1.2Ghz 12" iBook performance questions.

[spercharged69]

I'm looking at buying either a Rev C. 12" PowerBook, or a 1.2Ghz 12" iBook as a gift for my girlfriend. She would use it for general internet stuff, web browsing, iPhoto, lots of Garage Band, a little iMovie, and to play The Sims. Is an iBook enough machine for that? I'm concerned with the older GPU and its performance in The Sims, as well as whether or not Tiger with Core Image will be as good as it can be.

Also, Garage Band can kind of kick the crap out of my 17" PowerBook, I'm wondering if an iBook can take it. Hmm.

What do you guys think?

 

[CrackedButter]

I use to use GarageBand on a 1Ghz eMac, it was doable. As for Tiger, somebody else can answer that.

But for what she is going to use it for should be fine. I do most of those things on this 1Ghz iBook no problem.

 

[09872738]

I'm looking at buying either a Rev C. 12" PowerBook, or a 1.2Ghz 12" iBook as a gift for my girlfriend. She would use it for general internet stuff, web browsing, iPhoto, lots of Garage Band, a little iMovie, and to play The Sims. Is an iBook enough machine for that? I'm concerned with the older GPU and its performance in The Sims, as well as whether or not Tiger with Core Image will be as good as it can be.

Also, Garage Band can kind of kick the crap out of my 17" PowerBook, I'm wondering if an iBook can take it. Hmm.

What do you guys think?

GarageBand needs some quick HD. GarageBand denied running on my PB 17" 1,33, stating the HD is too slow (HD is standard with 4200 rpm).

Just fyi

 

[Hemingray]

I haven't used GarageBand in-depth (yet), and I haven't played the Sims on my 1.2 12" iBook, but everything else runs fine. I maxed out the RAM though, so I would definitely recommend that.

 

[iGary]

If she wants to use GarageBand, either max it out with RAM (you will still be disappointed with the performance), or buy a 12" PB.

I had a friend that was just looking at the 12" iBook and decided by the time he made it usable for his needs, the PB was a better deal - if you can afford it.

I've used GB a couple of times on the 1.2 12" and it is dog slow.

 

[arnette]

Garageband is slow on ANY Mac.

Get the ibook and up the RAM as much as possible. Unless you're doing solely music stuff you won't miss any of the Powerbook's differences.

 

[spercharged69]

I ended up getting a Rev D. 12" PB with 1gb of RAM. Should be golden.

 

[wwooden]

I ended up getting a Rev D. 12" PB with 1gb of RAM. Should be golden.

I think you made the best choice. The newer PB's with the fast harddrives and extra ram will really help. As you can see in my sig, I have 1Ghz 12'' it and does Garageband well enough for me. I don't do a lot mic recording, I only do MIDI stuff from my keyboard and use loops. I never really notice any bogging of the system. I usually have about 6-7 different tracks going at once and it still works fine.

 

[26139]

Seriously?

GarageBand needs some quick HD. GarageBand denied running on my PB 17" 1,33, stating the HD is too slow (HD is standard with 4200 rpm).

Just fyi

It did? That's weird, it ran just fine on my 17" rev b (1.33 with 1gig of ram). It wasn't as nice as, say a G5 with a ton of ram, but it did multiple tracks more than decently.