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Macworld to Bring Updates to Laptop Lines?

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the pure-speculation-and-idle-discussion dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Reuters is reporting on the breathless anticipation that leads up to Macworld every year. Many analysts are hedging their bets that this year will bring a long overdue update to the Mac laptop family. From the article: 'We think the iBook, PowerBook, Mac Mini, and potentially Xserve are areas that are going to move to Intel first,' said Shaw Wu, an analyst at American Technology Research."

33 of 348 comments (clear)

  1. Burn baby Burn by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    If only I could get a hold of the old Mac commercials when they slam on the Intel Processors

    1. Re:Burn baby Burn by goombah99 · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Clueless comment. If you watched the last Apple meeting they played they commerical before they brought in the intel speakers. It was their humble pie. In a way it was a compliment to intel too. Intel did have a heat problem and look at all the new processors: low power.

      Now lets look at the CES show with it's tepid announcements. Google-pak? well okay make it easy for the unwashed to have a standard set of apps all the technorati have. Of course those or better have always come on apples so we can forgive all the apple owners with the WTF look on their faces. And some TV show downloads? hmmm whoopeee. What are they going to play them on, an Achos pocket brick? And then there's a flock of dull over prices ipod wanabees, that got scooped by the Nano and cant even compete on price.

      In any case tommorrow all apple has to do to blow the pants off everyone is to announce, feature length movies available .mac starting tommorrow, and the intel processors availabel in march on ibooks and mac minis. For the pro-crowd they just need to stretch their pro-video and maybe throw in some eye candy like 32 inch displays or intel plasma display. Maybe announce a toshiba SED by august (probably not though). Apple wont announce much other pro stuff since that usually comes at the developers conf later in the year.

      This year CES made it easy. everything at CES is so far behind the curve and unintegrated apple hardly has to do more than what people already expect and everyone will be happy. This is the first year there's no breathless anticipation. (though I'm mighty curious about the intels, since I'm a pro-user I'm not expecting anything for me this go-around).

      --
      Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
    2. Re:Burn baby Burn by natd · · Score: 3, Informative
      How do you figure that? What have 'PCs' won exactly?

      The PC Vs Mac thing is really Windows Vs Mac OS X.

      It's not Linux on a PC Vs Mac, it's not Mac OS on Intel Vs Windows. The PC Vc Mac argument is [these days] a straight out OS grudge - not even relevant to this thread about CPUs.

      --
      Only big ligs use sigs.
  2. No G4 laptops or desktops - that is my prediction by IntelliAdmin · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The article suggests that they will introduce new G4 based models. I find this highly unlikely. They will need to push their new Intel Line. I suspect they will reveal new Intel Based laptops, and as always a surprise that rocks the world from Mr Jobs himself

  3. beating a dead horse? by thedak · · Score: 4, Funny

    I think at this point it's pretty much common sense that something is going to be done to the ibook line with macworld occuring.. tomorrow I guess it would be (unless you're in a timezone in which it is currently monday.. in which case.. greeettiinngs frromm the paaassttt..), we know the intel switch is coming, we know they have said that they are likely to release the ibook and mini lines first with intel chips (yonah most likely it seems, that's about the only thing that would make any sense)

    With the keynote occuring tomorrow, it's probably time to stop repeating the speculation, or at least vary it up a little, Jobs to release iRock, a portable Steve Jobs shrine, so you can worship him in all his bald glory anywhere you go! :o I know I'd buy one >.> (typing from my beloved 12" ibook G4).

    1. Re:beating a dead horse? by Nugget · · Score: 3, Informative

      The keynote is on Tuesday, 10 January, not Monday.

  4. Here's hoping... by WigginX · · Score: 4, Interesting

    My money is on the Apple Tablet being unveiled. ... but maybe that's just wishful thinking.

    1. Re:Here's hoping... by jerkmark · · Score: 4, Funny

      Can we please call any Apple branded tablet the "Applet" from now on? I want to so bad.

