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Apple Releases New iBooks
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To everyone that said the new update is pretty weak:
I am about to save $500 on an Apple computer.
The only reason I wanted a powerbook was the built in Airport Extreme/Bluetooth, enough RAM (512 minimum), the new Sudden Motion Sensor (as I drop stuff a lot), the new scrolling trackpad, and the amazing OS X.
Now, the iBook has everything. Sure, its .17 less MHz than a PowerBook (like it will matter at ALL) and it doesnt have as good video, but the pros outweigh the cons:
Save $500 - only difference between the two now is the video.
Stay cool - the powerbook in the Apple store is BOILING! Its been on for, I don't know, three hours if I go in at 12 PM? The iBooks are cooler than the iMacs! And its a notebook!
Same OS and Same Software - Unlike PC manufacturers, Apple gives every computer the same software. While people buying Dual 2.7 GHz powermacs may say its unfair, people buying the lowest mini will love Apple for it. And buying an Apple iBook? I love it. iLife 05, OS X 10.4.2, everything is the same.
Same size, just white - It is the same size as a powerbook, just white (and I believe its also lighter)
$999 vs $1499
White vs Aluminum
Thats basically all it is now.
I am about to save $500 on an Apple computer.
The only reason I wanted a powerbook was the built in Airport Extreme/Bluetooth, enough RAM (512 minimum), the new Sudden Motion Sensor (as I drop stuff a lot), the new scrolling trackpad, and the amazing OS X.
Now, the iBook has everything. Sure, its .17 less MHz than a PowerBook (like it will matter at ALL) and it doesnt have as good video, but the pros outweigh the cons:
Save $500 - only difference between the two now is the video.
Stay cool - the powerbook in the Apple store is BOILING! Its been on for, I don't know, three hours if I go in at 12 PM? The iBooks are cooler than the iMacs! And its a notebook!
Same OS and Same Software - Unlike PC manufacturers, Apple gives every computer the same software. While people buying Dual 2.7 GHz powermacs may say its unfair, people buying the lowest mini will love Apple for it. And buying an Apple iBook? I love it. iLife 05, OS X 10.4.2, everything is the same.
Same size, just white - It is the same size as a powerbook, just white (and I believe its also lighter)
$999 vs $1499
White vs Aluminum
Thats basically all it is now.
Too true
This (i.e. having DVI) was the one thing I was holding out for, damn it
. I wasn't expecting much of an update, they are already so close to the powerbooks. I mean really, them having mirror displays, low-end graphics cards, comparatively low res screens, etc has to be expected they are low end machines, right?
BUT I can't believe they don't have DVI ports still! This forces me into making the following choice.
a) Advice my GF to buy a PC low-end laptop, so she can use the cinema display I'm planning on buying.
b) Me not to buy the cinema display and instead get another brand that has a VGA port included.
Surely Apple doesn't want people to have to make this kind of choice?? If they are going to standardize on DVI for their display line, then for the love of god why haven't they standardized on DVI for all their machines
.Andy said:
This (i.e. having DVI) was the one thing I was holding out for, damn it
. I wasn't expecting much of an update, they are already so close to the powerbooks. I mean really, them having mirror displays, low-end graphics cards, comparatively low res screens, etc has to be expected they are low end machines, right? BUT I can't believe they don't have DVI ports still! This forces me into making the following choice.
a) Advice my GF to buy a PC low-end laptop, so she can use the cinema display I'm planning on buying.
b) Me not to buy the cinema display and instead get another brand that has a VGA port included.
Surely Apple doesn't want people to have to make this kind of choice?? If they are going to standardize on DVI for their display line, then for the love of god why haven't they standardized on DVI for all their machines
dotdotdot said:
But don't the consumer line of Macs (Mac mini, iMac, iBook) come with AppleWorks and other small apps, while the Power line does not?
dotdotdot said:
iBook is 4.9 lbs.
PowerBook is 4.6 lbs.
Both 12" models.
So you gonna get an iBook dotdotdot? Thought you wanted a Mac mini before?
manu chao said:
If you start at the rock bottom the only way to go is up!! i thought L2 of PM increased 512KB to 2MB (where as G4 was/is 512MB) ... more over other advancements PCI express, DDR2 chipsets etc .... are also important! if you want to add 7448, then you might want to add dual core too as both of them are still sampling ....
