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PowerMac G5 Updates - March 23rd?

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March 30th more likely ?

Read something today on MacOS Rumors :

New PowerMacs no sooner than March 28th? Simple logic would dictate that Apple's current PowerMac G5 promotion (up to $700 off on memory upgrades), which expires on the 27th, means an update is unlikely to arrive prior to that date. Coupled with special pricing on remaining stocks of both G4 and existing G5 PowerMacs that expires on the 26th, it looks like the last few days of the month are the soonest we can hope for the wait to be over.
 
RichardCarletta said:
Read something today on MacOS Rumors :

New PowerMacs no sooner than March 28th? Simple logic would dictate that Apple's current PowerMac G5 promotion (up to $700 off on memory upgrades), which expires on the 27th, means an update is unlikely to arrive prior to that date. Coupled with special pricing on remaining stocks of both G4 and existing G5 PowerMacs that expires on the 26th, it looks like the last few days of the month are the soonest we can hope for the wait to be over.
Click to expand...

Well that seems like a pretty sound theory. It could be though that they bring out new models and make this offer not apple to "new stock"...

And of course new PM could come out tomorrow, because its Tuesday ;) :D
 
What other incremental improvements?

Huezo said:
I mainly just want a 128MB Video Card in the 15" PowerBook. The current 64MB Card seems too weak. ;)
Click to expand...

Besides for video memory, what other improvements do you want? Personally, I don't see a G5 powerbook for several months and maybe even this year. I do however need to buy one and would be quite happy to get a cutting edge video card, and a G4 running at 1.5 gHz. I don't know if SATA hard drives exist for notebooks but that would be nice too.
 
Sped said:
I do however need to buy one and would be quite happy to get a cutting edge video card, and a G4 running at 1.5 gHz. I don't know if SATA hard drives exist for notebooks but that would be nice too.
Click to expand...

That would be a nice machine-one that can compete with Centrino's and truly mobile, compact laptops. I don't know about SATA drives, but 7200 RPM laptop drives are available. That would make a nice difference in general snappiness and load times!
 
mklos said:
Yeah Apple uses the Pioneer SuperDrive AND also they use the Sony SuperDrive such as the 4x SuperDrive in my iMac. The model # of the Sony Drive is DW-U10A, and I think the model # of the Pioneer Drive is something like A06 or maybe A07.

There is a way to use a non-Apple SuperDrive with iDVD, Disc Burn, iTunes, etc... You have to look on www.xlr8yourmac.com and there should be a tutorial on how to do it.
Click to expand...

I bought a Pioneer DVR-106 from NewEgg for $130, installed it in a PowerMac G4, and installed iLife. No problems burning or playing DVDs or CDs. System shows it as a SuperDrive. You need a Torx T-10, a Phillips #2, and about 2 hours. No tricks, no patches, no problems.
 
neonart said:
That would be a nice machine-one that can compete with Centrino's and truly mobile, compact laptops. I don't know about SATA drives, but 7200 RPM laptop drives are available. That would make a nice difference in general snappiness and load times!
Click to expand...

Not sure about SATA drives for laptops either (would be sweeEEEet though). Im sure many would be satisfied with 7200Rpm ATA drives so long as 133MB/s data transfer was capable (if that wasn't already done with the 17").

Quadra?? Heavens no don't bring that back. I don't want a comand line only Mac with Dances with Wolves actor in its pilot ad!

Apple needs to push the ease of use using a PowerBook while mobile. Sales of laptops on the PC end are actually dropping according to news from Intel (buyers of Centrino chips have halted due to systems not being purchased from retailers due to supply backlogs).
 
cubist said:
I bought a Pioneer DVR-106 from NewEgg for $130, installed it in a PowerMac G4, and installed iLife. No problems burning or playing DVDs or CDs. System shows it as a SuperDrive. You need a Torx T-10, a Phillips #2, and about 2 hours. No tricks, no patches, no problems.
Click to expand...

I think the G5s don't even need a screwdriver. I kinda remember it being locked in place with a latch, making an unplug and unlatch replacement... Can anyone with a G5 verify this?
 
cubist said:
I bought a Pioneer DVR-106 from NewEgg for $130, installed it in a PowerMac G4, and installed iLife. No problems burning or playing DVDs or CDs. System shows it as a SuperDrive. You need a Torx T-10, a Phillips #2, and about 2 hours. No tricks, no patches, no problems.
Click to expand...
Now, I'm curious. :eek:
cubist, a Pioneer DVR-106 4xDVD SuperDrive won't fit into your Mac CUBE, and
my G4 dual 1GHz PowerMac never required anything other than a small Phillips screwdriver for the 4 bracket screws and the 4 drive screws holding the laser drive inside the drive box.
No Torx® screws, T-10 or otherwise.

The only thing I can remember using a Torx® tipped screwdriver for is to remove the back of my iBook G3.

Which G4 PowerMac did you perform the laser drive installation on?

