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Eug · Nov 9, 2002, 08:21 PM

OK, I'm getting confused with all the names of the Powerbooks. Anyone care to tell me (briefly) what they correspond to?

And what are we going to call this generation's Powerbooks?

Commodus · Nov 9, 2002, 08:48 PM

Most of the Powerbook codenames people refer to are the various Powerbook G3 models that have come out in the past few years.

Here's a brief rundown:

Wallstreet generally refers to the Powerbook G3 models that were introduced around the same time as the first iMac, starting from May 1998. There were Powerbook G3s before, but this model shows the first steps of the "funkification" of the laptop line (i.e. things are a bit curvy).

Lombard Powerbooks came out the next year. They were mainly known for being much thinner and having USB ports. They're still black and relatively conservative, but all Lombards have one interesting quirk: a bronze-coloured keyboard.

Pismos you hear a lot about, since they were the last Powerbook G3s and are more likely to be in use. The big thing for the Pismo was the inclusion of Firewire ports (two of them, even).

The Powerbook G4? Well, the codename for the initial ones was "Mercury," but virtually no one uses that term. Most people just call them TiBooks.

BTW: yes, I "cheated" and went to apple-history.com to check my facts. I knew some things already (like how the Wallstreet was introduced alongside the iMac, and how the Pismo was the last Powerbook G3), but I didn't want to risk making a mess of things.

rambo47 · Nov 9, 2002, 09:09 PM

1st generation Ti Book (400 & 500 MHz): Titanium

2nd generation Ti Book (500 & 667 MHz): Gigabit Ethernet

3rd generation Ti Book ( 667 & 800 MHz): DVI

This from the support page at Apple.

Eug · Nov 9, 2002, 09:51 PM

I "cheated" and went to apple-history.com to check my facts.

Cool site. It just hit me. My newest laptop will be 1 GHz. My first computer was 1 MHz.

I even have a IIe clone somewhere that still works.

1st generation Ti Book (400 & 500 MHz): Titanium

2nd generation Ti Book (500 & 667 MHz): Gigabit Ethernet

3rd generation Ti Book ( 667 & 800 MHz): DVI

This from the support page at Apple.

Hmmmm, the support page calls the current PowerBook G4: "1GHz/867MHz"

I'd like to call it "SuperDrive", except that many won't have the SuperDrive.

Nephron · Nov 9, 2002, 10:08 PM

Ok, good info so far, but ....
What does Pismo and Wallstreet etc actually refer to. Not what model computer, but why the name Pismo?

Cheers

PCTek · Nov 9, 2002, 11:32 PM

Because developers are funny.

ae86_16v · Nov 10, 2002, 12:53 AM

Originally posted by rambo47:
1st generation Ti Book (400 & 500 MHz): Titanium

2nd generation Ti Book (500 & 667 MHz): Gigabit Ethernet

3rd generation Ti Book ( 667 & 800 MHz): DVI

This from the support page at Apple.

But the original Titaniums had Gigabit Ethernet too... hmmm....

justinkim · Nov 10, 2002, 12:56 AM

Originally posted by ae86_16v:

But the original Titaniums had Gigabit Ethernet too... hmmm....

Mine doesn't (original 400MHz G4 PowerBook).

ae86_16v · Nov 10, 2002, 09:09 AM

Originally posted by justinkim:

Mine doesn't (original 400MHz G4 PowerBook).

oh sorry...I am stupid...I just thought you meant that it didn't have an ethernet...

I know, I am stupid...

I Have Questions · Nov 11, 2002, 12:24 AM

Originally posted by Eug:

Cool site. It just hit me. My newest laptop will be 1 GHz. My first computer was 1 MHz.

Whoa... my newest laptop will be 1 GHz, and as it turns out, my first computer was also 1 MHz! I never realized that II+ was only 1MHz! I had some great games for that baby, like Wumpus Hunt and Karateka! Remember those?

seanyepez · Nov 11, 2002, 04:10 AM

I believe "Onyx" was the code name for the non-DVI, 550- and 667-megahertz PowerBook release.

euphras · Nov 11, 2002, 12:26 PM

First rev. Tibook:

Mercury (chemical element commonly known as QUICKSILVER)

Second rev.:

Onyx (a mineral used for gems)

Third rev.:

Ivory

Fourth rev.:

???

Pat

Aykew · Nov 11, 2002, 01:31 PM

Originally posted by Nephron:
Ok, good info so far, but ....
What does Pismo and Wallstreet etc actually refer to. Not what model computer, but why the name Pismo?

Cheers

Pismo beach in California is famous for it's clams. In fact, the Pism Clam is one of the biggest types on the west coast. So, I guess since the Powerbook (along with every other laptop) resembles a clam, that's why they picked the name.

Legend has is that one of the pismo powerbook prototypes had a latchless "clamshell" design like the original gen iBook, so maybe they chose the name because of that, then decided not to go with that design afterall.

Eug · Dec 7, 2002, 10:31 AM

Originally posted by Eug:
OK, I'm getting confused with all the names of the Powerbooks. Anyone care to tell me (briefly) what they correspond to?

And what are we going to call this generation's Powerbooks?

