pentium M powerBook????

[xwk88]

does any one think we will get pentium m PB as one of the first macintel manchines if so do you think it will be before july/2006.
I want a powerbook but will not buy until the new ones come out. do you think they will be cheaper.maybe a couple of houndreds less?????

 

[joecool85]

They will probably be a couple hundred cheaper from what I understand, also, yes, they should be out by then, they did say that some of the lineup would be seeing intel chips in a year. I would assume that the PB line will be some of the first since they need the faster/cooler chipset.

 

[furryrabidbunny]

the pentium m will probably be the first processor used by Apple. The main reason they dropped IBM was the lack of a notebook processor. Also, the M is the best chip made by Intel, faster than pentium 4s and running a lot cooler. With a pentium m we could see a mac mini a few DVD cases high (sorry, had to), a super thin iMac where the only thing making it visible from a distance is the LCD components. All with cheeper prices too. If Apple debuted a mini with the Intel's new pentium m http://news.com.com/Intel+spills+be...3-5729925.html?part=rss&tag=5729925&subj=news. imagine a mini with those specs. dual core, 2+ghz processor (faster than a 4ghz pentium 4, which does not exist unless overclocked) 2 mb cache. I am drooling already.

 

[yoda13]

While we could definately see lower prices, I am skeptical that Apple will pass that savings on to us. They can still charge a premium for design and the right to run OSX. I am drooling for a PB like the ones described above, but I am afraid that it will cost little less. Hope I am wrong.

 

[furryrabidbunny]

While we could definately see lower prices, I am skeptical that Apple will pass that savings on to us. They can still charge a premium for design and the right to run OSX. I am drooling for a PB like the ones described above, but I am afraid that it will cost little less. Hope I am wrong.

I disagree with you that they wont drop prices. They drop prices all the time when they can afford to. Using x86 will force them to drop prices. Their marketshare would fall if they didn't drop prices. Pretty cases and a great os aren't enough for most people. If they see a PC a few hundred less with the same specs minus the white case and OS X most would say "o'well, guess i'm running longhorn"

 

[ansalmo]

I would hazard a guess that the first Intel Powerbooks (if they're still to be called "Power"books...) would be equipped with dual-core Pentium-M's (Yonah), and the iBooks with single-core Pentium-M's (Dothan).

That would allow Apple to maintain a simple differentiation between the two notebook lines - dual core for the power user and single core for the standard consumer. No longer any fear of the top-end iBooks overlapping the low-end Powerbook market.

Also fits well with the planned release schedule of Yonah, which is due out 2006Q1.

I'd be interested to see what plans Apple has for the desktop market though, as the current P4 chips are horrific power-guzzlers. It's a shame that Apple didn't go with AMD so that the Athlon64-X2's could be used, with their low power consumption and high performance. Ah well, I guess Intel may have something up their sleeve - I know that they're planning to dump the current P4 NetBurst architecture over the coming months / years.

 

[MacSA]

I'd be interested to see what plans Apple has for the desktop market though, as the current P4 chips are horrific power-guzzlers. It's a shame that Apple didn't go with AMD so that the Athlon64-X2's could be used, with their low power consumption and high performance.

Do you really think that Apple will be using CURRENT chips in 2 years time?

 

[ansalmo]

Do you really think that Apple will be using CURRENT chips in 2 years time?

Clearly not, but I would expect Apple desktops to transition before the notebooks. That would imply that desktops would move to Intel in early 2006, and I've not heard any rumours about upcoming Intel desktop CPUs bar multi-core NetBurst chips. OTOH, there are many firm rumours about Intel's notebook chips for that timeframe.

So, unless Intel has been keeping a whole new desktop chip architecture under the tightest security ever, the Apple desktops would either have to be equipped with NetBurst chips or some variant of the Pentium-M. The latter option is no bad thing though - I have a Pentium-M Dothan 2.0 running in a desktop unit at home, and it walks all over my old P4-3.0.....

 

[dodonutter]

I heard somewhere that the powerbook sleep function (where everything is loaded to the RAM so you can carry on working in a second or 2) is a hardware feature which is why windows laptops take so damn long to start up after you close them...If this is the case does that mean we'll lose our PBs being ready to work on by the time the screen is at 90º??

