Apple Releases New PowerBooks

[anamenotused]

hah

you guys are hillarious, you all wanted better screens..DL..etc.. and it came. Yeah its not a big update, but you did get some things you wanted. Anyway, they changed my previous order to this update which will be my first non used mac (see sig). Thanks for the insight on the roumered updates everyone!

P.s. if anyone knows of a good laptop neoprene sleeve that is very snug and plain (no pockets, straps, or logos/crazy colors) PM me in the direction where to go.

 

[generik]

Waste for those who don't have a ton of PPC software. For those that do I would say its enough to keep them up to date until 2nd, or 3rd generation x86 PowerBooks are out. Keep in mind that all the PPC software will, at best, run at 80% of its native speed on x86. So for those who consider compatibility and speed a core importance over getting a new dual core...this could be worth the price. Personally? I wouldn't go near this release with a 10 meter electrified cattle prod.

That is mildly misleading.

Considering that Yonah and Merom are dual core processors... I am going out on a limb here, let's just say dual core scales performance by 50%. So a 2Ghz dual PM chip then would be 1.5X faster than your present day G4 1.67 chip..

Using your claims (which is unbacked by any studies no doubt), overall system performance on that new PB will still be significantly faster.

Of coursse saying that a dual core Merom is only 50% faster than this craptastic architecture we have today known as the PPC is simply... moronic! No pun intended!

 

[Spazmodius]

Oh, cripes, look right here...

Specs for 15"

It's the 7447A for crying out loud...

 

[jacg]

From the technical download...

Found this in a download about the new powerbooks. http://images.apple.com/powerbook/pdf/20051018_PowerBook_TO.pdf

• Maximum battery life test. All PowerBook systems are capable of incredible battery life. Apple tested the PowerBook G4 in several usage scenarios, using energy-saving features built into Mac OS X, to gauge what users can expect in terms of maximum battery life.
• Wireless productivity test. All PowerBook G4 computers have built-in AirPort Extreme wireless networking to make staying connected as easy as possible.4 Apple tested wireless battery life by alternately loading web pages over an AirPort network and editing a text document, never letting the system go to sleep during the test. This is a typical scenario of computer use on the go, resulting in a battery performance number that is very relevant to mobile users.
• DVD playback performance test. Every PowerBook comes standard with a DVD player for DVD movie playback. Viewing a DVD movie usually takes two hours and is an experience that shouldn’t be interrupted by the need to recharge or swap the battery. PowerBook battery life for this system-intensive activity was tested by playing a complete DVD movie in full-screen mode at full screen brightness.


Battery life performance results

17-inch PowerBook G4 (1.67GHz)
Maximum Up to 5 hours, 30 minutes
Wireless productivity Up to 4 hours, 15 minutes
DVD playback Up to 2 hours, 30 minutes

15-inch PowerBook G4 (1.67GHz)
Maximum Up to 5 hours, 30 minutes
Wireless productivity Up to 3 hours, 45 minutes
DVD playback Up to 2 hours, 15 minutes

12-inch PowerBook G4 (1.5GHz)
Maximum Up to 5 hours
Wireless productivity Up to 3 hours, 45 minutes
DVD playback Up to 2 hours, 45 minutes

Testing conducted by Apple in September 2005
using preproduction PowerBook G4 units. Battery
life depends on configuration and use.

3 hours 45 min productvity sounds good. Taken with or without grains of salt?

 

[digitalbiker]

If you look at the technical specifications of each powerbook individually (i.e. select the 15" or 17" from the "Choose your Powerbook" menu at the top of the page), you'll see that they state the G4 has a 512MB L2 cache running with a 167 Mhz bus. Since the rest of the specs seem to be updated, I'd say it's a safe bet these are still the 7447A processors.

You must be seeing a different page. I can't find a "Choose your PowerBook" menu anywhere.

 

[igetbanned]

Of coursse saying that a dual core Merom is only 50% faster than this craptastic architecture we have today known as the PPC is simply... moronic! No pun intended!

Well, AMD claims a 50% improvement over single-core.

IBM claims a 50% imrovement over single-core.

Intel also claims a 50% improvement over single-core.

'dual-core processors are expected to provide up to 50% better performance than today's single-core'

You must be seeing a different page. I can't find a "Choose your PowerBook" menu anywhere.

Towards the top of the page, directly under the menu it says "Choose a PowerBook G4" with pics of each model.

 

[-hh]

(RE: 12" PB)

You get the superdrive for the price of combo..

Ah, you're right - - I missed noticing that the Combo/Super swapped as defaults. However, based on their own BTO numbers, that's a pretty unimpressive $50 price concession.

And this $50 doesn't go far at all when buying a RAM upgrade - - due to that soldered 256MB RAM shortcoming, you're either looking at "zero sum" to go to 768MB, and no other choice until you're up to laying out another $200 (net) for 1.25GB, whereas with the iBook, you have the alternative of 1GB for an extra $71 - $100 (prices are from Crucial & Apple).

