Poll: 12" iBook or 15" PowerBook

[js81]

Where from?

eBay. Here's the link to the auction - they have 9 more available.

To get it for the price I paid, you have to use the Bing Cashback thing from Microsoft. Saves 8% off the Buy It Now price.

 

[clyde2801]

I'm looking forward to the PowerBook - I think once I upgrade the RAM to 2GB and the hard drive to a 5400 or 7200 RPM it'll be a pretty sweet machine. 😀

Replacing the HD is not a five minute job like the macbook, IMO it can fairly be described as a PITA. Hope you don't break the keys when removing the keyboard.

 

[OrangeSVTguy]

Powerbooks are easy, well 15" anyways! Guess you never worked on an iBook before either😉. Besides you don't even touch the keyboard on the 15" Powerbook. It's the 12" Powerbook which you have to pop off 2 keys and also was probably the worst designed laptop ever made.

Ever see what you have to do to change out the optical drive or bluetooth?

 

[js81]

Replacing the HD is not a five minute job like the macbook, IMO it can fairly be described as a PITA. Hope you don't break the keys when removing the keyboard.

In addition to my job as a teacher, I work part-time in computer repair and upgrading (a side business of mine). I've done plenty of laptop work, from upgrading RAM and hard drives to replacing busted LCDs and motherboards. I think I can handle it... 😀 But I appreciate the concern. Its definitely more involved than the simple remove-the-battery-and-swap of the Macbook.

 

[mknapper1]

Wait, can the PowerBook even support 2gb of ram I thought it maxed out at 1?

 

[js81]

Wait, can the PowerBook even support 2gb of ram I thought it maxed out at 1?

The 12" maxed at 1.25 (256 on the logic board, up to 1GB in the upgrade slot).

The 15 and 17"ers both had two slots, capable of 1GB each.

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/powerbook_g4/stats/powerbook_g4_1.33_15.html

 

[clyde2801]

Powerbooks are easy, well 15" anyways! Guess you never worked on an iBook before either😉. Besides you don't even touch the keyboard on the 15" Powerbook. It's the 12" Powerbook which you have to pop off 2 keys and also was probably the worst designed laptop ever made.

Ever see what you have to do to change out the optical drive or bluetooth?

Oh, I WAS thinking about the 12" powerbook.

 

[js81]

So far, so good...

Got my PowerBook today... everything is great so far! I can definitely recommend the seller - I bought it late Sunday night and received it today (Wednesday). It is in almost perfect condition (hardly a scratch on it) and everything works exactly as advertised. The only bummer is that battery is only showing two lights (I'll test with Coconut Battery once I have the 10.4.11 update installed), but he listed it as working but untested. Ah, should at least last an hour and if it does, that's fine by me. 🙂 I'll let you know more as a I test it!

P.S. - iScroll2 works great, as well! 😀

EDIT: OK, so I just tested the battery... Coconut shows the current battery capacity at 84% of original (3705mAh vs. 4400mAh new). Sounds good to me! It does show 265 cycles, though... but hey, for the price I paid, I'll deal!

Definitely glad I got the 15"!