The 12" Powerbook (or a G4 iBook, in any other terms, as that's what it is, essentially) was much needed, as, since the release of the far-improved 800mhz iBooks, many owners of 400-500mhz TiBooks upgraded to an iBook instead, being that they were more robust, reliable, and, unless one does heavy graphic or video editing, faster running, especially with Quartz Extreme able video built in. Add to that the strong sales of the 12" iBooks to those who love serious portability, and you have a winner.
I've also noticed on Apple's Powerbook page mentions the 12" being smaller than a Duo, and, not being painted, meaning no issues with paint flaking off and obvious scratching. Sounds like someone has seriously been paying attention to what customers want, especially those who have been Mac users for many years.
As for CPU speeds, the most significant gains can be made, speed-wise, by iBook and TiBook owners by upgrading their HD's to 5400rpm drives (or faster). A 500mhz TiBook can be made to run seemingly faster than higher mhz models with this upgrade, from observed experience.
I wonder if 800mbps firewire will result in a greater proliferation of firewire RAID solutions, especially considering that the Powerbooks are aimed at the video-editing market. Assuming that it will gives 60mb/sec sustained throughput, that's enough IIRC for DV work.
The way you beat microsoft is to make a superior product, and market it better. The government has shown that they won't help level the playing field for any competitors to MS, so that's the world anyone taking them on has to work in.
No, the way to chip away at Microsoft is to make a straightforward, cheap product that competes adequately, flog it to as many people as possible and market it brilliantly. Ensuring it's bundled with another popular product will help immensely.
... yes, and it was a damn shame that it ran only on 68k macs. We managed to get a copy and ran it on an old Quadra - imagine a System 7 version of OS X and you get the rough idea. It's a pity they didn't port it to PPC. If someone pesters me enough, I might upload some pics, if what you saw at As The Apple Turns didn't satisfy your curiosity.
We still use them at work, and so does Apple-Oz. Unfortunately, they are big beasts which are not upgradable. I wonder if a G4 motherboard will fit in one...hmmmm...;)
One of the primary reasons people started using the net was that the information there, compared to, say, what could be found in a library, was easy and quick to find, and the information was to the point. Now the web has filled with masses of rubbish from websites trying to make money, our time is being taken up more and more finding what we want amongst the quagmire of crap. One doesn't have to wonder why websites like Google have become so popular (not to mention Web Pages That Suck). People aren't surfing as much any more, they have already found the sites they like and are sticking to them.
...and I just re-ran A/UX on an old Quadra and it was just like a System 7.1. Strangely, it's just like a 68k version of Mac OS X Server too. Pity they didn't rewrite that for PowerPC - Imagine where they would be today.
I've seen many attempted comparisons between Macs and PC's. Most don't seem to properly take into account the hardware factor.
How would you compare the motherboard of a G4, aside from bus speeds, with a PC motherboard? How about the quality of the power supply and cooling fans?
I think you'll find that a brand-name PC with the same quality of components throughout as Apple puts in its machine, will cost about the same.
One area, however, Apple has succeeded in breaking through the "PC is cheaper" myth (and yes, I belive now it's a myth for the above stated reasons), is with the powerbook/ibook range, which, at least in Australia, is now considered good value for money compared with PC laptops. This often from comments in PC magazines.
Their product is purchased by a select crop of
people who are repeat customers.
Funny, alot of recent Mac-owners I've met were PC diehards, or UNIX system admins, many of whom had never owned a mac before.
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I've also noticed on Apple's Powerbook page mentions the 12" being smaller than a Duo, and, not being painted, meaning no issues with paint flaking off and obvious scratching. Sounds like someone has seriously been paying attention to what customers want, especially those who have been Mac users for many years.
As for CPU speeds, the most significant gains can be made, speed-wise, by iBook and TiBook owners by upgrading their HD's to 5400rpm drives (or faster). A 500mhz TiBook can be made to run seemingly faster than higher mhz models with this upgrade, from observed experience.
I wonder if 800mbps firewire will result in a greater proliferation of firewire RAID solutions, especially considering that the Powerbooks are aimed at the video-editing market. Assuming that it will gives 60mb/sec sustained throughput, that's enough IIRC for DV work.
No, the way to chip away at Microsoft is to make a straightforward, cheap product that competes adequately, flog it to as many people as possible and market it brilliantly. Ensuring it's bundled with another popular product will help immensely.
I give them 2 months before they allow anyone to buy one. Do you forsee a CRT iMac upgrade ever?
... yes, and it was a damn shame that it ran only on 68k macs. We managed to get a copy and ran it on an old Quadra - imagine a System 7 version of OS X and you get the rough idea. It's a pity they didn't port it to PPC. If someone pesters me enough, I might upload some pics, if what you saw at As The Apple Turns didn't satisfy your curiosity.
My God! That would mean M$ would have sell their soul to the Daemon ... er ... Devil!
We still use them at work, and so does Apple-Oz. Unfortunately, they are big beasts which are not upgradable. I wonder if a G4 motherboard will fit in one...hmmmm... ;)
One of the primary reasons people started using the net was that the information there, compared to, say, what could be found in a library, was easy and quick to find, and the information was to the point. Now the web has filled with masses of rubbish from websites trying to make money, our time is being taken up more and more finding what we want amongst the quagmire of crap. One doesn't have to wonder why websites like Google have become so popular (not to mention Web Pages That Suck). People aren't surfing as much any more, they have already found the sites they like and are sticking to them.
...and I just re-ran A/UX on an old Quadra and it was just like a System 7.1. Strangely, it's just like a 68k version of Mac OS X Server too. Pity they didn't rewrite that for PowerPC - Imagine where they would be today.
I've seen many attempted comparisons between Macs and PC's. Most don't seem to properly take into account the hardware factor.
How would you compare the motherboard of a G4, aside from bus speeds, with a PC motherboard? How about the quality of the power supply and cooling fans?
I think you'll find that a brand-name PC with the same quality of components throughout as Apple puts in its machine, will cost about the same.
One area, however, Apple has succeeded in breaking through the "PC is cheaper" myth (and yes, I belive now it's a myth for the above stated reasons), is with the powerbook/ibook range, which, at least in Australia, is now considered good value for money compared with PC laptops. This often from comments in PC magazines.
Their product is purchased by a select crop of people who are repeat customers. Funny, alot of recent Mac-owners I've met were PC diehards, or UNIX system admins, many of whom had never owned a mac before.