Updated iBooks!

jeremiah richjeremiah rich
Posted:
in Current Mac Hardware edited January 2014
From Macminute:



Apple today announced updates to its iBook G4 lineup for consumers and education customers with PowerPC G4 processors running at up to 1.2 GHz and an optional DVD-burning SuperDrive. The new iBook G4 lineup includes support for advanced wireless connectivity with AirPort Extreme 54 Mbps 802.11g wireless networking and Bluetooth, and a slot-load Combo drive for burning CDs and watching DVDs. The new iBook G4 can now hold up to twice as much fast DDR memory for even greater performance, says Apple. The new iBook line is available immediately with prices starting at US$1,099
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 54
    jeremiah richjeremiah rich Posts: 853member
    Here is a link to the article from Yahoo:



    http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040419/sfm094_1.html



    Looks like they FINALLY removed the ram limit. Sounds kind of interesting as it can have up to 1.25 gigs of memory now.... Maybe 256 is still soldered in? (Not still I suppose as it was 128 before). Does this mean we may get a Powerbook with even more slots? Also, the Radeon 9200 sure looks nice, and the option of a 4x Superdrive... Sweet stuff!
  • Reply 2 of 54
    chuckerchucker Posts: 5,089member
    Looks like AI's sources nailed it.
  • Reply 3 of 54
    banchobancho Posts: 1,517member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Jeremiah Rich

    From Macminute:



    Apple today announced updates to its iBook G4 lineup for consumers and education customers with PowerPC G4 processors running at up to 1.2 GHz and an optional DVD-burning SuperDrive. The new iBook G4 lineup includes support for advanced wireless connectivity with AirPort Extreme 54 Mbps 802.11g wireless networking and Bluetooth, and a slot-load Combo drive for burning CDs and watching DVDs. The new iBook G4 can now hold up to twice as much fast DDR memory for even greater performance, says Apple. The new iBook line is available immediately with prices starting at US$1,099



    Wasn't it updated to Airport Extreme in the *last* update along with slot loading drive and bluetooth capability?
  • Reply 4 of 54
    mattjohndrowmattjohndrow Posts: 1,618member
    that's what i thought too bancho
  • Reply 5 of 54
    thegeldingthegelding Posts: 3,230member
    i wonder if this update will allow spanning...an iBook and a new 17 or 19 in flat screen monitor would be sweet





    g
  • Reply 6 of 54
    escherescher Posts: 1,811member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by thegelding

    i wonder if this update will allow spanning...an iBook and a new 17 or 19 in flat screen monitor would be sweet



    thegelding: Not without the Spanning Doctor hack, I would think. That's why I'll be paying the $300 premium for the 12-inch PowerBook. I think reliable clamshell mode, more VRAM, and extra 0.33Ghz clock make it worthwhile. The 5400rpm/80GB drive option on the PowerBook is an additional plus factor.



    Escher
  • Reply 7 of 54
    homhom Posts: 1,098member
    I knew that iBook updates had to be coming soon just as eMac were recently rev'ed. It education buying season and Apple has just taken care of what I assume to be a big ticket item for the iBooks, a Superdrive. I'm sure there are a lot of teachers out there that are going to get 14" iBooks this coming year.



    Only thing I would have liked to see was standard WiFi on the iBooks like the PowerBooks, but I guess that's going to have to wait another revision or two.
  • Reply 8 of 54
    flounderflounder Posts: 2,674member
    I think the ibook updates are excellent.



    My only small gripe is I would have like either a 40 Gb HD on the low end, or if not that, $999 instead of $1099.



    It is a small quible though
  • Reply 9 of 54
    flounderflounder Posts: 2,674member
    Wow, you know what's awesome?



    If you're a student you can get a laptop with DVD burning ability for less than $1400!
  • Reply 10 of 54
    f1turbof1turbo Posts: 258member
    Is the optional Wi-Fi capability concealed in the case, like a built in unit--or is it a card with one of those ugly external antennas? I've never used a Mac portable but want to get one. Do they use PCMCIA slots?
  • Reply 11 of 54
    homhom Posts: 1,098member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by F1Turbo

    Is the optional Wi-Fi capability concealed in the case, like a built in unit--or is it a card with one of those ugly external antennas? I've never used a Mac portable but want to get one. Do they use PCMCIA slots?



    All Apple laptops have an internal slot for proprietary WiFi cards. They also have integrated antenna for great reception. iBooks don't have PCMCIA slots, but PowerBooks have one.
  • Reply 12 of 54
    thereubsterthereubster Posts: 402member
    If you are in the UK and want a new 14" iBook make sure you add a superdrive - its only a £40 option!! Might be a mistake though... get in quick!!
  • Reply 13 of 54
    lucaluca Posts: 3,833member
    The WiFi (Apple calls it Airport Extreme) capability is added through an internally installed card. You get the card, open the case, and install it. The card hooks up to an antenna built into the case. It's not external. iBooks get excellent wireless range, better than most PC laptops, because of the big antennas running through the screen.



