PowerBook 2004/2005 Roadmap and iSight 2 Update?

By giga
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Grand Master

giga Veteran

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We have been getting many questions about when the next crop of PowerBooks will arrive, including the fabled PowerBook G5. The PowerPage has long maintained that we will see one more round of PowerBook G4 bumps before the announcement of the PBG5. The good news is that the PowerPage has secured a copy of Apple's PowerBook Roadmap for the next 12 months.

The road map looks like this: (subject to change)

The full release of Mac OS 10.4 ("Tiger") will take place in January. This was supposed to be September. Apple is trying to time the Tiger release with the PowerBook G5 introduction. It is unclear if one will happen without the other.

One thing's for sure though, there will be NO PowerBook G5 deliveries until February or mid-February 2005 at the earliest. If the PBG5 gets introduced in January it won't ship until at least 30-45 days later.

As for the upgrade to the current line of PowerBook G4s, there are already 1.8 and 2.0GHz models in the same shell walking around Apple's Cupertino campus. One model has 256MB of video RAM. Chip suppliers are getting pretty good yields on the faster G4 processor, so Apple may take it to market, but given the manufacturing costs, this could push the PowerBook G5 announcement to the end of the first quarter 2005 instead of January. It appears that bus speeds on the video side are increased as well.

There is a new fan system for the faster PowerBook G4s. The current model (Rev. B) Aluminum PowerBook G4s have been having problems with fan noise (because it wears out prematurely), so engineering has spec'd a different supplier who provides a higher MTBF, and the unit is physically larger and quieter.

It is unknown if this machine will be produced, but since inventory is low on the 15 and 17-inch PowerBooks most in Cupertino think the speed-bump will happen. Some claim the production line is already ramping up with the new 1.8 and 2.0GHz models (Rev C).

The PowerBook G5 will be cooled with a combination of active and passive cooling. Core temps are currently running pretty high, causing some lockups during testing, in the new, smaller, and lighter enclosure. The fans, are also new, high volume, slow turning units. The keyboards get hot, so they are trying a new type of insulating tape (used on the Space Shuttle electronic components) covering the underside of the keyboard, and protecting the fingers from the burn.

In other news, the new iSight 2 camera hardware is ready, however the software is not yet fully de-bugged. They may hold off on the new camera until Tiger, because there is an adequate supply to last well into the next quarter. As we previously reported, the iSight 2 will take full advantage of Apple's new H.264/AVC video codec, and other features to be found in Tiger.

Happy Friday from the PowerPage.

http://www.powerpage.org/cgi-bin/WebObject...ry?newsID=12444

No idea if it's true or not but if it is, it would be awesome. (Y)

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macman87

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Less than 3 months to macworld and no new Tiger seeds for developers. How can Apple get Tiger out the door that quick? I think iLife 05 will have at Macworld - not Tiger. Tiger will come later, possibly March.

I certainly hope g5 powerbooks are coming... i've been thinking of getting one so I am still waiting :)my guess would be WWDC 2005

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danbalsh

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I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for Tiger at MacWorld 2005!!! I think we'll see an updated Steve Demo of Tiger with some new features :)

Powerbooks will be out at WWDC 2005 i'd guess, unless IBM/Apple have REALLY been working majorly hard at all the G5 issues (remember the iMac G5 is gonna take a HUGE percentage of the G5 chips made)

As as for this quote

As we previously reported, the iSight 2 will take full advantage of Apple's new H.264/AVC video codec, and other features to be found in Tiger.

Apple have already said that the current iSight cameras will fully use H.264, don't you remember from WWDC, Steve was showing off the new quality.

Grand Master

Steve

Posted
Posted
I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for Tiger at MacWorld 2005!!! I think we'll see an updated Steve Demo of Tiger with some new features :)

Powerbooks will be out at WWDC 2005 i'd guess, unless IBM/Apple have REALLY been working majorly hard at all the G5 issues (remember the iMac G5 is gonna take a HUGE percentage of the G5 chips made)

As as for this quote

Apple have already said that the current iSight cameras will fully use H.264, don't you remember from WWDC, Steve was showing off the new quality.

Dude, leave me outta this. :laugh: :p

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