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brent0saurus · Sep 19, 2005, 12:25 PM

i just read on macrumors that they are speculating new powerbooks as early as this week. There are few details but they think it will just be a minor speed bump....
I just bought a powerbook in june so i'm hoping the increase isn't too big.....

but that's selfish of me...i hope everyone enjoys their new powerbooks...

Hopefully they will fix the wireless reception in powerbooks, add a 7200 rpm hard drive...or flash maybe!? AND LONGER BATTERY LIFE! We need something that will show the iBooks who's boss!!! because right now the iBooks are basically an affordable white powerbook with better reception and battery life...ohhh how i wish i had waited...

tkmd · Sep 19, 2005, 07:10 PM

Apple insider just jumped on also

http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1277

Let the speculation begin.

Tiresias · Sep 19, 2005, 07:20 PM

Originally Posted by brent0saurus

iBooks are basically an affordable white powerbook with better reception and battery life...ohhh how i wish i had waited...

Please tell me you are exaggerating.

I also just bought a new PowerBook. The same day my sister got a iBook. Are you telling me I can no longer assume superior airs around her?

And thanks for nothing Apple salesman who told me one month ago was as good a time as any to buy.

But what's all this about crap battery life?

First I've heard.

Artful Dodger · Sep 19, 2005, 08:03 PM

apple salesman..can't stand them.

Flip500 · Sep 19, 2005, 08:21 PM

forget the apple and man part, all they're about is SALES. I rarly trust them, unless they're telling me where the bathroom is...

powerbook911 · Sep 19, 2005, 09:03 PM

Originally Posted by Flip500

forget the apple and man part, all they're about is SALES. I rarly trust them, unless they're telling me where the bathroom is...

Well, they don't know much, so you cant' really blame them, for saying silly stuff like "good time to buy."

Flip500 · Sep 19, 2005, 09:29 PM

I suppose, but if they're life is really about apple right now (because of their job) then i would kind of expect them to realize that at the rate at which apple releases new things that they'd at least say something about them expecting a new release or something....

brent0saurus · Sep 19, 2005, 10:31 PM

Mr. Gogarty,
how long ago did you buy your powerbook. I think that if it's within 14 days of the purchase, you can return it, saying that you weren't satisfied. And maybe if you even bought it longer ago, they might let you return it if you think of legitimate reasons, and maybe you can settle for store credit...which wouldn't be a bad deal considering you could use that store credit to get the new powerbooks.
you could say that the battery life sucks, it gets too hot, the quality of the speakers are not what you were hoping for..
things like that. As long as they are true, which all of the above are, then they may let you return it. If you bought it recently, i would DEFINITELY try to return it...especially because the new ibooks are basically a powerbook but no backlit keyboard, less ports, and no wide screen. But for the price difference, i think an ibook is way better.
Plus you could also say that you were mislead considering that the ibook is basically just as good. Before the new ibooks came out, a powerbook was worth it because it only came with 256 mb of ram, didn't have the better bluetooth, or a sudden motion sensor, which were some big pluses for the powerbook. but now the ibooks have all of that for the same price that they were without all of that.
complain until you get your money back.

and don't get me wrong. Powerbooks are still great machines, but as a college student who needs to save every dime, if i was going to buy a 'book now, it'd definitely be an ibook because to me, saving 1000 dollars and not having some luxury features such as wide screen, backlit keyboard, firewire 800, and it being thinner and lighter is well worth it...

rafterman · Sep 19, 2005, 10:51 PM

Hey please don't say that stuff about Mac Specialists at Apple Stores not knowing anything. First of all, even though I only worked there during this summer, I still knew all there was to know about Macs. Second, Apple has never told anyone in advance about products that have not been released yet - including the people who work at the Apple stores. That's just business mate - how'd you expect to sell anything if people were always waiting for the next best thing to come out?

analogika · Sep 19, 2005, 10:53 PM

I have a feeling we may all be in for a surprise tomorrow...

ink · Sep 19, 2005, 11:03 PM

I sure hope so, because I'm buying a new 12" this month regardless.

Originally Posted by brent0saurus

We need something that will show the iBooks who's boss!