    Also, Airport Extreme IS built into the top-end 14" iBook. It gives you more incentive to buy the high end - before, the $200 bought you 67 MHz and a 20 GB larger hard drive (which was only a $50 BTO option on the 933 MHz iBook). Now, that $200 buys you a $100 Airport Extreme card, 200 MHz, and that hard drive upgrade. Definitly worth springing for the top-end model this time around.



    Oh, and this is also the first iBook update ever to give more than a 100 MHz speed bump. Every other white iBook revision has been a 100 MHz jump.
  • Reply 14 of 54
    f1turbof1turbo Posts: 258member
    HOM and Luca--thanks for the info. Now at least I don't need to worry about Wi-Fi driving my choice.



    It does sound like the 14" is a good deal value-wise, but I'm more drawn to the size of the 12" for portability, or the backlit keyboard and resolution of the 15" PowerBook. At about a $300 premium for the 12" PowerBook over the 12" iBook, I'm leaning to the iBook.



    If the 12" PowerBook had the backlit keyboard, I'd definitely go with it.
  • Reply 15 of 54
    amorphamorph Posts: 7,112member
    The iBook finally gets a SuperDrive! Yes!



    Now, start pushing that option down the line, Apple. A 12" iBook with SuperDrive would be the best educational machine on Earth.



    Anyone notice that the claimed battery life on iBooks is 6 hours again?
  • Reply 16 of 54
    escherescher Posts: 1,811member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Amorph

    Anyone notice that the claimed battery life on iBooks is 6 hours again?



    I wonder if both the PowerBooks and the iBooks will get Moto's new low-power PPC 7447A processor. That could explain increased battery life. OTOH, they haven't increased the battery life of the 12-inch PowerBook. It's still 5 hours.



    Escher
  • Reply 17 of 54
    lucaluca Posts: 3,833member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by F1Turbo

    HOM and Luca--thanks for the info. Now at least I don't need to worry about Wi-Fi driving my choice.



    It does sound like the 14" is a good deal value-wise, but I'm more drawn to the size of the 12" for portability, or the backlit keyboard and resolution of the 15" PowerBook. At about a $300 premium for the 12" PowerBook over the 12" iBook, I'm leaning to the iBook.



    If the 12" PowerBook had the backlit keyboard, I'd definitely go with it.



    Well, it's $500 extra to go from the 12" iBook to the 12" PowerBook. However, with this update, I think it's definitely more worth it. Until now, the $500 premium bought you 200 MHz, a slightly larger hard drive, monitor spanning with DVI, a different (not necessarily better) graphics card, and a *slightly* smaller form factor.



    Now that same $500 gives you 333 MHz, a hard drive twice as large, monitor spanning/DVI, twice the VRAM, and built-in Airport Extreme and Bluetooth. Just bumping the 12" iBook up to a 60 GB hard drive and adding Airport Extreme and Bluetooth brings the cost up to $1323. The iBook is good as a bargain laptop if you don't need any of those features, but if you're going to add them you may as well go with the PowerBook. Also, in my experience, Apple's pro computers are more reliable and much faster than you'd expect compared to their consumer machines. I am quite certain a used 800 MHz PowerBook G4 will stomp a 1 GHz iBook into the ground.
  • Reply 18 of 54
    f1turbof1turbo Posts: 258member
    The differences are where I got the ~$300 from--when I compared them I added the same size hard drive and wireless. I don't have anything with Bluetooth yet, so I guess the main difference from my perspective is double the VRAM and faster RAM. I do think the Powerbook looks cooler though, especially at night with the lit apple.
  • Reply 19 of 54
    homhom Posts: 1,098member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by F1Turbo

    The differences are where I got the ~$300 from--when I compared them I added the same size hard drive and wireless. I don't have anything with Bluetooth yet, so I guess the main difference from my perspective is double the VRAM and faster RAM. I do think the Powerbook looks cooler though, especially at night with the lit apple.



    Just so you know, the Apple lights up on the iBook too.
  • Reply 20 of 54
    dmband0026dmband0026 Posts: 2,345member
    Must resist this...my money is going to paramedic school now.

    But I would look so cool walking into class and pulling that 14' iBook out of my bag to take notes.



    This is so hard to resist. Someone give me a reason not to do it! Hurry, my clicking finger is getting itchy! 8)
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