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IBM's PowerPC 970FX... at 2.5GHz?

I dont think anyone that buys even a "Rev B" G5 or any computer right now even on the PC side is doing themselves a favor.

The entire computer industry is poised to go on one of those "updating entire technology" periods that happen about once every 4 or 5 years, where what was is so much worse than what is going to be that anyone that buys the very next rev is going to feel ripped off.

I would not buy a new Mac with a AGP slot in it, period. 16X PCI express and the chips that go with that are gonna be on a order of magnatude better.

What I am going to do while you guys are buying up all those new Rev B G5's is grab all of your 2 gig REV A at bargin prices. Then after I get a few of those, use some of em for experiementing with future versions of xgrid and folding at home along with everything else I do here. Hmmmmm....what can I do with 6 1.8 duals obtained at 1700 bucks each? :D
 
Originally posted by Selecter
I dont think anyone that buys even a "Rev B" G5 or any computer right now even on the PC side is doing themselves a favor.

The entire computer industry is poised to go on one of those "updating entire technology" periods that happen about once every 4 or 5 years, where what was is so much worse than what is going to be that anyone that buys the very next rev is going to feel ripped off.

I would not buy a new Mac with a AGP slot in it, period. 16X PCI express and the chips that go with that are gonna be on a order of magnatude better.

What I am going to do while you guys are buying up all those new Rev B G5's is grab all of your 2 gig REV A at bargin prices. Then after I get a few of those, use some of em for experiementing with future versions of xgrid and folding at home along with everything else I do here. Hmmmmm....what can I do with 6 1.8 duals obtained at 1700 bucks
each? :D
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That is what im doing, gonna pick up a dual 1.8 or single 1.6 or if pb g5 comes out before june then i will buy a pbook g4
 
Originally posted by blueBomber
Well, they can still claim to have the first GOOD 64-bit notebook computer;)
Click to expand...

What you get for the cost of a 12" PB with a combo drive isn't bad. Seeing as you get twice the RAM, twice the graphics card, a bigger screen, 802.11g installed, etc. Actually, a pretty good deal. Maybe I will get one and put Linux on it :)
 
Originally posted by pjkelnhofer
What you get for the cost of a 12" PB with a combo drive isn't bad. Seeing as you get twice the RAM, twice the graphics card, a bigger screen, 802.11g installed, etc.
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I'm getting the hang of PC marketing now. The notebook you mention is certainly fully loaded when you start to delve. You get included, a guaranteed regular supply of viruses and spyware, a stream of phone-home-to-Microsoft security patches, an extra 2lbs to lug about, a mere home edition of XP and the need for a second battery to match the PB's runtime. Bargain.:rolleyes:
 
I have nothing but Kudos and look forward to IBM producing the Xbox 2 CPUs, but, Intel and AMD won't soon match the 25% increase at 90nm? Well duh, they're already at 3.4 so 25% would be 850MHz, 25% of 2 is 500MHz. Come on now..

IBM is kickin A** though.
 
Re: Re: It's not too hot!

Originally posted by army_guy
I was talking about the desktop. Liquid cooloing is only effective if your radiator is big, not exactly ideal for a laptop.
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If it works for the IBM ThinkPads, it'll work for the PowerBook G5.
 
Whatever the case, if what goes into the first G5 PB performs like a single PPC970 2Ghz, it'll be crushed in the mobile market. Testing my dual G5 2Ghz in single processor mode versus P-M processor laptops, the P-M at 1.5Ghz or higher throughly outperforms a single PPC 970 at 2Ghz. That's not good news if that's where current development stands now as Intel hasn't exactly stopped development on the P-M. When IBM puts out the mobile G5, hopefully they're either multicore or of much higher performance, otherwise the G5 PB will be all bark and no bite.

(Though I"m sure that'll satisfy a lot of die-hard Mac users.. but I'm not quite that commited to any one platform when the performance isn't there.)
 
