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Apple Updates iBook Line With G4 Processor

Posted by timothy on from the curse-you-apple dept.

Kyro writes "Apple today upgraded their iBook notebook range across the board to G4 processors, Airport Extreme, bluetooth, USB 2.0, and slot-loading combo drives. All models ship with Mac OS X 10.3, and the 12" model gets a 800Mhz G4 while the 14" models get a choice of 933Mhz or 1Ghz. Prices largely remain the same as the old G3 versions." Mwongozi adds "Although not announced on the front page, the Apple Store was updated just a few minutes ago to show the new iBook."

11 of 632 comments (clear)

  1. Powerbook premium by wazzzup · · Score: 3, Interesting

    If pices are the same, why would I pay the premium for a Powerbook? Obviously, with the 17", the screen of course, but for the 12" and 15" I'm not sure if a $500+ markup is worth it.

  2. Re:Necessary Move by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    This is a necessary move for Apple to reclaim some market share.

    I'm only going to say this once.

    Nobody gives a damn about Apple's share of the entire computer market. Does anybody care about Mercedes's share of the entire automotive industry? Of course not.

    Apple, like any company, has target market segments. First-time home computer buyers in upper-middle-income brackets; first-time laptop buyers in same; students; teachers; creative professionals; science and technical users. Among these market segments, Apple's share is just fine, thanks.

    Apple doesn't sell well to people who already own computers and who make under $75,000 per year per household. So freakin' what? That's not their target market. Just like Mercedes doesn't sell well to single people under the age of 25.

    Now that you've been educated, kindly slink back under your bridge, you troll.

  3. thank god i hesitated by 514x0r · · Score: 3, Interesting

    i was minutes away from buying a g3 ibook for my wife yesterday, but decided to wait. by this morning i'd talked myself into it and went to the apple site. holy jebus, for an extra $100, she's [i'm] getting a g4 with twice the memory and the combo drive built in!

    --

    !(^((ri)|(mp))aa$)
  4. no MPC7447 here... by Tomasset · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It is just curious to see that Apple is not using the latest MPC7447 G4s (those found inside the newest Powerbooks) but the oldest MPC7445 , which include only 256K cache and generate more heat as they are produced with an 0.18 u technology (as opposed to the 0.13 u of the 47s)

    The only reason I could see is, apart from differentating the models in terms of cache size, the future transition to G5 in the Powerbooks and G4-7447s in the iBooks.

    1. Re:no MPC7447 here... by berniecase · · Score: 3, Interesting

      The new PowerBooks use the MPC7457. Apple's CHUD tools report it as a 7457, and I have a 15" AlBook to prove it :-)

      I think it was probably just easier for Apple to shoehorn the older 12"/17" PowerBook design (with the MPC7445 (or are they using the MPC7455?) into the iBook's case, where you've got a little bit more space for cooling.

  5. You may get money back... by CptTripps · · Score: 5, Interesting

    If you bought it within the last 30 days, you'll get some money back if you ask. I bought a G4 desktop 5 days before the G5 was released, and I got $700 back from Apple. That's why I usually buy hardware from the Apple Store directly...you get perks like that. Either way, it's worth a call...

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    My .sig can beat up your honor student.
  6. iTunes by MORTAR_COMBAT! · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I actually had my wife considering an iBook for her next laptop, because she wanted iTunes. But now that she's got iTunes on her existing (Windows) laptop, there will be no iminent iBook purchase.

    Thanks Mr. Jobs.

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    MORTAR COMBAT!
  7. Excellent by FrostedWheat · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I was considering buying one of these yesterday, but decided to wait a week to see if I can find something better. Glad I did now :)

    One thing I would like to ask those who have an iBook already: What's the battery life like? It sayed 6 hours in the UK Apple store for the pre-G4 12" version, which would be amazing if it was true. They've changed it to the rather vague "extra-long battery life" for the G4 version.

  8. There are Thinkpads, and there are THINKPADS... by MsGeek · · Score: 5, Interesting
    IBM laptops are designed for a six month life cycle. After that, the execs who pay big bucks for them are supposed to pass them on to juniors and get themselves a new laptop. The passed on laptop happily fails within a month or two, leaving the junior owner in a tight spot. Ruggedized. HAH!

    Perhaps you speak of the newer IBM Thinkpads that were basically designed and built in Taiwan by Acer. However, the Thinkpads that were IBM-designed and built in IBM-owned facilities *are* that tough.

    I just plunked down three bills to get myself an off-lease 600E. The thing is *built*. The finish is completely coated in a rubberized coating so that even french-fry fingers won't slip. It seems to be made with a metal frame and plastic shell over the metal. Even though the thing only weighs 5 pounds, it feels very, very solid. (Yeah, I know there are much lighter lappies out there but this is the lightest one I have ever owned.)

    Oh yeah...this is the only IBM Thinkpad that Big Blue took the trouble to get Linux certified. Here's a link to an old /. article about it.. The big gripe in the article was about how everything but the modem worked. Guess what: IBM did write and release Linux drivers for the MWave modem in this model! It took them a while, but they are out there now.

    You can get 600Es cheap at Computer Geeks and at other places that sell off-lease Thinkpads...I suspect the reason why they are all over the place now is because they were popular around the apex of the Dot-bomb boom, and now there's a glut because so many of the folks who were carrying those around are now baristas at Starbucks. ^_^

    Oh yeah, to pull this back on topic: the only thing built tougher than a Thinkpad is a PowerBook. Ph33r the mighty Wallstreet/Lombard/Pismo...those are tough mofos. Same with the iToiletSeat iMacs...those were designed with K-12 students in mind, just like the legendary eMate NewtonOS device. Even the old 100-series PowerBooks are tough as nails. And everyone I know with an Ice iBook has stories of how durable their iBook is.

    --
    Knowledge is power. Knowledge shared is power multiplied.
  9. Re:Does it really matter anymore? by dasmegabyte · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This is too little, too late for Apple. They're dying, and everyone sees it except the Mac users themselves.

    This is a funny statement. I'm not entirely sure why. It's something like a Roman Centurion around 200 AD saying "Christianity is dying. I mean, why shell out for one god when you can have a whole pantheon, and with significantly fewer commandments to follow!"

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    Hey freaks: now you're ju
  10. No Velocity Engine !!! by javaxman · · Score: 4, Interesting

    If you look at the "Technical Specifications" page for the new iBooks, you'll notice there is NO mention of the "Velocity Engine". Same for the new "G4" eMac.

    Any other Technical Specifications page for any other "G4" Apple offers, they say "with Velocity Engine".

    I am afraid the iBook and eMac may not *have* a "Velocity Engine", or Apple would advertise it, wouldn't they ? These might be IBM chips, but they are not IBM chips with "Altivec". They may be "G4" in name only, i.e. we're marketing guys, we're willing to call it "G4" just because it's over 800 Mhz... this totally sucks if it's the case. I hope I'm wrong and Apple updates the Tech Specs to include mention of Velocity Engine, but I am afraid that Apple might have just stooped to the level of other hardware companies here.