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PowerBooks in the Pipeline?

*sniff* You're hurting my feelings..

Didn't I already have to post this in the Page 2 discussions??

I've owned both an iBook (last July's 600 mhz version) and a 12" PowerBook (picked it up earlier this month).. While the external similarities are noted between the two machines, they are vastly different in terms of performance and ability.

The 12" PB is, for one, a much more capable computer. It dances circles around my old iBook, and keeps up quite well with my 1 GHz iMac.

It does get a little warm when I tell it do do a lot of things (146 F max processor temp so far) but all computers do that. It's not much warmer than the iBook was.

Internally, it's a whole new beast. The slot-load DVD-R is fantastic, the machine is lighter, and I love having all the cables on one side. Plus, fitting in extra memory and the Airport card - a total dream on the PB. No more crappy, spongy keyboard.

The sound out of those three speakers is far beyond anything I've heard on any of my laptops before (VAIO, ThinkPad, Satellite, iBook, and this one).

And the looks this little machine gets. Amazing. I thought my iBook turned heads. I've had everyone in the office asking just to touch the PowerBook.

The *ONLY* thing I'd ask for in the PB is the ability to hit 1GB of RAM, and have a backlit keyboard (for typing at night, and on the plane).

It fits perfectly in a daypack, is sturdier than my old iBook, and gets everything done I need it to, and then some.

Please stop bashing this little marvel.
 
Originally posted by fpnc
I now believe that there is very little possibility of new PowerBooks this week. The reason I say this is that there have been no announcements about an Apple special event for next week...
Click to expand...

They're not going to hold an Apple Event for anything less than a G5 PowerBook.

Remember, they're long overdue, everyone knows what the Aluminium enclosure will look like, and they're using "yesterday's" processor. This is not a "wow the press" kind of product.

These PowerBooks will be released with a press release and a web site update. That's it.
 
Re: *sniff* You're hurting my feelings..

Originally posted by paulie
Please stop bashing this little marvel.
Click to expand...

Easy, tiger!

Calling it an iBook shouldn't be bashing it...and certainly isn't my intention. My point (and I think others have said the same thing before) is that the form-factor, lack of L3, reduced video out, 640meg ram limit, etc etc make it look like it was actually developed to replace the iBook (or more acurately - update it).

Everyone is lusting after them....

...err, no that's not what I was going to say....

...Everyone is pretty certain that the only reason that the iBook line hasn't advanced far is a marketing issue - the G4's (procs) haven't advanced enough that there would be a distinction between the iBooks and the Powerbooks. Hell, I'd get an iBook today if it had altivec. I don't need no stinking glow in the dark keyboard (well, I do ofcourse, Steve told me I do).

My point - TS's source might not have mentioned the 12" because the 15" & 17" have a separate team on them. That's all.

So - please, don't be offended. EVERYONE loves the 12". Can I touch it too....please?
 
Originally posted by Ambrose Chapel
so has everyone got their champagne on ice? it'll be nice to finally have them, even if it means that my TiBook is that much more outdated. sniff...
Click to expand...
that's the most amazing part about this. i waited and waited for apple to release the GHz tibook (and ordered one the day it came out), and while i thought apple had screwed me by adding the 17 inch and 12 in january, i realized, hell, all i wanted was the 15, and it's just as good as even the 17, pretty much, except on screen real estate. and this 15 has been top of their line for... 9.5 months now! i'm about ready for it to finally be a little outdated--in the interest of my own curiosity about what apple will do next. i'm still pulling for tomorrow on the release. it's time already, sheesh!
 
There are so many people saying that they would only believe it when ThinkSecret said it...

There ya go. Happy? ;)

When Apple makes (relatively) minor updates like this one, they usually just announce it by NewsWire and if the press wants it they know it.

Besides, they know all the Mac-centric Websites are watching every day for this bit of news...

Hey what better time to announce new Powerbooks than after the Power Mac G5's have started to ship/have been put on display.

