[cnarayan]

I have ordered and waiting patiently for my Powerbook 17"; and now I see the new spring line of iMac. I am making this purchase as a replacement for my desktop PC. I use my PC for digital image processing, email and web browsing. I do not play games on my computer, but I do want to use it to see and make DVD movies. Portability is not a huge concern, but I would like to move it around the house occasionally. PowerMac does not work for me for this reason.

I see the following advantages of the iMac over the Powerbook:

Big price difference
Bigger hard drive 60 vs. 80 GB
Keyboard, mouse, and speakers
More sturdy

Disadvantages of the iMac when compared to Powerbook

Video card not as powerful
L2 cache as opposed to a L3
Upgradeability ??

Despite this, I am considering canceling my Powerbook order and buying an iMac. Can anyone see flaws in my reasoning ?

Thanks,
Chandru

[ilko]

You forget the bus speed - 167MHz for the PowerBook vs 133MHz for the iMac. Also the iMac doesn't have FireWire 800 (will YOU need it in the future?)

Both have a 16:10 ratio 17" display.

The iMac's SuperDrive burns DVDs at 4x, while the PowerBook does it at 1x. It is actually capable of 2x burning, but the firmware prohibits it.

None of them scores very high in terms of upgradability. But in previous cases usually the desktop system is easier to upgrade than the laptop.

I don't know how easy it would be to move the iMac around the house. But for $1,500 less it is a good deal in my opinion.

[Commodus]

It's a tough call on this one. Personally, I'd go with the PowerBook if I were looking strictly at the systems by themselves.

The PowerBook's video isn't faster (it's a mobile GF4 Go versus the desktop GF4 MX), but the CPU will be. The combination of the faster FSB and the L3 cache will probably make it seem like a snappier system for what you do, which is largely CPU-reliant (the graphics chips would only really show their differences in 3D apps).

And as was noted, you'd get a Firewire 800 port. They're not terribly useful until we see devices that can really stress the connection (such as very fast hard drives), but it might be nice if you expect to keep any system for 3 or more years.

The Superdrive speed will matter only if you intend to burn large quantities of data on a frequent basis, but it's certainly something to consider.

Speakers? Again, if this were my own decision I would opt for the PowerBook - I would rather buy a beefier set of speakers (or headphones) than stick with the Apple Pro Cue Balls. If I did stick with what I was given, though, I'd get the iMac.

Lastly, on the issue of portability: you just aren't likely to move the iMac around at all. As light as the system itself is, I doubt that you'd want to have to carry all the necessary peripherals AND take the time to set things back up again. In my experience with my PowerBook, the advantages of proper portability outweigh most drawbacks. The only reason I still have a desktop is for gaming.

[mrchin]

You can't go wrong either way. It's just gonna end up being a decision you have to make.

I want the 17" AluBook. But the other option, iv you're willing to spend the money on a 17PB anyway is...

Buy the iMac and a 12' Combo Drive powerbook. That'll run you around $3500US which is just a bit more than the 17" alone. Get the best of both worlds.

[cnarayan]

Thanks everyone. After digesting all of this, I decided to get the iMac for my desktop system and wait a little while and get a PB as my next purchase.

This is the config I ended up buying:

Summary:
• 1GB DDR266 - 2 DIMMs
• AirPort Extreme Card
• Bluetooth Module
• iPod - 20GB (Mac)
• AirPort Extreme Base Station (with modem and antenna port)
• .Mac Promotional Bundle
• Keyboard/Mac OS X - U.S. English
• APP for iMac/eMac - Enrollment Kit
• 17-inch widescreen LCD flat
• 1GHz PowerPC G4
• 80GB Ultra ATA drive
• 4x SuperDrive (DVD-R/CD-RW)
• NVIDIA GeForce4 MX
w/ 64MB video memory
• Apple Keyboard
• Apple Pro Mouse
• Apple Pro Speakers

This is a huge purchase for me, no more toys for years to come !!

- Chandru

[thirsty]

This is the config I ended up buying:

Summary:
• 1GB DDR266 - 2 DIMMs
• AirPort Extreme Card
• Bluetooth Module
• iPod - 20GB (Mac)
• AirPort Extreme Base Station (with modem and antenna port)
• .Mac Promotional Bundle
• Keyboard/Mac OS X - U.S. English
• APP for iMac/eMac - Enrollment Kit
• 17-inch widescreen LCD flat
• 1GHz PowerPC G4
• 80GB Ultra ATA drive
• 4x SuperDrive (DVD-R/CD-RW)
• NVIDIA GeForce4 MX
w/ 64MB video memory
• Apple Keyboard
• Apple Pro Mouse
• Apple Pro Speakers

This is a huge purchase for me, no more toys for years to come !!

