[Mallrat]

hello--

well i've been going back and forth between getting an TI or the new powerbook....

I want to be able to type screenplays on a laptop, but also be able to use Final Cut Pro 4, browse the internet, burn DVD's....

I want portablitiy, but I stay home a lot of the time....

so i came up with an idea.... for the same amount as a 15 inch powerbook I could get

1) a used ibook clamshell (just really like them) for portability and writing

2) an iMac for editing, surfing the web, and burning DVD's

Here are my questions

CLAMSHELL

I would love to be able to run OS 10.2 on the clamshell.... and I need it to run final draft... other than that, not much else....

Does the clamshell have good battery life?

can you still buy NEW BATTERIES?

If the clamshell gets a solid 3 hours plus, taht would be ideal... Ifeel the new powerbooks aren't really that portable because you have very weak batteries I've heard.

I really like this idea. What do you think?

Also, I just have always loved the clamshell ibooks...

I just find the ibooks and iMac to be much more appealing to my nature... they are cooler than the powerbooks.... in a way they should be, because they are design for the every day person, while the powerbook is more for the business guy....

My favorite notebook was the 1400 c which I still have.. maybe I coudl update that so it has a G3 in it...

[rytc]

If I was you I'd buy a 500Mhz iBook and stick a new battery in that, you'll get a much bigger screen (resolution wise) and a much smaller, lighter laptop to boot. Not only that I doubt the price will be all that different to a 466Mhz clamshell would be. I have a clamshell iBook and whilst it lasted ages on the battery when new, it typically lasts about 20 minutes these days. Either way, if you buy any laptop more than a few years old the batter will be pretty much stuffed. Also you'll probably find it alot easier (and chaper) to find a new batter for the new shape iBooks than the older clamshells.

Originally posted by Mallrat:


Does the clamshell have good battery life?

can you still buy NEW BATTERIES?

If the clamshell gets a solid 3 hours plus, taht would be ideal... Ifeel the new powerbooks aren't really that portable because you have very weak batteries I've heard.

[The Placid Casual]

Make sure you get a 466 iBook... anything less will be a real hassle with OS X.

Battery life is excellent. I can get 5+ hours with the power saving features on on my SE machine. New batteries are about, but not from Apple direct.

What I love about the clamshell is the durability... They are immortal. Mine really is the toughest laptop I have ever used.

However, the screen is a real hassle. 800x600. Arrrggghhh. it is a real drawback. Despite this, I would still choose one over an iBook 500 which is much more fragile, and to me not as practical.

The iBook 500 still has the 66mhz system bus, and overall the performance difference between the 2 machines is very, very minimal.

If you can get a decent price on a 600mhz machine, that may be a much better option, but they seem to be selling for a lot more ££...

I use an 867 Ti machine at the moment, and if you could get a SD one they really are compelling...

I have used a 2 machine setup and it has it's drawbacks... I would advise a Powerbook to be the way to go.

Peace,

Marc

[Mallrat]

Originally posted by The Placid Casual:
Make sure you get a 466 iBook... anything less will be a real hassle with OS X.

Battery life is excellent. I can get 5+ hours with the power saving features on on my SE machine. New batteries are about, but not from Apple direct.

What I love about the clamshell is the durability... They are immortal. Mine really is the toughest laptop I have ever used.

However, the screen is a real hassle. 800x600. Arrrggghhh. it is a real drawback. Despite this, I would still choose one over an iBook 500 which is much more fragile, and to me not as practical.

The iBook 500 still has the 66mhz system bus, and overall the performance difference between the 2 machines is very, very minimal.

If you can get a decent price on a 600mhz machine, that may be a much better option, but they seem to be selling for a lot more ££...

I use an 867 Ti machine at the moment, and if you could get a SD one they really are compelling...

I have used a 2 machine setup and it has it's drawbacks... I would advise a Powerbook to be the way to go.

Peace,

Marc

well the sad truth is, my current computer is the ibook 500 dual usb...

before I looked I had hoped you could get a clamshell for 300.... looks like the best I could do would be 350 for a 300 version....

I just always liked the clamshell and missed it... i wanted it for so long, but then the new ibook came out and I was excited... but now, after a few yeras I wish I have a toliet seat...

I guess it might be embarssing to take around... or maybe fun..


my thought was that since I used my laptop 99 percent of the time at the desk, that I might as well get a desktop..... it seems to me that staring at the imac screen would be better for my eyes than the powerbook... maybe it's just the height of the screen, or maybe they are a bit brighter... probably not, I'm sure they are the same.

But I was thining 1300 for an imac that it better than the current 2000 powebook.

and 300 to 400 for a clamshell.

Adn I could sell my ibook 500 with cd-rw external for 600 or so....

I guess I should just keep my ibook 500, but I remember thinking that the clamshell where better to type on.. and that's what I need it for.. want it for.

just another idea to my mainly possiblities.