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Apple Releases New iBooks
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Don't tell Apple... please!
Way OT, but nonetheless, this has to be a first: (some) products are actually cheaper in Apple Sweden Store than in the US...
Some examples (all in USD, VAT excluded) of "better deals"
12-inch PB combo
Sweden: 1475
US: 1499
15-inch PB SD
Sweden: 2218
US: 2299
whereas (more on topic)
12-inch iBook
Sweden: 1048
US: 999
So, if you (a person in Sweden, that is) know someone who can get the "VAT refund" you can get a price that's similar to the US price, at least for the iBooks/Powerbooks.
Way OT, but nonetheless, this has to be a first: (some) products are actually cheaper in Apple Sweden Store than in the US...
Some examples (all in USD, VAT excluded) of "better deals"
12-inch PB combo
Sweden: 1475
US: 1499
15-inch PB SD
Sweden: 2218
US: 2299
whereas (more on topic)
12-inch iBook
Sweden: 1048
US: 999
So, if you (a person in Sweden, that is) know someone who can get the "VAT refund" you can get a price that's similar to the US price, at least for the iBooks/Powerbooks.
I think it's a fair update and pretty much what i guessed it would be
- minor speed bump (historically the 12 inch always takes on whatever the previous 14 inch model had)
- slight increase in hard disk capacity so 40gb was obvious (60 is too much of a jump for a consumer line)
- core image compatible graphics card
- 512 ram as standard - though i have to say i'm surprised that this is soldered on rather than in 2 sticks as with the 12inch PB
- bluetooth as standard - i wasn't sure if they'd do this as standard or an additional option but it's not exactly an expensive extra anyway
- sms and scrolling trackpad - again wasn't sure if they'd add this or keep this just for the PB line
I don't understand why so many people are complaining about this update. I think it's pretty spot on. Seriously, what did you expect? An updated PowerBook in white plastic for iBook prices? 32Mb of VRAM seems to be a lot of people's complaints but you have to remember this is a consumer line so they have to leave some room between this and the professional product line. But they have still updated a lot of features.
- minor speed bump (historically the 12 inch always takes on whatever the previous 14 inch model had)
- slight increase in hard disk capacity so 40gb was obvious (60 is too much of a jump for a consumer line)
- core image compatible graphics card
- 512 ram as standard - though i have to say i'm surprised that this is soldered on rather than in 2 sticks as with the 12inch PB
- bluetooth as standard - i wasn't sure if they'd do this as standard or an additional option but it's not exactly an expensive extra anyway
- sms and scrolling trackpad - again wasn't sure if they'd add this or keep this just for the PB line
I don't understand why so many people are complaining about this update. I think it's pretty spot on. Seriously, what did you expect? An updated PowerBook in white plastic for iBook prices? 32Mb of VRAM seems to be a lot of people's complaints but you have to remember this is a consumer line so they have to leave some room between this and the professional product line. But they have still updated a lot of features.
iBook is perfectly fine for presentations. Where I work people do a lot of powerpoint using Windows laptops and they all have them plugged into the projector using VGA and have the screen mirrored.derboy said:Exactly. What do students do? Yup -presentations
A dvi is given on the cheapest mac (mini) Apple are thinking so different, they are even expanding the business into taking the piss.
When they see my Powerbook with the screen different from what's being projected they're quite surprised that this can be done.
What I'm trying to say here is that screen mirroring is what 99% of people doing powerpoint use and are happy with.
Honestly if the widescreen part numbers rumors were true, maybe the 12" PB will be going widescreen soon?
westvleteren said:
Educational Price
PB 12" 1399
PB 15" 1.67 GHz 2099
iBook 12' 949
-------
aside from all this, IMO the new iBook should come with an 80GB HD instead 60GB. and if i have a 2nd DVI display which apple makes "AHHHHHH" VGA the hack i'm going to do with a VGA (TV and a low quality monitor)
at least give us a DVI. i guess if they do then is just a 12" PB, we shoud just call this a "audio out-putless, DVI-less 12" powerbook... 7on said:
But really stop and think. Apple almost always releases something big like this at a special event, WWDC or one of those big shows. I belive widescreen iBooks are in existence, they are just waiting for the right time to introduce them. Maybe the same time the do the iTunes phone? Who knows?! - Steve
Well if I needed anything to convince me that I wasn't even going to consider another Mac until the Intel switch, this is the final confirmation. A complete yawn of an update. My 15 month old iBook 12" is almost exactly the same as the new 12" for most practical purposes (BT 2.0 still a moot point, already have two fingered scrolling, processor speed increase minimal given the time difference). The only real plus point as far as I can see is the improved graphics card - Core Image compatibility is obviously a big improvement.
Roll on the next (hopefully Intel-based) iBook refresh.
