so Im new to all of this, but doesn't it seem crazy that apple would waste time with an update to the G4 powerbook? As somebody said, the new processor runs cooler than before, and surely apple has been working on this for a couple of years...at least since development started on the G5 powermac. I cant imagine upgrades to the G4 line of processor at least, maybe the dvd burner, graphics, hard drive and some sort of third wireless card (t-mobile or ATT), or maybe a screen update....all with a good price drop. Otherwise if it stays the same price it seems they are just kinda stalling. Cant wait for the G5 powerbook.....no deadline for me.
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Huh? What are you referring to here? I don't understand how mobile phone wireless (if that's what this is) would be of any use to Mac owners, regardless of what Mac they own. Please explain.nextgenmac said:
Apple should take a leaf out of the Intel based manufacturers book and release small incremental cpu upgrades frequently, that way the jump in performance is so insignificant that it makes waiting for the latest and greatest model pointless. Apple and in particular Steve Jobs seem to have this crazy desire for media attention, every release of every model has to be a MASSIVE media event and this is bad for everyone other than Steve Jobs who gets to be Mr Charisma for a couple of hours and his "way'd go" brigade who whoop him throughout.
The real issue for me isn't that Apple haven't released a new machine recently, it's that they are still charging the same price for something that is seven months old and likely to superseded for something significantly faster at the the same price point. Reduce the price and they can have my cash but don't take me for a mug.
The real issue for me isn't that Apple haven't released a new machine recently, it's that they are still charging the same price for something that is seven months old and likely to superseded for something significantly faster at the the same price point. Reduce the price and they can have my cash but don't take me for a mug.
wrldwzrd89 said:
The wireless internet networks set up by verizon, att, and t-mobile....mainly in airports and large metro areas. T-mobile is $40 a month for unlimited access and its pretty decent speed. You can get an internal anntenna now, or still use the pci card.
Okay, so you're saying adding this capability would give Powerbook users greater wireless network access? In that case, that change would be a GOOD thing. The questions I have are: Will the phone companies let Apple do this, and will Mac users with these cards get charged extra for using the service?nextgenmac said:
Don't forget that Apple can't directly control when speedbumps and other updates are released - that schedule is partially dictated by IBM and Motorola (and any other companies making PowerPC chips). What Apple can control directly is what other components and software are included with the Mac besides the processor. Without the processor, though, Apple can't release updates. It's as simple as that.365 said:
3 GHz by WWDC
OK, so Steve said 3 GHz within a year.... whether that is June or September seems up to debate still. He did not said Dual 3 GHz. Remember when Dual 450, 500, & 533 were the big boys and then Apple went back to single processors again. This could be a big letdown if he went back to a single 3 GHz. Alternatively, he could get us all really mad by breaking the deal with IBM, taking the 1.5 GHz G4, and using two of those and calling it "3 GHz." Just kidding folks...
All kidding aside though, I have the money for a new G5 and I am just waiting for a Dual 3 GHz with a decent video card (9800 XT 256 MB preferred) and some more storage (Dell is shipping 400 GB HDs in their configs now). What other features/improvements would you guys like to see?
I honestly think it's too late for an announcement of a speed bump before WWDC now. So I am just going to wait patiently (eye twitching uncontrollably) and spend the time painting the wall (You see!! It changes color when it dries! It never stays! I have to keep the wall wet!).
OK, so Steve said 3 GHz within a year.... whether that is June or September seems up to debate still. He did not said Dual 3 GHz. Remember when Dual 450, 500, & 533 were the big boys and then Apple went back to single processors again. This could be a big letdown if he went back to a single 3 GHz. Alternatively, he could get us all really mad by breaking the deal with IBM, taking the 1.5 GHz G4, and using two of those and calling it "3 GHz." Just kidding folks...
All kidding aside though, I have the money for a new G5 and I am just waiting for a Dual 3 GHz with a decent video card (9800 XT 256 MB preferred) and some more storage (Dell is shipping 400 GB HDs in their configs now). What other features/improvements would you guys like to see?
