Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Motorola, The G4 and PowerBook Updates
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
God, this is exhausting ... for the millionth time, Apple does not develop microprocessors. Neither does Dell nor HP nor Sony. I'm sure Apple could have asked IBM to work on G5s concurrently for desktops and laptops, but in that case neither of them would be ready now and you'd be bitching about that instead. Seems to me Apple tasked IBM to desktops and Moto to laptops ... and you'll be hearing the second part of the news very soon.
Yup, In theory you can. This is the reason i didn't buy another iMac.... upgradability. But, having upgraded my P3 450 alongside my PM G4 400, The PC is about twice as much money to maintain. I've had both about 3-4 years. In that time the Mac has...... 512mb extra RAM, 60GB HDD, and Toshiba SDR1102 combo drive. It Runs Mac OS X 10.2.6, Photoshop 7, Office v.X and Safari, iTunes etc......
No components have ever failed.
The PC is now an AthlonXP 1700+ w/256mb Ram, DVD Player & CD Writer and 60GB HDD.
The P3 450 Processor died two years ago and was replaced by a P3 800.
The onboard sound on the otherboard was not compatible with XP, and the onboard graphics card went 6 months ago. The nearest equivalent was a socket A board and an Athlon 1700+ for £200 (about $150) on special offer with cooling. Adding on a creative soundcard 4.1 (£30) and graphics card (radeon 7000 32mb) £50.
Both got treadted to a MS Intellimouse explorer (Hey even machines deserve Xmas presents!)
4 years ago, both cost around £1500 with 17" monitor. The PC has cost me a further £400, just for the privilege of running the latest OS (XP) and still has 256mb Ram and 16.8 Gb HDD
It has also been away for two weeks to have the original processor changed (that was free under guarantee)
The Mac Has cost £400 pounds extra, Has more memory and HDD, is slower though, but has also never left my Desk. OSX is compatible with it, and no xtra drivers or new parts were needed to allow me to stay up to date, and none were repaired.
wirewyrm
AMEN!!!!
PCs like to eventually burn up, usually within a couple of years. This is now a concern I have about the G5.
In my case, I have solved the extreme heat problem, but now I need to change the processor coolent every 300,000,000 cycles....
Max
AMEN!!!!
PCs like to eventually burn up, usually within a couple of years. This is now a concern I have about the G5.
In my case, I have solved the extreme heat problem, but now I need to change the processor coolent every 300,000,000 cycles....
Max
should I by a 17" PB
Keeping in mind this whole thread, is it a good idea to buy the 17" Notebook now?
I can buy it for US$2850 right now, but this thread has given me strong doubts...
Keeping in mind this whole thread, is it a good idea to buy the 17" Notebook now?
I can buy it for US$2850 right now, but this thread has given me strong doubts...
PLEASE! Obsolete? Does it run OS X? All your apps?
Why do we always have to think that just because something is improved on, it's immediately obsolete?
Also you can upgrade your processor in the PowerMac.
And I'd rather use an Obsolete Mac than a brand new POS Windows Machine.
I'll bet money even tho your Mac is "obsolete" it gets more of a work out than your PC.
MacBoyX
hell, macs' resale value is great too, so if you really think your machine is obsolete you'll get better return than a pc anyday...
is this a 15" alpb?
is this a 12" powerbook? I have one, and the al powerbook in this pic on the airport extreme homepage [http://www.apple.com/airport/hotspots.html
looks way bigger than mine, but its definitely not a 17"
if you look closely at the picture, it appears that the power, ethernet, and 56k are not where they should be-on the users left side, close to the hinge.
is this a 12" powerbook? I have one, and the al powerbook in this pic on the airport extreme homepage [http://www.apple.com/airport/hotspots.html
looks way bigger than mine, but its definitely not a 17"
if you look closely at the picture, it appears that the power, ethernet, and 56k are not where they should be-on the users left side, close to the hinge.
i definitely agree erova, i just sold my 800 mhz Ti to a student for 1700-i bought it for 2200.
that's not bad at all...
i just unloaded my Ti500 for a grand (probably coulda picked up more for it on eBay but it was for a friend)...not bad for a two and half year old machine, if you ask me...
i just unloaded my Ti500 for a grand (probably coulda picked up more for it on eBay but it was for a friend)...not bad for a two and half year old machine, if you ask me...
G4 Cube = Great Resell Too
Yep, I got a GREAT Educational Deal from Apple when they were trying to CLOSE OUT the Mac Cubes anyway. ($800 NEW).
Now you can still find them all the time on eBay for AS MUCH OR MORE than I payed YEARS AGO.
Try that with a PeeCee!!!