      --
      Pain is God trying to be funny. That's how out of touch It is. -- Jeff Lint
  5. Dual boot laptop by shut_up_man · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I had considered a Mac last time I was shopping for a laptop, but I couldn't get past the facts that:

    a) I can't work on Microsoft products like SQL Server on a Mac
    b) The Mac only has a few games, compared to the PC

    If these Intel Mac laptops arrive, and they really can be dual booted into XP, these two problems go away. I could easily see myself getting a Powerbook and using OSX for all my daily fiddling, and then booting into Windows when I needed to. /me crosses fingers...

    1. Re:Dual boot laptop by shut_up_man · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Actually I hadn't heard of either (thanks for the info) but I was thinking more about using the laptop as a complete dev environment, with SQL server running on it as well. That way I could do SQL Server / .NET / ASP work without having to cart around a mini sized server box. If it's a greenfields project, I will choose MySQL / PHP hands down, but a good percentage of my work is maintenance or modifications of Microsoft stuff, which means having Windows somewhere along the line.

    2. Re:Dual boot laptop by anothy · · Score: 3, Funny
      a) I can't work on Microsoft products like SQL Server on a Mac
      that's a feature, not a bug. ;-)
      --

      i speak for myself and those who like what i say.
    3. Re:Dual boot laptop by Slashcrap · · Score: 3, Insightful

      We have less games but we also have less crap games as a result. Next time you troll make sure you try a little harder.

      Are you going to apologise to shut_up_man for that? Because any normal person can see that wasn't a troll. He was saying that Mac laptops don't meet his requirements at the moment but it looks like they will in future, so he may well buy one. That's all he said.

      The trouble is you seem to be so blinded by love for your platform of choice that you're prepared to insult people that dosn't yet own one, but would like to. To me that seems pathetic, incredibly immature and totally counter-productive.

      In summary, you are the main reason that myself and many others will never own a Mac. I bow before your advocacy skills.

      One of the other reasons is that this post will be marked as flamebait, while your post which actually does insult somebody for no reason at all will get modded +5 Interesting. I really can't understand how Apple have failed to increase their market share with advocates like you lot on their side.

  6. Laptop Standard by superpulpsicle · · Score: 3, Interesting

    If iPod is the defacto standard for music players, it's going to be difficult to raise the iBook to be the laptop standard. Everywhere I look companies are too heavily invested into Dell and other big name PC laptops. But I'd like to see Jobs try and win this one.

  7. Waiting for the big dissapointment... by EuroChild · · Score: 3, Interesting

    While, granted, there are a whole lot of rumors flying around about intel macs, what if there is no intel update? AFAIK, Apple have never stated that they would move to intel this early. So what will this do to apple, not only to the fans (myself included) but to the greater public, if we see another tiny bump to the laptop lines? Apple stand to loose a lot of face should they not be able to deliver...

    --
    Does this make my brain look big?
    1. Re:Waiting for the big dissapointment... by burris · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Apple was planning to introduce intel Macs at this Macworld all along. They just said it would be "a year and a half" (i.e. Macworld 2007) to avoid the so-called "Osbourne Effect." People are supposed to think "Well, I really can't wait another year, so I'll buy a new computer now."

  8. Earth shattering announcement.... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 3, Funny

    I think Steve Jobs will announce that Microsoft is licensing OS X to replace the plumbing in Windows Vista, and a giant kitchen sink will knonk him on the head as Bill Gates appears on the big screen behind in a Dark Helmet helmet with an girly laugh. Oh, yeah. One more thing... :P

  9. Re:No G4 laptops or desktops - that is my predicti by richdun · · Score: 4, Informative

    Actually, the article suggests they will update the current G4-based models... "Apple has said it will start selling Intel-based computers by the middle of this year. But many analysts have said for months they expect an earlier introduction of some Macintosh models, particularly ones using the older G4 processor."

  10. Something else up his sleeve? by The+Ancients · · Score: 4, Funny
    Said analyst Bajarin, a long-time Silicon Valley watcher: "He also has something else up his sleeve that none of us have a clue about."

    An 'Intel Inside' tattoo?

    --
    The Mothership
  11. Doutful on X86 Xserves (for a while) by csoto · · Score: 5, Insightful

    First, they don't move that platform very quickly. Secondly, their real cluster sales go towards SciViz, which have a particular fondness for the G5 platform.