I honestly think it's too late for an announcement of a speed bump before WWDC now. So I am just going to wait patiently (eye twitching uncontrollably) and spend the time painting the wall (You see!! It changes color when it dries! It never stays! I have to keep the wall wet!).
Once again
I've said this before in these forums and I still see absolutely no reason to change my position.
The problem is not the 970FX. IBM has been shipping the 2GHz version in quantity since December. IBM's official story is they have been shipping the 2.2GHz and 2.4GHz versions since December, but not in quantity until January/February. It is now April. IF Apple does not have access to sufficient stock of 2.0-2.4 GHz (and possibly screened-up 2.6GHz chips just as they had to do with the G4s) then Apple never will.
Everyone (myself included) keeps forgetting that Apple designs many of the chips between the CPUs and everything else on the motherboard. Doing new designs for all of these chips is a non-trivial task. Excellent examples of how these chips can delay full system introductions can be seen in all the times Intel has had to announce delays due to the slip in the start of volume production of the versions of these chips it uses with its own CPUs.
Certainly Apple has had to do redesigns on these chips to up clock rates, lower power requirements, etc. Also it is logical to assume (though maybe not accurate) that Apple is getting IBM to fab some of these new versions on the 90nm process lines too. This throws an additional wrinkle into the design requirements.
I am absolutely certain Apple (and those fabbing the chips for Apple -- IBM and others) will work everything out. It will just take longer than Apple -- or any of us -- would like.
Bottom line for me? I would love to see 3+ GHz PowerMacs shipping this summer and 2+ GHz PowerBooks shipping in quantity by mid November.
However, what I expect is 3 GHz PowerMacs shipping in quantity no later than 21 September 2004 and 2 GHz PowerBooks shipping in quantity no later than 28 February 2005. If Apple does not make these two deadlines then Apple will have a very difficult time in the popular press and an even more difficult time with the fence sitters who might buy Macs or something else.
I've said this before in these forums and I still see absolutely no reason to change my position.
The problem is not the 970FX. IBM has been shipping the 2GHz version in quantity since December. IBM's official story is they have been shipping the 2.2GHz and 2.4GHz versions since December, but not in quantity until January/February. It is now April. IF Apple does not have access to sufficient stock of 2.0-2.4 GHz (and possibly screened-up 2.6GHz chips just as they had to do with the G4s) then Apple never will.
Everyone (myself included) keeps forgetting that Apple designs many of the chips between the CPUs and everything else on the motherboard. Doing new designs for all of these chips is a non-trivial task. Excellent examples of how these chips can delay full system introductions can be seen in all the times Intel has had to announce delays due to the slip in the start of volume production of the versions of these chips it uses with its own CPUs.
Certainly Apple has had to do redesigns on these chips to up clock rates, lower power requirements, etc. Also it is logical to assume (though maybe not accurate) that Apple is getting IBM to fab some of these new versions on the 90nm process lines too. This throws an additional wrinkle into the design requirements.
I am absolutely certain Apple (and those fabbing the chips for Apple -- IBM and others) will work everything out. It will just take longer than Apple -- or any of us -- would like.
Bottom line for me? I would love to see 3+ GHz PowerMacs shipping this summer and 2+ GHz PowerBooks shipping in quantity by mid November.
However, what I expect is 3 GHz PowerMacs shipping in quantity no later than 21 September 2004 and 2 GHz PowerBooks shipping in quantity no later than 28 February 2005. If Apple does not make these two deadlines then Apple will have a very difficult time in the popular press and an even more difficult time with the fence sitters who might buy Macs or something else.
srobert said:
I hate to say it, but that really does seem to be where Apple is headed. Anyone else notice how updates have really fallen off, across most product lines?
The last "updates" to the PM and imac weren't really what I'd consider an update - dropping the single 1.8 and using a dual 1.8 instead, with no other changes for the PM. The imac just had a larger screen size added - again, no new features other than that.
