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Apple Lowers Prices on PowerBooks...12" and 15"
- Thread starter jholzner
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I was planing to buy a 12" iBook.. now I dont anymore... I dont care when the new processor will release, I'll buy this 15" baby in the summer!!....
Originally posted by gotohamish
Here's the craziest idea, ever...
Perhaps Apple just want to sell us PowerBooks, only cheaper!
Brilliant Holmes!
Cheaper? That doesn't sound at all like Apple...Originally posted by gotohamish
Here's the craziest idea, ever...
Perhaps Apple just want to sell us PowerBooks, only cheaper!
Re: An aside....
A lot less people need to know about pricing information than need to know about an entire new product. It's fitting then that pricing information wouldn't surface as often as product specifications. Over the years this has been the case; even when rumors sites get the specs right, the prices are often absent.
A lot less people need to know about pricing information than need to know about an entire new product. It's fitting then that pricing information wouldn't surface as often as product specifications. Over the years this has been the case; even when rumors sites get the specs right, the prices are often absent.
pb970
So I've just started reading a lot of this site in the past two weeks, because I want to get a mac and throw my PC away... So I don't know much of the history of Mac powerbook releases.
But I do see a problem with nspeds logic in saying that there will be no 970 update for the pb at WWDC.
What if Apple knew that the 17" pb was a select market that would spend that much money on a laptop, so they don't have a ton of overstock like say the 12" and 15". So it isn't in their best interest to discount the 17" at this time. Whereas they may have a ton of stock on the 12 and 15 models to get rid of before they update all the models.
I don't care either way, but I'm waiting till WWDC before even considering PB purchase just to see what suprises Apple has to offer.
As far as >1ghz G4 powerbooks, wouldn't that cause some nasty heat problems?
So I've just started reading a lot of this site in the past two weeks, because I want to get a mac and throw my PC away... So I don't know much of the history of Mac powerbook releases.
But I do see a problem with nspeds logic in saying that there will be no 970 update for the pb at WWDC.
What if Apple knew that the 17" pb was a select market that would spend that much money on a laptop, so they don't have a ton of overstock like say the 12" and 15". So it isn't in their best interest to discount the 17" at this time. Whereas they may have a ton of stock on the 12 and 15 models to get rid of before they update all the models.
I don't care either way, but I'm waiting till WWDC before even considering PB purchase just to see what suprises Apple has to offer.
As far as >1ghz G4 powerbooks, wouldn't that cause some nasty heat problems?
Firstly, welcome to the site. I'm in the same boat as you --- we both want to be completely and permanently out of the Wintel world forever.
Secondly, you guys are right: where was MacBidouille to get the scoop on this news before even Jobs's mom. She's probably playing around with a 970 machine right now!!
*shakes fist in air*
I'm in the same boat as you --- we both want to be completely and permanently out of the Wintel world forever. Secondly, you guys are right: where was MacBidouille to get the scoop on this news before even Jobs's mom. She's probably playing around with a 970 machine right now!!
*shakes fist in air*
Dammit, I just bought my 12" 2 weeks ago with an Apple Loan. Think they'll front me the $200 difference since it was so close?
The 17" PB is a select market, which is why the higher price is justified (graphics designers crave that screen real estate). There's no real reason for Apple to compromise the 17" PB's price when only certain people are going to buy one to begin with.
Depending on who you ask, there's a multitude of various explanations you'll receive for the Powerbook's heat issues. Some people swear it's the hard drive, others say it's the battery. But, the processor is definitely a factor. From what I've read, the lower speed PowerPC 970s (i.e. 1.2 GHz) use less power than the 1 GHz G4, thus creating less heat. The 970 would be a step in the right direction there.
BTW, congrats on ditching the PC (or at least planning to)!
Re: pb970
I think your're right. I feel the two equally-probable (and previously mentioned) explanations are:
(1) that the 15 inch PB is going to be updated with a new case, stay at 1ghz. In which case the 17 doesn't need to get a price drop because it will remain unchanged, while the 12's price must be dropped to make room for the 15.
(2) the entire PB line will be refreshed, the 15 receiving a new case and all three receiving new processors. Either slightly faster G4s or (less likely, i feel) the 970. The 17's price doesn't need to be dropped because it has been selling well, and the 12 needs to be dropped for the same reason as above.
