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Apple Hints at Product Refreshes?
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Zaty said:
No you are right . . . but I am confused about when the 17 inch had a 1.25 processor? did it ever?
Yeah, its not tha tmuch of a difference, but if what i had said was true (which i am admitting now was, unbeknownst to me, incorrect), a jump from 1.25 to 1.42 in a year seemed hardly woth celebrating. But its not so bad from jan 2003, but i still think the time for updating the PB's came and went a couple months ago. What they are doing now, to me, is exploiting their customers naivety when it comes to technology. As someone alreayd pointed out, the average consumer doesnt know what all the technical stuff actually means, nor do they really care. They want what they are told is the fastest, and apple lies and cheats in order to gain that favor (kinda). The BBB would agree, as they told apple no no on the "fastest computer" quip, and now they arent updating because they know the PB is their best selling line at the moment.
I can imagine it over at apple: " so why update the PB, guys? Its selling better than our others. So who gives a crap that it could be better? Not us, and who cares about the customer!! HAHAHA!!!
EDIT: and in predicition of the several people whining about apple selling its remaining inventory, that is simply another way for them to screw their customers. Does anyone here know of another business (computer, shoes, anything) that actually will hold off udpating until it sells all its existing stock ? No, only apple.
Wow tough crowd, it seems to me that this was purely a business and technology decision on Apple's part. If they had faster chips in volume, they would most likely make faster computers for this innovation hungry crowd.
Also, any smart company isn't going to release new products when they have a significant inventory. Judging from reseller inventory levels, there are still plenty of computers in the pipeline, making it literally impossible to release a new product, lest they shoot themselves in the foot.
So, it's easy to come on here and say, "Where's my dual 8 GHz Powerbook?" But thankfully, you folks don't run the company.
I think we're all a little spoiled when you think the current Apple lineup is stale. They're still the coolest damn computers on the market compared to the competition, and still reasonably competitive on speed. It's not like they're up against some groundbreaking, super fast new Dell, let's get real.
I'm sure the mods won't appreciate it but the Macrumors forums are fast becoming a whine fest.
Also, any smart company isn't going to release new products when they have a significant inventory. Judging from reseller inventory levels, there are still plenty of computers in the pipeline, making it literally impossible to release a new product, lest they shoot themselves in the foot.
So, it's easy to come on here and say, "Where's my dual 8 GHz Powerbook?" But thankfully, you folks don't run the company.
I think we're all a little spoiled when you think the current Apple lineup is stale. They're still the coolest damn computers on the market compared to the competition, and still reasonably competitive on speed. It's not like they're up against some groundbreaking, super fast new Dell, let's get real.
I'm sure the mods won't appreciate it but the Macrumors forums are fast becoming a whine fest.
Complaining
The people complaining about the long delay between G5 updates are probably the ones without G5s today. They thought they would let the suckers buy the revision A G5's and get all the bugs ironed out. It turns out the G5's today are quality machines and have enough power for most people and upgradeability for new video cards and memory and disk capacity.
I was one of the first to get a G5. It has been an excellent investment. I am sure after 1 year, you will see a huge performance jump to justify the yearly update. I prefer that to frequent updates because those frequent updates just make me delay in purchasing my next system. And just for a small performance bump too.
iLife will probably be a yearly update. iLife '04 implies that. I understand that people will disagree with me on this topic and they do present a strong case for frequent updates.
The people complaining about the long delay between G5 updates are probably the ones without G5s today. They thought they would let the suckers buy the revision A G5's and get all the bugs ironed out. It turns out the G5's today are quality machines and have enough power for most people and upgradeability for new video cards and memory and disk capacity.
I was one of the first to get a G5. It has been an excellent investment. I am sure after 1 year, you will see a huge performance jump to justify the yearly update. I prefer that to frequent updates because those frequent updates just make me delay in purchasing my next system. And just for a small performance bump too.
iLife will probably be a yearly update. iLife '04 implies that. I understand that people will disagree with me on this topic and they do present a strong case for frequent updates.
AppleJustWorks said:you are really scaring me
hahaha, my bad. Certainly not the intention. I just think people are too accepting of apple's obvious huge number of flaws.
