[dman8950]

TAIPEI (AFX) - Asustek Computer Inc (2357.TW) has secured a contract from Apple Computer Inc for iBook notebook personal computers, estimated at about 1.2 mln units initially, the Commercial Times reported, without citing sources.

The laptops will be powered by Intel Corp microprocessors and equipped with 13.3-inch liquid crystal display panels.

Apple Computer will start selling the notebook PCs from June, while contract suppliers of panels to start deliveries from April.

The US firm will source the panels for the laptops from AU Optronics Corp (2409.TW) and Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp (3009.TW) as well as South Korea's LG Philips LCD.

AU Optronics is expected to supply about 40,000-50,000 panels to Apple a month, it added.

http://www.forbes.com/technology/fee...fx2643961.html

[f1000]

If this is true, then all I can say is that it's about time.

[shrugs*]

Damn, i was one of those hopefuls aiming for the April launch I'll be selling my 12" G4 867 Powerbook in a few weeks to an ex girlfriend anyway... hopefully I can make it until then with only a few Wintel notebooks.

[TailsToo]

I read something like this about 2 years ago... 13.3 widescreen iBook. I'll believe it when I see it.

[x user]

Originally Posted by shrugs*

Damn, i was one of those hopefuls aiming for the April launch I'll be selling my 12" G4 867 Powerbook in a few weeks to an ex girlfriend anyway... hopefully I can make it until then with only a few Wintel notebooks.

You must really hate your ex... j/k.

On the other hand, I'd like to see it sooner than june thats for damn sure.

[angelmb]

We know LG Philips panels are really good, what about the other options (AU Optronics Corp & Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp) ? I still remember how great the Pismo LG panels were while the Samsung models sucked big time.

[shrugs*]

Originally Posted by x user

You must really hate your ex... j/k.

On the other hand, I'd like to see it sooner than june thats for damn sure.

It was either that or a G3 iBook...... I thought I'd be a nice guy

[Voch]

Wow...that'll make it three years and five months of using this TiBook.

C'mon Apple! The money for the MacBook is in my checking account if you want it...

Voch

[im_noahselby]

So June, eh. Well, that means that the soonest we could have an announcement is going to be two weeks before June, but likely later. It is nice to have some news, I guess.

Noah

[Voch]

It's not unprecedented. In 2002 the iBook was revised on May 20th, but in 2003 it was revised on April 22nd and in 2004 the magic date was April 19th.

[im_noahselby]

As it stands today the iBook has been without an update for 253 days! The average refresh cycle, according to MacRumors is 172 days. In my oppinion 250-300 days is too long, almost unnacceptable. This may very well be the longest the iBook has gone without an update, in it's history..

Noah

[Voch]

I think this Boot Camp doohickey will potentially delay the non-Pro MacBook release as Forbes says as it's sure to boost MacBook Pro sales, at least in the short-term. Comments?

[freudling]

I definately will get updated very soon. If it doesn't, Apple's laptops will certainly be behind the times. While the current iBooks are all around good Apple machines, they do not compare to other laptops in their price range. Some things that bug me are tiny HDs and not-so-good screens. Xbrites and the like are the trend and standard now, the iBook is losing steam. Its design can easily be streamlined and flattened as well. 13.3" is an awsome screen size too. If Apple did everything we wanted with that 13.3" screen, they would have another winner. Once the MacBook Pro catches on, they will augment the family with the iBook.

[Eug Wanker]

Fine by me. I have a G4 1.33 GHz iBook (released in July 2005, received in August 2005). If they announce one in June that means I can sell the G4 iBook in June still with some warranty on it.

However, if the GPU sucks on the thing I'm not interested. The G4 iBook has a Radeon 9550 in it and it can run Aperture.

Xbrites and the like are the trend and standard now

I can't stand Xbrite screens. They suck - very glare prone.

Furthermore, while they are fairly common, they definitely are not the standard, because of their drawbacks. And for this I thank the gods.

[freudling]

I disagree about the screen. I also don't think the new release of iBooks will have a GPU that sucks. We shall see.

[andreas_g4]

Originally Posted by Eug Wanker

[…] I thank the gods.

You've been watching too much BSG…

[Voch]

Some speculation from ThinkSecret today.

Voch

[Eug Wanker]

Originally Posted by Voch

Some speculation from ThinkSecret today.

And AI.

[Simon]

There it is. No 13" MacBook Pro. Just a 13" MB as a replacement for the iBook and the 12" PowerBook. What I originally expected.

[masugu]

Originally Posted by Simon

There it is. No 13" MacBook Pro. Just a 13" MB as a replacement for the iBook and the 12" PowerBook. What I originally expected.

