[redJag]

Obviously everyone wants everything better :-p

What I really want is a better resolution screen. I've been borrowing an iBook 14" and 1024x768 is far from satisfactory :-) I'd like a speed bump, but I honestly don't want a G5 (I am not comfortable buying revision A of a new chip, this will be my first laptop). I'm still thinking about the right-click thing; SideTrack really helps make up for it and adds some cool features (corner taps!). Since I'm not a mac gamer (console, PC) I don't care much about the video card. Hmm, your thoughts?

[SketchPad]

(you don't have to be a gamer to want better 3d in a graphics
card...I do 3d-modelling/animation and faster realtime-3d
is good for the workflow & speed while modelling)

My wishes for an improved PowerBook G4 (can it really get better?):

- Faster processor without sacrificing the blissful silence,
if it means it will be noisier, I'll gladly sacrifice the speed
Keep the speed and the noise for the desktop mosters.

- Bigger keyboard on the 17" models.

- Bigger ENTER/Return button (why is it so small?
I keep missing it even a month after buying the powerbook)

- Incorporate some kind of genious bass-device that uses
the metal-housing to "vibrate" so the movies becomes
even more pleasing to view.

- Faster and better OpenGL compliance without sacrificing
the so wonderful silence. No noise!

- Two button Trackpad! and A "thumb" scroll-pad (my invention :o) )
placed next to the enter button / next to the keyboard
it's the same construction as the trackpad.

- More ram as standard! These are expensive machines, nothing
should be spared.

- Better powersupply. The included one doesnt quite match the
powerbook standard. It looks cheap and a lot of people
complain about it. The cord doesnt impress me either.

- Faster DVD recorder. at least 8 speed.

- Make RW DVD standard in your OS.

- Include a carry bag specially designed for the powerbook
it should come with a screen protection. This way you'll
have a LOT less return.

- Raise the standard at the repair centres, make sure customers
dont receive their books with dent's and whitespots due
to manhandling and badly trained/stressed out service personel.

- Include a Webcamera (hey we live in communicative times)
the isight is just another ADD on that makes it less attractive
because of "extra things hanging out of the computer".
The webcamera should be placed at the middle of the monitor
with the opening button on a swivel so it's possible to see it
front and back. A small pinhole camera is all that is required
so the design can be discrete.

- Add the IR/Infared communication back to the powerbooks.
Many devices (I have a lot of them) still use these.

- Support your STORES! And I mean ALL of your stores,
not only APPLE-stores, but stores that purchase your
products! That way - you also support the consumers.

- Don't ever make the mistake that pc-producers do
by placing the fans UNDER the machine...that will
kill 30-40 percent of your user base because it will
take away the joy of owning such a magical laptop.

Half the joy is beeing able to work without cables
or not having to be confined to a certain workspace
or desk, but lightly carry it around, having it in my lap
and in my bed to my own liking.


Note to the above:

These suggestions are mere fillers, Personally
I find the PowerBook 17" to be the perfect laptop
of ALL TIMES. Never have I before seen or used
such an incredible machine, even though I've owned
MANY portables - the Powerbook was the only
one to fulfil my needs in a portable.

(you really need to expand the Return-key size though)

/S

[nsxpower]

My "Dream" PowerBook:

15.2" @ 1440x900
1.8Ghz G5
900MHz frontside bus/processor
512K L2 cache/processor
1024K L3 cache/processor
1Gb DDR400 128-bit SDRAM (Expandable to 4Gb)
80Gb 7200 RPM HD w/ 8Mb cache
Radeon 9800 w/ 64Mb DDR VRAM
Superdrive (2x or faster burning by default / my TiBook can do DVD-Rs at 2x)
FW 400 & 800
3 USB 2.0

[SEkker]

I've been wondering this myself for some time. The current form factors are really very good. When the machines work (i.e. no white spots), I really don't have much to add to my wish list.

Some examples:

The hinge design seems good this time.

The size (12", 15" and 17") and weight range is terrific -- something for everyone.

And other than the addition of USB2 and FW800, the ports are basically the same as found in the Pismo.

What would you want besides a faster machine? More HD space -- but that's limited by the HD manufacturers, currently 80GB Max.

