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Apple Designs Different: Extends Leadership in Notebooks With PowerBook G3
PR Newswire - November 10, 1997 15:54
AAPL %CPR %MLM %PDT V%PRN P%PRN
Apple Introduces World's Fastest Notebook for People Who Think Creatively
CUPERTINO, Calif., Nov. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Targeting the needs of creative
"road warriors" who require the most in performance and advanced multimedia
capabilities from a notebook computer, Apple Computer, Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL)
today introduced the Macintosh PowerBookG3. PowerBook G3 is based on the third
generation PowerPC G3 processor, a high-performance microprocessor optimized
for the Mac OS.
"The PowerBook G3 combines next generation processor technology with the
latest in Mac OS system software to provide creative professionals with a new
standard in mobile computing," said Phil Schiller, Apple's vice president of
Worldwide Product Marketing. "There is more of everything for Macintosh
customers with the PowerBook G3 -- more speed, more memory, more storage. This
is high- end desktop performance in a mobile Macintosh."
The PowerBook G3 builds upon the innovative feature set of the fast
PowerBook 3400 series, previously the world's fastest notebook, by adding the
high-performance PowerPC G3 processor running at 250Mhz, with a 512K L2 cache
and a 50MHz system and memory bus. A host of other innovative features, such
as a 5GB hard disk, 20x-speed CD drive, built-in ethernet/modem, hot swappable
expansion bay modules, Apple Location Manager and four speaker sound system,
provide Mac OS customers with the fastest notebook for creating, presenting,
sending and receiving media rich information anytime, anywhere.
"Apple continues to demonstrate the ability to develop PowerBooks with
industry leading performance," said J. Gerry Purdy, Ph.D., president of Mobile
Insights in Mountain View, Calif. "The customer who is using a Macintosh
desktop can be assured that the PowerBook G3 will provide them with true Power
Macintosh performance in a portable."
Performance
The PowerBook G3 delivers high-end desktop performance in a mobile
solution. The product is based on the PowerPC G3, the third generation PowerPC
G3 processor from Motorola and IBM and the first processor specifically
designed to optimize the Mac OS and associated applications. System
enhancements include a 50MHz system bus (25 percent faster than previous
PowerBook models), 32MB of EDO RAM expandable to 160MB, and a 5GB ATA IDE hard
disk drive. The notebook also boasts 512K level 2 backside cache and 64K
on-chip level 1 cache. The new backside cache design boosts performance
significantly by allowing the processor and level 2 cache to communicate at
much higher speeds than previously possible. A 20x-speed CD drive provides
fast access to CD-based information.
Although higher-performance components are used in the PowerBook G3, the
low-power consumption of the new PowerPC processor combined with a
higher-capacity 47-watt/hour Lithium ion battery enables customers to enjoy
two to four hour battery life.
"Apple and Motorola have delivered the fastest processor available to
mobile customers," said Bud Broeker, corporate vice present and general
manager of Motorola's Personal Computing Division. "This latest PowerPC design
combines performance with minimal power requirements, which eliminates the
necessity of choosing either top-end performance or portability."
Multimedia
The PowerBook G3 is designed for creative professionals and authors in all
markets who demand desktop performance yet need mobility. Enhanced multimedia
features include 2MB of VRAM which supports 24-bit video out, enabling
millions of colors on an external monitor; 18-bit color is supported on the
notebook's 12.1" (diagonal) active-matrix SVGA color display. The PowerBook G3
also provides an enhanced Chips and Technology 65554 PCI video controller that
supports hardware acceleration for faster graphics.
The PowerBook G3 has a unique four speaker sound system, PCI video
controller with hardware acceleration, industry standard VGA connector for
24-bit video out, 16-bit stereo in/out, Zoomed Video support and
software-based MPEG-1 decompression. All of these features combined provide
users with one of the most robust systems available today and the key elements
they need to create and present multimedia rich information.
"I do everything on the PowerBook G3. It has become an indispensable piece
of equipment in my camera bag that lets me create what I see in my head,
wherever I am, quickly and easily in a manner I had never dreamed would be
possible when I used my first PowerBook," said Carlan Tapp of Tapp Studio,
based in Seattle, Wash." In the beginning, the thought of doing serious
PhotoShop work was still limited to the desktop Macs in the studio, but with
the PowerBook G3, PhotoShop runs very quickly and is the total answer to do VR
authoring. No more stitching on our current desktop systems. The PowerBook G3
outruns and finishes on an average VR pano up to six minutes faster than our
8500."
