MWSF 2005 Powerbook

[wrldwzrd89]

Well, it is Christmas afterall. And what could be better than a G5 Christmas miracle? Reminds me of the story where the elves make the shoes at night... some G5 elves come and save christmas by figuring out the engineering problems with the powerbooks.

I guess I'd really rather have a dual-core chip, though. In any case, I hope that they release a new PB soon... my VAIO is 2 years old and its going out on me... I need a new laptop, Steve!

I say this - no matter what Apple does, we'll be in for a pleasant surprise. I'm expecting Apple to bypass the single core G5s completely in the PowerBooks, going from G4 (current) to dual core G4 to dual core G5 in one year (two update cycles).

 

[maya]

I say this - no matter what Apple does, we'll be in for a pleasant surprise. I'm expecting Apple to bypass the single core G5s completely in the PowerBooks, going from G4 (current) to dual core G4 to dual core G5 in one year (two update cycles).

Considering they want to more the Power line to dual setup would not surprise me. And those new low power G5 chips and the promise of a dual core G5 so you might be right from a dual core G4 to a dual core G5.

That is what the buzz will be all about Steve Jobs will state that since we want to have more power and chips speed is moving slow in advancement we have a dual PMG5 and now I introduce to your the dual core G4 PB the only one of its kind in the work.

The consumer lines will stay with single processors even when the G5 makes its way into a portable. By that time the dual core G4 will make its way into the iBook and the PB will have dual core G5 chips seems as a good prediction.

 

[efoto]

As the PMG5 has a dual chip setup expect the PowerBook G4 to have a dual core chip in it.

That is why the long wait since Steve jobs, wants the PowerBook the only notebook that is 1" thick which will have a dual core chip in it.

That seems to be the only marketing buzz it can make for the PowerBook other than put a G5 however AMD already beat them to it with they 64-bit chips so there is no real wow factor other than a dual core PowerBook that is 1" thick.

Why do you feel the wait is so long for a PowerBook for another speed bump or a speed bump along with a dual core setup, and now Apple can truly say that all they Power lineup has 2 chips may it be a virtual second processor or a G4/G5.

G5 is no way ready unless the low powered G5 chips are already sent to Apple for a quick miracle.

Steve Jobs will say well there is no point of having a G5 in a PowerBook since a dual core G4 will do the work much faster and have some slide showing this plus the advantages of SMP along with battery power and so on.

Why do you think "Tiger" is SMP aware along with all the dual chip and dual core importance.

My guess dual core G4 that is it so it fits inline with the PMG5 dual setup.

Support for 4Gigs of ram would be sweet I would max it out no quesion about it.

Dual Core 2Ghz G4 17" PowerBook with 4Gigs or ram expandable.

PBG5 will be seen at MWSF 2006.

I think we are much more likely to see a dual-core G4 than any form of a G5. I do not believe Apple wants to create a Dell-XPS-thin (haha, sooooo thin) notebook for its lineup. The PBooks have always looked great, industry leaders in thinness and overall appearance. If they can get to 1.5" or less with a G5 somehow, they might justify the increased thickness for speed, but who knows.

I bet dcG4 with a different v.card for the 12" at least (get rid of that 5200 already!), more ram support, more stock ram (256 is utterly worthless to most everyone) and perhaps both slots on 12" are user replaceable....COME ON APPLE! that should have been done ages ago. A 12" with 2Gb would rock, you know it would.

dcG4
9700m for 12, 9800m for 15/17
512 standard ram, user upgradable both slots in 12
updated screens, higher res to compete with pc stuff (plus just better)
same casing, similar appearance
perhaps new s.drives, but I could personally care less about that because they will still be slower than an external dual-layer +/-.

Either way, it is Xmas eve here, so Merry Xmas Eve to everyone! (if you are into that sort of thing )

 

[wrldwzrd89]

I think we are much more likely to see a dual-core G4 than any form of a G5. I do not believe Apple wants to create a Dell-XPS-thin (haha, sooooo thin) notebook for its lineup. The PBooks have always looked great, industry leaders in thinness and overall appearance. If they can get to 1.5" or less with a G5 somehow, they might justify the increased thickness for speed, but who knows.

I bet dcG4 with a different v.card for the 12" at least (get rid of that 5200 already!), more ram support, more stock ram (256 is utterly worthless to most everyone) and perhaps both slots on 12" are user replaceable....COME ON APPLE! that should have been done ages ago. A 12" with 2Gb would rock, you know it would.

dcG4
9700m for 12, 9800m for 15/17
512 standard ram, user upgradable both slots in 12
updated screens, higher res to compete with pc stuff (plus just better)
same casing, similar appearance
perhaps new s.drives, but I could personally care less about that because they will still be slower than an external dual-layer +/-.