The bigger keyboard, etc., is a minor change and would mean Apple would have to carry another part in their inventory. Won't happen.

On my PB17, I'd like a longer-lasting battery. But you know the emphasis will be on speed, so any increase in battery performance will be gobbled up by the updated CPU, graphics card, or HD.

I think Apple knows they have a winning form factor in their PBs, in fact one that is just starting to be emulated in the windows world. Hopefully they're spending the time getting the new logic boards built in time for a new G5 processor so these new PBs can have the same quality on the inside they show on the outside.

[discotronic]

More options that seperate the 12" PB from the 12" iBook. Screen resolution being a big one in my opinion. I can't see the extra price of the PB.

[Nibi]

Cup holder. No but seriously, the only thing I would want is more. More everything. (Except Price).

[Lateralus]

1.5GHz 7447A G4s, and the Radeon 9700 Mobility - 128MB.

[Superchicken]

I don't want anything more I just got a 1Ghz G4 12 inch... I feel happy

That said they should jump up to even lower clocked G5s! They should also put in faster HDs, people were saying the 7200 RPM ones don't seem to descrease battery life that much but make a noticable difference in speed.

[Commodus]

I won't offer a wish list so much as predictions:

12-inch

• 1.25 GHz G4
• 256 MB of DDR333 memory
• 64 MB GeForce FX 5200 Go video
• 40 GB 4200 RPM hard drive
• Combo drive or Superdrive
• $1599

15-inch

• 1.25 or 1.42 GHz G4
• 512 MB of DDR333 memory
• 128 MB Mobility Radeon 9700 video
• 60 or 80 GB 5400 RPM hard drives
• Combo drive or Superdrive
• $1999 (1.25 GHz Combo) or $2499 (1.42 GHz Superdrive)

17-inch

• 1.5 GHz G4
• 1 GB of DDR333 memory
• 128 MB Mobility Radeon 9700 video
• 80 GB 5400 RPM hard drive
• Superdrive
• $2999

Sort of like the current lineup, the performance gap between the top-end 15-inch model and the 17-inch wouldn't be that big. The real deal-maker would be the 12-inch model: that kind of a clock speed boost, plus extra video memory, would make it much more tempting (especially as a switcher's machine).

I don't rule out Apple doing things like keeping the 12-inch at 133 MHz FSB (which would make it a 1.2 GHz system) or using 4200 RPM drives for the higher-end models, but I think Apple could hold to specs like the ones above.

[teknopimp]

G5 chip, 15.4" or 13" 1600pixel screen, 5 hour battery.

[urrl78]

BETTER LIGHTED KEYBOARD.

128 MB ATI 9800

OVER 1.5 Ghz CPU

AT LEAST 4X DVD BURNER

7200 RPM 80 GIG HD

All of these I feel are reasonable requests and expect them to actually happen in the next revision. I love the present screen on my 17". I would like a wider keyboard but don't expect Apple to alter the outer structure at this time. I will not be upgrading from my present 1 Ghz 17", as it still looks new and performs well. I just had the screen replaced; now I have no dead pixels!
I have had the 400 Mhz, 500 Mhz and the 667 DVI Ti books and finally see the light; no more druelling over the latest and greatest when what I have is so cool and runs so quietly. I am still hot for this 17".

[Lateralus]

There is no Radeon 9800 Mobility.

[James L]

Hey all,

To the best of my knowledge (which ain't much), there is NO 7200rpm 80GB laptop hard drive. The last time I went looking for one they topped out at 60GB. The quickest 80GB harddrive I found was 5400rpm.

I think if there is a video card upgrade I think it would be too the ATI 9700.

I highly doubt, in fact I would probably bet money on, the fact that the next PB revision will still be a G4.

I think the next PB rev will be a slight processor upgrade, but hopefully will cover off a bunch of the things we now pay extra for.

15" PB might be:

1.42GHZ G4 (up from 1.25)
512MB ram in ONE slot (instead of in 2)
5400rpm 80 GB harddrive (up from 4200rpm)
64MB vram ATI 9700 (up from 9600)
Better Superdrive

...that kinda thing. I wouldn't expect too much more than that.