The last thing Apple wants is to steal any thunder from the Power Mac G5 by announcing a lowly Powerbook G4!
 
12" PB

I wonder if a cosmetic (same motherboard) upgrade to the 12" could slip by the scope. (Larger HD, Slightly faster G4, etc.)
 
Originally posted by AndrewMT
The 12" powerbook should be revised to have the same widescreen ratio that all the pro laptops have. Several of the new high performace centrino laptops are widescreen.
Click to expand...

Which Centrino notebooks at 12" have widescreens? I only know of a few 10.6" widescreen notebooks. I don't know anyone making a 12-13" widescreen...that would be awesome if Apple did it.
 
Re: Re: PowerBooks in the Pipeline?

Originally posted by BrandonRP0123
I don't know if that's completely true or not. It's been my impression (and the apple financial report should tell the truth?) that the 12" was a seller.

Otherwise, we might have another collectors item on our hands. :)
Click to expand...

I was wondering about this also. I took it as they just don't have any new info on 12" pBook upgrades. I think the 12" pBook is around for awhile.
 
This new powerbook will surely be a tablet style invention.
something revolutionary!!! yeah baby yeah!!!
 
Well, I have had my doubts about tomorrow, but if ThinkSecret says it is going to happen, then there is a very high probability it will. Their rep is so solid and they rarely post and miss.

I've noticed that most of their predictions like this come within a 24 hour window of product arrival, so this Tue will probably be it!
 
Originally posted by chazmox
Well, I have had my doubts about tomorrow, but if ThinkSecret says it is going to happen, then there is a very high probability it will. Their rep is so solid and they rarely post and miss.

I've noticed that most of their predictions like this come within a 24 hour window of product arrival, so this Tue will probably be it!
Click to expand...

Yeah, I hope so.
 
BlackRider

Hmmm... wonder if BlackRider is going to ride on a black horse?
When will we see colored powerbooks or are they saving that for g5.
 
Re: *sniff* You're hurting my feelings..

Originally posted by paulie
Please stop bashing this little marvel.
Click to expand...

The 12-inch is *the* perfect PowerBook for those on the road or anyone using both a desktop and a notebook. I have a desktop Quicksilver and a TiBook, bought with in a few months of each other because I like having both a portable and a desktop. I bought the TiBook because I wanted a G4 notebook and the 12-inch was just a distant dream at that time. The larger screen is kind of nice but not necessary as I presently plan on having both a desktop and a notebook: I've tried either/or and keep wishing I had both.

My next upgrade will go to the 12-inch and either a 17-inch iMac -- all I really need -- or a PowerMac G5 -- since I already have a 17-inch studio display and won't have to shell out extra for a display.

But I don't have the same complaints about the TiBook keyboard as compared with the 12/17 models as other people seem to.
 
Apple's Front Page

I can't remember where I read this post but someone said that "why would Apple have a Microsoft product as the main feature on the front page of their site for any length of time... maybe that the powerbooks will replace the Office suite Ad next."

Well, now that the G5 has hit the front page I doubt they would replace it tomorrow with one for the new powerbooks. My guess is that powerbooks will be out after this site advertising of the G5.. translation.. 2 more weeks until we see new PB's.

I say gawdangit. :rolleyes:
 
Re: Re: *sniff* You're hurting my feelings..

Originally posted by sanford
The 12-inch is *the* perfect PowerBook for those on the road or anyone using both a desktop and a notebook. I have a desktop Quicksilver and a TiBook, bought with in a few months of each other because I like having both a portable and a desktop. I bought the TiBook because I wanted a G4 notebook and the 12-inch was just a distant dream at that time. The larger screen is kind of nice but not necessary as I presently plan on having both a desktop and a notebook: I've tried either/or and keep wishing I had both.

My next upgrade will go to the 12-inch and either a 17-inch iMac -- all I really need -- or a PowerMac G5 -- since I already have a 17-inch studio display and won't have to shell out extra for a display.

