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PowerBook Rumor Summary - Still Waiting...
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How can apple even think about gaining market share when they are so lazy at bringing updates? It appears to me that Steve Jobs might have been a little too optimistic in January when he announced the year of the notebooks. How many revisions have we seen this year? One - and that was 8 months ago! Give me a break Apple. You embarrased yourself.
5 down - 95 to go. You must be talking about executive replacements, because if you want to achieve something through innovation, you are not being very good at it.
The powermacs are cool yes I'll give you that and so too are the iPods, but I think that's about it. You have some nice machines but frankly you are too slow to update them. You can't preach the megahertz myth to 95% of computer users.
5 down - 95 to go. You must be talking about executive replacements, because if you want to achieve something through innovation, you are not being very good at it.
The powermacs are cool yes I'll give you that and so too are the iPods, but I think that's about it. You have some nice machines but frankly you are too slow to update them. You can't preach the megahertz myth to 95% of computer users.
With all the predictions/desires for a new 12" PowerBook in mind (L3 cache, etc.), here's an interesting comment from a "Helper" on Apple's iBook forum:
Douglas McLaughlin
(Helper)
RE(2): RE: serious q: iBook G4s imminant or what!?
(msg # 1.1.2: Posted Aug 8, 03 3:12 pm)
The "G4 iBook" is a 12" PowerBook. Marketing wouldn't let them put "iBook" on a machine with a G4 processor. One day the "G4 iBook magically became a "PowerBook". The iBook team at Apple designed and tested the 12" PowerBooks...
Douglas McLaughlin
(Helper)
RE(2): RE: serious q: iBook G4s imminant or what!?
(msg # 1.1.2: Posted Aug 8, 03 3:12 pm)
The "G4 iBook" is a 12" PowerBook. Marketing wouldn't let them put "iBook" on a machine with a G4 processor. One day the "G4 iBook magically became a "PowerBook". The iBook team at Apple designed and tested the 12" PowerBooks...
You know, its funny. I like Macs, like Mac OS X. But I'm sitting here typing this message on a Dell 600M with the fast Intel mobile processor in it.
I wanted to buy a PowerBook. Unfortunately, I'm a developer working on fairly large systems and I just wasn't satisfied with the power available in the 1ghz G4. I, for one, would have bought a lower-batterylife-but-faster PowerBook in a heartbeat. Heck, I bought one for my in-laws and I love playing with it, but it would drive me nuts as a primary machine.
Its pretty sad actually. For around $1300 (rebates, coupons, etc) I was able to buy a new 1.6ghz machine with 512mb of RAM, DCD/CD burner, 1400x1050 screen w/ 64MB ATI card, wireless and bluetooth, 40gb hard drive, etc that weighs 5lbs and has a real-word 3.5 hours of battery life. What's sad about that? I would have been happy to pay twice that much for a similar Mac. I couldn't -- there isn't one. What's more depressing is knowing that twice that much ($2600) might not be enough to buy said Mac when it comes out.
The engineering is wonderful, and the OS is great, but if the products aren't available to buy then there's going to be much suffering in the financial department.
-Richard
What would be really cool is a wide-screen mini-notebook. Just take the 12" iBook and put a screen the same height but just wider. The only downside is it wouldn't be quite as portable, one of the primary benefits of the 12".
More than anything else, though, I want a 15" with:
--1.2+ GHz G4 for editing video and encoding DVDs (I've read that the AltiVec in the first generation G5 isn't as fast as the G4's?)
--HiRez screen 1680 x 1050 or so (my 15" iMac's 1024x768 screen is soooo limiting for editing pictures, movies, and DVDs; and Java IDEs are too squished at that resolution)
--2x DVD-R and (wonder of wonders) DVD-RW and (miracle of miracles) +R/RW
On that last point, I've pretty much given up on Apple supporting +R/RW in this decade, so I went out and bought a cheap ($129!) 2.4x DVD+R/RW burner and found a ROM upgrade that I flashed onto it that made it a 4x DVD+R, 2.4x DVD+RW drive, and stuck it in a firewire enclosure and use Toast to burn. It's a zillion times faster reading and writing CDs and DVDs compared to the Pioneer A04 in my iMac.
