IBM to use strained silicon to produce PowerBook G5
posted Feb 3rd 2005 10:29AM
This won't be major news to anyone who has been following the PowerBook G5 non-release, but according to a recent article at CNET News.com, Apple is in no rush to push out a PowerBook that would compromise the platform's legacy of ergonomics and portability. Were a G5 PowerBook to come out today, it would look something like the image above. According to the article, the current G5 chip, the IBM 970FX, is just too hot and power-hungry to make it a viable portable CPU. A new chip-making process using something called strained silicon promises to produce a less-power-hungry G5 chip that will make a PowerBook G5 a reality. The new process allows the CPU's transistors to be sped up, improving clock time without requiring more power. So, will this happen any time soon? Most likely not, but here's to hoping.
Yeah - whatever... Enough lame-O excuses. If Apple would put a few more resources in to this issue instead of iPods, maybe the laptop for "the rest of us" might be a reality. This issue should have been solved 9 months ago.
Then again, maybe some folks are blown away by the technological monuments that are cloth socks that cover your iPod and flash players with no actual features. Now THAT is innovation.
Oops! I forgot... marketing is the most important thing...
Emperor... Has... No... Clothes.
ahaha - that photoshop job is awesome/hilarious. dead on!
that is one beautiful mac
Doesn't look a whole lot thicker than a Dell XPS :)
Well said, "umijin!" Apple! Lay off the music junk and work on suspending the laws of thermodynamics! ;-)
The Lapbox
The Lapbox
The G4 is an obsolete CPU with 167MHz bus.
To Reader #1... those cloth socks you rant about are paying the R&D bill for the G5 Powerbook, so give 'em a rest.
Love the photo, gave me a good laugh. I suppose that model could open up a new market for Apple: non-flammable pants.
Would it kill apple to relese the OS X version for Intel already? This way they could use the new Mobile Pentium M chips and create a super-light laptop....
@umijin: Couldn't have said better myself. Right on!
I don't know why they dont use those new freescale dual core G4 chips with 200 mhz FSB.
Dual G4's at 1.5 GHZ each would destroy and single G5 or any wintel mobile chip.
What's funny is that this picture wouldn't shock in the Wintel world. Don't you see it is a desktop replacement!!! No Mac user would ever buy that, a portable needs to be that: portable and work on batteries.
Apple is doing what any other company would do: pouring resources into what is selling and making money. That doesn't mean that we agree with it, only that they are paying attention to what their stockholders want. Their stock price (if you will do some research) has grown way better than most since the introduction of the iPod and iTunes.
It is mostly high-power users (of which, I am one) that are complaining about the G5 Powerbook (or lack thereof). With the millions and millions they are pleasing with the focus on the iPod and iTunes, we are only a small, small insignificant few.
The G5 Powerbook will be a hit when it comes out. Unfortunately it will be obsolete when it debuts, when you compare the performance of the x86 based machines. The current Powerbook mixes advanced features with an archaic processor architecture. Apple is now, mostly, relying on the "sexiness" of the Powerbook for sales (along with the diehard Apple fans).
I have pledged to wait until the G5 powerbook is introduced to buy another Apple computer, but don't expect it to debut for at least another 12 months. This would give time for another small incremental update of the existing design (video, possible speed bump, etc.) However, the next update will be most interesting. If it is a G4, expect it to be a dual core type system. If it is, you can gamble that it will mean the G5 is even further off than expected, and the update is meant to appease the maddening crowd. Look at how long it took Apple to provide the latest incremental update! How much of a let down was that?? Right at about 9 months to wait for a small update to the video and a meaningless increase in processor power. Yeah, there were other updates, but they were financial. Increase in memory (only cost), new track pad features ( software based and already widely available with third party software), 8x dvd burner (another financial decision). So all in all this update was only a "must touch" type update.
Don't let it sound like I am not an apple fan, because I really am. I want a G5 Powerbook as much as the diehard fans. But, knowing apple, they will produce it when they have the issues worked out. Until then they will do what it takes to keep it on life support.
well considering how the G5 iMac is thinner than that thing I think the photo is pushing it just a little bit.
if apple were to bring out a G5 powerbook it would be quite costly right now so give 'em time to make it work. when it does finally come out it had better have a total makeover or I'll just be picking up a G4 one on the cheap.
