R.I.P. 12 inch Powerbook?

[cocozz]

Why not a 12" PB price drop ? What do you think about it ?

 

[YS2003]

My 12" PB can handle what I throw at it so far.

I feel the current 12" PB is a very capable machine given the size of it. It comes with all the bells and whistles (BT, WiFi, Optical Drive, Large HD, screen spanning with dedicated VRAM, scrollable touch pad, and so on). Unless you are heavy into the video and 3D, it should be more than capable. I run CS2 and MX2004 frequently and it handles those programs with aplomb.

I am going to learn Blender (3D software) and I feel 12" PB should handle it adequately.

Upgraded PBs are always desireable; but, it's like driving a Lambo in the narrow streets in Tokyo (ie. you cannot take full advantage of its capabilities). Current software out in the market (commercial version and open source software) can be run nicely on 12" PB under normal circumstances.

 

[mpqtpie]

In some ways removing the 12" PB makes sense if Apple plans on adding more features that will make the PB get even hotter then it already is (faster processor, more RAM, etc.). Have you seen one of those things? They are pretty tiny, much smaller than even the 12" ibook. Just how much more can they fit into that thing?

I used to own a 12" PB and while the size was convenient, it got so freaking hot (even when putting it on a coolpad) that I often had to let it sleep and walk away from it before I could put my hands back down on it again.

I'd be sad to see it go for portability reasons, but it does make some sense if they want to upgrade their line...

 

[fklehman]

In my opinion, and it seems very logical, there is no way Apple will kill off the 12" PB place, it might go to 13" widescreen, but gone? Doubtful. Just look at how many 12" PB's you see, I see them at least 3 or 4 times a week. There is no way Apple is going to just annihilate one of their most popular laptops.

The 13" widescreen seems reasonable, but the question is when? Now, i.e. Oct. 19, or with Intel? The 12" seems doomed. Stock ship times are still at 12 hours at the moment. It used to be a great computer but is now pretty underpowered. The 5200 GPU is awful and the lack of BTO options is pretty anoying. There's probably very little to be done with that very small, very hot form factor. Steve will take the 12" out to a field somewhere and shoot it like the old dog it is--a mercy killing.

 

[jadex]

I bought a 12" PowerBook (no SD, 512 RAM, G4) three months ago, and it is already giving me more problems than I've ever had with a computer in my life. I know a lot of people (15!) who also have 12" PB's that are starting to have, have, and have had the same problems as mine does now (latch randomly won't stick, resulting in not being able to close the laptop, display goes off b/c of some logic board defect, etc.) From my side, getting rid of the 12" PB may be a sign that they figured out that there is something seriously wrong with it. Whenever they come out with new PB's, and if mine's not permanetley fixed (i've had it fixed once already, with it doing the same thing) or replaced, i'm replacing it with another one...or i could just get a iMac G5...it's cheaper, at any rate, and the difference could be made up with a 30G iPod or something.

 

[Jay42]

Apple is committed to the matrix that Steve layed out several years ago (2000 or so) of consumer and professional lines.

As it is, the Mac lineup is unbelievably simple when compared to PC manufacturers. There is no need to simplify any further in my opinion.

The problem lies with the fact that Apple has struggled to make significant improvements to the PowerBooks for quite some time. This has very much narrowed the gap between the two notebook lines.

Once Macintels arrive, I can almost guarantee that Apple will return to healthy differentiation between the lines, thus clearing up any possible confusion.

Very well said, I agree completely. The iBook and Powerbook models all have their specific places and uses. I think that they could possibly replace the 12in with different variation, but I don't think they will be completely abandoning it.

Why not a 12" PB price drop ? What do you think about it ?

I...don't think so.

 

[jung_offender]

Who buys a 12in PB to watch DVD's on??

I did just that. When I first bought my PB almost three years ago I had never owned a TV and certainly didn't own a DVD player. I still don't and my PB has served me well all this time. That's not all I use the machine for but it is one of it's roles.

