Powerbook 12" 867 or iBook 12" 1.33

[Starflyer]

Looking at getting a laptop for my girlfriend. Wanting to spend about $500. I am kind of leaning towards the Powerbook. Will the faster G4 make much difference?

Powerbook G4 12" Aluminum
867mhz G4
NVIDIA GeForce4 420 Go 32MB
60GB HDD
1GB Ram
Combo Drive
Airport Extreme
Bluetooth 1.1

iBook G4 12"
1.33mhz G4
ATI Mobility 9550 32MB
40GB HDD
512MB Ram
Combo Drive
Airport Extreme
Bluetooth 2.0

 

[Insulin Junkie]

The powerbook will be noticeably faster. I don't know what the prices are for either of the machines, but the powerbook is definitely the better machine. I suggest upping the RAM though, if you're planning to run 10.5 on the mac.

 

[iToaster]

The 1.33 GHz G4 makes a difference over the 867 MHz one, but processor speed isn't everything. For example, the PowerBook mentioned only has USB 1.1, which has a max transfer rate of 12 MB/s where the iBook has USB 2 that has a maximum transfer rate of 480 MB/s. Although the PowerBook has a slightly larger HD, the speed of the PowerBook is deterring. If you're going to run Leopard, the iBook would probably be better, but with Tiger the difference is specs isn't so much of a problem. I would recommend the iBook, but the PowerBook is alright too.

FYI, going by benchmarks, the PowerBook in question scores a 434, the iBook a 689, and for some comparison to modern hardware, your Mac Pro is around 5000.

 

[Unspeaked]

I'm with iToaster on this one.

I've used both models, and unless you need a dual-display setup (I believe the iBook only mirrors video out), you should go with that.

But up the RAM!

 

[194567]

The powerbook is much more durable as the ibook, by the way there are a lot more reports from ibooks with failing logic boards. I saw a 1ghz, 1gb ram, 60gb hdd, 12" powerbook g4 on ebay going away for $510 so maybe you are lucky and get one for that price.

 

[Insulin Junkie]

@OP: You'll get more results if you make a poll...

 

[Unspeaked]

The powerbook is much more durable as the ibook, by the way there are a lot more reports from ibooks with failing logic boards. I saw a 1ghz, 1gb ram, 60gb hdd, 12" powerbook g4 on ebay going away for $510 so maybe you are lucky and get one for that price.

The 867MHz model the OP asks about was the first 12" PowerBook and thus has quite a few bugs of its own.

The iBook, on the other hand, was the very last model to be released before the jump to MacBooks and I don't recall seeing any reports of bad logic boards on the 1.33GHz models. The sub 1GHz models are notorious, but this last Rev was rather stable.

 

[SnowLeopard2008]

Well hardware wise the iBook G4 is better. I've owned one with the same exact specs. Sadly, that got stolen at school. But aesthetically, the PowerBook Alu is better, since it is aluminum and definitely much more flashy. If you get the iBook, up the ram. 512mb is enough for running Tiger, but not Leopard.

 

[194567]

I had a 1ghz powerbook g4 until I got my macbook, since the day I purchased the powerbook I never had a single problem. Of course we are telling our own experiences that are all different from each other.