[roffle]

Hi, I'm in the same boat as a lot of the posters here. I'll be heading off to college on the 28th and since it seems highly unlikely that new powerbooks will be released any time soon, I'm looking to make a purchase by next week.
Right now I've narrowed down the possibilities to two choices. I could either get the 12 inch with combo drive, 640mb ram, and an AE card and then end up buying a LCD or flat screen CRT when I get to college. Is it possible to get a 15 or 17inch LCD for $300? The only drawback I see in purchasing the 12inch with the ext monitor, keyboard, and mouse is the space that it will take up on a dorm room desk. It also seems that the setup would be really messy since there would be a bunch of cords coming out of the left side. Now my other choice would be to buy the top of the line 15 inch powerbook with the combo drive. The prices for both of these setups would be around the same so I'm wondering which would be the better choice. I like the 15inch because it's widescreen, but the build quality seems to be an issue. Basically, I'm just looking for suggestions. Thanks!

[s0litude]

Hey! I'm going back to school too in september and i am in the EXACT situation you are in... I can't help you choose which computer to go for (although I agree with your views of the 15), but instead of going for a CRT, why not buy an IPOD? There's currently a $200 rebate if you buy the two together. Just so you know! Let us know what you get!

[s0litude]

Hey! I'm going back to school too in september and i am in the EXACT situation you are in... I can't help you choose which computer to go for (although I agree with your views of the 15), but instead of going for a CRT, why not buy an IPOD? There's currently a $200 rebate if you buy the two together. Just so you know! Let us know what you get!

[The Placid Casual]

I had a similar choice this week...

I am typing this on a 867 Combo 15"

[slow moe]

A PB with a nice 17" LCD or CRT monitor @ 1280x1024 - dooo it! doooo it!

You can never have too many pixels. There's over 2 million on my desk now, but here's the deal, about 1.3 million of them are detachable.

[LfGrdMike]

Do I need a PowerBook? Do I want a PowerBook?

This year I go off to college majoring in computer science and need a laptop.
Reasons: Having your own computer especially a laptop allows you to store all your written documents, and other files personally. Taking care of your own work gives a 100% guarantee that you wont lose it if you have backup.

HELL YA I WANT A POWERBOOK!

What am I majoring in?
I am majoring in computer science.
Lets pick writer for our second to prove a point later

What do I want to do on my computer?
What will you do now and what will you be doing in the future? This all must be taken into account it’s very important that you give this a lot of thought.

First the most important thing what will you be doing from a productivity standpoint (education only). I will be writing papers, and I will be making programs are two examples.
What do I need to accomplish these tasks?
A 867 would be great for writing those papers, but the programming could use the 1GHZ. Now you narrow it down. Its 50-50 at this point but soon you will fix that.

Where will I use my PowerBook?
Will it just sitting in the dorm room gathering dust like a desktop, or are you actually going to take it to class are two examples.
My answer is I will be taking it to all my classes. (Never let it out of your site because someone could swipe it hehe)
If you are traveling around campus with it you will need some accessories like a well-padded case to protect it.

What size should I get I got three choices!
Well in this case the 17-inch laptop is not an option at least for me. So I have narrowed it down to the 12 or the 15.

Do I plan to play games on it?
Well if you do you can probably get away with it on a 12 with an external monitor, but a 15 would be ideal. My answer is I want to but probably won’t have time too.

Now go to the apple store and get a price for what you want taking in account the special offers. For example I would get an iPod and new printer then get $300 back.
Now after all this comes the hard part. If you’re a writer its easy get the 12 you want something small and sturdy so you can sit in the parks writing stuff. For a comp science major you might lean toward the 15 inch. Now this is when your personality enters the room. My personality is yelling GET SOMETHING SMALL STUPID! SOMEONE ELSES MAY YELL GET SOMETHING NOT TO SMALL OR NOT TO BIG STUPID! Its almost like the 3 bears and the porridge. PAPA BEAR MAY SAY GET THE BIG *** KICK *** 17!!!!! I know I ruled it out but hehe.

In other words the last question solves the problem, but unfortunately it’s the hardest one to answer.

For me a revision B is what I want of the 12-inch laptop. I have gone back and forth for months between the 15 and the 12 but I think I know what I want now. I remember my face when Steve showed the 12 and I remember thinking immediately “Steve Jobs, you just made MY laptop!” Others may have said that for the 17 and others might of said na the 15 is my baby. Let me put it this way just like the first thought that goes through your mind when you’re on a tough question and need to guess. The first thought is usually correct. So I have wanted the 12 sense that was the first thought, and now I know what I want but that requires waiting which is ok! I even not lying told myself in my head while Steve showed it off that “well Ill just wait for a rev B and then Ill buy it.

[Mithras]

Same thing, except I'm an old geezer starting grad school instead of college.

With $2000, what would you buy? I've distilled the options into 4 choices:

1. iBook + external LCD

Code:
iBook 12" combo     $1194 (Amazon)
Airport card        $  70
512 MB RAM          $ 139
Samsung 172T LCD    $ 535
--------------------------
total               $1938

2. Powerbook 12" + external LCD

Code:
Powerbook 12" combo $1399 (refurb @Amazon)
Airport card        $  89
Samsung 172T LCD    $ 535
--------------------------
total               $2023   No extra RAM with this one!

3. Powerbook 15"

Code:
Powerbook 15" combo $1799
Airport card        $  70
512 MB RAM          $ 139
--------------------------
total               $2008   No external LCD with this one!

