By David Becker, 2 February 2005 09:25
NEWS
For Apple, releasing a G5 PowerBook continues to be a hefty issue.
Apple customers have been waiting for the company to deliver a PowerBook driven by the G5 chip for some time. The more powerful chip first arrived in the Power Mac line in 2003, and Apple began offering it in the iMac last year.
The computer maker is well aware that Mac fans want a G5 PowerBook, and technically, the company could offer one now. But given the relatively power-hungry nature of the IBM PowerPC 970FX processor - Apple has dubbed the 970FX and its predecessor, the 970, "G5" chips - a G5 PowerBook would require compromises in size, weight and other aesthetics such as noise production. Apple, and likely most of its customers, wouldn't be willing to live with that.
Kevin Krewell, editor in chief of Microprocessor Report, said: "It'd be this really thick, heavy notebook, and it would be loud as all get-out. Those would not be design choices that Apple would want to pursue."
Apple acknowledges the design challenge.
David Moody, VP of worldwide Mac product marketing at Apple, told silicon.com's sister site CNET News.com on Monday: "It is fair to say that incorporating a G5 into a notebook as thin and light as the PowerBook is extremely difficult."
Instead of releasing the much-hoped-for G5 PowerBook, Apple on Monday introduced a new lineup of PowerBooks with slightly faster G4 processors. It also added more memory, as well as features such as a scrolling TrackPad and a motion sensor that protects the PowerBooks' hard drives if the machines are dropped. Moody wouldn't say whether the updated PowerBooks represent the last revision to the line before a switch to the G5, nor did he offer further details on when the company might offer a G5 laptop.
David Becker writes for CNET News.com.
Comments
There are 31 comments. Join the discussion
1. Mark Leslie
Why not go Dual G4 instead?
The OS supports it, they already have the technology to do it. They could make the secondary processor switchable so when running on battery you could switch off the second processor when in battery save mode/etc.
2. anonymous
A G5 laptop sounds great. But it would be nice if apple fixed the problems with their G4 powerbook logic boards first. There's been so many issues with them that I'm surprised there hasn't been a class-action suit yet.
3. Guy Graham
I think heat would still be an issue. I have a 1.3GHz 17" PB, and that thing can get very hot with just one processor, so hot it can almost burn my legs when it's on my lap.
4. DonHall/Bear Creek Research
Mark Leslie dual G4 is right on target ... the cost and design factors are manageable ... this is a logical alternative to the trying to hammer in a G5 technology ... what's apple waiting for?
5. anonymous
What G4 Powerbook logic board problems? I haven't heard of any major ones.
6. Aaron
A Dual G4 would be a better choice for the moment, or Apple could add to it's line up a G5 version for the people in need, but with out a 64 bit OS a G5 is redundit. I'm sure we will see a G5 powerbook but not for a while. Apple should Focus on refining it's current line up of Powerbooks.... faster hard drives, Dual G4's..etc.
I would like to see a Extreme duty version of the Powerbook impact resistant, water resistant..etc.
7. Ben
Not dual processor, kiddos...dual core, single processor. They are already almost done with their dual core G4 processor development. I'd say you can expect an announcement in June and limited availability starting in late Sept or October.
8. Britt Jones
Dual G4's are not the answer and Apple knows that because if put 2 G4's in a powerbook you are still gonna have a heat issue. Also, its going to weight more to accommodate the extra processor, its cooling fans, and eat up a TON of battery in the process. All the while the issue is not speed, it is 64bit processing, that is what makes the G5 great. That’s why I want it, I want to be able to transition to the 64bit architecture, so my computer will not be obsolete in 4 years.
9. anonymous
Want a 64 bit laptop ? You are gonna have to 'switch' or wait a long time (and pay an insane amount of money, apple powa).
10. anonymous
I have to agree on the noise issue. I have a Pentium 4 notebook that is incredibly loud due to two cooling fans.
11. anonymous
I wonder if the AMD64 would even be a choice at this point...
12. anonymous
I hate laptops. Fix the keyboard to feel like a Apple Pro keyboard first. Put the trackpad off away from the keyboard. Raise the keys. Then maybe I would care to see a G5 in a Powerbook.
13. Chris DiNicolas
Solution: Get a PC laptop! I don't mean to start a MAC/PC fight, but if u want a G5 laptop, your obviously interested in performance, and Mac is simply not the way to go when performance is an issue. Unless of course all of your processor intensive work is using the gaussian blur in Photoshop.
-C
14. Marshall Korschun
I must be a Neanderthal man, because I still use a 2000 vintage G3 Powerbook ("Pismo") and it works great for my computer usage and, I suspect, the usage of 90% of folks. Actually, what I want is an updated Pismo as it was the best designed Powerbook yet. With the power outage Atlanta had last week, the ability to have a 2nd battery in the usual CD space was a Godsend.
15. Ben Stendahl
I guess we'll wait. I will not buy a PowerBook that is thicker than its previous version by nearly any margin. One of the best aspects of the Apple product is the fact that they don't make compromises just to get something out. We have a zillion PC makers out there willing to do that. Also, 64bit architecture is the way of the future. Duals in a laptop are too power hungry, not to mention all of the other negatives of heat, weight, blah, blah... I love Macs so I hope they don't make a mistake for a hungry market. Truth is, we're not going anywhere.
16. anonymous
uhhh heres an idea...get real computer
my dell is the same weight as the newest greatest powerbook, the processor is faster, its got twice as much RAM,and even the touch pad has the same scrolling features. And it cost less. The thing is, my dell notbook is 3 years old. You people are crazy to think that macs rock with their 1.6Ghz processor haha
17. Nixxo
Well, I think that sure the G5 is great and all. But I know that I wouldent want a "Server with a screen".
