Powerbook... iBook.... Powerbook.... iBook.... Talk about indecision. :P

[khammack]

..and the likelyness of this? a PBG5..? I've been advised that shoe horning a G5, with its heat problems, would be very difficult?

Apple has a lot invested in the G5. When talking about the G5's heat problems, you are talking about the current implementation. It's true that the current round of G5 processors will not likely ever see the inside of a laptop. But the next generation of 90nm G5 processors is pretty likely to solve the heat problem, or at least make a large dent in it.

I'm coming from the x86 world here, but I'm not sure why so much is made of this G5 power issue. It's pretty typical for Intel to release a desktop processor, then release a "mobile" version a year later when the chip is implemented on a smaller process. This is a normal part of the design cycle, unless there is something I'm missing I don't see why it's any different for IBM (who are producing the G5).

So unless I'm missing something, I don't think it's a matter of whether G5 will ever see the inside of a laptop. It's a matter of how long will we wait for them to solve the 90nm die shrink issues. If they give up and try another process that would be a setback, but I have a very hard time believing that they would just give up altogether.

The real issue is how long are you willing to wait? Current speculation puts hardware based on the next G5 somewhere in spring 2005. A lot can happen between now and then. Personally, I'm not going to have the cash for a powerbook until spring anyway, so I guess I'm holding out to see what happens.

BTW, I'm suffering from a similar predicament with respect to which laptop to buy. 12" ibook vs 12" powerbook vs 15" powerbook. I want the 15" powerbook, and that's probably what I'll buy. But those ibooks are so cheap....ugh. That's ok, I've got months to procrastinate.

-kev

 

[efoto]

I've read reviews of the powerbooks battery life. Even with everything powered down, including the HDD after a minute, airport and bluetooth off, the screen off and just running the barest of bare, the powerbook only manages to get just over 3 hours of battery life. This is a disappointing figure and one well below the 4.5 hours apple alluded to.

Hmm, interesting that with all those features turned off or powered down so promptly that it only lasted three hours.

Alt Battery Post

Just do a forum search for battery life and see what you get, it should turn up a lot of results because this is often discussed. I have not heard of a time as low as 3 with "everything" off like you said this review setup. I have heard 3 when browsing with iTunes and other stuff, or 3 for unplugged Photoshop, or 3 for movies with the DVD spinning vs. copying the image...but not like your review setup.
I would argue that you should be able to get 3.5-4 for general usage, perhaps 3-3.5 for pseudo-power usage. Thats my ,02

Edit: Fixed the link if anyone had any issues...had a duplicate http:// due to a copy.paste error on my part 😛

 

[Yotabyte]

I hope you're right about the 15" powerbook i'd hate to have a meager battery life for something so beautiful. I just read a couple reviews and regurgitated some details I remembered from it. Perhaps they tested it on an old powerbook, or a defective one, who knows, all I know is that the 15" is far less jucey than the 12" which I wish wasn't true!

 

[absolut_mac]

Forgetting something?

..and the likelyness of this? a PBG5..? I've been advised that shoe horning a G5, with its heat problems, would be very difficult?

Apple has already *shoe-horned* a G5 into the new iMac, or have you forgotten about that already?

True it is not a lap top, but it sure is pretty close to being one.

Keeping the above in mind, it seems to me that they only need to lower the heat and power consumption just a little bit more and then voilá

 

[zen_state]

Apples,

I am buying my first mac and keep getting stumped on whether or not to get a powerbook or an ibook. The fact is, I keep going for the ibook as it's cheap, better battery life, better wireless reception, more durable... but then I go and suddenly decide to get a 15" powerbook due to its bigger screen, nicer cover, much faster (HL2 playable one day?) and its nice aspect ratio.

So I want a second opinion. Here is my predicament....

I am getting rid of my desktop (sort of giving it away for some cash... 😉) as it no longer suits my needs. There fore, I need a desktop replacement. HOWEVER, at the same time, I need something portable and light weight to bring with me to uni and tap into the wireless network, as well as for couch computing which I have never experienced, but I've heard it's great. Finally, for games, graphics design, web design etc. It needs a little power in that department.

Can some one help me reach a conclusion! I don't intend to get it until after Christmas as there is no point getting it this far from the start of the Uni year, and to give the powerbooks a chance to update....

Cheers,

there are about 100 threads asking this same question with hundreds of answers for you... try a search first. its redundant stuff like this that slows down and bloats msg boards.

sorry but it had to be said.

