jarinaz said:
I am about to convert over to mac. I have debated back in fourth about just about every model. I want the Powerbook 15 but it is out of my price range. I have pretty much settled on the Powerbook 12" but am not sure. I have a few questions.
1. If you are a powerbook 12 owner, are you happy with it? Do you feel that it does everything you want to do? Is it enough computer? Is the 1.5 G4 strong enough?
2. I am seeing some better prices for a used 12 inch G4 on ebay and I think it might go that route. Any advise on buying used? I would obviously like to go new but paying 1700 for a 12 inch makes no sence to me. Anything I should look for?
3. Has anyone who has bought the 12 inch powerbook wished they had bought the 15 inch? Not just because of screen size but because of other options that the 12 does not have?
I would appreciate any help I can get. I am pumped about going to mac and never going back to PC. I just want a computer that will not be outdated next year and gives me the possibility of maybe making my own videos from a comcorder down the road.
I bought my 12'' 1.5ghz PowerBook 2 months ago. Right before my school started. This was my FIRST mac by the way and I think from here on out, Im buying mac laptops ONLY (no desktops because macs cant game!)
1. I am extremely happy with my purchase. Its size make it extremely versatile. The 1.5ghz is just fine IMO. The RAM on the other hand is something to think twice on. At 512, after opening 5 applications, it bogs down. I use Opera, iChat, Azureus, Word, and ShakesPeer. The fix is simply to get more RAM. Makes a world of difference. NO MORE BEACHBALLS FOR ME!
2. Don't buy used systems. Atleast not from eBay. If you are to buy used buy it from Apple. Atleast then you will get the 1 year warranty by Apple and be able to choose to get AppleCare. Buying off of eBay really gives you no guarantee if you will get the item or not, unless you buy from a really trusted seller. I personally wouldnt take ths route. Most of the time its cheap for a reason.
3. Just a note to the screen size. In college the lecture halls are HUGE and fits hundreds of people. The desk (more like armrest) is VERY small. Its probably no bigger than 8x6 inches. My friend who has a 17 inch could NOT get his PowerBook to work in the lecture halls because it was simply too big. The desk was not able to balance it, unless the guy next to him didnt mind having it take a bit of his own space. Ive seen one other person have a 15 and he doesnt seem to be that much better off. With a 15'' or a bigger screen in a lecture hall, that is all the space you will have. Unless you dont mind having a computer as the only thing to take notes on, then a 15 should be fine, anything bigger will only become a hassle.
As for the features that the 12 misses out. I cant say I miss them. My PowerBook already comes with Airport so the expansion slot is not needed. The One FireWire and Two USB works just fine for me. I definately dont need a lit keyboard because I been typing for years and I dont need to look at the keyboard anymore. So I really dont believe Im missing out on anything.
As for the people bring up the "Why not an iBook." For me personally I had the money to go 15'' PB, 12'' iBook, or 14'' iBook. I chose the 12'' PB because its small, so the 14 and 15 is out of the picture. I had to choose between iBook and PowerBook. I finally landed on the PB because after reading people getting Dell 2005FPW screens I decided to use the extra money I had on that. With the iBook you had to get a softhack to get it to span to the correct resolution of 1680x1050. I didnt like that idea simply because I heard Apple can void your warranty for doing that. I also chose the PB because it is WAY less hotter than that of the iBook. My PB only heats up to 110 F, never hotter. The iBook I heard really cooks. I wouldnt want to burn my penis. Personally for me, I think that was an extremely valid reason to go PB over iBook.