BareFeats (I think) has shown that PowerBook are significantly faster than iMacs at the same rated speed, so I'm hoping a 1.2 or 1.3GHz PowerBook will completely blow the doors off my iMac 800 MHz. A G5 would be nice, but not really necessary. (Although it's weird how half the people here insist the G5 would run way too hot, and the other half insist that at 1.2 GHz it would be much cooler. Who's telling the truth?)
More than anything else, though, I want a 15" with:
--1.2+ GHz G4 for editing video and encoding DVDs (I've read that the AltiVec in the first generation G5 isn't as fast as the G4's?)
--HiRez screen 1680 x 1050 or so (my 15" iMac's 1024x768 screen is soooo limiting for editing pictures, movies, and DVDs; and Java IDEs are too squished at that resolution)
--2x DVD-R and (wonder of wonders) DVD-RW and (miracle of miracles) +R/RW
On that last point, I've pretty much given up on Apple supporting +R/RW in this decade, so I went out and bought a cheap ($129!) 2.4x DVD+R/RW burner and found a ROM upgrade that I flashed onto it that made it a 4x DVD+R, 2.4x DVD+RW drive, and stuck it in a firewire enclosure and use Toast to burn. It's a zillion times faster reading and writing CDs and DVDs compared to the Pioneer A04 in my iMac.
BareFeats (I think) has shown that PowerBook are significantly faster than iMacs at the same rated speed, so I'm hoping a 1.2 or 1.3GHz PowerBook will completely blow the doors off my iMac 800 MHz. A G5 would be nice, but not really necessary. (Although it's weird how half the people here insist the G5 would run way too hot, and the other half insist that at 1.2 GHz it would be much cooler. Who's telling the truth?)
I'm so glad Apple is a software company
Just think how they'd be perceived if they actually considered themselves a hardware company. (TiC) For them to say they are a hardware company, it must be embarassing that their software completely outshines their hardware. Consumer level computers that get trounced by the competition. Laptops that don't get updated for almost a year. Reliance on a processor mfr. that couldn't give a rats a$$ about the market.
Maybe they should consider being a software company. At least the software kicks a$$.
By the way, my neighbor is looking for a new computer. Whats in Apple's product line that I can recommend to keep her from going with another PC. Don't tell me to recommend an iMac. I talked my mom into a 1Ghz 17" iMac several months ago. I upgraded the memory to 512mb. It doesn't seem much more responsive than my iBook 700mhz. My sister was interested in getting one until she used my moms. Instead she had me build her a 1.8ghz AMD system that flies. Photoshop Elements is much faster on the PC than the iMac.
I love Apple, but right now the hardware is lacking. The G5 is an unrealistic choice for 90% of the public. Its entry cost is twice that of a PC. And I can preach till I'm blue in the face about the virtues of it, but cost will win out 100% of the time.
I will never recommend any computer from Apple that contains a G4 processor. Until the G5 is the consumer line, I think I'll have to recommend a PC instead.
Maybe Apple should be looking to AMD or Intel. At least they can get their chips out there.
Just think how they'd be perceived if they actually considered themselves a hardware company. (TiC) For them to say they are a hardware company, it must be embarassing that their software completely outshines their hardware. Consumer level computers that get trounced by the competition. Laptops that don't get updated for almost a year. Reliance on a processor mfr. that couldn't give a rats a$$ about the market.
Maybe they should consider being a software company. At least the software kicks a$$.
By the way, my neighbor is looking for a new computer. Whats in Apple's product line that I can recommend to keep her from going with another PC. Don't tell me to recommend an iMac. I talked my mom into a 1Ghz 17" iMac several months ago. I upgraded the memory to 512mb. It doesn't seem much more responsive than my iBook 700mhz. My sister was interested in getting one until she used my moms. Instead she had me build her a 1.8ghz AMD system that flies. Photoshop Elements is much faster on the PC than the iMac.
