Whisperings of 970 in the 15" AlBook
From Macwhispers
Information we received in January from two key Apple suppliers convinced us that the 15.4-inch PowerBook had gone into production at that time, but had then been held up due to similar manufacturing problems as beset the first run of 17-inch units. Since that time, we have been told that only "a very few" pre-production units of the 15-incher were actually produced, prior to the production being stopped entirely. We have heard that as few as "a few hundred" of these units were actually produced.
Next, in February, a new source told us that his company had been awarded the production contract for the new mid-size PowerBook, and that actual production would begin in "late March." This same source has more recently told us that the new 'Book had been "substantially re-engineered between January and March," and "will be based on the IBM 970 processor."
Information we received in January from two key Apple suppliers convinced us that the 15.4-inch PowerBook had gone into production at that time, but had then been held up due to similar manufacturing problems as beset the first run of 17-inch units. Since that time, we have been told that only "a very few" pre-production units of the 15-incher were actually produced, prior to the production being stopped entirely. We have heard that as few as "a few hundred" of these units were actually produced.
Next, in February, a new source told us that his company had been awarded the production contract for the new mid-size PowerBook, and that actual production would begin in "late March." This same source has more recently told us that the new 'Book had been "substantially re-engineered between January and March," and "will be based on the IBM 970 processor."
Comments
Originally posted by discstickers
I could see this happening. The G3 appeared in the PowerMacs and the PowerBooks at the same time.
It's an interesting rumour - I just find it odd that the idea was posed in forums here a week ago, and then here on ThinkSecret and then suddenly appears self-fulfilling just as the meme is gaining momentum...
Macwhispers sure has been a primary feed of late for a lot of discussion...
http://forums.appleinsider.com/showt...0&pagenumber=2
and i posted the macwhispers story before this thread started...so plz anyone lock?
Originally posted by cycle
hey...pay some respect to jindrich...he started this
http://forums.appleinsider.com/showt...0&pagenumber=2
and i posted the macwhispers story before this thread started...so plz anyone lock?
His thread is referenced two posts above yours - and you posted your link a full minute after this one (), so I really I had no idea...I guess I was more concerned about Macwhispers appearing with info that matched the suppositions of a few in this forum (and others), and feel that it's an interesting phenom, given the number of posts fueled by their reports...
Originally posted by bandalay
His thread is referenced two posts above yours - and you posted your link a full minute after this one (), so I really I had no idea...I guess I was more concerned about Macwhispers appearing with info that matched the suppositions of a few in this forum (and others), and feel that it's an interesting phenom, given the number of posts fueled by their reports...
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i cant hear you...
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Originally posted by costique
The only reason, as I see it, to put PPC970 into PowerBooks now (that is, before PowerMacs) is that IBM has a large number of 'slow' PPC970s like 1-1.2GHz for whatever reason. Doubtful, but still possible.
Exactly. They'll probably not have problems getting the chips they want as IBM is likely to have a lot of chips in that category. But Apple still has to develop these machines and do they have the capacity now to do that. You would think that they would use all available resources getting the new p-macs ready for WWDC or whatever. It's possible, but will it happen? I don't know.
The current product situation with the Ti 15" makes no real sense... There is no reason why we may not see it in a PB first.
I would love to see the headlines about Apple having a 64 bit Laptop before anyone even had a desktop up and running...
I can but dream...
Peace,
Marcus
Originally posted by NETROMac
Exactly. They'll probably not have problems getting the chips they want as IBM is likely to have a lot of chips in that category. But Apple still has to develop these machines and do they have the capacity now to do that. You would think that they would use all available resources getting the new p-macs ready for WWDC or whatever. It's possible, but will it happen? I don't know.
First, you can only use so many resources to get something done. Too many engineers can spoil the motherboard. I'd be very surprised if Apple didn't have enough hardware engineers to keep several projects at a time going full speed.
Second, work on a PowerMac is not mutually exclusive with work on a PowerBook. The two will use a lot of the same logic, and run into a lot of the same issues. The 'book is already set up to handle a hot CPU (the 7455 at 1GHz isn't exactly lukewarm) so that's not really an issue.
Lastly, remember, Apple has had a lot of time to work on these things. For all we know they intended to retire El Capitan last summer, and they ended up shoehorning a bunch of new stuff into what became the MDD models when the next-gen CPU from Moto didn't pan out. I'm not saying this did happen, but it's plausible.
Originally posted by Amorph
The 'book is already set up to handle a hot CPU (the 7455 at 1GHz isn't exactly lukewarm) so that's not really an issue.
Ehm... But still cooler than a 970. Only because the PowerBooks get hot doesn't mean they're using the hottest processors available.
they claim the opposite..
"Also, on the (very popular among readers) subject of new 15-inch Powerbooks: the 15.4-inch Aluminum Powerbook G4 is waiting in Apple's warehouses, held back only by the fact that there are still thousands of existing 15.2-inch Titanium models in retailers' stores. Because of this fact, we still don't see an update to the 15-inch Powerbook for 2-3 weeks hence. Expect immediate posting of any updates on this subject in the days ahead!"
Originally posted by wellversed
http://www.macosrumors.com
they claim the opposite..
"Also, on the (very popular among readers) subject of new 15-inch Powerbooks: the 15.4-inch Aluminum Powerbook G4 is waiting in Apple's warehouses, held back only by the fact that there are still thousands of existing 15.2-inch Titanium models in retailers' stores. Because of this fact, we still don't see an update to the 15-inch Powerbook for 2-3 weeks hence. Expect immediate posting of any updates on this subject in the days ahead!"
They have not been right in a very long time.
Why put a cpu in the PB that would make the towers look crippled in comparison
I could see a simultaneous release but not the PB first.
PowerBooks offer more profit per unit sold than ANY other Apple hardware.
Put the 970 in it and the profits would soar.
Originally posted by hegor
Am I the only one who finds this stupid?
Why put a cpu in the PB that would make the towers look crippled in comparison
I could see a simultaneous release but not the PB first.
Huh?
Originally posted by discstickers
I could see this happening. The G3 appeared in the PowerMacs and the PowerBooks at the same time.
Then again, the idea of gigawire and a separate box to house expansion slots/drives is appealing (but admittedly ungraceful).