That's an interesting development. Now if we can get one of those Comp USA guys to let us know that in their system is listed as discontinued then we'll know.
Sorry to revive an old thread, but the--errr, *vigilant* modding around here gives me no choice:
What's the Rumor Mill Position on Faster TiBook chips?
IIRC, the chips in the TiBook are low-power versions of 7455's.
If the next Powermac is to get a speed bumped G4 anywhere from 1.2 - 1.6 GHz depending on who you believe, what does that tell us about a low-power chip for the TiBook? Currently, for example, the TiBook's chip is 80% the speed of the faster Powermac chip.
Will a 1.2 GHz Powermac mean that a 933MHz - 1 Ghz chip might be available for the 'Book? Or even faster?
Also, IF the Powermac goes DDR, does that mean the TiBook goes DDR soon as well? Or is DDR more difficult on the motherboard of a notebook?
[quote]Originally posted by Yet Another Registration:
<strong>
If the next Powermac is to get a speed bumped G4 anywhere from 1.2 - 1.6 GHz depending on who you believe, what does that tell us about a low-power chip for the TiBook? Currently, for example, the TiBook's chip is 80% the speed of the faster Powermac chip.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
Unless my memory is failing me, the desktop G4 runs at 1.6 volts, and the portable at 1.3v, so the 80% figure is probably right, give or take.
By that metric, and assuming that the towers continue to use the 7455, a 1.2GHz desktop chip implies a 1GHz laptop chip, and 1.6GHz desktop chip implies a 1.3GHz laptop chip.
If the desktops move to, say, a 7470 while the TiBook stays with a 7455 (for whatever reason), then all bets are off.
<strong>MacMall has 501 Ti800's 138 iBooks (700Mhz) and 3784 iMacs. What does it all mean. <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>
Among other things it mean iMacs aren't selling worth sh!t. If the iMac is in fact updated at MWNY I wonder how Apple is going to get read of all those unsold iMacs.
Among other things it mean iMacs aren't selling worth sh!t. If the iMac is in fact updated at MWNY I wonder how Apple is going to get read of all those unsold iMacs.</strong><hr></blockquote>
well they're at least $100 overpriced as it is. I would guess that they could drop the price at least $150 and still make a good profit.
it seems that in the past the powerbook specs have closely mirrored the iMac specs of the time. it looks like the iMac won't be updated until sometime in the fall, so i suspect powerbooks would be updated then too. it would fit with both product's cycles.
Just to comment on the Amazon supply, they were running a computer promo from June 17-30, if you bought a computer equal/over $1500, they were giving a $200 promo certificate for a future purchase, under $1500 you got a $100 promo certificate for a future purchase. I think a decent number of people were taking advantage of that (I bought an iBook using that promo), hence the out-of-stock messages. I think there's definitely still plenty of supply around (as is indicated by the # at MacMall).
A check at Ingram Micro yesterday showed them on backorder at every single Ingram warehouse. They had an ETA of July 6th so we will see if that materializes. Kinda odd though for them to be completely out! hmmmm
TechData had some but the levels were no where near those of the iBook and iMac. Power Macs and Powerbook were rather low.
Wouldn't going to a 166 MHz MPX or adding DDR require a big mobo change and thus a redesign? The enclosure has been out a while, but I think that if Apple had plans to do anything like this, then we would probably get a whole new one sometime around Seybold, or perhaps special event early fall.
Of course I think there is no reason they can't up the ante on the MHz (1 GHz) since Moto has the chips now and add the 64 MB version of the Radeon 7500. Superdrive? Not even close, just put a faster cd-rw or combo drive in there.
I think Bluetooth is the key. The current Ti is missing short-range wireless connectivity with having no IrDA and the little adapter isn't available. It might seem trivial but laptop users have Palms and mobiles and no nice way to connect them.
