The LE got a 133 bus. This makes it the most attractive LE PB in the time of Armani + Ti. The removal of IR without adding BT is wrong IMHO. My Pismo will be replaced when BT and AP are standart BI.
A very good upgrade for the most part. The display resolution is just perfect (almost the same pixel density as the iBook 12 inch, but not quite -- I think about 102ppi versus 106); the Level 3 cache is going to make a huge difference; analog audio in (finally back on the laptops); the best graphics chip for laptops in terms of being an appropriate compromise between speed and power usage; DVI support and ADC capable; lots of video RAM -- and what amounts to a substantial price cut on the 667 even with all this new stuff. Overall, it is one heck of a feature set.
One big problem though, and it is not of Apple's making. More than ever, Motorola's CPU is showing up as the glaring weak link in the whole picture. When are they going to go to 0.13 microns? The competition is gearing up for 0.09 already. No wonder the G4 has been slow to scale. On the special occasions when Motorola does cut the die size, the G4 has zoomed up real quickly. The modest change from 0.2 to 0.18 last year brought us up from 500MHz to 1GHz in the space of nine months.
So, are we going to be stuck with Moto's horrid chip fabbing capabilities any longer, or is something going to be done about it?
I know the Canadian dollar isn't the strongest out there but Apple prices seem to be overcompensating a little too much for our pathetic exchange. Can't they stick to ass raping the Brits and the Aussies?
I own a 500, one of the very first. I ordered it during the keynote of Jan 2001. Anyway, I was thinking about upgrading to the new 800Mhz, but I don't see that there's enough new about it to make the move.
I think I'm going to wait for the model that has built-in, 802.11a wireless, whenever that comes.
Some issues:
-Pricing
Truthfully, the prices are lower than the ones for the originals.
-IR
I don't think very many people use IR. I'm glad it's gone. Since I don't think many users use Bluetooth either, in my books the IR with no bluetooth is no big loss.
-Airport
As I said, I'd like the 122Mbps "turbo-mode" version of 802.11a that Apple talks about. (So it's clear now that Apple will be buying 802.11a chips from Atheros, which are the only ones, I think, that offer proprietary speeds beyond 54Mbps)
-Resolution
I actually am worried about the increase in resolution. I hope Quartz can scale graphics so that my text isn't teeny on screen and big on paper. If it can do that, then upping the res works for me.
So due to low interest -- and to some level financial reasons -- I think I will wait for the next update.
Jesus... feelin' sick again. Anyone want a 3-week old, slightly used TiBook? I'll slash $400 off what I paid for it... DAMNIT! Radeon 7500 Mobility... 32 MB DDR RAM... 1 FRICKIN' meg of L3 cache?!? Let this be a lesson to me to always WAIT, wait, WAIT, WAIT with Apple. I guess they like to shaft the people looking for a good deal... I buy mine and soon afterwards, it runs Q3A at 68 fps on the highest settings ;(. I get around 45-50. Oh well...
<strong>I know the Canadian dollar isn't the strongest out there but Apple prices seem to be overcompensating a little too much for our pathetic exchange. Can't they stick to ass raping the Brits and the Aussies?</strong><hr></blockquote>
Hey Matsu,
We Canadians are second class to our American cousins. What do you expect when they barely acknowledge killing 4 of our soldiers or booing our national anthem at sporting events.
I don't think very many people use IR. I'm glad it's gone. </strong><hr></blockquote>
I'm one of those who actually DOES us IR, thank you very much. I am sad to see it go.
Looks like when I get some money, I'll buy the 667Mhz TiBook that just LEFT. It has IR, VGA (which I'd rather have, honestly), and the same processor. I'm not thoroughly concerned about the L3 Cache or higher screen res.
But for now I'm sticking with my 400Mhz Pismo. Ah, my trusty old Pismo. <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />
<strong>More than ever, Motorola's CPU is showing up as the glaring weak link in the whole picture. When are they going to go to 0.13 microns? The competition is gearing up for 0.09 already.</strong><hr></blockquote>
From what I have gathered, Mot is already producing simpler things (memory, etc.) on its .13 fab, and they expect it to start churning out CPUs sometime in the second half of this year. Their .13 fab is technically very nice - Cu interconnects, SOI, etc., so once it's churning out CPUs they should be excellent performers.
Intel is just beginning to sample products on their .13 fab, so I don't think Mot is far behind them, if they're behind at all. Not by more than a few months, worst case.
[quote]Congratulations The Installer , you are the first to post it. And for the first time since i am here on AI i made a correct prediction aka a 667 mhz and 800 mhz ti book with ati radeon mobility 7500<hr></blockquote>
<strong>how long was this upgrade cycle? (4mo?) Will we get another upgrade late summer?</strong><hr></blockquote>
6 months, if I'm remembering right and the PB got its rather modest bump (combo drives) in November.
Apple has spent this year demonstrating that it's quite happy releasing models with nothing more than a press release pointing to a webpage. That's good news because it means that they're obviously satisfied with the press attention they command now, and it's good news because it means Apple will release things when they're ready, and no later. On the other hand, it's bad news for our little corner of the Mac Web because there's no telling when Apple will release anything anymore.