The last "update" for ipods bumped up the low-end pod to 15 gb from 10 gb. No other changes. They introduced a new product, but that's not the same as updating an existing line.
Even the last powerbook revisions for the 12 and the 17 were fairly minimal. Yes, they finally brought the 15 on board with the new design. Emac saw a price drop, but no new features. Let's not even talk about displays.
The only really significant revisions to the line lately were bumping ibooks to G4s and the xserves to G5s.
C'mon Apple, I'm waiting to give you money for a faster powermac.
-d
I have to wonder why Apple is moving to a 1-year update cycle, too. If they are, in fact, changing their update cycle permanently, I'll be disappointed but happy at the same time. Confused? I shall explain. I'm disappointed that we won't be seeing great new technology from Apple every 6 months, but I'll be happy because whatever Mac I buy won't be updated as soon as it used to be, so I can brag about my Mac longertibor said:
wrldwzrd89 said:
But the general concensus is that IBM can supply the CPU's, this latest rumor suggests cooling problems.. The thing is it's rumor after rumor after rumor, Apple should stop being so egocentric and start publishing a road map, I couldn't care less about Expo's and media events and all the fanfare that goes with it, I just want to buy a new computer that represents value for money. I don't want to be part of Steve Jobs' ego trip, he should start a fan club and have Steve Fests if he wants adulation.
I think that it's a sad reflection on Apple that there are so many rumor sites dedicated to them and that these sites are some of the most popular on the internet and they are full of either negative or zealotish comments, where's the normality.
What ARE they up to?
I am one of those people waiting for a Rev B G5.
It IS peculiar that NOTHING has been updated. I swear I think they are just sitting on their iPod sales. It would be UNWISE, methinks, to bank the company on the iPod, because sooner or later, that market may saturate.
I cannot imagine them waiting until WWDC to announce G5 updates? OK, I can imagine it, but it seems messed up!
I am one of those people waiting for a Rev B G5.
It IS peculiar that NOTHING has been updated. I swear I think they are just sitting on their iPod sales. It would be UNWISE, methinks, to bank the company on the iPod, because sooner or later, that market may saturate.
I cannot imagine them waiting until WWDC to announce G5 updates? OK, I can imagine it, but it seems messed up!
They may be swithching to a yearly update cycle, but not for its entire computer linup.
They simply cannot afford to wait 1 year to release a new Pro line, or at least an updated one. 1 year is a hell of a long time in pro land, lots of evolutions.
If it is going to be like that, I sure as hell don't understand their product managers..
They simply cannot afford to wait 1 year to release a new Pro line, or at least an updated one. 1 year is a hell of a long time in pro land, lots of evolutions.
If it is going to be like that, I sure as hell don't understand their product managers..
Apple has always been secretive - I believe that it's just part of their culture. I like the rumor sites - although it's hard to know definitively when products will be updated, the speculation is usually more exciting than the updates themselves, unless I'm in the market to buy one.365 said:
only SINGLE CPU Xserve is shipping, no duals until "April"
Note that only single CPU Xserves are shipping - with duals promised for "April".
The Apple store lists 5-7 weeks est ship time for any Xserve.
This doesn't sound like proof that there aren't any issues with the Xserve chipset or perhaps PPC970fx availability.
I doubt cooling is an issue for the Xserve - machine room servers have lots of fans and don't worry about noise. (IBM's putting dual 3.2 GHz Xeons (and dual 1.6 GHz PPC970s) in the blades, which are just over an inch thick.)
Something's wrong, even with the Xserve rollout.
wannaPM said:
Note that only single CPU Xserves are shipping - with duals promised for "April".
The Apple store lists 5-7 weeks est ship time for any Xserve.
This doesn't sound like proof that there aren't any issues with the Xserve chipset or perhaps PPC970fx availability.
I doubt cooling is an issue for the Xserve - machine room servers have lots of fans and don't worry about noise. (IBM's putting dual 3.2 GHz Xeons (and dual 1.6 GHz PPC970s) in the blades, which are just over an inch thick.)
