PowerBook to gain iSight, iBook to go widescreen in 2006

[AppleInsider]

Along with its transition to Intel processors, Apple Computer in the first half of next year will introduce new eye-catching industrial designs for both of its laptop offerings, AppleInsider has learned.

Although the Mac maker has only gone on record in saying that the first Intel-based Macintosh systems are due by the middle of 2006, information passed on by extremely reliable sources indicates that the company is on track to begin introducing its first Intel machines much sooner.

With the initiation of the Intel Power Mac project last month, all five of Apple's Intel Macintosh projects are now said to be underway and moving at an exhaustive, yet fruitful pace. It should come as no surprise that Apple chief executive Steve Jobs is reportedly leading the charge, with his heart set on making 2006 the next 1984.

Without getting into specific dates at this time, sources familiar with Apple's Macintosh hardware roadmap say the company is striving to unveil a completely redesigned set of Intel iBook laptops just in time for next year's K-12 educational buying season, which takes place around April or May.

Apple currently offers iBooks with either a standard 12- or 14-inch screen, but looks poised to introduce a completely new model built around (what appears to be) a 13-inch widescreen. Whether the company will offer other iBook models or standardize around the new widescreen model remains unknown.

Expected to make its debut even earlier than the new iBooks will be Apple's first Intel-based PowerBook, sources added. The new 15-inch PowerBook will carry over many of the design elements and styles that have made its aluminum PowerBooks so successful, but will be about 20- to 25-percent thinner than today's model.

The 12-inch PowerBook is no longer on Apple's roadmap -- as reported in August -- and the new Intel-based 17-inch model is slated for release several months later.

Following a trend that began with Apple's new iMac desktops last month (and first predicted in this AppleInsider report), both the new 15- and 17-inch are scheduled to include a built-in iSight video camera. As is the case with the iMac, the cams will be centered in the PowerBook's upper display bezel. The latest version of Apple's Photo Booth application will also be included with the new PowerBooks.

As part of its transition to Intel processors, sources also recently told AppleInsider that Apple wants to be one of the first PC manufacturers out of the gate with Intel's upcoming dual-core processors.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[brclark82]

That sounds awesome, but of course this announcement has to come about 4 hours after I gave in and bought a new powerbook, thinking updates would be well in the future. My ideal laptop would be a 13" widescreen, and I think it would be a very popular model.

[hmurchison]

Sounds good to me.

Do I get WLAN support as well? Toss in Dual Core Yonahs and dual monitor capability and sold.

[New]

So the 12" will die?

Time to reopen that "professional sub-notebook petition".

[Chris Cuilla]

20-25% thinner?!?!?! Wow!

I truly wonder what could change about the form-factor much. I am beginning to wonder about the same for the iMac...keep making it thinner and reducing the bezel size. The computer disappears.

I am a little surprised that they would not release both the 17" and 15" models at the same time.

The line-up sounds interesting:

13" widescreen iBook - $1000 - $1500 (they probably need multiple configurations to fill out this price range...they NEED to keep a $999 consumer laptop)

15" widescreen PowerBook - $2000 (less?)

17" widescreen PowerBook - $2500 (less?)

Possibly super drives across the board.

[hmurchison]

Originally posted by New
So the 12" will die?

Time to reopen that "professional sub-notebook petition".

Pro subnotebook sounds like an oxymoron.

[deepkid]

I don't regret buying my 12" superdrive 1.33Ghz G4 aluminum powerbook in February after studying the specs of the models that were introduced in January. (Wanted scrolling trackpad, got it anyway from Amazon for much less. $1,349 shipped sans tax.)

I moved from my 15" tibook and was concerned that the smaller size would be an issue. This is without a doubt the best powerbook Apple has produced. It's sturdy like a tank, full-featured and quite portable. The 15" and 17" powerbooks seem quite fragile, although full-featured and elegant.

However, this 12" is a great compromise, sitting right between those stripped down ultra notebooks and bulkier and more casual looking ibooks.

If reports are true that the 12" is dead (and nothing similar will replace) it will be a sad day.

I could have saved a few hundred dollars buy gettingn an ibook, which are a steal for the price, but it would have been a much less pleasurable experience compared to this pb. This 12" albook feels designed for the power user who happens to care for the metal look and compact size.

I've seen the number of powerboooks triple around Chicago coffee houses and 12" and 15" pbs.