4. Used Powerbook 15" + external LCD

Code:
Used PB 15" (667?)  $1500   assuming it includes extra RAM + Airport
Samsung 172T LCD    $ 535
--------------------------
total               $2035

(The educational prices all charge sales tax, which wipes out any cost savings over regular sales or refurbs...)

What option would you go for? Any advice on which I should choose?

[LfGrdMike]

You do know you could get a brand new 12 inch power book for around 2000 bucks and if you get an iPod and printer you can do a mail in rebate and get 300dollars back. Just put down your school and get a brand new 12. Thats what I would do if I was in your position. Actually I am going to buy one pretty soon thats how I know this! I know what you said about Tax but this is a good deal. If you buy from MacMall its free shipping but I dont kno wif the iPod offer is avaiable. Still you get free RAM from MacMall. YOur decision.

www.macmall.com

[LfGrdMike]

Oh and I dont think LCDs will work with the 12 or the iBook so get a CRT especially if money is an issue. CRTs are so cheap now in price its just a steal.

[MacNStein]

Originally posted by Mithras:
Same thing, except I'm an old geezer starting grad school instead of college.

With $2000, what would you buy? I've distilled the options into 4 choices:

1. iBook + external LCD

Code:
iBook 12" combo     $1194 (Amazon)
Airport card        $  70
512 MB RAM          $ 139
Samsung 172T LCD    $ 535
--------------------------
total               $1938

2. Powerbook 12" + external LCD

Code:
Powerbook 12" combo $1399 (refurb @Amazon)
Airport card        $  89
Samsung 172T LCD    $ 535
--------------------------
total               $2023   No extra RAM with this one!

3. Powerbook 15"

Code:
Powerbook 15" combo $1799
Airport card        $  70
512 MB RAM          $ 139
--------------------------
total               $2008   No external LCD with this one!

4. Used Powerbook 15" + external LCD

Code:
Used PB 15" (667?)  $1500   assuming it includes extra RAM + Airport
Samsung 172T LCD    $ 535
--------------------------
total               $2035

(The educational prices all charge sales tax, which wipes out any cost savings over regular sales or refurbs...)

What option would you go for? Any advice on which I should choose?

Actually, I'd do this...

Powerbook 12" combo $1399 (refurb @Amazon)
512MB upgd $139
Viewsonic VE175 17" LCD (beautiful display) $430 @buy.com
AE card $89
-------------------------
total $2057

not bad...

[roffle]

If I purchase from macmall will they install the extra 512 ram that I buy, or will I have to do that on my own? I checked their site and right now they're offering a free AE card, but they charge $39 for installation.

[LfGrdMike]

Yes, you pay 40 bucks for installation but they double your RAM so you get the full amount. I suppose there might be an option to install it yourself im not sure. It sounds like the catch is you pay for them to install it. Keep in mind this is a lot cheaper then getting memory from apple which is a rip or crucial which most people go to instead. 40 bucks would get you a 64mb barely. Your gettinga 512 just to show you the comparison.

[euchomai]

You just can't beat the ease of travel the 12 inch PB offers. To me portibility in school is king, also the airport reception in the 15 inch sucks.

[kennedy]

Here's another old geezer headed back to grad school debating almost exactly the same thing. No $2K limit here, but rather just trying to figure out what's best. The two big questions are: 1) Wait for rev B? 2) 12" vs 15".

I know I am going to be annoyed when RevB comes out and has the slick backlit keyboard... but I've got to get off this PeeCee laptop real soon now. So, I think I'll only wait one more Tuesday.

On 12" vs 15", I think it boils down to: Is the 12" screen big enough for the things I do while mobile? Smaller is better, as long as its not too small. I think the only thing for me to do is spend a few hours at the Apple Store using the 12" for the kinds of stuff I typically do... and see if it bothers me.

My guess: 12" PB with 17" external LCD is going to be my choice.


Given the Apple bundle deals, I was thinking:

PB 12" SuperDrive
640MB RAM
60GB Disk
iPod - 10MB (only $69 after rebate)
HP PSC 2110 all-in-one (only $50 after rebate)
AppleCare
some 17" or more LCD display (not too pricey, so probably 17")

$2137 + LCD display (after $299 in rebates)

However, the comments on refurbs and other sites prices have me wondering if I shouldn't be price checking other sources. ??

Thoughts on AppleCare? With a PowerBook getting lugged around all over and the general flakiness of batteries, I wonder if that might be a good investment. I think its $239.


Suggestions? LCD monitor recommendations?

[tomasboudr]

was just in your situation,

I had an extra 15" LCD so I'm gonan bring that to school to use with my 12" PB when I'm at my desk. oh and I also gto the 10 gig ipod since its only 269 and there is a 200 buck rebate. a 69 buck ipod sounded like a good idea to me

peace

-Tom

[kennedy]

Looking at MacMall, it appears the RAM offer does NOT apply to 12".
Am I missing something?

[RGB]

If you're a college student, the 12" PowerBook Combo is $1399, but NOT refurbished, from the Apple Store for Education

[Mithras]

Originally posted by kennedy:
Given the Apple bundle deals, I was thinking:

PB 12" SuperDrive
640MB RAM
60GB Disk
iPod - 10MB (only $69 after rebate)
HP PSC 2110 all-in-one (only $50 after rebate)
AppleCare
some 17" or more LCD display (not too pricey, so probably 17")

$2137 + LCD display (after $299 in rebates)

Those Apple deals are indeed pretty good. But for the Apple Store, don't forget to add 7-8% for sales tax if you want to be strictly rational about it.

That makes a $1399 12"/combo cost $1517, for example.

That's what pushed me to the mail-order, refurbs, or the slightly used models -- nearly as good, and much more for the money.