You know, with all these, um, "questionable" rumors flying around about 17" iMacs and Apple-branded Palm devices, you may be wondering if there are any Macworld Expo rumors with a hint more likelihood to them. Wonder no more, because at least one Apple product introduction is virtually a lock: a new PowerBook. The latest edition of The O'Grady Files lays out all the reasons why "Pismo," the next professional portable slated to emerge from Apple's labs, is almost definitely going to join Uncle Steve on stage in San Francisco in a few weeks.

Consider this: out of the four Macs representing Apple's Magical Grid O' Products™, which one has gone longest without an update? Here's a few hints for those not paying attention: it's not the iBook, which just debuted a few short months ago; it's not the iMac, which celebrated its rebirth back in October; and it's not the Power Mac, which was promoted to supercomputer status in late August or so. Here's one more hint for the truly slow, drunk, and/or sleep-deprived: it's the PowerBook. Today's "bronze" PowerBook G3 was introduced way back in May, and it lacks many features present in Apple's three newer product lines, like built-in AirPort compatibility and a motherboard based around the UMA architecture. It also lags severely in the translucence department, sporting a cool root beer-like keyboard, but matte black plastics otherwise. Yup, it's time for a whole new PowerBook, and where better to unveil it than at Macworld Expo?

As for what to expect when "Pismo" makes its first appearance, well, that's a matter of great speculation. O'Grady's sources are generally pretty correct, though, so we won't be surprised if "Pismo" sports an all-new iBook-like clamshell enclosure, built-in FireWire, and maybe even a 15" display. It's also rumored that "Pismo" will be the first PowerBook to have a magnesium frame since the Duo, granting it a carrying weight of only five pounds. Feast your eyes on the PowerPage PismoPage for more details. How do you like them Apples?