New PowerBooks this Week?

[thatwendigo]

Well I've heard before that they call people in advance if they are going to update. Someone said they call and ask what of the options you want, rebate, or newer version. And if that were teh case, they wouldn't send the tracking information to FedEx, wouldn't they call and ask me tomorrow morning?

Quick, send it back before they can update the line and screw you! Buy an AMD, because the G4 is slow, outdated, and can't compete in any market, regardless of any facts that someone might bring up. The G5s are coming! The G5s are coming!

Spread the word, the G5s are going to be here today, because someone who's held out forever is going to be receiving their PowerBook!

 

[Tomaz]

Can't be today, cause I didn't break yet ! But I might if there are no PB updates today, so that would mean new PBs next week!

 

[Stoffel]

Hm. The pb is still the best selling computer in the apple store. Why should they update it? Anyone who thinks the next update will not be before MWDC in June?

 

[Tomaz]

...Anyone who thinks the next update will not be before MWDC in June?

If thats true, then I will buy a PB tomorrow! Only problem, how do we know they won't update till then? Why can't they release something like a roadmap for the next few months ??!!

 

[Zaty]

If thats true, then I will buy a PB tomorrow! Only problem, how do we know they won't update till then? Why can't they release something like a roadmap for the next few months ??!!

If you can wait, wait untill April 27, if we don't see new PB until then, Apple most probably won't release them before WWDC.

 

[Tomaz]

What is April 27th ?

 

[thatwendigo]

Why can't they release something like a roadmap for the next few months ??!!

Why not? I'd say that it's because Apple knows better than to poison their sales with the sort of release schedule that you're talking about. In a higher volume company, where machines are bought for even more broad purposes, it doesn't make as big of a deal. When the product line is as limited as Apple's, though, you end up with a stagnating effect that would make anyone's complaints right now sound like chump change.

If Apple were to tell people, "Oh, by the way, we're updating another 400mhz in the next six months," then the people who didn't absolutely need the speed right now would just wait. All the prosumer and hobbyist users would just sit and sit, waiting on the next big thing.

 

[Tomaz]

I see your point, but on the other hand if Apple tells me now that they'll release new PBs in September, I will go out tomorrow and buy the current one! Maybe some other people would do that too...

 

[tangenjm@mcmast]

I bet we'll see new Powerbooks on April 13th, so they can get some additional advertising for them the following day during their report on their 2nd quarter financial results. This would fly in the face of most critics who will undoubtedly note that Apple hasn't updated their hardware for some time.

 

[Zaty]

What is April 27th ?

April 27 just happen to be the last Tuesday in April. I just don't think they would release new PBs in May/June, i.e a few weeks before WWDC. But of course I can be wrong, only Apple knows.

 

[macdong]

I see your point, but on the other hand if Apple tells me now that they'll release new PBs in September, I will go out tomorrow and buy the current one! Maybe some other people would do that too...

if Apple tells me that they'll release new PowerBook later than September, i'll go out and buy an iBook

 

[DreaminDirector]

I see your point, but on the other hand if Apple tells me now that they'll release new PBs in September, I will go out tomorrow and buy the current one! Maybe some other people would do that too...

I agree with both sides on this case. But I'm also waiting on the powerbook as well. If they said WWDC and it wasn't a G5, I'd buy when I get home from work today.

 

[a17inchFuture]

What do you know, no update! I would have thought since I bought one sunday they would update, but I guess they'll wait until day 11 after I bought.

Speaking of, does anyone know how that 10 day policy actually works? Is it from the day you place your order, receive your product, or the day it ships? And do you simply call them to arrange the return? Thanks, guys.

 

[a17inchFuture]

I agree with both sides on this case. But I'm also waiting on the powerbook as well. If they said WWDC and it wasn't a G5, I'd buy when I get home from work today.

Yeah, i hear ya. While I am extremely pissed that I've been waiting six months for a newer version, I am also extremely happy that my new computer will be in my lap on friday. So its really a toss-up. However, if I had been able to wait longer, I would have.

So keep the faith strong for me, a fallen comrade . . . .

