Apple unveils faster iBooks

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Comments

  • Reply 21 of 165
    akhomerunakhomerun Posts: 386member
    why do the video cards still have 32 MB of memory?????



    HELLO Tiger wants 64Mb standard for core video!!



    i just got a video card for my PC, and although it is an outdated chipset (9600XT, although much better than anything apple puts in their computers) they at least had upgraded RAM so I now have a 256MB video card that originally had 128MB when it first came out.



    but Apple is reducing the memory on the graphics cards!! The 9550 had 64Mb when it came out if I remember correctly.





    Apple wonders why nobody plays games on their computers, maybe if they at least gave consumers the option of getting a faster video card, never mind the ability to switch out a better one. it's real neat how on the imacs you can change any parts you want EXCEPT for the video card.



    although at least the imacs include a semi decent video card.



    with macs, unless you get an upgraded power mac for $2000, you get a 4 year old graphics card with your computer that can't even handle the standard features of tiger.



    don't get me wrong, I've been waiting for years for a mac with a decent video card. and for a mac with games. but maybe we'll get all that when the intel macs come out. then people may actually make games for the mac.
  • Reply 22 of 165
    akhomerunakhomerun Posts: 386member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Gene Clean

    1.42GHz PowerPC G4

    512K L2 cache @1.42GHz

    512MB memory (DDR333 SDRAM)

    14.1-inch TFT Display

    1024x768 resolution

    ATI Mobility Radeon 9550

    32MB DDR video memory

    60GB Ultra ATA hard drive

    SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW)

    Built-in AirPort Extreme

    Built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR

    Scrolling Trackpad

    Sudden Motion Sensor



    http://www.apple.com/ibook/




    that's not dual layer!! that's being able to write to DVD+R and DVD-Rs. dual layer DVDs would say DVD+R DL
  • Reply 23 of 165
    mikefmikef Posts: 698member
    DVD+-RW is NOT double layer.
  • Reply 24 of 165
    gene cleangene clean Posts: 3,481member
    Damn them, got my lingo mixed up.
  • Reply 25 of 165
    louzerlouzer Posts: 1,054member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Gene Clean

    1.42GHz PowerPC G4

    512K L2 cache @1.42GHz

    512MB memory (DDR333 SDRAM)

    14.1-inch TFT Display

    1024x768 resolution

    ATI Mobility Radeon 9550

    32MB DDR video memory

    60GB Ultra ATA hard drive

    SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW)

    Built-in AirPort Extreme

    Built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR

    Scrolling Trackpad

    Sudden Motion Sensor



    http://www.apple.com/ibook/




    Nice. But thats just DVD/RW. No mention of Dual layer capabilities (you know, for 8GB max, rather than 4 on the single layer, none of which has anything to do with +/- or R/RW).
  • Reply 26 of 165
    gene cleangene clean Posts: 3,481member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Louzer

    Nice. But thats just DVD/RW. No mention of Dual layer capabilities (you know, for 8GB max, rather than 4 on the single layer, none of which has anything to do with +/- or R/RW).



    Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's been pointed out to me.
  • Reply 27 of 165
    louzerlouzer Posts: 1,054member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Gene Clean

    Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's been pointed out to me.



    Well, if I wasn't such a slow typer, my nasty response would've come out first. Now I look like a freakin' "yeah, see, I'm blind, I can't see that someone else told you were wrong, so I'm going to point it out too!".



    Maybe I should just stop posting on AI and get back to work.
  • Reply 28 of 165
    jlljll Posts: 2,713member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by sunilraman

    because that's what a powerbook is (faster processor and superdrive in 12")



    yeah, fuck the 1024x768 14". that is sooooo last year




    Because everything will be too small using a higher resolution. We buy 14" iBooks for our users since everything is too small on a 12" screen.



    Expect the resolution to get higher when the resolution independence feature is completed in Mac OS X.
  • Reply 29 of 165
    I think the biggest thing we can take from this update is that an update to the Powerbook MUST be approaching.



    Now that the iBook has Bluetooth 2.0, SMS, Airport, Scrolling Trackpad, 512mb RAM (built in), upgraded cpu, there's are even fewer differences between the two, especially when comparing the 12in base models. As far as I can see, the Powerbook has a slightly better cpu, 50% more HD space, mini dvi, and a few other options (monitor spanning) plus, i guess, the form factor, but is that really worth an extra $500 ($999 vs. $1499)?



    I was looking to update my Rev. B Powerbook, but i'll think i'll hold out on this for a while...



    Edit: Different video card too, maybe it's is differentiated enough. I'm not convinced though, what do you guys think? If this update is seen as poor, then what is considered of the Powerbooks right now?
  • Reply 30 of 165
    smalmsmalm Posts: 676member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by rickag

    why can't they add Core Image capable graphics cards? I think this is inexcusable.



