[selowitch]

My wonderfully generous family is contemplating a gift of a PowerBook for my birthday at the end of January! This is a dream come true for me, having not purchased a new Mac since my bar mitzvah in 1983.

My dilemma is this: I love the big screen of the 15" model, and I plan to use this machine as my daily computer (I figure my existing desktop Mac will now become a server), so it seems like a good choice.

However, I am really drawn to the portability and small footprint of the 12". There are certain situations (a small podium, a cramped tray on an airliner) where the smaller form factor would really be a plus. I don't travel all that much now, but might do so more often in the future.

So, my questions for the peanut gallery are:

• Is the lack of L3 cache on the 12" a cause for concern?
• Does the width of the 15" get in the way a lot when on the road?
• Is the extra expense of the larger screen worth it?
• What are the chief disadvantages of the 12" (Rev. B)?

Please comment.

[all2ofme]

Roughly in the order you've asked the questions in:

- You needn't worry about the lack of L3 cache on the 12" since the 15" doesn't have it either:

http://www.apple.com/powerbook/specs.html

- The 12" machine *is* slower than the 15", but whether that's a problem will come down to what you want to do with it.

- The 12" I have travels with me almost everywhere I go. That wasn't the case nearly as often with the 15" I had a while ago, and certainly wasn't the case with the 17" I sold before I got the 12".

- The 15" screen is a nicer screen all round. Higher resolution, widescreen, and much, much better quality. I plug mine into another screen almost all the time, so that doesn't matter to me so much.

- Chief disadvantages of the 12" (second version) to me are:

1. screen
2. one DIMM slot. If you want to put a gig or more of RAM in it it'll cost you a packet.
3. no PC card slot. Not a biggie.
4. it doesn't look as special as the 15" or 17" machines (not being as slim or widescreen). But hey, it's a computer. I got over it

[selowitch]

Originally posted by all2ofme:
2. one DIMM slot. If you want to put a gig or more of RAM in it it'll cost you a packet.

Right, and you have to yank out the existing DIMM, which is a waste.

[Maflynn]

Unless your going to be a true road warrier or student that needs the portability then I would go with the 15" also visit your local compusa or apple store and look at both. The images on the 12" maybe too small for constant use.

For me, I was going to purchase a 12" inch but after looking at the 15" I went with that. better keyboard, lcd and overall I thought a machine that better fit my needs the 12"

Mike

[selowitch]

Originally posted by Maflynn:
For me, I was going to purchase a 12" inch but after looking at the 15" I went with that. better keyboard, lcd and overall I thought a machine that better fit my needs the 12"

Yeah, I've worked a lot with my father's 15" 400MHz TiBook and I absolutely love the screen. It seems to be just the right size, neither too small nor too large to my eyes. That's why I'm leaning toward the 15". I also like the looks and additional features.

On the other hand, if I can also afford a 20" Apple Cinema Display to go with a 12" PB, that would be truly the best of both worlds, although it's more money at the end of the day.

[ymmit]

I've owned the 12"PB rev A. I bought it in April this year.

The left palm rest gets really hot because of the hard disk and having less space for the heat to dissipate. I believe even the rev B one is the same.

I sold it off about a week ago and I am now using the new 15"PB.

The larger screen is SUCH a welcome. You won't know how great it is to have a notebook with 15" screen until you have it.

The screen alone is such a pleasure to have. Besides, the price difference between the 12"PB and 15"PB isn't what it was last time.

For me, the larger screen alone and increased performance is well worth the added "discomforts" of lugging a heavier notebook around + having to pay a little more.

Bottom line: get the 15"

[Drakino]

I was very tempted by the 12 inch Powerbook, but chose the 15 inch for a few reasons.

1. Bigger screen, without being too big. On my recent flights, I could watch movies on it, even in cattle class. It was just the right size for this. Any bigger, and yes, there would have been problems. For all the times I am not worried about space, the extra resolution is nice.

2. Cheeper memory, due to having 2 DIMM slots to expand, instead of one. (Do yourself a favor though, order the Powerbook with one slot free, it's worth paying the extra to not waste a DIMM when upgrading)

3. Backlit keyboard/light sensors. As I said in the poll, this is so worth the cost even if the backlit keyboard is never used. All for the simple fact my screen brightness adjusts on its own, saving battery life.

