[SL21]

Ok here's my dilemma. I'm in college and need a laptop. I will be writing papers, internet, occasional digital photography, a little photoshop, and making some DVDs. Also *possible* GIS work in the future. I don't play many video games. I'm stuck between the 12" and 15". I will need an external display with the 12" and now that it supports DVI it really looks appealing. With student discounts here are the specs:

12" Powerbook
• 1GHz PowerPC G4
• 256MB DDR266 (256MB built-in)
• 60GB Ultra ATA drive @ 4200rpm
• SuperDrive (DVD-R/CD-RW)
• AirPort Extreme Card
• Apple Studio Display (17" flat panel) + Apple DVI-to-ADC Adapter
• Keyboard/Mac OS - U.S. English
• 12.1-inch TFT Display

Subtotal $2,421.00

15" Powerbook
• 1.25GHz PowerPC G4
• 512MB DDR333 SDRAM - 2x256 SO-DIMMs
• 80GB Ultra ATA drive @ 4200 rpm
• SuperDrive (DVD-R/CD-RW)
• Backlit Keyboard/Mac OS - U.S. English
• AirPort Extreme Card
• 15.2-inch TFT Display

Subtotal $2,299.00

For $120 more, I can have an external 17" Studio display to plug into my 12" at home. I will also be able to use the Studio Display in the future if I were to ever get a G5 desktop. Is the 32mb video memory in the 12" adequate for the 17" display? Or is the 15" powerbook (without the studio display) what I need?

Thanks

[spalding12]

buy the 15" and start saving for a separate display to be purchased in the future.. after some price reduction

you'll like the 15" better
a better all around notebook

IMHO, of course

greg

[fisherKing]

i dunno...
i'm planning something similar (minus the edu discount )

nice to have a small, truly portable powerbook, then a good-size monitor when working at home (u get the idea)

i say go for it!

[craigthomas]

32MB will be fine on a 17. I've used 8MB on a 21" with my original Ti 500. So, the question is, do you want an ultra portable 12", or a 15" that is portable with a decent screen size when you don't want to be attached to your same desk area.

Me? I like the 15. Best of both worlds. But I'm not a student either, and probably don't cart the system around as much as you will. Have you tried the 12"? If not, and you can get to an Apple Store, go and play with a 12". Open up Word or something. See if the screen is big enough for you. Either way, they are great offerings and you can't lose.

[SL21]

I have tried the 12". I seems perfect for "on the go," but I do think I will need an external monitor for when I'm at home.

The 64mb of video memory on the 15" looks real good...but I really don't know if I need that much. How much of a difference would 64mb vs 32mb make when editing movies or photoshop work? (Nothing overly complicated just homemade stuff).

They both have strong points and that's why this decision is so difficult.

[cobra27]

Originally posted by SL21:
I have tried the 12". I seems perfect for "on the go," but I do think I will need an external monitor for when I'm at home.

The 64mb of video memory on the 15" looks real good...but I really don't know if I need that much. How much of a difference would 64mb vs 32mb make when editing movies or photoshop work? (Nothing overly complicated just homemade stuff).

They both have strong points and that's why this decision is so difficult.

Well, the decision won't be so difficult if you don't mind losing a few hundreds and go the ebay route when you make the wrong choice .

OK, seriously, I was waiting for the 15" Aluminium till I went to the local Apple Store and played with the 12". Now I think I will get the 12" instead of the 15" - mainly because I value its portability. Not using the notebook as my main photoshop machine makes the decision easier as well.

Don't worry too much about the CPU difference and graphic chip/mem difference. You won't notice it unless you work with 10MB RAW files, or edit long movies. You'll be constraint by the RAM and HD space more than the GPU or CPU.

Anyway, both are fine machines...I suggest you list down your priorities and consider each of them carefully. Ah, sometimes too much choice is a problem.

[mania]

Originally posted by SL21:
I have tried the 12". I seems perfect for "on the go," but I do think I will need an external monitor for when I'm at home.

The 64mb of video memory on the 15" looks real good...but I really don't know if I need that much.

whatcha mean - you always need better video - it does make a difference!

i agree with the guy who said get the 15 - then save for a 20" lcd - its like what - a pound more - no biggie - its not like your backpacking 20 miles - think of it as a little bit extra way to keep in shape.

[Luca Rescigno]

Get the 15". I tried using external displays on my 12" iBook (with spanning hack) but I never really got the hang of it. I just prefer having one screen I guess.

[webb3201]

I travel quite a bit and went from a Ti to a 12" a few months ago and really love the portability. The machine is so easy to deal with, and amazingly small. I run an external monitor at the office and have no worries when using the 12" screen sans monitor.

Note, this is a great time to be a buyer as people dump machines that are under a year old. I have seen Combo 12" PBs on boards for 1000-1100, which is a really great deal. You lose the DVI with the older models but you may not care that much for that low price. Although you could grab a TI 800-1Gig for cheap as well. I wish I had some money to buy this month.

k