Apple Releases New PowerBooks

[neutrino23]

I like the new PB updates but was disappointed that they couldn't get even a little faster CPU update. Also, it would have been really nice to see decoding of H.264 videos in the GPU, but that was too much to hope for.

My guess is we'll see a speed bump at MWSF and perhaps the dual core G4 in June at ADC. Then about a year from now or as late as MWSF 2007 we'll see PowerBooks with Intel CPUs.

I just can't see Apple leading off with Intel CPUs in the PBs. I think we'll see them first in the Mac Mini then maybe the iBooks and iMacs. Apple would want to see a couple hundred thousand units out in the field running real world apps for several months before they switch the pro level products over. Also, until we get native versions of PhotoShop, InDesign, Quark Express and others (such as all the plugins for PhotoShop and Quark Express) there won't be much need to switch. How about about all the AppleScripts people have written to automate their work flow? Will they have to be rewritten in any way to accommodate Intel chips? What would a publisher do in a mixed Intel/PowerPC environment if that was the case?

 

[Diomedes]

An expected disappointment...

I didn't have high hopes for the PowerBooks. Apple is saving the best for the first wave of Intel PowerBooks, I imagine.

I'll definitely want to see how the screen looks. The added screen real estate would be nice. But now I wonder...should I buy a second G4 PowerBook or spend the money on a 30" Cinema Display? (Opinions welcome..)

 

[oskar]

Man... no 12" updates, that's rediculous. Some people don't want a massive monster to lug around all the time.

No price cuts or upgrades to iBooks, no price cut on the 12" PB... rediculous.

Haven't gone through all the posts so sorry if it's been said, but I had already read the same complaint elsewhere.
The 12" PowerBook with no SuperDrive costed $1599. Now it costs $1499 with an 8x SuperDrive. And as far as I can tell, the battery life is improved as well as the screen's brigthness (according to Apple). Those minor details (including the price drop) must count as updates.

 

[powerbook911]

Haven't gone through all the posts so sorry if it's been said, but I had already read the same complaint elsewhere.
The 12" PowerBook with no SuperDrive costed $1599. Now it costs $1499 with an 8x SuperDrive. And as far as I can tell, the battery life is improved as well as the screen's brigthness (according to Apple). Those minor details (including the price drop) must count as updates.

The 12-inch is identical. The same box that was shipping yesterday. It isn't brighter, and the battery life has not improved.

 

[ruprick]

Switching to Apple! Applecare thoughts?

Im going to buy the 12" powerbook for my move to Apple, I am fed up with PC's . I have been watching this forum like an addict since before the paris expo. Does anybody think the applecare is a worthwhile investment if im going to sell it in 12-18 months? are there any good sites to research powerbook hardware/reliability issues? Right now im thinking i dont need it becuase im going to keep it at home and baby it like my pet kitty haha. Im looking forward to my switch to apple. Nice site i have learned a lot.
cheers

 

[iGary]

I can hardly wait for the intel Powerbooks. But, the price drop, nicer screen in regards to res and brightness, superdrive standard, made the 15" a pretty attractive buy.

The Mactel PB will be my next Mac purchase.

 

[AidenShaw]

Why not wait 6 months to Jan 07 when there most likely will be a rev.b Merom based laptop with much more software and many OS/driver bugs worked out. Merom will run faster, cooler, and 64 bit.

But OSX86 and all the applications will still be 32-bit only.

You'll have to wait for another OSX and application update cycle in order to get the faster 64-bit code....

 

[matt18012]

Dothan or Yonah Powerbook at Macworld? Clearly something has to happen in January.

Even the current run of Dothan chips would be a MAJOR update to the powerbooks. Developers are being told to code for Dothan, remember.

Also, keep this in mind: while there may not be x86 native versions of pro apps (Quark, Pro Tools, Adobe) right away, users should be able to boot into windows to run these. I think Apple will sell the most rev a Powerbooks to Windows users who want to switch but don't want to buy all new software.

I would love the option of booting xp to play Half Life or Doom on a top-of-the-line Yonah book in Jan. Just boot back in OSX for general use (all the iapps and apple pro apps will def. have native versions)

Thoughts?

 

[digitalbiker]

It's all about processing power, and the single core G4 just isn't cutting it. A faster airport extreme card is needed as well (108 mps). 2GB of RAM is just not enough. Apple needs to stop putting all of there efforts towards a new ipod of the month and realize that they are a "computer" company. Roll over some of the research and development money away from itunes/ipod sector, and put it towards the powerbook.