4. PC Card slot. Handy for digital photos on the road. I pop out the CF card from the camera, and plug it into the adaptor I keep in that slot. No cable, no need to worry about forgetting it on a trip.

5. Better graphics card. Probably not a huge deal to most, but comes in handy when I want to play Shadowbane on the road, and I am away from my Windows toy box.

The only negative I see with my Powerbook is the tiny battery compaired to the size of the machine. Capacity wise, its actually a smidge less then the 12 inch battery. Get Applecare, and harass Apple any time your capacity drops too much. The white spot issue is easially fixed, and isn't occuring on new machines anyhow. Took 20 minutes out of one of my days to drop it off at an Apple Service center to have it replaced on the spot.

[selowitch]

Yeah, I think the 15" Combo PB with backlit keyboard seems to sit right at the sweet spot between performance and price. FireWire 800 is a nice bonus/difference.

I definitely want a wireless keyboard and mouse to go with it (although I hate the single-button Apple one; I'm inclined toward a third-party two button model). I've worked with the Apple Wireless Keyboard and Mouse in concert with my dad's TiBook and there's something about that combination that is very soothing and pleasant to use.

[Tek]

I think these days there are two types of technology enthusiasts - i just call them nerds though. There are the power hungry ones and the portability hungry ones. The first want the big screen, the added power, more RAM, whether they use it or not (nothing wrong with this). The second want the smallest footprint they can get to carry around with them - these are also the people that are in to newer PDA's, cell phones, and the like.

I fall into the second category. And not just because i'm in college and i want something that will be small and easy to take to all my classes - i just love portability. Kinda like taking my coffee w/ cream or sugar - i take my technology w/ portability... I know, lame analogy.

But anyway, so i got the 12". The screen doesn't bother me at all, in fact, i love it! I even bought an older revA, so the price difference between this one and a newer 15" is huge.

So that might just be a lot of babble, but ah well, i guess i'm trying to say this. Are you going to take it w/ you everywhere? Doyour wants and needs for portability overshine your needs for bigger screen and more power. For me they did, but you are the only one that can make that decision for you!

May God Be With You.
-Matt

[all2ofme]

Maflynn above says he/she prefers the keyboard on the 15", but unless it's the backlight he/she's talking about there's no difference at all. The Tis had different keyboards, but I've not read any stories of people preferring them...

Selowitch - if you like your the screen on your Dad's PB you'll love the screen on the newer 15s. They're higher res and brighter.

[all2ofme]

No, this isn't the case - the 12" (the stock one, at least) comes with the base memory installed in a non-user-accessible spot (it may even be soldered to the m/b, I don't know). When you open the machine up to put more RAM in you'll have a single empty slot at your disposal.

Originally posted by selowitch:
Right, and you have to yank out the existing DIMM, which is a waste.

[selowitch]

Originally posted by all2ofme:
Selowitch - if you like your the screen on your Dad's PB you'll love the screen on the newer 15s. They're higher res and brighter.

Oh, goody goody gumdrops! :-) I'm really starting to get excited now.

-Sam

[selowitch]

Originally posted by all2ofme:
No, this isn't the case - the 12" (the stock one, at least) comes with the base memory installed in a non-user-accessible spot (it may even be soldered to the m/b, I don't know). When you open the machine up to put more RAM in you'll have a single empty slot at your disposal.

I believe the forum participant was referring to the 15" that can come either with two RAM chips or one; as I understood it, he/she was suggesting that you get just the one and order a second one from a third party.

[The Jackalope]

The only reason I chose the 12" rev. B over the 15 inch was beause I travel. A lot. I still love mine, even more so because it is ultra portable. If you are only considering the 12" because you MIGHT be traveling sometime in the future, then get the 15" for all the great reasons listed above.

[typoon]

If cost isn't too much of a concern get the 15". I got the 12" for one of 2 reasons. I needed the portability and because I couldn't afford the 15" without putting a hurt on my finances.

[Maflynn]

Originally posted by all2ofme:
Maflynn above says he/she prefers the keyboard on the 15"

Dude (or Dudette) I'm a guy

hence the sign off with Mike

Anyways it may have been my imagination but the 15" keyboard definitly felt better the the 12". Could be because the 12" was older and subject more abuse the the new 15" they had out.

