Prototype Mac Pro and Intel PowerBook Spotted

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/09/11/prototype-mac-pro-and-intel-powerbook-spotted/)

Prototype Apple products have been known to appear (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/11/18/mid-2007-prototype-macbook-air-found-on-ebay/) on eBay. Late last year, a prototype MacBook Air was found (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/11/18/mid-2007-prototype-macbook-air-found-on-ebay/) by a member of our forum and in March (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/03/09/prototype-iphone-spotted-on-ebay/) a prototype iPhone was spotted.

A prototype Mac Pro (http://cgi.ebay.com/PROTOTYPE-Mac-Pro-8-core-Unique-Treasure_W0QQitemZ180393187525QQcmdZViewItemQQptZApple_Desktops?hash=item2a004598c5&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14#ht_692wt_1167) has recently been put up for sale on eBay, claiming to be an early 2.4GHz dual Quad-Core processor machine. The machine is said to even be able to run Snow Leopard. Photos of the machine are provided and it does contain a red motherboard typical of Apple's prototype machines:


http://images.macrumors.com/article/2009/09/11/053718-!BUt2jSg!2k~$(KGrHgoH-CgEjlLl5Z,dBKO7F1Vulw~~_3.JPG_500.jpg


http://images.macrumors.com/article/2009/09/11/053719-!BUqF2g!!mk~$(KGrHgoOKioEjlLmfBoYBKOnvJ8qjQ~~_3.JPG_500.jpg

Meanwhile, another interesting prototype machine was found (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=704870) by a forum member back in May. jpo287 purchased a PowerBook that carries an Intel processor and an iSight camera -- features that were never released in a "PowerBook" branded machine. The machine carries a build date of November of 2005 which was two months before the first Intel MacBook Pros were released (http://www.macrumors.com/2006/01/10/apple-releases-the-macbook-pro/). For whatever reason, this unreleased PowerBook contains a blue motherboard:


http://images.macrumors.com/article/2009/09/11/054347-P1020022.JPG_500.jpg

More photos and speculation (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=704870) can be seen in the original discussion thread.

Article Link: Prototype Mac Pro and Intel PowerBook Spotted (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/09/11/prototype-mac-pro-and-intel-powerbook-spotted/)

[vant]

Not so interesting...

[Cinematographer]

$ 2,000.– for the Mac Pro is a bargain. :)

But I'm gonna save my money for the tablet prototype. :D

[opeter]

Wow, very nice. I would like one Mac Pro with red motherboard :)

[Jimmetry]

This should definitely be in Page 2.

Of course a Mac Pro can run Snow Leopard, it's completely Intel.

And a prototype PowerBook 2 months before the MacBook Pros were released simply indicates they changed the name within that timeframe, not that they tried to tack on a bunch of Intellian stuff onto a PPC-intended motherboard :P

[talkingfuture]

It would be very cool to have something as unique as that.

[dukebound85]

a member here has an intel powerbook

[markfraser]

page 2 - at best

[Oh-es-Ten]

eBay auction pulled in... 3...2...1....

[Chintan100]

Thank God any chinese worker didnt get killed then...

[chadley_chad]

Jesus ... who gives a rats ass!

I don't know, sometimes Apple fanboys just go a little too far; we'll be analysing the different types of wiring used next!

Hmmm!

[blinkie]

we'll be analysing the different types of wiring used next!

Hmmm!
Can't wait:D

[fun173]

where is my Pentium 4 mac pro hahahaha this is cool

[///M5]

The title should say "Dirty Prototype Mac Pro, and Intel PowerBook Spotted"

Then people would wonder if that dirt is Steve's saliva or Woz's sweat.

In other words, who cares.

[Consultant]

The title should say "Dirty Prototype Mac Pro, and Intel PowerBook Spotted"

Then people would wonder if that dirt is Steve's saliva or Woz's sweat.

In other words, who cares.

Yeah.

