Just some thoughts on how I see the iBooks and Powerbooks being updated around summertime. Here's what I think may happen:
The 12" PowerBook receives a speed bump to 1 GHZ and a price reduction to $1699 for the entry model, making it quite appealing. It may have an updated Radeon built in, likely still with 32MB.
The 15" and 17" PBs see a bump to 1.25GHZ G4s. All PBs continue to have DDR RAM. Not sure if the FSB will improve, so likely to DDR will stay at 256MB. All PBs will have some kind of L3 cache (probably 1 MB) - that might keep the 12" at $1799. I'd hope for the 17" to come down to $2999, but I won't hold my breath. All PBs will have Firewire 800 and Bluetooth. Airport Extreme will also come standard on high end PBs, but all could take the card. All PBs may have backlighting on the KB, although that might not wind up on the 12"
The iBooks will almost completely leave behind the G3 and will, instead, run a G4 at 867MHZ - but only have PC133 memory, not DDR. There will be no Superdrive availability and the Combo will still be a tray load. The case will stay the same as well. The iBook will have no Firewire 800, but will be Airport Extreme ready. No L3 cache will be available on the iBook. There likely will be a base model with a G3 running at 800 MHZ for $999 or less. The G4 model would likely be $1299 or maybe $1199 with the 14.1" model being $200 more.
So something like this:
iBook G3 800 with 128MB standard $999
iBook G4 867 with 256MB standard $1299
iBook G4 867 with 14.1" and 256 $1499
All iBooks would now have the Combodrive
Powerbook Aluminum 12" with DDR, L3 Cache, slot load drive, FW 800, 256MB standard running at 1GHZ $1699
Powerbook 15.4" w/ DDR L3 etc and Combo
w/backlit KB running @ 1.25GHZ $2299
PB 17" w/ DDR, Superdrive, L3, backlit KB, Airport Extreme, and running at 1.25GHZ
$2999
The 12" PowerBook receives a speed bump to 1 GHZ and a price reduction to $1699 for the entry model, making it quite appealing. It may have an updated Radeon built in, likely still with 32MB.
The 15" and 17" PBs see a bump to 1.25GHZ G4s. All PBs continue to have DDR RAM. Not sure if the FSB will improve, so likely to DDR will stay at 256MB. All PBs will have some kind of L3 cache (probably 1 MB) - that might keep the 12" at $1799. I'd hope for the 17" to come down to $2999, but I won't hold my breath. All PBs will have Firewire 800 and Bluetooth. Airport Extreme will also come standard on high end PBs, but all could take the card. All PBs may have backlighting on the KB, although that might not wind up on the 12"
The iBooks will almost completely leave behind the G3 and will, instead, run a G4 at 867MHZ - but only have PC133 memory, not DDR. There will be no Superdrive availability and the Combo will still be a tray load. The case will stay the same as well. The iBook will have no Firewire 800, but will be Airport Extreme ready. No L3 cache will be available on the iBook. There likely will be a base model with a G3 running at 800 MHZ for $999 or less. The G4 model would likely be $1299 or maybe $1199 with the 14.1" model being $200 more.
So something like this:
iBook G3 800 with 128MB standard $999
iBook G4 867 with 256MB standard $1299
iBook G4 867 with 14.1" and 256 $1499
All iBooks would now have the Combodrive
Powerbook Aluminum 12" with DDR, L3 Cache, slot load drive, FW 800, 256MB standard running at 1GHZ $1699
Powerbook 15.4" w/ DDR L3 etc and Combo
w/backlit KB running @ 1.25GHZ $2299
PB 17" w/ DDR, Superdrive, L3, backlit KB, Airport Extreme, and running at 1.25GHZ
$2999
