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Loaded iBook or bare bones PowerBook?
- Thread starter sethwerkheiser
- Start date
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Hard Choice!
This is one of the hardest choices to make.
I need to get a notebook but I'm stuck on which one to get. (It has to have DVD, some of my artwork is on it.)
I use three different Macs a week and they all have their strengths.
I work 8+ hours a day on a G3 266 w/20 CRT at 1024x768, handling large files (up to 150-200mb) with no problem.
I use a G4 867 Tower w/22" flat panel at my part time job.
And at home a G3 400 iMac w/DVD which I do side work.
My problem is that my iMac screen size isn't large enough. I use Illustrator quite alot. I love having the 22" but their is no way I can afford that. So the 12, 14 & 15 inch screen is an issue. Processor speed is 2nd on my list, since anything is going to an upgrade to my home use. I've noticed that some redraws on my iMac is faster than the loaded G4.
Most of you think that the 12" is a better option than the 14".
I thinking that I could use the 12" as a portable device and hook up a bigger LCD screen. I've never used dual monitor setup, which might help my situation. If I hook up a 17" LCD to the 12" ibook or PB will I get any resolution higher than the 1024x768 listed on the specs? Also, I'll probably will use a notebook for about 6-12 months before getting a tower to handle large work hooked up to whatever external monitor I can get.
So basically I need to get a notebook as cheap as possible and I need to be able to use it everyday as well.
This is one of the hardest choices to make.
I need to get a notebook but I'm stuck on which one to get. (It has to have DVD, some of my artwork is on it.)
I use three different Macs a week and they all have their strengths.
I work 8+ hours a day on a G3 266 w/20 CRT at 1024x768, handling large files (up to 150-200mb) with no problem.
I use a G4 867 Tower w/22" flat panel at my part time job.
And at home a G3 400 iMac w/DVD which I do side work.
My problem is that my iMac screen size isn't large enough. I use Illustrator quite alot. I love having the 22" but their is no way I can afford that. So the 12, 14 & 15 inch screen is an issue. Processor speed is 2nd on my list, since anything is going to an upgrade to my home use. I've noticed that some redraws on my iMac is faster than the loaded G4.
Most of you think that the 12" is a better option than the 14".
I thinking that I could use the 12" as a portable device and hook up a bigger LCD screen. I've never used dual monitor setup, which might help my situation. If I hook up a 17" LCD to the 12" ibook or PB will I get any resolution higher than the 1024x768 listed on the specs? Also, I'll probably will use a notebook for about 6-12 months before getting a tower to handle large work hooked up to whatever external monitor I can get.
So basically I need to get a notebook as cheap as possible and I need to be able to use it everyday as well.
huge things will most likely hit the ibook in the next 24 months...which is a reasonable time to own and use the g3 powered ibook
the ibook will definitely get ddr ram and a g4 in the next two years for sure
right now, the powerbook g4, 12 inch model, has those things, and like everyone said, you can always buy the added ram later
the aluminum casing will give you more strength and if you get applecare, you will use the laptop for three years much more likely than a g3 ibook which you may easily outgrow way before the three years is up
to me, right now, the powerbook 12 inch model is the best deal for now and the long term up to two years or more
the ibook will definitely get ddr ram and a g4 in the next two years for sure
right now, the powerbook g4, 12 inch model, has those things, and like everyone said, you can always buy the added ram later
the aluminum casing will give you more strength and if you get applecare, you will use the laptop for three years much more likely than a g3 ibook which you may easily outgrow way before the three years is up
to me, right now, the powerbook 12 inch model is the best deal for now and the long term up to two years or more
..and airport extreme, bluetooth, 10 GB more space, and slightly lighter by 3/10 of a pound..every bit counts
I belive it was Barefeats.com that managed to get a copy of XBench onto the 12" powerbook at Macworld. The 12" powerbook was not blowing away the iBook and in some tests, the iBook was better.
Like you said, you will be using it for everyday tasks and the Sims. My vote goes for the 12" iBook then. (maxed out w/ 640 megs of ram). Plus, I read a few posts from people saying the 12" powerbook gets really hot, whereas the iBook won't be that way.
Not sure what to say regarding Airport Extreme - I would think that AE isn't a bad thing to have but it doesn't matter right now to not have it either. I do think the built-in bluetooth is cool if you think you will be using bluetooth stuff, so maybe that could be a consideration.
Barefeats link
Sorry, I forgot to put the link to the Barefeats tests:
http://www.barefeats.com/pb17.html
Sorry, I forgot to put the link to the Barefeats tests:
http://www.barefeats.com/pb17.html
the biggest advantages of the 12" powerbook over the ibook is that the powerbook can support multiple monitors while the ibook can only mirror.
if screen real estate is an issue (and it will be for most people if all they have is 1024x768) then being able to connect the powerbook to a second screen is a huge benefit.
