“This spring Apple is expected to roll-out the a new series of iBook consumer laptops built around a 13-inch widescreen display. The new models will sport the first major design revision to the iBook in several years and come bundled with both Front Row and the Apple Remote, people familiar with the company’s plans tell AppleInsider. Like Apple’s new iMac Core Duo and MacBook Pro computers, the new iBooks will also feature a built-in iSight video cam and come bundled with the company’s Photo Booth software, these people say,” Kasper Jade reports for AppleInsider.
“Although processor specifications for the upcoming iBook series remain largely unconfirmed, it’s only logical to assume the laptops will be powered by Intel’s 1.67GHz Core Solo processor — the only processor on the chip maker’s roadmap suited for a laptop that is neither equal to, nor greater than, the Core Duo chips used in Apple’s MacBook Pro laptops,” Jade reports. “iBook’s industrial design is expected remain similar to the current models. One person who claims to have caught a glimpse of the nearly-finalized prototype describes it as a slightly-smaller cousin to the recently introduced MacBook Pro, but clad in iMac white. Meanwhile, rumors that Apple’s Intel-based iBooks would arrive without support for FireWire are untrue, this person said. The new models are said to retain a single FireWire 400 port in addition to two USB 2.0 ports.”
According to AppleInsider, the new consumer portable Macs will be available in at least two retail configurations: one with a SuperDrive and the other without. “The latter model will fall within the sub-$1000 range currently occupied by the 12-inch PowerPC-based 1.33GHz iBook… It remains unknown whether Apple will re-brand the iBook under new name like it recently did with the PowerBook line,” Jade reports.
Full article here.
Advertisements:
• MacBook Pro. The first Mac notebook built upon Intel Core Duo with iLife ’06, Front Row and built-in iSight. Starting at $1999. Free shipping.
• iMac. Twice as amazing — Intel Core Duo, iLife ’06, Front Row media experience, Apple Remote, built-in iSight. Starting at $1299. Free shipping.
• iMac and MacBook Pro owners: Apple USB Modem. Easily connect to the Internet using dial-up service. $49.00.
• iPod Radio Remote. Listen to FM radio on your iPod and control everything with a convenient wired remote. Just $49.
• iPod. 15,000 songs. 25,000 photos. 150 hours of video. The new iPod. 30GB and 60GB models start at just $299. Free shipping.
• Connect iPod to your television set with the iPod AV Cable. Just $19.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Report: more Apple MacBook Pro models coming, iBook may be re-branded ‘MacBook’ – January 12, 2006
RUMOR: Apple iBook to become ‘MacBook’ while ‘MacBook Pro’ will offer more screen size choices soon – January 11, 2006
13 is rather unlucky, I hope Apple can get the price down enough to attract the edcational market again.
Been bleeding quite a bit there recently.
Hey MDN (and Kasper Jade too), didn’t y’all read the memo, the iBook and PowerBook are dead?! They are being replaced by the MacBook and MacBook Pro.
This rumor is worthless if the author doesn’t even know the naming scheme.
Only if Think Secret says it’s so, then it is so.
BTW, a grade schooler could have pieced together this mish-mash of vague speculation.
Obviously any new offerings will include Front Row, iSight, yada, yada.
Okay, MacHappy,
What are you smoking? Apple is beating us in the education market now, and you say “enough to attract the education market again?”
Get a clue.
Not really an upgrade, just a transition. Perhaps the processor is enough of an upgrade (oh yeah, the iIight is an up grade too).
Wake me up when Apple can produce a stylish and sexy portable like a Latitude or an Inspiron. Until then I’m not impressed.
OF COURSE they’re renaming the product to MacBook. Steve Jobs already said that they’re rebranding all of the products to put the word Mac in the title. These are going to be called MacBooks. DUH!
Bring back the candy-colours
Steven : “stylish and sexy portable like a Latitude or an Inspiron”
beauty is in the eye of the beholder/there is no accounting for taste/whatever floats your boat.
personally, i think the apple design styles knock the socks off the competition. maybe some of the super-small super-slim (ultra expensive) sony vaios may look sleek, but that’s about it.
MW : even
“..a stylish and sexy portable like a Latitude or an Inspiron”
This must be a joke right????
