13.1" screen sounds like a sweet spot for a future iBook, possibly with some sort of tablet functionality. However, I'm not sure about the transition of the laptop line from having a couple of consumer options and one pro option to having one consumer option and a few pro options. I think that the iBook's current arrangement of screen sizes are good enough to cover most bases with consumers. Most of the speculation in this thread are people merely wanting change for change's sake, when the current situation covers most bases quite well.
[quote]Even if one (or both) of these things happen, there will still be the problem of putting a (fanless and cool) G4 into the iBook. As I recall, the 12" PB has a fan, and is helped by the heat dissapation qualities of its Aliuminum shell. The polycarbonate used by the iBook would melt before dissapating one degree of wormth.<hr></blockquote>
I don't know about yours, but my iBook also has a fan.
[quote]On the other hand, the new "Sahara" G3 would do the job perfectly, at speeds of up to 1.2 ghz and with less power consumption than the current 800 mhz models. Who doesn't want more battery life? <hr></blockquote>
The Sahara G3 has been available since early 2002 and in iBooks since May 2002, starting at 600 MHz and now at up to 800. It is expected to go to at least 1000.
The 1.2 GHz CPU you're talking about is the Gobi, IIRC:
Sorry. My bad. I meant the Gobi, but I said Sahara. All those blasted, goddam deserts! Are all G3's named after vast exanses of sand, filled with lizards and animal skulls? <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
I don't think that they use what comes out the bottom of of the sieves, they use what is left on the top of them. <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
According to <a href="http://www.looprumors.com"; target="_blank">Looprumors</a>, there is to be a G4 iBook in May. By then, everything will be running a 970
They won't do away with the 12" iBook. Not everyone wants a big screen. The 12" iBook is the perfect student computer, more so than the 12" G4. It's thicker and hardier than the PowerBook, more livable in the reality of student life. And 14" is simply too big for both backpacks and the meager desks in the lecture halls. The 12" iBook is the only true replacement for a Duo.
We're young, we can still see just fine without giant screens.
There will be an ultraportability premium in the form of a line-up reshuffle (as per my descriptions), cry all you want, but you won't cry long when you see a new 14 that's nearly as small as the current 12. It won't be too big, it might even be smaller in one dimension (thickness). You'll see, could take a year, probably one more bump to the current design, but it will happen.
<strong>There will be an ultraportability premium in the form of a line-up reshuffle (as per my descriptions), cry all you want, but you won't cry long when you see a new 14 that's nearly as small as the current 12. It won't be too big, it might even be smaller in one dimension (thickness). You'll see, could take a year, probably one more bump to the current design, but it will happen.</strong><hr></blockquote>
<strong>There will be an ultraportability premium in the form of a line-up reshuffle (as per my descriptions), cry all you want, but you won't cry long when you see a new 14 that's nearly as small as the current 12. It won't be too big, it might even be smaller in one dimension (thickness). You'll see, could take a year, probably one more bump to the current design, but it will happen.</strong><hr></blockquote>
It's real cute how you act like you know this. And get all frustrated because I disagree. ****ing adorable. The truth is, you don't know. They may take the iBook to 13", which I wouldn't quibble over, the happy medium between the 12" and the monstrous 14".
The "ultraportable" concept would work better if OS X allowed you to scale the size of toolbars and titlebars independently from the resolution. That way, you could have a teeny little 10" screen with an extremely high resolution, but stil be able to see the close, minimize, and maximize buttons.
tablet would cost more... tablet is not needed for the iBook's market.... iBook is a run away success in its form factor/feature set....... tablet is pointless for schools right now.... tablet isnt as durable.....
<strong>Matsu noticed something critical that I noticed too. The bezel on the 12" PB is bigger than the the Lapzilla 17 incher, which is kind of strange.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Your hunches about this are basically right: It's easier and cheaper to have a thicker bezel, and ruggedness is a primary design goal for the iBook.
As long as it's targeted at the educational market, the iBook will not be the thinnest or most svelte machine on the market. It has to survive being tossed in backpacks full of textbooks, and falling off desks in class.
I would say that Apple will probably bump the specs of the current form factor iBooks and lower the price. With three powerbooks on the high end, the iBook's only strongly differentiating factor is cost (because it sure isn't going to get a G4 anytime soon!).
