iBook Updates... Details?

[MacRumors]

As a followup to the initial iBook update (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2004/10/20041015154040.shtml) rumor posted last week, there have been more scatterings of reports that we will see an iBook revision this week.

ThinkSecret (http://www.thinksecret.com/news/0410briefly.html) can confirm some Apple product announcement this week, and feel the iBook is the likely candidate.

A few scattered and unconfirmable reports claim that iBooks have already arrived and may start at $999 (down from $1099 now). Other expectations point to minor speed bumps and Airport Extreme built-in.

[Chaszmyr]

Would be great to see it at $999. Unfortunately, if they drop the price that means it probably won't be much of an upgrade, either. The 1.3ghz report is seeming likely.

Lets hope the PowerBooks manage a larger upgrade than that, though. *crosses fingers for the dual-core which he thinks is entirely improbable*

[Steven1621]

a speed bump and/or graphics update would have to mean that a PB update will be in the near future. the specs would be very close and would eat into PB sales

[Chaszmyr]

hopefully, the combo drive will be standard on the lowest model. it's rather silly to have only a cd nowadays...

People who have a laptop only as a secondary computer don't really need a CD burner in their laptop... It would be nice to have a DVD drive in the low-end though.

[iShater]

Always good news, however, I just convinced my bro to pick up an iBook, he got it delivered last week :p

[AirUncleP]

Extreme built in?!? Now that would be nice and would sell well.

[Chaszmyr]

Extreme built in?!? Now that would be nice and would sell well.

I agree. I overlooked that on the original post. What good is a laptop without WiFi these days anyway?

[runplaysleeprun]

hopefully, the combo drive will be standard on the lowest model. it's rather silly to have only a cd nowadays...

I agree. It wouldnt be bad at all if they maintained the price point they currently have and added a bit of speed to the processor and AE built in.

a bit more ram would never hurt, either.... but thats just wishfull thinking.

[Some_Big_Spoon]

so a G4 12" laptop at 1.3GHz.. and now the 12"powerbook is a hockey puck.. what gives? 12"PB's not worth it if this is the truth. They have to do something, anything, to differentiate the two.. lighted keyboard, better VRAM, free happymeal toy.. anything..

[PlaceofDis]

i wonder what this means for the next powerbook revision, they are due too

[Steven1621]

People who have a laptop only as a secondary computer don't really need a CD burner in their laptop... It would be nice to have a DVD drive in the low-end though.

true but it becomes significantly more difficult to transfer large files without the availability of a network or high speed internet.

[Chaszmyr]

so a G4 12" laptop at 1.3GHz.. and now the 12"powerbook is a hockey puck.. what gives? 12"PB's not worth it if this is the truth. They have to do something, anything, to differentiate the two.. lighted keyboard, better VRAM, free happymeal toy.. anything..

It would only be temporary. If the iBook gets this update now, I'm sure the PowerBook will be updated within a month.

[russed]

all sounds good! apple is really going for the bigger market share and i think the ibook is the way to do it.

[nagromme]

It would be great to see the iBook back under $999. Even better if you get edu pricing! I hope that's true, whatever the specs. I know some potential switchers who would really like an OS X laptop with a three-digit price.

[Zaty]

It would only be temporary. If the iBook gets this update now, I'm sure the PowerBook will be updated within a month.

Exactly, there is no reason why Apple should wait with the iBook update just because the new PBs are not yet ready.

[Windowlicker]

The price tag of under $1000 really makes the iBook a consumer machine. I think the price is something Apple really needs to get down. The computers already have enough power for most peoples needs. Also the biggest complaint I hear about Macintosh is the relatively high price — yes, I know it really isn't that high, but it still is when the target consumer is a student or such with not that much money to put on a computer.

[ashon3611]

It would only be temporary. If the iBook gets this update now, I'm sure the PowerBook will be updated within a month.

I agree within a month is probably very most likely... based on the buyer's guide ALL ibook and powerbook releases are released within a month of each other except for one time the upgrade of Jan 03'...

[Porchland]

With the emphasis on its design similarity to the iPod in the new iMac's marketing campaign, I wouldn't be surprised to see Apple make some iPod-ish changes to the iBook. The perfect Christmas gift under $1,000 for an iPod owner is, of course, an iBook.

Bring on the iBook mini!!

[Chaszmyr]

With the emphasis on its design similarity to the iPod in the new iMac's marketing campaign, I wouldn't be surprised to see Apple make some iPod-ish changes to the iBook.

I doubt it would happen, but it would be interesting to see something like a scroll wheel (or maybe just a scroll line) next to the trackpad. I can't stand using a track pad or any sort or "traditional" mouse because of the lack of scrolling mechanism.

[Steamboatwillie]

My wish list for the iBooks:

12" iBook
1.25 GHz PowerPC G4
512K L2 cache @ 1GHz
12-inch TFT Display
1024x768 resolution
256MB DDR266 SDRAM
40GB Ultra ATA drive
Combo Drive
NVIDIA GeForce FX
Go5200 (64MB DDR)
AirPort Extreme built-in
$999.00

14" iBook
1.25 GHz PowerPC G4
512K L2 cache @ 1GHz
14-inch TFT Display
1024x768 resolution
512MB DDR266 SDRAM
60GB Ultra ATA drive
Combo Drive
NVIDIA GeForce FX
Go5200 (64MB DDR)
AirPort Extreme built-in
$1199.00

14" iBook
1.33 GHz PowerPC G4
512K L2 cache @ 1GHz
14-inch TFT Display
1024x768 resolution
512MB DDR266 SDRAM
80GB Ultra ATA drive
Super Drive
NVIDIA GeForce FX
Go5200 (64MB DDR)
AirPort Extreme built-in
$1399.00

And.. as long as I have my head in the clouds how about the ability to connect a monitor and use it as a second screen (not just a mirrored screen)

[MacSA]

A price drop is always welcome. $1099 > $999, I guess that might mean a drop from £799 to £749 here in the UK.

[jared_kipe]

Of course any update is a good thing, I don't know about most families but mine would never consider something like an ibook as a gift. MAYBE an ipod but my family was always for a bunch of small gifts.

[dizastor]

They could probably put a g5 in there, but the plastic would laminate your legs when you turned it on.

I still hope to see Aluminum Mini style enclosures. That would rock. I want a green iBook pod.

[Yvan256]

I agree. I overlooked that on the original post. What good is a laptop without WiFi these days anyway?

And what good is over-pricing a piece of hardware if about half of your possible buyers don't even have a WiFi setup?

Keep the wireless optionnal, please. Or I'd better be able to remove that card and sell it back on eBay.

Not everyone has a need for WiFi, bluetooth, DVD burner, 3GHz, GigaByte Ethernet, etc.

We're talking iBook here, keeping the wireless stuff optionnal is still helping differenciate from the PowerBook line. And it keeps the price down.

[dongmin]

It would be great to see the iBook back under $999. Even better if you get edu pricing! I hope that's true, whatever the specs. I know some potential switchers who would really like an OS X laptop with a three-digit price.Just for the record, the edu pricing is already under a grand, $949 in fact for the cd-rom iBook, which btw is ONLY available at the edu store. But yes, I agree with you about the psychological significance of the under-$1000 price tag, for reg folks as well as edu folks. And an edu price of $899 would be super sweet.

As far as the specs go, moving up to 1.3 ghz would only represent a .1 ghz jump, unless they go 1.3 ghz across the board. If the top-end 14" iBook does indeed go up to 1.33 ghz, it's reasonable to assume that the 12" PB will move up to 1.5 ghz and the 15" and 17" PBs will move up to 1.8 ghz (either a freescale 7548 or an IBM 97x). That seems pretty certain. Unless Apple is having major chip constraint issues, Apple will release a PB update in time for the Xmas season. They have to.

[Chaszmyr]

And what good is over-pricing a piece of hardware if about half of your possible buyers don't even have a WiFi setup?

It's not about having a WiFi setup at home, it's about being able to access WiFi when you take your computer places with you. If you're only going to be using the computer at home, then it's foolish to have a laptop to start with.

[Iroganai]

Do you think the LCD will stay 1024x768 ?
I think OS X is screen-estate hungry and I'd like some more dots...

[Chaszmyr]

Do you think the LCD will stay 1024x768 ?
I think OS X is screen-estate hungry and I'd like some more dots...

On the 12'', for sure. A higher resolution than that on a 12'' screen would just make everything too small. I'd love to see a slightly higher res on the 14'' though.

[maya]

PBG5, what for it , what for it and its running at 1.4GHz and 1.6GHz :D


I believe it is quite possible that they can put a 1.6 or a 1.8GHz G5 into the PB line, yeah yeah heat and battery issue. I mean what have they been doing for over a year both IBM and Apple sitting on they hands. Come on people PowerTune will help this to only rev up if needed.

Honestly if this doesn't come to market at least a dual-core Power5lite at MWSF05.

I believe the Colour 60Gig iPod will be the who invite with U2.

[Xtremehkr]

It was a bit soon to expect a complete overhaul I guess. The new iBooks haven't been out that long. I am curious about what the next gen ones will look like though. I like the price drop idea though, iBooks are definately getting better and much more competitive, they are still no match for the PBs though, even at 1.3ghz. I think the real surprise is going to be what is done with the Powerbooks.

When the eMac update rumor came out, there was also something mentioned about an update to one of the products in the existing lineup, so the iBook may have been that item.

The U2 iPod sounds like a bargain at only $30 more though, the U2 catalogue is huge and would cost much more than that to purchase.

I doubt I would ever spend $50 for someones signature on my iPod though, that's kinda lame, especially at $50!

[achmafooma]

With the emphasis on its design similarity to the iPod in the new iMac's marketing campaign, I wouldn't be surprised to see Apple make some iPod-ish changes to the iBook. The perfect Christmas gift under $1,000 for an iPod owner is, of course, an iBook.

Bring on the iBook mini!!
The only problem with making the iBook look like the iPod is that it already does. They both have the classy white-plastic look (and, in fact, I think the iBook had it first). The only thing the iBook doesn't have is the mirrored metal back ;-) and that might be a little strange.

It might be interesting to see an iPod mini-looking subnotebook/tablet, as some have mentioned in other threads, but I don't know what else from the iPod line can be ported over to the iBook's style.

I admit though that the iBook has probably gone the longest without any serious changes to its look. Mine is from January 2002 and it looks almost identical to the new ones. They changed the way they do the white so it doesn't look as translucent on the new ones, the font for where it says "iBook" under the screen has changed, and the new ones have a slot-loading optical drive. That's about all they've changed aesthetically in a LOOOOONG time.

[Chaszmyr]

The only problem with making the iBook look like the iPod is that it already does. They both have the classy white-plastic look (and, in fact, I think the iBook had it first). The only thing the iBook doesn't have is the mirrored metal back ;-) and that might be a little strange.

Think of the scratches if the bottom half of your iBook was mirrored metal! *shudders*

[maya]

And I Agree, Apple needs to upgrade they LCD technology. It's getting way to old, might have worked with OS9 however with OSX that menu bar looks cramped up on a small screen. And the Dock looks retarded as well. Lately Apple has to include a HDLCD on the top line of the PB's or all three that will make a great difference to the iBook. Plus they are marketing these mobiles to video pros. So why not HDLCD's.

