blaskillet4 said:
When you're tired, every ounce makes a difference, not to mention fitting it into your bag. A 17" PB won't fit into my backpack, and my backpack is pretty big.
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is a 17" Powerbook TOO big?
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When you're tired, every ounce makes a difference, not to mention fitting it into your bag. A 17" PB won't fit into my backpack, and my backpack is pretty big.
Maybe we could stop carrying our iPods to make up the difference for the 17" 
C'mon people it's a 1.3lbs. difference, how lazy are we getting people, whinning over that tiny difference... I bet when you end up dumping the clothes on your back and the stuff in your pockets it will be more than 1.3lbs.
PLEASE PEOPLE ... why are we basing an argument on the weight, there are more factors involved that make the wieght more than acceptable for those who can't lift the thing.
1. Sound Is AWESOME -Two sets of stereo speakers
2. Port Location more convienent -(Audio Jack towards front)
3. Support for Digital Audio
4. Go to a reseller and see the difference between the two... Once you see them in person your mind will be made up!
C'mon people it's a 1.3lbs. difference, how lazy are we getting people, whinning over that tiny difference... I bet when you end up dumping the clothes on your back and the stuff in your pockets it will be more than 1.3lbs.
PLEASE PEOPLE ... why are we basing an argument on the weight, there are more factors involved that make the wieght more than acceptable for those who can't lift the thing.
1. Sound Is AWESOME -Two sets of stereo speakers
2. Port Location more convienent -(Audio Jack towards front)
3. Support for Digital Audio
4. Go to a reseller and see the difference between the two... Once you see them in person your mind will be made up!
Not that big
Its not too big. As long as you have something decent to carry it with I don't see why you should worry about its weigth (it weighs a lot less than my old 14" dell inspiron). At 1" thick it is the slimmest powerbook.
I would be concerned about the battery though... While I feel it lasts enough for my needs, the 17" IS the one with the worst battery life... The screen just uses way too much power. You can get about 4 hours of word processing use (for example) if you turn down the screen's brightness to the minimum. However, I think the battery life is pretty decent if you consider the size of the screen.
Anyway the best way to decide is to go to the store and check out all three of them and carry them around for a bit. I do feel the 17" is the coolest, and once you get used to it, you will realize that the other powerbooks are just TOO SMALL...
Its not too big. As long as you have something decent to carry it with I don't see why you should worry about its weigth (it weighs a lot less than my old 14" dell inspiron). At 1" thick it is the slimmest powerbook.
I would be concerned about the battery though... While I feel it lasts enough for my needs, the 17" IS the one with the worst battery life... The screen just uses way too much power. You can get about 4 hours of word processing use (for example) if you turn down the screen's brightness to the minimum. However, I think the battery life is pretty decent if you consider the size of the screen.
Anyway the best way to decide is to go to the store and check out all three of them and carry them around for a bit. I do feel the 17" is the coolest, and once you get used to it, you will realize that the other powerbooks are just TOO SMALL...
I have to agree, as long as you find good carring case/bag you will be fine.floyde said:
17" is not too big. At work, at home,, the screen real estate is just awsome.
I have to mention that I am an advertising/graphic design student, and big screen is great for photoshoping and making page layouts.
And movies look really cool on it.
Every month there is a post asking if the 17" PowerBook is too big and every month a bunch of people chime in and say it is too big without actually having the experience of carrying one on a daily bases. Granted I have seen only one person post here who has said they have a 17" PowerBook and it is too big.
I have had one for over a year and it has been to China, Japan, and Mexico and back and forth with me to Arizona every other week for two years. Not once have I wished I purchased a 15" PowerBook. I bought a Brenthaven backpack to carry it in which I think makes a world of difference.
I bought 2 15" PowerBooks for my office and after opening the boxes and taking them out I thought they were quite small. I couldn't get use to the trackpad, which is much smaller than the 17" PowerBooks'.
I always say get the most you can buy for your money. If a 17" PowerBook is what you are looking at, by all means buy it. It is ironic when I was trying to decide on which system to buy I too turned to Macrumors for help. In the end when it came time to write the check, I bought the 17" PowerBook and I have not regretted it.
I have had one for over a year and it has been to China, Japan, and Mexico and back and forth with me to Arizona every other week for two years. Not once have I wished I purchased a 15" PowerBook. I bought a Brenthaven backpack to carry it in which I think makes a world of difference.