Communications
The PowerBook G3 features a number of communications capabilities
including built-in 10Mbps Ethernet and 33.6Kbps modem, in addition to an RJ-45
connector that can accept either Ethernet or telephone cable. Other
communications capabilities include built-in 1MB industry standard IrDA for
transferring information wirelessly to other infrared capable devices. In
addition, PowerBook users will have access through the serial port to GeoPort
technology for ISDN and analog modems.
Expansion
A flexible expansion bay on the PowerBook G3 accepts a variety of modules
including a floppy drive, CD-ROM drive, additional hard drive, magneto-optical
drive, and internal AC adapter; a Zip drive from VST Technologies, Inc. is
also expected to be available. In addition, expansion bay modules from the
PowerBook 3400, 5300, and 190 series can be used with the PowerBook G3. For
more expansion options, two PC Card slots are provided to support two Type II
or one Type III card. The PowerBook G3 allows users to "hot swap" modules
while the system is running unlike other notebook systems that require a user
to shut down or sleep their system prior to the removal of an expansion bay
module.
Software
The PowerBook G3 comes configured with Mac OS 8 and a variety of
productivity, communications, and compatibility software applications to
provide a complete, mobile computing solution right out of the box.
Productivity software includes Now Software Inc.'s Now Up-To-Date and Now
Contact. Communications software provided includes Internet tools such as Mac
OS 8 Internet Assistant, Netscape Navigator 3.0, Microsoft Internet Explorer
3.0 and ForeFront Group's WebWhacker 3.0 for browsing the Internet off line.
The PowerBook G3 also ships with Apple Location Manager, a software
utility which allows users to save system settings that are location dependent
including networking, printer, time zone, file sharing and sound. Once a
defined location is set up, a user simply selects that location and the system
automatically reconfigures to reflect the chosen environment. Apple Remote
Access is also included for easily connecting to a desktop or network from a
remote location. Compatibility software includes Macintosh PC Exchange for
reading and writing PC-formatted floppy disks, Macintosh Easy Open and
MacLinkPlus from Dataviz for reading and translating PC-formatted files.
Availability, Pricing, and Configuration
The PowerBook G3 is available immediately in the United States with an
estimated retail price of $5,700. Additionally, the PowerBook G3 is expected
to be available in Europe in late November, and Japan and other countries in
December; pricing may vary per region. The PowerBook G3 will be sold in one
configuration: 250MHz PowerPC G3 processor, 512K level 2 backside cache, 32MB
EDO RAM, internal 5GB IDE hard drive module, 12.1" (diagonal) active-matrix
SVGA color display, built-in 1.4MB Apple SuperDrive floppy disk drive, and
internal 20x-speed CD-ROM drive module.
Apple Computer, Inc. ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s
with the Apple II, and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the
Macintosh. Apple is now recommitted to its original mission to bring the best
personal computing products and support to students, educators, designers,
scientists, engineers, businesspersons, and consumers in over 140 countries
around the world.
Customer Information Contact: If you are considering the purchase of an
Apple product and would like to have product information faxed to you, call
800-462-4396 in the U.S. or 800-263-3394 in Canada. If you do not have a fax
machine or would like to locate an Apple authorized reseller near you, call
800-538-9696. Customers in the U.S. now have the option of buying products
over the Internet at the Apple Store (www.apple.com) as part of a distribution
strategy that utilizes the Internet, along with the Company's existing
retailers and resellers to sell products. Customers outside the U.S. should
contact their local Apple representatives for information.
NOTE: Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, Power Macintosh, and PowerBook
are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Additional company and
product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of the individual
companies and are respectfully acknowledged.
SOURCE Apple Computer, Inc.
/NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information visit Apple's website
(http://www.apple.com/source/), call Apple's Media Helpline at 408-974-2042,
or contact David Krane at our PR agency, Niehaus Ryan Group, Inc.,
650-827-7081./
/CONTACT: Nathalie Welch, 408-974-5430, or email, welch.n@apple.com, or
Russell Brady, 408-974-6877, or email, brady2@apple.com, both of Apple
Computer, Inc.; or Todd Paoletti of NRG, 415-827-7030, or email,
todd@nrgpr.com, for Apple Computer/
/Web site: apple.com
(AAPL)
Apple Designs Different: Extends Leadership in Notebooks With PowerBook G3
PR Newswire - November 10, 1997 15:54
AAPL %CPR %MLM %PDT V%PRN P%PRN
Apple Introduces World's Fastest Notebook for People Who Think Creatively
CUPERTINO, Calif., Nov. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Targeting the needs of creative
"road warriors" who require the most in performance and advanced multimedia
capabilities from a notebook computer, Apple Computer, Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL)
today introduced the Macintosh PowerBookG3. PowerBook G3 is based on the third
generation PowerPC G3 processor, a high-performance microprocessor optimized
for the Mac OS.
"The PowerBook G3 combines next generation processor technology with the
latest in Mac OS system software to provide creative professionals with a new
standard in mobile computing," said Phil Schiller, Apple's vice president of
Worldwide Product Marketing. "There is more of everything for Macintosh
customers with the PowerBook G3 -- more speed, more memory, more storage. This
is high- end desktop performance in a mobile Macintosh."
The PowerBook G3 builds upon the innovative feature set of the fast
PowerBook 3400 series, previously the world's fastest notebook, by adding the
high-performance PowerPC G3 processor running at 250Mhz, with a 512K L2 cache
and a 50MHz system and memory bus. A host of other innovative features, such
as a 5GB hard disk, 20x-speed CD drive, built-in ethernet/modem, hot swappable
expansion bay modules, Apple Location Manager and four speaker sound system,
provide Mac OS customers with the fastest notebook for creating, presenting,
sending and receiving media rich information anytime, anywhere.
"Apple continues to demonstrate the ability to develop PowerBooks with
industry leading performance," said J. Gerry Purdy, Ph.D., president of Mobile
Insights in Mountain View, Calif. "The customer who is using a Macintosh
desktop can be assured that the PowerBook G3 will provide them with true Power
Macintosh performance in a portable."
Performance
The PowerBook G3 delivers high-end desktop performance in a mobile
solution. The product is based on the PowerPC G3, the third generation PowerPC
G3 processor from Motorola and IBM and the first processor specifically
designed to optimize the Mac OS and associated applications. System
enhancements include a 50MHz system bus (25 percent faster than previous
PowerBook models), 32MB of EDO RAM expandable to 160MB, and a 5GB ATA IDE hard
disk drive. The notebook also boasts 512K level 2 backside cache and 64K
on-chip level 1 cache. The new backside cache design boosts performance
significantly by allowing the processor and level 2 cache to communicate at
much higher speeds than previously possible. A 20x-speed CD drive provides
fast access to CD-based information.
Although higher-performance components are used in the PowerBook G3, the
low-power consumption of the new PowerPC processor combined with a
higher-capacity 47-watt/hour Lithium ion battery enables customers to enjoy
two to four hour battery life.
"Apple and Motorola have delivered the fastest processor available to
mobile customers," said Bud Broeker, corporate vice present and general
manager of Motorola's Personal Computing Division. "This latest PowerPC design
combines performance with minimal power requirements, which eliminates the
necessity of choosing either top-end performance or portability."
Multimedia
The PowerBook G3 is designed for creative professionals and authors in all
markets who demand desktop performance yet need mobility. Enhanced multimedia
features include 2MB of VRAM which supports 24-bit video out, enabling
millions of colors on an external monitor; 18-bit color is supported on the
notebook's 12.1" (diagonal) active-matrix SVGA color display. The PowerBook G3
also provides an enhanced Chips and Technology 65554 PCI video controller that
supports hardware acceleration for faster graphics.
The PowerBook G3 has a unique four speaker sound system, PCI video
controller with hardware acceleration, industry standard VGA connector for
24-bit video out, 16-bit stereo in/out, Zoomed Video support and
software-based MPEG-1 decompression. All of these features combined provide
users with one of the most robust systems available today and the key elements
they need to create and present multimedia rich information.
"I do everything on the PowerBook G3. It has become an indispensable piece
of equipment in my camera bag that lets me create what I see in my head,
wherever I am, quickly and easily in a manner I had never dreamed would be
possible when I used my first PowerBook," said Carlan Tapp of Tapp Studio,
based in Seattle, Wash." In the beginning, the thought of doing serious
PhotoShop work was still limited to the desktop Macs in the studio, but with
the PowerBook G3, PhotoShop runs very quickly and is the total answer to do VR
authoring. No more stitching on our current desktop systems. The PowerBook G3
outruns and finishes on an average VR pano up to six minutes faster than our
8500."
