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How close are we to a Powerbook upgrade??
- Thread starter ministerd
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dobbin
macrumors 6502a
I was in John Lewis this week (one of the biggest suppliers of Apples on the high street in the UK).
They have had no stock of PBs or iBs for several weeks which is not entirely unusual. What is unusual is that Apple have not given them any date for when they will get new stock (this is what the pink sticker on the price tag means for anyone who has been to JL and noticed that).
However, Apple have now told them to expect news of when they will get stock next week. This is probably just more stock of the current models, but I certainly wouldn't buy until I see what happens.
They have had no stock of PBs or iBs for several weeks which is not entirely unusual. What is unusual is that Apple have not given them any date for when they will get new stock (this is what the pink sticker on the price tag means for anyone who has been to JL and noticed that).
However, Apple have now told them to expect news of when they will get stock next week. This is probably just more stock of the current models, but I certainly wouldn't buy until I see what happens.
JFreak said:
I know about the AlBook introduction in Jan 2003 still if you lookt at all the updates since the TiBooks were introduced, you'll find the average cycle is more like 7 3/4 months if you calculated the average based on number of days between releases:
January 2001 (first TiBook) Revision
October 2001 (second TiBook Revision): 9 months
April 2002 (third TiBook Revision): 7 months
November 2002 (forth and final TiBook revision) 7 months
January 2003 (first AlBook revision, 12" and 17")
September 2003 (second AlBook revision, 15" AlBook first revision): 8 months (10 for 15", but we should count the number for the 12" and the 17" because Apple just phased out the TiBooks, that's why the cycle was longer than normal)
April 2004 (thrid AlBook revision) 8 months.
April 2004 + 8 months= December 2004. But of course Apple won't release a new revision in December (too late for the holiday shopping season). So if we're to see an other revision in 2004 it must happen before mid November. Because of the facts I mentioned in first post, it's more likely new PBs won't come until January or even February.
dobbin said:
Interesting, but I think we shouldn't expect new PBs next week. IMO, there's a pretty good reason for the shortage of PBs and iBooks: the iMac G5. Since the 'books and the iMac are built by the same manufacturer, Apple probably decided to suspend production of the 'books in order to produce enough iMacs for the first wave. If they in fact resume production of the current models, we won't see new models before year's end, otherwise they wouldn't resume production for a month or so when new models are around the corner.
god i hope it comes soon. i am gonna buy a 12" powerbook very soon.
i expect small upgrades and a price drop.
they aure are pushing that cram and jam.... let hope that points to someinventory reduction for the new release. doubtful but heres hoping
i expect small upgrades and a price drop.
they aure are pushing that cram and jam.... let hope that points to someinventory reduction for the new release. doubtful but heres hoping
Me too... budget ready for a 12" powerbook for work and as I don't qualify for the Cram&Jam offer 🙁 , I'm tempted to await early November to see what may come once the offer expires. Any clues/ideas though what small upgrades could be expected ??
TranceClubMusic
macrumors regular
Chip NoVaMac
macrumors G3
dejaentendu said:
And according to the guide, we are about a month away from a possible update. After the C&J expires for sure.
Chip NoVaMac said:
Guess update must be in the works by November but anyone have any ideas as to what's expected in the updates ?
Diatribe
macrumors 601
Zaty said:
Have you seen those monsters that they call a mobile video card? It's humongous. It takes a ****load of power and is only present in laptops that are about twice as thick as the current powerbooks. So how on earth would they fit this one in there? And even if they did, would you be happy with 1 1/2 hrs. of battery life?
And don't come to me with: "Apple will find a way" 😀
Man is this annoying sometimes. 😛
Diatribe said:
I'm a not tech expert so I don't know how much power those new GPUs draw. I was just guessing what the the next revision might look like, if they can't fit in a new ATi GPU, they might use one of Nvidia's. But I don't think they will keep the current chips if they can help it.
