Give me one good reason... (PowerBook vs. MacBook)

K

korimickster

macrumors newbie
I am several clicks away from buying a 15 inch PowerBook G4. I was dead set on buying a MacBook Pro, but recently I just am not convinced that it would be the right decision. As a video editor/producer, it is almost impossible for me to come to a conclusion on what machine to buy. What do you think about NOT buying the MacBook Pro and deciding on the PowerBook?

The main thing I am concerned about is not being able to edit on Final Cut Pro for a few weeks/months if I DO buy the MacBook. If I get the PowerBook, I can run all of my existing Apps the day I buy the machine. This would not be the case with the MacBook. Also, I know the PowerBook inside and out. I know nothing about the MacBook other than the reviews people have given it (and most of the reviews arent very convincing). Who knows if this thing is going to crash every time I try to boot DVD Studio Pro? Another thing is I know I will probably never use the iSight, so I am seriously considering the PowerBook.

Why can't they just solve all my problems by dropping the price of the PowerBook?!?
 
Well, I can't imagine that Apple will leave portions of it's high-end users out in the cold for TOO long, so I wouldn't imagine a universal binary of Pro Tools is too far away. That being said, Apple has been acting a bit strangely lately and that universal version MIGHT be in the next pay-for-version. Which would suck ASS. But I have no idea if that will actually happen.

You can also look at it this way.. buying a PBG4, you're knowingly buying an obsolete Mac. Buying a MacBookPro (heretofore known as the MBP), well it's the first gen of a new design, who knows what inherant problems it might have?

But I'm with you.. :confused: on which to buy. I'd probably buy the MBP.. AFTER they released the software I needed.
 
the G4 has the "horizontal lines" issue... that alone would be reason enough for me not to buy it if I were a professional video editor.
 
I thought Apple had said that the Pro tools would be released as a Universal binary in March but that you'd have to pay $49(?) for a copy of the disks
 
yellow said:
Well, I can't imagine that Apple will leave portions of it's high-end users out in the cold for TOO long, so I wouldn't imagine a universal binary of Pro Tools is too far away. That being said, Apple has been acting a bit strangely lately and that universal version MIGHT be in the next pay-for-version. Which would suck ASS. But I have no idea if that will actually happen.

You can also look at it this way.. buying a PBG4, you're knowingly buying an obsolete Mac. Buying a MacBookPro (heretofore known as the MBP), well it's the first gen of a new design, who knows what inherant problems it might have?

But I'm with you.. :confused: on which to buy. I'd probably buy the MBP.. AFTER they released the software I needed.
Click to expand...


Digidesign makes ProTools. They are owned by Avid Designs. So it's really got nothing to do with Apple, other than how available they make their Dev kits (which, based on the popularity of ProTools, is not likely a problem, unless they REALLY want Garageband to compete [which, of course, it can't]). Unless they are providing software upgrades independently?
 
Ah.. I thought it was an Apple product like Final Cut and Logic and whatnot.. Clearly I don't work in the industry. :)
 
QCassidy352 said:
the G4 has the "horizontal lines" issue... that alone would be reason enough for me not to buy it if I were a professional video editor.
Click to expand...

That was another thing I was seriously considering. I wonder if they are going to do ANYTHING to fix that.
 
yellow said:
Ah.. I thought it was an Apple product like Final Cut and Logic and whatnot.. Clearly I don't work in the industry. :)
Click to expand...

Actually, I was half expecting to be corrected, since Apple does have a history of buying up software that works well with it (Final Cut and Logic are good examples of that)...
 
As much as everybody wants this to be the killer apple laptop, it really isn't. If there's one thing I've learned over the years is that trusting your machine is worth a lot. I'd take a slightly slower but rock solid machine any day over a first generation intel laptop (or 1st gen powerpc laptop for that matter). It's all nice to have the latest power, but there are going to be bumps beyond those we already no for certain(such as the lack of universal binary versions of most software.) So, in addition to little software at this point, what other difficulties will there be? It's anybody's guess at this point....do you want to gamble or do you want to work and play?


