iBook Speed Boost
I think the speed boost can really pay off for Apple if they can get a CD-RW in the $999 model.
I think the speed boost can really pay off for Apple if they can get a CD-RW in the $999 model.
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iBook Updates Imminent?
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gotohamish
macrumors 65816
Re: iBook Speed Boost
Or even a combo, then I'd be really tempted... I'd use it for roughin' in on my travels, as my 15.2" Powerbook seems so huge compared to those little 12" models.
Or even a combo, then I'd be really tempted... I'd use it for roughin' in on my travels, as my 15.2" Powerbook seems so huge compared to those little 12" models.
It's only a Luxury to those that don't use it daily... 😉
Seriously, Built-in BT would be very useful and since getting the adapter I haven't looked back - carrying my iCal and Address Book with me eveywhere I go (without having to move to something more sophisticated like a PDA) on the T68i has helped my lousy organsation skills immensely (ok, a treeware organiser would be cheaper, but its syncing requires more effort)...
Not to mention the fact that I can use my T68i as a super-cool remote for presentations (no more standing in fron of the 'book at conferences)...
-- Dan, who uses the Bluetooth adapter with his 14" iBook 😀
CrackedButter
macrumors 68040
Makes my recent purchase of a 12" iBook all the better, i'll get a higher price for it now because it doesn't seem so far behind the newer models.
jayscheuerle
macrumors 68020
Speed isn't the only differnece...
No more booting to OS9, I bet...
And yes, that does matter to some people... - j
No more booting to OS9, I bet...
And yes, that does matter to some people... - j
gotohamish
macrumors 65816
At time of writing there are 14 Positives on this story, and 16 NEGATIVES!
Who the hell thinks any update would be negative?
Who the hell thinks any update would be negative?
CrackedButter
macrumors 68040
zac4mac
macrumors 6502
For the iBook's target market, the G3 works fine. You don't get much out of AltiVec with consumer apps. My 800Combo holds its own with my DP G4550 in most situations. Besides, IBM makes G3s, only Moto makes G4s and they are GOING AWAY.
Apple's lineup will keep G3s in the iBook for a while with 970s in everything else - soon.
Still trying to figure wht the iMac is gonna have, 970 seems too much, but they can't go back to a G3, no matter how fast IBM makes 'em. Guess Moto's gonna be with us for another year or two...
Apple's lineup will keep G3s in the iBook for a while with 970s in everything else - soon.
Still trying to figure wht the iMac is gonna have, 970 seems too much, but they can't go back to a G3, no matter how fast IBM makes 'em. Guess Moto's gonna be with us for another year or two...
My problem with the idea that AE and Bluetooth will be coming to iBooks in the next revision is how Apple treated the iMac/eMac "upgrades". Currently, the ONLY models sporting these features cost $1799 and up (excepting the $1499 PM, but when you add the cost of a display....). The iBook goes up against the eMac/15" iMac dollar for dollar; I doubt they would include these features in the iBook without upgrading the others. To me, it looks like they consider BOTH to be "luxury" options.
I'm guessing that TS is pretty much spot-on with their prediction, as usual.
I'm guessing that TS is pretty much spot-on with their prediction, as usual.
bokdol
macrumors 6502a
alot of people think its negitive because of the constant lowballing by apple. they want to chagre us more for undrepowered machines. while i love apple its getting a bit tiresome. people say apple is like the bmws of. but even bmw does not sell 5 year old cars for the price of new. while i do own a mac. and probably well continue to buy macs. i do feel a bit ripped after what apple has to offer compared to the rest of the computer world. at this moment apple is not the hardware tech leader. their system is amazing, but you can go only so far with software alone. i have heard the rumors of 970s. i know what may come in the future but the future is not now. and now apple is behind. the have a 1 ghz g3. the 12 inch pbook should have been a 1ghz g4. things should be different now. but alas they are still behind. that is why people are complaing about upgrades (that are not even here yet) thats are not a major up grade.
Freg3000
macrumors 68000
Why do many people keep saying that Apple wouldn't release a 900 Mhz iBook while still having a 867 Mhz PowerBook? There was a time last year when the low end PowerBook was 667 Mhz, and the top end iBook at 700 Mhz. The same 33 Mhz difference as we are facing now.
Apple wouldn't do it? They already have done it. Stop spreading misinformation.
CrackedButter
macrumors 68040
ebow
macrumors 6502a
But I believe (educated guessing here) in your case, the iBook simply came with OS 9 pre-configured as Classic. Also, Apple stopped shipping OS 9 discs a while before their machines went OS X-only. Have you tried choosing your OS 9 system from the Startup Disk System Preference Pane?
The 0.13um G3 used in the iBook (IBM 750FX) is an extremely good mobile processor and it is reasonably cheap. At most it will use a few watts, compared to 16W+ for that Pentium-M contraption, and 10W+ for the G4. By saving these watts, Apple can put a cheaper battery in, which saves even more money.
The iBook has good graphics to boot - the Radeon 7500 is a nice solution for the price-point, and with Jaguar that will co-operate nicely, making the lack of Altivec much less of an issue.
The iBook has good graphics to boot - the Radeon 7500 is a nice solution for the price-point, and with Jaguar that will co-operate nicely, making the lack of Altivec much less of an issue.