Edit: BTW, most users don't care if their new PB comes with a Radeon 9xxx or a GeForce FX 5xxx as long as the GPU seems good enough for them. So guess it's of little importance if they use an ATi or a Nvidia GPU.
hell i would be happy with a backlit keyboard on the 12"! that would be great.
and also the 80gb 5400rpm drive as standard
and also the 80gb 5400rpm drive as standard
James_C
macrumors 68030
I think that we will see a iBook update in October for 4 reasons
1. The current cram and jam promotion ends 25th September
2. October is the beginning of Apples next fiscal quarter.
3. An update in October will give Apple a new product in the run up to Christmas, I think they tend to sell a lot in this period.
4. The Apple UK Refurb store is usually only open on Wednesdays, but from this Wens it will be open until the 25th Sept (same time as cram and jam ends) The store has been full of Powerbooks and iBooks - a clear out maybe?
So for me Sept 27 or Oct 4th are likely dates for an update to iBooks or Powerbooks.
1. The current cram and jam promotion ends 25th September
2. October is the beginning of Apples next fiscal quarter.
3. An update in October will give Apple a new product in the run up to Christmas, I think they tend to sell a lot in this period.
4. The Apple UK Refurb store is usually only open on Wednesdays, but from this Wens it will be open until the 25th Sept (same time as cram and jam ends) The store has been full of Powerbooks and iBooks - a clear out maybe?
So for me Sept 27 or Oct 4th are likely dates for an update to iBooks or Powerbooks.
<--boned
i'm sort of screwed because i need a new computer (laptop) soon cause my current one has mood swings. suddenly turns off when it feels like it.
i won't be able to get my loan money the earliest, the last week of the month. which is after the cram and jam special and before any update.
😕 can't wait till jan/feb for a big upgrade, but need one now
i'm sort of screwed because i need a new computer (laptop) soon cause my current one has mood swings. suddenly turns off when it feels like it.
i won't be able to get my loan money the earliest, the last week of the month. which is after the cram and jam special and before any update.
😕 can't wait till jan/feb for a big upgrade, but need one now
Whats this about C&J ending on the 25th? I received an e-flyer yesterday saying it doesnt end till the 2nd of November. Maybe UK and US have different end times.
"Purchase an iPod and a PowerBook or iBook from the online Apple Store for Education before November 2nd 2004."
"Purchase an iPod and a PowerBook or iBook from the online Apple Store for Education before November 2nd 2004."
Word from up the supply chain....
I work at an Apple Reseller in Canada, and I've gotten some word from up the supply chain that any laptop orders (iBook and Powerbook) taken by now will be honoured by the end of September. Furthermore, any orders taken after will not be honoured until October or November. The specific reason given for this was the intoduction of the Powerbook G5 is October or November. This leads all of us at the store to believe that the iBook will see an upgrade at the same time. We're hoping this will be more than a speedbump.
In addition, a marketing rep from Apple who has been doing some demos outside the store for the past week or two was denying things very harshly. He reiterated the classic line "No G5 Powerbook anytime soon" despite being faced with the reasons why such reiterations are suspicious. He seemed very eager to quell any suspicion about G5 Powerbooks, as well as the possibility of the use of the "Chameleon" patent in iBooks (an idea I just happened to consider at the time).
So, all of us are rather suspicious about what will happen with the Powerbooks, though we're in agreement on the fact that there will almost certainly be an update before Christmas. We're also quite confident the iBooks will be updated at about the same time.
Cram and Jam ends in just short of a week. It was clear the effect the promotion had on stock of 3G iPods, so it now has to be questioned whether it was also intended to deplete stocks of Powerbooks and iBooks pending a fall update. From everything we've seen, a G5 Powerbook seems likely to be soon, or, failing that, a drastic change to the line.
I work at an Apple Reseller in Canada, and I've gotten some word from up the supply chain that any laptop orders (iBook and Powerbook) taken by now will be honoured by the end of September. Furthermore, any orders taken after will not be honoured until October or November. The specific reason given for this was the intoduction of the Powerbook G5 is October or November. This leads all of us at the store to believe that the iBook will see an upgrade at the same time. We're hoping this will be more than a speedbump.
In addition, a marketing rep from Apple who has been doing some demos outside the store for the past week or two was denying things very harshly. He reiterated the classic line "No G5 Powerbook anytime soon" despite being faced with the reasons why such reiterations are suspicious. He seemed very eager to quell any suspicion about G5 Powerbooks, as well as the possibility of the use of the "Chameleon" patent in iBooks (an idea I just happened to consider at the time).
