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What new features do you want in a powerbook?

A

Aciddan

macrumors member
Original poster
Jun 4, 2002
90
1
Australia
Guys,

I'm interested in finding out everyone's opinions on the features they would most like to see in an updated powerbook (heh, excluding the processor G*) over and above the current offerings ;)

Features that I would really like to see include:

- Better FSB
- Radeon 9600
- Better Sound/Audio (no snap, cracle pop I keep hearing about)

From what I understand, a faster FSB would depend on whether they have 7457 Motorolla chips available (the current don't support a faster bus)

The Radeon 9600 would be a fantastic feature - adding this to the Powerbook line will keep it at the front of what can be put into a portable as far as graphics are concerned.

Sound - I cannot comment really too much on this but I hope that when I get a new 17"'er it won't sound like my iBook :p

Do you think any of these things are realistic if they announced a new Al update this month (MWCP)?

-- Dan :D
 
i want built in bluetooth, a slick video card, and a backlit keyboard.

it's a crazy one, but I'd like some kind of video IN port. Impossible, i know, but i miss that kind of stuff from the old days of AV Powermacs
 
Alu casing
back lit keyboard
Airport extreme
bluetooth
2X firewire 400ports
800 firewire 800

I guess this is the expected, except for I want 2xfirewire 400 ports

FSB & graphics well let see whats on offer

Maybe two button track pad or removable Drives and optical drives. Video editing on the go sucks when you dont have enough HD space and battery life.

I like to see apple make an external charger to charge 2 extra batteries (wish list).

Then I might buy an extra battery or wo
 
Top of my list besides what was previously mentioned is USB 2.0, FireWire 800, Airport Xtreme, 15.4" screen for higher resolutions... ATA 100 Hard Drive, 2X DVD-R burning (RW support!)... and ummm... two button mouse? :p
 
new powerbook

heres what i would like in a new powerbook:

aluminum casing (pertaining to 15")
minimum of a 1.25 GHz processor
better fsb (200 MHz with the new chip)
DDR-SDRAM (pertaining to 15")
15.4" screen (i guess 15.2" ok too)
Bluetooth built in (pertaining to 15")
2x SuperDrive
AirPort Extreme
USB 2.0
FireWire 800 (pertaining to 12" & 15")
Improved Video Card
Backlit keyboard is a nice extra, wouldn't complain if it isn't included

i hope these new powerbooks come soon. my pismo finally died after years of good use. i'll need one before school starts!!!
 
Optical audio in/out like the G5, that would be awesome.

The 17" PBook is as close to perfect as Apple have ever come in a portable, but having that optical input would be the mutts nuts.
 
touch screen...

Personally, I'd like to be able to draw on the screen and do away with having to plug in my Wacom to a laptop.

Otherwise, all the usual requests.

Grizzly
 
Re: new powerbook

Originally posted by MacUser1


i hope these new powerbooks come soon. my pismo finally died after years of good use. i'll need one before school starts!!!
Click to expand...

Wow, I've had my Pismo since the fall of 2000 and it's still chunging along but is showing its age. I'm still debating on which system I want to buy with ADC student discounts: G5 with a display or a new Powerbook 17 in. and save a 1,000 bucks in the process?
I tend to go with the latter in this matter.
 
i want a "Grilled Cheese" button that will spit out a sandwich from the optical drive. if my 12" PowerBook is gonna be this hot i'd like it to go to a good cause. ok, seriously. i'd like a higher screen res on the 12". 1024x768 is just not enough for me. i'd like the rubber feet on the bottom to stay on for more than a week, and if they do fall off, have them replaced for free (not $610 for a whole new bottom case, friggin' Apple). i'd like better cooling. i'd like the entire PowerBook line to switch to the G3 w/AltiVec (Gobi?) because the G4 is a dead horse and it's life is so over. i'd like to see back-lit keyboards on all the PowerBooks, as well as DVI out added to the 12". basically i think all 3 should have identical ports, connections, speeds, etc. the only differences should be the screen size.
 