DakotaGuy
macrumors 601
Whoa, easy on the G3, it's not as crappy as you think. In fact, the current G3 (750fx) Sahara is an excellent processor built by IBM. All it lacks over the G4 is Alti-Vec, but it actually holds a lot more technology.
.13um (G3)
.18um (G4)
4 pipeline stages (G3)
7 pipeline stages (G4)
512K on-chip L2 cache (G3)
256K on-chip L2 cache (G4)
I am not sure about power use and battery life, but I am sure the G3 can beat the G4 for being a power mizer, then there are heat issues and which one runs cooler and last who is a better supplier to stick with, IBM or Moto?
I don't think the Sahara deserves to be slammed the way everyone does. Look at benchmarks and you will see the iBook 800 holding it's own and even taking out the 12" Powerbook in some tasks. The only places where it falls behind is where Alti-Vec is a big factor. I would love to see benchmarks of an 867 G4 and a 900 G3, I think it would surprise some people. With Quartz Extreme there is less help on GUI speed with Alti-Vec now as well, so new iBooks feel very responsive. The only reason we would need a G4 in the iBook is if Apple wanted to put a Superdrive in it, but if Apple was going to make a G4 iBook with a SuperDrive....what in the hell is the point of the 12" Powerbook? A fancy looking case for a few hundred more? People who want a G4 iBook just need to go out and buy a 12" Powerbook, that IS your G4 iBook.
IlluminatedSage
macrumors 68000
My bet is that the iBook as we currently know it, even with the new model, will be a short lived unit.
If the rumors are true about the 970 ppc Powerbooks coming out soon, then apple will be hardpressed to update the rest of its mobile computers.
I believe that this will bring the 12" powerbook to become a ibook. sure they may restyle it and cut a few items to control costs. But its undeniable that the g4 will become the new low end processor for apple.
This would bring alot more power to the starting level of apple laptops.
Of course this is just conjecture, but I think it makes sense. What do you think?
If the rumors are true about the 970 ppc Powerbooks coming out soon, then apple will be hardpressed to update the rest of its mobile computers.
I believe that this will bring the 12" powerbook to become a ibook. sure they may restyle it and cut a few items to control costs. But its undeniable that the g4 will become the new low end processor for apple.
This would bring alot more power to the starting level of apple laptops.
Of course this is just conjecture, but I think it makes sense. What do you think?
deputy_doofy
macrumors 65816
Dare I say this, but why doesn't Apple or IBM pull an Intel? They should intentionally cripple the 970's for the iBooks (shut off the Altivec units).
This way, in a year or 2, the iBooks could have 1, 1.2, and 1.4 Ghz machines, while the PowerBooks have 1.8, 2, 2.4 Ghz (WITH Altivec, and possibly duals, if they can manage to pull that off).
This way, in a year or 2, the iBooks could have 1, 1.2, and 1.4 Ghz machines, while the PowerBooks have 1.8, 2, 2.4 Ghz (WITH Altivec, and possibly duals, if they can manage to pull that off).
Year of the Laptop
Anyone else interpreted the "year of the laptop" statement to mean "focus on mobile features instead of speed?" Wouldn't BT and AE fulfill this idea better than a speedbump? Especially since wireless features are becoming an important part of the experience for mobile users.
As for cannibalism, the AlBook 12" may have been stripped down too much (no card expansion) but it still has enough added features to make it difficult to choose between it and a high-end iBook with BT and AE.
Absolutely. It makes the rumor itself hard to believe. After all, we're already close to a third into this "year of the laptop" and all we got so far, AFAIK, are the 12" and 17" AlBook. There might be production problems, but it's clearly far from what one would expect.
Anyone else interpreted the "year of the laptop" statement to mean "focus on mobile features instead of speed?" Wouldn't BT and AE fulfill this idea better than a speedbump? Especially since wireless features are becoming an important part of the experience for mobile users.
As for cannibalism, the AlBook 12" may have been stripped down too much (no card expansion) but it still has enough added features to make it difficult to choose between it and a high-end iBook with BT and AE.
weev
macrumors regular
This is a concern for consumers who feel there is pace to be maintained. But yeah, it'll be kinda hard to sell when the 970 is out.
We would then have a G5, G4 and G3 - good grief, that won't happen, thus one might summise that if there is one more product cycle (they dare not have more...) left for the G3 - this hints strongly at the ETA of the 970.
How many days ...?
Um...yeah...PPC 970 iBooks...that'll happen soon. Because clearly Apple always puts their greatest processor in the iBook (that's why it is using the G3, which debutted in 1997) and clearly the 130 nm 970 is so well suited for mobile applications. I guess your reality check just keeps bouncing, huh?
I am perfectly happy if they stay w/the 750FX (and its successor) in the iBook, but I just wish they would hurry up and get the 7457 into the Powerbooks so that the 750FX can stretch its legs. I'm sure IBM could easily produce a G3 running over 1 Ghz today if only they weren't constrained to come in lower than what Motorola is currently offering.
It's not clear that what Steve says in his speeches has much predictive value in terms of future products. I distinctly remember him saying that the PowerPC architecture was entering a "sweet spot" in its life when they released the first G4 machines back in late summer of 1999. The PowerPC promptly then proceeded to stagnate at 500 mhz for the next 18 months!