Something BIG coming.......?

[MacSA]

http://www.hardmac.com/news/2005-09-30/#4552

Scroll down to: "Apple is preparing something...but what?"

It certainly seems hard to find a Mac at anything other than the Apple store. I think Apple will be updating almost the whole Mac line up in the next 6 weeks.

I've mentioned John Lewis on here a few times... they informed me the current mac mini had been discontinued a couple of days before the rumours of a new one circulated. I also got an email from them a couple of days back saying the iBook was no longer available - its no longer on the website.... just lilke the Mini. The Powerbooks have also disappeared from the website, also they havent had any stock of the eMac in at least 5 weeks. Very odd indeed. Also, the way Apple is updating the current mini is a departure from the normal update cycle .... I have a feeling things could get very interesting in the next few weeks.

 

[mpw]

Something BIG coming.........?

Sorry ****zips up*****, is that better?

 

[MacSA]

Sorry ****zips up*****, is that better?

 

[MacSA]

......eMac update around 26th October.

 

[Chundles]

I think it would be a bit noisier around the traps if there were, all I see is the usual disgruntled chatter.

 

[shadowmoses]

COuld well be about to happen, it would be great to see some major updates, they would definatly boost apple sales big time....

Only time will tell,

ShadoW

 

[0098386]

im heading into Manchester later today. i'll ask at Selfridges if they have any 'discontinued'.

Remember, Apple do/did want the intel chips early.

im such a lemon but im putting 1 + 1 together here and most likely getting 7 or 6. isnt the number 7 supposed to be lucky?

 

[shadowmoses]

I went to John Lewis Oxford street yesterdya and the only apple product they had in stock was the 12" powerbook, and they had a backlog of 600 orders on iBook's....

Seems promising,

ShadOW

 

[Chundles]

My local AppleCentre seems to be a bit light-on for stock. It's not that unusual but this time it seems a bit quiet in there, one of each of the PowerBooks although the only current one is the 17" (that's a beautiful machine, gets me everytime) the 15" and 12" are both old 1.33GHz models. One iBook (old 1.2GHz 12") and one iMac 17" (not sure if it's current or not). These are all just demo floor stock - they get all their gear from Apple HQ.

I dunno, I don't think there's anything amazing coming, I think they've settled their product lines for the Christmas buying season and we may have to wait till MWSF '06 for any new product launches or updates. I don't see Intel Macs till WWDC or maybe a little earlier at a special event but january is waaay to early for macintels.

 

[nomad01]

I dunno, I don't think there's anything amazing coming

I'd be surprised if there was anything really big coming. I think they'll be saving the sexy products for the Intel switch. Just IMO of course.

I'd be less surprised if there was an across the board speed/feature bump coming. Seems possible and maybe they'll make the new Mac mini specs official at that time too.

 

[Chundles]

New mini specs is almost a given now that they have spread all over as people receive their new machines. I don't think the PowerBooks or PowerMacs will be updated - they have been done this year already.

As for new iPods, maybe. The 4G came out last year with little to no fanfare but I don't think Apple want to take any gloss off the nano with new iPods. They want to be, and from what I've seen are, selling as many of the cool little buggers as they can.

Not much coming, not much.

 

[0098386]

I think there could be a big PowerBook update. simply because the cheapest mac desktop of them all has near identical specs to the most expensive portable mac. theres a major flaw right there which leads me to suspect the switch to mactel will be soon. or maybe a major G4 speed bump to 2Ghz and new video cards and the rest...

*just my wild guess, but you never know!

 

[tekmoe]

http://www.macosxrumors.com/articles/2005/09/29/several-hardware-updates-coming/

 

[Lau]

They're gonna be black and glossy. Betcha....

 

[stoid]

I'd be thrilled if the display prices drop, I'd really like to get the 23" display, but I can't justify $1299 (edu price). That link suggests a price around $899 for the 23". If that's true, I'd snap one up in a heartbeat if I've got enough saved up by then.

 

[Chundles]

Stuff the black, I want them to go back to transparent and white like the iceBooks and the current iMac and iPod nano. The opaque white looks a bit cheap.

 

[Chundles]

Unless it's matte black aluminium - that would be sooo sweet.

 

[nomad01]

They're gonna be black and glossy. Betcha....

Well if that article is correct and they're just lowering the price of the displays, it probably means that the PMs will still be aluminium.

I personally hope so because I love the aluminium look.

I'm sure I'll like whatever new design appears though.

I wouldn't be surprised if a new iBook had a black option though.

Curious to see how much of an overhaul this is going to be.

 

[Chundles]

Hmm, black iBook option eh? Can any one say iBook G4 SE?

That would be cool. Give it a brighter screen and it would be the bomb.

 

[martin1000]

I just can't see them updating the ibook. They just updated it 2 months ago.

The Powerbook really needs an update, but how much more power can they give it with the Powerpc chips?

My guess would be a minor update for the Pbook, and the entire line getting a major update when the Intel Mac's come out.

Edit: Looking at the US store, everything is shipping within 24 hours, except the ibooks which is 1-3 days. And I've heard (on Macrumors or one of the other sites, sorry I can't remember which one) that demand for the ibook has been large.

My 2 cents.

 

[devilot]

I just can't see them updating the ibook. They just updated it 2 months ago.

I agree and I sure hope so, too! I got one of those recently updated 'books!

 

[revisionA]

If they put a trap door Ipod Nano dock, that would be awesome.

Just a little square that you slide the nano into for sync and charging.

Many top laptop manuf. are offering color options on their notes, Sony, Toshiba, Ibm even has a titanium cover option.

 

[widgetguy]

oh i wonder what jobs could be up to.

 

[MacSA]

I just can't see them updating the ibook. They just updated it 2 months ago.

That's what people said when they first heard about the new Mac minis.

 

[Fender]

What's a realistic update going to look like though? I don't expect much at all. In terms of the the Powerbook, I think it will be similar to the last revision, just small bumps here and there.

FSB will still be sad @ 167
Maybe 1.7-1.8 GHz on the CPU (Don't think it will get to 2.0)
512 MB RAM on all units, No DDR2
Maybe 128 MB video card standard on high-end 15.2"
Maybe 100 GB standard on high-end 15.2"
Better SuperDrive, still Combo drives in lower 12" & 15"
I'm pretty damn sure there will be no rumoured resolution increase. Apple isn't going to fly in the face of their philosophy on Resolution:Screen Size

I think that's the most realistic. The only improvement I think people can really hope for is a little price decrease; but even that I'd be surprised by.