Yep, I got a GREAT Educational Deal from Apple when they were trying to CLOSE OUT the Mac Cubes anyway. ($800 NEW).
Now you can still find them all the time on eBay for AS MUCH OR MORE than I payed YEARS AGO.
Try that with a PeeCee!!!
TiBook 800 Case Replacement
Oh, and add to that the fact that Apple replaced the case to my TiBook under warranty (due to the paint flaking) and I am happy with my G4 Powerbook for quite a while!
It's still SO MUCH faster than all of the PeeCees at work that it's not even funny. Not to mention that I end up being the one that fixes the PeeCee crashes anyway! heh
Oh, and add to that the fact that Apple replaced the case to my TiBook under warranty (due to the paint flaking) and I am happy with my G4 Powerbook for quite a while!
It's still SO MUCH faster than all of the PeeCees at work that it's not even funny. Not to mention that I end up being the one that fixes the PeeCee crashes anyway! heh
Re: is this a 15" alpb?
i'm not sure about this, but could it be a iBook?
edit>> i just had a look at the iBook on Apple's site. to me it looks like a 12" in the pic on the airport page.
goto apple.com/ibook. the pic on that page showing the combo drive, with the screen 1/2 closed looks sort of metalic like the pic on the airport page.
i'm not sure about this, but could it be a iBook?
edit>> i just had a look at the iBook on Apple's site. to me it looks like a 12" in the pic on the airport page.
goto apple.com/ibook. the pic on that page showing the combo drive, with the screen 1/2 closed looks sort of metalic like the pic on the airport page.
but what about the missing ethernet and 56k? also-on the airport extreme hotspots page, you can actually see the antenna that is on the new al pb's, but not the ethernet and 56k. In that photograph, i would imagine that those two ports would be more prominent than the antenna.
Agreed. By the definition of obsolete as is used here by many, then the PCs are obsoleted at a faster rate than Macs, since the "improvements" usually come at a much faster pace. As far as upgrading goes, I have upgraded my tower from 867MHz G4 to dual 1.2 Gig G4s... wasn't hard.
In any case, THIS is what "obsolete" means... the incorrect use, evidenced in these threads, is all in the mind!
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913):
Obsolete \Ob"so*lete\, a. [L. obsoletus, p. p. of obsolescere.
See Obsolescent.]
1. No longer in use; gone into disuse; disused; neglected;
as, an obsolete word; an obsolete statute; -- applied
chiefly to words, writings, or observances.
2. (Biol.) Not very distinct; obscure; rudimental;
imperfectly developed; abortive.
-----------------
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913):
Obsolete \Ob"so*lete\, v. i.
To become obsolete; to go out of use. [R.] --Fitzed. Hall.
-----------------
why do we always have to think that just because something is improved on, its immediately obsolete?
in the case of the 1gig processor-its not obsolete. I owned a Ti for a year. It WAS the best portable on the market. There were no gripes except the fact that i couldnt see the status light when the lid was closed.
But there are so many other improvements within the new line of powerbooks that cant be ignored besides the fact that the Ti is not the best portable on the market anymore.
-TWO year old case design
-single data rate memory
-11mbps as opposed to 54 airport
-very delicate hinge
-very delicate paint
-lack of a 17" screen offering
-lack of a 12" screen offering
-and hopefully soon lack of 15.4" offering
So to me my old Ti is obsolete.
It is percieved to be an obsolete box in the eyes of so many because it is offered among the other newer models. Instead of getting the new 15.?" al pb on shelves and making the Ti's available only through education sales like they should have. Instead they play this waiting game, and cause so much unrest about the Ti which directs so much undue scrutiny to the entire line.
in the case of the 1gig processor-its not obsolete. I owned a Ti for a year. It WAS the best portable on the market. There were no gripes except the fact that i couldnt see the status light when the lid was closed.
But there are so many other improvements within the new line of powerbooks that cant be ignored besides the fact that the Ti is not the best portable on the market anymore.
-TWO year old case design
-single data rate memory
-11mbps as opposed to 54 airport
-very delicate hinge
-very delicate paint
-lack of a 17" screen offering
-lack of a 12" screen offering
-and hopefully soon lack of 15.4" offering
So to me my old Ti is obsolete.
It is percieved to be an obsolete box in the eyes of so many because it is offered among the other newer models. Instead of getting the new 15.?" al pb on shelves and making the Ti's available only through education sales like they should have. Instead they play this waiting game, and cause so much unrest about the Ti which directs so much undue scrutiny to the entire line.
Obsolete is ABSOLUTELY the WRONG WORD!
