PowerBook to gain iSight, iBook to go widescreen in 2006

[ScubaDuc]

wow! okay!


Try to observe what you do on your next business trip/meeting and you'll know what I mean.

Cinch

I tell you what I do: I am houling chargers...One for the laptop, one for the Sony DV I use to tape conferences, one for the phone and one for the camera. Never mind the plug adaptors, the UK one is bigger than the battery for the videocam, for example

It would be very easy to eliminate the need for multiple chargers rather than cut features for portability

 

[DHagan4755]

People are forgetting the new benchmark will be whether or not Mac OS X is faster than Windows on the same hardware. I don't think Apple is going to ignore this fact, and they are going to make it as highly optimized as possible. Personally, I feel that we won't nearly see the spinning beachball on Intel as much as we do on the PowerPC.

 

[Super Dave]

Am I the only one not a fan of the built-in iSight?

Ya can't move it. Where's the convenience in that? And how many people with iSights actually have them always attached to the top of their display? I sure didn't, when I had one. So if you want to move it, you have to buy one anyway.

I'd rather they lose the built-in iSight and lower the price by $100 or so.

Hey there,

You're the reason Apple is including a built in iSight. If it is an external accessory then many people won't buy them. But if it's built in, most people will have them within 5 years. Apple is single handedly making the "web cam" market legit. You'll see. As for movement, it's a PowerBook, for the times you want to show your room to somebody, you can just move the computer. Most times the iSight is used for people to see you.

David

 

[Super Dave]

I feel the same way. Also, I don't like the idea of some stationary camera that's one step/hack away from being controlled remotely staring at me... would if iTunes 8 or something detects pirated songs or software... is it going to snap a picture and then send it to the authorities? it's a little too Orwellian for me. (sips his eighth cup of coffee)

Just like the iMac, the PowerBook iSight (if it indeed exists, which I think it does), will have an led light to indicate when it's on. I can only assume that this is not a software lit LED (as that would be hackable), but rather one attached to the same circuit as the camera. It would therefore be impossible for anyone to spy on you unless they managed to put a piece of brushed aluminum tape over your LED and you didn't notice. Or if your LED burns out, after 200 000 hours or so. Neither are likely.

As for the built in microphone that have shipped with many macs for the past oh 10 years or more, that have NO LED, we have no idea who might have been listening to us. But really, are we that paranoid to assume that there's been a hack/virus on the Mac that no one knows about that spies on us based on the assumption that we do interesting things? I'm sure someone would have picked it up monitoring networking, the same way people discover spyware.

David

 

[Super Dave]

People are forgetting the new benchmark will be whether or not Mac OS X is faster than Windows on the same hardware. I don't think Apple is going to ignore this fact, and they are going to make it as highly optimized as possible. Personally, I feel that we won't nearly see the spinning beachball on Intel as much as we do on the PowerPC.

I suspect you're correct. I've read articles that suggest that the Intel OS X is more optimized than the PowerPC version, but we'll see.

David

 

[decksnap]

Just some clarification on Firewire 400 vs. USB 2- The numbers listed (480 mb/s vs 400 mb/s) are peak data transfer rates. USB 2 has a higher peak, but firewire has a higher AVERAGE transfer rate, making it faster overall.

 

[~Shard~]

Just some clarification on Firewire 400 vs. USB 2- The numbers listed (480 mb/s vs 400 mb/s) are peak data transfer rates. USB 2 has a higher peak, but firewire has a higher AVERAGE transfer rate, making it faster overall.

Correct - USB2's top speed is a burst speed, which is not sustained.

 

[cyberone]

I use a Powerbook

this gives me quite some comfort. what processor speed you got with your 15"?

(reading too much in here certainly drives one crazy ... this constant rumors regarding new and unseen things makes current perfectly working hardware look like a dusty old thing ...)

 

[macorama]

I think very FEW people would like 1920x1080+ on a 13" screen, if they actually sat down and tried to use such a thing. Talk about fine print!

Isn't this why OS X is going to support proper UI scaling? Higher res is the future - imagine how easy to read a 300dpi monitor will be. If the UI scales properly, then a super high res small screen should be super easy to read, since the fonts etc will still be the same size on the screen, but with many more pixels to make each character.

 

[BlizzardBomb]

All great news!

