New iBooks, Mac minis and iPod shuffles at MWSF 2006?

[crees!]

I didn't pay for a top-end laptop only to have it be blown out by the lower end line. *bullsh1t*

And when the PB's get updated do you complain then that yours isn't as good? No, it's called computer evolution. Deal or don't own one.

 

[generik]

And when the PB's get updated do you complain then that yours isn't as good? No, it's called computer evolution. Deal or don't own one.

Guess what? Something like this will never happen on the PC front?

When was the last time your $3000 laptop gets obsoleted by a $1000 one in 3 months? Oh wait, that never happens.

 

[GregA]

What if Apple simply phases out "powerbook" and "ibook" and instead comes up with a SINGLE new line of laptops? That would solve the ibook before powerbook problem that so many forum users are complaining about.

Or they'll release the "xPod", which is basically a Yonah iBook running OSX and with the look and feel of the new iPod (video)? Nah...

 

[Pyrix]

Sorry if this has already been covered before.

Personally I think Apple are trying to move away from the whole 'Power' is better that 'i' and more towards reinforcing the idea that they are for different audiences. a great example would be the introducing of front row to the imac, the consumer machine. This now gives Joe Public the reason to buy both - he may already have a powermac/powerbook, but now he wants an imac/ibook as well. Why? They're for different tasks, of course. Previously Lisa Public would have cried in outrage - 'You already have a powerbook, why do you need an ibook when the powerbook does it all! Think of the children! (Emily and Laurence Public).

Anyway, I have to go now....

That's where I think it's headed. The powerbook isn't better. It just 'thinks differently' to the ibook!

 

[danielwsmithee]

Hello everyone...this is my first post.

Amazon has the ibook with mail in rebates now. Didn't know if this may imply a change for it since I don't normally run across MIR on Apple products!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009U7WZM/ref=nosim/104-0094666-3506332?n=541966

If this has already been mentioned or has no meaning, then all apologies

This has been going on for quite some time. Every 3-4 weeks amazon has a huge apple mail in rebate deal.

 

[j_maddison]

You guys are too hopeful, I think. Apple has made an effort to be more price competitive with the other PC providers. It's the one of the big reasons they moved to Intel. You guys keep thinking for the fancy - Yonah, this, dual-core that. Let me tell you, we'll see the iBook will debut with a Celeron M processor at a ~$700 price range. That's what Apple needs to do to win market share, and I don't see why they'd even bother with anything better for their iBooks.

And you all here on this thread have proven the point as well - if they release an iBook with spectacular performance, they are killing their own sales of a higher-end line. Most of this thread, has in fact, proven the confusion that might result if Apple doesn't pair performance and pricing in a logical way for consumers. Segmentation is key, in order to attract customers at different price ranges. What better way than to cripple the iBook a bit, lower the price to engage the wider audience, and call it a day.

Now, you and I might scoff at the Celeron M, but do you think most of the buyers of the new iBook - Dad, Mom and Grandparents with the lower price - would even understand. Add that to the fact that Apple will probably not participate with the Intel advertising stipend (putting Celeron M stickers on their machines), and you have a certain win situation for Apple.

You're right, the average consumer won't understand the difference between a Celeron M and a Yonah chip, but journalists will. And your average consumer certainly understands bad press. And I'm sure marketing disaster would come to mind if this happened, possibly even commercial suicide. I can see it now, Apple releases cheap hardware at a premium price for the privilege of using its OSX operating system. Suddenly Mom, Dad, Grandma etc will think XP is the only way to go.

Jason

 

[Peace]

This has been going on for quite some time. Every 3-4 weeks amazon has a huge apple mail in rebate deal.

As does macmall.com

 

[GregA]

So, Intel iBooks shipping in a month, Intel PowerBooks shipping in 3 months?

With the current rumour that the low end Yonahs are ready to roll, and the faster ones are a couple of months behind - I think that's highly possible.

I still think it makes more sense to focus on Powerbooks - but if the processor releases happen as above then that's the best choice right? And with Intel released to the public, developers will increase motivation.

ps. I agree that Rosetta emulation being 80% of native is highly optimistic, especially for graphics and altivec programs. For many people though, the question will be whether MS Office runs faster on Rosetta-Intel, or PPC... and I believe it will.