As you say, the TiBook may not be the LATEST or BEST laptop on the market anymore. However, with reference to the post above about how bad he wants a TiBook, the TiBook is BY NO MEANS obsolete.
in fact, (sorry to say this) you have to be pretty SPOILED to use the word OBSOLETE with reference to something that is still a better all-around machine that 90% of what the world uses.
I consider myself VERY LUCKY to be fortunate enough to own last year's TiBook model just as if I owned a 1-2 year old Cadillac. I have a 3 1/2 year old to support (with one on the way) and every dollar spent on my TiBook was very valuable and very worth it.
Making a point by using the most extreme wording available (i.e. OBSOLETE instead of using NOT THE NEWEST ANYMORE) belittles many, many Mac (and PeeCee) users that would ABSOLUTELY LOVE to have a TiBook.
There are BRAND NEW Dell PeeCees in my office that couldn't hold a candle to my TiBook but that doesn't make them obsolete either. (Although they are certainly a PAIN!)
As you say, the TiBook may not be the LATEST or BEST laptop on the market anymore. However, with reference to the post above about how bad he wants a TiBook, the TiBook is BY NO MEANS obsolete.
in fact, (sorry to say this) you have to be pretty SPOILED to use the word OBSOLETE with reference to something that is still a better all-around machine that 90% of what the world uses.
I consider myself VERY LUCKY to be fortunate enough to own last year's TiBook model just as if I owned a 1-2 year old Cadillac. I have a 3 1/2 year old to support (with one on the way) and every dollar spent on my TiBook was very valuable and very worth it.
Making a point by using the most extreme wording available (i.e. OBSOLETE instead of using NOT THE NEWEST ANYMORE) belittles many, many Mac (and PeeCee) users that would ABSOLUTELY LOVE to have a TiBook.
There are BRAND NEW Dell PeeCees in my office that couldn't hold a candle to my TiBook but that doesn't make them obsolete either. (Although they are certainly a PAIN!)
Re: Obsolete is ABSOLUTELY the WRONG WORD!
Many valid points were made in that reply. I agree with many of them.
But you ignored a key sentence.
"So to me my old Ti is obsolete."
meaning that my own personal preference is the new Alpb. And with naming new features of the Al pb's, I do not attempt to as you say "belittle" Ti owners. HERE is why im putting my 2 cents into this thing:
So hopefully someone reading this who is shopping around for a pb will not get sucked into this game that apple plays-by delaying the release of what people want the most(midsize notebook) in order to clear out older model inventory. To discourage John Doe from this scenario-
Going to the apple store, or looking at pictures online and saying DAMN! that new case looks so beautiful, plus 54mbps airport, plus ddr ram, plus quieter, plus sturdier. But that 12" is just too small, and the 17" is too big. Ah well, the Ti is still awesome-I'll take one of those please. Would you like to get any additional memory? -no thanks. Would you like an extra battery? -no thanks. Would you like to buy a carrying case for the computer? -no thanks. Would you like to get any blank cd's or dvd's? -no thanks. We no longer offer any productivity software with our notebooks, Microsoft office is 500$ but we offer Apple works for 80$. -no thanks. Would you like to get apple care with your purchase today? Ummmm-yeah, id better get that. Cash, check or charge? -Charge. Ok your total is $3191.21**. --then after a few weeks of use-- John checks his email, sister says hello, usa bank says he can get a great home loan, classmates found 2 more matches, and apple e-news announces that he has just payed $3191.21** for a Ti instead of the newer features and better design of a 15" Al pb. Would he not feel that his $3191.21 could have been better spent? Use of the word obsolete, old, outdated, antiquated, outmoded, or superannuated. IT doesnt matter-he'll still feel pretty bad-dont you think?
summed up for;
prospective midsize notebook buyers-WAIT for a few weeks!
current Ti owners-
You most likely still have the best notebook on your block. If you want to sell it you can probably get a good price. I sold mine on Yahoo classified within 1 week of posting for 1700$
BigJayhawk-
I do spoil myself. But i earned every penny and i can spend it how i please
** http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APP.../wo/SN1QxnMg5Ihu2PVXYzL1PtqWhVC/2.0.7.1.0.5.1
(2948.00 without tax)
Many valid points were made in that reply. I agree with many of them.
But you ignored a key sentence.