 

[efoto]

there are about 100 threads asking this same question with hundreds of answers for you... try a search first. its redundant stuff like this that slows down and bloats msg boards.

sorry but it had to be said.

True statement, but there is something about asking the question yourself that makes you feel as though you will get a tailored answer to your specific issue. Searching is the better first option...and if you find a thread that addresses the same issue then just post with some educated comments as well as your question, no one usually seems to mind as long as they follow the flow of the thread and stay on topic.

 

[tamara6]

Just do a forum search for battery life and see what you get, it should turn up a lot of results because this is often discussed. I have not heard of a time as low as 3 with "everything" off like you said this review setup. I have heard 3 when browsing with iTunes and other stuff, or 3 for unplugged Photoshop, or 3 for movies with the DVD spinning vs. copying the image...but not like your review setup.
I would argue that you should be able to get 3.5-4 for general usage, perhaps 3-3.5 for pseudo-power usage. Thats my ,02

I have a 15" 1.33 GHz powerbook. My typical battery only situation is with airport on and using Safari to surf, Mail to check my mail, and possibly a text editor open to work on web pages. I tend to get between 2 and 2.5 hours of battery life. I use the computer continuously during that time, though, so it never goes to sleep. I have my screen brightness turned down to about 70%, and the processor is set on the lowest setting.

I've fiddled with the settings a lot to try to maximize my time. I've never actually been able to get near 3 hours on battery with this type of nearly continuous usage, no matter what I do.

When I am at work and using my computer to check my e-mail, occasionally check a web page, and sometimes write a document, I can get by for about 6 hours without plugging in. Of course the computer is not in use for 6 hours - it is asleep for most of that time. I would guess that I probably get the same 2 - 2.5 hours of real use.

I do not know if my battery life is typical, but it is what I get, so there you are.

 

[FelixDerKater]

Don't waste your money or time on an iBook. Go for a 15" PowerBook.

 

[chrisblore]

True statement, but there is something about asking the question yourself that makes you feel as though you will get a tailored answer to your specific issue. Searching is the better first option...and if you find a thread that addresses the same issue then just post with some educated comments as well as your question, no one usually seems to mind as long as they follow the flow of the thread and stay on topic.

Also true, but if you find that the threads are slightly older and have been dead for some time, it can be equally annoying as it can break the flow of a thread and become harder to follow the conversation. Just my 2 pence 😀

 

[papersushi]

If you have the money, go with the PowerBook. iBook may has the best value, but people don't just buy PowerBook for its value. Comparing iBook and PowerBook is like comparing Honda with BMW. 🙂

 

[efoto]

Also true, but if you find that the threads are slightly older and have been dead for some time, it can be equally annoying as it can break the flow of a thread and become harder to follow the conversation. Just my 2 pence 😀

Agreed, very good point chrisblore. I'll concede.

 

[Yotabyte]

Bye bye powerbook, hello ibook.

I have actually decided to get a 12" ibook now. Why? It's really cheap. I am going to use the extra cash to upgrade my winblows box so I can use it for games (X800 graphics card maybe, and a LCD screen, a new mouse), and for apps that my ibook doesn't run or shouldn't need to emulate and stick on there only what I really need. As for the ibook, as it's so cheap, I am even going to upgrade the HDD to 60gb, the ram to 512, and get bluetooth.

I just figured that as a student I really don't need the powerbook when I have a perfectly fine desktop with which I can use to do the majority of my photoshop designing, game playing, and home assignments but I really need an ibook for a long-term wireless solution, assignments on the go, and it needs to have a good wireless capability, long battery life and a durable case. It also needs to be portable enough for me to be able to hide it inside my bag amungst my books and for it to look inconspicuous and for me not to worry about it being knocked around a lot.

Luxary can take the back seat today, hello Honda!

As for these claims about redundant topics, I chose not to make a reply to an older topic about an ibook that I found off google (which is how I found macrumours.com in the first place, so I did search, and I have read a lot of reviews) for the same reason stated by chrisblore as well as the fact that dudums here (me) wanted a personalised answer 😛

 

[efoto]

I'm sure you'll be pleased with your new iBook when you get it. All the current Mac offerings are quite similar so if the iBook can suite your needs then perfect, wonderful cost savings.

Enjoy the new Mac and let us know how it goes when you get it.