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Greg Joswiak's Feature Presentation

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The Ti ain't that bad.

I don't think Apple is sitting on their @ss with the new PB's. They worked with IBM for over 2 years to bring us the G5 and I have a feeling that they have been working damn hard in the laptop area, especially on the 15" line. I also believe that they will announce them as soon as the can be delivered - they aren't dumb when it comes to the student market.

The reality is that wintel box makers don't have the need for the intense engineering, design and development that Apple has. They go to MS for the os and pick up bits & pieces from a wide range of suppliers. They also don't worry about innovation.

Thinking about getting a Dell dude? Check the reliability reports in PC Mag. Dell got a "B" in all areas and IBM (and Apple) got an "A". Would recommend getting the cheapest one available (used?) as you are really going to move back to the Mac as soon as possible.

If you're heading to college and need something now to buy with your $3,000 think about a 12" (either PB or iB) and a 20" monitor. Easier to lug a 12" around campus and the 20" will really be sweet for working in your dorm room. The neat part of this is that, in 12 months when the 3 Gig PMs are out the dual 2Gigs are going to be priced at a very attractive level. A 12" for class and a G5 in the dorm wouldn't be a bad way to go.

For business, go and look at the 15" and 17" side by side. The 17" is not that huge when compared next to a 15" I'm 59 years old and have no doubts that I can carry one through the airports if I could buy one today!

By the way, on the second business trip I made with my new PB airport security dropped it off the x-ray belt. Bounced hard on the floor a few times, denting the bottom. Had to reseat the keyboard connector and went on with my trip without any problems. I could care less about a scratch on the paint job - the Ti is one tough SOB.
 
Originally posted by TomA
Oh Horsesh*t. We are blaming Apple for not producing a decent 15" laptop. Who wants to pay top dollar for NEARLY YEAR OLD technology?

I don't think many people care if it looks like the 17" or not. But they don't want the paint peeling piece of crap Ti's with last year's (literally) technology.

On another topic: You people that are thinking of switching to Dell should really look at the Medion laptops at Aldi. (German engineering means they might not have the same defect issues as the Dells...)
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The TiBook is a decent 15" laptop. It's not their best laptop and they don't claim that it is!
 
Originally posted by TomA
To me, stupid, blind apple loyalty like this is much more troll-like than people who are pointing out a real defect in Apple's product line.

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
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This isn't blind Apple loyalty. I have said multiple times that the current 15" laptop could be improved. So could the 12", and the 17", and the PowerMac, and every Dell and IBM product out there.
 
Originally posted by io_burn
Hey, I checked out the specs on the forthcoming Sager 8890... That is going to be one serious machine! If anyone is interested in the specs, here are the complete details.
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WOW! Do you have pricing on that beast? It looks perfect. And I have to get something for myself before August 15 and I will NOT buy another Ti. It's junk--almost as bad as my 5300 (and looks worse with the paint problems).

FYI: This will be the first time since 1984 that I have not owned a Mac. It's true. I had a Mac 128k that I (unofficially) upgraded to a fat Mac. Then I had a Mac+ (with 20MB external HD!), an SE/30 (with a color card and external monitor!), a Quadra, a 9600, a 5300 Powerbook, a Powerbook G3, and a Powerbook G4. Oh well. It's been a good 20 year run, and I converted a LOT of people, but I've finally gotten sick of Apple's BS.
 
15" PowerBook Blues

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition. Until about the third or fourth time. Then everyone starts expecting it. And then when it doesn't come, people start to get annoyed and call the Cardinal names and such...

Sure, Apple's corporate line is, "Apple does not comment on unannounced or unreleased products." Thus a 15" AlBook Does Not Exist (DNE for you math geeks).

However, it *has* been since November. If Apple wanted to, they could have slapped some Aluminum on the current model, and shoved in APEx, and BlueTooth.

Consider these two possibilities:

1) A 15" AlBook with all the nicities might have gotten Too Hot.
If Apple couldn't keep it like an inch thin, they wouldn't have gone for a bulkier model. Do you know what happens when Aluminum and Iron are heated together to sufficient temperatures? Let's see how many know this one. Could have made the 5300's look like kids toys. There is less in the PowerBook G4 12", and the heat can be kept down without sacrificing size. The 17" is so much larger due to it's display, they have *room* for better heating.

This is all intelligent guesswork of one possibility. Especially if *anything* in the Albook design contained exposed iron or magnesium compounds.

