15.4-inch PowerBook on horizon

dhagan4755 · January 14, 2003 9:06AM

This <a href="http://www.digitimes.com/NewsShow/Article.asp?datePublish=2003/01/09&pages=01&seq=1"; target="_blank">article</a> and it's table show a 15.4-inch PowerBook manufactured by the same company that will be making the 17-inch PowerBook.

The question now is when will it come out? End of January/early-February when they bump the PowerMacs?

producer · January 14, 2003 9:08AM

I was hoping that the 15 inch would turn into a convertible table like the compaq

outsider · January 14, 2003 10:03AM

Maybe the meant to say 15.2 and Quanta and Compal share production?

thegelding · January 14, 2003 10:49AM

15.4 is a typo....g

producer · January 14, 2003 10:52AM

I meant Tablet

Anyway if it only adds a $100s or so to add tablet functionality to the powerbook I say add it...

giant · January 14, 2003 11:54AM

Posted @ MacNN:

[quote]daSilVetZ:A couple of days ago, someone mentioned the article on Digitimes , and the 2 different 15" PB's. I sent an email to the person who had wrote the article, and just received a response:

---

My orignal email :

Hello, on the article seen here

<a href="http://www.digitimes.com/NewsShow/A...3/01/09&pages=0"; target="_blank">http://www.digitimes.com/NewsShow/A...3/01/09&pages=0</a>;

1&seq=1 , the 2 Powerbook 15" have slightly different screen sizes. The

15.2" and the 15.4"? I am inclined to think that this is a typo, if not,

please let me know what the difference between the 2 is- as I had never

heard of a 15.4" Powerbook.

Regards,

----

Reply:

Hi,

The 15.4" model will replace the current 15.2" model in the near future. On

Apple Computer's website, the company has pointed out that the actual 15"

PowerBook measured at 15.2" in diagonal.

Hope this help.

Chinmei Sung

DigiTimes.com

daSilVetZ <xx>

? 2003/01/11 03:21:45 AM

chinmei/DigiTimes@DigiTimes Re: Sources: Compal to produce Apple

--

Hmm. <hr></blockquote>

arnette · January 14, 2003 1:16PM

I'll believe it when I see it.

dhagan4755 · January 14, 2003 2:06PM

Article:

<a href="http://pcworld.shopping.yahoo.com/yahoo/article/0,aid,106577,00.asp"; target="_blank">http://pcworld.shopping.yahoo.com/yahoo/article/0,aid,106577,00.asp</a>;

[quote]Samsung will introduce a 15.4-inch WXGA (1,280 pixel x 800 pixel) thin film transistor LCD and a 17-inch WXGA TFT LCD for notebook PCs in January.<hr></blockquote>

scottib · January 14, 2003 5:10PM

The current 15.2" TiBook is 1280x854. I wouldn't want to gain .2", yet lose some resolution--but it might not be enough to notice(?).

franck · January 14, 2003 7:59PM

Nice catch DHagan4755,

I think Apple should standardize resolutions across the line.

Standard dispays have to be 4/3

Cinema displays should all be in a 16:10 form factor.

Cinema display 23" and 22" are OK.

iMac 17" is fine too (just like 17" AlBook)

But the 15.2" TiBook has a weird 1280*864 resolution.

1280 x 800 is much more like a Cinema Display form Factor, much more Apple-ish.

I thing 15" (1024*768) iMacs should be replaced by the same screen as above, thus providing a 16:10 display all across the line, except for ultraportables.

dhagan4755 · January 14, 2003 9:03PM

Points that makes the 15.4" PowerBook idea logical and not a typo:

The low-end PowerBook has a faster optical combo drive than the Titanium

The low-end PowerBook has the option for a faster Airport card

The low-end Powerbook has a sturdier keyboard; the Titanium PowerBook's keyboard is different in format and color from the models on each side

Models on either side have Built-in Bluetooth

Models on either side use nVidia graphics making the Titanium inconsistent

[ 01-14-2003: Message edited by: DHagan4755 ]

gon · January 14, 2003 11:30PM

[quote]Originally posted by DHagan4755:

Models on either side use nVidia graphics making the Titanium inconsistent

<hr></blockquote>Yep.. sad that they didn't do the right thing and pick Radeon 9000 for the new hardware, too.

