Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iBook Updates... Details?

Am I right that for all the fancy graphical wizardry with Tiger a machine needs a 64mb graphics card?

If so, this surely must mean the ibook will have 64mb. If the new model is still shipping when Tiger is unleashed then it would be strange if it could not utilise it fully

If I'm wrong forgive me... just a confused old man :p
 
Chaszmyr said:
People who have a laptop only as a secondary computer don't really need a CD burner in their laptop... It would be nice to have a DVD drive in the low-end though.
Click to expand...

You've never burnt a CD for a friend while away from home? Or gave family members a cd with photos on it while at family get-togethers? I say lots of people have a need for a CD burner in a laptop.
 
I have absolutely no need for the optical drive in my iBook. In my mind Disks are completely obsolete.

I get everything online and store/share it with my iPod/Firewire HD or USB memory devices.

The only time I would use a CD/DVD is to reinstall an OS, but that can be done with firewire or a network if you know how.
 
The Red Wolf said:
How about a Dual Core G4 iBook and a G5 Powerbook? Simple, elegant, powerful. It would also give power to the low end and differentiate the PowerBook for the high end. Is a 1.33GHz G4 iBook comparable to a 1.6GHz G5 iMac at a similar price point? People may chose an elegant desktop over a weakly powered portable. So, dual core the iBook. G5 the PowerBook.
Click to expand...
Not very likely at all.

When the Dual Core G4 chips are ready, then expect one of those in the Powerbook and the iBook should wind with faster single core G4s at the same time.
 
NeoMayhem said:
I get everything online and store/share it with my iPod/Firewire HD or USB memory devices.
Click to expand...

That unfortunately won't work for many/most professional applications (Office, Photoshop, Keynote, Final Cut, etc.). A lot of those apps you wouldn't necessarily want to run on an iBook, but there's no reason to cripple it by not including a optical drive. In addition, with a DVD drive, you can watch movies, which is handy for travellers.
 
At this point, there is enough software that is coming on DVD, that the low end drive should be at least a DVD-ROM/CD-ROM drive, although a DVD-ROM/CD-RW allows people to easily make backups of data on their systems (even if the laptop is their second system).
 
ChoMomma said:
Someone said that anything beyond 10x7 on the iBook screen would look too small.. Well I'll say I wish it would at least do 1280x1024

It won't look too small, I can promise you that.
Click to expand...

Actually, I can promise you that it WILL be too small for my eyes. :mad: Not everyone has perfect vision....
 
My guess is that the 12" PowerBook will be dropped from the product lineup and the new iBooks will get the 12" PB's GPU and 1.33GHz processor.
 
Unique

m a y a said:
iPod's won't have an inDock in any Mac desktop or mobile...
Click to expand...

As I said, random idea. What makes an iBook unique other than being white or cheeper than a PowerBook. The iBook needs something, anything. Invented or otherwise in the minds of those who regular this forum or Apple themselves. Make the iBook unique like the iMac. Reason for someone to *want* an iBook over a PowerBook, but nothing to infringe upon the PowerBook's place in the matrix. The hinge design of the iBook was incorporated into the Aluminum PowerBooks. It was a unique point. But not so beautiful as wrapping a G5 (albeit slower) around a flat panel display. Be it a random idea, or perhaps something actually feasible... The iBook needs something other than a $899 price tag to draw people into enjoying the Macintosh experience with an Apple portable.
 
Apple pricing

US price for 12" iBook $1099 = £611 in the UK, but we actually pay £799 (1438 $).
For a 17" powerBook we pay just over 3500 $.

If Apple just charged us a fair price in the UK they might have a larger slice of the cake.
 
Some_Big_Spoon said:
so a G4 12" laptop at 1.3GHz.. and now the 12"powerbook is a hockey puck.. what gives? 12"PB's not worth it if this is the truth. They have to do something, anything, to differentiate the two.. lighted keyboard, better VRAM, free happymeal toy.. anything..
Click to expand...

that would be nice.. a free happymeal toy, i must get the new pb!! :rolleyes:
 
stevep said:
US price for 12" iBook $1099 = £611 in the UK, but we actually pay £799 (1438 $).
For a 17" powerBook we pay just over 3500 $.

If Apple just charged us a fair price in the UK they might have a larger slice of the cake.
Click to expand...

we have the same in sweden, thats because we pay more taxes in europe than in us...:-(
 
Take It From a Guy Who Owns One

I just happen to own an iBook and am quite pleased with it. I think the new ones will have minor speed bumps but thats just about it. For them to have the gfx card go to 64 mb of onboard memory would not be justifiable b/c then the low end powerbooks would have to have more gfx memory in order to have them deemed a "professional" machine. So what I think you will see are just speed bumped iBooks with probably wireless built in and a small ad campaign punching a slow blow to intel's centrino mobile technology. ;)
 
stevep said:
US price for 12" iBook $1099 = £611 in the UK, but we actually pay £799 (1438 $).
For a 17" powerBook we pay just over 3500 $.

If Apple just charged us a fair price in the UK they might have a larger slice of the cake.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Here in NZ a 12" iBook is $1845 (US$1265) plus tax which brings it to US$1420. Does the UK price of £799 include tax?
 
