New computers from Apple Inc. todaySo the Interwebs are a-buzzing with the imminent release of new portables from Apple today. This is good, since I have a trusty PowerBook G4 which is in serious need of updating. It's done me proud for over 3 years but runs slower than the lowest-end consumer-focussed MacBook and suffers from terrible battery life [even with new batteries].
So, with less than 12 hours to go before Steve Jobs takes to the stage and wows us all with some lovely new shiny boxes, what are my predictions?
DefiniteNew MacBooks for consumers and new MacBook Pros for professionals. MacBook Air sees update of processor and storage but keeps the same form-factor.
PossibleApple drops the 'pro' so there's just a single line of MacBooks with the lower-end being consumer focussed and the high-end being for power users, plus MacBook Air for us hipsters.
Of Course NotI seriously don't think there'll be the classic Steve '... one more thing ...' this time around. So that means no networked HDTV, no multi-touch screens on laptops, no 'ultraportable' model [er... that's the MacBook Air already], no 'tablet' form factors [iPod Touch may get bigger screen and not be called 'iPod' anymore, but not this time around], no updates of AppleTV with DVR functionality...
The press invite talks about portables. So that's what this presentation will be about. The really 'new' stuff will be saved for MacWorld - presumably updated desktops, displays and gadgets. This is all about portables for the following consumers:
[a] cheap MacBooks for PC users with iPhone/iPod
[b] new form-factors for existing MacBook owners
[c] new architectures for existing MacBook Pro owners
Alasdair's key predictionsAmongst all the noise, here's the key things that will happen:
[1] Higher-end laptops get clever new architecture providing very powerful graphics co-processing with SnowLeopard [come 2009] along with bigger storage and batteries.
[2] Entire range goes Aluminium to look good to tree-huggers and provide more 'solid' product with decreased size and weight
[3] Multi-Touch expanded incrementally [most likely just for top-end units].
[4] 17" systems are end-of-lifed, as is FireWire on low-end units.
The problem with these events is that everyone expects Steve Jobs to pull some rabbit out of a hat right at the end. There won't be one. What will happen is a highly co-ordinated lineup of portable computers with aggressive price/performance points which will sell like hotcakes.
Back here in 10 hours to be proved horribly wrong...