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anti-sleep · Aug 28, 2003, 09:15 PM

Ok, so I will need a laptop for this coming school year.

My question is this: should I get a cheap iBook that will get me through the year with the intention of getting a new Powerbook for college, or should I get a Powerbook now and risk being outdated a year from now?

On a somewhat related note, I will be selling my current G4. PM me if you want details.

Thanks for any opinions you can give me.

LfGrdMike · Aug 28, 2003, 09:18 PM

I dont know why you need a laptop now. Not to be rude, but if I were you i would wait until next summer before you start college. By then a possible G5 PowerBOok, and the iBooks will be like 12 inch PBs are now.

Just keep that G4 you got to get you through the High School year if you ask me. Unless you got a good reason to get a laptop for high school. I am starting college in a week, and just ordered my 12 inch PB today with EDU discount, and I threw in an iPod cause its practically a steal with the buy a bundle deal!

If you absolutely need a laptop then get the 12 inch PB. Just use that PB next year in college too their is nothing wrong with it. Just max out yoru ram which can go up to 1GB. I got 640 on my order, but will eventually get the 1GB chip when the price goes down.

IronPen · Aug 28, 2003, 09:34 PM

I was facing the same question. I bought a 12" Powerbook, and I am very happy I did. Think of it this way, for $200 more than the iBook 900 with combo, you can get the 12" PB combo and things you can't get in the iBook:

1. G4 processor
2. DDR RAM
3. Airport Extreme
4. Bluetooth
5. EDU discount is $200, iBook is $100

Be sure you get the EDU discount. The Powerbook is fast, and I hear the iBook 900 is as well, but I think for the money, the PB is the better deal. Plus, it has a great keyboard and the aluminum finish is really nice. If you've been looking at the iBook you know it has a white finish for the palm rest area, which doesn't look as good as the older iBooks.

The cons of the PB are that battery life may not be as good as the iBook, and it does get warm. Also, the trackpad is smaller on the PB, but I don't find that a problem. Believe me, these are minor complaints, and the screen on the PB is better and brighter even on the same settings as the iBook. At least, that's my experience.

Bottom line: Go for the 12" PB. At $1399 with EDU discount, you can't go wrong. You can even get an iPod for $69 after rebate.

anti-sleep · Aug 28, 2003, 09:38 PM

The reason I need a laptop is because I will have to switch between two parents' houses every week, and I will need to do a few presentations a week for a group I lead. Sorry I didn't clarify before.

It's nothing that a G3 can't handle, but a G4 would make a difference...

LfGrdMike · Aug 28, 2003, 09:45 PM

Listen to IronPen and I the 12 inch PB G4 is the better deal and I think it could even last you through college easily. Get a G5 tower or something in 3-4 years too and you will have the portability and the power. Also the powerbooks now are really powerful so you will be happy.

Musti · Aug 28, 2003, 11:27 PM

Originally posted by anti-sleep:
Ok, so I will need a laptop for this coming school year.

My question is this: should I get a cheap iBook that will get me through the year with the intention of getting a new Powerbook for college, or should I get a Powerbook now and risk being outdated a year from now?

On a somewhat related note, I will be selling my current G4. PM me if you want details.

Thanks for any opinions you can give me.

You'll (and we'll) be outdated in six months (let alone a year) anyways. Buy the iBook, its more bang for the buck for your purposes, then upgrade to a G5 PB when they're released.

Good luck at school.

LfGrdMike · Aug 29, 2003, 12:29 AM

Outdated im so sick of hearing that garbage. I dont see anyone calling the iBook outdated. If you get the powerbook it wont be outdated. Its wireless capabiliities are superior to the iBooks, and its for liek 200 dollars more. Its a G4 Processory. Doesnt matter if the iBook is 900 mhz or not it makes a minor difference. In the end the powerbook is faster anyway. Outdated. the pismo was a great PB and thats still far from outdated. Apple computers hold their vallue too.

So in other words you will get more money back for the powerbook in the end. I also stand by what I said. Todays powerbook should get you through college, but it also depends on your major. All add that last bit becasue if your doing video then you may need to update. A 6 month old computer is not outdated. The TI Book 800 is not outdated. Their are people including me that are using gumdrop Slotloadin iMacs running jaguar. I play JKII on this maching and its fast. Far from outdated. Still I cant wait to get my powerbook.

Outdated is too strong of a word to describe what you mean. Their might be someone using a Macintosh LC that still suits their needs, My grandpa is using a performa and its fast enough for his needs. Thats another thing about this outdated nonsense. When your computer cant suit YOUR needs anymore then update.

redJag · Aug 29, 2003, 01:02 AM

off topic: but wow, you said the same thing way too many times. way too many. way. too. outdated.

