12" buyer's remorse?

[debroglie]

debroglie, i'm definitely leaning towards the 15" - what kind of battery life are you getting? can you watch an entire dvd on it? can you get 3 hours if you're just using word or something?

Yeah, I can watch a full DVD (about 2.5 hours) quite comfortably at max brightness. I have worked on word documents while listening to music for just under 4 hours with it, but then I turned the brightness down a bit. If I have to do anything for longer than that it isn't a problem to bring the power adapter with.

Like I said, I love my 15 inch and greatly prefer it over my old 12 inch.

 

[betsbillabong]

wow, debroglie, that sounds great. how do you manage that battery life? most people i've spoken with get under 4 hrs. if i could get it to be more than that, i'd definitely do it. do you calibrate it every month or anything?

 

[betsbillabong]

out of the abyss...

well, for anyone who cares, i finally decided!

i drove 2 hours down to the apple store in delaware, where there's no sales tax. i really wanted to have the powerbook before my rehearsals start tomorrow. i also wanted to be sure i left with a perfect powerbook... the experience with the 12" left me a bit worried that i might be unhappy with the next one that shipped.

i still couldn't decide at the store! but finally, as they were closing, i had the epiphany: 12" probably makes more sense but i really wanted the 15". it just seems like a much more luxurious computer. and i do go to meetings and things where i need to show others what i've been working on visually. it's a lot easier with the big screen.

so, it's home and i'm very very happy. now i just need to figure out how best to calibrate the battery life... really hoping that i'll be able to get 3 hrs plus work time out of this and also be able to watch a full DVD. i gave up a 5400 drive, but was able to get the 1.5MHz model. And hopefully at some point I'll swap in a 7200rpm drive and use my current one as a firewire backup disk.

thank you for all of your comments! the 12" is a great one, too, just maybe not right for me with all of my AV needs. so perhaps someone in the universe was looking out for me when they sent the DOA powerbook!

 

[panda]

good one!

well done and congrats.

i think you made a good choice.

what sticks out here, is your interest to watch dvds. i think you will find the widescreen aspect of the 15" very appealing.

as you can see, the adapter is so small, it is no problem carrying it around.

let us know your impressions. 🙂

 

[Yotabyte]

Interesting topic to read!

I was going to suggest the 15" to you betsbillabong if only because for me, when I use photoshop, I do it on a 17" or a 19" screen and I prefer the 19" basically because it FEELS less cluttered. So I can imagine in a powerbook that a 12" would feel cluttered, and I hate having to scroll through layers in photoshop or not have my image fit on the screen, but none the less you made a sound investment.

I agree with the statement that the screen resolution REALLY doesn't matter. That is why basically all graphics programs have the ability to zoom in and out! But i'd never go below 1024 x 768 or the entire screen just looks too grainy.

I am now getting a 15" powerbook too, but I am waiting for the update as I really don't want to invest in a powerbook model that was released back in April. I looked at the 12" powerbook, and really, I hated it. 😛 I'd prefer a 12" ibook over the thing, its to cluttered, and really isn't good value for money, infact I don't feel i'd be out of place by saying it is the worst value for money computer that apple offers.

Like panda, I'd like to read your impressions on the 15" powerbook in all respects as Apple propaganda is only surpassed in exaggeration by Fox News (any one ever read the glory paragraph in the iBook description abot including an GF4 MX 440 in the old g4 iMac line? Curses!) 😛

Best of luck with your Powerbook!

 

[betsbillabong]

Hey Yotabyte,

I don't have much to report, as I've only had it a few hours! But to me, it just feels a lot more solid and like a new, fancy computer. Bear in mind that when I sold my black G3 wallstreet and got the iBook, I was really taken by the small size of the iBook. So I think part of it is that I just wanted something that felt new - the 12" seemed so much like my iBook and yet different... and I'm still quite nostalgic for the iBook, I really love it.

The 15" seems sturdy, beautiful, luxurious... and big. It's really not much heavier, but definitely bulkier. I feel a bit nervous taking it out of the bag with one hand, for example. But as long as I can get decent battery life out of it, I think I really prefer it. When the 12" arrived I was trying to make myself like it. When I opened this one up, I was oohing and aahing. The backlit keyboard is so cool! (And I may be part of the 3% who actually needs it as I gig with the thing on occasion). The screen is beautiful! And as I am (a) a composer and media artist, and (b) writing my dissertation on film and music, I think it will make a big difference having that big beautiful screen.

I must say, though, that I think for many people a 12" with an external monitor would be a good choice. If you get the 1.33 powerbook, the processor is exactly the same, and hooking it up with a 17" or bigger monitor at home, you'd actually get a lot MORE screen real estate. It would have actually made my desk a lot neater, as the pbook keyboard takes up a lot of desk space. I think my problem is that I knew that that system made sense, but I really WANTED the 15"! I have always been somewhat anti-desktop for some reason, it just seems bigger and bulkier and messier.