Something's wrong, even with the Xserve rollout.
AidenShaw said:
You are right -- it looks like a "dual" issue. (Some sites also say the power supply continues to be a problem, as well.)
I think the only people obsessed with SJ's supposed 3.0 promise are people on rumor boards. 3.0 is just a number. I'd certainly settle for regular updates -- in fact, the configurations rumored on the French site looks just fine with me!
If we would to get regular updates, no one would talk about 3.0 because you would know we'd get ther eventually. It's this lack of updates that causes doubts.
shadowself said:
Is there a significance to these deadlines? Although I do see that it's a Tuesday, at least September. In this case, if Steve announces at the end of June that will be al almost three month lag time. Will the major revision such as a new cooling system cause concern enough to hold off on a purchase?
OR even those with a single 733hz!
I've been waitting for the 3.0 dual 976's Dualcore AKA g6 extreme - but will probably trigger and buy the rev. b or go the powerlogix dual 7457 upgrade... waitting to see how much the rev. b are and will decide either to get the powerlogix until the 3.0's or will buy the rev. b
cost/performance will make the decision
dual 7457 are about $750 and the Pioneer DVR-107 are $106
oingoboingo said:
I've been waitting for the 3.0 dual 976's Dualcore AKA g6 extreme - but will probably trigger and buy the rev. b or go the powerlogix dual 7457 upgrade... waitting to see how much the rev. b are and will decide either to get the powerlogix until the 3.0's or will buy the rev. b
cost/performance will make the decision
dual 7457 are about $750 and the Pioneer DVR-107 are $106
Waiting to switch
The article forgot to mention one other Apple event - the 14th financial call.
I'm still hoping they announe something on the 13th to have stuff to talk about on the 14th...
Anyway, I'm a Wintel (XP and Linux) user looking to switch to Macs. Been following the various rumor sites since Panther was release (that's what got me interested in Macs).
I'm in no hurry to switch and am waiting for new machines to come out first (the PowerBook 15" looks real sweet to me).
Still it is amusing (and frustrating) following these forums and rumors. Come on Apple, I've got the cash to switch - give me the reason.
The article forgot to mention one other Apple event - the 14th financial call.
I'm still hoping they announe something on the 13th to have stuff to talk about on the 14th...
Anyway, I'm a Wintel (XP and Linux) user looking to switch to Macs. Been following the various rumor sites since Panther was release (that's what got me interested in Macs).
I'm in no hurry to switch and am waiting for new machines to come out first (the PowerBook 15" looks real sweet to me).
Still it is amusing (and frustrating) following these forums and rumors. Come on Apple, I've got the cash to switch - give me the reason.
wannaPM said:
I'm not getting what nextgenmac is talking about. If we are talking about the various CDMA networks out there and accessing them on the go then airport (e.g. 802.11B/G) would still remain in the laptop since its different tech but since nextgenmac stated "airports and large metro areas" It sound like Access Points that are setup in common locations such as airports, Borders book stores, B&N, Starbucks, etc. In which case the tech offered is airport based (again e.g. 802.11b/g)
I highly doubt, given IBM's roadmap, that the PPC 976 will debut at 3 GHz or anytime soon. I think we'll see PPC 976 in Macs in 2005 or 2006 and starting at around 3.5 GHz. I would expect, given this news about IBM and the PowerPC 970, for an interim update in April with the PowerPC 970 fx and the Rev. C to appear in September with PowerPC 975 at around 3.0 GHz.DrGruv1 said:
wrldwzrd89 said:
The rev. b will be the 970fx, but i hope that we will leap frog to the 975's!
(didn't steve say that within a year they would be at 3.0ghz?)
I feel the G6 will be the 3ghz 975 and the G6 Extreme will be the dual 976's
(hopefully)
Chip Chart Link
http://www.bayarea.net/~kins/AboutMe/CPUs.html
-mike