    --
    There exists no way of exchanging information without making judgments. --Bene Gesserit Axiom
  12. My predictions... by doormat · · Score: 3, Insightful

    iBook (all with 13.3" widescreen display and integrated graphics - 945GM MCH)
    $799: Intel Centrino Solo 1.66Ghz
    $999: Intel Centrino Duo 1.66Ghz
    $1199: Intel Centrino Duo 1.83GHz

    Mini
    $499: Intel Centrino Duo LV 1.5Ghz
    $599: Intel Centrino Duo LV 1.66Ghz
    $699: Intel Centrino Duo LV 1.66Ghz (but with included DVD+DL burner, bluetooth, etc)

    Plus the MacTV annoucement (42" and 50" Plasmas with Minis built in), and the new 1GB shuffle replacement (possibly the 1GB Nano).

    --
    The Doormat

    If you're not outraged, then you're not paying attention.
    1. Re:My predictions... by dr.badass · · Score: 4, Insightful

      iBook (all with 13.3" widescreen display and integrated graphics - 945GM MCH)

      I dobut you'll see any Apple system with Intel's graphics. They've put a lot of energy into Core Image, which requires programmable pixel shaders, and if I remember correctly, Intel's pixel shader support is laughable, with hardly any hardware accelleration. Given that current iBooks do support Core Image, it would be a step backwards. (This, and laughable graphics performance in general.) Not completely impossible, but unlikely.

      Also, the main reason to use Intel's graphics support would be to cash in on "Centrino" marketing. I don't think Apple needs or wants to overrun their very strong brands (iBook, PowerBook) with Intel's. The same reason I wouldn't expect to see an "Intel Inside" sticker.

      Mini $499: Intel Centrino Duo LV 1.5Ghz

      If it's going to be plugged into a wall, there's no reason for the low-voltage version of the chip. The current Mini form factor has plenty of room to disperse the heat of the normal version. I would expect to see the LV version in some kind of ultraportable, if anything.

      --
      Don't become a regular here -- you will become retarded.
  13. second gen Pentium M by green+pizza · · Score: 5, Informative

    Back in those days it was Apple/Motorola slamming the first gen Pentium II versus their first gen Power PC 750 "G3".

    The G3 in 233 and 266 MHz flavors was faster than the PII in its 233 and 266 MHz flavors. But eventually the PII was shipping at 450 MHz while Motorola was still churning out 350 MHz G3s. Apple slipped behind and had to use other tactics (more cache, wider busses, etc) to try to compete.

    Today Intel has the Pentium M, more specifically, the second generation Pentium M, available with dual cores. Sure looks a lot better than the vaporware that Motorola/Freescale is advertising, or the big and hot IBM PowerPC 970 "G5" or the in-order (poor for multitasking) game console versions of the G5.

    I think Apple made the right move, I just wish Intel had a better naming system for their CPUs.

    1. Re:second gen Pentium M by Cadallin · · Score: 3, Interesting
      Eh? Firstly, the new G5's available from IBM are much lower in power consumption. A G5 powerbook could have happened very easily after June '05, and Secondly that Pentium M you are touting has more in common with that Pentium II you just trashed than any other processor design. Intel has gone back to their old Pentium Pro Architecture. Meanwhile, in POWER land, POWER5 and POWER5+ based POWERPC processors could have succeeded the G5, (A POWER4 based design).

      All of the current top3 Supercomputers in the world are POWER5 IBM designs. The intel transition was a mistake IMO. Intel doesn't have any solid plans for the future of x86, they're just going to keep using process advances to cram more PII cores on a chip, until they end up with an x86 based NIAGRA clone

    2. Re:second gen Pentium M by Cadallin · · Score: 5, Interesting
      I understand the argument there, but I'm inclined to think that the game consoles stealing IBM's attention is a bit of a red herring. I think the real reasons are:

      1. Marketing (Most people won't look any further than a CPU's clockspeed to evaluate it's "performance," even though this is often a weak indicator at best)

      2. Steve's ego, and his anger at IBM for failing to deliver as promised. (Even though EVERYONE had a disasterous time with the 90nm transition. Nobody was really prepared to deal with the immense increase in heat dissipation, and if you'll remember, even Intel stalled during this period)

      3. I think it's very like Intel made Apple "an offer they couldn't refuse," (especially keeping in mind point 2) The PC platform is stagnating really badly, and there aren't any Apps really driving the sale of higher performance desktops, Intel NEEDED Apple, as they are the only ones pushing in this direction. I think Apple probably got some OBSCENE discounts for agreeing to become an Intel shop.

