Potential Apple Product Update Dates?

[kbonnel]

Hi Vashti,

I am in the same boat as you. I was planning on doing the same BTO as you, but I think financially it would make more sense to get a refub 15" 1.25. it will be 600 less, and if you spend 110 for a stick of crucial 512 you will have the exact setup, but roughly 500 less, and have the superdrive (which I don't really need since I have one in my peecee). I think this is what I will do. I plan on using mine in the same way, but I do want to run some games on it, mostly sim city, age of empires, etc...

Samuel L Bronkowitz

Hey y'all. I've been about to buy a 15" powerbook for some time now (and I mean a loooong some time now). I keep waiting for these rumored updates or price drops. But my original blueberry ibook is coughing and gasping with a very full hard drive, and I don't want to wait too much longer. My needs are not sophisticated - surfing the web, word processing, simple spread sheets and database stuff, downloading music, and eventually basic photoshop. Why a powerbook? I'd like to buy more than I need in hopes that it will last me 5 years. And besides, they're very cool machines. So here's my question:

I want to get a BTO 15" - the 1.25 with a combodrive swapped for the superdrive and my 512 of RAM on one stick. If I order that tomorrow and new pb's come out &/or there's a price drop within two weeks, can I return it for the better or cheaper one - or am I stuck?

Also, any of you have a cannon 900 or 960 printer? If so, do you like it? Which is better?

I'm traveling a bunch in April and May. It would be fabulous to have my new computer with me, but should I hang in there and be patient?

What would you do in my position?

Thanks so much for your help!

 

[DavidM]

Vashti -

I, to am waiting for the 15" update. If you buy and the price drops because a new model is released within 10 days, Apple will refund the difference. I asked the same question at my local Apple Store on Saturday.

Oh, and I own the Canon i950 which is the model before the 960 and it's a great printer. it comes with 6 separate ink cartridges, so it's not too expensive to replace ink when just one color runs out.

 

[Vashti]

Thanks, you guys. Kbonnel, I thought about going for the refurb too. But I get the educational discount, which would make my set-up come to 2209, just 200 more than refurb. I thought maybe it was worth it to know that I was the first,no scratches or other problems. Part of me thinks if I'm spending $2000 for a new machine, it should be one that no one has used. Also, someone told me superdrive is definitely slower on burning cd's - something I think I'd do a fair amount of. Do you worry about refurb at all?

David, thanks for your tip too. Could I replace it with newer machine if it was an update or only get difference refunded?

Thanks, y'all. Pretty cool to have a place to come and ask your questions.

 

[Vashti]

Oh, and I own the Canon i950 which is the model before the 960 and it's a great printer. it comes with 6 separate ink cartridges, so it's not too expensive to replace ink when just one color runs out.[/QUOTE]



Hey David, I just thought of another question. I'm an actor and I need to print resumes on the back of 8 x 10 picures (like a light cardboard stock). Do you think your printer could do that?

Thanks!

 

[jsw]

Hey y'all. I've been about to buy a 15" powerbook for some time now (and I mean a loooong some time now). I keep waiting for these rumored updates or price drops. But my original blueberry ibook is coughing and gasping with a very full hard drive, and I don't want to wait too much longer. My needs are not sophisticated - surfing the web, word processing, simple spread sheets and database stuff, downloading music, and eventually basic photoshop. Why a powerbook? I'd like to buy more than I need in hopes that it will last me 5 years. And besides, they're very cool machines. So here's my question:

I want to get a BTO 15" - the 1.25 with a combodrive swapped for the superdrive and my 512 of RAM on one stick. If I order that tomorrow and new pb's come out &/or there's a price drop within two weeks, can I return it for the better or cheaper one - or am I stuck?

Also, any of you have a cannon 900 or 960 printer? If so, do you like it? Which is better?

I'm traveling a bunch in April and May. It would be fabulous to have my new computer with me, but should I hang in there and be patient?

What would you do in my position?

Thanks so much for your help!

Well, it's always a crapshoot when it comes to ordering a new laptop unless you buy one that started shipping that day. I'm especially concerned that you're looking for a laptop that will last you five years. That is a loooong time. My G3 Lombard PB, which is now roughly 4.5 years old, is wicked slow. It still works, it runs 10.3.3, etc., but it is nearly useless for anything except email, browsing, etc. I realize that's what you're planning on using yours for, so maybe it doesn't matter, but... 5 years is perhaps overly optimistic. Note that if you get a laptop now, it's effectively ~half a year old - they're really as old as their release date.

