12" Powerbook

joemomma · 09-09-2003 2:19pm #1

I'm thinking of buying a 12" Powerbook, but I have heard rumours that new Powerbooks are on their way very soon.

I know there's always a better computer just around the corner, but does anybody have any information on this that might influence my decision?

Hugh_C · 11-09-2003 8:29am

If you're waiting for a G5 powerbook, then it'll probably be next year sometime.

The 12' is a nice machine but the screen real estate is a bit limited. The 15' is very nice (I have one) and the 17' looks too big to my mind. Since there's an Apple expo in Paris next week, you should probably hang round till after that to see if there are any announcements. Probably MHz boosts for the 12, 15 & 17' G4 models.

hc

Yoda · 11-09-2003 1:39pm

I bought my PowerBook G4 12" a few months ago and am delighted with it. I also got a Cinema Display, which means you have to shell out some for a converter box, but it is heaven, really!

Hugh_C · 11-09-2003 1:43pm

Originally posted by Yoda
I bought my PowerBook G4 12" a few months ago and am delighted with it. I also got a Cinema Display, which means you have to shell out some for a converter box, but it is heaven, really!

The Cinema display would do the trick. There goes your screen real estate concern...

hc

PS are you completely laoded?

Yoda · 11-09-2003 1:53pm

Not any more.

Real estate: here.

flywheel · 12-09-2003 10:47pm

Originally posted by joemomma
I'm thinking of buying a 12" Powerbook, but I have heard rumours that new Powerbooks are on their way very soon.

I know there's always a better computer just around the corner, but does anybody have any information on this that might influence my decision?

i'd wait to see what's announced at the Apple Expo keynote next week

hth,
BrianG

Hugh_C · 14-09-2003 9:40pm

Originally posted by Yoda
Not any more.

Real estate: here.

What's the powerbook mounted on? Is it one of those Italian jobs?

URL?

Ta,

HC

Yoda · 14-09-2003 10:02pm

Mounted on the awesomely cool iCurve. http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/icurve/

Hugh_C · 15-09-2003 8:16am

where did you get the iCurve? There doesn't appear to be a Griffin dealer here.

hc

Yoda · 15-09-2003 8:24am

In June I was in the States; I had Griffen ship two of them to a friend in New York and I just brought them back as luggage. I'm sure Griffin ships to Ireland though.

They are very nice. In addition to freeing up desk space there's some advantage heat-wise to the computer being off the desk.

DannyD · 16-09-2003 12:11am

I bought one 2 months ago and it rocks.The only thing I miss are pcmcia slots

Check what Steve has tomorrow.photos of the expo are up here already http://99mac.com/nyhetsbilder/appleexpo2003/

Yoda · 16-09-2003 8:34am

Surely one can get a USB PCMCIA adaptor?

DannyD · 16-09-2003 8:45am

I've asked on lots of forums and no such thing exists.Usb is too slow for pcmcia.No firewire ones exist also

Yoda · 16-09-2003 8:52am

http://www.psism.com/usbports.htm found by googling "pcmcia usb powerbook"

Yoda · 16-09-2003 8:54am

Oh wait. D'oh! That goes from card to USB, not from USB to card.

flywheel · 16-09-2003 10:48am

Originally posted by joemomma
I'm thinking of buying a 12" Powerbook, but I have heard rumours that new Powerbooks are on their way very soon.

I know there's always a better computer just around the corner, but does anybody have any information on this that might influence my decision?

here you go - new 15" announced today:
http://www.apple.com/powerbook/index15.html

also hardware updates for the 12" and 17":
http://www.apple.com/powerbook/

BrianG

joemomma · 16-09-2003 11:00am

I must say I preferred the styling of the Titanium 15" powerbook. I'll probably still go for the 12", but the question is: how soon will the revised versions be available in Ireland?

Yoda · 16-09-2003 11:06am

One would assume that would not be before Panther is released. I know that in Norway no one can get a PowerBook at all right now, presumably for the same reason.

