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New iBooks 'Any Day Now'
teewurstmann writes "Thinksecret reports that 'sources have confirmed that Apple's consumer laptop will receive a long overdue refresh very soon, possibly as early as this week.' They speculate that the new iBooks might have a widescreen display.
I sure hope they are right! I've been waiting to buy one of those suckers for half a year now!"
Consumer laptop? Who's their other line made for?
But will they have the new fast, low-power chips that IBM recently announced?
Oh, no! I just bought an iBook ten months ago! Now it's obsolete. Apple obviously doesn't care about customer loyalty.
Wide screen would be nice, but it would be even better if they are using screens similar to the Sony Vaios. Those screens are very very sharp and crisp.
"This is you left and that's your left. This is your right and that's your right. You're gonna die!
if this were an actual news story, and not just another rumor posting. Yes, Thinksecret has gotten stuff right in the past, they've also blown it a couple times. As opposed to the recent items about the video iPod, which at least have backing in terms of talks between different companies, and multiple reports, citing not all the same sources, this item, while fun to think about, isn't news. It's a rumor, out of one of the more famous rumor mills.
antipaucity
This story is not fully cooked.
I'm not a Troll, it's reverse psychology.
Details of the updated iBook are unknown, as is a firm release date, given the fickle nature of hardware updates.
The only thing we get out of this is that they are planning on revising the iBook, but we don't know how or when.
/. ++
If you check the Mac Buyer's Guide it's way overdue.
http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/
A lot of people are going to hang on to their older Apple laptops until they have the faster Intel chip version... I was considering getting an iBook (even though I'm mostly a windows/linux guy) but I stopped considering it until Intel starts producing the faster chips.
why not wait till they get the intel based laptops out?
Maybe because Intel-based Macs are more than a year off, and some people need a computer now, and would like it to be reasonably up-to-date.
Just a theory.
Information wants to be anthropomorphized.
Because it has already been 9 months or so since the last update of the iBook, and Mactels aren't due until 2006. They need something fresh on the market for back to school.
/usr/games/fortune
Can they make any significant CPU-upgrade at all? The iBooks are already close to the PowerBook, and if they dont upgrade the PowerBooks the difference will be insignificant.
I hope for more RAM and lower price. The current CPUs are fast enough, and I dont want any more heat/less battery time.
The iBook will have to wait another year for the Intel CPUs - they are probably the last ones (along with the eMac) to switch from G4.
Because some people like (need) to be productive now, not a year from now.
Because the new laptops will be just as effective at tasks as they would have been without knowledge of a new processor line.
Because computers are always being upgraded and waiting for the next best line to come out means you never make a purchase.
I think that about sums up most of the arguments.
-- i am jack's amusing sig file
Also, it is back-to-school time. The iBook is the one machine that is key to have refreshed for this season. College kids are going to want to buy a fresh iBook instead of a year-old one.
Lasers Controlled Games!
For those who don't want to read the article (or links), I believe the gist is as follows:
- The rumour for widescreens is substantiated by an internal Asustek memo indicating that Apple is buying wide screen laptops.
- The forthcoming iBook update is at least furthered by the lack of an iBook update in a very long time (for iBook updates). See, e.g. Macrumours Buyers Guide. It's been 274 days since an iBook update, where the average is 158. It's writing on the wall.
- It almost certainly won't have an Intel processor. Apple's plans to move to Intel supposedly start in Q1 2006.
Time will tell, of course.
If they can get it under three pounds (remove the optical drive, I don't care) I'd grab one in a second. More than three pounds is just too heavy for a portable.
Mabey they will introduce a tablet version?
I find that hard to swallow.
I would buy an iBook if Apple could charge my Dell account (which has a zero balance). Didn't Dell say they wanted to sell Apple hardware? :)
In August, they'll be announcing the new range of PowerBooks. These will be powered by 2.5GHz ARM CPUs. And in September, the new Xserve 65816s will be launched, running the latest generation 6502s. SPARC based iMacs will follow in November.
Finally, in January, you'll see the first Intel based Mac. While some will consider a 4.77MHz 8088* a little slow in today's computing environment, there's little doubt that the power savings alone will make the switchover worthwhile.
* Note, selected models will feature the NEC V20, depending on availability and demand.