"So to me my old Ti is obsolete."
meaning that my own personal preference is the new Alpb. And with naming new features of the Al pb's, I do not attempt to as you say "belittle" Ti owners. HERE is why im putting my 2 cents into this thing:
So hopefully someone reading this who is shopping around for a pb will not get sucked into this game that apple plays-by delaying the release of what people want the most(midsize notebook) in order to clear out older model inventory. To discourage John Doe from this scenario-
Going to the apple store, or looking at pictures online and saying DAMN! that new case looks so beautiful, plus 54mbps airport, plus ddr ram, plus quieter, plus sturdier. But that 12" is just too small, and the 17" is too big. Ah well, the Ti is still awesome-I'll take one of those please. Would you like to get any additional memory? -no thanks. Would you like an extra battery? -no thanks. Would you like to buy a carrying case for the computer? -no thanks. Would you like to get any blank cd's or dvd's? -no thanks. We no longer offer any productivity software with our notebooks, Microsoft office is 500$ but we offer Apple works for 80$. -no thanks. Would you like to get apple care with your purchase today? Ummmm-yeah, id better get that. Cash, check or charge? -Charge. Ok your total is $3191.21**. --then after a few weeks of use-- John checks his email, sister says hello, usa bank says he can get a great home loan, classmates found 2 more matches, and apple e-news announces that he has just payed $3191.21** for a Ti instead of the newer features and better design of a 15" Al pb. Would he not feel that his $3191.21 could have been better spent? Use of the word obsolete, old, outdated, antiquated, outmoded, or superannuated. IT doesnt matter-he'll still feel pretty bad-dont you think?
summed up for;
prospective midsize notebook buyers-WAIT for a few weeks!
current Ti owners-
You most likely still have the best notebook on your block. If you want to sell it you can probably get a good price. I sold mine on Yahoo classified within 1 week of posting for 1700$
BigJayhawk-
I do spoil myself. But i earned every penny and i can spend it how i please
** http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APP.../wo/SN1QxnMg5Ihu2PVXYzL1PtqWhVC/2.0.7.1.0.5.1
(2948.00 without tax)
Re: Re: is this a 15" alpb?
hmm.. it's almost certainly a pb12 and not the new 15.
although initially the proportions seem a bit off, they do match those the Al 12.
the most telling thing tho, is the keyboard positioning. the keyboard extends to the edge of the 12. the keyboard on the 17 sits far away from the edges. it only stands to reason that the keyboard on the 15 would leave some space between it and the edges.
unfortunately, this one's a 12.
hmm.. it's almost certainly a pb12 and not the new 15.
although initially the proportions seem a bit off, they do match those the Al 12.
the most telling thing tho, is the keyboard positioning. the keyboard extends to the edge of the 12. the keyboard on the 17 sits far away from the edges. it only stands to reason that the keyboard on the 15 would leave some space between it and the edges.
unfortunately, this one's a 12.
everyone talks about how the speed of the computer is not important but the os. Well the os is great, but why should i dash bout $1000 on a computer that can do the job but the hardware offers no competion over the competitors?
you may say software but ilife is sold separately now and upgrades to different stages in the mac osx transition is costing $129 a piece.
i like the os and have been waiting for near enough two years now for an ibook, seeing the speed jump 300mHz is not very encouraging.
you may say software but ilife is sold separately now and upgrades to different stages in the mac osx transition is costing $129 a piece.
i like the os and have been waiting for near enough two years now for an ibook, seeing the speed jump 300mHz is not very encouraging.
well, honestly-youre going to have to dish out a whole lot more than a grande for ANY platform to be really productive with anything more than mild word processing or web browsing.
if you are talking about spending about a grande and weighing a mac against a pc portable-the choice is clear. I would take a g3 over a celeron anyday! On top of that, many sub 1500 pc notebooks dont even have internal optical.
if you really need a speed jump from the old g3 why not buy an 867 12" pb? Or a 15" 867?
if you are talking about spending about a grande and weighing a mac against a pc portable-the choice is clear. I would take a g3 over a celeron anyday! On top of that, many sub 1500 pc notebooks dont even have internal optical.
if you really need a speed jump from the old g3 why not buy an 867 12" pb? Or a 15" 867?
Re: Re: G4 is what???
That is simply not true. The G4's reputation is that it's very frugal with power and runs very cool compared to the competition. That's why scientists preferred it over Pentiums in the first place. It actually makes a difference in their power bill. So by going with more G4s they used less power and heat for a given amount of performance.
And, it's also a fact that a G4 is a G3 with an Altivec slapped on it. (I know, it's more complext than that, but that's the general principle.)
That is simply not true. The G4's reputation is that it's very frugal with power and runs very cool compared to the competition. That's why scientists preferred it over Pentiums in the first place. It actually makes a difference in their power bill. So by going with more G4s they used less power and heat for a given amount of performance.
And, it's also a fact that a G4 is a G3 with an Altivec slapped on it. (I know, it's more complext than that, but that's the general principle.)