Apple Portables Feedback

[topicolo]

Re: This is what I told them

Originally posted by askien
I own an iBook, all my hardware purchases in the future will be iBooks/Powerbooks. I develop software in Cocoa. I am a senior in college.

This is what I want in the iBook:

- A G4 processor at any speed. I think all Apple hardware should provide Altivec.
- The ability to swap batteries while sleeping, just like in the powerbook.
- Better quality sound output
- Keep the 12.1 display. This is why I have an iBook and not a Powerbook.
- If Apple goes with 2 or 3-button mice, I would like the iBook to have that too -- but only to have the same abilities as Powermacs/IMacs -- this is only if Apple goes the 2/3-button route.

That's it, otherwise, iBooks are incredibly good machines.

Looking at the powerbook, I can't think of anything I would change. It is the perfect machine. How can you improve perfect?

Thank you.

I don't think the G4 is worth the effort. It's slow (compared to the Sahara), and Altivec isn't supported in many programs. If they gave the ibook a 32meg Radeon 7500 mobility, it would more than offset the lack of Altivec in 10.2.

In fact, if I had my way, Apple would switch exclusively to G3s for all of its consumer level products and ditch Altivec altogether now that we have Jaguar

 

[DakotaGuy]

Re: Re: This is what I told them

Originally posted by topicolo


I don't think the G4 is worth the effort. It's slow (compared to the Sahara), and Altivec isn't supported in many programs. If they gave the ibook a 32meg Radeon 7500 mobility, it would more than offset the lack of Altivec in 10.2.

In fact, if I had my way, Apple would switch exclusively to G3s for all of its consumer level products and ditch Altivec altogether now that we have Jaguar

I would have to agree...I would imagine that Jaguar will bring the new iBook up to TiBook standards for most tasks. Also I would love to see a shootout between the new 700MHz iBook and the 667MHz TiBook running Jaguar as far as most finder and scrolling tasks are concerned. I have already noticed some benchmark tests where the iBook 700 did awesome against a G4 machine. Give it a faster bus, a little more MHz, more video RAM, and a little faster harddrive, and 10.2...and I think it would be knocking on any G4's door...

 

[jefhatfield]

now, for ibook:

give us $1099 model
speed bumps up to 800 mhz...or even faster

by mid-2003:

$999 model
1ghz speed ibook

by late-2003:

g4 processor in ibook
superdrive in ibook

2004-2005:

dual g4 in ibook or g5 in ibook...basically, a parallel but slightly slower evolution than the tibook

 

[rojazz]

well, my personal hopes is that it'll be something that can last me a few years. i'm planning to buy an ibook for college, and basically i want the damn thing to run quartz extreme, otherwise it's not worth buying. why should i buy a computer that will be unsupported by a major feature of 10.2, especially if i'm going to have it for a while?

i'm also hoping they keep the 12" screen. that's the main reason i really like the ibook: it's small. and if it gets a slight case update (more metallic), it'll be even sexier.

 

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by rojazz
well, my personal hopes is that it'll be something that can last me a few years. i'm planning to buy an ibook for college, and basically i want the damn thing to run quartz extreme, otherwise it's not worth buying. why should i buy a computer that will be unsupported by a major feature of 10.2, especially if i'm going to have it for a while?

i'm also hoping they keep the 12" screen. that's the main reason i really like the ibook: it's small. and if it gets a slight case update (more metallic), it'll be even sexier.

if you plan to go to college for four years, realistically plan on getting a new machine every two years

this field moves fast now, but will even move faster in the future...obsolescence is built into this field so techies like me always have jobs designing, manufacturing, and repairing computers, peripherals, and networks

and software side techies move forward, too... always making new titles and versions pushing the hardware side to keep up

 

[davei]

Originally posted by jefhatfield


if you plan to go to college for four years, realistically plan on getting a new machine every two years

Two years? Comp sci, math, some arts stuff - maybe, but if you're mostly cranking out papers and surfing for lecture notes, I don't think four years is out of the question.

As a science/english major, I survived 4 years with an original iMac, and all I did was upgrade the HD (due to MP3s)... then again, I never played any games

 

[Over Achiever]

Originally posted by jefhatfield

if you plan to go to college for four years, realistically plan on getting a new machine every two years

Valid points, yet I hope that the TiBook will last that long...no way i'm shelling over three grand every two years! I'm still holding out for 1 GHz processor and DDR ram. Bluetooth inclusion is nice but not necessary...until they have wireless bluetooth keyboard/mouse combo. I really don't mind that knob sticking out. Superdrive?...bah, I won't have the 1 grand for a good DV camcorder anyway. 'Sides, it won't come in this small form-factor in a while, at least until the beginning of next year. I am happy to be wrong though. Anyway, the fp iMac will fit my DVD burning desires, should I ever get them. And the 17" is nicer to work with than the beautiful 15.2" pb display. Anyway, no one really cares, not even me.

 

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by davei


Two years? Comp sci, math, some arts stuff - maybe, but if you're mostly cranking out papers and surfing for lecture notes, I don't think four years is out of the question.

As a science/english major, I survived 4 years with an original iMac, and all I did was upgrade the HD (due to MP3s)... then again, I never played any games

and i survived in college, too without a computer

of course, that was years ago when the typewriter was the standard word processor and the apple II+ had just hit the shelves with its 1 mhz processor (in 1979-80)

but today, with software moving at the speed of light, no laptop, for the college student (and most likely game player and mp3 devotee) can make the ibook last four years...high end tibook with RAM at 1.5 gigs...sure...if it doesn't get damaged or stolen

get two ibooks over the four or even five year period of school...it's the better value