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Do you believe the newer MAC's are as solid as the old G4 Powerbooks?

one1

one1

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jun 17, 2007
1,168
28
Chattanooga, TN
I have seen battery issues with low cycles before dying off, hardware and software issues left and right. Do you think that Apple still has a way to go working on getting the newer books to be as dependable as the old G4 Powerbooks?

I'm not saying there weren't ANY issues with the G4, but they are famous for holding up over the test of time and by now they pretty much run seamlessly with hardware and software.
 
mad jew

mad jew

Moderator emeritus
Apr 3, 2004
32,191
9
Adelaide, Australia
They were around forever, in technology terms. It's no wonder they're so reliable, since the engineers have all had so much experience with them.
 
iBookG4user

iBookG4user

macrumors 604
Jun 27, 2006
6,595
2
Seattle, WA
My MacBook Pro has been very solid, I haven't had many issues with it at all. You probably get that impression because people are more prone to write about their bad experiences than their good ones.
 
one1

one1

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jun 17, 2007
1,168
28
Chattanooga, TN
mad jew said:
They were around forever, in technology terms. It's no wonder they're so reliable, since the engineers have all had so much experience with them.
Click to expand...

That's pretty much where I am heading with this. It seems like there are still some issues to work past with the newer books, but I don't think they are there yet.

At the rate that apple is progressing with the books, I'm thinking one more year and the intel books will be cheap enough and issues hammered out enough to justify buying them over the 1.67 Powerbooks. (I need dependability over light speed)

The 1.67 Powerbooks aren't slow and they are tried and trusty, solid with no bugs. Upgrading to the newer intel books is a fine idea as long as they work some of the issues out that still exist. They did a good job on working most of the issues so far. (batteries, conflicts, etc)

I've watched friends go through the intel growing pains so I have been watching closely waiting on the right time to buy. My two 12" Ibooks and trusty 17" Powerbook have never let me down so far, but I am ready to jump another step.
 
MACDRIVE

MACDRIVE

macrumors 68000
Feb 17, 2006
1,695
3
Clovis, California
I think the G4 PowerBook that I'm writing on right now is about 5 years old. It's had 1 hard drive replacement and 1 optical drive replacement and that's it. It's been extremely reliable as far as I'm concerned.

mad jew has an iBook of some kind if I remember correctly. I've always assumed the reason why he hangs on to it is because he's smart. ;)
 
synth3tik

synth3tik

macrumors 68040
Oct 11, 2006
3,951
2
Minneapolis, MN
The Powerbooks were around for a while and Apple was able to work out issues with them. That said I am really enjoying my MBP. The this is solid. I also remember reading a story about a MBP in Brazil that took a bullet and still worked perfectly, minus the cosmetic damage, I'd say thats pretty solid construction.
 
I

Igantius

macrumors 65816
Apr 29, 2007
1,244
3
one1 said:
I have seen battery issues with low cycles before dying off, hardware and software issues left and right.
Click to expand...
Out of interest, are you using forums, sites with editorial control like Macintouch and Macfixit, or a combination of the two to get your info.
 
A

A Pittarelli

macrumors 6502
Jun 1, 2007
378
0
the new macs are just fine in comparison, the powerbooks were great, but there is better factory tools and R&D now
 
P

Papajohn56

macrumors 6502
Aug 13, 2005
277
0
My PBG4 was reliable up until the RAM slot stopped recognizing. 2 mobo's later and now Apple is replacing it with a MBP. I hope it's as reliable, this board has scared the hell out of me. I'll miss my G4 :(
 
I

Igantius

macrumors 65816
Apr 29, 2007
1,244
3
Papajohn56 said:
My PBG4 was reliable up until the RAM slot stopped recognizing. 2 mobo's later and now Apple is replacing it with a MBP. I hope it's as reliable, this board has scared the hell out of me. I'll miss my G4 :(
Click to expand...
I would serously advise you to look at sites like Macintouch which has editorial control and a more sober approach.

That's why I asked the OP what he was relying to get his information from - although forums are handy for information, they can be handy for misinformation too; one example is the two unsafe magsafe threads - Apple phased out the older design six months ago, but if you read them, you would be forgiven for thinking it's a current problem and only a matter of time before it happens to you; on the plus side, one poster was delighted when I told him he could get his affected magsafe replaced for free, something he didn't know.
 
killerrobot

killerrobot

macrumors 68020
Jun 7, 2007
2,239
3
127.0.0.1
No problems at all with my 17" Merom.

I think it's all just a mind thing because the G4 was around for so long and the updates didn't necessarily come out every 5-6 months like they do now that they are running on Intel. I think Apple has to try to keep up now with the PC makers and perhaps somethings are rushed a bit, but overall the Intels are just as stable if you ask me.
 
Deepdale

Deepdale

macrumors 68000
May 4, 2005
1,965
0
New York
Problems, no matter how major or insignificant, will always cause people to post more and vent about their feelings and misgivings. However, I have read enough praiseworthy comments here from MBP owners that attest to their love affairs with their Mac notebooks. That leads me to conclude that despite expected kinks and assembly flaws, the MBP line is by no means inherently inferior to its predecessor.
 
mad jew

mad jew

Moderator emeritus
Apr 3, 2004
32,191
9
Adelaide, Australia
MACDRIVE said:
mad jew has an iBook of some kind if I remember correctly. I've always assumed the reason why he hangs on to it is because he's smart. ;)
Click to expand...


Haha! In a fit of stupidity, I sold her. I kinda half wish I hadn't, but I just didn't really need her anymore considering iRis the iMac (G5) is more than enough Mac for me. She was one of the very first G4 iBooks with absolutely no problems. :)
 
dollystereo

dollystereo

macrumors 6502a
Oct 6, 2004
907
114
France
But my MBP is SO MUCH faster than my old PB G4 1.5ghz, there is no comparision. This is a desktop class computer in a even thinner case.
1.5ghz w/167mhz fsb vs 2.0 dual core /667 mhz fsb, I think I take the risk.
 
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