It goes toe to toe with GF4Go440 though being better in portables; also it happens to wipe the floor with GF4Go420 in the smaller 'Book.

- Gon

bozzo · January 15, 2003 1:59AM

Take a look at the bottom of this page :

<a href="http://www.samsungelectronics.com/semiconductors/search/datasheet.jsp?family=590"; target="_blank">http://www.samsungelectronics.com/semiconductors/search/datasheet.jsp?family=590</a>;

You'll see that the Samsung 15,4" LCD are available in 3 resolution :

WXGA : 1,280 x 800

WSXGA+ : 1,680 x 1,050

WUXGA : 1,920 x 1,200

Perhaps Apple will choose the 1,680 x 1,050 one ...

applenut · January 15, 2003 2:01AM

or they could.....gasp.... make different screens available BTO.

but noooooo.... lets not provide options..... so silly

franck · January 15, 2003 5:12AM

[quote]Originally posted by bozzo:

Take a look at the bottom of this page :

<a href="http://www.samsungelectronics.com/semiconductors/search/datasheet.jsp?family=590"; target="_blank">http://www.samsungelectronics.com/semiconductors/search/datasheet.jsp?family=590</a>;

You'll see that the Samsung 15,4" LCD are available in 3 resolution :

WXGA : 1,280 x 800

WSXGA+ : 1,680 x 1,050

WUXGA : 1,920 x 1,200

Perhaps Apple will choose the 1,680 x 1,050 one ...<hr></blockquote>

With the 17" PowerBook sporting a 1440*900 screen while le 12" PB is 1024, future 15" PowerBooks won't go higher than 1280.

macsrgood4u · January 15, 2003 9:34AM

February will bring the new 15.4 Albook to replace the TiBook. Once current inventories are gone on the latter. Look for great pricing, $2499 for combo and $2699 for Superdrive? Will have all the 17" features except Airport card will be extra. My guesses.

mania · January 15, 2003 11:11AM

[quote]Originally posted by tonton:



:eek: Oh my god if I can get a 1920x1200 resolution PowerBook I'd beg, borrow or steal to get it NOW!<hr></blockquote>

no you don't - you would not even be able to read anything. my partner has a 1600x1200 15" dell and man it kills me to try and use it and i have 20/20 vision.

unless of course they make a 19" Albook.

new · January 15, 2003 11:13AM

well, the good thing about OSX is that you can make almost all the text bigger. So higher resolution is certainly posible...

satchmo · January 15, 2003 12:31PM

The added 0.2 inches won't make it or break it for me.

Just make sure any 15.x" model has most if not all the 17" features, especially level 3 cache and that cool ambient light keyboard.

fryke · January 16, 2003 2:09AM

If the price of the 15.4" model (1280x800) would be reduced even a tiny bit from the older 15.2" model, I think the resolution reduction would be okay. But then again, why should Apple use a newer display at all? Only because Samsung is making it? They can buy more of the one already used, I say, stay at 15.2" and put _that_ into an aluminium shell (plus add Bluetooth, AirPort Extreme and illuminated keys).

Whatever they do, the new 15.x" PowerBooks are bound to come rather sooner than later. My guess is that before the end of March we'll have new iMacs, new PowerMacs and new PowerBooks, and that from July to September we'll see the _real_ updates with a processor strategy shift of whatever kind. I sure hope Quark XPress has had info about that shift for three or four years now.

fobie · January 17, 2003 2:23AM

Anyone know when this update is going to happen?

15.4-inch PowerBook on horizon

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