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For six years, the Internet Nexus served as my technology blog, but I've since started blogging at the SuperSite Blog instead. If you're looking for the blog, please head there. --Paul

Wednesday, June 09, 2004

The new PowerMac G5: Where's the promised 3 GHz model?

It's unclear to me how many free passes the hyperbolic Steve Jobs gets, but clearly he's reaching the end of his allotment: Last year, he promised a 3 GHz G5 by June 30, but this week, Apple upgraded the G5 line to 1.8 GHz and 2 GHz dual processor models, with a third model, sporting a liquid-cooled 2.5 GHz processor due "in July" (if we can believe that claim). So 3 GHz isn't happening anytime soon.

One obvious question: People are going to act like the liquid cooling is a neat feature, but why do I suspect that these chips run so hot they basically NEED to be liquid cooled? As Apple writes, "The 2.5GHz model packs so much power into tight quarters that Apple designed a liquid cooling system."

More to the point, when I complain about Apple, this is pretty much the type of thing I'm talking about. There is a line between "promotion" and "bald-faced lying," and Apple just crosses it a little too often for my tastes. For example, when the company writes, "now the Power Mac G5 offers dual processor models across the board at 1.8GHz, 2GHz and 2.5GHz, for a substantial speed boost at the top of the line," that's an exageration, because the 2.5 GHz model is not available now at all, and given Apple's history, might not meet its expected July release date as well. making that "substantial speed boost at the top of the line" a little less compelling ... now.

And when Jobs boasts about 3 GHz processors and 100 million iTunes downloads, well, that's just irresponsible. I suspect shareholders are happy enough about the company's other successes that they're willing to overlook a few indiscretions. But that won't always be the case and arguably should never be the case anyway.

OK, I'm done ranting for now.

[ Posted at 10:16 AM | Permalink ]