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fldsfslmn · 05:39 PM

ahhh.

well, after haunting this forum for months and publicly expressing some worries about my intent to switch to a mac (and the quality of apple computers in general), i finally went ahead and did it. i bought a 12" powerbook.

i picked it up this morning and have spent most of the day so far putting it through its paces, and performing various tasks. here are my initial thoughts.

0. the machine is gorgeous and well-constructed.

1. no dead pixels. the screen is wonderful. i have the brightness set at a bit over half and it's absolutely great.

2. it's not that hot at all. i am running 10.2.6 and i find it very nice. it is warm, but reassuringly so -- like having a cat fall asleep on your lap.

3. this machine performs GREAT! one of my biggest concerns about the 12" powerbook was the performance, but i am very satisified. it has been outperforming my pentium 4 desktop system at a lot of tasks (eg. copying files from CD to hard drive, editing images).

edit: i forgot to mention that i'm using only the stock 256mb RAM.

4. as a new mac user, and new mac os X user, i'm tremendously impressed with this operating system. really ... i can't believe how functional, clean, and smooth everything is. the applications were designed to be <i>used</i> and they're absolutely intuitive. i'm having FUN using my computer again. what a fantastic creative tool.

5. the keyboard! my god! the keyboard!

ok! that's it.

i'm going to take a little break from this forum now. the bizarre combination of worry and excitement that's kept me glued to mac forums for the past couple of months has really worn me out. i can finally say how awesome powerbooks are.

take care for now.

btw: this is one of the most active and interesting mac forums out there. we should all be thankful for it!

seanyepez · May 23, 2003, 06:09 PM

Buy more memory!

fisherKing · May 23, 2003, 07:04 PM

good stuff to hear, am thinking about getting the 12" as well
(despite having, repeatedly at this forum, voiced my concern about the left-of-trackpad heat, being left-handed...)

still, welcome to the mac world.
and, as suggested: more RAM!

MaxPower2k3 · May 23, 2003, 07:24 PM

Originally posted by fisherKing:
(despite having, repeatedly at this forum, voiced my concern about the left-of-trackpad heat, being left-handed...)

i still will never understand that logic. i'm right-handed. my right hand spends far less time on the palm rest than my left hand, because i move my hand off it to use the trackpad. when i use an external mouse, my hand is only on there to use the keyboard. my left hand, on the other hand (no pun intended), is always on the palm rest, 100% of the time (unless i'm just reading something, in which case i only need the arrow keys). So, if you are left handed, why does it spend more time on the palm rest than your right hand?

fisherKing · May 23, 2003, 08:56 PM

Originally posted by MaxPower2k3:
So, if you are left handed, why does it spend more time on the palm rest than your right hand?

simple; i spend a lot more time "mousing" than writing; a lot of music apps, graphics, etc. whatever i'm doing, i find my left hand comfortably resting next to the trackpad a lot...and the heat is a concern.

bbales · May 23, 2003, 10:46 PM

You know, it gets hot, but I've only had one time where I truly wondered what the heck was going on (this was followed by a kernel panic; I still believe it was induced by the heat.)

never happened again. I'm still running 10.2.3, which is what the 12in came with. I'm mulling going up to 10.2.6, but there seem to be some other problems with that, so I haven't yet.

In any case -- the heat, for many people at least, is jsut no big deal. Of course, manybe apple will come up with a revised PB soon. Never can tell. I love mine. Even though I have a desktop and that's where i do my "real" work, by and large, the PB is used a couple hours a day by somebody. It's a great little machine.

dennis88 · May 24, 2003, 03:05 AM

I'm getting a 12" in about an hour!

I'm gonna buy it with combo drive and 640mb ram

Maybe I'm gonna buy an airport extreme card too.

The 15" will just be too big for me.

Spheric Harlot · May 24, 2003, 05:45 AM

The heat "problem" is gone as of 10.2.6.

It still gets warm, of course, but much less so than with 10.2.3 (what mine came with).

Brilliant machine.

Really.

I love it.

-s*

bbales · May 24, 2003, 10:10 AM

Originally posted by Spheric Harlot:
The heat "problem" is gone as of 10.2.6.

It still gets warm, of course, but much less so than with 10.2.3 (what mine came with).

Brilliant machine.

Really.

I love it.

-s*

Hi -- So the heat is noticeably different with 10.2.6? any problems with the update at all? I'm a little concerned about stuff I've read about memory leakage and USB problems (though I think the usb stuff was with 10.2.5 -- and I hardly ever do USB stuff anyway.)

