New iBook and Mac mini Part Numbers?

[MacRumors]

ThinkSecret follows-up their previous claim about impending iBook updates with details on part numbers that are showing up in Apple's databases.

The new iBook part numbers show models priced at $999 and $1,299, with an absence of the $1,499 model price-point.

Meanwhile, three new Mac mini configurations are also listed - priced at $499, $599, and $699. As noted by ThinkSecret, Apple does not presently offer a $699 Mac mini model.

According to the rumor site, "new systems could be announced early next week".

 

[jmsait19]

with the ibooks possibly getting widescreen, and the mini's getting a bump...

how obsolete are the powerbooks gonna be?

why get a widescreen powerbook when the ibooks are just as good for a few hundred cheaper...

 

[Frozone]

Woo! I'll be shopping for an iBook next month sometime so this update is coming at just the right time! Here's to hoping the rumors are right!!

 

[berkleeboy210]

Bring em on, Will have Credit Card Ready to purchase the $699 Mac Mini

 

[grapes911]

with the ibooks possibly getting widescreen, and the mini's getting a bump...

how obsolete are the powerbooks gonna be?

why get a widescreen powerbook when the ibooks are just as good for a few hundred cheaper...

Exactly. Thats why I don't believe that they will release a widescreen iBook. At least not until after they get a 12-inch widescreen powerbook.

 

[anthonymoody]

Well, since the ship times are all either 5-7 days or 7-10 days (once you configure something and hit Update in the Apple Store) I'd say it's pretty likely these things are coming!

TM

 

[rickvanr]

with the ibooks possibly getting widescreen, and the mini's getting a bump...

how obsolete are the powerbooks gonna be?

why get a widescreen powerbook when the ibooks are just as good for a few hundred cheaper...

Oh, I don't know. Maybe for a faster processor/fsb, larger display, more pixels, slimmer & lighter case, DVI, FW800, Gigabit Ethernet, Scrolling trackpad, digital audio in/out, backlit keyboard and a whole slew of other features that the PB's have, and the iBook's do not.

The iBook's are great, but the Powerbook's are better.

 

[U2Rules!]

Please be next Tuesday....at the latest. Can't wait to see the specs on the $699 mini?

 

[abrooks]

Oh, I don't know. Maybe for a faster processor/fsb, larger display, more pixels, slimmer & lighter case, DVI, FW800, Gigabit Ethernet, Scrolling trackpad, digital audio in/out, backlit keyboard and a whole slew of other features that the PB's have, and the iBook's do not.

The iBook's are great, but the Powerbook's are better.

Its about time someone made this point, thank you.

 

[inkswamp]

Seems likely that the low-end iBook (the current $999 one) will simply disappear and the other two will drop down to fill in the void with perhaps some obvious upgrades (hard drive size, RAM, GPU hopefully, superdrive standard hopefully.) The lack of a $1499 model may simply be a way to maintain the buffer between the iBook and Powerbook lines, unless the Powerbooks are getting some minor bumps too.

 

[Bibulous]

New form 13" widescreen ibook, one size only
New mini package with bluetooth keyboard/mouse and airport included

mini will also get a speed bump to 1.5, and 512mb standard

 

[bermanu]

yes...you are right. But it is not a big deal...powerbook are already obsolete if you think how little they have been improved in the past months.

 

[Josh396]

Please be next Tuesday....at the latest. Can't wait to see the specs on the $699 mini?

I was thinking the same thing. My guess is that it will be 1.67 Ghz and a Superdrive with 512 MB of Ram. I think that would be a great value especially if they made it a 60 or 80 GB HD.

 

[feakbeak]

I'm very curious what the $699 Mac Mini will have. I'm guessing it's just like the $599 model with some extra BTO options thrown in. Here are what I think are possibilities in the order of likliness:

1. Additional RAM
2. AirPort and/or BT built-in
3. Super Drive
4. Larger/faster hard drive
5. Upgraded GPU

About the iBooks updates I honestly don't think the Powerbooks should hold the iBook line down. These are two different lines of notebooks. Typically, the Powerbooks have faster/better processors, system bus, GPU, screens and additional technologies that the iBooks don't. Still why must there be some rule that the iBooks can never have anything better than the Powerbooks? That's not rational. Two different lines of notebooks, different designs, different target markets, etc. Apple should develop both of these lines and make reasonable enhancments and add technologies that are appropriate for that product line and price it appropriately. If you think the iBooks are better than the Powerbooks, buy an iBook. If you think the Powerbooks aren't that much better than the iBooks for the money, don't buy a Powerbook. It really is that simple.

