Apple Press Event October 19 Confirmed

[Peace]

That would explain this announcement showing up in my mail earlier today:
edit: the text didn't make it trough... here it is:

"Get up to speed quickly with "Scoping Your Transition Project," a new resource on the Developer Transition Resource Center. You'll see exactly what you need to do to get ready for Intel-based Macs, and find links to the expert guidance and technical resources that will ensure your success.

You'll find this latest resource and much more at the Developer Transition Resource Center."

It says TODAY three times in the mail...

I got the same email.It goes out to any person subscribed to the ADC newsletter..
It's just more reference material for the transition kit..

 

[jholzner]

The event is at noon eastern. Macworld UK verifies this here:
http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/index.cfm?NewsID=12895&Page=2&pagePos=1
THe UK is 5 hours ahead of the US eastern time zone.

Great! Thanks! Now I can take it all in before lunch I'm on CDT.

 

[DavidCar]

Unlike the iMac with its captive video card, you can always upgrade the graphics card on the PowerMac. If Apple does not provide the X1800 as standard equipment, just buy it separately and plug it in (assuming driver support is there).

My thinking has been that a GPU manufacturer won't find it worthwhile to put out many, or (perhaps even more than one or two) PCIe PPC compatible graphics cards at this point, so the focus might be on the high end.

 

[iMeowbot]

The event is at noon eastern. Macworld UK verifies this here:
http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/index.cfm?NewsID=12895&Page=2&pagePos=1
THe UK is 5 hours ahead of the US eastern time zone.

Interesting about that invitation is that it mentions a trade show where Apple aren't even on the exhibitor list. It makes me think that the announcements aren't all that directly photo related, or that some of what is to be announced is still vaporware.

 

[Peace]

Interesting about that invitation is that it mentions a trade show where Apple aren't even on the exhibitor list. It makes me think that the announcements aren't all that directly photo related, or that some of what is to be announced is still vaporware.

Well all those photo folks will need a new Mac to use that new nifty 25 gazillion pixel camera won't they ?

 

[nagromme]

I think it's a good sign that the PowerBooks didn't get a quiet update today. Tomorrow is probably not just PowerMacs (and apps) then.

... the Powerbook and even the iBook range are amongst the sexiest looking Laptops in the market, but I feel they are due for a form upgrade either now or when we move to Intel. But I think it could happen now because it will ease the perception of the transition.

OR, even if the Intel line has to have ANOTHER new form factor, they might still roll out a revised PPC form factor simply because they might have already put 90% of the expense into doing so. May as well get some sales out of it then, even if only for a short time. Not likely, but possible.


(And I do like the idea of a special "early adopter" Intel Mac. Marketed clearly that way, it might just pay for itself and yet avoid the pitfalls that an early Intel intro might have made for Apple. Don't think it will happen, but it would tempt me for sure!)

 

[andiwm2003]

Interesting about that invitation is that it mentions a trade show where Apple aren't even on the exhibitor list. It makes me think that the announcements aren't all that directly photo related, or that some of what is to be announced is still vaporware.

isn't it surprising that nothing really leaked so far? usually at least part of spec. leak before. this time nobody has any info beyond speculating about the obviuos.

the last event was also surprising in terms of the imac but at least the video ipod was rumored (pics from ads) the day before.

i can understand that there is no info about a small thing like a new photo editor. but that there is nothing solid on hardware is strange if we assume that they update all powermacs and powerbooks.

so maybe the updates are not as big as we all hope?

 

[vouder17]

isn't it surprising that nothing really leaked so far? usually at least part of spec. leak before. this time nobody has any info beyond speculating about the obviuos.

the last event was also surprising in terms of the imac but at least the video ipod was rumored (pics from ads) the day before.

i can understand that there is no info about a small thing like a new photo editor. but that there is nothing solid on hardware is strange if we assume that they update all powermacs and powerbooks.

so maybe the updates are not as big as we all hope?

Yeah i have to agree, it is eerily quiet. There have been no rumors from the appleinsider/thinksecret...which is driving me crazy. Please let tomorrow bring us super cool products...please

 

[firebox]

I think it's a good sign that the PowerBooks didn't get a quiet update today. Tomorrow is probably not just PowerMacs (and apps) then.



OR, even if the Intel line has to have ANOTHER new form factor, they might still roll out a revised PPC form factor simply because they might have already put 90% of the expense into doing so. May as well get some sales out of it then, even if only for a short time. Not likely, but possible.