 

[AoWolf]

I heard somewhere that the powerbook sleep function (where everything is loaded to the RAM so you can carry on working in a second or 2) is a hardware feature which is why windows laptops take so damn long to start up after you close them...If this is the case does that mean we'll lose our PBs being ready to work on by the time the screen is at 90º??

I hope not.

So you people who know more about the intel lineup tell me what you expect to see in the next powerbooks and iBooks?

 

[bug]

I heard somewhere that the powerbook sleep function (where everything is loaded to the RAM so you can carry on working in a second or 2) is a hardware feature which is why windows laptops take so damn long to start up after you close them...If this is the case does that mean we'll lose our PBs being ready to work on by the time the screen is at 90º??

I have some serious doubts that this has anything to do with the CPU at all - there's a lot more to the hardware than the CPU. We aren't going to loose any features moving to Intel, it will just be a new chip. Yes, it is going to be a pain in the rear for devs and probably really hard for private apple retailers - but I think the only danger here is with consumers freaking out about this move. Most of the features we like about Macs have nothing to do with the CPU at all.

It isn't going to make viruses any more prevalent on Macs, it isn't going to increase adware, it isn't going to make OS X instantly pirateable to PCs, and it isn't going to make the computers less stable. Its just a change in CPU, it doesn't mean that we are going to be running PC clones.

(now, it is possible that some freak is going to write their own device drivers for OS X so it can be installed on Dells, but this is a major undertaking and would require that the person has intimate knowledge of both OS X and PCs - it isn't like cracking some software so it doesn't need the CD, and it will probably never 'work right' so they still won't be getting the Mac experience)

 

[jcrowe]

Intel based PowerBooks

does any one think we will get pentium m PB as one of the first macintel manchines if so do you think it will be before july/2006.
I want a powerbook but will not buy until the new ones come out. do you think they will be cheaper.maybe a couple of houndreds less?????

Perhaps so, but that would mean a REALLY long time, e.g. over a year, to wait for an upgrade if there is no PowerPC upgrade in Powerbooks until an Intel based Powerbook appears a bit over a year from now. I understand the reasoning for the switch, but without an upgrade path for Apple notebooks, there's a potential for lost opportunity, I would think. Further, I would think that it might be quite difficult to recover that ground once lost. We'll just have to wait and see. In the meantime, some of us Mac users might be buying AMD based notebooks to tide us over in the interim.
JC

P.S. - I only wish the price of G5 iMacs would drop about $500 before June 15...

 

[furryrabidbunny]

I really doubt any current Intel chips will make it into a Mac. The reason they are switching, which Steve Jobs said on CNBC, was because their roadmap matched Apple's. Meaning future chips fit future design; not current chips fit future designs. I disagree though with the ibook being single core; in the future (because of the x86 bottleneck) almost all computers will be dual core. What i see in the pro line (current power line) will be dual processors with two cores each; quad processor. That might be why we see that support in Tiger; it might be a carry over from the intel version of tiger.

 

[m-dogg]

I'm placing my bet that powerbooks will be the first mac to get intel processors (pentium m). I tihnk this will happen at MWSF 06.

When I watched the WWDC keynote last night, they said that there will be intel based mac by this time next year. to me it sounded like they will be out in the market prior to WWDC 06 arriving.

this is all just my guess of course, so take it with a grain of salt.

 

[dodonutter]

I have some serious doubts that this has anything to do with the CPU at all - there's a lot more to the hardware than the CPU. We aren't going to loose any features moving to Intel, it will just be a new chip. Yes, it is going to be a pain in the rear for devs and probably really hard for private apple retailers - but I think the only danger here is with consumers freaking out about this move. Most of the features we like about Macs have nothing to do with the CPU at all.

It isn't going to make viruses any more prevalent on Macs, it isn't going to increase adware, it isn't going to make OS X instantly pirateable to PCs, and it isn't going to make the computers less stable. Its just a change in CPU, it doesn't mean that we are going to be running PC clones.

(now, it is possible that some freak is going to write their own device drivers for OS X so it can be installed on Dells, but this is a major undertaking and would require that the person has intimate knowledge of both OS X and PCs - it isn't like cracking some software so it doesn't need the CD, and it will probably never 'work right' so they still won't be getting the Mac experience)

It's true it's probably nothing to do with the CPU but im assuming (dont no all that much about the workings of PCs) that Apple is going to have a major rework of motherboards, logic boards, etc etc for the Intel platform and i wondered if the instant on feature would be lost due this rework.

