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Re: New PowerBooks on Tuesday.

Originally posted by Macrumors
We've received further confirmation that Apple will be updating PowerBooks on Tuesday. Details are scarce, but rumors suggest 3 models with a price range from $1999 to $2999. Specific sizes not specified.

(While purely speculation, the three models could represent two 15" models and a 17" model.)

I have no special information, but I am going to guess it is:
PB15 speed bump01 1999 1.0 ghz 4xsuperdrive
PB15 speed bump 02 2499 1.25ghz 4xsuperdrive
PB17 speed bump 2999 1.25 ghz 4xsuperdrive
PB17 original 2799 (price drop) 1.0 ghz

I guarantee I will be mainly wrong.

But I bet the new computers have FW800, side ports, USB2, AirportX and lighted keyboards. Lighted keyboards is a slick feature I wish I had. Upgrade please :)

All G4 of course. The year of the laptop indeed.

Rocketman
 
Originally posted by hmmm
But again, if the 900 ibook has roughly the same performance (as with the 15") then they have to. The 867 PB range is not worth the monay anymore

How do they have to? I man I totally get what you mean about it not being all that worth the money when compared anymore but if they dont have resources to a cool enough processor then how can they update it? Any g4 processor over what they have it in now it probably gonna be too hot for the little 12 inch
 
Availability?

Hey Arn,

Any word on the availability? Whether it would be immediate, 1-2 weeks, or longer?
 
Originally posted by yossele
Maybe:
15" G5 @ 1.2GHZ
15" G5 @ 1.4GHZ
17" G4 @ 1.25/1.33GHZ

They would put the G5 in the high end 17" ones WAY before the cheaper 15" ones, at least thats what I would do.
 
Originally posted by XnavxeMiyyep
As mentioned before, it may be too difficult to upgrade it, due to heating and space issues.

As far as the processor goes I see your point, but surely they could at least add usb2, a better video card, and things like that? Especially the video card, and more base RAM?
 
Originally posted by synthetickittie
How do they have to? I man I totally get what you mean about it not being all that worth the money when compared anymore but if they dont have resources to a cool enough processor then how can they update it? Any g4 processor over what they have it in now it probably gonna be too hot for the little 12 inch

Stupid idea, but who's asking me. Anyway how about a fan!! :)
 
Originally posted by QCassidy352
As far as the processor goes I see your point, but surely they could at least add usb2, a better video card, and things like that? Especially the video card, and more base RAM?
Those are good points. All of Apple's models should come with at least 512 MB of RAM, and all of the other things you mentioned. The laptops should be able to support 1 GB RAM chips, too.
 
Originally posted by XnavxeMiyyep
Those are good points. All of Apple's models should come with at least 512 MB of RAM, and all of the other things you mentioned. The laptops should be able to support 1 GB RAM chips, too.

And at least USB 2 - especially when Apple see themselves as being so pioneering - yet they're only just starting to get USB2 sorteded - yet again - APPLE, SORT IT OUT!
 
This rumor just confirms the news I received from a source in Cupertino. I think the price points might be a bit high though.
 
Originally posted by macmanmk
This rumor just confirms the news I received from a source in Cupertino. I think the price points might be a bit high though.

Were you told different prices? What about availability... will they be available immeditately like the iMac?
 
Originally posted by macmanmk
This rumor just confirms the news I received from a source in Cupertino. I think the price points might be a bit high though.

The ONLY thing this rumor said was powerbooks released 9/16 and gave a price range. It didn't say anything about models. So what exactly does it confirm, that there are powerbooks being released (since you say prices are off). Well geez, I should hope so after all this time.

I guess I sound like I am jumping all over your comment and I don't mean to. I am just curious as to what else if anything your source said. Did this person confirm models to be updated?

If I sound hungry it's because I am waiting on a 12" PB for my wife and she is ready for school and perfectly willing to buy an older model. Me, I want the new goodies and think we should wait. It's a bit of a pickle and I am hoping for 12" PB's come Tuesday.
 
Originally posted by XnavxeMiyyep
Those are good points. All of Apple's models should come with at least 512 MB of RAM, and all of the other things you mentioned. The laptops should be able to support 1 GB RAM chips, too.

The current 12" Powerbook CAN support one 1GB PC2100 RAM chip for notebooks, and SwissBit makes one, but it is still very expensive - it is retailed in Japan, but it costs about $600 each there. I don't think any retailer in US carrys it.

SwissBit also make 1GB PC2700 RAM chips for notebooks, but I am not sure that you can put two in the 17" Powerbook to make it to 2GB.
 
