PowerMacs - June 8th, 2004

[pjkelnhofer]

may be a pro event but who the heck do you think buys all that software? consumers! what better reason to get them off their behinds and start writing G5 apps.

Good point, in fact WWDC is not a "pro" event at all. It is a developer event, and developer make need to make software for every Mac there is not just the PowerMac!

It has nothing to do with pro vs. consumer at all. It is for people writing software and periphals for the entire Mac line (eMac, iMac, iBook, PowerBook, and PowerMac). Not to mention any so far unknown products.

 

[DGFan]

that's not shooting it in the back.. it would be a supplement, if dell releases new workstations with 2.8 ghz, and a month later announces the 3.0 ghz with a new processor, that would be shooting in the back too? It has a word.. 'evolution'

if i would buy a 2.8 which I'm gonna do , then i will not feel any negative feelings about the release of that 3.0, it's just the way technological evolution works..

In a word: no.

Your analogy is completely wrong. The suggestion was to release new computers tomorrow. And then three weeks later announce new, faster computers which won't be available for a couple months.

Read my lips: aint going to happen.
Why? Because it would be stupid. No one would buy a PowerMac after WWDC until the new ones were released.

It may upset people that Apple doesn't prea-nnounce products but it is done that way for a very, very good reason.

 

[wdlove]

I'm wondering if the Rev. B is introduced tomorrow, then the memory rebate and the 23" Cinema Display continued. If it continues, then it will even be sweeter.

 

[dieselg4]

As a PRO only user I would cry!

Pro shoe . . . you can't have a RAID in a powerbook either, or 8GB of Ram

 

[~Shard~]

How about this possibility? PowerMac updates are in fact announced tomorrow, and they are not 3 GHz. However, Steve keeps his promise by having 3 GHz by the end of summer, however it's simply an announcement and that's all - at WWDC, or sometime in July or August, Jobs does in fact announce the 3 GHz G5, but mentions they won't be shipping for another 4 months or so. This would give the Rev Bs enough time in the marketplace without becoming totally outdated right off the bat, yet would also allow Steve to keep his promise...

 

[klaus]

I'm wondering if the Rev. B is introduced tomorrow, then the memory rebate and the 23" Cinema Display continued. If it continues, then it will even be sweeter.

already thought of that myself, but then again..you are buying a brand new G5 with a monitor that was released a couple years ago..(don't know the exact period)

that makes me think, although the display is of excellent quality, I do feel however a little akward about the fact that @ wwdc there may be new ones.. and personally i could do with a 20" as well, maybe with a higher resolution..

anyways, looks like a promising second half of 2004!

 

[SiliconAddict]

I disagree. Even at 3 GHz they are not a huge deal. At least not nearly as big a deal as getting the G5 into another Mac line (ie, the iMac). Two things lend a lot of credence to this rumor as far as I am concerned.

Agreed. Does Apple make a big deal about the PowerBook speedbump that occurred a couple months ago? Why should they about a G5 speedbump? Jobs is all about one thing: Showmanship. So he drops the exact same shell on stage that came out last year. Why should the audience care? Now imagine him dropping the G5 iMac bombshell with maybe even a new form and only mention that G5's are now at 3Ghz or 2.8 or whatever they are going to be. Jobs announcements have never been about seedbumps. The ego wouldn't allow anything other then a major hardware release.

 

[SiliconAddict]

In a word: no.
Why? Because it would be stupid. No one would buy a PowerMac after WWDC until the new ones were released.

You mean like they did with last year's G5 release? It didn't ship until what? August-September did it not?

 

[Grimace]

Why?

Didn't Apple say a long time ago that they wanted to stop releasing products only at the big events to try to avoid the roller-coaster sales figures that always sag for months before an event?

Besides, if the release now, they can (hopefully) crow about how many orders they have received "already" by the WWDC keynote.

Yes - and I wish people on this forum would get this. Steve want to make this a DEVELOPER's conference.

New PMs tomorrow, maybe new Displays at WWDC.

 

[charlesc]

If PM'S come tomorrow we can rest assured they will come with 970fx (90nm) procs at 2ghz and up, but not 3ghz as everyone has pointed out. And if true (sub 3ghz pm's), this would definitely be a normal Tuesday speedbump, and not a WWDC release.

If this does happen I would expext SJ to at least 'preview' the next gen PM (power5 variant presumably @ 3ghz?) at the august expo in Paris, with them shipping a few months later, IF they exist?

 

[.a]

Why?

Didn't Apple say a long time ago that they wanted to stop releasing products only at the big events to try to avoid the roller-coaster sales figures that always sag for months before an event?

Besides, if the release now, they can (hopefully) crow about how many orders they have received "already" by the WWDC keynote.

i just feel like there won't be 3ghz pmacs tomorrow ... if there are i will jump around and after landing on my feet i go and get one
though it's just this feeling: if there are some powermacs tomorrow they won't be @ 3 ghz ...
just my two cents
.a

 

[rdowns]

Yes, nice to dream about, but iMacs are consumer models, not pro. WWDC is a pro event.

First, I'll say it again, the notion of consumer vs. pro is assinine. Make the best damn product you can in each line.

Second, the WWDC is a DEVELOPER'S conference. Developer's write software for the Mac platform. Expanding the Mac platform (G5) is what developers want to hear. Maybe we'll finally get some software to exploit the G5 which is now a paper tiger.