Is there any easy-to-read info about the pentium line/ future procs...can only find scattered reports

--DN

 

[eVolcre]

Clearly not, but I would expect Apple desktops to transition before the notebooks. That would imply that desktops would move to Intel in early 2006, and I've not heard any rumours about upcoming Intel desktop CPUs bar multi-core NetBurst chips. OTOH, there are many firm rumours about Intel's notebook chips for that timeframe.

So, unless Intel has been keeping a whole new desktop chip architecture under the tightest security ever, the Apple desktops would either have to be equipped with NetBurst chips or some variant of the Pentium-M. The latter option is no bad thing though - I have a Pentium-M Dothan 2.0 running in a desktop unit at home, and it walks all over my old P4-3.0.....

I disagree. Saw a article the other day that said that laptop sales had beaten desktop sales for the first time. The notebok is the future and partly the reason why Apple decided to dump IBM for Intel - no roadmap for powerbook chip innovation.

My dream is a dual core Powerbook that is super powerful, ultralight and has a great battery life. Maybe a 13.1" widescreen? Great design that we have come to expect from Apple - very stylish. This would be the perfect notebook for me. Stylish - that sets me aprt from the crowd. Mobile - for my long flights. Ability to give sales pitches and yet powerul enough that I can come home, plug it into a Display and have a perfectly fine desktop relacement for my needs. I really hope this is the first machine they release with the new platform. Targets businessmen, students, and the hardcore Apple fans who will be ready to upgrade.

Somethign similar to this http://www.dynamism.com/x50/index.shtml

sexy eh? and if it dual boots with Windows I can even convince my company to buy it for me since it can be 'supported' Would save me from buying a personal machine in addition to my company piece. I would seriiously pay up to 2500 and maybe even 3000 for this machine. Until then, I will make do with my 2002 12" Powerbook since it does evreything I want it to and will continue to do so until the new ones are released.

Actually, the picture above is a 15" screen.Check out some of these with smaller screens and even lighter weight

The Panasonic W4 is a superlaptop. Its elegant 2.6 pound design features an integrated DVD-RW drive, 12.1" XGA TFT, 8 hour standard battery, integrated Wi-fi, and a 1.2GHz processor, mobile Intel 915GMS Express chipset with 128mb VRAM (shared), and a wealth of well-designed and thoroughly-considered features.

The Panasonic R4 is a sleek 2.2lb (999g) ultra-portable with a 9 hour battery life. Its Pentium-M 1.2ghz Dolan processor, 80gb HDD, and 1gb RAM (max) provide plenty of power. The 10.4" XGA TFT and 17mm keypitch keyboard are rare when compared to other ~2.2 pound notebooks with their smaller display and keyboard; the battery life is simply unchallenged. The Panasonic R4 is the successor to the popular Panasonic R3.

I can't wait!!

eV

 

[eVolcre]

Here's a couple more. And these are US released ultralights ...

Sony’s new Vaio T2

Posted Apr 21, 2005, 2:46 PM ET by Marc Perton
Related entries: Laptops

vaio t2

Sony continues to set a high bar — at least when it comes to style — with its Vaio laptops. Their new T2 series runs on a Pentium-M Ultra Low Voltage (ULV) 1.2 GHz processor, Bluetooth, WiFi and a DVD burner. But what may be more important to Vaio fans is the fact that it weighs in at about 3 pounds and has a 10.6-inch widescreen display with Sony’s X-Black technology and an anti-reflective layer to cut glare (one of the biggest complaints about those X-Black displays). No pricing yet, but we assume it’ll set you back at least a good $2K.

 

[ssh]

I heard somewhere that the powerbook sleep function (where everything is loaded to the RAM so you can carry on working in a second or 2) is a hardware feature which is why windows laptops take so damn long to start up after you close them...If this is the case does that mean we'll lose our PBs being ready to work on by the time the screen is at 90º??

Intel-based Windows (or Linux) machines work exactly like this and are available within a couple of seconds. If you hibernate them (RAM written to disk and then all power removed), it takes quite a bit longer (as you'd expect).