But I don't have the same complaints about the TiBook keyboard as compared with the 12/17 models as other people seem to.
Click to expand...

I have the 12" pBook...and it is great for all of the reasons you stated. I like the keyboard alot...and the TiBook's keyboard...among the best in the industry.
 
Originally posted by 9hundred
This new powerbook will surely be a tablet style invention.
something revolutionary!!! yeah baby yeah!!!
Click to expand...
If only! I've tried 2 tablet pc's and loved them!

Right now I'm in the market for a notebook and figured I had the choice between a Powerbook and a tablet pc. I decided to go for the Powerbook because support for the digital ink format is not something I see being widespread anytime soon. But if Apple released a tablet-style notebook (with the flipover screen, not the Fujitsu solution!), boy would I be running for them!

A G5 12" Powerbook with tablet functionality ... excuse me while I go take the dribble of my chin! ;-)
 
G5!

I think if there are new powerbooks, they will be G5's. Apple will want to make the first 64bit laptop. However i think it is unlikely that the 12" will have a G5.
 
Originally posted by shadowfax
that's the most amazing part about this. i waited and waited for apple to release the GHz tibook (and ordered one the day it came out), and while i thought apple had screwed me by adding the 17 inch and 12 in january, i realized, hell, all i wanted was the 15, and it's just as good as even the 17, pretty much, except on screen real estate. and this 15 has been top of their line for... 9.5 months now! i'm about ready for it to finally be a little outdated--in the interest of my own curiosity about what apple will do next. i'm still pulling for tomorrow on the release. it's time already, sheesh!
Click to expand...

So true. I waited and waited patiently for the PB revisions this time last year, and had just about chewed off all my fingernails when they were updated in Nov. I ordered mine immediatly, and the had that sinking feeling when i had had mine for 2 months and all of a sudden there were new PB's out! However I didn't really want either of them, just the AE, bluetooth, and that nice new keyboard. I didn't really care about FW 800, it's nice and all, but I barely use FW 400 as is. Now after nearly a year, it is time for apple to give us a whole new reason to want a powerbook, and I've been really happy to have a top o' the line machine for as long as I have. I was really only expecting it to last 6 months at most.:p
 
Re: Apple's Front Page

Originally posted by crees!
I can't remember where I read this post but someone said that "why would Apple have a Microsoft product as the main feature on the front page of their site for any length of time... maybe that the powerbooks will replace the Office suite Ad next."

Well, now that the G5 has hit the front page I doubt they would replace it tomorrow with one for the new powerbooks. My guess is that powerbooks will be out after this site advertising of the G5.. translation.. 2 more weeks until we see new PB's.

I say gawdangit. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I'd disagree...the G5s shipping is awesome news, but it's not so amazing that they'd have it on the main page as their hottest news item for 2 weeks...a day is all they need to get the buzz going on it and show off the flashy box to drive everyone insane for one. The PowerBooks are sorely overdue, so having them sitting around and just holding onto them for half a month "just because" would not help them out at all.
 
I completely disagree that apple would wait two weeks to release the pbooks so that it could be front page news on apple.com. The "now shipping" announcement on the G5 is hardly worth two weeks in front, especially when it just means "now shipping to the first 25,000 people who ordered them, if you ordered later you're screwed, and dont even think about touching one for 2 months if you order now". When they release the new pbooks, it will be front page news, and they won't hesitate to take down a shipping announcement for it.
 
Originally posted by AndrewMT
The 12" powerbook should be revised to have the same widescreen ratio that all the pro laptops have. Several of the new high performace centrino laptops are widescreen.
Click to expand...
Well that's dumb... do you go shorter with the height of the screen to get the wide format or wider with the width?

A shorter screen would make the diplay very small and not leave a lot of room for the current motherboard, ports, optical drive, etc. You're talking about turning it inot something even smaller than it is now.

Going wider with the screen will also not work as that makes it close in size to the 15" PowerBook.

You have to think these things though more.
 
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