PowerBook Updates Imminent?

[~Shard~]

The G4 is a joke. And a bad one.

That's a bit excessive. If the G4 is a joke, then it's a good one, because I love mine! It does everything I need and then some - I won't be upgrading until Leopard is shipping on machines, I'm pretty sure, and I use some heavy duty apps as well. Sure, it's not a G5 or one of these fancy-schmancy Intel chips we'll be seeing, but that doesn't make it junk.

167 mhz bus. I could pi$$ farther than that.

Of course you can pee farther than the system bus, it's not even the length of the motherboard! What a silly statement. Now if you could pee faster than it, that would be something.

 

[digitalbiker]

I know it is unlikely but...

There never will be a Powerbook G5. We should pin this to the top of all the sub forums.

Never ever say never. After all, it is possible, given that Apple has been working on this for at least 2 years and the low power G5 is now available.

Also MacIntel PowerBooks are not a given in 2006. This gives Apple over a year possibly even 18 months to recoup the new design in sales.

 

[powerbook911]

Never ever say never. After all, it is possible, given that Apple has been working on this for at least 2 years and the low power G5 is now available.

Also MacIntel PowerBooks are not a given in 2006. This gives Apple over a year possibly even 18 months to recoup the new design in sales.

If they had a Powerbook G5, don't you think they would have held the keynote?

Furthermore, from what I've read a 1.6 GHZ G5 (which is about what I've read the lower power ones are) would not be worthwhile, in most tasks, compared to the 1.7 GHZ G4 7448 they can probably put in there.

 

[i4k20c]

I am pretty sure if the pb is updated, i doubt it would be inclusive to the ipod deal.. i mean they'd do the same thing as the nano and exclude it imo! Technically the expo ends on thurs, so whose to say that the stores (even online store) would have them on thursday! I know annoucements are tommarow, but still doubt anything about the ipod offer.

Like i said, to me it isn't about just the speed, 5400 rpm hd is ok.. but faster would be nicer! Most important things to me are a better screen, and a longer battery life.. also i think apple shuld at the very least have 512 mb of ram onboard and throw in a 256..

 

[jiv3turkey748]

theres no point in getting excited about this update it will just be a minor speed bump and probaly leave us all disappointed

 

[tekmoe]

whether it's a major update or a minor update, it's still an update. i want to buy a 17" right now, but if i can possibly get something that will be better within in the next couple of weeks, i can wait. no rush. i just hope i am not waiting for nothing... =P

 

[digitalbiker]

Not necessarily

If they had a Powerbook G5, don't you think they would have held the keynote?

Furthermore, from what I've read a 1.6 GHZ G5 (which is about what I've read the lower power ones are) would not be worthwhile, in most tasks, compared to the 1.7 GHZ G4 7448 they can probably put in there.

They might have planned to do a full blown keynote for the G5 PB and Dual G5 PM but after the decision to switch to Intel back at WWDC it might have been awkward to actually present it with typical hype.

Therefore they cancel the scheduled keynote and announced a question and answer session. Basically designed to smooth transition questions.

The IBM low power G5 may be able to acheive an overclocked rate of 2 Ghz and it would allow the FSB to go from 167mhz to 500 mhz or greater. This would also allow the integration of a new PCI-express GPU subsystem. I think that would be a sizable speed increase over the current unit.

I personally don't think that will happen. My bet is at least a low power 7448 at 2 ghz. or possibly best case scenario a dual G4 at 1.8 ghz.

 

[iGuy]

the cat is out of the bag...

In a few short hours, the Apple Store will go down for an update and Apple's home page will change.

There, on the home page will be Apple's latest offering: THE NEW SUPER DUPER BOOK.

The new SDB is a masterpiece of engineering and includes not one, not two but four new processor cores. That's right folks: two PPC cores and two Intel cores. How better to keep everything compatible with existing software but be ready for the Intel transition.

How does it work? Code is executed on both sets of processors and wich ever one is finsihed first writes to the screen. Brilliant. Why didn't they think of it before?

Other specs have been leaked as follows:

8 GB RAM per core
2 GHz Front Side Buss
32 times PCI-Express

It also comes complete with a built-in video card with 512 MB VRAM which, in their wisdom, is tuned to a resolution of up to 800 by 600. Way to go Apple!!

Ok, I'm having one of those really, really, really silly moments. Please forgive me.

~ don't really want to sign this

 

[Garissimo]

About the only thing I could use a faster processor for is Virtual PC. However, for web surfing, email, even XCode development, my G4-1.33GHz is more than adequate.

Amen!

I couldn't agree more.

My 1.5GHz 12" is more than fast enough to run Pages, Safari, Quicktime, even medium sized Garageband projects.

This obsession with processor clock frequency baffles me. What I'm looking in the next major PB upgrade:

1) Increased battery life

2) Lighter weight

3) Higher res, bright display

4) Cool and quiet operation

I want Apple to give the powerBook the "Nano" treatment.