I like the Idea of a G5, but apple should focous on the more Possable powerbook, A dual Core G4. The OS supports it and it wouldent compermise anything astheticly.
18. Chris Bragg
Hope apple is reading this, I think Mark Leslie has had a stroke of genius, dual processor laption, must have....
19. Scott Myers
About the dual G4 processor laptop idea:
I fully agree. That would be an excellent choice. Though cooling and space for the 2nd cpu would be tough to fit into current sized models. The unit would still be a bit larger, but hell i'd buy it lol.
Excellent idea. First of it's kind (i think) a dual cpu laptop. Oh man, i gotta go, i'm getting excited just thinking about it haha
20. Ron Napier
I only read one post that mentioned it; but I think the next logical step will be a dual-core G4. It's already in the works; heat/form factor issues are negligible compared to either a dual-processor or G5. I personally doubt they will be released prior to 3QTR 2005; mostly because of the new upgraded PB's released this month. But hey, I'm not on the payroll.
21. Barthold Van Acker
G4 Powerbook logic board problems? I have a G4 for about two years now and no problem with it, let be a logic board problem. You're living in a fantasy world, friend, or you want to launch bad rumours over Apple.
G4 logic board problems as much that it would necessitate a class action suit? Let me laugh loudly. It's a nice, slick, stable portable computer with a nice, slick, stable operating system. You can bet on that.
22. Mat
Why go Mac?
Performance is not simply about GHz my PC friend. The bottlenecks in the PC architecture seriously affect a computers performance. The thing about powerbooks is that although you may think that your laptop was the same price, when you include all the features, they are a much higher spec than any mid/top range Dell you can buy today. Saying that your laptop has twice as much RAM is meaningless because all modern computers are upgradable. But ask yourself this first before saying Mac users should switch, does you laptop have: the most stable operating system in the world, which doesnt need to be critically updated every month because the chimps that coded it made a mistake, do you have an aluminium surround, 100Gb HD, bluetooth, wifi, backlit keyboard, lots of great free software, firewire 400/800 plus a host of other inputs/outputs. i doubt it.
The difference between my mac and your PC is that mine has laser etched keys and its name laser etched on to it, and yours has its name on a sticker on the front. Thats all i have to say about that.
23. mark
I get in on this and say that the 17" powerbook that I have is fantastic, i don't have to shut it down very often, it boots faster, runs faster, easier to use and I have a host of apps on it that have no issues. no viruses, and no spy ware. most of the apps integrate pretty seemlessy and i don't have to worry about lousy support.....as much as I love Dell my PB is better in many ways. I can say that I also have 4 brand new D800's and one D810 they are very fast but really not as simple as the PB. i love both but the PB is just better easier and faster. what it comes down to is architecture that takes advantage of as many elements as possible and the PB has done that. way faster bus speeds etc. unix is more secure and DOS is not along with Windoze......XP has some great functionality that rivals Apple but again Apple has been there and done that anywhere from 5-10 years ago. in 10 years the architecture will have made some major changes and we can debate those to. But if Apple is listening keep it up and go for the gusto especially in the business world I would love to see Apples in the business world....just think less support issues and so on.
Mark
24. Ahron Darnell
Plain and simple. apple has what they need to make a g5 powerbook, since they have g5 servers, and powerbooks arent much diffrent than the xservers. but if they had a dual proc in a laptop, it would be very hot and not do well with a battery. and the way dual proc systems are usually setup the proc can be disabled in the kernel but this will not turn it off and will not save any power. the g5 will run the 32 bit OS so they should just switch to the g5 and let the OS catch up like they are doing with the new imacs
25. Wayne Zhang
There are soo many accessories out in the market that addresses these PB inadequacies. It wouldn't be surprising more are on its way. For example, the same heat issue was bothering my lap and I found this thing called Thermapak (www.thermapak.com). Works like a charm. In some cases, Apple's inadequacies stimulate innovation?
26. Drew Jensen
ok, power is not an issue for the dual cores, according to Freescale, the power consumption is only 25w. hmm... sounds like alot less than the dell crap running around 60-90 from what i hear.
27. Gavin Done
G4 PB do have Logic Board Issues... and I have suffered them (PMU based). I thought it was a one off and was looking for reasons such as power surge etc on the basis of the reasons given by the Gold Service Tech... after doing a little digging around it turns out within our local area alone ten other G4 PB have had the same problem.
It is interesting that Apple won't discuss it (I tried and failed to get any answer) and yet they also won't write a fault report that indicates outside factors... SMOKE = FIRE
28. anonymous
I just got my 12in PowerBook G4 back yesterday from the repair shop. My logic board was replaced and thankfully my precious laptop is still under warranty. It's only about 9 months old. I googled logic board powerbook and found a discussion group that had logic board problems as well.
29. Barthold Van Acker
Still using the same G4 portable without any logic board problems at all.
30. anonymous
hi,
i've have a 12"powerbook g4 which kept switching itself off. is this the problem people had with their logic board.
begian guy - it is a logic board problem, apple diagnosed it to be when i rang.
they wanted £800 to repair it beacuse it's out of warranty. i only paid£900 for it to start with.
where can i find these forums about this issue?
31. anonymous
there IS a problem with the 15" Powerbook logic boards, they won't admit it, nor will they extend the warrantee. In my case, they can't even find me a replacement logic board.. Hopefuly that means they are rengineering the issue with the lower memory slot and several other issues. maybe it means they'd rather sell me things and not service them when they fail, I don't know. The word is that there is a class action law suit in the works.