Mike

[NYCFarmboy]

My 2 cents:

Go with the 12".

Not a big difference at all in terms of processor speeds.

The 12" is so nice to travel with. I don't know though about the 15"....I'm typing this on a 17" powerbook and have to say that it is a great desktop machine, but would hate to have it as my only travel notebook as the 17" is just too big for airplanes (even in business or first class..not to even think of coach).

I actually prefer my 12" ibook for travel over this 17". And while a larger screen would be nice, the 12" screen is workable...(it is much larger than previous generation "small" Apple laptops..such as the clamshell ibooks whose screen is just too small nowadays.

A major considerations should be how you actually use it most of the time though. If it is going to be on a desktop 95% of the time, get the 15" and enjoy the screen space. If you like to use it while on the couch or on the counter in the kitchen and do travel with it..get the 12".

But..if MOST of the time it would be on a desk, then get the 15".

[ae86_16v]

I mainly use my PowerBook G4 @ 1.25GHz for MS Word, iTunes, Mail, iChat, and Safari.

So the speed difference will not matter to me.

I think the extra width of the 15" isn't too bad. It balances nicely on your legs.

And yes, for me the extra real estate is worth it. I have used all three models of the PowerBooks quite extensively.

I found that for the 12, I needed Virtual Desktop. Word Docs on one, Web on another, and AIM on another.

The 15 is fine, because I could put either a Word or Webpage open and still have enough room for iChat screens.

The 17 screen is magnificent, but I don't need all that space. (Graphics designers definitely love it.)

So yeah, I think the extra space is worth it.

I haven't used the Rev. B 12", but the only thing that sucks about the Rev. A is sometimes it could get a bit hot. . . it is okay now since it is the winter, but not so good in the Summer.

[bbales]

ARe you going to be plugging this into a bigger screen, or will this be it? If so, I think I might go 15-inch. I have the 12-inch and really like it, but I also have a desktop that's my main machine.

I would go to an Apple store, if possible, to see both in real life and in person. Check them both out substantially, to see what you really like. I'vbe had my 12-inch almost a year, and still, probably would buy this one, as it's a secondary machine, purchased to sit on the kitchen counter and use while sitting on the couch. It's NOT my main machine. For a main machine, I might well go 15-inch.

That said, boy is this one easy to tote around!

[Chulo]

I'm really new to the Mac/Apple world so I have no real baseline to compare things with. The only thing I can give you is my assessment of what I have seen so far.

The 12" is an absolutely wonderful machine that won me over for its portability. It was so light, small and easy to carry that I almost took the one on display. Everything appeared perfect until I saw the 15" and then it was all over. The screen is an utter gem, the feel and look is fantastic. I thought things looked clearer and just right on that awesome screen. The card slot is a winner for me since I take my camera virtually everywhere and my CF flash card gets full pretty quickly at high resolution. Sure it was bigger, and in real life it's not as easy and comfortable to carry but not too big to make it unbearable.

From my limited use of each, I think that the speed difference between the 12" and 15" 1ghz machines are minimal with the difference probably coming from the different video cards each use. I like to do some video editing and photo retouching so I thought the extra muscle of the 1.25 was important.

So I guess it all comes down to what you want to use it for. If you travel a lot and spend many hours on a plane and in airports (like 2 to 4 times a month) or take it to school everyday, I think I'd pick the 12". That holds especially true if you have a big screen monitor at home (which I don't) although it would also be an expensive choiceif you have to buy the monitor. Otherwise, the 15" is probably the most complete laptop out there with the best compromises that make it portable. It convinced me to switch (although honestly, the 12" had me convinced too). I'm nowhere near being an expert here (shoot, I'm not even an apprentice) and have barely gotten my feet wet with Mac X and the Powerbook but I'm giving you my humble, albeit subjective, opinion.

One other thing to take into consideration is that the 12" seems to come out of the box in perfect condition while the 15" seems to have many potential problems. Case in point, mine had to be sent back and am awaiting its return. Its still a wonderful machine and I can't wait to get it back!

[LadyBlue]

Being a n00b when it comes to macs, I'll still give my 2 cents. I just recently got a 12" PB and am loving it dearly. I use