In the end, the Combo - to SD is really *no* change on the production line product - - just merely which version is the default and which is the BTO.

Overall, Apple seems to be assuming that people will pay a heck of a premium to have the option of a DVD burner in an Apple laptop.


-hh

 

[Whistleway]

Damn…this was expected but still very disappointing. For some reason my expectations for these hardware revisions were raised greatly because of Apple’s recent releases. I mean, who thought Apple would seriously release and iPod with video capability THIS soon. No one saw the iMac revision coming (and a great one at that). It really got me thinking that Apple would keep it going and jack up its “pro” line with as much as was available in all aspects, no matter how minor.

The professional market is by far and away the most educated about the capabilities of the hardware it purchases. It has to be. Competition demands it. And now this is the whimper that the PPC based laptops go out with? The inability of Apple to put a 7448 and at least an ATI 9800 in the PowerBook with over a year and a half lead time confirms how badly Apple had its back up against the wall. I guess it’s still possible, but the chances are slim to none. I’ll trade up if it does happen, but I’ve held my breath long enough. It also confirms that Apple now caters to the mass consumer market first; and the professional market a distant second (and rightly so evidenced by Apple’s fattening bottom line).

The engineers at Apple must have been screaming in agony and frustration in a way we’ll probably never know. I would love to hear some first hand accounts from those guys as to this ongoing debacle in PPC based hardware.

I’m going to go ahead and get a 15” PowerBook, eBay my 4 year old 667 G4, and be satisfied that I got the best PPC based PowerBook ever. It’s just really disheartening that I could have bought it, for the most part, back in April of ’04. I’m sooooo jealous of those of you who bought a PowerBook back then, getting the longest bang for your buck. I have MANY thousands of dollars worth of OS X software that would cost me a ton to upgrade when Intel based Macs come out to make any real performance jump worth it. This PowerBook will have to last me a long time, probably until it breaks. In all honesty, I’m hoping this will be the last time I purchase a laptop. The return on purchasing a new computer seems to dwindle more and more as time goes on. I mean how fast can you run Word, Safari, and iTunes anyway? My hardware capabilities with graphic design and video editing will just be more limited than hoped. In 4-5 years, it would be great to have Apple change the whole dynamic of computers with a tablet, home media center, and the ultimate all-in-one portable device. Things are heading that way, it’s just taking a lot longer than I had hoped for (especially since I read Wired magazine too much).

One great thing about this announcement is that it will allow me to reduce my Mac rumor mongering to 2-3 times a week instead of the hourly addiction I’ve been binging on for the past month. I fear withdrawal.

On another note, with me being in the image catalog business, this Aperture could be huge! While Adobe has the dominating winner in image editing, it has ignored image file management/archival more than it should. Apple is now going to push them. Independent photographers will love it. Even Getty and Corbis could get interested as it progresses.

Stutz

nice stuff !!!

 

[digitalbiker]

Towards the top of the page, directly under the menu it says "Choose a PowerBook G4" with pics of each model.

Thanks, I found it. I was looking in the store section rather than the hardware section.

 

[jacg]

P.s. if anyone knows of a good laptop neoprene sleeve that is very snug and plain (no pockets, straps, or logos/crazy colors) PM me in the direction where to go.

Waterfield designs. Excellent service. The flap is worth the extra too. I droped my PB 15" from 4 feet in it - not a mark. Very svelt too.

http://www.sfbags.com/index.htm

(Sorry, don't know how to PM)

 

[anamenotused]

Waterfield designs. Excellent service. The flap is worth the extra too. I droped my PB 15" from 4 feet in it - not a mark. Very svelt too.

http://www.sfbags.com/index.htm

(Sorry, don't know how to PM)

Thanks man! I wll look into it.

One thing i forgot to mention why Im glad i waited for this update. The ONLY reason i had a tough time deciding between 17inch and 15inch was the optical out. I wanted the 15 (17 too big and ugly for me), but i wanted the optical out. Now i can have it with the 15 😛

 

[ChrisWright]

OK, it's a 7447A after all

If you look at the technical specifications of each powerbook individually (i.e. select the 15" or 17" from the "Choose your Powerbook" menu at the top of the page), you'll see that they state the G4 has a 512MB L2 cache running with a 167 Mhz bus. Since the rest of the specs seem to be updated, I'd say it's a safe bet these are still the 7447A processors.

You're right - I hadn't noticed that.

But the 15" has still gained a better screen, DL SuperDrive, bigger/better hard drive, more modern RAM (cheaper to upgrade), more graphics memory, optical audio in/out and longer battery life, AND they've reduced the price.

So I think overall the new 15" is the best deal. The 12" has hardly been updated, and the 17" is still too pricey for what you get.