    Radeon 9550 is a low cost down-cut version of the 9600, with programmable vertex and pixel shaders in hardware.



    But the 64bit memory bus and only 32MB RAM is prohibitiv
  • Reply 31 of 165
    louzerlouzer Posts: 1,054member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by your_ad_here

    I think the biggest thing we can take from this update is that an update to the Powerbook MUST be approaching.





    Sorry, Apple just updated the Powerbooks. It would be so against character for them to update them within 6 months, let alone before the end of the year.
  • Reply 32 of 165
    rickagrickag Posts: 1,626member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Louzer

    Sorry, Apple just updated the Powerbooks. It would be so against character for them to update them within 6 months, let alone before the end of the year.



    Well I hope this Apple policy changes as soon as they start using Intel chips. If they don't upgrade on a faster pace, they will be left standing in the dust in the wacky world of Intel/AMD competion.
  • Reply 33 of 165
    sandausandau Posts: 1,230member
    i had an iBook in my cart and waited for this announcement in case it had a better screen and GPU but it doesn't. And only VGA out? pooo.



    Yes, its a better deal today than yesterday with some of the options built in but no way in hades am I going to buy an iBook with 1024x768 resolution. Yuck. Time to move along. I'll have to look at the next revision.
  • Reply 34 of 165
    hmurchisonhmurchison Posts: 12,392member
    Man I'm tired of waiting for decent Mac hardware.



    HP NX6125 $994



    Processor: AMD Turion 64 ML28 Processor (1.60GHz)

    L2 Cache: 512KB



    Integrated Wireless: Broadcom 802.11b/g WLAN, Bluetooth

    Security: Biometric Fingerprint Reader



    Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2



    Display: 15" TFT XGA with 1024 x 768 resolution (up to 16M colors internal)



    Memory: 512MB 333MHz DDR SDRAM (512MB SODIMM in slot 1), expandable to 2048MB

    Hard Drive: 40GB (5400 rpm)



    Optical Drive: DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo

    Networking: Integrated NetXtreme Ethernet Controller (10/100/1000 NIC)

    Modem: 56K fax/modem

    Graphics: ATI Mobility Radeon X300

    Video Memory: up to 128MB shared



    Expansion Card Slots: ExpressCard/54 slot



    Ports: 3 USB 2.0, VGA, IEEE1394, external microphone, headphone/line out, power connector, RJ-11 (modem), RJ-45 (NIC), S-video TV out, travel battery connector

    Audio: Conexant AC '97 CODEC, Line out/headphone and microphone jacks, integrated 16-bit Sound Blaster Pro-compatible audio, integrated stereo speakers

    Security Features: Integrated HP Biometric Fingerprint Sensor; HP ProtectTools Security Manager




    Apple better get it's ass in gear. This last transition is it. If price per performance doesn't improve then that's it. Looking at Apple's specs it's understandable why they have 320 million in profits.
  • Reply 35 of 165
    I think it's quite funny really - after reading the previous speculation on this site.



    There's nothing you can do, iBooks sell well - and are increasing Apples market share as we speak. There is no need for Apple to try hard to please the small fraction of users (of iBooks) that want good specs in a consumer model.



    Sure they can make it better and better value to tempt some more users across.



    They'll try to rope us into the high-end with later releases of PBs - which are gonna cost ya!



    It's just the Apple no competition (high % profit) thang.





    Anybody here gonna upgrade their G4 iBooks to the latest model?

  • Reply 36 of 165
    Louzer, I guess you're right. I guess the alternative question is how much will this cannibalize Powerbook sales? I know there are a few that will still need the Powerbook's advanced features, but for ther majority that bought them for the newer tech, there is no longer that differentiation.
  • Reply 37 of 165
    fieldorfieldor Posts: 213member
    The last update before mac intels. Just 9 months to go before next update.
  • Reply 38 of 165
    sandausandau Posts: 1,230member
    i think some of us should fill out the feedback for the ibook and let Apple know what we think:



    http://www.apple.com/feedback/powermac.html



    (use the drop down for the 'what type of computer do you own' and select ibook g4)
  • Reply 39 of 165
    kwsanderskwsanders Posts: 327member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by OfficerDigby

    Anybody here gonna upgrade their G4 iBooks to the latest model?



    A better question ... Of all the people complaining about the upgrades that Apple did to the iBook and Mac Mini, how many were even planning to purchase one?
  • Reply 40 of 165
    My sister is heading off to grad school, and we were looking for a decent Apple portable for her, with a good price, but when all Apple did was bump speeds and RAM, she's sticking with pen and paper, at least for the first semester.



    Why can't they change the design?? It's getting so boring and old...
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