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Powerbook Rumors Again

More grumblings

Overall, I think Apple really needs to kick up the PowerBook line, across the board. Folks'll probably hate me for saying it, but I think the current lineup is quite weak.

First, they need to update the 15". Right now.

And don't get me started on that 17". Yeah, it's huge, but the display resolution isn't all that. Why is it that Dell has a Cinema HD-equivalent notebook, and Apple doesn't?! Without question, the 17" should be at 1920x1200; I'd even settle for 1680x1050. If you're going to buy a 17" notebook (which I think you have to strap to the top of your car to carry around), you might as well get the benefit of a decent display.

Then, for all of the models, more speed. Can you believe that it's almost 2004, and we still have models with <1GHz processors? Nuff said. (I am anxious to see what we can get as Apple moves further away from Motorola.)

And now the price issue. I love the Macintosh as much as the next person (okay, maybe not in these forums), but boy it would be nice to see a significant price drop on Apple notebooks. Unless we're getting pretty close to desktop performance--like either 2xG4s, or a G5 PowerBook--we shouldn't have to pay as much. I look at it this way. Right now, I could not replace my Power Mac G4 desktop with a PowerBook G4. Not enough performance. So, the PB would end up having to supplement the desktop. This makes the iBook more attractive in theory, except that I just don't understand why it still exists (except for price).

Please, please, please, Apple. I want a new rockin' 15" Al PowerBook for around $2400. You owe it to me. I paid $3200 for my Cinema HD Display! 🙂
 
I'm in the same boat

you pay 3200 !!!! dam! I've learned that lesson . I got the first dual 1G " that computer existed for only 2 months. I can't even run protools. ! paid close to 3000, so i'm in the same boat.
 
well i hope if you guys are saving up for a new powerbook you know what your getting yourself into because the 1ghz is 2600.
the 1.1ghz is probably gonna be 2900. they cant sell them cheaper, they would just loose money it didnt happen with the G4 powermacs to G5 price and it wont happen here.
 
So I caved and am gunna buy the current 15"...

Once I realized I was gunna get $500 off if I bought an iPod with it, it seemed kinda stupid for me to wait around until probably mid September for the new model that won't really be that much better, and not nearly at the same price as what I can get now...
 
Official Opinion

Yeah, that's an oxymoron, isn't it? 🙂

What apple announces in September may be outstanding. But it won't be G5.

If you don't *need* the latest and greatest, and are in the market for a powerbook now, bite the bullet, cash in on the discounts. Then wait and by G5.

I'd suspect sometime in July of 04', not January like everyone else is saying.

It's not a perfect world, and Apple is getting sloppy in some areas, but keep in mind, we *are* still the Intel/Microsoft Resistence, we need to roll with the good and the bad times. This is the bad. With G5 on the horizon, it can only get better.

Jaedreth
 
Re: Official Opinion

Originally posted by jaedreth
Y

It's not a perfect world, and Apple is getting sloppy in some areas, but keep in mind, we *are* still the Intel/Microsoft Resistence, we need to roll with the good and the bad times. This is the bad. With G5 on the horizon, it can only get better.

Jaedreth
Click to expand...


Oooh! Are we gonna sing the club song now?

La Resistance lives on... 😀
 
Originally posted by sockseller
So I caved and am gunna buy the current 15"...

Once I realized I was gunna get $500 off if I bought an iPod with it, it seemed kinda stupid for me to wait around until probably mid September for the new model that won't really be that much better, and not nearly at the same price as what I can get now...
Click to expand...


You're not the only one, I caved too. I'm pretty satisfied though, it was a good deal, and it will be nice to have it before school starts. Even though an update is overdue, it's still an awesome computer.
 
I agree its tricky. If I decided to go for the 12" I'll proberly do it now. But if it turns out the 15" will be better suited I think Ill wait. (blue tooth and 802.11g quite important to me)

Went shopping in London yesterday and it was so hard to walk away from the Pretty Powerbooks on display.

Oh well I guess if thats as hard as life gets it can't be that bad.
 
