xiaxin: icebook optical drive placement is bad because it is interfered with by the AC cord all too often while plugged in. Also, with the ports and plugs on the back of the powerbook, drive will most likely stay on front, just for space concerns.
I think we will see a new powerbook enclosure 6mo-1a after we see a new powermac design. Right now the ibook as a superior portable enclosure (apart from powerbook's wide screen.)
I think the problem lies with too many apple fans stressing too much over specs. I honestly believe that you should purchase a computing machine based on your CURRENT needs. All this strategic buying at the the optimum point between revs is simply negated if you are upgrading for NECESSITY. If you have a job to do, you buy whatever will get that job done for the price. And if a company drops the ball, and is behind, they DESERVE to lose a sale. Luckily, Macs, and especially Powerbooks are the best choice for todays creative pro. It IS an aging model though, so I say WAIT until you NEED a new Powerbook, because when this great product is updated, it will breathe new life into your workflow.
This is upsetting news (rumors) for me. I want to buy a PowerBook in early fall/ late summer, but I want it to last throughout my four years in college. If I buy in May, I have a laptop for the start of college but if i wait til October, I run the risk of Apple not even updating it then. I might even have to wait until MWSF 2003! I don;t think I could deal with buying a $3000 computer and then having it updated with a 25% increase in processor clock speed 5 months later (more importantly, only 1 month of actual use since college starts in september). Decisions-Decisions. What shall I do! What shall I do?
G4 @ 667 and 733 MHz (1GHz G4 is too hot @ 23Watts!)
The only way we'll ever see a 1GHz+ Powerbook is when a G5 processor is released (less than 10Watts @ 1GHz?)
<hr></blockquote>
How about a dual G4 TiBook? Apple could solve the speed and heat problems at the same time by putting two 7410 (low power) G4's in the enclosure. The smaller die size of the 7410 and low power features would make it a perfect match. Even at dual 500MHz it would scream.
I dunno if they would do it, but I hope Apple ditches the slot loader.
Funny thing is they could give the PB an immediate and pretty significant boost with two little changes. A Radeon 7500M with 32MB (pin compatible, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem, and a 800Mhz SOI 7445. Both parts are available, there must be something holding this back???
<strong>Space for the connector itself will be the biggest issue. VGA to connect to LCD projectors is more of a show-stopper for presentations than ADC or DVI for monitors. The space available for a second video connector is the critical issue.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Well, a DVI connector isn't really much bigger than an analog VGA connector, and it still carries the analog signal too. So you could just put it in the place of the current VGA port, and all you need to connect a beamer or CRT is a tiny (and dirt-cheap) DVI->VGA adapter.
Well, a DVI connector isn't really much bigger than an analog VGA connector, and it still carries the analog signal too. So you could just put it in the place of the current VGA port, and all you need to connect a beamer or CRT is a tiny (and dirt-cheap) DVI->VGA adapter.
Bye,
RazzFazz</strong><hr></blockquote>
Exactly my point. AND, although ADC already carries the DVI signal, it also powers the display. This is bad news for a PowerBook, even running off of an adapter. The battery will die before you can say, "Whoops, I think the battery is going to die."
Wow, we might get an 867mhz PowerBook in a few months, and it MIGHT have a Radeon 7500. Well, Intel has 1.6Ghz Mobile P4's out RIGHT NOW!!! Even the G4 with its superior architecture cannot make up for the 733mhz difference in processor speed. Ya, the mac gets better battery life but so what. This sucks. I am REQUIRED by my high school to BUY a laptop for next year and I'm gonna be in a tough position. Fu ck you Steve.
"Wow, we might get an 867mhz PowerBook in a few months, and it MIGHT have a Radeon 7500. Well, Intel has 1.6Ghz Mobile P4's out RIGHT NOW!!! Even the G4 with its superior architecture cannot make up for the 733mhz difference in processor speed. Ya, the mac gets better battery life but so what. This sucks. I am REQUIRED by my high school to BUY a laptop for next year and I'm gonna be in a tough position."
Just because it's a P4 doesn't make it fast. In fact, a 1.7 GHz P4-M at is actually slower than a 1.2 GHz PIII-M at about everything! It looks like the 1.2 GHz PIII-M is the top of the line for now, and we know that the G4 can compete on par or better (especially in multimedia tasks) than any PIII-M. Don't believe me? Take a look at this <a href="http://pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,82003,00.asp"; target="_blank">PC World article</a>.
Comments
This at least signifies that Apple realizes a market for sharper high definition displays exists.
