Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

PowerBook Updates? Dual G4 Core?

2A Batterie said:
Although it is a boring update, all of the new models are shipping in 1-3 days. Now if they actually do get shipped in 1-3 days is another story.
Click to expand...

Somehow I don't think they'll be the same rush for these PB's as there was for the mini and shuffle!
 
trackpad scrolling capability... is that now a selling point? i've had it on my powerbook since the day i brought it home.
 
drlunanerd said:
What's that I hear? Ah yes, PB 15" secondhand values dropping ;)
But seriously, how much have they shaved off the new price? Doesn't look any cheaper to me?

You're right though, trackpad scrolling is very old news and is a lame update to be bragging about in the marketing.

The G4 PBs limp along to fight another day.
Click to expand...

hopefully, I don't think the 1.5GHZ 15" SD (with upgraded drive and video) will go down drastically. the only difference between mine and the latest 1.67 is the +4X SD (which is nice), the possible 100GB drive, and BT2.0. (I have the 80GB 5400, and the 128 9700).

I think the update is good on many levels, esp. with the price staying the same. I assume this will be the last update in the G4 line (unless they do the dual core thingy)

Kimo
 
kbonnel said:
hopefully, I don't think the 1.5GHZ 15" SD (with upgraded drive and video) will go down drastically. the only difference between mine and the latest 1.67 is the +4X SD (which is nice), the possible 100GB drive, and BT2.0. (I have the 80GB 5400, and the 128 9700).

I think the update is good on many levels, esp. with the price staying the same. I assume this will be the last update in the G4 line (unless they do the dual core thingy)

Kimo
Click to expand...

You're probably right. I was just taking the mickey out of edesignuk, as I know he recently bought a secondhand stock PB 15" :) This is actually great news for those we've recently bought a PB, as they're not losing out much at all.
 
they couldn't do much about the CPU so they bumped up the features. bluetooth 2.0 is nice, dvd +-R is nice, single so-dimm is great, 5400 rpm is nice. i could live with that if i hadn't already bought a rev.c PB 9 month ago. all in all an acceptable update.

i hope the imac g5 will be "feature bumped" in a similar way soon.

andi
 
jadam said:
The dual core G4 is better then the G5... Especially for a laptop.
Click to expand...

Arguably yes, arguably no.

The problem is that they have obviously been working on G5 for months (if not years). They aren't going to suddenly stop work on that on the off chance motorola bring this new ship out.
 
Dual Core G4

I would take a dual G4 with an updated memory controller over a G5. A single G4 with an updated memory controller should be nearly as fast as G5, but a dual G4 should be considerably faster. Powerbooks won't hold more than 2GB right now anyway, so the only need for 64 bit would be 64bit integer math. I don't need that much. Do most of us?
 
More software. Is it a Big deal??? im new to mac and this new PB will be my first mac.

"Software Mail, iChat, Safari, Sherlock, Address Book, QuickTime, iLife (includes iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie HD, GarageBand and iDVD[4]), iSync, iCal, DVD Player, Classic environment, Acrobat Reader, Art Directors Toolkit, EarthLink TotalAccess (includes 30 days of free dial-up service with Earthlink activation), FileMaker Pro Trial, GraphicConverter, OmniGraffle, OmniOutliner, QuickBooks for Mac New User Edition, Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac Test Drive, Zinio Reader, Xcode Developer Tools and Apple Hardware Test"

What is Miccrosoft Office 2004 for Mac Test Drive. Is that like a trail version that going to expire in a month?!?
 
ASP272 said:
No G5 though.
Click to expand...


Was anyone REALLY expecting a G5 this soon?! Seriously. We've been kicking around the idea for ****s and giggles but seriously were you guys? If so I would say you guys need to take a couple doses of reality. :p ;)
 
SiliconAddict said:
Was anyone REALLY expecting a G5 this soon?! Seriously. We've been kicking around the idea for ****s and giggles but seriously were you guys? If so I would say you guys need to take a couple doses of reality. :p ;)
Click to expand...