PHUNNIE PHOTO!
However, I have seen a few comments about dual core. Don't you mean dual processor? I only know of one company who has a working dual core CPU.
OK, Why is everyone bashing Apple for lack of a mobile G5 chip? After all, the G5 is an IBM product. While Apple has a stake in the design and specs, its still up to IBM to come through with thactual fabrication and decent yeild of the chip.
Personally, I'm not that excited about a G5 laptop that would get 2-3 hours of battery life. A dual core 2 ghz G4 from FreeScale on the other hand, that would be a great PowerBook.
Love it. :)
Personally, I don't have much problem with the G4. The G5 just isn't that big a jump by itself, although I'll admit the new bus is quite nice. But the G4 to G5 isn't as big a performance leap as the G3 to G4 was.
that's FAT!!! (not to be confused with phat)
You would have think the photoshop job could have gone all out and tweaked the reflection too... obviously someone's slacking. Sheesh.
Folks, before you get your panties in a twist over Apple not releasing a Powerbook G5 fast enough for you, keep a few things in mind:
1) Apple does not manufacture processors. They have to wait for IBM to create a G5 processor suitable for use in a laptop. The processors currently available won't work -- they run way too hot.
2) The iMac G5 does not present the same thermal challenges because it's a vertical design. Heat escapes easily by rising and exiting the top of the case. In a laptop, that doesn't work.
3) You can bet that Apple is itching to release a Powerbook G5 as much as you're itching to get your hands on one. Powerbook sales for the past quarter or two have been way down because of the demand for a G5.
So please, quit whining about how you want a Powerbook G5. We all do. It's not Apple's fault that the technology isn't quite there yet.
No, I have no affiliation with Apple, I'm just a realist. Umijin, why don't you show IBM and Apple how they should have solved the issues 9 months ago. While you're at it, why don't you show NASA how to mount a mission to Mars, and Boeing and Airbus how to build a financially viable supersonic transport plane.
Imao - the freescale dual core chips you mentioned are not sampling until 2H 2005 - and in production 2006. So yes they would be great, but by the time they are out so will IBM, Intel and probably AMD with their own dual cores.
advice from the child: they will not be allowed on airplanes as explosives or furniture!!
The iBriefcase
How can anyone believe that the Powerbook engineering team is too busy designing iPods that G5 Powerbooks are being shelved. Actually the $s Apple makes from iPods should help bring us a GREAT G5 Powerbook when the right chips come out.
Vic-One
im really quite impressed with the photo, but why two optical drives?
umijin, thanks for demonstrating how little you understand about this issue.
That aside, that's a hilarious image! ;)
unjin
the laptop for the rest of us?... IT'S A POWERBOOK G5
get an iBook they're like a grand
that picture never gets old
Ummm, I understand the issue quite well sheepsters.
Sure, Apple isn't manufacturing chips. But Apple supports and subsidizes chip development and implementation into their own products. What you see is a focus on products from Apple that ain't computers - and that's what I don't like.
A G5 powerbook would demonstrate Apple's seriousness about computers and providing meaningful updates for a product line that are long over due.
Baaaaa!
There are notebooks based on Athlon 64 full processor (up to 87W or something consumption) and works fine. Why cannot make a G5 powerbook as well?
Screw a G5 Powerbook, why not, I don't know, optimize OS X to f&$*ing run my browser as fast as a Pentium III.
G5 be damned, let's tighten some code Apple.
PunkRocker Said:
>Screw a G5 Powerbook, why not, I don't know, optimize
>OS X to f&$*ing run my browser as fast as a Pentium III.
Do you know anything about an OS? The OS is not the browser (outside of Windows.) Try Safari, it's smoking fast.
Marian Said:
>There are notebooks based on Athlon 64 full processor
>(up to 87W or something consumption) and works fine.
>Why cannot make a G5 powerbook as well?
