12" Powerbook vs. 14" iBook

for what you've listed (internet/word/occasional photo work) an ibook would suit you just fine. I'm still doing that (and much more) on my 2yr old G3 ibook (800MHz, 640MB RAM).

Probably the thing you need to consider is how portable you want it to be. I hvae no problems carrying around my 14" ibook, but a 12" PB woudl be much easier.

I ordered the 12" Powerbook SD, 100Gig HD and 768mb of Ram. The day the new powerbooks were released. I was going to get the iBook 14" SD with 80Gig HD and 768 of RAM. I am a student so with the student discount and the price drop of the powerbook it was accually cheaper. I live in Canada so my dollar figures will be different but the PB was 7$ cheaper. The student discount on the iBook is about $100 and the PB superdrive is $250 CND.

I think that even with the smaller screen size the PB is much more bang for the buck. We may not have the same computing needs but that is the route that I went. Considering I intend to have this computer beyond school I took my future need into consideration.

Hello and welcome faintedlife, I guess one thing to consider is the work horse factor. You said your iMac will do the brunt but how old is it? This could factor in the change of work load if say the powerbook or iBook would be over all faster than the iMac is. Also consider the screen size (physical), if your eyes need the slightly larger screen then the iBook would be better and that is why I choose the iBook. Now the cost--they are within $200 of each other but for $200 you can buy alot of software or Ram!
I think slow is only in the way of the programs you would use. For what you said you do then I think the iBook would be great (for 2-3yrs.) and cost less but by then you may sell your iMac (in time) and move on to a PB.
If you can what are the iMac specs. and why would it do the brunt?
Let us know

powerbook, the 14" ibook is silly it would only be worth it with a higher screen res

14" iBook is heavier than a 15" PowerBook. Do you really want to carry around almost 6 pounds?

Just to chip in here.

I like the 14" iBook, I have bad sight, and the larger pixels are nice. Most others seem to think it pointless, bigger screen no more pixels.. :|

I just bought myself the new 12" PB but I truly think that iBooks look better... I mean they are white and very original and sexy! Not metallic-gray like every other high-tech equipment these days.. So if i didn't need to do audio editing and stuff like this, i would have bought an iBook. No question about it!

By the way i think Apple should make new G5 PowerBooks from wood! Or at least cover it with some kind of wooden imitation. It would blow everybody away...

XIII said:

Just to chip in here.

I like the 14" iBook, I have bad sight, and the larger pixels are nice. Most others seem to think it pointless, bigger screen no more pixels.. :|

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I agree completely! I think the 14" iBook gets far too much abuse on this site. I have one for the same reasons you do. Trust me folks, there's a need for this machine. I wouldn't have a laptop if it didn't exist. Powerbook's just too pricey for me.

XIII said:

Just to chip in here.

I like the 14" iBook, I have bad sight, and the larger pixels are nice. Most others seem to think it pointless, bigger screen no more pixels.. :|

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Actually quite a few members point this feature out all the time.

Hi-res LCDs are nice for pictures, but the text is sometimes too small for people with vision problems.

I'd go for the iBook. Better specs. 0.17 Ghz more isn't much of an advantage in the powerbook.

The 14" iBook has a very nice screen.

amoses said:

I'd go for the iBook. Better specs. 0.17 Ghz more isn't much of an advantage in the powerbook.

The 14" iBook has a very nice screen.

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Let's not get carried away here. The 12" PB has a little bit more going for it here than .17GHz speed advantage. When you add 256MB RAM and BT to the 14" iBook (admittedly optional, so you can take another $50 off if you want, or save a bit by buying RAM elsewhere), you're talking a $75 difference. That $75 buys you a computer with a smaller screen but the same resolution, faster FSB, faster HD, better BT, faster video card, double the VRAM, true clamshell mode, no-hack screen spanning, built-in audio in, the fancy new trackpad, and some HD drop protection, all in a much smaller and lighter computer. So unless you really need that 14" screen, I guess, that could sound like $75 well spent; some might call it a bargain at twice the price.

The more useful comparison is, of course, to the 12" iBook. With the 14", you are paying a couple hundred dollars premium for a simply larger screen. Worth it to some, not to others.


edit: I re-read the original post, and noticed that it had the computers at slightly different configs than I used, and I didn't use edu pricing, but the points above still stand, just adjust the numbers as necessary.

The decision is totally a matter of personal preforance.

Considering your willing to upgrade the ram in your ibook, and the HD size is not a consideration (w/ the noticable difference in HD speed as the PB packs a 5400rpm hd now) you have eliminated the preformance differences between the two machines. The next consideration seems to be the screen size. No doubt 14 inches is bigger then 12 ( resolution being the same of course). If you want a need a 14" display then that is that..you got to get the ibook.

Just some food for thought: From personal experience I was very hesitant to buy a 12" powerbook, but with the high resolution and expose, which rocks in managing screen realestate I took the plunge. I found the screen to be fine and esp if you have a desktop at home. The portability rocked..so light and small just threw it in a sleave and in my bag. The battery life is amazing...perfect for me I get 4 hours which last me through out my day. The weight is nice since I carry it around all day..trust me a big difference from 6lbs and 4.5 lbs. Another key factor I noticed was the keyboard. The keyboard on the powerbook is amazing...much more solid then the ibooks and even the standard mac keyboard.....at least in my opinion. Not to mention is is cool having a light and compact computer laying around the house with some extra battery life..u can lounge on the couch or surf the net during breakfast...for power computing I have my imac.....best of both worlds..I love wireless computing I will never be chained to my desk again or a powerline.

Try them out and find what works for you.

Personally i dont like the 14inch ibook screen. You have to be looking directly at it to get the colors right. Bad viewing angles. Also its not bright enough. Go with the 12 inch PB.

Another vote for the 12" Powerbook.

Other posters have covered the differences between it and the 14" iBook well, and with the slight price premium you quote I would say it is no contest.

Should the 12" screen become too small for you you could easily get a cheapo CRT monitor and use that either as a replacement for, or in conjunction with your PB screen.

Then you would have the benefit of a faster, lighter, better basic Mac, being able to run two screens without needing to use a hack (by all accounts a safe one though) and being able to run in true clamshell mode.

I'm with the majority on this one.

The only reasons to pick the 14'' iBook are screen size, white plastic case and about $75-$100.

The 12'' PB is just a better performer all round!

Or consider this from the Apple store for $1299:

PowerBook G4 1.33GHz/ 256MB/ 60GB/ Combo/ AP Extreme Card/ E/ 12-inch TFT/ Aluminum/ iLife '05

carpet said:

Personally i dont like the 14inch ibook screen. You have to be looking directly at it to get the colors right. Bad viewing angles. Also its not bright enough. Go with the 12 inch PB.

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I compared both because I too have vision problems. The 12" PB won hands down for clarity issues. The larger pixels are nice but in Safari I can use the increase text size button and in text documents use a larger font. The difference between the screen on my PB and my 15" iMac is barely noticeable. The PB as you say is also brighter and better in natural light. I'm typing in front of an east facing window with lots of natural light and there is no glare or degradation of quality.