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Apple Releases New PowerBooks
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Clix Pix
macrumors Penryn
New PB on the way!
I love my G5 20" iMac so much and am so impressed with the whole Mac system that I've now gone ahead and ordered me a 15" PB with the 7200rpm 100 hard drive and 2 GB RAM. Wheeeee! My old laptop bites the dust...
Maybe I should change my screen name to "Over the Top!" LOL....
Actually, this was just really a good time for me to do this kind of thing and now I will be set for a while, gliding past the first interations of the Macintels....
I figure I'll be waiting through the second or third versions before I'm ready to buy again, and in the meantime I'll have two very good machines to meet all my needs.
OTB
I love my G5 20" iMac so much and am so impressed with the whole Mac system that I've now gone ahead and ordered me a 15" PB with the 7200rpm 100 hard drive and 2 GB RAM. Wheeeee! My old laptop bites the dust...
Maybe I should change my screen name to "Over the Top!" LOL....
Actually, this was just really a good time for me to do this kind of thing and now I will be set for a while, gliding past the first interations of the Macintels....
I figure I'll be waiting through the second or third versions before I'm ready to buy again, and in the meantime I'll have two very good machines to meet all my needs.
OTB
plinden said:
I didn't want to be the one to say it, but that was my first thought. More likely I'll get the ibook I ordered next week and the MacIntels won't show up until '06. I can't be the only one to get an email like this?
Until someone else receives a delay notice, I'm going to be like the first guy to get the Mac mini with the upgraded specs. If anything changes, I'll post here.
mongoos150 said:
Why does your eBay description claim it's a "New-sealed in box" unit when in fact your signature says it's been used? 😕
rinser said:
He is already afflicted if he took the day off to play with it... Looks like we hooked another one!
Do you have proof that everything will need to be 64-bit on x64 to get the performance increase? At the risk of restarting a topic that has been thrashed to death previously, 64-bit is mostly about the address space, not about performance.AidenShaw said:
My knowledge or processor design is dated but I think I'm correct in saying that performance in modern chips is about GHz, parallelism, and pipelining. I think there is also the potential for a 64-bit chip to pack more into a single instruction but then longer instructions can take more cycles so again it is something of a juggling act.
Plus a new instruction is only going to be useful if the OS/application uses it which requires a compiler to take advantage of it. Again this is not a factor of 64-bitness but compiler optimisation. For example an Intel compiler will produce binaries that run faster on Intel and the particular chip for which it is optimised. Perfect for weighted benchmarks.
Talking about 32-bit speed sounds like nonsense to me, I would be happy to be enlightened.
Get a firewire cable and plug it into both machines. Boot one machine while holding down the "T" key on your keyboard (called target disk mode). The machine's hard drive will appear as a drive on the other machine.Alexs45 said:
Yeah, I agree with you. What we tend to forget is the impact of the software we use. My TiBook 667 has stood the test of time exceptionally well and performance actually improved with each subsequent release of OSX. I added a 7200rpm drive as a stop gap until the mythical G5 PB arrived and that too made the machine feel much snappier.iQuit said:
Over the fence there are viruses/spyware/adware plus a faster slide into obsolescence. And when Vista shows up you better be ready to plunk down some hard cash to buy a system capable of running it.
I'm seriously contemplating this upgrade. For me an extra GHz is going to be a spectacular performance improvement, and the display is finally at an acceptable resolution. The only bummer is the 167MHz FSB, bleh. But I would get a machine that I would trust to get me to OSX 10.5 and a merom-based laptop. By that stage the wrinkles in the transition will be completely ironed out, and most if not all software will be running native and Intel optimised.
will g4 powerbook users be able to upgrade their software and operating systems once the switch to intel has been made? or will these new powerbooks become immediately incompatible when the new mactels arive?
When the intel chips come out, will you be able to get them installed into the current PB's or will they only work on the future PB's?
iBook 15,2" wide
Maybe they are preparing new models ie 15.2" wide screen with resolution the old PowerBooks (1280*800)? Last update allows them to inrtoduce such version without killing the PB15" sales.
There is 46 days left to the given date so it could be.... hopefully.
On the other hand it seems a little bit to early for Intel ones. Those should appear on January MacWorld "series".
maddav said:
Maybe they are preparing new models ie 15.2" wide screen with resolution the old PowerBooks (1280*800)? Last update allows them to inrtoduce such version without killing the PB15" sales.
There is 46 days left to the given date so it could be.... hopefully.
On the other hand it seems a little bit to early for Intel ones. Those should appear on January MacWorld "series".
