12.1in. TiBook as 12.1in. iBook Replacement?

ghost_user_nameghost_user_name
Posted:
in Future Apple Hardware edited January 2014
Hey guys (this is my first new thread here so I hope I am not wasting too much bandwidth now...)



Well, I read a rumor somewhere that Apple plans to phase out the 12.1in. iBook in favor of the new 14in iBooks (prolly at <a href="http://www.mosr.com/"; target="_blank">MOSR</a>, but i don't want to totally invalidate my thread. )



Would it be economically feasable to produce a 12.1in TiBook as the 12.1in. iBook's replacement? ZDNET refers to the 15.2in. TiBook as Apple's <a href="http://www.zdnet.com/supercenter/stories/overview/0,12069,541087,00.html"; target="_blank">"Business Notebook"</a>. Wouldn't a 12.1in TiBook more suitably fit this description? Of course the power of the 15.2in TiBook would remain(as well as the model itself in the product lineup)- just another model in a smaller case.



Steppin Out in Front of the Firing Squad. <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />



[ 02-15-2002: Message edited by: sjpsu ]



[ 02-15-2002: Message edited by: sjpsu ]</p>
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 58
    fireants22fireants22 Posts: 119member
    I would buy one right now if there was a mini-Ti... I already have a Pismo500 and always wanted the Ti-but not the big, floppy screen. A smaller "mini-Ti" would definately solve the flexibility issue.
  • Reply 2 of 58
    leonisleonis Posts: 3,427member
    Business works don't need altivec.



    What 'bout a G3 based Titanium with 13" or 12.1" screen. That surely will kill iBook's sale <img src="graemlins/surprised.gif" border="0" alt="[Surprised]" />
  • Reply 3 of 58
    junkyard dawgjunkyard dawg Posts: 2,801member
    The G4 is primarily intended for multimedia apps, which also need a large dispaly. The 12.1 display doesn't need a GHz G4, a G3 is fine for now. Although I wouldn't mind seeing a G5 Titanium and a G4 iBook, but I think this is a year or two away.
  • Reply 4 of 58
    macanoid(tm)macanoid(tm) Posts: 344member
    you want a mini Ti??



    <a href="http://www.jrhillandcompany.com/miniti/gallery.html"; target="_blank">http://www.jrhillandcompany.com/miniti/gallery.html</a>;



  • Reply 5 of 58
    satchmosatchmo Posts: 2,699member
    Unlikely that a 12" Powerbook surfaces.

    Too many models will just muddy the laptop landscape.

    All that Apple needs to do to round out their laptops is to bump their 14" iBook to a G4.



    The Powerbook is used by business people who may or may not need Altivec. Pro users and creative types do.



    But the rest of the masses also require a reasonably priced G4 for everyday stuff which means OSX. (yeah, it runs on a G3 but not as well).
  • Reply 6 of 58
    ghost_user_nameghost_user_name Posts: 22,667member
    [quote]Originally posted by satchmo:

    <strong>Too many models will just muddy the laptop landscape.

    </strong><hr></blockquote>



    Satchmo,

    While I agree that "too many" models will "muddy the laptop landscape," my proposal keeps the number of models the same. It differs in the replacement of the 12.1in iBook with a 12.1in TiBook. I see this model as better suited to the "business notebook" classification due to its decreased form (lighter and thinner than a 12.1in iBook) and increased power. Of course the 15.2in TiBook would remain for those who need the increased screen size.



    [ 02-15-2002: Message edited by: sjpsu ]



    [ 02-15-2002: Message edited by: sjpsu ]



    [ 02-15-2002: Message edited by: sjpsu ]</p>
  • Reply 7 of 58
    applenutapplenut Posts: 5,768member
    It should not be an iBook 12.1 inch replacement. it should be a midrange model between the 12.1 inch iBook and Powerbook. it should be where the 14 inch iBook is



    13.1 inch TiBook

    G4

    radeon

    20 GB HD

    Combo

    maybe a PC Card slot

    $1799



    They would sell a shitload.