Apple seems to be sleeping on they PB line. :mad:

[maya]

The only problem with making the iBook look like the iPod is that it already does. They both have the classy white-plastic look (and, in fact, I think the iBook had it first). The only thing the iBook doesn't have is the mirrored metal back ;-) and that might be a little strange.

It might be interesting to see an iPod mini-looking subnotebook/tablet, as some have mentioned in other threads, but I don't know what else from the iPod line can be ported over to the iBook's style.

I admit though that the iBook has probably gone the longest without any serious changes to its look. Mine is from January 2002 and it looks almost identical to the new ones. They changed the way they do the white so it doesn't look as translucent on the new ones, the font for where it says "iBook" under the screen has changed, and the new ones have a slot-loading optical drive. That's about all they've changed aesthetically in a LOOOOONG time.

Why tamper with perfection? :D

The iBook look good, for it's price range yet it's performance it surprisingly good as well.

The design is minimal (with a optical drive). It's also built to be rugged, which one can't say for many metals since they scratch and it is quite obvious unlike the plastic that is used on the current where unless you look at it close up and at an angle will you notice scratches.

The first iBook were too playful, the new iBook design hits the perfect balance. The few things Apple can experiment with is in the future removing optical drive and having a flash based card system (when flash storage is cheap) think about it a movie or software on a 4Gig Flash card :eek: :D

With that it will become thinner. Make the frame around the screen a little thinner. Keyboard needs some work as do the speakers. I hate the track pads on the iBooks and PBG4's I like the Pismo track pad better its not as large and awkward.

That is pretty much it. :D

[QCassidy352]

I think steamboatwillie's expectations are pretty reasonable. I really hope they upgrade the GPU to 64 MB because 32 just doesn't cut it anymore. 64 is really low-end at this point.

a 1.25 vs. 1.33 difference on the 14"ers is so small it's almost silly, but if you also add that superdrive and bigger hard drive I guess it's a big enough difference to be worth it. I'd rather see only 2 models and the SD and HD be options on the 14".

As others have noted, the problem here is that apple is very likely to step on the PB's toes if they do anything more than a minor update. If you do things like making AE or BT standard, give the ibooks the same GPU as the 12", and make the processor 1.25 or 1.3 Ghz, how is the 12" powerbook any different? Because of DVI and audio in? Not nearly enough.

[~Shard~]

A price drop would be excellent news - especially for the Christmas season approaching! AE would be impressive too, but I think that might make the iBook too similar to the current PowerBooks. Which means, will there be PowerBook revision soon as well, and if so, what will Apple do for that? Another minor speed bump probably wouldn't cut it....

[The Red Wolf]

How about a Dual Core G4 iBook and a G5 Powerbook? Simple, elegant, powerful. It would also give power to the low end and differentiate the PowerBook for the high end. Is a 1.33GHz G4 iBook comparable to a 1.6GHz G5 iMac at a similar price point? People may chose an elegant desktop over a weakly powered portable. So, dual core the iBook. G5 the PowerBook.

[outerspaceapple]

I doubt it would happen, but it would be interesting to see something like a scroll wheel (or maybe just a scroll line) next to the trackpad. I can't stand using a track pad or any sort or "traditional" mouse because of the lack of scrolling mechanism.


On my old PC laptop the trackpad came with a software option where the entire right 10-15% of the trackpad becomes a vertical scroll "strip", and all u do is slide your finger up or down it. I'm pretty sure there would be a mac version of software that would do the same thing, just check macupdate or versiontracker.com.

[johnnyjibbs]

I know ThinkSecret is usually pretty good, but I'm thinking there's no more new information here. They cite that same german site about the annoucment and I reckon the rest is just wishful thinking. Think secret didn't get anything right in Feb/March this year when we were waiting for hardware updates and they were saying something was going to be announced every week.. :rolleyes:

[mainstreetmark]

I doubt it would happen, but it would be interesting to see something like a scroll wheel (or maybe just a scroll line) next to the trackpad. I can't stand using a track pad or any sort or "traditional" mouse because of the lack of scrolling mechanism.

http://ragingmenace.com/software/sidetrack/index.html

There you go.

[ChoMomma]

Someone said that anything beyond 10x7 on the iBook screen would look too small.. Well I'll say I wish it would at least do 1280x1024

It won't look too small, I can promise you that. Having worked on PC laptops with hi-res 12" screens and my last employer I can say it's not too small. It's definitely better than the antiquated 1024x768...

On that note all the powerbooks should be shifted up to 1600x1200 screens or 1600x1024 screens, they need to compete with PC laptops and they tend to offer higher resolutions. Besides if you market the PB to pros well then the screen needs to reflect what a pro would want.

As far as updates to the iBook line other than screen size well... here's what I see:

CPU update - 1.25/1.33 G4
Memory (onboard) 256MB ddr266 or maybe ddr333
GPU update - Radeon 9200 64mb or Radeon 9600 64mb
no built-in wifi, maybe built-in bluetooth

if this happens then for the Powerbooks I think something like this would happen:

Cpu update - 1.467/1.5 G4 lowend - 1.7 G4/freescale?
memory - 256MB installed (still) ddr400
GPU update - Radeon 9800 64/128 (128/256 <--dreaming)


That's my .02 cents

[yangchi]

Sony has the S-series (13" Wide screen). Dell has the Inspiron 700m. I think Apple should give 12" PB more meat to distinguish it from 12" iBook.
:cool:

[~Shard~]

How about a Dual Core G4 iBook and a G5 Powerbook? Simple, elegant, powerful. It would also give power to the low end and differentiate the PowerBook for the high end. Is a 1.33GHz G4 iBook comparable to a 1.6GHz G5 iMac at a similar price point? People may chose an elegant desktop over a weakly powered portable. So, dual core the iBook. G5 the PowerBook.

We won't be seeing a G5 PowerBook anytime soon. Sure, it would be great, but there are still too many issues with doing this and I think Apple is more likely to move to a dual-core G4 than a G5 if anything major is updated in the near future. The fact that the Apple engineers managed to fit a G5 into the iMac's enclosure is very promising, but fitting a G5 into the 2" enclosure of the iMac is still significantly different than cramming a G5 into a 1" PowerBook enclosure. :cool:

[musicpyrite]

A price drop sounds good.

The only thing I really want is to have the 14" iBook have a screen resolution of 1152x870 or 1152x768.

Having the 12" and 14" at the same resolution is somewhat pointless imo.

[TrenchcoatJedi]

I remember the week after I ordered my iBook, Apple released the new revision with BT, AE, higher max RAM and a Superdrive included in the educational deal for the same price I paid without all of those options. I don't care about gigabit, but in the educational setting, all things wireless and storage are critical.

[The Red Wolf]

We won't be seeing a G5 PowerBook anytime soon... ...but fitting a G5 into the 2" enclosure of the iMac is still significantly different than cramming a G5 into a 1" PowerBook enclosure. :cool:

True, I was on the cusp of wishful thinking. But everyone is pondering at the moment. I do feel the high iBook should carry an innovation that the PowerBook doesn't sport. Much like the iMacs last two incarnations. Unique to the consumer model. Reason why someone would get an iBook over a PowerBook rather than just price. Like an iPod dock built-in on a hinge so the iPod clicks into the iBook somehow after docking. Random sure, but something unique rather than the icy white colour.

[maya]

True, I was on the cusp of wishful thinking. But everyone is pondering at the moment. I do feel the high iBook should carry an innovation that the PowerBook doesn't sport. Much like the iMacs last two incarnations. Unique to the consumer model. Reason why someone would get an iBook over a PowerBook rather than just price. Like an iPod dock built-in on a hinge so the iPod clicks into the iBook somehow after docking. Random sure, but something unique rather than the icy white colour.

iPod's won't have an inDock in any Mac desktop or mobile. Reason being its an added expenses to place when someone might or might not want to buy an iPod or mini, let along use the inDock. By not having an inDock there will be no added expenses to the product. Besides the iPod HDD is still very slow and has a short life when compared to a mobile HDD or desktop HDD.

It might be possible to put a 1.6-1.8GHz G5 into the PB for reasons is that the iMac has its hugh PU unit in the iMac case. Not so with the PB where the PU Block is external. The problem is that Apple has raised the bar for it portable line and they don't step backwards in this industry.

They have to confirm it to a ~1 inch case, have a minimum of 2 hours battery life and keeping it cool in a usable manner. A long with have a Back-Lit keyboard and all the other neat features they included with the last version. Unlike the PC world where one day its a 1 inch thick and the other is a 3 inch thick portable. :rolleyes:

[MacSA]

How does every rumour about new hardware (eMacs, iBooks) turn into one about the Powerbook G5'? Forget about the G5 Powerbook, it's never going to happen.

[swissmann]

I don't see a lot of room for improvement without stepping on the PowerBook's toes (until it goes G5) so a price drop seems like a good direction to go. The more exposure I have to the G5 the more I am thinking the G4 is pretty much dead.

[virividox]

i have to express my concern that an update in the ibook line without an upgrade in the powerbook line would just weaken powerbook sales

[tom.96]

Am I right that for all the fancy graphical wizardry with Tiger a machine needs a 64mb graphics card?

If so, this surely must mean the ibook will have 64mb. If the new model is still shipping when Tiger is unleashed then it would be strange if it could not utilise it fully

If I'm wrong forgive me... just a confused old man :p

[ddbean]

People who have a laptop only as a secondary computer don't really need a CD burner in their laptop... It would be nice to have a DVD drive in the low-end though.

You've never burnt a CD for a friend while away from home? Or gave family members a cd with photos on it while at family get-togethers? I say lots of people have a need for a CD burner in a laptop.

[afields]

I hope they can improve the case somehow, it scratches so easily.

[NeoMayhem]

I have absolutely no need for the optical drive in my iBook. In my mind Disks are completely obsolete.

I get everything online and store/share it with my iPod/Firewire HD or USB memory devices.

The only time I would use a CD/DVD is to reinstall an OS, but that can be done with firewire or a network if you know how.

[Bear]

How about a Dual Core G4 iBook and a G5 Powerbook? Simple, elegant, powerful. It would also give power to the low end and differentiate the PowerBook for the high end. Is a 1.33GHz G4 iBook comparable to a 1.6GHz G5 iMac at a similar price point? People may chose an elegant desktop over a weakly powered portable. So, dual core the iBook. G5 the PowerBook.Not very likely at all.

When the Dual Core G4 chips are ready, then expect one of those in the Powerbook and the iBook should wind with faster single core G4s at the same time.

[Tulse]

I get everything online and store/share it with my iPod/Firewire HD or USB memory devices.

That unfortunately won't work for many/most professional applications (Office, Photoshop, Keynote, Final Cut, etc.). A lot of those apps you wouldn't necessarily want to run on an iBook, but there's no reason to cripple it by not including a optical drive. In addition, with a DVD drive, you can watch movies, which is handy for travellers.

[Bear]

At this point, there is enough software that is coming on DVD, that the low end drive should be at least a DVD-ROM/CD-ROM drive, although a DVD-ROM/CD-RW allows people to easily make backups of data on their systems (even if the laptop is their second system).

[gwangung]

Someone said that anything beyond 10x7 on the iBook screen would look too small.. Well I'll say I wish it would at least do 1280x1024

It won't look too small, I can promise you that.

Actually, I can promise you that it WILL be too small for my eyes. :mad: Not everyone has perfect vision....

[diehlr]

3 cheers for cost reduction. We can only be so lucky.