"go on without me, save yourself!"

 

[DreaminDirector]

Yeah, it's just so tough to fight off the urge. I've gotten burned twice in the past 2 years. First with my TiBook 800mhz, which they updated 3 weeks after I bought mine. 200 mhz more, a superdrive and a 300 dollar price drop. Then I got burned again (which I should have known better...) when I got my dual 1.25 mhz PMG4 little more than a month before the G5 was announced.

Do I regret any of these purchases? No. I love my macs. But I do feel a bit cheated when I commit to buying an old machine (and by old, I mean, hasn't been updated in 6 months).

I'm waiting this one out. It hurts, but I gotta do it. I can't afford to get screwed again. After I sold the powerbook, I wanted to see how long I could go without a laptop. So far, it's been a huge struggle.

 

[fener]

What do you know, no update! I would have thought since I bought one sunday they would update, but I guess they'll wait until day 11 after I bought.

Speaking of, does anyone know how that 10 day policy actually works? Is it from the day you place your order, receive your product, or the day it ships? And do you simply call them to arrange the return? Thanks, guys.

Thats what most people face, who can't succeed to wait. Have a look at the post before this.

For the 10-day return policy:

The time starts ticking with the DELIVERY. Not the order, NOR the shipping date.

The thing is, I know they let some people to UPGRADE from a 15" to a recently updated 17" model, just by paying the difference. Though, there is no such thing WRITTEN, that Apple HAS to do that.

Although, you always have the chance to RETURN your product within 10 days. If its not opened for 10 days, which is almost impossible for an Apple, you can return it for free. HOWEVER, if you open, which means for Apple that JUST TAKE THE POWERBOOK OUT OF ITS SEAL JUST ONCE, they will charge you a 10-15% restocking fee. Thats around 250-300$ for a 17". A LOT OF MONEY.

Hope it helps.

I hope you don't regret your choice of buying, because the Powerbook line WILL BE updated in a couple of weeks.

Regards

 

[a17inchFuture]

Thats what most people face, who can't succeed to wait. Have a look at the post before this.

For the 10-day return policy:

The time starts ticking with the DELIVERY. Not the order, NOR the shipping date.

The thing is, I know they let some people to UPGRADE from a 15" to a recently updated 17" model, just by paying the difference. Though, there is no such thing WRITTEN, that Apple HAS to do that.

Although, you always have the chance to RETURN your product within 10 days. If its not opened for 10 days, which is almost impossible for an Apple, you can return it for free. HOWEVER, if you open, which means for Apple that JUST TAKE THE POWERBOOK OUT OF ITS SEAL JUST ONCE, they will charge you a 10-15% restocking fee. Thats around 250-300$ for a 17". A LOT OF MONEY.

Hope it helps.

I hope you don't regret your choice of buying, because the Powerbook line WILL BE updated in a couple of weeks.

Regards

Great, thanks for all the info!

I do have one follow-up question that occured when reading your reply:

What about if you have used the computer for 7 days and then the newer version comes out? Do you get charged the used fee of 10-15 percent or whatever, or is it a straight up exchange for the original price spent?(obviously ignoring the newer model's price differential)

 

[Parikh1234]

this is getting crazy...ok someone has to do something about this....give me steves phone number i want to have a little talk with him In any case, i really need a powerbook before the start of may. I think i might just have to get the current rev Running hardcore aerospace apps on an ibook isnt going to really cut it i think.

 

[Snowy_River]

Yeah, it's just so tough to fight off the urge. I've gotten burned twice in the past 2 years. First with my TiBook 800mhz, which they updated 3 weeks after I bought mine. 200 mhz more, a superdrive and a 300 dollar price drop. Then I got burned again (which I should have known better...) when I got my dual 1.25 mhz PMG4 little more than a month before the G5 was announced.

Do I regret any of these purchases? No. I love my macs. But I do feel a bit cheated when I commit to buying an old machine (and by old, I mean, hasn't been updated in 6 months).

I'm waiting this one out. It hurts, but I gotta do it. I can't afford to get screwed again. After I sold the powerbook, I wanted to see how long I could go without a laptop. So far, it's been a huge struggle.