 

[ccrandall77]

I want Apple to give the powerBook the "Nano" treatment.

Just as long as they don't use acrylic and polished metal in the case!!!

That's the biggest thing I hate about my Nano... already, despite keeping it in an iPod sock and delicately handling it, there's already scratches appearing on it. Don't know why Apple can't get it through their thick skulls that the brushed metal is much more durable.

But, this is a matter for another thread.

 

[Garissimo]

Just as long as they don't use acrylic and polished metal in the case!!!

That's the biggest thing I hate about my Nano... already, despite keeping it in an iPod sock and delicately handling it, there's already scratches appearing on it. Don't know why Apple can't get it through their thick skulls that the brushed metal is much more durable.

But, this is a matter for another thread.

Yeah, mine is showing the same thing. I don't know if black is the worse color, but it seems like just breathing on the thing is enough to scratch it.

I used to play volleyball in Franklin, WI, btw (Root River Bowling/Vball center)

 

[Cue]

This thread actually resembles a lot to the ones prior to the iBooks update.

I guess we'll know in a couple of hours...

 

[IlluminatedSage]

What about a G5 powerbook.

it is long overdue and this would be just the thing to hold over people until the Intel machines.

 

[VanMac]

Amen!

I couldn't agree more.

My 1.5GHz 12" is more than fast enough to run Pages, Safari, Quicktime, even medium sized Garageband projects.

This obsession with processor clock frequency baffles me. What I'm looking in the next major PB upgrade:

1) Increased battery life

2) Lighter weight

3) Higher res, bright display

4) Cool and quiet operation

I want Apple to give the powerBook the "Nano" treatment.

And Amen to your Amen. Streamlining the existing PB, with some upgrades to the screen would be perfect. Maybe a speed bump while they are at it..

 

[mddharma]

not much longer to know...

Well... it won't take much longer to know if updates are announced or not. Frankly, I don't care if it's just a bump with some new features or a full fledged suprise update - I just want to see something. As I am going to purchase a 12" that means for the baby of the family as well!

 

[~Shard~]

What about a G5 powerbook.

it is long overdue and this would be just the thing to hold over people until the Intel machines.

A G5 PowerBook would require a complete redesign, which I'm not sure if Apple would do or not with the Intel-based PowerBooks coming - it all depends when exactly those Intel PowerBooks would be released, and if there would be enough time to warrant Apple releasing a brand new G5 PowerBook so that they could recover all their R&D costs and the like on doing this. It's a bit of a marketing decision as well.

Granted, a G5 PowerBook is slightly more feasible now than it used to be, what with the new lower power 970s being announced, but I don't know if Apple would do this with the Intel-based ones coming - it may be more work than what it's worth.

Plus, if the PowerBooks were getting a significant upgrade such as the G5, do you think Jobs would have canceled the Keynote for Paris?

Read through this thread, and you'll find many people who have greater needs than additional clock speed. Screen resolution, battery life, etc. - these are the areas where Apple should improve on, and for that, the processor could even stay the same.

Or, how about something in between, and Apple putting a new freescale chip in?

I see the portables receiving the Intel chips sooner rather than later in the migration cycle, so I predict relatively marginal upgrades to the PowerBook in light of this. Guess we'll see if I'm right or not.

 

[al3000]

If any updates to the PB are announced, at what time tomorrow? Will it be just at the expo opens?

I'm going on wednesday, can't wait!

 

[CaptainScarlet]

I used to play volleyball in Franklin, WI, btw (Root River Bowling/Vball center)

LOL


I know where that is!!

LOL

(West Allis)

 

[~Shard~]

If any updates to the PB are announced, at what time tomorrow? Will it be just at the expo opens?

Tough to say, what with there being no keynote and all. Apple usually waits until later in the morning N. America time when they do their updates (depending what time zone you're in I suppose), however with the time difference in Paris, it could easily be much quicker than that. As you say, technically, it could be right when the Expo opens - or, perhaps even though there is no keynote, Apple will still have a little session of sorts at a pre-defined time to unveil something.

I'm hoping to wake up tomorrow morning to updates of some sort.

Edit: And have fun! Take some pictures and post them here on MacRumors for us!

 

[MacsRgr8]

Funny that two new Pro-Machines updates are rumored following a cancellation of the Keynote.

Usualy the fact that a Keynote will be held by dear ol' Steve triggers rumors for updates....

But not much bragging for Steve on stage about the speed of the machines. Sure, a Dual Dual Core 2.5 GHz G5 will be very fast at multithreaded apps, but he coudn't invite Phil on stage to do a Photoshop shoot-out against an Intel PC (especially running Mac OS X)

 

[Trowaman]

Dear God

I'm seeing so much about Intel, is this it, is this it???

SHUT UP!

Intel switch will not happen until late april/May 2006.

Use your marketing caps. If you were to introduce a new pb then, would you introduce a pb of low speed changed 4 months before a major switch? NO!!!!