[wordmunger]

If there is a resolution increase on the 14-inch iBook I'll be SOLD on a new iBook.

[micvog]

My guess is that the 12" PowerBook will be dropped from the product lineup and the new iBooks will get the 12" PB's GPU and 1.33GHz processor.

[CaptainCaveMann]

so what day can i go to apples web site and see these updates in the ibook?>?????

[The Red Wolf]

iPod's won't have an inDock in any Mac desktop or mobile...

As I said, random idea. What makes an iBook unique other than being white or cheeper than a PowerBook. The iBook needs something, anything. Invented or otherwise in the minds of those who regular this forum or Apple themselves. Make the iBook unique like the iMac. Reason for someone to *want* an iBook over a PowerBook, but nothing to infringe upon the PowerBook's place in the matrix. The hinge design of the iBook was incorporated into the Aluminum PowerBooks. It was a unique point. But not so beautiful as wrapping a G5 (albeit slower) around a flat panel display. Be it a random idea, or perhaps something actually feasible... The iBook needs something other than a $899 price tag to draw people into enjoying the Macintosh experience with an Apple portable.

[stevep]

US price for 12" iBook $1099 = £611 in the UK, but we actually pay £799 (1438 $).
For a 17" powerBook we pay just over 3500 $.

If Apple just charged us a fair price in the UK they might have a larger slice of the cake.

[clabbe deinum]

so a G4 12" laptop at 1.3GHz.. and now the 12"powerbook is a hockey puck.. what gives? 12"PB's not worth it if this is the truth. They have to do something, anything, to differentiate the two.. lighted keyboard, better VRAM, free happymeal toy.. anything..

that would be nice.. a free happymeal toy, i must get the new pb!! :rolleyes:

[clabbe deinum]

US price for 12" iBook $1099 = £611 in the UK, but we actually pay £799 (1438 $).
For a 17" powerBook we pay just over 3500 $.

If Apple just charged us a fair price in the UK they might have a larger slice of the cake.

we have the same in sweden, thats because we pay more taxes in europe than in us...:-(

[CaptainCaveMann]

what day what day what day what day what day :D

[CubaTBird]

I just happen to own an iBook and am quite pleased with it. I think the new ones will have minor speed bumps but thats just about it. For them to have the gfx card go to 64 mb of onboard memory would not be justifiable b/c then the low end powerbooks would have to have more gfx memory in order to have them deemed a "professional" machine. So what I think you will see are just speed bumped iBooks with probably wireless built in and a small ad campaign punching a slow blow to intel's centrino mobile technology. ;)

[Nermal]

US price for 12" iBook $1099 = £611 in the UK, but we actually pay £799 (1438 $).
For a 17" powerBook we pay just over 3500 $.

If Apple just charged us a fair price in the UK they might have a larger slice of the cake.

Agreed. Here in NZ a 12" iBook is $1845 (US$1265) plus tax which brings it to US$1420. Does the UK price of £799 include tax?

[zelmo]

what day what day what day what day what day :D

Tuesday, of course!!!!!:) :) :)

And I mean tomorrow.

[Bear]

If there is a resolution increase on the 14-inch iBook I'll be SOLD on a new iBook.This won't happen as it will come to close the the resolution of the screen on the 15" Powerbook.

[raynegus]

How about a Dual Core G4 iBook and a G5 Powerbook? Simple, elegant, powerful. It would also give power to the low end and differentiate the PowerBook for the high end. Is a 1.33GHz G4 iBook comparable to a 1.6GHz G5 iMac at a similar price point? People may chose an elegant desktop over a weakly powered portable. So, dual core the iBook. G5 the PowerBook.

Time to take another Ambien pill so you can keep dreaming!

:D

[KindredMAC]

My wish list for the iBooks:

12" iBook
1.25 GHz PowerPC G4
512K L2 cache @ 1GHz
12-inch TFT Display
1024x768 resolution
256MB DDR266 SDRAM
40GB Ultra ATA drive
Combo Drive
NVIDIA GeForce FX
Go5200 (64MB DDR)
AirPort Extreme built-in
$999.00

14" iBook
1.25 GHz PowerPC G4
512K L2 cache @ 1GHz
14-inch TFT Display
1024x768 resolution
512MB DDR266 SDRAM
60GB Ultra ATA drive
Combo Drive
NVIDIA GeForce FX
Go5200 (64MB DDR)
AirPort Extreme built-in
$1199.00

14" iBook
1.33 GHz PowerPC G4
512K L2 cache @ 1GHz
14-inch TFT Display
1024x768 resolution
512MB DDR266 SDRAM
80GB Ultra ATA drive
Super Drive
NVIDIA GeForce FX
Go5200 (64MB DDR)
AirPort Extreme built-in
$1399.00

And.. as long as I have my head in the clouds how about the ability to connect a monitor and use it as a second screen (not just a mirrored screen)

Oh my God! You are SOOOOOO close I think.
Here's how I think it will hash out:

12" iBook
1.2 GHz PowerPC G4
512K L2 cache @ 1GHz
12-inch TFT Display
1024x768 resolution
256MB DDR266 SDRAM
30GB Ultra ATA drive
CD-ROM (Combo Drive for $100 extra)
ATI Mobility Radeon 9200
32MB DDR video memory
AirPort Extreme ready
$899.00

14" iBook
1.2 GHz PowerPC G4
512K L2 cache @ 1GHz
14-inch TFT Display
1024x768 resolution
256MB DDR266 SDRAM
40GB Ultra ATA drive
Combo Drive
ATI Mobility Radeon 9200
32MB DDR video memory
AirPort Extreme ready
$1199.00

14" iBook
1.33 GHz PowerPC G4
512K L2 cache @ 1GHz
14-inch TFT Display
1024x768 resolution
256MB DDR266 SDRAM
60GB Ultra ATA drive
Super Drive
ATI Mobility Radeon 9200
32MB DDR video memory
AirPort Extreme built-in
$1399.00

The 12" and Mid-Range 14" will now have Super Drive options added instead of being only available on the High-End 14". I am even going to venture a wild stab in the dark and say that they might even offer a CD-ROM for a $100 price reduction on the 12" model to lower the price to $899.....

To keep price down I think Apple will keep the RAM to 256. I have 256 in my 900mhz G3 iBook and it still does everything I need it to do and I use all the Adobe CS apps along with Macromedia apps.

And I agree with the few who have said that putting Airport as a Built-In feature is alittle over kill. Yes, a lot of us do have Airport Networks setup at home but I think they will continue to only offer the built in feature on the High-End model. I know for a fact that if I was buying something like a PowerMac or eMac I wouldn't want the Airport card built-in because chances are the Mac will be right next to the Airport Base Station in my Office/Den at home.

Memory will still max at 1.25 GB. I don't see that changing to 2GB's until the PB's go to G5's.

And YES, I even believe that they will keep the Graphics Cards at 32MB.
They are fine for CONSUMER MACHINES.... people seem to forget that the iBook is suppose to be the baby of all the Macs that are out even though I think they are one of the better Macs right now next to the new iMac.

The iBook's case is a helluva lot stronger than the PB's. I couldn't get over how banged up my friend's 17" PB was and she tries to keep it protected. I throw my iBook in my laptop case and throw it around and I only have a few blemishes that you can only see when you hold it at an angle and REALLY look for them.

[tech4all]

How does every rumour about new hardware (eMacs, iBooks) turn into one about the Powerbook G5'? Forget about the G5 Powerbook, it's never going to happen.

Well it's not never going to happen. Eventully the G5 will make it into a Powerbook then iBook, though probably not anytime in the near future.


12" iBook
1.2 GHz PowerPC G4
512K L2 cache @ 1GHz
12-inch TFT Display
1024x768 resolution
256MB DDR266 SDRAM
30GB Ultra ATA drive
CD-ROM (Combo Drive for $100 extra)
ATI Mobility Radeon 9200
32MB DDR video memory
AirPort Extreme ready
$899.00

Even on a low end model, the specs should be a better better than that (not insulting you). Hard drive should go up a bit and I think CD ROM drives are slowly getting out dated. IMO, CD RWs should be standard for low end models. Even though the price is ok, I still think Apple should include CD RWs now and just get rid of standard CD ROM drives. again, IMO.

[CaptainCaveMann]

i want an 80 gig in the ibook!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! they better do it hahaha

[maya]

Time to take another Ambien pill so you can keep dreaming!

:D


Hey we can all dream of a G6 PB too ;) :D coming to an Apple Store near you in 2008 :D

[iDave]

i want an 80 gig in the ibook!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! they better do it hahaha
That's one of the few specs mentioned here that I'd really like to see too. iPods are at 40 now and soon to be 60. Sure makes the iBook drives seem tiny.

[Lancetx]

US price for 12" iBook $1099 = £611 in the UK, but we actually pay £799 (1438 $).
For a 17" powerBook we pay just over 3500 $.

If Apple just charged us a fair price in the UK they might have a larger slice of the cake.

Of course, we do have to pay a little thing called sales tax here in the U.S. as well. So that $1,099 iBook isn't really $1,099, it's actually $1,189.67 where I live (with 8.25% sales tax included). I know the taxes are even higher in Europe, but just as with the sales taxes here, that's not Apple's fault.

[Bear]

That's one of the few specs mentioned here that I'd really like to see too. iPods are at 40 now and soon to be 60. Sure makes the iBook drives seem tiny.Well, you can get up to a 60GB drive in an iBook now.

Maybe Apple needs to do a minor bump to the Powerbook line - offer a 100GB drive (which wasn't really available back in April) and then the iBook line can have bigger drives.

[Klopsi69]

I've tried comparing the prices of Us apples against UK before, and when u compare the VAT and the sales tax, you really get a fair price...

[AidenShaw]

...a small ad campaign punching a slow blow to intel's centrino mobile technology. ;)

Ummm, what would be the claims that Apple would use to knock down Centrino?

[earthtoandy]

i think the logic flows well for apple. PB's arent ready... we know this. And the laptop line has been stagnant. So the iBook is being updated since the PBs cant and the ubooks are due anyway. iBooks will sell well and PB make take a small hit (people who want PB's get PB's). More sales either way is good for apple. And if PBs arent updated by mid november we are likely to see a BIG update in the begining of '05. We cant follow the old timelines because this has been hard for them to get out. So since its only a few months later we will see a big PB update in Jan:D

i wish it was sooner!!! I want my PB but i must wait.

[CaptainCaveMann]

you know i really think that even if the ibook had a 80 gig hard drive and a 64mb video card i dont think people would stop buying powerbooks a lot of people simply want the best of the best and a cool aluminum powerbook with some great speakers is certainly not gonna be replaced by them with an ibook no matter what..

[technohedz]

I think the best consumer v pro laptop model is what can you fit in US Letter v US Legal. Obviously one of them is widescreen so I'd nix it for the ibook line. The 12" isn't going to go away, but I dislike the new plastic. First, it looks like it was made for toddlers. The top plastic gets dirty in a second and it just looks cheap. I thought the same thing about the sunflower base (notice the imac g5 is glossy). Apple probably isn't going to say 'whoops we messed up', so we might see something like 'friction reducing plastic' etc... The hinge design 'looks elegant', but I think laptops should be able to fold out flat (especially consumer models). Of course I'd like the tension/torque at the higher reaches to be a lot so it took a bit of effort, but i've seen flipped and stomped ibooks w/ the current hinges and that's a shame that should never happen. BT module should be available as an add on, not just bto..somewhere Apple will get hit w/ legal for that part sooner or later. So there's basic simple hopes there. The more far reaching..put two buttons on it like the original powebooks or put three on because you know it's UNIX.