I got the Mrs an iBook 10 days ago and I think i will take it back under the 14 day no questions return policy
double the RAM
10GB HDD space
BlueTooth
faster processor
trackpad scrooling feature
Dx9 GPU
got to be worth a 30 min drive to take it back
double the RAM
10GB HDD space
BlueTooth
faster processor
trackpad scrooling feature
Dx9 GPU
got to be worth a 30 min drive to take it back
dotdotdot said:
As pointed out above, the Powerbook is a little lighter, and is also smaller. It's surprising actually how much more svelte the Powerbook is.
oskar said:
Apple is still at fault because they could have put those dual core G4's in PB's a long time ago. At worst they could have started using the same quality screens that everyone else uses. They could have been using much better video cards and bigger/faster hard drives too.
dotdotdot said:
For me it really came down to a bit of personal preference and just those extra little specs I could add in the PowerBook over the iBook.
I actually made the switch after playing with a friends iBook so I am not knocking the machine at all. But my preference was the aluminium (Queens English) over the White, plus I wanted to play games as well as use Adobe Creative Suite & Final Cut Studio so I felt that I had to get the highest spec setup I could. SO for me the extra RAM, ATI Video Ram, and CPU Speed as well as the looks lead me to the PowerBook.
In terms of the heat, when I am just surfing etc it's just warm, not hot at all, so Im guessing the machine in the store may have be running something more intensive? Maybe Virtual PC with Win XP, any machine would run hot trying to figure out that mess!!!
In terms of the updates, it makes sense that they would keep the CPU speed to below the PowerBook to try and retain what little point of difference there now is. At the end of the day, I guess we can't expect much in the way of updates until the new intel machines come out.
BGil said:
On the video card part, no. Macs have to use dedicated video cards due to the adoption of OpenFirmware. Therefore Apple must rely on video card supplies from ATI or nVidia.
"So you gonna get an iBook dotdotdot? Thought you wanted a Mac mini before?"
This is my Apple Computer wanting list:
15" PowerBook
Then, iMac G5
Then, 12" PowerBook
Then, Mac mini as it was just introduced and cheap
Then, Single 1.8 GHz PowerMac
Then, 12" PowerBook.
I have wanted a notebook as I have a good PC desktop and now that the iBooks are comparible to the 12" powerbooks, $500 less, I want one!
Now, 12" iBook
This is my Apple Computer wanting list:
15" PowerBook
Then, iMac G5
Then, 12" PowerBook
Then, Mac mini as it was just introduced and cheap
Then, Single 1.8 GHz PowerMac
Then, 12" PowerBook.
I have wanted a notebook as I have a good PC desktop and now that the iBooks are comparible to the 12" powerbooks, $500 less, I want one!
Now, 12" iBook
To Buy Or Not To Buy?
Hello, Gentlemen and or ladies,
As I have waited for this update since the last revision to purchase an iBook to replace my lil' snow g3 500 iBook, I would like your opinions as to if I should go ahead and buy one or continue to hold out? As I mentioned I have a snow g3 500 ibook that is ok and gets the job done (256mb ram, recently had to change out the hard drive and replaced the cd drive with a cd-r/w) but the battery is toast.... as I have to use the adapter everywhere! And frankly i just want a faster book! But the question is should i continue to wait for the intelbooks since i have forced myself for to wait for this revision (which more or less blew) or go ahead and buy one of these? Plus I am a student, so i can do the whole promo rebate dealo which is cool, but i am also considering waiting anyway to see what the next apple show brings on 9/20 as the rebate goes through 9/24, meaning if they go ahead and bless the mini with a color display i get to get one of those! Man... I could go on with even more varibles... anyway i would appreciate any insight/suggestions you guys can offer!
Thanks!!!
Hello, Gentlemen and or ladies,
As I have waited for this update since the last revision to purchase an iBook to replace my lil' snow g3 500 iBook, I would like your opinions as to if I should go ahead and buy one or continue to hold out? As I mentioned I have a snow g3 500 ibook that is ok and gets the job done (256mb ram, recently had to change out the hard drive and replaced the cd drive with a cd-r/w) but the battery is toast.... as I have to use the adapter everywhere! And frankly i just want a faster book! But the question is should i continue to wait for the intelbooks since i have forced myself for to wait for this revision (which more or less blew) or go ahead and buy one of these? Plus I am a student, so i can do the whole promo rebate dealo which is cool, but i am also considering waiting anyway to see what the next apple show brings on 9/20 as the rebate goes through 9/24, meaning if they go ahead and bless the mini with a color display i get to get one of those! Man... I could go on with even more varibles... anyway i would appreciate any insight/suggestions you guys can offer!