 

[0423379]

YAAAAAAAAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
*placing the order for a BRAND new PowerBook G4 15" superdrive with 100GB 7200RPM disk and TWO gigs of memory!!*

MADE IN HEAVEN, made in heaven by steve jobs, TO MEEEEE!!!! =) 😀

 

[Lacero]

YAAAAAAAAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

You bought Apple RAM? 😡 *smacks 0423379's face repeatedly*

 

[igetbanned]

PB's still AGP.

Even the bargin basement Dell uses PCI-Extreme on board. (configurable to 128MB)

Get with it, Steve.

 

[eflaten]

Lame upgrade

I am ordering a 15 incher right now. I need one but think the upgrade is weak. There should be a significant pricecut. 2700 us dollar is very expencive for this macine and the anemic components inside. 🙁

 

[crazydreaming]

Why couldn't they lower the price of the combo drive models, and leave superdrive as an option. Not everyone needs superdrive. This would help keep costss down. I see you only get a measly $45 dollers back if you downgrade to combo drive.

 

[Steamboatwillie]

Do you know why I am disappointed? Not because of specs, features or price. Because after the 30 zillion posts that claim "PowerBooks next Tuesday" and they go and do this on Wednesday! Ahhhrrrggg!!!! 😱

 

[Frobozz]

...without even a measly price cut.


Making an even comparision by BTO'ing the 12" iBook to an 80GB and the 12" PB down to a Combo, it means that the +30% PB price premium goes mostly towards a slightly faster HD, -5oz weight, and more Video Card, at the expense of less battery life and lousy RAM upgrade options.

Overall Apple should have put a big yellow graphic on the 12" PB's picture that says: "Go buy the 12" iBook instead".


-hh

It's clear Apple is positioning it's professional line to professionals instead of prosumers now.

Apple has also updated the 15 and 17 on other occasions with a 12" update to follow.

 

[0423379]

You bought Apple RAM? 😡 *smacks 0423379's face repeatedly*

nah... I bought two gigs of memory from a newegg alike site 😉
never in hell am I gonna pay big bucks for some Apple memory! 😎 hehe
now I just need to get rid of the old module... Sell it or something...

I analyzed the cost, the 200 bucks spent on ONE 1gb module from mac is gonna cost me 260 bucks in total. 'cus the 512 module is worth around 60 bucks. Then I need to purchase another 1gb chip wich is another 140 bucks.
Then the total cost of 2GBs of memory is amazing 400 dollars!!

So what I did is I bought two 1gb modules from the internet (brand new ofcourse) they were 300 bucks. Now I can sell the 512 module and the total cost is 240 dollars.

See!! I saved 140 dollars! 😀
MAN! I must be one SMART bizniz dude! ;p

 

[-hh]

I'm trying to decide between a ibook and a powerbook. I don't mind the price, but how do they compare in terms of battery life. Listing saids 5 for the powerbook 12" and 6 for ibook. Anyone with real world experience?

If you compare Apple Spec's, the 12" iBook has the better battery life: 5.5 hours versus 5.0 hours for the 12" PB.

Overall, if you BTO modify the iBook to an 80GB HD and BTO downgrade the PB to the Combo, you're looking at roughly a $350 difference ($1104 vs $1379 on the discount I'm eligible for) and:

Item 12" iBook vs. 12" PB
HD's: 4500 rpm vs. 5400 rpm
Video: 32MB vs. 64MB (plus whatever people say about the specific cards)
Battery: 5.5hr vs. 5.0hr.
Weight: 4.9lb vs. 4.6lb (a difference of 5 oz)
RAM: decent vs. sucky upgrade costs

FWIW, I don't generally consider all of the other differences to be all that significant (video monitor spanning without a hack, etc) - - my attitude is that if its going to have a lot of wires hooked up to it, its not really working as a laptop, unless there's also a dedicated docking station for it (such as the dock that IBM makes for the T41p that I use at work).


-hh

 

[Frobozz]

Why couldn't they lower the price of the combo drive models, and leave superdrive as an option. Not everyone needs superdrive. This would help keep costss down. I see you only get a measly $45 dollers back if you downgrade to combo drive.

You just answered your own question-- a superdrive only costs $45 more now.

That wasn't the case back in the day of the first or second generation superdrive came out. Go online and find out how much it costs for an OEM laptop "superdrive" and you'll see that the market conditions are much more favorable now. Apple bascially throws it in for free now.

 

[trailblazer]

HAHAHA. all this time for that update.
sure, it's nice enough to get a refreshment...
well, all you whining powerbook updaters should have updated when you needed the computer.

at least there is only 3 models now.

 

[caccamolle]

uninteresting updates. If I truly needed a PB I would have to buy Intel !!!
This is old technology dudes we got new batteries and other irrelevant stuff.

Stop gap till we get PB on intel

 

[anthonymoody]

One can only assume that the first intel based models will be earth-shatterngly cool, new and different. Widescreen, super thin, super long battery life, super fast and powerful. Perhaps a super cool material too like Carbon.

Otherwise Apple better continue to sell lots of iPods b/c their notebook lineup is W E A K.

TM