Upcoming Powerbook update

Posted:
in Future Apple Hardware edited January 2014
Any idea on the next Powerbook?



HP has this $2000 laptop with a 15" 1400x1080 screen, combo drive and 512MB RAM..



I think, in order for the PB to stay leading edge Apple needs to offer:



1600x1024 screen



Gefore 2Go, or Radeon Mobility 64MB Video



800Mhz/1Ghz G4 chips



512MB RAM standard (this is supposed to be a PRO machine, the HP above is a consumer model)



30-100GB 7200RPM HD's



Superdrive on 2 top end models (I don't think many will care if it's a drawer style)



Litium Polimer battery



Office X bundled.



Bluetooth





What do you think?



[ 02-04-2002: Message edited by: JasonPP ]</p>
«13456

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 103
    billybilly Posts: 34member
    And how much do you expect this to cost? I am hoping that you are talking about the high-end model powerbook, because I just don't see those specs on the low-end one.
  • Reply 2 of 103
    [quote]Originally posted by JasonPP:

    [QB]Any idea on the next Powerbook?



    HP has this $2000 laptop with a 15" 1400x1080 screen, combo drive and 512MB RAM..



    I think, in order for the PB to stay leading edge Apple needs to offer:



    1600x1024 screen

    <hr></blockquote>



    Sounds good, assuming the aspect is okay. I need square pixels.



    [quote]

    Gefore 2Go, or Radeon Mobility 64MB Video

    <hr></blockquote>



    The GeForce4 in the PowerMac is a GeForce3 2Go allegedly, so we need that.



    [quote]

    800Mhz/1Ghz G4 chips

    <hr></blockquote>



    Damn right.



    [quote]

    512MB RAM standard (this is supposed to be a PRO machine, the HP above is a consumer model)

    <hr></blockquote>



    It'd be nice, but I think it'll be 256MB/512MB.



    [quote]

    30-100GB 7200RPM HD's

    <hr></blockquote>



    That would cause heat and power issues I think. 5400rpm with a good cache is fine.



    [quote]

    Superdrive on 2 top end models (I don't think many will care if it's a drawer style)

    <hr></blockquote>



    I doubt they are thin enough, but it would be very cool.



    [quote]

    Litium Polimer battery

    <hr></blockquote>



    Yes.

    6 hours.



    [quote]

    Office X bundled.

    <hr></blockquote>



    No, that hurts MS which can hurt back harder. Appleworks is a good idea though.



    [quote]

    Bluetooth

    <hr></blockquote>



    I wish.



    Bluetooth is the key to all sorts of digital hub stuff. Imagine a bluetooth chip in all your appliances and power outlets. Instant home automation! Plus you get to sync your PDA/print/download images/etc all wirelessly.



    And before anybody says it, Bluetooth is not a networking protocol.



    Can we have these Powerbooks for $2000 - $3000 please?







    James



    [ 02-04-2002: Message edited by: Blackcat ]</p>
  • Reply 3 of 103
    There are NO 7200 rpm laptop HDs.
  • Reply 4 of 103
    I've heard bluetooth doesnt play nicely with 802.11b, same frequency and stuff like that. Superdrive not likely, but maybe an extreme discount on a firewire dvd-r, like $300? I think 48GB is enough space, but maybe again a discounted firewire drive?

    Appleworks should be bundled. Better video card is alwaysa plus, I'd prefer ATi since it uses less power(i've heard). 256MB ram standard, 512MB seems like too much, plus the 512MB modules are damned expensive, and two 256MB wouldn't be good for upgrading purposes.
  • Reply 5 of 103
    Considering how long it took them to get a combo drive in there, I don't see how they're gonna get a Superdrive in there anytime soon. I don't the the TiBook's case can even handle a tray-loading drive.



    Better graphics are an option. But look how long we had the Rage 128 Mobility.



    I don't see them bundling Office. They have there own office suite, which isn't bundled.



