I'm in the market for a Powerbook. I've made my mind up on a Powerbook since the iBook's screen resolution is disgusting and I need DVI-out.
I qualify for an educational discount (and possibly Student ADC). Now, buying used wouldn't be best since with Student ADC, I can get a new 15" 1.5GHz for ~$2,000. A 12" would be acceptable, but I'm not keen on 1024x768. A 15" would be best, but it is a fair deal pricier. I am looking to use this notebook for at least 3 years. I'd like to play games from time to time (namely Warcraft 3, Age of Empires II, Civilization III, KOTOR and the upcoming Doom 3). The 1.33GHz 15" would do me fine, but the option for 128MB of video RAM isn't there. I don't want to see Mac OS 10.5 [FELINE NAME] requiring 128MB of VRAM. Is it worth getting the 1.5GHz for the 128MB VRAM option? How much better does the 9700 mobility do compared to the 9600 mobility? ...to the 5200FXGo? ...to the cards in the previous Powerbook revisions? How do they compare to their desktop counter parts? I remember the difference between the 9600 and the 9700 was rather large in the desktop. Is the same true for the mobility? I checked all the hardware sites I can remember, and none of them compare mobile GPU's. This notebook will be used for iPhoto, Office, Photoshop and gaming. Don't suggest a PC notebook, they're all trash.
Secondly, do you have to be mastering in computer science to be eligble for the Student ADC program? If they call up and my school tells them I'm mastering Psychology, will they decline my membership? How long does verification take?
Thanks.
I qualify for an educational discount (and possibly Student ADC). Now, buying used wouldn't be best since with Student ADC, I can get a new 15" 1.5GHz for ~$2,000. A 12" would be acceptable, but I'm not keen on 1024x768. A 15" would be best, but it is a fair deal pricier. I am looking to use this notebook for at least 3 years. I'd like to play games from time to time (namely Warcraft 3, Age of Empires II, Civilization III, KOTOR and the upcoming Doom 3). The 1.33GHz 15" would do me fine, but the option for 128MB of video RAM isn't there. I don't want to see Mac OS 10.5 [FELINE NAME] requiring 128MB of VRAM. Is it worth getting the 1.5GHz for the 128MB VRAM option? How much better does the 9700 mobility do compared to the 9600 mobility? ...to the 5200FXGo? ...to the cards in the previous Powerbook revisions? How do they compare to their desktop counter parts? I remember the difference between the 9600 and the 9700 was rather large in the desktop. Is the same true for the mobility? I checked all the hardware sites I can remember, and none of them compare mobile GPU's. This notebook will be used for iPhoto, Office, Photoshop and gaming. Don't suggest a PC notebook, they're all trash.
Secondly, do you have to be mastering in computer science to be eligble for the Student ADC program? If they call up and my school tells them I'm mastering Psychology, will they decline my membership? How long does verification take?
Thanks.