You would at Paris introduce one with new features and little speed change. an HD screen, webcam in the casing, something. You would not introduce that at MWSF. That's bad marketing and poor profits. It's why we do not have bt mighty mouses.

We're gonna see Powerpc products be unveiled (albeit slowly) all through 2006 and early 2007.

Apple serves it's own profits, and releases it's products to maximize them. They do not serve us, as much as i wish they did cause they sure do owe me for being a life long Mac user.

NO INTEL! NO HOLD OFF TIL MWSF FOR AN INTEL UPDATE A FEW MONTHS LATER! same goes for powermac, we got MP chips to use.

</rant>

 

[MacNoobie]

I'd be truly amazed if Apple released G5 PBooks but alas I highly doubt it because that would make them look bad, Steve stood up on stage for the Intel transition and said we wish we could offer you 3Ghz G5's and PBooks with G5's in em. If Apple decides to release a G5 PBook (highly doubtful) then it would make Steve look like a jacka$$ in front of everyone. The most I'd honestly expect at this point is a 1.7Ghz or a 1.8Ghz G4 maybe a 2.0Ghz but that 2.0Ghz upgrade a long stretch, maybe a screen update and maybe some 802.11 (pre) N WiFi on it and longer battery life. For some reason I cant see a dual G4 setup in the PBook updates unless Apple did some heavy redesign to last till the Intel transition.

As much as I'd love to see G5 Pbooks this would be a pretty substantial upgrade before the Intel transition which seems like it should be likely considering its probably one of the last updates before the Intel switch. A dual core or dual cpu G4 would be a nice upgrade and give Apple breathing room till the switch without making a$$es of them selves with just a minor speed increase and maybe a few other minor things.

I'm all set to buy a 17" Pbook and it (the upgrade) better be substantial thats all I can say.

 

[bryanc]

Here's my prediction:

I'm going out on a limb and predicting new powerbooks with 1.8 GHz G4 7448, 200 MHz FSB, 512 MB RAM and ATI Mobility Radeon 9800s (128 Mb).

This is exactly the machine I want, and I'll buy one but it's certainly not worthy of a Stevenote. I expect the other speed bumps across the line-up to be similarly 'good but not great', and that's why Jobs cancelled his presentation... he doesn't want to get up on a stage and try to convince everyone that these are 'insanely great' updates.

I'd love to see something really amazing introduced, or a really spectacular upgrade (HD-capable PBs with dual core G4's (not even in my wildest fantasies would I suggest a G5 PB... those will never happen)), but I think this is going to be a mild let-down for many Mac fans.

Apple will try to hold back the tide with some minor upgrades, and continue to focus on the Intel transition. Great things will be announced in January, but won't be available until next spring, and the rev A's will be fraught with the usual teething problems. By this time next year, it will be time to start considering a Macintel. But hopefully, I'll be working on my 2005 PowerBook for a few years to come, and, by the time I'm ready to buy again, the dust Intel transition will be long completed, and the best of Apple innovation will be easy to choose.

Cheers

 

[Ege.Ersoz]

A switch to G5 would probably require a keynote since it would be at least a medium-sized update. It's likely that Steve canceled the keynote to avoid looking like a fool on stage announcing minor speed bumps.

 

[digitalbiker]

I'd be truly amazed if Apple released G5 PBooks but alas I highly doubt it because that would make them look bad, Steve stood up on stage for the Intel transition and said we wish we could offer you 3Ghz G5's and PBooks with G5's in em. If Apple decides to release a G5 PBook (highly doubtful) then it would make Steve look like a jacka$$ in front of everyone. The most I'd honestly expect at this point is a 1.7Ghz or a 1.8Ghz G4 maybe a 2.0Ghz but that 2.0Ghz upgrade a long stretch, maybe a screen update and maybe some 802.11 (pre) N WiFi on it and longer battery life. For some reason I cant see a dual G4 setup in the PBook updates unless Apple did some heavy redesign to last till the Intel transition.

As much as I'd love to see G5 Pbooks this would be a pretty substantial upgrade before the Intel transition which seems like it should be likely considering its probably one of the last updates before the Intel switch. A dual core or dual cpu G4 would be a nice upgrade and give Apple breathing room till the switch without making a$$es of them selves with just a minor speed increase and maybe a few other minor things.

I'm all set to buy a 17" Pbook and it (the upgrade) better be substantial thats all I can say.

While I don't think this update will be a G5 either, Steve Jobs actually said that he would like to announce a G5 PB at the WWDC but that it hasn't happened "YET". And his reason for no G5 PB YET was because IBM hadn't delivered the low power technology YET. But now IBM has announced a low power 970 G5, so it follows that Apple could deliver a G5 PB.

SJ did say YET, as in "Apple is working on it but it hasn't happened YET". There would be no egg on his face if it happened now but I do think it might cause ripples of confusion as to the Intel transition roadmap and timing. Hence the need for the announced question and answer session at the Paris Expo.