You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
i'm waiting for the g5 ibook.
i hear there's a g6 powermac in the works, too. this coming from my friend who is an apple rep in cupertino.
since when do widescreen notebooks mean they are more expensive? There was a Compaq 14.1" widescreen being sold for 399$ last week. I walked into best buy last month and of the 15 or so models in the store, 12 of them were widescreen.
ibook != powerbook. why would they release a new version and not a speed update?
"This is Chewbacca. Chewbacca is a Wookiee from the planet Kashyyyk, but Chewbacca lives on the planet Endor. Now, think about that. That does not make sense! Why would a Wookiee - an eight foot tall Wookiee - want to live on Endor with a bunch of two foot tall Ewoks? That does not make sense!"
"Tread softly because you tread on my dreams"
Don't get me wrong, I love it when Apple announces a product update.
But with Widescreens, there's now even less difference between the iBook and PowerBook.
Both already have G4 CPUs
Both have Superdrives
Both have DVI out
I know there are some minor arch differences, but they're getting a little too close for comfort.
The "article" talks about revisions to the 14" line, and possibly a new 15" line. I really hope the 12" line doesn't go though. A lot of us bought iBooks because they're a lot smaller and cheaper than comparable PCs at that size. 12" is ideal for flights, carrying around like a book, and just throwing in your bag wherever you want to go. By all means, increase the res of the 12" (1024x768 is a let down), but don't ditch the line, because its compactness makes it useful. Whereas the 14"? It has the same res.. so a waste of money.
I respectfully disagree that this next update won't include a widescreen display. The next line of iBooks will have a widescreen display as Apple needs to keep up the pressure and incentives on their consumer line. I would have bought an iBook instead of my Powerbook, for instance, had Apple offered a widescreen display.
Lastly, new != more expensive. The widescreen display may in fact cost less than the current display. For instance, perhaps the manufacturer wants to move away from the old style because it's cheaper to produce the newer style. They may offer a price incentive for their customers to cease production of the old, more costly version (we do this sometimes where I work with new product formulations, i.e. move to a new cheaper formula, charge less, but retain the margins).
I understand the desire for consistency in display pitch, but Apple seems stuck on the idea that no one wants a small hires display. After using a Thinkpad with a 14 inch SXGA+ (1400x1050) and a Zaurus with 640x480 on a 3.7 inch display for a couple of years, the usual 15-in XGA seems positively clunky. Hell, the Dell D800 my new employer gave me seems ridiculous -- who the hell wants to lug around a monster 8-lb 17-in screen and get only a wXGA display? Surely the market will support an iBook or PowerBook with a hires (SXGA on 12-14 or UXGA on 15-17in) display.
And no, I do not have extraordinary eyesight -- I wear glasses. It's just a matter of seeing more = more work done faster, and I don't think that's uncommon for mobile computer users.
I think not...(*poof*)
[quote from Apple Store support site] Price protection If Apple reduces the price on any product within 10 calendar days of shipment, you can request a refund or credit of the difference between the price you were charged and the current price. To receive the refund or credit you must contact Apple within 14 business days of shipment.
I think you have overlooked those self-described "purists" who want to buy (one of) the last of the PPC systems.
I bought a 12" iBook because it does what I need and I couldn't justify the extra $500.00 for the Powerbook. I use it on the road, not as a desktop replacement. I do my CPU intensive stuff on my G5 Powermac on my desk. For me, and I can't speak for anyone but myself, the iBook was what I needed.
Boobies never hurt anyone. - Sherry Glaser.
I'd assume that the build cycle on laptops is pretty long - you're designing the whole enclosure and all of its parts to work tightly together, pun intended.
If the holdup was a chipset, it's likely that they've been sitting on the final design for a long time now. To scrap it at this point would cost a ton of money, especially since it's been what, ten months since the last ibooks came out?
And finally, When are the Intel-based Macs due? 2006? 2007? It's not worth delaying a product launch that long just to wait for the new architecture, especially since nobody's heard anything about Intel-based *books yet.
One of the big selling points for me when I bought my iBook was the small form factor with the 12" screen.
"Experts agree that the best type of computer for your individual needs is one that comes on the market about two days after you actually purchase some other computer."
