[Mallrat]

Went to Apple Store today. Looking for new Apple Computer. Due to desk space and the fact that I just really like using laptops and iMac more than desktops, I narrowed my choices down to Powerbooks (12, 15, 17) and iMac (15 and 17)

I use a computer mostly for two things besides e-mail/internet:

1.) Writing (mostly screenplays) using Final Draft

2.) Editing on Final Cut Pro 3


Currenlty I have an iBook 500, G3. And I love it for wriitng and I've edited a feature length movie on it. But with the release of Final Cut Pro 4, I must purchase a G4 in order to use it, or I'd keep my G3.

So as I said before I have 5 choices. So here they go, with questions/obseravtions


POWERBOOKS:

• 12 -- I like this model because basically it is my G3 iBook but with faster specs. I personally love the firewire, ethenet connections on the left side and not on the back. The keyboard is even better than the iBook.

So it would be great to write on, but then the screen is small when ediitng.

My other main concerns are the heat issue which seems to be 50/50... but everyone notices it, some people just choice to ignore it, and I heard issues about warping.

• 15 -- Right now this is my top choice. I have loved it since it came out. And basiclaly it is on it's last revision, so now basically they made this model as best as it can be. It's great to type on as well and the screen is big enough for editing comfortably.

My only concern would be the fan noise. And I would like to see what the new model of 15 will be.

• 17 -- I think I ruled this one out. It cost too much, can't really bring it with me on the train. But the screen is gorgeous, and it make my 12 inch seem so small. Apple is basically making men aroudn the world feel insecure again. Bastards!

I don't feel this is a great machine to write on... it is not as intimate or typewriter like as the 12 inch models, 15 is good too. But for writers out there, I think they might agree with me. I guess the 17 inch would be good to compare different versions or scripts, but I don't know.

For editing this machine would be the best, hands down. You can't beat it.

iMAC

• 15 -- The screen is bright as can be and it is fun to move the screen around as the mood suits you.

Only drawback is the lack of Superdrive option, I think they stopped selling them, I could be wrong.

Good to edit on, but I do prefer typing on a laptop then a desktop.

• 17-- The screen is huge and perfect for editing, but I don't like the resolution. For me it seems too high, the fonts are sharp, but not big enough. I'm not sure why, but I prefer the 1024 by 768 setting or maybe it's in the 1280, but it seems that only the highest settings seem to work with each system, the lower ones look terrible.

can you go to a lower resolution and still look good on the 17 inch model. That is my main concern. Good news is the Superdrive.


So that's my long ass e-mail. I would love to get a computer with a Superdrive, but I feel that in the Powerbooks the 1x speed isn't worth it for the extra money. I think I might buy an external one that is 4x since I don't see any need to have DVD buring on hand on the road. That is something, I think I would do at home.

My decision as of now is

Powerbook/867 and by an external DVD-R and Final Cut Pro 4 upgrade.

But I'd love your thoughts and yes factor in price and this and that...

I narrowed it down to 5.... what do you think?

Thanks if you read this far.

[juanpacolopez]

Originally posted by rushmore:
Powerbook/867 and by an external DVD-R and Final Cut Pro 4 upgrade.

But I'd love your thoughts and yes factor in price and this and that...

I narrowed it down to 5.... what do you think?

Thanks if you read this far.

Well, I can personally vouch for the 15 inch 1ghz...

First of all, as others have stated, this machine is an FCP BEAST. It tears through all the filters/effects with speed only equaled by the dual desktops.

Second, the screen is the perfect size (at least for me). The 12" is too small, and the 17" far too large.

Just my opinion.. but unless you really want/need the larger screen, you can't go wrong w/ the tiBook.

[Karim]

If you can, I seriously suggest you wait until the end of this month after the Apple WWDC to see if the G5 rears its head followed with significant price cuts of the G4's.

[djjava]

PB17. beautiful machine. it has the L3 cache....

[Olorin]

They already dropped prices on the PowerBooks. If you want one get one. I got tired of waiting for the 15" revision and bought one. I love it. Best apple I have ever owned. Really fast too!

[Mallrat]

Originally posted by Olorin:
They already dropped prices on the PowerBooks. If you want one get one. I got tired of waiting for the 15" revision and bought one. I love it. Best apple I have ever owned. Really fast too!

Well I think I am going to go with the G4 Powerbook...

To me I think the 867 is the better choice, the only thing the 1GHZ has going for it, that means much to me, is the Superdrive.

But at only 1x DVD-R, I feel that I would be better off with an external DVD-R drive which are currenlty at 4X.

Am I wrong?

I mean does an internal Superdrive work faster than an external drive even thought the external drive is 4x? Or is it the same regardless of the drive being internal/external.

Either way, I am going to Max out the RAM.