Roll on the next (hopefully Intel-based) iBook refresh.
I'm just glad I cracked and bought a powerbook. I would have done so anyway after this update. Ah well, at least the wait is over and for those who just needed an iBook but wanted to wait... it's only got better. If only by a little bit though.
EXACTLY.illegal amigo said:
More power, and $400 cheaper for me (with the specs I want)? **** widescreen.
Ha! I Mean, Crap!
Once again, the rumor mongers' over-hyped enthusiasm SQUASHED by Apple.
Every time people. Every time.
That said, not a bad upgrade.
Once again, the rumor mongers' over-hyped enthusiasm SQUASHED by Apple.
Every time people. Every time.
That said, not a bad upgrade.
TaKashMoney said:
Yea.. im confused too! Core Image is the one that is responsible for the ripple effect innit? But guys, i am considering to switch pretty soon. But just a question, in the old iBooks having the old graphics card, does anyone notice any lag when using all those Mac OSX eye candy e.g the genie effect n stuff? So, is this new graphics card better than its the previous ATI Mobility Radeon 9200?
MWUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
My predictions were almost correct! Apple wouldn't release a 13.3-inch iBook before the PowerBook, but I did think that they would make the 14-inch widescreen, guess not. As for that and the graphics card, my predictions were right on. (Too bad the graphics card still has only 32 MB of RAM0. Oh well, atleast my PowerBook isn't put to shame.
My predictions were almost correct! Apple wouldn't release a 13.3-inch iBook before the PowerBook, but I did think that they would make the 14-inch widescreen, guess not. As for that and the graphics card, my predictions were right on. (Too bad the graphics card still has only 32 MB of RAM0. Oh well, atleast my PowerBook isn't put to shame.
I'm starting to think they're right... Apple's iBook G4 Grapics page doesn't mention Core Image, at all...TaKashMoney said:
bermanu said:...yes...this sucks...andI have to be honest, I'm not a switcher, I have always used Apple (I started with the old beautiful Classic!) all my life...
..but I'm definitely losing my faith...
Does Apple realise that?
Sorry to burst your bubble dude - but Apple doesn't give a damn about you or losing you as a customer.
obh well
no widescreen, but hey its a pretty good upgrade!
bluetooth: def the future with phones and stuff, just get bluephoneelite and ur pc user mates will go 'ok i want a mac'
RAM: DEF needed that, to be honest, iPhoto is a bit of a joke on G4's, and with 256MB it was almost not worth it
Graphics: regular update, i guess now all the mac support CoreImage
i have no desire to really get one tho, and my girlfriends got an iBook from about 9 monts ago so she shouldnt feel gutted.
I can see what that person meant twhen they said 'forget rumour sites, they just make u dissapointed' but its still an upgrade, long overdue
i think the guy was right that said 'you want an iBook with PBook specs, buy a powerbook!'. thats the truest thiong said, lets face it, really, iBooks are for, er-hum, girls. Boys want gadgets with all the newest stuff, backlit keys, widescreen, kickass graphics, massive HDD etc. Girls just wanna be able to shop and watch films and write essay in bed. Anyway most people dont even need a Powerbook, they just think they do. remember iMovie ran on an old iMac G3, boys just want it all, when u dont really need it
no widescreen, but hey its a pretty good upgrade!
bluetooth: def the future with phones and stuff, just get bluephoneelite and ur pc user mates will go 'ok i want a mac'
RAM: DEF needed that, to be honest, iPhoto is a bit of a joke on G4's, and with 256MB it was almost not worth it
Graphics: regular update, i guess now all the mac support CoreImage
i have no desire to really get one tho, and my girlfriends got an iBook from about 9 monts ago so she shouldnt feel gutted.
I can see what that person meant twhen they said 'forget rumour sites, they just make u dissapointed' but its still an upgrade, long overdue
i think the guy was right that said 'you want an iBook with PBook specs, buy a powerbook!'. thats the truest thiong said, lets face it, really, iBooks are for, er-hum, girls. Boys want gadgets with all the newest stuff, backlit keys, widescreen, kickass graphics, massive HDD etc. Girls just wanna be able to shop and watch films and write essay in bed. Anyway most people dont even need a Powerbook, they just think they do. remember iMovie ran on an old iMac G3, boys just want it all, when u dont really need it
They don't mention the World Book Encyclopedia and Microsoft Office for Mac Test Drive on the main iBook pages at apple.com and in the online Apple store, but both are still included with iBooks, as mentioned on the separate iBook software page. "Office Test Drive" is no big deal but the World Book is nice to have included, so I'm glad they didn't drop it.
Brian0523 said:
The Powerbook is the "iBook" of portable computers right now... it's beautiful, well designed full of features but underpowered...