Because apple won't release a piece of tin like that. Take a look at those Emachines notebooks. A hour tops of battery life? Thick as a tower case turned on its side? If apple released that it would alienate most of their customers. Imagine BWM releasing a car that looks like it came of a Korean assembly line in 1982. My powerbookk G4 get's 4 hours of battery life no sweat, and is under 6 pounds. Those Emachines desktop replacement monsters aren't even in the same market segment. They're for people who want to take their computer down to the TV room and watch the game while they work/surf/chat/etc. They're not meant for people who carry thing thing all over campus all day long.
umjin:
You've probably never owned an Apple. Most mac users don't care about it being in the fastest 5% of machines ever fantasized by an engineer. They care about it being an elegant and efficient tool. It's a bicycle for the mind, as Steve Jobs likes to say. Apple could release a bulky, heavy, short battery lifed G5 powerbook tomorrow, and I bet that the G4 powerbooks would still outsell it. If you're so fanatical aboout performance, I doubt you'll ever find a thin and light notebook that will satisfy you. A top of the line thin and light is meant to be the cutting edge tech of 1-2 years ago in a highly portable package.
HGN.SGT.Ghost:
I know of 4. Two make PPC, two make X86.
The odd part is that the company which has always seemed to be the most inept (FreeScale) is the only one who's dual-core CPUs are ready (or at least nearly ready) for production.
That picture is a crock.
It would need many more vents.
;-)
I agree, Apple's not going to shove a current-generation G5 in a thick laptop only to have it run for an hour or so. It'll have to be about as thin as the current Powerbooks and have as much battery life. And, again, it'll be a great one like the current models already are.
Yo PunkRocker:
I've owned several Macs so stuff it. From memory SE/30, PowerComputing(can't remember model), iBookClamShell, TiBook, 12" AlBook. I've never owned a PC, only used them occasionally for my work.
Yeah, I want more speed and better graphics in my laptop, and want to make sure Apple's PB line still has legs, and isn't behind its freaking iMacs. Stop making excuses for Apple's bogus act. If you are happy with the hype - fine. Don't try to tell real computer users your misperceptions about progress.
jesus christ, have you seen some of the so called 'laptops' that boast the current speeds? They're fucking 15 pounds!
The G4s are plenty fast, hell I use a G3, still. PPC is a better architecture than x86 any day. Mor megahertz does not equal performance. Meanwhile, you have to put an exhaust fan on your tower because of the heat generated by your extremely inefficient processor.
I believe the G5 PowerBook needs to be liquid cooled.
On thermodynamics - heat and power are tightly related. More watts = more heat = less battery life.
Intel got into a marketing jam by making megahertz = speed - one of the biggest myths ever perpetuated on the buying public. They are now eating it on the Pentium M processors - low clock rate, but = P4 @ 2x the clock speed!
G3/4/5 are all 64 bit processors - where is the low power XEON laptop? Even AMD 64 bit stuff - where is the low power laptops there?
PPC chips are not behind - they are years ahead of Intel/AMD stuff. The only ones that think otherwise, are those that accept the Intel marketing crud on clock rates.
Real world - maybe Intel stuff is faster at single processes...maybe. But load down the processor with 50 things going on, and the PPC stuff blows the doors off anything Intel.
For those that think OSX should be on Intel/AMD - there are major technical hurdles, right down to the fundemental instruction level and internal word orientation in the processor to overcome. Look at how long it took NextSTEP (Intel based) to become OSX. Also, OSX can be written with an expectation of a defined minimum set of hardware. Ya' gotta' get the PC folks to put this same hardware set on board, and then the price is hundreds more than an Apple computer.
Personally, I would like a keyboard with a flip up LCD - no processor. I'd hook it up to a Mac Mini. I very seldom use my Powerbook on battery power anyway, but I do use it in comfortable chairs or even in bed. I don't need battery life or fast, but I do need portability. I have yet to go on a consulting gig where the client does not have electricity.
You guys are ALL wrong! This is what apple is planning:
After the announcement of their ipod socks, the apple engineers went into a secret elven lair to cram the g5's into women's underwear... it is an attempt to get people to "wear" their harware. If the lcd is placed correctly it can even be used as a helmet. I know I like wearing women's underwear on my head... it's about time apple did something about it. Plus it's something the wifey and I can share.
Although liquid cooling would help tame those G5s, it would be a killer on the battery, and the battery performance on my G4 is already nothing to boast about.
I have heard about a liquid cooling system that doesn't involve any pumping, but instead the liqiud is filled with tiny pieces of metal and is moved magnetically.