Which name do you prefer, PowerBook or MacBook Pro?

[TSE]

I know Apple is never going to bring back the name PowerBook, but now that we are in 2021, and a whole generation of Apple Fans are here that were never around when the "PowerBook" was around, I just wanted to make a poll - discuss!


I honestly LOVE the name PowerBook and STILL much prefer it. I know Sales & Marketing play a bigger part in Apple, but Apple has quickly transformed since the introduction of the iPod from a computer company to a lifestyle company. Part of that was when they switched the names of their computers to not describe what the computer is or does (iBook = Internet Book, PowerBook = Power & Performance), but what the customer wants their image to be (Professional).


What's your take on this? Especially YOUNG Apple fans without the rose-tinted glasses us old-timers call nostalgia, what are your opinions of the name PowerBook?

 

[The_Martini_Cat]

I'll never forget that 1st powerbook ad -- at least the gist. It listed "everything I have on my powerbook", and it was a lot, photos, spreadsheets, writing, everything that goes into a digital life. And then the person sitting next to him (Maybe this was Woz?) lists everything HE has on his powerbook, and it's a similar list, and then the kicker. "Plus the entire contents of the other guy's powerbook". I wanted one. Eventually, years later, I got the little Titanium Powerbook. Perfect size, good capacity for the time. A classic. Today's iPad Air with Magic Keyboard ... much the same feel, maybe even much better. If there's anything that keeps me from jumping on a new laptop computer, it's that little Air. But I'm gonna say you can't love the old name Powerbook without being nostalgic for ... the book. Which is sold in ... bookstores! Which are ... not a happening thing anymore. So, I would not go with 'Powerbook' today, but I would also try to think up something better than "Mac Book Pro". (p.s. by the way, I'm not sure the moniker 'Air' really strengthens the idea of Apple as lifestyle company, although the term "Magic", for the keyboard, sure!). Cheers! 🍸😸

 

[turbineseaplane]

PowerBook

A. Nostalgia
B. It just sounds cooler honestly
C. Better differentiation from more mainstream machines -- PowerBook & iBook was a great duo

 

[Ray2]

Don't sully the Powerbook name with what's now produced.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Don't sully the Powerbook name with what's now produced.

That's a fair point actually - I think I agree with you

 

[Euroamerican]

Macbook, no "pro".......

 

[TSE]

Don't sully the Powerbook name with what's now produced.

What do you mean by that?

 

[Ray2]

What do you mean by that?

It means the old ones would run fine with cracked cases held together with duct tape. The current ones come with defects right out of the box.

 

[TSE]

It means the old ones would run fine with cracked cases held together with duct tape. The current ones come with defects right out of the box.

Come on man.... I love PowerBooks as much as the next one. I have a PowerBook Pismo and TiBook in my closet here.

But to say they didn't have issues is nonsense. Internet support forums weren't what they were and the primary place you went to for support was through telephone, so maybe we weren't as aware of it, but I'll be the first to tell you that there were plenty of engineer problems with PowerBooks as well - TiBook as an example - you really think that that's more reliable than the current iteration of the MacBook Pro?

 

[JPack]

PowerPC = PowerBook

I'd rather the emphasis be on macOS, so MacBook Pro is better.

 

[Ray2]

Come on man.... I love PowerBooks as much as the next one. I have a PowerBook Pismo and TiBook in my closet here.

But to say they didn't have issues is nonsense. Internet support forums weren't what they were and the primary place you went to for support was through telephone, so maybe we weren't as aware of it, but I'll be the first to tell you that there were plenty of engineer problems with PowerBooks as well - TiBook as an example - you really think that that's more reliable than the current iteration of the MacBook Pro?

My view based on my experience. I had at least 7 Powerbooks. 6 never had a hitch of which 2 were TiBooks. Those lasted more than 5 years in the hands of one family member or another. The 7th Apple took back for a full refund well outside of the return period. That series was problematic. I've had 4 MBP's. All saw time in the shop. None lasted more than a couple of years before I dumped them. Having seen that my late wife's Airs could take a beating and never had any problems, once retired I switched to Airs, went through 4, never an issue. Now use an iPP.

Laptops were a tool that had to sustain the way I worked (constant travel). Powerbooks, then ThinkPads filled my needs. MBP's could not. They are pretty though.

 

[TSE]

My view based on my experience. I had at least 7 Powerbooks. 6 never had a hitch of which 2 were TiBooks. Those lasted more than 5 years in the hands of one family member or another. The 7th Apple took back for a full refund well outside of the return period. That series was problematic. I've had 4 MBP's. All saw time in the shop. None lasted more than a couple of years before I dumped them. Having seen that my late wife's Airs could take a beating and never had any problems, once retired I switched to Airs, went through 4, never an issue. Now use an iPP.

Laptops were a tool that had to sustain the way I worked (constant travel). Powerbooks, then ThinkPads filled my needs. MBP's could not. They are pretty though.

Hey! I can't blame you on that. There's three perspectives: 1. Our perspective 2. Others perspective 3. The perspectives of data and they all are important.

PowerBooks were iconic devices - I love my Pismo and take it out every so often because it just feels so cool. 12" PowerBook G4s are still awesome the way the keyboards are literally edge to edge. The TiBook was so futuristic at the time and no laptop looked like it or showed off the metal look like it did - it still looks good.