PowerBook 970s at WWDC?

[jholzner]

According to Macwispers both the PowerMac and 15.4" Powerbook are in production and will be in sizable quantities come WWDC.

Take a look here

[ZildjianKX]

Thanks for the link... man, I hope that's true.

[cb911]

from the article:

"a front panel "mostly made with the same anodized aluminum surface" as the newest Powerbooks."

that's interesting that they say that. i thought that the current AlBooks were raw (not anodized) aluminium.

they seem to be very sure of those facts... i haven't been tracking Mac Whispers, so i'm not sure of the reliability of these rumors, but given their own confidence i'm betting that there will be 15.4" PowerBooks with 970's at WWDC.

[mactastic]

We won't know unless the story gets pulled!

[zuggerat]

man i hope this is one of those times when those rumors sites are right on. i dont see any reason why apple doesnt revamp their entire line nearly at once. a lot of other people on other threads have been sayin that the G4 is old and i agree it is, it's time to roll out the new flag ships and hopefully we'll see that at WWDC the sooner the more marketshare the more market share the more money for R+D for better hardware

[ZildjianKX]

Originally posted by mactastic
We won't know unless the story gets pulled!

Man, you said it.

Also, anyone know how reliable MacWhispers is? I haven't been following rumor sites for too long.

[freundt]

This is like waiting for that 6 Million Dollar Man action figure that one year for christmas when I was younger.. It's all I could think about.. I was sure I was going to get it...

But this time, it's gonna set me back a few dollars... but I can't wait.

_f

Sorry for the gushing post, I think I just shed a tear.

[jholzner]

Originally posted by ZildjianKX
Man, you said it.

Also, anyone know how reliable MacWhispers is? I haven't been following rumor sites for too long.

They've gotten some things right on and others, they've been dead wrong. They were the ONLY rumor site that knew about the USB/Firewire cable that will soon be released for the windows version of the iPod. They get all their info from Apple's suppliers so it's not just random submissions. However, sometimes Apple's suppliers don't really know what's going on either.

[arnette]

Originally posted by freundt
This is like waiting for that 6 Million Dollar Man action figure that one year for christmas when I was younger.. It's all I could think about.. I was sure I was going to get it...

Wow... I think you just dated yourself. I prefer The Fall Guy, myself. That truck he had was all I could think about for my birthday way back when.

Anyway, I'm inclined to doubt MacWhispers. I think they spouted off some bullarkey about the new iPods having video capabilities.. or color screens... I don't remember. My memory retention for rumors is pretty much zero. I'd love to see a PowerBook alongside a PowerMac, but I honestly don't think that's going to happen. Too many eggs in the basket.

[MacRumors]

MacWhispers updates with notes regarding upcoming PowerMac and PowerBook revisions.

Of interest, MacWhispers is the only site claiming that 15.4" PowerBook 970's are currently in the works. According to the site, 970 PowerBooks are just beginning production, suggesting they are soon to be released and inventory will be "substantial" by WWDC.

They also offer notes on single processor 970 PowerMacs with new alumnium cases and some form of handles.

MacWhispers only substantial scoop was first mention of a Firewire/USB cable which appears to be utilized in with new iPods... however, has had a rocky start with previous misteps as well as initial expectations of 15" Powerbook updates in Jan/Feb 2003.

[nagromme]

I do think the AlBooks are anodized--with a clear layer, not colored. So it's the natural Al color, but still anodized for a durable coating.

I can believe that the 15" might get a 970 before the 17"--it's the "main" model--but the 17" would have to follow soon after. And I think that getting ANY 970 Macs before late summer is wishful thinking, much less both towers AND laptops. But I'll cross my fingers anyway!

And for me, it was the Micronauts Rocket Tubes set that I craved! (What a crushing disappointment when they didn't acually work like on TV!)