Ditto.

Does this finally mean a few months respite from the G5 PB next week threads? (Please, please, please.)
 
IT IS THERE!!! NEW PB G4!!!

Whether you prefer the ultra-compact 12-inch model, the coveted 15-inch powerhouse or the high-resolution 17-inch stunner, every new PowerBook G4 features faster PowerPC G4 processors with speeds topping the charts at 1.67GHz. Want power to burn? The new PowerBook models offer 8x SuperDrives. And each PowerBook comes standard with 512MB of memory and a 5400-rpm hard disk drive. Starting at just $1499.
Click to expand...

Only a small revision, though, but less expensive. Will order one right away!

http://www.apple.com/powerbook/
 
iRobot said:
Let me say again, the fact that its called G5 means absolutely nothing regarding what chip is being used. Nothing at all, regardless of whether or not you think that's just stupid.

And if the 8641D was used, then it wouldn't have to be fazed out in two years. A 64bit derivative is already in the works.

So it could still go either way.
Click to expand...


Thought as of this morning there really is not more questioning, just for the record, G4 or G5 means quite a bit: if it's G4 then they would likely keep the same motherboard architecture, G5 would be entirely new (I mention the production of chips and motherboards in my statement.)

Personally, I think the new books are awesome. Enjoy!
 
Correct me if im wrong, but arnt the prices lower? i particualary noticed the 15''powebook goin for $2299, i swear it was 2499 before. isnt this a good thing ? smile!
 
g0gie said:
Correct me if im wrong, but arnt the prices lower? i particualary noticed the 15''powebook goin for $2299, i swear it was 2499 before. isnt this a good thing ? smile!
Click to expand...

You're kind of late, there. Yes this update is relatively something good. Not what everybody was expecting though. Would've at least expected a faster FSB.
 
DrOMM said:
Only a small revision, though, but less expensive. Will order one right away!

http://www.apple.com/powerbook/
Click to expand...

So what PowerBook model and extras did you end up ordering?

It would seem that Apple is reaching the upper limits for now. Since they couldn't really offer a lot more, so they are lowering the price. Still good news for customers.
 
John Rivers said:
Thought as of this morning there really is not more questioning, just for the record, G4 or G5 means quite a bit: if it's G4 then they would likely keep the same motherboard architecture, G5 would be entirely new (I mention the production of chips and motherboards in my statement.)

Personally, I think the new books are awesome. Enjoy!
Click to expand...

The 8641D/8641 uses a (or two) tweaked G4 core(s), but is otherwise very very different. Maybe you were thinking of the 7448? (tweaked G4 core, tweaked but pin compatible G4 bus). btw, what's up with all the people getting info on the 7448/8641 from rumors? Just go to freescale's site and download the damn PDF.
 
Catfish_Man said:
The 8641D/8641 uses a (or two) tweaked G4 core(s), but is otherwise very very different. Maybe you were thinking of the 7448? (tweaked G4 core, tweaked but pin compatible G4 bus). btw, what's up with all the people getting info on the 7448/8641 from rumors? Just go to freescale's site and download the damn PDF.
Click to expand...

Yea, sorry for not being specific enough. :)

Heheh, point is, Apple will not change their powerbook architecture twice within the same year.

Personally, I think Apple has been making amazing business decisions lately. What other company can make a computer that uses (relatively speaking) old components and still manage to generate excitement and sales while spending little (if any) more than they already were to produce them? Or take the new Mac Mini, a great example of entrepreneurship and strategy. Go Apple.
 
I think we all realize the dual core G4 will still be a year away, if not, replaced with a low power G5.
 
xcalibur said:
Do the powerbooks support dual channel ram? I know the iMac G5 does.
Click to expand...

No, they don't. It wouldn't matter anyway, since the G4 isn't really DDR-anything. The FSB is straight-up 167MHz. The RAM may cycle twice as fast, but it's not going anywhere else (CPU, controller, PCI bus) any faster. Just a marketing gimmick, really.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back