Case/appearance change w/ next iBook?

Posted:
in Future Apple Hardware edited January 2014
Rumor has it that the next iBook will feature a modified, redesigned enclosure. Does this mean Airport antennae on the display? Or something much more major (gotta love those M's )What do ya'll think? Post, dammit, post!
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 43
    matsumatsu Posts: 6,558member
    you know what it's going to be...
  • Reply 2 of 43
    lucaluca Posts: 3,833member
    I think the iBook already has airport antennae in the display. They're inside, not outside, but they are already there.



    Other than the addition of Airport Extreme and possibly a 133 MHz bus on the higher end model (to work better with the probably 1 GHz clock speed), I have really no idea what they'll do.
  • Reply 3 of 43
    fred_ljfred_lj Posts: 607member
    Yeah, I don't really see much of a change in the case happening -- the iBook's an extremely pretty little number. Unless they offer the newer keyboard style (which I've heard is supposedly wonderful) and the fiberoptic backlighting, then I don't really see it changing. UNLESS, heh (sorry), the colored plastics happen again -- but this time with the LED tech. that Apple patented. The kids who have iBooks would be thrilled if they could make it pink or blue or yellow or green or any number of color in between.
  • Reply 4 of 43
    screedscreed Posts: 1,077member
    [quote]Originally posted by Matsu:

    <strong>you know what it's going to be...</strong><hr></blockquote>



    <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" />



    The 12" AlBook throws things into the blender. Aside from price, what does the iBook have to offer over the AlBook?



    Screed
  • Reply 5 of 43
    japhjaph Posts: 29member
    [quote]Originally posted by sCreeD:

    <strong>



    <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" />



    The 12" AlBook throws things into the blender. Aside from price, what does the iBook have to offer over the AlBook?</strong><hr></blockquote>



    That it has the advantage of price is enough of a point.



    However, given that we've seen the Powerbook line expanded, I think we might see an expanded iBook lineup.



    One thing I'd think would be a good addition regardless is the slot-loading optical drive.
  • Reply 6 of 43
    matsumatsu Posts: 6,558member
    Not expanded, reduced, but increased, you dig?
  • Reply 7 of 43
    os10geekos10geek Posts: 413member
    Backlit keyboard? Now don't you wish.That is something that the 12" powerbook doesn't have. Bluetooth and Airport X? Definitely. G4? I highly doubt it. 133mhz bus? Doubtful, but maybe on the hi-end. It will be interesting to see whether Apple moves to nVidia, or sticks with ATI. 32 Mb of VRAM is very likely. The keyboard is likely to be changed, and I hope that it is. No more typing on foam!
  • Reply 8 of 43
    fred_ljfred_lj Posts: 607member
    32MB VRAM is an option now. (as in the top-of-the-line iBooks have 32 MB Radeon 7500 cards)



    [ 03-02-2003: Message edited by: fred_lj ]</p>
  • Reply 9 of 43
    os10geekos10geek Posts: 413member
    Oh. Sorry. I don't hang around in the Consumer section of Apple that much. Now that you say it, that makes sense. My bad.My bad.My bad.My bad.My bad.My bad.My bad.My bad.My bad.My bad.
  • Reply 10 of 43
    clonenodeclonenode Posts: 392member
    [quote]Originally posted by Matsu:

    <strong>Not expanded, reduced, but increased, you dig?</strong><hr></blockquote>

    Matsu. What are you hinting at? A BIGGER iBook?
  • Reply 11 of 43
    clonenodeclonenode Posts: 392member
    [quote]Originally posted by Matsu:

    <strong>you know what it's going to be...</strong><hr></blockquote>

    No, Matsu, I don't. Fill us in.
  • Reply 12 of 43
    matsumatsu Posts: 6,558member
    I know nothing, but logic, the target market, and competition dictates that the screen get bigger. Of course Apple doesn't want to be bulky, so when the screen size does go up, the form overall size will go down, compared to the 14" iBook. When Apple has 1 model about the size/weight of the 12 (mebbe just a touch heavier and bigger footprint, but thinner, and with longer battery life) there won't be any reason for them to make two iBooks. One will cover the space of two, hence my previous statement.



    For now, just look for minor bumps, I don't think we'll see a redesign untill the PB's have moved forward a bit further.



    133Mhz system bus, 800-1Ghz, all 32MB, just evolutionary spec bumps for now.
  • Reply 13 of 43
    dgmvwdgmvw Posts: 54member
    If they droped the price on the 12.1" iBook I would consider buying that instead of an iPod...I know they are totally different, but I want to play MP3's in my car in a large capacity and the little iBook would work for me.
  • Reply 14 of 43
    clonenodeclonenode Posts: 392member
    I keep wondering if the new iBook will be some radical departure from the current design.
  • Reply 15 of 43
    satchmosatchmo Posts: 2,699member
    I could see the elimination of the 12" iBook since the PB will now fill the role of a "subnotebook".



    I can see Apple offering only two models of an iBook.

    14" screen with 867 and 1GHz respectively with improved graphics and bus speed.
  • Reply 16 of 43
    paulpaul Posts: 5,278member
    unless apple is retarded they will keep a sub $1000 notebook in Classic iMac Style (Read: until it gets REALLY long in the tooth... and even then a year or so longer...)
  • Reply 17 of 43
    quickquick Posts: 227member
    [quote]Originally posted by satchmo:

    <strong>I could see the elimination of the 12" iBook since the PB will now fill the role of a "subnotebook".</strong><hr></blockquote>



    I could see the elimination of the 12" iBook since the 12" PowerBook now fills the role of a 12" LAPTOP.

    The next iBooks should be real subnotebooks with 7" or 9" extrawide screens.
  • Reply 18 of 43
    matsumatsu Posts: 6,558member
    iBooks are supposed to affordable computers for consumers and students, not subnotes. If Apple ever made such a book, it would be expensive and it would be a PowerBook.
  • Reply 19 of 43
    eugeneeugene Posts: 8,254member
    I don't see any logic in your statements, Matsu. Unless you know what Apple's sales figures are for the 12" and 14" iBooks, there's no logic assuming either or both are going away. Apple will probably keep both with modest redesigns while lowering their prices considerably.
  • Reply 20 of 43
    clonenodeclonenode Posts: 392member
    [quote]Originally posted by Eugene:

    <strong>I don't see any logic in your statements, Matsu. Unless you know what Apple's sales figures are for the 12" and 14" iBooks, there's no logic assuming either or both are going away. Apple will probably keep both with modest redesigns while lowering their prices considerably.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    But if you consider that this is "The Year of the Notebook" - wouldn't you expect Apple to have bigger plans for the iBook than just a speed bump/price decrease.
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