New iBook and Mac mini Part Numbers?

[SiliconAddict]

Everyone that is predicting early (as in WWDC 06 intel powerbooks) keep forgetting about software. Yes it may be possible for Apple to build a dual core intel PB to announce at WWDC 06 but it would be a sales flop.

Who in their right mind is going to drop over 3 grand for a laptop that runs OSX and iLife. Most PB users are power users and use expensive pro software. Almost all of which will require major re-writes to go x86 native.

On the other hand, centrino based ibooks and mac minis at WWDC 06 would be a sales success. Most of the consumer users run very little else but iLife apps and OSX. What non-native x86 apps they do want to run could most likely be run in rossetta for a non-pro user.

A power user would have a fit if they were required to use an emulator to run a $1000.00 piece of software.

I don't agree. PowerBook sales are already tanking and for good reason. Literally Apple has nowhere to go but down with the current generation of PowerBooks. (compare 03 sales with 05 sales and be shocked.) You can bet your Mac that by next spring ALL of Apple's pro apps will be converted. Right there is a LARGE chunk. X86 software is probably going to start trickling out in first quarter 2006. Which is why I'm guessing an announcement at MW with a release date a few months later. Line in the sand for developers that its coming. It’s the chicken and the egg thing again. As soon as a release date for hardware is announced, esp pro hardware, you can bet its going to light a fire under some of the developer's butts. I seriously think Adobe will have a compatible binary by MW for Photoshop. Call me the optimist but I'm betting Jobs is poking Adobe with a sharp stick every two weeks. Is it done yet? no. Is it done yet? no. Is it done yet? No. Is it done yet? NO. Is it done yet? NO! Is it done yet? NO!!
The PowerBooks can't get any more anemic there is no point holding it back if it is ready in first half of '06.

 

[Ravenflight]

While I agree that the modem is largely useless for a lot of us there are still folks on dial up, we have to spare them a thought.
However, why you would want to replace it with a DSL modem????!!! Give me cable every time. When DSL can compete with this I might change my mind.

I think it really depends on where you live, and who your provider is. For me my local Cable provider is Time Warner. Their published speed range is 1.5-3.0 Mbps. For which they charge 44.95! That's robbery! Compare to SBC which I pay 19.95 a month for and according to the speedtest I just ran I'm getting 2.424 Mbps. Now which is a better deal? 19.95 a month or 44.95 a month for the same speed. Plus, considering how bad their so-called digital cable TV was before I switched to DirecTV, I have my doubts about the quality and reliability of their internet service.

If it's fast enough to watch h.264 720p Movie Trailers from Apple in real time, then it's fast enough.

 

[SiliconAddict]

yes but the powerbook runs osx. that makes it worth so much more.

any machine than leaves you with windows and linux as your only real os choices is worth about 5 bucks to me.

In your point of view. As I've stated before what makes a computer system a good computer system is not just the OS. You can have the best software on the planet but if its running on obsolete hardware its still not going to be as good as it can be. Alternatively you can have the world's crappiest OS but kick butt hardware and it will still be a POS. You need to have both components and right now Apple's mobile line has OS X....Spring will bring the hardware and Mac users will rejoice in nerd Nirvana.

 

[gearfab]

PB may be getting an upgrade. i bought one on 6/27 and had to return it a week later b/c of dead pixels in the middle of the display. for two weeks, they have been promising me that they will drop it into the overnight, but the date keeps getting pushed back further and further. my current date for shipment is 7/26, but they added this note to my status on their web site "Replaced with new product," which when you click it says "We constantly strive to bring you the latest technologies, and one of our innovations has affected you. After you placed your order, we introduced an upgrade to a product you wanted, so we replaced the product with the upgraded version. The total cost of your order has not increased. You can get the details about your new product by visiting the Apple Store." That's all I know.

 

[Ravenflight]

Woah....So what happens next spring when the Dual core Pentium M's arrive...

Nation shall rise against nation, and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes....

And if it has a sticker on the front that says "Intel Inside" there will be riots too.

 

[sw1tcher]

Woah....So what happens next spring when the Dual core Pentium M's arrive...

I, for one, anxiously welcome our new dual-core Pentium M-wielding overlords.

