DailyTech - ASUS To Build 1.2 Million iBooks

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Hardware ASUS To Build 1.2 Million iBooks
Tuan Nguyen (Blog) - April 5, 2006 7:30 PM

24 comment(s) - last by bob661.. on Apr 6 at 4:04 PM

The iBook receives a face lift and more power - and now it'll run Windows too

ASUS, a long time manufacturing partner of Apple, has just won a contract to produce 1.2 million units of Apple's upcoming iBook. The new iBook will offer a new wide aspect ratio form factor and start with a 13-inch display. According to a Forbes report, Apple will be sourcing displays from three different LCD manufacturers: AU Optronics Corp, Chi Mei Optoelectronics and LG.Philips LCD.

The iBook will also be receiving a face lift. While still retaining its white color, the iBook now takes the form of its closely related PowerBook and MacBook Pro designs. Some are speculating that Apple will also be announcing a 13-inch MacBook based on Intel's Core Solo processor -- whether it will come with a "Pro" designation or not remains unknown.

Apple's new 13-inch iBook is expected to be available in June of this year, along with several other upcoming products. Apple also announced today that its Intel-based Macs will support the native installation of Windows XP, including the upcoming iBook.

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sweet

By ksherman on 4/5/2006 7:40:36 PM , Rating: 2

i look forward to seeing what these things are made of... and how much they cost...

RE: sweet

By SunAngel on 4/5/06, Rating: -1

RE: sweet

By Thmstec on 4/5/2006 7:51:57 PM , Rating: 1

You might be ignorant, Asus doesn't make the chips, they just assemble the package. I think he is referring to what kind of CPUs and related items will be inside the iBooks.

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RE: sweet

By Ksyder on 4/6/2006 12:04:00 AM , Rating: 2

I don't think he is ignorant. Anyone who reads this site probably knows that Asus is not a chipset maker. The interesting part, and what the first poster is referring to is the material of the chassis itself, compared to the "titanium" Powerbooks out there now.

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RE: sweet

By ksherman on 4/6/2006 12:10:02 AM , Rating: 4

well, as the OP, I am in a unique position to clarify...

I do know that Asus does not make chips... More so, I am interested to see the specs ie the video card (especcially) processor etc... also, they writer of the srticle alluded to them being more "powerbook-like" and I am interested to see what is meant by that.

the 13 inch screen sounds like a really good sweetspot... assuming the resolustion is decent, which IMO Apple's laptops seemed to be lacking.

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XP+MacOs on Virtualization?

By Cygni on 4/5/2006 8:10:00 PM , Rating: 2

With all the talk of the new virtualization techs coming for AMD and Intel (Pacifica, Silvervale, and Vanderpool)... it sounds likely that these iBooks, and other Mac products if they all support native XP, could possibly be the first to put the tech to good use when it becomes available. XP + OS X at the same time sounds pretty damn interesting...

RE: XP+MacOs on Virtualization?

By Dahak on 4/6/2006 6:53:05 AM , Rating: 2

yep, going to be part of the 10.5 release of os x and it is also available now for any intel based mac at
http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp

couple of requirements
1) 10.4.6
2) firmware update (which im guessing adds the compatibility module to efi)

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RE: XP+MacOs on Virtualization?

By plinden on 4/6/2006 11:31:50 AM , Rating: 2

Except that's not virtualization. It's enabling dual boot into Windows.

I can see people using both - virtualization for comparatively low CPU intensive applications, booting into windows for games or applications like AutoCAD that aren't available on Mac OSX.

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ONEMOUSE

By jeffbui on 4/5/2006 10:15:44 PM , Rating: 2

Two mouse buttons please.

RE: ONEMOUSE

By xstylus on 4/6/2006 1:11:00 AM , Rating: 2

I was thinking the same thing. What the heck is one going to do when they need to right-click in WinXP and don't have an external mouse handy?

I'd love to see a DIY kit to replace the built in touchpad with a two-button. You'd have to disassemble the Macbook and that'd almost definitely void warranty, but so what. I wants mah two button!

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RE: ONEMOUSE

By plinden on 4/6/2006 11:41:52 AM , Rating: 2

quote:
What the heck is one going to do when they need to right-click in WinXP and don't have an external mouse handy?

Ctrl-click.

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macosx dual boot xp

By tzulo on 4/5/2006 10:23:34 PM , Rating: 2

Apple does support windows xp on mac now as dualboot.

http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp/

Funny, right after that contenst of getting xp on a macbook running, this comes out what 3 weeks later?

