WWDC 2003 - Mac Heaven

[Jonbo298]

Just a question, but what is PCI-X? I have a rough idea as to what it is, but unsure. (Not a big Mac person, yet). But those specs are pretty damn nice.

[gekko]

PCI-X isn't a Mac thing. Apple tends to jump on new hardware long before the PC world. But it makes its rounds. Biggest example is USB, basically it was non-existant until Apple standardized it, and companies started making products to work with it, and pretty soon the PC world is all over it. But it's not a Mac-only technology. By controlling the hardware market Apple is able to standardize things, and make every new computer ship with that hardware. Because of that, companies are willing to take advantage of it, because every person who buys a new computer will have it. It also allows Apple to make software that all Mac users can take advantage of. iMovie came out when they standardized FireWire, iTunes with CD-RWs, iDVD with the DVD-RW/CD-RW. It works nicely.

Anyway, standard PCI ports have a 32-bit bus running at 33mhz. PCI-X is a 64-bit bus running at 133mhz. But I don't know of much that actually uses the slots as of right now. But they don't need to really, it helps make your Mac last much longer. Over 2 years ago I bought this G4 of mine, it came with a DVD-RW/CD-RW (1st in the world, w00t!) and Gigabit ethernet. When I bought this, I could add a 4 port gigabit ethernet hub with gigabit ethernet cables for $999.99. 2 years later, gigabit ethernet is only slightly more expensive than 10/100, and my DVD-RW/CD-RW is far from out of date. That's why I love Apple. They push ahead, supporting new hardware long before the PC world. Wow, Dell has wireless networks, only years after I've been using AirPort, suckers!

G5s will have Serial ATA, FireWire 800, USB 2.0, AirPort Extreme, Bluetooth, and PCI-X to push it long into the future.

Attaching the leaked G5 specs.

[Jonbo298]

8GB of DDR SDRAM. I'd like to see a G5 with top of the line everything in it running. Will they show it running at the conference? If so, I'm gonna have to watch the stream then.

[gekko]

Steve Jobs usually sits down at a computer, but I don't know if it's ever been top of the line. It would make sense, however, I know the monitor he uses tends to be the 17", but maybe that's just so it's a 4:3 on the big screen. But he usually does demos, and then goes back to his presentation, and so on.

[Bond]

Yes

[Jonbo298]

*Runs off to get $4000 worth of pop cans*
Only 80,000 cans to go!

[gekko]

Actually, the high end G4 model is only $2999. Dual 2ghz, 512MB RAM. Now if you want 8GB RAM and all 500GB of HD space, you'll need some more pop cans