[Kitschy]

So, I'm in the market for a Mac portable, 12" for sure. From what I've read, the comparisons between the iBook 900 and 12" PowerBook 867 are negligible except for altivec enhanced apps, and even then it's not that noticeable.

Question #1: What are the advantages of getting the PowerBook? Hard drive speed? RAM? Video?

Question #2: When was the last update for the iBooks and what was it? What about the PowerBook?

Question #3: Any rumors as to what & when the next update will be for either?

I kind of feel odd getting a G3 when the G5s just came out...so, depending on how long it takes, I may just wait for an iBook update or go ahead and spring for a PowerBook. However, the date of the last iBook or PowerBook update could reveal a timeframe for the next one.

I'm leaning towards the iBook for cost reasons.

So, any tips? Thanks.

[vvedge]

1. Hard drive speed is usually limited to 4200 RPM. (someone correct me if I'm wrong. The maximum ram on a iBook is 640 mb, Powerbook is 1 gb. Powerbooks have better video cards and native support for dual displays.

2. Last iBook update was in April or May. This made all ibooks 800 or 900 mhz.

3. Updates can come as often as littled as 3 months from the last one, or as long as an entire year. Rumors only tend to circulate a few weeks in advance of an update, but the usual buying tip is don't buy before Macworld Expo or any major keynote. It doesn't look like there's a critcal need to update seeing as the Powerbooks haven't been updated. Expect faster Powerbooks before or at the same time. Apple likes to keep a smooth differentiation in clock speed from low end iBook to high end Powerbook.

Costwise, today's iBook is a great value. But I've learned even my iBook investment wasn't going to last forever. So when you do get it, avoid investing too much money on it unless you plan to make this your only computer you buy in the next 2-4 years. Things like bigger hard drives and bigger screen you may want to think about a desktop machine for those. But getting a fast Powerbook would mean a definite long term investment.

Sorry if I've been vague.

[mdc]

Originally posted by Kitschy:
So, I'm in the market for a Mac portable, 12" for sure. From what I've read, the comparisons between the iBook 900 and 12" PowerBook 867 are negligible except for altivec enhanced apps, and even then it's not that noticeable.

Question #1: What are the advantages of getting the PowerBook? Hard drive speed? RAM? Video?

the powerbook has a couple of 'pro' features that are intergrated. such as bluetooth, for the ibook you would need a usb bluetooth adapter.
the harddrive on the powerbook and the ibook both say 40gig ultra ATA.

for ram, they will both only be able to have 640mb, since they both have 128 _soldered_ on the board and then you can put in 512mb. the ibook takes pc100 and the powerbook takes ddr ram

for the video the ibook has a radeon 7500 and the powerbook a geforece 4 420 go, both 32mb. i am not sure of the performance between these

Originally posted by Kitschy:

Question #2: When was the last update for the iBooks and what was it? What about the PowerBook?

ibook about a month ago. updated to 900
powerbook has not had an update since they were released.

Originally posted by Kitschy:

Question #3: Any rumors as to what & when the next update will be for either?

no clue

[Kitschy]

Well, after reading the Powerbook/ibook comparisons in the PowerBook forum, they talk as if the PowerBook is significantly better than the iBook. And indeed, from what i've read here so far, the ram is faster, the video card is better and it has bluetoosh (not that i'll ever use it). I want something that'll last me a good 2 years, that's why i'm leary about getting an iBook with a G3 and NOW i'm leaning towards the PowerBook (sheesh, i'm fickle...)

Perhaps i'll wait till the end of summer and maybe a new PowerBook 12" will be out.

[mdc]

i think it depends on where you read it

the ibook forum will be a bit more biased towards the ibook and its price while the powerbook forum will be a bit more biased towards the powerbook and its g4, etc.

an unbiased view will tell you that no matter which one you get neither will last forever, and both have they pros and cons.
unbiasedly, if i was to buy a new laptop right this moment in time, and since the drop in price of the 12" powerbook, making it around $300 more, i would probably go that route.

but honestly, not matter which you choose you will love it and i am pretty sure either will be perfectly fine. the reason i am not ebaying my ibook 800, is because it surpasses my needs. i do everything on my ibook, i carry it around with me almost everywhere, and i use photoshop and like i said, it surpasses my needs.

enjoy the laptop, i know you will

[mark2]

IMO, the answer to your question should revolve around your intended uses. I mean, if all you intend to do with the computer is word processing, even a 68040 mac will do.

I have an ibook 500 and for my uses it works fine. Word processing (lots); spreadsheets; databases; contact management; surfing, and so on.

I have Apple Care on the machine that will cover it for another two years, and I plan to keep it at least that long simply because I really like this little computer.