Apple Releases New PowerBooks

[Trekkie]

Technically yes, but you need an adapter. That's what I meant.

That's not 'technically' that's 'it is'

You don't need an adapter, just a cable with 800 on one end and 400 on another. An adapter does some type of conversion, where this is part of the specification.

 

[Caiwyn]

Well, once again the 12" is the poor relation. I hate the way that simply because it has the smallest screen (and therefore the lowest base price), it constantly retains cheaper components, and fewer BTO options as if it's a lesser model.

It doesn't just have the smallest screen. It has the smallest total volume for air to travel and cool the system. It also has the smallest component layout for components to fit into. Both of these are factors as well.

 

[Caiwyn]

You don't need an adapter, just a cable with 800 on one end and 400 on another.

Actually, a cable with "800" on one end and "400" on the other would technically be an adapter. I think what you mean is a cable with a 9-pin connector on one end and a 4/6-pin connector on the other.

But you're right. Firewire 800 is completely backwards compatible from an electrical standpoint.

 

[bredlo]

Must you use the term "peecee luser" in every reply of yours? Really puts you in a bad light.

Bit of a double-standard, no?

 

[ryaxnb]

What's with all the negativity in reactions? I wasn't expecting G5s till mid-2005 at the earliest, and then not in the 12-inch model. Apple's PowerBooks are often almost a generation behind Power Macs:
Portable: 16Mhz 68000 vs. Mac IIci at 25Mhz 68030
PowerBook 170: 25Mhz 68030 vs. Quadra 900 25Mhz 68040
PowerBook 540: 33Mhz 68LC040 vs. Power Mac 8100 601/80
PowerBook Lombard: 400Mhz G3 vs. Power Mac G4/450.

 

[Caiwyn]

So, is this the long-awaited 7448 or an 'overclocked' 7447???

The bus is still 167 mhz.

Overclocked 7447A, yeah. The 7448 would at least have 1MB of cache, if not the 200 Mhz bus, not to mention a lower power draw for better battery life. It's very disappointing.

Still, on the bright side, this is probably the last revision of the G4 before the G5 powerbook comes, and should be plenty stable. Were it a G5, I wouldn't buy one without getting the AppleCare extension. I'll be buying the 15" superdrive model tonight.

 

[SiliconAddict]

Well, all the G5 "hints" turned out to be premature. They're not even using the new MPC7448 from Freescale, with the 200 Mhz bus speed, 1 MB of L2 cache, and lower power draw (for longer battery life). Which means this is just an overclocked 7447A. Very disappointing.

*sighs* I wish people would take a couple doses of reality. There was NO chance in hell of Apple releasing anything other then a speed bumped G4 when no apple event was planned. Guys THINK for a dang second. Jobs and Apple are not going to release such a major upgrade without some massive announcement. Lets see what turns up at WWDC. Things could get REALLY interesting then.

 

[deputy_doofy]

*sighs* I wish people would take a couple doses of reality. There was NO chance in hell of Apple releasing anything other then a speed bumped G4 when no apple event was planned. Guys THINK for a dang second. Jobs and Apple are not going to release such a major upgrade without some massive announcement. Lets see what turns up at WWDC. Things could get REALLY interesting then.

Yup. The Powerbooks are a popular line. There's just no way that they will do a super-upgrade to these machines without a little party behind it.

 

[shawnce]

What's with all the negativity in reactions? I wasn't expecting G5s till mid-2005 at the earliest, and then not in the 12-inch model. Apple's PowerBooks are often almost a generation behind Power Macs:
Portable: 16Mhz 68000 vs. Mac IIci at 25Mhz 68030
PowerBook 170: 25Mhz 68030 vs. Quadra 900 25Mhz 68040
PowerBook 540: 33Mhz 68LC040 vs. Power Mac 8100 601/80
PowerBook Lombard: 400Mhz G3 vs. Power Mac G4/450.