To be fair, if you had waited for the G5, you would have gone without a PowerMac for at least four months, not one.

Playing the update game is a tricky one. In general, I try to buy only when a new update has been released. Luckily, for now, I have the flexibility to do that...

 

[maxmag]

No new PBs in the immediate future

My neighbor is a senior engineer in the Apple PB division. Just to let you know, straight from the horses mouth - no new updates in the next few weeks as being claimed on unscrupulous sites. A new PBG4 update is due in "a few months."
The PBG5 is also still "quite some time away" - they are not even close to shrinking the processor down, lowering the energy consumption, and lowering the heat production. Remember, they just came out with the 92nm manufacturing process and they need "quite a bit below that" for the PBG5. My neighbor states "Any speculation regarding PBG5 timeframes is based entirely on speculation regarding anticipated technological progress not based on current capability."

 

[macdong]

My neighbor is a senior engineer in the Apple PB division. Just to let you know, straight from the horses mouth - no new updates in the next few weeks as being claimed on unscrupulous sites. A new PBG4 update is due in "a few months."
The PBG5 is also still "quite some time away" - they are not even close to shrinking the processor down, lowering the energy consumption, and lowering the heat production. Remember, they just came out with the 92nm manufacturing process and they need "quite a bit below that" for the PBG5. My neighbor states "Any speculation regarding PBG5 timeframes is based entirely on speculation regarding anticipated technological progress not based on current capability."

i guess that's curtains for Apple and iBook for me

 

[billwest9999]

good

My neighbor is a senior engineer in the Apple PB division. Just to let you know, straight from the horses mouth - no new updates in the next few weeks as being claimed on unscrupulous sites. A new PBG4 update is due in "a few months."
The PBG5 is also still "quite some time away" - they are not even close to shrinking the processor down, lowering the energy consumption, and lowering the heat production. Remember, they just came out with the 92nm manufacturing process and they need "quite a bit below that" for the PBG5. My neighbor states "Any speculation regarding PBG5 timeframes is based entirely on speculation regarding anticipated technological progress not based on current capability."

Good to hear this. Now if any rumor site maintains that there'll be an update this week, next week, or anytime before WWDC, let's boycott that rumor site. (this include this site so don't give me anymore bullshi* rumors about the PBs)

 

[Snowy_River]

My neighbor is a senior engineer in the Apple PB division. Just to let you know, straight from the horses mouth - no new updates in the next few weeks as being claimed on unscrupulous sites. A new PBG4 update is due in "a few months."
The PBG5 is also still "quite some time away" - they are not even close to shrinking the processor down, lowering the energy consumption, and lowering the heat production. Remember, they just came out with the 92nm manufacturing process and they need "quite a bit below that" for the PBG5. My neighbor states "Any speculation regarding PBG5 timeframes is based entirely on speculation regarding anticipated technological progress not based on current capability."

Based on reported specs of the 90nm 970FX (i.e. that it runs cooler than most if not all high-end Intel/AMD chips used in laptops, and almost on a par with the G4 at comparable if not higher clock speeds), I find this a bit hard to swallow. Also, I doubt that your neighbor, if he is a Sr. Engineer at Apple, would risk his job telling you anything about the status of PB production.

Sorry, you'll have to try harder than that.

(Note, I'm not saying that I think a G5 PB will come out tomorrow or even next week. It may well be another six months before one comes out. But to say that they need 'quite a bit below' 90nm process is just BS.)

 

[aswitcher]

SNIP

(Note, I'm not saying that I think a G5 PB will come out tomorrow or even next week. It may well be another six months before one comes out. But to say that they need 'quite a bit below' 90nm process is just BS.)

I hope so...

 

[micvog]

April 27 just happen to be the last Tuesday in April. I just don't think they would release new PBs in May/June, i.e a few weeks before WWDC. But of course I can be wrong, only Apple knows.

It doesn't necessarily apply to PowerBooks (more so PowerMacs), but Anandtech is reporting that ATI is releasing its new graphics cards on April 26th (http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.html?i=2018).