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15inch PowerBook Details and Supplies

just to interject here for a moment, i just called the Chestnut Hill Apple store in Massacusetts to make sure they had 15" TiBook Superdrive in stock and the reply was "yeah, we have plenty of them, and they are selling really well right now."

i'll be getting mine tomorrow afternoon.

:::wrings hands ala Mr Burns.::::::::::::: exxxxxcellent:::::::
 
Re: Proof Powerbooks will be released tomorrow

Originally posted by Sergem
Are you looking for proof that powerbooks will be released tomorrow, well here it is:

Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers will be released tomorrow.

Someone at Apple has an obsession with LOTR (Smeagul, Blackrider)

Therefore Powerbooks will be released on the same day.

I think this logic is just as good as any of the rumor site's sources. 😛
Click to expand...

Convinced me. I'll wait till tomorrow.

But everyone says the G5 isn't too hot; but I thought there were differing statements about wattage, with some stating quite high wattage.

And what about die size? Are you all sure the G5 would actually fit in a Powerbook?
 
Re: Proof Powerbooks will be released tomorrow

Originally posted by Sergem
Are you looking for proof that powerbooks will be released tomorrow, well here it is:

Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers will be released tomorrow.

Someone at Apple has an obsession with LOTR (Smeagul, Blackrider)

Therefore Powerbooks will be released on the same day.

I think this logic is just as good as any of the rumor site's sources. 😛
Click to expand...

Brilliant
 
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Comparing notebooks

Originally posted by soggywulf
I notice in most of these types of posts that the issue of performance is glossed over or avoided.
Click to expand...

Your comparison of a low-end (but fast) Dell notebook to an Apple PowerBook is like comparing a Subaru WRX to an Audi A4.

Sure, the WRX is cheaper and, raw horsepower-wise, can beat the pants off the A4. The both have turbocharged engines. They both have all-wheel-drive.

But, um, er, drive both cars and see if there are any differences.

(To be more blunt: You don't see many A4 owners trading in their Audis for a Subaru. Not that the Subaru is bad, it's just that they're aimed at different markets. To some people, raw power is everything; to others, refinement plays a bigger role.)
 
Re: Comparing notebooks

Originally posted by bikertwin
(To be more blunt: You don't see many A4 owners trading in their Audis for a Subaru. Not that the Subaru is bad, it's just that they're aimed at different markets. To some people, raw power is everything; to others, refinement plays a bigger role.)
Click to expand...

I agree 100%.

I simply would not give up the pleasure of using a Mac because a Windows machine that has more Ghz.

I'm waiting for these new Powerbooks with an open wallet! 😀
 
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Comparing notebooks

Originally posted by bikertwin
Your comparison of a low-end (but fast) Dell notebook to an Apple PowerBook is like comparing a Subaru WRX to an Audi A4.
Click to expand...

Yes. IOW the Mac is slower and more expensive, but just live with it because you get the luxury of OSX. The analogy is slightly flawed, because everyone at least acknowledges the added luxury of the Audi (even if they don't see the need for it), but in contrast most non-Mac-users see OSX as a disadvantage. In fact this analogy almost applies in the opposite sense of what you intend--everyone acknowledges the benefit of higher computer performance (even if they don't see the need for it).

How much extra are you willing to pay for OSX? $1000? $2000? $10,000? The more you are willing to pay no matter what the performance, the more Apple can screw you and make big profits.

But that in itself doesn't matter too much to me; it's your money, after all. What matters to me is the fact that this trend will alienate mainstream Mac users as well as potential switchers. And that means less marketshare, which means higher per-unit costs, and higher costs and reduced selection of 3rd party hardware and software. A vicious cycle.
 
Re^10: Comparing notebooks

Originally posted by soggywulf
... the more Apple can screw you...
Click to expand...

I think that you've made your opinion of Apple abundantly clear. What isn't so clear to me is why you (apparently) choose to buy from a company that you have such a low opinion of. Perhaps you're just here trolling...

But that in itself doesn't matter too much to me; it's your money, after all. What matters to me is the fact that this trend will alienate mainstream Mac users as well as potential switchers. And that means less marketshare, which means higher per-unit costs, and higher costs and reduced selection of 3rd party hardware and software. A vicious cycle.
Click to expand...

You know, I find it remarkable that you think that you can figure this out but the people at Apple can't. Even if they are guilty of trying to get as much money as possible, don't you think that it might have occurred to them that lower marketshare=less money?
 
Re: Comparing notebooks

Originally posted by soggywulf
...but just live with it because you get the luxury of OSX. The analogy is slightly flawed, because everyone at least acknowledges the added luxury of the Audi (even if they don't see the need for it), but in contrast most non-Mac-users see OSX as a disadvantage.
Click to expand...

OSX is not the only luxury of a Mac, just like leather heated seats are not the only luxury of a fine European sedan.

