[pete]

I went to look at the new powerbooks today. Feel a little disappointed actually. My main gripes:


1. Feels much larger and bulkier than the tibooks! Didn't think they would, but they do.
2. Can't move lcd back far enough
3. Ports on sides (I'm a fan of the out-of-sight ports
4. Whole palmrest area was substantially warmer than tibooks, although not as warm as the 12 inch G4s. My tibook 1ghz is always cool there, and the keyboard is about the same as the new books. Wasn't able to check underneath, but I assume they're hot there too.
5. Not as solid as I expected given many people's comments. I pressed on the back of the LCD and was easily able to see ripples on the the front - just like the tibooks, pismos, lombards etc. Not a big deal, but not that much improvement either.


Of course the fit and finish is great and there will be no paint peeling and other such cosmetic problems, but I really don't think it's such an improvement over previous models in terms of ergonomics and design. Maybe I just need to get used to it, but it's the first time in many years that I've NOT been tempted to buy the latest model.....

[MacsGalor]

Before you bash a machine you should spend some time with it. Just looking at them at a store hardly qualifies you as an expert on the machine. If you wanna talk then go buy one and spend some real time using it, then if you still think that way ok I will leave you alone. Ask people who really own one of these on how they work, I bet there are a lot more satisfied users than dissatisfied. I own one and I really like it. And in my opinion again I stress "MY" I think that your reasons for disliking it are either not true (palm rests are not hot) or petty. Sorry if I sound like an @$$ but all these negative people get on my nerves. If you don't like it from what you saw in the store then don't buy it but don't discourage potential buyers by telling them bad aspects that are just your opinion, and may not even bother them

[ownersbox]

1) I had read a review, where the reviewer said the same thing but determined that it was an optical illustion becuase there is no more contrast frome keyboard to bezel to side.

2) That is your preference

3) Again your preference, however I personally like the side ports with expection video and power port.

4) I have never had a cool running laptop.... As long as it doesn't burn me I can live with it.

4) The screen is so thin, ofcourse you are going to see ripples.

The things you are worrying about seem so minimal to me, I don't see all the fuss.

[MacsGalor]

I refer you to look at this poll;
http://forums.macnn.com/showthread.p...hreadid=180828

[MSME]

1) I think that is more perceptual than anything else. I remember thinking it looked big in the store, when in reality, it's not that much bigger. If you've been using a Ti for a while, of course one of the new Al's is going to seem a little awkward at first.

2) Maybe you're just too tall . Seriously, I noticed that the LCD doesn't go as far back as some, but I haven't found it problematic yet.

3) I personally prefer the ports on the side. I don't see it as a huge deal either way.

4) I haven't noticed much heat at all. The fan came on once while I was ripping CD's, but the palmrests didn't feel very hot -- no more than any other laptop.

5) How hard were you pushing anyway?

One thing I agree with you on: If I had a 1Ghz Ti, I probably wouldn't be all that tempted to upgrade. I don't think these models are disappointing by any means, however.

[pete]

I'm not bashing the machine. And, after having had pretty much every powerbook since the 540c series, I feel I'm able to know very clearly what will be annoying to me.

1. Maybe the size is an optical illusion, but it still feels bigger and bulkier. It is, in fact, bigger, although marginally so.


2. The LCD just feels like it doesn't go back enough, compared to previous machines. I often lay in bed with the laptop up against my bent legs and like to be able to adjust the LCD quite far back. For every day use perhaps it won't be an issue for most people.



3. The ports on the side is a personal thing. Yet, when you're working with papers, journals and books around your laptop, having cords coming out on both sides is NOT fun. Even an external mouse can be in the way. I understand fully the convenience for plugging in, but personally feel that having clear deskspace around the computer where I need to have other things far outweighs the inconvenience of plugging things in in the back. Besides, I never look there anymore anyway - I just feel the ports with my finger and then stick the cable in.


4. The palmrest on the machine I was using in the shop were warm and would not be nice to work on for extended periods of writing. The little 12 inch PB is actually hot. The tibooks are not warm even, although they're hot in other places. It's a tradeoff. I personally prefer a laptop that is hot underneath but cool on top where I work the most. Others might, OF COURSE, have other opinions and preferences.


5. I agree the fact that I can push and see the ripple on the LCD in irrelevant. I wrote that because people have said that the machine is so much sturdier than previous powerbooks. I never thought the old powerbooks were flimsy and never had a problem with them.


Finally, what's up with the defensive attitude. I made some well thought through comments on a machine I played with for 30 minutes. Of course I didn't use it for extended periods of time, but I have the experience to know what I want in a laptop and to make informed comments about what this laptop doesn't have,or what can be improved. Of course these are my personal opinions, but everything around here is about opinion....

Unlike some, I dont' underestimate potential buyer's ability to make up their own minds about the computer. My comments are merely one opinion among many and indicate areas I would change if I had the knowhow and means to. if somebody doesn't care about these things, then I'm sure they'll just ignore what I said.


Relax....please.

[offbalance]

i gotta say that one of my big gripes is the screen not being able to angle back far enough. that was one thing i liked about the TIs, they would go almost 180. really helpful when the powerbook is on your lap. on the other hand, i think i'm the only person who likes the AL 15" a little bigger than the TI. now it looks and feels solid and not like some luxury pretty thing. the TI was just too thin and flimsy for me. anyways these new AL powerbooks rock big time!

[MacsGalor]

I understand what you mean about sitting in beda and pushing the screen back, so I tried it. I found that I didn't even have to open the screen all the way.

The port locations I like the side ones and heres why: 1. To do exactly what you want to do sit in your bed. If the ports were on the back then they would be sticking in your legs. 2. They alllow for more ventalation to the back of the machine as there are slots all along the rear. 3. They allow for a better hinge connection then the tiBooks it is stronger. This also creates a illusion to how far back the screen really goes, in reality it is very close to a tibooks angle.

