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Apple Ups PowerBook to 1.67GHz; Lowers Prices (UPDATE)
by , 8:35 AM EST, January 31st, 2005
Apple Computer announced Monday faster PowerBook laptops and reduced prices across the product line by up to US$200. All models now include a new trackpad with scrolling capability, and a sudden motion sensor to park the internal hard drive to prevent data damage.
The top-of-the-line 15-inch PowerBook and 17-inch models feature a PowerPC G4 processors running up to 1.67 gigahertz (GHz). This is a speed increase from 1.5GHz. The 12-inch combo drive and 12-inch SuperDrive models will now have a 1.5GHz G4 processor, up from 1.33GHz.
15- and 17-inch 1.67GHz models will now include the ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 graphics processors with either 64 megabytes (MB) or 128MB of dedicated graphics memory.
The 17-inch PowerBook now features a Dual Link DVI connector to support Apple's 30-inch Cinema HD Display. The Dual Link interface is a build-to-order option on the 1.67GHz 15-inch model for an additional $100. It also includes an additional 128MB of video memory.
The refreshed laptop line also includes 512MB of standard DDR SDRAM memory, 5400RPM hard drives, 8x read/write speed, slot-loading SuperDrives and Airport Extreme 802.11g-based wireless networking, standard.
All models now include Bluetooth Enhanced Data Rate (EDR), with up to three times the speed of previous Bluetooth versions. EDR offers a maximum data transfer rate of 3 megabits per second (Mbps), compared to the 1Mbps speed for standard rate Bluetooth. According to the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, a 1MB image that takes 12 seconds to download over Bluetooth 1.2 would take 4 seconds to download over Bluetooth EDR.
With Bluetooth EDR -- what some call Bluetooth 2.0 -- the increase in transfer rate also means that, for a given amount of data, EDR will be active up to three times less than standard v2.0. Less activity will mean reduced power consumption and longer PowerBook battery life.
Bluetooth 2.0 is compatible with Bluetooth 1.2 devices.
All PowerBook models now include a new trackpad with scrolling capability. PowerBook users can now drag two fingers instead of one over the trackpad to scroll vertically and horizontally or pan around any active window.
Another new addition: Sudden Motion Sensor technology. Similar to the technology used in automobiles to deploy airbags upon impact, the new patented feature uses a microchip on the system board to detect system acceleration, such as in a fall. The system responds by temporarily parking the drive's read/write head until the system is stabilized, lessening the risk of damage and improving the chances of retrieving valuable data.
Some insurance and analyst reports indicate that more than 10.5% of notebooks in corporate enterprises are damaged annually, and that accidental damage accounts for the majority of PC loss claims. Of the three notebook components most prone to damage -- hard drive, display, and keyboard -- hard drive damage results in the loss of data and ultimately productivity.
IBM introduced a similar technology in its line of ThinkPad notebook computers last year.
All of the five new PowerBook configurations are $100 cheaper than before, except for the 15-inch model with Superdrive, which was reduced in price by $200, from $2,499. It is thought the wider price reduction is a result of cheaper SuperDrives.
The 17-inch 1.67GHz model, equipped with 512MB of RAM, a 100GB, 5400 RPM hard drive, 8x SuperDrive and ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 graphics processor with 128MB RAM will retail for $2,699.
The 15-inch model will be available in 1.5GHz and 1.67GHz G4 processor speeds with 512MB RAM and 80GB, 5400 RPM hard disk drives and ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 graphics with 64MB of video memory. The 1.5GHz model will retail for $1,999 and the 1.67GHz model for $2,299.
The 12-inch model, with a G4 1.5GHz processor, is available in a low-end model with 60GB hard drive and Combo drive for $1,499 and a mid-range model with 80GB hard disk and SuperDrive for $1,699.
Every PowerBook now includes iLife '05, Apple's suite of digital lifestyle applications, including iTunes 4.7.1, iPhoto 5, iMovie HD, iDVD 5, and GarageBand 2.
Apple said that all PowerBooks will be available later this week.
A spokeswoman from Apple Computer's public relations department refused a request from The Mac Observer for an interview with PowerBook product managers for further details on the new laptop product line.
Observer Comments
Wow! The 17" model can support the 30" Apple monitor?
