Should I wait for WWDC to buy a new PowerBook?

[sandmann41]

The current powerbook has plenty of power to do those things. I really don't think people are goign to see the huge performance differances thety are expecting when a G5 is put into a powerbook.

 

[Zaty]

If you can wait, wait although I don't expect new PBs at WWDC. But it will be safe to order after the keynote because if nothing happens to the PBs line-up there, we won't see new PBs (G4s or G5s) until at least October/November. A Paris expo release only makes sense if the G5s were ready, which is highly unlikely IMHO.

 

[HardHatMac9]

Simple Question:

For the average user who does photo editing, word processing, iTunes, and a little DV editing, will the G5 Powerbook be that much different than the current 1.5 ghz G4 Powerbook?

 

[seelab]

For the average user who does photo editing, word processing, iTunes, and a little DV editing, will the G5 Powerbook be that much different than the current 1.5 ghz G4 Powerbook?

No, because the average user doesn't need a pro-machine.

 

[Soc7777777]

haha yeah DEF wait till after wwdc... dont people who buy computers with an oudated OS installed (aka next version announced, but not shipping) get a discount on the new OS aka tiger??? i thought it worked out like that.. so if you buy a mac after wwdc you get tiger cheeper i think...

 

[OziMac]

haha yeah DEF wait till after wwdc... dont people who buy computers with an oudated OS installed (aka next version announced, but not shipping) get a discount on the new OS aka tiger??? i thought it worked out like that.. so if you buy a mac after wwdc you get tiger cheeper i think...

Tiger is being previewed, not released at WWDC. Still a long way to go before it's released, so I wouldn't expect to be able to buy it (or get a cheap up-to-date option) buying a new Mac any time soon.

 

[Soc7777777]

Tiger is being previewed, not released at WWDC. Still a long way to go before it's released, so I wouldn't expect to be able to buy it (or get a cheap up-to-date option) buying a new Mac any time soon.

cool... thanks for the distinction... i had heard about a discount for something like that... but thanks for clearing it up

 

[OziMac]

No worries Soc... then again, Panther was previewed at WWDC 2003 and was released in late September of that year, and the up-to-date option was made available to anyone who bought new Macs in September (myself included)... so it may not be too long, depending on when Tiger is actually released.

 

[OziMac]

No, because the average user doesn't need a pro-machine.

Really curious about what you have in mind here. The current top of the line Powermacs have Xbenches of about 180-190, whilst the 1.6GHz single processor had benches of 120-150. That's about the range of the current Powerbooks. A G5 processor would obviously up the performance a bit, but I don't think it would SO dramatic that it would render a current Powerbook totally obsolete and useless in comparison. Just because the number after the G is higher, it doesn't necessarily mean that the power is greater - eg, the late model G3's probably trounced the older G4s (except for altivec).

If pro-performance concerns you so much, why don't you get a nice dual processor G5? There's something you won't see in a laptop for a while. And if you don't lose sleep about having the latest and greatest model available, then what's wrong with the one's out now? To say that they are 'crappy' is a bold statement - but by all means, go on waiting if you expect something far greater anytime soon...

 

[Mr. Monsieur]

buy, Buy, BUy, BUY!

Unless you don't need the PB now, you should buy now-there's no way Apple will upgrade now...they already said it would be 'quite some time' until they get a G5 into a PB...of course if you can wait until the convention, it'll put your mind at ease. If you do wait, and there is no boost, don't get fooled into waiting until the 'next convention'...it's simply going to be a LONG time...
BTW, have you checked out Macrumors' advice?
<https://buyersguide.macrumors.com//>

BUY!