Apple's 17-inch PowerBook Production

MacRumors · Dec 17, 2003, 11:26 AM

DigiTimes claims that Apple may move 17" PowerBook production to Quanta from Compal Electronics in the first quarter of next year at the earliest.

DigiTimes maintains that Compal also landed orders for a 15.4" PowerBook... which previously spawned numerous rumors about the PowerBook... but no such PowerBook exists.

TomSmithMacEd · Dec 17, 2003, 01:01 PM

I don't see why this would be a big deal. Unless they put a G5 in it. MMMM 17" g5 powerbook (drool)

First Post (he he)

chazmox · Dec 17, 2003, 01:13 PM

I wonder where Digitimes gets their info - they're still reporting about a 15.4 inch PB!!!

ITR 81 · Dec 17, 2003, 02:46 PM

Well a 15.4 could be a revised 15.2 inch PB with all new screen. As they were having issues with them.

~Shard~ · Dec 17, 2003, 04:45 PM

Does this indicate a redesign of the PB? Possibly to accommodate a G5?

mrsebastian · Dec 17, 2003, 05:24 PM

i doubt it's a redesign, but i guess there's always a possibility of the g5 showing up in powerbooks, though i highly doubt it! i'd guess apple got a deal for better and/or cheaper production.

SiliconAddict · Dec 17, 2003, 08:49 PM

Hmm I thought ...................

Quote:

Apple, which is facing increasing price challenges from Wintel notebooks launched by Dell, Hewlett-Packard (HP) and Toshiba, is unlikely to accept Compal’s demands given the production was based on contract orders, the sources said.

..........was quite telling. Maybe we'll be seeing even further price drops in the 17" PowerBook in the future?

Then again current PB price distributions are pretty spaced out. The 15" SD PB is $2,600. You can't drop the 17" PB much without getting pretty close to that 15" SD PB price. Hmmm.

arn · Dec 18, 2003, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ITR 81
Well a 15.4 could be a revised 15.2 inch PB with all new screen. As they were having issues with them.

no...

They've been talking about a 15.4 inch screen since January or so.

arn

1macker1 · Dec 19, 2003, 11:35 AM

Is there a 20" laptop in the future.

visor · Dec 19, 2003, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 1macker1
Is there a 20" laptop in the future.

as soon as they create foldable displays, there will.

However, tehy wont call it noebook, but blackboard...

whooleytoo · Dec 19, 2003, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by visor
as soon as they create foldable displays, there will.
However, tehy wont call it noebook, but blackboard...

Nah, forget about bigscreens, just put a projector in; find a blank patch of wall to point at, and hey presto! A 72 inch Powerbook!

Grimace · Dec 20, 2003, 05:03 PM

Do people expect speed bumps at MacWorld? It seems likely that we would see some improvement then. Will the 17" go over 1.33? Maybe:

1.50 Ghz 17"
1.33 Ghz 15"
1.25 Ghz 12"

Seems like a likely armorment for the final installation of the G4s - maybe before G5s hit Powerbooks in July - as Steve Jobs has been hinting.

iJack · Dec 21, 2003, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by visor
as soon as they create foldable displays, there will.
However, tehy wont call it noebook, but blackboard...

The new IBM G5 chips are supposed to run cooler, so G5 PB not out of the question.

How about "PowerPortfolio" for a 20"?

Mac User Canada · Dec 22, 2003, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by whooleytoo
Nah, forget about bigscreens, just put a projector in; find a blank patch of wall to point at, and hey presto! A 72 inch Powerbook!

In many ways, that's a lot more practical than you might think.

Doesn't work well on a train but it would be great for presentations.

Definatley need both a screen, for privacy and locations without walls. With an additonal built-in projector - wow - that would solve a lot of back aches lugging projectors around. Of course this only works if it can be done without increasing the size, weight or battery life of an existing 17" PB. Has anyone seen where I left my TARDIS? ;-)

MUC

~Shard~ · Dec 22, 2003, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mac User Canada
Of course this only works if it can be done without increasing the size, weight or battery life of an existing 17" PB. Has anyone seen where I left my TARDIS? ;-)
MUC

TARDIS, nice one - haven't heard that word for a LONG time! Ah, they should bring Dr. Who back - one of my old favorites...

toughboy · Dec 22, 2003, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by visor
as soon as they create foldable displays, there will.
However, tehy wont call it noebook, but blackboard...

as the inches get bigger, products get heavier.. Apple did a really amazing job in decreasing the mass but you know, physics..

I, personally dont like the projection stuff.. unless they find a projector working in the direct sun light without being have to close the curtains..

foldable displays is another stuff, but seems so far for these days...

Toe · Dec 23, 2003, 11:23 AM

I love my TiBook and think the latest generation of AlBooks have some awesome engineering. But...

Aluminum is a stupid material for a laptop. A titanium case is awesome. Were I to drop my TiBook on the ground, I'd first check the ground for dents... then the TiBook. The AlBooks however, bend and mangle if you click too quickly. Of the five AlBooks I've seen, two experienced a minor drop and had $600-900 worth of damage. The corners fold on themselves at the merest hint of impact, then the case doesn't close, the optical drive doesn't work, etc..

Even if they can't get a G5 in there yet, they should at least design out the aluminum.

Grimace · Dec 23, 2003, 03:13 PM

The aluminum used isn't the same stuff you put around a sandwich in your lunch. It is incredibly strong for its weight. Titanium is a LOT more expensive to produce than aluminum. That's why apple dropped it. (although it was really cool to say you had a Titanium laptop...)

TMJ1974 · Dec 29, 2003, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ITR 81
Well a 15.4 could be a revised 15.2 inch PB with all new screen. As they were having issues with them.

