[The Placid Casual]

change from a Dual 867 Powermac to a 12" Powerbook? On the face of it, a stupid question, I know, but...

I am going back to Uni so need a portable machine (With Bluetooth) to take to lectures and stuff so the Powermac has to go...

I will be using M$ Word, Keynote, and only doing a small amount of graphics work (Photoshop, Graphic Converter, Indesign) that really could still easily be done on my old 466 SE iBoook(!), Also I'll be doing web Browsing, email, a few games, playing MP3s (Stored on a seperate Hard Drive), and movies...

(A superdrive would also be great for backups, but not essential...)

I would ideally like to be able to hook the new machine up to my 17" LCD Studio Display (Is ths possible on the 12" PB)

I have, I think, sold my Powermac and have some money set aside: it come down to: either a Powerbook (Probably 12"), iBook (Hmmm G3 , but cheap!), or the option to wait until the 970 based machines are released...

I don't really need the new machine until August...

Hmmm. If the 12" will cut it, I would snap one up... but will i live to regret it?

Any Suggestions? HELP!

Marc

[Kenstee]

>I would ideally like to be able to hook the >new machine up to my 17" LCD Studio >Display (Is ths possible on the 12" PB)

Not sure. If the 17" is DVI-only you can't without an adapter ($300.) If its VGA (or has a VGA port) you're OK.

>I have, I think, sold my Powermac and have >some money set aside: it come down to: >either a Powerbook (Probably 12"), iBook >(Hmmm G3 , but cheap!), or the option to >wait until the 970 based machines are >released...

IMHO, It's gonna be a long while (year at a minimum) until we see 970s in the 12" PB line. May be awhile for the 15s and 17s too.

I'd personally go with the 12". I think its worth the extra $. Why not go to an Apple Store and test both of them.

>I don't really need the new machine until >August...

I'd wait to see if there's a speed bump. Could happen in the May-August peiod.

>Hmmm. If the 12" will cut it, I would snap >one up... but will i live to regret it?

Of course! The latest and greatest will always be close around the corner after you buy yours. That's life.

[mism]

I've 'downspeeded' at work from a Dual 1Ghz with 1.5Gb RAM to a 12" powerbook with 640 RAM.

My work is probably 50% mail, appleworks, filemaker and 50% photoshop, illustrator and some video. The illustrator and photoshop stuff is fairly intensive.

In general use I've not noticed much difference, switching apps is perhaps a little slower, I'm guessing that with less RAM the OS is having to use the HD more. Its not quite as snappy, but don't get me wrong its not slow, I'm just picky.

Photoshop and Illustrator both remain responsive, I wouldn't want to use them all day every day on the 12" but for bits and pieces they perform excellently.

What is great is the fact that I come into work, plug my laptop into my 21" monitor, our network and a proper keyboard and I may as well be back on my dual gig G4. But then at the end of the day I carry home a very capable laptop letting me edit video and burn DVDs on the move, lovely stuff.

[The Placid Casual]

Cheers for the imput

The more I read, and think about it, the more like a good idea it sounds... especially as I can hook up my display. I am near enough convinced! (Any idea which connector I would need to buy?)

I might wait for a month or 2 though to see if it gets bumped... A 1ghz 12" does sound cool...

Thanks,

Marc

[Kenstee]

Originally posted by Marc2211:
[B]Cheers for the imput

The more I read, and think about it, the more like a good idea it sounds... especially as I can hook up my display. I am near enough convinced! (Any idea which connector I would need to buy?)

Depends on what type of monitor you've got. The 12" comes with a VGA dongle that you attach to the 12" and then plug in your VGA monitor cord. If you've only got a DVI-only monitor you'll need a $300 VGA to DVI box from Gefen. They're the only game in town for this I think.
http://www.gefen.com/kvm/product.jsp?prod_id=1301