GPU: Has to be updated for the new cores
Speed: duh
Price: hopefully
AE in-built: Up in the air, there are dirt cheap PC laptops using the broadcom chipset so it's not that expensive to put in. Apple is better off w/ a bunch of loaded machines for service than even small differences in a lot of different machines.
BT in-built: They really should
Price: drops are always welcome, whatever
Back-lit keyboard w/ changeable colors to compliment the colored ipod mini's, and legacy i(mac/book/tower) lifesavers peripherals: They need this.
Surprise: I hope something
Optical drive: as mentioned by others, since software comes on dvd it would be a good idea to just have a dvd in the lowest model by default.

PB G5 of course it, or whatever Apple wants to call a 'G5' for that machine is coming out some time. That's a given or they would discontinue the 14" ibook or 12" powerbook tomorow and I doubt that's going to happen. The Powerbooks aren't there just for cosmetic differences or better GPU's etc.. Of course any product matrix discussion will get to the PB G5 and it's most apropriate w/ a possible ibook update.

And if an update makes your machine a hockey puck then I'm volunteering for Goaltender. Of course if it did make it into a piece of vulcanized rubber kept in a refrigerator...well...then the heating issue would be gone and you could drop in a G5. Just because there's a lock-out doesn't mean you can get derogatory about a sport. (it wouldn't have happened if they hadn't named the place HP Pavilion).

[bankshot]

If you're only going to be using the computer at home, then it's foolish to have a laptop to start with.

Oh yeah. It sure is foolish wanting to use the computer while you're in the family room watching tv. Or out on the patio on a nice afternoon. Or in the kitchen trying out a new recipe from the internet. Or writing an email from the comfort of bed before heading off to sleep. Or just about any place in the house besides the computer room. Yeah, totally foolish. :rolleyes:

[aswitcher]

My predictions...

Dammit but only 32 meg vram...hopefully coreimage compatible if thats possible at this size...

60 gig hdd...maybe 80 of the pb gets a 100 gig early next year or before.

Built in GPS into the screen lid...sorry...thats my 2006 prediction for the powerbooks. :p

(machine configures time to local time based upon gps; maps wifi nodes and remembers where you are when you logged into a certain node - with signal strength maps etc;

provides auto weather and local news; can point you in the direction of a wifi node based upon all commercial services on an upodatable database on your machine (including costs etc);

can put your location up on iChat etc along with what tunes are playing;

auto configures your dialup for all country and area codes based upon the database of your isp; will talk to your wifi/BT enabled digital camera when your shooting and include all lat/long with your metadata;

synchs to a series of databases of commercial services you are interested in to help you identify the closet and get a map to get there - and directions; )

Ok back to the present

Built in Wifi in the 14s hopefully.

No backlit keyboard...

[Poff]

Oh yeah. It sure is foolish wanting to use the computer while you're in the family room watching tv. Or out on the patio on a nice afternoon. Or in the kitchen trying out a new recipe from the internet. Or writing an email from the comfort of bed before heading off to sleep. Or just about any place in the house besides the computer room. Yeah, totally foolish. :rolleyes:

Of course it's not foolish, but.. Everyone chooses for themselves what priorities they want to have. I would personally not sacrifice a lot of money or a lot of computer power just so I wouldn't have to sit in the computer room when using my Mac. If I'd just use it at home I'd

1. get an eMac. Lots more power, bigger screen and so on..

..or if I "needed" a flat-screen, I'd

2. get an iMac G5 for just a few $$ extra. BIG performance jump!



But as I said above, it's up to each and everyone to decide for themselves how much flexibility within your own home is worth. To me it's worth a bit, but far from the performance-hit you take today when comparing to similarily priced Macs.

I will be using an iBook outside my home so I plan on getting one, but it will hurt a bit to buy an iBook and know I could get a G5 for close to the same price.

[vwcruisn]

It's not about having a WiFi setup at home, it's about being able to access WiFi when you take your computer places with you. If you're only going to be using the computer at home, then it's foolish to have a laptop to start with.


My one and only computer is a 17" powerbook. I think the best thing i ever did was dump that huge tower. Now I can take my computer back and forth to home/school/work and always have all my files and everything i need with me. The computer sits at home on an iCurve with an external keyboard and a mouse. I must admit its an awesome setup, foolish or not.

edit: oh and me and my roomates do have a wifi network set up here at out apartment and we use our laptops all over the house/patio.

[qpid]

My one and only computer is a 17" powerbook. I think the best thing i ever did was dump that huge tower. Now I can take my computer back and forth to home/school/work and always have all my files and everything i need with me. The computer sits at home on an iCurve with an external keyboard and a mouse. I must admit its an awesome setup, foolish or not.

edit: oh and me and my roomates do have a wifi network set up here at out apartment and we use our laptops all over the house/patio.


both of you (you and the person a few posts up) are missing their point.

IF (notice the IF) you are using your computer only at home (not to and from work) and do not have wifi (which is what started the whole argument) then it is foolish to get a laptop, both of you have wifi and move your computers around alot so he was not referencing you, just the person who thought it was stupid to have wifi built in standard into the unannounced ibook because s/he has no use for it in his/her house, then someone replied with "you can use your laptop elsewhere" and i believe s/he replied with "i don't take mine anywhere"

Ok so we all on the same page?

[BornAgainMac]

People who have a laptop only as a secondary computer don't really need a CD burner in their laptop... It would be nice to have a DVD drive in the low-end though.

Yea, but the price isn't that big of a difference. Might as well include it. Sort of like the difference between USB 2.0 and USB 1.0 or adding Firewire or 1.0 Ghz vs 1.1 Ghz.

[Bear]

you know i really think that even if the ibook had a 80 gig hard drive and a 64mb video card i dont think people would stop buying powerbooks a lot of people simply want the best of the best and a cool aluminum powerbook with some great speakers is certainly not gonna be replaced by them with an ibook no matter what..Especially since the Powerbook has a larger screen, an option for 128MB of video ram, and the ability to have 2GB of RAM in the system. Also, a 15" Powerbook is lighter than a 14" iBook. (A 12" Powerbook is lighter than a 12" iBook as well.)

[atomiton]

everything is higher priced in UK. It's an island.

The minimum wage is higher too.

included in your £799 price is 17.5% VAT too, bringing the base price down to £680.00. (£69 more than USA)

It's about a 10% surcharge in the UK... not uncommon for most thing are much more expensive in the UK...

[Mudbug]

we have received confirmation on new iBooks to be released tomorrow - details posted to the frontpage.

iBook 12" 1.2 Ghz G4
512K L2 Cache
256 MB Ram
30 GB Hard Drive
Combo Drive

iBook 14" 1.33 Ghz G4
512K L2 Cache
256 MB Ram
60 GB Hard Drive
Combo Drive

iBook 14" 1.33 Ghz G4
512K L2 Cache
256 MB Ram
60 GB Hard Drive
SuperDrive

[MacSA]

Those specs are hardly any different to what they are now ;)

[musicpyrite]

yay!

any word as to the screen resolution or video ram?

[billystlyes]

nothing else really pops out at you!

[DreaminDirector]

Yikes, those specs are scary close to the 12" powerbooks'.

[JarinS1]

I'm looking to switch to Apple. Is there any chance that the Powerbook will be refreshed tomorrow also, or would we already know that information?

[joeboy_45101]

These configurations are perfectly logical, ever since the iBooks started coming with the G4 they've been one step behind the PowerBook G4 line. This ought to make the PowerBook people extremely happy since this obviously means that some PowerBook updates are also on the way, maybe MacWorld 2005.

[Stella]

I'm surprised ... there is only the entry level 12" now.. and TWO 14", if the rumour is true.

Personally I much prefer the 12" iBook - the present 14" books still only go up to 1024x768.. and this may not change either. That sort of resolution is too small for a 14" screen imo.

Apple had better put graphic cards that will support Core Graphics, otherwise what is the point if you are thinking about Tiger - its only 6 or so
months away. If I'm going buy a new machine I want it to fully support the next OS fully - and that is not unreasonable.

[MacSA]

The 12" looks pretty poor compared to the 14", the only thing to get excited about would be a price drop - if that's confirmed of course.

[SurfinSHELL23]

So we think pricing is going to remain the same for the 12"?

[Cheap-Chopstix]

wow suddenly my 1ghz, 12inch pbook w/256mb and 60 gig hd seems so slow. . . o well at least mine still has the silver finish ^_^

[crazzyeddie]

Apple can't continue to sell a machine that won't run CoreImage natively... unless this means that Tiger release won't be until next June/July.

[Freg3000]

wow suddenly my 1ghz, 12inch pbook w/256mb and 60 gig hd seems so slow. . . o well at least mine still has the silver finish ^_^

How do you think the Rev A 12" PB owners feel? 256k L2 cache, 128 MB memory built-in, less than stellar video card. But oh, what a great computer nonetheless.

The iBooks seem in line with what I would expect for an update. Hopefully a core image supported video card is included. I don't think screen resolutions will change.

[AoWolf]

Hmm no GPU upgrade. There better be a new form factor or this a "meh" update.

[MacSA]

Apple can't continue to sell a machine that won't run CoreImage natively... unless this means that Tiger release won't be until next June/July.

I wouldn't be surprised if the next iBook update sometime next year came with Tiger pre installed :)

[SurfinSHELL23]

Hmm no GPU upgrade. There better be a new form factor or this a "meh" update.
It's still a nice upgrade... 200MHz is a good amount on a machine like this. It would be quite negligible on some P4 3GHz... but we're talking about a large chunk of the processing power here.

I hope there's a price drop on the 12"er, too!

[shidoshi]

IF (notice the IF) you are using your computer only at home (not to and from work) and do not have wifi (which is what started the whole argument) then it is foolish to get a laptop, both of you have wifi and move your computers around alot so he was not referencing you, just the person who thought it was stupid to have wifi built in standard into the unannounced ibook because s/he has no use for it in his/her house, then someone replied with "you can use your laptop elsewhere" and i believe s/he replied with "i don't take mine anywhere"

In your opinion, yes.

When I was studying in Japan, I met a ton of people who had a laptop that (a) didn't take it anywhere and (b) didn't have wireless internet. They had a laptop because it hardly took up any room and could be put almost anywhere. Even the new iMac can't go "anywhere," and still takes up quite a bit of room. A laptop, when closed, is almost nothing.

As well, even if you don't take your computer outside of your house, if you are somebody who ends up moving a lot, a laptop is a great thing.

I went from having a beige G3 MiniTower to a TiBook, and I've never been happier. Even taking out most of the reasons for owning a portable, just for the fact of the different in room it takes up and ease in which I could move it if needed alone, the extra money was worth it.

[AoWolf]

It's still a nice upgrade... 200MHz is a good amount on a machine like this. It would be quite negligible on some P4 3GHz... but we're talking about a large chunk of the processing power here.

I hope there's a price drop on the 12"er, too!

200 Mhz is nice but look at the comparisons of the current 12 and the 14. It not that much.

[quagmire]

1.33 Ghz G4 for the mid and high 14" ibooks. Well apple you better have a major revision for the pbook coming January because you killed the 12" Powerbook. You killed it. Are you happy?