    See this thread for more:

    <a href="http://forums.appleinsider.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=000981"; target="_blank">http://forums.appleinsider.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=000981</a>;
  • Reply 8 of 58
    bellebelle Posts: 1,574member
    There's no way the 12in iBook is going anywhere. I tried to get a Combo iBook at three(!) stores today, and all of them are awaiting new stock, and all have a list of customers waiting to pick them up when they arrive. I don't know whether it's the result of a production or shipping problem, but the 12in iBooks are amazingly popular.



    My guess is that the next major iBook revision will come in mid to late 2003, when it'll lose a pound and gain a G4.



    There's no need for a mini-PowerBook. The iBook will get there eventually.
  • Reply 9 of 58
    matsumatsu Posts: 6,558member
    I think most people like the 12" iBook just the way it is. As it is it fits the role of entry level notebook and small/'almost sub' notebook perfectly. Everyone can afford it. And it's nice and durable. A TiBook version would certainly cost more, be quite hot, and probably not as durable. Just look how vulnerable the TiBook's current screen looks. I'm sure it's strong enough, but you wouldn't want to drop it into a backpack, even a smaller version. Apple won't drop a 12" iBook for a 12" TiBook, they'll make G4 iBooks at some point late this year, or maybe next year.



    I'd rather see them sqeeze a 13.3" screen into the current 12" enclosure. There ought to be just enough bezel around the current 12", maybe use a 13/13.1 if the 13.3 is a hair too tight.
  • Reply 10 of 58
    onlookeronlooker Posts: 5,252member
    matsu almost said it all.

    The problem with phasing out the G3, and the iBook is affordability, and the education market. Apple addressed this spacificly with the i-Lineup. Before the iBook came out people were aways complainng at these boards that th Mac platform was far too pricey for anything other than that of a fanatic who had to have the Mac stamp on their computer.



    Those who said this were realy suffering from OS Envy, but we wont go into that.



    Although I will admit hat I would like to see a compact G4 powered laptop, but I don't think Apple has a wide enogh market spred to split the Pro Laptop design into two segments. A (what?) Desktop replacement, ala Dell/Gateway, and a Pro SubnoteBook? Maybe they do. But 4 (2 iBook, 2 Pro) laptop versions?



    It's too hard to call for me. What do you guy's think? Will it happen?
  • Reply 11 of 58
    imacfpimacfp Posts: 750member
    Apple needs to leave the 12 inch iBook alone, except for normal revs. About the only flaw with the 12" is that the low-end model still has a 66 MHz bus. I've always loved the TiBook but if I could I'd get an iBook. And I might once I pay off my iMac. If MacMall would just ship it!
  • Reply 12 of 58
    applenutapplenut Posts: 5,768member
    iBook still isn't durable enough for education.



    the original was. that's why my mother's district won't let her use any of her hardware money to buy iBooks. they can't withstand their "desk fall rule". In other words, dropping the old iBook 3 feet resulted in little to no damage while dropping the new ones results in numerous problems most notably the screen popping out
  • Reply 13 of 58
    falconfalcon Posts: 458member
    I thought that dispite the its looks, the new iBook is supposed to be stronger than the Clamshell. According to Apple propaganda that is.
  • Reply 14 of 58
    neutrino23neutrino23 Posts: 1,562member
    [quote]Originally posted by satchmo:

    <strong>Unlikely that a 12" Powerbook surfaces.

    Too many models will just muddy the laptop landscape.

    </strong><hr></blockquote>



    I would say that too many [B]similar[/Q] models muddy the landscape. Apple has the sparsest lineup of any major computer company. There are just three different cases. Sony (kicking Apple's but in Japan) has at least five, Toshiba, Dell others all have five or six models.



    The problem Apple had about six years ago with multiple models is that they were all virtually the same. You couldn't distinguish a IIci from a IIvi without a playbook.



    In my opinion, Apple should make a wider variety of laptops. It is nice that they have the 12.1 and 14 inch iBooks. Now how about a 12.1 inch notebook for executives along the lines of this 2.6lb. Toshiba:



    <a href="http://news.com.com/2100-1040-838724.html"; target="_blank">http://news.com.com/2100-1040-838724.html</a>;



    A deep metallic blue or green cover, fast FW, kind of like the BMW roadster.