Actually I think the first option is more likely. If Apple were to refresh the entire line, it would be the fastest PB refresh in recent memory (not counting the intro of the 12 and 17). Also, power consumption isn't the only consideration for putting a chip into a laptop. Even if the 970 draws less power, and is cheaper, would that bus be easily implemented in a notebook form factor? I'm not familiar with what is required for the 970's bus, but it's possible it is more difficult to implement in a small space than the G4. Though that might be offset by the fact that it doesn't have an L3 cache...
edit: grammar, hit submit instead of preview... doh
I think your're right. I feel the two equally-probable (and previously mentioned) explanations are:
(1) that the 15 inch PB is going to be updated with a new case, stay at 1ghz. In which case the 17 doesn't need to get a price drop because it will remain unchanged, while the 12's price must be dropped to make room for the 15.
(2) the entire PB line will be refreshed, the 15 receiving a new case and all three receiving new processors. Either slightly faster G4s or (less likely, i feel) the 970. The 17's price doesn't need to be dropped because it has been selling well, and the 12 needs to be dropped for the same reason as above.
Actually I think the first option is more likely. If Apple were to refresh the entire line, it would be the fastest PB refresh in recent memory (not counting the intro of the 12 and 17). Also, power consumption isn't the only consideration for putting a chip into a laptop. Even if the 970 draws less power, and is cheaper, would that bus be easily implemented in a notebook form factor? I'm not familiar with what is required for the 970's bus, but it's possible it is more difficult to implement in a small space than the G4. Though that might be offset by the fact that it doesn't have an L3 cache...
edit: grammar, hit submit instead of preview... doh
heat... I'm considering that too...
maybe titanium will solve this question..
there is no reason for them to keep titanium otherwise...
maybe titanium will solve this question..
there is no reason for them to keep titanium otherwise...
17 inch doesnt need reduction!
Apples current sales have always been the same....
1. Price reduction = speed bumped items.
Knowing apple, we will ALL be let down, if they come out with what... an overheating 1.2 G4 powerbook. They might pull a 'jack move' and trick us and toss in a 970. But enough speculation guys, jeez hehe.... how much of a thread can u have on lowered powerbook prices..... lol
if you want a powerbook... it does what you need, etc etc.. have the cash now? go get one.. the lowered em $200!
I think they are great as they are, 970s or whatever will come, if it comes out when you are ready to upgrade.... thumbs up for you
i hope its something new...but im not expectant like crazy... some ppl here are...
Apples current sales have always been the same....
1. Price reduction = speed bumped items.
Knowing apple, we will ALL be let down, if they come out with what... an overheating 1.2 G4 powerbook. They might pull a 'jack move' and trick us and toss in a 970. But enough speculation guys, jeez hehe.... how much of a thread can u have on lowered powerbook prices..... lol
if you want a powerbook... it does what you need, etc etc.. have the cash now? go get one.. the lowered em $200!
I think they are great as they are, 970s or whatever will come, if it comes out when you are ready to upgrade.... thumbs up for you
i hope its something new...but im not expectant like crazy... some ppl here are...
Consider that the price cutting may be determined by country (the value of each currency). MacNN has a forum on Canadian and European prices.
The Canadian store has cut prices on ALL the PowerBooks AND on iBooks.
http://www.macnn.com/news/19624
The Canadian store has cut prices on ALL the PowerBooks AND on iBooks.
http://www.macnn.com/news/19624
Depends on when it shipped -- you've got 10 days from that point. Check out apple's website for the whole scoop.(0)
-Richard
0 - Something generally worth doing when looking for official Apple policies rather than trusting the listMind here
iBooks, too? Interesting.
What this really looks like is a massive move to empty existing supplies of Powerbooks and iBooks, based on regional demand. This would support a theory that Apple plans on moving the Powerbook to 970s at WWDC, followed by a major iBook revision (GOBI or otherwise) afterwards.
Interesting...
New Powerbooks
I sold my 15" Powerbook a month ago and got around $2000 for it. I was gonna buy the 12" PB but the following things kept me from going ahead:
1) Memory Limits (640K C'mon)
2) Processor Speed (1GB or Bust)
3) No Lever 3 Cache
4) No Gigabit Ethernet
5) No PC Card Slot
6) Fire Wire 400
7) Generally mediocre reviews
If they bring the 12" specs in line with the current 15" then my decision is made. An 80GB Hard disk would be bad either. Also, don't be so quick to plop down cash for the 970. It will be buggy at the beginning and cause more headaches than it solves. WWDC is shaping up to be AWSOME. Panther and new PB's.....