And right now my ibook G3/500 with 576 feels pretty darn fast, I can't imagine how much faster everything will work with a G4 867 with 1GB of RAM. It makes me tingle inside.

[k2director]

The internal SuperDrive on the Pbook is 1x, and those external Firewire drives you can buy are 4x. It's an apples-to-apples comparison, so to speak. While the 4x speed drives won't result in an absolute 4x speed increase, they will come close (there are other factors involved with burning a DVD, besides raw write speed).

Anyway, regarding the 867 versus the 1Ghz model: if I were you, I'd still consider the 1Ghz model, now that they're getting so cheap. The extra speed is noticeable to me on renders, etc., and while I used to think "I don't really need a 1x SuperDrive", I find myself using it a lot. When you're ruling out the internal SuperDrive, you tend to think "I don't want to wait an hour to burn a DVD". But in reality, I find I burn a lot of DVD-Rs for testing menus, or for delivering short videos that don't require the whole disk. So it's not like your typical DVD burns take an hour anyway on a 1x SuperDrive.

And, of course, it's also quite nice to always have your SuperDrive drive with you!

[nighttraitor]

But at only 1x DVD-R, I feel that I would be better off with an external DVD-R drive which are currenlty at 4X.

Am I wrong?

I mean does an internal Superdrive work faster than an external drive even thought the external drive is 4x? Or is it the same regardless of the drive being internal/external.

[/B]

Keep in mind that iDVD will only work with the SuperDrive and DVD Stuido Pro will work with some third party products, so be careful that your external drive will work when doing dvd's. If I remember right Apple uses the Pioneer A-105 drive. I think.

[Eug]

Originally posted by nighttraitor:
Keep in mind that iDVD will only work with the SuperDrive and DVD Stuido Pro will work with some third party products, so be careful that your external drive will work when doing dvd's. If I remember right Apple uses the Pioneer A-105 drive. I think.

DVD Studio Pro can make VIDEO_TS folders that are burnable with any DVD-R drive, regardless if DVDSP directly supports those drives or not.

iDVD OTOH only works with internal SuperDrives.

However, I'd wait a month or so to see what new machines are introduced. There won't be a PPC 970 ("G5"?) PowerBook, but the new machines will get speed-bumped G4s nonetheless, and the 15" AluBook may finally appear. (The 17" is nice, but it's far too big for my tastes.)

If you want OS 9 bootability though, then the TiBook is the best choice.

[Mallrat]

Originally posted by Eug:
DVD Studio Pro can make VIDEO_TS folders that are burnable with any DVD-R drive, regardless if DVDSP directly supports those drives or not.

iDVD OTOH only works with internal SuperDrives.

However, I'd wait a month or so to see what new machines are introduced. There won't be a PPC 970 ("G5"?) PowerBook, but the new machines will get speed-bumped G4s nonetheless, and the 15" AluBook may finally appear. (The 17" is nice, but it's far too big for my tastes.)

If you want OS 9 bootability though, then the TiBook is the best choice.

I didn't realize that that iDVD only works with internal Superdrives. That seems odd to me, since you can buy it separately. You think the point would be to buy it, and then buy a DVD-R drive if you don't have one

But DVD Studio Pro works with any external drive?

Very intersting indeed. I think I will wait to see if a G5 does come out.

If it does, do you think they will drop prices across the board on G4?

I don't recall what happened to G3 when they released G4 systems.

[Mallrat]

Originally posted by Eug:
DVD Studio Pro can make VIDEO_TS folders that are burnable with any DVD-R drive, regardless if DVDSP directly supports those drives or not.

iDVD OTOH only works with internal SuperDrives.

However, I'd wait a month or so to see what new machines are introduced. There won't be a PPC 970 ("G5"?) PowerBook, but the new machines will get speed-bumped G4s nonetheless, and the 15" AluBook may finally appear. (The 17" is nice, but it's far too big for my tastes.)

If you want OS 9 bootability though, then the TiBook is the best choice.

I didn't realize that that iDVD only works with internal Superdrives. That seems odd to me, since you can buy it separately. You think the point would be to buy it, and then buy a DVD-R drive if you don't have one

But DVD Studio Pro works with any external drive?

Very intersting indeed. I think I will wait to see if a G5 does come out.

If it does, do you think they will drop prices across the board on G4?

I don't recall what happened to G3 when they released G4 systems.

[bwilliams4]

This may be the proper forum for this however I did want to let you know that I have a G4 15" PB for sale. It was sold however the person buying it backed out because he was unable to sell his current system. It has 1Gb of Ram w/ the superdrive and was purchased in Jan. It has very little use and looks brand new except for a small scratch which can be touched up with titanium paint. If you look in the marketplace ads you will see the thead from last week. Email me if you are interested. bwilliams@zire.com. Oh yeah - I am looking for around 2100. The unit is in NH and can be picked up or shipped.


-Bob