Powerbook G5

[southside]

I decided to take the plunge, become a full_blown Switcher -- finally join the Mac_In_Crowd...

I ordered a 15" ALU SuperDrive today (1 512 M chip, faster 80 G HD), along with MS Office, Quicken, APP, .MAC, and an Epson CX5400 (to replace my old HP printer and Epson scanner)...

as somebody else who recently purchased a PowerBook, I am sure that since I just purchased the current model - the new G5 PowerBooks will be announced in the very near future... I am sure I will be quite happy with the 15" Superdrive PB... will be a great learning experience moving to OS/X from MS XP... will keep my XP machine and have fun networking the PowerBook with the XP machine via my wireless router.

have a great Mac kinda President Day Weekend!!,
SouthSide

 

[laseca]

I'm in no rush to buy a 15" Powerbook just yet but seriously thinking about it. A few weeks ago, I was at a local Fry's in the Mac software section and met another Mac user who helped us decide on a piece of software. We got talking and found out he uses a 15" Aluminum Powerbook. I told him I was on the virge of buying one but in no absolute hurry. He said he knows people at Apple and basically advised me to hold off on the purchase since the update will be worthwhile. I'm reluctant to believe anything from anyone about future Apple releases but interesting to hear the rumours.

He did make one good point though. Noted that Apple dropped the G3 chip from the iBooks. The Powerbook line having the fastest G4 chips now joined by the G4 iBooks that aren't far behind. For the Powerbooks to have the edge, they would have to have a significant boost in speed in the G4 chip or new G5s to set them apart.

It's hard to speculate what Apple has up their sleeve. If you need a Powerbook now, buy one. Since I don't have the need for one now, I'll wait for the next updates.

 

[rman]

I think it is about time to upgrade the powerbook line. So we will have to wait and see what the folk at Apple have in store for us. Most likely a bump in the G5 powermac line and upgraded powerbook.

 

[s3pt1k]

My only question is WHAT will most people do with a G5 PowerBook?

IMO, most people don't even NEED a G5 level processor.

Regardless, Graphite is right, there is NO way that Apple is releasing a G5 lappy that soon. I can see that there are simply too many issues to be worked through. Additionally, I believe that Apple learned their lesson with the ever-so-hot 867MHz TiBook the lesson of pushing things too fast.

Don't even get me started on what the sucker would cost....

 

[s3pt1k]

He did make one good point though. Noted that Apple dropped the G3 chip from the iBooks. The Powerbook line having the fastest G4 chips now joined by the G4 iBooks that aren't far behind. For the Powerbooks to have the edge, they would have to have a significant boost in speed in the G4 chip or new G5s to set them apart.

I think this is faulty logic. Look at the FSB on the PowerBooks. It's double that of an iBook. Additionally, RAM and harddrives are both big factors. These things lead to SERIOUS increases in performance over the iBook. One last point: the G4, is simply a G3 processor, but turned up a bit. The PB is still Apple's flagship notebook and I think they have too many technical hurdles to overcome. Why would anyone want a turned-down G5 in a lappy that yields just slightly better increases over the G4? I think Apple will REALLY want to make an impact with this and will wait 'til the recipe is just right.

People who "know a guy" are the stuff of urban legends. Buy your PB now and start enjoying it.

 

[rman]

I would use it for video editing.

 

[WhitE_RabbiT]

digital imaging

 

[wiggin1605]

oooooo

id use it for cracking nuclear missile codes

 

[Graphite]

haha, your logic is faulty buddie.

The whole point is progress, and that is the logic. Its not a matter of if people need it or not, its a matter of if people want it or not. Most people could get along fine with a G3 Wallstreet, but they wouldn't be happy. I bought my G4 tower 733 top of the line, it was way more power than I needed, but now its at the same speed of my iMac which I bought a year or two later.

People don't care about the money, they only care about what it says, to have the G5 in a PB would give apple a huge edge on the laptop/notebook market.

But still, its not comming out ne time soon.

 

[wiggin1605]

errr

im starting not to like you man. be opptimistic. you need to think with an open mind an have faith that apple can build a solid product in a short time. they come out with a new os every year now an you think they cant make a pb in the same time?

 

[wiggin1605]

think about it

think about it people. the last power book came out like what 9-10 months ago an you know as soon as they annonced the newest power book they had already started working on the next one. They are probly finalizing it right now.