2) If safety were *not* a consideration in making a 15" AlBook, it could be because they were way behind schedule on completing the 15" albook, and wanted to ship these two, and were too close to finallizing the next revision of all, so they figured it would be best to wait.

Now, it *has* been since November '02, so it could be that *both* are true. They gave up on the project in faver of a new project.

Or, they might be discontinuing the 15" model. I doubt it. They would have stopped making them long ago if that were the case.

I think Apple may be innovating so far on the bleeding edge, that they are running into unexpected engineering issues with hardware design.

Again, this is all educated guesswork. I still think that a complete revamp of the powerbook line won't even be announced until January, but that all three models will be redesigned.

In short, Apple is up to something big.

Give it time. I know, it's hard. Apple expected the 17" to sell better, I'm sure. If they did discontinue the 15", and drop the 17" to 15" prices, people would still avoid it for the size and weight. I don't think Apple anticipated that. (Though I would buy it... If I had the money...)

Jaedreth
 
Originally posted by Lord Bodak
The TiBook is a decent 15" laptop. It's not their best laptop and they don't claim that it is!
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It's not even a _good_ laptop. I have one. Don't get me started.
 
To the people saying the 17 inch isn't that big... Does it even fit in normal laptop bags? Whenever I've used one it seems like more of a lunch tray than a laptop to me. Don't get me wrong, the screen is beautiful... it's just too big for my tastes.
 
One more time. If you want the most updated powerbooks, get a 12 or 17. If you want a 15, get a Titanium. If neither of these solutions works for you, wait. If you are too impatient, buh bye!

Why keep posting on a MacRumors thread if youve decided, foolishly but willfully, to get a PC laptop?

Go for it, I hope youre happy. At least have the sense to run Linux. If not.... I pray for you and your childrens' children, for ye will be cursed by the ghost of Windows Future. And a bleak one it is.
 
Re: Re: Er...

Originally posted by job
I don't think Apple will release G5 Powerbooks before 2004.

And I'll eat my shoe if they do. ;)
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And I'll eat your other one (er...unless you're a unidexter...in which case sorry for my lack of 'diversity'...er, and unless your feet ming, obviously...).

Yeah, it would be great if they managed to pop out a 90nm die-shrink and then stick it in powerbook by the end of the year, but...well, let's face it, we're more likely to see Jobs in tweed...

As I said, though, that the G5 (desktops) are so competitive on pricing :)D so, in fact) certainly bodes well for the future. Here's hoping?

Brother Mugga

PS: [edited - it just seemed inflammatory (rather than jocular) when posted...]
 
One more time. If you want the most updated powerbooks, get a 12 or 17. If you want a 15, get a Titanium. If neither of these solutions works for you, wait. If you are too impatient, buh bye!
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I think you will find, that most of the people posting here, are posting to vent their frustration, to spin off the old adage,

"A frustration shared, is a frustration halved"

Just because you tell people to stop posting their rants, doesnt mean that they will, and by repeatedly posting a message to tell people to stop whining is pointless in itself. Let the people vent, they are just a little frustrated, once it's out of their system, im sure they'll return to the fold.
 
I've got a feeling that many of these people saying they're switching to dell are just bear baiting. Why go with Dell when there are other, better PC laptops out there?

Also, if you're going with a $999 Dell (as someone said), then the 15" PowerBook's not what you're after. Go with an iBook. I've had mine for just under a year and I don't see it going away any time soon. I haven't even maxed out the RAM. The computer's just a trooper. Very much UNLIKE my dad's compaq, which fitzes and futzes all the time, in addition to having weird software pointers and etc. pre-installed on it.

If you're going to get something for word processing, email, and playing and ripping (and burning) MP3s, then you don't really need a PowerBook at all. The iBook will handle all that plus most photoshop tasks. Anything as long as you're not asking it to render video.

But if you're considering a Dell, you're not going to be rendering video anyway, are you?jk

Yes, a 15" PowerBook would be nice. But is it ncessary? No, it's not.
 
Originally posted by io_burn
To the people saying the 17 inch isn't that big... Does it even fit in normal laptop bags?
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Well, Apple will sell you a backpack or shoulder bag specifically fitted for your shiny, new 17" when you buy one. Sure their version is pricey, but I would assume that if they sell it so does someone else.

And getting back to the "the PowerBook line" sucks debate...go ahead by your beastly Sasquatch 8890 if you want...the 8890 is either it's weight or it's thickness I'd bet...so buy a back brace too.

