New iBooks?

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gramscigramsci
Posted:
in Future Apple Hardware edited January 2014
I wonder if the iBooks will get an update soon?



I want to buy a new laptop and tried the 12inch Alu. I was shocked at the heat on the left palm rest! The iBook has always been attractive, but I fear that if I buy now, I'll regret it in two weeks time.



Any thoughts/news that I'm (patently) unaware of?
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  • Reply 1 of 23
    709709 Posts: 2,016member
    Ask Dr_Holistic. He knows more about upcoming products here than anybody.
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  • Reply 2 of 23
    709709 Posts: 2,016member
    Sorry for the knee-jerk. I couldn't help myself.



    Honestly, the iBooks are due for a refresh sometime soon, as the last update was in April. But don't hold your breath. The iBook is nice. If you need it, buy it. If you can wait, wait until Paris goes by at least.
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  • Reply 3 of 23
    mcqmcq Posts: 1,543member
    I'd expect the PB line to get an update before the iBooks... so I'd guess an iBook revision is 2 months away at the earliest.
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  • Reply 4 of 23
    gramscigramsci Posts: 35member
    Thanks for the help. The edu deal in the UK makes the ibook a very attractive proposition (£180 rebate with an iPod and printer).



    I really have no need for the power of a G4, but I wondered if the new ibook would get bluetooth/airport extreme/usb 2...
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  • Reply 5 of 23
    mmmpiemmmpie Posts: 628member
    My experience is that the iBook left palm rest gets really hot as well.

    Also just where the power plug is gets hot too.

    In fact, it gets so hot in those two places that I cant sit with it on my lap. The top isnt so bad, but I dont rest my hands on the palm areas.



    I dont think the PB is any worse, its simply the hard drive ( which might be helped by having more ram ) and the power circuit. The power plug in the PB is on the left, so that will be a bit different.
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  • Reply 6 of 23
    kingofsomewherehotkingofsomewherehot Posts: 4,185member
    It doesn't matter what you buy or when you buy it ... i new and improved version will follow within a few months ... that's just the way this industry works.



    While it's fun to always have the "latest and greatest" ... sit back and realize that what you bought is perfectly fine.



    Of course, this close to a major Expo, you might as well wait if you're not in a hurry.



    My only concern in buying a G3 is that they are on thier last legs ... while still a good chip, it's not gonna be around much longer.
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  • Reply 7 of 23
    gramscigramsci Posts: 35member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by KingOfSomewhereHot

    It doesn't matter what you buy or when you buy it ... i new and improved version will follow within a few months ... that's just the way this industry works.



    While it's fun to always have the "latest and greatest" ... sit back and realize that what you bought is perfectly fine.



    Of course, this close to a major Expo, you might as well wait if you're not in a hurry.



    My only concern in buying a G3 is that they are on thier last legs ... while still a good chip, it's not gonna be around much longer.



    I realise that there is always something new. I'm not asking for the moon on a stick (or am I?); I am torn between buying a new powerbook or a new ibook. I know that new powerbooks are coming, I just wanted to know if there was any word on the iBook. If not, I'm sorely tempted to buy the present ibook because I find its appearance more pleasing.



    Saying that, I am concerned about buying a laptop with a G3 chip.



    I did not realise the iBook was also hot on the left side. Is this the case when it is plugged in?
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  • Reply 8 of 23
    mcqmcq Posts: 1,543member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by gramsci



    I did not realise the iBook was also hot on the left side. Is this the case when it is plugged in?



    Yes, the left palm area below the keyboard gets fairly warm when plugged in... though I hear not as bad as the 12" PB.
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  • Reply 9 of 23
    mmmpiemmmpie Posts: 628member
    Its hot whether its plugged in or not. Thats where the hard drive is, and it is the heat generated by that.



    There is also the charging circuit that gets hot ( top right ), but only when plugged in, and I think worse when the battery is full ( dont charge it on your lap ).



    I havent noticed the PB being hotter when Ive tried it in the shop. The ibook is hotter underneath than it is on top, making for toasty thighs.



    Im very happy with my iBook.

    Considering the much improved QE supporting video in the new iBooks I think they'll be better. However the white ( not clear ) plastic isnt as appealling to me.



    I dont think the PB is really much better than the ibook.

    Having a G4 is good for doing media stuff.

    Bluetooth is good, if you have a BT phone, or keyboard.

    Airport Extreme, not important when you're network is using older airport as well.

    All sockets on the left side is good ( cable clutter is a real pain with the ibooks ).

    Better video out ( spanning, hi res ). Only analogue, how stupid, I really want to get a 20" cinema display.



    The PB has a better keyboard, and nice styling, and its smaller. The improved IO is good, and its faster.



    Its only 300 more.



    Im torn, I think that 300 is fair for the extras, but that by missing out on DVI and the backlit keyboard it falls short of being a real powerbook.



    The ibook can do spanning with a hack, so the only thing its missing for me is bluetooth. I can survive without it. But, you need to get more memory for it straight away.



    At the moment Id go for an ibook from compusa. The one near me has 'open box' specials. Just check its all there, and in good condition, and get a $100 discount. Or a refurb PB, 10% discount, my local applestore had one last time I was there.
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  • Reply 10 of 23
    gramscigramsci Posts: 35member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by mmmpie

    Its hot whether its plugged in or not. Thats where the hard drive is, and it is the heat generated by that.



    There is also the charging circuit that gets hot ( top right ), but only when plugged in, and I think worse when the battery is full ( dont charge it on your lap ).