However, if you're really only going to use yours for what you say you're going to, it's OK to get one now. They're actually quite excellent. The only concern I had was due to your desire to keep it for so long. Yes, the G4 isn't as nice as the G5. But... nobody outside of Apple has a clue as to when there will be a G5 laptop, and, until then, it'll just be a matter of minor speed bumps. And the current crop, near the end of the line, is very well made with lots of nice features. Nice fit and finish, cool things like autobacklit keyboards, etc. It might be six months or more before you could hope to get a G5 laptop. Maybe more. So wait as long as you can, then just buy what's best for you at the time.

Computers will always, always, always be better and faster after you buy one. If you worry too much about that, you'll never get one. If you do buy one and an announcement is made, then, if your order hasn't shipped yet, you can cancel it. If it hasn't been opened yet (like you'll just sit there with it unopened...) then you can return it. If you've opened it, you get a month to return it for a 10% restocking fee, which is still not too bad. So, you're looking at maybe 4-6 weeks between the time you order and the time it becomes very expensive to ditch the laptop. Not too bad.

You will truly enjoy the configuration you've mentioned. If you were thinking of a 12" PB then I'd recommend the 12" iBook which, after the dual-monitor hack, lets you use, obviously, an external monitor and therefore is probably a better deal than the PB. But, the 15" has no real rival in the iBook line.

I own the Canon S900 and have used it for about a year and a half. I really like it. I have no idea if the 960 is a little better, a lot better, or about the same, but the S900 has been good to me. Your mileage may vary.

If I were you, I'd order the laptop. Wait to open it until after the 30th (it likely won't be there until after that anyway). Then have a blast with it unless something much better is announced and shipping. Best of luck!

 

[jsw]

Also, someone told me superdrive is definitely slower on burning cd's - something I think I'd do a fair amount of. Do you worry about refurb at all?

A friend bought a refurbished 15" and had no problems with it. Of course, if it's only a few hundred more, there's knowing that no one but you has used it, which is sort of nice. And that fact that she didn't have any scratches on hers doesn't mean you won't - and it doesn't mean you will. You just take your chances. I'm sure not all refurbs look the same.

As far as SuperDrive speeds - yeah, they're slower, but they're not slow. If it's too painful, you could always get an external Firewire or USB2 burner for a couple hundred or less. But, really, it isn't that bad unless you burn a LOT of CDs. And it's very nice to be able to backup onto DVDs.

 

[jsw]

Hey David, I just thought of another question. I'm an actor and I need to print resumes on the back of 8 x 10 picures (like a light cardboard stock). Do you think your printer could do that?

Thanks!

The S900 doesn't have a secondary feed in the back to let you insert stock horizontally - i.e., the printer "bends" it as it prints and there's no way to just print "flat" - so thicker stock won't work. However, photo paper works fine.

The S960 might do a better job....

 

[HTwidescreen]

Price drop on PB 1.25

Hey y'all. I've been about to buy a 15" powerbook for some time now (and I mean a loooong some time now).

I want to get a BTO 15" - the 1.25 with a combodrive swapped for the superdrive and my 512 of RAM on one stick. If I order that tomorrow and new pb's come out &/or there's a price drop within two weeks, can I return it for the better or cheaper one - or am I stuck?

Don't know if this has already been mentioned elswhere, but late this afternoon I called the UCLA campus store and found out that the PB 15" 1.25 is on a "SPECIAL PROMOTION" of $1,999.00 while supplies last. Also, the G5 1.8 Dual has the same "SPECIAL PROMO" of $1,999.00.

Don't know if I should read to much into it, but seems like it could be signaling "something"... - no?

HT

 

[invaLPsion]

Don't know if this has already been mentioned elswhere, but late this afternoon I called the UCLA campus store and found out that the PB 15" 1.25 is on a "SPECIAL PROMOTION" of $1,999.00 while supplies last. Also, the G5 1.8 Dual has the same "SPECIAL PROMO" of $1,999.00.

Don't know if I should read to much into it, but seems like it could be signaling "something"... - no?

HT

Didn't I just reply to this on another thread?