A roadmap is curtosy, and you dont see intel saying "uuhhhh, we don't wanna say anything about our newer processors until you guys have compeltely bought all our 970FX chips."
NO, because that is stupid, and the only way yiou could get away with it is in a tech market and if you were doing it to the UNKNOWING customers!!
a17inchFuture said:
The 17" went straight from 1 GHz in Jan 03 (but did not ship until March) to 1.33 GHz in Sept 03.
Send me mine!
I have been looking at getting a Powerbook G4. The reality is that I could use all the speed I can on a Powerbook (1.4 GHz G4 would be a move in the right direction) and the potential of an upgrade in the near future makes me hold off my purchase until that time. I am probably not the only one. Since Powerbooks are a good driver of sales for Apple, I can see where that would affect their sales for the quarter... That's is not good news for shareholders.
However, I still rather buy a G4 revision, even if minimal, than a first-generation G5 Powerbook!
They may have to do something soon, such as a a price drop to stimulate demand. However, memory components have been going up. They may be having trouble keeping their margins.
MM
konaforever said:
I have been looking at getting a Powerbook G4. The reality is that I could use all the speed I can on a Powerbook (1.4 GHz G4 would be a move in the right direction) and the potential of an upgrade in the near future makes me hold off my purchase until that time. I am probably not the only one. Since Powerbooks are a good driver of sales for Apple, I can see where that would affect their sales for the quarter... That's is not good news for shareholders.
However, I still rather buy a G4 revision, even if minimal, than a first-generation G5 Powerbook!
They may have to do something soon, such as a a price drop to stimulate demand. However, memory components have been going up. They may be having trouble keeping their margins.
MM
Top sellers:
1. iPod mini
2. iPod
3. iPod mini Arm Band
4. iTrip
5. In-Ear Headphones
6. PowerBook
7. Epson Stylus C84
8. Apple 4x DVD-R
9. iLife '04
10. iMac
The iMac is the best-selling computer product they have right now.
Geesh.
1. iPod mini
2. iPod
3. iPod mini Arm Band
4. iTrip
5. In-Ear Headphones
6. PowerBook
7. Epson Stylus C84
8. Apple 4x DVD-R
9. iLife '04
10. iMac
The iMac is the best-selling computer product they have right now.
Geesh.
Not so much the lack of speed numps
Its not so much the lack of speed bumps that pisses me off, but its that they don't drop prices. I'd get the dual 1.8 now, no probs, if they dropped the price by say, $500 (AU)? I don't mind being outgunned by a new machine in two months, but I do get annoyed if that machines costs exactly the same as the machine I just bought (if not cheaper)
That's especially true of the Powerbooks. I dropped my 1ghz TiBook. It still works, but I'm getting an insurance check for $2200 (AU). If I spend $2000 more ($4200 in total), I effectively get the same machine I bought over 18 months ago! Sure, it cost me $5200 then, but... Computers depreciate fast, but Apple's prices don't. That bites.
Its not so much the lack of speed bumps that pisses me off, but its that they don't drop prices. I'd get the dual 1.8 now, no probs, if they dropped the price by say, $500 (AU)? I don't mind being outgunned by a new machine in two months, but I do get annoyed if that machines costs exactly the same as the machine I just bought (if not cheaper)
That's especially true of the Powerbooks. I dropped my 1ghz TiBook. It still works, but I'm getting an insurance check for $2200 (AU). If I spend $2000 more ($4200 in total), I effectively get the same machine I bought over 18 months ago! Sure, it cost me $5200 then, but... Computers depreciate fast, but Apple's prices don't. That bites.
Why the new emphasis on the WWDC from apple?
Here is what I don't understand. Apple went through all this effort to cut it self off from Summer Macworld New York/Boston, and the rational was they did not want to be constrained by expo schedules to release products. But what have they done? Turned the WWDC into the new summer Macworld as far as product releases go..
As far as the yearly updates things, goes, I agree that it seems a bit long...But I think speed updates are becoming a little less important, especially with the G5. (Look at Intel's recent move away from using megahertz to define its processors) and so we might have to except less frequent, but more meaningful upgrades. For use mac faithful, I guess that means we will buy all of our computers in June to maximize the life cycle, but for the rest of the world, it will make increasing little difference.