Thanks!!!
macrumors12345 said:
I have worked in the tech industry for years now and I am far more educated in PC vs. Mac performance than many here would think. Benchmarks don't mean crap, it is how the computer actually performs. My 2 year old Dell Latitude that I use for work is much faster than my 1.33 powerbook ever was. If you output to an external monitor (which the iBook can't even do without the hack) then 32MB of graphics memory, dedicated or not, is going to cripple you in some applications. The Pentium CPUs in PCs are out there now and not something that is just being talked about like they are with Apple. They far outperform the G4s used in the laptops of Apple today for less money. Finally, look up ultra portable PC laptops, 1024x768 is becoming obsolete even in the 12" range. Real life experience far outweighs any benchmarks you can find online... and the benchmarks and some market research will show Apple is way behind. PC are faster and with care very reliable... I have been using my work machine for well over a year with no problems at all... you just have to know what you are doing (and stay away from the IT department as much as possible). I used to stick up for Apple, but after being burned on many occasions with DOA product after DOA product that they would not take responsibility for I just cannot stand behind them anymore.
Superdan,
If i were you, i'd go ahead and buy the new iBook. They're great computers. Maybe not getting as much bang for your buck, but you'll notice a heck of a difference between the new 'books compared to your current computer.
Intel macs aren't expected until July next year. Plenty of time to get to know your new computer Rev. A Intel Macs might have a few kinks to be worked out were as we know these ibooks are solid, reliable portables.
Go for it!
If i were you, i'd go ahead and buy the new iBook. They're great computers. Maybe not getting as much bang for your buck, but you'll notice a heck of a difference between the new 'books compared to your current computer.
Intel macs aren't expected until July next year. Plenty of time to get to know your new computer
Rev. A Intel Macs might have a few kinks to be worked out were as we know these ibooks are solid, reliable portables.Go for it!
superdan311 said:
If you can live 9 more months until Intel iBooks come out, then wait. If not do like me a pick up the new Rev D iBook. 12" iBook will last you just as long if not longer then your current iBook. By then we will have Rev C/D Intel iBooks and you can update again.
bammac said:
I work from home and have been using a 1.5GHz powerbook everyday for about 8 - 10 hours for the last 8 months or so. My hands feel like they're slowly cooking. I have to run my powerbook at reduced CPU speed and constantly be aware of how close my palms are to the body of the powerbook. Towards the beginning it was tollerable, but every day it gets painstakeingly more painful to use the powerbook keyboard. I will be buying a bluetooth keyboard sometime this week. I cannot continue to use my powerbook keyboard or my hands are going to be able to be served for dinner.
Anyone else having ultra sensitive hands due to the powerbook heat issue?
The old powerbook model wasn't aluminum so it didn't cook the plams of your hands like the 1.5GHz AL one does. They should have stuck to that. I can deal with the bottom getting super hot, but when the HAND REST AREA gets hot, it's terrible! I love my mac and never want to use a PC again but I can't take the heat... Getting a bluetooth keyboard this week so the "laptop" can sit on the table while I use the keyboard on the "lap".
do it!
dude, i would DEF buy now!!
your current iBook is old, and out of date, although it gets the job done. the bottom of the range iBook now is, i believe i saw, (im english so look at the uk store prices) $999, with the student discount, probably just above $900. then u get ur free iPod mini, which you could sell for the $200 it gets (maybe 20 less as ull have to cut the bar code out to get ur rebate), plus the fact that ur G3 would get at least $200 on eBay i reckon, (post it worldwide).
so thats, roughly, $900 (new iBook with student discount) - $200 for the iPod - $200 for ur current iBook, thats like $500!! to me thats £250 and u look at the uk site what we have to pay! £699!
ok, so even if im a tiny bit out, its gonna be in the region of $500-$550 for a brand new laptop, with bluetooth, airport, 512MB, tiger, iLife... thjats amazing.
i wouldnt worry too much about the switch, when i watched the keynote i thought he scared us all too much by saying what seemed like 'at the end of 2006, no-one will use the IBM macs, theyll be redundant'. youve had ur cyrrent iBook for years and lets face it, all we do id play with consumer macs, its not that serious that ull be like 'sh*t i HAVE to run final cut express!!!!'
i say do it, and u wont regret it. weigh up ur options, the rebates, u know it makes sense
superdan311 said:
dude, i would DEF buy now!!
your current iBook is old, and out of date, although it gets the job done. the bottom of the range iBook now is, i believe i saw, (im english so look at the uk store prices) $999, with the student discount, probably just above $900. then u get ur free iPod mini, which you could sell for the $200 it gets (maybe 20 less as ull have to cut the bar code out to get ur rebate), plus the fact that ur G3 would get at least $200 on eBay i reckon, (post it worldwide).
