Powerbook G4's in Paris?

[arn]

HardMac is reporting that European supplies of Powerbook G4's are in "end of life" status. Current US supplies also appear to reflect very low supplies.

A previous unconfirmable user report indicated that Powerbook G4 1 GHz upgrades were on the way in October. Meanwhile, PowerPage had reported that Powerbook updates were not expected until MacWorld SF 2003.

In a recent look at product cycles, the Powerbook is currently Apple's "oldest" model -- last updated in April 2002.

 

[Mr. Anderson]

very cool. I wonder if there will be more than a speed bump? Could it be possible to add BlueTooth now?

 

[geeman]

It would make sense to include BT on the mobo ASAP. Anyone know whether the Ti casing would have a negative effect on range?

 

[michaelrjohnson]

Considering that there were previous rumors of ALL mac models shipping with Bluetooth as of MWSF 2003, it would make sense to add it "now" (if it happens) instead of updating twice. It would be more cost effective on Apple's side, and it could be a positive marketing angle that Apple could exploit.

 

[peterjhill]

Darn, I won't have the fastest powerbook on the block anymore :-(

That's okay, If I had waited, I would still have my 400Mhz P2 Dell crapitude

 

[makkystyle]

here's my 10 cents...

bluetooth is a definate possibility (that's an oxymoron huh). I think it would make sense considering iSync and the compatibility with the SonyEricsson T68i (a bluetooth phone). Plus, just now looking at it, why is it the T68 "i". Maybe there is significance in that designation. Bluetooth would secure Mac's place in the mobile technology world and IR is gone so they need something. Also, a bluetooth chip is very small so could easily be added into existing powerbook engineering design.

I also think that 1Ghz is certain. It has to be to keep up with the market. Whoever suggested 1.25 is basing it solely on dreams.

DVD-R is a real stretch. I would think Apple will save that for the next big design change early next year. There needs to be some major addition to signify the design change and as good as it looks the TiBook design is an old one in the mac fleet.

... my two cents is free.

 

[binôme]

Hmm. I tried to order a PB 667 and 800 on the Belgian AppleStore. 1-2 days !! Doesn't sound like no supplies to me.

 

[oldMac]

Bluetooth makes sense...

A lot of Titanium powerbooks sit on the desks of the business folks... The same folks that can't live without their mobile phone.

Bluetooth just makes sense. It would stink to release iSync and then offer those ugly bluetooth USB dongles as your "powerbook bluetooth solution".

Even better would be an Airport/Bluetooth combo card.

1Ghz? I hope so. It's due.

 

[Megaquad]

This is my wishlist for new powerbooks,because i am buying one:
-fast cpu/bus of course
-faster graphics,64 mb ddr and something even faster then 7500 mobility would be nice
-second FW port,faster FW speed (powerbooks have somewhat slower throughput of FW interface)
-bluetooth
-paint which is more scratch resistant
-longer battery life
-less heat
-superdrive would be nice,but that will only raise price..maybe superdrive as BTO?

and this is what will look my PB configuration:
hi-end powerbook,which i will use for 3-5 years
-2 external FW cases,one for fast cd burner,one for 160 GB hard drive
-solution for watching tv and capturing video from tv and vcr,radio tuner would be nice
what do you recommend? can those things be powered thru USB port only?

 

[Rocketman]

Re: Bluetooth makes sense...

Originally posted by oldMac

Even better would be an Airport/Bluetooth combo card.

1Ghz? I hope so. It's due.

Is it practical to simply swap out an 11.b airport card with an 11b/11g/BT airport card, technically?

Someone needs to start a fad of installing high range wireless everywhere there is an underused high bandwidth connection so wireless access becomes pervasive and nearly free.

Rocketman

 

[DaveGee]

As far as BlueTooth on the motherboard...

It's doesn't make one bit-o-sense... Neither does 802.11b. Think about it... 802.11 now has 3 choices 802.11a 802.11b and very soon 802.11g oh you also have 'turbo 802.11b'. Bluetooth was at 1.0 and is now at 1.1.

Intersil has just made a combo-PCcard that does BOTH 802.11b as well as bluetooth. 802Blue (or something like that). Why would you limit the mobo with wireless when this stuff changes so dern qucikly. Talk about a ton-o-people being mad when bluetooth 2.0 or 802.11? (insert letter) becomes available.

Linky: http://www.siliconwave.com/Blue802.html

Dave

 

[firestormt]

after just buying my pb 800, which is better than i could have expected, on the 23rd. i hope they hold off on the update...for my sake...and yes, i'm a switcher. Apple FOREVER!

 

[makkystyle]

every time there's a hint of something new, i get all excited. I'm such a sucker.

 

[Rajj]

Superdrive anyone?

 

[yamadataro]

Heat!!!

I use a 800 TiBook now. And it gets HOT!

If they put a new 1GHz G4 chip on it, they'd better come up with a creative way to cool it down. That heat and the fan sound really make me uncomfortable even now, especially when I work in the hot summer of Tokyo and Bangkok. Sometimes I open up the keyboard and cool down the mother board with a mouse pad. What a sophisticated relationship I'm performing here!

Speed bump is always nice, but the compactness and the power do not go well together, I feel.

Oh well, maybe I should just move to the south pole. Do they have an Apple store there?