I would have cleaned the case.

[andylyon]

Nice find.

Do all Apple prototypes have a red main board or something then?

AnDy

[synth3tik]

wow, some people just have super bad attitudes.

Prototype machines are cool because they are extremely rare, especially from Apple. Personally I collect synthesizers and not computers. However it is cool to find these rare jems.

The problem I have is there are quite a few people that see a couple people getting excited over something, and feel they need to flame. Honestly if you couldn't care less about a prototype machine, then your just a damn fool for reading a theard with the first word being Prototype.

[andylyon]

Honestly if you couldn't care less about a prototype machine, then your just a damn fool for reading a theard with the first word being Prototype.

Haha I like it, very true statement!

AnDy

[BornAgainMac]

It looks like the yellow wire is from a new distributor from Asia that is suppose to help cut costs and improve connectivity. I can make out the part number yet.
:D

[AdeFowler]

Jesus ... who gives a rats ass!

I don't know, sometimes Apple fanboys just go a little too far; we'll be analysing the different types of wiring used next!

Hmmm!

Agreed... who cares? But it's got nothing to do with being a 'fanboy'. How this is page one news I'll never know.

[ouimetnick]

The red curcuit board is cool. I like having different colors beside green.

[twoodcc]

pretty cool. i wouldn't mind having those things, but i wouldn't want to pay a high price for it. i think i'll stick to new ones that are sure to work properly

[Bjohnson33]

Seems like you'd have to be a pretty dyed-in-the-wool fanboy to get excited about something like this! It's interesting and all, but I can't picture myself dying to own something like that.

[Burke]

"PowerBook" looks waaaaay 'shopped.

[redAPPLE]

Yeah.

I would have cleaned the case.

and while the person was at it, he should've cleaned the apartment or room...

[alent1234]

a red motherboard? that proves everything

i think my homebuild with an AMD chip has a red motherboard in it

[knightlie]

The title should say "Dirty Prototype Mac Pro, and Intel PowerBook Spotted"

Then people would wonder if that dirt is Steve's saliva or Woz's sweat.

In other words, who cares.

You cared enough to post about it.

[jacob.vanorder]

I have a prototype MacBook Pro that Apple won't let me sell on eBay.

This one: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=686790

After trying to list it, eBay pulled it down due to Apple's request. I wonder how long the MacPro is going to be able to be on eBay before they pull it. It sucks that Apple seems to take a hard line on this, though. I understand that it sets a precedent but it's still a jerk move.

That powerbook is a really great find, though. I wonder if anyone noticed before hand that a Powerbook shouldn't have an iSight camera.

[Bubba Satori]

This is Apple computer news ? Sad.

[macinfojunkie]

page 2 - at best


No. Should definitely be Page 3. What with the topless photos and all.

[ABernardoJr]

That Powerbook looks exceedingly odd for some reason. The "r" in Powerbook looks crooked, and I don't know if that was intentional lol

[Doctor Q]

What happens when you walk into an Apple Store and ask for help with your off-the-books Mac model?

[Michael73]

You don't have to be a fanboi to be interested in the engineering and creative process that goes on behind the scenes that create such iconic products. ;)

[arkitect]

What happens when you walk into an Apple Store and ask for help with your off-the-books Mac model?

They press a little red button, you disappear down a trap door and next thing you know… Steve Jobs is standing over you wearing a velvet dinner jacket…

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AkHeUaEva5k/Ro_0KJeG-4I/AAAAAAAACuw/qYVe_m8CZDc/s400/Goldfinger%2Blaser.jpg

[53buick]

"PowerBook" looks waaaaay 'shopped.

yes it totally is. the skewing/perspective of "Power" is off. You can even see trails of the clone tool around it. And if you look closely, the edge of the bezel creeps into the screen just above the "P". Looks like they just took a Macbook and tried to replace the "Mac" with "Power"

With "amazing" touchup like this, you'd think they'd of used the "Hue/Saturation" adjustment to turn the motherboard red.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v6OMdIxk9TI/SqpTJbkTqqI/AAAAAAAAAM0/690Jy5q76js/intelpowerbook.jpg

[LAS.mac]

Such a new ("back in May" and "last year") is what we call a "refrito".
That's something not interesting, that we knew. And which is not related to anything...