So - I am happy. Very happy. Let me know if you have any other questions about it. I'm now going to calibrate and cross my fingers for good battery time - it seems to be fairly hit or miss.

 

[zarquon]

well, for anyone who cares, i finally decided!

i drove 2 hours down to the apple store in delaware, where there's no sales tax. i really wanted to have the powerbook before my rehearsals start tomorrow. i also wanted to be sure i left with a perfect powerbook... the experience with the 12" left me a bit worried that i might be unhappy with the next one that shipped.

i still couldn't decide at the store! but finally, as they were closing, i had the epiphany: 12" probably makes more sense but i really wanted the 15". it just seems like a much more luxurious computer. and i do go to meetings and things where i need to show others what i've been working on visually. it's a lot easier with the big screen.

so, it's home and i'm very very happy. now i just need to figure out how best to calibrate the battery life... really hoping that i'll be able to get 3 hrs plus work time out of this and also be able to watch a full DVD. i gave up a 5400 drive, but was able to get the 1.5MHz model. And hopefully at some point I'll swap in a 7200rpm drive and use my current one as a firewire backup disk.

thank you for all of your comments! the 12" is a great one, too, just maybe not right for me with all of my AV needs. so perhaps someone in the universe was looking out for me when they sent the DOA powerbook!

Rather than opening up the book, and/or paying someone to do it - I would suggest a good ( LaCie, or similar ) external drive for your projects. That way you can take the drive with you when you are working on projects, have substancially more storage space to work with ( you did say video editing - right ) and keeping your projects on an independant drive is much safer. You can also get a 250G or bigger Drive for about the same as a 80G 7200rpm notebook drive would cost ( installed ). Since you went with the 15"PB, you can also use the FW800 drives for a faster transfer.

Z.

 

[debroglie]

Rather than opening up the book, and/or paying someone to do it - I would suggest a good ( LaCie, or similar ) external drive for your projects. That way you can take the drive with you when you are working on projects, have substancially more storage space to work with ( you did say video editing - right ) and keeping your projects on an independant drive is much safer. You can also get a 250G or bigger Drive for about the same as a 80G 7200rpm notebook drive would cost ( installed ). Since you went with the 15"PB, you can also use the FW800 drives for a faster transfer.

Z.

I suggest getting an external firewire 800 drive. I myself went with the slower drive because it will prolong battery life and then I can use a faster/larger external drive when I need to do intensive work

 

[betsbillabong]

hi debroglie,

thanks. i know a lot of people do this. i just like to keep things simple; also FCP is a small part of what i do. i often perform with my laptop, and don't really want to have to have another "part" to remember. my idea is that i will switch to an 80G hitachi 7200 when available, put the old 80G 4200 in a firewire case, and use it for a backup.

can you tell me, however, what your secret is to long pb battery life? how did you calibrate it? slow drain or normal usage or dvd?

thx,
bb

 

[debroglie]

hi debroglie,

thanks. i know a lot of people do this. i just like to keep things simple; also FCP is a small part of what i do. i often perform with my laptop, and don't really want to have to have another "part" to remember. my idea is that i will switch to an 80G hitachi 7200 when available, put the old 80G 4200 in a firewire case, and use it for a backup.

can you tell me, however, what your secret is to long pb battery life? how did you calibrate it? slow drain or normal usage or dvd?

thx,
bb

That sounds like a good plan too. I know I would love an internal 7200.

Lets see, battery life. Well, first of all I have the 4200 HD in it so that uses less power than the 5400. I keep the backlit keyboard off because I don't need it, I turn bluetooth off and airport off when I don't use it. Also, I let my battery drain due to normal use at least once every couple weeks to keep the electrons moving nicely. Other than that, I would say adjust brightness as needed and take discs out of the optical drive so that they don't spin up. Also, I usually adjust my power management accordingly.

 

[iRez]

Interesting topic to read!

😛 I'd prefer a 12" ibook over the thing, its to cluttered, and really isn't good value for money, infact I don't feel i'd be out of place by saying it is the worst value for money computer that apple offers.


Best of luck with your Powerbook!

That's ignorant and really offensive to me a 12" PB owner. I don't see how it could be the worst value for money in the PB line seeing how it can do basically everything a 17" suped up PB can do while costing half as much???? I get the fact that the screen res isn't high, but I have an external at home, and besides...who does serious graphic work away from their desks anyway. If anything is a waste of cash its spending for a 15" 1.5 thats decked out just like the 17", why not cough up a lil' more to get the 17" beast, and don't say portability because the differences in dimensions and weight between the 15" and 17" are alot smaller than that of the 12" and 15", or can someone say 1.33ghz 15".

