Ongoing New Apple Owner Questions

[Advance The Man]

I've had my 17" Powerbook for a little over 2 years now. I still am required to utilize a ton of Windows based software that I cannot easily use on the PB. I do have Virtual PC and it is not that great. In fact it's slow and convuluted to work with. I'm at a point now where I don't use it for the Windows based software.

I checked used prices for similar PB's like mine on ebay and also looked at Intel MacBooks and MacBook Pros. My thought is to sell mine and by a MB. I don't mind downgrading in screen size (never been crazy how big the 17" is). Willing to get a 15" or even a 13".

Questions - with Parallels or Bootcamp, is this fairly easy? Am I right a MB or a MB Pro can use either Parallels or Bootcamp? Any recommendations on a particular used model I should be looking for? I am not utilizing it for anything power hungry - so I don't need a monster, just something I can essentially do an even financial swap or come out of pocket a few bucks. Please advise. Thanks

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Am I right a MB or a MB Pro can use either Parallels or Bootcamp?

Yes. And actually, you can use both Bootcamp and Parallels.

If you install Windows under Bootcamp go on to install the Parallels tools and then use that same partition under Parallels for non-intensive tasks, so all your Windows applications and data will be the same no matter if you boot into Bootcamp or just fire up Parallels.

 

[Advance The Man]

^ Thanks.

Will a MB be fine for running windows and being a low 'power' user? i.e. not editing, imovie, etc.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Yes, but if you're going to use Windows XP (or Vista) in Parallels I would strongly suggest that you get 2 GB RAM. Windows 2000 isn't too RAM hungry, but to run XP you need all the RAM you can get...

 

[Advance The Man]

I was ready to sell or trade my PB, but it's not working.

The power plug goes in, it lights up - but doesn't charge the battery and the PB won't work with the plug in (with or without the battery in place). Is this battery dead, or something more serious? I thought all laptops would work without a battery as long as you had the charger plugged in.

Please advise if you think it's the battery or something more serious.

 

[mad jew]

Well if it won't work when the battery isn't plugged in but the adaptor is, then the problem isn't the battery. It could be a dodgy adaptor. Do you have another one you could test with? You can even use an iBook charger if you can't find a powerBook one to test with.

 

[Advance The Man]

Yep! The vinyl around the base of the plug that goes into the PB is torn. If I hold it just right it works. I'll be purchasing another one. Thanks

Well if it won't work when the battery isn't plugged in but the adaptor is, then the problem isn't the battery. It could be a dodgy adaptor. Do you have another one you could test with? You can even use an iBook charger if you can't find a powerBook one to test with.

 

[mad jew]

No worries mate.

 

[Advance The Man]

Want to use LCD TV for video from my PB. Looking at the manual, I see can use the included s-video to composite adapter or a DVI to VGA adapter. I doubt the newer tv has the VGA adapter? Not sure on this as I'm not home to look at it. But, I know it does have a DVI in. Is there a DVI to DVI plug that will work for this G4 PB? Also, read where you need a miniplug to RCA cable for sound. Can you provide a link on where the best place to buy these items? Thanks

 

[Advance The Man]

Every time I close my PB and open it back up or turn the laptop all the way off and turn it on, I have to reselect my wireless network. It doesn't just 'find' it and connect. Is there a way to do this?