[swissmann]

Those specs seem about right to me.

[AoWolf]

1.33 Ghz G4 for the mid and high 14" ibooks. Well apple you better have a major revision for the pbook coming January because you killed the 12" Powerbook. You killed it. Are you happy?

No because it has a 64 meg GPU.

[Sabbath]

I don't think we should all be going so crazy about the GPU and particularly the VRAM. Lets remember the iBooks have 1024x768 screens (with mirroring not spanning capabilities, by default official spec) 32MB of vram is enough for the iBook and I expect we will see the radeon stay unless Apple has agreed to give nvidia a bigger slice of the pie or the 12" PB is going to an ATI or both. A lot of the iBooks competitors especially the 12" models don't even have proper graphics chips.

These look like good (keeping reality in mind) updates to the iBook and I expect we will see a respective PB update reasonably soon. I'm hoping they are going to do something special with the PBs (not meaning G5) but I just don't feel it is going to happen in the near term. I've had a 12" iBook and a 12" PB, the powerbook will always have advantages over the iBook, the keyboards just don't compare the DVI out is essential for me and I love the feel of the metal, I know the iBook is physically tough but it scratches up way too much. I wish the 12" PB would move to a position where I could spec it as highly as the 15" and 17" PB (heat constraints considered), I like to have my 12" PB as a super portable laptop and then hook up to my 20" cinema and have a desktop. I fear I may have to move to an iMac G5 and a 12" iBook if Apple can't find a way to really improve the 12" PB.

[mms]

IMO, CD RWs should be standard for low end models. Even though the price is ok, I still think Apple should include CD RWs now and just get rid of standard CD ROM drives. again, IMO.
They are standard, even on the lowest model. A Combo Drive = CD-RW/DVD-ROM.

Even the new iMac can't go "anywhere," and still takes up quite a bit of room. A laptop, when closed, is almost nothing.
Not really. Sure, you can't take it around the house, but it has a very little footprint (just like the new monitors) so it actually takes less desk space than an iBook. And of course, you're sacrificing that mobility for the extra power and screen.

Sigh. My 800mhz 12" G4 iBook is already looking very outdated. And it's only just over 6 months old.

[DTphonehome]

Haven't really been following the iBook lately...this looks like a standard speedbump, right? Anything significant?

--DT



I WANT TO SEE JOHN KERRY'S CELEBRITY PLAYLIST ON iTunes!.

Found it...

Flip Flop Rock 4:35 OutKast, Jay-Z & Killer Mike Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
Caught a Light Sneeze Voltaire Boo Hoo (I think he got a purple heart for that one)
Duck and Run 3:50 3 Doors Down The Better Life $0.99
Wussypuff 3:02 Dynamite Hack Superfast $0.99
The Liberal Ladies of San Mateo 3:06 Sony Holland On a San Francisco High $0.99
I Smell Trouble 6:28 Roomful of Blues There Goes the Neighborhood $0.99
Predictable and Boring 4:11 Todd Solomon Feel It In Your Lymph Nodes $0.99
I Agree 2:20 Broken Temple Psychorock $0.99
Back and Forth 9:16 Willis Jackson Legends of Acid Jazz: Keep On a Blowin' $0.99
Band Aid 3:29 3Dp See Me $0.99
I Don't Understand 3:52 Stephen Now Poets in the Streets $0.99
I'd Do Anything 3:17 Simple Plan No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls $0.99
The Ketchup Song, (Asereje) 3:31 Las Ketchup Las Ketchup $0.99
Madame Pompadour: Heut könnt einer sein Glück bei mir machen 2:29 Robert Stolz Classic Recitals: Hilde Gueden $0.99
Style Over Substance 6:13 Nonplace Urban Field Nuzzling $0.99

(boy, am I asking for it :o )

[dongmin]

Apple can't continue to sell a machine that won't run CoreImage natively... unless this means that Tiger release won't be until next June/July.Please stop spreading FUD. CoreImage scales to the GPU. The GeForceFX Go 5200 is officially a 'supported' card, so the bar is pretty low. These iBooks will run Tiger fine.

[quagmire]

No because it has a 64 meg GPU.

We do not know if the GPU will be 64 mb. My common sense and gut feeling, the ibooks will get the 5200 64 mb.

[joeyboy76]

Of course, we do have to pay a little thing called sales tax here in the U.S. as well. So that $1,099 iBook isn't really $1,099, it's actually $1,189.67 where I live (with 8.25% sales tax included). I know the taxes are even higher in Europe, but just as with the sales taxes here, that's not Apple's fault.

you should all be getting your ibooks in singapore where the GST (Goods and Services Tax) is only 5%

the current price of the 1099USD iBook is 1998SGD (GST inclusive)

exchange rate is around 1USD to 1.7SGD

[iDave]

I really don't understand why the 12" iBook is gets a lowly 30GB hard drive. A lot of people actually prefer the 12" screen due to its 106 ppi resolution, but have to settle for a hard drive that's not even as big as a high-end iPod.

I took my iBook 600 apart to install an 80GB drive. It was not an easy job. Due to Apple's decision regarding this matter, apparently, I won't be replacing my iBook for some time to come.

[tech4all]

They are standard, even on the lowest model. A Combo Drive = CD-RW/DVD-ROM.

Oh I was talking about a CD ROM that could not write to a CD but only read. Guess Combo drive and CD rom are the samething? :)

[Mechcozmo]

Oh I was talking about a CD ROM that could not write to a CD but only read. Guess Combo drive and CD rom are the samething? :)

No. CD-ROM is CD-Read Only Memory

A Combo Drive is a CD-RW/DVD-ROM
aka, CD-Re-writer (can burn and re-burn and erase CDs) as well as DVD-Read Only Memory (Read DVDs and play em.)

A SuperDrive allows you to re-burn DVDs. Keep in mind that a CD-RW drive is not always a DVD reader, it must be a combo drive to do that. (The last sentence mostly applies to PeeCees.)

[yoda13]

I really don't understand why the 12" iBook is gets a lowly 30GB hard drive. A lot of people actually prefer the 12" screen due to its 106 ppi resolution, but have to settle for a hard drive that's not even as big as a high-end iPod.

I took my iBook 600 apart to install an 80GB drive. It was not an easy job. Due to Apple's decision regarding this matter, apparently, I won't be replacing my iBook for some time to come.

You could do a BTO and get a bigger drive.

[VicMacs]

i'll skip this update and wait for powerbooks to be updated... although i'm mighty tempted....

so little money and so much to do!

[ThomasHobbes]

I'm happy because this means the PB will be updated and I can get a previous gen PB on eBay for another 100 or 200 off.

They currently seem to be selling for 1800-2000 Canadian with a combo drive at 1.33 Ghz, which is pretty good counting the fact that theres no tax, and shipping runs around 30-40 US. At 1600-1800 Canadian I'd buy one right off the bat.

[Bear]

I'm happy because this means the PB will be updated and I can get a previous gen PB on eBay for another 100 or 200 off.With all the scams these days on eBay, I wouldn't necessarily count on being able to get stuff on there at any reasonable price. Good luck and be careful.

[applekid]

Am I the only one disappointed by the HD capacities of the current Macs (not just iBooks?). HDs are dirt cheap and I think some Macs could use a little HD boost.

[iDave]

You could do a BTO and get a bigger drive.
True, but the maximum option for the 12" is 60GB. Maybe that will change with the new revision.

[aliasfox]

I think the 12" should stay at 10 x 7, the mid level 14" should stay at 10 x 7, and the top end 14" should go to the next level 14" screen, be that 12 x 9, 12 x 10, or 14 x 10.5. My dad is getting older and considering a new laptop- I'd like to try to sell him on an iBook, but he wouldn't be too happy with a 12" or a high-res 14". IBM still sells T41s with 14" XGA screens, Apple should have one model with that option.

[aswitcher]

we have received confirmation on new iBooks to be released tomorrow - details posted to the frontpage.

iBook 14" 1.33 Ghz G4
512K L2 Cache
256 MB Ram
60 GB Hard Drive
SuperDrive


I hope this means a decent price drop because the high end machine gets only a 0.13 GHz bump if this information is right...

Macrumors front page indicates its still going to be $1499...

[Edit] Oops, I see it has a superdrive as Standard :o

[~Shard~]

Am I the only one disappointed by the HD capacities of the current Macs (not just iBooks?). HDs are dirt cheap and I think some Macs could use a little HD boost.

500 GB is too small for you? Even the iMac at 250 GB is too small for you? Have you ever heard of external firewire drives? Unless you're a professional who needs gobs of space for audio, video, etc., why do you need that much space? I think that in many cases large hard drives just contribute to people becoming too lazy in cleaning their machines, and storing useless crap just because they can. Do people really need 200 GB of MP3s on their system or 200 GB of downloaded movies or TV shows?

Ah, whatever, I'm just being a bastard... :cool:

[~Shard~]

I hope this means a decent price drop because the high end machine gets only a 0.13 GHz bump if this information is right...

Macrumors front page indicates its still going to be $1499...

[Edit] Oops, I see it has a superdrive as Standard :o

Yah, that SuperDrive might be quite an attractive selling feature for many people. I think Apple is wise in only including it in the top-end iBook though, putting it in across the line would be a bit much. Mind you, we don't know, maybe Apple will make the SuperDrive an option on the other models, (maybe even just a 4x since it's cheaper), with it being standard on the high end - guess we'll see!

[Macmaniac]

Notice iBook ship dates have slipped to 3-5 days, hmm maybe its a sign.

[Stella]

I don't know whether its been noticed but the emacs have also the same shipping time as the iMacs ( on Canada store )... perhaps the rumours regarding refreshed eMacs are also true...

[iDave]

500 GB is too small for you? Even the iMac at 250 GB is too small for you?
[off-topic]Both 17" iMac models come with 80GB drives. In these days of having lots of digital music, digital photos, and editing digital movies and music, that's not enough. Yes, one can get external Firewire drives, but why doesn't Apple provide a decent 160GB with all desktops and 80GB with all laptops to start with? Apple is all about the digital hub, after all. Macs are sold at premium prices and should have a sufficient amount of RAM and hard disk space, right off the shelf. Apple just seems cheap, in this respect.[/off-topic]

[adam1185]

So much for the powerbook being oh so powerful..haha

[DTphonehome]

[off-topic]Both 17" iMac models come with 80GB drives. In these days of having lots of digital music, digital photos, and editing digital movies and music, that's not enough. Yes, one can get external Firewire drives, but why doesn't Apple provide a decent 160GB with all desktops and 80GB with all laptops to start with? Apple is all about the digital hub, after all. Macs are sold at premium prices and should have a sufficient amount of RAM and hard disk space, right off the shelf. Apple just seems cheap, in this respect.[/off-topic]

100GB harddrives, the highest capacity available for laptops, are still quite expensive. I agree that Apple should offer them, but I'm sure they will soon. Even offering an 80 as standard would be too expensive. 60 GB is currently the sweet spot in price/capacity.

