DigiTimes Reports PowerBook G5 and iBook G5 Contracts

[3Memos]

Given the negative spin on any 'book G5 during the last conference call, this sounds improbable. I would buy one in a heartbeat though.

They have every interest to diffuse speculation that a G5 is on the way in fear it will kill present PB sales due to customer expectation.

 

[Pringolian]

I don't know...

I think the PowerBook G5 along with Tiger is going to be one of the most significant releases in recent Apple history. Similar to that of the original PowerMac G5 that appeared out of nowhere and tempted some of the PC Market to get on over to Apple (it worked for me at the time - lol)

I think they need a smaller version of the PBG5, I still favour the original rumours of a 13.4" Widescreen instead of scrapping it altogether

I'd like to see it sooner but I think the PowerBook G5 needs a big launch pad/Introduction like WWDC 05 and hopefully shipping pretty much straight away!

WWDC 'One more Thing' anybody

Wouldn't this be exactly 2 years?

 

[3Memos]

Wouldn't this be exactly 2 years?

It would seem to be in line with the introduction of the G4 PowerBooks vs that of the G4 Towers.

 

[pigwin32]

Plus, these probablly wont be running on the 970 series processors, most likely they will be running on the new freescale e600 cores and Apple will be calling them G5s. Going by this, there is no reason to deny that apple wont put in a MPC8641 on both the powerbook and ibook. Most likely, the MPC8641 = G5 mobile

As was pointed out in a previous post, from this link, the MPC8641 won't be *sampling* until the second half of 2005. The report also indicates the MPC7448 won't be sampling until the first half of 2005. I'm not sure how long after sampling it takes to ramp up to full production but I would expect a PB speed bump to be based on the 7448.

Perhaps of more interest is the Reg's 13 December report on IBM boosting chip speed by 24% using a new process: "IBM will ship a variety of 90nm Power and PowerPC chips using the technique in the H1 2005". This could certainly indicate the PB G5 isn't as far off as we might think. A 25% increase in chip speed could translate into cooler G5's allowing the beast to be shoehorned into the PB. Maybe it is time to start feeling more optimistic.

And it wouldn't be out of order to ship the top of the iBook range with a G5 while the rest remained G4-based. Actually, I'm grasping at straws but hey, at least I'll never look as foolish as Bill Palmer, he's wearing the entire omelette (need a G5 PB to cook that on Bill?).

 

[aswitcher]

G5 PB this year for sure...but I will be suprised its as thin as the G4.

G5 iBook...makes sense if they have enough G5 chips and they can address tghe heat issues. I dont see it though this year...

I guess we wait and see if that website gets taken down...

 

[TheSith]

Hmm...

Things to run by you guys..

We didn't see an update in the Powerbook line at MWSF - too crappy some say. The powerbook line is SUPPOSEDLY being sold out to prepare for *something.*

What is this something?

If they release the supposed 1.67GHZ G4 at the end of Jan/begin of Feb, and then release a PB G5 - isn't that pretty fast timing? What do you guys think? When is WWDC btw?

I am a PC user now but have used Macs in the past. I am waiting, impatiently, to get a Powerbook (been waiting since Dec. 04). Am wondering what you guys think? Am a bit confused about this WHOLE matter..

Dual G4, 1.5GHZ G4, G5 - can someone explain to me what the difference is, speed-wise? I have never understood Mac speeds (I am a mac noob) so Dual-whatever does not make sense to me!

 

[seans9]

Hmm...

Things to run by you guys..

We didn't see an update in the Powerbook line at MWSF - too crappy some say. The powerbook line is SUPPOSEDLY being sold out to prepare for *something.*

What is this something?

If they release the supposed 1.67GHZ G4 at the end of Jan/begin of Feb, and then release a PB G5 - isn't that pretty fast timing? What do you guys think? When is WWDC btw?

I am a PC user now but have used Macs in the past. I am waiting, impatiently, to get a Powerbook (been waiting since Dec. 04). Am wondering what you guys think? Am a bit confused about this WHOLE matter..

Dual G4, 1.5GHZ G4, G5 - can someone explain to me what the difference is, speed-wise? I have never understood Mac speeds (I am a mac noob) so Dual-whatever does not make sense to me!

yea same here. im sick of PC's and ive been waiting since december 04 to switch - i think the best idea is waiting for the G5. but seriously, whats the main difference in the G5 and G4, obviously the G5 is better, but why?

Do you see G4 PB prices dropping significantly ($600 or so)?

 

[rdowns]

sorry, but there is no way they would ever release powerbook g5 and ibook g5 at the same time.

nope nope nope

not listening

Hob

Maybe you should. I think Apple has been moving away from the assisine, we can't build this or it will eat into demand on that philosophy. Just recently, we have an 8x drive in the eMac before any other system.

