[Justin216]

Hey all...

Welp, I finally have enough money for either a base iBook or base eMac. I will be adding a firewire DVD+R/W drive, so base is fine for me. I have also allocated money to max out the Ram in either one. I'm going to be a student living in a dorm, but my college is already sending me an IBM notebook in July(only a 700mhz tho..but hey, its free). I am really wanting a good Mac experience on a somewhat limited budget. Which would give me more bang for my buck?

Thanks for any input!

-Justin

[billybob128]

well it really does depend on what you want if u are getting a free intel/ibm or watever then i would go for the desktop although u would need to be confident on transferring the files across as i suspect u will need to do

also the eMac will probably give a bigger punch as it is a G4 but that is only in certain programs.

[Justin216]

Thats what I thought also....I'm going to have a router hooked up regardless, and PC>Mac transfers aren't too difficult....I'd love an iMac for its size...size is really the deciding factor...and an eMac takes up an awful lot of desk room

[AssassyN]

If you're already getting a notebook, then I'd say opt for the eMac simply because of it having a G4 versus the iBook's G3. Plus, the eMac can handle more RAM, has a faster RAM bus & system bus, outputs better graphics, and is just an overall more powerful machine. I would normally say just pick the notebook if you needed portability or the desktop if not, but in your givin situation having a notebook already, I'd go eMac.

P.S. - If you're diggin' the iMac, check out the "Marketplace" boards here at MacNN. Someone's selling a 800Mhz 15" iMac w/ SuperDrive for a great price, and you may run across some other iMacs there in your price range.

[-Q-]

If your school is giving you a free laptop, spend the money on the eMac--two laptops just doesn't make much sense to me.

[iChamp]

First off i'd sell that IBM notebook which you'd rarely ever use if you'll be purchasing a Mac computer...use that money and upgrade your choice of computer. .. i.e. buy the mid-range ibook or higher up notebook or get a iMac instead of eMac.

No sense keeping both formats–PC & Mac. Software-wise, it could get very expensive. You'd have to buy both versions ...one for PC, and another for Mac. I like iBook better because of portability and because you're living in the dorm, you'll appreciate how compact your iBook would be vs. eMac. If you really want, need or must have a desktop, then i'd suggest iMac. Flat screen LCD is the way to go.

[slider]

Well I disagree with selling the PC, if your school requires you have it and does not give you a platform choice you may need it. There may be certain software that is PC only and you'll have no excuse when you actually need it. Maybe when your a junior in your major and you know what to expect as a senior would I even consider it. If however you find that many of your fellow students have don't this and have no problems, that is a different story.

[Justin216]

Originally posted by slider:
Well I disagree with selling the PC, if your school requires you have it and does not give you a platform choice you may need it. There may be certain software that is PC only and you'll have no excuse when you actually need it. Maybe when your a junior in your major and you know what to expect as a senior would I even consider it. If however you find that many of your fellow students have don't this and have no problems, that is a different story.

The thing about that notebook is, I don't keep the 1st one I get...its kinda a "trainer" one...yes, some ppl don't know how to use a computer still apparently...I get a brand new unrefurbed IBM at the start of my junior year, top of the line for that time....I'm really considering the eMac now vs. the iBook....although I still love the iMac...

[radarbob]

The iBook is all about portability. The tech spec comparisons with eMac are moot.

Portability rocks!

[MrNo]

I vote for iBook as well.
Think about this, would like like to be seen walking on a campus with a PC or a Mac

[Justin216]

Thanks for the replys, but I got some extra money together, so I'm gettin an iMac w/ Superdrive...it'll work better on my desk...

[palmberg]

Originally posted by Justin216:
Thanks for the replys, but I got some extra money together, so I'm gettin an iMac w/ Superdrive...it'll work better on my desk...

Methinks the choice was really always between the iMac and the eMac, and that the poster just put the wrong name in the subject line (iBook). Either that or he thought the iMac and iBook were the same thing?

[smijolovic]

I have played with both. I have 3 IBM PC laptops at home, and I will have to say that just because you already have a laptop, getting a desktop is not as logical as one might think. When you become "spoiled" with wireless, you will feel confined by loaction when it comes to a desktop. I love sitting outside with my laptops, watching TV with the lappy on the lap...you get the picture. The choice is tougher when you are dealing with different platforms. When you are comparing apples to apples (no pun intended) If you have a PC laptop, getting a PC desktop is logical. What happens, however, when you have a PC laptop, want to sit outside, and want OS X? You are stuck.

From a benchmark standpoint, the G4 in the emac is minutely zippier than the ibook (except for altivec of course). With only 256K cache on that G4 compared to 512K on the G3, this allows the G3 to catch up on the speed end. If the G4 is a must, I would recommend the PB and stay mobile, but I have to say I have owned 2 ibooks and I use 2 at work and they handle everything I throw at them.

[Cipher13]

These machines are in entirely different classes.

Do you need/want portability? If yes, iBook. Else, eMac.

[docholiday]

eMac.. definitely eMac...