Nice to see that Apple now has a connector from the 12" to the Cinema display, though my Geffen box does the job well.

flywheel · 16-09-2003 11:18am

new 15" and 17" are shown as available today in the US, the 12" looks like it will lag behind

Jobs is quoted as saying that Panther is due 'by end of the year' timeframe so I don't think they would wait that long to start shipping the new models...

when in ireland... i think that's a question for a betting man

kevmac · 16-09-2003 10:44pm

Lowdown here:

http://www.apple.com/ie/powerbook/

I think I'm ready to upgrade!

flywheel · 16-09-2003 10:59pm

do they have any confirmed availability dates for ireland - could find it

(even tried going through the irish shopping cart but it just gave a build eta)?

i remember one guy at a ClubMac meeting had ordered a 12" when it came out earlier in the year but ended up waiting weeks, even though they were "available" - wonder will it be the same situation for the new stock at first...

kevmac · 17-09-2003 9:01am

New 15 and 17 available now - 12 in four weeks time ie middle October.

flywheel · 17-09-2003 6:11pm

cool

Apple (Online Irish Store) quoted about two weeks for a new 15" if ordered today - not bad with the announcement only this week so looks like October for them to be arriving on our shores (if they can meet the demand!)

BrianG

ScabbyLeg · 19-09-2003 8:44pm

As a matter of interest, does Apple actually assemble Powerbooks in Cork? Or what do they do there in Apple Cork anyway?

God I'd love one of those 12"s, pity they're quite expensive.

Hugh_C · 19-09-2003 10:25pm

eBay if brimming with older style powerbooks, obviously people are trying to get rif of them in anticipation of the new models.

You can pick up a newish 1GHz G4 15" for around 2000 euros...

flywheel · 19-09-2003 11:24pm

Originally posted by ScabbyLeg
As a matter of interest, does Apple actually assemble Powerbooks in Cork? Or what do they do there in Apple Cork anyway?

they did when i visited many moons ago (college visit for the apple programming elective) - they also did s/w dev there - not sure if they are still at it these days...

joemomma · 20-09-2003 11:09am

The Compustore Apple Centre on Kildare Street told me they expect to have the new 12" in stock on Thursday, i.e. September 25th. Not sure whether to believe them.

flywheel · 20-09-2003 3:49pm

a mate ordered a new 15" superdrive and was told the same - he said he's not holding his breath

but keeping his fingers crossed

Hugh_C · 21-09-2003 8:47pm

Originally posted by joemomma
The Compustore Apple Centre on Kildare Street told me they expect to have the new 12" in stock on Thursday, i.e. September 25th. Not sure whether to believe them.

gotta say that I don't think that the guys who work in that shop are particularly good. To put it another way, I think they've just been sent in from next door & told to run the apple branch without much in the way of training, or, let's face it, knowledge of the Mac Way - whatever that is. I bought a 15" last year and asked them to phone me when they had some stock in. Nobody bothered their arse phoning me, and I ended up buying ut from Typetec, who were much keener for the business.

hc

Synkronite · 22-09-2003 2:37am

Originally posted by ScabbyLeg
As a matter of interest, does Apple actually assemble Powerbooks in Cork? Or what do they do there in Apple Cork anyway?

God I'd love one of those 12"s, pity they're quite expensive.

They used to be assembled in Cork.. But Apple more or less completly shut down its assembly line there.. The powerbooks (and indeed all computer products) are assembled in Taiwan now, I believe..

However, Apple has hired a substantial number of people as assembly operators (around 60+) My friend has started working for them, so Ill ask him what it is they assemble in the Cork plant now..

12in Powerbook is the way to go

Shame they put in DVI now.. and not at the start

Synkronite · 25-09-2003 1:25pm

Just to confirm, the Apple Factory in Cork is only assembling the G5 desktops. Portables are still assembled in the main plant in Taiwan. Seems like the guys here were hired to cope with extra demand.. Layoffs have already been announced there (contracts started in August)

12" Powerbook

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