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Apple Releases PowerBooks and iBooks

hulugu said:
Buying a new computer and then having a better version come out two months later does suck and even with these very helpful rumor boards Apple is so secretive that it makes it difficult to ascertain just when a computer will be updated, even last week people weren't sure that the Powerbooks would be updated.
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well, for people who just can't stomach the notion better computers will come out at a lower price in the future, get these updated PBs. it will be the LAST G4 PB, so you will have the greatest and the fastest G4 PB forever and ever! :D ;)
 
jxyama said:
yes. standard ultra ATA 2.5" HD. 100 GB.

but only available as an option on their XPS (gaming) series laptop.
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I think you'll find that while technically it is classed as one drive it has an extra platter which contributes to the whole laptop being very very thick, a good anology would be the difference in thickness between the 20 and 40GB ipods. 80GB is the largest single platter 2.5" drive out there. Lacie do the same thing in their bigger disks. The newly launched 1TB model is actually 4 250GB drives brought together.
 
I'm going to chime in a little late on this thread, but I'm very satisfied with these updates. I am a bit surprised, however, that they put a 1.5Ghz G4 chip in a Powerbook, as it seems like it would run really hot. But, maybe they've got the G4 heat thing down.

It says five hours of battery life on the 12-inch Powerbooks, so I wonder what it is on the 15" and 17".

All in all, nice updates Apple. But hopefully this is the last G4 update to the Powerbooks. :)
 
17 ship date?

Has anyone been given a better ship date for the 17 inch PBs than "early May"?

EDIT:

Just ordered one and they said "2-3 weeks" - so it should arrive between May 3-10.
 
devman said:
My point is the machine has not even been delivered yet. If I got it last week - yeah, that's different.

You after the fact experts are only fooling yourselves. Just one month back only for the buyers guide you say... so 5 weeks ago the buyers guide said it was ok did it... Applying your monday quarterback rules, noone should have ordered since about last Nov/Dev (when the macworld update rumors started).

Anyway, my point is the machine hasn't been delivered yet.
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In Norway there is a consumer-law that gives us the right to cancel any purchase from any seller within 3 weeks (or something like that). You don't need any reason. Are you sure there is no such legal protection where you are?
 
OK, I have to ask. Can anybody seriously explain what the purpose of 128 MB of video memory over 64 MB of video memory would be? My understanding has been that 2D graphics will not benefit from that much memory at all. The amount it benefits 3D depends on how large the textures you want to store are. The only 3D application that, as far as I know, can push past 32MB let alone 64MB would be games. This has been my assumption, but with everybody whining that 64 isn't enough, I think I missed something. What purpose, besides gaming, does more video memory serve?
 
just ordered one - couldn't hold off any longer :)

PBG4/1.5/512/80G/SD/AP/SM Z0A304HMH

On or before
26/04/2004

Processor PowerPC G4
128MB VR
512MB DDR333 SDRAM-2X256MB
80GB Ultra ATA Drive@5400rpm
Super Drive (DVD-R/CD-RW)
Country Kit/AirPort Extreme-SM
BkLit Keyboard/Mac OS-SM

note the shipping date which seems very reasonable. Ordered a faster HD and more VRam for the graphic processor because it seemed worth it considering the price (edit)... I just hope they don't bring out G5 PB's next week ! :rolleyes:
 
Kinda makes me happy to know I have the last SUB 1Ghz G4 Apple computer made! My little G4 933Mhz iBook :D
 
YES it is

aswitcher said:
On the Apple HDD

is there a real advantage going from the 4200 to the 5400 rpm 80 gig? Is it worth the money?
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25% speed increase over 4200
$50 includes installation
To get what Apple should really provide as an option (7200 rpm 60GB Hitachi/IBM) would cost $212 for the drive, and $150~$200 to install

Think about it: 4200 rpm is sooooo slooooooooow.
 
spinko said:
PBG4/1.5/512/80G/SD/AP/SM Z0A304HMH

On or before
26/04/2004

Processor PowerPC G4
128MB VR
512MB DDR333 SDRAM-2X256MB
80GB Ultra ATA Drive@5400rpm
Super Drive (DVD-R/CD-RW)
Country Kit/AirPort Extreme-SM
BkLit Keyboard/Mac OS-SM

note the shipping date which seems very reasonable. Ordered a faster HD and more VRam for the graphic processor because it seemed worth it considering the price (edit)...
Click to expand...

I got the same powerbook and it says the 26th. Does anyone know if its at all possible it will be shipped today or tomorrow? I placed my order at 8:45 Eastern. Hopefully it will be here before the end of the week :D
 
Sigh, I knew I should have waited to buy my new ALbook. Well it lasted a good 3 weeks! Seriously though, it is always nice to see Apple make progress!
 