Switching
I've been waiting for the new PB updates for some time. I have never owned a mac before and this seems to be a good time to make a switch 🙂
I do need a laptop but seeing the negative reactions on the new PBs on this formum almost makes me believe that I should not buy one! I certainly do not want to wait for another 6 months, especially now that the first mactels are considered just a "first step" and will be replaced by faster cpu's.
Please tell me, is the 15" PB a bad deal as some people here state? Am I better of with my Dell D610 with a 1024x768 resolution? I could certainly use a final push towards the mac camp 😉
I may opt for an iBook but I like the PB design and screen better. I will be using the laptop for office applications, internet, a little photoshopping, ripping cd's, maybe a little video editting.
I've been waiting for the new PB updates for some time. I have never owned a mac before and this seems to be a good time to make a switch 🙂
I do need a laptop but seeing the negative reactions on the new PBs on this formum almost makes me believe that I should not buy one! I certainly do not want to wait for another 6 months, especially now that the first mactels are considered just a "first step" and will be replaced by faster cpu's.
Please tell me, is the 15" PB a bad deal as some people here state? Am I better of with my Dell D610 with a 1024x768 resolution? I could certainly use a final push towards the mac camp 😉
I may opt for an iBook but I like the PB design and screen better. I will be using the laptop for office applications, internet, a little photoshopping, ripping cd's, maybe a little video editting.
digitalbiker
macrumors 65816
daroe said:
To be perfectly honest, the bulk of the negative comments from people on this forum are exagerated. The 15" PowerBook is a damn nice unit. 😀
It includes all the ports (USB2,BT2.0, FW800,DVI, optical I/O, etc) that you could ever want. It includes gigabit ethernet, relatively light weight, great battery life, excellent display, main stream GPU, Dual Layer DVD burning superdrive, scroll pad, good keyboard, backlit key board, motion sensor protected 7200 rpm drive, and the list goes on.
If you are switching from windows, you will love OS X, the iLife bundle, iTunes,safari and other Apple software included with your purchase. From the moment you receive this machine in it's elegant packaging you will know that you have purchased something of true quality. 😀
Don't let the negative comments detour you from purchasing such a fine machine and software from a great company. You won't be dissappointed. Most of the negative comments stem from people who expect so much from Apple that their expectations sometimes exceed reality and they are dissappointed. 🙄
Bought It
Ok Compadres -
I FINALLY bought my first laptop, ever - the newest 15" PB. I am so excited I don't know how the heck I'm gonna wait for the 4 - 9 days it will take to get here! Please let me know if you think I made any mistakes re. the BTO options I chose:
--I left the 512 MB of RAM basic, but will order 1 GB of non-apple ram and put that in, at about $110.00 or so, hopefully. So then I'll have 1.5 GB - a nice improvement. Apple wanted to charge me $180.00 to replace the 512 MB with 1 GB and then have the extra space for a future GB to be added, if I understood the guy correctly. Not the best option.
--I ordered 100 GB ATA drive at 7200 rpm, cause if I have the choice between a) getting to store, for example, an extra movie or two (and it will store quite enough as it is, it seems), or b) to have the computer be all-around faster (this is how it was explained to me), I choose the speed.
Yay! So happy! Ok be honest - I might have time to make changes to the order if someone made a convincing-enough case!
Ok Compadres -
I FINALLY bought my first laptop, ever - the newest 15" PB. I am so excited I don't know how the heck I'm gonna wait for the 4 - 9 days it will take to get here! Please let me know if you think I made any mistakes re. the BTO options I chose:
--I left the 512 MB of RAM basic, but will order 1 GB of non-apple ram and put that in, at about $110.00 or so, hopefully. So then I'll have 1.5 GB - a nice improvement. Apple wanted to charge me $180.00 to replace the 512 MB with 1 GB and then have the extra space for a future GB to be added, if I understood the guy correctly. Not the best option.
--I ordered 100 GB ATA drive at 7200 rpm, cause if I have the choice between a) getting to store, for example, an extra movie or two (and it will store quite enough as it is, it seems), or b) to have the computer be all-around faster (this is how it was explained to me), I choose the speed.
Yay! So happy! Ok be honest - I might have time to make changes to the order if someone made a convincing-enough case!
Go for it!
I too have a TiBook 667 which I also gave a new lease of life with a Hitachi 7K60 7200rpm drive, plus 1GB RAM. Despite it not having things like USB2, FireWire 800, Airport Extreme, SuperDrive, etc I have to agree that it's a great machine and still cuts it performance-wise even though it's well over 3 years old.
So I have high hopes for the 15" with 100GB 7200rpm drive I ordered on Wednesday.
