With the new updates putting the iBook much close to the Powerbook, asking this age old question is a must now.
The Powerbook still has several advantages in the speed department
1. Faster Processor (1.5GHz G4 vs 1.33GHz G4)
2. Faster Bus (167MHz vs 133MHz)
3. Faster Harddrive (5400RPM vs 4200)
4. More memory on GPU (64MB vs 32MB)
5. More outputs, calmshell mode, and screen spanning which I have now use for.
But the iBook has several things that are appealing too
1. The GPU is better http://www.driverheaven.net/reviews/955055005200/index.htm. I know these are the regular computer versions but you get the idea. The FX 5200 256MB is trounced by the ATI Radeon with half the RAM 128MB. If you look at the shader department, the NVidia 5200 doesn't even have all of them. Also Accodrding to Apple the FX 5200 in the Powerbook doesn't even do the ripple effect buy itself, but gets help from the CPU.
2. They both use the same RAM (PC 2700 333MHz) but the iBook has the 512MB soldered on while the PB has 256MB soldered on and 256MB occupying the one and only RAM slot. So to do an upgrade you have to toss out perfectly good RAM which is very stupid on Apple's Part. Plus the iBook is now expandable to 1.5GB instead of 1.256GB like the Powerbook.
I am a student and the $500 price difference now seems very excessive since you are not getting a whole lot more computer for the money.
The Powerbook still has several advantages in the speed department
1. Faster Processor (1.5GHz G4 vs 1.33GHz G4)
2. Faster Bus (167MHz vs 133MHz)
3. Faster Harddrive (5400RPM vs 4200)
4. More memory on GPU (64MB vs 32MB)
5. More outputs, calmshell mode, and screen spanning which I have now use for.
But the iBook has several things that are appealing too
1. The GPU is better http://www.driverheaven.net/reviews/955055005200/index.htm. I know these are the regular computer versions but you get the idea. The FX 5200 256MB is trounced by the ATI Radeon with half the RAM 128MB. If you look at the shader department, the NVidia 5200 doesn't even have all of them. Also Accodrding to Apple the FX 5200 in the Powerbook doesn't even do the ripple effect buy itself, but gets help from the CPU.
2. They both use the same RAM (PC 2700 333MHz) but the iBook has the 512MB soldered on while the PB has 256MB soldered on and 256MB occupying the one and only RAM slot. So to do an upgrade you have to toss out perfectly good RAM which is very stupid on Apple's Part. Plus the iBook is now expandable to 1.5GB instead of 1.256GB like the Powerbook.
I am a student and the $500 price difference now seems very excessive since you are not getting a whole lot more computer for the money.