so thats, roughly, $900 (new iBook with student discount) - $200 for the iPod - $200 for ur current iBook, thats like $500!! to me thats £250 and u look at the uk site what we have to pay! £699!
ok, so even if im a tiny bit out, its gonna be in the region of $500-$550 for a brand new laptop, with bluetooth, airport, 512MB, tiger, iLife... thjats amazing.
i wouldnt worry too much about the switch, when i watched the keynote i thought he scared us all too much by saying what seemed like 'at the end of 2006, no-one will use the IBM macs, theyll be redundant'. youve had ur cyrrent iBook for years and lets face it, all we do id play with consumer macs, its not that serious that ull be like 'sh*t i HAVE to run final cut express!!!!'
i say do it, and u wont regret it. weigh up ur options, the rebates, u know it makes sense
http://www.thinksecret.com/news/0507ibookmacmini.html
The article says that the new video card STILL does not take advantage of Core Image, I'm guessing because of only 32mb of vram.
The article says that the new video card STILL does not take advantage of Core Image, I'm guessing because of only 32mb of vram.
BGil said:
Well that could be a situation where they(dual core G4's) just won't work in a PowerBook for whatever reason. Apple is at the mercy of ATI and NVIDIA with the video cards. Thats out of Apple's hands. I think Apple knows what its doing. If they could have put the dual core G4 or even G5 when it arrives in a PowerBook then they will. Apple doesn't hold back things like that just for the hell of it!
Give it a break...
Apple saves the big announcments for the Expo. What do you want Steve Jobs to do, give a new form factor etc on a non-event Tuesday in July and have nothing for the big expo? Your dreaming. What I want to hear from people is whether or not your PB or iBook does what you want it to do. My iBook G3 700 that I bought used on eBay this year performs just fine as a consumer laptop. I even use it for minor graphic design. I would never usee it for high end professional tasks in graphic design or video editing, but then again, it is not designed for that. Thats what I have my Dual G5 for: High demand video editing. If I wanted to use it for less demanding projects, it would probably do okay. I only hear people complaining about the hardware but not saying anything about actual performance. If you are buying based on upgraded specs, you are never going to get your money's worth.
Does your laptop do what you need it to do? If so, then you got a good deal. If not, then upgrade to a system that can handle the load. PC or Mac, today most people have more computer than they will ever need. Well, I'm not so sure about the PC market. My experience, and I do have some, tells me that if you own a Mac made in the last 3 years, you should be fine for the next 3 years. BTW I'm running Tiger on my G3 iBook and it is doin' fine. Not to shabby
Apple saves the big announcments for the Expo. What do you want Steve Jobs to do, give a new form factor etc on a non-event Tuesday in July and have nothing for the big expo? Your dreaming. What I want to hear from people is whether or not your PB or iBook does what you want it to do. My iBook G3 700 that I bought used on eBay this year performs just fine as a consumer laptop. I even use it for minor graphic design. I would never usee it for high end professional tasks in graphic design or video editing, but then again, it is not designed for that. Thats what I have my Dual G5 for: High demand video editing. If I wanted to use it for less demanding projects, it would probably do okay. I only hear people complaining about the hardware but not saying anything about actual performance. If you are buying based on upgraded specs, you are never going to get your money's worth.
Does your laptop do what you need it to do? If so, then you got a good deal. If not, then upgrade to a system that can handle the load. PC or Mac, today most people have more computer than they will ever need. Well, I'm not so sure about the PC market. My experience, and I do have some, tells me that if you own a Mac made in the last 3 years, you should be fine for the next 3 years. BTW I'm running Tiger on my G3 iBook and it is doin' fine. Not to shabby
BGil said:
That's why I only said "it's not completely". For one I am happy with the PowerBook I bought back in January. I was one of the persons anxiously awaiting the release of the ever-elusive PowerBook G5 which we probably won't be seeing anymore. Although I do believe we will have an update before PowerBooks go x86.
I know I spent about $800 more than one of my friends spent on an HP laptop with practically the same features as my PowerBook. I am one to acknowledge that there are laptops that have better features than my PowerBook, although the PowerBooks have a better OS and design. But we still prefer Macs and I bet iBook sales will show just that.
We already know what Jobs said publicly, I don't understant how there can be so many people still complaining. Jobs practically said we would have the best tech in computers when they began using Intel chips, but he also warned that there would still be some updates.
I don't expect to see a different line (design) of any product until the switch to Intel is made.