 

[DeepIn2U]

1st off Apple will maintain their Industry Leading design. The ONLY thing I hope that Apple gets from this deal with Intel is the possibility of PowerBooks - if the market name stays - will incorporate Intels design idea of a secondary LCD/OLED on the outside of the case - when laptop is closed - to display new email/iCal/WiFi sig strenght on a very low power requirement when the PowerBook is in sleepmode.

Now would this mean Apple's partnership with NVidia strengthen with NForce3 chipset for interconnects? If so what about engineer jobs @ Apple that does this sort of design?

Eitherway Apple will have to do some pretty serious design and hardware implementation feats to further differentiate not between its on consumer & professional lineup but the Wintel competition. I still expect to see somewhat higher prices for Apple machines compared to Wintel machines; just better OS. However, just because the deal with Intel doesnt mean that we're gonna use Intel's Pentium lineup of CPU's entirely; maybe the deal had to do with a scaled down version of the Itanium2 64-bit cpu? Will Intels' Yonah cpu be able to compete with AMD's dualcore offering of Opteron? I truely hope so.

I still want a Mac - & probably go with iMac rev B (G5) for nastalgic and present day availability reasons; but how long should anyone expect software support? Will software, once the complete lineup goes Intel, still be avaible for G5's? The reason I ask is because there will more than likely be no AltiVec specific instructions coded, and will it cost more in development time for the G5? God this whole transition is hurting my head and causing me to gloom. Sorry everyone!

2MB L2 cache at FULL cpu speed sounds very VERY sweet!!!

 

[eVolcre]

1st off Apple will maintain their Industry Leading design. The ONLY thing I hope that Apple gets from this deal with Intel is the possibility of PowerBooks - if the market name stays - will incorporate Intels design idea of a secondary LCD/OLED on the outside of the case - when laptop is closed - to display new email/iCal/WiFi sig strenght on a very low power requirement when the PowerBook is in sleepmode.

Now would this mean Apple's partnership with NVidia strengthen with NForce3 chipset for interconnects? If so what about engineer jobs @ Apple that does this sort of design?

Eitherway Apple will have to do some pretty serious design and hardware implementation feats to further differentiate not between its on consumer & professional lineup but the Wintel competition. I still expect to see somewhat higher prices for Apple machines compared to Wintel machines; just better OS. However, just because the deal with Intel doesnt mean that we're gonna use Intel's Pentium lineup of CPU's entirely; maybe the deal had to do with a scaled down version of the Itanium2 64-bit cpu? Will Intels' Yonah cpu be able to compete with AMD's dualcore offering of Opteron? I truely hope so.

I still want a Mac - & probably go with iMac rev B (G5) for nastalgic and present day availability reasons; but how long should anyone expect software support? Will software, once the complete lineup goes Intel, still be avaible for G5's? The reason I ask is because there will more than likely be no AltiVec specific instructions coded, and will it cost more in development time for the G5? God this whole transition is hurting my head and causing me to gloom. Sorry everyone!

2MB L2 cache at FULL cpu speed sounds very VERY sweet!!!

What's an L2 cache? What does it do? And what does it mean when you say 2MB L2 cache at FULL speed? is that better than a 1MB cache? Is it better than a 2MB cache at SLOW speed? Edumacate me ...

 

[savar]

So, unless Intel has been keeping a whole new desktop chip architecture under the tightest security ever, the Apple desktops would either have to be equipped with NetBurst chips or some variant of the Pentium-M. The latter option is no bad thing though - I have a Pentium-M Dothan 2.0 running in a desktop unit at home, and it walks all over my old P4-3.0.....

My impression from ArsTechnica is that Intel isn't beginning to move their chips over to a PM-architecture. Actually, they've been planning out this move for at least 2 years already, and a desktop successor to the P4 will be out within a year...Hopefully the timing will allow Apple to throw them into their first desktop machines.

 

[gamestriker]

I was thinking of selling mine and going with a 15" PB, but this Intel PB intrigues me. I was shocked at first at the move, like everyone else, but I must admit this will be a very good move in terms of laptops.