Have you priced an iBook with all the options that come with a comparable powerbook? It's actually more expensive.

Tiresias · Sep 19, 2005, 11:25 PM

Originally Posted by brent0saurus

Mr. Gogarty,
how long ago did you buy your powerbook. I think that if it's within 14 days of the purchase, you can return it, saying that you weren't satisfied. And maybe if you even bought it longer ago, they might let you return it if you think of legitimate reasons, and maybe you can settle for store credit...which wouldn't be a bad deal considering you could use that store credit to get the new powerbooks. ... complain until you get your money back.

Damn it! You're right. And now that I think about, it was the same creep who sold me my 15GB Second Generation iPod a month and a half before the new 20 and 40 GB touch wheel models came out!

Problem is, I got the 12", so there's no use complaining about the "speaker" : it's a pinhole. I could tell him the battery's overheating, but it's already been over four weeks... I don't like my chances.

I secretly hope the new PowerBooks suck, but it's no good: I know they won't.

MarkJ61 · Sep 19, 2005, 11:28 PM

Have you priced an iBook with all the options that come with a comparable powerbook? It's actually more expensive.

???, not at all true for 12"'ers:
12" iBook 1.33, $999+ $50 for 60 GB HD= $1049
15" PBook 1.5 = $1499

sure there's the PB strengths in faster and dual video, and a bit of processor speed, but these can't be optioned up on iBook, just current model limitations.

ink · 11:52 PM

Originally Posted by MarkJ61

sure there's the PB strengths in faster and dual video, and a bit of processor speed, but these can't be optioned up on iBook, just current model limitations.

Wow, it's been a while since I've spec'd a new iBook.... Maybe I should buy one instead

My trusty 2001 dual-usb iBook is still running solid (on its second battery); I almost never power it down (just sleep), and it gets used every day. It was $1799 in the day (500Mhz G3, 128MB RAM, Combodrive, Airport).

EDIT: Oh, and I also bought a new keyboard for it about 6 months ago. The original was was literally worn down to nothing in places from so much use. I had to do some metalwork to get the new style keyboards to fit the original chicklett. Hopefully the new powerbooks have better keyboards.

NeXTLoop · Sep 19, 2005, 11:54 PM

I'm getting ready to get a 12" iBook modded out completely. I'm getting the stock config and then sending it off to Mac-Res-Q to have a 120GB 5400RPM Seagate installed..... along with a Dual Layer Superdrive.

Total price:
$1377.99

12" PowerBook
$1699 - Base Price w/out upgrading to comparable HD
$1499 - w/ EDU Discount w/out upgrading to comparable HD

And I get the superior battery life and Airport of the iBook line. (And NO.... the mods don't seriously impact battery life. The Seagate doesn't drain the battery much more than the stock 4200, and the Superdrive consumes less power than the stock drive. I've done just a bit of research. :-)

sadpandas · Sep 20, 2005, 12:28 AM

I knew the day would come that my 1.67 would no longer be at the top of the food chain. there is a new shark in town as of tomorrow? let us pray.....

Tiresias · Sep 20, 2005, 12:59 AM

Originally Posted by MarkJ61

12" iBook 1.33, $999+ $50 for 60 GB HD= $1049
15" PBook 1.5 = $1499

What the...?

I got my PowerBook (12" PowerPC SuperDrive G4 1.5GHz) in Korea for 2,200,000 won (2157.930 USD).

The iBook was 1,900,000 won (1,846.843 USD).

Either you have not included tax, or...

B Gallagher · Sep 20, 2005, 02:00 AM

Yeah... Mr. Gogarty, I have a bad feeling that you might have spent about $500 more than you had to...

The PB 12" SuperDrive lists on store.apple.com for $1,699 USD, and the iBook (12"?), for $999 USD.

Hmmmm.........

ChadC · Sep 20, 2005, 09:42 AM

damnit... no new powerbooks...

can't decide whether to continue to wait or to suck it up and buy the current one.