 

[Plecky]

so tell me the truth, how many of you were part of the same macult that killed Intel for years saying "PowerPC is better then anything Intel" etc. etc. etc. even after centrino's came forth in mobile lines. I have a friend currently who is so blinded by his maccultist that he says that his current 1.33 ghz PPC G4 chip in his 14" iBook is better then any centrino or PC chip. I'm suprised nobody in this room seems this intense in the mac cult. Or were you once, until jobs announced the switch and then "changed your mind" about intel because "jobs is god" and if he says so, its truth? Not trying to sound mean, but my friend can really get carried away with his over-the-top-mac-bias (IMHO). I own a mac, I love my mac, but I can't stand my friends blatent blindness and maccultist personality. I was hoping for the intel switch long before it was announced or reported as a strong-rumor on CNET and Wall Street Journal etc. That being said, I'm still rejoicing for the intel switch, although I kind of admire my friend for holding his view of "IBM PPC processors are far better then anything Intel makes" instead of being like some other mac cultist who all of a sudden have a change of tune and change of heart... How many of you never did the whole "PPC are better then intel chips" "my G3 is better then your centrino!" etc. etc. etc. and other outrageous claims? Then how many of you "switched" your point of view magically as of WWDC '05? Just curious and hoping for some honesty. But if you honestly always have hoped for intel chips and ditching IBM's PPC line, then you're my kind of macfan!

P.S. I refuse to be part of the maccult, but I'll be the first to admit that OSX is better then Windows XP. I don't know enough about Linux to take a stand but the fact that most of its freeware, open source, and so customizeable makes it sound just fine to me so no linux-bashing here. I am a switcher, and macfan, but not blinded or narrowminded either. I also like the idea of dual-booting for both gaming but also programs (I am still waiting for a DVDshrink compression program for mac!) If only MacTheRipper could compress dual-layer 7 gig DVD's to 4 gig's so I could burn them onto single layer DVD's (less quality, but all the goodies). That is but one example of why dual-booting doesn't seem totally proposterous to me...

 

[toneloco2881]

I also like the idea of dual-booting for both gaming but also programs (I am still waiting for a DVDshrink compression program for mac!) If only MacTheRipper could compress dual-layer 7 gig DVD's to 4 gig's so I could burn them onto single layer DVD's (less quality, but all the goodies). That is but one example of why dual-booting doesn't seem totally proposterous to me...

Dvd2One and Popcorn

 

[Plecky]

...free? I'll check it out!

 

[Machead III]

DVD2OneX does compress DVDs to smaller files, quite well too.

 

[macorama]

You can bet your Mac that by next spring ALL of Apple's pro apps will be converted.

I'd be suprised if they didn't have them running on Intel already, internally.

 

[Hattig]

I'd be suprised if they didn't have them running on Intel already, internally.

Whilst I'm sure that ensuring that they build on Intel has been a requirement for some time for the application developers at Apple, I'm also certain that the Intel builds won't have had the same QA applied to them as the PowerPC versions that were released. The QA for a new architectural version of those applications could take some time. Also they aren't going to switch to Intel until the third party applications like Photoshop are fully Mac OS X Intel optimised, they don't want to have naff Rosetta benchmarks for these Altivec heavy applications.

 

[artifex]

No chance of a $399 Mac mini. That's too bad. It's overpriced at $699 no matter what the configuration.

think used. If the $699 model is advanced enough, some of us might sell our current ones to buy the new one. I've had mine, what, a month?

 

[SpaceMagic]

Whilst I'm sure that ensuring that they build on Intel has been a requirement for some time for the application developers at Apple, I'm also certain that the Intel builds won't have had the same QA applied to them as the PowerPC versions that were released. The QA for a new architectural version of those applications could take some time. Also they aren't going to switch to Intel until the third party applications like Photoshop are fully Mac OS X Intel optimised, they don't want to have naff Rosetta benchmarks for these Altivec heavy applications.

The mac mini however isn't really meant for the heavy application market, and could well have an intel processor, which would be perfect for Safari, iWork, etc - light tasks, for which this machine is intended. Also, as for a switching Mac, as it is indented, iPodees will see Intel 3.6Ghz on the box, rather than 1.4Ghz G4, and therefore be inclined to buy it.

It's a possibility, but I doubt we'll go intel right now. I'm thinking they'll have iPod colour mac minis or at least something to do with the iPods, so that they can drive this iPod halo effect.

