I hear tell that a new iBook from apple is due out. My friend was wanting to wait to buy the current model when the new ones came out to help save on the cost.
Anyone know or hear any rumors as the date of release?
I haven’t heard anything, but given that (a) Apple last upgraded the iBook in October 2004, and (b) Apple usually refreshes their hardware every 6-9 months, there might be an iBook speed bump in the next month or so. Or not.
Generally, I don’t find it productive to try and predict the next upgrade of Apple gear (except for not buying right before a major trade show, anyway). Waiting for the next release is a surefire way of delaying any purchase, and doesn’t satisfy in the long run. If your friend needs an iBook now, he should just buy it – if he likes it today, the release of an upgraded version next week wouldn’t mean Apple sends secret ninjas to his house and add an extra dose of Hardware Suckitude™ retroactively. 
Just assume any computer you buy will be outdated as soon as you take it off the shelf…
Well, a quick google on ‘iBook G5’ brought up this macrumors.com page, indicating a possibility of the second quarter of 2005. I didn’t dig too deeply into the comments (or, not at all), but I would bet good money on them coming out with the new PowerBook G5 on time (and my wife said a new Mac laptop could be my birthday gift, yay!), even money on them doing anything of substance to the iBook.
Macrumors.com also has a buyer’s guide, which is usually quite useful. For the iBook, they say:
Product: iBook
Last Release: October 19, 2004
Days Since Update: 135 (Average = 158)
Recommendation: Buy only if you need it - Approaching the end of a cycle
Special Notes: none.
The MacRumors Buyer’s Guide keeps track of when Apple’s products have been updated in the past and how many days the product is on the market until updated. The iBook was last updated 135 days ago, and the average is 158 days. So if Apple used the same exact cycle, a new model should arrive in 23 days.