Mastrap · Aug 29, 2003, 01:27 AM

Originally posted by anti-sleep:
Ok, so I will need a laptop for this coming school year.

My question is this: should I get a cheap iBook that will get me through the year with the intention of getting a new Powerbook for college, or should I get a Powerbook now and risk being outdated a year from now?

On a somewhat related note, I will be selling my current G4. PM me if you want details.

Thanks for any opinions you can give me.

Why don't you do a search. This topic has been discussed to death already.

rjt1000 · Aug 29, 2003, 09:06 AM

Hi antisleep,

If I were you, I dont think I would buy a new laptop right this moment if you can avoid it. It seems pretty clear that apple will be updating its PB and maybe even iBook line very soon. Also, if you are a high-school student, I dont believe you will qualify for the educational discount (I think thats right, but I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm not)

Many colleges require specific laptops, have specific requirements for a laptop or have special deals for their students including support, software etc, so you may be jumping the gun if you buy a new laptop now.

Some possiblities: is there a computer at each of your parents houses? If so, an inexpensive firewire or usb hard-drive might be enough to keep all the relevant files and applics with you.

If not, I would pick an inexpensive used laptop for this year, and then buy next summer according to your colleges guidelines.

I would suggest a year or so old, 700 mhz (16mb vram) or 800 mhz (32 mb vram) iBook. You should be able to get one of these cheap on eBay, or maybe in the classifieds of powerbook central. http://www.powerbookcentral.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi

These slightly older iBook are far from (dare I say the word) OUTDATED, and they will hold their value nicely for a year, so you will be able to recoup much of your outlay.

Here's a nice review of used powerbooks from Charles Moore, the Roadwarrior at macopinion:

http://www.macopinion.com/columns/ro.../10/index.html

and some more from the same author:

http://www.macopinion.com/columns/ro.../11/index.html

If you prefer to not deal with the hassle of buying a used laptop, then there is a sweet deal at small dog electronics for 799 you get a new (leftover) 700 mhz iBook with extra RAM (I never dealt with this firm, but perhaps others can give opinions about them):

http://www.smalldog.com/category/x/x/iBooks/iBooks/

Best wishes,

Rich (Pismo G3 500)

RooneyX · Aug 29, 2003, 10:43 AM

iBooks are nasty and cheapo.

fisherKing · Aug 29, 2003, 11:09 AM

Originally posted by RooneyX:
iBooks are nasty and cheapo.

...which is...a good thing?? or???

sniffer · Aug 29, 2003, 11:44 AM

PowerBooks are slick and sexy, but buying it so you just can wait longer until you need to update sounds kind off odd to me. Computer development and price on the stuff you buy changes all the time. And paying for the top of the technical edge doesn't pay that much off if you ask me unless you are in the pro segment or just can afford it. Save money, buy the 900 12" combo and use the extra money on a nice Airport card and max out the ram. It'll be a kick ass package from the start for less money.
Regarding Airport Extreme you wouldn't notice any difference on public (your school?) network as there will always be equipment running on the same net with slower than AE wireless connection. This will slow down the connection for all client regardless if the wireless network there is built for faster speed, so you wouldn't gain anything.
Oh, and the portability. Regardless if you chose a PB or a iBook, it's a great value in it self. As you might have guessed I am an iBook user and I really appreciate the portability and I doubt I would ever bay another desktop machine in the future. i think you'll be satisfied regardless for what you finally decide to go for.

rjt1000 · Aug 29, 2003, 02:48 PM

Quote from RooneyX:

iBooks are nasty and cheapo.

===========

Hey RooneyX,

What exactly is 'nasty' about one of the best selling and longest surviving apple products? Must be a large number of foolish people in the world buying those nasty iBooks.

And sure, it makes great sense to spend more money than you need for more computer than you need--just so you wont be a 'cheapo'.

Time to grow up, folks. The iBook may not take awards for sexiest, fastest or newest, but it has what it takes: a good solid computer for a great price.

Rich (Pismo G3 500)

IronPen · Aug 29, 2003, 03:29 PM

I had an iBook 500 before I upgraded, and a clamshell iBook before that. iBooks are incredible, durable machines. I have nothing bad to say about them, but the 12" PB is a great machine. Even with the standard RAM in mine it runs great, whereas, my 500 iBook with the maximum RAM lagged. Granted, it also had a slower processor (MHz and G3) and way slower bus than the PB, but I'm convinced that for a couple hundred bucks, you're getting a machine with more features, better speed, smaller form factor, for very little extra over a combo iBook. However, I think either way, you'll be happy. After all, it's a Mac!