FW800 (even if that is the only port, ship it with an adapter)
If they can't have both, I think having only the 800 port is a mistake. Pain in the butt for people who have FW400 drives, which is basically everyone.
I don't see them dropping the 400 port to do it. FW800 isn't whiz-bang fast enough to warrant that, IMO.
If they can't have both, I think having only the 800 port is a mistake. Pain in the butt for people who have FW400 drives, which is basically everyone.
I don't see them dropping the 400 port to do it. FW800 isn't whiz-bang fast enough to warrant that, IMO.
sorry to intefere, but there is cables to connect FW800 to FW 400. I bought a 200 GB HD from the cie, and i have two connectors. One FW 800 to FW 800 connector, one FW 800 to FW 400.
I guess it's a little more difficult to find FW 400 4 pins to FW 800 (for digital cameras).
PS : edited. Did not see that the post before, dealed with an adaptator. FW 800 is only interesting for FW 800 HD.
Yay ATI graphics finally! Jonathan could be right. The iBook in fact with the G3 could have flew past all the G4s in mhz. I don't understand why Apple handicaps products. If it can be faster then make it faster! People will buy. I'm sure Apple can put a G5 in 12" PowerBooks. They are the best engineers in the world and they will do their thing. If the 12" PB disappears that will be a sad day. Just like when the Duo died.
I'd love to see a 13" widescreen PB. It could run at 1152 x 768.
Problem is, no one makes a 13" wide TFT. Most anything 13" or smaller is in 4:3. That's why you see such a preponderance of 12" notebooks. 12.1" has been a popular size for at least 7-8 years, so it's been easy for the LCD manufacturers to make them and keep costs down. A wide 13" would be more of a custom-built part. Sony and Fujitsu have 10.6" WXGA notebooks, but I can't see Apple making such a model.
i think if any apple laptop will be retired, it would be the 12" ibook.
and before you say"but the ibook is a best seller and i love my 12"icebook hear me out
The target demographic for the ibbok is "consumers" and other consumer laptops have 15" screens. Typically if size is most important to you will be willing to spend more money. the main reason the icebook sells well here is PRICE (please ignore Asia at this point) if the 12" ibook was $1499 and the 14" was $1099 the 14" would fly off the shelves.
But if apple wasn't an American company, all bets are off.
I agree with you on the resolution issue (as many others, I don't like Squintronics? ), but shabbasuraj has a very valid point on brightness and viewing angle. I have recently seen side by side a Wallstreet (now what's that, 5 years old?), and a 12" Powerbook. Believe it or not, the Wallstreet's screen is superior in both brightness and viewing angle. The 12" screen is much more difficult to calibrate and when done, the result is generally not satisfactory as in the Wallstreet. So, apart resolution which I think is more or less OK, Apple needs to improve substantially the quality of screens used in the professional line, at least for the 12" powerbook. On the other hand, I am not sure if this is possible with the current technology, since the powerbooks are very thin, much more their screens, and consequently there is not much space for a strong backlight.
I'd like to see the 7200rpm HD that Hitachi offers as a BTO option on the next 12"... at the mo I'm looking at purchasing and the best I can have is a 4200rpm HD! The Hitachi (which I've installed in one of my Pismos) is only 9.5mm high, so I don't see why it can't be used in the 12"??
I agree with you on the resolution issue (as many others, I don't like Squintronics? ), but shabbasuraj has a very valid point on brightness and viewing angle... Apple needs to improve substantially the quality of screens used in the professional line, at least for the 12" powerbook.
PB summarized the screen-point well. 1024 resolution on a 12" screen is perfectly fine. But the quality of the 12-inch PowerBook's (and iBook's) screen pales in comparison to the 15-inch and 17-inch models. I bought an external 17" LCD a couple of months ago, and going back to the built-in screen of my iBook/500 (which is exactly the same as on all subsequent iBooks and the 12-inch PB) is depressing.
Some will argue that brighter screens consumer more battery power and would ruin the 12-incher's outstanding battery life. To that I answer that you can always turn down brightness (manually or automatically via Energy Saver) to save power. As for viewing angle, I don't know whether it is simply a function of screen quality or also requires more power.
Bump the specs just a little, bigger hard drive and then add a Type I card slot and it's perfect.
I seriously doubt that the 12-inch will get a PC Card slot. With the wide array of built-in ports of today's Mac portables, there's virtually no need for PC Card expansion. Seriously, Baron von Smiley, for what would you actually use a PC Card slot?
Somebody else who wanted a PC Card slot mentioned that Apple should simply add it next to the AirPort slot. The AirPort Extreme card is no longer an internal PC Card, it's a different format now. On top of that, it is located in the bottom center of the PB, which obviously would no be practical for a PC Card slot.
Again, I maintain that there is no room (physically and ideologically) for a PC Card slot in the smallest, 12-inch PowerBook.
Comments
Originally posted by Nordstrodamus
Two words: Sub notebook.
ding ding ding!
watch the 12" powerbook stop being a metal-cased iBook and become its own, thinner, more compact beast entirely.
Originally posted by Paul
FW800 (even if that is the only port, ship it with an adapter)
If they can't have both, I think having only the 800 port is a mistake. Pain in the butt for people who have FW400 drives, which is basically everyone.
