Hardware updates coming soon, here's all you need to know

Although financial results were very good once again this quarter, due mainly to iPod sales, it's definitely time for Apple to bring us new hardware. I have received a lot of hardware-related information since early March and here is a summary of the most verified information.

More and more sources are confirming that Apple is about to update its consumer portable computers (the iBooks) by the end of this month. Some rumour sites and some anonymous sources are claiming that the Powerbook line will also be updated. That information is conflicting with my sources who have recently claimed that the PowerBook line will most probably be updated as late as WWDC though. As for the new PowerMacs, it looks like Apple is ready to launch them soon as well.

Possible hardware specifications of this new hardware have also been provided by some sources :

The iBooks should reach 1.25 or 1.33Ghz for the top of the line, include more RAM and more hard disk space for the whole line. Faster graphic chips have been mentioned but which graphic chip wasn't precisely noted.

Whenever they come, the PowerBooks will most probably stick to the G4 processor, include at least 512Mb of RAM and bigger hard disks for all models. According to recent Motorola documents, the PowerPC 7447A can reach clock speeds up to 1.5Ghz, so we can expect a speed range from 1.33Ghz to 1.5Ghz. As for the graphic chip, sources had mentioned the GeForce FX 5700 as a good candidate for the high end models. Most rumours I received had most -- if not all -- of the Powerbooks sporting DVD-R (Superdrives) as standard.

PowerMacs are expected to see a speed bumps but there are probably no big surprises expected, Apple will not deliver a 3Ghz PowerMac G5 by summer 2004 as Steve Jobs promised us last year. Performance range is expected to be from mono-2Ghz to dual 2.5Ghz (with two processors in the middle-end model as well). The new PowerMacs are also expected to have faster graphic chips. The nVidia GeForce 6800 is mentioned by lots of sources. This is one of the chips that will probably be an option for any BTO PowerMac and maybe the standard one for the high end model. Some sources noted that some re-design (not necessarily apparent), will be made to the PowerMacs. As on every update, more RAM and bigger hard drives are expected as well.

Apparently, these updates should improve Apple's computer sales but they'll hardly reach the iPod figures and that's not so bad after all ;). Apple may lower the price of the iBook or/and the PowerBook but it might only concern European pricing -- as the price difference between Europe and the US is significant. As you see I do not have any reliable information on the iMac. It's something I found a bit suspicious; Could the next generation iMac surprise us?