I bought 2 15" PowerBooks for my office and after opening the boxes and taking them out I thought they were quite small. I couldn't get use to the trackpad, which is much smaller than the 17" PowerBooks'.
I always say get the most you can buy for your money. If a 17" PowerBook is what you are looking at, by all means buy it. It is ironic when I was trying to decide on which system to buy I too turned to Macrumors for help. In the end when it came time to write the check, I bought the 17" PowerBook and I have not regretted it.
17' PowerBooks are for REAL men.....
Mine has been traveling back and forth across London 4 or 5 times a week for 2 years in it's Brenthaven backpack, thats an overland train, 2 tubes and about 15 mins walking, twice a day.
It's used for 6-8 hours a day and the extra pound makes no difference at all, sling it on your back and suck it down...!
On a serious note, it's not a machine for small people to carry, as the bottom of the pack will rub on your hip-bones.
The 17" is a great machine, I'll certainly never buy a smaller Apple laptop (unless they stop making it of course.....).
Mine has been traveling back and forth across London 4 or 5 times a week for 2 years in it's Brenthaven backpack, thats an overland train, 2 tubes and about 15 mins walking, twice a day.
It's used for 6-8 hours a day and the extra pound makes no difference at all, sling it on your back and suck it down...!
On a serious note, it's not a machine for small people to carry, as the bottom of the pack will rub on your hip-bones.
The 17" is a great machine, I'll certainly never buy a smaller Apple laptop (unless they stop making it of course.....).
wow. thanks for all the responses.
when i was looking at the 15 and 17 last time at school, i couldn't really get a feel for the laptops because i could not take it off of the display. i'm going to go to CompUSA right now and check out both models again. hopefully they give a little more freedom on holding the laptop there.
its gonna be a tough decision. i just hope that i don't regret my decision after i buy it.
when i was looking at the 15 and 17 last time at school, i couldn't really get a feel for the laptops because i could not take it off of the display. i'm going to go to CompUSA right now and check out both models again. hopefully they give a little more freedom on holding the laptop there.
its gonna be a tough decision. i just hope that i don't regret my decision after i buy it.
proverbs said:
You won't, the bottom line is that both machines are excellent and will serve you well.
Get a good bag.
WinterMute said:
Agreed. Either way you will enjoy having a PowerBook. And yes! Make sure you get a good bag to carry it in. It always amazes me how people can drop $2000 - $3000 for a laptop, but only be willing to pay $29.95 for a bag to carry it in. Benthavens are expensive, but it has made traveling with my laptop easy on the nerves.
Good luck.
A lot of good points! by other fellow MacRumors Members! Always consider the fact that any purchase for a 'Book in most cases is not the just the book itself, I highly recommend the Brenthaven 17" SaddleBag Case and if your into it, check out Oakley.com.
Just do it you won't regret it!
"grapes911" Thanks for the proof of the "real Powerbook"!
"ClarkB" Thanks for that piece of Apple History!
Just do it you won't regret it!
"grapes911" Thanks for the proof of the "real Powerbook"!
"ClarkB" Thanks for that piece of Apple History!
listen -
some people just aren't tough enough to go BIG!!!!
the 17" is pretty small, when you think about it, and its weight difference is not much at all
if you got a good bag/briefcase, then you're set ---- why mess with kindergarten toys (12", 15") when you can have a REAL computer???
some people just aren't tough enough to go BIG!!!!
the 17" is pretty small, when you think about it, and its weight difference is not much at all
if you got a good bag/briefcase, then you're set ---- why mess with kindergarten toys (12", 15") when you can have a REAL computer???
kasei said:
Agreed... I got a Timbuktu bag and it's the greatest... fits my 15" so snug, gives me peace of mind....
HasanDaddy said:
Yes, 12" and 15" PB's are so kindergarten toys. Thank you for your valuable input.
Do you need a 17"? No? Then don't get it. Honestly, I don't see the point when you could just get something smaller and hook it up to a display.
Because with the 17", you don't need an external display. And some people want to see a full sized screen all the time, not just at home.
The 17" really isn't that much of a difference in terms of weight. It really isn't. If it is, then go to the gym, you weak pathetic excuse for a human being!!
The 17" really isn't that much of a difference in terms of weight. It really isn't. If it is, then go to the gym, you weak pathetic excuse for a human being!!