Either way, it is Xmas eve here, so Merry Xmas Eve to everyone! (if you are into that sort of thing )

I doubt that Apple will change the screen resolution up or down unless the display size also changes for one simple reason: Apple likes to have the native resolution for their displays at a 100 pixels to 1 inch ratio because that ratio is best for design, one of Apple's target markets. The other changes I agree wholeheartedly with.

 

[BornAgainMac]

Please no G5

The current G5 is a desktop chip. Please don't put that in the PB. The battery, heat, thickness, fans, noise will make the PB look like a Dell. Better performance would be to just upgrade the memory on the current PB lineup.

Or just use Remote Desktop and log into your G5 remotely from your PB.

 

[efoto]

Agreed

The current G5 is a desktop chip. Please don't put that in the PB. The battery, heat, thickness, fans, noise will make the PB look like a Dell. Better performance would be to just upgrade the memory on the current PB lineup.

Or just use Remote Desktop and log into your G5 remotely from your PB.

Exactly! Look at all the pc laptops that stuck a desktop P4 in there, they were horrible! Sure they could compute like the dickens but the battery life is horrid and the heat was enough to cut your gasbill at home in half

I think until there is a G5-m or comparible solution with a lowpower approach, it is better for the masses that they stay away from the mobile lineup. Dual-core G4 from what I hear would be faster in many cases anyway...right?

 

[BornAgainMac]

Also I think the main reason to have a G5 is for people that do video encoding or edit large video projects. But it still is much slower than a desktop G5. The internal drive is only 80 GB and you would only have a single G5 for encoding. My Powermac G5 has 2 CPUs for video encoding and plenty of fans to keep the thing cool so it can run for weeks to encode hundreds of hours if I wanted (with external drives). Also I have a separate internal 250 GB drive dedicated for DV video and much more expansion to increase the memory to 8 GB for products like Motion that could benefit.

The dual-core G4 or a mobile G5 will probably be in the next Powerbook so long as the battery life doesn't take a hit.

 

[maya]

Also I think the main reason to have a G5 is for people that do video encoding or edit large video projects. But it still is much slower than a desktop G5. The internal drive is only 80 GB and you would only have a single G5 for encoding. My Powermac G5 has 2 CPUs for video encoding and plenty of fans to keep the thing cool so it can run for weeks to encode hundreds of hours if I wanted (with external drives). Also I have a separate internal 250 GB drive dedicated for DV video and much more expansion to increase the memory to 8 GB for products like Motion that could benefit.

The dual-core G4 or a mobile G5 will probably be in the next Powerbook so long as the battery life doesn't take a hit.

A dual core G4 running at 1.8-2.0Ghz should surpass the SPG5. I only wish that the PowerBook supported more than 2GB of ram right now if the iBook did not have a welded on 256MB of ram and only one slot open it would take a nice 2GB in total. If iBooks get revised they might stick a 512MB welded on for a total of 1.5Gb of ram. YEAH.

I also don't believe they are going to upgrade the resolution on the 12" PB since its shared the same lcd panel as the iBook 12". The more components the Apple lines share the lower the cost to buy and train staff.

though a wide screen for the iBooks and PowerBooks in the small form factor would be welcomed.

 

[Daveway]

Do yall forget that the G4, dual core or not, has a terribly slow front side bus. Even Steve himself has said that the FSB is sometimes more important than clock speed.

 

[CaptainCaveMann]

How about they just give them 128 standard video cards and speed bump the processors along with a faster bus and make the current PB run cooler and im talking ice cold Now thatd be nice

 

[CaptainCaveMann]

Do yall forget that the G4, dual core or not, has a terribly slow front side bus. Even Steve himself has said that the FSB is sometimes more important than clock speed.

Slow compared to what? You cannot compare Apples to Oranges pardon the pun. Apples G4 has lower numbers but not lower performance this has been a common misconception for a long time. An 800mhz g4 was being compared to a 2.4p4 i believe it was and they were neck and neck not to mention hyper threading is a different technology not to be compared to the g4's velocity engine. Its like comparing a ferrari to a lamborgini and say both cars have 450 horsepower but the lamborgini uses a v12 motor to get that power and the ferrari uses a v8. Two different ways to get a lot of horsepower and both have their ups and downs. The v12 has more displacement meaning it doesnt have to work as hard to make that power but the ferrari uses a smaller engine and makes the same power meaning its much more efficient in its design.

 

[maya]

Slow compared to what? You cannot compare Apples to Oranges pardon the pun. Apples G4 has lower numbers but not lower performance this has been a common misconception for a long time. An 800mhz g4 was being compared to a 2.4p4 i believe it was and they were neck and neck not to mention hyper threading is a different technology not to be compared to the g4's velocity engine. Its like comparing a ferrari to a lamborgini and say both cars have 450 horsepower but the lamborgini uses a v12 motor to get that power and the ferrari uses a v8. Two different ways to get a lot of horsepower and both have their ups and downs. The v12 has more displacement meaning it doesnt have to work as hard to make that power but the ferrari uses a smaller engine and makes the same power meaning its much more efficient in its design.

