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Parrot · May 10, 2003, 10:34 PM

Could anyone out there with a 12" PB post some benchmarks.

Obviously the G4 will be quicker running Altivec-enabled applications, but I have a feeling the ATI video card is quicker that the nVIDA card used in the powerbook.

To me the current 12" PB has little extra to offer, in terms of performance, and is in desperate need of an update. It's benefits are a metalic case, superdrive option and inbuilt bluetooth. For PDA use I think airport will become more useful that bluetooth.

The new powerbook needs to have a higher resolution 13.3" screen with the same case dimension, faster bus, 1MB L3 cache, upgradable to 1GB RAM, 64MB video and at least 1GHz G4. This would put some space between it and the iBook 900 and still make the 15" powerbook attract for those who want a bigger screen.

Lateralus · May 10, 2003, 10:54 PM

Originally posted by Parrot:

The new powerbook needs to have a higher resolution 13.3" screen with the same case dimension, faster bus, 1MB L3 cache, upgradable to 1GB RAM, 64MB video and at least 1GHz G4. This would put some space between it and the iBook 900 and still make the 15" powerbook attract for those who want a bigger screen.

Amen.

x user · May 10, 2003, 11:59 PM

A 13.3" screen wouldn't fit into the currant PB form factor. The boarder is just too thin, it would however go nicely on an iBook.

The 12" PB is a niche within a niche market. It should be better when they start using the 970's in it

.

Robster1958 · May 11, 2003, 04:25 PM

I was just gonna put up a new thread on this topic.

I just did that exact comparison at the Apple Store. i am thinking of upgrading my 12" iBook 700mhz to either the new 900 iBook or the 12" PB. The iBook had 384 MB ram while the PB had 256MB; both had the combo drives. Here's my analysis:

The PB is MUCH faster at the following tasks that i tried:

Installing a video game (Max Payne).

Loading a video game; and loading between levels, etc. Actual gameplay was noticablably smoother.

Launching eXcel and Word; copy/paste within Word.

Burning an audio CD from MP3 files within iTunes. This was prob. due to G4 chip doing the format conversion rather than the speed difference (if any on the CD drive).

There was a slight performance boost using both machines on the local airport network, at least as measured through the website toastnet. On most tests the PB measured about 10% faster (1.5 Mb/sec vs. 1.3 Mb/sec), but the speed of the connection may have been the limiting factor. Also I'm not positive how that test measures speed and whether bus speed or video processor has any impact. Safari was used on both machines.

Sound quality through speakers was materially better on the PB.

Form factor nicer on the PB: slightly smaller in all dimensions and lighter; overall look of the machine is one of high tech precision. iBook on the other hand--the newest white models--look cheap to my eye. going from that silvery finish to the plain white for the plastic on the palm rests and screen bezel substantially cheapens the look, imo. and the new iBook logo...pathetic.

Based on the current deals around, a 12" PB w/ airport and 640 RAM (combo drive) will cost around $1900 shipped. A similar iBook is about $1500 (since most RAM deals are for 384).

I believe the $400 price is well worth it performance-wise.

The downside: while the PB was only slightly warm when i got there, having been on, but
idle for 2 hours. Once I got it working however, it got pretty toasty. This might be the deal killer. Also, unplugged the PB from AC power and the battery seemed to drain pretty fast...like my gigabook.

dettociao · May 11, 2003, 05:39 PM

Originally posted by Parrot:
Could anyone out there with a 12" PB post some benchmarks.

Obviously the G4 will be quicker running Altivec-enabled applications, but I have a feeling the ATI video card is quicker that the nVIDA card used in the powerbook.

To me the current 12" PB has little extra to offer, in terms of performance, and is in desperate need of an update. It's benefits are a metalic case, superdrive option and inbuilt bluetooth. For PDA use I think airport will become more useful that bluetooth.

The new powerbook needs to have a higher resolution 13.3" screen with the same case dimension, faster bus, 1MB L3 cache, upgradable to 1GB RAM, 64MB video and at least 1GHz G4. This would put some space between it and the iBook 900 and still make the 15" powerbook attract for those who want a bigger screen.

I just sold my 12" but I used to get ~71 in XBench. don't know if that's helpful.

