intel powerbooks

IBM announced low-power/heat processors so I think there will be a G5 PB before an intel PB. I bet Intel PBs will be in 2007. Just my guess.

 

I don't think so. Here's why. Apple would have to redesign the entire PB enclosure and motherboard to use the G5. Why would Apple spend so much time, money, and effort to do this when they're going to switch to Intel in a year or two? They'd have to then redesign everything again to accomodate the Intel processors. Apple likes to keep their designs longer than a year or two because it costs so much to design and test them. Doesn't make sense if you ask me.

Here's what I see. Another PB update later this year around October or November and then Intel PBs at WWDC 2006. The iMac and PowerMac will continue to use the G5 chips until they go Intel in 2007.

If we're lucky, the next PB might get the 7448 Freescale chip with the faster bus (200MHz). It would just require a motherboard redesign which is much cheaper than redesigning the entire PB enclosure.

 

What's your prediction on the price range for macintel pb? I'm sure it will be cheaper than current pb's price range...

Jace

 

The R&D recovery for Apple on a new chipset plus a form factor change is 18-24 months...

Considering the contract with IBM end on Oct 2007 -- I don't think Apple wants to risk a single year contract extension.

Since the G5 is a major change.

Expect speed bumps, but playing around with the current iBook/PowerBook is also a possibility.

Since they can still change the case while not doing much at all to the guts. Of course they will still lose a bit of money, but this cost isn't quite as much as losing some customers while they await the MacTels.

A 200MHz FSB is a big question mark, since that may mean a revised chipset. But using the 7448 in the machine with the FSB as-is, might be a possibility also.

 

What's the rationale there? IBM's processors are cheaper than Intel's.

Powerbooks are more expensive for reasons that don't have to do with the processors in them.

 

so does that mean the prices of PB's will likely go UP?

CRAAAAAAAAAAAAP

 

Multi-core is even more important than G5. Properly done it can save even more power since the cores can be shut down independently.