A fine point indeed.

 

[crees!]

I'm crossing my figers for a powerbook G5. If they don't release one at MWSF, i'll have to get a PC laptop. I've been without a laptop for six months, and i don't want to go another semester without one.

Oh, I see. No G5 laptop absolutely forces you to get a PC laptop instead. Sorry, but that sounds like a greedy crock of s***. Wait till MWSF and see if they update the line. Whatever Apple does get what they currently offer and don't torture yourself any longer. Coming from a voice of reason.

 

[Mord]

i think there will be g5's or apple will use dual core g4's, the upgrade market has been swamped with 7447A's which means either motorola has upped production or apple has stopped buying them

 

[Logik]

i didn't think the dual core G4 chips were supposed to go into production until 3rd quarter next year... :-/ that would be close to around the time of WWDC

EDIT: here's where i got that from... http://www.eetuk.com/tech/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=47903043

which was in the original post about the dual core confirmation by freescale.

 

[efoto]

I also don't believe they are going to upgrade the resolution on the 12" PB since its shared the same lcd panel as the iBook 12". The more components the Apple lines share the lower the cost to buy and train staff.

though a wide screen for the iBooks and PowerBooks in the small form factor would be welcomed.

I was under the impression that although they shared the same resolution that the screens on the two *Book 12 inchers were different. Are they the same?

 

[maya]

I was under the impression that although they shared the same resolution that the screens on the two *Book 12 inchers were different. Are they the same?

The panels on both the 12" *Books are the same not difference, other than maybe the casing being a little thinner on the 12" PowerBook other than that the PANEL is the same. This is how Apple cuts cost by spreading it amount the lines same goes with the 17" PowerBook and iMac G5 17" models.

If the PowerBook gets a 13" LCD panel expect the iBook to follow and obtain the same for cost reasons.

 

[pdp]

Sorry, but that sounds like a greedy crock of s***. Wait till MWSF and see if they update the line.

really, heaven forbid he spends his money in a manner in which he desires. greedy crock of s#1t indeed

 

[zebi_]

Sure Jobs could announce a G5 Powerbook at MWSF. Of course it won't ship for 9 months, but hey you can order it!

It'll give me 9 months to sell my centrino!

A friend of mine read this post as said I was getting myself wound up It feels like the quiet before a storm..........

 

[drsuse]

i'm thinking i'll buy a 15" in january (if there's any kind of update at MWSF), just because if the massive redesign comes at WWDC, shipping delays might result in me not having a computer when i leave for university. i figure there's always something better around the corner, but coming from editing with fcp 3 on a 600mhz g3, even the current powerbooks are more than fast enough for me. i'll be in a journalism program where they'll have serious hardware for video and audio editing anyways, hopefully macs, not sure.

if there's just a g4 speed bump, then maybe prices will drop, too, meaning i can spend a bit more on ram.

good plan?

 

[drsuse]

i think there will be g5's or apple will use dual core g4's, the upgrade market has been swamped with 7447A's which means either motorola has upped production or apple has stopped buying them

you do know that the 7447B exists now? http://www.freescale.com/files/32bit/doc/rel_qual_info/MC7447ARQI.pdf

up to 1.67ghz

 

[afields]

they pretty much release exactly what the rumors say, or something less exciting. . .

 

[LeeTom]

Lee Tom's 15" Powerbook Prediction:
(too lazy to predict them all)

-1.7 or 1.8GHz single-core G4, by Freescale.
-Slightly faster chip by ATI, 9700 or 9800.
-80GB Hard Drive
-same screen
-same case
-same wireless
-no liquid cooling
-all will have backlit keyboards
-single layer Superdrive, probably same speed


BUT, it will be several hundred dollars cheaper, reaching the $1,999 mark, at least for Education purchases.
There may be ONE surprise, such as a digital audio out, a sound card with a higher sampling rate, the availablity of 7200RPM hard drives in BTO, or 5400rpm drives being the new standard minimum speed.

Lee Tom

 

[Logik]

this is where i agree.. i wish they'd do a total redesign or get dual core G4's but it's not likely. My link above about the dual core chips coming sometime late summer '05 is what ruins the dual core for everyone, and the G5 is just too hot and too power hungry. I expect another speed bump and maybe a G5 powerbook announcement later next year... maybe WWDC but.. who knows... it wouldn't surprise me if it was at MWSF in 2006 they announce with shipping right away... That's my guess.. but. I've been wrong before.. just using some common sense...

 

[Dreadnought]

I predict liquid cooling! Apple was interested in this technique last year, and this wasn't the kind that is now in the PM. The technique was from a different company and was based on some sort of thick (silicone??) fluid. It could be used in laptops to, or at least they where working on it. This was more then a year ago, so, it should be ready by now!!

edit: found the article
https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=62206