New iBooks Released

[MacRumors]

Apple released three new iBook revisions today as rumored.

iBook 12" 1.2 Ghz G4
512K L2 Cache
256 MB Ram
30 GB Hard Drive
Combo Drive
Airport Extreme
$999

iBook 14" 1.33 Ghz G4
512K L2 Cache
256 MB Ram
60 GB Hard Drive
Combo Drive
Airport Extreme
$1299

iBook 14" 1.33 Ghz G4
512K L2 Cache
256 MB Ram
60 GB Hard Drive
SuperDrive
Airport Extreme
$1499

The new products can be found at the Apple Store.

[LoonyPandora]

Like the price drop, and built in Airport - good value I say

[brap]

This makes my 1.33GHz $1600 Powerbook feel very queasy

On the plus side, my missus can have a wicked fast iBook for very little cash. Can we assume Apple have something very, very, very special for the next pb revision, if they're going to push these lines so close together?

[Zaty]

Nice update, why is BT still optional? The iBooks are still stuck with the Radeon 9200 (which doesn't support CoreImage!).

[macgfxdesigner]

I have some friends who might want to switch now cause the price is a little lower...

[HiRez]

All this does is make is painful clear to me how long the PowerBook G4s have been languishing, and how underpowered they're starting to look not only vs. Wintel laptops but even now vs. iBooks. Better get that dual-G4 17" PowerBook prototype dusted off, Apple. A lot of people aren't going to wait 6-12 months for a G5 PowerBook (most likely 2.0 GHz at the most). I have three grand burning a hole in my pocket but I will not be spending it on one of the current G4 PowerBooks. *sigh*

[AmigoMac]

as an iBook owner I don't feel downgraded because of this release, I think they do have problems on chip production and the next step will be 1.33 and 1.5 at that time they will have the dual core PB ready, right now it has been a marketing move not a "Release" ... Release will be the dual core PB... but now, of, fine for the new mac buyers... Welcome!

[denm316]

I am happy that Airport is built in now, it is a nice addition and the lower price could bring alot of college switchers. A decent notebook for under $1000, a very good pricepoint.

[Diatribe]

Originally Posted by Zaty

Nice update, why is BT still optional? The iBooks are still stuck with the Radeon 9200 (which doesn't support CoreImage!).

To leave a gap between the Powerbooks and the iBooks. And the graphics card only means that there'll be another rev before Tiger ships which will probably be 1.33 and 1.5.

[kbonnel]

I hope to see PB updates next. I am really thinking of selling my PB15" 1.5, and getting a PB12" (and a G5 Desktop). I will only get a 12" if they increase the LCD resolution. 1024x768 won't cut it for me

Kimo

[belair]

Great value.
I am happy its not a big makeover, graphicscard, HD, RAM ect.
Makes me feel better about my 1 week old ibook.

[jcook793]

Video card is the same, but now it has built-in wifi and you can BTO up to an 80 gig hard drive. And a price drop. That's pretty great.

And now the low-end iBook is 50% faster than my iBook from just last Christmas!

[Zaty]

Originally Posted by Diatribe

To leave a gap between the Powerbooks and the iBooks. And the graphics card only means that there'll be another rev before Tiger ships which will probably be 1.33 and 1.5.

Yes, of course. BT will become standard in the next revision. And you're probably also right about Tiger. So no Tiger before April/May.

[AmigoMac]

a lot of people will be *screwed* if they don't update the firmware or whatever they should update to make it coreimage compatible... unless they will release Tiger in June...

[Diatribe]

No new 12" PB means they are on to something bigger... because if they didn't plan on revamping the 15"/17" they would have just upped the 12" to keep the difference to the iBooks but since they have not....
We will see but this will be very interesting.

[Rod Rod]

awesome improvements on this update, ranked (just my opinion):

1. built-in airport extreme

2. 256MB RAM built-in (instead of 128MB)

3. BTO 60 and 80GB hard drives

I got my 12" 1.33GHz PowerBook in April, within two or three days of them being released, and I think this iBook update is awesome. Way to Go Apple!

[aswitcher]

Originally Posted by Zaty

Yes, of course. BT will become standard in the next revision. And you're probably also right about Tiger. So no Tiger before April/May.

Seems that way...so whilst tasty the iBooks lack the 64 coreimage ram that would have really made them a performer under Tiger. Shame.

[abrooks]

This must mean some kind of new Powerbook because the iBook is nearly identical in spec to the lower end Powerbooks.

[Diatribe]

Originally Posted by Zaty

Yes, of course. BT will become standard in the next revision. And you're probably also right about Tiger. So no Tiger before April/May.

And knowing Apple this will come with the most splendid graphics cards on the planet: the ultimate GeForce 5200
They just love this card... or have a lot of stock.

[Diatribe]

Oh BTW, German page for example still isn't updated yet...

[Ensoniq]

Well as usual, Apple takes what could have been a perfect upgrade, and intentionally cripples it for no reason.

The two changes that were needed:

1 - 12" iBook should have been a 40 GB drive, instead of 30. On the custom build page of the Apple Store, HD sizes are 30/60/80. Where did the 40 go? Unless there is a supply problem on the 40, the 40 should have been the base size.

2 - All of the iBooks should have gotten the nVidia Go5200. The only PowerBook that uses the Go5200 is the 12". The other PowerBooks have better video cards, so no competition there. And the 12" PowerBook has enough other features (built-in BT, DVI-out, faster system bus, 60 GB HD) that the Go5200 in the iBook would NOT have killed 12" PB sales.

A speed increase and built-in AE are great...I'm in need of a 12" and by ordering today, I will get a better value than I would have yesterday. But I've been holding off for 3 months because of the Tiger CoreImage compliancy issues with the video card. I wanted a machine that I knew would be fully compatible with Tiger enhancements, and I'm feeling disappointed. But I cannot sit and wait another 6 months...oh well.

[iMeowbot]

Originally Posted by Zaty

Nice update, why is BT still optional? The iBooks are still stuck with the Radeon 9200 (which doesn't support CoreImage!).

This isn't such a big worry. The infamous list of cards is what will get a full boost from the new library, but the functions will still work on other systems. It's just that more work will have to be done by the CPU instead of a the graphics coprocessor. In other words, this is really no different from the situation in the currently released OS X. These machines aren't going to suddenly be unable to work when Tiger is released!

[Davito]

Originally Posted by Diatribe

Oh BTW, German page for example still isn't updated yet...

Yes it is

[AmigoMac]

Correct me if I'm wrong but seems to be that apple has a lowered RAM price...

[Diatribe]

Originally Posted by Davito

Yes it is

Nope, it is not
The store is, the page isn't.