Originally posted by pjkelnhofer
Not if Apple decides to not to put them into the whole product line because people keep buying G4 based Macs.
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Uh... What? Are you suggesting that just because people are buying G4 based iMacs, iBooks, eMacs, and PowerBooks that Apple will go back to the G4? Or that it will never upgrade those lines? That's absurd! People are buying those because that's what available right now. When Apple is ready, then they'll upgrade their lines to the G5.

Hey, as long as people are buy G5 based Power Macs, Apple might not invest in developing a G6!!

Sheesh.

:rolleyes:
 
Originally posted by MorganX
I have nothing but Kudos and look forward to IBM producing the Xbox 2 CPUs, but, Intel and AMD won't soon match the 25% increase at 90nm? Well duh, they're already at 3.4 so 25% would be 850MHz, 25% of 2 is 500MHz. Come on now..

IBM is kickin A** though.
Click to expand...

I think that the point is that the G5 is accellerating faster than the offerings from Intel and AMD at this point. If that keeps up, then Mac users may get some real bragging rights, like the days when the G3 first came out....
 
Originally posted by pjkelnhofer
What you get for the cost of a 12" PB with a combo drive isn't bad. Seeing as you get twice the RAM, twice the graphics card, a bigger screen, 802.11g installed, etc. Actually, a pretty good deal. Maybe I will get one and put Linux on it :)
Click to expand...

What you're overlooking is that eMachines have done a good job of earning the reputation of being one of the worst PC manufacturers out there. Their machines are made with the most bargain basement parts, have a terrible failure rate, etc. Yes, you can get a warranty on them, but who wants to have to send the machine in for repairs once a month?
 
Originally posted by billyboy
You get included, ... an extra 2lbs to lug about, ... Bargain.:rolleyes:
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Exactly...

Weight: 7.5 lbs. (8.65 total travel weight)
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It's not that heavy just sitting there.. but if you pick it up.. man, look at it pack those pounds on! :D
 
Originally posted by Snowy_River
What you're overlooking is that eMachines have done a good job of earning the reputation of being one of the worst PC manufacturers out there. Their machines are made with the most bargain basement parts, have a terrible failure rate, etc. Yes, you can get a warranty on them, but who wants to have to send the machine in for repairs once a month?
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Dude what the HE** are you talking about. Emachines desktops suck, their laptops kick butt though. I know 13 people with emachine laptops and none of them have had problems.
 
Originally posted by billyboy
I'm getting the hang of PC marketing now. The notebook you mention is certainly fully loaded when you start to delve. You get included, a guaranteed regular supply of viruses and spyware, a stream of phone-home-to-Microsoft security patches, an extra 2lbs to lug about, a mere home edition of XP and the need for a second battery to match the PB's runtime. Bargain.:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I am not a PB owner (although I wish I was) and I am just playing devil's advocate here, but I was under the impression that the PB's were not the most battery efficient of laptops. Any good real-life comparisons?

Also, the thing that protect Macs from virus is the UNIX based OS, and be that as it may, there have been a couple of security patches for Panther on my software update. Like I said, if I got one I would put Linux on it.

I love Mac's, every computer I have owned (except my Commodore 64) has been a Mac. Honestly, before OS X, I thought about changing sides. Now, I love the operating system, but the hardware, specifically anything you can get for <$2000, is lacking.

If you are saying that a laptop with a 64-bit processor at 1.8GHz, 512 MB of RAM, a Radeon 9600 with 64 MB of VRAM, and a DVD+/-RW drive is not a good deal for $1650 ($1450 at Circuit City with rebate). Then you are not living in reality.

When the G5 PB's do come out, the same config will cost 2x that, and we don't even know when that will happen.
 
Originally posted by Snowy_River
Uh... What? Are you suggesting that just because people are buying G4 based iMacs, iBooks, eMacs, and PowerBooks that Apple will go back to the G4? Or that it will never upgrade those lines? That's absurd! People are buying those because that's what available right now. When Apple is ready, then they'll upgrade their lines to the G5.

Hey, as long as people are buy G5 based Power Macs, Apple might not invest in developing a G6!!

Sheesh.

:rolleyes:
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Not what I was saying at all. I was saying that as long people keep flocking to a 10% speed bump on the G4 PB's why would Apple race to get the G5 into PB's. If the AlBook sales were slipping then Apple's R&D money would go to getting the G5 PowerBooks out ASAP.