 

[Graphite]

Well.. I like you...but I am looking realistically at this powerbook thing, I have would have no problem with being horridly wrong, But i am looking at this that apple just released the g5 tower, and the 1.6g5 isnt much faster than a g4 1.24, they need to get the tower up to 3ghz by summer (which they will do), then by next jan or summer come out with the 3.5 or 4ghz g5 tower and a 2ghz or 3ghz or better pb. Though.. I truely hope I am wrong.

 

[s3pt1k]

haha, your logic is faulty buddie.

The whole point is progress, and that is the logic. Its not a matter of if people need it or not, its a matter of if people want it or not. Most people could get along fine with a G3 Wallstreet, but they wouldn't be happy. I bought my G4 tower 733 top of the line, it was way more power than I needed, but now its at the same speed of my iMac which I bought a year or two later.

People don't care about the money, they only care about what it says, to have the G5 in a PB would give apple a huge edge on the laptop/notebook market.

But still, its not comming out ne time soon.

I have to disagree.
1) Of course there are people who will use the full capabilities of a G5 PowerB ook, but they are few and far between. I work every day in an environment surrounded by people who have way too much computer for what they need and hence do not understand it? Do you know what that means? More headaches for those of us who have to deal with this morons.

2)I'm glad progress is made in light of people having the "best money can buy" just so they can tout their toys to their friends and show everyone how cool they are. (not) Progress belongs in the hands of people who can use it (students, developers) not in the hands of some stnotty yuppy whose going to use it to gain a social edge. Jealous? Maybe. If so though, it's only on account of the fact that I could trade my iBook G4 to some schlep with a 15" Alum PowerBook and he'd never know the difference.

3)Apple has already for YEARS had the step up on the market in terms of its technology. Look at the iPod, current PowerBook line, the Cinema Displays, FireWire, etc... . . . . . .What they don't need is a hasty move to make something happen before it is truly ready. Regardless, they're at least a year ahead of the market as it is. Can you immagine someone stuffing an Opteron into a lappy and making nearly as light/functional as a PowerBook? I think not.

However, youre right on one thing: It's not coming out soon.

 

[Murlyn]

Actually... I just read an article that said that Apple could announce the G5 PB right now. All the pieces are in place, etc etc.. and that they would be surprised if it did not come out before summer, but most definitely this summer. Now if I can find that article again...

 

[rman]

I saw it to, now if only I can find some money.

 

[Graphite]

oh I saw that as well, and I am well aware they could release G5 PB and I would be more than pleased to see a PB G5 released... but I am thinking realistically from apples history.

s3pt1k, I really have no idea what your trying to say. We all know there are people who have more computer than they need.. but what idiot buys just enough to get by (doesn't only apply to computers). If that were the case half the world could get away with an Apple IIe. Most people only need internet and word processing, and last I checked my Apple IIe has all those capabilities. Its the whole principle behind improving technology, in conclusion, we need a PB G5 for the simple reason that there is 1 person out there who needs it and the rest just want it (figure you buy a G5 now it will last a good many years.)... really make a point and make sure its well thought out.

I will not argue with you any further.

 

[wiggin1605]

hmm

Ok this is how I see it people apple will come out with the PB G5 in april like i say they will but it wont be ready to be purchased it will it be exacly like when the G5 tower came out how we had to wait for like a month or so before we could actually have it in our homes. They are going to make about 10 or twenty for show. Then they announce that they have it put it on thier site show the specs an all that. And after they do that they mass produce them along with every one putting in preoders for them. And say at late march or early may we have them in our homes and offices an seeing as it is a PB out side in the park compilling code or breaking into the microsoft web site roaming around using diffrent wi-fi hot spots.

 

[wiggin1605]

hmmmm....

Now I wonder what it will look like.........

 

[gitboxnat]

Here's a link to the update on PB G5:

<a href="http://news.zdnet.co.uk/hardware/chips/0,39020354,39147307,00.htm">Apple may ponder speedier Motorola chip</a>

From article:

However, analysts say that now that IBM has moved the G5 line to its 90-nanometre manufacturing process, a G5 PowerBook should not be far off.

"I doubt it would be later than July or August," said Peter Glaskowsky, editor in chief of Microprocessor Report. "If everything had been just on a slightly different schedule we might have seen them at Macworld."

 

[Murlyn]

I definitely agree that they will announce it several months before it comes to the public. Take preorders.. all that good stuff. I think we'll actually have them in our dirty little hands in May.. this is my prediction