more G4 iBook rumors

thegelding · February 2, 2003 11:11PM

<a href="http://www.looprumors.com/"; target="_blank">here</a>

i guess the iBook will go G4 someday...so if we keep guessing we have to be right someday...i can see the iBook going G4 when the new PB go into second rev.....definetly if the PB ever get the 970...but i don't see that anytime soon....g

ensoniq · February 2, 2003 11:39PM

The new 12" PowerBook is exactly what the iBook G4 would have been, if it was coming out anytime soon. However, the new PowerBook makes it clear that we're going to be waiting a while longer (2 revisions or so) for any sort of G4 iBook.

This is a list of features that the 17" PowerBook has that the 12" does not:

1 - 1 GHz G4

2 - 167 MHz Bus

3 - L3 Cache

4 - GeForce 440

5 - Firewire 800

6 - Backlit Keyboard

7 - DVI Out

In my opinion, what Apple should have done is include every single one of those features in the 12" PowerBook. I don't know if they decided against it for heat issues, space issues, pricing issues, or a combination of all three.

However, if they HAD included all those features, then they could have released the PowerBook 12" and iBook G4 simultanously, and made everyone happy at once.

The iBook G4 would have been exactly what the 12" PowerBook is now, which we all agree is a stunning machine...in the familiar Ice casing instead of Aluminum. It would have left the current iBook in the dust, and been another Apple revolution.

The 12" PowerBook would have been a duplicate of the 17" machine in every way, with the exception of screen size. The power users then only need to decide how big they want their PowerBook to be, and not give up features by choosing the 12" over the 17".

With the specs as shown above, the 12" iBook and PowerBooks would not have "cannibalized" each other, and so many people are quick to suggest a G4 iBook might do. The extra 7 features of the PowerBook would be indispensible to some, and worth an extra $500-$800 in price, depending on how Apple priced the units.

Right now though, I am guessing it was completely a price based decision for Apple to "dumb down" the 12" PowerBook, so to speak. I am not sure they could have figured out a way to make the 12" PowerBook cheap enough to be a 12" iBook G4 (under $1500), nor could they add the additional 7 features to the 12" PowerBook and keep it at a maximum cost of $2300. So they had to settle.

But as component costs go down, expect the first revision of the iBook G4 to be remarkably close to what we see in the PowerBook 12" right now.

-- Ensoniq

discstickers · February 2, 2003 11:55PM

I bet it had more to do with heat (and space) than cost.

luca · February 3, 2003 12:25AM

Also, they might not have wanted the 12" (which is less costly than the 15") to look better than the 15".

imacfan · February 3, 2003 4:26AM

Unfortunately, I think that a G4 iBook is years away, with the current offerings becoming akin to the current G3 iMac. The sales would, however be stronger than the desktop, as it would still be the ideal portable for those who just want to do light work on the move.

The next incarnation of the 15" PB should offer pros all the advantages of the 17" with a footprint not that much bigger than the 12"

David

stunned · February 3, 2003 8:13AM

If the iBooks go G4, I hope the prices would not leap too. The iBooks are attractive now becos of their competitive prices. Any upward increase in prices will affect sales drastically as consumers will go for the 12" PB instead.

satchmo · February 3, 2003 8:55AM

I think it has to do with the fact that they know a 15" will soon be updated and will need to slot it in between the 12 and 17 inch models.

Although every feature of the 17" will probably be included in the 15". After all, the 15" will be their biggest seller and their cash cow.

muah · February 3, 2003 9:10AM

I think it is hard to say "This will be the year of the portable for Apple" and then leave the iBook at a G3. Not that the G3 isn't a perfectly good processor in it's own right, but it was 1999 when they released the G4. That was almost 4 years ago. PC people were using Pentium 2's at the time.

t'hain esh kelch · February 3, 2003 9:34AM

G4 iBook would be nice for some...

But I'm still waiting for a sub 700$ ibook..

thegelding · February 3, 2003 9:52AM

iBook classic---mostly schools and such---

G3 700 cd-rw....749 (699 edu)

G3 800 combo....899 (849 edu)

iBook G4

G4 800 cd-rw...999

G4 867 combo...1199

G4 14" 867 combo....1399

g

they will save the superdrive for PB unless they do a special edition G4 iBook

but that is a Al book anyway....

[ 02-03-2003: Message edited by: thegelding ]

chucker · February 3, 2003 10:49AM

muah: Do you or did you own a G3 iBook? Do you know how great it is for its price? I don't think so.

kraig911 · February 3, 2003 12:20PM

I have a feeling they are going to do a lot in marketing/pricing. By splitting the g4 g3 pricepoints down considerably. Look for in the future the consumer versions all of them to be 1500 less, and all pro equipment 1500 plus. I think that applies with the imacs too. Look for a more robust product offering to, I hope they split the powermac line into a 970 upper 3000$' and a g4 line 1200$-2000$

gardenofearthlydelights · February 3, 2003 12:56PM

The iBook is for seventh graders in Maine and Quebec. They don't need a G4. Pr0n works well enough on a G3.

Want a G4 in that form factor? My a 12" Booklette

t'hain esh kelch · February 3, 2003 12:59PM

[quote]Originally posted by GardenOfEarthlyDelights:

The iBook is for seventh graders in Maine and Quebec. They don't need a G4. Pr0n works well enough on a G3.<hr></blockquote>

<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />

You evil evil man... <img src="graemlins/cancer.gif" border="0" alt="[cancer]" />

eman · February 3, 2003 2:01PM

[quote]Originally posted by T'hain Esh Kelch:



<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />

You evil evil man... <img src="graemlins/cancer.gif" border="0" alt="[cancer]" /> <hr></blockquote>

<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> he might be evil, but it's true.

overhope · February 3, 2003 3:52PM

I don't get it: I was in a store yesterday drooling over a 12" Powerbook, then had a look at the 12" iBook round the corner. Colour aside, these things look damn-near identical (well, and the nicer keyboard).

It seems to me that Stevo is saying, "Y'all want a G4 laptop in a smaller form-factor? Here y'go, but I'm not devaluing the differentiation between the "pro" Powerbook line and the "consumer" iBooks. You want Altivec, you gotta pay..."

Just as soon as I've found the necessary funds, I'm getting a 12" Powerbook.

dfiler · February 3, 2003 5:16PM

I don't see the point in a G4 iBook.

If apple released a cheap G4 iBook, why would anyone buy the 12" powerbook? If they released a not-so-cheap G4 iBook, there wouldn't be any difference between it and the current 12" powerbook.

Heheh... another great idea, put the powerbook's screen on an arm and rearange the insides so that it fits in a circular base. It would sell as the iPowerbook.

Or maybe, they could put a G3 in the 12" powerbook and release G3 powerbooks exactly like the iBook.

Does anyone else find the idea of G4 iBooks completely ridiculous? Well, maybe not ridiculous. Apple could release a renamed mini-powerbook with translucent white plastic keys reminiscent of the iBook. Then we would merely be discussing the name of a laptop and the color of its keyboard.

wolfeye155 · February 3, 2003 7:54PM

I don't think there should be G4 iBooks until ALL of the Power Books are upgraded to a G5 (including the 12"). They don't need to make picking a notebook computer anymore confusing that it already is. The G3 is still a great little processor and should be used in iBooks at 1Ghz and beyond until it's time to upgrade to a G4. They could possibly have Altivec G3 processors, no?

more G4 iBook rumors

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