G5: I want the TRUTH
I've been siftin' and sortin' through all the bogus claims here, but few posts articulate the truth. Ready for it?
The register and MOSR are correct, to a point. The clockspeed will not meet their predictions, but this is a minor point. Of major importance is that the G5 will arrive, and it will be hideously fast.
1. Why is the G5 nearly here? Because Apple has been dumping money into G5 development ever since the 500MHz G4 debacle. As soon as the G4's scaling bug was discovered, Apple decided to cut their losses and concentrate R&D on the G5.
This year has brought very minimal gains in performance for the G4. Apple cannot remain in business for long with these sorts of gains. We've only gone frome 500MHz to 867 MHz this year, which is quite pathetic for a year. Factor in the 18 months at 500 MHz, and it's a wonder that Apple is still in business.
2. Why will the G5 debute at lower MHz? Apple has two reasons for introducing the G5 at lower clockspeeds. Number one is that they do not wish to alienate recent powermac buyers by jumping to 1.6 GHz. It would render all existing powermacs obsolete, and thus their value would bottom out. It is in Apple's best interest to maintain the value of older powermacs. Second, it is good business sense to introduce the G5 at a lower MHz, and the gradually, throughout the year, boost MHz. With each boost in MHz, Apple will get another wave of sales, and their profits will be maximized.
So expect the G5 to debute with only modest MHz gains. However, the performance gains will be staggering. 400 MHz system bus, ddr RAM....this thing is going to be a total beast. Maya is going to rock on it, and even at the lower MHz, the G5 will stomp Pentium 4s. Yes, it will be that fast.
Here's what to expect for the G5 intro:
Powermacs:
900 MHz
1 GHz
1.1 GHz
1.1 GHz, dual
The low end mac may even use a G4, with older mobo to save money and boost profits.
However, by the end of 2002, expect powermacs using G5s with speeds up to 1.8-2.0 GHz. Apple is serious about recapturing the lead in desktop computing performance. By the end of next year, the Powermac will be faster than any Wintel available, and OS X will be fully optimized and feature-laden. It is a good time to be a Mac user, and Apple is going to be gaining marketshare with a little luck. All the pieces are in place for a Mac revolution.
The register and MOSR are correct, to a point. The clockspeed will not meet their predictions, but this is a minor point. Of major importance is that the G5 will arrive, and it will be hideously fast.
1. Why is the G5 nearly here? Because Apple has been dumping money into G5 development ever since the 500MHz G4 debacle. As soon as the G4's scaling bug was discovered, Apple decided to cut their losses and concentrate R&D on the G5.
This year has brought very minimal gains in performance for the G4. Apple cannot remain in business for long with these sorts of gains. We've only gone frome 500MHz to 867 MHz this year, which is quite pathetic for a year. Factor in the 18 months at 500 MHz, and it's a wonder that Apple is still in business.
2. Why will the G5 debute at lower MHz? Apple has two reasons for introducing the G5 at lower clockspeeds. Number one is that they do not wish to alienate recent powermac buyers by jumping to 1.6 GHz. It would render all existing powermacs obsolete, and thus their value would bottom out. It is in Apple's best interest to maintain the value of older powermacs. Second, it is good business sense to introduce the G5 at a lower MHz, and the gradually, throughout the year, boost MHz. With each boost in MHz, Apple will get another wave of sales, and their profits will be maximized.
So expect the G5 to debute with only modest MHz gains. However, the performance gains will be staggering. 400 MHz system bus, ddr RAM....this thing is going to be a total beast. Maya is going to rock on it, and even at the lower MHz, the G5 will stomp Pentium 4s. Yes, it will be that fast.
Here's what to expect for the G5 intro:
Powermacs:
900 MHz
1 GHz
1.1 GHz
1.1 GHz, dual
The low end mac may even use a G4, with older mobo to save money and boost profits.
However, by the end of 2002, expect powermacs using G5s with speeds up to 1.8-2.0 GHz. Apple is serious about recapturing the lead in desktop computing performance. By the end of next year, the Powermac will be faster than any Wintel available, and OS X will be fully optimized and feature-laden. It is a good time to be a Mac user, and Apple is going to be gaining marketshare with a little luck. All the pieces are in place for a Mac revolution.
Comments
YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!
Those speeds may be accurate, but I doubt Apple could punch out a 1.6Ghz G5 in the initail release...
As for the G5 MHz ratings, Moto is pumping out G5s all the way up to 2 GHz. 1.6 could be done by March or so. But Apple isn't going to use them...they will stick to 1.1-1.2 GHz at most for the first release. This also gives Apple time to stockpile the faster G5s so when they are released Apple has enough for dualies or more.
G5 is at rev 0.6 (probably 0.7 by now). Assuming a revision every 2-3 weeks, it would be the end of december before revision 1.