SirCastor · Sep 20, 2005, 10:12 AM

The previous 3 releases have been Sept 03, April 04, and most recently Jan 05. So we're sitting almost at 10 months coming up here. That's pretty long. I would expect that they are coming soon. I'm not looking to make a purchase though until the switch is completed. Even then, I may wait for 2nd gen, just to miss the bugs and stuff.

brent0saurus · Sep 20, 2005, 10:15 AM

DEFINITELY WAIT! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!??! Or just get the ibooks. Whoever said that when you option the ibook up to parr with a powerbook it comes out to the same price is definitely wrong....that used to be that way but not anymore. iBooks come with the better bluetooth, a sudden motion sensor, and standard 512 mb of ram. Those options used to be only on powerbooks but not anymore. AND iBooks get wayyyyyy better battery life and have better wireless reception. powerbooks are just thinner, bigger hard drive, and widescreen if you get something bigger than the 12". If you are planning on getting a 12" powerbook, WAIT. It's no comparison to the ibooks. The 12" doesn't even have fw 800, like the 15 and 17" powerbooks. so the 12 inch is basically an aluminum iBook with less battery life and worse wireless reception, but a bigger hard drive.

SO WAIT! Trust me. You'll be happy you waited...and then to pay me back for my awesome advice you can give me your sweet newer powerbook.....oh, i'm so disappointed with my 15" powerbook...but, technology moves on, so i have to accept that my powerbook isn't the best notebook ever anymore...

runejoha · Sep 20, 2005, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by brent0saurus

i just read on macrumors that they are speculating new powerbooks as early as this week. There are few details but they think it will just be a minor speed bump....
I just bought a powerbook in june so i'm hoping the increase isn't too big.....

but that's selfish of me...i hope everyone enjoys their new powerbooks...

Hopefully they will fix the wireless reception in powerbooks, add a 7200 rpm hard drive...or flash maybe!? AND LONGER BATTERY LIFE! We need something that will show the iBooks who's boss!!! because right now the iBooks are basically an affordable white powerbook with better reception and battery life...ohhh how i wish i had waited...

Ha! Don't worry. What is important is that you have a new PB. If there is a tiny upgrade this makes no difference what so ever. The next real upgrade will be with the mactels. The 2-3 last PB upgrades are with no importance.

However, if the mactels are here this week the situation is different, but I wouldn't bet on it

Tim916 · Sep 20, 2005, 10:34 AM

Does anyone think that the lack of new PB's at the Expo means that Apple may in fact be working on a more significant upgrade to the PB line?

I would think that they have had plenty of time prior to the Expo to implement small changes like a little bump in speed, HD space, standard ram etc. Maybe they are working on more serious revisions?

Tiresias · Sep 20, 2005, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by brent0saurus

so the 12 inch is basically an aluminum iBook with less battery life and worse wireless reception, but a bigger hard drive.

And no white spots (yet).

Eug Wanker · Sep 20, 2005, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by runejoha

Ha! Don't worry. What is important is that you have a new PB. If there is a tiny upgrade this makes no difference what so ever. The next real upgrade will be with the mactels. The 2-3 last PB upgrades are with no importance.

The current PowerBooks are fine, but I think the next PowerPC PowerBooks are going to be a significant upgrade:

90 nm G4 7448 with 1 MB L2. Even if it only hits 1.8 GHz at the top end, that's a pretty significant upgrade.
200 MHz bus
Better GPUs
512 MB soldered onto the mobo for the 12"

The Placid Casual · Sep 20, 2005, 10:45 AM

Hmm, if there are indeed no upgrades today, this presents a big problem to many users like myself...

I need a new Powerbook in the next 2 weeks or so. Not *ultra* urgent, but the need is there.

I will not buy one of the first of the new 'Rev A' line of MacTel/Powerbooks, for obvious reasons, so what do I do? I have a 1ghz iBook that is holding up nicely, but I go away on business in 2 weeks and want to take something that I can play a few games on, watch a few DVDs on, as well as deal with my work. Yes, my iBook can do it, but the screen res/size isn't anywhere ideal.

Do I buy now and keep my fingers crossed that a new 'last of the line G4' doesn't come out next week or something? Do I keep my wallet in my pocket and possibly wait, and wait, and wait, and wait until the Rev B Powerbooks sometime in 2007 at this rate? Do I buy now, pay top money, and just deal with it? None of these options are that appealing if I am honest... yet I still need a Powerbook.

