Apple PowerBook and iBook Updates - Next Week?

[Unregistered.]

Not to seem too bitter but I find it helpful to "tone down" any hopes I have for product releases. Apple is evolutionary, not revolutionary, in their upgrades. I am almost always disappointed with reality after reading the overly-optimistic rumor forums (the exceptions being the original iBooks, OSX Beta, and the new iMac form factor). I would LOVE for Apple to prove me wrong, it's just that I haven't seen it happen in a long time.

I'm guessing slightly faster G4 PowerBooks with better video cards but the same resolution, and the same, or slightly faster, system bus. Maybe 5400RPM hard drives, though that would kill battery life, but the new G4 chips could compensate with their new power management system, so it might happen. Fixing the cache problem would be a cheap way of adding a solid boost, but people don't typically base purchasing decisions on cache size (it doesn't even make the ads). And if it doesn't spur sales, there's not a big reason to do it from a financial standpoint.

I'm getting tired of waiting, I just might buy one -- I'd like a G5 PB, but if I only keep this laptop for say 3 1/2 or 4 years, I'm sure the RevB G5PBs will be out by then! ... Barely ...

And this will have to carry people over to G5 PowerBooks next January. Apple will continue to push iPods and other accessories into the forefront as they try to become the next Sony-like appliance dealer. I hope Apple surprises me. Sometimes they do. This might be one of those times. The NAB is interesting. There are many other vendors there -- Carly Fiorina from HP is doing the big opening keynote. Will Apple sweep the whole show and get everyone talking about them instead by introducing new PBs? Maybe. I can't see them introducing G5 PBs without a big splash, but I agree that the G5 chips that don't make a stable 2Ghz get thrown into the lower 1.5 bin because they can usually run at that speed withouth catching on fire. Carly and Steve might talk about the HP iPods instead.

So that's my prediction based on a conservative estimate of where Apple, IBM and Motorola stand. Look on the bright side -- my dreary predictions are a worst case scenario. I think this is the bottom-level of what will happen, reality may be somewhat better. I hope so, I'd like a G5 PowerBook...

 

[Unregistered.]

I smell an iPod G5.

 

[atari1356]

An update from Appleinsider

Appleinsider updated their article with this:

In reference to the previously published announcement date, sources have noted that while certain parties may be able to order the new portables on Monday the 19th, Apple may not announce the products officially until the following day (Tuesday the 20th).

 

[numediaman]

Hey all,

All this talk about G5 Powerbooks this week is a bit out of wack, and I fear setting some people up for quite the disappointment. Apple has NEVER said new G5 powerbooks are going to come out soon . . .
James

I think you are absolutely correct.

But, for those who really want to be optimistic -- just wait until Tuesday. If the new models are all G4, which I believe they will be, then you can count on another six to nine months before there is even the possibility of a G5 PB. At least you will have guidance and can make a good decision.

 

[Windowlicker]

will be an interesting week

i'll start working at a mac store (not apple store though) next week and then this rumor.. there might be lots of nice things happening next week.

i hope i get to know some inside information at the job.. eventhough it probably wouldn't be very useful, it would be nice.

four days till next tuesday..

 

[frenetic]

i'll start working at a mac store (not apple store though) next week and then this rumor.. there might be lots of nice things happening next week.

i hope i get to know some inside information at the job.. eventhough it probably wouldn't be very useful, it would be nice.

Well we all count on you

 

[Tomaz]

Checking out this motorola PPC G4 7447A specs list (from macbidouille), you can see that some of them are listed for commercial laptops (1.5, 1.33 Ghz) whille the only 1.42Ghz is listed as industrial. Does this mean that this specific processor is not optimized for notebooks? Why would Apple use this for the new PBs???

I really hope that predictions for a 1.42Ghz 15" PB are wrong!! Top 15" should be 1.5Ghz!!

 

[atari1356]

speed speed and more speed

So, if the specs from that French site are to be believed, the top end 15" will be 1.42GHz while the 17" will be 1.5GHz.

