[Skypat]

I know this question has been asked so many time. And, except if you work at the highest level at Apple, no one really knows the answer. But I was wondering when we could see a *new* iBook. I am not talking about an updated icebook, but a new macintosh. I would like to buy a portable before the end of the year (or before next spring), and I was wondering if the iBook we know today is still up-to-date. Is investing in a G3 a good idea ?

Maybe Apple will introduce a cool new iBook next year ? When did they introduce the icebook ? 2 or 3 years ago ? What is the typical product lifetime at Apple ? 3 or 4 years ?

Thanks for you advice as usual

[sniffer]

Regarding a G3 or not, the G3 has kind off lived its own life since the G4 shipped, and hasn't exactly stagnated as the Motorola G4 chip has. I have a feeling the iceBook model can still live for some time. It still have room to fit faster chips, better Video card, etc.
Hopefully it could have been boosted with faster bus as well down the road since IBM have something in stock that support 200 MHz bus or something (Please collaborate me if someone know the details about this)
I can't really guess how long time this model might last. But I haven't seen any indication of a change just right now.

[arclight]

My advice is to wait. I really don't think investing in a current G3 machine is a wise decision. I love my ibook 800 but it barely runs OS X at a level that I consider to be "acceptable". I understand the 900 series are faster but IMO it's a combination of OS X and the limited power of the G3. Even a G4 struggles with the demands of OS X. It seems that OS X begs for faster hardware. The G5 is just the start.

Panther is supposed to be faster but with the recent leaps in system architecture introduced in the G5, i think it's time for some new ideas and most of all, new portable designs. The form factor is awesome, the performance is just sooooo average. I have 640MB in my ibook and it drags ass with more than 5 apps open. I don't think that's too much to ask of a computer in the 21st century. Ever try the help application? It's just silly how slow it is-

[biscuit]

There's never a good time to buy a computer. If you wait you'll get something better for less money, that's the way the industry works. But, if you wait you'll have no computer, so it depends how much you need it.

I'd say there's nothing wrong with the G3, especially if Apple can now utilise the rumoured super-G3s from IBM. By that I just mean the ones that supposedly go to 1 GHz+ and support 200 MHz buses, so don't get too excited.

Although the G5 is great, it won't be much use in laptop anytime soon. The G3 on the other hand is a great laptop chip. So is the G4 of course, and if it gains the true DDR support then it'll be worth using.

Um, I talk a lot of rubbish me...

biscuit

[sniffer]

An interesting side note regarding the PB with G4. It is a lot hotter. An average is around twice as hot. It is speedier because of Altivec and stuff, but the G3 is definitive a good close to perfect laptop/notebook CPU.

This thread gives a picture:
http://forums.macnn.com/showthread.p...ht=temperature

[SupahCoolX]

I would wait at least until the Apple Expo in Paris in mid-September to see what they do with the PowerBook line. Either they'll update the iBooks at the same time, or you'll be able to get one of the current Powerbook models at a significant discount. Only a couple more days....

[Skypat]

Actually I've been wanting a laptop for so much time (5 years ?) that I can wait for another few months ! I have a dual 867 G4, my laptop would be a "second computer" to surf on the web via airport, to play with itunes and iPhoto. I would love to buy the PowerBook but it is still a bit too expensive for my budget. Since they introduced new PBooks a few months ago, I feel they really need to completely change their iBook line. It looks too plastic now. Even the cheapest HP laptops look better IMO. After 2 or 3 years, I was wondering if we could see a big change ... I know the icebook is very important for Apple (education market)... I hope we won't need to wait until the PowerBook gets a G5 to see a new iBook coming

I think I'll wait until Christmas and maybe - if I am courageous - until Macworld in January 2004

[DBvader]

i thought i read on macnns sight that IBM will make the new G3s available at the beggining of next year.

not sure if they are sticking to it. im looking to get a new notebook for my sister, but ive decided to wait till the 15th in the hopes that new power/ibooks will be released.