I propose to call the current TiBooks the Windtunnel TiBooks.

issa · Dec 7, 2002, 10:50 AM

Eug writes:
I propose to call the current TiBooks the Windtunnel TiBooks.

How 'bout "TiPhoon"?

euphras · Dec 7, 2002, 11:45 AM

Quote:
"First rev. Tibook:
Mercury (chemical element commonly known as QUICKSILVER)
Second rev.:
Onyx (a mineral used for gems)
Third rev.:
Ivory
Fourth rev.:
???
Pat"

Fourth: Antimony (according to unnamed source), chemical element, symbol: Sb, molecular mass: 121,75 g/mol, atomic number: 51, solid (under room conditions)

Pat

CyberPet · Dec 7, 2002, 01:20 PM

Someone did mention "SuperBook" as a name for the TiBook with the Superdrive. I like that! I think I'll name my computer that.

chromos · Dec 7, 2002, 04:11 PM

Originally posted by euphras:
First rev. Tibook:

Mercury (chemical element commonly known as QUICKSILVER)

Actually, the Mercury moniker comes from the Mercury space probes, which were made with a titanium frame. Apparently one of the Apple engineers was impressed with the salt-resistance of the metal when Grissom's capsule was pulled from the sea almost 40 years later.

See link

Art Vandelay · Dec 7, 2002, 04:57 PM

The very first PowerBook G3 was "Kanga." It was essentially a PowerBook 3400 with a G3 processor in it. Then the PowerBook G3 series was introduced with WallStreet.

Tiny-E · Dec 7, 2002, 06:05 PM

what does dvi mean for the third gen ti books? How are they different from the second gen besides power?

brachiator · Dec 7, 2002, 09:01 PM

Originally posted by Nephron:
Ok, good info so far, but ....
What does Pismo and Wallstreet etc actually refer to. Not what model computer, but why the name Pismo?

Cheers

I imagine Wallstreet refers to Wall Street, but dunno why they picked it. It doesn't fit with what I thought might be a California theme.

Lombard is a street in San Francisco, the very curvy downhill street you see in a lot of commercials/movies. It too has a unique bronze colored keyboard.

Pismo Beach, another Cali favorite. It's about halfway between SF and LA. I hadn't thought about the clamming. That's good thinking!

mjlukich · Dec 7, 2002, 11:10 PM

Originally posted by Eug:
I propose to call the current TiBooks the Windtunnel TiBooks.

Eug: How does "Windtunnel" tie in with the new Powerbooks? Just Curious.

JDRaven · Dec 9, 2002, 04:47 PM

Originally posted by I Have Questions:

Whoa... my newest laptop will be 1 GHz, and as it turns out, my first computer was also 1 MHz! I never realized that II+ was only 1MHz! I had some great games for that baby, like Wumpus Hunt and Karateka! Remember those?

Hm. I had those

...and I'm just enough of a geek that I was stoked to find the port of Kareteka for the Palm!

Incedentally, my Visor Deluxe has oodles more computing power than my Apple ][e (may it rest in peace) and my Apple ][+ (of sainted memory) combined, and twice the memory of my original Mac Classic (my first Mac).

Jeremy

PS: I like the idea of "TiPhoon" - makes more sense here than it did for that stupid GMC truck...

Eug · Dec 9, 2002, 04:57 PM

what does dvi mean for the third gen ti books? How are they different from the second gen besides power?

Digital Video Interface. If hooked up to a digital LCD, the image quality is superior to VGA esp. at high resolutions. By the way, has anyone ever seen ANY PC laptop with DVI? I haven't yet, but I haven't looked for one.

Eug: How does "Windtunnel" tie in with the new Powerbooks? Just Curious.

Because when the fans are on full power, it's very loud.

issa · Dec 9, 2002, 09:55 PM

PS: I like the idea of "TiPhoon" - makes more sense here than it did for that stupid GMC truck...

And here I thought I was being 100% original.

One doesn't see many GMC trucks driving the streets of Tokyo. I'll have to go do a search and look at that truck now...

issa · Dec 9, 2002, 09:58 PM

Eug's sig includes:
TiBook 1 GHz SuperDrive on order.

Hey Eug, what's up? You want one on either side of you for a stereo wind tunnel effect? [insert tongue-in-cheek smilie thingy here]

gdiddy · Dec 10, 2002, 12:41 AM

gigabook... unless you have the 867. That would be the.....?

G.

Eug · Dec 11, 2002, 08:29 PM

Originally posted by issa:

Hey Eug, what's up? You want one on either side of you for a stereo wind tunnel effect? [insert tongue-in-cheek smilie thingy here]

OK, check my sig.

Buran · Jan 3, 2003, 03:28 PM

Originally posted by chromos:
[B]Actually, the Mercury moniker comes from the Mercury space probes, which were made with a titanium frame.

I saw Liberty Bell 7 when it came to St. Louis as part of its national tour. Its condition is amazing, even considering the fact that it was restored before being displayed.

It will be placed on permanent display at the Kansas Cosmosphere -- http://www.cosmo.org

To pick a nit -- Project Mercury didn't launch probes. It launched manned space capsules. Maybe you're thinking of Project Mariner (Venus, Mercury, and Mars)?