<strong>...What do you expect when they barely acknowledge killing 4 of our soldiers or booing our national anthem at sporting events.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Matbe in a few days someone with the spare cash will be able to give a first hand review of the new wonder-babies. But, at least procrastination pays off once in a while, and NOT buying the TiBook in March was a good choice. But now...that video card and higher res screen are going to make Aqua look even more alluring. Now I'm off to hunt for my printout of the tech specs from the last model to compare with the new one. <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" />
Yeah, I'm also mostly happy with this upgrade. But I have one question: Whatever happened to the L2 cache? Is the L3 faster? I do know that the L3 cache is used for real-time effects in Final Cut Pro, but did we lose something somwhere with the L2?
Good to hear about Moto's progress on chip fabrication. We could be in for a treat this fall if the G4 benefits from the new process. Of course, it does start to raise the question of how much farther they can go with the G4 in terms of clock speed.
Comments
The previous 667 was $4499 (CDN). It's now $500 cheaper with a higher screen res, DVI out, better video card and more L3 cache.
I would assume that would make it a faster machine than the previous 667 model.
This low end is the cheapest entry point into the Powerbook line. Previously I could have spent less but also gotten less.
One big problem though, and it is not of Apple's making. More than ever, Motorola's CPU is showing up as the glaring weak link in the whole picture. When are they going to go to 0.13 microns? The competition is gearing up for 0.09 already. No wonder the G4 has been slow to scale. On the special occasions when Motorola does cut the die size, the G4 has zoomed up real quickly. The modest change from 0.2 to 0.18 last year brought us up from 500MHz to 1GHz in the space of nine months.
So, are we going to be stuck with Moto's horrid chip fabbing capabilities any longer, or is something going to be done about it?
I think I'm going to wait for the model that has built-in, 802.11a wireless, whenever that comes.
Some issues:
-Pricing
Truthfully, the prices are lower than the ones for the originals.
-IR
I don't think very many people use IR. I'm glad it's gone. Since I don't think many users use Bluetooth either, in my books the IR with no bluetooth is no big loss.
-Airport
As I said, I'd like the 122Mbps "turbo-mode" version of 802.11a that Apple talks about. (So it's clear now that Apple will be buying 802.11a chips from Atheros, which are the only ones, I think, that offer proprietary speeds beyond 54Mbps)
-Resolution
I actually am worried about the increase in resolution. I hope Quartz can scale graphics so that my text isn't teeny on screen and big on paper. If it can do that, then upping the res works for me.
So due to low interest -- and to some level financial reasons -- I think I will wait for the next update.
[ 04-29-2002: Message edited by: Splinemodel ]</p>
stjobs
<strong>I know the Canadian dollar isn't the strongest out there but Apple prices seem to be overcompensating a little too much for our pathetic exchange. Can't they stick to ass raping the Brits and the Aussies?</strong><hr></blockquote>
Hey Matsu,
We Canadians are second class to our American cousins. What do you expect when they barely acknowledge killing 4 of our soldiers or booing our national anthem at sporting events.
<img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />
<strong>
I don't think very many people use IR. I'm glad it's gone. </strong><hr></blockquote>
I'm one of those who actually DOES us IR, thank you very much. I am sad to see it go.
Looks like when I get some money, I'll buy the 667Mhz TiBook that just LEFT. It has IR, VGA (which I'd rather have, honestly), and the same processor. I'm not thoroughly concerned about the L3 Cache or higher screen res.
But for now I'm sticking with my 400Mhz Pismo. Ah, my trusty old Pismo.
i didn't realize that canadians were even people. Wow.
erin go bragh.
<strong>More than ever, Motorola's CPU is showing up as the glaring weak link in the whole picture. When are they going to go to 0.13 microns? The competition is gearing up for 0.09 already.</strong><hr></blockquote>
From what I have gathered, Mot is already producing simpler things (memory, etc.) on its .13 fab, and they expect it to start churning out CPUs sometime in the second half of this year. Their .13 fab is technically very nice - Cu interconnects, SOI, etc., so once it's churning out CPUs they should be excellent performers.
Intel is just beginning to sample products on their .13 fab, so I don't think Mot is far behind them, if they're behind at all. Not by more than a few months, worst case.
[ 04-29-2002: Message edited by: Amorph ]</p>
This was posted in macosrumors.com last Thursday!
<strong>how long was this upgrade cycle? (4mo?) Will we get another upgrade late summer?</strong><hr></blockquote>
6 months, if I'm remembering right and the PB got its rather modest bump (combo drives) in November.
Apple has spent this year demonstrating that it's quite happy releasing models with nothing more than a press release pointing to a webpage. That's good news because it means that they're obviously satisfied with the press attention they command now, and it's good news because it means Apple will release things when they're ready, and no later. On the other hand, it's bad news for our little corner of the Mac Web because there's no telling when Apple will release anything anymore.
Oh, the humanity...
<strong>...What do you expect when they barely acknowledge killing 4 of our soldiers or booing our national anthem at sporting events.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Jesus dude, you're getting worms everywhere...
Thanks for the clarification.
Anyone care to sort it out. L3 is off chip, L2 is on card but off chip? L1 is on die? Do people still use L0 nomenclature or did that not catch on?