I sold my 15" Powerbook a month ago and got around $2000 for it. I was gonna buy the 12" PB but the following things kept me from going ahead:
1) Memory Limits (640K C'mon)
2) Processor Speed (1GB or Bust)
3) No Lever 3 Cache
4) No Gigabit Ethernet
5) No PC Card Slot
6) Fire Wire 400
7) Generally mediocre reviews
If they bring the 12" specs in line with the current 15" then my decision is made. An 80GB Hard disk would be bad either. Also, don't be so quick to plop down cash for the 970. It will be buggy at the beginning and cause more headaches than it solves. WWDC is shaping up to be AWSOME. Panther and new PB's.....
Its an interesting can of worms.
First, I think that the 'Year of Laptop' bit does fit with the 970, although I do agree that there are odds to consider.
Second, while the 12" & 15" have been discounted and the 17" has not, and this does carry certain inferences, Apple does have a problem in how close its price points can be to each other.
Obviously, a price reduction will move inventory faster than at current. Similarly, if they want to increase their price spread, its pretty hard to do it by raising the top. If you can't raise the top, the only alternative is to lower the bottom. If this means (possibly only temporary) lower margins on the 12", so be it.
FWIW, while we can probably agree on the price cut on the 15", it is also possible that a price cut can occur on the 12" at this time because they've met certain production goals, and their vendors have shifted into a lower price tier (because setup costs have been recouped/whatever). This would allow Apple to cut price but maintain profit margin.
Suppose that the 17" 970 *does* get released later this month. If this does happen, at what price point should it be?
Do we really think that Apple really has the luxury of asking nearly $4K for a laptop? I don't think so. They're boxed in in that they have to offer more performance at pretty much the same price points, so if they can't move the top up, there's no reason to cut this price today.
How many customer with a 17" on order will get upset if Apple offers them a 1.2GHz 970 at the same price? Zero, nada, zilch.
So if the 970 does come this month in laptops, having it in the 17" too isn't completely out of the question. It wouldn't hurt to keep an eye on the delivery times for 17" orders to see if they start to at a bit funny.
-hh
Smurpher, you are completely right. I even put that line in my syllogism because I saw the flaw myself. The target market for the 17 inch is not that big, so apple can afford to make less/price more.
FINE, I will have to use my HP, oh the sadness, the hatred.
There better be a nice update at WWDC or I'm going to throw the HP against the wall (not like I need a bad conference for that to occur )
FINE, I will have to use my HP, oh the sadness, the hatred.
There better be a nice update at WWDC or I'm going to throw the HP against the wall (not like I need a bad conference for that to occur
)
Heres the deal:
Its completely possible that Apple will put a 970 in the powerbook lineup very soon. Maybe across the whole line. They also maybe putting 970's in the powermac line at the same time.
For all the naysayers out there, Apple MUST increase the speed of their computers! They are seriously behind in speed. That is a fact and everyone knows it. I really don't understand how people can say its not possible to put these processors in all the highend systems at the same time. Actually, they must do it or more people are going to switch to windows/intel because the systems are just that much faster.
There is just no way Apple will release a 1 ghz G4 in the 15" powerbook (unless its a 970 1 ghz). If they did, it would be saying that Apple needed 6 months to figure out how to get basically the same system out of a TiBook and into a Albook.
Apple DOES NOT have time anymore. They MUST get faster processors in their systems. Apple knows this and so do you.
So, no more talk about the 970 or whatever not being in the new powerbooks/macs in the next 2 - 3 months. Its going to happen. If it doesn't, you'll see a lot of pro's switching to win/intel.
Its completely possible that Apple will put a 970 in the powerbook lineup very soon. Maybe across the whole line. They also maybe putting 970's in the powermac line at the same time.
For all the naysayers out there, Apple MUST increase the speed of their computers! They are seriously behind in speed. That is a fact and everyone knows it. I really don't understand how people can say its not possible to put these processors in all the highend systems at the same time. Actually, they must do it or more people are going to switch to windows/intel because the systems are just that much faster.
There is just no way Apple will release a 1 ghz G4 in the 15" powerbook (unless its a 970 1 ghz). If they did, it would be saying that Apple needed 6 months to figure out how to get basically the same system out of a TiBook and into a Albook.
Apple DOES NOT have time anymore. They MUST get faster processors in their systems. Apple knows this and so do you.
So, no more talk about the 970 or whatever not being in the new powerbooks/macs in the next 2 - 3 months. Its going to happen. If it doesn't, you'll see a lot of pro's switching to win/intel.
this further complicates my next purchase... should I go for the 12" 900 ibook, or the 12" alPB? The price is just too close to have a clear cut winner. Any takers on giving a suggestion? (i'm looking for performance comparisons here)