I'm feeling less optimistic now (not to JYD standard ) so I think we'll see 'updated' Powerbooks that have 802.11g/b/B;uetooth cards built in. That ties up nicely with the Airport promotion.
ON THE OTHER HAND...
We are getting a PDA or Tablet (re: Ink) and that would be good MWTK product which would eclipse a Powerbook update then. So it seems more likely at MWNY.
Agreed -- Bluetooth will eventually be standard, and a few sites (<a href="http://appleturns.com"; target="_blank">appleturns.com</a> being one) had mentioned in the weeks before the Apr.30 update that Bluetooth would be included. Just prior to the update, a few sites began saying that there was a problem putting Bluetooth into the Powerbook, so it would make sense that Apple would incorporate this just as soon as they could.
Superdrives could come at any time, the precedent being the update-just-following-the-update of the Powerbook in late 2001. Right after they bumped the PB's to 550 and 667, they updated them with an optional combo drive. I imagine if the choice to add Superdrives came within the past 2-3 months (after the April 30 update), Apple may have intentionally waited to offer them, hoping for high-visibility at the Expo in New York.
There's just so much potential for Good Things related to a Powerbook update given the climate of Apple right now. (The Emagic thing, the movie-making software thing, the Bluetooth thing, the possible Airport speedbump thing, the Superdrive thing, the Inkwell thing, etc.)
Granted, Apple may offer us "solutions" for all of the above, but to fit them all into the box itself would be glorious and unprecedented. Just to burn a DVD on a laptop would be unprecedented, enough to make a headline on CNN's Sci Tech section or to get a feature in a major computer periodical. But then again, Apple doesn't seem as hungry for that sort of fame (for some reason.)
Maybe Apple needs to get Kobe Bryant to endorse Apple. On second thought, he'd probably spill his Sprite all over the computers.
Interesting that Apple has not been selling USB Bluetooth adapters on their accessory store for at least a couple weeks. It is listed as "Temporarily unavailable". An upcoming built in solution in the near future perhaps?
Comments
-- PEte
<strong>Seems like the PB's have been upgraded in May and October for the last couple of years.</strong><hr></blockquote>Sorta....
PowerBook G3 233/250/292MHz 14-inch display Sept. 98
PowerBook G3 Lomard - May 99
PowerBook G3 Pismo - April 2000
PowerBook G4 Titantium - January 2001
PowerBook G4 Gigabit - October 2001
PowerBook G4 DVI - April 2002
[quote]Originally posted by CoolHandPete:
<strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000067DPZ/104-5499460-9540757"; target="_blank">amazon.com</a> shows that the Powerbook 800 has been discontinued or is not in stock...
-- PEte</strong><hr></blockquote>
That's an interesting development. Now if we can get one of those Comp USA guys to let us know that in their system is listed as discontinued then we'll know.
What's the Rumor Mill Position on Faster TiBook chips?
IIRC, the chips in the TiBook are low-power versions of 7455's.
If the next Powermac is to get a speed bumped G4 anywhere from 1.2 - 1.6 GHz depending on who you believe, what does that tell us about a low-power chip for the TiBook? Currently, for example, the TiBook's chip is 80% the speed of the faster Powermac chip.
Will a 1.2 GHz Powermac mean that a 933MHz - 1 Ghz chip might be available for the 'Book? Or even faster?
Also, IF the Powermac goes DDR, does that mean the TiBook goes DDR soon as well? Or is DDR more difficult on the motherboard of a notebook?
ting5, almost committed
<strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000067DPZ/104-5499460-9540757"; target="_blank">amazon.com</a> shows that the Powerbook 800 has been discontinued or is not in stock...
-- PEte</strong><hr></blockquote>
So is the 667, but none of the other systems are (including G3 iMacs or PowerMacs).
It either means YAY! or that Amazon can't get them.