    At the high end Apple could also make a monster TiBook. Make it two inches thick with a fan and dual G4s and a 17 inch wide screen.



    The idea is not to have lots of similar models but to have models that are well differentiated and suit the needs of a number of different markets.



    -- end of rant --
  • Reply 15 of 58
    addisonaddison Posts: 1,185member
    Forget it chaps.



    Apple is not going to do anything to it's top selling product. The iBook is still selling like hot cakes.



    Don't fix what isn't broken.
  • Reply 16 of 58
    satchmosatchmo Posts: 2,699member
    <strong>

    The problem with phasing out the G3, and the iBook is affordability, and the education market. </strong>[/QUOTE]



    I realize cost is always in issue. However,

    the quickest way to lose the educational market is if your product doesn't perform well.



    Apple needs to refine OSX to run quickly on the current G3 iBook. That or get that 1GHZ G3 chip in there soon. It's silly to tout OSX as the future but have it running so slowly on 500mHz 66 bus iBooks.



    That's why I've always advocated having some sort of scaled down OSX Lite version for G3 equipped Macs.
  • Reply 17 of 58
    applenutapplenut Posts: 5,768member
    [quote]Originally posted by Falcon:

    <strong>I thought that dispite the its looks, the new iBook is supposed to be stronger than the Clamshell. According to Apple propaganda that is.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    perhaps in some sort of skewed tests but dropping the two side by side from a desk apparantly is another story.





    The iBook also needs to get much faster. It's sad that people have to second guess buying an iBook because they fear that the OPERATING SYSTEM may be too slow on it.
  • Reply 18 of 58
    jwdawsojwdawso Posts: 389member
    [quote]Originally posted by applenut:

    <strong>



    perhaps in some sort of skewed tests but dropping the two side by side from a desk apparantly is another story.





    The iBook also needs to get much faster. It's sad that people have to second guess buying an iBook because they fear that the OPERATING SYSTEM may be too slow on it.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    I have a 600mhz iBook, and it runs OSX and "business" apps great! Most of the 2nd guessers who read this board aren't really shopping for an iBook (their mom and dad haven't given them the cash), they're just whining about specifications. Don't get me wrong - faster is better. But the weight, battery life, PRICE, etc - in other words, the total package - is why iBooks are flying off the shelf.
  • Reply 19 of 58
    applenutapplenut Posts: 5,768member
    [quote]Originally posted by jwdawso:

    <strong>



    I have a 600mhz iBook, and it runs OSX and "business" apps great! Most of the 2nd guessers who read this board aren't really shopping for an iBook (their mom and dad haven't given them the cash), they're just whining about specifications. Don't get me wrong - faster is better. But the weight, battery life, PRICE, etc - in other words, the total package - is why iBooks are flying off the shelf.</strong><hr></blockquote>





    not really. OSX runs poorly on an iBook. most of the people on this board own macs released in the last two or 3 years. I think its insulting to generalzie them all as whiners who have no money to buy a machine because their mommies don't give them the money.



    the majority of people here own some expensive machines.



    I know I would have considered a combo drive iBook had it had a radeon and/or a G4.
  • Reply 20 of 58
    coolhandpetecoolhandpete Posts: 350member
    I use my friend's iBook every day and it's slower than any computer I've used in 10+ years. Granted, it does more (burning CD's is what I mean) but to hell with photo-realistic icons and pulsating bubble-buttons if I long for my old 4DOS 5.0 days when everything happened instantaneously once it's been loaded into cache.



    My braintheorem has always been that if computer manufacturers changed their mission statements to: "Make computers that feel like calculators" then we'd be running computers faster than fire. I'd prefer computers still retain the functionality of older technology until the instantaneous part has been worked out, then bump them up with the brainchildren of the "idea-people," retaining that instantaneous quality. Computer companies, in my opinion, have been tripping over their own feet since Bill Gates first set the example with Windows 95.



    - PEte



    "OS X on an iBook: My PCjr. was faster."



    "Multi-tasking is for pot-smokers."
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