I tend to agree with you here. Everybody keeps wanting to blame Motorola and IBM both of which make some outstanding products, especially IBM. But the fact is Apple also wasn't willing to pay for high priced chips or put the money into PPC technology to make it competitive with Intel. Intel had so much R&D money from the vast volume of chips sold that Apple,IBM, & Moto weren't willing to invest the money to keep up.
The PPC design is superior and has the advantage of not having to maintain legacy code like Intel's x86 but Intel had the volume and money to just out build the AIM alliance.
Now Apple will use the same chipsets as everyone else and will be competing spec for spec with the Dell machine. Let's hope that quality, great design, and innovation continue with the computer line once Apple goes head to head with Dell.

It's all about processing power, and the single core G4 just isn't cutting it. A faster airport extreme card is needed as well (108 mps). 2GB of RAM is just not enough. Apple needs to stop putting all of there efforts towards a new ipod of the month and realize that they are a "computer" company. Roll over some of the research and development money away from itunes/ipod sector, and put it towards the powerbook.

It won't happen that early. Dothan will most likely be used in ibook and mac mini, spring 2006. Yonah will be used in Apple laptop (don't think it will be called a PowerBook anymore), and imac summer 2006, last will be woodcrest or conroe pro machine (won't be called PM)spring 2007.

But OSX86 and all the applications will still be 32-bit only.

You'll have to wait for another OSX and application update cycle in order to get the faster 64-bit code....

You don't think OS X 10.5 will be out by Jan. 2007.

 

[picklescott]

512MB soldered??

I'm considering purchasing one of the new 15" PowerBooks. To upgrade the RAM from Apple is very expensive, but I want to make sure that my options are open in the future. Are both RAM slots user-accessible?

To buy a 1GB stick of RAM from Crucial is only $150.00. (To upgrade the 512MB stick to a 1GB stick from Apple is $180.00). I'm hoping that I can simply add this to the PowerBook and have a total of 1.5GB.

If I wanted to, in the future, would I be able to replace the 512MB that came with the computer with another 1GB stick, or is this soldered in?

 

[digitalbiker]

I'm considering purchasing one of the new 15" PowerBooks. To upgrade the RAM from Apple is very expensive, but I want to make sure that my options are open in the future. Are both RAM slots user-accessible?

To buy a 1GB stick of RAM from Crucial is only $150.00. (To upgrade the 512MB stick to a 1GB stick from Apple is $180.00). I'm hoping that I can simply add this to the PowerBook and have a total of 1.5GB.

If I wanted to, in the future, would I be able to replace the 512MB that came with the computer with another 1GB stick, or is this soldered in?

You can upgrade later if you want. Apple doesn't solder in the ram on the user-accessable slots, only the 12" PB has ram soldered directly to the MB.

 

[picklescott]

You can upgrade later if you want. Apple doesn't solder in the ram on the user-accessable slots, only the 12" PB has ram soldered directly to the MB.

Suh-weet! Thanks!

 

[kenstee]

FYI, just logged on to Crucial as a past customer (with my password) and was quoted a cost of $109.94 (after their 10% discount) for the 1 Gig DDR2. When I signed on without first logging in as a customer the price was $140. Maybe the key is to register at their site then sign on again using your login. Or somehow the site recognized me as a returning customer and gave me a lower price. Very odd but I'll take it!

 

[kenstee]

I'm considering purchasing one of the new 15" PowerBooks. To upgrade the RAM from Apple is very expensive, but I want to make sure that my options are open in the future. Are both RAM slots user-accessible?

YES

ITo buy a 1GB stick of RAM from Crucial is only $150.00. (To upgrade the 512MB stick to a 1GB stick from Apple is $180.00). I'm hoping that I can simply add this to the PowerBook and have a total of 1.5GB.

YES

IIf I wanted to, in the future, would I be able to replace the 512MB that came with the computer with another 1GB stick, or is this soldered in?

No problem. Only the 12" has one stick soldered in.

 

[picklescott]

FYI, just logged on to Crucial as a past customer (with my password) and was quoted a cost of $109.94 (after their 10% discount) for the 1 Gig DDR2. When I signed on without first logging in as a customer the price was $140. Maybe the key is to register at their site then sign on again using your login. Or somehow the site recognized me as a returning customer and gave me a lower price. Very odd but I'll take it!

