Has Apple ever updated a product this quickly?
This really struck me today as I saw the current issue of Macworld on a store shelf, sporting the *new* PowerBook G4 at 1GHz. I know it's been out for a while now, but it's the January 2003 issue, and it's still on newsstands.
This kind of thing must happen in the PC world all the time, of course since it's pretty easy to swap out part #443956 and change it with part #447824 into the generic box. I've never seen anything like this from Apple though.
This 1 GHz G4 PowerBook was released on Nov 6, 2002, and we're treated to a MAJOR update of the line on Jan 7, 2003. I would really like to know the number of people who bought a new TiBook in the past few weeks thinking that NO WAY was Apple going to update the PowerBooks. I sure didn't see it coming until a week ago when info started to leak out.
Just thought it was amusing to see the "old" PowerBook on the cover of the January issue of Macworld. Getting pretty much impossible for print media to keep up to date - news of these new models probably won't make it into print until the March issue!
[ 01-09-2003: Message edited by: murbot ]</p>
This kind of thing must happen in the PC world all the time, of course since it's pretty easy to swap out part #443956 and change it with part #447824 into the generic box. I've never seen anything like this from Apple though.
This 1 GHz G4 PowerBook was released on Nov 6, 2002, and we're treated to a MAJOR update of the line on Jan 7, 2003. I would really like to know the number of people who bought a new TiBook in the past few weeks thinking that NO WAY was Apple going to update the PowerBooks. I sure didn't see it coming until a week ago when info started to leak out.
Just thought it was amusing to see the "old" PowerBook on the cover of the January issue of Macworld. Getting pretty much impossible for print media to keep up to date - news of these new models probably won't make it into print until the March issue!
[ 01-09-2003: Message edited by: murbot ]</p>
Comments
I suppose I should have said "Have they ever revamped a product line this quickly?"
Someday? Soon? This spring? Maybe?
apple would to well to start having keynotes BEFORE christmas, not right after.
in any case, i was impressed. these guys are doing great work on the portable side, which is where the G4/G3's truly shine. let's just hope they can bring the desktop machines up to snuff.
-alcimedes
:0)
<strong> it also almost feels like the 1Ghz PB upgrade was a pre-Christmas rush job, to get something new and better out the door before Jan.
-alcimedes</strong><hr></blockquote>
i don't know, al. remember how freakin' impressed we all were at how well apple kept the 1 ghz chip AND slot-loading superdrive under wraps? it didn't feel rushed, other than people were gettign very antsy waiting around for a powerbook update, so it felt like it was really big deal, especially while not being coupled with an apple event or keynote.
guess they had better things in the works, so they threw the masses that bone to tide (sp?) them over.
[ 01-09-2003: Message edited by: rok ]</p>
Other short-lived Macs:
IIvi (October '92 to February '93)
667 MHz PowerMac G4 (produced for a few months before it was discontinued)
A lot of the early iMacs... the Rev. A was around for two months, the Rev. B for three months, and the Rev. C for four months.
Also, the original PowerBook G3 series (the one available in 233, 250 and 292 MHz) was revised in three months to the second PowerBook G3 series (233, 266 and 300 MHz).
I wouldn't put it past Apple to actually change a product within a two to three month span, but it certainly isn't common. Those are about the only examples I can think of. Otherwise, most of their products have been updated within about six months.
Future upgrades? Don't be surprised to see the 12" iBook go bye-bye replaced by 14's at the same prices at some point down the line. PB's are down to 1799 now. iBooks will play between 900-1500 and there may not be too much wiggle room in there if they slim down the 14" a tad. Mebbe one 13.3" model? iDunno, I just have a feeling that the iBook will become a one size fits all line up now that they're hocking three PB sizes.
That is, unless the 14" gets a resolution bump and loses some weight. If it had, say, 1152x870 resolution instead (giving almost as many pixels per inch as the 12" version) and weighed 5.5 lbs, then I would consider one. But the 12" is so tiny and wonderful? I have to imagine they must sell about twice as many 12" as 14", or more. The lower price is just icing on the cake for me!
Oh, and a superdrive would be nice
I noticed that almost none of the PC laptops are 12". They all have 14" screens, even the "thin and light" ones. Well, I've seen a couple 12" PC laptops, but they are few and far between, expensive ($1600+), and use crappy shared video memory along with slow processors (1.2 GHz Pentium III-m). If my iBook were ever to meet an army of those, it would leave unscathed in front of a smoldering pile of PC minilaptop ruins. MWAHAHAHAHA! :cool:
[ 01-10-2003: Message edited by: Luca Rescigno ]</p>
<strong>The Power Mac G3 was updated and then 3 months later it died when the Power Mac G4 was announced.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Proud owner of a PowerMac G3 B&W.