Apple Releases PowerBooks and iBooks

[jcricket]

After these latest updates I’m about to take the plunge to replace my aging PBG3 (5 years old). Can anyone help me decide between the 12 and 15 models? The way I’ve spec’d it out the 15 is $700-800 more than the 12.

I use this computer at home, mostly surfing the Internet, editing documents, using iPhoto, iTunes & Quicken and watching/burning the occasional DVD. I’m not a hardcore gamer or video editor, and while I’m not a road-warrior I do carry my ‘book around my house (go WiFi!) and travel by plane 3-4x/year.

My primary concerns are cost for the 15" and screen size for the 12". I’ve played with the 12” and 15” models at the Apple store but since I haven’t lived with OS X, I don’t know if the 12” screen would feel small if used day after day. Secondarily, I can’t tell if the various configuration differences would make the 15” feel that much faster.

I also plan on purchasing an external HD for backups (to backup both my Mac and my wife’s PC). Does the FW800 make a big difference when backing up an 80GB hard drive once/week)?

FYI, the configurations I’m considering are:

1. 12” w/superdrive, 80gb 5400rpm HD - $1925
2. 15” w/superdrive, 80gb 5400rpm HD, 128mb VRAM - $2600

I plan on getting an extra 512mb RAM from a 3rd party vendor for either configuration. I’ll probably try and sell the 2nd 256mb DIMM that comes with the 15” model.

Thanks,

j

 

[MacRAND]

Call ahead and ask...

Todays announcement is great news, but the UK prices are much higher than the US prices given the exchange rate. As I will be in Florida next week I was going to buy a 15" Powerbook there, but the Apple Store says the price doesnt include sales tax. Can anyone tell me how much this is likely to be?

If it means the US and UK prices are similar I will order it here instead to save any hassle.

Call or email the store with a specific order you plan to make and ask them for the bottom line (total) including tax. In the US, sales tax is levied by a COMBINATION of the state (FL) and local government(s) county (DADE) and/or city (Miami). The total is a % times the sales price.
In Phoenix AZ it is 8.1%.
Nevada has NO sales tax. (YES, Apple has a store in Nevada ))
There are 50 states x thousands of counties x tens of thousands of cities. Pick a store and a location, then just ask them, that's about the only way to know precisely. Also, you may want to send a deposit so they have what you want in stock when you get there.

Remember to take your PowerBook OUT of the box, ditch the box because your Mac is now "used" when you land in Heathrow and pass customs. (But, you already knew that, right? )

 

[lordmac]

Did Anyone notice?

Well when i browsing the apple site in all of this excitement i noticed that the emac superdrive has 8x dvd burning where as everyother computer there with super drive option had only 4x burning.

I just find this a little odd because it is the lowest end model and yet it has the best superdrive






-sry for and spelling mistakes

 

[James_C]

After these latest updates I’m about to take the plunge to replace my aging PBG3 (5 years old). Can anyone help me decide between the 12 and 15 models? The way I’ve spec’d it out the 15 is $700-800 more than the 12.

I use this computer at home, mostly surfing the Internet, editing documents, using iPhoto, iTunes & Quicken and watching/burning the occasional DVD. I’m not a hardcore gamer or video editor, and while I’m not a road-warrior I do carry my ‘book around my house (go WiFi!) and travel by plane 3-4x/year.

My primary concerns are cost for the 15" and screen size for the 12". I’ve played with the 12” and 15” models at the Apple store but since I haven’t lived with OS X, I don’t know if the 12” screen would feel small if used day after day. Secondarily, I can’t tell if the various configuration differences would make the 15” feel that much faster.

I also plan on purchasing an external HD for backups (to backup both my Mac and my wife’s PC). Does the FW800 make a big difference when backing up an 80GB hard drive once/week)?

FYI, the configurations I’m considering are:

1. 12” w/superdrive, 80gb 5400rpm HD - $1925
2. 15” w/superdrive, 80gb 5400rpm HD, 128mb VRAM - $2600

I plan on getting an extra 512mb RAM from a 3rd party vendor for either configuration. I’ll probably try and sell the 2nd 256mb DIMM that comes with the 15” model.

Thanks,

j

I would not bother with the VRAM upgrade, from your usage I don't think that you would notice the difference.

The screen size is about your personal preference, however you don't appear to be doing much in the way of heavy photo or video editing, which may suggest that the 12" would be most suitable. However I do find that the 15" is a good compromise between portability and screen size.

 

[m4c]

great news! soon to be a proud owner of a 12" ibook.