    We'll never see Bluetooth on Macs.
  • Reply 6 of 103
    here I go opening ma big mouth



    Assuming this is an upgrade in the near future (say March, please, please, please Apple, I wanna buy a TiBook)



    <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" /> I wouldn't expect to see G4 processors at the 1Ghz mark they would be to close to that in the pro desk top machines. (asuming they dont get a big upgrade as well, but lets not start the G5 debate in here as well). Maybe a small bump though (100Mhz or so?).



    Better graphics card I would think is the most likelly as the one in the TiBook is really, really dated.



    Memory is relativlly cheap at the moment (or has it gone back up again, I can never keep track). So upped base memory is not impossible.



    <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" /> If they put in a tray loading super drive, they would have to change the form factor of the case and that would be to much of a change, were only really talking about a tweak here. I havent heard of a slot loader yet either so I think we are stuck with a combo drive (I like the idea on a discount of a firewire one though).



    <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" /> I read it someplace today but bluetooth aparently has a habit of using the same frequencies as the airport stuff does, and it doesnt check to see if anything else is using a single frequency before it starts transmitting. Result = neither work well. (note bluetooth hops frequencies a large number of times per second, so you will still get some transfer, I think). (Added Url. It is <a href="http://www.e-magazineonline.com/FEA/FEA012505.htm"; target="_blank">http://www.e-magazineonline.com/FEA/FEA012505.htm</a>;)



    New battery tech is a possibility and battery lenght is allways a selling point of laptops.



    Now, what Id like to see. A discounted airport base station with the higher models. You get that airport card with them, but you've still got to buy a full price airport base station if you dont have one.



    (If you can't tell I reall like the <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" /> emoticon, I think its real cute).



    [ 02-05-2002: Message edited by: Ophois ]</p>
  • Reply 6 of 103
    haraldharald Posts: 2,152member
    Bluetooth ... doesn't screw up 802.11b despite it's use of RF (hopping about channels). If anyone's really interested I'll dig up a link of some proper research on this.



    Apple's got the wrong end of the stick over this very cool technology IMO ... just as when they adopted USB (a very Apple-like plug and play tech), they should adopt this fantastic wire-replacement tech ... what could be cooler then synching your palm by walking in the room?
  • Reply 8 of 103
    Unless you feel like hauling around your iMac you're not going to see this machine for some time.



    60 gig is the largest laptop drive IBM (or any company I know of) makes and they aren't even really publically available yet (the only place I've heard of them available is in IBM laptops). As pointed out earlier there aren't any 7200 RPM hard drives for laptops.



    I doubt you're going to see a 1Ghz chip. Lot of power, heat and they are probably using most of what is available in the duals. Maybe a 933 but I'd expect 867 high end and 733 or 667 low end (I'd be very happy with these processors).



    I don't think you will see a bundled Office package either. I would like to see them bundle AppleWorks with all machines (I probably wouldn't use it but then every machine they sell is ready to be used!)



    Bluetooth is dead for now (my thoughts). It will be brought back and it is a great idea but we aren't ready for it yet. It isn't going to be like USB where a company has to force others to use it. It's more a DVD style adoption. High end users might start using it on some things and it will grow quickly from there. Let it get into Palm devices, etc. first and be proven then it will be there quickly. I think other technologies will replace it before Bluetooth catches on though.



    I really don't see Apple ever going back to tray loading drives on portables especially. Also, unless the PowerBook gets a heck of a lot thicker it isn't going to fit. We just finally got a combo drive that would fit in there.



    I like other specs but I would personally rather Apple ship no ram as an option with the prices they charge. We just ordered a G4 and I'm removing the origional chip to put in 3 new ones (1.5 gig total). The old chip will go into a different machine we have but I wouldn't have gotten it if I could have avoided the cost. When I get my next PowerBook I'll do the same thing.
  • Reply 9 of 103
    msleemslee Posts: 143member
    Actually Bluetooth does play havoc with 802.11b
  • Reply 10 of 103
    powerdocpowerdoc Posts: 8,123member
    i see a revision with 733 mhz and 867 mhz appolo G4 for the same prize. Perhaps there will be also larger HD , and all the mobo will be based upon the 133 mhz bus.