Or ........ it could be that Compal makes the 15.4" screen for the Compaq x1000 series notebooks.

Tim

Toe · Dec 30, 2003, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by carletonmusic
The aluminum used isn't the same stuff you put around a sandwich in your lunch. It is incredibly strong for its weight. Titanium is a LOT more expensive to produce than aluminum. That's why apple dropped it. (although it was really cool to say you had a Titanium laptop...)

Yeah, Steve says it's aircraft-grade aluminum... but if you look at the body of a jet when you're boarding, you'll see a lot of dents and dings. AlBooks crumple under the slightest impact. Real-world experience shows that it is a crappy material from which to build a laptop. The plastic in iBooks is MUCH more durable.

spencecb · Dec 30, 2003, 05:51 PM

Well, of course the material used in the iBook is going to be stronger than the PowerBook. The iBook is made to withstand life in a students bookbag, whereas the PowerBook is not meant for this demographic. The PowerBook does not need to be as durable as the iBooks. And, I don't know why everyone has problems with their Titanium PB's chipping or bending, because I have had mine for over a year now, and I am a college student, and take my PB with me everywhere, and there is not a chip or bend/dent in it anywhere.

Dec 17, 2003, 11:26 AM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	Apple's 17-inch PowerBook Production DigiTimes claims that Apple may move 17" PowerBook production to Quanta from Compal Electronics in the first quarter of next year at the earliest. DigiTimes maintains that Compal also landed orders for a 15.4" PowerBook... which previously spawned numerous rumors about the PowerBook... but no such PowerBook exists.

Dec 17, 2003, 01:01 PM	#2
TomSmithMacEd macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fargo, ND	I don't see why this would be a big deal. Unless they put a G5 in it. MMMM 17" g5 powerbook (drool) First Post (he he) __________________ Erik Myxter Erik.Myxter@sendit.nodak.edu aim: thinlayorofpole http://www.xanga.com/erikmyxter Looking for a powerbook.

Dec 17, 2003, 01:13 PM	#3
chazmox macrumors regular Join Date: Feb 2003	I wonder where Digitimes gets their info - they're still reporting about a 15.4 inch PB!!! __________________ We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time. T.S. Elliot

Dec 17, 2003, 04:45 PM	#5
~Shard~ macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: 1123.6536.5321	Does this indicate a redesign of the PB? Possibly to accommodate a G5? __________________ My riches consist not in the extent of my possessions, but in the fewness of my wants. - J. Brotherton

Dec 17, 2003, 05:24 PM	#6
mrsebastian macrumors 6502a Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: sunny san diego	i doubt it's a redesign, but i guess there's always a possibility of the g5 showing up in powerbooks, though i highly doubt it! i'd guess apple got a deal for better and/or cheaper production. __________________ [ding]

Dec 17, 2003, 02:46 PM	#4
ITR 81 macrumors 65816 Join Date: Oct 2003	Well a 15.4 could be a revised 15.2 inch PB with all new screen. As they were having issues with them.

Dec 19, 2003, 11:35 AM	#9
1macker1 Banned Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: A Higher Level	Is there a 20" laptop in the future.

Dec 20, 2003, 05:03 PM	#12
Grimace Contributor Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: with Hamburglar.	Do people expect speed bumps at MacWorld? It seems likely that we would see some improvement then. Will the 17" go over 1.33? Maybe: 1.50 Ghz 17" 1.33 Ghz 15" 1.25 Ghz 12" Seems like a likely armorment for the final installation of the G4s - maybe before G5s hit Powerbooks in July - as Steve Jobs has been hinting. __________________ Canon 1Ds Mk III • Canon 5D MkII 16-35mm f/2.8L II • 24-70mm f/2.8L • 70-200mm f/2.8L IS 50mm f/1.2L • 85mm f/1.2L • 135mm f/2L • 300mm f/2.8L IS

Dec 23, 2003, 11:23 AM	#17
Toe macrumors 65816 Join Date: Mar 2002	AlBooks NEED a re-vamp I love my TiBook and think the latest generation of AlBooks have some awesome engineering. But... Aluminum is a stupid material for a laptop. A titanium case is awesome. Were I to drop my TiBook on the ground, I'd first check the ground for dents... then the TiBook. The AlBooks however, bend and mangle if you click too quickly. Of the five AlBooks I've seen, two experienced a minor drop and had $600-900 worth of damage. The corners fold on themselves at the merest hint of impact, then the case doesn't close, the optical drive doesn't work, etc.. Even if they can't get a G5 in there yet, they should at least design out the aluminum.

Dec 23, 2003, 03:13 PM	#18
Grimace Contributor Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: with Hamburglar.	The aluminum used isn't the same stuff you put around a sandwich in your lunch. It is incredibly strong for its weight. Titanium is a LOT more expensive to produce than aluminum. That's why apple dropped it. (although it was really cool to say you had a Titanium laptop...) __________________ Canon 1Ds Mk III • Canon 5D MkII 16-35mm f/2.8L II • 24-70mm f/2.8L • 70-200mm f/2.8L IS 50mm f/1.2L • 85mm f/1.2L • 135mm f/2L • 300mm f/2.8L IS

Dec 30, 2003, 05:51 PM	#21
spencecb macrumors 6502a Join Date: Nov 2003	Well, of course the material used in the iBook is going to be stronger than the PowerBook. The iBook is made to withstand life in a students bookbag, whereas the PowerBook is not meant for this demographic. The PowerBook does not need to be as durable as the iBooks. And, I don't know why everyone has problems with their Titanium PB's chipping or bending, because I have had mine for over a year now, and I am a college student, and take my PB with me everywhere, and there is not a chip or bend/dent in it anywhere.

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