[Hattig]

Damn, I bet someone on MacRumors my signature contents that Intel based PowerBooks would be later than the consumer systems, simply because a lot of Pro applications will perform poorly until they've been ported to x86.

Anyway, I take it that this means the first intel Powerbooks and iBooks will be based on Yonah? I hope they're both dual-core, the difference being clock speed ... the single core Yonah exists for ultra-thin laptops rather than consumer laptops.

Might be worth not buying the first ones - wait for Merom to come out with its 64-bit support.

In fact, I was hoping that Apple would skip entirely to 64-bit x86, and have the entire operating system running in 64-bit mode from the start. This dashes that, so we'll probably have a 32-bit x86 OS with 64-bit capability for a long time yet.

I hope the new iBook isn't too far ahead of my 12" iBook. I've only had it three months. Then again, it'll be 8 or 9 months old by then, so I'm sure I'll live, and I wouldn't want a revision A first generation Intel machine.

[New]

Originally posted by hmurchison
Pro subnotebook sounds like an oxymoron.

Well, I think Apple is missing out on a very important market segment.
But then everything has to be big with you americans, doesn't it?

[deepkid]

Originally posted by Chris Cuilla

I am a little surprised that they would not release both the 17" and 15" models at the same time.

Chris,

It would probably be a better business decision to stagger the availability (maybe even the introduction, too) of products, especially in the same family. Apple is well aware of the lust that it creates with its products. In order to capitalize, why not release a higher margined product first?

Although size is an important consumer consideration, I wouldn't be surprised to see the premium products available sooner than the least expensive offering.

[hmurchison]

I think it's 'bout time for Apple to develop a
19" Powerbook for Power Users.

Samsung makes a 19" widescreen. Toss in LED backlighting and a very thin but strong bezel and you have a kick arse desktop replacement

[deepkid]

Originally posted by New
But then everything has to be big with you americans, doesn't it?

Well just *some* things are more pleasurable biggie-sized.

There are quite a few of us that enjoy smaller notebooks, however.

[Kolchak]

Agreed. I was looking forward to replacing my aging PB 12" 867. How about a 10" widescreen? With the higher dot pitch of the newest PB displays, I can see 10" being 768 pixels tall. The 10" could be as wide as the current 12" but not as tall and deep when open, so the keyboard could remain standard size. Smaller screen means lower power consumption, which would mean lower weight and perhaps smaller, thinner battery. It'd be a killer subnotebook.

[ZO]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I love my 12incher!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its perfect size for travelling!!!!

[murk]

Originally posted by ZO
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I love my 12incher!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its perfect size for travelling!!!!

Like you have a 12incher!

[ZO]

hehe... nice post for it being your 666th

Who says I don't?

And I sure as hell don't want Apple to take it away!!!!!

[Elixir]

how much faster will dual yonah's be compared to the current 15inch pb ppc?

[Commodus]

I'm skeptical that Apple will have PowerBooks out even before iBooks. It does make sense given that just about any Pentium M chip would make the iBook faster than the PowerBook; even so, I don't know if Apple would really want to push things out the door so soon. I'd think Intel iBooks in April/May followed by PowerBooks in June/July, when in theory Apple could have Merom cores (generally more efficient than Yonah).

[Commodus]

Originally posted by Elixir
how much faster will dual yonah's be compared to the current 15inch pb ppc?

Much, much, better. For one thing, dual-core instantly gives it an edge, since it can handle multiple threads at once. Yonah itself is supposed to be quite power-efficient and fast. I can imagine there being 2+ GHz PowerBooks... if Apple doesn't just wait for Merom, that is.

[sCreeD]

Originally posted by hmurchison
I think it's 'bout time for Apple to develop a
19" Powerbook for Power Users.

Samsung makes a 19" widescreen. Toss in LED backlighting and a very thin but strong bezel and you have a kick arse desktop replacement

Uh huh, attach four legs and you have a kick arse desk replacement.

[stephane36]

I am under the impression that the Yonah PB introduced first will be for pro-sumers and I think 17" PBooks that come later maybe along other 15" PBs will be the true pro PBooks : dual-core AND 64 bits, based upon Merom, with new generation white LEDs backlight screens, Mac OS X and Windows "co-booting" thanks to Intel Virtualisation tech, Graphics with GDDR4 etc. Many new techs are said to come around Half 2006 so those pro books could benefit from them hence the latter introduction.