That makes the 17" 5.63 percent faster... I wish they'd put the fastest processor in the 15" as well.

I was going to try and hold out for a G5, but I don't think I can wait much longer. If the specs seem decent on these new Powerbooks I'll probably get one... although they still wouldn't seem much better than the updated eMacs that are $1600 less.

 

[Ja Di ksw]

I smell an iPod G5.

Please tell me you're kidding. Anyone who has been paying any attention to Apple lately would know how much they have been focusing on the iPod, it's obviously going to have the top secret G6 in it by NAB. I think Apple gave up on their computer lines, just keeping them as they are and riding on the success of the iPod

 

[NicoMan]

Also as for 'it looks too small' people said that when I was running 1600x1200 on a 20" monitor - it was fine for me.

I understand what you are saying BUT displaying 1920*1200 on a 17" flat screen represents 133 pixels per inch more or less. At this rate, you would HAVE TO be able to change the size in dots of the system fonts. That means nothing before 10.4, IMHO.

 

[dongmin]

Checking out this motorola PPC G4 7447A specs list (from macbidouille), you can see that some of them are listed for commercial laptops (1.5, 1.33 Ghz) whille the only 1.42Ghz is listed as industrial. Does this mean that this specific processor is not optimized for notebooks? Why would Apple use this for the new PBs???

I really hope that predictions for a 1.42Ghz 15" PB are wrong!! Top 15" should be 1.5Ghz!!

my guess

17" Super: 1.50 ghz G4 (1.25v)
15" Super: 1.50 ghz G4 (1.25v) or 1.42 ghz (1.25v)
15" Comb: 1.33 ghz G4 (1.18v)
12" Super: 1.33 ghz G4 (1.18v)
12" Comb: 1.20 ghz G4 (1.15v)

14" iBook: 1.20 ghz G4 (1.15V)
12" iBook: 1.00 ghz G4 (1.1V)

I don't think the 1.42 ghz, as listed in the Moto chart, is suited for a laptop since it runs at a higher voltage (1.3V) and higher temperature rating (which I assume is what 'Tj' is). Of course, it's possible that they'll just clock down the '1500W' to a 1.42 ghz.

It seems like Nemesis is just making a sexy guess, with no basis in actual information. I'm inclined to go with this latest discovery by MacBidoo. Of course, they've been plenty wrong before.

 

[agentmouthwash]

The current Powerbooks use PC2700DDR type RAM.
Does anybody think this will stay the same or
is there something in the Laptop world that's better?

Any guesses?

 

[spinko]

I just wish they (Apple) would put a 7447 with L3 support (aka 7457) into the upcoming PB's... Best of all would be a G5 (even at 1.0 Ghz)

 

[andiwm2003]

how much faster is a G5 anyway?

I just wish they (Apple) would put a 7447 with L3 support (aka 7457) into the upcoming PB's... Best of all would be a G5 (even at 1.0 Ghz)

I'm planning to buy a 15" PB. Now everybody is asking for G5 PBs. The question for me is, how much faster will a G5 PB actually be? Some journal (I think it was Macworld) had a comparison between the 17" iMac and the 1.6 GHz single G5 Mac, both 512 Ram. The G5 was only about 10-30% faster than the G4 iMac (depending on the application). Well, the iMac would compare to what we get from the new G4 PBs, the G5 would be what we can dream of a G5 PB. If you don't do video, only standard (not professional)Photoshop, moderate gaming and some audio that difference should be not relevant. With the G4s changing their clock speed the difference in power consumtion compared to a G5 shouldn't be to big either (isn't the HD and Display more important for power consumption?).
And there is no 64 bit OS available anyway.
So can someone with experience tell me how fast a 1.25 - 1.5 G4 PB compared to iMacs and G5s really is? Is there any other reason why people are so crazy about G5 PBs?

Andi

 

[Neeja]

To cancel, or not to cancel?

I'm sorry if this has been answered previously. I've seen some related questions, but in most cases products had already been shipped.