[cSurfr]

While I haven't had the chance to *play* with the 800 and 900 iBooks, I can't help but wonder why Apple keeps producing a machine that (from what people say) doesn't run OS X well. I know it's a consumer laptop and I REALLY respect the fact that it runs cool, I would just expect more people to opt for the 12" Powerbook. Does anyone think that the iBook will hit 1ghz, and if it does, will it be sufficient to run panther? I suppose for basic computing (internet, office, etc) it might be ok, but why would anyone spend at least 1000.00 (lowest config with edu price) when they could spend 300.00 more and get a G4? I'm not slamming the iBook owners as I've owned a couple in the past, I'm simply asking the question why would YOU buy and iBook over a 12" Powerbook?


-cS

[WizOSX]

Originally posted by cSurfr

but why would anyone spend at least 1000.00 (lowest config with edu price) when they could spend 300.00 more and get a G4

Actually, the difference isn't even $300. The edu price for a 900mhz, combo, 128, 40gb is $1199 and the TiBook 12" is $1399, same config but 256mb.

But, I think that there isn't really any speed difference between these two machines, as long as you don't use Photoshop. In the macspeedzone tests the iBook came out slightly faster on some tasks, the TiBook faster on others. Interestingly, the iBook was about 15% faster on Excel spreadsheets!

I think that there certainly are some arguments in favor of the iBook over the TiBook:
1) Runs a LOT cooler.
2) Runs a LOT quieter.
3) Cheaper. The difference in the RAM is irrelevant because everyone using OSX would be crazy not to up the RAM in either machine--so you have to toss out the extra 128 in the stock TiBook anyway. So you do save the full $200. For some people that may be trivial, for others, not.

There is, I think, another possibility on the iBook--picking up discontinued models at very good prices. In March the local university store had 700mhz iBooks (new, sealed box), combo drive for $885 (in U.S. dollars). I considered the new TiBook (just out) but then the TiBook was almost double the price. For me, a no-brainer.

[khufuu]

I'm running a 700 iBook and don't mind it but would like better performance for things like Virtual PC etc..

I think that they could get away with the G3 but a higher bus speed and an L3 cache would be the first things they should consider; although I don't know if L3 is technically feasible.

After that, a 1Ghz processor. After that 64 Mb vram.

I waiting for an updated pBook myself but would easily buy another iBook with the above enhancements.

[Peter]

Originally posted by arclight:
My advice is to wait. I really don't think investing in a current G3 machine is a wise decision. I love my ibook 800 but it barely runs OS X at a level that I consider to be "acceptable"...
...The form factor is awesome, the performance is just sooooo average. I have 640MB in my ibook and it drags ass with more than 5 apps open. I don't think that's too much to ask of a computer in the 21st century. Ever try the help application? It's just silly how slow it is-

Uhm there is somthing wrong with your computer
I always have 5 apps open on my 700 - iTunes, Mail, Proteus, Xchat, Safari. I also usually have Fireworks and Dreamweaver running. I rarely notice a speed down. My iBook has only 16Mb VRam. Go figure.

[orry_main]

I've had an 800 iBook with 128 ram for almost a year now. While it's certainly not a speed demon, I've found it quite adequate for what I use it for as a university student: on average I have open Mail, Safari, iTunes and Proteus. When I'm actually studying (as I ought to be, I also have Word open with a couple of documents for taking notes and working on papers). Definitely there are slow downs and I just finally bought some more ram which will arrive sometime next week. Yet this little machine is absolutely perfect for any university student and, I think, anyone who is just going to use it for average computing. Sure I'd love to have a G4 or even a G5 if I didn't need a laptop, but for what I ACTUALLY need to do, the G3 is perfect. I've been using OS X since it came out officially (I didn't use the Public Beta). Back in the day, I had a clamshell iBook, 300mhz, 128 ram. It was quite frustrating to use at first but even by the time Jaguar came out, I found performance reasonable considering that it was quite a low-powered machine compared to what was available then (although, certainly, it was a bit suicidal to have more than two or maybe three programs open).

So, my conclusion is that the G3 is a great little chip for what most people (especially students) actually use their computers for.

[Skypat]

How long did they keep the clamshells ? I hope they will upgrade dramatically the iBook lineup at Macworld next January. Thinner, speedier, with an intermediate screen (13"), along with USB 2 and a faster bus speed.

The answer could come from a business laptop. You see the matrix : PowerBook = high-end / Business Book (?) : middle segment and iBook low end.