iBooks, Powerbooks, G4s, G5s, and all that jazz
adamjay said:
sorry but i just don't know why folks buy 12" Powerbooks anymore.
lets see.. 60GB HD is an extra $75 on an ibook 12". meaning for $1074 vs. $1599 you get the same ram, hd, screen, but lose 10% cpu power (big whoop - a G4 is a G4), audio input, and mini dvi.
$525 for 130mhz, mini dvi, and an audio input.
but i can get 1.25ghz for $499 !!
why does the 12" ibook exist again? anyone?
The 12" powerbook may seem like a stupid buy, but there are major differences which is in 3 main factors: CPU L1 and L2 cache, System Bus, and Graphics setup. While the iBook G4 runs with a 32kb L1 cache, the Powerbook G4 runs at 64kb cache. Because of the 2x of the bigger cache for the CPU, the G4 processor is able to work more efficiently, hence your applications will feel smoother than the ibook. Another signficance difference is the System Bus which the Powerbook 12" runs at 167mhz as opposed to the 133mhz. One more thing, although the Radeon Card and the Nvidia card ...seems comparable (kinda..), the 12" Powerbook uses 64MB VRAM as opposed to 32MB. With these three things, you will notice a large difference.
Why the differences? The communication between the CPU, GPU, and Devices. With a bigger L2, more data stands in line ready for the CPU to process. With a larger System Bus, more data can be sent throughout the system. GPU acts the same way as it has more memory or smaller memory detemining the overall speed of processing. Smaller L2, System Bus and smaller VRAM, will mean the CPU, GPU, and Devices will have to wait longer for information flowing from each other for processing. It's like a 2-lane highway compared to a 4-5 lane highway. The Chip itself may be strong, but the paths to get there will hinder the advantage of it's power. That means running one program or minimal processes might feel the same between two computers. But running many programs or processes will show a significant difference.
Now talking about the G5, the main difference we will see performance-wise will not be the Mhz and CPU itself but rather the board it's sitting in, the cache, and the graphics card. The problem with the G5 processor is it's heat. Not to mention, the hardworking GPU which may add to the heat which may cause some 3rd degree burns. Heat is also a problem in power usage (thats why people put batteries in the freezer). Now considering the iBooks Plastic, i'm sure that Apple will have the most watered down version of the G5 possible. What does this mean? Just like the time of the iBook G3 to G4 conversion, you will notice very little difference in performance between the ibook G4 and ibook G5. "Why? But it's 64-bit processing!" Well...64-bit processing for what 64-bit program? So that's no argument. The key is the L2 cache which will probably run at 256K which is half of the current PowerMac G5s. The Graphics will most likely sport a Go5200 or the Radeon 9600 allowing the full advantage of Tiger's CoreImage (i know they probably expanded the capabilities to lower graphic units, but my theory is that they have a watered down CoreImage engine for those machines). The system bus will probably run 400mhz or 500mhz, the bare minimum. The new iBooks G5 will be Apple's attempt to make the cheapest and coolest G5 possible. So expect an iBook G5 to be more of a mental thing when you go "man it's soo much faster".
Powerbook G5 will be Apple's attempt to make the most robust machine in little space. Little space can be an advantage because Heat can dissapate easier through the metal. So they have two options: Adding an L3 cache (like the Titanium G4's) with the same general specs as the iBook G5s (maybe faster system bus) with probably an NVIDIA Go6800; or matching the iMac G5's Specs as much as possible.
Shape changes? Because of this new relationship with ASUStek board designers and engineers, I totally think the new Powerbooks and iBooks will sport new shapes. Plus the new age of HD, as mentioned at MacWorld, the screens need to be wide. i expect a 12" and 15" Widescreen powerbook. Smaller size? Yup! They really need to take advantage of the GPU which handles lots of pixels, and they need to fight those small Dell 12" widescreens (which are really cool by the way). What about iBooks? Maybe the same thing. Widescreen 12" and 14" probably. Widescreens with higher resolutions. Which means a complete ditch from Samsung screens to LG bright and well defined screens.
Apple needs to do a running blitz with their computers since they are sensing major amounts of potential PC switchers since the explosion of consumers for the iPods. Not only that, changing from a 32-bit processor to 64-bit processor is not a gradual step, but complete change for the software market. So having the laptops jump is the only way for developers to get on the ball with spitting out 64-bit programs. Not the same as G3 to G4; major step!
Prediction: I'm so sure that i'm taking bets... The Powerbook G5s are going to come so soon and i know it'll be the same time as Tiger which is at Mac Expo WWDC. iBook G5s i expect September right after the "Back-to-School" sale when you go "man only 799 for an ibook G4???" Then get depressed later when the new iBooks come out.