I love Apple, but right now the hardware is lacking. The G5 is an unrealistic choice for 90% of the public. Its entry cost is twice that of a PC. And I can preach till I'm blue in the face about the virtues of it, but cost will win out 100% of the time.
I will never recommend any computer from Apple that contains a G4 processor. Until the G5 is the consumer line, I think I'll have to recommend a PC instead.
Maybe Apple should be looking to AMD or Intel. At least they can get their chips out there.
These delays are putting a lot of pressure on Apple. If the new notebook launch is a bit of a yawn (cause of modest improvements) it will adversly affect Apple's reputation, but if it's a pleasant surprise, all may be forgiven.
It does seem a little lame to be waiting soooo long for decent G4 speeds, especially with the G5 coming out this month.
The new Powerbooks should be priced very competitively, otherwise they'll lose sales while people wait for a G5.
My min requirement for the 12": 1Gh+, DVI connection. Cache and video card upgrade would be nice but if the price is right, no problem.
Better be a bargain guys!
It does seem a little lame to be waiting soooo long for decent G4 speeds, especially with the G5 coming out this month.
The new Powerbooks should be priced very competitively, otherwise they'll lose sales while people wait for a G5.
My min requirement for the 12": 1Gh+, DVI connection. Cache and video card upgrade would be nice but if the price is right, no problem.
Better be a bargain guys!
Well, comparing apples to apples (no pun intended), I have a brand-new Dell flyer sitting next to me. Just received it in the mail.
Dell Insipiron 8500
--15.4" widescreen display (same aspect ratio as the PowerBook, but higher resolution; I'm guessing the new PowerBooks will have a screen much like this one)
--512MB RAM (same as current PowerBook)
--2x DVD burner (Apple rewrote the firmware to only support 1x for some odd reason; the drive is actually capable of 2x and I assume the new PowerBooks will support 2x)
--60 GB HD (same as current PowerBook)
--Pentium 4-M 2.5 GHz (OK, faster than PowerBook)
---Faxmodem and ethernet (PowerBook's is gigabit)
--Dell Movie studio essentials (iLife it's not!)
Price as configured: $2599.
Gee, that's *exactly* the same price as the 1GHz SuperDrive PowerBook.
And the PowerBook is considerably thinner and lighter (not to mention better looking) and comes with a wireless networking card.
People may arguably have a point that desktop PowerMac systems are more expensive than PCs, but you just can't say that about *equivalently configured* notebooks. It just isn't true.
Why bother with the new G4 Powerbook? Speed increases will only be slight. I'll just wait another two years for the G5's to make their way into the Powerbooks.
Apple's strength is how well-designed their products are. Throwing a G5 into a PowerBook just to get a product out there would be a slap in the face of the users who love Apple products because of their innovative design.
L3 cache is just extremely fast RAM between the standard RAM and the processor's onboard L2 cache... memory doesn't run particularly hot.
That's it, I won't take a chance.
I just callled up apple and canceled my order of a 15" TiBook and 10Gb Ipod.
The rep was quite startled and offered me tons of free accessories (hint to people who order... call them up to cancel and thell offer you 200-300$ worth of accessories!)
I still cancelled and asked him about the new 15" AlBooks.
He agreed that the unit was due for an update but said that no one had been informed of the new product release.
Anyhow, I am now in waiting mode.... Hopefully the August 19th rumor will prove to be true.
I just callled up apple and canceled my order of a 15" TiBook and 10Gb Ipod.
The rep was quite startled and offered me tons of free accessories (hint to people who order... call them up to cancel and thell offer you 200-300$ worth of accessories!)
I still cancelled and asked him about the new 15" AlBooks.
He agreed that the unit was due for an update but said that no one had been informed of the new product release.
Anyhow, I am now in waiting mode.... Hopefully the August 19th rumor will prove to be true.