[KP*]

I would like PBs to be faster (everything - processor, more RAM, faster HD, video card, Superdrive)
Higher resolution would be nice, but it's not my top priority.
A second mouse button, and/or some kind of scroll wheel would be cool (like that left-side scroll wheel some of the new wireless keyboards have, or one near the trackpad.) SideTrack is awesome, but a tactile hardware button would be better.

And if they've been able to fit all of that in and have some time for further developments, it would be nice to make it a little lighter. It's certainly not bad compared to other high-end laptops, but lighter always helps.

[angelmb]

better speakers, oh, wait... a discount getting one of this:

awesome dolby Philips headphones

[Peter]

a 9600Mobility in the 12" and 9700mobility in all other models.

[desvenne]

I'd like the current low-end powerbook, the 12 inch, to become a 13.x widescreen laptop, with the following specs:

13.x screen with 1440 x 900 resolution
ATI radeon Mobility 9700 128 MB RAM
PCMCIA slot
2 full RAM slots for 2 GB of RAM

I'd get that in a heartbeat.

[Commodus]

1440x900 on a 13" laptop? It's not completely far-fetched, but really - I can't see that happening on anything smaller than the 15" model. That, in turn, won't happen until Apple either cancels the 17" model or else provides a higher-resolution display for it (such as 1680x1050). And right now, there's no 17" LCD panel that goes beyond 1440x900.

When it comes to HD space, don't forget that higher-RPM hard drives tend to generate more heat. Apple may not be able to use 7200 RPM drives very effectively in their PowerBooks. I'd rather they just make 5400 RPM more common, or at least ensure that all 4200 RPM drives have a hefty cache.

[rag on a muffin]

i hope i dont regret buying my powerbook.

[SSharon]

I hope they get G5 powerbooks this summer. If the powerbooks are still G4's then I'm buying an ibook, if they are G5 then I am sold. I don't think its too much to ask for either. Apple already worked out some of the issues with the G5 xserve (if they can get G5's in that they can get them in a laptop).

Whatever happens, I'm buying this summer so c'mon Apple don't let me down.

[iboy]

I stay with my Ti 667 till there is a G5 in the Powerbooks! It would be nice when it happens this year...

[Dr.Michael]

I want longer battery life, like the 5 hours the iBooks offer - or more if possible.

If a powerbook as useful and expandable as the pismo would be possible I would be the first customer.

I want complete freedom concerning hardware update. Self exchange of the hd is a nobrainer for me - absolutely necessary. But think about processor cards again or grahic card modules.

Nothing more.
Especially no higher screen resolution because I am working the whole day in front of my powerbook and I am no longer 17.

Or more precise (last wish): A very high screen resolution (300 dpi+) combined with an os that uses vector oriented graphics. Thus everybody can decide him/herself what the size of icons, fonts and everything should be. But thats future.

[mrmister]

Agreed with the last poster on BATTERY. I can't believe, reading the other posts, how many people care more about flashy chrome, webcameras and other stuff over battery life--we *are* talking about a laptop, right?

[dodo_nutter]

I think the most important aspect would be a faster HD. The 15" and 17" should be shipped with a 7200RPM drive even if the processors were only bumped a little (ie 1.25 to 1.42 and 1.33 to 1.5) then the faster HD would make the difference very noticeable between new and old

(Bigger graphics and G5 would be nice too though!!)

[paully dub]

Originally posted by Dr.Michael:
I want longer battery life, like the 5 hours the iBooks offer - or more if possible.

If a powerbook as useful and expandable as the pismo would be possible I would be the first customer.

I want complete freedom concerning hardware update. Self exchange of the hd is a nobrainer for me - absolutely necessary. But think about processor cards again or grahic card modules.

Nothing more.

I was going to post more or less the same thing.

[power142]

The 7200rpm drives in Thnkpads at my workplace are dropping like flies. No, give me a 5400rpm drive with 8mb cache and larger capacity

Processor is not so important since I rarely tax it, though low power G5 with a good graphics chip hit a sweet spot.

[James L]

I wouldn't hold my breath for:

1) G5 Powerbook. I just can't see it. The smaller chips in the Xserve are theoretically great, but they were announced January 6th and still aren't shipping in quantity... problems? Also, if they had no problems with them, where are the Powermac updates. No, I think there are desktop G5 issues that still need resolved before they end up in a PB.