[Chimpy]

What's up with the Apple logo on the prototype Mac Pro? Is it taped over or something?

[OllyW]

yes it totally is. the skewing/perspective of "Power" is off. You can even see trails of the clone tool around it. And if you look closely, the edge of the bezel creeps into the screen just above the "P". Looks like they just took a Macbook and tried to replace the "Mac" with "Power"

With "amazing" touchup like this, you'd think they'd of used the "Hue/Saturation" adjustment to turn the motherboard red.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v6OMdIxk9TI/SqpTJbkTqqI/AAAAAAAAAM0/690Jy5q76js/intelpowerbook.jpg

Perhaps if you were to read the original thread (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=704870), you would see that it isn't Photoshopped. :rolleyes:

[G4DP]

wow, some people just have super bad attitudes.

Prototype machines are cool because they are extremely rare, especially from Apple. Personally I collect synthesizers and not computers. However it is cool to find these rare jems.

The problem I have is there are quite a few people that see a couple people getting excited over something, and feel they need to flame. Honestly if you couldn't care less about a prototype machine, then your just a damn fool for reading a theard with the first word being Prototype.

We don't have bad attitudes, we just have a life.

[thogs_cave]

I actually had a prototype Mac II kicking around my house for quite some time in the very early '90's. A friend (who used to work for Apple) had a prototype of the original Mac Portable.

Wow, to think how impressed we all were with the Mac II, and now I could (if it gets ported) easily emulate one on my iPhone. With many, many cycles to spare....:eek:

[G-Force]

we just have a life.
That made me laugh, thanks for that. You have a life, but yet you all still take the time to respond to this thread. :o

[chriszzz]

a red motherboard? that proves everything

i think my homebuild with an AMD chip has a red motherboard in it

No, but a red motherboard inside a Mac Pro chassis with EFI that runs OS X without any hacking. Add those up and consider that production Macs do not use red motherboards, I think its pretty simple to conclude its a prototype machine.

[Sweetfeld28]

Nice find.

Do all Apple prototypes have a red main board or something then?

AnDy


Most of them yes.

[Mord]

A friend of mine that worked for apple during the intel switch mentioned he was using a macbook pro prototype that used a powerbook case, I'm not surprised one has popped up on ebay apparently they were in standard use for testing around apple internally.

[tyson12zoll]

Without a doubt....


"PowerBook" looks waaaaay 'shopped.

[OllyW]

Without a doubt....

It's real...:rolleyes:

I can assure you the logo is real. As you can see in the picture below, the letters are actually recessed into the bezel. So while the e may be a little of, it is off in a recessed bezel and while I might could believe someone faking the letters, I can't believe someone went through the trouble of building/recessing the bezel for the letters. BTW...the Macbook Pro logo is recessed the same way.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_wACky2clM4w/ShxzFb594zI/AAAAAAAAFPU/Ru5zdgmqy28/s720/P1020097.JPG

[53buick]

Perhaps if you were to read the original thread (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=704870), you would see that it isn't Photoshopped. :rolleyes:

still looks photoshopped to me. what i see is the exact same thing that i said. i.e. the clone anomalies around the word "Power", the weird perspective of it and the strange section of bezel creeping into the screen.

no, i have not seen this alleged piece in person, nor do i know the original poster of the original thread personally, so i am not familiar with their credentials so i'm using my best judgement as a graphic designer/spectator to deduce that the image in THIS post was indeed photoshopped. :rolleyes:

[Wotan31]

$ 2,000.– for the Mac Pro is a bargain. :)

That's not a Mac Pro. It's a prototype. It may or may not work well. It may or may not crash regularly. It may or may not be compatible with the 10.6.1 update. I wouldn't pay $2000 for it. But then again, I wouldn't pay $20 for it.