MaxPower2k3 · May 24, 2003, 10:34 AM

Originally posted by fisherKing:
simple; i spend a lot more time "mousing" than writing; a lot of music apps, graphics, etc. whatever i'm doing, i find my left hand comfortably resting next to the trackpad a lot...and the heat is a concern.

i know, but how do you use the trackpad with your wrist on the palm rest? if i turn my wrist enough to do that, it hurts. unless you use your thumb for the trackpad, in which case it makes a little more sense, but i can't do that.

Macola · May 27, 2003, 01:47 PM

Originally posted by Spheric Harlot:
The heat "problem" is gone as of 10.2.6.

Not true for everyone. I can still fry an egg on mine

dettociao · May 27, 2003, 05:49 PM

Originally posted by Macola:
Not true for everyone. I can still fry an egg on mine

Same.

fisherKing · May 27, 2003, 05:57 PM

Originally posted by MaxPower2k3:
i know, but how do you use the trackpad with your wrist on the palm rest? if i turn my wrist enough to do that, it hurts. unless you use your thumb for the trackpad, in which case it makes a little more sense, but i can't do that.

it's the bottom of my hand; i use my pointer finger on the trackpad, thumb on the clicker...

and my hand gets uncomfortably hot...

but i may still get a 12"pb (and an oven mitt)

wallinbl · May 27, 2003, 07:40 PM

My 12" arrived this morning. I immediately updated to 10.2.6. I've been using it for a couple of hours, and I don't notice too much heat. The left side is clearly warmer than the right side, but it's not that hot.

5. the keyboard! my god! the keyboard!

Yes, the keyboard is absolutely incredible. It's gorgeous, but more importantly, it is fantastic to type on. I don't think I've ever used a better laptop keyboard.

dennis88 · May 30, 2003, 12:04 PM

My 12" powerbook, that I got a week ago doesn't get hot either.
I updated to 10.2.6 right away when I got it.
I have a 12" powerbook with 60gb, 640mb ram and combo drive, and it's just amazing!
The keyboard is perfect, and I just love the machine!

wanderlust · May 30, 2003, 01:00 PM

I'm not sure about anyone else using the 17", but I haven't had any heat problems. It seems to run very cool. I've only heard the fan rev up a few times, and even then it wasn't that hot. Do you think this difference has something to do with the internal architecture or differenct components?

Angus_D · May 31, 2003, 06:03 AM

Or maybe just the fact that the 17" is twice as large so has a much larger SA for the heat to dissipate from the case (read: heatsink).

Kenstee · May 31, 2003, 10:38 AM

The heat problem really is an issue for some people...including myself. Apple refuses to acknowledge the problem so we're on our own. A company in Japan has created a product to help us cope with this.

The company is called Micro-Solutions. They make a product called the AirTack Fibre that fits on the wrist rests. The product description is: "Combination of self-absorbing material and heat insulating material made of ultra-fine threads. Achieves comfortable touch and heat insulation in the thickness of 1.5 mm. Does not use glue or tape, can be removed without trace and the corners will not turn. Treated withTiO2 which decomposes organic dusts via light exposure, anti-bacterial and anti-odor high quality wrist rest that can be washed with water."

For a demo of the product with a QT movie of how it installs go to http://www.micro-solution.com/ and scroll down the right side until you get to AirTack Fiber for the 12". Click it. It will then open up to a page (mostly in Japanese) that has a QT movie. But you need to go to a site named newcolorshop.com site in Hong Kong to order it. It costs $40 (with delivery to the US.) Micro-Solutions doesn't accept orders from outside Japan.

I just got the AirTack Fiber for the 12" from newcolorshop.com in Hong Kong a few weeks ago. The verdict? IT'S REALLY GREAT!!!

Works extremely well to insulate from any excessive heat/warmth on the wrist rests. Yes, even on the more troublesome left side. In addition, this surface feels much more comfortable on hands and wrist than the uncovered AL. It's so comfortable I'd use this even if the PB ran stone cold.

Installs in like 2 seconds. Just remove a backing and install. It adheres to the surface perfectly, BUT, it does not use glue. It is totally removable at any time, Does not mar the finish. No problems. The color is a good match for the AL color. But, you definitely see that you have something installed. All in all, I have absolutely no problems with the aesthetics. A very hard core purist might however.

The PB cover still shuts perfectly with this installed. May have to give it more of a little more of a push when closing it. Overall, not an issue. Also, it is really thin. Does not touch screen. But, I really don't think it would matter if it did. It is very soft and non-abrasive.

Web address is http://www.newcolorshop.com/catalog/...roducts_id=156 . I ordered via this site. Payed via PayPal. It was delivered in 7 days. I did email them to make sure order was received and shipped. They responded very quickly to my emails.

