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.
New G4 iBooks
- Thread starter MacsRgr8
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Re: Re: Re: max memory?
They changed the tech page. That was originally posted, it has been removed. It seems pretty clear that there is memory on the motherboard and a single slot that can be filled. BTO goes up to putting 512 in that slot. There is some uncertainty (in my mind) if it is possible to put in 1 GB into the slot and if that would be supported. Not sure why it wouldn't, but it is no longer explicitly stated that it will.
They changed the tech page. That was originally posted, it has been removed. It seems pretty clear that there is memory on the motherboard and a single slot that can be filled. BTO goes up to putting 512 in that slot. There is some uncertainty (in my mind) if it is possible to put in 1 GB into the slot and if that would be supported. Not sure why it wouldn't, but it is no longer explicitly stated that it will.
Say what you will
I'm very excited about these new iBooks, because they are just what I needed to help convince some of my friends to switch.
For $1100, with 256Meg and a 30 gig HD, add in $100 for an Airport Card, that's a very nice system for someone just switching.
While the G3 books would have been fine for the friends I was trying to switch, they knew enough to know that the processor was 2 generations back and the last product to even use them...
I'll be psyched if I can eliminate 1 or 2 PCs that I have to help them maintain!
I'm very excited about these new iBooks, because they are just what I needed to help convince some of my friends to switch.
For $1100, with 256Meg and a 30 gig HD, add in $100 for an Airport Card, that's a very nice system for someone just switching.
While the G3 books would have been fine for the friends I was trying to switch, they knew enough to know that the processor was 2 generations back and the last product to even use them...
I'll be psyched if I can eliminate 1 or 2 PCs that I have to help them maintain!
I never cared about the 14" iBook
when it was released, I thought it was a waste of money, and a poor middle-ground between iBooks and Powerbooks. But I played with them at CompUSA for awhile, and changed my mind. The 12" screen (in iBook and PB) is just too bloody small.
But at $1499 for a 1 GHz G4, and a screen noticably larger (not higher-res, which is fine with me; 1024x768 is about the highest I like), I think the 14" iBook G4 is the way to go. It's still $1000 cheaper than the 1.25 GHz 15" AlBook, which is a great machine, but more than I need.
I will miss the widescreen, as far as movies go, but for general computing I prefer a square screen.
As for the dual-monitor hack, I've read about it, and there is a risk of ruining your iBook if done wrong. It probably would go fine, but I'll stick with mirroring if I even use an external monitor (unlikely).
when it was released, I thought it was a waste of money, and a poor middle-ground between iBooks and Powerbooks. But I played with them at CompUSA for awhile, and changed my mind. The 12" screen (in iBook and PB) is just too bloody small.
But at $1499 for a 1 GHz G4, and a screen noticably larger (not higher-res, which is fine with me; 1024x768 is about the highest I like), I think the 14" iBook G4 is the way to go. It's still $1000 cheaper than the 1.25 GHz 15" AlBook, which is a great machine, but more than I need.
I will miss the widescreen, as far as movies go, but for general computing I prefer a square screen.
As for the dual-monitor hack, I've read about it, and there is a risk of ruining your iBook if done wrong. It probably would go fine, but I'll stick with mirroring if I even use an external monitor (unlikely).
$1,199.00
933MHz PowerPC G4
256K L2 cache @ 933MHz
14-inch TFT Display
1024x768 resolution
256MB DDR266 SDRAM
40GB Ultra ATA drive
Combo Drive
ATI Mobility Radeon 9200
32MB DDR video memory
$1,399.00
1GHz PowerPC G4
256K L2 cache @ 1GHz
14-inch TFT Display
1024x768 resolution
256MB DDR266 SDRAM
60GB Ultra ATA drive
Combo Drive
ATI Mobility Radeon 9200
32MB DDR video memory
(Education Discount Prices))
So for $200, you get the additional 77MHz and 20GB. Is it really worth the $200? Wouldn't you rather use that money to max out the RAM ($135) and upgrade to 60GB ($45), which will get you a total of $1379.
933MHz PowerPC G4
256K L2 cache @ 933MHz
14-inch TFT Display
1024x768 resolution
256MB DDR266 SDRAM
40GB Ultra ATA drive
Combo Drive
ATI Mobility Radeon 9200
32MB DDR video memory
$1,399.00
1GHz PowerPC G4
256K L2 cache @ 1GHz
14-inch TFT Display
1024x768 resolution
256MB DDR266 SDRAM
60GB Ultra ATA drive
Combo Drive
ATI Mobility Radeon 9200
32MB DDR video memory
(Education Discount Prices))
So for $200, you get the additional 77MHz and 20GB. Is it really worth the $200? Wouldn't you rather use that money to max out the RAM ($135) and upgrade to 60GB ($45), which will get you a total of $1379.
Re: Re: Re: Re: suggestion
Regardless of what you can generally do, in this specific case, the fine print for the $200 rebate specifically stated that it could not be used in conjunction with any coupons.