 

[avus]

I think it really depends on where you live, and who your provider is. For me my local Cable provider is Time Warner. Their published speed range is 1.5-3.0 Mbps. For which they charge 44.95! That's robbery! Compare to SBC which I pay 19.95 a month for and according to the speedtest I just ran I'm getting 2.424 Mbps. Now which is a better deal? 19.95 a month or 44.95 a month for the same speed. Plus, considering how bad their so-called digital cable TV was before I switched to DirecTV, I have my doubts about the quality and reliability of their internet service.

FYI, I have been a custormer for RoadRunner service for last four years. Right now I get 4.42 Mbps download speed, and the service has been reliable in 99.9% of time.

 

[animefan_1]

They said BY THIS TIME NEXT YEAR. Meaning anywhere from 6/05 - 6/06

But Apple also said Apple to Use Intel Microprocessors Beginning in 2006. That shrinks your time window to 1/06-6/06. I'm expecting them start at MWSF.

I know the business day thing kind of debunks Monday.

It doesn't necessarily debunk Monday. Apple's quoted ship times are just a guide (ie: Don't expect before xx/xx).

But, wasn't the PB announced at some conference? Wasn't that why it was a Monday or is my memory already shot?

No, it wasn't announced at a conference. Just a random Monday.

 

[animefan_1]

...You can bet your Mac that by next spring ALL of Apple's pro apps will be converted. Right there is a LARGE chunk. X86 software is probably going to start trickling out in first quarter 2006. Which is why I'm guessing an announcement at MW with a release date a few months later.

I agree. I think we can expect iLife and iWork '06 to be dual binary. There will also probably be an update to FC Express that will also be ready to go. I think their Pro Apps (FC Studio, Logic (Pro and Express) and Shake will make the move to Dual Binary at NAB 06 (April).

Once that's done, it's a matter of getting Xsan, FileMaker (most likely ready to go as of v8) QT Broadcaster and Remote Desktop (v3) ported. Looking at my predictions, I think it's totally possible for Apple (incl. FileMaker) entire range of software to be dual binary by the end of 2006 - perfect timing if Power Macs and iMacs are to make the switch in 2007.

I seriously think Adobe will have a compatible binary by MW for Photoshop. Call me the optimist but I'm betting Jobs is poking Adobe with a sharp stick every two weeks. Is it done yet? no. Is it done yet? no. Is it done yet? No. Is it done yet? NO. Is it done yet? NO! Is it done yet? NO!!

That's a funny visual.

 

[animefan_1]

...Also they aren't going to switch to Intel until the third party applications like Photoshop are fully Mac OS X Intel optimised, they don't want to have naff Rosetta benchmarks for these Altivec heavy applications.

They started shipping OS X on Macs before Photoshop and Office were available.

 

[ncbill]

I still don't believe

we'll see the iBook move to a 13.3" screen, whether regular or widescreen

13.3" laptops are nearly the same size as the 14" iBook, but the 12" iBook remains the best seller.

Only those who have never used a 13.3" laptop would see it equivalent to the 12" iBook - it's not, the 12" iBook form factor is MUCH more portable

The Dell Inspiron 700m I just got is a 12" widescreen (1280x800), but is nearly identical to the size of the 12" Powerbook (except for being about 0.75" wider)

It has the same 12" feel to it as the current 12" iBook/Powerbook, important for those of us who want the smaller form factor.

I can see both a 12" widescreen and 14" widescreen iBook (each at 1280x800), but not a single 13.3" iBook model.

>13.3" Widescreen TFT Display

 

[Jesus]

I agree. I think we can expect iLife and iWork '06 to be dual binary. There will also probably be an update to FC Express that will also be ready to go. I think their Pro Apps (FC Studio, Logic (Pro and Express) and Shake will make the move to Dual Binary at NAB 06 (April).

Once that's done, it's a matter of getting Xsan, FileMaker (most likely ready to go as of v8) QT Broadcaster and Remote Desktop (v3) ported. Looking at my predictions, I think it's totally possible for Apple (incl. FileMaker) entire range of software to be dual binary by the end of 2006 - perfect timing if Power Macs and iMacs are to make the switch in 2007.



That's a funny visual.

Apple said that one of the conditions of any apple inc. software being made for mac, must also have a universal binaries in the apple labs, also, iLife (and I think iWorks too) are already shipping as universal binaries, with the exeption of iTunes, which does already run on windows, so it should be easy to port.