[mxpiazza]

so now it seems certain that we'll see powerbook 970's at WWDC (no, i don't have that much faith in macwhispers, but this is all the confirmation i need because i was pro-pb970's all along), here is my dilemma: i need to buy a laptop for school this year. however, i don't want all the problems associated with rev. A product. but if i get one of these price-dropped PB's that are out now, they aren't going to be optimized for 10.3 like the 970 is... so are the benifits of getting the rev. A 970 worth the problems that may come along with it, or should i take advantage of the low cost and reliability of the current g4 lineup? help meee!

[foniks2020]

Originally posted by arnette

Anyway, I'm inclined to doubt MacWhispers. I think they spouted off some bullarkey about the new iPods having video capabilities.. or color screens... I don't remember. [/b]

Actually there are definite plans by Apple to use OLED (organic LED) screens in the near term which would indeed bring color AND fast enough refresh to allow for video.

Thinksecret posted some rumors regarding this, though they aren't really rumors as much as future factual speculation... meaning that everyone is doing research on OLED... th iPod using it is just common sense. Small screen == earlier date, since yield and cost for smaller screens are a given.

[foniks2020]

Originally posted by mxpiazza
so now it seems certain that we'll see powerbook 970's at WWDC (no, i don't have that much faith in macwhispers, but this is all the confirmation i need because i was pro-pb970's all along), here is my dilemma: i need to buy a laptop for school this year. however, i don't want all the problems associated with rev. A product. but if i get one of these price-dropped PB's that are out now, they aren't going to be optimized for 10.3 like the 970 is... so are the benifits of getting the rev. A 970 worth the problems that may come along with it, or should i take advantage of the low cost and reliability of the current g4 lineup? help meee!

Just get AppleCare for any 'hardware' issues... the actual design and engineering aspects are out of your hands for at least 6 months from the new PB release date. I bought a Rev A TiG4 at 500 mhz and still love it, even with only 8MB of video RAM.

[QCassidy352]

I still don't believe it... the powermac line is the one that's really hurting, so I have to believe that the 970s are going there first. Sure, they *could* be doing both at once, but I bet all the R and D money went in to the powermacs, and we won't be seeing 970 PBs until Q1 2004.

[nagromme]

Originally posted by mxpiazza so are the benifits of getting the rev. A 970 worth the problems that may come along with it, or should i take advantage of the low cost and reliability of the current g4 lineup?

I think you'll have to wait and see what the real-world speeds and price of the 970 'Books are when they come out--and G4s should be on clearance pricing around then anyway. (Which could be next May, I wouldn't be surprised! Towers sooner for sure, though--August/September?)

As for Rev A vs. B, I share those concerns. But many/most of the Rev A problems that get fixed are with the physical casing, and that will be Rev B or beyond (well, other than the 15" maybe) when the next 'Books arrive.

I plan my next computer to be the second version of a 970 PowerBook 17". But if the first 970 version isn't until next year, I'll go for that and not wait for rev B.

[QCassidy352]

hey, this is interesting:

"In closing, we want to address the performance of the new PPC 970 machines, as we do have direct information on this topic, and we consider that information to be highly reliable. Despite the recent flurry of confusing claims published by eWeek and others, we stand by our report that the new Power Mac and Powerbook have overall performance approximately 1.25 to 1.5 times that of a similarly clocked G4 on non-Altivec optimized applications. On Altivec optimized tasks, these machines have as much as 2 to 2.5 times the through performance as a similarly clocked G4. Our understanding is that this performance is occurring using bone-stock OS X 10.2.6 on pre-production single processor PPC 970 machines... an OS with none of the optimization now being rumored as being needed for supporting the PPC 970's performance potential."

So until Panther comes along, the 970 will be fast, but not *that* fast. 1.25 to 1.5x a similarly clocked G4 is good, but not really all that I'm hoping for.

[neutrino23]

Originally posted by mxpiazza
so now it seems certain that we'll see powerbook 970's at WWDC (no, i don't have that much faith in macwhispers, but this is all the confirmation i need because i was pro-pb970's all along), here is my dilemma: i need to buy a laptop for school this year. however, i don't want all the problems associated with rev. A product. but if i get one of these price-dropped PB's that are out now, they aren't going to be optimized for 10.3 like the 970 is... so are the benifits of getting the rev. A 970 worth the problems that may come along with it, or should i take advantage of the low cost and reliability of the current g4 lineup? help meee!