[~Shard~]

[off-topic]Both 17" iMac models come with 80GB drives. In these days of having lots of digital music, digital photos, and editing digital movies and music, that's not enough. Yes, one can get external Firewire drives, but why doesn't Apple provide a decent 160GB with all desktops and 80GB with all laptops to start with? Apple is all about the digital hub, after all. Macs are sold at premium prices and should have a sufficient amount of RAM and hard disk space, right off the shelf. Apple just seems cheap, in this respect.[/off-topic]

But this then gets into the whole debate again about giving some people more than what they need. Why make a 160 GB HD standard, or more than 256 MB RAM, when for some people, that's all they need? Why should people have to pay extra for standard things they don't need just so you can get what you want? The new iMacs can go up to 250 GB HD, so if you need the extra space, pay extra.

I realize more and more HD space is required due to photos, movies, music, etc., but I still think 160 GB is ample space on average - even 80 GB for many users - I'm sure many here would agree with me. And for anyone who doesn't, there are other options available to you.

It's a similar situation with the iPod. Apple was smart and realized not everyone needs 10, 20 or 40 GB for their music, so they introduced the mini, which was a resounding success. More space isn't always what everyone needs.

[iDave]

But this then gets into the whole debate again about giving some people more than what they need. Why make a 160 GB HD standard, or more than 256 MB RAM, when for some people, that's all they need? Why should people have to pay extra for standard things they don't need just so you can get what you want? The new iMacs can go up to 250 GB HD, so if you need the extra space, pay extra.
I guess I agree with you. I have no use for Bluetooth, or the wicked fast GPUs everyone seems to crave. I would like to see more RAM and disk space standard. To each his/her own, I guess. Apple has to make compromises.

[nagromme]

I don't know whether its been noticed but the emacs have also the same shipping time as the iMacs ( on Canada store )... perhaps the rumours regarding refreshed eMacs are also true...

Oh yeah, I forgot about the eMac rumors :D

Throw in PowerBooks, which ought to get an update around the same time as iBooks, and maybe the only Mac that's NOT up for an update this week is the iMac ;)

[Some_Big_Spoon]

Yep, if these specs are right, the powerbooks are silver, and that's darn near the only difference. Dumb.

So much for the powerbook being oh so powerful..haha

[vwcruisn]

cmon apple i realllllllly want a powerbook! i want to spend more money! but when you do this... it makes me think i should just settle for an ibook :(

[billystlyes]

pick the speed you want pay the price you want! It is stupid to play this game where you can't upgrade one model because the spec's get to close to another. It's clear right now the iBook is way better value to your wallet and the Powerbook is a better looking to your eyes! In this economy the first will win.

[evilgEEk]

Yep, if these specs are right, the powerbooks are silver, and that's darn near the only difference. Dumb.
I think this is paving the way for a PowerBook update, and I think it will be a lot more than just a speed bump. Personally I'm putting my money on the Dual Core, unless Apple blows us all away with the G5 and all the "no G5 in a laptop" talk is just to throw us off, but I seriously doubt that.

Both iBook and PowerBook are up for revisions, the iBook is more readily available than the PowerBooks so the iBook get's the revision and Apple takes it in the pocketbook for a few months.

I say new PowerBooks at MWSF. Or at least I sure hope so.

[iDave]

Yep, if these specs are right, the powerbooks are silver, and that's darn near the only difference. Dumb.
Oh, com'on. PowerBooks have DVI out, monitor spanning, faster memory, bigger hard drives, audio-in, better keyboards, included Airport. What have I forgotten? That doesn't mean the 12" PowerBook is worth $500 more than the 12" iBook, however.

[~Shard~]

I guess I agree with you. I have no use for Bluetooth, or the wicked fast GPUs everyone seems to crave. I would like to see more RAM and disk space standard. To each his/her own, I guess. Apple has to make compromises.

Yah, you can never please everyone. I do see what you're saying though with the ever-growing need for HD space, with digital photos and iMovies and all that becoming more commonplace - I still think though that 80 GB is good enough for a basic, general user, while 160 GB is more than enough for most people. But since component costs are coming down, it definitely will be more likely for Apple to up the standard HD and RAM sooner rather than later - possibly in the New Year when they get around to releasing new revisions of everything? (Not sure when the next iMac update will be though, probably not until spring...)

[runner91786]

Well personally all the ibook upgrades are nice, but I am more than ready for powerbook changes. I am trying to CONVERT here Apple!! GAH! Well as for those I am hoping for a nice dual-core G4 as the G5s are much down the road. A nice 9800 pro or ram upgrade would be nice also. No one has even mentioned DDR400 in the powerbooks which i think would be a nice addition, as well as the option for a 7200rpm hard drive 80gb or more. But as soon as the pbooks are upgraded im buying. Maintaining battery life with the mentioned upgrades is what scares me, hopefully they will pull it off!

[someguy035]

if the 12" powerbook got the backlit keyboard, id ditch this dell piece of crap and make the switch to apple. such a cool feature, i cant understand why they dont put that on every laptop they sell. i dont want a 15" - too big. guess ill wait and see.

[Hugh]

But this then gets into the whole debate again about giving some people more than what they need. Why make a 160 GB HD standard, or more than 256 MB RAM, when for some people, that's all they need? Why should people have to pay extra for standard things they don't need just so you can get what you want? The new iMacs can go up to 250 GB HD, so if you need the extra space, pay extra.

I realize more and more HD space is required due to photos, movies, music, etc., but I still think 160 GB is ample space on average - even 80 GB for many users - I'm sure many here would agree with me. And for anyone who doesn't, there are other options available to you.

It's a similar situation with the iPod. Apple was smart and realized not everyone needs 10, 20 or 40 GB for their music, so they introduced the mini, which was a resounding success. More space isn't always what everyone needs.


I think every one keeps forgetting what the iMac and iBook are marketed for. Those that need the higher RAM/Hard drives are not your adverage user that those are targeted for. The machines that those are targeted for are 'just right' for them. If you need more space, then you are not the 'average' user.

-Hugh

[Hugh]

Well I am wondering if these updated iBook rumors are true. Last week I ordered an iBook and it says it will not ship until after the 25 Oct. I am wondering if it's going to take so long to ship because of the udated iBooks.

I hope so, and I get the new price too!! :D


-Hugh

[Windowlicker]

I think every one keeps forgetting what the iMac and iBook are marketed for. Those that need the higher RAM/Hard drives are not your adverage user that those are targeted for. The machines that those are targeted for are 'just right' for them. If you need more space, then you are not the 'average' user.

-Hugh

bingo! most people buying the iBook seem to be getting it for word processing and some other light use.. no point having a space rocket sitting on your lap when just a bike will do fine.

[iDave]

I think every one keeps forgetting what the iMac and iBook are marketed for. Those that need the higher RAM/Hard drives are not your adverage user that those are targeted for. The machines that those are targeted for are 'just right' for them. If you need more space, then you are not the 'average' user.
I don't know. I think the average user according to Apple is expected to edit video and music; store digital photos and have enough music files to fill a 40GB iPod.

[eric67]

i wonder what this means for the next powerbook revision, they are due too
first, I could have made those specs myself... :p
the most important aspect of the revision for the iBook is not the CPU clock or size of the HDs!! but the graphic card!! we need 64MB graphic card in a niBook otherwise motion will be usable at all .... regarding powerbooks, I think if the revision does not happen in the next few days...then one can expect a much bigger revision, meaning, maybe, processor and bus revision, something more serious than a speed bump...
let's see, but the real interesting points for the ibook are:
- graphic card
- price
- airport extreme built-in.

that's all

I can predict than the next revision for the iBook will see the low-end at 1.33GHz and the high-end at 1.5GHz.... :rolleyes:

[belair]

You seem to be right there. The processor speed is not that much of an issue here. They have to change the graphics card and ad airport extreme to make the ibook competitive on the laptop market. Every new laptop has wireless today, and while they are at it they could also toss in bluetooth.

I am going to be refreshing my apple page quite often today I guess…
See you after they got announced

[Savage Henry]

I can predict than the next revision for the iBook will see the low-end at 1.33GHz and the high-end at 1.5GHz.... :rolleyes:


Nurtz! I knew it was only a matter of time before the clock speed of the low-end iBook would knock my iMac FP into the previous century ;)

Mind you, if my recent iBook hadn't fallen into the logic board replacement thingy, then I would be hard pushed not to purchase one of them beauties .... (sexy specs permitting, of course)

[Diatribe]

To all the people that suggested that Apple might drop the 12" PB....
They won't and they can't. One of many reasons would be a lowered resale value, people left with a discontinued product line, without an option to get a small PB (the 12" as it seems won't get a SD) etc., etc.

All the people that wanted to sell their 12" PB in the near future better do it now, this second. Because if these rumors are true it won't be worth a whole lot after tomorrow...
Good thing that I plan on keeping mine for a while... :D

[iJoe]

Apple have just launched a new 'switch' campain,'Time for a Change (http://promo.euro.apple.com/promo/timeforachange/uk/),' that includes the iBook... and it is still priced 'starting at £799'. Obviously they can change that, but it seems odd to start something like that just before details on the page are about to change. It doesn't mention a speed bump either.

(I might be wrong and this has been out for ages, but I've never seen it before... and I spend a lot of time on the store!)

[johnnyjibbs]

Apple have just launched a new 'switch' campain,'Time for a Change (http://promo.euro.apple.com/promo/timeforachange/uk/),' that includes the iBook... and it is still priced 'starting at £799'. Obviously they can change that, but it seems odd to start something like that just before details on the page are about to change. It doesn't mention a speed bump either.

(I might be wrong and this has been out for ages, but I've never seen it before... and I spend a lot of time on the store!)
I just noticed that too. Maybe there won't be any price changes, or maybe they will change it all and there will be new eMacs here too - maybe these are the new low end PowerMacs? :p

No, I'm guessing there could be an update on iBooks - I've got to the point where wishful thinking has gotten ahead of me probably. But now I'm in the running for an iPod under the cram and jam promotion when my bro gets his iBook - I'm getting impatient! :D

[johnnyjibbs]

To all the people that suggested that Apple might drop the 12" PB....
They won't and they can't. One of many reasons would be a lowered resale value, people left with a discontinued product line, without an option to get a small PB (the 12" as it seems won't get a SD) etc., etc.

All the people that wanted to sell their 12" PB in the near future better do it now, this second. Because if these rumors are true it won't be worth a whole lot after tomorrow...
Good thing that I plan on keeping mine for a while... :D
Don't worry - it would be suicide for Apple to drop the 12" Albook!

[aswitcher]

So thats it? Just this promo...no real changes?

[dobbin]

Does anyone know what time Cupertino wakes up and when we might expect to hear anything? What time do they normally make announcements or update the store?

[Swinny]

UK Apple Store is down...

[iJoe]

images.apple.com is now the homepage? (for all countries)

update: it's back to normal now... just apple.com

[aswitcher]

images.apple.com is now the homepage? (for all countries)

update: it's back to normal now... just apple.com

Australia store down...

[dobbin]

main store (US) is still there - nothing new yet...

UK store will 'be back within the hour' :D

[johnnyjibbs]

Well, people are expecting something - the servers are overloaded! :eek:

UK store is down but US is still up. No worry - this regularly happens on update days. Expect the UK store to not be ready within the hour (try 3) and the US one will go down in an hour or two.

I've suddenly got a good feeling about this.. :D

[iJoe]

How annoyed are we gonna be when the store comes back up and all that has changed is that they've added a new cable or something!

