what's gonna be left for macworld in jan?

Power Mac speedbumps or we may see the iRate...

I was wondering that too!

It's been an amazing year (check out my "to those who like to whine" thread in General Discussion) and it seems that by year's end we'll have new iTunes/Windows iTunes, new iBooks, updated eMacs. We've already had recent iMac updates, the PowerBooks are new and so are the G5s, pretty much. There's talk of new displays and G5 xServes coming soon as well. And, of course, Panther will already have been released.

In other words, nearly everything Apple has hardware-wise has been tweaked in the past couple of months (or may be shortly). The OS will be brand new.

I don't know. A new iApp or altogether new hardware of some sort? This bullcrap tablet thing (please, no) or some sort of cute "mini G5"? I have NO idea.

Maybe Steve will just do a little tap dance or he and Phil can perform an updated "who's on first?" routine for an hour or so?

Yes, yes, yes! No new T-t-tablet!

In regard to:
"Am I wrong to wish for a bedside seat to a Laura Ingraham vs. Ann Coulter pillow fight? I don't know, I'm asking.."
Yes; you are unequivocably wrong to wish for a seat for yourself. You should be trying to get one for me too.



Aries 1B

They'll start a big build-up on the website, two weeks out:

"Gene Kelly would be proud"

"In the proud tradition of Gregory Hines"

"Bringing the noize AND the funk"



Yes, the tap-dancing CEO.

Well, that's kinda the point then. We're reduced to making silly jokes and tapdancing references because we honestly can't think of what there will be.

I offered up a couple of things, but as far as I can tell all their main gear has been - or will be - accounted for.

Perhaps these rumored new iBook and/or displays won't make it in 2003 after all and THOSE will be the things unveiled in Frisco?

Other than that, I can't imagine what else. The G5s are just now seeming to be shipping in any sort of true, store-stocking volume (particularly the dual 2GHz), so would they update the line in less than three months from now, knowing that anything they announce in January realistically won't hit the streets, shelves and people's desk until March-April!

In case you didn't notice the death of the summer MacWorld, it would appear that Apple has finally wised up and started announcing things when they are ready (or near-ready) rather than wait around for these biannual geek get-togethers. I expect Apple's role in future MacWorld events to be reduced dramatically as well.

I think Rev B PowerMacs.

Lemon Bon Bon

Well I agree with some of the other posts and think Christmas sales will get updates and new product out before January. I think we will hear about 2004 and the expectations for the year ahead after a summary of the success of the year that has passed.

As to what else wish list

That new iPOD software/update harddisk/portable file rumor sounds like a potential. I'd love to see an iPod with bluetooth that allowed my bluetooh phone to pause and cut in when it rings Coupled with bluetooth headphones/headset is another dream but not sure about quality. Maybe in 2004.

Also 20th anniversary should yield something special for attendees. Wish I could go but not sure about going during what appears to be San Frans worst month for weather.

I would like web/multicasting for iSight/AV Chat to allow more than peer to peer so many can see one. Also ability to record for business purposes without resorting to hacks and third party software.



In the meantime I hold off buying by G5 until Panther and new monitors come out...

Jason

Maybe the iWorks suite to replace appleworks.

The release of the 20th Anniversary Mac - G5 Cube. Just in time for the Superbowl Ad.

*10.3.1
*iBook [new formfactor, or just updates]
*eMac [updates to bring up to iMac levels]
*Power Mac G5 [up to 2.2 or 2.3 Ghz, 2 duals]
*Discontinuation of Power Mac G4?
*[No] Tablet
*New displays, as rumored
*iTunes Europe
*iTV
*iSticky, iMail (both will probably never happen, though)
*iPhoto 2004 - By then it will have been [roughly] a year since iPhoto 2003 - More editing, selectable photos from camera?
*iMovie 2004 - About 9-10 moths [then] from iMovie 2003.
*Xserve
*ADC 2
Random specs, while we're at it:
iBook:
New formactor?
900Mhz-1Ghz or 900Mhz/1Ghz-1.1Ghz
CD-RW or DVD on low-end (not combo, but next-best)?
SuperDrive optional? [No]
256MB RAM on base? Use new PB 12" RAM architcture (256MB soldered?)
384MB RAM on high-end?
13"? Wide-screen 13 or 14"?
DDR RAM?
1.2" thin?[No]
eMac:
1Ghz and 1.25Ghz
256MB RAM on base?
GeForce 4 on low-end and GeForce FX on higher-end
PowerMac G5:
Better graphics on middle model?
At least 384/512MB RAM on all?
1.8, Dual 2, and Dual 2.2/2.3 or 1.8, 2.0, Dual 2.2/2.3
Displays:
17" widescreen? - 1440x900
20"
23"
30"?
Price cut on 17" or widescreen 17" ($525-$600?)
ADC 2? Compatibile with ADC 1 displays, but supports higher resolutions (as practically needed for 26"/27" or bigger)
XServes
1.4/1.5 G5
Dual 1.33 G4
Dual 1.6-2.0 G5s?

