If you're as big a fan of Apple's Powerbooks as we are, you've probably been following the ongoing story about Apple's new high-end "Wall Street" line at sites like O'Grady's PowerPage. But even if you haven't, you'll hear all about these new beauties soon enough; a recent CNET article signals the advent of the "mainstream" press that will cover the next generation of Apple laptops.

According to CNET, all of the new Powerbooks will be based on the same logic board when they are unveiled this spring. The processors on those boards will all be G3's, of course, ranging from 233 MHz to a blistering 292 MHz. Screens will vary at different price points, but the top of the line will sport a 14.1-inch active-matrix display. And rumors of the DVD-ROM drive option are apparently true. In addition, the PowerPage notes that the new cases are only about as thick as the sleek Duos, and the industrial design is "very curvy, black, and quite unlike any Powerbook to date." Oooh, we're getting, er, excited. Sure is nice to hear that Apple's commitment to innovative and interesting laptops hasn't changed.

Another thing sure hasn't changed, either-- the premium one must pay for speedy portability. The highest-end Wall Street model will carry a sticker price hovering around $6300. While you recover from your aneurysm, you can convalesce quietly, secure in the fact that the 233 MHz model (with a modest 12.1-inch passive-matrix screen) will only put a $2500-size dent in your wallet. Good thing, too, given how much the hospital bill's going to run you...

In a snub that will echo throughout the ages (or at least until we get distracted by a bright, shiny object), Republican Senator Orrin Hatch has neglected to invite Steve Jobs to his committee on competition and the Internet. The splendiforous AppleLinks points us to a Reuters story that shows Hatch inviting Bill Gates of Microsoft, Scott McNealy of Sun, and Jim Barksdale of Netscape.

Of course, putting those three in a room together sounds like a deliciously dangerous proposal. McNealy's personal hobby is publicly lambasting Gates and Microsoft, and of course there's the tiny issue of the Microsoft-Sun lawsuit involving the corruption of the Java standard. And the third side of this hate triangle is Barksdale, whose company is widely rumored to be ripe for a buyout following a tremendously poor quarter after Microsoft's "interesting" competitive practices stole market share from Netscape so quickly its personified head spun like a top. Catfight, anyone? We bet it's going to make the Jerry Springer show look like Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. So how come no Steve Jobs, who could act as a referee, or least provide sparkling color commentary?

Poor Steve... we can just imagine him sitting at home, heartbroken at not being invited to the party. Just when we thought we had plenty of reasons to dislike Senator Hatch, the generous man's gone and given us another. Whatta sweet guy. Happy Valentine's Day, Orrin. Smoochies!

You just have to love the informational vacuum surrounding Apple these days, which is so strong it's just gotta be an Oreck. Whenever any "early news" sneaks out of Cupertino, Apple's incredibly efficient official naysayers immediately go on record to suck the data right back inside the company walls. For instace, just days after the net was ablaze with reports that Apple would name a new CEO within four to six weeks, Apple officially denied those rumors, according to a Newsbytes article.

It's perhaps a disservice to call the four-to-six weeks timeframe a "rumor," though, since it came straight from the mouth of the guy at Apple's recruiting firm heading up the search. Or, rather, the guy who used to be heading up the search, if Apple's as displeased as they seem about his willingness to talk to the press. Nevertheless, an official Apple spokesperson denies that the search has been narrowed to four or five candidates, and states succinctly that there is "nothing new to report."

Oh, well. As far as AtAT's concerned, you can take your time, Apple; we're plenty happy with Steve in the driver's seat. At least with him, the show's never boring.