Dell laptops ARE ugliness personified.. but then I guess the users believe XP is an elegant, stable and secure operating system.
So, that confirms both statements are laughable.
Kasper Jade will soon reveal that inside reports suggest that iLife 07 is being planned for a launch some time during the early part of Jan 07.
Are we meant to be stunned by those ‘insights’ ?
I’ll be impressed when I hear accurate, advance reports of stuff that isn’t predictable. In the run-up to the Expo, we heard all sorts of predictions along those lines, eventually they might come true. What was interesting to me was that the Intel iMacs snuck up from behind and caught everybody by surprise.
“..a stylish and sexy portable like a Latitude or an Inspiron”
This must be a joke right????
D’uh!
> Latitude or an Inspiron>
PIGLIPSTICK!
“Wake me up when Apple can produce a stylish and sexy portable like a Latitude or an Inspiron.”
What, you want it in 11″ then? Say AAAA!
That all makes sense. The mac book will prolly have the solo in it, it will pretty much look exactly like the current ibook. Apple will continue along the same lines it did with the imac/mac book pro. The same look, the same price…..what’s different???
I doubt they will stop making the consumer products white. That seems to be the way they are heading. Pro….stainless/gray consumer …white….maybe black. To me the white is great, it’s clean crisp and looks good. Black to me is old and reminds me of early 90 HP’s or something. All you have to do is add the dust and there you go, suddenly is 1992 all over agin.
I’ll bet the mac book will continue with what the imac/mac book pros have. It will come with the isight built in, and how can it not have front row? Apple is gearing up for a media war. ALL their computers will come with front row, it’s sets them up to have a captive audience. The ground work is being set.
The 13″ sounds nice, but I still say we need something smaller. !2-13″ is small, but wouldn’t it be nice to have something smaller and easier to carry around. Something around 9X7 or so, and it needs to be sub $500. That would sell like crazy. It could even provide some stiff competition for the beloved ipod.
Actually, it would be nice to see apple produce something priced competively for once.
“sub$1000” to Apple means $999, to PC users it is half that or less.
I think this will be more of an upgrade then what most people think. The high end iBook right now has a 1.42Ghz G4 (yuck). Jobs mentioned in his keynote that even ONE Core processor was faster than the existing G5 processor. No the MacBook will not be as fast as the MacBook Pro (obviously), but it damn sure will be MUCH faster than existing iBooks. Hopefully Apple can keep the price point at $1000 and $1,300 and they would have a winner.
I hope they come out with these soon. We are finally enrolling my daughter in the laptop program at her high school. All the desktops in the school are eMacs, but through the laptop program they only offer ThinkPads. While they encourage everybody to get the IBM’s they will allow other brands – even Macs.
I had to chuckle when at the laptop info meeting, some parents expressed concern over viruses, spyware, and hacking. We were told that the IBM’s come with anti-virus software which requires to be updated when needed, and that they have technicians available to handle any problems. Of course they could do away with this added expense, but I’m sure they got those ThinkPads for a great price.
I am dying here. I absolutely need a new iBook. My girlfriend’s foot got caught in the power cord and pulled my iBook of the table. Needless to say, the screen is broken or cracked, the hinge ws bent all the way back and it’s just FUBAR.
Suprisingly, it still works. Although I have to hold up the screen with my hand(sucks). Anyway I’m waiting patiently for the new iBook. Hopefully it has built in iSight and Frontrow.
I also would not mind the new name Macbook….
PS fingers crossed
Core Solo would be pretty horrible. If Apple makes any computers with single core CPUs, then the terrorists have already won. Again.
Not much of a rumor, I’d call it a “DUH”. Of course Apple will release an iBook (or whatever they call it), once the single core chip is available from Intel. Is there anyone that doesn’t know this?
is that Han Solos brother?
“We were told that the IBM’s come with anti-virus software which requires to be updated when needed, and that they have technicians available to handle any problems.”
That’s like buying cars because the dealer is available to handle any problems. It begs the question why technicians and prompt service are needed in the first place…
“Of course they could do away with this added expense, but I’m sure they got those ThinkPads for a great price.”
No price break is worth Windows’ hassles.
Apple rumours…. yawn.