One more G4 for the PowerBook?

PurdueGraphicsMan writes "Much as we'd love to see the next PowerBook revision include a processor evolution to the mighty G5, we know it's not that simple. The Register provides some sound reasoning (and boatloads of model numbers and voltage specs) as to why we'll probably see a 1.5GHz G4 PowerBook before any G5 PowerBooks materialize." I don't want a G5 on my lap anyway. It'd make me feel guilty, having that much power in a small package while other people can't even get it in a PC tower. Oh, and I don't want to burn my lap.

Comments

Need the G5

[BWJones]

I would certainly expect the G4 to be around for at least a little while in portables (perhaps even a dual G4 in the 17in Powerbook), but there is a decided pressure to put the G5 in a portable. When I moved from a dual 1Ghz G4 to a dual G5 at 2.0 Ghz, the difference in performance was striking. For those users who are constantly pushing the limits of their hardware with compiling code or are heavy users of scientific code or even Photoshop, the G5 is a must have. And even though PurdueGraphicsMan would feel guilty, I would not, knowing that my research could go even faster than before.

The real beauty of the G5 is that not only do we get the raw power, but that power is coupled with an OS that is the easiest to use for both the basic user (undergrads or grad students coming into our labs to learn science and the research process) and the advanced user (computer science faculty we are collaborating with to build custom tools for data visualization and processing).

Re:Need the G5

[Daniel Dvorkin]

Grandparent poster didn't say "they can't learn to use another OS," he said, "this way they can use the OS that's easiest to use." I'm a CS grad student. I'm competent with several OS's including Linux, BSD, Solaris, and [sigh] Windows. I still prefer using a Mac, because even though I can get work done in other OS's, my work goes faster when I'm using OS X.

Re:Need the G5

[andy55]

I guess the fact that I use my laptop as a portable recording studio isn't a reasonable justification? Even the top of the line 17" 1.33 Ghz can't always keep up with my realtime processing needs.

Good points... as you use yours for a recording studio, i use my 17" as a intensive dev environment, with Metroworks Codewarrior, Dreamweaver, Office X, and photoshop all w/ stuff open (and compiling) at the same time -- when you're a shareware dev, you wear a lot of hats, and having that power and instant access to those apps is key. In fact, i just dropped in a 512MB module last week.

The guys does have a point about marketing depts wanting us to think we need to spend all-out for *the* latest hardware in a laptop. Granted, doing hard core recording studio stuff (ie, make-or-break/critical real-time processing) in a laptop would be a good reason for a portable G5, but now we're talking a real minority of users.

Separetly, the heat problem is an interesting one. My 17" already burns a hole in my lap when the CPU is maxed out, so the engineers have their work cut out for them for the heat load of a maxed out G5. whew.

Re:Watercool

[millahtime]

"The next powerbook (and maybe powermac!) will almost surely be water cooled."

Water cool a laptop??? That would make it very heavy. the Piping, pump and water itself would add pounds to the weight of the laptop.

Faster or longer battery life?

[Anonymous Coward]

Apple needs the G5. Powerbooks used to have a great advantage over x86 laptops in the battery life department, but that is no longer true. The 15" and 17" models typically only last 3 - 4.5 hours on a charge, the 12" maybe a little longer. iBooks last longer, but are a bit underpowered. With the introduction of the Pentium-M, there are now x86 laptops that are both faster and last longer on a charge (like the IBM T41). The Powerbook G5 cannot come soon enough.

Poor performance

[iJed]

I really hope that Apple do not release another G4 based PowerBook. Although I am pretty doubtful that this rumour is true.

The 166MHz bus in this thing is hardly going to be able to feed a 1.5GHz G4 CPU since this poor bus performance already cripples the current models. At least it seems they have got the L3 cache back. That should at least make things a little better.

I think Apple is more likely to use these faster G4s in eMac and iBook models rather than in PowerBooks. I think the iMac will also go G5 soon too.

This won't be the last notebook G4

[amichalo]

There is no doubt the G4 will remain a staple in Apple's notebook lineup through 2005.

It amazes me that my 1st generation 400 Mhz G4 Powerbook is mostly hindered by lack of RAM (256mb installed) than processing speed. I have no doubt a 1Ghz G4 iBook would satisfy the computing needs of a liberal arts college student. Perhaps for those in engineering or graphics classes they would push the envelope, but teh G4 remains a great chip.