I placed an order for a G4 12" Combo Drive, with BTO Airport Extreme, +256MB RAM, +20GB HDD. These modificiations had originally given me a ship date of 5-7 working days. Then, around the same time I saw these "New PowerBook" rumors popping up around the web, it jumped to 4/22 ship date.

Do you think this ship date means that Apple will really BTO an upgraded version of the PowerBook? Or do I need to cancel the order since I'll in reality be paying top dollar for the most recently obsolete model? Also, since I paid extra $$ in upgrades to get the HDD from 40 to 60GB, what if 60GB becomes standard? Will Apple drop the cost for the option?

Anyone who has any experience with this I appreciate their feedback.

 

[ldkaplan]

It really doesn't make a difference. As soon as you open a mac, the next one comes out in a month or so. Just plan on not having the latest and greatest and you will never be disappointed.

cancel the order, or return it if it's been shipped. Updates are imminent.

 

[captain kirk]

I am going to guarantee that appleinsiders claims ARE correct, I will not divulge how I know this however if anybody says that Jim is the king of predictions he is not. I have ALL the answers, and the answer to this thread is that for once the appleinsider article is right on the mark!!!

 

[Damek]

I'll just be happy with a simple iBook update

Sometime around last March I decided my next computer would be both a notebook and an Apple. But I had just updated my PC the previous year and waiting a while longer to spend any significant amount of money was definitely a necessity. So I started keeping tabs on Apple, and waiting. I might have bought one last November if I wasn't going to move in March (I would need my savings for a new apartment, a laptop could wait).

I'm glad I've had to wait. Next week's update, as rumored anyway, looks tantalizing. I've wanted an iBook for a number of reasons, mainly ruggedness, the cheaper price, and the greater energy efficiency (well, battery life anyway). But I've been hoping they'll all get to at least 1 GHz because I want something at least somewhat comparable to my current 1 GHz VIA C3 computer. Something that can play some older 3D games from time to time without hiccuping (Quakes, UT & UT2k3, Clive Barker's Undying...). Around this time last year, the PowerBooks were only a little better than it seems the iBooks will be after this weekend. Back then I would have wanted a PowerBook, but not been willing or able to pay the high price. Now I can pretty much have last year's PowerBook in a cheaper iBook package - ain't progress wonderful?!

I'll have to go to a store and try out the 12" iBooks to see if I can handle the smaller screen. If I can, and there are still no iBooks with SuperDrives, and the 12" is really at 1 GHz, I'll be very happy. If any of those requirements aren't met, I'll end up getting a 14" - a little less portable, but still. I'll finally have a Mac! After a year of waiting, I am so looking forward to no longer dealing with the PC world. Windows is so inelegant, Linux is even worse - I want to be able to forget about my tech and just let it work for me.

Now I'll get to find out what problems Macs have, for myself

And 3-4 years down the line I get to do the process all over again.

 

[Penman]

HD.

OK, so are you of the opinion that the powerbook screens themselves should have their resolutions improved for any aspect of this work, or is just the video card?

I would have thought that being able to play HD on the 17" in true resolution would be a selling point???

Ultimately - to make the PB's video friendly they should be able to display HD on their screens and externally (video editing also requires 2 screens - another reason that PB's offer it). I do see the issues with a small screen but if you look at the resolution on handhelds (800x600 on the top end) and that's gong into 4 inches. I think for a video display that's very possible, though again, you probably wouldn't want to work in it that way all the time.

Whose to say though that FCP5 might have some sort of 'scaled interface' to make this possible. One day soon displaying 2 HD feeds on one monitor is going to be popular. It'll certainly make for some novel solutions.

As I think about it, the PB's are going to need fast G5's (2.5 GHz) ASAP. The demands of HD are too great and really stretch what systems are capable of (real time renders with 4x the data etc.) For anyone whose ever said 'how fast do you need it to be?' the answer is 'as fast as they can possibly make it'. For video Apple could begin to see people switching back if they let their line stagnate with slow chips. When you're editing time is money and a slow render costs you dearly. With Sony and Panasonic shipping HD camcorders (like JVC) soon the demand for HD will even be there from consumers.