The Pentium M chips dominate the PC Laptop market for a reason -- because they are very good chips. I've seen them walk all over a Pentium 4 desktop with no problem. If you can get a PowerBook that can do that, I will spend the 2500 bucks the day it comes out on a PowerBook 15" Pentium M 3.0Ghz Dual (or Quad Processor) with SuperDrive 8x Dual-Layer, 512MB RAM, 160GB HD, 128 MB GPU, AE/BT on OS X 10.4.6.

My question is when can we expect these? End of the year perhaps at the earliest? I mean if they've been planning this for a while, they should be able to pull it off without much trouble. Saying that, we can prolly expect one more PowerBook update before the new Intel ones come out.

 

[eVolcre]

I was thinking of selling mine and going with a 15" PB, but this Intel PB intrigues me. I was shocked at first at the move, like everyone else, but I must admit this will be a very good move in terms of laptops.

The Pentium M chips dominate the PC Laptop market for a reason -- because they are very good chips. I've seen them walk all over a Pentium 4 desktop with no problem. If you can get a PowerBook that can do that, I will spend the 2500 bucks the day it comes out on a PowerBook 15" Pentium M 3.0Ghz Dual (or Quad Processor) with SuperDrive 8x Dual-Layer, 512MB RAM, 160GB HD, 128 MB GPU, AE/BT on OS X 10.4.6.

My question is when can we expect these? End of the year perhaps at the earliest? I mean if they've been planning this for a while, they should be able to pull it off without much trouble. Saying that, we can prolly expect one more PowerBook update before the new Intel ones come out.

Same here. Except I would want a 12 or a 13.1". To you reqs I would add bluetooth, wireless, wimax (?) and most important SIZE, weight, style and an 8 hour battery life. Man, I cannot wait!!

 

[steve_hill4]

I am still in two minds myself whether to see what they offer with a pentium m PowerBook/iBook or to try and snap up one of the last G4 based ones. I plan a purchase within the next 12 months, so I might try to get hold of one of the older ones, (after the standard price drop that happens with older stock when Steve announces the new models), rather than get one of the x86 range.

I am still not entirely convinced that the Intel switch is the right move, but will continue to keep a close eye on what advantages it will offer and may wait that bit longer if it is worth it.

 

[eVolcre]

I was thinking of selling mine and going with a 15" PB, but this Intel PB intrigues me. I was shocked at first at the move, like everyone else, but I must admit this will be a very good move in terms of laptops.

The Pentium M chips dominate the PC Laptop market for a reason -- because they are very good chips. I've seen them walk all over a Pentium 4 desktop with no problem. If you can get a PowerBook that can do that, I will spend the 2500 bucks the day it comes out on a PowerBook 15" Pentium M 3.0Ghz Dual (or Quad Processor) with SuperDrive 8x Dual-Layer, 512MB RAM, 160GB HD, 128 MB GPU, AE/BT on OS X 10.4.6.

My question is when can we expect these? End of the year perhaps at the earliest? I mean if they've been planning this for a while, they should be able to pull it off without much trouble. Saying that, we can prolly expect one more PowerBook update before the new Intel ones come out.

From another post I made ...

[I don't know if I agree with all of that. There is no point in bumping the PB's with the same PPC chip. The huge drawback of PPC is in the laptop line. As a result the best advantage for the new Intel chips is in the laptop line. Workstations won't b e as sensitive or see as much of a a difference in design or performance with the change. The dramatic change will be by putting a blazing fast chip in the powerbook with a supercool design that is also light. Much sexier than the MINI. The MINI might be upgraded at the same time or a little later. Apple's immmediate goal is going to be to placate the Mac loyalists and a new PB will do that.

I mean, lets say they put a new chip in the MINI and release it. What is going to be fundamentally different? Can they make the size smaller? or make apps run faster? The typical MINI buyer is a fella checking email or browing the web or playing with iphoto right? I don't think that market will see or perceive a difference in the chip.

Powerbooks is where it's at.

I do agree that there is one huge update coming in the PPC line. My gut says is that it will be in the high end PowerMac line. The desktops will likely be the last models to switch. Not to mention, the die hard users who will reall care about the whole architechture and chip change are probably PowerMac users. Normal people will pick it up knowing that it will work for 3 years and the update is at least a few cycles away. Hardcore users or scientists will pick it up to hoard it and make sure that they get thelast real MAC before the internal changes.

COuld be wrong but that's what I think. (plus i really really want a sexy ultra portable powerbook. )
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