Originally posted by avus
The current 12" Powerbook CAN support one 1GB PC2100 RAM chip for notebooks, and SwissBit makes one, but it is still very expensive - it is retailed in Japan, but it costs about $600 each there. I don't think any retailer in US carrys it.

SwissBit also make 1GB PC2700 RAM chips for notebooks, but I am not sure that you can put two in the 17" Powerbook to make it to 2GB.
Okay, I stand corrected on that statement.
 
Originally posted by crees!
What about availability... will they be available immeditately like the iMac?

I don't claim to have any insider information, but in my opinion the general rule is as follows:

Small upgrade (just a speed bump or something... like the new imacs) = immediate availability

Big upgrade (New processor class, something like that) = delayed availability
 
I think macmanmk was saying the he believes the prices are to high in his opinion, not that his numbers (wherever he got them from) are different or lower than Arn's sources.
 
I hope they do what they can to bring the 12" up to par with it's bigger brothers. It's one of the best sellers because people who buy laptops want portability and the 17" is cool but it's just too big to carry around with you everywhere you go. I've got a 15" model now and find that it's even sometimes a little too large for my taste.

I'd like to see the G5's in the PowerBook as soon as it's practical. Maybe that's tomorrow? I hope so. Though something to consider, when Steve launches the PowerBook G5 do you think he'd so it in Paris or would he want to be on his own home turf?

I'm not in the market to upgrade for another 8 months to a year so I'll want the most bang for my buck by then.

One things for sure, I'll be getting up extra early Tuesday to check out the news.
 
Re: Re: easy reason

Originally posted by XnavxeMiyyep
Your points are valid, but keep in mind that the first G3 desktops and laptops were released on the same day.

You have to remember also though the step from a 60x series of processor to the G3 (7xx) was not the redesign that would be required going from G4 to G5. I am not an expert but I think A LOT needs to be changed going from G4 to G5. Anyone with more knowledge could comment on this. I thought the main difference between the older PowerPC's and the G3 was the backside L2 cache.
 
Originally posted by Vlade
They would put the G5 in the high end 17" ones WAY before the cheaper 15" ones, at least thats what I would do.
Good thing that you're not in charge then. If the 17" were to have a G5 and the 15" were to keep the G4, then all the 15" sales would dry up. Why? Because, everyone would know that putting a G5 in a PowerBook would be possible and most people would simply wait until it became available across the entire line (or at the very least the 15").

Quite frankly I think for Apple to continue to sell machines without a G5 is going to become more and more difficult. Regardless of the real benefits the G5 may or may not have over the G4, the perception is that the G5 will solve all your speed woes. When it comes to marketing and sales, perception IS reality.
 
Originally posted by ryan
Good thing that you're not in charge then. If the 17" were to have a G5 and the 15" were to keep the G4, then all the 15" sales would dry up. Why? Because, everyone would know that putting a G5 in a PowerBook would be possible and most people would simply wait until it became available across the entire line (or at the very least the 15").

Quite frankly I think for Apple to continue to sell machines without a G5 is going to become more and more difficult. Regardless of the real benefits the G5 may or may not have over the G4, the perception is that the G5 will solve all your speed woes. When it comes to marketing and sales, perception IS reality.
I would think that the 17" and 15" would get the G5 at the same time, but maybe not the 12".
 
Originally posted by XnavxeMiyyep
I would think that the 17" and 15" would get the G5 at the same time, but maybe not the 12".

I could sort of see that.. but why would 2 of your 3 PRO laptops have a more advanced processor?
 
I think:

12" = 1Ghz G4 (new motorola g4)
15" = 1Ghz or 1.25Ghz G4 (new motorola chip)
17" = 1.2Ghz G5

With the slogan the worlds fastest portable. Or, the worlds first 64bit laptop. The majority will have firewire 800 + usb 2 as well.
 
Originally posted by filmmaker2002

12" at 1Ghz
Thinner enclosure
1MB L3
FW 800
Backlit keyboard
Superdrive
$1999

15" at 1.25Ghz+
AL enclosure
FW800
DVI out
Backlit keyboard
Superdrive only, no Combo
$2599

17"
Same as now but with faster processor
$2999

I have to agree with this one. Price range is really too cheap for a G5. This is gonna be a small update.
 
Originally posted by Falleron
I think:

12" = 1Ghz G4 (new motorola g4)
15" = 1Ghz or 1.25Ghz G4 (new motorola chip)
17" = 1.2Ghz G5

With the slogan the worlds fastest portable. Or, the worlds first 64bit laptop. The majority will have firewire 800 + usb 2 as well.

With a 15" G4 at $2500 and a 17" G5 at $2999, who would buy the 15"?
 
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