I say look for lower cost iBooks with slightly better specs. Then again, i'm an engineer, so I tend to guess conservatively.
Comments
I don't know about yours, but my iBook also has a fan.
[quote]On the other hand, the new "Sahara" G3 would do the job perfectly, at speeds of up to 1.2 ghz and with less power consumption than the current 800 mhz models. Who doesn't want more battery life?
The Sahara G3 has been available since early 2002 and in iBooks since May 2002, starting at 600 MHz and now at up to 800. It is expected to go to at least 1000.
The 1.2 GHz CPU you're talking about is the Gobi, IIRC:
According to <a href="http://www.looprumors.com"; target="_blank">Looprumors</a>, there is to be a G4 iBook in May. By then, everything will be running a 970
[ 02-16-2003: Message edited by: os10geek ]</p>
We're young, we can still see just fine without giant screens.
if Apple should change the ibook-line, wouldn't a 13"model just be right?
?>no more 12"
?>no more 14"
welcome ibook G4 13" in various finishes and small(12"?) form factor?
<strong>There will be an ultraportability premium in the form of a line-up reshuffle (as per my descriptions), cry all you want, but you won't cry long when you see a new 14 that's nearly as small as the current 12. It won't be too big, it might even be smaller in one dimension (thickness). You'll see, could take a year, probably one more bump to the current design, but it will happen.</strong><hr></blockquote>
no, no, no, no, me think it will be a 13 incher
and you know what? you nor me have any clue
But that doesn't mean it shouldn't or couldn't be changed.
Could have a nip and tuck.
I think we'll see faster processors 800-1 gig.
And...maybe bigger harddrive.
And...maybe a screen consolidation. The 14inch iBook looks a little awkward to the neat 12 inch.
Perhaps a 13 incher or Matsu's 14 inch face lift.
If they can do what they did to the 12 inch Powerbook then...I'd expect a 'refined' iBook design.
But as I look at my wife's iBook sitting next to this blasted Athlon Tower...I don't see alot wrong with what Apple's doing with the iBook.
Maybe Ives can surprise me. He has done frequently.
I still want to know how Apple can offer the cheapest consumer laptop for cheaper than their cheapest iMac2. What's going on?
Lemon Bon Bon <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />
I'm not opposed to an all black stealth bomber iBook special edition. Gloss black...
[ 02-17-2003: Message edited by: Lemon Bon Bon ]</p>
<strong>There will be an ultraportability premium in the form of a line-up reshuffle (as per my descriptions), cry all you want, but you won't cry long when you see a new 14 that's nearly as small as the current 12. It won't be too big, it might even be smaller in one dimension (thickness). You'll see, could take a year, probably one more bump to the current design, but it will happen.</strong><hr></blockquote>
It's real cute how you act like you know this. And get all frustrated because I disagree. ****ing adorable. The truth is, you don't know. They may take the iBook to 13", which I wouldn't quibble over, the happy medium between the 12" and the monstrous 14".
What if the mysterious iBook wait, for an upgrade, was actually for a new G3 tablet.
Couldn't this be upgraded to 1 Ghz and not compete with the new 12" PowerBook?
Different Class of Products.............right.
<a href="http://macrumors.com/"; target="_blank">http://macrumors.com/</a>;
I think a tablet would be more durable.......the screen behind a nice thick piece of lexan. Don't you think so?
<strong>Matsu noticed something critical that I noticed too. The bezel on the 12" PB is bigger than the the Lapzilla 17 incher, which is kind of strange.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Your hunches about this are basically right: It's easier and cheaper to have a thicker bezel, and ruggedness is a primary design goal for the iBook.
As long as it's targeted at the educational market, the iBook will not be the thinnest or most svelte machine on the market. It has to survive being tossed in backpacks full of textbooks, and falling off desks in class.
I say look for lower cost iBooks with slightly better specs. Then again, i'm an engineer, so I tend to guess conservatively.
<strong>A tablet costing more? Are you sure about that? No hinge mechanism and one body. And how much could a stylist cost?
I think a tablet would be more durable.......the screen behind a nice thick piece of lexan. Don't you think so?</strong><hr></blockquote>
How would the (expensive) touch screen work behind a hard piece of plastic?