This battle is more than hardware...it's about the OS...the entire user experience. Don't even say that you would prefer to use Winblows over OSX, and if you do you are in the minority (or delusional). At any rate, loyalty to a platform which has consistently proven it's superiority over it's competitors is warranted, not blind. Again we are talking about the entire experience here, not just raw processor speed. You guys wimpering about the lack of speed are like teenage boys comparing who's got the most horsepower in their 78 whatever. Fine, you can do 150 down a straightaway but what happens when you run into a curvy road? I can tell you what happens to Winblows...it explodes.

As for the 17" being too unwieldy, yeah it's big but it is still portable and I'm sure it will be more comfortable in the long run than the Sumo 8890, not to mention it has a rock solid OS and more than enough horsepower to run the major apps out there.

Apple hasn't promised anyone anything about a 15" G4, G5 or G-anything being available tomorrow. If the present 15" doesn't fit your needs then get a 17".

(walks off muttering to himself...as usual)
I'd like to have a Ferrari, but they don't make a MiniVan version of their F1 supercar...well...that's it...DODGE is getting my money NOW...up yours Ferrari!...

:rolleyes:
 
Originally posted by snahabed
One more time. If you want the most updated powerbooks, get a 12 or 17. If you want a 15, get a Titanium. If neither of these solutions works for you, wait. If you are too impatient, buh bye!
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You act like you know everything that could possibly affect a person's purchase decision. JUST ONE example: A good friend of mine is a professor. He just took a new job and has to choose a computer before school starts. (He doesn't have a computer at ALL at his new job yet.) 12" is just too small for one's sole computer. 17" is beyond his university budget. The 15" is outdated, no matter what the Mac Nazi's say and it has severe paint problems. He can't just "wait", because he doesn't have ANY computer right now. Apple has no good option for him.

[mod. edit - Name calling will not be tolerated.]
 
I am also disappointed no 15" or any new hardware was announced.

1. Look to next week for a possible update. If Apple is pissed at IDG and/or just wants to get away from product announcements at exposes like this (which they have stated) then next week would be a good time to make an announcement. People will still be looking for one and you still hit back to school crowd (allowing time for shipping and back order delays).

2. Some have slammed those saying what do you expect in an update. Look back and the "update" in Nov '02 wasn't that much either - a speed bump wahooo! (right). I and I think the others who have complained don't want the latest and greatest - we want what is now at least 6 months old - i.e. stuff that is found in the 12 and 17 models. Is that much to ask? I don't think many would care about a speed update and none of the posts I read even cited that as a desired feature. All want better wifi, ddr, graphics, bus speed, keyboards, paint issue, etc., etc. - no "I need a 1.2Ghz 15" Al powerbook or else! This isn't alot to ask! If for some reason they can't do that (heat issues, supplies) then DROP THE PRICE MORE! It might hurt the 12" sales but that is the penalty for production delays. You could also get around this by giving "special" discounts for students going back to school - "Get $300 off when you purchase through the online store or present your valid education id at an authorized apple dealer." There are ways to work around this and I blame Apple marketing - which may have their hands tied by Steve - but I would think he is smarter than that.
 
Originally posted by beloit08
Anything as long as you're not asking it to render video.
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For people doing presentations, the ibook does not allow one to have different things on different screens.
 
Originally posted by moosecat
Nothing prevents them from doing this, except their desire to maximize their profits by selling as many computers as possible. In a market full of highly sophisticated, media-savvy consumers, companies have to cater to the expectations of their customers. If Apple knows -- and has known for months -- that people will be expecting something at MWNY, and if Apple knows that some of those people will go Dell if nothing comes, then it's just plain stupid to wait for no good reason for a "random summer Tuesday."

I believe there must, in fact, be a good reason for the fact that no hardware product was announced today. And that reason is not just that Apple is PO'ed at IDG, or flexing its corporate right to make arbitrary decisions.
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This is exactly the reason Apple is moving away from announcing products at shows! When 'everybody' knows to wait for Macworld Expo, Apple doesn't sell machines. So the alternative is to not release them then but when they are ready. Which will work great, except during the transition when people expect the Expo announcement and don't get it. That is where we are at now. If I had to guess, I'd say wait a month or so and on some Tuesday, there'll be a new Pbook.

For everyone who complains that Apple doesn't get the big news coverage--well, you don't see Dell announcing machines only at IDG events!