Also powerbooks have much higher resale value than ibooks. i just sold my 4 year old powerbook (lombard g3) for $900. 3 year old ibooks (the oldest ibooks) sell for about $100.
if screen real estate is an issue (and it will be for most people if all they have is 1024x768) then being able to connect the powerbook to a second screen is a huge benefit.
Also powerbooks have much higher resale value than ibooks. i just sold my 4 year old powerbook (lombard g3) for $900. 3 year old ibooks (the oldest ibooks) sell for about $100.
Re: thanks all
While I think both are great, I rather have a $25,000 Mercedes than a $25,000 Toyota. Both good, but definitely you'll be happier and more proud to own the classier machine. SAme goes for this comparison. Besides, lots of places are giving free 512MB Ram chips with Pbooks. Get a 12 w/640 MB Ram>>>SCHWEET! (My 2¢)Originally posted by sethwerkheiser
Thanks guys for the input. I don't know why I compared the 12" PowerBook and the 14" iBook. I probably WOULD go for the 12" iBook now that I think about it. And getting plenty of RAM is something I'd really want to do.
I guess I've been "scared" of the processor thing (dang Intel has brainwashed me). WHat I mean is I don't want to be "bogged down" with the G3 when I could spend a few hundred more and get the G4 - but will I really need to? I hope you guys understand what I'm saying.
Basically I don't want to be unhappy with a pimped out iBook. From the looks of things though I doubt I'll be let down!
12" Powerbook
I just went to CompUSA and checked out the 12" Powerbook. Damn it was nice. It was sleek looking, and looked nice and slick, because it is much more rounded than the ibook. The new powerbook from the outside is the 12" ibook, with the clear plastic ripped off. It's that size. It is tiny, and it looks much cuter than the 12" ibook.
Now, I have already ordered a 12" PBook w/an educational discount, or else I would have bought it on the spot. So obviously, I am more biased towards the Pbook. It was really nice. There are only two negative things I can say after my experience with the ibook. The first is that the mouse button on the one i played with felt EXTREMELY flimsy. This may have just been individual laptop i was using, but the guy took it fresh out of the box right in front of me, so it wasn't because of previous use. The other problem I had with it was on this same machine, the rubber that is the airport antenna was kinda seperated from the case, and cheapened the look a tiny bit. Despite both these things, I have maintained my order from the apple store, and eagerly await my first mac.
All that said, I'm gonna tell you what I loved about it. It was REALLY cute. It has no obtruding surfaces. It really sleak. I love the fact that it has a slot loading drive. The laptop seemed very solid, and the aluminum looks great. They keys seemed nice, and very responsive to presses. I don't think I'll have any problems typing on them for hours.
I was also a bit worried because unlike the ibook, the speakers seem to be hidden. They are on the back of the laptop, in the form of little slots, one on each side. I couldn't listen to much, as it was fresh out of the box, but from what I could hear, they didn't sound that bad. The screen looked very nice and sharp.
Overall, the laptop looked twice as classy, and much more stylish than the ibook. I really enjoyed fondling it for a while.
I just went to CompUSA and checked out the 12" Powerbook. Damn it was nice. It was sleek looking, and looked nice and slick, because it is much more rounded than the ibook. The new powerbook from the outside is the 12" ibook, with the clear plastic ripped off. It's that size. It is tiny, and it looks much cuter than the 12" ibook.
Now, I have already ordered a 12" PBook w/an educational discount, or else I would have bought it on the spot. So obviously, I am more biased towards the Pbook. It was really nice. There are only two negative things I can say after my experience with the ibook. The first is that the mouse button on the one i played with felt EXTREMELY flimsy. This may have just been individual laptop i was using, but the guy took it fresh out of the box right in front of me, so it wasn't because of previous use. The other problem I had with it was on this same machine, the rubber that is the airport antenna was kinda seperated from the case, and cheapened the look a tiny bit. Despite both these things, I have maintained my order from the apple store, and eagerly await my first mac.
All that said, I'm gonna tell you what I loved about it. It was REALLY cute. It has no obtruding surfaces. It really sleak. I love the fact that it has a slot loading drive. The laptop seemed very solid, and the aluminum looks great. They keys seemed nice, and very responsive to presses. I don't think I'll have any problems typing on them for hours.
I was also a bit worried because unlike the ibook, the speakers seem to be hidden. They are on the back of the laptop, in the form of little slots, one on each side. I couldn't listen to much, as it was fresh out of the box, but from what I could hear, they didn't sound that bad. The screen looked very nice and sharp.
Overall, the laptop looked twice as classy, and much more stylish than the ibook. I really enjoyed fondling it for a while.