    I havent noticed the PB being hotter when Ive tried it in the shop. The ibook is hotter underneath than it is on top, making for toasty thighs.



    I wonder if this is something they can fix in the new revisions? It seems that no matter what laptop i get, I'll have toasty wrists....



    I'm skeptical of the Alubook for a number of reasons. I've read somewhere else that spots can appear on the hand rest due to reaction with your skin. Now, as much as I love macs, chemical relations are not what I'm looking for in a computer!



    I agree with you on the colour thing - I preferred the clear plastic covers on the ibooks.



    I'm also not fussed with bluetooth as I can simply plug the phone into the computer, if I really wanted to. USB 2 would be nice as would airport extreme.



    I think I will wait until Paris has gone before I place my order - it seems the most sensible thing to do even though I want to play with a new mac before my course starts...
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  • Reply 11 of 23
    mmmpiemmmpie Posts: 628member
    Im going to get an emac and wait and see what comes down the pipe.
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  • Reply 12 of 23
    altivec_2.0altivec_2.0 Posts: 995member
    ibook will be updated. staying at 900Mhz wont cut in terms of performance compared to the competion. If Gobi (I think that's the name of the G3 that scales over 1Ghz) is available, it will be put into the iBook soon. Hopefully IBM finalized that chip along with the G5. If apple can get the ibook up to 1.5GHz and sell that model for 1399. That models going to sell like hot cakes on a cold day. I know for sure I'd buy one.
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  • Reply 13 of 23
    frykefryke Posts: 217member
    Well, IBM is _not_ sampling G3s at up to 1.5 GHz. We might see a 1 GHz version some day, but certainly not before the PBs are clocked even higher. 1.5 GHz iBook in two months? Sure, I'd buy one, too. Bleh. :P
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  • Reply 14 of 23
    leonisleonis Posts: 3,427member
    If the new iBook is at 1.5GHz AND allow me to do the Open Firmware hack for dual display support I will get one
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  • Reply 15 of 23
    ryaxnbryaxnb Posts: 583member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by gramsci

    I wonder if the iBooks will get an update soon?



    I want to buy a new laptop and tried the 12inch Alu. I was shocked at the heat on the left palm rest! The iBook has always been attractive, but I fear that if I buy now, I'll regret it in two weeks time.



    Any thoughts/news that I'm (patently) unaware of?



    I'm happy with my iBook. A couple notes.

    1. If a new 1-1.1 Ghz iBook comes out, it doesn't make yours obsolete. Like I have an Athlon 1Ghz as my PC, and the Athlon-XP now hits over over 2.1Ghz, but are computer is still good (well, as good as a PC can get.)

    2. The iBook is only 10 days away from the average update time, though, so you might want to wait till at least Paris Expo.
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  • Reply 16 of 23
    ryaxnbryaxnb Posts: 583member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by mmmpie

    My experience is that the iBook left palm rest gets really hot as well.

    Also just where the power plug is gets hot too.

    In fact, it gets so hot in those two places that I cant sit with it on my lap. The top isnt so bad, but I dont rest my hands on the palm areas.



    I dont think the PB is any worse, its simply the hard drive ( which might be helped by having more ram ) and the power circuit. The power plug in the PB is on the left, so that will be a bit different.



    My iBook's left palm rest gets warm, but rarely hot (I have an iBook 900 14".)
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  • Reply 17 of 23
    alpantheralpanther Posts: 52member
    AI's article "Apple to Refresh PowerBooks in Paris"

    link

    mentions

    " Previous rumors put the new 15" PowerBook in an aluminum enclosure with ports on the sides, a backlit keyboard, USB 2.0, FireWire 800, and a 1.25 GHz PowerPC G4 processor. The 17" configuration is said to gain USB 2.0 and a 1.3GHz PowerPC G4 processor. It will be interesting to see if Motorola's current yields have allowed Apple to meet these original specifications.



    Meanwhile, the computer company is also readying updates to their consumer iBooks. The new units will sport USB 2.0 and AirPort Extreme support, sources said. Additionally, the PowerPC 750FX flavor of IBM's G3 processor allows for the implementation of a 200MHz 60x bus that could potentially keep the portables running Apple's latest OS offerings at more than respectable speeds for a fraction of the cost of the PowerPC G4. Further information pertaining to the official release of these iBooks, as well as their processor generation, is currently unconfirmed. "



    Any thoughts on this? will apple release new iBooks @ paris expo? That would kick @$$ , i need another beater and i've been waiting for airport extreme to make it's way to iBooks.
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  • Reply 18 of 23
    nofeernofeer Posts: 2,427member
    I'd wait till ibook regardless of processor can handle airport extreme since this is the future of airport and future digital hub gizmos. and usb 2 is becoming the new usb standard

    as far as Christmas, there are always freebies, like extra ram, free shipping etc, it's a major time of the year for computer and other stuff, i got my best deals the week before or week after christmas
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  • Reply 19 of 23
    mmmpiemmmpie Posts: 628member
    USB 2 is going to be very important.

    I can seriously see that firewire is going to be left for video cameras and specialist users.

    The cheapest firewire video digitiser is 300, the cheapest USB 2 is 60.

    Im sure that the firewire one is better, but only in a way thats useful to a limited user base, and hence it will always cost more, real shame.
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  • Reply 20 of 23
    zozo Posts: 3,117member
    USB 2 has issues with backwards compatibility and a host of other diasadvantages that have been discussed to death. In the end, Firewire is by far the winner. Still, good to have USB2.
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