I only hope it isn't similarly priced out of this world !
The only way we'll ever see a 1GHz+ Powerbook is when a G5 processor is released (less than 10Watts @ 1GHz?)
133MHz bus on both (phases out the 100MHz bus)
Higher-capacity HD
More RAM standard? Nah. Not at today's prices.
We probably won't see Bluetooth built-in until the next mobo design.
I'd love to see a higher-QUALITY screen (brighter, wider viewing angle), but doubt that will happen.
Just being pessimistic. That way, when something totally revolutionary (yeah, right) is intro'd, I'll be super pleased!
I like iDome's reply better.
<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
I think we will see a new powerbook enclosure 6mo-1a after we see a new powermac design. Right now the ibook as a superior portable enclosure (apart from powerbook's wide screen.)
I think the problem lies with too many apple fans stressing too much over specs. I honestly believe that you should purchase a computing machine based on your CURRENT needs. All this strategic buying at the the optimum point between revs is simply negated if you are upgrading for NECESSITY. If you have a job to do, you buy whatever will get that job done for the price. And if a company drops the ball, and is behind, they DESERVE to lose a sale. Luckily, Macs, and especially Powerbooks are the best choice for todays creative pro. It IS an aging model though, so I say WAIT until you NEED a new Powerbook, because when this great product is updated, it will breathe new life into your workflow.
Pres
<strong>
This is upsetting news (rumors) for me. I want to buy a PowerBook in early fall/ late summer, but I want it to last throughout my four years in college. If I buy in May, I have a laptop for the start of college but if i wait til October, I run the risk of Apple not even updating it then. I might even have to wait until MWSF 2003! I don;t think I could deal with buying a $3000 computer and then having it updated with a 25% increase in processor clock speed 5 months later (more importantly, only 1 month of actual use since college starts in september). Decisions-Decisions. What shall I do! What shall I do?
Well, you could put off college for a year.
[ 03-30-2002: Message edited by: NWBadger ]</p>
G4 @ 667 and 733 MHz (1GHz G4 is too hot @ 23Watts!)
The only way we'll ever see a 1GHz+ Powerbook is when a G5 processor is released (less than 10Watts @ 1GHz?)
<hr></blockquote>
How about a dual G4 TiBook? Apple could solve the speed and heat problems at the same time by putting two 7410 (low power) G4's in the enclosure. The smaller die size of the 7410 and low power features would make it a perfect match. Even at dual 500MHz it would scream.
Funny thing is they could give the PB an immediate and pretty significant boost with two little changes. A Radeon 7500M with 32MB (pin compatible, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem, and a 800Mhz SOI 7445. Both parts are available, there must be something holding this back???
<strong>ADC only consumes 28vdc power</strong><hr></blockquote>
*cough*
You're not an EE guy, are you?
(Hint: An Athlon only "consumes" 1.75V of "power" or something, and I kinda doubt you'd want to put 15 of them into a notebook...)
Bye,
RazzFazz
[ 03-30-2002: Message edited by: RazzFazz ]</p>
<strong>Space for the connector itself will be the biggest issue. VGA to connect to LCD projectors is more of a show-stopper for presentations than ADC or DVI for monitors. The space available for a second video connector is the critical issue.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Well, a DVI connector isn't really much bigger than an analog VGA connector, and it still carries the analog signal too. So you could just put it in the place of the current VGA port, and all you need to connect a beamer or CRT is a tiny (and dirt-cheap) DVI->VGA adapter.
Bye,
RazzFazz
<strong>
Well, a DVI connector isn't really much bigger than an analog VGA connector, and it still carries the analog signal too. So you could just put it in the place of the current VGA port, and all you need to connect a beamer or CRT is a tiny (and dirt-cheap) DVI->VGA adapter.
Bye,
RazzFazz</strong><hr></blockquote>
Exactly my point. AND, although ADC already carries the DVI signal, it also powers the display. This is bad news for a PowerBook, even running off of an adapter. The battery will die before you can say, "Whoops, I think the battery is going to die."
<img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" />
Don't know if this is possible, but could the backwards current of say an ACD fry a PB?
"Wow, we might get an 867mhz PowerBook in a few months, and it MIGHT have a Radeon 7500. Well, Intel has 1.6Ghz Mobile P4's out RIGHT NOW!!! Even the G4 with its superior architecture cannot make up for the 733mhz difference in processor speed. Ya, the mac gets better battery life but so what. This sucks. I am REQUIRED by my high school to BUY a laptop for next year and I'm gonna be in a tough position."
Like Steve says, MHz isn't everything.