I don't see them dropping the 400 port to do it. FW800 isn't whiz-bang fast enough to warrant that, IMO.
Originally posted by murbot
If they can't have both, I think having only the 800 port is a mistake. Pain in the butt for people who have FW400 drives, which is basically everyone.
I don't see them dropping the 400 port to do it. FW800 isn't whiz-bang fast enough to warrant that, IMO.
sorry to intefere, but there is cables to connect FW800 to FW 400. I bought a 200 GB HD from the cie, and i have two connectors. One FW 800 to FW 800 connector, one FW 800 to FW 400.
I guess it's a little more difficult to find FW 400 4 pins to FW 800 (for digital cameras).
PS : edited. Did not see that the post before, dealed with an adaptator. FW 800 is only interesting for FW 800 HD.
Originally posted by Jonathan
ding ding ding!
watch the 12" powerbook stop being a metal-cased iBook and become its own, thinner, more compact beast entirely.
Are you just teasing Escher (amongst others)?
Originally posted by G-News
Next revision PB 12" is going to have 64MB of video RAM, make your bets.
You are probabily right with that one.
Originally posted by shabbasuraj
with rergards to PB revisions, I beg for Apple to update their TFT technlogy throughout the entire notebook line...
Apple TFT's leave much to be desired in their 'PRO' line...
pathetic resolutions (15" and espcially the 17" PB), horrible nit brightness, and narrow viewing angles plague the entire PB line...
don't get me wrong I love my PB, but when it comes to the screen, I am very dissapointed...
my brother's SONY VAIO screen shames my PB screen when comparing the two side by side...
thanks for the rant...
typos fixed
Pathetic res?
12" screens - great res
15" PowerBook screen - great res
17" PB screen - good res
15" 1152 and 14" screens - so-so res.
the 12" could see a jump to 13" (w?) as well (with corresponding increase in res...)
but in terms of quality you can't get much better...
finally give widescreen it's Pro status..
a professional needs more space for palettes, etc...
a consumer only needs to view web-pages, write documents, etc.. all of which can be performed well on a regular 4 x 3 display.
i think a physical distinction like this is the most powerful way to fully separate the consumer iBook from the professional PB.
Problem is, no one makes a 13" wide TFT. Most anything 13" or smaller is in 4:3. That's why you see such a preponderance of 12" notebooks. 12.1" has been a popular size for at least 7-8 years, so it's been easy for the LCD manufacturers to make them and keep costs down. A wide 13" would be more of a custom-built part. Sony and Fujitsu have 10.6" WXGA notebooks, but I can't see Apple making such a model.
Originally posted by ryaxnb
Pathetic res?
12" screens - great res
15" PowerBook screen - great res
17" PB screen - good res
15" 1152 and 14" screens - so-so res.
this could be easily remedied with BTOs....
I am young and have good eyes, let me pay for a BTO...(thus letting me take full advantage of my 17"viewing area)
res may be ok for some at the 15" but the res of teh 17" PB is pathetic...(it should be at least 4 digits by 4 digits)...
I know most will agree that contrast ratio, nit brightnes, and viewing angle of Apple TFTs are 'hurtin'...
Apple will never upgrade their screen technology (read: it will take a complete form factor change), sad but true...
PS: yeah a 13" widescreen sounds intriguing...
and before you say"but the ibook is a best seller and i love my 12"icebook hear me out
The target demographic for the ibbok is "consumers" and other consumer laptops have 15" screens. Typically if size is most important to you will be willing to spend more money. the main reason the icebook sells well here is PRICE (please ignore Asia at this point) if the 12" ibook was $1499 and the 14" was $1099 the 14" would fly off the shelves.
But if apple wasn't an American company, all bets are off.
Originally posted by ryaxnb
Pathetic res?
I agree with you on the resolution issue (as many others, I don't like Squintronics?
Also, ATI graphics would be nice too...
Originally posted by PB
I agree with you on the resolution issue (as many others, I don't like Squintronics?
PB summarized the screen-point well. 1024 resolution on a 12" screen is perfectly fine. But the quality of the 12-inch PowerBook's (and iBook's) screen pales in comparison to the 15-inch and 17-inch models. I bought an external 17" LCD a couple of months ago, and going back to the built-in screen of my iBook/500 (which is exactly the same as on all subsequent iBooks and the 12-inch PB) is depressing.
Some will argue that brighter screens consumer more battery power and would ruin the 12-incher's outstanding battery life. To that I answer that you can always turn down brightness (manually or automatically via Energy Saver) to save power. As for viewing angle, I don't know whether it is simply a function of screen quality or also requires more power.
Escher
Originally posted by Baron von Smiley
Bump the specs just a little, bigger hard drive and then add a Type I card slot and it's perfect.
I seriously doubt that the 12-inch will get a PC Card slot. With the wide array of built-in ports of today's Mac portables, there's virtually no need for PC Card expansion. Seriously, Baron von Smiley, for what would you actually use a PC Card slot?
Somebody else who wanted a PC Card slot mentioned that Apple should simply add it next to the AirPort slot. The AirPort Extreme card is no longer an internal PC Card, it's a different format now. On top of that, it is located in the bottom center of the PB, which obviously would no be practical for a PC Card slot.
Again, I maintain that there is no room (physically and ideologically) for a PC Card slot in the smallest, 12-inch PowerBook.
Escher