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iBook Updates?

Well, the iBooks were refreshed at the same time as the 15" TiBook, which is also on the way out as soon as stocks run low.

The iBook refresh was all pretty simple - nothing that required any great change. Even the ATI 7500 was readily compatible with the existing hardware design.

If Apple wasn't rolling out new product till early this year, that's just the kind of refresh you might expect they would do to keep sales going over the crucial Xmas season.

It was certainly less of a refresh, ignoring the new case on the lower-end machine, than was done to the newly superdrived TiBook.

That said, I bought a new iBook 800 and I think it is a real sweet machine. Curious to see how Apple's gonna top it....
 
Do you think that a major update for the iBooks will occur in the next few months (not excluding an intermediary update with price drops in the next few weeks) targeting the college student community so that all the happy schoolers can take cool new toys to college?? Maybe in June, or (gasp) July???

just a thought since the iBook seems to target student demographic???
 
iBook update speculation

Ok,

I don't know anything so this is my take based on what we know or can make educated guesses at.

There was that rumor a few weeks back about Apple teking delivery those "gobi" G3 processors, which if I remember correctly were even lower power processors running at 1Ghz.

Apple will want to get out new revs of all systems to boot X only, this will is very important to cut support costs and free up resources to focus on Mac OS X. Apple will also want to get AirPort Extreme out there as well. And, as someone else pointed out, Apple wouldn't want the iBook to cut into PowerBook sales.

So here's what I could see them doing, this is pure speculation:

They keep the current array of three basic models, 12 CD-ROM, 12 Combo, 14 Combo.

-accross the board there'd be a speed bump in line the Gobi processors.
-no hard drive size increase, since the 12" PowerBook is still 40GB.
-no superdrive, since this 1) would hurt sales of 12" PowerBook, 2) possible hurt sales of SuperDrive desktop models, 3) significantly increase the price of the "consumer" laptop, 4) complicate a line of 3 models, to 4-5 models (12 cd-rom, 12 combo, 12 superdrive, 14 combo, 14 inch superdrive)

12.1" CD-ROM
-speed bump
-AirPort ready, but no AirPort Extreme support
-CD-ROM only
-20GB HD
-bluetooth, but only through external module
-no FireWire 800

12.1" Combo
-speed bump
-AirPort Extreme ready
-Combo drive
-30GB HD (40GB custom)
-no FireWire 800
-possibly internal BlueTooth module, more likely external module

14.1" Combo
-speed bump
-AirPort Extreme ready
-Combo drive
-30GB HD (40GB custom)
-no FireWire 800
-possibly internal BlueTooth module, more likely external module

assuming they don't change the pricing, this would make a pretty smooth path of choices from a 12" CD-ROM iBook all the way through a 17" PowerBook equipped with everything but the kitchen sink.

On the other hand, if Apple is able to drop prices far enough, maybe they would try and simply the line, much like the iMac, and cut out the CD-ROM model altogether. but it is unlikely they could shave $300 off the 12" combo system to have it start at $999, nor is it likely they would raise the price of the entry level machine, and $999 is a pretty significant price point for getting customers in the door. (Apple didn't need to worry about raising the entry level price of the iMac by $100, since they didn't have a $999 iMac to begin with, and the eMac fills that sport pretty nicely)
 
Configuration Speculation

If you look at today's iMac updates, it appears they're continuing to use the old motherboard with AirPort/FW 400/100MHz bus in the low end, and a new motherboard with AirPort Extreme/BT/FW 400/133MHz bus for the high end. I'd guess that any iBook updates would follow the same approach, although I'd doubt any DDR memory. If AirPort Extreme is an option, so will the internal Bluetooth module. If it's not, neither will internal BT. And, no FW 800 for consumer iBooks. That said, it would be nice to see a 1GHz G3 in an iBook. I love my 600MHz iBook, but a faster CPU and video card would be sweet.:D
 
my iBook theory...

I first posted this on another thread : "Will the next update to the 12" iBook kill the 12" PowerBook?" but here it is again as I think it's relevant...

My theory, for what it's worth, is that we will see the iBook range significantly re-designed. Reasons:

1 - They have to differentiate it from the 12" PB, and at the moment they are VERY similar to Joe Consumer. G3 vs G4 means nothing, but Joe looks at 800Mhz vs 867Mhz and doesn't understand the price difference.