MacRAND said:
25% speed increase over 4200
$50 includes installation
To get what Apple should really provide as an option (7200 rpm 60GB Hitachi/IBM) would cost $212 for the drive, and $150~$200 to install

Think about it: 4200 rpm is sooooo slooooooooow.
Click to expand...

So your saying I would see signficant delays when playing games, using DV Video editing, etc?
 
thankyou and goodnight

15" super-duperdrive powerbook, 80gb (5400), 1gb ram (1 slot), 128mb graphic card- all the trimmings, will site nicely alongside my beautiful rev A 5gb ipod. Im a happy man. Thankyou Apple, and goodnight for another 5 or so years.
 
Ordered mine:

PBG4/1.5/512/80G/SD/AP/BT/LL Z0A304FUF
On or before
04/26/2004
Processor PowerPC G4 128MB VR
512MB DDR333 SDRAM-2X256MB
80GB Ultra ATA Drive@5400rpm
Super Drive (DVD-R/CD-RW)
Country Kit/AirPort Extreme
BkLit Keyboard/Mac OS

I hope it ships early. I had just returned my 1.25 15SD this morning, and was hoping they would have the new superdrive in stock, but they only had the combo :(.

As for the previous PB battery, I believe it was a 46watt. From apple.com, when you buy an accessory: "The Apple Rechargeable Battery for 15-inch Aluminum PowerBook G4 is a 46 watt-hour lithium ion battery that provides up to 4.5 hours of operation depending on battery saving features used and system configuration."

The new one appears to be 50W. "50-watt-hour lithium-ion battery (with integrated charge indicator LEDs) providing up to 4.5 hours of battery life (15-inch models) (8)"
 
this might have been adressed earlier in the thread but i realy dont feel like sift through 18pgs of posts, but anyway, is that new G4 chip that IBM made that has the ability to clock to lower and higher speeds "on the fly" in these or is it just the same one as before?
 
cookieavalanche said:
so does this mean the ibook will get less battery life...due to the increase in mhz?
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Possibly. We don't know yet which processor they put in it yet.

The previous version had a 7445 IIRC which consumes more power than the 7447. The extra Mhz however probably evens that out. The new powerbooks get the 7447A which consumes less than the 7447 because of it's added power control features. If the iBook gets the 7447A as well then it could end up with better average power consumption than before but even a 7447 might consume less than the previous 7445.

I doubt there'll be much in it.
 
spinko said:
PBG4/1.5/512/80G/SD/AP/SM Z0A304HMH

On or before
26/04/2004

Processor PowerPC G4
128MB VR
512MB DDR333 SDRAM-2X256MB
80GB Ultra ATA Drive@5400rpm
Super Drive (DVD-R/CD-RW)
Country Kit/AirPort Extreme-SM
BkLit Keyboard/Mac OS-SM

note the shipping date which seems very reasonable. Ordered a faster HD and more VRam for the graphic processor because it seemed worth it considering the price (edit)...
Click to expand...
Very smart choice.
I can see you now, with your new PowerBook open
sitting at small table drinking a glass of good wine
in a hot spot Cafe looking out upon Lake Geneva
surfing the internet, your window to the world, checking on the latest MacRumors...
ngs0_4396.jpg
 
Chip NoVaMac said:
If you mean sell, hell yes! People here talked highly of OWC, and their price was at least $75 less. But support and return privileges are important.
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No I mean a vendor that buys used memory. I want to upgrade the standard 512Mb to 1 Gig or more. It would be nice to sell the old memory to somebody rather than sit in my desk for eternity... ;)
 
Spades said:
OK, I have to ask. Can anybody seriously explain what the purpose of 128 MB of video memory over 64 MB of video memory would be? My understanding has been that 2D graphics will not benefit from that much memory at all. The amount it benefits 3D depends on how large the textures you want to store are. The only 3D application that, as far as I know, can push past 32MB let alone 64MB would be games. This has been my assumption, but with everybody whining that 64 isn't enough, I think I missed something. What purpose, besides gaming, does more video memory serve?
Click to expand...

Games are certainly a big part of it as you can store more detailed textures in VRAM without having to hit the hard drive. However, if you run an external screen and/or keep lots of applications open then it's beneficial also, especially with Exposé. 64 is more than enough for general desktop use I'd have thought. Remember that the Quartz Extreme desktop you're running isn't really 2D - it's all 3D textures, just like in games, with shading and transparency.
 
good stuff, though the NAB and hardware announcements hardly effect me. i hoping for a new iapp or something useful for the prosumer.

ps. keep in mind i have a year old g3 ibook and am very limmited in what i can do. don't forget the rest of us, apple.
 
Selling old RAM

raiste said:
No I mean a vendor that buys used memory. I want to upgrade the standard 512Mb to 1 Gig or more. It would be nice to sell the old memory to somebody rather than sit in my desk for eternity... ;)
Click to expand...
eBay
Maybe SmallDog.com (ask them; they do buy computers, etc.)
Shreve.com
 
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