This is really funny. We've been waiting years for an uber-powerbook like this and now when we are hopefully, finally on the verge of seeing it doubts are surfacing as to whether we should wait for the next revision.

Actually, my wife was telling me the same thing. I said I would order one Sunday night 6/22 in the hopes that it would be relased at the Monday keynote to get a jump on the crowd. She said I should wait till fall. Personally, I want this one so bad I'd be happy to have serial number 0000001.

[mim]

Originally posted by cb911
from the article:

"a front panel "mostly made with the same anodized aluminum surface" as the newest Powerbooks."

that's interesting that they say that. i thought that the current AlBooks were raw (not anodized) aluminium.

Yer, it's called 'natural' anodising. Same process, just minus the dye's. This is what's used on the powerbooks.

[vwcruisn]

please please please... 970 powerbooks... ive been waiting for a couple months now.. and i REALLY need a laptop... PLEASE apple... release a 970 powerbook!!!! for me!

[MovieGuy]

PowerMac, almost certain a release of some sort. Powerbook...I am skeptical. I think that Apple may mention plans to upgrade, but there is a tough situation; why would Apple devalue their just released 12 and 17 inch models. I see an entire line upgrade by x-mas and ibooks becoming iBook G4s.

[Porshuh944turbo]

I just can't see it.. I can hardly see the Powermacs being ready for shipment, much less "sizable" quantities of 970 Powerbooks.

I predict a repeat of the much hoped for G5 2 years ago... we were all sure and then got let down...

[cb911]

Originally posted by mxpiazza
so now it seems certain that we'll see powerbook 970's at WWDC (no, i don't have that much faith in macwhispers, but this is all the confirmation i need because i was pro-pb970's all along), here is my dilemma: i need to buy a laptop for school this year. however, i don't want all the problems associated with rev. A product. but if i get one of these price-dropped PB's that are out now, they aren't going to be optimized for 10.3 like the 970 is... so are the benifits of getting the rev. A 970 worth the problems that may come along with it, or should i take advantage of the low cost and reliability of the current g4 lineup? help meee!

you don't have to worry about the current TiBooks, or any Macs with G4's not being optimised. sure 10.3 will have certain optimizations for the 970's, but i'm sure that it will also have some speed increases on G4's. after all, even with the 970 a big part of Apple's line will still be G4 & maybe even G3.


and on the subject of anodizing... i recall reading that if you anodize something like a PB case, then contact with the skin will mean that eventually the coating will corrode and wear away. this can't be the case with the current AlBooks, right? i might be getting a bit technical here, but is it only anodizing with dye that makes it corrode with skin contact... or is there a different process that the AlBooks go through?

[marcsiry]

...they are using apparently reliable information, but from a very small part of the product development chain.

Anyone who has worked in product development (I did, at Mattel Toys, among other places) knows that for every released product, there are several that may make it all the way to prototype or even preliminary production before being spiked.

Additionally, a supplier may be asked to produce a run of relatively cheap parts (like a cable, or a connector) that ends up being discarded at the last minute due to unexpected changes in the "master product." That could skew reports that draw conclusions based on those parts.

I read MacWhispers and take it as one piece of information among others. It's their prerogative to make guesses, regardless of how informed they are, based on the information they dig up; just as it's your prerogative to choose to believe or not.

In any case, I can only see people getting upset about inaccurate rumors if they are basing important business decisions on them... and that's not sound judgment, in my opinion.

[mislabeledstar]

Originally posted by QCassidy352
hey, this is interesting:

So until Panther comes along, the 970 will be fast, but not *that* fast. 1.25 to 1.5x a similarly clocked G4 is good, but not really all that I'm hoping for.

Just don't forget that thats 1.25 to 1.5x on similar clocked machines, but the 970's are supposed to be coming out with a higher clock speed than what we have now in the g4s.