Driving HD externally is absolutely mandatory. Even if you're forced to scale the video onscreen there's no reason a PB shouldn't be able to drive a monitor to HD resolution. If Apple were to use video cards that were even close to the cutting edge this would be easy. I still hate their attitude that a $3000 machine should have a decent graphics card as an upgrade, and that you're unusual for wanting something better than ships in a $1000 Dell. It's insulting.

I think that Monday will see minimal upgrades but I fantasize about them doing the right thing. By the way - some people thought when I said a source sain 1.6 GHz in a 17 I meant G5. My (crazy?) contact thinks it'll be a 1.6 (or slightly higher) G4. He also said that the 15" will stay at 1.33 and no faster. He was sure of that.

 

[hellocody]

Wrong

Appleinsider is wrong. Apple is going to announce free iMen keychains with every Apple purchase. They look like iPods with tiny bendable arms and legs. They're quite cute. I, being on the inside, already have four of the colors ... including ultra-rare mauve.

That's right ... I went there

 

[Grokgod]

People that even Mention G6! should be whacked off the boards!

I think that its obvious that its going to be G4's across the all upgrades
especially since there is G5 troubles.

I don't that the issue is G4 or G5 , its the heat ratio.

Why are there so many people still talking about G5 heat when the specs show that a G5 is cooler at a higher speed.

A G5 at 1.4 would be even cooler running.

Enough of the heat thing, ok?

 

[TWinbrook46636]

Does anyone know what G4 7xxx processors are currently being used in the iBooks and PowerBooks?

 

[sushi]

So can someone with experience tell me how fast a 1.25 - 1.5 G4 PB compared to iMacs and G5s really is? Is there any other reason why people are so crazy about G5 PBs?

I got a PowerBook 15 in December.

Nice computer.

Does what I need.

That is the key. Buy what you need.

Suggest that you go take one for a test run with the apps that you are going to use. I have yet to out type my computer. Unless you are doing intensive CPU applications, you will probably not even notice the difference between a 1.25 and a 1.5 G4 PB.

Personally, I am glad that I got my PB when I did. Sure I could wait for the PB G5. But then I would have not had the use of my PB for the past 4-5 months.

Sushi

 

[LaMerVipere]

Appleinsider is wrong. Apple is going to announce free iMen keychains with every Apple purchase. They look like iPods with tiny bendable arms and legs. They're quite cute. I, being on the inside, already have four of the colors ... including ultra-rare mauve.

That's right ... I went there

¡OAFMLOLMFAO!

 

[aswitcher]

Ultimately - to make the PB's video friendly they should be able to display HD on their screens SNIP

As I think about it, the PB's are going to need fast G5's (2.5 GHz) ASAP.

Whoa...maybe if lucky end of 2005 with IBMs current problems...

With Sony and Panasonic shipping HD camcorders (like JVC) soon the demand for HD will even be there from consumers.

But how soon are these really going to be in the consumer price range? A couple of years. Well by then hopefuly Apple will have the PB up to 2.5GHz.

Driving HD externally is absolutely mandatory. Even if you're forced to scale the video onscreen there's no reason a PB shouldn't be able to drive a monitor to HD resolution. If Apple were to use video cards that were even close to the cutting edge this would be easy. I still hate their attitude that a $3000 machine should have a decent graphics card as an upgrade, and that you're unusual for wanting something better than ships in a $1000 Dell. It's insulting.

Well there are expectations they will bump to a 128VRAM card with the next release.

I think that Monday will see minimal upgrades but I fantasize about them doing the right thing. By the way - some people thought when I said a source sain 1.6 GHz in a 17 I meant G5. My (crazy?) contact thinks it'll be a 1.6 (or slightly higher) G4. He also said that the 15" will stay at 1.33 and no faster. He was sure of that.

So, not great speed increases. Lets hope that the screen resolution and graphics card compensate for this.