1Ghz G4
512k L2 cache
up to 1.256GB RAM

..better than what I hoped for and @ a edu price of $999. sweet

 

[ibryan]

After these latest updates I’m about to take the plunge to replace my aging PBG3 (5 years old). Can anyone help me decide between the 12 and 15 models? The way I’ve spec’d it out the 15 is $700-800 more than the 12.


j

Personally...the main reason I would go with the 15 inch is the simple fact that they put the harddrive underneath the touchpad, and not the left palmrest like they do on the 12" and 17". That left palmrest will heat up very quickly on the non-15" units. The best answer that I hear from people who have those is that "you get used to it"...Ugh!!! I just spent $1300 or $2700 on something and I have to "get used to a hot left hand?

I learned my lesson after the Powerbook 3400 and the underpalmrestharddrive. When you go to the Apple store, check the heat on the 12 and 17 and compare it to the 15.

B

 

[Borg3of5]

What gives?

I visited my local Apple store a few hours ago, and they didn't have the new iBooks or PowerBooks displayed. When I asked the Apple Specialist he said they were selling them, but they were not out yet on display.

Ummm...did they not not they were going to start selling these today? What gives??!! Are they idiots? Or are they just still planning to redo the entire store when tomorrow they start selling RevB G5's?

Curious.

 

[skinEman23]

Well I gather a decent amount of us have purchased new laptops today. What's everybody's ship date? Mine is the 26th!

 

[MacRAND]

Get the 15"

...Can anyone help me decide between the 12 and 15 models?
The way I’ve spec’d it out the 15 is $700-800 more than the 12.

I use this computer at home, mostly surfing the Internet, editing documents, using iPhoto, iTunes & Quicken and watching/burning the occasional DVD.
I’m not a hardcore gamer or video editor, and while I’m not a road-warrior I do carry my ‘book around my house (go WiFi!) and travel by plane 3-4x/year.

My primary concerns are cost for the 15" and screen size for the 12". I’ve played with the 12” and 15” models at the Apple store but since I haven’t lived with OS X, I don’t know if the 12” screen would feel small if used day after day.

Y E S​

Secondarily, I can’t tell if the various configuration differences would make the 15” feel that much faster.

NO, not much really​

I also plan on purchasing an external HD for backups (to backup both my Mac and my wife’s PC).

Recommend LaCie d2 160GB FireWire800/400 USB2​

Does the FW800 make a big difference when backing up an 80GB hard drive once/week)?

Y E S
Estimate by 50%, is that important to you?​

FYI, the configurations I’m considering are:

1. 12” w/superdrive, 80gb 5400rpm HD - $1925 (GOOD)
   no backlit keyboard on the 12"; no PCMCIA card interface; like a large PDA
2. 15” w/superdrive, 80gb 5400rpm HD, 128mb VRAM - $2600 (BETTER)

I plan on getting an extra 512mb RAM from a 3rd party vendor for either configuration. I’ll probably try and sell the 2nd 256mb DIMM that comes with the 15” model.

Good​

Thanks, j

You're welcome ​

You can avoid paying SALES TAX altogether if you BUY NOW and have it
SHIPPED to a Florida address (friend?) for you to pickup when you get there.
(US tax loophole, states cannot charge Sales Tax on sales in another state, which is what Internet Sales out of the same state is all about. Understand?)

 

[wPod]

man, no backlit keyboard on the 12" i guess ill just stick with my 12" 867PB until they come out with a backlit version. . . i wonder if anyone has a thrid party backlite kit for the PBs. . . cause the letters on the keys are already translucent . . . hmm

also. . . are they just taking the old 12"pb and putting them into the 12" iBooks?!?!?! just a thought.

 

[benoda]

You're absolutely right. I think the only applications that would really benefit from 128MB VRAM are some of the heftiest 3D games. Video will in general use quite little VRAM because there is no need to store data for later use on the video-card. Photo-work will mostly center around a few images, and anyway, swapping a new image into VRAM doesn't take long. The OSX window system and Exposé benefits from VRAM, but to see any difference between 64MB and 128MB you would probably need two 23" HD Displays filled with windows.

The main reason for wanting 128MB of VRAM is that most wintel computers ship with 128MB VRAM these days Well ... seriously ... I think there are only two reasons for wanting 128MB VRAM.
1) Hardcore gaming (mostly not an issue with portables)
2) Future progress. Very little software has any need of that large amounts of VRAM now, but this will probably change.

Yeah, if you check out Anandtech's Mac experience (http://www.anandtech.com/weblog/index.html?bid=64) he talks about how much the extra VRAM helped with Expose' when you have a lot of windows open. For $50 I can't see why anyone wouldn't get it.