Of course, Apple would never release a G5 iMac before putting one in their PowerBook. The PB snobs are still smarting over that one.

Apple releasing a $499 Mac, still boggles my mind.

I think Apple is finally on a, we need to grow market share kick and a G5 iBook could be released very shortly after or at the same time as the PB. Imagine Jobs at a keynote announcing the all 64-bit notebook lineup.

 

[panphage]

Haven't had time to read the entire thread, but I just read a register report (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/01/22/ibm_claims_massive_power_cut/) that IBM states the 970FX (90nm) part consumes 12.3W @ 1.4Ghz. The FX part also has the "PowerTune" technology for speed throttling. As a point of comparison, a Freescale MPC7447 @ 1.0Ghz consumes 7.5W.

So clearly, the 970 isn't the problem. It's the rest of the G5 architecture (that blasted controller!)

 

[aesth3tic]

Hmm...

Things to run by you guys..

We didn't see an update in the Powerbook line at MWSF - too crappy some say. The powerbook line is SUPPOSEDLY being sold out to prepare for *something.*

What is this something?

If they release the supposed 1.67GHZ G4 at the end of Jan/begin of Feb, and then release a PB G5 - isn't that pretty fast timing? What do you guys think? When is WWDC btw?

I am a PC user now but have used Macs in the past. I am waiting, impatiently, to get a Powerbook (been waiting since Dec. 04). Am wondering what you guys think? Am a bit confused about this WHOLE matter..

Dual G4, 1.5GHZ G4, G5 - can someone explain to me what the difference is, speed-wise? I have never understood Mac speeds (I am a mac noob) so Dual-whatever does not make sense to me!

The Dual G4 everybody is talking about is a dual-core G4, which is one chip that essentially has two processors on it, hence two cores. The main difference between the G5 and G4 is the bus speeds (FSB).

PowerBook G4 FSB - 167Mhz
iBook G4 FSB - 133Mhz
PowerMac Highend FSB - 1.25Ghz per processor
iMac G5 FSB - 600Mhz (?)
PowerBook G5 - probably not a huge increase in processor speed, but the main advantage to the G5 would be its bus speed, possibly 3 - 5 times faster FSB would mean a lot of performance increase, even if the processor only gains 10 - 20% in speed.

hopefully that helps a little bit.

 

[rdowns]

Remember that this dates are shipping dates not release dates. Apple is learning from its past shipping shortages and is ramping up supply.

I needed a good laugh. Just checked the Apple store:

iPod shuffle 512MB- 2-3 weeks
iPod shuffle 1GB- 3-4 weeks
Stock $499 mini - 3-4 weeks
Stock $599 mini- 3-4 weeks

Apple has done some wonderful things this past year but they couldn't forecast demand for water in the middle of the Sahara desert.

 

[aesth3tic]

...

yea same here. im sick of PC's and ive been waiting since december 04 to switch - i think the best idea is waiting for the G5. but seriously, whats the main difference in the G5 and G4, obviously the G5 is better, but why?

Do you see G4 PB prices dropping significantly ($600 or so)?

1. Difference between G5 and G4 processors.
there are two main advantages to the G5 to the G4 in respects to performance:
a) System bus speed. The current G4 PowerBook 1.5 Ghz has 167Mhz and the G5 PowerMac 2.5Ghz has 1.25Ghz per processor. That is a huge difference.
b) 64-bit processing ability vs. 32-bit only for the G4s. 64-bit only comes into play if you need huge amounts of memory (like say 4GB or more) & for calculation intensize operations.

G4 PB prices dropping $600? ummmm...not going happen, at least right when the G5 PB is introduced. Possibly a year or more after G5PB release. The most you might see is $200...at least thats what i would think.

 

[maya]

I needed a good laugh. Just checked the Apple store:

iPod shuffle 512MB- 2-3 weeks
iPod shuffle 1GB- 3-4 weeks
Stock $499 mini - 3-4 weeks
Stock $599 mini- 3-4 weeks

Apple has done some wonderful things this past year but they couldn't forecast demand for water in the middle of the Sahara desert.

However the demand for a new iPod and Mac desktop are uncertain to say the least.

The PowerBook and iBook are not new products however well instated products with some much anticipated upgrades to a new processor family.

There is a difference.

 

[jwhitnah]

They have every interest to diffuse speculation that a G5 is on the way in fear it will kill present PB sales due to customer expectation.

True. They made such a big deal about heir heroic engineering when the G5 debuted, it seemed significantly more difficult than modifying the G4 for a powerbook. Also, the progression in performance of the G5 has be much lower and slower than expected when introduced in '03. AI hope i'm wrong.