2 - Ink HWR. Surely Apple dropped this into OSX for more than just awkward hand writing through your Wacom? If not a total tablet iBook, I can see them making it possible for kids (and grown up kids) to write and draw on the screen ala eMate.

However, I can see them still offering a traditional iBook laptop alongside any re-design so as to hedge their bets about the whole potential of the tablet market.

Anyway, those are my thoughts, and I'll take 2 of the tablet iBooks (hint hint Apple)...

Grizzly:)
 
I hope not

I hope they don't come out with a new one in the near future, cause then the one I just bought won't be top of the line anymore! :(
 
Re: I hope not

Originally posted by Nermal
I hope they don't come out with a new one in the near future, cause then the one I just bought won't be top of the line anymore! :(
Click to expand...

Heh, I won't have that problem. I didn't buy the top of the line anyway.

Yesterday I was hoping they wouldn't bring out new iBooks next week, but now that mine has arrived, I've changed my mind. This thing is beautiful and I don't care what they come out with next. Although I'll still want that as well :)
 
Re: Re: Re: Re: reflex

Originally posted by yzedf

A $100 price cut is in order... at a minimum.
Click to expand...

Actually, they did cut the price of the 14" iBook by $100 when the alBooks were introduced.
 
Re: Re: sigh...

Originally posted by yzedf


Me too. :(

My girlfriend just got a ibook G3 800 combo drive with everything maxed out... and i was not real impressed.

it is nice, but sluggish feeling.

her old imac G4 700 did not feel that way...
Click to expand...

Then main difference between the iBook and the iMacG4 (other than the processor) is that the hard drive is much slower -- which could cause the sluggishness. Also, if you are running on battery power, the default setting for the iBook is to conserve power. This means that the processor will be doing "speed-step" similar to the Intel chips and will be running at a lower mhz speed during average operations.
 
My Opinion

If there is an update, this is what I think would happen...

Bottom End
12" iBook, as is, but with 800mhz processor and DVD-ROM drive with a BTO option for the combo drive. Price remains $999. (the trend in the Apple computers seems to be toward DVD -- this would be a low cost upgrade for Apple, but a value to the consumer. The difference in price for the G3 700 and 800mhz chips is next to nothing nothing.)

Middle End
13-14" iBook
Redesigned case with the Airport Extreme and Bluetooth internal options. Slot-loading Combo drive with a BTO option for the Superdrive. Processor running at 800mhz and a GeForce4 Go (same as Powerbook 12") video card. System bus at 133mhz, but only SDRAM not DDR. I would like to see 256mb memory on the main board instead of 128mb. The price? It will have to go up to at least $1399 with the superdrive BTO bringing it to $1599.

High End
13-14" iBook
Same as above... but the processor running at 933mhzThe price? It will have to go up to at least $1599 with the superdrive BTO bringing it to $1799.

This widens the gap for the bottom end iBook and the mid-range... but that makes sense because Apple is going to want the buyer to think... "If I only spend $___ more, then I can get a 12" Powerbook instead." But this still a significant upgrade for the iBook.
 
Your predictions make sense on the most part, but I can't see Apple spec-ing the high end consumer portable "faster" in terms of Mhz than the low end pro portable. Apple has never done this.

Even though most Apple savvy people know the difference between the G3 and G4, Joe Sixpack (conditioned by a lifetime of Wintel Mhz brainwashing) will probably get very confused choosing between a 933 G3 and 867 G4.

Unfortunately, I think that Mac-specific tech ignorance amongst the average buying populace retains strong inertial forces.
 
Originally posted by TheMightyG
Your predictions make sense on the most part, but I can't see Apple spec-ing the high end consumer portable "faster" in terms of Mhz than the low end pro portable. Apple has never done this.
Click to expand...

This is not true... when the iMac G4 came out over one year ago, the high end model was faster than the bottom end Powermac, and the Bottom end iMac was really close to the bottom end Powermac

iMac Powermac
700mhz 733mhz
800mhz 933mhz

And this is assuming that Apple does come out with a new model within the next several months without updating (again) the Powerbook line. Apple is NOT going to only give a 50mhz speed bump. The question is going to be more of wheither or not it will be a 100mhz bus or a 133mhz bus for the upper end iBook. I vote 133mhz because that is what the model is going to need for future revisions. But if it is 100mhz, then the processor would still be at 900mhz.