I would rather enjoy the cost savings and power consumption savings of a G4 laptop than the cool factor of a G5 because I just don't have that great a need.

Re:This won't be the last notebook G4

[valkraider]

You know, I feel similar except my concern is not for "speed" but "investment". I really want to untether myself from my desk, and a 1.25Ghz 15in Powerbook seems like the exact beast I want. And it would be a great improvement over my iMac 800Mhz G4 (processor speed and bus speed and graphics card).

But the issue isn't whether the G4 is good enough, or whether I need a G5. By all accounts, for what I do, the G4 is great...

BUT - and there is always a but, right? - If I am going to drop $2500 on a high end laptop, I want it to last a good while - not be out-dated in two months... Why would I spend that much money, even on an upgraded G4? I wouldn't. We bought a 12inch 1Ghz PowerBook the day they came out - and that will be the last G4 we buy. My next purchase will be a G5 Laptop, and it would be today if Apple released it...

Apple has great product life. My 500Mhz iMac G3 runs fabulously - and I bought it for $1100 4 years ago! I just don't want to buy an "expensive top line end of product line model" just to have the new one come out in a couple months - because even if they have another speed bump in the G4 PowerBooks - they WILL release the G5 PowerBooks this year.

iBook

[valkraider]

My bet is that the next PowerBook sports a G5, while these new G4s are used in the iBooks.

I would expect something like this:

Powerbook G5, 2Ghz, 1.8Ghz, 1.6Ghz
iBook G4, 1.5Ghz, 1.33Ghz, 1.1Ghz

With the new line of iBooks having the bus speed/architecture of the current PowerBooks (essentially I would think the current Powerbooks be given the new G4, changed into a white plastic outfit, and rebadged iBook - well, basically excluding the 17inch model of course...)

Re:Guaranteeing Apple speed/feature bumps

[itomato]

You'd think that after 11 years, you'd have figured out Apple's product upgrade schedule. ;)

Thinking back (but not too hard), it's been pretty much the same methodology since Stevie came back.

Speed-bumped/updated current models appear 4-7 months before entirely new machines. This is stretched out over Consumer, Pro, and Pro-sumer lines.

It's kind of like how automakers, well Ford anyway, introduces their cars. They put out the schmancy new Lincolns about the same time they upgrade the Taurus, which is about the same time they let loose a new compact. The high and low end products are the most daring, while bread and butter stays a little conservative.

Re:What a troll post

[bombadillo]

Ever notice that if you boot up XP and imediately log in you will not have an IP address? I am not sure if this is a default setting. I think MS did this to make the boot times appear faster. Usually , the first thing I do after booting up a computer is open up a browser. I don't think you can consider any computer today as fully booted until the TCP/IP stack is fully operational.

Re:Flamebait

[rigmort]

Watch a proficient Mac user work. You'll notice that the left hand is on the keyboard at all times, copying, pasting, opening, closing, undoing, answering dialogue boxes, AND CTRL-CLICKING to get contextual menus. It's a different way of working; not necessarily better or worse. For me, it feels right.

Besides, my right-click is reserved for Expose.

Laptop performance

[guacamole]

I must say that the improvements in the speed of Apple portables have been really pathetic during all recent years. Consider this example.. almost two and a half years ago I bought an iBook with a 600MHz G3 processor. Honestly, I felt the performance was barely adequate and I decided to replace it eventually, maybe in about three years. But today, for about the same price, you can buy an iBook with an 800MHz G4 (and all other components slightly beefed up). The speed improvement is barely noticeable. In the same time frame the PC portables have improved by a whole lot more, not to mention, I wouldn't have had this performance anxiety if I bought something like an R-series IBM Thinkpad with +1GHz mobile pentium 3 for about the same price back then to begin with)..

If Apple doesn't come up within a year with an iBook replacement that has at least 1.5GHz or so CPU, I'll probably just switch to PC laptops.

Re:Guaranteeing Apple speed/feature bumps

[Echnin]

I refer you to the MacRumors buyer's guide.

Days Since Update: 161 (Average = 163)

Re:Heat

[Sketch]

Sure, you can put it up against anything Apple can put on a laptop as long as it's sitting on a desk and plugged in. But how much does it weigh, and how much runtime do you get when you are actually using the machine on battery?