Apple launches Ed-only PowerBook promo


Apple has announced the education-only "Go Back to School in Style" promotion that offers $150 off the purchase price of any PowerBook G4. Taking into account Apple's already-reduced educational pricing, students and teachers can pick up a stock 667MHz, 800MHz or BTO Titanium for up to $380 off the retail price.

This promo ends September 25 and, once again, is available only to schools, students and educators. It also worth stating again that this isn't a rebate -- it's a straight price reduction.

'TiBook en fin de vie?'

French Mac news and rumor site Hard Mac reports European dealers cannot order new stock of current Titanium PowerBooks. Apparently, new customer orders are to be filled from existing stock, which in the past has been a sure signal that a product is end-of-life (EOL).

Here's the Google translation of the Hard Mac report:

"TiBook at the end of the lifetime? Here information which Eric delivers to us. I acknowledge that it is surprising! just a small mall to report to you that a friend who wanted to buy TiBook in Holland during a professional displacement, saw himself answering that it could not have it because they could not order any more of TiBook, it was to be satisfied with what was in stock, "end of life"..... thus one could expect has a revision of Tibook earlier than some awaited it, TiBook with GDR or 1GHz, for a demo has Paris...... par Steve Job since it will be."

(Computer translation still leaves much to be desired and my French is even worse.)

* Note: I picked up the Hard Mac link at MacRumors.

Yes, the last line does speculate that new 1GHz PowerBooks will be announced at Macworld Paris during Steve Jobs' keynote address.

Analysis: That these two items have appeared on the same day is likely a coincidence. That a rumor and the appearance of cheap prices herald new models is far from a certainty.

O'Grady's PowerPage previously reported that no new PowerBooks are expected until Macworld San Francisco.

Moreover, no news vis-a-vis new or revised low-power G4s from Motorola has surfaced in recent months. It's possible that a mere "speedbump" wouldn't warrant any news on this front, but there are numerous people who make it their business to know such things and they've been silent.

Insights anyone?