I say go for the powerbook and be happy today!
 
Or better yet, if you plan on buying an intel Mac laptop down the road, get a refurbished older model and save yourself a bunch of bucks.
 
I hightly encourage you NOT to get the 15" PowerBook.
Like QCassidy352 says, they have a horizontal line issue.
What is the horizontal line issue? Look in these forums and you'll find out.
I recently bought one but ended up returningn it because of this same problem.
I saw the 17" PB and it does not have the horizontal line issue, but all the 15"s I've seen, do.

As far as the programs go, check out the link below.
Apple will make the PRO apps available for the Intel platform around March.
I'd say go for the MacBook Pro. I'm getting one also, but I'll wait for Rev B.
Do the same if you can afford to wait.

http://www.apple.com/r/store/universal/
 
korimickster said:
Why can't they just solve all my problems by dropping the price of the PowerBook?!?
Click to expand...

They do. Buy a refurbished PB.

Your concerns make it quite obvious as to what machine to buy. PB. FCP 6 is rumored for a Spring release, so if you can't wait until then, then get the PB. If you use other programs such as After Effects, Photoshop, etc., you will have to wait until those are released. Could be awhile.

Don't listen to the naysayers on the 15" with lines. They are not an issue when editing and any pro knows not to use an LCD screen for color correction, title generation, etc. That's what the CRT is for. I've used the 15" with lines to edit and it's fine.
 
yellow said:
You can also look at it this way.. buying a PBG4, you're knowingly buying an obsolete Mac.
Click to expand...

Obsolete is a really, really bad word to use, as it implies "no longer functional," "useless," and things of that nature. A system that cannot run the newest OS might be called obsolete, but not the second most recent generation of laptops, and the current fastest in many areas given Rosetta's performance, as seen in the new iMacs.
 
Well....look at it like this...

korimickster said:
What do you think about NOT buying the MacBook Pro and deciding on the PowerBook?

The main thing I am concerned about is not being able to edit on Final Cut Pro for a few weeks/months if I DO buy the MacBook.
Click to expand...

If you buy the Powerbook, you will have a 1.67ghz G4 based system that will run your current software. When the Universal Pro Apps will be out, and you will still be running on a 1.67ghz G4.

If you buy a MacBook, you will have to wait about a month for it to ship. While you wait, you will have to continue to use your current Mac. If the Pro Apps don't have Universal Binaries by the time your MacBook arrives, you will have to continue to use your current Mac for those apps. When the UB's ship, you will have a significant performance upgrade w/ your Core Duo running the Pro Apps natively.

Don't lose sight of the forest for the trees.

- Kelson
 
Kelson said:
When the UB's ship, you will have a significant performance upgrade w/ your Core Duo running the Pro Apps natively.
Click to expand...

Because of the horizontal lines issue, I am taking that quote, closing my eyes, and crossing my fingers.
 
IntelMacs vs. PPC is the same transition that OSX was to OS9. At first it was painful but it was a non-return trip
 
Hi there,

I'm new here but i just thought i'd say, why don't you check eBay for the previous 15'' Powerbook 1.67, Rev D ? I am a studying video artist / editor and i purchased one myself about a year ago, and it is an absolutely wonderful machine.

You might not have the higher resolution screen, but it certainly doesn't have the ''lines in the screen'' issue.

Good luck with whatever you choose, but i'd consider getting a used one and check out the next Rev MacBook.

Rich.
 
korimickster said:
Because of the horizontal lines issue, I am taking that quote, closing my eyes, and crossing my fingers.
Click to expand...

Don't worry, get the MacBook and enjoy your apps being significantly faster when UB on your MBP than they would have been on any G4. :)
 
Meyvn said:
Obsolete is a really, really bad word to use, as it implies "no longer functional," "useless," and things of that nature.
Click to expand...

It also means "no longer current".

But I'll change it in favor of "depricated".
 
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