I'm still getting a price of $148.99 ($134.09 sale price).
I am a past customer of Crucial, and have now logged in, but no further discount. Does anybody else see the $109.94 (sale) price???

 

[g0gie]

I'm trying to get that price too , but with no success

 

[~Shard~]

I can hardly wait for the intel Powerbooks. But, the price drop, nicer screen in regards to res and brightness, superdrive standard, made the 15" a pretty attractive buy.

Absolutely, I think it is a nice upgrade, but I guess a 7448 would still have been a nice added touch.

As I said, if this means Intel PowerBooks are coming sooner than perhaps initially thought, all the better!

 

[efoto]

Nice of them to not touch the 12" at all. Screen is the same, battery the same, everything the same. When I first saw the announcment I was a little peeved because mine isn't that old and I knew I would want a new one....thankfully my Rev D 12" is the new one , so I don't have to hassle to buy/sell.

Thanks Apple, still waiting for Mactel's I guess....hope they work out well.

 

[~Shard~]

Nice of them to not touch the 12" at all. Screen is the same, battery the same, everything the same. When I first saw the announcment I was a little peeved because mine isn't that old and I knew I would want a new one....thankfully my Rev D 12" is the new one , so I don't have to hassle to buy/sell.

Thanks Apple, still waiting for Mactel's I guess....hope they work out well.

That's one way to look at it! See, there always is a bright side...

 

[deanwaterman]

Powerbooks Are In!!!!

Maybe this was posted already, but I live in Minnesota and I just got back from my Apple Store and they had about 50 new Powerbooks in the back room. They were all wrapped in brown paper and had been delivered yesterday. I know the manager and he took me back to show me the stock. They are waiting for all of the materials for the floor before they put the new ones out for display. If you go in and ask they will tell you they have them, but only if you ask.

 

[p0intblank]

The 17-inch model is now equal to the res. of my Dell 2005FPW. That's insane! I wish I had this new PowerBook, but the one I am now is still a kick ass machine. It just needs more RAM...

 

[deanwaterman]

Im going to buy the 12" powerbook for my move to Apple, I am fed up with PC's . I have been watching this forum like an addict since before the paris expo. Does anybody think the applecare is a worthwhile investment if im going to sell it in 12-18 months? are there any good sites to research powerbook hardware/reliability issues? Right now im thinking i dont need it becuase im going to keep it at home and baby it like my pet kitty haha. Im looking forward to my switch to apple. Nice site i have learned a lot.
cheers

Apple Care can be a good investment on a laptop. I had to have some repairs done on a less-than-one-year model and it was going to cost $1300.00. They said that water got inside, how I am not sure. I called Apple and fought it and they paid it. So the Apple Care warranty costs $239 with the Education Discount and it is worth it!!!

That said, good luck with your new Powerbook.

 

[Mr Maui]

The 17-inch model is now equal to the res. of my Dell 2005FPW. That's insane! I wish I had this new PowerBook, but the one I am now is still a kick ass machine. It just needs more RAM...

When my new one arrives, I want to hook it up to my 2405FPW to see how that looks. I picked the 2405FPW up with a Dimension 9100 2.8, fully decked out for just slightly about the price of the Apple 23" (before today's reduction). It's a nice monitor too.

 

[pubwvj]

True Love

Soo... This is the PowerBook for me. PB15".
I seriously doubt that Apple will be releasing
any more PPC PowerBook upgrades.
I must have PPC since Intel PowerBooks will
not support legacy Classic applications and
the data they love. A pitty. Apple is losing sales
by not continuing support for legacy data and
applications that will never see upgrades to x86.
A LOT of businesses and people rely on these programs.

 

[paulman592]

7200 RPM can be put in 12" models

it is possible to put a 7200RPM drive in a 12" PB. I'm typing on one right now. I've also used a 12" w/same specs w/a 5400RPM. i find a BIG performance increase. Of course i do mostly audio production. but for hard drive intensive stuff, upgrade to 7200RPM is definately worth the extra change. Be careful w/installing one. I'd strongly advise letting a certified tech doing the install on a 12" as they are much more compact and easy to damage (screws underneath certain keys, not much room for error, etc.). Kinda bummed about no 12" upgd, but not so much since i bought one a month ago. Where's the widescreen? bah

~P

1.5ghz 12" PB, 1.25GB, 7200RPM 100GB
1.42ghz Mini, 1GB, BT/AP, 80GB