Need some buying advice please.

[eek_the_cat]

Here's the deal... I had been a PC for many, many years... that is, until I got a job a mac-only company, where I was exposed to a wonderful 15" Powerbook. I was hooked. I've since left that job, but miss the powerbook (but have been too cheap to spring for one). It was just so well built, so simple and elegant.

After purchasing a clunky HP PC laptop lately, I finally decided to return it and get myself a comparably priced powerbook or ibook.

I found a 12" powerbook (aluminum), 1ghz, 768mb ram, all the standard bells and whistles for $900.

Now I have a couple of questions I was hoping y'all could help with:

1) Is this a good price?
2) Will I be disappointed with the performance for everyday use? (for reference, I use a 3ghz desktop PC at home)
3) Is there anything I should look out for when purchasing a used powerbook?
4) Am I better off just spending a bit more to get a 12" ibook, or something else?

Thanks for your help!

 

[mad jew]

I'd recommend stumping up the extra cash and getting the iBook personally. There's nothing wrong with the PowerBook, but the new iBooks are such good value, you really can't go past them. They'll be significantly faster than the PowerBook plus you'll get all the new-Mac benefits such as warrantee, software and smell.

 

[verozov]

personally i would just go ahead and spend an extra $100 to get a brand new 1.33Ghz 12" iBook... it'll work better, have tiger and the applecare deal...

[EDIT: i need to learn how to type faster]

 

[eek_the_cat]

personally i would just go ahead and spend an extra $100 to get a brand new 1.33Ghz 12" iBook... it'll work better, have tiger and the applecare deal...

[EDIT: i need to learn how to type faster]

Maybe I should point out too that $900 is already about $100 over budget, so is the ibook *that* much better?

 

[mad jew]

In short: yes.

 

[verozov]

yes... if you want it listed out: better processor (by 333MHz), Tiger, Applecare w/ the option to extend, NIB effect, bluetooth, wireless card, new trackpad, free ipod deal (if ur a student), bigger HD?, all the basic newest software, and i'm sure i'm fogetting something else

 

[FFTT]

I would check the Apple store Red Tag Sales for refurbed PowerBooks,
then look at the 12" and 14" iBooks and compare.

You might as well wait 2 more weeks at this point to see what happens
at the Paris Expo.

You might get a great deal on the current 12" PowerBook if
they upgrade the lineup.

If you want to run your work through a larger DVI display, then I'd
lean towards a PowerBook.

If that's not an issue, then either iBook will be fine.

 

[verozov]

i agree the refurbs are a good thing to check out, but i seriously doubt they're going to release anything new since they just did a little over a month ago...and they still haven't updated the powerbook lines...

i also thought of something else: if you do .Mac, you'll get $30 w/ the purchase of a new mac... and i dk if they're still doin the free hp printer deal...and sudden motion sensor...

 

[mad jew]

i agree the refurbs are a good thing to check out, but i seriously doubt they're going to release anything new since they just did a little over a month ago...and they still haven't updated the powerbook lines...

I'd say that if they do update the PowerBook, both the price of the 1GHz PowerBook eek_the_cat mentions, plus the prices of refurb/second hand-but-newer iBooks will fall accordingly.

 

[verozov]

well duh, maybe if i wasn't so dumb i would have gotten you weren't talking about the ibook... sry

 

[mad jew]

It's all good.

 

[FFTT]

If you qualify for the education store discount $949
gets you a new 1.33GHz 12" iBook

1.33GHz PowerPC G4
512K L2 cache @1.33GHz
512MB memory (DDR333 SDRAM)
12.1-inch TFT Display
1024x768 resolution
ATI Mobility Radeon 9550
32MB DDR video memory
40GB Ultra ATA hard drive
Combo Drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW)
Built-in AirPort Extreme
Built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
Scrolling Trackpad
Sudden Motion Sensor



Apple Red Tag SALE is listing a NEW previous version 14" 1.33 GHz iBook combo drive for $949

1.33GHz PowerPC G4
- 512K L2 cache @ 1.33GHz
- 14-inch TFT Display
- 1024x768 resolution
- 256MB DDR266 SDRAM
- 60GB Ultra ATA drive
- Combo Drive
- ATI Mobility Radeon 9200
- 32MB DDR video memory
- AirPort Extreme built-in


Refurb page has a 12" 1.2 GHz ibook for $849