Apple Releases PowerBooks and iBooks

[FinnishFlash]

I've been reading up on Radeon 9700 Mobile. It seems like a great graphics chip. But this just keeps me wondering - can the G4 feed it? In Tom's Hardware tests it even beats the Desktop Radeon 9600 quite comfortably and gets close to 9600XT.

So what's the bottleneck in this one - the GPU, the processor or the busspeed?

 

[Tomaz]

So, after all it seems worldwide Aluminium supplies did not just run out

We'll see, my PB hasn't arrived here yet...

 

[raiste]

The backlit keyboard is not *that* great, i had it and i hardly ever used it.

It might be good for sitting on the back of a car or a train journey at night but thats it, the screen itself will light the keyboard enough on its own.

Maybe for the new Al Powerbooks, but on my old Wallstreet, I have get about 8 inches from the keyboard in a dark room to see the keyboard well enough to make out the keys... Maybe it's just me?

 

[Twisted T]

Just ordered my first Mac and I'm glad I came across these rumor sites as I was going to buy a 15" PB a couple of weeks ago.

On its way now:

15" PB

1GB RAM - 1 SO-DIMM

80GB HD 5400rpm

ATI 9700 - 128MB


Can't wait to get my hands on the little beauty!!

 

[dswoodley]

The best time to buy a system is when you need it.

So if you bought a 17" PB and got it 20 days ago, at least you needed it. And you might be able to talk Apple into sending you something to make up for the difference in pricing and/or specification (I would be pissed off if something I had bought suddenly dropped 20% in price whilst getting better a few weeks later - this is why more frequent upgrades are better, as the steps are smaller and hence not as harsh).

If you are only getting it for personal enjoyment though, then it is a good idea to keep your eye on the rumour pages, especially if it is 6 or more months since the last release.

Absolutely! I got my 15 alPB 1.25 ghz (dumbed down - 60 gb HD, combo drive) about six weeks ago knowing full well the line was do for a refresh soon. If Apple had released a g5 pb today, I would be kicking myself. But, i knew a g5 pb was real unlikely! The way I figure it out, if I had ordered today I would have got a 20% theoretical speed bumb and a larger HD - not insignificant but hardly revolutinary eaither. The bottomoline was I needed the pb six weeks ago! my 12in pb died and i needed a replacement ASAP. I can live with the minor differences in speed and storage quite easily!

 

[DesignBook]

-Recovering-

All this talk about this iBook or that PowerBook, this one has better this, that one has better that...

Whichever machine you end up buying, know this:

It is not just an iBook or PowerBook; it is YourBook and MyBook.

don't ever forget that.

 

[Diatribe]

Maybe for the new Al Powerbooks, but on my old Wallstreet, I have get about 8 inches from the keyboard in a dark room to see the keyboard well enough to make out the keys... Maybe it's just me?

If I work at my 12" iBook at night in a dark room I can hardly see the keyboard at all. So the backlit keyboard would come in handy in those situations. Although I don't know if the 15" generally produce more light and therefore make the lighting obsolete. I know I'd like to have it right now.

 

[jnasato]

Not bad!

Can't wait until BareFeats gets a hold of the 1.5'ers.

 

[g30ffr3y]

is there anything stewie can't do?

considering he built a weather control device because
he didnt want to eat his broccoli... id say stewie is
THE FREAKING MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Some_Big_Spoon]

The bus speed is the bottleneck in the G3 & G4.. well, the traditional G3 is gone now, but regardless, if the bus speed was like, say, 400, 500 MHz, then the G4 wouldn't be the Yugo it currently is..

Motorola doesn't care though, and hasn't for a couple years. Hence the G5.

Apple's been overclocking the G4 for a bit now, but they can't overclock the bus sadly.. it stays right where it is (in 1999) even if the CPU is stretched to it's physical limits and beyond.

I've been reading up on Radeon 9700 Mobile. It seems like a great graphics chip. But this just keeps me wondering - can the G4 feed it? In Tom's Hardware tests it even beats the Desktop Radeon 9600 quite comfortably and gets close to 9600XT.

So what's the bottleneck in this one - the GPU, the processor or the busspeed?

 

[MacRAND]

In the dark about the back lit keyboard

The backlit keyboard is not *that* great, i had it and i hardly ever used it.

It might be good for sitting on the back of a car or a train journey at night but thats it, the screen itself will light the keyboard enough on its own.

Late at night, crunching away on a laptop in bed, trying not to wake the spouse, or
In a darkened studio or hotel room or airliner trying to edit some footage, nothing like a back lit keyboard to make sure I hit the right odd key.
Pulling the LCD screen forward so it shines on the keyboard is such a pain.

Besides, what if you are on the ocean liner Poisiden on a cruise, it's hit by a tsunami, the ship rolls over upside down, the electricity goes out, and all you have is your battery powered PowerMac...CrackedButter, I'd bet you'd be thankful for the back lit screen then. Right!

 

[mxpiazza]

i went from a 12" pb to the 1.25 15" pb, and the backlit keyboard makes a world of difference, even when the screen is bright enough that you can see the keys, just because with the backlit keys, everything is simply effortless.

