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ringos · May 4, 2005, 05:30 PM

Repost. For some reason other post did not have message.

Anyway, been using iBook G3/700 as presentation machine with Powerpoint and a projector. Recently crashed during big presentation! I think, a dying HD. Want to replace and this time WITH a backup.

Any drawbacks to getting 2 minis instead of 1 iBook?

I think they would come out similar pricing. Machine(s) would be 90 percent for presentation use offsite. Powerpoint with graphics/tv/audio/radio spots--ad agency work. Anyway, mouse and kb not an issue, monitor not an issue since it'll be used with a projector. Slightly more bulky, but still portable. Anything I'm missing? Please advise. Thanks.

Ringo

James41 · May 10, 2005, 09:29 AM

The mini should do quite well for that purpose, wouldn't be a portable as the Powerbook, but would certainly do the job well at far less cost.

tooki · May 10, 2005, 05:45 PM

It'll perform better than your iBook.

The only limitation is the graphics chip, but even so, it's plenty for Keynote, at least for the transitions they use at the moment.

I say go for it.

tooki

macintologist · May 10, 2005, 06:03 PM

ringos,

The only problem is that the Mini does not have a battery, so you will always be dependent on power. I know that may be redundant, but there have been times when my Powerbook being a Powerbook saved my toosh because there was only one outlet...for the projector. So I had to do my presentation using battery power. Whew! That would have been a disaster.

ringos · May 10, 2005, 08:59 PM

Update on the situation. After much testing and troubleshooting, found the issue to be bad RAM. So it looks like the iBook lives on as my presentation machine. But the events leading up to this question have reinforced my need for a backup, whether it's another computer, or FW HD to run from. Still will look into the mini as a solution. I'm already lugging around an ibook, projector and speakers, so a mini, with ibook as backup sounds like a good plan. Cords are a non-issue as I usually stay plugged in to make sure I don't lose power and can use best performance for the processor, so I always have a power strip with me. I'll just have someone else carry the extra stuff!

Anyway, drawbacks so far are slightly less portability (I can live with this traded off with security), graphics chip (better than my current ibook?), and preview screen (I'll just have to be discreet when setting up).

Thanks for the advice. Maybe I can hold off until new iBooks or new Mini are introduced!

iREZ · May 11, 2005, 11:16 AM

i see somebody trying to justify a mini purchase

ringos · May 11, 2005, 11:23 AM

Originally, it was a real need because of the ibook issue. Now it is a viable upgrade path for the presentation machine, but you are right, iREZ, it's starting to become a justification for buying the mini! Still, I hadn't heard any mention using the mini as a portable presentation system, so I thought I'd post to see if it would be a good solution.