It might confuse buyers, but there would be a significant of enough difference between the iBook and the Powerbook. Remember, that the main competition for the iBook is not the Powerbook, but the 2.0Ghz P4 and Celerons notebooks.
 
Ah..I stand corrected.

:cool:

However, I still worry that the pro and consumer lines will blur together too much if the iBook is bumped up to 900Mhz with or without a system bus boost....
 
plz don faze out 12 in... how long do ibooks last?

the 12 in is what i'm saving up for... how long do you guys think a new ibook will last... i hear from some peeps like 2 yrs... but i not sure... this imac has lasted me 4 so far...
 
Originally posted by TheMightyG
Your predictions make sense on the most part, but I can't see Apple spec-ing the high end consumer portable "faster" in terms of Mhz than the low end pro portable. Apple has never done this.

Even though most Apple savvy people know the difference between the G3 and G4, Joe Sixpack (conditioned by a lifetime of Wintel Mhz brainwashing) will probably get very confused choosing between a 933 G3 and 867 G4.

Unfortunately, I think that Mac-specific tech ignorance amongst the average buying populace retains strong inertial forces.
Click to expand...

the pc world blurs their lines all the time. they have there celeron lines up to 2 ghz and have there p4 line at the same. look at the dell notebook line alone on their site. they have 5 different machines all from 1 ghz to 2. an average user in the pc world looks at price first before numbers. while most mac "book" owners look at speed and video card. i know many pc notebook owners who care about cost because they dont use it for anything but playing movies/music. and typing.
personaly i want a 12 inch 1ghz g3 ibook with a radeon 9000 card and combo. superdrives should not be in ibooks. but airport extreme should.:)
 
price drop! ; ) please

I'm looking for a price drop in the new iBooks so that I can get my sister-in-law a current iBook cheaper : )

I sold her HP Omnibook (at her request) hehe...

I've been lurking on Ebay for a month now and I can't get an iBook (at least 700Mhz) for $850 (what I have from the sale of her laptop).

So I'm hoping to see the 700's or 800(lowend) models come down to my range : )

I use my TiBook 800 with pride ; ) I drool over the newer Al Books... but I am damn happy as it is. ..... unless they release an updated 15" Al.. then I might get the trade-up jitters haha
:D
 
Re: Can't find the info

Originally posted by BeigeUser
I can't find that information on Kodawarisan's site. Was it removed?
Click to expand...

No, it's still there:

"It seems that as for the iMac and the eMac, this week the AirMac Extreme card slot and the Bluetooth are built in by the first half, become announcement. According to information, design of the logic board was modified substantially, also the frame was modified part, it is thing. Furthermore, it seems that also announcement of the iBook is planned in the following week."

-- cionheart
 
Originally posted by nighthawk


This is not true... when the iMac G4 came out over one year ago, the high end model was faster than the bottom end Powermac, and the Bottom end iMac was really close to the bottom end Powermac
Click to expand...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't those specs like that for only a few weeks before they released the new PowerMacs? (I bought the dual 800 the day Steve announced the new imacs assuming with no Expo announcement there would be no speed increase in the PowerMacs for a while. Boy did I feel stupid a few weeks later).
 
Re: my iBook theory...

Originally posted by GrizzlyHippo
I first posted this on another thread : "Will the next update to the 12" iBook kill the 12" PowerBook?" but here it is again as I think it's relevant...

My theory, for what it's worth, is that we will see the iBook range significantly re-designed. Reasons:

1 - They have to differentiate it from the 12" PB, and at the moment they are VERY similar to Joe Consumer. G3 vs G4 means nothing, but Joe looks at 800Mhz vs 867Mhz and doesn't understand the price difference.

.....

Grizzly:)
Click to expand...

Ah damn, if I knew about this thread, I wouldn't have started the other. ;)

Anyway, the iBook won't get a speed bump. Why? Because of the $800 price difference between the low-end machines of both the 12" iBook and 12" PB. They are already very similarly spec'ed, and by bumping the speed of the iBook to 900Mhz, for example, you're giving people less of a reason to buy a 12"PB.