Build quality in the product, OS/Software/Hardware integration and simplicity, are some of the luxuries of a Mac.

And for those people sick and tired of all the issues they put up with in the Windows world OSX is a HUGE advantage. Those smart enough and not convinced by "numbers and power" get it and see this clear advantage.

EXAMPLE: How many of the folks on this Mac board were affected by the latest, greatest worm virus?
How much more efficient at work were the guys with their 86Ghz Dell Laptops rebooting every 3 minutes as they tried to hope and finish that damn update/antivirus patch?

NO one with a Mac even thought of the issue.
How's that for luxury?

If you dont like Macs then don't use one. Trying to badmouth them on this board does nothing good for anyone here.
 
It doesn't make sense for Apple to release new Powerbooks until their current promotion ends (September 27). I strongly doubt any announcement will come before then.
 
Originally posted by amin
It doesn't make sense for Apple to release new Powerbooks until their current promotion ends (September 27). I strongly doubt any announcement will come before then.
Click to expand...

I've seen it done in the past that Apple will change the wording on a promotion when a new product is released. For example, '$300 rebate on any PowerBook' could become '$300 rebate on any PowerBook G4'. So, the end of this promotion needn't correspond to the release of new G5 PowerBooks.

Also, as has been noted, the promotion may have as much to do with the iPod than the PowerBooks...
 
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Comparing notebooks

Originally posted by soggywulf
How much extra are you willing to pay for OSX? $1000? $2000? $10,000? The more you are willing to pay no matter what the performance, the more Apple can screw you and make big profits.
Click to expand...

God-damn Audi and their leather seats and low cabin noise. Don't their customers realise they're being screwed to the wall? 😉

Just kidding - I see your point about perception, but as is always the case when the car analogies get wheeled out, Bentley/Audi/BMW are the markets Apple is most comparable with - PCs can be anything from stackemhigh, sellemcheap Fiestas to 18wheeler workhorses to mean'n'lean dragsters.

At the end of the day, Apple isn't "losing" Windows switchers by sticking to its tried and tested strategy of selling quality packages to those who want them. Apple has never been about selling "competitive" products, it's been about selling "desirable" products.

Changing that strategy will change the public perception of Apple far more negatively than sticking to it - Apple will be "just another Dell" if it starts to slash prices and quality just to drop its market.

For what it's worth, my bet is that they'll throw updates at the 15 and 17 inch PowerBooks this rev. If a g5 is going anywhere, it'll go into the 17 - this is the machine aimed at the real pros (and by "real", I mean the ones who aren't self-financing), and so it can probably afford the inevitable price hike associated with the g5. It's actually possible that the whole REASON the 17 was introduced was to provide a chassis for the g5, and the only reason it got a g4 was to plug the 15" gap in the line up with something more "wow" than just a rev'd book.

So I see the likely line up as follows:

1 - 12" stays as is, the PB for the rest of us
2 - 15" updated with a top-speed G4. The delays are probably due to Apple waiting until it has enough iron IN STOCK from Moto to sell 15"s in volume, as the new 15" will replace the 17" market for the time being. This is because:
3 - if the g5's going anywhere, it's going in the 17". That will make the machine stupid-expensive, thus not risking cannibalising the PM sales too much, and also automatically doubling the market for 15"s

Of course, this is based purely on lurking on this board for the past month 🙂

Glad to be here - hope this first post isn't too longwinded for an intro!

Also hope I haven't trodden on any toes by quoting - it's all meant in fun!

-J
 
I think they'll try to keep all of the PowerBooks as close technically as they can. For whatever reason, I'm of the belief that the difference is the screen size, and anything prohibited because of that size.

I'm hoping, like usual, for an update tomorrow.

And I'm confused as to why soggy is still here.
 
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Comparing notebooks

Originally posted by JayBee
For what it's worth, my bet is that they'll throw updates at the 15 and 17 inch PowerBooks this rev. If a g5 is going anywhere, it'll go into the 17 - this is the machine aimed at the real pros (and by "real", I mean the ones who aren't self-financing), and so it can probably afford the inevitable price hike associated with the g5. It's actually possible that the whole REASON the 17 was introduced was to provide a chassis for the g5, and the only reason it got a g4 was to plug the 15" gap in the line up with something more "wow" than just a rev'd book.
Click to expand...

I doubt we'd see a G5 17" and not a G5 15". Apple would upset a lot of people doing that. Most people I know aren't terribly fond of the 17", as it's 'too big'. So, the 17" is really a niche product. The 15", on the other hand, is the mainstream Pro portable.

As far as 'price hikes' go, we rarely see any kind of price hike when a new product is released. Was there a price hike with the introduction of the new Power Mac G5? Not really. Pro level equipment is always more expensive, and as it becomes 'yesterday's tech', it's moved down to the consumer level machines, where it can happily live at a cheaper price.