Jesus

 

[animefan_1]

Apple said that one of the conditions of any apple inc. software being made for mac, must also have a universal binaries in the apple labs, also, iLife (and I think iWorks too) are already shipping as universal binaries, with the exeption of iTunes, which does already run on windows, so it should be easy to port.
Jesus

I thought Apple was only referring to OS X, not their software in general. I'd gladly be wrong as far as this is concerned.
*****

I don't think iWork was released as a dual binary, I have heard about iLife, however.

 

[Squire]

Apple said that one of the conditions of any apple inc. software being made for mac, must also have a universal binaries in the apple labs, also, iLife (and I think iWorks too) are already shipping as universal binaries, with the exeption of iTunes, which does already run on windows, so it should be easy to port.


Jesus

Thank you, Jesus.
(Had to say it.)
I also thought there was some mention of most of Apple's software (consumer-level, at least) already being ready. Please, someone who's not on their xth Carlsberg and in the middle of a house-warming party feel free to check on that.

I can just hear it:

A: Hey, what are you doing in there? Come on out and have a beer!
Me: Umm...just a sec. I have to finish running through the text of this Steve Jobs WWDC speech.

Squire

 

[animefan_1]

we'll see the iBook move to a 13.3" screen, whether regular or widescreen

13.3" laptops are nearly the same size as the 14" iBook, but the 12" iBook remains the best seller.

Only those who have never used a 13.3" laptop would see it equivalent to the 12" iBook - it's not, the 12" iBook form factor is MUCH more portable

The Dell Inspiron 700m I just got is a 12" widescreen (1280x800), but is nearly identical to the size of the 12" Powerbook (except for being about 0.75" wider)

It has the same 12" feel to it as the current 12" iBook/Powerbook, important for those of us who want the smaller form factor.

I can see both a 12" widescreen and 14" widescreen iBook (each at 1280x800), but not a single 13.3" iBook model.

>13.3" Widescreen TFT Display

There's one question to ask as far as selling: Is the 12" iBook the best seller (according to whom?) because of the form factor or because it's the cheapest iBook? If it's because of price, than a slight bump 13.3 probably won't make much difference (specifically if Apple can keep weight relatively low).

I doubt the possibility of a 12 and 14-inch wide for ONE reason. The 12 is 1280x800 and the 14" is 1280x768. How do you explain that a smaller display has a higher resolution than a larger one? If there exists a 14" panel that has a 1280x800 resolution, please point it out.

As far as comparing a 12" and 13.3" computer, compare the 12" iBook to the Sony S Series:

iBook 12":
W: 11.2 inches
D: 9.06 inches
Thickness: 1.35 inches
Weight: 4.9 lbs.
Total Volume: 136.99"

Sony S Series (13.3"):
W: 12.3 inches
D: 8.85 inches
Thickness: 1.18" - 1.39" (average: 1.285)
Weight: 4.3 lbs. (with standard battery)
Total Volume: 139.88"

Not much of a tradeoff, especially since it's lighter with a larger display.

 

[ncbill]

Here you go

a 14" laptop with a 1280 x 800 widescreen display:

http://www.directron.com/w3v.html

Apple's preferred to keep the same resolution for both the 12" and 14" iBook models in the past, why not in the widescreen future?

As for weight, the Dell I've got uses some incredibly cheap, lightweight case plastics, and I suspect same for the Sony.

I'll gladly pay another half-pound penalty for the rugged, quality polycarb case Apple uses.

>If there exists a 14" panel that has a 1280x800 resolution, please point it out.

 

[animefan_1]

a 14" laptop with a 1280 x 800 widescreen display:

http://www.directron.com/w3v.html

Apple's preferred to keep the same resolution for both the 12" and 14" iBook models in the past, why not in the widescreen future?

Thanks for pointing that out. It was the only thing that made doubt whether Apple could do a 12 and 14" wide as the do with current 4:3 screens.

As for weight, the Dell I've got uses some incredibly cheap, lightweight case plastics, and I suspect same for the Sony.

I'm not up to date about the build quality of Dell (I tend to avoid them), but Sony's notebooks do use a cheaper (and thinner) plastic than Apple's (although Sony's design is far better than Dell's). In defense of Sony, the S Series I saw felt pretty decent.

I'll gladly pay another half-pound penalty for the rugged, quality polycarb case Apple uses.

I don't think the polycarb will add 1.5 lbs extra weight, but I share the sentiment.