<strong>
If the next Powermac is to get a speed bumped G4 anywhere from 1.2 - 1.6 GHz depending on who you believe, what does that tell us about a low-power chip for the TiBook? Currently, for example, the TiBook's chip is 80% the speed of the faster Powermac chip.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
Unless my memory is failing me, the desktop G4 runs at 1.6 volts, and the portable at 1.3v, so the 80% figure is probably right, give or take.
By that metric, and assuming that the towers continue to use the 7455, a 1.2GHz desktop chip implies a 1GHz laptop chip, and 1.6GHz desktop chip implies a 1.3GHz laptop chip.
If the desktops move to, say, a 7470 while the TiBook stays with a 7455 (for whatever reason), then all bets are off.
<strong>MacMall has 501 Ti800's 138 iBooks (700Mhz) and 3784 iMacs. What does it all mean. <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>
Among other things it mean iMacs aren't selling worth sh!t. If the iMac is in fact updated at MWNY I wonder how Apple is going to get read of all those unsold iMacs.
<strong>
Among other things it mean iMacs aren't selling worth sh!t. If the iMac is in fact updated at MWNY I wonder how Apple is going to get read of all those unsold iMacs.</strong><hr></blockquote>
See if there's a price drop soon.
<strong>
See if there's a price drop soon.</strong><hr></blockquote>
The margins are razor thin as it is.
it seems that in the past the powerbook specs have closely mirrored the iMac specs of the time. it looks like the iMac won't be updated until sometime in the fall, so i suspect powerbooks would be updated then too. it would fit with both product's cycles.
Reminds me of some rumors, goes with InkWell too
TechData had some but the levels were no where near those of the iBook and iMac. Power Macs and Powerbook were rather low.
Maybe the iMacs everyone has been stockpiling are simply new models?
Apple probably decided to put the news machines into the channel early, so there is no shortage once they're announced.
Apple also told resellers that if they leaked any info, they'd get sued for $99 billion.
No wonder everyone's so quite.
Also, with the recent news of TiBooks shortages, SuperDrive models could be a possibility, or maybe a new color, SILVER STALLION!!
Of course I think there is no reason they can't up the ante on the MHz (1 GHz) since Moto has the chips now and add the 64 MB version of the Radeon 7500. Superdrive? Not even close, just put a faster cd-rw or combo drive in there.
I think Bluetooth is the key. The current Ti is missing short-range wireless connectivity with having no IrDA and the little adapter isn't available. It might seem trivial but laptop users have Palms and mobiles and no nice way to connect them.
I'm feeling less optimistic now (not to JYD standard
ON THE OTHER HAND...
We are getting a PDA or Tablet (re: Ink) and that would be good MWTK product which would eclipse a Powerbook update then. So it seems more likely at MWNY.
Shit I am JYD
Superdrives could come at any time, the precedent being the update-just-following-the-update of the Powerbook in late 2001. Right after they bumped the PB's to 550 and 667, they updated them with an optional combo drive. I imagine if the choice to add Superdrives came within the past 2-3 months (after the April 30 update), Apple may have intentionally waited to offer them, hoping for high-visibility at the Expo in New York.
There's just so much potential for Good Things related to a Powerbook update given the climate of Apple right now. (The Emagic thing, the movie-making software thing, the Bluetooth thing, the possible Airport speedbump thing, the Superdrive thing, the Inkwell thing, etc.)
Granted, Apple may offer us "solutions" for all of the above, but to fit them all into the box itself would be glorious and unprecedented. Just to burn a DVD on a laptop would be unprecedented, enough to make a headline on CNN's Sci Tech section or to get a feature in a major computer periodical. But then again, Apple doesn't seem as hungry for that sort of fame (for some reason.)
Maybe Apple needs to get Kobe Bryant to endorse Apple. On second thought, he'd probably spill his Sprite all over the computers.
Regards,
PEte
link: <a href="http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/51/wo/CQkce1NZwTnAwmeftk1/1.3.0.3.30.8.3.2.13.0"; target="_blank">Apple Store</a>