I have no relationship with the company. Just passing this on to the group.

There are some lower tech solutions like a product called Wrist Gels and homemade cork pads. However, IMHO, the AirTack is a very elegant and effective way to deal with this problem.

NOTE: This is just one person's highly subjective experience. Your mileage may vary.

MacNStein · May 31, 2003, 11:56 PM

Uh, no. I'm not putting insulation on my PB.

I don't care how "space-age" or comfy it is. If it's keeping some of the heat from getting to my wrists (which on my PB isn't excessive at all), it's trapping in the PB... it's gotta go somewhere.

So in short, no thanks.

iSky · Jun 1, 2003, 12:50 PM

Well, here come my 20 cents on the 12"PB: I switched 6 weeks ago and enjoyed every day of it. fldsfslmn made all the comments, ... there's no way I'm going back to Windows.
Great machine, great forum!

real · Jun 1, 2003, 06:42 PM

The 12" is great machine I love every minute of it. I have used it everyday since I got it and yes it get hot but my ibook got hot as well, so no problems here. Good to see more Wintel user switching.
Later
REAL

SEkker · Jun 1, 2003, 10:14 PM

Can you measure the temperature on your 12" PB? I have a student with a brand new, rev A PB12 and he does not have any trouble with the heat issue. He said it does get warm, but not too hot to use.

Angus_D · Jun 2, 2003, 10:58 AM

Playing a large MPEG while ripping MP3s in the background got it warm enough to start melting a friend's dinner mat, and playing 3D games on it certainly makes it feel toasty.

Macola · Jun 2, 2003, 02:56 PM

I think being able to fry an egg is the definitive test of "toastiness"...the anodized Al makes a nice nonstick surface

kovacs · Jun 2, 2003, 03:30 PM

Originally posted by Macola:
I think being able to fry an egg is the definitive test of "toastiness"...the anodized Al makes a nice nonstick surface

seanyepez · Jun 2, 2003, 05:02 PM

Originally posted by MacNStein:
Uh, no. I'm not putting insulation on my PB. I don't care how "space-age" or comfy it is. If it's keeping some of the heat from getting to my wrists (which on my PB isn't excessive at all), it's trapping in the PB... it's gotta go somewhere.

So in short, no thanks.

I agree.

SEkker · Jun 2, 2003, 05:52 PM

Spray on some Pam nonstick, put the egg on, and watch a movie! Take a photo and send to Apple -- I bet you'd get some response from them....

cc_foo · Jun 2, 2003, 07:14 PM

It's winter down here in Tasmania (Australia). Would be good to get a heater that also works as a Apple laptop...

Cake · Jun 3, 2003, 12:14 AM

About the heat problem some of you seem to be experiencing - Have you tried this?

I'm buying a 12" SuperDrive on Friday.

Macola · Jun 3, 2003, 09:20 AM

Originally posted by Cake:
About the heat problem some of you seem to be experiencing - Have you tried this?

I'm buying a 12" SuperDrive on Friday.

Yup...tried it twice when running 10.2.4, no change. I haven't tried it since 10.2.6, might be worth another shot.

xlover · Jun 15, 2003, 12:57 PM

Hi all, I'm a new mac user!!

I'm getting a 12" today!!!
It's great!!

I'm buy it with combo drive and 640mb ram

yoyoman · Jun 15, 2003, 08:52 PM

Originally posted by Macola:
Yup...tried it twice when running 10.2.4, no change. I haven't tried it since 10.2.6, might be worth another shot.

heat hahaha. you wanna talk about heat. my HP laptop gets so hot that i cant pick it up. It gets so hot that i can almsot drop it. heat the the ibook i have gets hot but not as hot. not even as close. ibm think pad gets really hot as well. get the icepad from macally. it helps it a lot and its a nice rest and makes it so u dont scratch the bottom.

xlover · Jun 20, 2003, 01:33 PM

I just got the AirTack Fiber for the 12" from newcolorshop.com in Hong Kong a few weeks ago. The verdict? IT'S REALLY GREAT!!!

Ha!! There Product Descriptions are the funniest thing I have ever read.

urrl5201 · Jun 20, 2003, 03:49 PM

Still, i have often thought the only practical solution to laptop heat dissipation would be with a fiber, but I always thought it should be a metallic fiber. Obviously the surface area for heat dispensation would be dramatic over fins (like those on a motorcycle engine....and much more comfortable.) I would look into the fiber pads if my 17" was not running with the temp of a warm female body, at least for light duty and internet work. The idea is sound in my opinion as an engineer and I believe the testimony of the poster who tried it. It just makes sense. Jeez, why don't I ever patent my ideas???