Chris
19-09-2005, 06:26 PM
ple's Power Mac G5 line will see an upgrade in the near future, possibly before the close of the month, sources have informed Think Secret. Poor sales of the current models is likely the driving force behind the premature revision, which will come less than six months since Apple last upgraded the line.
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The April Power Mac G5 revision saw only an incremental boost in performance as the top-end model went from dual-2.5GHz processors to dual-2.7GHz. At the disappointment of many potential customers, Apple continued using the single-core PowerPC 970FX processors in the G5s and not the highly anticipated dual-core PowerPC 970MP chips, which were not ready at the time. The 970MP is said to deliver performance improvements of 50-80% in many tasks over the single-core 970FX.
In July, IBM announced the PowerPC 970MP processor and a low-power version of the PowerPC 970FX on the heels of Apple's announcement that the company would be phasing out PowerPC chips and embracing Intel processors. Speculation at the time suggested the driving motivation behind Apple's switch was the company's frustration with IBM's inability to meet performance goals, specifically the 3GHz mark that Apple CEO Steve Jobs said would be met in mid-2004.
A 3GHz Mac has yet to ship and likely will not even once the Power Mac G5 line is updated. IBM's July announcement noted that the PowerPC 970MP would be available in speeds of 1.4GHz to 2.5GHz. Apple is expected to adopt the 970MP at least at the high-end of the new Power Mac G5 line.
Compounding problems with the current Power Mac G5 line was a nearly month-long shipping delay earlier this quarter with the dual-2.7GHz systems, which sources report experienced technical glitches. Unreleased support documents indicate a number of the 2.7GHz systems were coming off the line with graphics and PMU issues, although it has been speculated that a shortage of the high-end processors could be to blame as well. Regardless, sources involved with Apple sales acknowledge that the April revision, effectively a stop-gap measure put in place to give the stale line-up a facelift, has largely failed.
The upgraded Power Mac G5 line could be introduced as early as next week around Apple Expo, despite Apple's withdrawal from the keynote presentation.
No PowerBook revision?
Sources are also reporting that the pending Power Mac revision will be the last Mac upgrade of the calendar year. Contrary to other reports, Apple's PowerBook line, last revised in February with only incremental upgrades, will likely not see an upgrade before Macworld Expo San Francisco in January 2006, at the earliest.
Source: Think Secret (www.thinksecret.com)
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The April Power Mac G5 revision saw only an incremental boost in performance as the top-end model went from dual-2.5GHz processors to dual-2.7GHz. At the disappointment of many potential customers, Apple continued using the single-core PowerPC 970FX processors in the G5s and not the highly anticipated dual-core PowerPC 970MP chips, which were not ready at the time. The 970MP is said to deliver performance improvements of 50-80% in many tasks over the single-core 970FX.
In July, IBM announced the PowerPC 970MP processor and a low-power version of the PowerPC 970FX on the heels of Apple's announcement that the company would be phasing out PowerPC chips and embracing Intel processors. Speculation at the time suggested the driving motivation behind Apple's switch was the company's frustration with IBM's inability to meet performance goals, specifically the 3GHz mark that Apple CEO Steve Jobs said would be met in mid-2004.
A 3GHz Mac has yet to ship and likely will not even once the Power Mac G5 line is updated. IBM's July announcement noted that the PowerPC 970MP would be available in speeds of 1.4GHz to 2.5GHz. Apple is expected to adopt the 970MP at least at the high-end of the new Power Mac G5 line.
Compounding problems with the current Power Mac G5 line was a nearly month-long shipping delay earlier this quarter with the dual-2.7GHz systems, which sources report experienced technical glitches. Unreleased support documents indicate a number of the 2.7GHz systems were coming off the line with graphics and PMU issues, although it has been speculated that a shortage of the high-end processors could be to blame as well. Regardless, sources involved with Apple sales acknowledge that the April revision, effectively a stop-gap measure put in place to give the stale line-up a facelift, has largely failed.
The upgraded Power Mac G5 line could be introduced as early as next week around Apple Expo, despite Apple's withdrawal from the keynote presentation.
No PowerBook revision?
Sources are also reporting that the pending Power Mac revision will be the last Mac upgrade of the calendar year. Contrary to other reports, Apple's PowerBook line, last revised in February with only incremental upgrades, will likely not see an upgrade before Macworld Expo San Francisco in January 2006, at the earliest.
Source: Think Secret (www.thinksecret.com)