The reason an update won't come soon is because of the 12"PB just recently being introduced. They act as a block for any iBook updates, so don't expect a speed bump in April (6 month cycles, right? ;)) like it normally would. The 12" iBook will not get a speed bump until the 12" PB gets a speed bump to G4 1Ghz, which would make it June or July before their next update. The 12" iBook may then get a 900Ghz G3, since the performance difference is still clearly visible to most consumers. They wouldn't release a 900Mhz or 1Ghz iBook if they knew they were going to release a 12" PB. This would cannabalize the sales numbers of the 12"PB. And anyway, the 12" PB is only marginally better as it is now, with the iBook actually performing as good, or better than the 12" PB in certain processes. No L3 cache in the 12" PB? Big mistake by Apple. So speed bumping the iBook will only blur the lines even further, since there would be no way to justify the cost difference between them. And don't expect Bluetooth or APExtreme either. ;)

However, this doesn't mean that the 14" iBook won't get a speed bump on its own.

Here is what's going to happen IF there's an update to the iBooks soon:

12" 700 G3 iBook
*Combo Drive*
*30GB Harddrive*
128MB Ram
$999

12" 800Mhz G3 iBook
Combo Drive
128MB Ram
*Nvidia 32MB GeForce 420 Go* (instead of ATI Radeon 7500 32MB)
30GB HD
$1299


14" 800Mhz G3 iBook
(everything remains the same except price, which drops by $100)
$1399 (originally $1499)

**14" 900Mhz G3 iBook**
Combo Drive
640MB Ram
40GB HD
*Nvidia 32MB GeForce 420 Go*
*$1799** ($50 more than before and same price as 12"PB)

No Bluetooth Support
No APExtreme
If they're updated in July instead of April, the 12" iBook gets a 900 Mhz cpu as well. ;)
 
I wouldn't mind an ibook update, considering mine is broken, sitting at Apple's depot on hold for the last week. I might have to just buy a new one cause it looks like they don't know how to fix it, sigh. Just my personal rant. Sorry, had to vent some steam.

BTW, just to let you know, the lowend ibook has a different case, slightly redesigned, if you look closely. Which points to me that only the higher end ones will be updated, and not a whole new line. My personal thought would be that apple might add a new screen (same physical size as the 14") to the 14" model, giving it a little higher resolution. Maybe maybe not, but a possibility.
 
it WOULD have aiport extreme though, they added it to the iMac, so it isnt only a pro-product at the time like bluetooth and previously ddr and the g4 were.
My personal opinion is that they will give it a feature update more than a speed update, just like the PB's were given. Keeping them with slower processors allow them to be more affordable, and have longer battery lives than the pro machines, somthing that consumers demand more than just speed.
 
This might be a little off topic but are there any Ibook users out there who use the ibook on stage with a band for audio playback/sequencing?
Is the ibook fast enough for that? should I wait for upgrades or buy a new 12 inch PB?
 
Apple called me..

I had saved a couple of orders on Apples site (which requires you to register, and I entered my phone number) - an iBook and a 15" PB. (I've already decided that the 15" PB is out of my price range, and too large, but I digress...)

Apple called me, and I was talking to the Apple guy about my saved order, and about "Switching" (although I'm really "adding" onto my desktop Linux system). This was on Tuesday, when they updated the iMac. He told me that it was quite probable that next week they would either update the iBook, or the 15" PB, and that I might want to hold off until then.

I'm hoping it is the iBook - I love the 12" PB, but for my needs, the iBook is probably a better deal (off topic - does anyone know if GIMP benefits from the G4?) Of course, I have never got to see either of these machines in person - I'd have to travel down to Indy for that (2 hrs one-way).

Just some info to muddy the water :)
 
Originally posted by iwantanewmac
This might be a little off topic but are there any Ibook users out there who use the ibook on stage with a band for audio playback/sequencing?
Is the ibook fast enough for that? should I wait for upgrades or buy a new 12 inch PB?
Click to expand...

If you are planning on using Cubase VST instruments that require the G4, yes you will need the 12" Powerbook.

If you are planning on playing back a lot a samples, the hard drive on both machines might be limited because they are 4200 RPM. I would recommend getting a full size external firewire harddrive that runs at 7200 RPM.

If you are planning on doing straight MIDI sequencing to the keyboard or modules, then the iBook is perfect. I have been doing that since the Powerbook 100 (the orginal).
 
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