Re: Official Opinion

Originally posted by jaedreth
Yeah, that's an oxymoron, isn't it? 🙂

What apple announces in September may be outstanding. But it won't be G5.

If you don't *need* the latest and greatest, and are in the market for a powerbook now, bite the bullet, cash in on the discounts. Then wait and by G5.

I'd suspect sometime in July of 04', not January like everyone else is saying.

It's not a perfect world, and Apple is getting sloppy in some areas, but keep in mind, we *are* still the Intel/Microsoft Resistence, we need to roll with the good and the bad times. This is the bad. With G5 on the horizon, it can only get better.

Jaedreth
Click to expand...

Dude I just want to tell you that your signature was way too funny, I loved it, do you mind if I highjack it ???? 😉 very cool
 
I feel so jaded now. Ah. I used to love this mystical Apple company now I'm just heated that they don't ever update their products.

Damn you, Macrumors.com! 😀
 
For those that 'caved', you still have OS 9 booting.

A distinct advantage in my opinion.

Also the Ti has undergone many revs, the Al's are still Rev A

AppleMatt
 
Re: More grumblings

Originally posted by seffis
This makes the iBook more attractive in theory, except that I just don't understand why it still exists (except for price).
Click to expand...

When Apple announced their sales figures, the iBook was the second best selling line they have behind a combined sales of the iMac/eMac. Unit by unit sales it outsold the Powerbook line by several thousand. It is just my guess that is why it still exists. If Apple dumps the iBook line, they are going to dump a lot of education and consumer sales right down the toliet.
 
Re: Re: More grumblings

Originally posted by Abercrombieboy
When Apple announced their sales figures, the iBook was the second best selling line they have behind a combined sales of the iMac/eMac. Unit by unit sales it outsold the Powerbook line by several thousand. It is just my guess that is why it still exists. If Apple dumps the iBook line, they are going to dump a lot of education and consumer sales right down the toliet.
Click to expand...

Right! iBook is the most important computer for Apple right now and rumors guys like MacBidoulle or whatever just don't think when they say that iBooks will be slashed ...
iBooks will be improved. Probably introduce G4 across the entire line, like iMacs and eMacs. Maybe G3 won't be in use, but iProducts certaily will!
 
Re: Re: Re: More grumblings

Originally posted by Nemesis
Right! iBook is the most important computer for Apple right now and rumors guys like MacBidoulle or whatever just don't think when they say that iBooks will be slashed ...
iBooks will be improved. Probably introduce G4 across the entire line, like iMacs and eMacs. Maybe G3 won't be in use, but iProducts certaily will!
Click to expand...

ibooks aren't going anywhere. The 15" pbook isn't being eliminated.

deep breaths. we're all just going to have to wait. and wait. and wait...
 
Now... here is my question...

I'm a mac user since forever, I have a pc somewhere in my house and I don't even know where it is, but the question is: a friend of mine just bought a 1.8 g HP laptop (PC) en I was able to open every single application there, quark docs from mac, flash. photoshop, freehand, illustrator. He only paid for that computer brand new 750 u$s. At the same time an ex partner of mine has has a PB G4 1 gig, and let me tell you the PC kicks ass in all aspects. there is almost a 2500 dollars of a difference (or maybe more) on the price. We all know that Mac PBs wont never replace a desktop computer, so is it worthy for me to spend all those dollars to get a weak performance in 1 inch thick? I'm in the middle of the line and don't know what to do. I own 3 G4 desktops, always hated PC, but is it time for me to face reality??? when it comes to laptops I think PC rules. Don't know tell me what you guys think....

PD: Flash and photoshop flys on a pc laptop 🙁 why can't apple make a fast laptop too...
 
Macromedia have admitted Flash is s**t on the Mac, and that the next release focuses mainly on getting the speed up.

AppleMatt
 
Originally posted by AppleMatt
Macromedia have admitted Flash is s**t on the Mac, and that the next release focuses mainly on getting the speed up.

AppleMatt
Click to expand...

Yeah. it's sad as all hell that the application drags @$$ on the Mac. It makes it so damn hard to test your flashwork unless you have both platforms. 😛 Hopefully the updates will bring things up to at least near parity.
 