So what will be the key differences between the Macbook and MacBook Pro?
Top CPU speed on the DUO version?
Backlit keyboard?
RAM capacity?
DVD drive?

Will it be as think as the MacBook Pro??

Style question...Will it be White plastic or Aluminum???

[Voch]

What I expect to discern the MacBook from the MacBook Pro:
slower processor clock-wise (no faster than a 1.67 Core Duo on the high end)
integrated graphics
no backlit keyboard
no ExpressCard slot
smaller screen (13.3" 1280x780 or 1280x800 sounds great to me, though)
plastic casing

That sounds like enough, doesn't it?

What I'm personally hoping the non-Pro MacBook and MBP have in common:
5400RPM SATA hard drive
Gigabit ethernet (this may be a long-shot, but the Mac mini has it)
two RAM slots (having only one is OK for me I guess if there's 512MB on-board a-la the last iBook G4)
DVI of some kind (mini DVI is OK...looks to me like it's easier to connect again-and-again anyway...I'll leave the mini DVI-to-DVI adapter on my monitor and travel with a mini DVI-to-VGA adapter)

[Simon]

The TS article even mentions the use of Core Solos on the low end. I could see that happen, just so Apple can meet a sub-$1000 price point with an entry level model. If they then also offer a 1.67GHz Core Duo on the 'high end' I think nobody will have problems seeing the key difference. Just like they did with the mini. Let the whine begin!

[slugslugslug]

Originally Posted by Simon

There it is. No 13" MacBook Pro. Just a 13" MB as a replacement for the iBook and the 12" PowerBook. What I originally expected.

Hold on there, Simon. While those articles certainly lend your predictions some credence, you don't get to gloat 'til we hear it from the horse's mouth.

Anyway, it seems likely that the lowest-end configuration will trounce all of Apple's current 12" offerings, except perhaps for the whole Aperture compatibility issue. I can't wait for these either way, since I've no use for real "Pro" features (though I do want a SuperDrive option since there probably won't be a no-optical-drive MacBook mini).

[masugu]

Originally Posted by slugslugslug

Hold on there, Simon. While those articles certainly lend your predictions some credence, you don't get to gloat 'til we hear it from the horse's mouth.

Anyway, it seems likely that the lowest-end configuration will trounce all of Apple's current 12" offerings, except perhaps for the whole Aperture compatibility issue. I can't wait for these either way, since I've no use for real "Pro" features (though I do want a SuperDrive option since there probably won't be a no-optical-drive MacBook mini).

So Cosmetically, we may see

- a white plastic case
- thinner than current iBook / but not as thin as MB Pro

...Now I am thinking that if they call it a MacBook, they might make it look more like the MBPro - i.e. use an Aluminum skin - especially if they discontinue the 12" PowerBook model. Hard to imagine Apple NOT having a subnote though.

Yes...I think I would want a superdrive as well.

[24klogos]

Originally Posted by Voch

I think this Boot Camp doohickey will potentially delay the non-Pro MacBook release as Forbes says as it's sure to boost MacBook Pro sales, at least in the short-term. Comments?

If bootcamp delays any launches, it would be pure marketing - to have the field focus on this main feature before they get distracted with the launch of a new i-something new or whatever it may be. Still, the iBook nitche is a very tough one, specially now that apple's positioning in the market will be stronger and less "elite" in form and price. The lower-end of products will take a hit unless they are significanly inferior to the MBP and still able to wear the apple badge, for any other reason than they can run OSX.

However the technology Bootcamp offers will be compatible with any Intel mac, so theres no reason it wouldnt be used as an advantage with a new line of iBooks. but technically they have to take baby steps when introducing these new lines of products and one by one is the safest, specially with the known technical issues any brand new machine will bing along.

I expect to see the new iBooks sporting an intel core Solo and perhaps being marketed as the iPod's best friend, not literally but something that will link them both a little more, they share a very big chunk of the same demographic and would be able to even be launched together.

Of course this is all just pure marketing speculation on a company that is known to break all the marketing 101 rules - by will and mistake sometimes. we'll see what they'll bring, me personally I want to see what they are going to come up to replace the G5 towers, thats going to be the main course from the menu, and i certainly hope is not fish.

[volcano]

Originally Posted by im_noahselby

As it stands today the iBook has been without an update for 253 days! The average refresh cycle, according to MacRumors is 172 days. In my oppinion 250-300 days is too long, almost unnacceptable. This may very well be the longest the iBook has gone without an update, in it's history..

Noah

The 12" Powerbook hasn't been revised or updated since January 2005 - which was over a year ago.

Even when the 15" and 17" models received modest updates in late 2005 (higher resolution screens, DL superdrive, faster RAM, etc) the 12" model was left in the dust.

[greenamp]

Asustek? How odd.