Apple Computer is expected to make at least one hardware-related product announcement during this week's Apple Expo, despite the company's decision to cancel its opening keynote presentation at the Paris show, AppleInsider has learned.
Based on previous reports, the company appears ripe to update either its PowerBook G4 laptop line, its Power Mac G5 line, or both product lines.
Apple has been working on one last PowerPC-based PowerBook G4 update that sources said would include higher resolution displays, DDR2 memory (and the Intrepid 2 chipset), larger hard disk drives, slightly improved battery life and dual-layer DVD burning SuperDrives.
The PowerBook update was previously expected to obtain Freescale's new PowerPC 7448 chip at 1.7GHz, though sources recently said ongoing developmental problems with the update may force Apple to continue to use the existing 1.67GHz PowerPC 7447 processor if it refreshes its PowerBook offerings.
Meanwhile, Apple has also been working on updates to its Power Mac G5 line of professional desktops since the latter half of 2004. Details of the update are scant, but sources previously indicated the models would each obtain two of IBM's dual-core PowerPC 970 processors for a total of four cores. The chips are each expected to run beyond 2GHz, but are not expected to reach the now mythical 3GHz PowerPC benchmark.
Indeed, our friendlies at the Mac Treasure Tracing Club have provided some early setup photos from Apple's booth at the Apple Expo, which show black curtains draped over at least one Macintosh product display area -- a telltale sign that unannounced product information lies beneath.
Apple last updated its PowerBooks in February and its Power Macs in April.
Based on previous reports, the company appears ripe to update either its PowerBook G4 laptop line, its Power Mac G5 line, or both product lines.
Apple has been working on one last PowerPC-based PowerBook G4 update that sources said would include higher resolution displays, DDR2 memory (and the Intrepid 2 chipset), larger hard disk drives, slightly improved battery life and dual-layer DVD burning SuperDrives.
The PowerBook update was previously expected to obtain Freescale's new PowerPC 7448 chip at 1.7GHz, though sources recently said ongoing developmental problems with the update may force Apple to continue to use the existing 1.67GHz PowerPC 7447 processor if it refreshes its PowerBook offerings.
Meanwhile, Apple has also been working on updates to its Power Mac G5 line of professional desktops since the latter half of 2004. Details of the update are scant, but sources previously indicated the models would each obtain two of IBM's dual-core PowerPC 970 processors for a total of four cores. The chips are each expected to run beyond 2GHz, but are not expected to reach the now mythical 3GHz PowerPC benchmark.
Indeed, our friendlies at the Mac Treasure Tracing Club have provided some early setup photos from Apple's booth at the Apple Expo, which show black curtains draped over at least one Macintosh product display area -- a telltale sign that unannounced product information lies beneath.
Apple last updated its PowerBooks in February and its Power Macs in April.
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