2) Upgradable processor and video card... not gonna happen in Apple land. I would like the HD to go back to a user servicable part though.

3) 7200rpm drive standard. I would LOVE this, but I think the only 7200rpm drives are at 60GB. I don't think Apple would ship a machine with that size now that they are usually shipping with 80GB drives.


Realistically, I could see 80GB 5400rpm drives stock, ram in 1 so-dimm stock, a faster video card stock, hopefully a better superdrive stock, and a slight G4 processor increase stock.

AND PLEASE BETTER BATTERY LIFE!!!!


Sorry, there is always one pessimist / realist in the group!

Cheers,

James

[Mulattabianca]

i want a pb g5.


but i want to sell my powerbook i have now before they are releassed..

[SketchPad]

Actually, it's way smarter to increase your PB's memory to 2 gigabytes
instead of replacing the HD with a faster one....

Unless you'd love for your applications to be loaded faster....
the RAM upgrade will serve you WAY better

/S

[SEkker]

OS X is VERY HD limited in speed. Even on machines with 1GB+ of RAM. I have to admit, I've not compared the speed difference between 1 and 2 GB of RAM on an OS X powerbook, but from extrapolations going between 640 and 1GB it is clear that a 7200 rpm HD is a substantive upgrade for speed on a PB running OS X.

Rumors have an 80 GB 7200 rpm drive to be shipping shortly. I hope that rumor is true.

[Patcarla]

Originally posted by nsxpower:
My "Dream" PowerBook:

15.2" @ 1440x900
1.8Ghz G5
900MHz frontside bus/processor
512K L2 cache/processor
1024K L3 cache/processor
1Gb DDR400 128-bit SDRAM (Expandable to 4Gb)
80Gb 7200 RPM HD w/ 8Mb cache
Radeon 9800 w/ 64Mb DDR VRAM
Superdrive (2x or faster burning by default / my TiBook can do DVD-Rs at 2x)
FW 400 & 800
3 USB 2.0

Same here..except may be for the resolution..don't need that much..

[mrmister]

"Actually, it's way smarter to increase your PB's memory to 2 gigabytes
instead of replacing the HD with a faster one....

Unless you'd love for your applications to be loaded faster....
the RAM upgrade will serve you WAY better"

Depends on how you use your machine, I suppose, though most of my own observations and experiences seem to indicate that the bottleneck on a laptop is HD speed, owing to it being so low. I've seen laptops transform going from a 4200rpm drive to a 7200rpm one...and unless you are doing something very hardcore, over 1 GH of memory for a laptop is generally quite a bit.

[SketchPad]

True enough..

it really depends on what you do. If you render a large scene
in 3d, an animation eg...or a large special effect in a long scene
in a movie...it could utillize a lot of virtual memory (way past 2 GB)
and then it certainly would benefit a lot to have a 7200 RPM driv e.

But I've noticed the biggest speed difference happens when
the OS (no matter wether it's OS X or (ugh...Windoze) or Linux
swap space is swap space...and will depend on the harddrive,
and if you don't depend that much on virtual memory (swap space
on the harddrive) then you depend mostly on the computers main
memory - ergo....way faster than the mechanical drive.

The more memory = the merrier....

/S

[legionare]

Dual batteries. Hey Steve Jobs, pull your head out of the butt! I'm not like the greedy bastards above () who want more battery life for nothing! I'm willing to cough up more dough to finance your jet (and carry more weight on my shoulders) for longer battery life!

Comfy trackpad, like my Pismo's.

Durable case material. None of that aluminum/titanium razzle-dazzle. How about the magnesium alloy that IBM uses on the Thinkpads?

In short, a modern Pismo.

[Kenstee]

Isn't anybody going to say better Airport reception????????????

These Al Books are so weak next to the iBooks in terms of reception. And I won't even mention the Ti Book Airport problems.

Also, I predict the AL form factor will be retired with the G5 PB. Too much of a potential heat problem with this material. Black, carbon composite is next.

[iomatic]

How about an actual friggin' update already?

...