(And I do like the idea of a special "early adopter" Intel Mac. Marketed clearly that way, it might just pay for itself and yet avoid the pitfalls that an early Intel intro might have made for Apple. Don't think it will happen, but it would tempt me for sure!)

i also think that an early adopters kit would be a good step to take, i think it would attract a lot of hardcore OS enthusiasts, creating some very valuable feedback that may not be put forward by the larger software developing communities (that would mostly be trying to port windows software anyway(?)) plus - because it would effectively be a limited run special edition, it could in no way be counted as a faliure in the osx transition. it wouldn't really be counted a "the first official Mactel".

 

[ccrandall77]

I really hope Apple doesn't change the form factor...that would be bad - I can't imagine what form factor would be better than the current drool-worthy form factor.

"Drool-worthy form factor"??? Maybe for 2003. Now these beasts are too big and clunky compared to other laptops on the market. Not to mention widescreen, HD monitors (that perhaps rotate to form a tablet) are sorely needed.

I also hope they do a better job manufacturing the Powerbook in the future. I've had a Rev A and C 12" Powerbook and they wobble a lot, the screen is tilted slightly, and there's gaps between the plastic and metal. At least the rubber footies don't fall off my Rev C everytime I turn around like they did on the Rev A.

I'm hoping they fix some of these manufacturing issues, slim down the design, and go to a widescreen. I also think it'd be cool to bring back the colors like the old G3-iBook toilet seats and G3-iMacs. But here's how I'd do it...

They should have a groove that goes around the outside of the cover and run fiber optic cable through it. Then a user should be able to go into preferences and set a color that would stay constant, pulsate, etc. Also, the Apple logo should light up to a color. Keep the aluminum style, just add color lighting that's user customizable. That would look awesome... not exactly useful, but it would certainly keep the Powerbook looking fresh and give it a one-up in cool factor over the competition.

 

[Epicurus]

(And I do like the idea of a special "early adopter" Intel Mac. Marketed clearly that way, it might just pay for itself and yet avoid the pitfalls that an early Intel intro might have made for Apple. Don't think it will happen, but it would tempt me for sure!)

What do you mean? Like a version of the current test platform that people could actually keep? Maybe the mini line will go intel ahead of schedule, but if Apple wants it out for the Christmas season, it had better get moving. I think Apple should take its time with the whole transition, making sure the software is in place before the hardware comes in volume.

An updated test platform might be in the cards, one with a more securely locked in OS install and possibly some beta versions of intel specific 3rd party apps. But even if this did happen, it'd probably be only for a few select developers and not for casual programmers like me.

 

[firebox]

isn't it surprising that nothing really leaked so far? usually at least part of spec. leak before. this time nobody has any info beyond speculating about the obviuos........so maybe the updates are not as big as we all hope?

...or maybe bigger ? i seriously don't think we will see a propper mactel yet, maybe a limited test/developer thing, but to me this just has
new powerbooks written all over it i think we'll also see dualcore and pcie in the G5 but the powerbooks actually NEED an update.

 

[lalcan]

I think it's a good sign that the PowerBooks didn't get a quiet update today. Tomorrow is probably not just PowerMacs (and apps) then.

Shhh don't you even think about THAT! can't you see their eyes and ears are open! don't remind them, they can still update it later today... Quickly, put your aluminum foil hat on...

 

[firebox]

i almost forgot the fact that laptops are making up half of all global ccomputer sales and if apple are not carefull, within the next couple of months, powerbooks will be getting walked all over by competing brands, i've seen a couple good examples (enemys) lately and i really don't want that to happen....i have one....and i bang on tooooo much about apple gear to let that happen!!

bring on tomorrow

*ducks*

 

[Chundles]

"Drool-worthy form factor"??? Maybe for 2003. Now these beasts are too big and clunky compared to other laptops on the market. Not to mention widescreen, HD monitors (that perhaps rotate to form a tablet) are sorely needed.

I also hope they do a better job manufacturing the Powerbook in the future. I've had a Rev A and C 12" Powerbook and they wobble a lot, the screen is tilted slightly, and there's gaps between the plastic and metal. At least the rubber footies don't fall off my Rev C everytime I turn around like they did on the Rev A.

I'm hoping they fix some of these manufacturing issues, slim down the design, and go to a widescreen. I also think it'd be cool to bring back the colors like the old G3-iBook toilet seats and G3-iMacs. But here's how I'd do it...