Do you think Apple is going to be able to take the finished G5, design a MB for it, have it beta tested, have suppliers make tens of thousands of finished MB's, ship them to Apple early January for release at MWSF?
Im sure Apple has developed working Prototype MB for the revisions available, but you cant design a finished MB for a product that doesn't exist in its final state.
I think even a February MWTokyo would be pushing it a bit.
<hr></blockquote>
Couple things.
1)It does not follow that "dumping" money will result in a product finished on schedule.
2)The G4's 'scaling bug' wasn't a bug. Rather the culmination of a design that wasn't built to scale well *and* Motorola's own process technology.
Excellent post, JD, and I agree completely.
You have to look at the evolution of both technology and marketing to see Apple's future directions, and I think you've nailed it.
1. as pointed out this would get more users to upgrade
2. it would "close the MHz gap" and put allow Apple to be competitive MHz-wise
3. it would show people that the G5 is a processor to respect. A sudden jump from 867 MHz to over 1.5 GHz would make people think (hopefully accurately) that Apple is really going somewhere, and that the Macintosh is a platform worth investing in
LOL, ROTFLMAO!!! <wipes tears from eyes>
Dude, will you send me some of that fine sh!t you're smokin'? 'Cause it's been really dry around here!
The chances of Apple selling CPU upgrades under Steve Jobs are about as good as the chances of me moving to Afghanistan and opening up a whorehouse. Apple makes their money off computers, not upgrade cards.
There are also technical limitations. The G5 would need a different power supply, more elaborate cooling, and probably would not run under the older sawtooth mobo without extensive modifications. Apple is busting their asses to get the G5 running on a specific mobo, and they don't have time to design a G5 daughter card for old mobos.
But mainly, the current Apple is not in the business of selling upgrade cards. Since Jobs has returned to Apple, they have done everything in their power to prevent users from overclocking, upgrading, and anything else that would postpone buying a new mac.
<strong>I have been thinking last night, G5 is definately not coming in January if any of the rumours *are* correct. why?
G5 is at rev 0.6 (probably 0.7 by now). Assuming a revision every 2-3 weeks, it would be the end of december before revision 1.</strong>
<hr></blockquote>
Yeah, well what if 0.7 is becomes the final candidate smartypants? There would be no need for 0.8 or 0.9.
[quote]
Do you think Apple is going to be able to take the finished G5, design a MB for it, have it beta tested, have suppliers make tens of thousands of finished MB's, ship them to Apple early January for release at MWSF?
<hr></blockquote>
Well if Dorsal could be trusted (and he can't...you all blindly follow him...JYD is right, Dorsal has been spewing bullshit and you've all been eating it up and lovin' it) then the MBs have been done for a long time. But like I said, Dorsal == bullshit.
That doesn't mean the MB aren't done though.
[quote]
Im sure Apple has developed working Prototype MB for the revisions available, but you cant design a finished MB for a product that doesn't exist in its final state.
I think even a February MWTokyo would be pushing it a bit.<hr></blockquote>
True...the mobo can't be done until the final revision of the G5 is on ol' Steve-o's laps. But what makes you think it isn't? The Register? MOSR? You're mother? LOL!
Besides, I'm building the plastics for the new G5 right now! And I've taken an English course.
[ 11-27-2001: Message edited by: kim kap sol ]</p>
<strong>Does it look anything like the Okama game sphere???</strong><hr></blockquote>
That's classified.
You wouldn't want ol' Kenny from Korea to lose his assembly line job now would you?
[ 11-27-2001: Message edited by: kim kap sol ]</p>
1Ghz G4 Macs, yes, but G5's, no way.
While I do agree that the G5 will be out within the next year, it's gonna be a while yet.
The speculation....
The BS....
The Name calling...
The love...
Apple otherwise doesn't give a crap if your machine is rapidly superceded by another, even the day after you buy it. That's supposed to be the goal! Any appearance to the contrary is most likely due a lack of faster parts.
[ 11-27-2001: Message edited by: Matsu ]</p>
agreed
There is no way Apple would sit on faster equipment just to keep recent customers from feeling let down.
Apples goal should be to release machines in a timely fashion to keep interest and demand up. If technology is available and doesn't hurt the bottom line they will add it.
I just can't beleive how many people complain when they buy a new computer and something better comes along, yet when Apple has a MHz slump and no significant speed bumps they also complain. Which way do you want it???? I've got news for you, the day BEFORE you buy your new computer they've already got something faster in the works.
In order to get the maximum time out of this you have to spend the maximum amount of money.
It's fun while it lasts but, you can't get upset when something new comes along ( or if you buy just before the new model comes out ). That's just the way it is and you still have something nice.
I know people who would love to have my G4 450 that I bought in 2000. It ain't fast in comparison anymore but I still enjoy it a lot.
[ 11-28-2001: Message edited by: jimmac ]</p>