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12" Powerbook experts, need your advice! WoW players especially!

D

Demon Hunter

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Hi guys! Need your advice!

I'm looking at a 12" Powerbook now, but there are a few things that I'm definitely unhappy about with the current model. I've been using a 15" and now that I know what carrying that thing around is like, I'm thinking about my next move. I'm especially interested in how you think the current models perform (or other revs).

  1. 1024x768... hard to work with, will they ever increase the resolution?
  2. the GPU is far from stellar, barely knows what a shader is, and the "FX" series is known in my circle to be fairly poor
  3. possibilities of a dual-core Powerbook. would this even be possible in a 12"?
  4. no GigaBit, and my university is installing that now 🙁

I'm mostly concerned about enjoying this computer as my one, my only, machine. I play UT2k4, Call of Duty, and most importantly, World of Warcraft. I'm a student and a 12" is a dream for that purpose, but when I come back to my dorm I want to game reasonably well, say 20-30 fps at the least.

The obvious benefits of a 12" being mobility and weight, and some extra money in my pocket. The advantages of waiting would be possible dual-core, better GPU, and if I wait it's likely I could avoid paying for Tiger as well.

Please include 10.3.x, RAM, hard disk speed, etc. if giving performance on those games.

If I were to get a 12", I would up the RAM to 1.256, which could help WoW marginally. Before I was using 1 GB, 1.5 GHz, 5400rpm, 128 VRAM.

Thanks!!!
 
dferrara said:
  1. 1024x768... hard to work with, will they ever increase the resolution?
  2. the GPU is far from stellar, barely knows what a shader is, and the "FX" series is known in my circle to be fairly poor
  3. possibilities of a dual-core Powerbook. would this even be possible in a 12"?
  4. no GigaBit, and my university is installing that now 🙁
Click to expand...

Let me answer some of your points here. Maybe some game specialist can jump in and give more advice that is game-related.
1. I think the resolution is probably going to stay at 1024x768. I don't see Apple changing that any time soon.
3. Should we get a dual-core PB (which I think seems likely) I would assume that the first and second installments will only be able in the 15 and 17-inch models. Even though I own a 12" PB, I think it is rapidly loosing its significance within the PB family. It just seems so underpowered. (And lonely, and abandoned . . .)
4. I agree with you here. I'm kind of bummed out by that.

Sorry I couldn't help with anything game-related, but maybe my other stuff was helpful.
 
I play WoW on my powerbook all the time. runs good.

I am a student as well, i love the 12" because it is so light and small.
 
Don't play games so I can't help with that part, but I think you will find this a very different computer from your 15. I have and love the Rev A 12in (yes it's had lots of problems) and it's more like a super i book than a smaller big powerbook. Even so I think the 1024x768 is perfect for on the go or in-class web/word/itunes type usage. I run an external lcd for more desktop with external keyboard and bt mouse when at home. If you can deal with the notable differences in expansion and performance you noted, then the 12 is the best.

PS omfg it is so slim and lightweight. No one ever believes it's a computer in my bag.
 
I woudlnt worry about the gigabit ethernet, I dont think you'll see a performance disadvantage. Besides shouldnt your campus be going wireless??

This is quite a useful threat, I'm stil debating whether to go for a 15" model or a 12" to replace my ageing Rev A12". I do find the screen to be a bit small on occasion. what worries me most though is that the graphics card wont be up for the job when Tiger comes out. Any one know if this is the case or just a bit of fud?

I really need something a bit more snappier than my 867 with 640mb of ram can give. My use is more to do with lots of multiple apps including vpc7 rather than anyone app being labour intensive.

jason
 
Will WoW run on a 12" PB Rev. B? I have 768 mb of Ram, but I only have a 32 meg video card, will it even run? And if it will, will i get decent FPS?
 
PBGPowerbook said:
PS omfg it is so slim and lightweight. No one ever believes it's a computer in my bag.
Click to expand...

Amen to that dude. 🙂

My campus is wireless, just not in my dorm.

j_maddison, that's my concern too... they say it will run the new CoreImage stuff, but I don't know how long that will last. The 5200 FX was one of the first chipsets to implement that stuff.
 
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