[takao]

UK Apple Store is down...
german,austrian,french,swiss one as well

but the US one still seems to work for me

[aswitcher]

Well, people are expecting something - the servers are overloaded! :eek:

I've suddenly got a good feeling about this.. :D

Here's hoping

[iJoe]

Yeah, US store is still online...

*refresh*...*refresh*...*refresh*...*refresh*...*refresh*...

[dobbin]

How annoyed are we gonna be when the store comes back up and all that has changed is that they've added a new cable or something!

I don't think thats going to happen this time. I've got a good feeling about this one....

I just hope its more than expected, although that doesn't happen often these days.

Please please please let there be new Powerbooks as well as iBooks. Otherwise I will probably get a 12" iBook tomorrow, but I'd really like a Powerbook if they're either upgraded, discounted, or hopefully both.

I don't think I'm going to get much work done this afternoon :D

[iJoe]

'Introducing the eBook'

That'd make a few peoples jaw drop!

[aswitcher]

I don't think thats going to happen this time. I've got a good feeling about this one....

I just hope its more than expected, although that doesn't happen often these days.

Please please please let there be new Powerbooks as well as iBooks. Otherwise I will probably get a 12" iBook tomorrow, but I'd really like a Powerbook if they're either upgraded, discounted, or hopefully both.

I don't think I'm going to get much work done this afternoon :D

I doubt a PB update...maybe the 12" to pull it ahead of the iBooks when they too get bumped...

[MacSA]

I doubt a PB update...maybe the 12" to pull it ahead of the iBooks when they too get bumped...


I think iBooks and Powerbooks were updated on the same day last time?

[murdaugh]

http://www.apple.com/education/educause/

Come see our great new solutions and products at the Apple Booth #308.

Tuesday, October 19:
4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 20
9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, October 21
11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.


I hope that doesn't mean we have to wait til 4pm mountain time...

[johnnyjibbs]

I think iBooks and Powerbooks were updated on the same day last time?
Yeah, it would make sense for PowerBook updates, especially to the 12"er, but there doesn't appear anywhere for them to go. That's what originally made me sceptical of this update..

[aswitcher]

I think iBooks and Powerbooks were updated on the same day last time?

Yeah, thats right, 19 April.

[iJoe]

I think iBooks and Powerbooks were updated on the same day last time?

If I remember correctly, within a few hours of each other.

US store still online. Don't expect much to happen till that one goes.

[aswitcher]

Yeah, it would make sense for PowerBook updates, especially to the 12"er, but there doesn't appear anywhere for them to go. That's what originally made me sceptical of this update..

12" becomes a 13/14" widescreen has been one hypothesis.

[johnnyjibbs]

If I remember correctly, within a few hours of each other.

US store still online. Don't expect much to happen till that one goes.
As I said before, it will go down, just give it time. For some reason the European ones tend to go down (and stay down) first...

[dobbin]

Yeah, it would make sense for PowerBook updates, especially to the 12"er, but there doesn't appear anywhere for them to go. That's what originally made me sceptical of this update..

If not updates for the PBs, then a price drop would be nice. It doesn't seem likely that this could be substantial, since there were large price drops last time (in April I think).

Come on Apple, surprise me. I dare you.....

[johnnyjibbs]

12" becomes a 13/14" widescreen has been one hypothesis.
Yes, but one of its biggest selling points is its small and compact size. Then there's the 10" ultra-portable rumours, but I doubt that's Apple's style.

[aswitcher]

Yes, but one of its biggest selling points is its small and compact size. Then there's the 10" ultra-portable rumours, but I doubt that's Apple's style.

They could really surprise us with a 10" iBook - really light for kiddies to take to school ;) eBook as someone suggested...

[iJoe]

As I said before, it will go down, just give it time. For some reason the European ones tend to go down (and stay down) first...

Probably with the amount of people on it, they're thinking 'wow, the store is busy... Best not disturb all those shoppers, Steve wouldn't be pleased'. :p

[thatwendigo]

It's about 5 AM in Cupertino right now, and the US Apple store is still up.

That being said, I'd like to go back to a few things that people have said so far on this thread, but it would take too long to name each and every one when replying. I'm breaking tradition and just throwing out a list, rather than addressing individuals. :D

1) OMG teh powerbokz ned 2 be G5!1!!11one! - While numerous people seem to think that the PowerBook is in need of a chip Apple can barely shoehorn into a much larger enclosure, those of us who grasp the basics of system design have high hopes of the MPC8461D. I don't think it'll show in the next revisions of either of the 'books, but it wouldn't at all surprise me to see the iBooks get a speed bump (in the 1.3-1.5ghz range), followed by the PowerBooks with a jump to the new MPC7448 core, which runs a mere 10 watts at 1.8ghz. Yes, that's right. It's a 300mhz jump with a loss of heat. Then, when the dual-cores are available, Apple can move the pin-compatible 7448 down to the iBook and plop the MPC8461D in the PowerBooks (where it will slaughter a crippled G5). Please don't bring up PowerTune, as it only does anything when the system isn't running, which makes it useless in the "professional" arguments that typically crop up.

2) Airport Standard vs. Optional - Apple is pushing pretty hard on the wireless front, and they've been building steam with it ever since they first included the iPod. Now, with Airport Express as a pocket access point, signal repeater, audio link, and all-round neat device, I could see a serious attempt to push 802.11g into the consumer space. Supposedly Intel will be pushing 802.11g in the Sonoma chipset that's due out in Q1 2005, and the Centrino platform has always been about the Penitum M being wedded to a wireless bridge. Apple's not stupid.

3) Graphics Cards - In mobile platforms, heat is at a premium. There aren't any laptops in the iBook's price range that come from major manufacturers, while also offering the same features. They're just not intended for running Apple's pro apps, though, and expecting the iBook to run motion is kind of silly. People complain that they're not priced low enough for consumers, then turn around and offer criticism about not being able to run the high-end software. Well... Make your minds up! :rolleyes:

[thatwendigo]

Stores that are currently down, as of 5 AM, PST:

Australia
France
Ireland
Belgium
Spain
Britain
Austria
Germany
Denmark
The Netherlands
Italy
Norway
Sweden
Finland
Hong Kong
Jopan
Singapore


Still up:
Korea
United States
Canada

[Palad1]

It's about 5 AM in Cupertino right now, and the US Apple store is still up.

Well french and uk stores are down since 11.30 GMT

[johnnyjibbs]

Stores that are currently down, as of 5 AM, PST:

Australia
France
Ireland
Belgium
Spain
Britain
Austria
Germany
Denmark
The Netherlands
Italy
Norway
Sweden
Finland
Hong Kong
Jopan
Singapore


Still up:
Korea
United States
Canada
Don't worry, just give them time. Keep cool :cool: :p

[Zaty]

I just got home and immediately checked the Swiss store. I was delighted to see that it was already down, cool. :)

[Vespertine]

Call me crazy, but I'm still thinking there's a possibility of Powerbook updates today. I ordered a 12" PB last Wednesday and it said it would be shipped same business day, but as of yesterday, three and a half business days later, it hadn't shipped, and the date it was expected to ship by was today, the day all these products would supposedly be announced. And right now the order status page is conveniently down for maintenance, has been since yesterday evening.

But the most obvious thing is that if you look at the buyer's guide, you'll see that in every example listed, the PowerBook upgrade paved the way for the iBook upgrade, and never the reverse. In a few cases they were announced on the same day. To update the iBooks first would be to shoot themselves in the foot as everyone knows, and make channel inventory bloated and therefore delay the possible introduction of a PB update as well as decreasing profit margins. It's not as if the iBook line has declining sales, they could delay its update as long as they felt necessary if they needed to. Christmas is still two months off and MWSF is after the big shopping season.

Freescale's new single-core G4 chips may not be ready for primetime yet, but the rumor mill hasn't said anything about dual-core's status. I would guess that Apple will stick dual-core G4 chips in the high-end PowerBooks and put the 1.5GHz chip from their top of the line into the bottom. Or at least update the top a few hundred MHz, which wouldn't necessarily require new chip architecture. They're likely to bump the GPUs up too so that they can put the CoreImage-compliant Radeon 5200 in the iBooks and still have differentiation between the families.

[johnnyjibbs]

US store is now down too :)

[MacSA]

.....don't forget the rumours about new eMacs too lol

[Sharewaredemon]

I just went the the candian store, it was fine, I was like, hmmm maybe the rumors are wrong, then i went back a minute later
it was down.

[freechris]

The Dutch store is offline now as well :D

We are busy updating the store for you and will be back within the hour.We are busy updating the store for you and will be back within the hour.


whippie, i just sold my imac fp 700mhz and i am really REALLY in for something new. im hoping for a cheap emac g5 solution

whiewhie, i should be working right now but i havent done much more then reading the forum and the news today :o

im so excited, i just cant hide it.. iwant iwant I WANT YOU!!!

[belair]

I cant wait.
How long is the store usually down?
Hmm need to do something to kill the time.

Goes out to get a coffee.

[iJoe]

Crazy: I think a PB update would make sense, too.

MacSA: and the low-end G5's

[zelmo]

iBooks at 1.33 and 1.5
PBooks at 1.6 and 1.8

[xg3]

am on the phone trying to order an ibook.
there are Ads about all new imac G5, but nothing about ibook. i will see if they will tell me there are changes to ibook when i purchase one.

[MacSA]

......remember an episode of the Simpsons where Homer is watching an info'mertial?, hes so excited when he goes to order he cant hit the numbers on the phone keypad properly lol

[le_coc]

Really I am hoping for more then a 12" 1.2 ghz iBook ! Sold mine in time; three days ago !! bought a Imac G5 17" fo the time being ! but now if the new iBook comes.... Want that one again !! ;) :)

[takao]

damn so there are ibook,pbook. cheaper powermac and emac rumours and i gotta have to go to university for 5 hours now....great i'm gonna miss all the fun now.....arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...if i knew that stores would really go down know i would have skipped it arghh...

(and yet again my bank accoutn is still screaming 'nooooooo' ...for thsoe who follow the powermac for 1499$ thread ;) ).....

[dobbin]

Call me crazy, but I'm still thinking there's a possibility of Powerbook updates today.

You're crazy!!!

No, seriously, I completely agree. That is the only sensible thing for Apple to do.

I have been waiting to buy a 12" Powerbook since I sold my cube 2 weeks ago. I am completely ready to spend the money (about £1300 I guess, depending on the exact spec I go for ). I'm just waiting to get an up to date rev.

But, if they update just the iBooks today, then I may well buy a 12" iBook instead. This means I will be spending a bit less money and getting a less powerful (but still plenty powerful for me) machine.

Making me spend less money on a lower spec product is the very last thing Apple want me to do (short of going and getting a peecee which is not an option for me.)

Therefore, I think they have to do something to the PBs, either today or very soon, or the PB sales will fall off in favour of the iBooks. That is not good, since they will be making more money on the PBs at the moment.

We'll see very soon by the looks of things.

[le_coc]

I cant wait.
How long is the store usually down?
Hmm need to do something to kill the time.

Goes out to get a coffee.


Yeah please !! tell us ! they say: We are busy updating the store for you and will be back within the hour.

so mostly one hour?

[xg3]

comfired.

Apple ibook 14" now comes with 80GB HD and 1.33GHZ G4

[Davito]

Yeah please !! tell us ! they say: We are busy updating the store for you and will be back within the hour.

so mostly one hour?

Last time the swiss store was down for almost 2 hours. But it is of the first ones to go down.