They should have a groove that goes around the outside of the cover and run fiber optic cable through it. Then a user should be able to go into preferences and set a color that would stay constant, pulsate, etc. Also, the Apple logo should light up to a color. Keep the aluminum style, just add color lighting that's user customizable. That would look awesome... not exactly useful, but it would certainly keep the Powerbook looking fresh and give it a one-up in cool factor over the competition.

I don't like to do this but I strongly disagree to your opinion here. All this talk of colours and fancy lighting just reminds me of those horrible PC mods you see - the ones with the cold-cathode lights and LEDs all over the place.

It's just too busy a design move, the current form factor is elegant and minimalist, all that customisation would provide was something to draw the eye away from what the computer looks like, a big no-no in my opinion. I just don't like the idea of the PowerBook looking like a christmas tree.

Sure all the colours were cool way back when but look at the competition, drab, beige, the colours were different and cool but the competition and Apple have moved on.

For what it's worth I have similar ideas to firebox only for the iBook. Something like a flattened Mac mini. Look at the 12" iBook now, imagine this with a thin strip of aluminium around the edge with the current plastic inside. It would do away with the many seams as the ports and optical drive etc could just be cut into the aluminium. It wold make the iBook square on the edges but still with the rounded corners.

 

[ccrandall77]

I don't like to do this but I strongly disagree to your opinion here. All this talk of colours and fancy lighting just reminds me of those horrible PC mods you see - the ones with the cold-cathode lights and LEDs all over the place.

I don't think a colored accent makes something look too busy. And personally, I think the white and aluminum is rather boring. Minimalist is one thing, but boring is quite another.

Strange how the only people I hear that dislike(d) the colored Macs are people on rumor sites like this. Almost anyone one else I've talked to in person preferred the colored machines to the boring white-only and aluminum. Of course, maybe I should be thankful they stick to white and aluminum... maybe the next set of Powerbooks will end up looking like the iPod-Minis!

 

[firebox]

For what it's worth I have similar ideas to firebox only for the iBook. Something like a flattened Mac mini. Look at the 12" iBook now, imagine this with a thin strip of aluminium around the edge with the current plastic inside. It would do away with the many seams as the ports and optical drive etc could just be cut into the aluminium. It wold make the iBook square on the edges but still with the rounded corners.

nice one and flip the design on the powerbook to have the white plastic L and R sides (housing all the ports) and the rest aluminium, like a big band around the compuer ?

and i agree, no lights, the designer/design will be too good for all that...plus the apple logo will be all you need to see lit up

 

[P.B.]

"Drool-worthy form factor"??? Maybe for 2003. Now these beasts are too big and clunky compared to other laptops on the market. Not to mention widescreen, HD monitors (that perhaps rotate to form a tablet) are sorely needed.

"too big and clunky" ? What are you talking about ?
15'' and 17'' ARE widescreen and HD Monitors has nothing to do with form factor ?
I'm sorry, but I really don't know what you're talking about

 

[drewyboy]

996... come on..four more!!!

Edit: Person who post's 1000, say something intelligent..and whatever u wish will come out tomorrow..it will come true!!! so make it big!

 

[firebox]

one

 

[ccrandall77]

"too big and clunky" ? What are you talking about ?
15'' and 17'' ARE widescreen and HD Monitors has nothing to do with form factor ?
I'm sorry, but I really don't know what you're talking about

I'm referring mostly to the 12" PB.

Yes, these are big and clunky... particularly the 12". Compare it to many of the other competitors, esp Sony, and there's are considerably lighter and thinner.

 

[Chundles]

Most of those thin laptops don't have an optical drive built in. And they have integrated graphics.

I'd rather a slightly thicker case holding everything in than plug in an external optical drive.

 

[RazorD]

*tries for the 1000'th post with a question*

Does BTO stand for "Built to order"?

I'm been meaning to ask for ages

edit: To make people happy:

Tomorrow i'm going to me a nice new 17 inch powerbook, with a nice HD screen, a nice dual core G4, DDR2 Ram (so long as its actually makes a difference).

I've spent 2 weeks waiting to order this (since i got my student loan!). After last wednesdays dissappointment i'm aiming low, with hopes of getting more?

Though, i wouldnt say no to a nice bright pink PowerBook Sock!

-Raz

 

[Chundles]

1000!! Now Steve has to listen!!

 

[drewyboy]

*tries for the 1000'th post with a question*

Does BTO stand for "Built to order"?

I'm been meaning to ask for ages

-Raz

HOLY CRAP!!! come on... edit it and say something better please!!! for my sanity and the sanity of others!!! make a wish of what's to come tomorrow!