Text Size
Apple updates iBook G4, PowerBook G4
updated 08:45 am EDT, Mon April 19, 2004
Apple updates iBook, PBG4
As anticipated last week, Apple today updated its line of systems. The iBook G4 line now supports a maximum of 1.25GB PC2100 DDR SDRAM, while all PowerBook G4 systems now ship with built-in AirPort Extreme. iBook graphics are powered by an ATI Radeon Mobility 9200 with 32MB of DDR SDRAM, while PowerBooks are driven by either an NVidia GeForce FX Go5200 with 64MB of DDR SDRAM (12.1" models) or an ATI Radeon Mobility 9700 with 64MB of DDR SDRAM, configurable up to 128MB (15" and 17" models). Both feature upgraded optical drives as well. System specifications follow:
- iBook 1GHz/12.1"/256MB RAM/30GB HD/Combo Drive - $1,100
- iBook 1GHz/14.1"/256MB RAM/40GB HD/Combo Drive - $1,300
- iBook 1.2GHz/14.1"/256MB RAM/60GB HD/Combo Drive - $1,500
- PowerBook G4 1.33GHz/12.1"/256MB RAM/60GB HD/Combo Drive - $1,600
- PowerBook G4 1.33GHz/12.1"/256MB RAM/60GB HD/4x SuperDrive - $1,800
- PowerBook G4 1.33GHz/15"/256MB RAM/60GB HD/Combo Drive - $2,000
- PowerBook G4 1.5GHz/15"/512MB RAM/80GB HD/4x SuperDrive - $2,500
- PowerBook G4 1.5GHz/17"/512MB RAM/80GB HD/4x SuperDrive - $2,900
Both iBooks and PowerBooks feature upgraded Combo Drives (capable of burning CD-R at 24x and CD-RW at 16x, and reading CD-ROM at 24x and DVD-ROM at 8x) and upgraded SuperDrives (capable of burning DVD-R at 4x, CD-R at 16x, and CD-RW at 8x; and reading DVD-ROM at 8x and CD-ROM at 24x).
The new iBooks and 12" and 15" PowerBooks models are available immediately. The 17" PowerBook G4 is slated to ship in early May.
Schweet
04/19, 08:56am reply
How psyched am I that I waited for the last 2 weeks to order my new PB :-D
Toyin
Mac Elite
Joined: Nov 2000
wow
04/19, 09:24am reply
I'm impressed...now we can we see speed-bumped G5 PMs? I would think a dual 1.5G G4 would be quite a bit cheaper than a dual G5, and would handle my needs.
fiesta cat
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2003
Okay
04/19, 09:28am reply
"The 17" PowerBook G4 is slated to ship in early May." When can we really expect the new PowerBooks to be released ? I can't wait to see if Apple can keep its promise this time or if there'll be the ususal delays. We kinda got used to it so...
HeatherEcsedi
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 2001
Re: Okay
04/19, 09:34am reply
The 17" PowerBook G4 is slated to ship in early May." When can we really expect the new PowerBooks to be released ? I can't wait to see if Apple can keep its promise this time or if there'll be the ususal delays. We kinda got used to it so...
Looking qat the specs, I'd say in early may. There's nothing I can see that would constrain the 17" any more then they are constrained now. They use the same processors in these as the 15" which are supposed to be available immediately. So the only thing different is the 17" display, which they were already selling powerbooks with.
(Technically I guess I should say they should be available at the same time the old version of a 17" laptop would be availale, which might have a two or three week backorder, for all I know). There's nothing here that should delay these laptops 6 months like the xserves.
LouZer
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 2000
RevB
04/19, 09:36am reply
Usually Apple does not have shipping issues with RevB machines, even at the onset. RevA machines, on the other hand are known for their problems with delays and such.
DaedalusDX
Mac Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2002
Re: wow
04/19, 09:38am reply
I'm impressed...now we can we see speed-bumped G5 PMs?
Umm, june at the earliest. In case you didn't hear, IBM is having huge problems making chips in their new fab process. They even admitted it.
I would think a dual 1.5G G4 would be quite a bit cheaper than a dual G5, and would handle my needs.
OK, not sure where the thought of a dual 1.5 G4 came from (these aren't duals here). But you can get a dual-1.25 G4 for 1599 at the apple store. Buy that.
LouZer
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 2000
Not to rain on the parade
04/19, 10:00am reply
but aren't those drives kind of slow? Is there some physical limitation for laptop drives that limits them to running so slow? I mean, 24x isn't *bad* for speed, but desktop drives are a good deal faster. Also, 24x burns for the combo drives, but only 16x for the super drives? I'm going to assume this is a further limitation due to the fact that the supers can also make dvds, and as such have further hardware restrictions.
Zaren
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
Re: Not to rain on the pa
04/19, 10:11am reply
There's a significant difference between a slot loading combo drive that you can fit into a laptop and a desktop drive. Aside from the mechanism, there are also power issues to think about.
And regarding the superdrives, assuming these are still made by Pioneer, it's been fairly common that their DVD burners generally feature slower CD burning performance.
Elektrix
Dedicated MacNNer
Joined: Sep 2001
iBook screen size
04/19, 10:22am reply
Decent round of revisions. Personal peeve though: The high-end iBook is only available with a 14" monitor, but the 14" monitor has the same resolution as the 12" ... just bigger pixels, so no real advantage unless you have weak eyesight.
When I bought my last laptop, it was a choice between the 12" iBook and the 15" Titanium. I liked the compact form factor of the iBook, but the high screen resolution of the PowerBook, and I ended up getting a good deal on the Titanium.
If I had to do it over, I'd probably consider an iBook next time, for the amount of real work I do on my laptop; except that I'd rather spend the money on the faster processor but with the smaller 12" form factor, since screen res is the same anyway. I don't think the faster processor requires a larger casing.
Just my own pet peeve though. :)
cooner
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 2003
$$$
04/19, 10:32am reply
nice price drop though!
dlindsay17
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 1999