As for the 12"... well, at best, that will probably take a bit longer to make it to the G5. However, bumping it up to a 1GHz G4 might be a possibility...
 
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Comparing notebooks

Originally posted by JayBee
3 - if the g5's going anywhere, it's going in the 17". That will make the machine stupid-expensive, thus not risking cannibalising the PM sales too much, and also automatically doubling the market for 15"s
Click to expand...

Apple makes a higher margin on laptops anyway. I think they'd rather people buy laptops instead of desktops.
 
Re: Re^10: Comparing notebooks

Originally posted by Snowy_River
I think that you've made your opinion of Apple abundantly clear. What isn't so clear to me is why you (apparently) choose to buy from a company that you have such a low opinion of. Perhaps you're just here trolling...
Click to expand...

Argh. Please quit with the "trolling" ad hominem nonsense. If you have a substantive comment to make, then make it.

Originally posted by Snowy_River
You know, I find it remarkable that you think that you can figure this out but the people at Apple can't. Even if they are guilty of trying to get as much money as possible, don't you think that it might have occurred to them that lower marketshare=less money?
Click to expand...

So why hasn't Apple gained marketshare?? Has it occurred to you that perhaps the pressure of short term profits overrides the quest for log term gains? Has it occurred to you that the customers have an impact on the market? We (the mac market) is currently in decline. Do you want that to continue? Personally, I do not.
 
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Comparing notebooks

Originally posted by Snowy_River
Most people I know aren't terribly fond of the 17", as it's 'too big'. So, the 17" is really a niche product. The 15", on the other hand, is the mainstream Pro portable.
Click to expand...

Believe it or not, that's actually kind of my point. I don't think we'll see a "readily available" g5 for the reasons already stated - mainly quantity and PM sales. I think Apple could risk pissing off a lot of customers if they put the g5 in the 15" pb. I for one would be mad as hell if I'd just bought a g5 PM and then about 3 weeks after it got delivered, Apple release a g5 laptop in a similar price band...

However, as has been said a lot, Steve will want the g5 in a laptop as soon as possible. The 17" is possibly the best compromise here. It gets the g5 in a laptop, the 17" is already expensive, so the price hike can be minimal (just drop the margins a bit to absorb it), and suddenly you've added value to the 17" to boost sales. A lot of people I know also have similar reservations about the size and cost of the 17". If you add a g5 (and make it the ONLY portable g5) then you've got one hell of a unique selling point.

I think g5ing the 15" at the moment would be a very bad move for Apple. Who'd buy a PM? The PM needs time to break in and the G4 is not dead. Bear in mind that the G3 is still shipping. If they're going to update the PBs to g5s, then they'd really HAVE to update the iBooks to G4s. Anybody know what stock levels look like on the iBooks?
 
Re: Re: Comparing notebooks

Originally posted by neonart
And for those people sick and tired of all the issues they put up with in the Windows world OSX is a HUGE advantage. Those smart enough and not convinced by "numbers and power" get it and see this clear advantage.
Click to expand...

You and I know OSX is better. I am trying to empathize with the potential switcher, who sees the Mac and says "well, my software doesn't run on it, none of my colleagues use it, I can't run my apps from work on it, and I am not used to it." For these people, OSX is seen as a disadvantage. In order to bring them into the OSX fold, where they can get used to it and see for themselves that it is better, Apple needs to provide a very good value proposition, in terms of price and performance.

This poo-pooing of performance is an excuse. If Macs were faster and cheaper, we'd all be screaming about how great it is to have faster machines than the PC folks. Let us try to be objective.

Originally posted by neonart
If you dont like Macs then don't use one. Trying to badmouth them on this board does nothing good for anyone here.
Click to expand...

<sigh> Of course I like Macs. Why do you think I am saying the things I am saying? I see the Mac platform in decline, and I think we as consumers can do something to alter that trend! If we say "OK Apple charge me whatever you want for last year's hardware", then what will happen to our platform?
 
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Comparing notebooks

Originally posted by JayBee
At the end of the day, Apple isn't "losing" Windows switchers by sticking to its tried and tested strategy of selling quality packages to those who want them. Apple has never been about selling "competitive" products, it's been about selling "desirable" products.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, this strategy hasn't paid off in market share. They are indeed losing switchers and even losing loyal customers, by not being competitive. Lower market share makes their computers less attractive and more expensive. Part of the desirability of a computer is performance and snappiness.

Also, I don't think Apple will become another Dell by attempting to lower prices and increase market share. They still have good engineering and a great differentiator in the form of OSX. And larger marketshare will reduce per-unit cost, lower 3rd-party costs, increase avalability of 3rd-party products...an upward cycle! But we have to break free from the downward cycle we are in now.
 
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