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12" powerbook too small after a while?
- Thread starter Southbridge
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I love when people come in at the end of a thread and dont read where the conversation has gone 🙄
Southbridge said:
SouthBridge,
I read through a lot of this thread, but I didn't read through all of it, so I don't know when you bought your PowerBook. Your comment worries me because I just bought a Rev. D 12" PowerBook and I am getting a bit apprehensive about the display issues that may arise after longer periods of usage. How long have you had your PB for?
I don't know how to say this, but quite frankly, I think the display for the 12" PB is pretty darn bad. Compared to PC desktops and ThinkPad laptops that I have used, I think that the screen's quality is inferior to them by comparison. Does anyone have any advice on whether the new 15" PBs have better displays? I won't be doing any design work on this computer or anything crazy like you artists out there, but I am very dissapointed in the display. If the display on this computer was excellent, then I would definitely give this laptop a 10 because it is awesome in all other ways! Man, what would you guys do? The portability and performance of this laptop kicks so much butt, but yet the display is no good. Also, the antialiasing of the fonts make reading much more difficult with respect to the sharp, crisp fonts on Windows machines, though I'm sure there are many of you out there that prefer this "softer" look.
Also, has anyone out there experienced any problems with dead pixels in the new 15" PB? Getting a dead pixel is my worst fear of all, as I'm sure is the same for many of you out there.
Southbridge said:
Dude 12.1" is diagonal screen size.
Edit: Oops, sorry for the post! Didn't see the next pages 🙂
I think so too... but dont let McGarry hear you say that. 🙄kanpachi said:
Honestly after a while the 12" screen quality doesnt bother me. It's not beautiful but I can live with it. Basically when I was looking at computers the Vaio XBrite was the best screen. the 15" PB was like 95% as good as the XBrite while the 12" is probably 85% as good. But you only notice it if you put all the screens next to eachother. After a week and a half of using this PB I think the screen is great for what I do with it.
No... I think the 15" has a really nice screen. I would have definately gotten the 15" over the 12" but I really wanted something small and portable.kanpachi said:
well the screen on the 12" isnt TERRIBLE. If portability is your main issue then I'd definately recommend the 12". I love the size and of course OS X...kanpachi said:
honestly I think the problem with my 12" is not exactly with the screen but more a minor software glitch. It has to do with rendering fullscreen images that are animated. I think actually it's an OS X problem that nobody really talks about. A lot of powerbooks if you run like iPhoto with the Ken Burns effect or transitioning between photos will flicker in the upper right hand corner. I decided that it was more trouble than it was worth to try to get it fixed. It doesnt really happen that often so... I think I can live with it. But yeah.. it has nothing to do with the screen per se...kanpachi said:
Looks like I might be a little late on this one...but I have the 15" al powerbook and I carry it in the brenthaven backpack made specifically for it. It works perfect and the backpack can fit nearly everything I need it to. Plus it feels like and looks like a normal backpack.
mcgarry
macrumors 6502a
Southbridege,
Yes, you know how I feel about the 12" PB screen, and about x-brite; anyone else who's interested, just read this wonderful, brief, consistently on-topic thread we're in.
As for the flicker, I have never seen an issue like you describe on my rev. C 12". I don't play games, but I use full screen with iMovie, DVD Player, and others, and have never had that problem.
Yes, you know how I feel about the 12" PB screen, and about x-brite; anyone else who's interested, just read this wonderful, brief, consistently on-topic thread we're in.
As for the flicker, I have never seen an issue like you describe on my rev. C 12". I don't play games, but I use full screen with iMovie, DVD Player, and others, and have never had that problem.
mcgarry said:
yeah... it doesnt do it with imovie or a dvd player... try it with iPhoto with the Ken Burns affect, or without it right when the pictures fade in and out with each other and tell me if you see like a pixel flutter in the upper right hand side of the screen...
true777
macrumors 6502a
15" is infinitely better
I bought the 12" Superdrive about a year ago because of its portability, and almost from day one found the screen to be too small, and the whole Powerbook to look and feel more like a consumer laptop than a pro-level machine. I got so sick of the 12" that just a month after I bought it I sold it and bought a 15" Superdrive model. I have had the 15" for almost a year now and couldn't be happier. The 15" really makes the 12" look like a toy. The 12" screen is just too small for serious work, and there are so many other features that are more professional in the 15" than in the 12" (say, lack of PCI expansion slot, etc).
The 12" really is more of an iBook with a silver enclosure IMHO.
I would definitely spend the few hundred extra dollars to get a a serious workhorse with an adequate screen. Plus, the 15" is really just about as easy to carry around - ther difference in effort is minimal. And it looks so much more elegant since it's slimmer.
I bought the 12" Superdrive about a year ago because of its portability, and almost from day one found the screen to be too small, and the whole Powerbook to look and feel more like a consumer laptop than a pro-level machine. I got so sick of the 12" that just a month after I bought it I sold it and bought a 15" Superdrive model. I have had the 15" for almost a year now and couldn't be happier. The 15" really makes the 12" look like a toy. The 12" screen is just too small for serious work, and there are so many other features that are more professional in the 15" than in the 12" (say, lack of PCI expansion slot, etc).
The 12" really is more of an iBook with a silver enclosure IMHO.