This is the year of the G5, not the laptop. I refuse to bend to Apple's delays, and bought a 2ghz Vaio for $1600 - too bad, but I:
1) Don't want an oversized Powerbook for $3000+
2) Don't want what is basically an EOL 15"
3) Love but don't want a 12" limited Powerbook (only 768 RAM)
This delay is wild considering Apple's verbal boast about this year. I also agree that a G5 PB is a must - G3 is purely consumer and G4 IS slow for the powerusers who want it - but I don't think we would be able to hold it. It would burn a hole in the floor - can you imagine 4 fans in it?
1) Don't want an oversized Powerbook for $3000+
2) Don't want what is basically an EOL 15"
3) Love but don't want a 12" limited Powerbook (only 768 RAM)
This delay is wild considering Apple's verbal boast about this year. I also agree that a G5 PB is a must - G3 is purely consumer and G4 IS slow for the powerusers who want it - but I don't think we would be able to hold it. It would burn a hole in the floor - can you imagine 4 fans in it?
If they all pointed straight down, it would levitate.
And if the fan directions were individually adjustable, you could have it hover at different angles.
Who needs an iCurve?
Pbks
I'm glad I bought mine over the summer. I would have been going crazy if I didn't have my 15" PB this summer. I was going to wait until the new models came out. I'm glad I didn't. I've been ultra productiive with my PB. I couldn't stand to wait any longer.
I'm glad I bought mine over the summer. I would have been going crazy if I didn't have my 15" PB this summer. I was going to wait until the new models came out. I'm glad I didn't. I've been ultra productiive with my PB. I couldn't stand to wait any longer.
Powerbook G5 hovercraft
Just add a remote control (wireless, of course) and you've got a hovercraft.
I was never much of a gamer, but this would be way cool. The cats would freak out.
Just add a remote control (wireless, of course) and you've got a hovercraft.
I was never much of a gamer, but this would be way cool. The cats would freak out.
What I remember
I remember sitting around reading these exact forums expecting a new powerbook, right before the 1ghz 15 inch came out.....
Remember apple said "no way will there be a dvd-r drive in a powerbook" and then it happened????
So perhaps we'll see a G5 powerbook? I think that would shut everyone up.
But to be realistic, no matter what apple announces, as long as it has improved airport reception and aluminum casing i will purchase one the day they are available for order.
I remember sitting around reading these exact forums expecting a new powerbook, right before the 1ghz 15 inch came out.....
Remember apple said "no way will there be a dvd-r drive in a powerbook" and then it happened????
So perhaps we'll see a G5 powerbook? I think that would shut everyone up.
But to be realistic, no matter what apple announces, as long as it has improved airport reception and aluminum casing i will purchase one the day they are available for order.
You know, a G5 could be in the PB, i cannot now that i think about it see Apple AND IBM working on the G5 for 2 years and THEN not allocate enough resources to develop a mobile version of the chip and THEN making us wait even longer.
You're right. If the PowerBooks are what everyone is expecting (the new Moto chip), people will just sort of say, "Finally," and place orders- assuming they didn't get a used one on eBay or opt for a Sony or Dell machine.
I think it'll take more than a backlit keyboard to please the masses this time. Problem is, the improvements will probably not be earth-shattering.
Squire
What a ripper! Is this note from Mars... or beyond? Let's see. The reason Apple is behind (btw not according to most media experts at the moment) is 'cause they are lazy. Nothing to do with getting OS X whipped into shape, introduction of the G5s after an intensive collaboration with IBM, trying to get Moto off their behinds to fulfill Apple's existing contracts, trying to get iTunes out to the PC whiners, releasing iPods and stunning PBs- which, after all, are only 8 months old! - if this is lazy mate, I would love to watch you work... it's clear you wouldn't need 6 days to create the Universe, so I suggest you get cracking. I want to see the fireworks and a new world order! Come on, you can do it! can't you?