Also, the original comparison that I was responding to was totally about the price and only briefly mentioned performance. So my comments were very much on topic.
Regardless of what you can generally do, in this specific case, the fine print for the $200 rebate specifically stated that it could not be used in conjunction with any coupons.
Also, the original comparison that I was responding to was totally about the price and only briefly mentioned performance. So my comments were very much on topic.
Re: Re: Re: Re: suggestion
I know exactly what the Pentium-M is and I did not say that it was a bad processor. Certainly it is better than Intel's previous laptop processors. However, as you say, that does not make it perfect nor does it make it better at every task. If you would care to read my post, I said the the 933Mhz G4 with Panther would outperform the 1.4Ghz Pentium-M at many real world tasks. I do not see how you can legitimately argue with that. Especially considering the fact that OS X, Photoshop, and various other apps are well optimized for the G4 and the fact that there are exactly zero applications optimized for the Pentium-M.
FYI, I have also seen the lame BareFeats benchmarks which claim to compare performance between Mac and Windows laptops. However, absolutely no specs are provided for any of the laptops represented. BareFeats presented two graphs, but one graph showed one set of laptops benchmarking UT2003 and the other graph showed a whole different set of laptops doing Cinebench. They then referred to certain Alienware and VoodooPC laptops whose processors and video cards did not match up to any of the laptops allegedly represented in either of the graphs. Such random and unscientific benchmark comparisons can not be relied upon to accurately reflect anything; also I would not ever use UT2003 and Cinebench to try to determine real world performance.
BTW, where did you get the idea that the Pentium-M is already clock-for-clock similar to the G5? I have never heard anyone try to claim that before.
I know exactly what the Pentium-M is and I did not say that it was a bad processor. Certainly it is better than Intel's previous laptop processors. However, as you say, that does not make it perfect nor does it make it better at every task. If you would care to read my post, I said the the 933Mhz G4 with Panther would outperform the 1.4Ghz Pentium-M at many real world tasks. I do not see how you can legitimately argue with that. Especially considering the fact that OS X, Photoshop, and various other apps are well optimized for the G4 and the fact that there are exactly zero applications optimized for the Pentium-M.
FYI, I have also seen the lame BareFeats benchmarks which claim to compare performance between Mac and Windows laptops. However, absolutely no specs are provided for any of the laptops represented. BareFeats presented two graphs, but one graph showed one set of laptops benchmarking UT2003 and the other graph showed a whole different set of laptops doing Cinebench. They then referred to certain Alienware and VoodooPC laptops whose processors and video cards did not match up to any of the laptops allegedly represented in either of the graphs. Such random and unscientific benchmark comparisons can not be relied upon to accurately reflect anything; also I would not ever use UT2003 and Cinebench to try to determine real world performance.
BTW, where did you get the idea that the Pentium-M is already clock-for-clock similar to the G5? I have never heard anyone try to claim that before.
Re: Re: still underpowered
http://www.dynamism.com/w2/index.shtml
The W2 has been around for a while now... and it is at a price point that Apple could compete with ($2899).
Asian market laptop/notebook size and performance kills most of the US market Dell/HP/Compaq/IBM/Gateway/Apple stuff without even trying.
The 12's are rather clunky when compared with others on the market:
http://www.dynamism.com/w2/index.shtml
The W2 has been around for a while now... and it is at a price point that Apple could compete with ($2899).
Asian market laptop/notebook size and performance kills most of the US market Dell/HP/Compaq/IBM/Gateway/Apple stuff without even trying.
Thank you. I feel much better now.
I would have been rather surprised if it turned out not to have Altivec, but I did not want to place an order for some G4 iBooks without explicit confirmation from Apple.
Apple Store here I come!
Thanks again for the link.
Re: Re: Re: Re: still underpowered
I was just talking about size. When people go on and on about how small the 12" PB is, I cringe. It is not small. I was also pointing out the market that exists (small, lightweight, powerfull, option laden) now, that Apple is not in. The subnotebook market is growing (bad pun - I know) in Europe and Asia. The US-centric notebook makers are ignoring it. Apple people like to bleat on and on about their innovative company... and here is a soon to be huge segment that they are ignoring. Just because most Americans don't know better... after all, 38% of Apple's sales (and growing, IIRC) are outside the US.
I might have to look into getting one of these iBooks. I'll have to check them out at CompUSA first to see if it will fit my needs.
Re: Re: Re: still underpowered
What? You are saying that that idiotic thing with the CD drive under a hood (or bonnet, depending on where you're from) looks nicer than my sweet, sleek 12" PB? Or the just about as beautiful 12" iBooks? Is your brother using the family contacts today? Man...
A flimsy looking hood like that is really asking to get damaged. And the place - that's where all my bread crumbs go! How are you supposed to do some troublefree burning there?
Anyways, to get back to our topic: my January 12" PoBo ( is that rev. A?) has specs very, very comparable to the new iBooks'. So much so that I tend to think the new 12" iBook is the older 12"Powerbook with a plastic casing, no bluetooth and a slighly different clockspeed to fog up the similarity... I wonder why nobody has noticed that before. Is it me?