 

[kbonnel]

Vashti,

I too get the education discount, and I still think, from a dollars and cents mind set, that the refurb is the best way. Esp. when you add taxes to it. I have the same fears about scratches, etc. I guess I will have to decide if spending a couple hunderd more for new will be worth it.

Samuel L Bronkowitz

Thanks, you guys. Kbonnel, I thought about going for the refurb too. But I get the educational discount, which would make my set-up come to 2209, just 200 more than refurb. I thought maybe it was worth it to know that I was the first,no scratches or other problems. Part of me thinks if I'm spending $2000 for a new machine, it should be one that no one has used. Also, someone told me superdrive is definitely slower on burning cd's - something I think I'd do a fair amount of. Do you worry about refurb at all?

David, thanks for your tip too. Could I replace it with newer machine if it was an update or only get difference refunded?

Thanks, y'all. Pretty cool to have a place to come and ask your questions.

 

[smeddy]

g5 xserve indicative of a g5 pb?

i seem to recall reading somewhere that the aniticipated heat dissipation issues in rack g5 servers would not be unlike those in a g5 PB.

total speculation, but perhaps today's release can be taken as an indication we have moved closer to a g5 pb? of course each day that passes can be taken as an indication that we have moved closer to a g5 pb, but i hope they bring something out soon.

my g3 333 mhz grape imac literally wheezes every time i try to make it do something... not much life left in it now. i want my new powerbook

Yes, I second that.

This is an official Press Release from Apple, so we can safely assume that the info is correct and not 'twisted'. A fact is that the single Xserve's ARE shipping, and in them are the new 970Fx processors. So it's safe to say the processor itself is fine, is ready. The processor is the same as in the dual Xserve's right? So that leaves 2 possible reasons for the dual delay.

1 : They don't have the quantity of processors received from ibm to assemble the duals and ship them to the customers.
2 : There are still heat-issues on the dual Xserve, but in this stage, would that be possible? That would be a real problem if that's the case, in this late stage of production. that could imply some modifications to the cooling system, and other internal parts of the dual. So this seems to me as NOT a possibility.

So the only reason is quantity imho.

And if this is true, than the updated PM's (with the same processor but at higher speeds?) will maybe be announced soon, but not shipping until the larger batch of customers received their dual Xserve G5.

That would leave us, potential rev B owners, with a timeframe of shipping PM's at least begin may..

As i read my post again..i think i'm going to cry

 

[Vashti]

Computers will always, always, always be better and faster after you buy one. If you worry too much about that, you'll never get one. If you do buy one and an announcement is made, then, if your order hasn't shipped yet, you can cancel it. If it hasn't been opened yet (like you'll just sit there with it unopened...) then you can return it. If you've opened it, you get a month to return it for a 10% restocking fee, which is still not too bad. So, you're looking at maybe 4-6 weeks between the time you order and the time it becomes very expensive to ditch the laptop. Not too bad.

Hey JSW, thank you, thank you for all your thoughts! They were really helpful. About the above, if I stick with BTO config I mentioned, can I still return it if it's unopened? Or does that mean no returns?

Thanks again.

 

[windowsblowsass]

The new G5s coming out are still going to have fans in them, but are suppose to run quieter than current models. Apple is still having problems with leaks in the liquid-cooled models I've heard. Liquid-cooled models are suppose to run silent. I sure miss my fanless old iMac DV 500. Silence is golden!

listen water cooling is NOT SILENT yes with cooligy thre pump is silent but how do you expect to cool the water magic? it works like this water has a better conduction rate than air so heat can be moved away quickly and cooled in a more conveniant place and water cooling almost never leaks on screen savers theve hooked up alot of water cooled systems and they said none have leaked even though they said they hooked up the 1 in the worst way possible

 

[Mr Maui]

Don't know if this has already been mentioned elswhere, but late this afternoon I called the UCLA campus store and found out that the PB 15" 1.25 is on a "SPECIAL PROMOTION" of $1,999.00 while supplies last. Also, the G5 1.8 Dual has the same "SPECIAL PROMO" of $1,999.00.

Is this SPECIAL PROMO for UCLA students only?

 

[jsw]

Hey JSW, thank you, thank you for all your thoughts! They were really helpful. About the above, if I stick with BTO config I mentioned, can I still return it if it's unopened? Or does that mean no returns?

Thanks again.

I'd confirm with Apple - ask when ordering, or call customer service - but I think any unopened order can be returned for a full refund. Anyone else know?