Communications
The PowerBook G3 features a number of communications capabilities
including built-in 10Mbps Ethernet and 33.6Kbps modem, in addition to an RJ-45
connector that can accept either Ethernet or telephone cable. Other
communications capabilities include built-in 1MB industry standard IrDA for
transferring information wirelessly to other infrared capable devices. In
addition, PowerBook users will have access through the serial port to GeoPort
technology for ISDN and analog modems.
Expansion
A flexible expansion bay on the PowerBook G3 accepts a variety of modules
including a floppy drive, CD-ROM drive, additional hard drive, magneto-optical
drive, and internal AC adapter; a Zip drive from VST Technologies, Inc. is
also expected to be available. In addition, expansion bay modules from the
PowerBook 3400, 5300, and 190 series can be used with the PowerBook G3. For
more expansion options, two PC Card slots are provided to support two Type II
or one Type III card. The PowerBook G3 allows users to "hot swap" modules
while the system is running unlike other notebook systems that require a user
to shut down or sleep their system prior to the removal of an expansion bay
module.
Software
The PowerBook G3 comes configured with Mac OS 8 and a variety of
productivity, communications, and compatibility software applications to
provide a complete, mobile computing solution right out of the box.
Productivity software includes Now Software Inc.'s Now Up-To-Date and Now
Contact. Communications software provided includes Internet tools such as Mac
OS 8 Internet Assistant, Netscape Navigator 3.0, Microsoft Internet Explorer
3.0 and ForeFront Group's WebWhacker 3.0 for browsing the Internet off line.
The PowerBook G3 also ships with Apple Location Manager, a software
utility which allows users to save system settings that are location dependent
including networking, printer, time zone, file sharing and sound. Once a
defined location is set up, a user simply selects that location and the system
automatically reconfigures to reflect the chosen environment. Apple Remote
Access is also included for easily connecting to a desktop or network from a
remote location. Compatibility software includes Macintosh PC Exchange for
reading and writing PC-formatted floppy disks, Macintosh Easy Open and
MacLinkPlus from Dataviz for reading and translating PC-formatted files.
Availability, Pricing, and Configuration
The PowerBook G3 is available immediately in the United States with an
estimated retail price of $5,700. Additionally, the PowerBook G3 is expected
to be available in Europe in late November, and Japan and other countries in
December; pricing may vary per region. The PowerBook G3 will be sold in one
configuration: 250MHz PowerPC G3 processor, 512K level 2 backside cache, 32MB
EDO RAM, internal 5GB IDE hard drive module, 12.1" (diagonal) active-matrix
SVGA color display, built-in 1.4MB Apple SuperDrive floppy disk drive, and
internal 20x-speed CD-ROM drive module.
Apple Computer, Inc. ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s
with the Apple II, and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the
Macintosh. Apple is now recommitted to its original mission to bring the best
personal computing products and support to students, educators, designers,
scientists, engineers, businesspersons, and consumers in over 140 countries
around the world.
Customer Information Contact: If you are considering the purchase of an
Apple product and would like to have product information faxed to you, call
800-462-4396 in the U.S. or 800-263-3394 in Canada. If you do not have a fax
machine or would like to locate an Apple authorized reseller near you, call
800-538-9696. Customers in the U.S. now have the option of buying products
over the Internet at the Apple Store (www.apple.com) as part of a distribution
strategy that utilizes the Internet, along with the Company's existing
retailers and resellers to sell products. Customers outside the U.S. should
contact their local Apple representatives for information.
NOTE: Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, Power Macintosh, and PowerBook
are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Additional company and
product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of the individual
companies and are respectfully acknowledged.
SOURCE Apple Computer, Inc.
/NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information visit Apple's website
(http://www.apple.com/source/), call Apple's Media Helpline at 408-974-2042,
or contact David Krane at our PR agency, Niehaus Ryan Group, Inc.,
650-827-7081./
/CONTACT: Nathalie Welch, 408-974-5430, or email, welch.n@apple.com, or
Russell Brady, 408-974-6877, or email, brady2@apple.com, both of Apple
Computer, Inc.; or Todd Paoletti of NRG, 415-827-7030, or email,
todd@nrgpr.com, for Apple Computer/
/Web site: apple.com
(AAPL)
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