--Dave Barry
No, the first line to go Intel will be the PowerBook. Not only is the G4 way too slow for a "pro" computer, but there's no way they'd make the iBook better than the Powerbook (and if it has a Pentium-M while the Powerbook still had a G4, it would be better by a wide margin).
The iBook, Mac Mini, and eMac will follow quickly after the PowerBook, of course.
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Nobody has enough mod points to possibly mod down all the flamebait on this thread.
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Note: occasionally rings up a Mac mini at Best Buy != "Apple Rep."
<Farnsworth>Good news! It's a suppository!</Farnsworth>
I would have bought an iBook instead of my Powerbook, for instance, had Apple offered a widescreen display.
Yep. Someone at Apple still cries themselves to sleep at night over that lost iBook sale. Wait a sec, you bought a Powerbook. What did Apple lose on this deal?
The iBook, as well as Apple's whole consumer line, has to straddle the price point of being only slightly more expensive than cheapo PCs and not being too much less than the lucrative Power*** line.
Apple really would much rather have all of their customers purchase high margin Powerbooks. The consumer systems cannot be allowed to cut into that too deeply.
I can see the new iBooks shipping with a slight processor speed upgrade (1.42GHz) and 512MB RAM standard. There could also be a HDD size upgrade (40GB and 80GB). Widescreen isn't out of the question but probably won't happen. I can't see a video upgrade from the ATi 9200 while some PBs are still shipping with the crappy Go5600.
Apple has "historically" (the last 2-3 years) done upgrades AFTER major buying times. Instead of getting a new model out for "back-to-school" shopping, they run "extra RAM" or other promotions for back-to-school folks to think that they are getting a good deal, sell out their existing inventory at basically full price with the shopping season (schools upgrade labs, parents buy kids computers, etc), then roll out new computers in October... It's annoying, but smart business... Most schools/universities turn over their fiscal year in either August, September, or October, to either roll the school year into one (September), or basically do that but not being trying to do year close-outs during the transition (hence August/October).
That means if they have money left in the budget to spend on the year, they buy the soon-to-be-closed out models at full price, then Apple starts a separate buying frenzy soon after.
For that reason, iPods tend NOT to get upgraded in late October (announce, ship in November) (in time for Christmas shopping, they get upgraded in January).
It's a margin maximizing move.
Now, with Apple's increased market (37% year-to-year increase in Computers, with US Marketshare at 4.5% last quarter), they may have just sold their inventory, so rather than making an old computer, they announce an upgrade and sell it... as I'd imagine as Freescale improves processors, there is no price break on the older ones, so Apple will upgrade, but we shall see.
Alex
The iBook is incredibly good value if you're looking for a small laptop. Similarly-priced PCs are all heavy 15-inchers. Even the 12" Powerbook is competitively priced in the small-laptop market.
I really can't understand why people still drool over this POS hardware. FYI the logic board problems have not been resolved yet. The G4 iBooks are plagued with the exact same logic board problems as the G3s. This wouldn't be that bad if the G4s were covered under Apple's recall program but unfortunately they're are not. It will probably take another class action before they even acknowledge the problem. I seriously hope that Apple have learned from their past mistakes and have designed a completely new logic board for this iBook update. If not, be prepared for another round of whacky trackpads and dead screens.
However, they have also historically upgraded in April, so they are several months overdue for an upgrade. They may be waiting on the iBooks to corrispond with new Powerbooks, whihc are nearing the end of their normal development cycle.
However, while iBooks have had a fairly regular update cycle, powerbooks are somewhat scattered. Look at the graphs on the Macrumors.com buyers' guide.
/usr/games/fortune
against Thinkecret in 3...2...1...
If my call is important, why am I talking to a recording?
Look at the graphs on the Macrumors.com buyers' guide.
Look at the links to the Macrumors.com buyers' [sic] guide.
Don't call me back. Give me a call back. Bye. So yeah. But bye our, well, but alright we are on a shirt this chill.
With a widescreen monitor, you're not getting the top cut off, but you're getting the sides extended. On a current 14" iBook, your resolution would be 1024x768. The 15" widescreen Powerbooks have a resolution of 1280x854 so it actually has more pixels in both dimensions.
Duct tape is like the Force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together.
The day Apple releases widescreen iBooks is the day OS X will run on Intel! Mwahahaha!
Oh. Wait.
"Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world." -Archimedes