 

[j_maddison]

Tom uses a 12" iBook mainly to create and listen to music. And it does it very well. He takes it all over the place, it's rough, tough and chock full of cool music, videos etc.
Henry uses his 15" PowerBook only on his desk. It's plugged in pretty much 24/7. He does video editing, and occasionally listens to music. He doesn't take it anywhere. He needs the extra processing power, and has the money to pay for it.

Sounds like Henry should have bought an iMac if he never unplugs his Powerbook!

 

[Norse Son]

Like a Yugo and a Porsche

How much faster would a dual core intel at 1.5Ghz be than a 1.5Ghz G4? Would that speed increase overshadow the Current P-book line?

We are talking a dual-core Yonah on a 667MHz bus... That's 6-6-7MHz!!!... The PowerBook is what, 66MHz still... STILL... And that doesn't even take into account the memory architecture, the number and length of the pipelines (which I don't know - I don't wear a pocket protector at work)...

Then, remember that Yonah is just one small part of the package - a very efficient part at that. Yonah is part of Napa, which is Intel's codename for the CPU/Centrino/Memory-Controller(?)/etc. And it will feature DDR2 and PCI-Express x16 graphics...

So, yeah, the iBook would blow the doors off the PowerBook, because there is no logical way (or sane way, for that matter) to hobble Yonah/Napa to keep the iBook from shoving crow down the PowerBook's throat...

That's why I am getting tired of hearing these "reliable sources" spouting off about how Apple will put the brand-spankin' new, top-of-the-line Intel DUAL-CORE chip in their CONSUMER laptop months before they do anything to help erase the shame the PROFESSIONAL laptop must feel... Unless, and here it would not shock me one bit,... those same "reliable sources" (think Ouija Board) will shortly proclaim that Apple will wait on the PowerBook until Intel releases the ultra-low power, single-core Yonah at the low-ball "anti-speed" of 1.06GHz... They'll proclaim that they're privy to Apple's bold new marketing initiative that "speed is for wimps" and "why rush to get your work done, when you could stare at a progress bar all day until your shift ends"... Brilliant & bold is what Wall Street will call it - probably the same "experts" who are the "reliable sources" for Think Secret.

Nope, Apple would be downright stupid to put the dual-core Yonah in the iBook without addressing the PowerBook... And I still think that the iBook may not be switched over until the single-core Yonah, and it will have Intel integrated graphics.

 

[GregA]

You know, I'd like to see a little Apple terminal type thing that you keep around the kitchen by the phone, but very portable. You know, so friends and family can grab it and put it anywhere to surf, or show you their website, or check their mail... but you put it back by the phone and use it for addresses and directions and recipes and playing music. Like a tinier version of the original iMac with a mega cheap screen to keep the costs down and an all in one design (maybe with an attached keyboard and track pad and a dock for iPods... hmm... The processor could be slow, too...

What AM I going on about?

Some of these 'lite' technologies could be really interesting, I hope Apple jumps on them. These may be what the rumoured "iPod companions" do.

Personally I want an Apple Airport-phone (cordless over wifi) with:
1) iChat voice integration
2) VoIP capabilities to the regular phone network
3) an optional base that connects it to the regular phone network
Actually... they could probably release wired VoIP phones with a little screen and camera too. Plus access to your calendar (iPod style) and address/phone books.

 

[iEdd]

~snip~
Nope, Apple would be downright stupid to put the dual-core Yonah in the iBook without addressing the PowerBook... And I still think that the iBook may not be switched over until the single-core Yonah, and it will have Intel integrated graphics.

Thank-you. Taken the words right out of my mouth as to why PB should be updated to intel before iB.

 

[corywoolf]

Maybe the PowerBook will be announced at MWSF "06 however shipped a few months later.

If there is going to be a 2GB Shuffle, I am gonna get one if it has a screen.

Now I need to see the new case designs.

I doubt it will be a 2 GB shuffle. Hopefully it's just lower prices on smaller shuffles that have bookmarking capability (for when you listen to a song and would like to find out the name the next time you sync). The next rev. of the shuffle (after January's) will likely be 2 GB. I doubt Apple will discontinue the 2 GB nano so soon. Maybe they will only carry the 1 GB shuffle, but it will be $79.99? I would be surprised if they set it at $99.99, but being Apple they might. I am betting they will lower the nano 2GB price quietly to $179.99 to strengthen 2 GB nano sales and then discontinue it at the next nano revision. Can't wait to see the ibooks and mac mini's. I kind of still think it will only be ibooks and shuffles at MWSF along with the other usual updates (ilife, iwork, 10.4.4). I guess they could do both the mac mini and the ibook, but I think they might want to release the mini in a couple months, when they have more video content available and Front Row 2.0 ready. Or may maybe the one more thing will be the mini?