I guess people got used to the time when the G4 clock speed totally stagnated for a long time and hence Apple laptops ended up with the same CPUs and clock speeds as the PowerMacs (minus the dual CPU option).

 

[spasticmutant]

I just noticed - the new Powerbook claims to support the new 30" display.


Apple Cinema HD Display (30" flat panel)
Note: The 30-inch Apple Cinema HD Display requires dual link DVI support. This option is built-in to the 1.67GHz, 17-inch PowerBook G4 but requires customers to upgrade to 128MB VRAM option on the 1.67GHz, 15-inch PowerBook G4.

*sigh*

A girl can dream, can't she?

Anne Marie

 

[Caiwyn]

*sighs* I wish people would take a couple doses of reality. There was NO chance in hell of Apple releasing anything other then a speed bumped G4 when no apple event was planned. Guys THINK for a dang second. Jobs and Apple are not going to release such a major upgrade without some massive announcement. Lets see what turns up at WWDC. Things could get REALLY interesting then.

As I'd said all along, I didn't really expect a G5. But there were some interesting clues pointing to one, even if they weren't substantial. What I DID expect was for Apple to use the 7448. That would've still constituted a "speed bump," but one with double the L2 cache, a faster system bus, and lower power draw, which would've made for better system performance, less heat, and lower battery life overall. But I guess it wasn't meant to be. Oh, well.

 

[Surreal]

so they can get people who really want the optical audio to buy the most expensive powerbook. hah

they may have me. 100 dollars difference when i match specs. they may make me buy the 17 inch behemoth. i don't want 17 inches...i really don't. it BEAUTIFUL...but big.

but optical in AND out...i am a student...and i make music on my comp. i have to upgrade from my powermac 450 G4 to use some of my choice programs...so i was going to buy a mac mini for cost effectiveness. but 1 gig is not really that great for audio...and i want a laptop....and...17 inches of screen..might be..no..they're winning...they're winning good god...

no FSB increase? none... audio...must get audio in and out...need more bandwidth.

the 9700 will run unreal tournament reasonable well...right? only game i really play on the comp...

what is the difference in battery life between the 17 and 15 inch? i may have to forego optical audio if the battery suffers too much...as i live in NY and train rides are long.

 

[atari1356]

Is this true? I've only had my iBook for like 3 months or so and was planning on hooking it up my LCD with a BT mouse and KB and keeping it closed... if it is true is there a way around? (Similar to the Screen hack)

It's true, the iBook wasn't built to operate with the lid closed:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=88199

 

[Zaty]

That's not 'technically' that's 'it is'

You don't need an adapter, just a cable with 800 on one end and 400 on another. An adapter does some type of conversion, where this is part of the specification.

Whatever, my point only was that you can't connect a FW 400 device without a converter plug (or whatever those connectors are called) or the kind of cable you mentioned. Usually, FW 400 devices don't come with either of those.

 

[slffl]

I really like the lit keys on my AlBook... but most of the time I turn them off because they're just bright enough to blend in with the silver--unless the room is VERY dark.

Now they've supposedly made the keys brighter. Good!

.

I'm wondering if this is a software issue. When I first got my 17" RevA PB, the illuminated keys and ambient light sensor work flawlessy, just the right amount of keyboard light. However, now it works like crap and I find myself doing the same as you, and also having to turn UP the keyboard light in total darkness.

 

[thedoc1111]

Bad News: My 12" PB is finally out of date
Good News: By not dropping it and using Side-Track there is no reason to trade up

(Yes I went for the 80GB 5400rpm upgrade and am very pleased)

 

[Zaty]

Well, once again the 12" is the poor relation. I hate the way that simply because it has the smallest screen (and therefore the lowest base price), it constantly retains cheaper components, and fewer BTO options as if it's a lesser model.

I'll be keeping mine for a while to come, thanks.

