no ibook update until 12" aibook update?
what do you think? i can't see the ibook getting any updates for a while now. i'd assume they'd have to bump the aibook to 1ghz before we'll see any new ibooks. we all know that the 867 aibook can't possibly be that much faster than the 800 ibook.
[ 01-10-2003: Message edited by: whoami ]</p>
[ 01-10-2003: Message edited by: whoami ]</p>
Comments
I predice an average revision to the iBook, minor revisions to the 12" and 17" PowerBooks, and a major update to the 15". As G-News said, it'll go 1/1/1.2/1.2 on the 12/15/15/17. Very good prediction. Meanwhile, the iBook will hit 1 GHz with a low end of either 800 or 900 MHz (maybe 867 if Apple moves the iMac to a 133 or 167 MHz bus later this month or early next month) and it will get a minimum of 32 MB of VRAM. Perhaps GeForce 4 420 Go across the board, or a slight chance of a 32 MB Radeon 9000 across the board, but it all depends on how the other ones get bumped.
RAM on the iBook will probably remain at 128 MB on the motherboard. There is a chance that all new OS X-only machines will have 256 MB as a minimum to reflect OS X's higher demands, but I wouldn't put it past Apple to keep saddling their machines with crappy-low amounts of RAM. Either way, it'll still have 128 MB on the motherboard until Apple gets around to putting 256 MB or more on the 12" PowerBook's motherboard.
Finally, it is possible that the iBook will get a superdrive, but I don't think that'll happen until the iBook goes G4 (because iDVD requires a G4, right?). If it ever goes G4? with the 12" PowerBook, maybe it'll just sort of merge with that lineup. Who knows, maybe the current 12" PowerBook will eventually be demoted to iBook status at a much lower price (with similar stats as now, a clear/white case, and some features disabled like monitor spanning), and an updated 12" PowerBook will take its place.
EDIT: I referred to G-News's predicitons, which are in a different thread. This one and that other one are very similar so I might have gotten confused. Anyway, the other thread I was referring to was at <a href="http://forums.appleinsider.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=002865"; target="_blank">this</a> address. Just to clear up any confusion.
[ 01-10-2003: Message edited by: Luca Rescigno ]</p>
I'd say, if you are just frustrated with your old computer, go ahead and wait for the next revision. It'll probably come in three or four months. If you absolutely can't wait, go ahead and get it, it won't kill you to have your product updated a couple months after you buy it, that's destined to happen anyway.
If you're in between those situations? say, you would really really like to have it for more than just fun/home use, but you could limp along with what you have, then it's really up to you. If you were in that position, I'd say go ahead. If it were March, I'd probably say wait, but it's still mid-January, and the iBook was only updated about two and a half months ago.
The rumor goes, you know how Apple promised to leave Mac OS 9 booting macs on the market another 6 months?, well to avoid the general perception that they are caving in, they are just not going to update the existing product lines until then.
the iBook is still pretty fresh and selling really well, but leaving the iMac and eMac stagnent that long would be suicidal.
<strong>the rumor going around Macworld was the iMac, eMac, iBook and G4 towers aren't going to get an update until MWNY.
The rumor goes, you know how Apple promised to leave Mac OS 9 booting macs on the market another 6 months?, well to avoid the general perception that they are caving in, they are just not going to update the existing product lines until then.
the iBook is still pretty fresh and selling really well, but leaving the iMac and eMac stagnent that long would be suicidal.</strong><hr></blockquote>
If this is true: Thanks Quark! We really owe you!
plus, apple offered a (as in 1) computer that boots OS 9, but didn't promise all computer will...in fact, i thought the new PB will be OS X only....
yep, os x only on the new PB ....
<a href="http://www.apple.com/powerbook/specs.html"; target="_blank">web page</a>
[ 01-10-2003: Message edited by: thegelding ]</p>
I can understand BostonIrish220. I really, really like the MiniBook, but it's priced is too high to replace my TangBook which I use but sparingly.
Screed
[ 01-10-2003: Message edited by: sCreeD ]</p>
<strong>what do you think? i can't see the ibook getting any updates for a while now. i'd assume they'd have to bump the aibook to 1ghz before we'll see any new ibooks. we all know that the 867 aibook can't possibly be that much faster than the 800 ibook.
[ 01-10-2003: Message edited by: whoami ]</strong><hr></blockquote>
it isn't unheard of for an iBook to outclock a PowerBook. In the end of '00, the toilet seat (2nd SE) was clocked at 466mhz with the base powerbook (pismo) being at 400mhz G3. There was a powerbook available faster (500mhz G3), but this iBook / powerbook thing didn't cause any empires to collapse, and all was good, and those were both G3s!
I wouldn't count on something silly like a somewhat slower bottom end powerbook to hamper progress on the iBook. However, the iBook isn't due for another regular speedbump for a while, so don't get too excited.
[ 01-10-2003: Message edited by: progmac ]</p>
<strong>The 14" iBook is really the odd man. I suppose there was a demand for a consumer priced portable with a screen larger than the 12" iBook. However, the 14" is priced closer to the price of a MiniBook with a larger screen but slower processor. I wonder if Apple might try and boost MiniBook sales by culling the 14" and bringing down the 12" iBook a hair.
[ 01-10-2003: Message edited by: sCreeD ]</strong><hr></blockquote>
Amazingly, apple responded somewhat to this idea (or maybe sales were just lagging) and cut the 14" $100, if you'll remember
edit: it ain't the 14 that's on it's way out, it's the 12. Consumer value customers typically view a larger screen as a plus. The iBook 12's road-worthiness was only an accident of component costs and a good design dept. They now have a slim model to sell you at a premium and it really doesn't cost them more to make an iBook 14, which is more in line with what the other 95% expect. You'll see.
