where we will be in a year...
i think it's a nice question to ask right now. with the MWSF just behind us with so many cool news and the 970 in front of us as a solution to all the G4-problems (slow bus shared by two processors, DDR, etc) and the ongoing development in the Rendezvous-area i think that 2003 will be a very good year for innovations...
the current G4 is outperformed by a P4 as a single chip - the dual G4 are performing very good but not better than a single P4. i think intel has to bring the P4 to speeds that doubles the actual performance if they want to look good when it comes to dual 970-based machines.
i can see it now... a dual-970-based-mac with rendezvous-connections to all other equipment and with 64bit-OS X allows use with little to no configuration and outperforms intel-singles by far. keynote, safari, iTunes, iMovie or even FinalCutExpress, LogicAudio, Surround Sound, iDVD, iPhoto .. wow - i don't think there can be something equal to this in the wintel world...
and i can see an iMac replacement by a variant of the 17"powerbook... small, flat, powerful, external keyboard and mouse. no other modifications need to be made... this is the way to go...
i have my hopes up - but all with good reasons - most of this stuff is here ToDaY .. at least all will be good
the current G4 is outperformed by a P4 as a single chip - the dual G4 are performing very good but not better than a single P4. i think intel has to bring the P4 to speeds that doubles the actual performance if they want to look good when it comes to dual 970-based machines.
i can see it now... a dual-970-based-mac with rendezvous-connections to all other equipment and with 64bit-OS X allows use with little to no configuration and outperforms intel-singles by far. keynote, safari, iTunes, iMovie or even FinalCutExpress, LogicAudio, Surround Sound, iDVD, iPhoto .. wow - i don't think there can be something equal to this in the wintel world...
and i can see an iMac replacement by a variant of the 17"powerbook... small, flat, powerful, external keyboard and mouse. no other modifications need to be made... this is the way to go...
i have my hopes up - but all with good reasons - most of this stuff is here ToDaY .. at least all will be good
Comments
Barto
The applications and technologies will be improved as well: Rendezvous, iTunes, iMovie, iDVD, iPhoto, Safari, Keynote, AppleScript, Quicktime and more.
Finally, OS 9 will be retired. Classic will remain for those few who need it.
The hardware to run it will also be changed a lot.
-FW800 will be on all machines.
-Gigabit Ethernet on most machines
-802.11g on all machines
-Flat panels on all machines
-Perhaps the iBook will still keep the G3. A 1GHz+ G3 iBook with a good graphics chip selling for $699 or less would be great for school kids.
-Bluetooth on all machines
-Serial ATA on high end machines
-200MHz+ FSB on all machines
-100GB+ HD on most machines
I think the iMac will remain in some form. The 17 inch Al Book is nice but it doesn't have the flexibility of the iMac. It is really nice to be able to position the screen and keyboard as you want to. Plus, it will still be much cheaper to build a desktop rather than a laptop although the prices will be converging.
The PowerMacs will finally be really Powerful. Howevre it happens, it seems clear that by this time next year they will achieve near parity with the P4 in terms of raw power. It will be interesting to see how this affects the Xserve.
In a sense, we will have "arrived". New solid OS, great apps, blazingly fast hardware, decent prices, and probably a stable set of interfaces: FW800, Gigabit Ethernet, USB, 802.11g, Bluetooth, Serial ATA. For several years anyway, that should cover all the bases.
PowerMac
Dual 970s across the line (quads?) 1.2-1.8(2?)
512 RAM minimum REAL 400DDR up to 4 Gig
80 Gig 7200RPM Minimum up to 200 Gig (4HD bays)
4x SuperDrive-8x Superdrive (2 5.25 bays)
4USB2, 2FW800, 2FW400, Bluetooth, AirPort Extreme, S-ATA, 10/100/1000 Ethernet, AGP 8x
Starting at $1799
new machine
Dual G4 1.25
256 DDR333 RAM (2Gig Max)
60 Gig 5400 (4 Bays)
24xCDRW COMBO (1 bay)
2USB2, 2FW800, ApE(option), ATA-133, 10/100/1000, AGP8x
$1299
iMac
1GHz G4-1.25
256 DDR 266-512
60Gig-120
24xCombo-4xSuper
4USB, 1FW800, 1FW400, Bt, ApE(option), ATA-66, 10/100/1000, AGP 4x
15w,17w,17w,19w
999,1299,1699,1999
eMac
1Ghz G4
256 133
40Gig
DVD, Combo, Super
2USB,2FW400,Bt,ApE(option),10/100/1000
17"
699, 899, 1099 $49 stand
edu-$100 stand included
NO CRT iMAC
Displays
17w,17s,20w,23w
iPod
5-$199
10-$299
20-$399(case&remote)
40-$599(case&remote&mic)&Bt for non mp3 data
case-$40
Remote-$40
Mic-$40
PowerBook
17
1.25 G4
512 (333)
80
2xSuper
yadda yadda yadda
better battery
$3499
15
1-1.25
256-512 (266-333)
40-60
Combo-2xSuper
yadda yadda yadda keyboard only 17
2299-2999
12
1
256 soldered (266)
40
Combo
yadda yadda yadda
$1699
yadda yadda yadda=2FW800 (1 on 12"), 2USB2, Bt, ApE, PC Card (even 12")
iBook
12
1GHz G3
256 Soldered
30-40
DVD-Combo
1FW800
2USB
Bt
ApE
$999-$1199
14
1GHz G3
256 Soldered + 256
30-40
DVD-Combo
1FW800
2USB
Bt
ApE
$1399-$1599
ApE
$79 Card
$199 Base (same as today)+scanners
$299 Better Base (same as today + USB2=put Scanners, Printers, and STORAGE for use on the network)
S/W
iLife
ProLife(DVD Express, FCE, Audio Express, Photoshop Alt)
Office alt(keynote+new apps)
10.3.3
Hmm.
Anything's possible.
I wouldn't underestimate Apple.
Software wise, they're getting bolder...
Lemon Bon Bon