Got a tip for us? Share it...

15.4-inch Powerbooks Ramping Up?

Digitimes reports that Compal Electronics will be producing the first 15.4" wide-screen notebooks from Apple Computer.



    According to sources, Compal will start shipping 15.4-inch wide-screen PowerBooks for Apple in the second half of this year, with initial monthly shipments estimated at 30,000-40,000 units.



No details regarding the processor utilized are provided in this report. Rumors of 15" PowerBook updates have been filtering in since January... with more reports emerging recently. MacRumors' Buyersguide recommendation has been updated to reflect the expectations of imminent updates. A few reports have pointed in the same direction. Again, one site claims 970 PowerBooks in production at this time, but has had a poor reliability record and this should be taken with an appropriate amount of skepticism.

Top Rated Comments

(View all)

113 months ago
yeah :D
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
113 months ago
Hmmmm PPC 970????
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
113 months ago
Arn, is this based on the story I submitted a few hours ago?

If the Powerbook 15.4" did sport a 970 chip, the sales for the 12" and 17" would drop off sharpley. Don't think Apple could afford to do this with two new products.

Time will tell, only just over a week to go :)

EDIT: Thanks Arn!
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
113 months ago

Originally posted by MacsRgr8
Hmmmm PPC 970????


well.. perhaps.
the site says that compal will only start shipping the displays in second half of the year.
By there, perhaps the 970 is ready...
*Wishing, Hoping, Dreaming, Praying* :D

[edit]
added the quote...
[/edit]
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
113 months ago
Is it me or is the second half the year July onwards, so it should hopefully not be too far away.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
113 months ago
The second half of the year does indeed start in just a few weeks time.

But if the 970's are in the 15", they have to be in the 12" and 17" too.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
113 months ago
We'll have to just wait and see...

Plus, if apple doesn't make any announcements of a 970 chip, everyone will be very dissappointed and just in shock...

if apple makes an announcement about the 970 in any of their machines, but does not say when it will be available then everyone will wait for the new 970 machines (and nobody will buy a g4 system)...

even if apple only announces the 970 powermac, people will feel that the powerbooks are not too far off and wait for the 970 powerbook (and nobody will buy a g4 powerbook)...

the only way apple can win is if they announce immediate availability of ALL apple systems with the new 970 chip!:D
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
113 months ago
I've often wondered why Apple slashed the price on the 12in model. I can understand it in the case of the 15.2in one - it's been a while since they modified it so MAYBE an update is in the pipeline.

Are the 12in ones also going to get speed bumps - let's say to 1Ghz? Or they reduced the prices just to boost sales? I hear they are selling really well despite the heat issue.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
113 months ago
there's no reason that the 12" PB needs to be updated to a 970 (G5), just the 17". The 12" PB will always have it's VERY small form factor to sell it, and with pricing not much higher than the iBook, it fits more as a top of the line ibook than a bottom of line powerbook.

The 12" and the 17" are kinda speciality products anyway. The 12" has a poor resolution, so is really best suited to web, email and office type usage. The 17" has a good resolution for design, video and audio, but it's HUGE and heavy.

So I see no problem with...

G3 iBooks
G4 Mini PowerBook (12")
G5 Powerbooks (15.4", 17")

But then this is Apple, so who knows.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
113 months ago
Is Compal producing the first 15.4" notebooks from Apple, or producing the first 15.4" screens for notebooks from Apple? Anyway I agree with the person above me.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives

[ Read All Comments ]