And for everyone who convinced their boss/friend/school buddy to wait for a few months because they 'knew' that the new 15" was coming at the Expo, you've now learned your lesson. Don't wait on purchases based on rumors! Especially bad/nonexistent rumors!! I mean, we haven't read any major, reliable rumors here about imminent releases of the 15". If you'd bought a few months ago, the machine would have been only 5-6 months old, and you'd get a long life out of it. If you only buy now, you get just as long a life less two months!!

I mean, if you need it absolutely now, then the TiBook is fine, because it is here absolutely now. Even if they'd released an AlBook today, you'd still have to wait a month for it. If you can wait one month, you can wait two or three and hold out for the next update. If you can't wait that long, you shouldn't have waited to begin with!

And if you have to get a Dell because it was uupdated last month and Apple won't be for another month and you really see the two machines as equal, then go for it by all means!

Sorry for the length of this rant, but I couldn't take it any more. You are either flexible with your spending schedule, in which case a few months doesn't matter too much, or you aren't, in which case you get the best machine out their when you have to buy and you don't bitch and moan about it!
 
Originally posted by Rustus Maximus

I'd like to have a Ferrari, but they don't make a MiniVan version of their F1 supercar...well...that's it...DODGE is getting my money NOW...up yours Ferrari!...
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Unfortunately, your example does not fit the state of the laptop market as it exists today. It's more like:

I'd like to have a minivan, but they don't make a fast version of the minivan, so to hell with it, I'm getting the Ferarri.

i.e. ALMOST ANY laptop out there is going to be faster and more modern than Apple's Ti book, you just might not be able to get all of your current stuff into it....
 
im hoping it comes out asap as well but why would they release it on a non special tuesday like next week. it would be great but why are they pissed at IDG and i hope there not waiting for the g5's to ship cuz that would be a long ways away and apple is just hurting themselves by holding off. they did amazing delevery on the ipods so i bet they can do it again, reading post for a day can seem like a weeks and weeks of waiting can seem like months.
 
Originally posted by cooper13
I mean, if you need it absolutely now, then the TiBook is fine, because it is here absolutely now.
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No it is NOT fine, as many people have noted.

Originally posted by cooper13
Even if they'd released an AlBook today, you'd still have to wait a month for it. If you can wait one month, you can wait two or three and hold out for the next update. If you can't wait that long, you shouldn't have waited to begin with!
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Some people CANNOT wait for reasons beyond their control. See my earlier post.
 
Goldylocks

I don't get people saying the 12" is too small. If I had the money, my old imac dv se 400 would be a new G5 and the 12" would be my portable. If you say it's too hard on the eyes.... well change resolution, or keep the highest resolution and make the default text larger, or.... just use zoom if you REALLY have bad eye sight.... Why not zoom on the road and have a seperate display for home? The prices are great right now? If it's the xtra 124 mhz.... well, ask God for a little patience, say the serenity prayer, and see what happens.
ps. Dell? not even the same market. Seriously. If you had said vaio, maybe, but dell? Get an ibook.
 
Re: 15" PowerBook Blues

Originally posted by jaedreth
Do you know what happens when Aluminum and Iron are heated together to sufficient temperatures? Let's see how many know this one.
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Oh PLEASE! To what absurd lengths will the Apple apologists go here? I have a feeling that the plastic and internal circuitry would melt and shut things down FAR before the aluminum and/or iron parts were even stressed. The 5300 had defective battery meltdown problems--it had NOTHING WHATSOEVER to do with the machine's processor overheating things.

Originally posted by jaedreth
This is all intelligent guesswork
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It's hardly that.
 
Windows will be Windows

Sorry but i tihnk he has a point. Especially for people that are considering PCs. I said it before and i will say it again if all you care about Apple is an Al15" notebook and oh well you didn't get it when you wanted it then go get a PC. Someone buying an Apple as I did some 5 months ago buy it for the looks but they also buy it for the stability, the advanced features of the OS and generally they consider it a better computing experience rather than a merely better looking PC that happens to run Mac OS X and not XP. I will say it again and again till people that are considering PCs go buy them and the let Apple release their hardware when they can. I would run OS on a TiG4 anytime instead of XP on the sleekest brand new laptop. And I believe this should be the point of the switchers not the Al paint on the 15". You don't switch in order to turn heads in starbucks you switch so you won't have to waste your time at starbucks fiddling with an immature ill thought half hearted effort on something that only it's creator calls Stable Trustworthy OS.
 
Re: Goldylocks

Originally posted by tex210
I don't get people saying the 12" is too small. If I had the money....
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Well DUH! Maybe the people complaining don't have the money for two computers either. Ever think of that?
 
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