It is kind of uncool that we are at 10 months without even a small speed bump, it creates to much uncertainty...

Oh for a road map.

Pierre B. · Sep 20, 2005, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by Eug Wanker

90 nm G4 7448 with 1 MB L2. Even if it only hits 1.8 GHz at the top end, that's a pretty significant upgrade.
200 MHz bus

And out of order altivec instructions.

So, it looks like there is a small delay in the Freescale camp. S. Jobs just made clear that there won't be Intel Macs before June 2006, putting at rest some wild rumors and dreams. He said essentially that the next Powerbook will have a 7448 processor.

billgriffin · Sep 20, 2005, 12:43 PM

talked with an Apple rep Sunday. He thinks the new Intel processor chip will be released in 2006. I suppose that will change alot of things about current model performance.

andreas_g4 · Sep 20, 2005, 01:39 PM

^^^

alimunnik · Sep 20, 2005, 01:42 PM

All this talk about a PB revision today was just a lot of wishful thinking. It may not be until November until the 7448 processor is ready.
Apple doesn't lose much by not rushing the PB revision. After all, if one doesn't come before the Intel PB's arrive, those potential buyers will just suck it up and purchase the new Intels, rather than the present version which is falling further behind by the day.
If there are technical glitches which will delay the introduction of a 7448 unit until after the Christmas Season, perhaps Apple will opt to put the 7448 in a revised iBook. It seems probable that the iBooks won't go Intel until 2007, so perhaps that's where the upgraded G4 chip will end up in at about the same time as the PB's convert to Intel.

ink · Sep 20, 2005, 05:59 PM

ohwell, i'll just get the current 12" then :-)

It'll still seem like teh sexy compared to my poor 500Mhz G3 iBook.

Tiresias · Sep 20, 2005, 09:18 PM

Originally Posted by ink

ohwell, i'll just get the current 12" then

"Just" ?

I'm new to this site, but I think the 12" is being under-represented. It seems everyone has a 15" or 17" PB. But I love mine!

I had the money for the 17" but when I saw the 12", I changed my mind.

What I like about the 12" :

* He's small enough to slip into a satchel without having to carry an art-portfolio-sized carry-bag around.

* Formal economy: His keys at the sides are almost flush with the edge of the computer. Love that.

* No speaker drift (granted, no speakers -- but do you really use the computer speakers? I have external speakers myself).

* No white spots (please God no white spots)

* He's going to go well with my Nano on pay day.

* Backlit keys? Meh. Who can't type without looking at the keyboard?

Does anyone else have the 12" ? How do you like it?

Edit: Typo.

Dewaine · Sep 20, 2005, 10:33 PM

I have had my 12" for about three weeks and love it. Would buy it again in a heart beat.

hapachris · Sep 20, 2005, 11:41 PM

Originally Posted by Dewaine

I have had my 12" for about three weeks and love it. Would buy it again in a heart beat.

mee, too.

bought it 2 weeks ago.

GreatWhiteNorth · Sep 21, 2005, 12:14 AM

Apple Expo ends the same day as the 'Back-to-School' (September 24th) deal Apple has right now. Perhaps revisions will occur next week. Just a guess.

Dewaine · Sep 21, 2005, 07:26 AM

By the way Gogarty, you have speakers on the the 12". They point out the back, but they are there. I am 99% of the time on external speakers or headphones, but the built in speakers are not all that bad, considering the size.

Tiresias · Sep 21, 2005, 08:12 AM

Originally Posted by Dewaine

By the way Gogarty, you have speakers on the the 12". They point out the back, but they are there.

You're right. I'd never noticed they're at the back. Just for OSX sound effects I guess. So then what's that pinhole on the top left-hand-side of the keyboard directly above the F1 key?

robisconfusedd · Sep 21, 2005, 08:45 AM

Originally Posted by Mr. Gogarty

"Just" ?

I'm new to this site, but I think the 12" is being under-represented. It seems everyone has a 15" or 17" PB. But I love mine!

I had the money for the 17" but when I saw the 12", I changed my mind.

What I like about the 12" :

* He's small enough to slip into a satchel without having to carry an art-portfolio-sized carry-bag around.