 

[Yotabyte]

That's ignorant and really offensive to me a 12" PB owner. I don't see how it could be the worst value for money in the PB line seeing how it can do basically everything a 17" suped up PB can do while costing half as much???? I get the fact that the screen res isn't high, but I have an external at home, and besides...who does serious graphic work away from their desks anyway. If anything is a waste of cash its spending for a 15" 1.5 thats decked out just like the 17", why not cough up a lil' more to get the 17" beast, and don't say portability because the differences in dimensions and weight between the 15" and 17" are alot smaller than that of the 12" and 15", or can someone say 1.33ghz 15".

Please don't take offense to it, I feel it is bad value, not completely a bad product. My point being if you want something small and portable you'd might as well just get the ibook now as it is cheaper and still performs well, better battery power, better airport reception, you feel less worried about dropping it, etc. After all, the ibooks have just been updated and took a big price drop, while the powerbooks have not been updated since April, so they are really good value at the moment. If you would have asked me a month ago i'd probably have given a different answer altogether. 😉

I do quite a bit of graphics design, mainly involving photoshop, and I have friends who also like the portability of a laptop when designin graphics. It is also important for professionals on the move to do serious graphics work on a laptop, why? Because you can bring it with you anywhere and do essentially everything that you can do on a desktop, except use it as an achor.

About the 15" to 17" thing, the size difference is noticeable. If you've ever really used a 17" powerbook you can really feel how much bigger it is, its like lugging around an ultrathin suitcase, and especially with that pathetic looking tiny keyboard recycled for every powerbook it looks... lanky.

Edit: Stupid square bracket.

 

[cluthz]

Please don't take offense to it, I feel it is bad value, not completely a bad product. My point being if you want something small and portable you'd might as well just get the ibook now as it is cheaper and still performs well, better battery power, better airport reception, you feel less worried about dropping it, etc. After all, the ibooks have just been updated and took a big price drop, while the powerbooks have not been updated since April, so they are really good value at the moment. If you would have asked me a month ago i'd probably have given a different answer altogether. 😉

...I'd agree! I'm a proud 12" PB owner, but i bought mine in early august.
The ibook (12") was then 1.0GHz vs 1.33GHz, the 1.0Ghz was $100 more expensive than the new 1.2GHz ibook. The pb12" costs the same now as it did in august. You also had to pay extra for airport on the ibooks then. In august the pb was better value to me than the ibook, today the ibook wins..
I guess we will see a new PB rev in Januar which will bring the ibooks to shame 😛

As for the 15" costing much more than the 12", i don't think its worth it!
The 1.33ghz 15" costs $400 more than the 12",
and what you get is a better gfx card (like someone is using a pb for gaming..), fw800 and slightly larger screen, you also get crappy battery life too..

 

[budaapple]

dude get the 15"

Use the pcmcia slot to plug in a faster HD and you will be happy for eternity

 

[cebritt]

14" iBook?

I love the small size of the 12" PB and iBook but my 46 year old eyes can't tolerate the 12" screen. The 15" PBs are deluxe but if I was buying a notebook today, I'd get the 14" iBook. It seems like the best balance of portability and usability. Just my 2 cents...

 

[betsbillabong]

i have to say, though, when you compare the screens it's like night and day. to me, that's the big tradeoff. just depends what you want to do with it. i think the 12" is fine unless you're trying to play movies or do photoshop or video editing. that's where the 15" shines. a 12" with an external monitor is a sweet setup though. especially if it's a 23" cinema! (in my dreams...)

 

[davegoody]

Agree with the other poster's stick with 12" and an external screen

After deliberating between 12" and 15" for a week, I recently ordered a 12" powerbook with the 5400rpm drive option. I decided on the 12" for a variety of reasons: (a) I will be taking it out with me every day, often while biking; (b) I like things light; (c) I've been using my trusty G3 600 for three years, and it's my favorite mac yet, since 1989); (d) It seemed less fragile than the 15" due to its shorter size and extra width; (e) sounds like battery life is dramatically better, and (e) With the money I saved, I would be able to buy the Production Suite - Final Cut Pro, DVD Studio Pro, etc.

I have a 17" and it rocks, it is however used on a desk at work, put into a bag, then put onto another desk at home. I think for what you are doing, a 12" may well have been the best option, just get an external screen for when you need it.

 

[zen_state]

kinda off topic..

why doesn't apple offer a 7200 on powerbooks and a 5400 on ibooks? 4200 drives just don't cut it (well, neither does a 5400 but at least its a bit better) and they end up making your system seem slower than it really is. with 10k rpm drives being kinda common on dt's now you would think laptop drives would all get faster also. I think all HD makers should drop the 4200 rpm all together. its not 1995.

 

[betsbillabong]

i'm with you, zen state. i guess apple is just waiting for hitachi to make an 80 or 100G 7200rpm drive. as someone else pointed out, not many people would do a BTO that actually resulted in a SMALLER drive (60G is the current largest 7200 notebook drive, i believe - correct me if i'm wrong).

so as soon as they come out with an 80G version, i'm there. a friend of mine who's on pc's just put in the hitachi 60G and said it flies and is much quieter than his old drive.