- Chandru

That was a wise choice Congtrats!
With the money your saving either get the 12" Powerbook and as said before and have the best of both worlds.
Another option is that you now have some cash to buy Final Cut Express for your video editing if you want.

Your definatley getting better value for your money with your purchase here, and an iPod - Enjoy

[Chimpmaster]

Lets try and simplify the equation.

Do you need a laptop or not, and if so are you willing to pay the xtra for it?

If its a laptop you need, dont reconsider the spec'ed up pricing.

[Peter]

Originally posted by cnarayan:
Thanks everyone. After digesting all of this, I decided to get the iMac for my desktop system and wait a little while and get a PB as my next purchase.

This is the config I ended up buying:

Summary:
? 1GB DDR266 - 2 DIMMs
? AirPort Extreme Card
? Bluetooth Module
? iPod - 20GB (Mac)
? AirPort Extreme Base Station (with modem and antenna port)
? .Mac Promotional Bundle
? Keyboard/Mac OS X - U.S. English
? APP for iMac/eMac - Enrollment Kit
? 17-inch widescreen LCD flat
? 1GHz PowerPC G4
? 80GB Ultra ATA drive
? 4x SuperDrive (DVD-R/CD-RW)
? NVIDIA GeForce4 MX
w/ 64MB video memory
? Apple Keyboard
? Apple Pro Mouse
? Apple Pro Speakers

This is a huge purchase for me, no more toys for years to come !!

- Chandru

isn't it a huge purchase for anyone? I am so jealous ...

[Superchicken]

Funny thing I just realized.. the cost of a 17 inch powerbook is greater than that of getting a 1Ghz iMac and a 800Mhz iBook.

Check it out!
serious you acctually save like 100 bucks, you get a mobile unit and a portable for when you need portability. not to mention then you get a good speed CD Burner and a good speed DVD burner... not to mention you can set them up on an air port network... wow...
but then again... realliy... why would you buy both?
hehe

it'd be spiffy for bragging rights though... if I ever won the lottory I'd buy a power mac and power book... heck I'd probably buy one of everything just to make me smile... then again I think if I wasted my money like that instead of letting other people benifit from it too I'd soon be unhappy with myself... but at least I'd have a whole lota power on my computers

[I Bent My Wookiee]

I would get the iMac. I don't think you will ever need the Firewire 800 and you can't really feel the difference in Bus speed.

The hard drive in the Laptop is slower then the iMac's and that is a speed hit you really feel.

Both video cards are more then ok for what you want to do with it.

The price difference is huge and you should only pay for a laptop if you really really need the portability.

[cnarayan]

I have already received the iPod (cannot use it as I do not have the iMac yet). I see that my Airport Base Station has shipped and the iMac should ship tomorrow. I also purchased the .mac, so I will definitely post pictures of the setup once I have it all assembled. Just 7 more days !!

What made me think that I could wait until April for a 17" Powerbook ??

iMac it is ...

Does anyone have a iGo here ??

[docholiday]

Originally posted by Superchic[k]en:
Funny thing I just realized.. the cost of a 17 inch powerbook is greater than that of getting a 1Ghz iMac and a 800Mhz iBook.

Yea, I was thinking about it too and it's crazy (posted this idea in another thread). Like in terms of value, you get two AMAZING machines, the iMac being superior to the Powerbook and the iBook being very portable.

[Superchicken]

Yeah... I dono... ultimately I'd ahve to say the only advantage to having the power book over an iMac and iBook is that it's only one computer.. but at the same time you DO get more with an iBook and iMac.

[Mac Zealot]

If I were in the situation I'd get the ibook.

And that's what I'll probably do, that way you can lust at the 20" cinema I'll buy with the money I saved :eg:

[Simon]

Originally posted by Mac Zealot:
If I were in the situation I'd get the ibook.
...
that way you can lust at the 20" cinema I'll buy with the money I saved :eg:

Buy the 20" Cinema and hook it to the iBook's VGA? Great.