 

[klanda]

Crucial RAM

This massive thread has a bunch of references to Crucial RAM being the way to go.

Apple's price is C$260 for the 512 in a 14"iBook SD.
I can get Shikatronics for C$229.
Kingston seem to run for $270(!)

Is Crucial really as good as "name brand" RAM? Crucial seems to sell 512 PC2100 for US$123 (C$160) (plus shipping).

Aside from price, what do you all have to say about Crucial? Is there some independent testing/benchmarking suggesting high quality RAM?

Thanks,
K
p.s. Replacing a Pismo 500 that the dog knocked off the table last week. They day _after_ I replaced the HD!

 

[cornboy]

Massive Dilemna

Having taken delivery, Friday 16, of a refurb 15" 1.25G with superdrive for which I paid $1999 I today spoke with Apple Store and can confirm that anyone in a similar position who wishes to return their "new" machine has 10 business days from date of delivery not date of despatch or purchase.

The question is, do I want to return it? Please try to help me out here. I selected the refurb 1.25 PB in favour of 12" ibook or 12" PB because:
1. slowish 800Ghz processor in iBook wouldn't run new versions of UT and was likely to be quickly outdated in my expected 2-3 year usage window
2. 12" PB seemed a rip-off when superdrive, airport extreme card, extra RAM and larger HD added
3. BUT I love the portability and ruggedness of my current 400Mhz iBookthat I've had nearly 3 years
4. 12" PB had a slow bus speed
5. The 15" screen would be welcome despite the extra size to carry
6. These new graphics cards don't seem that exciting, the hard drives are still pretty slow, .25ghz doesn't seem to make much difference when couplded with the same 167 bus speed.

I'm not a technically profficient chap but I have been using Apple since 1988 and apart from iMovie and a bit of web and Quark work I'm not that demanding a user. i do love to get out and about to work wherever I want though. What will 15" feel like for those "gotta get out of here" moments?

Please help.

 

[eazyc10]

Just caved.

15 " pb
1.5
512 mb
80gig @5400
128 radeon 9700

I can't wait for it. I've been waiting oh so long.

 

[eazyc10]

This massive thread has a bunch of references to Crucial RAM being the way to go.

Apple's price is C$260 for the 512 in a 14"iBook SD.
I can get Shikatronics for C$229.
Kingston seem to run for $270(!)

Is Crucial really as good as "name brand" RAM? Crucial seems to sell 512 PC2100 for US$123 (C$160) (plus shipping).

Aside from price, what do you all have to say about Crucial? Is there some independent testing/benchmarking suggesting high quality RAM?

Thanks,
K
p.s. Replacing a Pismo 500 that the dog knocked off the table last week. They day _after_ I replaced the HD!

Crucial IS named brand RAM. for all i know it is better than kingston. I bought a couple of sticks for my old hp laptop and had no problems. I'm probably going to go with what newegg has which are the kingston 2700 for around 110.

 

[sushi]

Apple still has people paying a premium for a super drive in their PowerMacs, an 8x super drive will run a consumer about $100 so why is Apple essentially charging customers $200 for an outdated 4x SuperDrive?

Uh, laptop slot loading model vice desktop tray loading model?

Sushi

 

[dgoss]

15" vs. 17"

I'm upgrading from my 15" ti-book. I know that the 15" form-factor is most popular. Anyone out there in love with a 17"? I'm thinking about it... I travel a lot but don't work on planes when in enconomy (personal trips). My company travels me first so the 17" food tray will fit there... but in general, does anyone have a 17" and think it's great? Someone who actually puts it in a bag (I don't think it'll fit in mine...). Off to the Apple Store to check them out again before I order...

d.

 

[Tomaz]

Just caved.

15 " pb
1.5
512 mb
80gig @5400
128 radeon 9700

I can't wait for it. I've been waiting oh so long.

hehehe, isn't it an amazing feeling ??!!

 

[jxyama]

Dell (HELL) offers a 100gb in their laptops.

...only on their gaming laptop...

 

[Tomaz]

...only on their gaming laptop...

and that one is huge!! Maybe that's not even a 2.5" HD ?

 

[Some_Big_Spoon]

I have a 17" for home and 12" for traveling.. The 17" is just too large for anyone who travels more then 3 times a year by plane..

I ordered a new 12" this morning and I'll be using it my 30 weeks a year that I'm on the road.. the 17" wouldn't allow me the same flexibility.

I'm upgrading from my 15" ti-book. I know that the 15" form-factor is most popular. Anyone out there in love with a 17"? I'm thinking about it... I travel a lot but don't work on planes when in enconomy (personal trips). My company travels me first so the 17" food tray will fit there... but in general, does anyone have a 17" and think it's great? Someone who actually puts it in a bag (I don't think it'll fit in mine...). Off to the Apple Store to check them out again before I order...

d.

 

[Skiniftz]

...so where are the new G5's?

 

[ingenious]

I just took delivery of a Powerbook 17" on Saturday 10 April, now it's been updated and it's a $1000 less!!!!

/me happy?

Now the gloss _IS_ gone.

well this is only the 19th you have until tomorrow to return it

 

[The Cheat]

Were the 15" models always 1.1" thick? For some reason I always thought they were 1" thich like the 17" model.