 

[macdesire]

Japan

Like last time: a couple of weeks before the revisions, the products come off the shelves in Japan (ebuying shelves). This has happened again with the ibook and mac mini, they are now not available to buy online at the major retailers (e.g. yodobashi.com) - which indicates that thinksecret.com is right again!!

 

[bermanu]

Oh, I don't know. Maybe for a faster processor/fsb, larger display, more pixels, slimmer & lighter case, DVI, FW800, Gigabit Ethernet, Scrolling trackpad, digital audio in/out, backlit keyboard and a whole slew of other features that the PB's have, and the iBook's do not.

The iBook's are great, but the Powerbook's are better.

...compare the ibook 12 with the powerbook 12....are they so
different?
no larger display, no more pixels, mini dvi, no FW800, no gigabit ethernet,
no digital audio in/out, no backlit keyboard....

 

[mac_fiend]

I'll be most interested to see what road Apple goes down with the screen size for the iBook. 13.3" widescreen would be nice but I wonder where that will leave the 12" PowerBook.
Hopefully the Mac Mini will get updated video card to support CoreImage.

 

[MikeLord]

What I'd really like to see in an updated Mac Mini is a couple more USB ports and a Line In/Mic In.

Of course, I sure wouldn't mind 1.5GHz, 2 DIMM Slots, 512MB, BT, and APX standard.


--Mike

 

[Stella]

Hope these updated machines have better graphics card - i.e., ones that supported CoreImage to its full.

If these prices are correct I really can't see iBooks getting a widescreen.

 

[spacefreak4]

Well I was doubting anything, but this article changed my mind. I hope they put 512mb memory standard on the Mac mini line, but that is just my hope. One thing to consider, is that wasn't the initial hope of the Mac mini to be for switchers? I'm guessing most soon-to-be switchers (including myself) won't spend $699 on a Mac for their first one. However, I'm probably wrong... Let's hope for an update (finally!)

 

[tsk]

Seems likely that the low-end iBook (the current $999 one) will simply disappear and the other two will drop down to fill in the void with perhaps some obvious upgrades (hard drive size, RAM, GPU hopefully, superdrive standard hopefully.) The lack of a $1499 model may simply be a way to maintain the buffer between the iBook and Powerbook lines, unless the Powerbooks are getting some minor bumps too.

Not a chance (no offense intended). There's no way the 12" model gets replaced by a 14" model. I can see the 12" getting replaced with some sort of 13" widescreen or something, but there's no way they bump the larger 14" models down (IMO) and get rid of the more portable unit.

 

[keysersoze]

More RAM standard and upgraded graphics card.

Processor bump need not apply.

 

[MikeLord]

Well I was doubting anything, but this article changed my mind. I hope they put M memory standard on the Mac mini line, but that is just my hope. One thing to consider, is that wasn't the initial hope of the Mac mini to be for switchers? I'm guessing most soon-to-be switchers (including myself) won't spend $699 on a Mac for their first one. However, I'm probably wrong... Let's hope for an update (finally!)

Well, yes, but right now, I think a lot of current Mac users would like a new machine but are hesitant to invest BIG $$$ in a new machine (especially with an integrated display like the iMac G5) before the x86 machines are released. A slightly more powerful Mac Mini would certainly fill that gap well.

I had three Macs prior to the x86 announcement. I unloaded my iMac G5 and 12" iBook on eBay (at a profit, I might add) and standardized on my Mac Mini while in 'wait and see' mode.

--Mike

 

[tsk]

I'm sort of disappointed to see no price drop (on the low end). I didn't expect much, but maybe $50 or $100 would have been reasonable.

I wonder if instead of this, they are going to bundle more features in.

I'm certain the new models will have 512MB RAM standard, 64MB video and probably slightly larger HD's.

But I'd like to see maybe BT standard and faster HD's also. I guess I can hope.

 

[iEric]

WOW new iBooks. I'm for sure getting one now!...wait...Maybe not..I don't like the white -- too girly.

too bad they're not black (same material though)