Now this little piece i'm writing isn't intented to give any exact insights into when a G5 powerbook will be out, but rather, just some speculations.
So these Powerbooks are the supposed final generation of G4 powerbooks. By this deduction, the next powerbooks will be G5s. Assuming this, we know that Apple needs to keep a regular release schedule of hardware. They know this too. They also know that they are losing a lot of business to many people waiting to buy a G5 laptop. They want this thing out sooner than later.
Also, if you look at MacRumors' buying guide, the longest time Apple has ever gone without updating their Powerbooks is eight months. That happened only once. The rest were done in seven months or less. That points to a december release, plus or minus a month.
The only thing that would mess up all of these predictions is if Apple decided to re-use the G4 once more in the PBs, but I really don't see that happening.
Another thing to consider is this: The PPC970FX... everyone always talks about its power usage and stuff. Let's be honest. Do you really think that this is the chip that will be put into powerbooks? Absolutely not. Manufacturers release chip steppings quite periodically. The decrease excess circuitry, finish up rough edges, increase chip yields, and streamline manufacturing processes to get to the next stepping. A stepping isn't a huge increase as it is the same chip. However, polishing these rough edges does lead to heat production decrease and the ability to achieve higher clock speeds. I guarantee Apple is working with these chips, not with the ones that everyone is quoting heat/power consumption specs of. That's the minimum. At most, they could be working with prototypes of a nextgen 970 chip that has similar characteristics, but even lower heat output than the FX.
So consider these factors...
Apple will not wait more than 7 months or so to update, 8 at most.
There will likely be no more G4s in the PB
The 970FX they're working with is a prototype and likely to be putting out far less heat / scaling higher than the ones we've read about
Just some thoughts.
-Kevin
So these Powerbooks are the supposed final generation of G4 powerbooks. By this deduction, the next powerbooks will be G5s. Assuming this, we know that Apple needs to keep a regular release schedule of hardware. They know this too. They also know that they are losing a lot of business to many people waiting to buy a G5 laptop. They want this thing out sooner than later.
Also, if you look at MacRumors' buying guide, the longest time Apple has ever gone without updating their Powerbooks is eight months. That happened only once. The rest were done in seven months or less. That points to a december release, plus or minus a month.
The only thing that would mess up all of these predictions is if Apple decided to re-use the G4 once more in the PBs, but I really don't see that happening.
Another thing to consider is this: The PPC970FX... everyone always talks about its power usage and stuff. Let's be honest. Do you really think that this is the chip that will be put into powerbooks? Absolutely not. Manufacturers release chip steppings quite periodically. The decrease excess circuitry, finish up rough edges, increase chip yields, and streamline manufacturing processes to get to the next stepping. A stepping isn't a huge increase as it is the same chip. However, polishing these rough edges does lead to heat production decrease and the ability to achieve higher clock speeds. I guarantee Apple is working with these chips, not with the ones that everyone is quoting heat/power consumption specs of. That's the minimum. At most, they could be working with prototypes of a nextgen 970 chip that has similar characteristics, but even lower heat output than the FX.
So consider these factors...
Apple will not wait more than 7 months or so to update, 8 at most.
There will likely be no more G4s in the PB
The 970FX they're working with is a prototype and likely to be putting out far less heat / scaling higher than the ones we've read about
Just some thoughts.
-Kevin