What is everyone expecting in the 15" category? It seems like apple wants to base performance on size, so perhaps we will see one model for each size until the G5 revision? I really hope they don't, but if they do, perhaps we will see a price inbetween current 15" model pricing, with full features. What I'm really hoping for is a 15.4" Pbook with bluetooth, 1.3ghz, ddr ram, lighted keyboard and airport extreme. I just really hope they don't pull the performance/size crap and make the 15 a medium speed processor (what are the 7457s? 1.0, 1.2 and 1.3?).
Hi everyone;
I don't know about you guys, but this guy is still thinking that the longer we go without an upgrade to the Powerbook the more likely it is that we will see a 970 something based Powerbook. Wishful thinking I know, but the evidence is clear that IBM and Apple are working very hard on the 970 and revisions to this chip. The closer we get to the end of the year the more likely we are to see this new technology popping up.
This may not have been Apple original plans but the new revisions are for all appearnaces being delayed by things out of Apples control. That may have been the new ATI GPU or more likely the new Motorola processor. If in the likely even Motorola screwed up agian, I could very well see Apple saying F*&# it and just waiting unit the 970 based hardware is upgraded.
Furhter didn't the Apple guy say that Motorola and the G4 was still big with Apple. I don't recall it being specifically said that the 970 or variant won't be going into a laptop.
Dave
I don't know about you guys, but this guy is still thinking that the longer we go without an upgrade to the Powerbook the more likely it is that we will see a 970 something based Powerbook. Wishful thinking I know, but the evidence is clear that IBM and Apple are working very hard on the 970 and revisions to this chip. The closer we get to the end of the year the more likely we are to see this new technology popping up.
This may not have been Apple original plans but the new revisions are for all appearnaces being delayed by things out of Apples control. That may have been the new ATI GPU or more likely the new Motorola processor. If in the likely even Motorola screwed up agian, I could very well see Apple saying F*&# it and just waiting unit the 970 based hardware is upgraded.
Furhter didn't the Apple guy say that Motorola and the G4 was still big with Apple. I don't recall it being specifically said that the 970 or variant won't be going into a laptop.
Dave
Actually the thought that the new processors may in fact be a bit flakey has occured to me also. On the other hand Motorola and Apple would not likely try to pull an Intel and shovel a flakey processor on the market. It is one of the reasons we have had such slow improvements to the G4 and that 50MHz slow down awhile back.
As to Apples profits I don't think that it is a problem. Powerbooks have been leading sales for awhile now, those that really need them buy them when they need them. There is always something better around the corner. Those of us that really don't need the new machines can always wait.
Then again, in the case of the 15" machine, there are those that have ligitimate reasons to wait. One of those resaons would be improved airport performance. Which buy the way I can see very clearly from the point of view of a student.
Dave
As to Apples profits I don't think that it is a problem. Powerbooks have been leading sales for awhile now, those that really need them buy them when they need them. There is always something better around the corner. Those of us that really don't need the new machines can always wait.
Then again, in the case of the 15" machine, there are those that have ligitimate reasons to wait. One of those resaons would be improved airport performance. Which buy the way I can see very clearly from the point of view of a student.
Dave
Originally posted by Bruja
Apple appears to be thinking differently themselves. However, it defies logic and some since of "good business practice" if they wish to stay in the black. One last tidbit of thought befor the day is up: Let's say for some unknown reason, the release the updated products. If what they say is true about Moto, Would you really want a janky chip that may cause problems?? Maybe the real answer is to go to e-bay and get a cheaper priced book and wait until this crap is sorted out and this way, it would not interrupt productivity and Apple would kill to release an UP 2 DATE product because their new sales profit has gone through the floor?? Just a thought??
i was with everyone else.. waiting for updates.. seemed like forever. last month i bit the bullet and bought a 17 inch PB.. I couldnt be more happier and if I had the chance to go back, id do it again in a heartbeat. This thing has saved my butt and lots of time in the one month ive had it. its already more than payed for itself. Id recommend the current 17" PB to anyone.. its a wonderful system.