THAT's impressive, I wasn't expecting that.
Does anyone have a list of what the old Powerbooks were like and what they cost? I have to admit that I hadn't looked recently and don't really know how much of a difference all of this is.
Mon Jan 31, 2005 10:46 am Subject: New Products on monday
Mon Jan 31, 2005 11:57 am Subject: Same old resolutions.
Mon Jan 31, 2005 12:42 pm Subject: Complete list of PowerBook changes
I'll be posting the complete chart of new specs at http://www.systemshootouts.org/ very soon (along with all-new laptop shootouts, of course!), but in the meantime, here's the full list of changes I've found so far:
--Prices:
old: $1,599 / $1,799 / $1,999 / $2,499 / $2,799
new: $1,499 / $1,699 / $1,999 / $2,299 / $2,699
--Processor:
old: 1.33/1.33/1.33/1.5/1.5
new: 1.5/1.5/1.5/1.67/1.67
--RAM Amount (DIMMs):
old: 256 (1) / 256 (1) / 256 (1) / 512 (2) / 512 (1)
new: 512 (2) / 512 (2) / 512 (1) / 512 (1) / 512 (1)
--Video: no changes to cards, but 17" PBook now includes 128MB/Dual-link DVI instead of 64MB, and 15" can be upgraded to 128/Dual-link.
--Hard Drives: all go from 4200 RPM to 5400 RPM
old: 60/60/60/80/80
new: 60/80/80/80/100
--DVD Burner (Superdrive models):
old: 4x8x DVD-R; 16x8x24x CD-RW
new: 8x4x8x DVD±RW; 24x10x24x CD-RW
--Bluetooth moves from 1.2 to 2.0 on all models
--Scrolling TrackPad & Sudden Motion Sensor added to all models
--Backlit keyboard was on 17" & Superdrive 15"; has been added to Combo drive 15" as well
--Optical digital 5.1 audio in/out on the 17"
--iLife '05 instead of iLife '04 on all models
I think that's the full list of changes?
QuoteOk, have not thought of it that way. IBM is apologetic or is now concentrating fully on pushing PowerPC so is selling them to Apple at highly competitive price. Wait, that G4 is from Freescale. No matter what is the reason, clearly Apple is commencing an aggressive assault at the PC market.aaronsullivan wrote:
Decreased ability to sell computers with faster expensive G5's that are too hot "allows" them to sell at a lower price. :-/...
The theme is slick design at affordable price.
Lack of meaningful gfx updates, blah. Everything else makes for a very solid update. Especially like the adding in of new tech (nifty take on scrolling btw -- is it the first implementation of its kind?) to an "old" chassis. Not in the market for a PB, but you gotta like the ability (with upgrade) to have even the 15" PB drive a 30" Cinema Display. ![]()
I bought a 17" PB this summer with some upgrades, so I'm not sure that I feel like my computer is crap after this.
I ordered mine with 128 gfx, 80gig, and 1 stick of 512. The new processor speed is nice but not overwhelming, so I don't feel bad there, and I'd never own a 30" monitor, so that's okay, even though that's a great upgrade. The things I'm most jealous of are the 8x DVD+/-RW and the optical audio stuff. I think my drive can do -RW even though it wasn't stated as such with apple, but it's only 4x either way. And the optical audio stuff is really nice for upping the ante for garageband and other audio action. But overall I can still look at this baby I'm typing on now with the same admiration as the day she got dropped off at the house.
Mon Jan 31, 2005 3:19 pm Subject: Re: PB 17" features
QuoteAnonymous wrote:
--Optical digital 5.1 audio in/out on the 17"
Could someone please explain what this feature means for both audio and video.
What this provides is an industry-standard digital audio connection if you happen to have the right hardware to connect it to.
However, it means nothing for video -- the "optical" bit is in reference to fiber optics being used as the physical connector.
Tue Feb 01, 2005 2:25 pm Subject: Scrolling Trackpad
Let's face it, Apple's been naming the OS after cats since 10.2. 'Bout time the computers running the OS started acting like a cat.
One of these days they'll put bigger pads on the bottom so that when the laptop rights itself before landing it will have something cushy upon which to land. ![]()
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