He was only talking about the client end (browser plugin). But you can bet your bottom dollar if asked he would say they wanted to improve FlashMX app speed (who doesn't)

:wink:

AppleMatt
 
Don't know that it means anything

But I was in my local Apple store this weekend, and the Powerbook display was missing the 15" Powerbook. Just 2 weeks or so ago, all 3 Powerbooks were out sharing the same space, but on Saturday, Just the 12 and the 17 were there...

I've been really enjoying my new 15" TiBook.... I hope there's a new 15 so that you that have been waiting can start enjoying yours.
 
Flash Issue

It's really sad but Macromedia needs to improve flash in both side (plugin, and app) to me, Flash and photoshop is what pay my bills... I only have Macs , but I'm thinking of entering Mr. Gate's powerbook world, just for the laptops. Apple can't nearly even compete against PC, and we all should know that. You can get a PC 3 or more times faster than a 17'' 1G. for for times less the price.... sad but true. I'm starting to see more people everyday giving up at apple's PB.... you tell me...It's either mister Jobs you drop the prices, or leave the price as is now but increase the performance.
 
Re: Now... here is my question...

Originally posted by Eyewake
I'm a mac user since forever, I have a pc somewhere in my house and I don't even know where it is, but the question is: a friend of mine just bought a 1.8 g HP laptop (PC) en I was able to open every single application there, quark docs from mac, flash. photoshop, freehand, illustrator. He only paid for that computer brand new 750 u$s. At the same time an ex partner of mine has has a PB G4 1 gig, and let me tell you the PC kicks ass in all aspects. there is almost a 2500 dollars of a difference (or maybe more) on the price. We all know that Mac PBs wont never replace a desktop computer, so is it worthy for me to spend all those dollars to get a weak performance in 1 inch thick? I'm in the middle of the line and don't know what to do. I own 3 G4 desktops, always hated PC, but is it time for me to face reality??? when it comes to laptops I think PC rules. Don't know tell me what you guys think....

PD: Flash and photoshop flys on a pc laptop 🙁 why can't apple make a fast laptop too...
Click to expand...

I refer to my post here: https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=437304#post437288
 
I concur with MrSugar in all regards. The PCs have higher clock speeds. They do tons less work per clock. Just because the number on your friend's PC is 3x higher than the Mac doesn't mean it's an entire 3x (or even 2x) faster. A Wintel laptop to compare to the 15" ti book would cost you...well, you can't do it. "Up to 4 hours" battery life. Must be a joke but I ain't laughing. I'm sure it gets four hours battery life if the machine is sleeping, but not it you are using it. Twice the thickness. Starting at 3 pounds heavier. You can't unpack the Dell laptop and start editing video, managing a huge music or photo library, or sync it with your phone or pda. These things can be done with the PC, but you have to buy and install extra software.

For $750, let's just see what you get.
*14.1" XGA
*2.0Ghz Celeron (the low-end bargain chip, not the "high-performance" Pentium)
*128MB RAM, but it IS DDR (half what you get on the lowest PB15)
*20GB HDD (again, half the apple minimum)
*DVD Rom (the powerbook has a DVD/CDRW combo drive)
*USB 2.0 (but not firewire, a draw?)
*"Up to" an "approximate" 3.5 hours. How many times can we qualify this?
*Integrated graphics "Intel Extreme" SHARING MEMORY with the rest of the system.

Looks like we ought to compare this to the iBook instead. Oops, the 14.1" iBook ALSO has 256MB RAM (albeit SDRAM) AND a 40GB HDD AND a combo drive. Also firewire, Radeon Mobility 7500 w/32MB dedicated video memory, and "up to" 6 hours battery life. The ibook is 1.3# lighter than the base Inspiron. But the ibook is only 1/2 inch thinner this time.

Sorry, but after you boost the PC to match the ibook, I'll pay the $200 price difference. Since it can't compete with the G4, especially for photoshop, and the Dell doesn't have ANY of the handy apps that come bundled with OS X, I think you should stick with the mac, especially when you can get the titanium powerbook AND a 15GB ipod for less than $2500 if you are a student or teacher.
 
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