SIDE NOTE: Shereve Systems just confirmed my fear that
there is no known modification of a Quicksilver's Laser Drive mounting brace if it has a Zip drive size box below the standard size SuperDrive (or, combo), therefore,
a substantial (expensive) modification would be required before a 2nd standard size drive box could be mounted below the SuperDrive.
The "door" for the tray may be there, but the drive box to house it is not.
Possible, just not practicable. (rats!)
 
MacRAND said:
SIDE NOTE: Shereve Systems just confirmed my fear that
there is no known modification of a Quicksilver's Laser Drive mounting brace if it has a Zip drive size box below the standard size SuperDrive (or, combo), therefore,
a substantial (expensive) modification would be required before a 2nd standard size drive box could be mounted below the SuperDrive.
The "door" for the tray may be there, but the drive box to house it is not.
Possible, just not practicable. (rats!)
Click to expand...


xlr8yourmac had this mod posted once. Something over at http://www.quinnmacdonald.com/
 
The memory prmotion doesn't expire till May 6th on the UK site. Not like we'd get a look in on the upgrades any time soon here. :confused:

RichardCarletta said:
Read something today on MacOS Rumors :

New PowerMacs no sooner than March 28th? Simple logic would dictate that Apple's current PowerMac G5 promotion (up to $700 off on memory upgrades), which expires on the 27th, means an update is unlikely to arrive prior to that date. Coupled with special pricing on remaining stocks of both G4 and existing G5 PowerMacs that expires on the 26th, it looks like the last few days of the month are the soonest we can hope for the wait to be over.
Click to expand...
 
Quicksilver 2nd SuperDrive - possible but not very practicable or easy to modify

jihad the movie said:
xlr8yourmac had this mod posted once. Something over at http://www.quinnmacdonald.com/g4/#
Click to expand...
Although Quinn's site is there, it's BLANK...and there is no link to the above URL. However, after I eMailed him about the Quicksilver modification to install a 2nd full size Laser (SuperDrive) drive, he put it back on his site. So, you can again see it at:
http://www.quinnmacdonald.com/g4/#
"Thank you, Quinn"

EDIT CORRECTION:
BY adding "g4/#" to the end of the URL you posted takes you to his article with 8 photos. It is excellent. Note: the bottom door is NOT A DOOR it's just a cover, a lid, not like the top real DOOR with a hinge.

STILL TRUE (mostly): I did some research on xlr8yourmac.com and on the web, and there are no practicable solutions to adding a 2nd superdrive below the 1st.
The bracket would have to be modified (machined) a Bezel box acquired, and it would probably be cheaper to buy a G5.

Your information was correct, just old, and with some positive result. Thanks for the lead, now I can have closure.
MacRAND
 
I have to say I expected the PowerMac updates to be announced today with 10.3.3 being released yesterday and everything it just seemed perfect, but nooooooooooooooooooooooo. If they aren't released on the 23rd I am going to be pissed.
 
While the 23rd is a possibility, the 30th is the more logical date -- just after the memory discount promotion ends.

If there are going to be display updates, I wouldn't be surprised if they come early soon -- between the release of 10.3.3 and the rev b G5 announcement.

What if Apple announced new G5 iMacs on April 1st and nobody believed them?
 
numediaman said:
What if Apple announced new G5 iMacs on April 1st and nobody believed them?
Click to expand...
or they believed them and it was a joke... :p

It is taking longer than I anticipated.... Much longer
 
It's a fact that the apple engineers didn't have a "new" release in quite some time, excluding the g5 update (only proc) and the iPod mini (not totally new).

I don't think they'll spend all this time sitting on their arse and doing absolutely nothing, it's like they are accumulating all their products to release them in a 1 or 2 month period of super kick ass hardware releases..

between now and end of april I presume..anyway, new G5's etc, will arrive, and I'll be the first one in line to (pre) order one. Hopefully they don't screw up the delivery (xserve G5) and also europe isn't too far behind with us releases...
 
Been Waiting

I've been waiting for 3 months for new powermacs, and the rumor from the French site is the most concrete rumor I've seen in this wait since the one about the 24th or 27th of January being the day. IT BETTER BE THE 23rd!!!
 
neonart said:
I think the G5s don't even need a screwdriver. I kinda remember it being locked in place with a latch, making an unplug and unlatch replacement... Can anyone with a G5 verify this?
Click to expand...

You're right - you can do it all with your fingers. Wash 'em first, though. Also true for the hard drives - you can add one in less than five minutes, again with just your fingers.
 
neonart said:
That would be a nice machine-one that can compete with Centrino's and truly mobile, compact laptops. I don't know about SATA drives, but 7200 RPM laptop drives are available. That would make a nice difference in general snappiness and load times!
Click to expand...

