Apple Computer Inc is planning an upgrade to its best selling PowerBook G3 Portable line before revealing plans for a new professional portable range, with a curved plastic design inspired by the success of the iMac, according to reports posted on the PowerBook Zone and MacOS Rumors web sites. Apple’s Revision 3 Wallsteet notebook looks set to be announced at MacWorld Tokyo next month, on February 18th. Also known as revision C and known internally as Magenta, the new G3 notebooks will use copper processors running at 366, 400 and maybe 433MHz, and will include larger, 15-inch displays. The notebooks are intended to bridge the gap between the Wallstreet range and Lombard, the next generation portable range, which is likely to include an improved chipset, faster bus, bigger screens, the ATI Rage 128 graphics chip and on-board IEEE 1394 FireWire and USB. Lombard, designed in translucent blue plastic: according to one source, could be launched at MacWorld in Boston this August, according to the web sites.