My advice: go for it! 🙂
pigwin32 said:
I too have a TiBook 667 which I also gave a new lease of life with a Hitachi 7K60 7200rpm drive, plus 1GB RAM. Despite it not having things like USB2, FireWire 800, Airport Extreme, SuperDrive, etc I have to agree that it's a great machine and still cuts it performance-wise even though it's well over 3 years old.
So I have high hopes for the 15" with 100GB 7200rpm drive I ordered on Wednesday.
My advice: go for it! 🙂
Greenone said:
Is it possible to use a 1024 MB stick and a 512 MB stick together when the RAM is DDR2? There is no such option when you order the computer, either it's 1x 512 MB, 2x 512 MB, 1x 1024 MB or 2x 1024 MB.
If you buy a powerbook and install the RAM yourself (which you will obviously do), and if you later purchase applecare and the computer breaks down, will there be any trouble? I didn't think so, but I read somewhere earlier in this thread (I think), or in some other thread that applecare is only valid when you let apple install the RAM (which seems stupid to me).
daroe said:
OOPS - edited below (I originally wrote "almost prefer it" instead of ALMOST always prefer it!)
Daroe -
I was in the exact same camp as you (similar reaction) but I just ordered the 15" a couple of hours ago, regardless - and I'm so happy I did! I figure I'd have to wait longer than 6 months because of the same reasons you already stated, and I barely have time to wait the week or so I have to wait before getting it, built-to-order. I needed it a few weeks ago and have been struggling w/o it. Anyway...I'm not the best person to get advice from, being fairly computer-illiterate, but my most intelligent, thoughtful friends swear by Mac laptops over PC laptops. After comparing the PB to other laptops, it's a gorgeous, thin, light-weight computer considering all it does, and several people have told me it's the best computer on the market anywhere (the PB), at the very least for its reliability and giving the most ease-of-use and least problems. E.g. some PC laptops have a few more bells and whistles at this point but also come with more problems, making it not worth it, in comparison. I've been told it's fast enough that professionals, serious artists and TV/film-makers almost always prefer it, that it's more than fast enough for the average person, and that all its other conveniences and lack of problems makes up for any minor speed differences.
Finally - as has been pointed out several times in this forum - it has a great re-sale value on e-bay. When the new ones come out, you may only have to put in a couple hundred extra bucks for the new one, after selling this one. 🙂 This is an especially great deal for someone like me, who gets the student price and can turn around presumably and sell it later for about what I paid for it, or a little under.
Short answer... yes
Seriously, there's no problem using 512MB and 1024MB modules together. They don't have to be matched or installed in pairs in PowerBooks.
In my old G3 B/W tower (now upgraded to a G4) I think I have 2x64MB, 1x128MB and 1x256MB modules and have never had any problems.
I hope so - that's exactly what I'm doing!! 😀other said:
Seriously, there's no problem using 512MB and 1024MB modules together. They don't have to be matched or installed in pairs in PowerBooks.
In my old G3 B/W tower (now upgraded to a G4) I think I have 2x64MB, 1x128MB and 1x256MB modules and have never had any problems.
Not sure about that, but it's easy to install so I doubt there would be a problem.other said:
Another thing, is it possible that Apple will update the 12" model soon? I ask since they didn't touch it at all, they didn't even put in the new DL superdrive. Wouldn't that have been a very easy thing to do? I read some comments where people said that Apple have updated the 12" separately in the past.
I really want a Powerbook, I sold my iBook last month planning to buy an updated 12" Powerbook when they were released. I only wanted 512 MB RAM soldered on the motherboard and a DL superdrive, but apple didn't even make this easy update. I think the 15" model is too expensive for what you get, it's not that it's too slow for my needs, it's just that I would feel screwed over by Apple when it's costing this much, it's not much of an update compared to last year. How much did a 15" with superdrive cost last year?
If they had updated it (the 15") with the new 7448 I probably wouldn't hesitate. As I said, not because of the speed, more because of the not-feeling-as-screwed-over-part. 😉 I realize this sounds quite silly, am I the only one who feels like this? The bump in FSB speed would've at least been something.
Also I can't help but think what the intel Powerbooks will look like. I'm going to feel so outdated in a couple of months if I make the purchase. I realize it's like this with technology, but it still hurts. People who bought a Powerbook last year don't feel outdated at all right now, it's so unfair! I don't know what to do right now. I don't have a computer, which is why I'm in such a hurry. I don't really need it, I want it (without feeling screwed by Apple)!
I realize this isn't a problem with older Powerbooks and a lot of other computers. The older Powerbooks used DDR-RAM, while the new ones use DDR2-RAM, and it seems like DDR2-RAM has to be installed by themselves or with other memory sticks of the same size. I really hope I'm wrong about this.
