PowerBooks
The big news at Apple Expo 2003 was the release of the new PowerBooks -- providing long-awaited updates to Apple's professional portables.
After dozens of false starts, the most recent rumors recapped in our Paris roundup provided information from historically more reliable sources.
AppleInsider provided confident reports of PowerBook updates at the Expo which were later confirmed by our own sources. ThinkSecret provided hints that 12" PowerBooks would follow the 15"/17" releases -- and indeed, the 12" models are not immediately available.
Bits and pieces of (seemingly accurate) information were scattered across a few sites, but this AppleInsider report provided one of the better glimpses into the new releases by claiming 15" PowerBooks, Aluminum, 1.25GHz USB 2.0, FW800, and 17" 1.3GHz and USB 2.0. Some additional details were provided by one MacRumors report (15.2") but only partially accurate pricing information ($1999-$2999) in our final report.
PowerPage remains inconsistent with initial claims that PowerBook updates were unlikely at the Apple Expo. While a last minute report claimed that PowerBooks were "cleared for distribution", other details of their report were incorrect (nVidia in high end, 15.4" screen).
Overall, not a striking victory for rumor sites -- mostly due to the number of inaccurate rumors that were posted over the past few months. This, however, simply underscores taking into account the reliability of a source when considering a rumor.
Bluetooth Mouse/Keyboard
Apple deserves the most credit for revealing the existance of the Apple Wireless Mouse and Keyboard prior to their release. Panther Builds started including references to the (then) unreleased accessories. Meanwhile, ThinkSecret was then able to provide some additional details (AA batteries) for the accessories.
Software Releases
Our report of Software announcements last week has proven to be inaccurate.... however, last minute contacts revealed that the report was meant to say "hardware" announcements. Whether or not either iMacs, iPods, PowerBooks, or Wireless Keyboards and Mice fall under the "unexpected" category is left open to individual interpretation.
Seperately, iCal 1.5 and iSync 1.2 updates are still expected shortly.
Misc...
- iPod Peripherals are presumably still in the works, but as previously stated, there is no known timeframe for their release. ThinkSecret has since been able to provide some confirmation of upcoming peripherals.
- The Special Edition iPod did not make an appearance as predicted by ThinkSecret. MacRumors has no further information (for or against) this rumor.
The Loser?
Beyond all the sites that offered premature predictions of PowerBook updates, one site in particular stands out as a source of misinformation.
Digitimes.com claimed in January 2003 that Apple was going to start production of a 15.4" PowerBook in the "near future", and later claimed that 15.4" PowerBook production was ramping up in June. It turns out, that these reports were wrong... and, in fact, may have sparked off all the (inaccurate) speculation and rumors of PowerBook updates over the past 8 months.
Digitimes has previously had other inaccurate reports, including 19" iMacs, termination of 17" iMac Production, and an Apple Tablet. As a result, future reports from Digitimes should be met with skepticism.
