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Apple Updates PowerBooks

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the a-littlle-bit-more dept.

Tablespork writes "Apple this morning has updated the PowerBook G4. The new models feature 1.5 or 1.67 ghz processors, 8x superdrives, 512MB memory standard, Bluetooth 2.0, updated graphics cards, a sudden motion sensor, as well as a scrolling trackpad. Looks like we'll have to wait a little longer for the PowerBook G5."

6 of 781 comments (clear)

  1. Dont forget by TheKidWho · · Score: 5, Informative

    the 15" and 17" can now drive 30" cinema displays!

    And optical audio out on the 17"

    Plus, brighter backlight, better prices and 5400rpm drives across the board.

    Now where is my powerbook G5 damnit!

  2. Re:Hmm by TheKidWho · · Score: 5, Informative

    You can scroll with the trackpad now in an ipod esque manner. Of course many PC laptops have had scrolling built into the trackpad, this new feature on the powerbooks might prove to be interesting.

    Ohh and it is different from other features by the fact that first of all, it requires both fingers on the track pad, secondly you can either scroll up or down, left or right, or you can scroll in a circle.

    I dunno, but on the portables I dont find ctrl+clicking to be that bad mainly because one of my hands is already in that general area ontop of the ctrl key, and the other hand on the trackpad.

  3. Finally got the RAM right by frankie · · Score: 5, Informative

    I'm more glad they finally installed the right amount of RAM: 512MB on a single stick. First off, no Mac should ship with 256MB, especially not a "pro" machine. Second, last year's high-end models came with 2x256MB sticks, which means you lose half of it when you upgrade. Adding a 512MB stick (for 768 total) was severely value-deficient, and unfortunately 1GB SO-DIMMs are still at a nasty price premium.

    1. Re:Finally got the RAM right by TheKidWho · · Score: 5, Informative

      Only on the 12" and that is because the 12" has 256mb RAM soldered onto the logic board.

      The 15" and 17" come with 512mb ram on one stick.

  4. Not Too Bad for me by evolutionaryLawyer · · Score: 5, Informative

    I had put in an order for a 15" powerbook, on friday, (I didn't believe in a G5book) and checking my order status today, apple upgraded everything in the order, and dropped the price. they even dropped about a week off the ship date. Pretty happy with them right now.

  5. 12" still crippled by Johnny+Mozzarella · · Score: 5, Informative

    Apple still is crippling the 12 " PB by not including
    - Gigabit Ethernet
    - FireWire 800
    - backlit keyboard

    OK the backlit keyboard just looks cool but why can't they at least make these optional?

    I have a 15" but would have liked to have gotten the 12" if it had better specs. The only real advantage the 12" PowerBook has over an iBook is the dual screen capabilities. Even that can be hacked into the iBook.