Low End Laptop Speculation?
I am a little premature with this, but what are peoples thoughts on the next iBook? When is it likely to be released, and will it finally get G4?
Also, a while back their was rumours of a third laptop line. What are the chances of that?
I am asking because I start University in October, and need a laptop by then. At present the 12.1in iBook with Combo drive looks like the best option, but I am less than impressed with the G3 processor. Thanks for your help.
Also, a while back their was rumours of a third laptop line. What are the chances of that?
I am asking because I start University in October, and need a laptop by then. At present the 12.1in iBook with Combo drive looks like the best option, but I am less than impressed with the G3 processor. Thanks for your help.
Comments
The current iBook is VERY nice, I wouldn't be hesitant to buy it at all...and the Titanium totally rocks.
In a sense there are three laptop lines at Apple now: the Powerbook, the 14" iBook, and the 12" iBook.
The time to buy is now, unless you can hold out to MWSF, probably the soonest that they will be updated again.
<strong>I doubt there will be a G4 iBook until the second half of 2003 at the earliest. There;s still room for upgrades in other areas. Also until LCD prices start to come down next year there will not be a $1000 (+ or -) laptop from Apple.</strong><hr></blockquote>
how do you make that prediction? it makes no sense.
the iBook will go G4 as soon as Apple can put a 1Ghz G4 in the Powerbook.
then the iBook will get a 800Mhz G4
There is no reason to the iBook will get a G4 anytime soon, although I think it should.
Also, where do you get this stuff about the iBook going G4 when the Titanium gets a 1 GHz G4? Did you just make that up? No matter what the speed of the Titanium is, the iBook can get a G4 that's a bit slower. Hell Apple could even make the Titanium 800 MHz and 933 MHz, and then offer a 700 MHz G4 in all iBook lines.
I suspect we will see 3 processors in Macs very soon, the G3, G4, and G5...when this happens, the iBook will get a G4 at it's next revision.
If he won't be starting university until September, to me it makes very little sense to buy now. No one can be SURE that there will be no minor update (i.e. manufacturing bug fix) or speed bump, or even price cut on them before Sept.
If you don't need the machine yet, don't get it. That rule should apply to any computer purchase. Besides, you may want to wait until you get to school, since you will then get the higher ed. pricing (you may already if you have your student ID, I suppose).
However, I said "buy now" because I don't think any new iBook hardware revisions will be out before September. If he's going to buy an iBook, wouldn't it be nicer to have one he can use all summer? I presume that's what he's asking, since if he didn't want to buy it before he needed it, then he would just wait until September and buy then, no need to ask at AI about hardware revisions.
I sure wouldn't mind having an iBook to use over the summer! The new ones are sweet, even with the crusty old G3 CPU.
that has nothing to do with the topic at hand
[quote]
There is no reason to the iBook will get a G4 anytime soon, although I think it should.<hr></blockquote>
yes there is. currently the only major complaint and a very popular one is that the iBook still uses a G3. not only by users but of critics/reviewers as well. it doesn't matter if its new G3. it's still a G3 and in the eyes of users it is an aging processor that is being phased out. it doesn't even have altivec which Apple makes such a big deal out of with every piece of software they write.
[quote]
Also, where do you get this stuff about the iBook going G4 when the Titanium gets a 1 GHz G4? Did you just make that up? No matter what the speed of the Titanium is, the iBook can get a G4 that's a bit slower. Hell Apple could even make the Titanium 800 MHz and 933 MHz, and then offer a 700 MHz G4 in all iBook lines. <hr></blockquote>
as with everything is this forum it is speculation and a prediction on my behalf. I don't think Apple would have put a 600 Mhz G4 into the iBook now. I think they and also users would have prefered a 700Mhz G3.
By using a 1Ghz G4 in the Powerbook that opens up the gap of speed and allows not only the iBook to switch to a G4 but also have a clockspeed increase at the same time.
[quote]
I suspect we will see 3 processors in Macs very soon, the G3, G4, and G5...when this happens, the iBook will get a G4 at it's next revision. <hr></blockquote>
I personally doubt that.
The reason I doubt a G4 in the iBook soon is that It JUST got a major revision. Apple isn't going to redesign it within the next 6 months, yet to add a G4 CPU to the iBook would require a major redesign of the internals and mobo.
As for MHz, there is no need to wait for the Powerbook to get to 1 GHz. It's at 667, 800 MHz now, so the iBook could have gotten a G4 and been clocked to 600 and 700 MHz no problem, or even 550 and 650.
Remember that the original G4 powerbook didn't even jump in MHz at all, it simply went from a 500 MHz G3 to a 500 MHz G4. So worst case is that Apple puts a G4 in the ibook without changing MHz (but they don't even have to do that).
It is also possible that Apple would like to keep the iBook 1 CPU generation behind the Titanium....if so, then we would have to wait for the Ti to get a G5. I personally doubt this, but it is possible.
In any event, odds are against the iBook getting a G4 before 2003. If it does I'll even suck my own dick!
JYD I think you will be regretting this come 6 months from now
What's wrong with saying "dick", anyways? Is it too vulgar for your pristine ears?
<strong>No I won't .
What's wrong with saying "dick", anyways? Is it too vulgar for your pristine ears?</strong><hr></blockquote>
ok, we are both entitled to our opinions, but given apple's recent quickness in their updates I think it would be safe to say that the iBook will get updated within the next 6months (it will be tight, but I think it will happen before Xmas) but of course that is both of our OPINIONS.. noone actually knows one way or the other...
as for the word "dick" i was just pointing out the imagery that you portrayed was kinda disgusting, now im not saying that you should be prevented from saying things like that... I was merely making a tounge in cheeck joke... as you may or may not know I started a thread in the suggestions forum about censorship and how relativly "mild" words are being censored on the boards... I found it amusing that "dick" is NOT being censored in this case and pointed that out.. it was tounge in cheek although it may have been hard to see... oh well its not a big deal. it seems as though we will all go on living... <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" />
P.S. it seems as though people are taking things very seriously today... i wonder why that is <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />
<strong>
In a sense there are three laptop lines at Apple now: the Powerbook, the 14" iBook, and the 12" iBook.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Unfortunately, it still not spaced out enough to offer a good selection.
Here in Canada, the top level 14" iBook is $2900, and the low end Powerbook is $4000 (cdn prices).
That leaves a $1100 gap. I budget about $3K for a laptop. I'd rather have the Powerbook vs. the iBook. Previous Powerbooks were cheaper and gave me hope of picking one up...but not today at these prices.
[ 05-28-2002: Message edited by: warpd ]</p>