When do you think that the new Al Powerbook 15" will get a revision B? I was hoping to buying one but having read these forums and the Ars Technica review I am starting to think that maybe I should wait and see. There seems to be a lot of problems with that computer. Defective screens, "lids" that won't close and that are curved rather than straight. Short battery life and so on... Any thoughts?

Personally I'd rather get the last revision Powerbook G4 than the first revision Powerbook G5! Am I nuts to think that?

YES!


Yeah, I guess.


Jobs already said he hates TV.

iSticky; iMail: What's the point?

As to the TV, I know. It'll never happen. Ah well... Note: I don't like TV eithier, but it would compete with Media Center.
iSticky: Categories, iTunes interface, searching, Palm sync. iMail: iGot carried away.

Well, let's see here.

On the one hand, this looks sort of like the rush of releases leading up to WWDC that had us all wondering what would be left for the keynote. Which means Apple's preparing for a whopper.

On the other hand, given that Apple can release things whenever now that they have everyone's attention, and given that MWSF falls into no known shopping season, Apple can use it as they have been using it, as a "big picture" event where Steve draws all their announcements together into a trajectory for Apple, and shows how they're executing on their strategies (spun positively, of course). This will be as much for the benefit of the media and analysts as for the Mac faithful - although the faithful will no doubt be heartened at some of the news as well.

For Really Big Product Announcements, it's gotta be WWDC. Why? Because it appears that the time I have hoped for for three years has arrived, and OS X has given Apple a liberty to do hardware and software design that OS 9 never allowed. Also, the new Apple will not release new technologies to fend for themselves, as they did in the bad old days. The first people who need to know about any serious new direction or technology are the developers, and Apple will support both its own initiatives and its developer base in a way that it hasn't in decades by rolling out the serious new stuff at their developer conference.

So my guess is that if there's something that Apple could release sometime around January 5th, they'll throw it in the keynote just 'cause. But the meat of it will be a lot of big picture stuff.

XServe G5 (featuring a RevB G5)
iBook (900 Mhz, 1.1 Ghz)
Maybe RevB G5 towers
Software updates: iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD
Appleworks update
New line of Displays, featuring a 30"-top model (with brag-o-matic)

I'm thinking these are going to come before the end of the month, nevermind MacWorld in Jan.

I think sizeable G5 speedbumps and a revamped display line may indeed come at MWSF. I think Dual 2.5 is very possible at this point. I think those two items would be the capstone of this event. Fuggetabout G5 PowerBooks, special new iDevices or anything of the sort. It's all about the G5 and the success of the iPod and the iTMS.

A rumor I heard from an Apple reseller was the appearance of Dual 1.8GHz G5's due to high demand on 2GHz and low sales of 1.8s versus 1.6s. Must say for home use a dual 1.8 at a decent price difference would be attractive to me.

Jason

Apple resellers don't know shit.

As someone who works at one, I should know

iWorks? SoftImage + 3DLabs on OS X? iLife Update? 1.8, 2x 1.8, 2x 2.2 GHz G5s?

Speculation is fun.

maybe they'll introduce a midline powermac'ish g4 to replace the old one... kind of like the headless imac hopefully, now that they got a g5 to run with in the powermacs.

I rather doubt we are going to see another different product based on a G4 - I can see the iBook switching from G3, but that's about it - the future is undoubtedly the 970.

New form factor iMacs (not completely differrent, more like when the original iMac was updated with a newer form factor). A new personal digital device. Updates to G5, Panther and some new iApps. Appleworks will be replaced with a new office suite. Quicktime 7.