I would definitely spend the few hundred extra dollars to get a a serious workhorse with an adequate screen. Plus, the 15" is really just about as easy to carry around - ther difference in effort is minimal. And it looks so much more elegant since it's slimmer.
Lacero
macrumors 604
12" PB really is only good for web surfing, emails, and general purpose computing. The screen size limits which types of apps you could run comfortably. Not comfortably would include pro apps such as FCP, DVD Studio Pro, Motion, Photoshop or even After Effects. You'll spend so much time moving around windows, that it becomes more work.
A 15" is the perfect size for professional work.
I use my 12" mainly for the things as described above, plus as an encoding machine and for audio capture and DVD burning. The LCD screen is not good enough for serious photoshop work.
A 15" is the perfect size for professional work.
I use my 12" mainly for the things as described above, plus as an encoding machine and for audio capture and DVD burning. The LCD screen is not good enough for serious photoshop work.
OK... I am in a little bit of a deliema. I right now have my own iMac 17" G4800. And, it is totally cool, and fast enough for me. I am going to be traveling a lot this summer and am getting a job at a coffee shop this semister, and am now thinking about notebook. I was going to wait for a 15" G5 PB, as a desktop replacement, but I want an notebook for the summer. if i get a powerbook this sumer, I would most likely give up my imac and make it a family computer (I am 14). And, I could still use my imac at home when ever i wanted.
So, my question is do i get the 12" or the 15"? I really like the portability, and the price of the 12", but I like the screen size and backlit keyboard of the 15". I really don't want to spend the more than $2000 w/ extras, and I would go over that with the 15". So, is the extra screen size and the backlite really worth it?
So, my question is do i get the 12" or the 15"? I really like the portability, and the price of the 12", but I like the screen size and backlit keyboard of the 15". I really don't want to spend the more than $2000 w/ extras, and I would go over that with the 15". So, is the extra screen size and the backlite really worth it?
shane-o-mac
macrumors regular
itsbetteronamac said:
This is an age old debate my man. A familiar debate for me. Ultimatley you will make the final call, but from my experience this is the conclusion I made:
I too loved the display on the 15", the richness and fullness of text and screen realestate is amazing. Often comparing the 12 inch next to the 15" is just unfair to the smaller computer for ..well..obvous reasons. But when it comes time to lay down cold hard cash you really invest yourself into why you need in a machine vs. what you want. The backlit keyboard is nice, but for many unessecary if you touch type because you never really look at the keyboard and in most cases the screen light is enough (but man-o-man it is such a cool feature.) The size and portablility often become the key issues. Yeah sure I can carry the 15 inch around with me, I debated that for a while. But when push comes to shove loading a large machine like that in you bag day in and out and being sure to bring the powerbrick is not as practical as just throwing the 12inch in a sleave and right in your bag. The size and batterly life make it ideal for portability. As far as the screen I have learned to master the zoom in features and expose. I do only veiw text and dvds which the screen works very well with. I also realized for the cash I saved I could load up on the much needed acessories most people do not buget for. Yeah the 15 inch is nice! But the 12inch fits the bill for a vast majority of people's needs and a beautiful machine as well! But it is your money, go with your instincts. Either way you end up with great systems. I now look forward to saving up for an Imac next year!!
shane-o-mac said:
OMG,thanks so much! That was exactly the response I was looking for. I think that I will go with the 12", (if I get one ;-)) And I am really looking for something I can just tote around with me for most of the day, even if I don't plan on using it much. And, I feel that the 15" would just be to much of a burden, if I was to carry it around all the time.
adamjay
macrumors 6502a
true777 said:
last i checked there's never been an apple laptop with a PCI expansion slot.
and i doubt there ever will be. the cards are pretty big.
unless of course you mean pcmcia cardbus?
as far as the 15" PB being more "professional"
only if you have a superiority complex. its what you do with your tool, not what tool you use.
mcgarry
macrumors 6502a
Southbridge said:
I tried iPhoto (4.0.3), and I did see it .... sometimes. It didn't happen every time, but during some of the transitions between photos, I noticed a slight 1-pixel-height flutter in the upper right.
I don't think this is a big deal, but it is a bug, and shouldn't be happening. However, I would be surprised if it was that model-specific, and not an iPhoto problem, since I don't see it in other fullscreen applications.
If you haven't already, maybe you could start a thread outside this forum (maybe in general tech discussion, or software) specifically about this.
mcgarry
macrumors 6502a
Southbridge said:
Seriously? for what reason exactly (did Apple tell you it was not something they'd fix)? for what in exchange?
did you ever start another thread about it?
I tried the Warcraft III demo that came with my PB, and had no pixel issues even in the highest settings. I really think this is an iPhoto issue, but I guess if you've seen it elsehwere ...
matticus008
macrumors 68040
mcgarry said:
Ha! I was about to correct your Spanish, and then I realized the joke.
I must say that I figured that he would end up with the Vaio, but the last straw being a flickering pixel in iPhoto (for what it's worth, Windows XP does the same thing in the top left corner on my now-decommissioned Dell Latitude when running any OpenGL screensaver) greatly entertains me. I mean no offense to the OP, of course, because sometimes all it takes is just one more little thing before you can't stand something anymore. I hope the Sony serves him well.
mcgarry said:
Just kidding. 😛
I think if this computer broke in two I probably still wouldnt take it back... I'm that attached to it...
Yeah... the screen thing is pretty minor. I can live with it... 🙂