 

[rdowns]

And consider that a non-pro line product now has a pro feature that the pro laptops do not and will doubtlessly kick the snot out of the pro line of laptops which IMHO should never occur on ANY base line system be it desktop or laptop. Laptops should be a form factor not an excuse for a slow system. I agree with ZildjianKX its going to look pathetic on Apple's part. They may have technical hurtles as rdowns suggests and might not have any choice in the matter but it still doesn't change the fact that this is going to further make the PowerBooks look like souring grapes on the vine.

Hey rdowns. So you have the inside scoop on apple development huh? I mean you sound so authoritative on the subject of how its not "technically feasible".

I have no inside scoop. I made the statement based on all the posts I've read about heat issues and power requirements with the G5. Seems to make sense that putting a G5 in a 1" slim PB is not an easy task. While I'd love to see Apple release it, common sense says we still have a while to wait.

What if Apple released a bigger PB with a G5? Bigger to better handle heat issues. He faithful would probably slam them for it.

 

[The Lost]

If they were announcing new powermacs tomorrow, then the developers getting a special price on G5s until June 26 wouldn't make much sense... Who would want to buy the 1.6 Ghz G5 at that same price after an announcement and corresponding devaluing of the old models tomorrow?

 

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Okay, so is the original source of this rumor credible? Is the PM G5 probably going to be updated tomorrow?

 

[Koyaanisqatsi]

If they were announcing new powermacs tomorrow, then the developers getting a special price on G5s until June 26 wouldn't make much sense... Who would want to buy the 1.6 Ghz G5 at that same price after an announcement and corresponding devaluing of the old models tomorrow?

Good point, but developers are getting that 1.6 G5 at something like $1299. So, there still would be some motivation to get it.

 

[cubist]

Okay, so is the original source of this rumor credible? Is the PM G5 probably going to be updated tomorrow?

It's on page 2 for a reason.

The reason could be that 1.5GHz G4 iMacs are going to be introduced tomorrow :-/

 

[DGFan]

You mean like they did with last year's G5 release? It didn't ship until what? August-September did it not?

Yes, but they didn't release new PowerMacs 3 weeks before that announcement, did they?

 

[itsa]

And why this incessant 3 GHz obsession anyway?

Because anything less will be 2.something!

 

[itsa]

How about this possibility? PowerMac updates are in fact announced tomorrow, and they are not 3 GHz. However, Steve keeps his promise by having 3 GHz by the end of summer, however it's simply an announcement and that's all - at WWDC, or sometime in July or August, Jobs does in fact announce the 3 GHz G5, but mentions they won't be shipping for another 4 months or so. This would give the Rev Bs enough time in the marketplace without becoming totally outdated right off the bat, yet would also allow Steve to keep his promise...

That would be more than enough to make me wait for 3gigers.

 

[bob_the_gorilla]

"Brilliant Savings" isn't over yet. I don't expect new PowerMacs. If there are, I'll be pleased, but confused.

Though, I could totally understand Steve wanting to slip them out quietly if they're under 3GHZ. And yes, it DOES matter - he made a public promise. While I won't be too disappointed, technology-wise, he'll lose credibility. Apple HAVE to get those 3GHZ beasts out by the end of the summer, or risk looking stupid.

As for this being a developer conference... I can totally see that, but I am surprised if, with all these product announcements happening (relatively) quietly, he hasn't saved something up. Jobs is a showman - he loves an audience. I can't really see him passing up all these great opportunities if there isn't something else he reckons he'll get more adulation for.

 

[dongmin]

and if 3Ghz are not announced tomorrow, and if Steve hopes to save face, the updates tomorrow will be shipping immediately and Steve, on the last tuesday of summer, will announce 3Ghz machines, shipping around Christmas (in volume).

This update is no doubt the interim update planned for last Feb/March. Minimal changes to the architecture. 970fx, up to 2.6 or 2.8 ghz, will replace the 970. The usual graphics, HD, and RAM upgrades. Immediate availability.

Then, the 975 will debut in September at the Paris Expo with a brand new architecture. Steve will have kept his promise. And everyone goes home happy.

The 970fx was delayed because of yield issues with the 90 nm process at Fishkill. Steve himself has said as much. So now, according to IBM, the problem is resolved, and Fishkill is happily churning away 90 nm chips, including the 975. If they're able to produce 970fxs in volume, then they shouldn't have any problems producing 975s.

 

[bob_the_gorilla]

Oh, and the PowerBooks already look silly. I totally support the idea of making the best product possible in every area, but you can't neglect something so important as the 'Books. What about all of that "year of the portable" stuff - are they now too 'last year'?

 

[Heltik]

Maybe I'm going insane, but I seem to recollect that Apple has released 2 of a product line before, with the highend due in a few weeks or whatever.

If Apple chose to up the two lower end models, to say 2.0 and 2.4 or some such, and announce the 3 ghz top end to be released in a couple of months, then I really don't see many people complaining, especially if the new models adopted the respective price points.

Personally though I think that Steve will start like this "I'm sorry by I have to apologise, but the high-end mac will not be at 3ghz this summer... No, I'm sorry... that's the low end one... the highend one is at 4ghz..." (Seriously)

 

[sfwalter]

New PowerMacs without New Displays

If they do annouce new PowerMac's I hope that also annouce the new displays. It would ashame to get a revision-b PowerMac and no display to go with it. Where I live (Austin, Texas), I can't find a 20" Cinema Display anywhere.

Also, I hope the new PowerMacs have dual layer dvd burners. I see that Sony and other PC manufactures are getting ready to release PCs with dual-layer burners.