 

[jwhitnah]

ok

In October [2004], Peter Oppenheimer, Apple’s CFO, reiterated Apple’s commitment to providing a premium product. “To date, we have chosen not to compete in the sub-$800 desktop market,” he said.

That really makes me question just how much we can trust what he says about future products.

Yes, but they are often right when stating they won't do something. No apple PDA or video iPod yet. Also if you carefully read that quote above, you could argue he was absolutely right and honest (though MISLEADING) when he made that statement.

 

[macidiot]

I agree. No way will Apple release a G5 iBook the same time as a Powerbook. Unless they were going to a G5 only lineup which would put the G4 Mac mini where? Besides I don't think we would see G5 Powerbooks announced at any small event. My guess is announced in June and shipping in September.

They could do it. They could just cripple the iBook. Sort of like the iMac vs. 1.8 Powermac. Slower drives, weak video, slower ram... I could see only the top iBook being G5, with the rest G4.

The G4 is seriously old. And the mini would just slot where the eMac has been. It would just be where it should be, at the bottom of the line. The mini should not impact iBook sales(very price conscious segment) and vice versa.

I do think that it will be Powerbooks first though, then iBooks. But considering both require a complete redesign, I don't see why they wouldn't do the engineering for both at the same time.

 

[pilotgi]

Don't forget that IBM is making the processors for PlayStation3 which supposedly are going to be built on the 65nm process and use the "cell" technology. PS3 is supposed to be available in 2006.

So I think it's obvious that 2005 is the year of the G5 PB and that cell processors will also be available in Apple products next year. I also think that the next version of PB's will have pci express and maybe even ddr2.

 

[KindredMAC]

HUH????

However the demand for a new iPod and Mac desktop are uncertain to say the least.

The PowerBook and iBook are not new products however well instated products with some much anticipated upgrades to a new processor family.

There is a difference.

How can you say the demand is uncertain for the iPod shuffle and Mac mini??? Apple is running out of these things already after 4 days of sale availability!!!! And they have been making these in Asia since November!!!!

 

[maya]

How can you say the demand is uncertain for the iPod shuffle and Mac mini??? Apple is running out of these things already after 4 days of sale availability!!!! And they have been making these in Asia since November!!!!

Do I work in the Apple Logistics department.

Maybe BOZO the clown does not me, why the heck should I care.


There could be numerous issues on many ends, neither YOU or I or anyone else for that matter can say for sure.

Apple had the same problem with the iPod mini, PMG5, iPod, iMac G5 and 17" PBG4. Have they learnt anything maybe, maybe not. I believe they learnt a hard lesson with the Cube and are playing it safe.

There is no way of knowing if a flash iPod or a headless Mac will do well. Both a new products its not an existing product such as an iPod mini getting a larger HDD or a PBG4 getting a processor bump.

What if the Shuffle and Mac mini were not welcome with warm acceptance?

Then what another Cube story.

 

[rdowns]

However the demand for a new iPod and Mac desktop are uncertain to say the least.

The PowerBook and iBook are not new products however well instated products with some much anticipated upgrades to a new processor family.

There is a difference.

Right, no one has been asking for a lower priced iPod for almost 3 years or headless Mac for 5. Apple has always sucked at forecasting demand. Had the same problems when I was a reseller in the 90s.

 

[maya]

Right, no one has been asking for a lower priced iPod for almost 3 years or headless Mac for 5. Apple has always sucked at forecasting demand. Had the same problems when I was a reseller in the 90s.

Send an email to Apple in regards to this matter.

Maybe they can hire you in the process.

 

[3Memos]

I think anytime a product retails for a competitive market price, it makes sense to forecast a higher demand, than something like the cube, which was a powerful computer, but upgradeable and pricing doomed it from the start.

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

I think anytime a product retails for a competitive market price, it makes sense to forecast a higher demand, than something like the cube, which was a powerful computer, but upgradeable and pricing doomed it from the start.

There is something about having a product that everyone wants, but can't get right away that fuels even more demand.

 

[maya]

There is something about having a product that everyone wants, but can't get right away that fuels even more demand.

For example:

Christmas 2003 = iPod

Christmas 2004 = iPod mini

Christmas 2005 = iPod shuffle (just a guess )

 

[themacman]

Doubt it....when they say ship they prob mean to a super secret Apple bunker warehouse under Cheyenne Mountain. There is NO….absolutely NO chance in hell of Apple shipping a PowerBook G5 before Jobs demos it at WWDC. Which is in 2nd qt. Hmmmm


Hears hoping its true. My loan for a PowerBook is sitting here collecting dust waiting for Apple.

why do you think that they will rrealease a G5 pb at wwdc? its a developers confrence not a product expo. Nothing to devolpe for a g5