The Red Wolf said:
How about a Dual Core G4 iBook and a G5 Powerbook? Simple, elegant, powerful. It would also give power to the low end and differentiate the PowerBook for the high end. Is a 1.33GHz G4 iBook comparable to a 1.6GHz G5 iMac at a similar price point? People may chose an elegant desktop over a weakly powered portable. So, dual core the iBook. G5 the PowerBook.
Click to expand...

Time to take another Ambien pill so you can keep dreaming!

:D
 
I think you are EXTREMELY close on your wish list...

Steamboatwillie said:
My wish list for the iBooks:

12" iBook
1.25 GHz PowerPC G4
512K L2 cache @ 1GHz
12-inch TFT Display
1024x768 resolution
256MB DDR266 SDRAM
40GB Ultra ATA drive
Combo Drive
NVIDIA GeForce FX
Go5200 (64MB DDR)
AirPort Extreme built-in
$999.00

14" iBook
1.25 GHz PowerPC G4
512K L2 cache @ 1GHz
14-inch TFT Display
1024x768 resolution
512MB DDR266 SDRAM
60GB Ultra ATA drive
Combo Drive
NVIDIA GeForce FX
Go5200 (64MB DDR)
AirPort Extreme built-in
$1199.00

14" iBook
1.33 GHz PowerPC G4
512K L2 cache @ 1GHz
14-inch TFT Display
1024x768 resolution
512MB DDR266 SDRAM
80GB Ultra ATA drive
Super Drive
NVIDIA GeForce FX
Go5200 (64MB DDR)
AirPort Extreme built-in
$1399.00

And.. as long as I have my head in the clouds how about the ability to connect a monitor and use it as a second screen (not just a mirrored screen)
Click to expand...

Oh my God! You are SOOOOOO close I think.
Here's how I think it will hash out:

12" iBook
1.2 GHz PowerPC G4
512K L2 cache @ 1GHz
12-inch TFT Display
1024x768 resolution
256MB DDR266 SDRAM
30GB Ultra ATA drive
CD-ROM (Combo Drive for $100 extra)
ATI Mobility Radeon 9200
32MB DDR video memory
AirPort Extreme ready
$899.00

14" iBook
1.2 GHz PowerPC G4
512K L2 cache @ 1GHz
14-inch TFT Display
1024x768 resolution
256MB DDR266 SDRAM
40GB Ultra ATA drive
Combo Drive
ATI Mobility Radeon 9200
32MB DDR video memory
AirPort Extreme ready
$1199.00

14" iBook
1.33 GHz PowerPC G4
512K L2 cache @ 1GHz
14-inch TFT Display
1024x768 resolution
256MB DDR266 SDRAM
60GB Ultra ATA drive
Super Drive
ATI Mobility Radeon 9200
32MB DDR video memory
AirPort Extreme built-in
$1399.00

The 12" and Mid-Range 14" will now have Super Drive options added instead of being only available on the High-End 14". I am even going to venture a wild stab in the dark and say that they might even offer a CD-ROM for a $100 price reduction on the 12" model to lower the price to $899.....

To keep price down I think Apple will keep the RAM to 256. I have 256 in my 900mhz G3 iBook and it still does everything I need it to do and I use all the Adobe CS apps along with Macromedia apps.

And I agree with the few who have said that putting Airport as a Built-In feature is alittle over kill. Yes, a lot of us do have Airport Networks setup at home but I think they will continue to only offer the built in feature on the High-End model. I know for a fact that if I was buying something like a PowerMac or eMac I wouldn't want the Airport card built-in because chances are the Mac will be right next to the Airport Base Station in my Office/Den at home.

Memory will still max at 1.25 GB. I don't see that changing to 2GB's until the PB's go to G5's.

And YES, I even believe that they will keep the Graphics Cards at 32MB.
They are fine for CONSUMER MACHINES.... people seem to forget that the iBook is suppose to be the baby of all the Macs that are out even though I think they are one of the better Macs right now next to the new iMac.

The iBook's case is a helluva lot stronger than the PB's. I couldn't get over how banged up my friend's 17" PB was and she tries to keep it protected. I throw my iBook in my laptop case and throw it around and I only have a few blemishes that you can only see when you hold it at an angle and REALLY look for them.
 
MacSA said:
How does every rumour about new hardware (eMacs, iBooks) turn into one about the Powerbook G5'? Forget about the G5 Powerbook, it's never going to happen.
Click to expand...

Well it's not never going to happen. Eventully the G5 will make it into a Powerbook then iBook, though probably not anytime in the near future.

KindredMAC said:
12" iBook
1.2 GHz PowerPC G4
512K L2 cache @ 1GHz
12-inch TFT Display
1024x768 resolution
256MB DDR266 SDRAM
30GB Ultra ATA drive
CD-ROM (Combo Drive for $100 extra)
ATI Mobility Radeon 9200
32MB DDR video memory
AirPort Extreme ready
$899.00
Click to expand...

Even on a low end model, the specs should be a better better than that (not insulting you). Hard drive should go up a bit and I think CD ROM drives are slowly getting out dated. IMO, CD RWs should be standard for low end models. Even though the price is ok, I still think Apple should include CD RWs now and just get rid of standard CD ROM drives. again, IMO.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back