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MacWorld Tokyo: A Complete Rumors Roundup

MacWorld Excitement Builds

As MacWorld Tokyo quickly arrives, the Macintosh faithful have heard many rumors swirling around. Indeed, MWT should be one of the most memorable shows ever, even if no webcast or satellite feed materializes. Starting with Apple iCEO Steve Jobs' keynote presentation at 11 AM Wednesday Tokyo time, 8 PM Eastern US time on Tuesday, Apple will unveil several updates to its hardware line, if reports are correct. As one source said "it's ALL getting updated." Let's go through each product sector and see what's to come tomorrow.

PowerBooks

First, this site's focus, is PowerBooks. If you had to rank the likelyhood of introductions tomorrow, a new PowerBook would top the list. Apple's last portable introduction was on May 10th at the 1999 WorldWide Developers Conference. While the 333 and 400 MHz "Bronze" PowerBook models have kept pace with the Windows and Mac desktop world, it's certainly time for an upgrade, with this model being the last to transition to the "UMA" logicboard, which offers greater standardization of all four Apple products' logicboards. Oddly, a portable will be the last Apple product to get its wireless networking technology, AirPort.

Will Pismo be a blockbuster, whiz-bang product that everyone will stare at in awe? Unfortunately, probably not. Apple has refined the PowerBook from the 3400, to the PowerBook G3 (Wallstreet) to the current "Bronze" systems. The PowerBooks are simply as sleek and feature packed as they can get, with two notable exceptions: AirPort and FireWire, both of which will be added to Pismo. All sources confirm that Pismo's case will not be radically different than the current "Bronze" offerings, and we fear that Apple will keep the exact same case design.

Yes, Pismo will essentially be a "Bronze" machine with AirPort and FireWire added. The only feature dropped will be SCSI, making the current PowerBooks the last Apple machines to have SCSI standard. What configurations will Pismo enter at? Like the current models, there will be two retail configurations of Pismo, 400 and 500 MHz, that will enter the marketplace at roughly the same price points of the models they're replacing. We estimate anywhere from $2099-$2499 for the 400 MHz model, and about $1,000 more for the 500 MHz model, or $2999-$3499 . We're expecting prices to come in at the low end of both of these ranges. Remember, prices are Apple's most guarded marketing secrets, so surprises in the less expensive direction are always appreciated. Though it's not exactly rocket science, we're pretty sure of our predictions here:

Pismo will be manufactured at Quanta in Taiwan, just like its predecessor. Also, it should already be ramping up or in production, so supplies of the new machine in the US should be here within three weeks.

The iBook

Apple's iBook was introduced on July 21st, 1999 and hasn't been touched since, well over sixth months ago. Though it was the number one portable in the fourth quarter of 1999, the iBook is in dire need of an update. While the G3 processor is quite formidable when matched with equal-clockrate WinTel processors, the iBook's 300 MHz looks very weak in the eyes of a consumer buyer comparing weaker, but higher clockrate PC laptops at a CompUSA or Sears. Accordingly, Apple is expected to raise the clockrate of iBook at MacWorld Tokyo, but only by 66 MHz. Other than that, no significant changes are expected to be made to the Tangerine and BlueBerry iBooks. However, sources confirm for us that a new color of iBook is headed down the pike. Any Mac news junkie worth his or her respective salt knows Apple's been headed in a graphite trend in regards to color, and our money's on this hue to join the Tangerine and BlueBerry models in Apple's iBook stable. Furthermore, this model may be souped up a bit, and called a "special edition," like the iMac's DV SE model.

G4s

At Seybold Seminars in late August, Apple announced 400, 450, and 500 MHz models of the new PowerMacintosh G4. However, they quickly had to backtrack on these announcements when Motorola couldn't deliver the processors in decent quantities, so Apple sliced 50 MHz off each unit, but kept the same prices. A lot of signs are pointing to a return of the 500 MHz G4 model at the MWT keynote. Several resellers have started promotions this week intended to garner their respective companies the most sales of new models of G4s. w

The Less Likelys, But Possible

With an Apple presentation, anything's possible. Some murmurs have suggested that the iMac line will get a refresh as well, since they've been in the channel since October 5th, 1999. in their present incarnation. No fireworks are expected here, possibly a simple speedbump. Additionally, we don't think the dual processor G4 systems, the long-rumord "Mystic" product, are going to be introduced at the show either. The overall feel for the keynote should be focused on the new PowerBooks, with due attention given to the speedbumped iBooks and G4s. There will be the customary review of sales statistics, Apple financials, and the cursory mention of Apple's deal with Earthlink and Mac OS X.

To Close...

Despite the lack of visual access for the Mac faithful in the United States, MacWorld Tokyo will be remembered for how much new hardware was introduced here. The PowerBook Zone has staff attending the show, and will be bringing back lots of gallery pictures of all the new products, both from Apple, and the various third party developers in the Macintosh community.