What I'd like is

-a screen cover (thin plastic so that nothing can ding or hit it)
-a tougher skin than Al and a handle to make it less fragile
-as quiet of a fan as is possible
-a light-up keyboard
-a hiden port tray on the side for USB
-USB 2
-built in media card support (CF, SD, Mem Sticks)
-a pressure sensitive track pad that is more like a wacom tablet so that you can actually draw with a digital pen instead of your finger only
-a detachable bluetooth keyboard a la Toshiba
-built in microphone or video capture unit
-higher quality speakers

If they get any of the above, I'll be a happy camper.
 
The 15" needs an aluminum case, aluminum keyboard, backlit keyboard, Airport Extreme, and Bluetooth. And it would be nice if the whole line of PowerBooks got speed bumps. :)
 
-DVD-RW support
-more usb ports
-Some lights so you know the hard drive is "thinking"
-A more rugged design
-faster burns

(((k)))
 
Originally posted by MacFan25
The 15" needs an aluminum case, aluminum keyboard...
Click to expand...

whoa! alluminum keyboard. you wanna burn your fingerprints off or what? my 12" PB get so damn hot i can't stand to use it sometimes. i couldn't imagine if the keys were that hot all the time. they again, it might make me type faster...:)
 
My 17" gets luke warm like once every couple of days. Less then luke warm even. I am really impressed with this computer.

(((k)))
 
As a soon to be purchaser of a PowerBook:
The funky lit keyboard (like the current 17")
Airport Extreme. That's all I want.

But my guess is that Apple is adding USB 2.0 and FW800 and that could be why its taking so long..
 
I want/expect the following:

-64 or 128MB Radeon 9600M
-166Mhz bus
-256MB to 1.5GB DDR400 RAM
-Alluminium case
-Airport Extreme
-1.2Ghz and 1.33Ghz G4 + 1MB L3 Cache
-60 to 120GB Hard Disk
-DVD/CR-RW or DVD-/+ Writer
-Illuminated keyboard
-USB2 and Firewire800
-Mini PCI slot

I also want it for the same price or less than the current machines.

Edit: Also hardware sound would be good since the sound is processed by the cpu at the moment which slows the computer by about 15% when using audio.
 
'How bout an antenna port like on the G5? Then maybe you could get some 3rd party antennas to enhance your range. Of course, standard antenna still included...
 
Originally posted by Tommy!
'How bout an antenna port like on the G5? Then maybe you could get some 3rd party antennas to enhance your range. Of course, standard antenna still included...
Click to expand...

that might be a decent idea. i'd be a little worried about snapping off an external antenna by accident if i had to pack up my powerbook in a rush tho.
 
Originally posted by jbomber
it's a crazy one, but I'd like some kind of video IN port. Impossible, i know, but i miss that kind of stuff from the old days of AV Powermacs
Click to expand...
I'm glad I'm not the only one who misses the AV in/out ports on older Power Macs. I doubt video in would be used in a PowerBook, though. Not that I'd complain.:)
 
Originally posted by PowerBook User
I'm glad I'm not the only one who misses the AV in/out ports on older Power Macs. I doubt video in would be used in a PowerBook, though. Not that I'd complain.:)
Click to expand...

I always wondered how those got phased out without so much as a whisper from the mac community. Man, i did so much cool video stuff with my beat-down 8500/150 and a $20 VCR i bought at college.

I agree, it'd never make it's way into a powerbook, but if it happened, i wouldn't complain either. :)
 
Re: What new features do you want in a powerbook?

Originally posted by Aciddan
I'm interested in finding out everyone's opinions on the features they would most like to see in an updated powerbook...
Click to expand...
For starters, a release date sometime this year... ;)
 
Originally posted by tjwett
whoa! alluminum keyboard. you wanna burn your fingerprints off or what? my 12" PB get so damn hot i can't stand to use it sometimes.
Click to expand...
The aluminum look I mean. :)
 
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