The palm rests, I have played with the machines at the Apple store before and I feel the heat there, I think that is caused by the extended period of time that the machine is on, Lots of people playing with them and testing them by opening large apps at the same time over and over again. Also the enviroment adds a little to the heat. I have not ever had my machine as hot as the ones I saw in the stores.

[MacsGalor]

Originally posted by offbalance:
i gotta say that one of my big gripes is the screen not being able to angle back far enough. that was one thing i liked about the TIs, they would go almost 180. really helpful when the powerbook is on your lap. on the other hand, i think i'm the only person who likes the AL 15" a little bigger than the TI. now it looks and feels solid and not like some luxury pretty thing. the TI was just too thin and flimsy for me. anyways these new AL powerbooks rock big time!

I think that the angle of the Albooks as about 125 degrees when open all the way thats not too bad. The 180 is a big streatch for the tibook but I would have to look at one again.

[beefstu01]

I don't know what you're talking about with warm palm rests. Even after playing UT2k3 for an hour the palm rests are very cool, the back bottom, on the other hand, is quite warm.

I love my new AlBook though.

[pete]

I really think the heat thing is subjective. I remember the first wallstreets. They were in my opinion EXTREMELY hot, yet there were people then who didn't notice that at all. Maybe I'm just sensitive to heat. I write for extended periods of time and just don't like the heat.

The ports on the back do present a problem when you're lying in bed with the laptop on your bent legs, but I really don't plug in a lot of things when I'm in that position anyway so it hasn't been an issue.

I do agree about the hinge design of the new books. It's so obviously superior to ANY previous powerbook. And I suppose the price we pay for the smooth and probably extremely durable mechanism is that it isn't quite as flexible backwards.

Anyway....

[all2ofme]

This is interesting. Is the screen any thinner than it is on the 17" Powerbooks? I don't get ripples on my 17".

Originally posted by ownersbox:
4) The screen is so thin, ofcourse you are going to see ripples.

[PBG4 User]

I don't get ripples on my AlPB 15. I had a TiPB so I know just how little pressure it took to get the ripples to show. I tried (only once, no need putting Al through unneccessary torture) with my new Al, and there were no ripples at all.

About the size, I think it is an illusion. I thought Al was larger until I placed it next to my Ti. There was barely a difference, and most of the difference was in height.

The build quality is IMHO much better. As an example, how about the bottom of the slot loading drive? On the Ti, there's that flimsy little piece of plastic / carbon fiber that's always slightly separated from the bottom panel. On Al, the bottom piece completely surrounds the slot, so there's no separation at all.

I could go on, but you have your opinions and I have mine. Personally I'm glad I sold my old Ti and upgraded. Of course, I was working on a Rev. A 500MHz Ti, so the difference was HUGE.

[pete]

I've had quite a few tibooks....long story. anyway, the one i have now is the 1ghz final revision. They finally fixed the little piece below the cdrom. With all previous ones, I was annoyed at that and opened the casing to insert support behind the plastic. That fixed the problem, but I shouldn't have had to do it.

I'm not making up the ripple thing. Why would I? I'm happy if you didn't and I don't care that I was able to do it either. It was just making a statement about the machine compared to the tibook. Probably better NOT to get into a discussion of just how much pressure one needs apply before one can see ripples...


I'm not bashing the new powerbooks, just saying that I don't think they represent a significant upgrade over the last revision of tibooks. Of course there are things that are better, but there are also, in my humble opinion, things that are not. Nothing more to say is there? We all have the right to our opinions.


In a few months, I'll probably be sitting here with a new albook saying that I'd never look back!

[s0litude]

hello everyone, i'm a powerbook noob and i've been having a great time. I'm a switcher and its the first time i've encountered an apple. The new 1.25 15ALs are sweet. I'm so used to turning my pc off at work, that at first it was weird just putting my book to sleep. It still weirds me out. I haven't found any problems with my book so i'm really grateful. It doesn't even get hot, and when i upgraded to 10.2.8, my battery life has gone up to 2 hours and 55 minutes. I can take a picture, but i don't have a camera. Is there a print screen utility like there is in that other junky OS? I'm sure i'll be back to ask noobie questions.

[nagromme]

s0litude -

Congrats on the new 'Book--and keep an eye open for Panther, it will be like getting a new computer all over again!

Regarding sleep--if you put your 'Book to sleep from the menu, don't bother: just shut the lid with the 'Book still on! It will sleep, and wake automatically when you lift the lid. (I never understood why Windows users shut down their laptops. Is sleep really that bad on Windows?)

For screenshots, there's Grab, in your Utilities folder, plus look in the Services submenu of any application. But even easier, just use these keys:

Screenshot:
Command(Apple) - Shift - 3

"Deluxe" Screenshot:
Command - Shift -4
Then drag a box around what you want to snap--OR hit spacebar to toggle "auto" mode--aim at any window, icon, menu or submenu and click!

Both methods save images to your desktop--double-click it the file you can save in different formats. But for Cmd-Shift-4, you have another option: hold Control while you drag or click, and the image gets copied to your clipboard. Then paste into any document.

BTW the General Forums at maccentral.com are often a friendly place to get newbie help too. Less traffic--but fewer flamewars too.

pete -

You gave your reasons--and they might be useful to some, including those evaluating the 15" vs. other powerbooks/iBooks/waiting and seeing. So I really don't see how people think you are driving buyers to Windows. I personally find the negatives AND the positives useful for deciding whether to upgrade, and have not seen the AlBook 15 in person. I don't share most of the opinions you have, but I have the intelligence to make up my own mind, so--thanks for posting.