Abstract said:
The weight isn't as much of a problem as the size. It's surprisingly big, especially if you have to carry it around for long periods of time. I imagine it would also be trouble on small tables and airplanes.
Tamer Brad said:
So this means you don't have a 17" PowerBook. I have flown with mine all of over the world in coach, business and first class. I have never had a problem with using my 17" PowerBook on the plane. It is called a laptop, therefore put it on your lap if the tray is too small. The 17" Powerbook is not that much bigger than the 15" and carrying it around it not a problem, especially if it is in the proper bag.
17" big?? YES too big??? you have to decide for yourself...
one of my clients has a 17" now... its a desktopreplacement... but he told me if he would have to do it over he would go for a 15" or even a 12" to make it more portable and then get a 20" apple display + kb/mouse to dock it on his desk...
but if you're an american: go and buy the 17"... because 80% of all people in favor of the 17" live in the us I guess here in belgium I remember going to the apple seller... seeing the new line up 12/15/17 and instantly falling for the 12" wich my brother then bought...
the store manager told me he sold a lot of 12" to students, 15" for people who need to do a lot of work on it... and the 17" only to people who want it big, probably didn't even need it & didn't care about price & size... & in most cases popped it in the back of their Mercedes ML/BMW X5/... and drove off hahahaha
I saw a similar case now when I was there with the 30" Apple Display... I would like it because it has the same total res as my 2screen setup I use now... but I can't afford to buy something that big but I saw a woman with a little doggy... and she needed a new computer.... so she bought the 2x2,5 G5 (no 2,3 or 2,7 at the time yet) with 2GB ram (because you need some more she told the vendor) and the 30" because that would be nice to watch DVD's.... she was lucky they had both in stock... so they popped it in the back of her Porshe Cayenne Turbo... and off she went...
I could have hit her... a lot of people I know would like that kind of setup to work 24/7 on it... and she buys one... to surf the web & watch dvd's :s
damn...
one of my clients has a 17" now... its a desktopreplacement... but he told me if he would have to do it over he would go for a 15" or even a 12" to make it more portable and then get a 20" apple display + kb/mouse to dock it on his desk...
but if you're an american: go and buy the 17"... because 80% of all people in favor of the 17" live in the us I guess
here in belgium I remember going to the apple seller... seeing the new line up 12/15/17 and instantly falling for the 12" wich my brother then bought...the store manager told me he sold a lot of 12" to students, 15" for people who need to do a lot of work on it... and the 17" only to people who want it big, probably didn't even need it & didn't care about price & size... & in most cases popped it in the back of their Mercedes ML/BMW X5/... and drove off
hahahahaI saw a similar case now when I was there with the 30" Apple Display... I would like it because it has the same total res as my 2screen setup I use now... but I can't afford to buy something that big
but I saw a woman with a little doggy... and she needed a new computer.... so she bought the 2x2,5 G5 (no 2,3 or 2,7 at the time yet) with 2GB ram (because you need some more she told the vendor) and the 30" because that would be nice to watch DVD's.... she was lucky they had both in stock... so they popped it in the back of her Porshe Cayenne Turbo... and off she went...I could have hit her... a lot of people I know would like that kind of setup to work 24/7 on it... and she buys one... to surf the web & watch dvd's :s
damn...
Jo-Kun said:
Probably the best piece of advice in the thread. (Sorry if someone said if before).
Portability
I think the real portability issue for any system is how much "other stuff" you carry in your bag. If it's only a computer, the difference between 5.6 and 6.9 lbs is really negligible. However, most of us also stuff all kinds of other stuff into our bags. I bet my bag weighs about 25lbs without a computer in it!
The questions are more around how you use screen real estate, where you'll use the PowerBook (i.e., can you open the 17" and use it on whatever surface is available to you?), and whether or not you need the couple of additional features of the 17" (specifically the digital audio/video).
I think the real portability issue for any system is how much "other stuff" you carry in your bag. If it's only a computer, the difference between 5.6 and 6.9 lbs is really negligible. However, most of us also stuff all kinds of other stuff into our bags. I bet my bag weighs about 25lbs without a computer in it!
The questions are more around how you use screen real estate, where you'll use the PowerBook (i.e., can you open the 17" and use it on whatever surface is available to you?), and whether or not you need the couple of additional features of the 17" (specifically the digital audio/video).