    3. Re:second gen Pentium M by grahamlee · · Score: 3, Funny
      a watercooling radiator that looks like it fell off a Chevy.

      And with good reason - it fell off a Chevy. They're made by Delphi and used in the Blazer.

    4. Re:second gen Pentium M by moonbender · · Score: 4, Funny

      All of the current top3 Supercomputers in the world are POWER5 IBM designs.

      Clearly, that makes it an obvious choice for a laptop CPU.

      --
      Switch back to Slashdot's D1 system.
    5. Re:second gen Pentium M by chrish · · Score: 3, Interesting

      You guys are missing an important fact.

      Besides the "flagship" desktop/latpop chips, Intel makes a boat-load of embedded chips.

      Apple sells a boat-load of embedded systems (iPod).

      If Apple can get major discounts on embedded CPUs for their top-selling hardware, their margins will go way up.

      --
      - chrish
  14. I predict.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ..that Steve Jobs will be wearing a rather tight black shirt of some kind.

  15. Re:No G4 laptops or desktops - that is my predicti by pokstad · · Score: 3, Informative

    Even though there might not be any new G4 products, there is still a possiblity for G5 notebooks since IBM made an announcement that they had developed multicore and low-power consumption G5 chips, which came right after the announcement that Apple was switching to Intel. Even though we haven't seen the low-power consumption chips, we have seen the dual core chips in the newest power macs. Jobs did say that we would still see new PPC products before the complete switch to Intel.

  16. Re:No G4 laptops or desktops - that is my predicti by Arctic+Fox · · Score: 4, Funny
    The article suggests...

    I'm sorry. You must be new here. Usually these threads are full of speculation and wild-ass guesses, not someone reading article. Sheesh!

  17. Go to the source... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Foxtrot

  18. Re:Intel Yonah 32bit? What happens to the 64bit?? by JackAxe · · Score: 3, Informative

    Just to be more specific, OS X still uses a 32-Bit Gui, so as to ensure compatibility with the thousands of existing apps. Not everything needs 64-bit support and moving to a 64-bit GUI would put OS X in the same boat as Win64, which still lags way behind the WinXP in support. 64-bit addressing can be slower than 32-bit if it's not needed.

    "All" applictions under Tiger have access to 64-bit memory addressing and have had access to 64-bit computations since Panther. 64-bit support for OS X is not limited by any means, it's just practical.

    Also Windows 64 uses a 32-bit long. Microsoft actually made up their own standard of LL64. OS X uses 64-bit long pointers just like Linux and is based on the industry standard LP64. MS of course chose this direction to maintain compatibily and make it easier for developers to port their legacy code.

  19. iBook upgrades... by ElectroBot · · Score: 4, Informative

    - CPU will most likely be upgraded to Intel Yonah Single Core CPU
    - FSB will be upgraded (142MHz to ?)
    - Default RAM will stay at 512MB
    - 802.11G and Bluetooth 2.0 EDR will remain
    -Optional HD upgrade might go from 100GB max to 120GB max
    - don't know about displays (widescreen ?, 13.3 ?)
    - Video RAM BETTER be upgraded to 64MB (32MB isn't enough for games or full Core Image functionality and the iBook has had 32MB for 5 or 6 updates (3 or 4 years!)
    - Firewire 400 WILL continue to be on the iBook (lots of people with Digital Video Cameras and iMovie would be useless otherwise)
    - Battery life might go from theoretical 6 hours to theoretical 5 hours
    - LCDs might be upgraded the same way Powerbook LCDs were, BUT resolution might not change
    - Hopefully the iBook will gain an internal iSight like the iMac G5
    - The iBook won't get a remote (people would lose it too easily) but it might get a few function keys added/changed to allow easier FrontRow control
    - The iBook P4 will look somewhat different just like the iBook changed when the CPU changed from G3 to G4


    That would be an iBook that I would be willing to trade up for (I have an early 2004 iBook G4 14" 1GHz)