Nate

Raidiant · May 12, 2003, 05:56 AM

As i've said many times before the 900mhz ibook will likely blow up the 12 inch PB in non-altivec tests, because the G3 Sahara is faster then the G4 at the same mhza, in addition the ibook has a better graphics card (game-wise) and for the $400 extra you can get full RAM, airport and bluetooth or an ipod, and configure it anyway you want.

In past tests evena 800mhz ibook can come win or cme close to PB 12" preformance I'd expect a 900mhz ibook todestroy the 12 inch

Unless you'll are hardcore video editor you don't need a superdrive and can stick to burning VCD ( Video Discs) that work in DVD players too.

and unless you haven't noticced i'm quite an ibook fan.

x user · May 12, 2003, 08:58 AM

Originally posted by Raidiant:
As i've said many times before the 900mhz ibook will likely blow up the 12 inch PB in non-altivec tests, because the G3 Sahara is faster then the G4 at the same mhza, in addition the ibook has a better graphics card (game-wise) and for the $400 extra you can get full RAM, airport and bluetooth or an ipod, and configure it anyway you want.

In past tests evena 800mhz ibook can come win or cme close to PB 12" preformance I'd expect a 900mhz ibook todestroy the 12 inch

Unless you'll are hardcore video editor you don't need a superdrive and can stick to burning VCD ( Video Discs) that work in DVD players too.

and unless you haven't noticced i'm quite an ibook fan.

When I did a Side by Side test at the apple store between the 800 & 12" PB, the iBook was faster in the finder, app launch, ect. But the PB spanked the iBook in Photoshop tests

. (Didn't try iTunes encoding.)

bernt · May 12, 2003, 11:38 AM

Originally posted by Raidiant:
As i've said many times before the 900mhz ibook will likely blow up the 12 inch PB in non-altivec tests, because the G3 Sahara is faster then the G4 at the same mhza, in addition the ibook has a better graphics card (game-wise) and for the $400 extra you can get full RAM, airport and bluetooth or an ipod, and configure it anyway you want.

In past tests evena 800mhz ibook can come win or cme close to PB 12" preformance I'd expect a 900mhz ibook todestroy the 12 inch

Unless you'll are hardcore video editor you don't need a superdrive and can stick to burning VCD ( Video Discs) that work in DVD players too.

and unless you haven't noticced i'm quite an ibook fan.

Have you actually tried the PB 12"? Saying the iBook 800 can come win or come close to a PB 12" is a lie... I've compared them side by side, and the PB blows the iBook out of the water in any task. Not sure how a iBook 900 will compare, but it will certainly not "destroy" the PB in any means.

Erlend

wallinbl · May 12, 2003, 12:29 PM

This is amusing. There are threads in the PB forums saying the PB is faster. Threads in the iBook forum say the iBook is faster.

dettociao · May 12, 2003, 04:07 PM

Originally posted by wallinbl:
This is amusing. There are threads in the PB forums saying the PB is faster. Threads in the iBook forum say the iBook is faster.

The powerbook is faster. I just sold my 12" PB for an 800mhz iBook and I get a ~55 Xbench vs an old ~71

x user · May 12, 2003, 11:16 PM

I'm not talking about benchmarks or Altivec tasks. But in the general finder and App launch the iBook 800 edged the PB out (Running 10.2.4)

Raidiant · May 13, 2003, 05:49 AM

ok right perhaps its hard to tell, I have exchanged my ibook for my friends 12" PB for one day. The 12" PB was strikingly similiar in preformance OS wise, both had occasional choppy preformance and the 12" range could not recieve airport B channels in places where my ibook could.

Also the ibook seemed faster in certain normal operations, I did not have the chance to test any altivec programs that I use on my ibook, my friend uses his 12" PB for music so he basically has nothing installed.'

The 800mhz ibook was significantly faster in unreal tournament 2003 (non-altivec).

It's down to personally choice in the end I think $400 is not worth is unless you have a BT phone/pda

Of course all this was against a 800mhz ibook so I assumed a 900mhz would kill the 12" PB.

You should read benchmarks in websites rather then using a overall score, as many odd things like hard disk speed and so on will affect.

Clearly in several websites test, the ibook has won or come close the PB in many tests, further acknolwedging that a 800mhz ibook had similiar speed to a 12" PB

Unless your a altivec app freak I would suggest saving the $400 for a PDA/Ipod/Memory/Extra stuff/Phone