Well looking at Intel's Roadmap http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2554

iBook (Rev.A)
773 Dothan (Ultra Low Voltage) - Single-core 1.3Ghz, 400Mhz FSB

iBook (Rev.B)
??? Yonah (Ultra Low Voltage) - Dual-core 1.06Ghz, 533Mhz FSB
x38 Yonah (Low Voltage) - Dual-core 1.5Ghz, 667Mhz FSB

PowerBooks (Rev.A)
x48 Yonah (Low Voltage) - Dual-core 1.66Ghz, 667Mhz FSB
x40 Yonah - Dual-core 2Ghz, 667Mhz FSB
x50 Yonah - Dual-core 2.16Ghz, 667Mhz FSB

PowerBooks (Rev. B)
x58 Yonah (Low Voltage) - Dual-core 1.83Ghz, 667Mhz FSB
x60 Yonah - Dual-core 2.33Ghz, 667Mhz FSB
And a Merom based PB!

Mac Mini (Rev.A)
756 Yonah - Single-core 1.66Ghz, 667Mhz FSB

Mac Mini (Rev. B)
766 Yonah - Single-core 1.83Ghz, 667Mhz FSB
x48 Yonah (Low Voltage) - Dual-core 1.66Ghz, 667Mhz FSB

That should give the Powerbook a badly needed boost against the iBook and give the Mac Mini enough power to make it a decent buy.

The iBook will be promoted as an ultra-portable while the Powerbook will satisfy power hungry users.

 

[steve_hill4]

If I decide to hold out and buy the first revision MacIntel PB, I hope there will be some other nice features. Some kind of pre-N Airport built in would be nice, while blu-ray would just be something to brag about. I don't want however an x-black style display to appear, just a brighter version of the current. I don't see them switching to an x-black though, they haven't on the latest revision iMac, so hope they have decided to continue with this type of display.

Still not sure which to buy. I was planning on getting one about January-March time, but if it looks like it will be something that isn't that much better than the last PPC models available now, I may go for the current 15".

 

[Val-kyrie]

Blu Ray burners begin shipping to many manufacturers later this month, actually.

Where did you hear Dell is shipping PC's with Blu-ray in January?

It was on one of the tech news forums I visit. I read it within the last month, so the ship date could have changed. Sorry, but I don't remember the link.

 

[Val-kyrie]

How about we make use of some new materials? The one downfall of the PowerBook, IMHO, is the aluminum. For a portable, this thing should be stronger than the old pop cans it is made from. In either book, I wouldn't mind seeing something lighter and more durable coming into play.

Yeah, I would be happy with something else if its better in durability, feel and look than brushed metal.

How about a polycarbonate? THAT would be nice--lighter, more durable, and aesthetic, if you're part of the 'black is back' club.

 

[~Shard~]

It was on one of the tech news forums I visit. I read it within the last month, so the ship date could have changed. Sorry, but I don't remember the link.

Nope, you're correct. As I said, Bluy Ray burners, I believe AOpen, begin shipping at the end of this month, and I believe it is Panasonic who are launching in the March timeframe.

Yes, the drives and media will be expensive for some time yet, but regardless, many people don't seem to realize how quickly Blu Ray is indeed coming.

 

[yoak]

Just like the iMac, the PowerBook iSight (if it indeed exists, which I think it does), will have an led light to indicate when it's on. I can only assume that this is not a software lit LED (as that would be hackable), but rather one attached to the same circuit as the camera. It would therefore be impossible for anyone to spy on you unless they managed to put a piece of brushed aluminum tape over your LED and you didn't notice. Or if your LED burns out, after 200 000 hours or so. Neither are likely.

As for the built in microphone that have shipped with many macs for the past oh 10 years or more, that have NO LED, we have no idea who might have been listening to us. But really, are we that paranoid to assume that there's been a hack/virus on the Mac that no one knows about that spies on us based on the assumption that we do interesting things? I'm sure someone would have picked it up monitoring networking, the same way people discover spyware.
David

Hear, hear.
If people are so paranoid, all it takes is a small sticker (preferable an Apple) to cover the lens

 

[Val-kyrie]

Apple is absolutely right using an external dial-up modem for those
who still require one.
You really run the risk of taking out your motherboard when a modem
is attached to or part of your main board.

I've had lengthy conversations with Global Village, Verizon and Belkin after
losing 7 "surge protected" modems over the past years to voltage in the phone lines.