 

[makkystyle]

no superdrive

 

[yamadataro]

Heat 2

Oh, by the way, TiBook is OK when I think of my Vaio GR which I use occationally for testing browser compatibility of the websites I make.
This GR sucker's bottom gets hot as hell, I mean as HELL! even hotter than TiBook's white ass. I always wonder when it starts to melt (considering it's the plastic casting).

Maybe I should start cooking some eggs like somebody did on a sheet of alminum foil over a CPU.

 

[dhdave]

It's time for a 17" screen.

dh

 

[Pants]

Originally posted by geeman
It would make sense to include BT on the mobo ASAP. Anyone know whether the Ti casing would have a negative effect on range?

I doubt it seeing as the new flagship nokia (8910) is in a fully enclosed Ti case. As for the T68, theres tow variants of this phone - teh vanilla T68, and the T68i. I *think* the difference i teh ability to use an add on camera, but both are blue tooth. My personal favourite is the extremely cheap philips offering - colour, bluetooth, gprs, and FREE on contract.

Having said all this, I'm not too happy about the willy-nilly increase in high power wireless networks- I worry about the health implications, especially given the recent report from sweden that found a link between old style analogue phones and rare forms of brain cancer.

 

[pgwalsh]

Re: Re: Bluetooth makes sense...

Originally posted by Rocketman


Is it practical to simply swap out an 11.b airport card with an 11b/11g/BT airport card, technically?

Someone needs to start a fad of installing high range wireless everywhere there is an underused high bandwidth connection so wireless access becomes pervasive and nearly free.

Rocketman

You could start a whole new thread on this point. I'd be interested to know if it's possible. I have two Linksys access points and they have pcimcia card inside. However, the cards would still cost about the same as an accesspoint.

 

[makkystyle]

Pants.....

There is the T68m and T68i. They are the same phone except for casing and some advanced imaging features of the "i" model. Essentially you get a larger picture album, different "identities" (colors of the menus) and the ability to send MMS (multimedia messaging service). It was pretty much the case of an updated model. In europe I'm pretty sure the T68m has been discontinued while here in the states voicestream uses the m and AT&T uses the i.

Another interesting note... the original "i" phone (still the one pictured on sonyericsson.com, but not the ones in stores) had a very apple-esque white and light blue color scheme. The conspiracy theory continues.

 

[MacUser1]

portables

i really think that we will see new portables soon. remember the e-mail sent to developers asking what they would want to see in the Apple portables. maybe apple is going to respond quickly with new powerbooks.

 

[MacArtist]

Originally posted by Megaquad
This is my wishlist for new powerbooks,because i am buying one:
-fast cpu/bus of course
-faster graphics,64 mb ddr and something even faster then 7500 mobility would be nice
-second FW port,faster FW speed (powerbooks have somewhat slower throughput of FW interface)
-bluetooth
-paint which is more scratch resistant
-longer battery life
-less heat
-superdrive would be nice,but that will only raise price..maybe superdrive as BTO?

and this is what will look my PB configuration:
hi-end powerbook,which i will use for 3-5 years
-2 external FW cases,one for fast cd burner,one for 160 GB hard drive
-solution for watching tv and capturing video from tv and vcr,radio tuner would be nice
what do you recommend? can those things be powered thru USB port only?

As far as mobile graphics go the Radeon 7500 is the best unless you go into a workstation solution (ie Mobilty Fire GL 7800 or Quadro 500 Go GL), but a 64MB Mobility Radeon 7500 would be nice.

As far as firewire goes, it won't get faster until Apple adopts the Firewire 2 spec. A second port would be nice but you could get a firewire hub for home because when you are on the go I'm sure you won't be carrying the HD and Burner with you.

Longer battery life would be nice but ~5 hours is still good. You can get a third party battery for the TiBook with longer life.

Built in bluetooth would be a logical approach for Apple, it'll be an advantage that Apple could exploit.

As far as less heat goes, there really isn't much Apple can do considering the size of the Tibook and the speed of the processor.

 

[Pants]

Originally posted by makkystyle
Pants.....

There is the T68m and T68i. They are the same phone except for casing and some advanced imaging features of the "i" model. Essentially you get a larger picture album, different "identities" (colors of the menus) and the ability to send MMS (multimedia messaging service). It was pretty much the case of an updated model. In europe I'm pretty sure the T68m has been discontinued while here in the states voicestream uses the m and AT&T uses the i.

Another interesting note... the original "i" phone (still the one pictured on sonyericsson.com, but not the ones in stores) had a very apple-esque white and light blue color scheme. The conspiracy theory continues.

thanks for clearing that up -I've just had a look and the 'm' model is still being offered on contract here in the uk - personally I don't like the little joystick - sony's jogdial was a neat feature though. The p800 looks very 'aqua-esque', but the potential price tag is horrific. judging bu the prices of the new MMS phones, and the poor state of the providers share prices (and lack of big discounts on new phones), I cant see these taking off for a fair while.

 

[SPG]

"Superdrive" is not the only DVDR on the block anymore. There are other drives and even a competing format, DVD+R. Right now several vendors are working on making a smaller DVD-R drive, and there was some chatter on the DVD lists about the iminent release of a 4x burner. A superslim DVD-R drive has not been unveiled yet, but it is much more of a realistic possibility than a few months ago.