Apple doesn't have a track record for pushing the hardware envelope. As previously mentioned, Apple killed the clones because the clone makers wanted to release the latest technology faster and cheaper than Apple.
 
Re: Re: Re: It's not too hot!

Originally posted by sethypoo
If it works for the IBM ThinkPads, it'll work for the PowerBook G5.
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i assume your talking about the brand new ultra thin, self protecting think pad as opposed to the traditional versions i use to hold down lawn chairs during hurricanes...
 
Originally posted by crees!
Exactly...



It's not that heavy just sitting there.. but if you pick it up.. man, look at it pack those pounds on! :D
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The real problem with the machine is not weight but battery life.That was the big fault this review found.

http://compreviews.about.com/cs/laptops/gr/aaprEMachM6807.htm

It isnt really a notebook,more a desktop replacement.
The Athelon 64 at .13 microns is a power hungry chip Apple wouldnt even consider putting in a notebook.And Amd's .09 process wont be ready till the end of the year so Apple can still be the first to have a REAL 64 bit portable.
 
Originally posted by cuneglasus
The real problem with the machine is not weight but battery life.That was the big fault this review found.

http://compreviews.about.com/cs/laptops/gr/aaprEMachM6807.htm

It isnt really a notebook,more a desktop replacement.
The Athelon 64 at .13 microns is a power hungry chip Apple wouldnt even consider putting in a notebook.And Amd's .09 process wont be ready till the end of the year so Apple can still be the first to have a REAL 64 bit portable.
Click to expand...

Despite the battery life the reviewer still gave it 5 Stars!
 
Originally posted by pjkelnhofer
Not what I was saying at all. I was saying that as long people keep flocking to a 10% speed bump on the G4 PB's why would Apple race to get the G5 into PB's.
Click to expand...

Because the .09 nm G5's are smaller,lower power,and almost certainly cheaper than the current G4's in powerbooks.
 
Originally posted by pjkelnhofer
Despite the battery life the reviewer still gave it 5 Stars!
Click to expand...

See! When Apple gets its REAL 64 bit laptop they can give it 7 stars.You wont have to stay near an outlet or carry a bag of batteries.
 
Originally posted by pjkelnhofer
I am not a PB owner (although I wish I was) and I am just playing devil's advocate here, but I was under the impression that the PB's were not the most battery efficient of laptops. Any good real-life comparisons?

Also, the thing that protect Macs from virus is the UNIX based OS, and be that as it may, there have been a couple of security patches for Panther on my software update. Like I said, if I got one I would put Linux on it.

I love Mac's, every computer I have owned (except my Commodore 64) has been a Mac. Honestly, before OS X, I thought about changing sides. Now, I love the operating system, but the hardware, specifically anything you can get for <$2000, is lacking.

If you are saying that a laptop with a 64-bit processor at 1.8GHz, 512 MB of RAM, a Radeon 9600 with 64 MB of VRAM, and a DVD+/-RW drive is not a good deal for $1650 ($1450 at Circuit City with rebate). Then you are not living in reality.

When the G5 PB's do come out, the same config will cost 2x that, and we don't even know when that will happen.
Click to expand...
I don't get your message, at all. Are you saying Linux doesn't have security updates and OSX does? That's absurd and shows, clearly, that you are not a Linux user ( or maybe you don't check for updates on your Linux distro ). Linux is more widely disrtibuted than OSX, and, being largely x86, is much more inclined to be hacked than OSX, so I have no idea what you're saying. Hacks produced for x86 Linux will apply to PPC Linux, with a simple re-compile.

I have no idea why you prefer a Mac. So, you pay a primium for a Mac so you can put Linux on it, supposedly because you're paranoid about security? In so doing, you've put yourself on a platform that has less apps available than any other combination you've mentioned. Nonsense.

Not to mention, since you seem to be concerned about battery life, the PPC Linux distros available for Mac hardware aren't nearly as good about power management as OSX.

So maybe you buy Corvettes and put VW Bug engines in them so you have a lower maintenance bill?
 