I wouldn't call it a lesser model, it's just that internally, the 15" and 17" are based on a similar design whereas the 12" is more related to the iBook due to its form factor. As for BTO options, the only thing you can't do is upgrade the VRAM to 128 MB.

 

[wjdennen]

G4 PowerBooks will be a new "class"

When the G5 laptops arrive, they might represent a new "class" of PowerBook. Obviously, this would be a high end class.

iBook --> PowerBook G4 --> PowerBook G5

sort of like:

mini --> eMac/iMac --> PowerMac

When they do arrive, I wouldn't expect a G5 laptop at the current G4 PowerBook prices. I'd think they'd be much higher, aimed squarely at the high end.

what do you think?

 

[jdawg4324]

just ordered mine

Just ordered the new power book this is what I got

PowerBook 15" 1.67GHz SuperDrive
Part Number: Z0B6
8x SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW)
512MB DDR333 SDRAM - 1 SO-DIMM
Backlit Keyboard/Mac OS - U.S. English
AirPort Extreme Card
1.67GHz PowerPC G4 w/128MB VRAM dual
100GB Ultra ATA drive @ 5400 rpm

Estimated ship: 3-5 business days
Delivered within 5 business days after shipping
1 $2,279.00 $2,279.00
Recycling Fee*
1 $8.00 $8.00



Order Subtotal: $2,287.00
Free Shipping: $0.00
Estimated Tax*: $168.08
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated Total: $2,455.08

Very happy cant wait till it gets here anyone else waiting for their little baby.

 

[tabbeus]

Did anyone else notice that the education price for the 12 inch didn't drop? Prior to the release it was 1599 with 200 off, now it is 1499 with only 100 off. Still 1399. That's bushleague. I will wait for the g5 and hopefully a backlit keyboard to go along with it.

 

[starstreak]

Speaking from a guy who just got his PB 12in in December, I can live with the upgrade they did. It was a "fair" update. Although I wish they came out with it 3 weeks earlier so I could've returned mine.

What I am jealous about is the 8x superdrive. I have the 4x and I swear its the slowest thing out there. Doesn't feel like its burning at 4x. Also I hate the fact its the only dvd burner in my house thats a -R. Everything else is a +-R and I bought all +R disks.

Does anybody know if the scroll feature will be an added software update?

Now I would've been ticked if the 12in came with a better screen and/or faster video card. As it is now, I think my 12in with the 60gig 7200rpm will still open most apps faster than the newest PB and I doubt that the extra 200mhz is a big difference.

 

[atari1356]

When the G5 laptops arrive, they might represent a new "class" of PowerBook. Obviously, this would be a high end class.

iBook --> PowerBook G4 --> PowerBook G5

sort of like:

mini --> eMac/iMac --> PowerMac

When they do arrive, I wouldn't expect a G5 laptop at the current G4 PowerBook prices. I'd think they'd be much higher, aimed squarely at the high end.

what do you think?

When the PowerBook G5 is released (or even a PowerBook with dual-core G4 processor) Apple wouldn't have any reason to keep the older PowerBook G4's around. They'll just bump the speed of the iBooks up a bit. The G5 processor isn't any more expensive to make than the G4 as far as I know...

 

[Lacero]

So how will Apple describe these new PowerBook updates in their manuals? The PowerBook (scrolling touchpad) or PowerBook (Bluetooth 2.0) or PowerBook (SMS).

 

[CubaTBird]

i just feel so glad that my ibook doesn't look outdated to apple's current line of computers like the mac mini or even the current ibooks and i got mine like last june!

 

[chabig]

Did anyone else notice that the education price for the 12 inch didn't drop? Prior to the release it was 1599 with 200 off, now it is 1499 with only 100 off. Still 1399. That's bushleague. I will wait for the g5 and hopefully a backlit keyboard to go along with it.

At the bottom end, Apple doesn't have as much room to play with the prices. Every other Powerbook configuration is $200 off retail.

Look at it this way, it only costs you $100 more to get the Superdrive.

Chris