Speedbumps and the new hardware...

Posted:
in Future Apple Hardware edited January 2014
It's been a while since we've seen any speedbumps across the product line (iMac for one); and we all believe that the PMs will see something, if the rumors are true, at the end of the month.



However, considering that the new PBs are new in just about every way EXCEPT their CPU, what are the odds that we'll see these speedbumped anytime soon? What about the iBooks? Personally, I think the iBooks will be stuck where they're at until the PBs get something new. If the PMs get updated at the end of the month, then the liklihood of the PBs getting updated pre-MWNY, goes up a notch, as it *seems* Apple likes to have the fastest on their desktop, and the next fastest on their PBs.



Thoughts?

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 6
    Speedbump?!? <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />

    You mean like one of those bumps in the road that keeps you from driving to fast? <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> If this is what you mean you're probably right on. <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />



    Seriously though.

    If there is a PM update it wont be a speedbump. Apple doesn't know what speedbump is . Probably just the adition of Firewire 800 maybe hopefully the adition of AGP8X and nvidia gforce FX which is to launch now in january.
  • Reply 2 of 6
    lucaluca Posts: 3,833member
    [quote]Originally posted by firelark:

    <strong>Apple doesn't know what speedbump is .</strong><hr></blockquote>



    Uh, actually the speedbump seems like the definition of the Apple product update. Most of their upgrades are minor bumps in speed, and once in a while you get something big.



    Example: When the PowerMac G4 was released, it was a huge leap forward. A few months later, when the 500 MHz model was released, that was just a speed bump. Same with the next update after that (dual 450 and 500). Another big leap with the 733 MHz one with superdrive, then a speedbump to 867 MHz, then another speedbump to 1000 MHz, then another speedbump to 1250 MHz. We're about due for another big leap (with maybe one more speedbump in between).



    Apple likes to strike a balance between providing ho-hum upgrades all the time and providing huge overhauls once in a great while. They do a good job of making clearly superior, upgraded products every six months or so.
  • Reply 3 of 6
    Well the upgrade in mhz doesn't really matter as long as apple stays with the current G4/chipset since the low bandwidth and bus speed will prevent any further speedbump from taking place. They may crank the G4 to 1.5+ghz but all this will generate is more heat.



    So don't hold your breath.
  • Reply 4 of 6
    sc_marktsc_markt Posts: 1,401member
    [quote]Originally posted by fuzz_ball:

    <strong>It's been a while since we've seen any speedbumps across the product line (iMac for one); and we all believe that the PMs will see something, if the rumors are true, at the end of the month.

    </strong><hr></blockquote>



    I hope when I'm watching the superbowl, I see an ad for an Apple PPC 970 or G5 powermac. Be a neat way to first hear about new powermacs...
  • Reply 5 of 6
    progmacprogmac Posts: 1,850member
    [quote]Originally posted by Luca Rescigno:

    <strong>



    Example: When the PowerMac G4 was released, it was a huge leap forward. A few months later, when the 500 MHz model was released, that was just a speed bump. Same with the next update after that (dual 450 and 500). Another big leap with the 733 MHz one with superdrive, then a speedbump to 867 MHz, then another speedbump to 1000 MHz, then another speedbump to 1250 MHz. We're about due for another big leap (with maybe one more speedbump in between).</strong><hr></blockquote>



    While I see your point, the 733 wasn't really a "big leap" Lots of times it was outperformed by Dual 500s/533s. It had crap for cache (256k L2). I guess the chip was a big leap, but apple implemented it horribly.
  • Reply 6 of 6
    lucaluca Posts: 3,833member
    You might have a point, but still...



    It was the first PowerMac to have DVD burning, 133 MHz bus, AGP 4X, full speed L2 cache (only 256 kb but it was at full processor speed), L3 cache, and it was the first to go above 500 MHz in an entire year.



    And I agree that it would be outperformed by dual 500 or 533 MHz PowerMacs, at least in applications that are SMP enhanced. I mean, that's obvious. Non-SMP enhanced applications would do better on the 733.



    EDIT: Back to the topic at hand, I think Apple will release at least one more holdover model before the 970 comes out, possibly two. There will be an update sometime pretty soon, and another one in the late summer, and one early next year. So the 970 will probably come out this summer or early next year.



    I'm not sure where people are getting the idea that the 970 will be in PowerMacs by this March or something... I mean, anything could happen, but I thought the 970 wasn't shipping until Quarter 3 this year? Wouldn't that mean that the earliest PowerMacs to use it would be late this year or something?



    [ 01-13-2003: Message edited by: Luca Rescigno ]</p>
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