302/images/merch.jpg

:p

[shadowfax]

ultimately, nobody cares that much about resolution, of course. i think that was my joke. sorry to leave out my emoticons, i am not a fan. i don't know! i was kidding! congrats on the 1000 Mcrain, though you might consider editing some really cool philosophical catch phrase to edit in, just for the occasion. rock on posters!

[Over Achiever]

Ditto. Congrats Mcrain on reaching the millenium mark.

Oh yeah, congrats to Q-dawg for reaching the 2k mark a couple of weeks back.

Heck, while I'm at it, congrats to edvinow for getting his avatar...i'll reach 500 in a couple o' months with useless posts like this...;)