[vsurfer]

Tougher case structure a la Thinkpad

Faster CPU ie over 1.6

Better airport reception

[Fellow2000]

I am not too particular but I do feel a little bit sad that the lowest computer offers is now faster than my powerbook, which was the fastest I could get in 12" size. Never thought an emac would smoke me.

[MMask]

I need a PCMCIA slot for my modem card in a 12 inch. Works great in my 15 Ti, but I want the smaller box and using Sprint's Merlin Modem can't use it with a 12. Damn. Go to the 13 wide and give me the slot.

[nsxpower]

I was checking out MacOSRumos the other day (yes, I know they smoke crack constantly, but ...) and they meantioned that the next PowerBook case may be made from carbon fiber. That is possible and I like that idea ... lighter, cheaper, sturdier, better heat transfer, texture and black.

I also want the new PowerBooks to be most Pismo like: ability to have two batteries would be much appreciated, swapable bays, nice trackpad, textured arm wrest etc. My TiBook looks a works great, but its lacks some of the more tacktile features that Pismos had.

[angelmb]

Originally posted by nsxpower:
I was checking out MacOSRumos the other day (yes, I know they smoke crack constantly, but ...) and they meantioned that the next PowerBook case may be made from carbon fiber. That is possible and I like that idea ... lighter, cheaper, sturdier, better heat transfer, texture and black.

I also want the new PowerBooks to be most Pismo like: ability to have two batteries would be much appreciated, swapable bays, nice trackpad, textured arm wrest etc. My TiBook looks a works great, but its lacks some of the more tacktile features that Pismos had.

Indeed about the Pismo, I have the 17" PB and a Pismo 500 MHz, go figure... but, carbon fiber?, expensive!

[Musti]

So ingeniusly designed that it doesn't have any fans...offers silent computing.

Oh, failing at that, better designed that the fans don't kick in after running the 'Book for five minutes.

[SEkker]

I am amazed at how quiet my PB17 is unless I'm using the CD/DVD drive. Would be hard to make it any more silent.

[MilkmanDan]

Myself and another guy on campus both ordered a 12in last week, and they've yet to ship. Whereas one of my roomies at school ordered and received a 15in already. Could these delays mean theres an update on the way? Or am I just without a computer for a week? (My G4 tower book over spring break)

[teknopimp]

http://appleinsider.com/article.php?id=425

[neoTony]

I put in an order for the top-of-the-line 17" PB a week and a half ago. Apple lists the model as "Awaiting Shipping Information" and "Constrained" - there is no 17" Powerbooks in australia at all.

Either LCDs are in very short supply, or there are updates coming. I'd bet updates given my local apple center loaned me a 15"-er while I wait (they're expecting the same as me)...

[MilkmanDan]

Ooooo updates! I was worrying about getting a new 12in, only to have it updated the following week. I guess my friend and I may have lucked out with the updates happening next week (in theory). Mmmmmm... updated Powerbooks.

[selowitch]

Originally posted by MilkmanDan:
Ooooo updates! I was worrying about getting a new 12in, only to have it updated the following week. I guess my friend and I may have lucked out with the updates happening next week (in theory). Mmmmmm... updated Powerbooks.

I believe that Apple has a policy of upgrading you to the latest revision if one occurs between the time of your order and the time when your machine actually ships.

[MilkmanDan]

I think the real question thats on everyone's mind is if the new 12in Powerbooks will have the super cool backlit keyboards. Its quite frankly, the coolest feature ever. I mean, if Apple just stopped updating other components on their laptops, and stuck to backlit keyboards, they'd double their market share.

Seriously though. Does anyone actually find the backlit keyboard to be useful? My roomie is now the owner of a new 15in with a backlit keyboard, and I will say, that it is cool looking. The downside is that the cool factor goes away, as we all found it to be completely worthless in day to day useage.

(Oh, too bad for him that he ordered a week before the updates happened. It'll be nice having a 12in with the same processor speed as his 1.25 15in, I would hope)

[Alpha-sphere]

i'm willing to trade in the blacklit keyboard for a 7200rpm drive.
I find my PB 1,25 slow and i think the hard drive is the bottleneck here.
I wish that they add an 7200rpm BTO option with the next PB update. I find the 4200rpm pretty worthless. At leas make the 5400rpm drives stock.