My PoBo has 128 MB soldered on the mobo, and a SO-DIMM slot that officially will take a 512 MB module, but I've read numerous reports on the web that it will work with 1 Gig modules too. So the iBooks may as well... here hoping.
M.
I remember paying about 800.- Euros ex. VAT more for my PoBo, just 6 months ago (that's 80% over todays 12" iBook). Ouch. *cringes*
Differences? Only 67 MHz, 10 GB, AL-casing (very slightly smaller), bluetooth (which I don't use) and S-video dongle included (which I use a lot).
What? You are saying that that idiotic thing with the CD drive under a hood (or bonnet, depending on where you're from) looks nicer than my sweet, sleek 12" PB? Or the just about as beautiful 12" iBooks? Is your brother using the family contacts today? Man...A flimsy looking hood like that is really asking to get damaged. And the place - that's where all my bread crumbs go! How are you supposed to do some troublefree burning there?
Anyways, to get back to our topic: my January 12" PoBo ( is that rev. A?) has specs very, very comparable to the new iBooks'. So much so that I tend to think the new 12" iBook is the older 12"Powerbook with a plastic casing, no bluetooth and a slighly different clockspeed to fog up the similarity... I wonder why nobody has noticed that before. Is it me?
My PoBo has 128 MB soldered on the mobo, and a SO-DIMM slot that officially will take a 512 MB module, but I've read numerous reports on the web that it will work with 1 Gig modules too. So the iBooks may as well... here hoping.
M.
I remember paying about 800.- Euros ex. VAT more for my PoBo, just 6 months ago (that's 80% over todays 12" iBook). Ouch. *cringes*
Differences? Only 67 MHz, 10 GB, AL-casing (very slightly smaller), bluetooth (which I don't use) and S-video dongle included (which I use a lot).
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: still underpowered
I gotta say, that is one cool looking little notebook. But how do you figure that a 1 Ghz centrino will kill either a 12" PB or a US centrino notebook in performance? Unless you mean battery life performance, in which case you're quite right. (and btw it sucks that it has integrated VRAM)
I gotta say, that is one cool looking little notebook. But how do you figure that a 1 Ghz centrino will kill either a 12" PB or a US centrino notebook in performance? Unless you mean battery life performance, in which case you're quite right. (and btw it sucks that it has integrated VRAM)
I live outside the US (in the UK) and no-one here goes around with a subnotebook. Hell, most PC laptops have 14" screens and are bigger than the 15" PB! Plus, I would want a full size keyboard for it to be of any use, so I don't think Apple will enter that market. Particularly as the 12" PB/iBook is certainly small enough to carry around. The Japanese market traditionally likes small things, so subnotebooks go down well there.
iHack's point about the new 12" iBook being like the same as the old 12" PB is something I also commented on earlier, and I expect this is the case. From the specs, it appears to have the same 7445 processor in it (or maybe a slightly new iteration of it). We'll soon find out for sure once that guy opens one up.
edit: Hey! I've acheived 'member' status!
iHack's point about the new 12" iBook being like the same as the old 12" PB is something I also commented on earlier, and I expect this is the case. From the specs, it appears to have the same 7445 processor in it (or maybe a slightly new iteration of it). We'll soon find out for sure once that guy opens one up.
edit: Hey! I've acheived 'member' status!
Keyboards
There is something different about them though. From squinting at the pics, they at least look like they have the new font (as with the PBs) and are opaque instead of clear. Whether they are as solid though...
There is something different about them though. From squinting at the pics, they at least look like they have the new font (as with the PBs) and are opaque instead of clear. Whether they are as solid though...
cant wait til next fall
once i get into college, i can get one.. til then, its the old pc desktop for me.
btw.. i am applying ea to UChicago.. anyone who's there now or an alum, do offer me advice:
vvuppala@verizon.net
senior year is so good.
once i get into college, i can get one.. til then, its the old pc desktop for me.
btw.. i am applying ea to UChicago.. anyone who's there now or an alum, do offer me advice:
vvuppala@verizon.net
senior year is so good.
nifty.
i'm applying to Uof Chicago as well. It's my third choice.
although i'm not planning on an ibook right now, i can't wait to see the offerings in june of next year.
i'm applying to Uof Chicago as well. It's my third choice.
although i'm not planning on an ibook right now, i can't wait to see the offerings in june of next year.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: still underpowered
I guess it all depends on the perspective or size of the user
I've seen the dinky laptops at sams clubs and I wouldn't want one any smaller than the 12" screen. I think the ones they had are compaqs?
Hey if it doesn't have an apple os on it I don't care about it
Maybe Apple thinks that they cannot make $$ with smaller notebooks?
daniel
I guess it all depends on the perspective or size of the user
I've seen the dinky laptops at sams clubs and I wouldn't want one any smaller than the 12" screen. I think the ones they had are compaqs?
Hey if it doesn't have an apple os on it I don't care about it
Maybe Apple thinks that they cannot make $$ with smaller notebooks?
daniel