[dpaanlka]

We don't have bad attitudes, we just have a life.

Then why are you sitting here on MacRumors?

[jared_kipe]

yes it totally is. the skewing/perspective of "Power" is off. You can even see trails of the clone tool around it. And if you look closely, the edge of the bezel creeps into the screen just above the "P". Looks like they just took a Macbook and tried to replace the "Mac" with "Power"

With "amazing" touchup like this, you'd think they'd of used the "Hue/Saturation" adjustment to turn the motherboard red.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v6OMdIxk9TI/SqpTJbkTqqI/AAAAAAAAAM0/690Jy5q76js/intelpowerbook.jpg
Done!

[Wotan31]

Then why are you sitting here on MacRumors?
Hahahahaha win!

[elguille]

Finally the Powerbook G5!!!!!!! :eek:

[kellen]

Nice to look at and see differences, but I think thats about it.

I like how people all think its worth a lot. I don't know anyone who would buy a protoype like that for that price. Just to sit somewhere?

Wonder if this one will even sell, let alone get to the end of the auction before its pulled.

[Bregalad]

The Intel "PowerBook" could very easily be a MacBook Pro with the display (or just the bezel) from a PowerBook stuck on to create a different look. If it's a real prototype then it's possible that Apple used a PowerBook lid because they hadn't finalized the MacBook Pro name yet.

The Mac Pro prototype is cool and the red board is certainly rare in a Mac, but PC motherboards come in virtually every colour in the rainbow. I have an 8 year old PC with a fire engine red MSI motherboard.

[Jasonbot]

Finally the Powerbook G5!!!!!!! :eek:

Damn, beat me to it!:rolleyes:

[PaisleyMF]

I don't know, something is not right with the Mac Pro. But that's just me!

[Kmad86]

I don't know, something is not right with the Mac Pro. But that's just me!

It never is with you guys. All of you automatically thought I photoshopped the iPod Touch w/ Camera. Somebody on here even went as far to make their own photoshop of it to make it look fake. Accept it, red board= prototype.

[philipt42]

Finally - an intel powerbook!
I've been waiting years

[synth3tik]

We don't have bad attitudes, we just have a life.


see, this is what I am talking about. Is there any need for statements like this, no. I guess since your here on MR with everyone else, that life is sat in front of a computer just trolling along.

Some peoples kids.

[iMaggot]

I call BS on this, looks to fake IMO

[Cinematographer]

That's not a Mac Pro. It's a prototype.

Thanks a lot for the clarification. I must have missed that. :rolleyes:

[alexbates]

On eBay, it says the auction has now ended. So I guess its been sold?

[electroshock]

The Intel "PowerBook" could very easily be a MacBook Pro with the display (or just the bezel) from a PowerBook stuck on to create a different look.

That's the theory, yes. But given the other details in that thread, doesn't look like a fake job or a Frankensteined machine.

If it's a real prototype then it's possible that Apple used a PowerBook lid because they hadn't finalized the MacBook Pro name yet.

Yep. That was most likely what did occur (regarding naming).

[jpo287]

still looks photoshopped to me. what i see is the exact same thing that i said. i.e. the clone anomalies around the word "Power", the weird perspective of it and the strange section of bezel creeping into the screen.

no, i have not seen this alleged piece in person, nor do i know the original poster of the original thread personally, so i am not familiar with their credentials so i'm using my best judgement as a graphic designer/spectator to deduce that the image in THIS post was indeed photoshopped. :rolleyes:

I am the owner of the Powerbook and if you really think the image was photoshopped, then I would guess your not much of a graphic designer. Sorry, don't mean to be rude but having all you graphic "experts" call me a fraud is getting a little old.