I was told by the Verizon area supervisor that when a surge hits the phone
lines, it travels so fast that most surge protectors simpy can't react fast enough to catch it.

Add to this the hassle and expense of replacing an internal modem in
a mini or and iMac and it makes perfect sense to use an in-line modem
like the one they offer now.

So how does this compare to a phone line surge that hits a modem via a USB dongle? Would it only fry the modem or the USB port as well? And how easy is that to replace?

 

[HiRez]

I don't believe the PowerBook iSight thing? I mean, do pros really need a built-in camera? For what? To chat with their mothers? That seems more like a consumer option to me. Especially when regarding Apple's PhotoBooth software, which I doubt would excite a single pro user .

I agree, seems more likely they'd put it into the iBook than the PowerBook, just as they did in the iMac. Similarly, they say PowerBooks will ship with PhotoBooth? Eh? If there was ever a "fun consumer" application, wouldn't this be it? I don't get why that would be shipped on a PowerBook! I'd rather have the iLife or iWork suite.

 

[Val-kyrie]

Fair enough, but it is annoying that things can't move forward because people are still stuck on dial up. I'm not saying this is always the consumers fault.
I don't know what it's like from where you from but here it's not that much dearer to get broadband (if it's available in your area).
Apple are helping people to move on and get broadband for those who can, for those who can't they are offering an external modem.
Peep the Apple Store and select iMac.

How is including components holding people back from moving forward? It would be interesting to know just what percentage of people do not have broadband and what percentage are unable to have it even if they wanted it.
Anyways, why not include it at no cost for those who need it? Again, why should I pay extra for something that should be included and is necessary for accessing the internet?

[EDIT] BTW, I live in the US. That is all that you need to know about my location.

 

[oskar]

Seems a little too early for so many details... but they all make sense. Eliminating a 12" PowerBook would make the difference between the PowerBook and iBook lineups easier to see. I think they should even go for removing the 14" iBook, unless it goes widescreen of course.
Two iBooks (13" and 14") and two PowerBooks (15" and 17") in white and black, respectively, iPod-like of course. Ok, so that's only what I predict we'll see.

 

[aristobrat]

Anyways, why not include it at no cost for those who need it? Again, why should I pay extra for something that should be included and is necessary for accessing the internet?

Wrong or right, from what I've noticed by spec'ing out PC systems lately, the more higher-end the system you select, the less likely it is to have an included modem.

Either way, at $20.00, is it *really* a deal-breaker to have to buy an external modem? I mean, are you *really* not going to recommend the new iMac to your parents because of that? If so, what are you going to recommend to them? A Dell?

 

[Surreal]

How is including components holding people back from moving forward? It would be interesting to know just what percentage of people do not have broadband and what percentage are unable to have it even if they wanted it.
Anyways, why not include it at no cost for those who need it?

1. space. the less you have to get INSIDE the computer...the easier it is to arrange and manage.

2. yes..a lot of people use dial up...BUT IT'S 20 DOLLARS MORE on a 1000 dollar computer... TWO percent. TWO. and if you buy another apple computer with the same design principal..you can keep the dongle.

3. including the modem costs the people who arent using it. which makes more sesne...charge people who are...or charge people who arent?

4. supply for a modem for every computer versus supply for every dongle sold. probably much more efficient to buy the components in small supply due to point number 3.

 

[Windowlicker]

How about making a practical and beautiful laptop out of the 12" or 13" models. I would like one with 6+ hours of real life use, and I think it is totally possible w/ today's technology.....

The product wouldn't be called PowerBook. The PowerBook is about being able to do all the same stuff you do on a desktop. Eliminate firewire and dvd, and it's pretty handicapped.

But, I'm quite sure there would be a market for a cheaper ibook that didn't have firewire etc.. Anyways, the optical drive is a must for installing software.

 

[other]

Doesn't the modem cost $49 (the one Apple offers)? I guess you could get it cheaper somewhere else, though.

 

[ifjake]

i like aluminum. i could see the iPod colors for maybe the iBook, but the Powerbook is in a different class. or something.

 

[Platform]

Just some clarification on Firewire 400 vs. USB 2- The numbers listed (480 mb/s vs 400 mb/s) are peak data transfer rates. USB 2 has a higher peak, but firewire has a higher AVERAGE transfer rate, making it faster overall.

And this is because, USB has a 4 pin connector and FW has 6 both have 2 for power but FW has 4 for data vs 2 and 6 for FW 800