Exactly, that's why I asked.
I really want a Powerbook, I sold my iBook last month planning to buy an updated 12" Powerbook when they were released. I only wanted 512 MB RAM soldered on the motherboard and a DL superdrive, but apple didn't even make this easy update. I think the 15" model is too expensive for what you get, it's not that it's too slow for my needs, it's just that I would feel screwed over by Apple when it's costing this much, it's not much of an update compared to last year. How much did a 15" with superdrive cost last year?
If they had updated it (the 15") with the new 7448 I probably wouldn't hesitate. As I said, not because of the speed, more because of the not-feeling-as-screwed-over-part. 😉 I realize this sounds quite silly, am I the only one who feels like this? The bump in FSB speed would've at least been something.
Also I can't help but think what the intel Powerbooks will look like. I'm going to feel so outdated in a couple of months if I make the purchase. I realize it's like this with technology, but it still hurts. People who bought a Powerbook last year don't feel outdated at all right now, it's so unfair! I don't know what to do right now. I don't have a computer, which is why I'm in such a hurry. I don't really need it, I want it (without feeling screwed by Apple)!
ChrisWright said:
I realize this isn't a problem with older Powerbooks and a lot of other computers. The older Powerbooks used DDR-RAM, while the new ones use DDR2-RAM, and it seems like DDR2-RAM has to be installed by themselves or with other memory sticks of the same size. I really hope I'm wrong about this.
Exactly, that's why I asked.
true777
macrumors 6502a
I think the 15" is a great deal now, better than the dated 12". I wouldn't expect them to update the 12" separately -- unlikely.
I for one doubt they will be on time with a Mactel Powerbook by next June, so who knows, maybe there will still be a 7448 based Powerbook as a stopgap?
I for one doubt they will be on time with a Mactel Powerbook by next June, so who knows, maybe there will still be a 7448 based Powerbook as a stopgap?
other said:
I just got off the phone with Apple and the guy told me there will be no problems with the whole MB/GB thing. He said I can order 1 GB from whomever, install it, and that I'll then have 1.5 GB - no problem. He also said he thought it was a smart thing to do. I love how most Apple salespeople are HUMAN BEINGS who don't seem to feel the need to lie to you - or else I've just been lucky so far.
I also asked about whether doing this will be covered by the apple insurance and he said he wasn't sure but that he could connect me to the right dept. But he said if an Apple store person put it in for me (and one of those Apple "Genious" guys said he'd put it in for free for me since of course a monkey could do it), it will definitely be covered. When I was at one of the Apple stores yesterday, I did happen to ask Mr. Genious and he too said it would be covered for sure - though he didn't specify whether or not it's cause he's an apple representative who will be putting it in. Make sense?
I shouldn't admit this, but either I can afford it or I can't, and once all is said and done, I've forgotten about the money and have the best machine possible. Just remember that you can sell it later, without losing too much money at all. The 15" is simply a better laptop than the 12" and easier on the eyes and easier to use because of its size. And it's not that heavy at all. I would take it for what it is (which seems pretty damn nice) and not what it will be changed into in some too-far distant future, considering the amt. of time you'll most likely have to wait for the 2nd of the Intel to come out. If one comes out sooner, you'll be guaranteed to get even MORE money for the one you're about to buy - cause it will be even LESS old. Now of course if you don't really need one right away, just wait for another 6 months to a year. Considering the resale value though, I'd go get the latest and greatest you can get. 🙂
I also asked about whether doing this will be covered by the apple insurance and he said he wasn't sure but that he could connect me to the right dept. But he said if an Apple store person put it in for me (and one of those Apple "Genious" guys said he'd put it in for free for me since of course a monkey could do it), it will definitely be covered. When I was at one of the Apple stores yesterday, I did happen to ask Mr. Genious and he too said it would be covered for sure - though he didn't specify whether or not it's cause he's an apple representative who will be putting it in. Make sense?
other said:
I shouldn't admit this, but either I can afford it or I can't, and once all is said and done, I've forgotten about the money and have the best machine possible. Just remember that you can sell it later, without losing too much money at all. The 15" is simply a better laptop than the 12" and easier on the eyes and easier to use because of its size. And it's not that heavy at all. I would take it for what it is (which seems pretty damn nice) and not what it will be changed into in some too-far distant future, considering the amt. of time you'll most likely have to wait for the 2nd of the Intel to come out. If one comes out sooner, you'll be guaranteed to get even MORE money for the one you're about to buy - cause it will be even LESS old. Now of course if you don't really need one right away, just wait for another 6 months to a year. Considering the resale value though, I'd go get the latest and greatest you can get. 🙂
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