 

[jsw]

Hey JSW, thank you, thank you for all your thoughts! They were really helpful. About the above, if I stick with BTO config I mentioned, can I still return it if it's unopened? Or does that mean no returns?

Thanks again.

I'd also find out about the refurb return policy - that might strongly argue in favor of - or against - a refurb, depending on the policy (i.e., if you get 30 days to return a refurb with no penalty, great, but if there's no grace period at all, then that's bad...).

 

[PowerMacMan]

A quote from an "X"-Apple employee...

"I Have The Run Down Of The New Macs And When There Going To Be Released

Steve Is Getting Ready To Shock You All (Including Bill Gates)
By Releasing New Models

Firstly The New PowerBooks
The 12 Inch Will Keep The G4 but Be Released At A Huge 1.5
The 15 And 17 Will Both Have G5 Processors
And Be Layed out diffrently you will have processsor choices on both
1.6 and 2ghz ...yes thats 2ghz

Secondly the new imacs will have a big overhaul in looks (complete redesign)
And have A base model of a g4 processor again 1.5 with a 15 inch screen
and the new screens 18 inch and 23 inch will have a choice of 1.6 g5 (19inch) and 2ghz (23)

new screens have been developed and are being made ready for shipment
sizes 18 inch 24 inch and huthum........... 30 inches


and last but not least the powermacs

dual 2.0 will stay the same but the rest will be discontinued
and the new ones will be 2.4 2.6 and the big 3ghz dual baby
and the the 2.4 2.6 and 3ghz will have 128mb ati video cards
not sure if the 2ghz will still ship with the ati 9600 or not...
and there will be also and upgrade in ram with the 3ghz to 1gb
but the rest will remain at 512.....


unfourtunatly i cannot specify whom i got this valued information from
because im sure it will lead to instant dismisal


i hope this stops all this silly nonsense about march 23rd ect ect"

....
"oooops i forgot to mention when

my appologies


wwdc 2004

i cannot wait".............................................
(end quote)

So, what do you all think of this? Reading it made me excited, but there has been so many people full of crap and nonsence reguarding these updates to the Apple Computer lines. I got the statement from this Apple Insider forum

-Chase

 

[DavidM]

Vashti -

I tried some pretty heavy glossy photo paper in my i950 and it printed fine. I'm not sure how heavy the stock is you're referrring to, but maybe take it to an Apple Store or CompUSA and try in on one of their demo models.

And JSW is right about the 10 percent restocking fee if the stock unit box is opened, but I always understood that all BTO orders were not returnable. I even thought this applied to memory configs that are BTO. Of course, I may have misunderstood, so if anyone out there can clear this up, post away!

 

[jsw]

A quote from an "X"-Apple employee...

"I Have The Run Down Of The New Macs And When There Going To Be Released

Steve Is Getting Ready To Shock You All (Including Bill Gates)
By Releasing New Models
...
i cannot wait".............................................
(end quote)

So, what do you all think of this? Reading it made me excited, but there has been so many people full of crap and nonsence reguarding these updates to the Apple Computer lines. I got the statement from this Apple Insider forum

-Chase

General consensus at AppleInsider is that it's crap. I'd have to agree. Too much too soon.

 

[aswitcher]

A quote from an "X"-Apple employee...

"I Have The Run Down Of The New Macs And When There Going To Be Released

Steve Is Getting Ready To Shock You All (Including Bill Gates)
By Releasing New Models

Firstly The New PowerBooks
The 12 Inch Will Keep The G4 but Be Released At A Huge 1.5
The 15 And 17 Will Both Have G5 Processors
And Be Layed out diffrently you will have processsor choices on both
1.6 and 2ghz ...yes thats 2ghz

Wish this were true...if the price point stays the same this would be a hell of a machine.

Secondly the new imacs will have a big overhaul in looks (complete redesign)
And have A base model of a g4 processor again 1.5 with a 15 inch screen
and the new screens 18 inch and 23 inch will have a choice of 1.6 g5 (19inch) and 2ghz (23)

So a cheap entry level on old tech.
Again, if this were true, I think it would be a strong march in the right direction but why a 18 or was that 19 (best to get your facts straight, especially if your lying) and 23" (that would be very expensive and again in 2-3 years your stuck with a great lcd on average to crap hardware...)

new screens have been developed and are being made ready for shipment
sizes 18 inch 24 inch and huthum........... 30 inches

Why drop 17 for 18...? and 23 for 24?? and 30"??? I find this very hard to believe...this whole reference/source sounds dodgy.

and last but not least the powermacs

dual 2.0 will stay the same but the rest will be discontinued
and the new ones will be 2.4 2.6 and the big 3ghz dual baby
and the the 2.4 2.6 and 3ghz will have 128mb ati video cards
not sure if the 2ghz will still ship with the ati 9600 or not...
and there will be also and upgrade in ram with the 3ghz to 1gb
but the rest will remain at 512.....