Looking good for apple.

RE: macosx dual boot xp

By ksherman on 4/6/2006 12:13:58 AM , Rating: 2

i would guess that apples fix has been "ready" to go for a while, (esp. since it is really only a firmware upgrade and some drivers) and figured they would wait until the contest was over, give someone the win ;-)

or maybe they stole it, but i doubt that since they wrote the EFI in the first place

It is DEFINETLY a good move on apple's part. As long as the process is simple, It will certainly bring some users to their side. I will be on of them. I want an Apple for OSX and for their laptops. The ability to run XP without a hitch is a pretty sweet deal... though personally I want to wait for Merom, which should be a MUCH better chip

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RE: macosx dual boot xp

By AMDZen on 4/6/2006 9:52:35 AM , Rating: 2

Apple didn't write or have anything to do with the development of Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI). Intel developed it, Apple just happened to be in the right place at the right time to be able to use it first.

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Mmmm...

By xstylus on 4/6/2006 1:01:48 AM , Rating: 2

If the new 13 inch Macbook comes equipped with a Core Duo and an ATI chipset (and not that godawful GMA950), it'll be the notebook that retires my 3 1/2 year old Compaq. :)

Honestly

By boinkle on 4/6/2006 4:40:44 AM , Rating: 2

13" Widescreen **rumours** have been flying for years, but really it was always likely that was the next move.

ASUS have been manufacturing iBooks for years. Chances are, if you have an iBook now, it was made by ASUS.

What's the news here?

Fat chance

By cornfedone on 4/5/06, Rating: -1

RE: Fat chance

By bombledmonk on 4/5/2006 8:45:49 PM , Rating: 3

Asus is on top of the laptop market right now(as far as momentum), they make great innovative notebooks. In europe they are the # 1 notebook maker, and they are really gaining popularity in the US as well. Checkout www.notebookreview.com for some more specific info.

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RE: Fat chance

By ss284 on 4/5/2006 9:44:13 PM , Rating: 2

The problem is that motherboards have a relatively slim profit margin compared to notebooks. Asus really only cares about profits, like most other companies. Then again, I too and jaded from dealing with Asus's crap ass k8 motherboards.

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Since when does Asus make crap?

By xstylus on 4/6/2006 1:06:53 AM , Rating: 2

Huhhh? Back when I used to keep better track of the latest and greatest components, I had always been led to understand that Asus was one of the better quality mobo makers out there, especially with regards to stability and performance.

Did Asus suddenly fall from grace at some point?

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RE: Since when does Asus make crap?

By bob661 on 4/6/2006 4:01:38 PM , Rating: 2

quote:
Did Asus suddenly fall from grace at some point?

Nope. They are just as good. It seems that some people equate great OCing ability with quality and reliability nowadays. I have an Asus board in my computer and it's been fantastic for the past two years on the original BIOS.

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RE: Fat chance

By Cygni on 4/6/2006 2:39:20 AM , Rating: 4

quote:
Asus can't even deliver a properly operating Mobo in the last two years so I wouldn't get high hopes for anything Asus claims in their flowery marketing hype.

Wow, someone has steered away from actually reading reviews, apparently...

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RE: Fat chance

By INeedCache on 4/6/2006 1:55:57 PM , Rating: 2

I am a computer tech and have been building, upgrading, and repairing machines for about 10 years. To address the issue of Asus motherboards, it is my experience that their boards are not as great as you apparently think they are. There is a difference between a short test run for a review and actual real world usage. They have not proven for us to be any more reliable or their service any better than some of the other better known board makers, and they typically are more expensive. Their performance edge is generally due to the advanced BIOS they typically use, but it's not really enough for most people to even discern, nor do most users ever go messing with their BIOS anyway. There are a lot of enthusiasts that swear by Asus, yet they have no other experience with other board manufacturers. Just because one product worked for you, that doesn't necessarily mean it's great, and all products from them are great. Read all of the reviews you want, real world usage, performance, and support are what really matter. In my opinion, their reputation far exceeds what they actually deliver.

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RE: Fat chance

By bob661 on 4/6/2006 4:04:08 PM , Rating: 2

I have an Asus board in my computer and it runs fine. My friend that owns a computer store sells 97% Asus boards (Intel and AMD) and his don't have any inherent problems either. I had an Asus board before that it ran fantastic also with no problems.

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