Originally posted by Centris 650
The SLAM-IT-HOME
2) Redesigning the WHOLE powermac line (casing and all) while only the "Faster", "Fastest" and "Ultimate" machines have the 970 while the "Fast" machine has a beefed up G4. 6 months or so (maybe even less?) a powerbook 970 machine with a 970 iMac then finally a 970 iBook.
I doubt that they would go this way. If they are redesigning everything for the powermacs, they are not going to run to different processor types. This would require them to have two very different motherboards and would increase costs.
I think that they will switch all powermacs to the 970, and then switch the powerbooks. The iMacs will switch 6-12 months later, and the ibooks will be switched last. The reason for the late switches in the consumer lines is that they will try to squeeze out as much power as possible from the g4 and possibly g3 (in the ibooks. By keeping the consumer lines with g4s and g3s, apple can keep down costs until the production ramps up enough for prices to come down. The ibooks are still using g3s and the speed of the g3 has the ability to increase more. I do not see apple changing from the g3 in the ibook until the 970 comes out and even then it will not be for a while.