[liketom]

comfired.

Apple ibook 14" now comes with 80GB HD and 1.33GHZ G4


where???

[johnnyjibbs]

comfired.

Apple ibook 14" now comes with 80GB HD and 1.33GHZ G4
how do you know? There is no update yet. I expect the stores to be down for at least another hour.

[xg3]

from the sales representative.. i am on the phone to buy my ibook and i ask if there is a ibook update. he said yes and told me the 14" now i am hold while he checks on the 12".

[le_coc]

comfired.

Apple ibook 14" now comes with 80GB HD and 1.33GHZ G4

Yeah where? please !! want a new iBook so bad !

[xg3]

unable to retrieve spec for 12". apple internal system are down, sale presume they are updating the their data.

[johnnyjibbs]

from the sales representative.. i am on the phone to buy my ibook and i ask if there is a ibook update. he said yes and told me the 14" now i am hold while he checks on the 12".
if does know anything insider knowledge he could get the sack. Even during the keynote speech that annouced the Power Mac G5s, people were denying they existed on the phone.

[TheWereSloth]

got an email from a local reseller:
"
===============================================
WEEKLY SPECIALS FROM EXPERCOM
===============================================

===============================================
In this issue:

New iBook G4 models from Apple
New Power Mac G5
Price Drops on previous models
iMac G5 Update

FREE SHIPPING for ONLINE ORDERS OVER $1000!
===============================================

---New Apple Products---

This morning Apple announced new iBook G4 models! Now with faster
processors up to 1.33GHz and AirPort Extreme standard, these models pack
even more punch. Even better, the price has been lowered! The high end
model now has the SuperDrive standard, and all 14" models have a 60GB hard
drive. The stock configurations are:

$999 iBook G4 12" 1.2GHz 256MB/30G/Combo/AirPort Extreme
$1299 iBook G4 14" 1.33GHz 256MB/60G/Combo/AirPort Extreme
$1499 iBook G4 14" 1.33GHz 256MB/60G/SuperDrive/AirPort Extreme
"

they also show the info on their site: http://www.expercom.com/view_product_set.html?PRODUCT_SET_ID=27&RETURN_URL=%2Fproduct_detail.html%3FPRODUCT_ID%3D299895

rumors of the new PM model seem to be true as well

[liketom]

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore?family=iBook i think this is what we are looking for - updated ibook 12"

[dobbin]

unable to retrieve spec for 12". apple internal system are down, sale presume they are updating the their data.

While you're on the phone, can you ask about Powerbooks as well please?

[aswitcher]

got an email from a local reseller:
"
===============================================
WEEKLY SPECIALS FROM EXPERCOM
===============================================

===============================================
In this issue:

New iBook G4 models from Apple
New Power Mac G5
Price Drops on previous models
iMac G5 Update

FREE SHIPPING for ONLINE ORDERS OVER $1000!
===============================================

---New Apple Products---

This morning Apple announced new iBook G4 models! Now with faster
processors up to 1.33GHz and AirPort Extreme standard, these models pack
even more punch. Even better, the price has been lowered! The high end
model now has the SuperDrive standard, and all 14" models have a 60GB hard
drive. The stock configurations are:

$999 iBook G4 12" 1.2GHz 256MB/30G/Combo/AirPort Extreme
$1299 iBook G4 14" 1.33GHz 256MB/60G/Combo/AirPort Extreme
$1499 iBook G4 14" 1.33GHz 256MB/60G/SuperDrive/AirPort Extreme
"

they also show the info on their site: http://www.expercom.com/view_product_set.html?PRODUCT_SET_ID=27&RETURN_URL=%2Fproduct_detail.html%3FPRODUCT_ID%3D299895

rumors of the new PM model seem to be true as well


Wow, these guys risk getting hammered for early release... looks authentic...

[liketom]

no powerbook by the looks of it as still can access the powerbook spec not too sure about powermac thou

[Zaty]

got an email from a local reseller:
"
===============================================
WEEKLY SPECIALS FROM EXPERCOM
===============================================

===============================================
In this issue:

New iBook G4 models from Apple
New Power Mac G5
Price Drops on previous models
iMac G5 Update

FREE SHIPPING for ONLINE ORDERS OVER $1000!
===============================================

---New Apple Products---

This morning Apple announced new iBook G4 models! Now with faster
processors up to 1.33GHz and AirPort Extreme standard, these models pack
even more punch. Even better, the price has been lowered! The high end
model now has the SuperDrive standard, and all 14" models have a 60GB hard
drive. The stock configurations are:

$999 iBook G4 12" 1.2GHz 256MB/30G/Combo/AirPort Extreme
$1299 iBook G4 14" 1.33GHz 256MB/60G/Combo/AirPort Extreme
$1499 iBook G4 14" 1.33GHz 256MB/60G/SuperDrive/AirPort Extreme
"

they also show the info on their site: http://www.expercom.com/view_product_set.html?PRODUCT_SET_ID=27&RETURN_URL=%2Fproduct_detail.html%3FPRODUCT_ID%3D299895

rumors of the new PM model seem to be true as well

Sounds good, except for the standard 256 MB of RAM as well as the 30 GB HDD on the 12".

[iJoe]

Wow! the powermac!

[liketom]

store up

[johnnyjibbs]

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore?family=iBook i think this is what we are looking for - updated ibook 12"
Nice find! So it's true?! iBook for my brother and iPod for me here we come!!!

[dobbin]

UK store back up.

new iBooks, specs as expected, starting at £749 :)

No change to Powerbooks, yet :(

[qpid]

Crap they took down the store just as I was about to order!

[Badradio]

No powerbook update, no price drop on the existing models (puts credit card back in wallet). Not happy.

[hansen]

www.apple.com updated

[liketom]

you never now they might update Powerbooks later or Wed ??

[qpid]

anyone looking for a cheap ibook? check the refurbs:
iBook G4 1GHz/256MB/30GB/CD/E/56K/12-inch TFT - Apple Certified
Learn More
Price: $699.00

Estimated Ship:
1-2 business days
Free Shipping


Add
iBook G4 1GHz/256MB/30GB/Combo/E/56K/12-inch TFT - Apple Certified
Learn More
Price: $799.00

Estimated Ship:
1-2 business days
Free Shipping

[kat869]

Same specs on iBook

Prices (AU dollars):
12/1.2/Combo - $1695
14/1.33/Combo - $2049
14/1.33/Super - $2399

[xg3]

jsut got my ibook
12" 1.2GHZ $1249 CDN
yay.

[Badradio]

I take it back (for now). The powerbook subpages just went down.

[TheWereSloth]

I managed to post the specs a whole 3 minutes before the store went back up. woohoo!

[kat869]

I just bought a 12" PB two months ago, too...damn. Would have been better with the 14"/Super iBook...

Oh well...

[johnnyjibbs]

still got the 9200 graphics processor with 32MB vRAM

[Badradio]

I take it back (for now). The powerbook subpages just went down.

Dammit. Must have been a glitch.

[le_coc]

you never now they might update Powerbooks later or Wed ??

Think that has to wait untill november ! Apple expo London ! don't think so soon allready again !

[aswitcher]

Was an 80 gig HDD always an option on the 14"?

[liketom]

i think they HAVE to update powerbooks today as well even if it a small upgrade like 1.5 standard and a price drop on 15" super and 17" super

them ibooks are looking mighty tasty at £749

[MacSA]

Id rather they added more memory than the airport card, or even lowered the price even further. To make use of the airport card you still have to spend hundreds more on a base station.

[kat869]

On apple.com.au:

AU$2699
1.8GHz PowerPC G5
600MHz frontside bus
512K L2 cache
256MB DDR400 SDRAM
Expandable to 4GB SDRAM
80GB Serial ATA
8x SuperDrive
Three PCI Slots
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra
64MB DDR video memory
56K internal modem

[dobbin]

i think they HAVE to update powerbooks today as well even if it a small upgrade like 1.5 standard and a price drop on 15" super and 17" super

them ibooks are looking mighty tasty at £749

I totally agree, but I assume they would have done it all at the same time if it was going to happen today. So I guess its not happening today. Now I am tempted by these iBooks but what I really want is a PB. I'm confused. What do I do? I guess I keep waiting for the PBs.

[kat869]

Sorry for posting the PowerMac in the iBook thread, but it's exciting...lol

[johnnyjibbs]

Both 12" and 14" iBooks can now have an 80GB drive (but only at 4200rpm)!

[liketom]

I totally agree, but I assume they would have done it all at the same time if it was going to happen today. So I guess its not happening today. Now I am tempted by these iBooks but what I really want is a PB. I'm confused. What do I do? I guess I keep waiting for the PBs.


i would wait a few days longer you just know as soon as you click buy now on them iBooks BANG ! PowerBook Updates arrive and you feel cheated

[dobbin]

Id rather they added more memory than the airport card, or even lowered the price even further. To make use of the airport card you still have to spend hundreds more on a base station.

Thats exactly the point. Apple are not stupid! Its like supermarkets selling some products cheap to make you go there, and then you also buy the expensive things while you're there. Its not hundreds though, a single hundred should get you a nice airport express...

[aswitcher]

On apple.com.au:

AU$2699
1.8GHz PowerPC G5
600MHz frontside bus
512K L2 cache
256MB DDR400 SDRAM
Expandable to 4GB SDRAM
80GB Serial ATA
8x SuperDrive
Three PCI Slots
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra
64MB DDR video memory
56K internal modem

Theres a seperate thread for this... "New Powermac 1.8 GHz"

[aswitcher]

Both 12" and 14" iBooks can now have an 80GB drive (but only at 4200rpm)!

Ahh, I hadn't seen that. Clear distinction then with the PB.
Thanks for confirming the 80 Gig is new...I couldn't remember...

[macridah]

I hope this is the last G4 update for the iBook ... maybe the powerbook will have one more G4 upgrade, but I hope the G5 notebooks will come out soon.

Still ... good to see Apple improving their products.

[~Shard~]

I hope this is the last G4 update for the iBook ... maybe the powerbook will have one more G4 upgrade, but I hope the G5 notebooks will come out soon.

Still ... good to see Apple improving their products.

I think the possibility is greater that we will see dual-core G4 notebooks before a G5 notebook. And obviously in the PowerBoook before the iBook - this new iBook configuration might be around for some time...

[Diatribe]

I think the possibility is greater that we will see dual-core G4 notebooks before a G5 notebook. And obviously in the PowerBoook before the iBook - this new iBook configuration might be around for some time...

Until next year, before Tiger, when they release upgrades with the 1.33 and 1.5 GHz processors and the infamous GeF5200 graphics monster. :D

[jbro]

To make use of the airport card you still have to spend hundreds more on a base station.

No you don't. Where do you live? Free wireless hotspots are popping up all over the place (ok, mainly in cities, but still...). Alternatively you can subscribe to a wi-fi plan at a place like Starbux or Barnes and Noble. I'm not endorsing the large corporations, I'm just saying that there are many ways to do it. From what I understand many universities are providing wi-fi for free also. For Apple not to include wi-fi would make them look behind the times, which they definitely don't want to be.

[MacNeXT]

Id rather they added more memory than the airport card, or even lowered the price even further. To make use of the airport card you still have to spend hundreds more on a base station.

Not in my situation. I have access to a wireless network at school and already I have US robotics wireless router at home. No need for an Apple base station.