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I can remember reading that you had only 512 of ram in your iBook but you have 2GB of ram in your MacBook. These things will make a difference. If the OP is set on buying a PB and they max it out i am sure that they will have an enjoyable experience with it. Most people out there outside of these forums do not really care about things being 2 or 5 seconds faster.

Moving on-

I have decided to stay with a G4 i used to have a MBP i have decided to stay with a G4 it does all what i need and for everyday things i don't notice a huge difference between my MBP and also i get to keep back over £1000 in my pocket which suits me fine.

Apple i believe is still selling the PB in their refurb store so they will be sure to support PPC for at least another three years. Others coders will probably not offer that same support.

I wouldn't spend to much on the PB if i was the OP try and get a good deal one if you really want one.

Yes, MS Office is PPC and should technically run faster on the G4. But seriously? The only lag I've noticed on my C2D MB with Word is just launching the app in the very beginning, and as impatient as I am, I can handle waiting an extra second or two. For everything else, my MB is way faster than my 1.33GHz iBook G4 (and even the iBook felt faster than my 1.33GHz PB G4).
 
The 12" PB with Superdrive is $1200. refurbished from Apple online. I'm hoping to get one for a bit over half of that and it need not have Superdrive, although I'll then miss out on the 80 gb drive.

Vintage
 
I'm still debating this one-- especially since I lost the eBay bid in the last seconds on the 12" PB with Applecare last evening---

I'm perplexed by the price of refurbs in the Apple Store--

12" PB 1.5 512 SD 80gb $1200.
Black MacBook 2.0 1g SD 120gb $1050.

You can even get a low end white MacBook for $800.

I'd prefer the PB, but seems crazy to MacBook price for it.

Vintage
 
You seem to want to get the PB, so go with it.

That being said, I dont see why you would even consider it unless you want that really small form-factor. Macbook gives you a bigger and better screen, bigger hard drive, faster system buses, new/better battery, magsafe, better wifi+BT, etc.

PB is used, dated. They are great little machines, and there isnt a "true" apple replacement for them, but its old tech. The G4 is a very old processor at this point.

About the emulation stuff, I have found my macbook pro (2Ghz) to be right on par with the 1.33 G4 it replaced. The only two software suites you will notice a difference are adobe CS and Office. You dont really use Adobe, and you use office lightly. And the emulation, with 1Gb or more of RAM, runs pretty damn well.

Meanwhile, most of the apps it seems like you will be using (safari, iLife Suite) are going to run SIGNIFICANTLY faster on the macbook. It literally has over 2x the processing power. It will boot faster, multitask better, etc.

If you were getting the 12" cheap (well below $500) I would recommend it. But if we are talking relatively close pricing for very different hardware, then its time to go Intel.
 
I'd say go intel. Running PPC apps is never that unbearable. You also will have to make the switch sometimes.
 
intel for sure. And besides, office is the only app suite most user are waiting for to go universal. I love my macbook and just haven't looked back since. (And I just got my CS3 suite yesterday, so I have one app to go before I am fully universal. (Excel)
 
I've used a 12" PB extensively and it's a great little computer that's still very useful for many tasks today and will continue to be for quite a while. Having said that, I think they're grossly overpriced for a refurb direct from Apple, even with the full warranty. I agree with others -- the MB is a better buy, whether it be a CD or C2D.
 
I did it-- ordered the refurb Macbook 2.0 1gb SD 120gb this morning from the Apple Store. Thanks for all your opinions. I do think this was the right choice at this time for me.

Vintage
 
And now I just got notice that it has shipped-- 8 hours after placing my order. Yeessssssss!

Vintage
 
And now I just got notice that it has shipped-- 8 hours after placing my order. Yeessssssss!

Vintage

wow thats fast... well enjoy it! You will see over time that it is the better choice. When i compare this Macbook to our PB, the macbook runs quicker. Word does have a hissy fit now and then, and judders a little when a file is open and you want to scroll, but give it a chance to load and its fine.

Overall, its liveable and should last you many years
 
I am considering buying a laptop and am debating between a 12" PB G4 1.5 and the former MacBook 1.83. Questions--

Is the 1.83 Intel significantly faster than the G4 1.5?
Will my current software from my eMac G4 1.25 also run on the 1.83 intel, e.g. MS Office?
Are there any other considerations I should keep in mind as I compare these two?

Vintage

I had a 1.33ghz Powerbook with 512 ram, and have a 1.83ghz macbook with 1GB of ram.

The difference isn't as huge as I hoped. I recently had to reinstall Mac OS X (I know, the Windows way of sorting things out:p) because it had become so sluggish (started taking about five minutes to load from log in to desktop, and items weren't rendered properly). And as another user mentioned, if you've got a lot of PPC applications, then it won't feel so fast.

However, I did try a friend's Macbook 1.83 with 2GB, and that felt significantly faster (when compared to my PB, I had that at the time).
 
I did it-- ordered the refurb Macbook 2.0 1gb SD 120gb this morning from the Apple Store. Thanks for all your opinions. I do think this was the right choice at this time for me.

Vintage

Good choice. There is absolutely no point in buying a PPC machine if you are planning on using it for a few years. Adobe has already shown us that they are willing to release applications that only work on Intel macs and I am sure that there are many other developers with similar ideas.
 
...on a 12 PB. And I can hardly blame him. They look and feel far better than a MacBook.

Yes with Dual Core Intel and a glossy screen - but owners of a PPC 12 PB know what I mean.

I'm thinking of flying out to NY to pick up a refurb 12 PB myself. Pick up a cheap-(ish??) PB and make the most out of the trip!

F

I LOVE my 12" PB, but.... but but but!!!!! .... the speed difference between mine (1GHz w/512mb RAM) and my MBP (2.33 C2D w/2gb RAM) is amazingly different. Yes, I wish there was a 12" MBP, but alas, there is not.
I still have my PB, and it's a great size and weight, but when I use it, I can feel its "slowness."

Edit: Just noticed you had made your purchase. I don't think you'll be disappointed at all. Great choice!
 
The Macbook is in overall, a far better machine than the PB. Office runs well enough, and office 2008 is just around the corner. The Intel processor is far more responsive, powerful, faster, dual core, etc... The ram is DDR2 667 wich is way faster. The HD is Sata, and can be replaced easily. The screen has more res, is brighter, is better.
It will be able to run Leopard. Is a new machine. I told you, the C2D 2.0ghz is faster than my Dual 2.3 G5 in almost everything. (Not in old PPC apps).
Enjoy your new Intel super fast Mabook.
 
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