 

[MacRAND]

Up the Video RAM for only $50 - it's cheap and needed

Yeah, if you check out Anandtech's Mac experience (http://www.anandtech.com/weblog/index.html?bid=64) he talks about how much the extra VRAM helped with Expose' when you have a lot of windows open. For $50 I can't see why anyone wouldn't get it.

YES it helps and it's getting more important all the time.
The Expose rotating cube from Keynote is now part of iDVD (I think) and maybe iPhoto slide shows? and sophisticated 3D actions are likely to start permeating everything. Quartz is 3D, and Apple is all about imagery.
MOTION adds flying, movable TYPE in movie editing - FinalCut Pro 4.5 plug-in. Right?
$50 installed to double VIDEO RAM? That's cheap.

 

[yomamma]

ibook or powerbook

Finally the new releases- good stuff.

either the ibook with the superdrive or

a refurbished or best deal i can get on a 15 1.25 Powerbookw/superdrive.

issues are-

1. Can I run Final Cut Pro on the new hi end ibook?
I plan to do a moderate amount of video editing.

2. I've heard that there is some kind of non apple supported workaround for using the ibook and a non mirrored external monitor. Does it work, any body try that?

3. I plan on getting that Lacie d2 external drive. Will that work ok with the new top of line ibook?

Like everyone else - trying to be economical. I think the super drive offer on the ibook has left me leaning towards that instead of the refurbished or even a new PB 1.25 with the new discounted price.

any input would be appreciated!

 

[busasa]

I think for all people who just bought their notebooks the past 1 yr should keep them until the G5 is released. Sure, the 128vram and speed bumps on CPU are nice, but they just won't compare with the bus speed that G5 will bring to the table. It is a really good update I feel, and I think the bugs should also be worked out in this version. However, to update this one with previous G4 1Ghz machines just dun make sense in my mind. Esp. the ibook 12", the improvement is so little that i dun really see any diff. except the 200 mhz and 512 L2 change. The educational discount has also decreased. for wut would be 300-400 CDN dollars of discount, it's only 200 max now. That's not really good. While i understand there are general price cuts on the PB, it's not so apparent for the ibooks. Anyways, these r just my 2cents.

 

[MacRAND]

Finally the new releases- good stuff.

either the ibook with the superdrive or

a refurbished or best deal i can get on a 15 1.25 Powerbookw/superdrive.

issues are-

1. Can I run Final Cut Pro on the new hi end ibook?
I plan to do a moderate amount of video editing.

2. I've heard that there is some kind of non apple supported workaround for using the ibook and a non mirrored external monitor. Does it work, any body try that?

3. I plan on getting that Lacie d2 external drive. Will that work ok with the new top of line ibook?

Like everyone else - trying to be economical. I think the super drive offer on the ibook has left me leaning towards that instead of the refurbished or even a new PB 1.25 with the new discounted price.
any input would be appreciated!

YES, a new iBook will handle it.
YES, but the PowerBook is much easier and more staightforward.
YES. Excellent choice. (get the 3 way FW800/400 USB2)
For editing video especially FCP 4.5 w/MOTION, the faster the CPU and the larger the screen the better.
You do realize that you have described "PowerBook needs" and an "iBook budget".
Welcome to the never ending struggle. Cutting corners only takes you so far before it bites you on the nose.

 

[rdowns]

Well when i browsing the apple site in all of this excitement i noticed that the emac superdrive has 8x dvd burning where as everyother computer there with super drive option had only 4x burning.

I just find this a little odd because it is the lowest end model and yet it has the best superdrive

-sry for and spelling mistakes

eMac is a desktop. 8x in a laptop would eat battery life for lunch. Powermacs and iMacs (sorely) are due for upgrades and will surely have the 8x drives.

 

[Xenious]

They can make 64M a BTO for people on a budget, but I suspect the majority of people will want the 128, and now they are forced to BTO and wait longer.

Then there is the one true terror of BTO. You can't order from someplace like Macmall and skirt sales tax. I'm cringing at the 8.25% I'm going to have to pay on my BTO just to get the features I can't upgrade to later. When buying a powerbook or G5 and a 23" monitor (you have to buy them at the same time to get apple care coverage on the monitor) its about $390 in tax. yuk.
-jim

 

[skinEman23]

Then there is the one true terror of BTO. You can't order from someplace like Macmall and skirt sales tax. I'm cringing at the 8.25% I'm going to have to pay on my BTO just to get the features I can't upgrade to later. When buying a powerbook or G5 and a 23" monitor (you have to buy them at the same time to get apple care coverage on the monitor) its about $390 in tax. yuk.
-jim

Are you saying you don't have to pay tax if you don't build to order, or that you don't have to pay taxes if you order from some place other than apple?

