New PowerBook and iBook
Yesterday Apple unveiled faster computers: the Power Mac G4 finally
hit 500 MHz, the PowerBook G3 also reached 500 MHz, and the iBook saw a
22% speed boost to 366 MHz in the graphite special edition.
There's really nothing to say about the Power Mac G4/500 except
that it's about time Apple reached the 500 MHz mark. Shoot, Intel now
says it'll hit 1 GHz (1,000 MHz) during the third quarter, and the AMD
Athlon has already hit 850 MHz.
iBook Updated
I'd call it a real smart move on Apple's part, bumping the blueberry
and tangerine iBook
to 64 MB of memory and a 6 GB hard drive. With Mac OS 9 requiring 40
MB, it was a bit ridiculous to sell a 32 MB computer. Best of all,
Apple did this without raising the price.
But the best touch was the
graphite iBook Special
Edition (or SE). It's much more professional looking and over 20%
faster then the regular iBook. Where most people in business would
hesitate to carry a candy colored iBook, the SE will lose that stigma.
Demand for a graphite iBook alone could probably command the US$200
premium, but Apple also bumped the processor to 366 MHz.
In terms of value, the iBook is probably the most laptop for the
dollar, with the SE a close second. Buyers will no longer be forced to
immediately buy a memory upgrade.
This is a pair of real class moves on Apple's part
The PowerBook
I almost missed it, but Apple's gone one step
further in simplifying the product line. The new powerhouse portable
isn't yet another PowerBook G3 - it's simply called the PowerBook.
The new PowerBook is no smaller than the Lombard model it replaces,
although it is a couple ounces lighter. It uses the same 14.1" 1024 x
768 TFT screen, the same keyboard and trackpad, and the same drive bay
accessories.
But beneath the surface, it's a whole new PowerBook. The 400 and 500
MHz processors run on a more efficient 100 MHz motherboard using
Apple's unified architecture components. There's room for an AirPort
card, so now the entire Macintosh line is AirPort-ready. And the SCSI
port on the back of all previous PowerBooks gives way to a pair of
FireWire ports.
Video is handled by the ATI Rage Mobility 128 for even better
performance than the Lombard had. There's also support for a 21"
monitor, although I can't find any specs on resolution.
Both models have a 1 MB backside cache, in contrast to the slower
Lombard using a 512 MB cache. The new PowerBook uses the same kind of
"yo-yo" AC adapter as the iBook. DVD is standard on both models.
The PowerBook/400 ships with 64 MB of memory and a 6 GB hard drive
at US$2,500. For many business users, this is all the laptop they could
need or want.
The PowerBook/500 has 128 MB of memory and a 12 GB hard drive for
$1,000 more. I can't imagine needing that much power in the field, but
this also makes it a more attractive desktop replacement, as does the
build-to-order option of an 18 GB hard drive. Hook this up to a big
monitor, a mouse, and a keyboard, and you've got a killer combination
of portable and desktop power in a six pound package.
Apple typifies the new PowerBook as Pentium-crushing - and they're
right. The fastest Windows laptops use a special Pentium III processor
that runs at 650 MHz while using the power adapter, but slows down to
500 MHz in the field (to extend battery life). With full-time 500 MHz
G3 performance and a 1 MB cache, the PowerBook will easily outperform
the fastest Wintel laptops.
Conclusion
My wife will be buying a laptop for her business. I'd pretty much
settled on suggesting the iBook because of price, but will definitely
let her know about the iBook SE.
At work, we've been very pleased with the Lombard, so I see no
reason we won't absolutely love the extra performance at the same
price. It's the perfect portable for most users.
As for my personal use, the PowerBook offers everything I want in a
laptop and then some - with one big exception. When Apple couples this
with a higher pixel count screen (1152 x 870 or higher), I'll buy one
and pretty much retire my desktop computer.
Although Apple hasn't quite met my needs yet, they have done a
marvelous job with the new iBook and PowerBook configurations.