[ 01-10-2003: Message edited by: Matsu ]</p>
leave the 12' to the pb, ibook all 14, one with only difs would be drives cdrw, combo etc. they don't need 3 ibooks. look at the price spread they should have ones 100-200 apart
how about separating them by screen size
14
pb 12 15 17
my big question is can apple get an ibook at 999 and 14' screen.?
now how many laptops do they have now, just for inventory control, maybe going to custom builds to keep inventory costs down. there is still a place for a 999 or less laptop
waiting for 15" PB with superdrive, but by the time that happens dvd writer will come down in price and increase speed and with FW800 do you really need to carry a dvd writer? if you do much of the editing at home or office just have a stand alone unit what do you think. I want a laptop with airport and BT builtin, leave the expansion card slot for something elso.
<strong>I'll give you the update. 14" iBooks across the board, no spanning, G3, same prices as the old models, bye-bye top end custom config. 1000-1500USD.
edit: it ain't the 14 that's on it's way out, it's the 12. Consumer value customers typically view a larger screen as a plus. The iBook 12's road-worthiness was only an accident of component costs and a good design dept. They now have a slim model to sell you at a premium and it really doesn't cost them more to make an iBook 14, which is more in line with what the other 95% expect. You'll see.
[ 01-10-2003: Message edited by: Matsu ]</strong><hr></blockquote>
i agree the 14" might make some more inroads, but don't count on it eliminating the 12" There are plenty of students with the small size and general niceness of the 12" iBook and enjoying the small price tag and ruggedness along with--two things that will never be found in the 12" powerbook (though the 12" powerbook is a very cool machine in it's own right). there are plenty of people who appreciate the smallness, etc. of the 12" iBook and won't need the big 14" thing.
Not that it is an issue in the rest of my reply, but as for spanning, anyone who is technical enough to want to span monitors in the first place would have no problems allowing their iBook to span. I'm on a spanned iBook right now, actually
<strong>So here's my problem. I'm in the market for a new laptop, but can't justify spending the 1800 for the new MiniBook. Should I buy an iBook now, or hold off to the next revision? Do we know if it's coming this month? Why is everyone talking about revisions in the end of January? How do they know this?</strong><hr></blockquote>
The 12" PB is a beauty, but a bit steep on the price side. On the other hand, the ibooks are priced more reasonably and performance is not that inferior compared to the PB.
If u are really into beautiful hardware, get the PB. If not, get the iBook now. Its really worth it.
the new aluminiumbooks introduces a new procedure of moulding the shells of portables making thes even more rugged at a minimum size; the n°1 need in portable technology.
the pro-models and the consumer-models will moore and moore be differentiated through material as opposed to form; aka the success of the ibook2 over ibook1.
the next powermac will be in metal/metal alloy, just as the new powerbooks.
looking at the introduction of the new powerbooks, the killer feature was BIG/small, to get the right attention.
when powerbooks & ibooks will differ in performance as the new 970ibm CPU gets in production, the whole ibook-line will get revamped and enclosures will be based on the new shell of the powerbooks, and the big differentiation will be in material & color/appearance.
at this time the powerbook12" will get a bumped screen; A WIDE FORMAT 13"3.
the ibook inherits the mould of the PB12" and is made of a strong new plasic alloy, probably all white and possibly in different colors. the 14" picks up the new moulding sheme too, and remains in the line-up, although i hope Apple makes it moore to be a stand alone model, not only an overgrown ibook..
So, the powerbook line-up will become 970;
13"3
15"2
17"1
ibook line will be G4;
12"1
14"1
<strong>here is my wishful thinking;
the next powermac will be in metal/metal alloy, just as the new powerbooks.
the whole ibook-line will get revamped and enclosures will be based on the new shell of the powerbooks, and the big differentiation will be in material & color/appearance.</strong><hr></blockquote>
The Powermac line won't go all-metal. But dual-mirror doors are about as close at it will come to that.
And secondly, the iBook/PowerBook differentiation is going to get crazy in the next year... all depending on what Apple wants to do with their new 970 IBM chip. I don't think the 12.1" iBook is going anywhere. I think just about any university/school recommends it as the Apple of Choice... I don't know figures but I wouldn't be surprised if it's the best selling Apple portable right now. I think it's the 14" iBook that has its days numbered.
Also, I really hope that around April/May, the Powerbook 12" gets a bump up to 1Ghz along with some iBook upgrades. THEN I'll plunk down the money for the new babybook. I suspect that Apple will pick an off-cycle upgrade date just to screw with us and prove that it's changing the way it releases hardware.
<strong>I'll give you the update. 14" iBooks across the board, no spanning, G3, same prices as the old models, bye-bye top end custom config. 1000-1500USD.
edit: it ain't the 14 that's on it's way out, it's the 12. Consumer value customers typically view a larger screen as a plus. The iBook 12's road-worthiness was only an accident of component costs and a good design dept. They now have a slim model to sell you at a premium and it really doesn't cost them more to make an iBook 14, which is more in line with what the other 95% expect. You'll see.
[ 01-10-2003: Message edited by: Matsu ]</strong><hr></blockquote>
<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> The 12" iBook isn't going anywhere except out-the-door in mass quantities. The size is just right, and the price is great (but lower is always better). I just wish the bottom end had a DVD-ROM (instead of CD-ROM). Have you seen the price of portable DVD players? Too close to an iBook.