So, all of us are rather suspicious about what will happen with the Powerbooks, though we're in agreement on the fact that there will almost certainly be an update before Christmas. We're also quite confident the iBooks will be updated at about the same time.
Cram and Jam ends in just short of a week. It was clear the effect the promotion had on stock of 3G iPods, so it now has to be questioned whether it was also intended to deplete stocks of Powerbooks and iBooks pending a fall update. From everything we've seen, a G5 Powerbook seems likely to be soon, or, failing that, a drastic change to the line.
howard
macrumors 68020
i also hope your right,
however if you want to hear my completely made up opinion... i think powerbooks will be updated with a speed bump, maybe some other slightly bumped hardware features in about a month. Powerbooks won't be for awhile. I have to say i believe them when they say that powerbooks won't be for awhile, especially after the delays of both the powermac and imac cause of the g5...let alone the ability to even put a g5 in such a small enclosure
however if you want to hear my completely made up opinion... i think powerbooks will be updated with a speed bump, maybe some other slightly bumped hardware features in about a month. Powerbooks won't be for awhile. I have to say i believe them when they say that powerbooks won't be for awhile, especially after the delays of both the powermac and imac cause of the g5...let alone the ability to even put a g5 in such a small enclosure
That's one hell of a first post TLRedhawke 🙂.TLRedhawke said:
I don't believe it myself but who really knows anyway.
TLRedhawke said:
I'm going to go out on a limb and be Mr. Suspicious here: Specific reason given by whom?
I don't understand. Someone "up the supply chain" is saying that Something Big is coming -- the PowerBook G5 -- but the marketing guy (of all people!) is saying that there isn't. But only PowerBook orders through September will be filled, since, I presume, the big announcement will come at the beginning of October. Doesn't it seem more likely that the guy who's supposed to whip up anticipation might say, "I can't tell you anything about that," or, "You'll just have to wait and see," and follow it up with an enigmatic smile? "He reiterated the classic line 'No G5 Powerbook anytime soon' despite being faced with the reasons why such reiterations are suspicious" itself sounds...suspicious. Especially since those reasons seem to be a mix of conjecture and wishful thinking.TLRedhawke said:
Hey, maybe I'm wrong, and two weeks from now we'll be oohing and aahing over gorgeous new PowerBook G5s while I'm kicking myself for not waiting, but I don't think so. Speed bump? Maybe. Price drop? Perhaps. G5? No.
Maybe someone can correct me, but when Apple denies -- flat out denies -- that something is coming in the near future, have they ever reversed themselves? I don't mean that they remained frustratingly quiet or that the thing in question eventually appeared. I mean that when they've said, "We're not going to make a __________," (like a PDA or a cell phone) or, "Don't expect ____________ in [a particular time frame]," have they ever turned around and reversed themselves, just for the thrill of it?
in australia we have "work to your own beat" which offer the same terms as this "cram and jam" i assume it is the same thing. it ends on the 25 sept anyway.
i dont think this would be the first time they have flat out lied. i could see apple trying to make it a big secret type thing because it really is spectacular... so maybe they are keeping it hush hush and then will launch it on us!
the point is who the hell knows! i am crossing my fingers hoping our new friend here will be right so i can get my grubby hands on it when i got to buy in the next couple months. time will tell.
P.S. I talked to an apple store guy today and he seemed to not wanna say much about powerbook revs. All he did was hint that he didnt think a g4 rev was coming at all. I said it all depends on how far away the g5 is and he said "EXACTLY"
could this mean the g5 is right around the corner so the g4 books are dead? we'll see!
the point is who the hell knows! i am crossing my fingers hoping our new friend here will be right so i can get my grubby hands on it when i got to buy in the next couple months. time will tell.
P.S. I talked to an apple store guy today and he seemed to not wanna say much about powerbook revs. All he did was hint that he didnt think a g4 rev was coming at all. I said it all depends on how far away the g5 is and he said "EXACTLY"
could this mean the g5 is right around the corner so the g4 books are dead? we'll see!
JFreak said:
AFAIK, the current PB lineup is 100% tiger compatible, so no one should worry about that.