 

[corywoolf]

Thank-you. Taken the words right out of my mouth as to why PB should be updated to intel before iB.

Except most Pro Apps are not going to run natively on Mactel until mid '06. I doubt there will be Powerbook updates at MWSF, but it is a possibility. Not many graphic designers are going to want to put up with emulation when they could have a non emulated stable version running on a PB G4 for much less.

 

[hulugu]

You are right, the iMac G5 is NOT a slow computer whatsoever. But once the intels come out, all of the new software coming out will be Intel - not PowerPC (for the most part). It's a hard decision to make.

The dual binaries should keep this from becoming a problem. Remember that Apple's pro workstations are now dual-core G5s. Apple has made it fairly easy to make both versions and I can see many of the pro-apps using this ability. Ideally, this would make Apple independent of not only processor suppliers, but architectures.

 

[evomac]

My bad!

This has been going on for quite some time. Every 3-4 weeks amazon has a huge apple mail in rebate deal.

Whoops!

 

[corywoolf]

Some of these 'lite' technologies could be really interesting, I hope Apple jumps on them. These may be what the rumoured "iPod companions" do.

Personally I want an Apple Airport-phone (cordless over wifi) with:
1) iChat voice integration
2) VoIP capabilities to the regular phone network
3) an optional base that connects it to the regular phone network
Actually... they could probably release wired VoIP phones with a little screen and camera too. Plus access to your calendar (iPod style) and address/phone books.

Good idea, sounds more like the next isight package.

 

[hulugu]

...Nope, Apple would be downright stupid to put the dual-core Yonah in the iBook without addressing the PowerBook... And I still think that the iBook may not be switched over until the single-core Yonah, and it will have Intel integrated graphics.

But, if the chip or Powerbooks aren't ready should they withold the iBook line? No, get them out there, sell millions and take that cash to make sure the Powerbook's ready for later release. Some wise sage mentioned that the Pro-users who need Powerbooks will be held back by Adobe and others and that the switch will make less sense until the dual-core chips are ready.

 

[GregA]

Except most Pro Apps are not going to run natively on Mactel until mid '06. I doubt there will be Powerbook updates at MWSF, but it is a possibility. Not many graphic designers are going to want to put up with emulation when they could have a non emulated stable version running on a PB G4 for much less.

I'm not sure how many graphic designers you know. The ones I know don't design on laptops. They want a big non-LCD screen (to get correct colour effects - even though they drool at some of Apple's LCD screens they buy CRT). And they're saying the dual-G4 Powermacs are slow but they do the job.

I don't think graphic designers are show-stoppers. There may be other ones of course.

 

[1984]

So the iBooks will be better than the PowerBooks in some ways for a few months. I don't see what the problem is.

 

[iEdd]

So the iBooks will be better than the PowerBooks in some ways for a few months. I don't see what the problem is.

To get these specs on an iBook, expect powerbook pricing. Not so much of an iBook lover now, are you?

 

[1984]

I doubt it will be a 2 GB shuffle. Hopefully it's just lower prices on smaller shuffles that have bookmarking capability (for when you listen to a song and would like to find out the name the next time you sync).

Most likely they will mirror the look of the iPod nano, only smaller and without the screen So the iPod lineup will consist of three sizes and two colors of the same basic design. Maybe they will add aditional colors for the new Shuffles.

 

[~Shard~]

But, if the chip or Powerbooks aren't ready should they withold the iBook line? No, get them out there, sell millions and take that cash to make sure the Powerbook's ready for later release.

Exactly - no need to hold back one product for another! Let's get those Intel iBooks out there, with the Intel PowerBooks soon to follow!

the switch will make less sense until the dual-core chips are ready.

Um, the dual core chips are ready. It's the single core Yonahs which will not be out for a little while yet. And technically Apple has its sights on Merom for the portables, but is not going to wait around until late '06 just for that to happen - hence why they're moving forward with Yonah.

 

[1984]

To get these specs on an iBook, expect powerbook pricing. Not so much of an iBook lover now, are you?

Huh? If anything the prices will be lower.

 

[~Shard~]

To get these specs on an iBook, expect powerbook pricing. Not so much of an iBook lover now, are you?

Please explain in detail why the iBooks would cost more, I don't see where you're getting that from.