In guess an early 15" PB introduction should be to avoid losing customers. Since we are lacking detailed infos, Apple can well have created 3 columns in its product grid :

code:

---

education / dirt cheap | consumer / prosumer | pros
Macmini & eMac | iMac / 1 X dualcore PM | dual-dual/quad and xServe
13" iBook | 15" PBook Yonah | 15, 17 (19?) PBooks Merom

---

[umijin]

NO 12"???! This is ludicrous.

The whole reason for using Intel chips is to make smaller laptops, so WTF? My 12" has become indispensible because of its size, but an even thinner 12" would be perfect - because of the weight involved. There are plenty of small Inel laptops that can fit the bill currently for my size needs - but they aren't Macs. And it sounds like if I want a small laptop, I'm going to have to settle for small speed, on an iBook level.

Apple's gotta stop focusing on fluff, and take care of what its customers really need on the computing end. Going to Intel might be addressing some of this, but not at the expense of a true enhancements to its laptop lines.

[JeffDM]

Originally posted by umijin
NO 12"???! This is ludicrous.

The whole reason for using Intel chips is to make smaller laptops, so WTF? My 12" has become indispensible because of its size, but an even thinner 12" would be perfect - because of the weight involved. There are plenty of small Inel laptops that can fit the bill currently for my size needs - but they aren't Macs. And it sounds like if I want a small laptop, I'm going to have to settle for small speed, on an iBook level.

I don't see that it will necessarily change things, if they switch to a 13" rather than drop the smallest model. A widescreen 13" probably has about as much screen area as a 4:3 12", the screen is wider but probably loses as much in height as well.

It's also a good idea to keep in mind that this is a rumor.

[stephane36]

I guess a 13" ibook 25% thinner than a 12" iBook cased in lighter material and with thinner bezel should be ok ? A sort of 12" PB size iBook but with mich more resolution...

[a_greer]

Come on -- The camera built into the powerbook makes no logical sence, -- it is too deep for the lid, and that would make a huge bezle on the display too -- something the PBs are famous for NOT having. the mongerer of this rumor should lay off the weed

[admactanium]

Originally posted by a_greer
Come on -- The camera built into the powerbook makes no logical sence, -- it is too deep for the lid, and that would make a huge bezle on the display too -- something the PBs are famous for NOT having. the mongerer of this rumor should lay off the weed

why doesn't it make sense? they can fit optics in a cellphone, there's no reason they couldn't put an isight into a powerbook. the optics wouldn't be as good as a full-sized one, but it could work.

[Trans9B]

Originally posted by a_greer
Come on -- The camera built into the powerbook makes no logical sence, -- it is too deep for the lid, and that would make a huge bezle on the display too -- something the PBs are famous for NOT having. the mongerer of this rumor should lay off the weed

so i guess you haven't seen the patents apple has already filed then? idiot. i'd dig around here and link you to them, but i really would rather not bother for such a ridiculous comment.

[imiloa]

Originally posted by admactanium
why doesn't it make sense? they can fit optics in a cellphone, there's no reason they couldn't put an isight into a powerbook. the optics wouldn't be as good as a full-sized one, but it could work.

i agree. button cams are pretty evolved at this point. the bezel size is a good point, but there may be clever ways around that. eg: a small cam unit that stows in the laptop base, and plugs into a socket at the top of the display.

regardless of how it might be done, my guess is that there are a handful of apple engineers pondering the best solution. first video chat, now frontrow, next is? clearly something pro users will want down the road.

[franksargent]

Originally posted by a_greer
Come on -- The camera built into the powerbook makes no logical sence, -- it is too deep for the lid, and that would make a huge bezle on the display too -- something the PBs are famous for NOT having. the mongerer of this rumor should lay off the weed

I don't have a clue, really. But if the camera was mounted horizontally and rotated out from the screen (i. e. at the top-center), it might fit into the cover? What's the smallest optics available now (you know L by W by D) of the CCD's plus lense? Some of those spy cameras are fairly small. Or perhaps the lense protrudes into the corresponding body?

[Kurt]

I am not surprised that Apple will be introducing machines early. If OS X and
Apple's apps are already ready converted, why not early rather than later? I know third party apps may take a while but it is not like trying to build a PPC computer. There are so many Intel machines and boxes out there, it really shouldn't take long to make one. It is not like Apple has to do as much design work. I assume it is going to use a lot of Intel chips.