Completely redesigned iMac, Sources say.

its already been said, but new imacs!

iMac replacement...hmmm could be quite different.

xServe updates to G5...gotta be soon. Clustering/Grids should be out soon enough.

New monitors....the 30" HDTV / Computer combo....should be an interesting 2004. Can't wait til Spring though.

Superbowl ad? Just hope it ain't a special anniversary thing. I think Steve learned the lesson with the 20th or the Cube. Not worth the millions spent for the ad. Stockholders would probably freak!

how about a new snappier ilife suite. DVD + R compatibility in iDVD.

And I really think a new budget tower for the enterprise. something maybe along the lines of a thin client that will allow corporations to utilize their existing mice, keyboard, and monitors, but implemment os x on the desktop. This will also tie in with the xserve and ibms high end unix servers. Unix on the desktop and the server. Hopefully to go with this new hardware, a huge fortune 1000 customer win to announce.

Apple has already announcesd the 1000+ university puchases (VaTech and Uni of Tokyo)

Once a large fortune 1000 customer is announced, apple will be able to get the attention og more IT dept itching to switch.

Or if the "new imac" is the right price it may fit this mold.

How about an imac with detachable/replaceable monitors.

Hopefully iPhoto 3. My iPhoto library has gotten to the point where it's so slow that I can barely use it. I have about 3 Gb worth of photos, which I don't think is that uncommon. And, they need a command to delete photos from the library that aren't in any albums. That would help slim things down.

iPhoto has an empty trash feature, but I haven't used it. I think iPhoto is in need of a lot of work. Maybe the photo library could be displayed like iTunes' music library, without thumbnails. That said, I don't think it's that high of a priority at Apple, altho it should be. iPhoto is good enough, and has little or no competition.

I expect to see a cheaper LCD iMac intro'd at MWSF (plastic arm?) and the eMac discontinued a few months later. A 12" or 14" iMac, perhaps?

Good lord, you can't be serious!

A plastic arm? A 12 for 14" screen? That's called an ibook.

imac 2: pocket size with a 10" foldable widescreen screen with 1280 x 1024 resolution. (But i did see a 14" LCD on display a few weeks ago)

allmighty steve's keynotes are allways very structered: what was, what is, what will be (the one more thing).

in jan04 he can say, 03 WAS the year of the laptop, of panther, of ITMS 2.gen...- very successful, fmpov.-

and:
keynotes are not for "minor" changes as speed bumps etc. but what should need a major change? ... just the imacs, don't they?

so, if 03 was the year of laptops, then 04 is ... absolutley NO idea!

digital hub? isn't it old fashioned? are idevices not lastyears models?

software? ok, iMovie is a mess, still no i"word" - but this is all "maintanance", eccept, the word-processor has some features, nobody would dare to think of...

are you shure, the 20th anni is not a thing to celebrate? i do still dream of a little apple machine, big enough to put cds/dvds in, to stream via airport some audiosignals to very tiny adaptors into my househould's soundssystems and do some tv-recordings...- Cube64 (=4x4x4), plug&play...-

is 3D visualisation a thing, the "minority report input" thing? would look crazy, everybody moves like Karajan in an office. - but 25 years ago, i couldn't imagine, everybody is running around in public with headphones on his heads! 3Dgoggles???? no, still scifi.

maybe something like this nice box?

Asus DigiMatrix

I think the rumored speed increases for the PowerMacs are almost certain. We "might" see a new iMac by then.

Apple really can't afford to hold the new iBooks and eMacs until next year.

Given Apple's history, we may see a surprise in 2004 ... something most people won't expect but that will change the Apple lineup considerably. That surprise may just be a completely redesigned iMac, or it may be something else. In any case, I strongly suspect that Apple is going to do something to shake up things in 2004 ... but I doubt we'll see something groundbreaking by January.

Ehrm.... 4 months for the G5, is that annoucing when ready?


How does he watch his pr0n DVD's then?

Apple won't carry 4 LCDs. Notice they dropped the 15" when they added the 20"? If they add a 30" (highly doubt it) they would drop the 17".

or maybe they will drop the 20" 17" is a good entry level lcd, and that is still necessary. I hope new minitors eliminate ADC, or come withADC to DVI adapters. (recruit PC users with less work)