Citigroup: Intel-PowerBooks coming in January

that I got my 17" PPC when I did. Long live the PPC!

By "laptops", they should be thinking iBooks which are due for a serious upgrade. That design, while good, has been around since May 2001.

It also makes a LOT more sense to deliver the first Intel Macs in the consumer end as those customers will be using mostly Apple applications (iTunes, iMovies, Safari, etc) which will be Intel native upon release of the new hardware. Releasing tools for the professional customers would be a mistake since they will be using mostly 3rd party apps which will most likely not be fully ready to run natively (at full speed) on the new hardware.

It's going to be iBooks and a new Mac mini at Macworld SF.

I just got a new Hi-Res 15" PowerBook and LOVE it! The best PowerBook yet and I've owned 5 of various vintages.

I can't imagine buying a bug-ridden Rev. A Intel MacANYthing.

• Yes, I WANT to run the majority of my software in emulation! • Yes, I DREAM of hardware incompatibilities! • Yes, I fantasize that I'll have no compatible drivers for all my peripherals!

I know that I'll make a killing on eBay selling all my gear rather than wait 2 or 3 years for compatible drivers to appear... if the EVER appear.

Remember the transition to Mac OS X!

I can't imagine that the Pro line will make the move to Intel before the consumer lines. We Pro users need software to run full speed and drivers for all our peripherals! Not to mention no hardware/software incom

Well, the iBook DOES need a refresh. Though it's become nearly as iconic as the iPod.

Many of these highly paid analysts get their info from the same places we do. They all have thinksecret and appleinsider on their favorites tab. :-) As soon as enough places start repeating the same story, they then parrot it, which makes it "legitimate".

Anybody remember Macworld SF two years ago when everybody was way off the mark? I'm not saying that there won't be new notebooks introduced at MWSF - I'm just not convinced that these experts no any more than we do.

I meant to say know - not no.

...he has a broadband connection and access to AppleInsider.

...the arguments justifying consumer level release of Intel macs before pro level. There are LOTS of pro users who don't rely on FC, PS, etc -- indeed who don't even do graphics work. An early transition to Intel in the Pro line only makes sense. High dollar items, high margin items, stimulate developers to get their apps up to snuff. The consumer/pro levels are already so similar - consumer-level release of Intel Macs is just going to confuse things even more so. If Pro users cannot sit down and evaluate whether a new Intel-based machine will meet their IT needs, they might just want wnat to rethink their "pro" status. And just because there is new hardware available doesn't mean one has to buy it!

i bet emulated apps running on 65nm 2.16 Ghz yonah chip with a bus speed faster than the 133Mhz that the powerbooks are stuck on will get performance close to native PPC.

that's one of main benefits, and reasons, for this switch. unlike the desktop machines the powerbook architecture is so outdated that the "emulation tax" will range from insignificant to non-existant.

I can dual boot Mac OS X and Windows.

Boo if you want. But some of us have to live in both worlds. I love Mac OS X, but there are somethings that can only be done in Windows (like updating maps for a Garmin GPS).

Sorry, but I don't buy the "powerbooks first" argument. By definition, a pro user is one who works with his machine, pushing it, needing the features and software. They are more than likely to be the ones using the Pro apps, not just Apple's but third-party ones. And these will most likely NOT be ready when the first machines hit the market (some may never hit the market, as they just give up and get out of the mac business).

But, then, you have the argument that "just because there is new hardware doesn't mean one has to buy it". That's true. Unless you've just hired 5 new people and need powerbooks. OK, who here would actually go "Hey, they've got new intel powerbooks out, but I'm going to buy the old, crusty model that were outdated even before the Intel's shipped. I don't care if I feel like I'm wasting my money!" And of course, with the new powerbooks being cheaper (well, for some reason, people keep saying the intel's will be cheaper computers than apple sells now, like Apple would actually lower prices on something), you now put your customers in a fix.

Meanwhile, if you start with the 'consumer' machines, the apps being used are usually Apple apps or standard PPC fare that could run in Rosetta. This would then give the pro-app developers time to finalize their software, Apple time to flesh out all the problems that are bound to appear (when was the last time Apple released a new OS or system that didn't have more than its fair share of problems?) on the poor neophyte consumer, rather then the high-powered business user, who is less likely to accept loss of files because of some programming bug.

Oh, and don't be surprised to see them in January. Apple's also well known for releasing computers and OS's before they're tested or ready. Just don't buy one if you want to do real work on.