MY two cents.
Here is what I don't understand. Apple went through all this effort to cut it self off from Summer Macworld New York/Boston, and the rational was they did not want to be constrained by expo schedules to release products. But what have they done? Turned the WWDC into the new summer Macworld as far as product releases go..
As far as the yearly updates things, goes, I agree that it seems a bit long...But I think speed updates are becoming a little less important, especially with the G5. (Look at Intel's recent move away from using megahertz to define its processors) and so we might have to except less frequent, but more meaningful upgrades. For use mac faithful, I guess that means we will buy all of our computers in June to maximize the life cycle, but for the rest of the world, it will make increasing little difference.
MY two cents.
BornAgainMac said:
I am a person without a G5 today, true
I'll let other suckers buy the rev A, and then buy the rev B without glitches, false => I'm waiting for a rev B, because 2 months ago, I finally made my mind up that I could spend a large amount for a mac, and the G5 caught my eye, but since it was released almost half a year ago, I decided to wait for rev B. Hell, if they would announce a G6 now (just theoretically) I would jump right in, and become one of those 'suckers'.
We're just customers who'd like to buy new hardware, and have the cash for it. And many of us dont have a lot of patience, me neiter, but i'm holding on... but hey that's life, i'm not making a big a deal out of it, i'm waiting..
garybooberry said:
I guess you got that list from Apple store. I'm not sure if it does reflect overall numbers as I heard several times that both iBook and PowerBook lines sell better than any desktop. Anway even on your ranking, PBs are on 6 whereas the iMac is only on 10.
Gee... what a a hint... Apple plan to 'refresh' many of its professional products during its World Wide Developers conference, set to take place in San Francisco during the final week of June...
Erm - the way I see it, if they weren't planning on doing a refresh of the pro line by late June, then they may as well close down and change the company name to iPod.
Steve promised 3GHZ machines by the summer. This is so not going to happen. If it happens I will eat my arse.
Floop
Erm - the way I see it, if they weren't planning on doing a refresh of the pro line by late June, then they may as well close down and change the company name to iPod.
Steve promised 3GHZ machines by the summer. This is so not going to happen. If it happens I will eat my arse.
Floop
a17inchFuture said:
I'm sensing some degree of negative feeling in your posts. Some terrible memory in the past, a Mac attacked you?
The idea that Apple would not bother updating the powerbooks because they're selling ok is beyond me. It might taking them longer than normal to update it but I would eat my hat if they don't have people working on all their products all the time.
I have an 'old, outdated' G5, which handles everything i throw at it. My (first gen) G4 on the other hand, now *that* is old and outdated.
h'biki said:
You are right about not dropping prices for models being eight months old. On the other hand, as long as PowerBooks are selling well (and as far as I know they are), why should Apple drop prices and therefore reduce their earnings? Apple, like it or not, is not as dependent on other companies' price policies as are e.g. Dell, Toshiba, Sony etc. Secondly, PB updates are coming soon anyway.
nsb3000 said:
You're absolutely right. But if Apple manages to deplete their stocks right in time for WWDC, it doesn't matter if demand for current models drops a week or two or even three before WWDC as long as they can make up for pontentially lost sales before WWDC by creating enough demand for the new products after WWDC.
woohoo. yeehaw. A friggin' update at the end of the 2nd quarter (not fiscal quarter, mind you). What kind of crap is this? If this is true, then I doubt that the 3GHz mark will be reached like Jobs promised, and I certainly don't think this is a very special 20th Anniversary for the Mac.
I'm emoting. If something great comes out, then I'll gladly eat my words. But this is getting really frustrating.
I'm emoting. If something great comes out, then I'll gladly eat my words. But this is getting really frustrating.
It has gotta be something huge, it just has to be, I mean they cant go all this time and say we are now updating the 15 inch PowerBook to 1.33GHz, that would just be silly.
klaus said:Enjoy
ps : that will become a vicious circle, cause if you eat your arse, it'll come out again, and then you'll have to eat it again, and so on, and so on..
ok.. must take my medicin now..
I actually belive that it's quite safe ... but then again what do I know about future CPU's.