I haven't read this entire thread, but adding a fast drive to a current PB apparently speeds it up quite a bit (see http://www.computerworld.com/mobiletopics/mobile/laptops/story/0,10801,90487,00.html?f=x595), and I think this addition (7200 RPM disk), a better graphics card, and, for God's sake, a video resolution that compared with high-end PC laptops (1900x1200) would make the PB compelling, regardless of the speed boost via G5 or faster G4.
 
Hitachi/IBM Travelstar 60GB 7200rpm 8mb cache mobile Hard Drive is a hot item

jsw said:
I haven't read this entire thread, but adding a fast drive to a current PB apparently speeds it up quite a bit (see http://www.computerworld.com/mobiletopics/mobile/laptops/story/0,10801,90487,00.html?f=x595), and I think this addition (7200 RPM disk), a better graphics card, and, for God's sake, a video resolution that compared with high-end PC laptops (1900x1200) would make the PB compelling, regardless of the speed boost via G5 or faster G4.
Click to expand...
jsw, you nailed it.
Thank you for the excellent 2 page article. The author selected the "E" model, which is slightly "enhanced" to run 24/7 instead of spinning down, at a $20 premium.
However, street price for the regular drive is down to $212 with FREE shipping for 2nd day; list is like $299, so it really depends on what "street price" someone could find the 'e' model being sold for, which at PC Mall and eCost.com is about $249.

Regardless, either of the Hitachi/IBM Travelstar 60GB 7200rpm 8mb cache mobile Hard Drive is a hot item for PB or iBook owners who have already maxed out RAM and want as much as a 38% increase in HD performance over stock HDs offered by Apple.

POST SCRIPT:
I was surprised to hear that there was such a thing as an "E" version, which is also easily available, sometimes sold at the same price as the non-E. However, some sites which stock only the regular drive (do NOT stock the "E" model) but offer a very competitive price at $212.
Hitachi/IBM Travelstar
Model # _Part # • Capacity Interface RPM • Buffer
_7K60-60 08K0939 60 GB ATA-6 2.5" 7,200 _8 MB $212
E7K60-60 08K0889 60 GB ATA-6 2.5" 7,200 _8 MB $249
Click to expand...
Travelstar7K60_sm.jpg
 
MacRAND said:
Regardless, either of the Hitachi/IBM Travelstar 60GB 7200rpm 8mb cache mobile Hard Drive is a hot item for PB or iBook owners who have already maxed out RAM and want as much as a 38% increase in HD performance over stock HDs offered by Apple.
Click to expand...

I would love a new Powerbook with a 7200 RPM drive but a SATA drive would be mo better. I found this regarding a new Fujitsu drive. Although a G5 PB would be nice, I don't think it's in the cards until late 04 at the earliest. I would just like a performance tweaked Powerbook released sooner than later. Just give me standard 1 DIMM 512MB, video card with 128MB, SATA HDD, and a little hotter G4 (speed not temp) and I'll be happy with this next revision.
 
Smaller, fast serial Hard Drives coming.

Sped said:
I would love a new Powerbook with a 7200 RPM drive but a SATA drive would be mo better. I found this regarding a new Fujitsu drive. Although a G5 PB would be nice, I don't think it's in the cards until late 04 at the earliest. I would just like a performance tweaked Powerbook released sooner than later. Just give me standard 1 DIMM 512MB, video card with 128MB, SATA HDD, and a little hotter G4 (speed not temp) and I'll be happy with this next revision.
Click to expand...
Sped, don't you just love it when Hitachi, Fujitsu, Toshiba and Seagate compete to bring us fast, small, efficient hard drives, all at a reasonable price.

Fujitsu apparently intends to make SATA (ATA serial drives) available in October 2004 and thereafter (not now) that are smaller in size but with standard 40/60/80GB storage capacity, than the current 2.5" parallel IDE drives - like the venerable Hitachi 60/7200 HD. No word about "speed" only size, and of course power/heat efficiency.

So, when we start to hear about new, smaller SATA (serial) Hard Drives, it was Sped who brought it to our attention first. Apple's got to be seriously considering them since their use would provide Apple with more room for refrigeration & cooling, or simply make PB and iBooks more compact. Also, they are claimed to be "hot swapable" so Apple can provide not only the main MacintoshHD but could provide for "removable" Hard Drives, including the Laser Drive, or room for a spare battery. Damn, it's starting to sound like an Inspector Gadget design.

If the new SATA drives come in at the current price structure and are smaller, they could end up in PowerBooks; while driving down the price of current drives, thereby making cheaper & faster 7200rpm drives more affordable and available to G5 iBooks. Our toys will continue to get better and cheaper, and we should start seeing their use and resulting market movement by Christmas this year, or Valentine's Day 2005.

Wouldn't it be exciting to see new G5 PowerBooks, and
at the same time a whole new generation of

iBooks with
dual G4 chips,
one permanent HD and
one removable 7200rpm Hard Drive with 60/80/120GB size, and an
8x Dual Layer DVD burning Pioneer SuperDrive
 
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