More Apple speculation

1. Now I’m confused… Paul Murphy over at ZD Net argues that if we see an Apple laptop powered by Intel it would be an iBook, not a PowerBook. But then he argues that an Intel CPU is too expensive to put into an iBook on current pricing. He then suggests that Apple could use the low-power G5 or the Dual Core G4 next year, and release Intel powered machines in 2007.

2. Huh?

3. While there isn’t really any hard benchmark data, but the smart money would be on the Pentium-M being faster than a G4 chip. So, why would Apple make a cheap laptop faster than an expensive one? PowerBook sales would evaporate if the iBook was faster: those who want the power without the ‘Pro’ features would just save the cash and buy the iBook, and those who need the ‘Pro’ features would wait knowing Apple can’t be too far behind with an Intel PowerBook.

4. Apple knows this too, and you can see that by looking at their desktop line. Top of the heap is a Quad Core (2 Dual Core processors) PowerMac with the rest of the line being the same cutting edge Dual Core G5s, the iMac line has features unique to that line alone. Intel sure has processors that competes at that level, but it also has a bunch that can’t, so that rumor of an Intel Mac mini works well because they can ditch the ancient G4 without cannibalising sales of their other lines. The same can’t be said for Apple’s portable lines. Even the slowest of Pentium-M processors should be competitive with the G4, so Apple has to update from the top down.

5. (And even if the Intel processor is slower — which it can’t be, otherwise what’s the point? — the perception is the opposite, and you would have the same problem as if it was faster.)

6. Also, if the CPU is so much more expensive, wouldn’t it make more sense to put it in a machine that has a higher margin? Or at least a line that Apple could raise prices on? PowerBook prices have dropped significantly since I bought my first generation 12in PowerBook, but I am under no illusions that it will stay that way when a whole new PowerBook line is released. That said, Apple couldn’t raise prices too much, since it will be directly comparable to other laptops using the same processor.

7. The clever thing about Murphy’s column is that he could very well be right with regards to when MacTel laptops will be released (or rather that it won’t be next year), but it most certainly won’t be because of his reasons.

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