Any reason to cancel my order?

jazzbozojazzbozo
Posted:
in Current Mac Hardware edited January 2014
I just ordered my first modern Apple Powerbook (last one I owned was a 520c), the 17" 'John Holmes' model, and now I hear talk about the soon to arrive update to the 15" model, with a rumored better LCD (negligbly decreased resolution with a slight increase in size and better color saturation).



Other than the LCD, is there any reason to fear Apple will up the ante in other areas - e.g. giving it a Geforce4 460 Go or, God forbid, a 4200 Go - effectively making the 15" the flagship model in video performance and quality and at a lower price than the 17"? Just wondering what others think. Would they hurt their sales of the 17" this way (I sort of doubt it, but just airing my fears publicly)?



I know, I know, I could just wait it out, but I was never one for delayed gratification.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 7
    pesipesi Posts: 424member
    i highly doubt they'd stick a better graphics chip into any new 15 inch model. of course, that's up to debate whether the new nvidia chips are actually better than what's already there...



    stick with the 17. you're sure to be more than happy.
  • Reply 2 of 7
    omekomek Posts: 43member
    I too am curious of Apple's intentions for the 15" PowerBook.... I'm surprised the entire line doesn't contain ATI 9000's. Considering, they have been dubbed the top-of-the-line from benchmarks.



    I really want a 17".....but I would also like a better graphics card in it. I also heard of some heat issues with the 12" models, so I'm very uncertain about the 17" models. Decisions....decisions........... <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />
  • Reply 3 of 7
    rashumonrashumon Posts: 453member
    [quote]Originally posted by Omek:

    <strong>I too am curious of Apple's intentions for the 15" PowerBook.... I'm surprised the entire line doesn't contain ATI 9000's. Considering, they have been dubbed the top-of-the-line from benchmarks.



    I really want a 17".....but I would also like a better graphics card in it. I also heard of some heat issues with the 12" models, so I'm very uncertain about the 17" models. Decisions....decisions........... <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>



    been playing with a friend's 12" quite extensively - and I gave it a heat test by running top at a 0.1 sec refresh rate - i.e that makes the CPU use go through the roof! plus doing other tasks and installing stuff from DVD... only after about 30 minutes did it get warm and that wasn't uncomfortable... - and remember this was under consistent intense CPU stress. not once through the entire time did the fan start-up and the machine behave impeccably under that stress - I am very impressed with the little thing - is beautiful and very well finished - much better made then my TiBook 400.
  • Reply 4 of 7
    omekomek Posts: 43member
    Hmmmm...Well that's interesting...I guess I'll have to take a trip up to Computer Village and try one for myself...



    I'm very confused, because some people are saying the 12" gets extremely hot and others say it's just fine.... :confused:



    Mostly, I'm just concerned with the 17" ones. I like using my iMac DV 400MHz for a really long time. And when I get the 17", I want to be able to use it as my desktop computer too when I go to college in the fall. I will no longer have my iMac so...yea.....
  • Reply 5 of 7
    fran441fran441 Posts: 3,715member
    I can't say when Apple will update the 15" PowerBooks but I bet it will be after the 17" PowerBooks are readily available (meaning you can go into a store and buy one or ship times are down to 1-3 days).



    I just got my TiBook 1 GHz and it's unbelievable. Everything I've thrown at it has been no problem at all.



    I can even play games in Classic without a slowdown.



    When the AlBook 15" does come out, I expect to see it with the backlit keyboard, Firewire 800, Airport Extreme, Internal Bluetooth, and the same graphics card as the 17" PowerBook.



    I don't think we will see processor upgrades, an increase in HD size, or any increase in the amount of memory with the system. I don't think there will be any faster optical drives either.



    I doubt Apple will make the new 15" PowerBook the top of the line machine over the 17" PowerBook. Instead, I'd expect there to be a 15" PowerBook and 17" PowerBook that have the exact same specs besides screen size.



    I'm not sure if Apple will stay with two 15" models either, but it will be interesting to see.
  • Reply 6 of 7
    g3joelg3joel Posts: 29member
    It's not the CPU that is causing the heat problems in the 12", it's the hard drive. The spot where most people observe the heat issue to be is the left palm rest. If you take a look at some 12" hard drive replacement pics posted a while back you'll notice that the component underneath the left palm rest is actually the hard drive. So, running top at 10 cycles/sec wont do much to prove that there is no heat issue. A better test would be to run hard disk intensive operations.
  • Reply 7 of 7
    rashumonrashumon Posts: 453member
    [quote]Originally posted by g3joel:

    . So, running top at 10 cycles/sec wont do much to prove that there is no heat issue. A better test would be to run hard disk intensive operations.[/QB]<hr></blockquote>



    I know all that, that why I was also exercising the HD by installing multiple stuff from DVD and DMG files all at the same time.. it did get warm after a while but nothing too bad and anyway - while using the KB I cant see how the HD will be kept as busy as I made it go.... I was exercising the CPU the HD and the DVD all with rather impressive results... of course if you are sensitive to heat or really love your laptop very chilled then you might find it too warm, but for me the fact its so silent is worth the extra slight warmness!
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