 

[MacRAND]

Two Penny Opera for MacBeth

I think for all people who just bought their notebooks the past 1 yr should keep them until the G5 is released. Sure, the 128vram and speed bumps on CPU are nice, but they just won't compare with the bus speed that G5 will bring to the table. It is a really good update I feel, and I think the bugs should also be worked out in this version. However, to update this one with previous G4 1Ghz machines just dun make sense in my mind. Esp. the ibook 12", the improvement is so little that i dun really see any diff. except the 200 mhz and 512 L2 change. The educational discount has also decreased. for wut would be 300-400 CDN dollars of discount, it's only 200 max now. That's not really good. While i understand there are general price cuts on the PB, it's not so apparent for the ibooks. Anyways, these r just my 2cents.

And a well spent 2 cents it is.
Your point of a "tide me over G4" until the G5 comes out is well made.
Those with 3 and 4 year old PBs are becoming anxious to have some real power and these new PBs with their improved L2 cache, GHz plus CPUs, and 128mb Video RAM are looking very good.

Think of it like this - the more recent the PB (the better it is) the longer one can wait out the initial attack of the G5 laptops, thereby avoiding having to be an "early adopter"...never a good thing.

As an owner of a dual GHz plus PowerMac, I've had the luxury of being a bystander while other wisht MHz machines to replace jumped in on the initial wave of G5 singles and duals, fighting all the heat and noise.

The current purchasers are in an inviable position of owning a good solid well-proven g4 GHz PowerBook that will let them ignore the first release of G5 PowerBooks. They can pick their time to reenter the market by holding onto a really good Mac PowerBook for as long as it is relevant to good computing, and that is likely to be for the next year or 3. Plan for their extended AppleCare warranties to expire first.

Those of us with aging G3 iBooks who are G4/G5 wanabees, we will feel the pressure first. Oh the pain

 

[simply258]

I bought my 1GHz iBook when they first came out in October, so I've enjoyed it as much as possible. I'll probably give it to my sister (or sell it to her?) when she goes off to college next year and pick up the first PB G5s

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

Are you saying you don't have to pay tax if you don't build to order, or that you don't have to pay taxes if you order from some place other than apple?

Point of information:

Most states require you to pay a use tax when the sales tax is not collected at the time of a sale.

 

[Some_Big_Spoon]

That, and I don't believe slot-loading superdirves are available to OEMs yet.. hard to sell what isn't made.

eMac is a desktop. 8x in a laptop would eat battery life for lunch. Powermacs and iMacs (sorely) are due for upgrades and will surely have the 8x drives.

 

[powerofthekiwi]

You're welcome ​

You can avoid paying SALES TAX altogether if you BUY NOW and have it
SHIPPED to a Florida address (friend?) for you to pickup when you get there.
(US tax loophole, states cannot charge Sales Tax on sales in another state, which is what Internet Sales out of the same state is all about. Understand?)

My dad is going to be paying for my 15" PB for college, he lives in CA. I live in CO, does this mean that he won't have to pay sales tax since hes purchasing it in CA and I'm getting it in CO?

 

[psingh01]

In Dade County (Miami) the total sales tax is 6.5%. In Broward County (Ft. Lauderdale) and Palm Beach County (West Palm Bch) it is 6%.

I don't think there are any stores in Broward. In Palm Beach there is one in Wellington and Boca Raton. In Dade there is one at Aventura and The Falls.

Call or email the store with a specific order you plan to make and ask them for the bottom line (total) including tax. In the US, sales tax is levied by a COMBINATION of the state (FL) and local government(s) county (DADE) and/or city (Miami). The total is a % times the sales price.
In Phoenix AZ it is 8.1%.
Nevada has NO sales tax. (YES, Apple has a store in Nevada ))
There are 50 states x thousands of counties x tens of thousands of cities. Pick a store and a location, then just ask them, that's about the only way to know precisely. Also, you may want to send a deposit so they have what you want in stock when you get there.

Remember to take your PowerBook OUT of the box, ditch the box because your Mac is now "used" when you land in Heathrow and pass customs. (But, you already knew that, right? )

 

[five04]

i know it's been a long time and the updates were needed, but i'm feeling a bit jealous now. i've got an ibook g4 800mhz and it's served me well. but looking at the new 12" ibook i can't help but want one. i wish i had known about this a little longer so that i could've sold this and bought a new one. the updates killed my resale value a lot. oh well. all around great updates though. glad to see apple is actually doing something.