* Formal economy: His keys at the sides are almost flush with the edge of the computer. Love that.

* No speaker drift (granted, no speakers -- but do you really use the computer speakers? I have external speakers myself).

* No white spots (please God no white spots)

* He's going to go well with my Nano on pay day.

* Backlit keys? Meh. Who can't type without looking at the keyboard?

Does anyone else have the 12" ? How do you like it?

Edit: Typo.

i agree!!!!!!! im a 12"er, and i love it to death, its so tiny and compact you can take it anywhere and use it anywhere.. ive had no problems with poor reception and no problems with poor battery life either i donno what the heck people are talking about......

and i havent had white spots on mine yet either.. i like the sound the speakers produce, i like how they are hidden behind the keyboard inbetween the screen....

and i totally agree i like how the keyboard stops at the end of the laptop, i was looking to get a 15 or 17 recently and i just cant pull myself to like the 17"s because their keyboard is so unproportionally small compared to the rest of the laptop, that would drive me nuts.

budster101 · Sep 21, 2005, 09:31 AM

Gogarty: Fix your sig. 200 x 50 only. Thanks.

siflippant · Sep 21, 2005, 09:48 AM

Oh no, it's the forum police...

OogaBooga · Sep 21, 2005, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by siflippant

Oh no, it's the forum police...

Nope, just budster...

Tiresias · 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by budster101

Gogarty: Fix your sig. 200 x 50 only. Thanks.

My pic is 75 x 74 / 24kb.

What are you seeing?

Wait... how's that?

It's nice for people to be able to put a face to the name, but if my signature pic is going to give you grief, budster101, I'll ditch it.

Anyway, robisconfusedd, on your 12"PB, do you have a pinhole above the F1 key? What is that? The world's smallest tweeter?

jhogarty · Sep 21, 2005, 11:00 AM

I see nothing wrong with your sig Mr. Gogarty. Just curious - that your real last name?

J.

fisherKing · Sep 21, 2005, 11:11 AM

Originally Posted by Mr. Gogarty

My pic is 75 x 74 / 24kb.

What are you seeing?

Wait... how's that?

It's nice for people to be able to put a face to the name, but if my signature pic is going to give you grief, budster101, I'll ditch it.

Anyway, robisconfusedd, on your 12"PB, do you have a pinhole above the F1 key? What is that? The world's smallest tweeter?

microphone. (altho some suggest it's a wormhole...)

analogika · Sep 21, 2005, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by Dewaine

By the way Gogarty, you have speakers on the the 12". They point out the back, but they are there. I am 99% of the time on external speakers or headphones, but the built in speakers are not all that bad, considering the size.

There is also an additional mid-range speaker mounted under the keyboard, near the "T" key.

Tiresias · Sep 21, 2005, 01:13 PM

budster101, happy now?

Eug Wanker · Sep 21, 2005, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by Pierre B.

And out of order altivec instructions.

How much better is it?

So, it looks like there is a small delay in the Freescale camp.

I'd expect new ones (based on the G4 7448) within a couple of months. The fact that Steve scheduled - then cancelled - the Paris Expo keynote has to mean something, either for the PowerBooks for the Power Macs or both.

S. Jobs just made clear that there won't be Intel Macs before June 2006, putting at rest some wild rumors and dreams. He said essentially that the next Powerbook will have a 7448 processor.

Yes, although I don't think it necessarily means June. It's probably close to then, but I wouldn't be surprised to see it as early as April/May, if Intel were able to get its chips out in volume by February.

NateEssex · Sep 21, 2005, 07:23 PM

I'm guessing the Intel Macs will be in July, after all of the schools have finished their computer orders for the following year. That seems to be a common trend.

budster101 · Sep 21, 2005, 08:57 PM

I'm just gushing with thanks. Hugs.

pdot · Sep 22, 2005, 05:08 AM

Originally Posted by NateEssex

I'm guessing the Intel Macs will be in July, after all of the schools have finished their computer orders for the following year. That seems to be a common trend.

Don't forget that they'll be available just in time for the consumer back-to-school buying season. I doubt Apple is banking on institution-wide purchases anyway, especially for their first set of Intel Macs. Besides, there are just certain things they can't rush.