Now that Apple have confirmed they will be moving to intel next year. I was wondering if they would be bringing out any new hardware designs to coincide with the new processors?

Will they give their curent line of iBooks & Powerbooks a facelift? Or, just simply replace the processors and that's all?


What are your thoughts?

I'd say that the underlying logic/chip layout would reqire a chassis redesign, so I can't see why they wouldn't do it.

I agree, aren't iBooks very overdue for an design change? A new design be a great way to create excitement in the notebooks when they start using intel.

Still a year away though, so don't be getting too excited now

They would more than likely have some designs up their sleeves allready and would be in the final devolpment stages.

This would have been on the cards for a long time (Intel Switch).

I wonder if Apple will run a "Why switch to Intel" campaign! Would be funny.


Adam.

The images I saw today of the guts of an Intel PowerMac really would suggest a change in design for these machines when release. I would like to see them include facility for more than one optical drive.

I think the iBook is looking stale in terms of its speed at the moment, but I have to say I actually like the existing iBook look, there is something about its white appearance that I really liked.

I shall be an interesting year in the Mac community. Pity we need to wait 12 months to see

It will be truly interesting to see benchmarks that are Intel specific rather than PPC emulated.

I wonder if Apple will use the new Seagate 2.5" 160Gb hard drive announced last week in their laptops and Mac mini.

Faster CPU's and bigger drives will be very attractive.

hopefully they'll move the optical drive to the side of the powerboks.

They can't do that. There isn't enough space on the sides. They'd need to either drop ports, move them to the front of the case (EWWW) or change the hinge design (again, EWWW). The reason PC laptops can put the drive on the side is that they use a really ugly hinge that has space for ports underneath.

oooh i hate you, and yr rapid replies.
turd.

I think that there's no doubt at all that we'll see a design change for anything with an Intel CPU in it.

Apple need these computers to look different. I have every faith that they'll look even cooler than the current line, forcing us all to update even if we don't need the extra power

Come on, have a bit of faith in Apple! They are just as much a leader in radical new designs than they are in making awesome computers.

I think it is obvious that Apple will be changing physical designs when they make such a monumental change in chip architecture!

We have seen changes in designs coinciding with far smaller changes than this, so it is a given that Apple will NOT be resting on its laurels and just sticking with what it already has.

I was going to attach a crappy PC laptop to this reply.

But something sad happened. I went to google and typed in "Crappiest laptop ever".

I had more iBook's then Wintels.

Sad but true. Read my iBook saga.

pipsqeek

Will they stay with the "the display is the computer" form for the iMac? Such a radical format it would be a shame to move away from it so soon.

Great time to release a 23" or 30" iMac

I'd like to see them change the stand from aluminium to clear polycarbonate, that would really enhance that hovering display look.

Polycarbonate should be strong enough, it's used in the eMac Tilt and Swivel Stand, and that puppy weighs 20kg.

moving to intel wont force apple to redesign anything.
if anything most logic board's will be much smaller.
especially in g5's towers