    A harder question is : what will be the next chip for the I book , G4 (every mac will be G4) or sahara chips from IBM ?
  • Reply 11 of 103
    amorphamorph Posts: 7,112member
    [quote]<strong>If they put in a tray loading super drive, they would have to change the form factor of the case and that would be to much of a change, were only really talking about a tweak here.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    Actually, the PB is coming due for a wholesale redesign. It does seem like the Ti has been around forever, doesn't it? But Apple significantly refreshes the PB line about once a year, and it'll have been more than a year by MW Tokyo.
  • Reply 12 of 103
    giantgiant Posts: 6,041member
    [quote]Originally posted by Amorph:

    <strong>



    Actually, the PB is coming due for a wholesale redesign. It does seem like the Ti has been around forever, doesn't it? But Apple significantly refreshes the PB line about once a year, and it'll have been more than a year by MW Tokyo.</strong><hr></blockquote>





    Of course, folks do really like the current design, and look how long the imac stayed the same. Maybe they will do something about the scratching, though...
  • Reply 13 of 103
    <a href="http://products.hp-at-home.com/products/detail.php?id=F3381H&j=0"; target="_blank">http://products.hp-at-home.com/products/detail.php?id=F3381H&j=0</a>;



    compare to current PB...



    Ask yourself if they both ran OS X, where would your money go?
  • Reply 14 of 103
    [quote]Originally posted by JasonPP:

    <strong><a href="http://products.hp-at-home.com/products/detail.php?id=F3381H&j=0"; target="_blank">HP Laptop</a>



    compare to current PB...



    Ask yourself if they both ran OS X, where would your money go?</strong><hr></blockquote>



    I'd still take a powerbook, especially given the crappy graphics card on the hp. And it weighs more than the powerbook without the optical drive in.



    [edit] spelling [/edit]



    [edited for overlong URL -Amorph]



    [ 02-05-2002: Message edited by: agent302 ]



    [ 02-05-2002: Message edited by: Amorph ]</p>
  • Reply 15 of 103
    newnew Posts: 3,244member
    uhh.. thats ugly, I'd rather have the ibook or the old Pismo than that one..
  • Reply 16 of 103
    [quote]Originally posted by JasonPP:

    <strong><a href="http://products.hp-at-home.com/products/detail.php?id=F3381H&j=0"; target="_blank">HP Laptop</a>



    compare to current PB...



    Ask yourself if they both ran OS X, where would your money go?</strong><hr></blockquote>





    From your wording, I figured you meant this HP would be your choice, but when I saw the picture of that thing, I knew this just COULDN'T be true.... could it?



    [edited for overlong URL -Amorph]



    [ 02-05-2002: Message edited by: Amorph ]</p>
  • Reply 17 of 103
    newnew Posts: 3,244member
    Hey! Is it just me or did the Powerbook have a "new" stamp/tag like the imac, ibook and Powermac just a few days ago? could this be further evidence of an upgrade?
  • Reply 18 of 103
    Re: "really old graphics chip" - like, about a half a year old. Plenty of desktop replacement PC laptops still use a Rage 128 - and some even use an S3, ferchrissakes.



    Oh, and what about the shared memory? The number of PC laptops I've tried to get Pro Tools to run on, only to find that they have 4mb less than the 128 physical that's required....



    [ 02-05-2002: Message edited by: Guitarbloke ]</p>
  • Reply 19 of 103
    max8319max8319 Posts: 347member
    HP notebooks suck. my roomate and suitemate both have HP notebooks and they're horrible. i would never buy an HP. i'd probably never buy a PC unless i needed to for some unforseen reason.



    i would get the powerbook. actually i'd get a PM cause they're awesome. dual ghz!
  • Reply 20 of 103
    [quote]Originally posted by JasonPP:

    <strong>

    30-100GB 7200RPM HD's

    </strong><hr></blockquote>



    ROFLPIMP!



    This is just sooooo funny <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />



    Seriously, ever seen any 2.5" 7200RPM drives, let alone any 100GB drive in that form factor at all? Ever wondered why not?



    Bye,

    RazzFazz
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