Again seems about right but I have serious doubts about this source.

unfourtunatly i cannot specify whom i got this valued information from
because im sure it will lead to instant dismisal


i hope this stops all this silly nonsense about march 23rd ect ect"

....
"oooops i forgot to mention when

my appologies


wwdc 2004

i cannot wait"

.............................................
(end quote)

So, what do you all think of this? Reading it made me excited, but there has been so many people full of crap and nonsence reguarding these updates to the Apple Computer lines. I got the statement from this Apple Insider forum

-Chase

Sorry, I think its crap. Wish it were true but he/she couldn't keep there story straight and didn't really give enough detail to be another prophet/spectulator...

 

[jsw]

Hey JSW, thank you, thank you for all your thoughts! They were really helpful. About the above, if I stick with BTO config I mentioned, can I still return it if it's unopened? Or does that mean no returns?

Thanks again.

I was, not surprisingly, wrong. You cannot return BTO systems.

Note: can you only get SuperDrive 15" systems as BTO? If you can get a stock 15" with superdrive and all you're losing is that you get 2 sticks instead of one, no big deal - go with the stock one.

From Apple's web site:

RETURN & REFUND POLICY
If you are not satisfied with your Apple purchase of a pre-built product, please call 1-800-676-2775 for a Return Material Authorization (RMA) request within 10 business days of the receipt of the product. If the item is returned unopened in the original box, we will exchange it or offer you a refund based on your original method of payment. The product must be returned to the Apple warehouse within 10 business days of the issuance of the RMA. All products must be packed in the original, unmarked packaging including any accessories, manuals, documentation and registration that shipped with the product. A 10% open box fee will be assessed on any opened hardware or accessory. If you purchased your order using an Apple Instant Loan or an Apple Business Lease, you may be asked to provide a major credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover) for Apple to assess the 10% open box restocking fee.

Please note that Apple does not permit the return of or offer refunds for the following products:

• Product that is custom configured to your specifications
  
• Opened memory
  
• Opened software
  
• Electronic software downloads
  
• Personalized iPods
  
• Software Up to Date Program Products (SW upgrades)

 

[MacinDoc]

PowerMac update date

I'd have to weigh in with those predicting a March 30 PM update. I think that there will be news about the PowerPC series at IBM's Power Series roadmap news conference on March 31, and as I mentioned previously on a different thread, I think Apple would like to make the announcements themselves, rather than let IBM have all the limelight.

Of course, I'm probably wrong...

 

[Vashti]

I was, not surprisingly, wrong. You cannot return BTO systems.

Note: can you only get SuperDrive 15" systems as BTO? If you can get a stock 15" with superdrive and all you're losing is that you get 2 sticks instead of one, no big deal - go with the stock one.

From Apple's web site:

RETURN & REFUND POLICY

Hey, thanks for all the info. I think I'll probably get the BTO to save the $200 from the superdrive. This computer decision making is not for the faint of heart, is it?

 

[G5support.com]

listen water cooling is NOT SILENT yes with cooligy thre pump is silent but how do you expect to cool the water magic? it works like this water has a better conduction rate than air so heat can be moved away quickly and cooled in a more conveniant place and water cooling almost never leaks on screen savers theve hooked up alot of water cooled systems and they said none have leaked even though they said they hooked up the 1 in the worst way possible

They are not using water in their liquid-cooled prototypes. They are using ethylene glycol.

 

[djbahdow01]

And once again the wait and countdown continues. Can't wait till i can get my hands on a Rev B G5 so i won't have to keep checking macrumors every few hours to see if anything has changed. Then again where would the anticipation be if i wasn't checking. Oh well you win some, you lose some. In the end something always ends up wrong.In this case its everyones predictions for the new PM's and LCD's.
Oh well will be back in the morning to see if anything new then checking every few hours.