 

[Superhob]

Looks like ThinkSecret is sticking with their original story about the 12 inch PB being discontinued.

Here's a quote from their most recent story : "Increasing chatter has corroborated previous reports that Apple will be dropping its low-end PowerBook offering and will be bumping the specifications on its other models..."

I will be quite disappointed if they kill the 12 inch PB as I was looking forward to a new model with the 7448 and better battery life/less heat. Oh well, I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens at 9am tommorrow.

 

[nospleen]

I just wish they would drop the 15" price to about 1599. I know they will not, but it sure would be nice. I cannot imagine they would do a 13" widescreen PB, I really think it would dig into the 15" sales.

 

[csubear]

I love my powerbook (except when the harddrive died not so long ago), prefect size, prefect power.

first apple kills the ipod mini, now the powerbook?

 

[aswitcher]

I still think they are deliberty leaving the way open for a tablet or other wireless computer with a small screen but good specs. Sure we have heard it a thousand times before but clearly Apple are now serious about multimedia wireless.

 

[panda]

my guess for the day

my logic says that they do not kill the 12".

re pbooks, all we will probably see are updates to all 3 pbs.
-no new form factors (leave that to the intel switch), too expensive to tool up for a short lifespan computer model. also a new form factor will be one of the selling points of the intel switch.
-12" stays, it sells well and with nothing to replace it, keep it going... unless a 13" had already been ramping up before the intel anouncement... but i doubt it.

if a pcer switches to mactel, does that make him a 'double-switcher'?

 

[mrkgoo]

People who are claiming that they see 12" PBs all the time should consider where they are seeing them. If you are students, it is highly unlikely you will see others carrying a 17" around, but that doesn't mean they don't sell.

From my point of view, all the PBs I've seen (used for presentations from visiting overseas speakers - haha, nearly always powerpoint too!) have been 15 or 17 inchers.

I have a 12" PB, and I love it. However, it makes sense for teh 12" to disappear. The PBs are a "pro" line of products - that is, they are designed for professional users who need power on the go. Peopl who just need portability and handy features (like students) have the iBook line. The 12" PB is kind of stuck in between - overkill for those kind, but not really a serious enough machine for pro users. I can understand if they give it the axe.

 

[i4k20c]

If the 12inch powerbook does go, i will be a bit happy..

I got the last ppc 12inch powerbook! It is kind of a neat feeling.. if its true ofcourse.

 

[emotion]

I bought a 12" PowerBook (no SD, 512 RAM, G4) three months ago, and it is already giving me more problems than I've ever had with a computer in my life. I know a lot of people (15!) who also have 12" PB's that are starting to have, have, and have had the same problems as mine does now (latch randomly won't stick, resulting in not being able to close the laptop, display goes off b/c of some logic board defect, etc.) From my side, getting rid of the 12" PB may be a sign that they figured out that there is something seriously wrong with it.

well i have two 12" powerbooks (a rev a from work and a rev c of my own). neither has had any trouble apart from a failed harddrive in the rev c. my office has about 6 12" pbooks in it all with no probs.

i think the main problem for a lot of people is the heat though (which may have contributed to the demise of my drive). i live in the UK so in hotter climes it might be the heat is an even bigger issue.

of course the intel chips are cooler so it could be that the 12" will go for the moment and a small form factor pro machine will return with the new architecture.

 

[mddharma]

MrSugar,

However, it looks more and more like it won't be updated with the other Powerbooks this week. What does that mean? They simply cannot update it, and we'll have to wait until next time?

Well, I hope the rumor sites are wrong about the 12" being killed off and no upgrade. I have been waiting to purchase for a few months now. IF, the case is no upgrade or being killed off, I will buy a refurbished 12" and leave it at that. I would not be completely happy though.

 

[0098386]

I had a dream last night that I was looking for a new PowerBook. they had 14" and 17" models, and came with some weird accessories. infact the shop was like a list and the top (cheapest) item wasn't a powerbook but a new bag. they were immensely powerful too.