[Robin Hood]

Originally posted by hmurchison
I think it's 'bout time for Apple to develop a
19" Powerbook for Power Users.

Samsung makes a 19" widescreen. Toss in LED backlighting and a very thin but strong bezel and you have a kick arse desktop replacement

Why not a 30" notebook? Might as well go all out. Sure it would be heavy to lug around, but it will be the biggest notebook ever!

[Robin Hood]

As far as a "built in iSight", or whatever you want to call it, I can see it being done. My cell phone has a built in camera, and it's absolutely tiny, but still manages to produce photos at 1280x1024. Sure they're not great quality, but they are "good enough" for the purpose.

I still think it would be tacky in a Pro notebook, but technically I don't see why it would not be possible.

[nagromme]

That camera-latch patent looks very awkward. (Though I realize it's only a diagram, and Apple has great designers.)

I'd rather see them hide the iSight barrel sideways inside the top frame, with a mirror that reflects the view out towards you. Some digital still cams do something like that I think.

[jimhill]

Dammit, Apple! Knock off the camera integration, willya? I know this is a rumor, but they stuck one in the iMacs and that's not promising. I work in a classified environment and cameras in the Mac (or the Cinema Display) translates directly to "We don't buy any more Macs. Period."

And I'm not alone. There are thousands, likely tens of thousands, of workplaces that will not tolerate cameras built into an Internet-capable machine. I'd hate to see Apple close the door to all those potential buyers.

[aplnub]

I will get me a 13" wide screen notebook, as long as the height is cut down. Anything deeper than this 12" and it is too big for me.

I think I have conlcuded that us 12" fans are travel freaks.

[MPMoriarty]

I think integrating cameras into computers like laptops and the iMac is a good decision as it makes people start to use video chatting more. It evolves and becomes more mainstream. The iMac and laptops have a microphone, but nobody complains.

It's just computers evolving.

[deepkid]

Originally posted by aplnub

I think I have conlcuded that us 12" fans are travel freaks.

I'm really not a road warrior, but the 12" is great just to shuttle around the house with ease. Even if you don't go far, it's great to have this kind of power and elegance in such a small form factor.

For us guys with huge hands, the full keyboard is icing.

[umijin]

Originally posted by JeffDM
I don't see that it will necessarily change things, if they switch to a 13" rather than drop the smallest model. A widescreen 13" probably has about as much screen area as a 4:3 12", the screen is wider but probably loses as much in height as well.

It's also a good idea to keep in mind that this is a rumor.

But, if the rumor is true - a 13" will be in the (crippled) iBook form factor. I want the power and vid out advantage, for example. The whole reason 12 PBs sold so well is that they offered quite a bit of power in a small form factor over the iBooks. OK, that is until they released the current 12" iBooks which is are fast as the 12" PB that have not been seriously updated in 18 months.

[DeaPeaJay]

Originally posted by jimhill
Dammit, Apple! Knock off the camera integration, willya? I know this is a rumor, but they stuck one in the iMacs and that's not promising. I work in a classified environment and cameras in the Mac (or the Cinema Display) translates directly to "We don't buy any more Macs. Period."

And I'm not alone. There are thousands, likely tens of thousands, of workplaces that will not tolerate cameras built into an Internet-capable machine. I'd hate to see Apple close the door to all those potential buyers.

Come on! Who's gonna be able to hack into a mac and spy on corporate secrets? It's very unlikely this would be possible. And even if it were. There's not that much you can see with a camera in that position. They'll just see a guy in his cubicle and an office. The confidentiality risks are NULL.

I don't want to lose the camera in my laptop because of some company with an irrational fear.

[aplnub]

Originally posted by DeaPeaJay
Come on! Who's gonna be able to hack into a mac and spy on corporate secrets? It's very unlikely this would be possible. And even if it were. There's not that much you can see with a camera in that position. They'll just see a guy in his cubicle and an office. The confidentiality risks are NULL.

I don't want to lose the camera in my laptop because of some company with an irrational fear.

Cell phone camera's are not allowed in a lot of work places. He does raise a good point. There is no way that is going to fly in corporate America where strategy meetings are held in rooms with no windows so the competition can't see through a window at what is on their white board. If you think this is far fetched, I can garuntee you that it isn't.