G5 in a PowerBook

As an owner of the current 15" AlBook, I have a hard time understanding how Apple will pull off a 64-bit processor inside of a notebook ~1in thick. I'm not talking about the heat dissipation of the processor, I'm just referring to having at least twice as many circuit board traces on the main board. There's barely enough room for anything in the 32-bit model I have. Think: higher density of interconnects = higher heat density and also greater incidence of failures = greater manufacturing risks and costs.

I think Apple will probably go the way of something like Centrino -- a newly designed 32-bit chip on a 90nm process. Doesn't the latest G3 chip from IBM already have 1MB L2 cache? And weren't they planning on adding SIMD (i.e, Altivec) instructions to it in a future revision? I also recall hearing (on MacRumors) that the newest G3's would scale easily to 2.0GHz.

But, then again I'm sure that the 64-bit eMachines laptop makes Apple want to push for something similar. I don't think Apple will just make a 2.0", 8lb. portable simply so they can call it 64-bit (or would they?). Apple wants something elegant. So, in all likelihood we will see another Moto-G4 revision to the PowerBook, then something completely different that will beat the socks off of what I have now. It will do for Apple's pro portable line what the PPC970 did for the PowerMacs. Perhaps there will be a specialized 64-bit PowerBook (probably only in a 17" version) close to the same time.

Eventually (in ~1.5 years), of course, all PowerBooks will move to 64-bit, I just don't think it'll be for a while yet. And no one else seems to have picked up on this, but remember how when the G5 was first announced there was an IBM presentation shortly thereafter? Well, IBM is going to be talking about the 970FX this coming week (Monday and Wednesday). Does that mean new G5's on Tuesday, the 17th?!!

;) :rolleyes:
 
Originally posted by pjkelnhofer

If you are saying that a laptop with a 64-bit processor at 1.8GHz, 512 MB of RAM, a Radeon 9600 with 64 MB of VRAM, and a DVD+/-RW drive is not a good deal for $1650 ($1450 at Circuit City with rebate). Then you are not living in reality.

When the G5 PB's do come out, the same config will cost 2x that, and we don't even know when that will happen.
Click to expand...
Except for the weight/battery, it is a good deal.

But what software does it come with?
And if apple can match those specs but cut the weight to 4~5lbs and 1-inch thich (I highly doubt the eMachines is anything less then 1.5~2 inches thick) and sell it for say 1899-even 1999, the powerbook g5 (15inch) would definitely be the better value IMO...

I don't think that apple can afford 2x prices.
In fact all thier laptops have been pretty good value for what you get, the only big difference is the speed of the CPU compared to others...hopefully that would end soon...
 
Originally posted by daveL
I don't get your message, at all. Are you saying Linux doesn't have security updates and OSX does? That's absurd and shows, clearly, that you are not a Linux user ( or maybe you don't check for updates on your Linux distro ). Linux is more widely disrtibuted than OSX, and, being largely x86, is much more inclined to be hacked than OSX, so I have no idea what you're saying. Hacks produced for x86 Linux will apply to PPC Linux, with a simple re-compile.

I have no idea why you prefer a Mac. So, you pay a primium for a Mac so you can put Linux on it, supposedly because you're paranoid about security? In so doing, you've put yourself on a platform that has less apps available than any other combination you've mentioned. Nonsense.

Not to mention, since you seem to be concerned about battery life, the PPC Linux distros available for Mac hardware aren't nearly as good about power management as OSX.

So maybe you buy Corvettes and put VW Bug engines in them so you have a lower maintenance bill?
Click to expand...

No, maybe I should have been clearer. I was referring to the eMachines 64-bit notebook when I said I would but Linux on it.

Also, well I admit, that Windows (particularly XP) has security problems. I hate when Mac users insist that Mac's are better because they don't get viruses. The truth is that the main reason there are no Mac viruses is because someone writing a virus isn't going to waste there time with the 5% (or whatever the current number) that use Mac OS. Believe, if the majority of business used OS X, mydoom who have been written in to attack your computer.

I know it is a pain, but maybe you should read the whole thread before you comment on one message.
 
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