Re: The 12" PowerBook Blues...
Originally posted by BLewisMaltz
So is there anyone who thinks the 12" has all a non-professional digital video editor really needs? Or is the 15" all that and a bag of chips?
If I had to choose between the two, I would pick the 15". It is all that and a bag of chips. I still do not understand why the 12" does not have some of the extra features, such as the backlit display, as do the 15" and the 17". For DVDs, the wider screen is perfect. All of of Apple's laptops are super portable. In the end, I have found that it is the weight of a laptop that decreases its portability, and in Apple's case the physical differences in all their laptops is an inch or two width wise and being ~5 or ~6 pounds. If a computer is a few inches longer, it is not going to make a difference in your bag. I know several people with the 15" and they all have marveled on how portable it is.
I am not a huge fan of the 12" PB. I know someone who has it, and he loves it, but I really do not know why not just get a 12" iBook--unless you like the look of the PB better. If you are into doing all those high performance things, they most likely you need the 15". If you do not require those things, then the iBook is more than adequate. I wanted a 12" and I needed a computer for primarily Word and PowerPoint. I could have gotten the 12" PB, but I liked the style of the iBook more, and I like the fact that I have mine maxed out and I still saved a bundle.
I used to write a tremendous amount before school and now in graduate school, I still write, but it is more on the technical side. The 12" is plenty big enough for writing and DVD watching. I also use my iBook for casual Photoshop and Dreamweaver.
Getting a PowerBook was not for me, but there are some adavantages of them for even a writer. For instance, the ability to do dual display. This is excellent if you need two documents open and you are writing on one and reading the other. Also, if using an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse, you can close the PowerBook, where you cannot with the iBook. Of course, I got an iCurve which worked so well and looked so classy, I stopped using the external monitors I have (one at work and one at home). Another nice point that I think is only for the 15" is that if you are somewhere where you do not have your extra monitor, the extra real estate can allow you to have two documents open at a time and you can see more of each.
IMHO, if you want a 12", get an iBook it does not sound you need the PB. If the iBook is just not for you, get the 15". It is a perfect computer and has more of the powerbook features than the 12"
